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

Chapter 25

The car ride home was peaceful. Your niece had finally succumbed to the exhaustion of the day, her little head resting against the window as she softly snored. Rin and you exchanged quiet smiles, both of you feeling a sense of accomplishment. It had been an unexpected detour from the romantic day you had envisioned, but it had turned into something special. There was a new dynamic between you and Rin—something deeper, something more rooted in togetherness. And that was enough for now.

As you pulled into your driveway, you looked over at Rin, who was carefully unbuckling your niece from her booster seat. "So, you really think you'd want to do this again sometime?" you teased, an amused glint in your eye.

He shot you a knowing look, glancing at your niece and then back to you. "It wasn't as bad as I thought," he admitted with a soft chuckle. "I mean, we did make a pretty good team, right?"

You raised an eyebrow. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Once inside, you set your niece up in the living room with a blanket and some cartoons while you and Rin made dinner. Your home felt different now, quieter in a way, as you both worked in sync, chopping vegetables, preparing rice, and laying out everything needed for a comforting meal. The cats meowed at your feet, and the puppy, now fully awake from its afternoon nap, bounced around excitedly.

"You think we're ready for this?" you asked, glancing at Rin as you added seasoning to the pot. The question hung in the air, light but heavy at the same time.

Rin didn't immediately respond, instead continuing to stir the soup you were making. Finally, he broke the silence. "Honestly? I think we could handle it. The pets, your niece—yeah, I think we'd be fine."

You smiled, your heart warming at his words. You hadn't expected this kind of response. Rin's usual confidence was a little different now, gentler, like he was considering something deeper. "You're not just saying that because you want to impress me, right?" you teased, trying to lighten the moment.

He rolled his eyes. "I don't need to impress you. I'm pretty sure the zoo trip already did that." Rin raised his hand to rub the back of his neck, clearly embarrassed by his own words.

"You're right," you said softly, a genuine smile tugging at your lips. "You did really well today, Rin."

For a moment, the conversation shifted to something more playful as you both continued cooking. When you finally sat down for dinner, your niece, though still a little sleepy, managed to join you at the table, her eyes lighting up at the food in front of her.

"So," you said, breaking the silence, "I think we should start a new tradition. Every month, we go on a little adventure. Just the three of us." You glanced at Rin, wondering what he thought. "We'll take the pets along, too."

Rin chuckled at the idea, glancing at your niece, who was excitedly digging into her food. "Sounds like fun. As long as there's food involved."

After dinner, your niece was content to settle on the couch, eyes drooping again as she finished watching the cartoon she'd started earlier. You and Rin, on the other hand, ended up in the kitchen, quietly cleaning up together. There was something comforting about the domesticity of it all—the way you both moved around the space with a kind of unspoken rhythm. You handed Rin a plate, your hand brushing his in the process.

He looked at you, a small smirk forming on his lips. "You know, this doesn't feel like the date we planned, but it's... nice. More relaxed. Less pressure."

You laughed lightly, your heart fluttering. "I'm glad you're enjoying it. Honestly, it feels like we're... building something here." You met his gaze, your voice softer now, laced with sincerity. "You're not just some teammate anymore. You're... part of my life. In a way I never imagined."

Rin blinked, his expression unreadable for a moment. "Is that a good thing?" he asked, his tone lighter, but there was a hint of seriousness beneath the question.

You nodded, a genuine smile curving your lips. "Yeah. It's a good thing."

Rin paused, then smiled back at you, his gaze softening. "Good. Because I think I'm getting used to this... this family thing."

You felt a warmth spread through your chest at his words, something more than just affection—something that hinted at a deeper connection. Rin wasn't the kind to open up easily, but these little moments, these quiet exchanges, were starting to mean so much more than you could've anticipated.

As you finished cleaning up, Rin pulled out his phone and casually opened the group chat with the rest of the Blue Lock team. A small smirk tugged at his lips as he typed a message.

Rin: "Just wanted to let everyone know... looks like I'm officially a family man now. Had to babysit today, and I think I'm good at it."

Saeki: "What? Did I miss something? Rin, you're a dad now?"

Chigiri: "Wait, is Rin talking about you and the reader? Are you guys a thing or not?"

Reo: "This is gonna be so fun to tease you both about! Just say you're dating already!"

You couldn't help but laugh at the flood of messages coming in, teasing Rin about his sudden "fatherhood" status. You leaned against the counter, watching Rin's reaction. He rolled his eyes, but there was a small, sheepish smile on his face as he responded.

Rin: "I'm just saying, I'm already great at it. Watch out, you might be seeing me as the dad of the group soon enough."

You smiled at the playful banter in the group chat, but your thoughts were still focused on the day's events. The trip to the zoo, the quiet moments with Rin, and the way it all felt so natural—it all had you thinking about what the future might hold.

That night, as your niece finally drifted off to sleep in the guest room, you and Rin sat together on the couch, the quiet of the evening wrapping around you both. The animals, tired from the excitement of the day, had settled at your feet, their steady breathing a calming background to the silence between you.

"You ever think about what it would be like to have kids?" you asked, your voice gentle as you glanced at Rin. You weren't sure where the question was coming from, but you felt curious, like you were trying to imagine something bigger than the present moment.

Rin tilted his head, considering the question. He didn't seem uncomfortable, just thoughtful. "I think about it sometimes. I've never really had a family, you know?" He looked over at you, his eyes serious. "But seeing how you are with your niece... how you're with your pets... It makes me wonder if that's something I could do too."

You smiled softly, your heart swelling with affection for him. "You'd be a great dad, Rin. You already take care of everyone in your own way. The people around you—me, your teammates—they all depend on you in different ways."

His gaze softened, and for a moment, it seemed like he was about to say something more. But instead, he simply reached out and took your hand, squeezing it gently.

"I don't know where this is going," he said quietly, "but I'm happy to be part of it. With you. And whatever comes next, I'll be here."

You smiled, your heart full as you leaned your head against his shoulder. "Me too, Rin. Me too."

As the night wore on, you both sat together in the warmth of the living room, the world outside quiet and peaceful. Whatever the future held, you knew one thing for sure—it was going to be filled with moments like this. Little steps toward something more. Something real.

And for now, that was enough.