Flames Of Devotion (Genya x female Reader)

8. Opening Up

The next morning, the sun was shining brightly again, casting a warm glow over Rengoku's estate. I felt invigorated from the previous day's celebrations. Despite the joy of yesterday, I couldn't stop thinking about Genya and our walk to the lake. His thoughtful gift and the time we spent together lingered in my mind.
Rengoku was already in the kitchen, bustling about. "What do you think about eating outside today? It's such nice weather!" Rengoku suggested with his usual enthusiasm. "Yeah, sure! Let's head outside," I answered, smiling at his energy. We set up a small picnic outside with fruits and leftover treats from the party. The sun was warm, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves. As we ate, Rengoku tried to engage me in conversation, but my mind kept wandering back to Genya."You're never answering me! What's up with you?" Rengoku asked, letting out a playful, exaggerated cry of confusion. I shook my head, snapping back to the present. "Oh, it's nothing. Just thinking about something..." But it wasn't just something-it was someone.

After breakfast, I went into my room to get ready. I chose a light summer dress that I thought looked nice, even though I rarely put much thought into my appearance. Since meeting Genya, something had changed. I wanted to look my best when there was a chance of seeing him.
When I came out, Rengoku noticed immediately. "Where are you going today? You look like a princess!" he said with a laugh. "Oh no, I just wanted to go on a walk..." I replied, feeling a bit self-conscious. He stared at me until I was out of sight. "I swear there's something going on..." I heard him say loudly to himself as I left. I decided to visit the forest again, hoping to run into Genya. The walk to the lake had been such a pleasant experience, and I wanted to share more moments like that with him. As I walked through the forest, the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves, I spotted Genya training in a clearing. He looked focused, his movements precise and powerful. I watched from a distance, admiring his dedication. When he finally noticed me, he stopped and waved awkwardly. "Hey, Y/N! What are you doing here?" he asked, a little out of breath.
The sun was shining directly at him, making him look even more striking. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and took a moment to catch his breath. As he walked towards me, I realized I had been staring. "I was hoping to see you," I said, feeling a bit shy. "You were hoping to see me?" he repeated, disbelief in his voice.
"Yeah... I couldn't stop thinking about the time we had yesterday. You made my day better, and I thought we could spend some time together again?" I replied, gathering all my courage. "Do you want to take a break and go on a walk with me?"
Genya's face lit up with a smile. "Sure, I'd like that." He couldn't believe I wanted to see him, but he was happy to spend more time together.

Seeing him happy made me happy too. We walked together through the forest, the conversation flowing naturally. Genya shared stories about his training, his dreams of becoming stronger, and his hopes for the future. He talked about Gyomei's rigorous training regimen and how he had struggled initially but gradually improved. I shared my own aspirations and the challenges I faced. The missions Rengoku assigned me were tough, and I recounted some of the more difficult ones. "My first mission wasn't easy. Many children had lost their lives because of only one demon," I said, my voice heavy with the memory.
Genya listened intently, offering words of encouragement. "You've grown stronger since then, Y/N. Rengoku sees great potential in you," he said, his eyes reflecting admiration and respect.
We laughed and enjoyed each other's company, the bond between us growing stronger with each passing minute. I couldn't help but notice Genya's features-the way his eyes shone brightly in the sunlight, the determination in his expression, and the scars that added to his unique charm. Genya noticed after a while and began to avoid eye contact.
He thought that I would judge him by his looks. He had scars everywhere on his body and he wasn't that kind of guy to get compliments because he looked "scary", so whenever someone looked at him for a longer time he became uncomfortable, remembering all the words people had said to him in the past. Eventually, we reached the lake again. It was as beautiful as I remembered, the water glistening under the sun and the ducks swimming leisurely. Genya turned away awkwardly, his back facing me. I sat by the water's edge, waiting for him to join me. After a moment of hesitation, he sat down next to me, still avoiding my gaze. "So... What's up? Did I do something wrong?" I asked, worried I had upset him. Genya sat up straight at my question, his expression serious. "I'm sorry, I'm just uncomfortable with people looking directly at me. I feel like they do it with bad intentions." His words made my heart ache. "I didn't know that... I'm sorry. I don't mean to stare. I just can't help but look at you," I said softly, the last part almost a whisper. Genya turned to me, his cheeks slightly pink. "No, it's alright. I understand your intentions. You don't have to explain yourself."I smiled, relieved that I hadn't ruined anything between us.
"I'm glad. I enjoy talking to you, Genya."
We sat at the lake, the peaceful surroundings making it easy to open up. As we talked more, I realized how much I valued Genya's presence. He was kind, thoughtful, and being with him made me feel understood and appreciated. "Y/N, I wanted to thank you," Genya said suddenly, looking a bit nervous. "For being my friend. It means a lot to me."His words touched me deeply and my cheeks got pink. He loved the time with me too? I'm so happy that he became more comfortable around me.
"And thank you, Genya. You've made my days so much brighter," I replied, smiling at him. He began to blush even more at my words.
As the sun began to set, casting a golden hue over the lake, we sat in comfortable silence, our hands occasionally brushing against each other. It felt like a perfect moment, one that I wanted to last forever.

Eventually, it grew darker, and I remembered Rengoku's request to be home by nightfall if I wasn't on a mission. We stood up and began to walk back through the forest.
"Thanks for looking out for me today, Y/N," Genya said as we approached Rengoku's estate. "If you hadn't found me, I probably would have trained all day without a break."
"That's exactly what I wanted to do today, and I'm glad I found you," I replied, smiling at him.

Back at the estate, Rengoku noticed the change in my mood. "You seem happy, Y/N. Did something special happen today?" he asked, his eyes twinkling with curiosity.
I blushed, thinking of Genya. "Yes, Rengoku. I think I'm starting to understand the importance of friendship."Rengoku smiled warmly. "That's wonderful. True friendships can give us the strength to face any challenge. "As I went to bed that night, I couldn't help but feel grateful for Genya and the new bond we were forming. Despite my attempts to sleep, thoughts of Genya filled my mind. I remembered Rengoku's words about friendship and wondered if what I felt for Genya was more than just friendship.