sweets ✧ r.kaji ˣ ʳᵉᵃᵈᵉʳ

chapter twenty-seven : rumors lie

"like...not gonna lie. hear me out on mr lightshop keeper. hella fine, i tell you," you said, turning back to look at everyone as you walked facing backwards.

enomoto rolled his eyes. "you're the opposite of a pedo. first site-something and now an immortal dude. weiirrdo."

"bitch? okay, but it's just four years with sitetampo-san." you gave him a side eye. "just gotta ba famous for him to know me."

"simp," kaji commented. bro listened and bro judged.

you then felt kusumi tap your shoulder and point to a convenience store. "for risa-chan and the group?" was what he meant.

"oh, yeah! yo guys," you told the other boys, "we'll get stuff for risa-chan. want us to get chips or something?"

"yes please! um, cheetos!" akemi asked.

kenichi slung his arm over the blonde boy's shoulder. "and mentos, if there is! thank you so much."

yo nodded and gestured for the rest of your quadro: kaji, kusumi, and enomoto, to follow you inside. the seven eleven was a relatively old one, but the tiles and aisles of products were clean. you headed for the cat food section.

"what brand does she like again?"

"whiskas or goodest," kaji answered.

you took out a lollipop from your pocket and put it in your mouth. "thanks bro."

"kusumi and i can get the cheetos and stuff. you and kaji get the cat food," enomoto suggested.

"okay!" you picked up three packs of goodest wet cat food: a chicken-flavored one, a ham-flavored one, and a mackerel one.

the pale blonde boy behind you put on his headphones quietly and observed you. somehow, he felt like something was off—unlike usual patrols around the town, you didn't do something stupidly cute like hold his hand while walking or pull his arm to drag him away.

you felt a warm hand in your cold one, and your fingers reflexively interlaced with his. "this should be enough."

he knew that you tend to talk to nothingness whenever he had his white headphones on without expecting him to reply. however, he didn't play any music. right now, he just wanted to hear your voice.

୨୧

"oh, thank you, dears! how kind."

"of course. it's no problem," you said, beaming up at risa's owner as you pet her soft white fur. the cat had always liked you, taking every opportunity to snuggle against your legs.

after, the second years waved goodbye, chattering from small groups within the large one in the air. evident smiles were on everyone's faces. reasonable, since the weather was particularly sunny.

"it's been kinda boring recently after i got kidnapped. these filler chapters are kinda really dull," you pointed out.

kusumi nodded. "mm! but i'm sure something interesting will happen soon. we can't keep the readers bored," was what he meant.

you nodded. a quiet race of thoughts went on in your mind. kaji's hand is still in mine. he suddenly did that, but i tried to not pay attention. what if i—no, this is normal! trust.

the strawberry lollipop in your mouth was slowly getting dented due to your teeth's tightening grip on it. you forced another smile to cheer yourself up.

my hand is sweaty. would it be weird if i let go? you thought. oh hell nah, why am i even worrying about this shit? this happens all the time. we happen all the time. this is normal, y/n. you're being weird.