Fall | hinata harem

chapter thirty-five

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Aran Ojiro | 6:32 p.m

Daichi had dropped Shouyou off long ago, but he seemed... off. A thick glaze laid over his hazel eyes as if he were thinking.

Slowly, he trekked up the stairs after demanding he was alright enough to do so and went into the room we had prepared for him.

Osamu and I were sitting on the sofa when he passed, discussing our storefront in the Northern region when he came home. While he was in his room, Daichi made his way over to us, a small frown sitting on his face.

"I shouldn't have taken him to his family," he confesses, "Something happened between him and his sister that stirred him up. We couldn't really enjoy the rest of our time together."

"What happened between 'em?" Questions Osamu, placing the map we had printed and his red marker down on the table.

Daichi grips his hair in his hand, his eyes roll upward, and a long sigh exhausts him. He flops down beside me and sinks into the couch.

"Something to do with his past. Do you happen to know what it could be? I don't want to accidentally trigger him like his family did. I know his family are good people, really, but... There's just something... It just doesn't seem like Shouyou understands that a family is supposed to care about you. They're supposed to worry."

"The only person I can think of who might have a clue would be 'Tsumu, but he's headin' to the Northern front right now. Maybe try callin' him when ya get the chance."

"I might... Thanks, I'll let you know how it goes."

Daichi sits up and reaches for the map laid out on the table.

"Is this about the bomb that was found planted inside? This isn't a major transportation area for our supplies, so it's odd that it would be targeted the way it was."

"Well," I go to answer, "It is the base closest to the border of- Shouyou, hey. How'd your day go?"

When I spot Shouyou rounding the corner of the stairs, I quickly alert Daichi and Osamu of his presence so we know to keep any business talk on the down low.

To my surprise, he glances between our faces, gives a quick smile to the other two, and motions for me to come to him.

"I need to... talk to you for a minute, please. If that's alright, Aran."

"Hm? Sure, sure. I'll be up in just a minute, okay?"

Hesitantly, he nods before making his way back up the stairs. Daichi elbows me inquisitively, his brow arched in confusion.

"I don't know," I tell him, "We didn't have any plans to meet up, so it must be something important. Osamu, I'm calling it a night. Daichi, I'll see you at Sakusa's party in a couple of weeks."

With that, I take my leave and head up the stairs toward Shouyou's room. There were a lot of thoughts coursing through my head, all wondering what Shouyou needed. It must be personal because he didn't seem to want to say anything in front of Daichi and Osamu.

What could it possibly be, then?

I'm at his door before I know it, and I give a light knock before I enter. He's sitting on his bed, criss-crossed and fidgeting with the quilt. There's what seems to be a box sitting beside him, along with a much smaller box in his hand.

"I know you said it wasn't anything special this morning when you had to tote me around everywhere," he speaks softly after I shut his door and take a seat beside him. "But, to me... Carrying my weight and showing me affection... I'm not really used to that kind of stuff. I couldn't stop thinking about it."

He gave me the larger box first, which seemed to be from his family's bakery, and then placed the smaller box atop it.

"You doing that for me really means more to me than I can express with just material objects, but I had to give you something in return for your kindness. It's really just... to make myself feel better about making you carry me around, I guess."

Carrying him around is a delight. His plump body pressed against mine, keeping me warm all the while, and getting to feel how alive he was in such a personal way felt like a dream. I couldn't believe he had enjoyed it as much as I had, let alone to the point he felt he needed to repay me.

Much like Daichi, I began wondering what kind of life Shouyou had lived prior to this moment that had made him such a sweet angel.

"Shouyou, I told you, didn't I? Getting to carry you around was an absolute pleasure."

"I know... but I still felt obligated to return the favor somehow. It's nothing much, anyway."

With a smile I couldn't force down, I opened the small box, revealing a skillfully braided friendship bracelet made of embroidery floss. Yellow, black, orange, and red. I slip it on my wrist to admire the way the colors pair so beautifully with my skin tone.

"I- I had some stored away in the kitchen cabinets in the bakery for... For break times, so, I just whipped it up while we were there. And, uh, I kind of got you a bit of everything. I wasn't sure what you like."

I glance at him for a moment, my heart already so fuzzy and warm from his genuine appreciation for me. When I pulled the jute rope tied gently around the cardstock box and was hit with the scent of pastries, I felt as if I were sent to heaven.

Shouyou and I together, talking, sharing, and appreciating one another. I wouldn't have it any other way.

"Shouyou, I- I'm at a loss for words. You're beyond perfect. You're- You're an angel, really."

I place the boxes down and take him into my arms, wary of his healing side, and he hugs back.

"You like it, then? I'm glad."

"Like it? I'm never going to take it off. Thank you so much, Shouyou. Thank you."

Small arms wound around me, and I feel his hands clutch at the back of my shirt. My heart soars more than any mission I've been on, any debate I've endured, and any fight I've ever encountered.

Feeling victorious had always been my favorite feeling in the entire world, but, now, I have a new reason to keep going- A new feeling to take its place: tranquility.

In the dim lamplight, with Shouyou in my arms, his hard work poured into the bracelet on my arm, and his family's pastries sitting beside us, I couldn't feel any more in place than I do now.

A knock on the door interrupts our moment.

"Come in," Shouyou speaks with his gentle voice, awaiting who would peek their head through the door.

"Shouyou, could I meet with you for a bit tonight, if you're not too tired?" Kita questions, his eyes briefly falling onto my figure.

Shouyou nods, his spirits seemingly higher than they were when he first entered the base with Daichi.

"Sure thing, I was going to head to your room in a bit, anyway."

"Alright, I'll be waiting."

The door's shut again, but I know Shouyou's going to leave soon, so my curiosity about his past will have to be saved for another time. There was no guarantee that he'd want to speak about it, anyway.

"Thank you again, Shouyou, and remember that I'm pleased to do anything for you. You don't have to repay me anything, but thank you for this. I'm going to treasure it forever, I promise."

"Haha, Aran, it's not that important of a present, but thank you. I'll remember what you said."

We stand from the bed and I pull him in for one last hug and a brief goodnight before leaving his room with a smile that didn't seem to want to fade.

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