She keeps on texting me do i like her no definitely~ Rin Itoshi x f!Reader ~

Chapter 9

After the group chat fiasco, you and Rin decided to ignore your phones for the rest of the afternoon. However, the chaos wasn't over, and it was becoming increasingly clear that babysitting wasn't as easy as either of you had anticipated.

Little Aki woke up from his nap with the energy of a sugar-fueled tornado. He immediately started crawling around, babbling in a language only he could understand, and grabbing anything within reach.

"Why is he so fast?" Rin muttered, lunging to stop Aki from knocking over a lamp.

"He's training for Blue Lock, obviously," you joked, picking up a nearby toy and shaking it to grab the baby's attention. "Come on, Aki, look at this! Shiny!"

Aki ignored you completely and made a beeline for Rin instead, clinging to his leg like a koala.

Rin stared down at the baby, a mix of confusion and resignation on his face. "Why does he keep coming to me?"

"Because he likes you," you said, grinning. "Guess you have that big brother energy."

Rin rolled his eyes but didn't move to shake Aki off. Instead, he bent down and awkwardly picked him up, holding him at arm's length like he wasn't sure what to do.

"You're supposed to hold him closer, Rin. He's not a soccer ball," you teased.

Rin frowned but adjusted his hold, cradling Aki more securely against his chest. Aki giggled, grabbing a fistful of Rin's hoodie and babbling something that sounded suspiciously like "Rin-rin."

You burst out laughing. "Oh my God, he just gave you a nickname!"

"Don't," Rin warned, his ears turning pink.

But you couldn't stop laughing, the sight of stoic Rin Itoshi holding a giggling baby like he was a natural at it was too much.

The rest of the afternoon was a mix of small victories and utter chaos.

You managed to figure out how to assemble the baby bottle, though it took both you and Rin poring over the instructions like it was a tactical game plan. Feeding Aki was another challenge altogether—half the formula ended up on his face, and the other half somehow ended up on Rin's hoodie.

"Why am I the one getting covered in baby food?" Rin asked, glaring at the sticky stain.

"Because he likes you," you said again, smirking. "Face it, Rin, you're his favorite."

Rin grumbled something under his breath but didn't seem all that upset.

As evening rolled around, Aki's boundless energy finally started to wane. The three of you were sprawled out on the living room floor, surrounded by toys, pillows, and an empty bottle. Aki was dozing off in Rin's lap, his tiny fingers clutching the edge of Rin's hoodie.

You leaned back against the couch, letting out a tired but content sigh. "We survived. Barely."

Rin glanced down at Aki, his expression unusually soft. "He's not so bad when he's asleep."

You chuckled. "You're good with him, you know. Maybe you missed your calling as a babysitter."

"Not happening," Rin said firmly, though the faintest hint of a smile tugged at his lips.

The peaceful moment was interrupted by your phone buzzing on the coffee table. You picked it up reluctantly, already bracing yourself for more teasing.

Group Chat: "Blue Lock Chaos"

Bachira:
Update us! Did the baby survive Rin's death glare?

Chigiri:
Or did Rin secretly enjoy being a dad?

Isagi:
Place your bets now: Rin ends up adopting five kids.

Nagi:
Too much effort.

[Your Name]:
Baby's fine. Rin's fine. Everyone can relax.

Bachira:
Pics or it didn't happen.

[Your Name]:
Not a chance.

Chigiri:
Cowards.

Isagi:
Bet you anything Rin secretly loved it.

[Your Name]:
😂 You'll never know.

You set the phone down, shaking your head. "They're relentless."

"Block them," Rin suggested, still gently patting Aki's back as the baby snored softly.

You laughed. "As tempting as that is, it'd only make them more suspicious."

Rin sighed, leaning back against the couch. "Why do they care so much about what we do?"

"Because they're bored and nosy," you said. "And, to be fair, we do kind of look like..."

"Like what?" Rin asked, raising an eyebrow.

You hesitated, glancing at Aki sleeping peacefully in Rin's lap. "...Like parents," you admitted, feeling your cheeks heat up.

Rin's eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, you thought he was going to argue. But instead, he looked down at Aki, his expression unreadable.

"Do we?" he asked quietly.

You shrugged, trying to play it off. "A little. I mean, you've got the whole protective vibe going on, and I'm...well, I'm the fun one."

Rin snorted. "Of course you'd say that."

You grinned, relieved that he didn't seem too weirded out by the comment. "Admit it, though. We'd make a good team."

Rin didn't reply right away, his gaze still focused on the sleeping baby. When he finally looked up at you, there was something softer in his eyes, something that made your heart skip a beat.

"Yeah," he said quietly. "We would."

A little while later, your aunt came to pick up Aki, showering you with gratitude and promising to return the favor someday. Aki waved sleepily as he was carried out the door, his tiny hand reaching toward Rin one last time.

Once the door closed, the apartment felt oddly quiet.

"Well," you said, turning to Rin. "That was...an experience."

Rin nodded, stuffing his hands into his hoodie pockets. "You owe me."

You laughed. "What, for helping me babysit? Fine. Snacks on me next time."

"Not just snacks," Rin said, glancing at you with a rare, teasing glint in his eyes. "You're cooking dinner."

Your jaw dropped. "Excuse me? Since when do I owe you dinner?"

"Since you roped me into babysitting," Rin said, smirking ever so slightly.

You rolled your eyes but couldn't help smiling. "Fine. But only because you didn't drop the baby."

"High standards," Rin muttered, but there was a softness to his tone that made you laugh.

As he turned to leave, you couldn't help but think about the way he'd looked with Aki, the way he'd softened in a way you rarely saw. Maybe Bachira and the others weren't entirely wrong. Maybe you and Rin did look like a family.

And, if you were honest with yourself...maybe you didn't mind the thought as much as you should have.