Another chance Book I - Y/N

Chapter 63: Present for you.

"Hah? W-what are you doing in Yokohama?", Kazutora asks, his surprise obvious. You hear a loud thud in the background, like he knocked something over.

"I had... business here. Please, just come get me. It's getting cold... .", you plead, rubbing your arms as a chill sets in. I should've brought a jacket... .

"Uh, sure. Where are you exactly?", he asks, and you hear him moving around, probably grabbing his things.

"I'm in front of a Family Mart. Wait, I'll look up the street name and message it to you, okay?", you say, trying to sound calmer. He agrees, and you quickly hang up.

After finding the street name, you send it to him and sit down in front of the store. You rub your arms, trying to warm yourself, regretting your choice of outfit. This weather is the worst... . Warm in the daytime, freezing at night. Ugh, I'm so cold... .

You sit in front of the Family Mart, shivering despite the constant rubbing of your arms. The evening air has grown colder, and you regret not bringing a jacket. The lights of the store flicker above you, casting long shadows on the quiet streets of Yokohama. Your thoughts are racing, replaying everything that happened earlier. You hear the hum of an approaching motorcycle, and soon enough, Kazu pulls up in front of you.

You look up and meet with his eyes, a twinkle of unease in them. You smile slightly muttering a quiet greeting. "Hi Kazu."

"Hey.", he says as he hops off the bike, his slight grin faltering a bit when he notices you shivering. Without hesitation, he slips off his jacket and drapes it over your shoulders. The warmth of the leather and his scent envelop you, and you feel your tense body begin to relax slightly.

"Better?", he asks, his voice soft, filled with concern.

You nod, pulling the jacket closer. "Yeah, thanks."

"Let's get inside for a bit.", he says, gesturing toward the Family Mart. You follow him in, feeling a little self-conscious but grateful for the warmth.

Inside, the bright lights and the low hum of the refrigerators greet you. Kazu heads straight to the instant ramen section, grabbing two cups and bringing them to the counter. He gives you a reassuring smile as he pays, his demeanour soft and casual, but there's something in his eyes — concern maybe, or curiosity — that lingers.

You watch him prepare the ramen, the hot steam filling the air as he hands one of the cups to you. "Here, this should help warm you up.", he says, his smile a little forced, as if he's trying to be light-hearted but something's off. You notice it immediately. His usual carefree, teasing self feels... restrained. Kazu's acting strange... .

You take a sip of the hot broth, letting the warmth spread through your chest. "Thanks.", you murmur, keeping your eyes on the cup in your hands as silents sets for a moment.

"So... .", he starts suddenly, turning towards you with a slight smile. "What exactly brought you to Yokohama?" His tone is casual, but you can tell he's genuinely curious. Kazu's always been observant of you, even if he doesn't push too hard.

You hesitate, unsure how much to say. You think about Izana, about everything that happened earlier, and part of you wants to unload, to tell him everything. Should I just tell him everything? You wonder but something holds you back. No. It's too complicated, too dangerous, ...and I'm not even sure where to begin. I shouldn't bring him into danger just like that! Instead, you settle on a vague answer.

"Just... some stuff I had to take care of.", you say, glancing away, trying to avoid his gaze. "It's nothing important."

Kazu watches you for a moment, clearly sensing that you're holding back. He feels slightly dejected but doesn't push. She's doing it again. Hiding her problems from me... . Why won't she trust me? He thinks, feeling anger swirling inside him.