The Neutral Soul--Hozuki x Reader (Hoozuki no Reitetsu)

Chapter 7

At lunchtime a week later, (F/N) did her usual routine of spinning around and seeing where her finger landed. That day, it just happened to land where Hozuki was sitting.

You know what? I'm gonna do a do-over today.

This time, it pointed her towards Karauri and Nasubi's table.

As she sat down, Karauri opened his mouth, only to shut it again.

"What's up?" (F/N) asked, poking her fried rice with a chopstick.

"Well...I don't really know how to bring this up...but, (F/N)-san...I have a question about your relationship with Hozuki-sama."

(F/N) groaned, took a white index card out of her sleeve, and handed it to him. Karauri took the liberty of reading it out loud.

"No...we are not dating. No, I do not know how good a kisser he is because we are not dating. No, I don't know—you've been getting questions like this?"

"Ever since the last time I saw Cow-head and Horse-head. Spreading rumors is kind of a hobby for them." She rested her head in her hand. "If, by any chance, your question isn't answered by the card, ask away."

Karauri shifted uncomfortably. "Well, my question now is: why do you refer to Hozuki-sama so casually?"

(F/N) tilted her head. "Casually? I use 'san' at work."

Karauri flinched. "Wait, what do you call him outside of work?"

"I call him 'Hozuki-kun.' We're friends, after all."

"But...but..."

To make up for Karauri's short-circuiting brain, Nasubi spoke up.

"Everyone else calls him 'Hozuki-sama,' except for King Enma."

(F/N) tilted her head. "Really? But I thought...no..."

"(F/N)-san talks to everyone as if they're her friend," Nasubi pointed out.

Karauri nodded. "Yeah...I mean—she calls Hakutaku-sama 'Haku-kun.'"

"Y-yes...I do..." (F/N) admitted.

"Hakutaku-sama probably loves it," Nasubi pointed out.

"Yeah," Karauri agreed. "But what about Hozuki-sama?"

(F/N) banged her head against the table. Karauri and Nasubi jumped out of their seats, and the rest of the Cafeteria fell silent.

"I'm not hungry," She muttered, clearing her uneaten food. "I'm gonna go back to work."

Crap! I've been so rude to him! I think he hates me! Of course he hates me! Gah!

(F/N) hesitated before entering the office she shared with Hozuki. Even the thought of him was making her heart race, and for the past week, she'd had trouble talking to him without stammering.

"Just take a deep breath..." she murmured to herself before pulling open the door.

"I've finished my inspections," she announced. "Everything's normal."

Hozuki nodded, not taking his eyes off the papers he was reading. "Thank you. Now could you please read over the proposals I've left on your desk?"

Her chest tightened. "Yes, Hozuki-sa...Hozuki-sa...Hozuki-sam—ah, I can't do it!"

Hozuki looked up as she crumped into a ball on the floor.

"What's wrong?" he asked, not sounding particularly interested. Apparently, this incident wasn't outside her usual range of oddness.

"Karauri-kun and Nasubi-kun pointed out that I refer to you more casually than everyone else...and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it! I'm sorry!"

Hozuki sighed. "I don't care what you call me, as long as you get your work done."

(F/N) sat up, grinning. "Really?"

"Yes, and is that really all that's been bothering you? Lately, you've been acting the same way you did when you first arrived."

(F/N) flinched.

That's true...I was really depressed back then...

Wordlessly, she stood up, and sat at her desk, flipping absentmindedly through the paper left there.

Come to think of it, now's my chance!

"Hozuki-kun?"

He heaved a sigh. "What?"

"Uh...well, if I'm going to continue referring to you the way I have been, I'd prefer if you called me something a little more familiar, as well."

"Very well, (F/N)-chan."

She giggled, and turned to her work, an enormous grin on her face.

Yes...I can go to Hell happy now.