𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐃𝐋𝐄 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓 ❥︎ 𝐠𝐢𝐲𝐮𝐮 𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐨𝐤𝐚

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐲

"So when's the wedding?" your grandma asked.

You almost choked on your drink.

"The wedding!?" you asked.

"Yes the wedding. I want to be around for it,"

"Eventually..." Giyuu said. "We're not in any rush,"

"Right..." your grandma spoke. "But make sure it's in the next 5 years,"

"Noted,"

-

The guests left after a few hours, and you quickly found yourself with nothing to do, especially since you had ended up staying a day longer than planned.

"Sorry if us staying an extra day has throwing everything off schedule," you apologised, slumping against the bed after brunch. "I know we had planned to head home after yesterday's dinner. But I don't think either of us were in the mood to drive back so late."

"Don't apologise. I'm glad we stayed. I'd rather be here than at work. Plus, I get to take you out to dinner tonight,"

"Where are we going?" you grinned.

"Wherever you'd like,"

"Somewhere simple and cozy,"

"Anywhere particular you'd recommend? we are in your hometown,"

You tapped your chin thoughtfully. "There's a little Italian place a few blocks from here. I used to go there all the time with my family."

"Alright," he said, leaning forward and pressing his lips to your forehead.

-

"Oooh that's cute," your sister said, admist trying on outfits.

"Yeah but it's almost December I'll be freezing my ass off,"

She held up another dress, a long-sleeved velvet one this time. "Okay, but this one’s warmer, right?"

You laughed, flopping back onto the bed. "Barely. But at least I won’t get hypothermia."

Your sister tossed the dress at you. "Wear this one. It's cute and it won't make you freeze."

You caught it with a dramatic sigh. "Fine. But if I’m shivering all night, I'm blaming you."

-

"Please tell me we're driving."

"Of course," Giyuu said, squeezing your hand lightly before leading you towards the car.

The drive through your hometown was quiet in the way only small towns could be at night, streetlights casting golden glows across empty sidewalks, a few shop windows still lit with fairy lights.

You pointed out old familiar places as he drove. "That used to be my favourite bakery… they sold these lemon tarts that were so good I cried once when they sold out."

He chuckled. "I’m making a mental note to find those for you."

The restaurant came into view, small, tucked between two local shops, its windows slightly fogged up from the warmth inside. A soft glow of amber lighting spilled onto the street.

Giyuu walked round to open the door for you before offering you his hand.

He squeezed your hand a little tighter as you walked together through the door.

The host greeted you with a smile and a nod, and within minutes, you were seated at a small table near the window. Soft lights strung along the ceiling and the faint hum of soft music and the smell of freshly baked bread hung in the air.

He looked around, then back at you. "This place feels like you."

You tilted your head. "How so?"

"It's warm. Familiar."

You reached across the table, brushing your thumb over his knuckles. "Thanks for coming with me this weekend. I know it was a lot."

He shook his head gently. "It was no trouble. I've enjoyed myself,"

You smiled, a soft kind that reached your eyes. "Even with the car breaking down, my mom and sister interrogating you, and my grandma demanding a wedding date?"

His lips twitched in amusement. "Especially because of all that."

Your eyes shifted back to the menu.

"Man, I'd kill for some lasagna," you muttered.

"Get whatever you want love, it's on me,"

Your head shot up. "I thought we were splitting,"

He leaned back in his chair, a sly curve tugging at his lips. "I changed my mind."

You narrowed your eyes playfully. "Convenient."

"I prefer chivalrous," he corrected, reaching for his water glass.

You tapped the menu with a grin. "Fine. But don’t complain when I order three desserts."

His expression didn’t falter. "Good. I’ll help you finish them."

You laughed, the sound blending with the low hum of conversations around you, and something about the way he was looking at you, calm and steady, like you were the only person in the room, made warmth bloom in your chest.

"Giyuu," you said softly, almost without thinking.

"Hm?"

"Thank you. For… tonight. For everything."

He set his glass down, fingers brushing against yours across the table. "I should be the one thanking you. You make it all feel… easy."

"I love you," you smiled.

"I love you too," Giyuu responded  gently.

And soon the night began to fold around you.

-

a/n: I'd like to apologise for not updating this book since April (I'm aware that if you check the chapters it says published May 13th, but that's just because I had to copy and paste them over to somewhere, and for some reason Wattpad then changed the publishing date)

There are a couple of reasons:

1) I sat my A Levels from end of April - June (if you aren't from the UK A Levels are a bunch of big super scary exams)

2) I passed my A Levels AND got into University 🥹

3) My motivation and interest for this book just completely disappeared; I've been fixated on my other Giyuu Fic 'Touch It'

4) Also, if you had read the chapter that I put out a few months back that wasn't really a chapter, you'd be aware of a hate comment I got when beginning to cross-post this book on Ao3. It really ruined my motivation for this book and it's taken me a long time to fall back in love with it again and I've genuinely just been feeling really disconnected from it.

Thankfully, after copying over a few more chapters, people are loving it, which has been a relief!

5) I'm going to try and work on this book some more, but please be patient with me ♥️

6) I love you guys, from the bottom of my heart, your support has meant and continues to mean the world to me, so thank you for all that you do 🫧🩷🪷