Wish ~Yato x Reader AU~

Chapter 4: The Stranger in the Street

Okay...so...where in the actual fuck is this place? I ponder, making my way down yet another small street. I've spent the last fifteen minutes looking for this place -which may not seem like a long period of time but given that this place isn't a city like Tokyo, it's a tad ridiculous. In a small village such as this, I shouldn't be struggling to find my true destination. If anything, I should have already stumbled across this place. Should have...I should have found it, anyway.

I glimpse down at the flyer resting in my clutch, searching for an address. I find it and begin to search upon the infrastructures around me, at which I frown. These numbers are nowhere near the numbers that match the boutique. In fact, they're nowhere near the address. 777, on block seven. I scan around me. Not only do the addresses not match, but neither does the block. I'm on block twelve, which means I can't be that far from where I want to go. But...which way do I want to go?

In my veil of frustration, I completely didn't keep track of where I have been going this whole time, meaning I'm lost. I'm lost and in a place I'm not familiar with, which is making me feel uneasy. It'd be one thing if I was lost in Tokyo, but here...here I just feel trapped and like there's no way out. My chest tightens as my breathing becomes heavy, my heart slamming itself against my ribs. A knot is forming in my stomach, making me feel sick -like I'm going to throw up.

Anxiety.

It's all anxiety induced. I know it is. Logically, I know that I have no rational reason to be freaking out and that I can easily compose myself and figure out where I am. Logically, I know I am intelligent enough to maneuver my way out of this situation. Logically, I can do that, but emotionally, I'm petrified.

I'm about to start hyperventilating when a soft voice questions, "Are you alright?"

Slightly startled, I turn to see a stunning girl roughly my age with long, dark brunette locks pulled back into a ponytail, revealing her soft features. She disarms my uneasiness right away with her warm smile that reaches her alluring magenta eyes as gentle blush dust across her fair complexion. She is dressed in a thick jacket that is buttoned up and a pair of black jeggings, both of which must be shielding her from the ocean's nippy breeze as it rolls in from the coast. Altogether, she is a very pretty looking girl. But that's all I can conclude for certain.

"Are you alright?" she repeats, moving closer to me. "I didn't mean to startle you or anything. You just looked a little panicked." She stops before me and tilts her head to the side. "I've never seen you around here before. Are you lost?"

I fidget with my bag's strap before nodding, "Actually...yes. I seem to have gotten a little turned around at some point while looking for somewhere."

"Maybe I can help," she beams. "Where is it that you're trying to get to?"

"Seven," I reply. "It's a boutique. The flyer said -"

"You must be talking about Mr. Sui's ad!" she gushes, interrupting me.

Her brilliant orbs meet mine directly as she once again takes another step closer to me. Honestly, I typically don't mind people being in my personal bubble, but I don't know this girl. I don't know her, and she is deliberately invading my personal space with no real reason to. I mean, we're not crammed onto one of Tokyo's subways or walking down a crowded street. In fact, there's no one else here, so there's more than enough space for the two of us to stand at an appropriate distance apart. However, this girl -this...stranger- is way too close for comfort. There's always a few parts of my H/P (your home place -city/country/whatever) upbringing that is hard to kill.

I take a slight step back and clear my throat, shrugging, "I suppose...if this Mr. Sui is in charge of the same Seven, we're both thinking about, that is."

She nods happily, "He is. It's the only boutique in town with that name and Mr. Sui is its proud owner."

Honestly, I shouldn't be surprised. This is a village. In comparison to cities like Tokyo and Osaka, Nora is merely a pond next to the sea. So, of course, it's unlikely there'd be few to no other boutiques with the same name. That'd just be stupid and redundant.

"If you want," she continues, "I could take you there. I actually work at the café next door to Seven."

I wave my hands dismissively. "Oh, I couldn't ask you to do that. I don't want to be a bother."

"It wouldn't be a bother," she smiles kindly. "My shift is about to start, so it would just be on my way."

"Are you sure?" I press, lifting a brow.

"Of course!" she beams. "It's no trouble. Just follow me."

I just nod in agreement and we begin walking, making our way down the street. Though this place is so small and foreign to me, I must admit that it has a quaint and old vibe to it. As I've progressed from street to street over time, I've realized they're all well-maintained cobble streets that almost make me think of a fairytale. And, honestly, I never really expected to see anything like that in Japan. I mean, I thought cobblestone was more popular in Western cultures like in Europe and the Americas. But, sure enough, in this country blended with old and new lies a gem like this.

I am lost in my thoughts when my guide turns to me and grins, "By the way, I'm Iki Hiyori, but you can just call me Hiyori."

I swallow, "L/N (your last name) Y/N, though I prefer just Y/N."

Iki. Iki...where have I heard that name?

"Y/N," she repeats. "A very pretty name. That's not a name from here, but then again, I'm assuming neither are you." She holds her hands up dismissively, adding hurriedly, "N-not to offend or intrude, that is."

I flash her a friendly smile and shrug, "You're fine." I shove my hands into my pockets and continue, "Besides, you're right. I'm not from here."

I can feel Hiyori's unique eyes peer into me as we walk. It is clear that she is searching me, but I merely brush that aside. She can scan and dig into me as much as she wants, but she won't find much. After all, it's not like I'm this mysterious book character with a back story that needs to be decoded. I'm just a girl. I'm just one girl who is trying to start a new life in a new place. That's all. Nothing less and nothing more. So, she can search and look all she wants, but there's nothing to find.

"So, Y/N," she presses, remaining as friendly as ever. "If you don't mind me asking, where are you from?"

I inhale before replying, "Well, I was born in H/P, but I've lived in Osaka for the last six years."

"Oh, wow," she says, a hint of surprise pulling at the edge of her tone. "You came all the way here from Osaka? That's a long trip."

I shake my head. "Well, not really. I moved to Tokyo recently, but things aren't really going my way at the moment." I fidget with my strap. "I'm hoping things will get better from here."

Once again, Hiyori's stare locks onto me. This girl...this stranger that I do not know is trying her hardest to piece me together. However, there's nothing to figure out. I merely just accept her curious stare as the same gazes I've received over the years living in Japan. Just innocent curiosity.

"Well, I hope the same for you," Hiyori gushes. "I'm sure your luck will turn around from here, Y/N."

**Bello my wonderfully sweet lovelies! Once again, you can see some similarities between this new version and the older version of this story (if you read the original, that is). I will say, I definitely prefer the newer versions. But that's just me. I hope y'all like it too! If ya do, ya know the drill. As always, thank you so much for all your support! It will always mean so much to me! Stay fresh! Wuv yous!! <3**

-Noel Ross