Silence fills Otose Snack House, the only occasional noise coming from the clinging of cutlery-against-cup when Otose mixes a drink. Otose looks into the booth that Shinpachi and Kagura share, both sullen-faced and tired.
She herself isn't doing much better, with an unusually down look to her. She sighs and walks over to the two teenagers, placing two cups in front of them.
"It's juice," she breaks the silence, "drink it and feel a bit better."
As she returns to the bench and picks up a plate to wash, she notices Kagura push the drink away and Shinpachi only take a sip, not even muttering a 'thank you'. Otose bites the inside of her cheek; things really have not been the same since Gintoki and (Name) split up.
The upstairs room became quieter and less energetic, with Gintoki eventually even locking himself inside for days upon end and, according to Kagura, the most frequent visitor, barely eating. The Otose Snack House itself became emptier, too, without the silver-haired Samurai calling her names and yelling at Kagura for overeating.
Not to mention the complete disappearance of (Name), who hadn't even walked past. Otose sighs heavily, shaking the negativity out of her head.
"Shinpachi, Kagura," Otose calls, placing the freshly washed plate aside to air-dry and drying her hands.
"Watch the shop for me, will you? Catherine isn't back yet and I've gotta go knock some sense into the stupid man upstairs."
She doesn't wait to listen to the calls of the teenagers, instead leaving the shop and walking up the stairs leading to the room she rents out. She knocks on the door.
"Hey, Gintoki," she begins, "you owe me this month and last month's rent."
She doesn't receive a reply, as she expected, so she heaves a sigh and opens the door herself. Muttering a greeting as she closes the door behind her, Otose walks into the silent house.
"Gintoki," she calls.
"Gintoki," she calls again, louder this time while searching the open rooms.
"Gintoki!" She snaps,flinging the door to his bedroom open and seeing the familiar perm-hair sticking out from under a blanket.
She sighs to herself and walks over to the futon, ripping the blanket off the male who mutters, "What is it? Ah, why are you here, old hag...?"
With her hands on her hips, Otose scowls. "Gintoki. Look at yourself."
She gestures to his unhealthily slim figure, her hand pointing to his face where his cheekbones are prominent, showing just how little he's been eating, and his swelled, red eyes.
"Do you know how long it's been?" She asks, a rough tone to her voice.
Gintoki turns to face the other way.
"I don't know. A week?"
Otose's eyebrows furrow.
"It's been three. Three weeks, Gintoki. You're driving us crazy. Shinpachi and Kagura are worried sick about you. How can you just lie there, ignoring everyone who cares about you?" She snaps, concern lacing her undertone. When she's met with silence she sighs.
"I know it's hard. But you can't just hole yourself up in your room for weeks on end and push out the people who try to help you."
She watches Gintoki lie still, his back to her, and rubs her forehead. She's quiet for a moment.
"...I won't say anything else. But for the record, I think you need to go and tell her if you're regretting what you said. It'll only be harder for both of you if you don't."
With that, Otose gently shuts the door and leaves the rental home, leaving a glassy-eyed Gintoki.
YOU ARE READING
Sweet as Honey 「Sakata Gintoki x Reader」
Fanfiction「Sakata Gintoki x F!Reader」Gintoki always had his cravings, of course. Strawberry milk, chocolate parfait, you name it. And yet, none of the cravings were quite as strong as the cravings he felt for her lips to be pressed against his. © Gintama by...
