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

Chapter 16

(F/N) sat frantically trying to get some finances in order. Whoever thought it was a good idea to spend three hundred thousand yen extra on higher-quality molten copper was going to meet the pointy end of her sword.

Something hit the ground with a thump behind her, and she jumped in her seat, yelping. She turned to find that Shiro had just tripped over his tail, sending him sprawling on the floor.

"You okay?" she asked.

Shiro jumped to his feet, tail wagging. "I'm fine, (L/N)-san!"

She smiled at him, and turned back to her work, but not before noting Hozuki staring at her.

"I'm okay," she said, partly to him and partly to herself. "I was just startled, that's all."

Hozuki looked her over before turning back to the papers he was rifling through. "Really? You've been very jumpy since that nightmare."

She tilted her head. "Have I? Is this not normal for me?"

She honestly didn't know the answer. Ever since Hozuki's rejection after the kiss, she'd felt like she was walking through fog. Something about the nightmare, or perhaps Hozuki's response to the nightmare, pulled her out. She could smile again, but she wasn't sure if she was exactly 'normal.'

'You're no good for anything other than killing.'

She flinched as Yata's voice intruded on her thoughts. She shook her head to clear it, and looked over to where Hozuki was sitting. She smiled at his focused expression. He really was very hot.

She heaved a sigh, and stood up, attaching her paperwork to a sturdy clipboard before crossing to Hozuki's side of the room and plopping into his lap.

She expected him to scold her, or at least have some reaction, but he simply moved so he could see over her head, and slipped his non-dominant arm around her waist.

(F/N) grinned like an idiot, and resumed her work while humming to herself. She couldn't imagine life getting any better.

Then she remembered her judgment was in three weeks time. A hug from Hozuki wasn't going to save her then.

(F/N) pounded on the door to the pharmacy. "Oi, old man! Open up!"

She heard a loud crash on the other side, and moments later, the door creaked open. Hakutaku stood in the doorway, shirtless with an icepack on his forehead.

"Can't you read the sign?" he slurred. "It says closed...C-O-L—I mean, C-L-O—"

"Haku-kun, it's me."

He stared at her, and she chuckled.

"Do you have so few friends, you've forgotten this is also your house?"

He perked up, ignoring the jab at his social life. "Ah, (F/N)-chan! What brings you here so early in the morning?"

"It's twelve p.m.," she pointed out, "and I just came to chat."

He was about to step aside so she could enter, but hesitated.

"You didn't bring your boyfriend, did you?"

(F/N) pushed past him. She knew there was something wrong with his statement, but couldn't figure out what it was.

"No," she replied. "I have the day off today, Hozuki-kun doesn't. You don't have to worry." She plopped down at a table. "Do you have any alcohol? Hozuki-kun's told every bar in Hell not to serve me."