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

Chapter 12

"Ogyaa...ogyaa..."

(F/N)'s voice trailed off, and she allowed the goldfish plants to go on without her. It was the day after the end of the Bon Festival, and, fortunately, she had the morning off.

She'd gone over the events of the previous night over and over again, getting no sleep, even with the help of Hakutaku's medicine. Why had Hozuki kissed her? How did he feel about her? How did she feel about him? And most importantly: how should she behave around him

That led to her doing some deep thinking in the goldfish plant patch, hoping no one would notice her.

That didn't last long.

"Oh, (F/N)-san, good morning!"

She flinched. Nasubi was standing on the deck, arms full of scrolls, waving to her. Karauri, standing next to him, took a moment before noticing her.

"(F/N)-san, what are you doing there?" the boy asked, setting down his scroll delivery and running out to her.

She sighed, and dragged herself to her feet.

"It's complicated," she muttered, crossing her fingers in the hope that they wouldn't pry any further.

"What's complicated?" Nasubi demanded, scampering over.

Karauri glared at him, and (F/N) sighed.

"It's not something you can tell anyone else," she explained further. "Can you guys keep a secret?"

"Yep!" Nasubi chirped.

"He can't," Karauri muttered.

(F/N) crossed her arms. "Then I can't tell you."

Nasubi's shoulders slumped. (F/N) relaxed for a moment as Karauri dragged him away, and tensed again when Karauri returned.

"Well, you know," he mumbled. "Ican keep a secret."

"That was a rhetorical question," (F/N) explained. "It's not a secret if I tell you. Honestly, though..." she trailed off. "It might be better if I talk to someone about it."

She plodded over to the porch, sitting on the steps Karauri and Nasubi sat on either side of her, and waited eagerly for her to speak.

She made sure to pause for dramatic affect before telling them.

"Hozuki-kun kissed me."

Karauri's jaw dropped. Nasubi's eyes lit up, and he pulled a paper and pencil from his sleeves.

"You are not drawing it!" (F/N) snapped, smacking his head and turning to Karauri. "What do I do? How do I behave around him now?"

"Um...I honestly don't know," Karauri answered. "I mean—I've never even kissed an ordinary girl, much less someone like Hozuki-sama!"

(F/N) slapped her forehead. "Of course! Ugh...what do I do?"

She slumped over. Karauri flinched and jumped to his feet.

"I—I mean, its not that bad! Hozuki-sama's smart! He wouldn't have done something like that without a good reason!"

(F/N) narrowed her eyes at him. "I think you're overestimating him just a little. Even if he had a reason, or somehow planned that ahead of time, there's no guarantee he has feelings for me, and if he doesn't...I would be really hurt." She closed her eyes. "Hozuki-kun is very important to me. I don't want our friendship to suffer."

"(F/N)-san...please excuse my forwardness, but are you in love with Hozuki-sama?"

(F/N) took a breath, ready to do her usual routine of shouting and acting like that was a ridiculous notion, but she paused for a moment. Here she was, near tears over her relationship with this man.

There was no way she could hide it at this point.

"Yes," she admitted, her voice sounding almost foreign as it left her lips. "I'm in love with Hozuki-kun."

Nasubi gasped, dropping his art supplies and turning towards her. "That's great, (F/N)-san! You should tell him!"

"Why?"

From her other side, Karauri piped up. "Well, I don't know for sure, but I've read that even if your confession is rejected, you'll feel better getting it out."

"I've already gotten it out to you guys," (F/N) protested. "And you have no room to talk, Karauri-kun."

Karauri flinched. "True, but the thing is, Oko-chan is amazing, and I'm just me. But you, (F/N)-san—"

She held up a hand to stop him. "I know what you're going to say, Karauri-kun, but I should remind you that you know nothing about me. And all you need to know is: I'm going to Hell."

Karauri froze, eyes wide, staring at her. Nasubi flinched, and (F/N) wondered what was wrong. Had neither of them realized this?

"Do you want to go to Hell?" Karauri asked her.

(F/N) hesitated. "I suppose, it's what I deserve. So, in that sense, I do want to go to Hell."

"(F/N)-san," Karauri murmured. "I've been meaning to ask you this for a long time, but what exactly did you do?"

"I—"

A nearby door slammed open, and (F/N) looked up to see Hozuki standing there, a scowl on his face.

"Crap," (F/N) said, cringing. "I lost track of time, didn't I?"

Karauri and Nasubi grabbed their work, and scrambled off, leaving her alone with the angry demon.

"You're late," Hozuki told her.

"I gathered."

His gaze was fixed on her, and she felt her face turning red.

"Can you handle the inspection of Animal Torturer Hell?" He asked.

(F/N) perked up. "Of course!"

She scrambled to her feet, and dashed off. Hozuki grabbed the back of her kimono, stopping her.

This feels awfully familiar.

Only this time, it wasn't his lips that hit her.

"About last night, I apologize. I shouldn't have done that. We should keep our relationship that of coworkers, and nothing more."

And with that, her heart broke.