Birds of a Feather (Sakura x OC)

Chapter 1: Strangers and Opportunities

Yuna walked down the road in dim light, the sun slowly setting behind the tall buildings of Makochi. Frustration gnawed at her because she missed her train and arrived much later than she wanted. 

A new town, new people, a new environment, and it all had to happen as it was getting dark. Great... She glanced down at her phone, where her new address was written. 

She already had the key, having received it by mail, so she only needed to find her way to her new home. Unfortunately, her lack of direction wasn't helping at all, even with the map on her phone. She frowned and slowly walked along the streets, glancing around unsurely.

As she wandered, a sense of panic began to creep in. What will I do if I don't find it? It's getting dark. Will I have to sleep outside? Why is all this happening now? Her thoughts swirled, and she was nearly in tears from frustration when she spotted a guy around her age walking leisurely with a bag from a nearby Family Mart. 

His features stood out even in the dim light — half of his hair was black like the night, the other half pure white like snow, and his eyes were two different colours: one blue and one yellow.

Yuna's heart skipped a beat as she watched him, trying to muster the courage to ask for directions. She took a deep breath and approached him, her voice trembling. "Excuse me, could you help me find this address?" She held out her phone, avoiding direct eye contact.

The guy, Haruka Sakura, looked up at her voice. His demeanour was slightly unfriendly, and he seemed irritated, but a blush crept up his cheeks, confusing her. "Uh, yeah, sure.", he muttered, glancing at the address on her phone. "You need to go straight down this street, then take a left at the next intersection. It's the second building on the right."

Yuna nodded, trying to process his directions. "Thank you.", she said softly, her eyes finally meeting his for a brief moment before darting away.

Sakura's expression softened slightly, though he still seemed a bit flustered. "Are you new here?", he asked, his tone less harsh.

"Yes.", Yuna replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just moved here today."

Sakura nodded, looking down at his feet. "Well, welcome to Makochi.", he said awkwardly, then quickly added, "Be careful. It can get rough around here."

Yuna smiled faintly, appreciating his concern despite his rough exterior. "I will. Thanks again."

Sakura nodded again, and without another word, he walked away quickly, but not before glancing back at her for a swift moment. Yuna watched him go, taken aback by his strange behaviour. Maybe he is shy like me? Or did I do something strange? Am I looking strange? She wondered as she followed the directions Sakura had given her.

+++

After a few moments, she finally arrived at her new home. She inserted the key and opened the door, stepping into a small, nearly empty room filled with tatami mats. To the left was a small kitchen counter, and to the right, a tiny bathroom with a small bathtub.

Yuna frowned at the bath, thinking. How should I fit into this small bath? "A shower would have made more sense.", she mumbled quietly as she took a step back to look at her new room. Should I make something to eat or just sleep now? She thought as she noticed the small light bulb hanging from the ceiling flickering slightly.

She sighed. "Alright, sleep it should be.", she muttered, laying down on the tatami mats. She stretched her hand out to grab her backpack, rummaging through it to find an old, worn-out blanket, which she draped around her body for warmth.