despair | h. rindo

XXIV

You didn't really expect an early Christmas Eve Present, much less from a certain cake theif.

But who are you to deny a kiss from the Rindou Haitani?

By the time his watch striked 2 in the morning, he reluctantly brought you home. And his softness never faltered. There was still a side to him that never missed a beat to tease you, but his action refused to be gruff when he held you.

He finally slowed down— though that would be an overstatement with the way he drove with caution— stopping in front of you house. He held your hand for support as you hopped off the bike, helping you unclasp the lock to your helmet, fixing your hair and scarf.

"I'll come back later, once you've gotten sleep, 'kay?" 

You can't help but laugh. Was this really the guy who tormented you for your family's eatery? Maybe one of your theories was right.

"Don't miss me while driving, Haitani." 

Rindou chuckles, pressing a kiss to your forehead. "Rest. You need it. You look like you fought the sandman."

"Who's fault is that?"

He just smiles, letting the helmet sit in front of him, securing the lock.

"I'll see you later, sweets."

You roll your eyes, entering the house without a response. But the smile that played on your lips was enough for the blond. Once the roars of his engine were out of earshot, you entered your home and the lights of the kitchen flicked open.

"Where have you been?"

"Sweet mother— Nahoya!"

The older twin glares with suspicion, walking to the living room with a mug of tea in hand. "Didn't answer my question." He sat on the sofa, sipping the tea like a wife interrogating her husband. "Oh, drama king." You roll your eyes, taking off your scarf.

"I heard his bike."

"You can tell from just the sound?" You mutter, taking your jacket off next. "Every delinquent can." He answers casually. "You're lucky it was me and not Souya. He would've panicked and woke everyone up."

You shudder at the thought. You'd get a earful for sure. "Why are you up?" 

"Cafe racers are loud as fuck. Sou's a heavy sleeper and Ma and Pa have their room soundproofed." Nahoya shrugs, sipping on the tea. "Also, your ma's knock out cold since she got home."

You sat beside him, leaning to rest your head on his shoulder. "Where'd he take you?" The older twin asks, but his tone of suspicion was gone. He sounded calm; sounded like Souya. Reminded you that even Polar opposite twins could still have similarities.

"Meguro-gawa."

Nahoya hums, sipping the last of his tea. "What'd he say?"

"He likes me."

He hums once more, letting his own head rest on yours. "Do you like him back?"

You smile, "Yeah." 

"Okay." Nahoya replies, with softness he usually lacks to express. "But I don't want you getting hurt. So when he does something—"

"Nahoya."

"Y/n, I'm serious. When he does something you're telling me first. That's not a request."

There's a quiet between you two. For you, a sense of calm, and for Nahoya, a sense of change. "I thought we were gonna man the eatery together forever." He sighs dramatically, as if you had just wronged him. "You're leaving me and Souya behind."

You just smile, letting yourself drift to sleep knowing that even time flows by, you know the very people who have been with you since the start will be with you in the end.

~~~

"So, you woke up and they were... here?" A voice cut through your sleep, your eyes start to blink slowly until you've got enough conscious to hear more of the conversation.

Another replies the previous question, "Yeah." 

Souya. Who was he talking to?

Nahoya's head against yours was still heavy, the weight felt like pushing you back to sleep. "It's already 10 am. Shouldn't we wake them up?" The voice speaks up once more.

"I have to help Ma in the kitchen. You do it." Souya commanded easily. "And if I get a blow to the gut from both of them?" The voice asks, sounding irked.

Souya's voice becomes quieter, as if he was walking away, "Your problem."

"Hey, sweets." There's a shift on the sofa beside you and a hand makes it way to your face. 

Rindou. Your eyes finally open, one after the other and you finally look at him fully. "Hi, Rin."

The blond's heart flutters. You barely even called him by his name but now, with the nickname? Oh, he feels so giddy, he could just kiss senseless you again. But he doesn't. He just smiles. "Hi. I brought breakfast."

Before you could react, Nahoya jumps from his state, like a sleeper agent activated.

"Breakfast?!"

There's a quick movement of peach fuzziness through the room and Nahoya's suddenly in the dining area, munching off a few waffles Rindou brought for the family. Rindou helps you up, walking beside you to the dining area where he sat beside you. Just as you were about to get waffles for yourself, a hand stops yours.

"Uhp. Not for you." Rindou tuts, bringing a bowl of steaming quail egg soup in front of you. You were just about to complain when Nahoya stacks another 5 waffles on his plate with a giant grin. "Thanks for breakfast, Rando."

"Rindou."

Nahoya just munches on the stack, "Whufeber." He replies with a mouthfull. "Show some respect, Nahoya!" his mother scold, hitting the back of his head. But he pays no mind, engulfing more waffles.

Rindou just smiles, "It's fine, Auntie, really."

"Auntie? Since when did you call her auntie?" You turn to him with suspicion, the spoon hanging mid air after his statement distracts you. "Since this morning." Your aunt replies. "If he's gonna be your boyfriend, he's a part of the family."

You open your mouth to respond but at this point you can't fight her logic. Instead, you turn to the blond. "Did you tell them?"

"I mean..." He scratches the back of his neck awkwardly, "they just kinda assumed, with the stuff I brought and, well, I looked for you first." He rambles, his hand instinctively grabbing the bowl from in front of you, stirring the soup. "I didn't really correct them, but we haven't made it official yet, so..."

You stifle your laughter, "Dork."

Rindou, for once, doesn't mind you comments. He lifts a spoonful of soup to you lips to which you oblige him by taking it.

Just as you were about to speak—

"Blergh!" Nahoya glares at you both, mostly at you before he mouths, "traitor".