"sir, i'm afraid you're mistaken. i'm a mere maid of low status. huh, what's my name? felicity. what no! i'm not lying to you, that is my real name, i assure you. uh how to spell it out? well, f - e - l- i -c - iâoh, you're testing my intellectual skills, am i right? i might've had access to some books but i didn't really understand any of it. i'm serious!"
LINKS: carrd âą before you follow âą do not interact âą interactions from @felinteract âą co-owner & founder of @d1strict99
you were way too drunk, you realized it too late as you stumbled into somebody at some random house party. they caught you by the waist before you could fall. your vision was hazy, your eyes were glassy, but even through your bottle-induced haze, you saw those piercing red eyes staring back at you.
â...youâre pretty.â you muttered stupidly, allowing this familiar stranger to help you slump onto the couch. you couldnât tell if they were drunk too, or if your compliment had gotten to them, but his face had an undeniable blush spread across it.. â..thanks. youâre drunk.â his voice was gruff, yet soothing. you would hear it all day. you wanted to.
âoh really? i couldnât tell.â
he let out a scoff at that, seemingly annoyed with you. but he didn't move from his position next to you.
â.. he does this a lot too.â there was a pause after you said that, as if the stranger was contemplating on whether or not to ask further. he brushed a hand through his unruly blonde hair, âwhoâs he?â
âmy ex. he acted juuust like you.â you booped his nose as if for emphasis. âheâd act all tough, but he didnât leave me. well, i guess he did leave, but that's besides the point.â
you didnât see anyone next to you for a brief moment, making you think you hallucinated the whole thing, before a bottle of water was abruptly shoved in your face. âdrink.â
he slid next to you again like it was natural, his hand moved to go around you by instinct, before he retracted it, you grabbed onto his arm. â..please.â
as if on cue he cradled you to his chest, taking the opportunity to press his head against the top of yours. âyou feel like him too.â you mumbled, âsweaty hands and everything.â
he didnât laugh, but you felt his smile against your head.
it was comforting, the best youâd felt in the months following your break up. you felt the drowsiness overcoming you, prompting you to move your head closer to his chest and lay against his heart. it felt like the same heart that served as your lullaby for years.
â..i hope he misses me.â your eyes were closed, that familiar feeling of comfort and space welcoming you, though the last words that echo through your mind and fuel your dreams sound just like katsukiâs.
mic test, mic test, mic test... WELCOME TO DISCTRICT 99 !! a network focused on creating events and building a community of writers. we welcome creators from various fandoms, including but not limited to hyv games, jjk, l&ds, haikyuu, bsd, and alnst.
WHY CHOOSE US ?! (pick us, choose us, love us)
exposure and interaction ! â
whether you're a fresh writer, a seasoned writer, or a returning writer, we accept anyone and everyone. works are guaranteed to be promoted and shared for more traction!
a safe space for everyone <3
district 99 is a supportive, inclusive, and drama-free zone. we believe in uplifting each other and creating a welcoming space for all writers and fandom enjoyers :))
feedback and support !
we're not just about postingâour admins and members are here to support you! get feedback, hype, and constructive comments on your work from fellow writers who genuinely care about your growth.
COME JOIN US, WE OFFER...
WRITER OF THE MONTH, or what we call, the WOM(P)ÂČ. this is given to writers who had excellent performance during the month. those who went above and beyond with their craft, showed remarkable dedication on their works, and who stood out. respective awards / gifts will be given to them as a way of appreciation to what they are doing.
WRITING EVENTS. we have events scheduled at least every month, aligning with holidays such as halloween, christmas, and valentine's day. awards are given to the selected writers who have participated and posted their works, and have excelled in their chosen categories (one-shots, headcanons, and drabbles). this is not a competition but rather a celebration of creativity and expression.
to ensure further improvement for the events, we will be issuing a feedback or suggestion form
a DISCORD SERVER with network-exclusive events. if timezone allows us, we will be having movie nights, gaming nights, and such to keep everyone engaged! this will provide an opportunity for new friendships, bonds, and fun memories.
BUT WAIT, WHAT EVEN IS HAPPENING IN THE SERVER?!
we have the same question too! we currently have...
001. D99 CAMPING IN VC where anything and everything happens ! body doubling sessions, movie marathons (where we spam the chat 'im scared'), and even just to chat or keep each other company ; we constantly try to break the record everytime okay...
002. get QUOTED for your inspiring words (these are only some of it)!
003. HAVE LOTS OF WORK TO DO? don't worry, everyone too (misery loves company)! here in the server, we strive for accountability and balding zhongli
004. witness everybody's crashouts, ramblings, and thoughts (the #spam channel have seen better days) and be there through it all ! talk about your OCs, favorite work, current wip, your rotting drafts in ellipsus or google docs, or about your day in general. the community welcomes and appreciates you for simply being here :))
interested? read the rules and make sure that you understand them. ready to join now? look forward to the announcement.
SYNOPSIS: after numerous failed arranged marriages set up by your parents, you thought the one with the vice-captain would follow the same pattern. you're proven wrong when he subverts what an expected greeting should be given.
đ„ WORDCOUNT: 3.3k (pls give it a chance...) â đ„ TAGS. @millurie @axolotsofluv @tragedy-of-commons @al97649 @bisouyuo @aritsukemo -> come join the taglist here!
đ„ WARNINGS: mentions of beer and drinking, reader is from snezhnaya and has a dendro vision, reader also has lowkey/implied mommy issues, mentions blood and a wound, arrange marriages obv, cameo for varka, ragbros, jean, lisa, and albedo; not fully proofread; expect mistakes!
âȘ FINAL NOTES .á this one is for my fav lohen kissers ari and yuomi đ€đ€i genuinely didn't expect for this to b this long but oh well. art credits: @.su3ka_ on x!
"you are to be wedded to the vice-captain of the fifth company."
that's how it all began â a simple dinner with your parents as they dropped the bomb of your new marriage candidate. you tried your best not to appear vexed. keyword: tried. but unlike you're ever admirable cousin, jean, your face gave away more than your words ever could.
your brow twitched, the small fork in your hand clattered to the porcelain plate. your mother threw a disapproving glare, while your father coughed into his fist. "now, [name], my dearâ"
"don't "my dear" me, father." you bark out, "what happened to giving up on setting me up for another failing marriage."
"you haven't even met the vice-captain," he argued.
you rolled your eyes in bemusement, "and you have? what happened to not involving yourself with 'pitiful, mongering barbarian?""
"your marriage has been decided," he stated sternly. he set his utensils with force enough to rattle the entire table as he raised his head like he always did when someone challenged his authority as a duke. "you are to be wed to vice-captain lohen." a tired sigh escaped him, a gloved hand pinched between his brows as he heard you stand from your seat and dash out the dining room. "arranged marriages aren't all so bad, [name]!"
"not all bad, you say?!" you shouted from across the corridor. "take a look at your relationship with mother before you say that!"
your family arrived in mondstadt at dawn. the trip to dorman port was as you expectedâhumid, and all too bright in comparison to the snow of snezhnaya. the people smiled often, too, you noticed. well, you supposed this was the land of freedom after all. you're quite tempted to see where the winds would take you when all you've grown up with are the blizzards and snowstorms that knock at your windows like an incessant friend who can't take no for an answer.
still, despite your curiosity about what the wild berries in the bushes would taste like, you willed your feet to stay rooted at the docks. your father greeted everyone as usual; your mother hid half her face in disdain behind her fan. like you, she had a lot to say about the weather, but you doubt she'd sugarcoat any unpleasant comments she had. people have told you that you took after her the most â too straightforward, too quippy, too wild to be a duke's heir.
"and you must be the duke's heir," a voice commented. you snapped your head up to the noise and realized, in mortification, that you had to crane your neck to even meet his eyes. you grip the silk of your apparel in alarm. "i'm varka. knight of boreas, grandmaster of the knight of favonious!"
the grandmaster pressed a closed fist to his chest, a grin plastered on his face as he bowed his head. "from now on, you will be in our care. if you encounter any problems, please don't hesitate to inform me. or lohen."
lohen.
you wondered what he's like.
as varka stood back to his full height, he offered you a hand to guide you to the horse you'll be riding to the city. "the roads are treacherous here, your grace. using a carriage will only lengthen the time to get to the city." he had explained earlier when your mother had complained at the lack of proper transportation. you sighed in dismay when she threw another hissy fit, your father right behind her as he guided her onto the horse, gathering the many layers of her gown. he was probably chastising her for not heeding his warnings. you turned around and let varka lift you to the saddle (and when i say lift, i mean lift. the man even had the audacity to laugh and ask if you were eating properly.)
you tuned out the rest of mother's tantrum in favor of soaking in the sights of your new home. it was⊠starkly different. you could actually see the path, albeit it was⊠unrecognizable; wild flowers bloomed from the soil, and small critters would gather atop rock formations to tilt their heads at you. when you thought no one was looking, you gave them a small wave. a smile bloomed on your face when the small squirrel jumped in delight before scurrying away with its friend.
"you're quite the charmer, your highness." you turned to your left and watched as varka reign his horse slow it's pace and match yours. his sky-lit eyes eventually fell on the mount you had been riding, a low whistle escaping his lips. "that horse you're riding is infamous for throwing off any rider that touches his saddle."
you feel your anxiety spike, quickly looked down to your horse before you calmed down. "you should've said that earlier, grandmasterâŠ"
he laughed, hearty and whole. like the feeling of joy existed in the air that wafted in the surroundings and encompassed the space of his lungs. "ha, ha, ha! i heard rumors about you being blessed by mother nature herself, your highness! ah, forgive me. i know i shouldn't indulge in such rumors but the moment you had stepped off that boat, i had a feeling you were special."
you blinked up at him (cursing the very obvious gap in your heights in your mind) and couldn't stop yourself from asking, "why is vice-captain lohen here?"
there's a shift in the air. subtle, almost as if it never happened to begin with. but you saw it. the way varka's eyes widened for just a fraction, how they looked at anything but you, and how he changed the subject faster than any warning of an avalanche you've heard.
mondstadt was welcoming. welcoming enough for your father â all up-tight, and no funny business â to indulge in a few rounds of beer in a quaint bar in a corner. "it's angel's share," you're mother informed, already half-way through her glass of champagne when she found you in a dark corner on the second floor. "owned by the most sought after bachelor in mondstadt â diluc ragnvindr."
"if he's so sought after, why wasn't he a candidate?" you asked, swirling the apple cider in your glass.
"naive child, i've told you numerous times already. he could have been, if you hadn't burned his letter in the fireplace like a fool."
ah, now you remembered. you were high on emotions that night and the thought of leaving home with a man you didn't know sent you into a spiralling tantrum that ended with you burning the stacks of marriage proposals on your father's desk. you distinctively remembered a burgundy envelope and an owl seal amongst them.
you took a careful peek at your mother who had dropped herself on the seat in front of you, much to your disdain. when she clicked her tongue, you took it as your cue to let your gaze fall like it always had in her presence.
"because of your foolish mistake, you're stuck with this half-witted, war-mongering vice-captain."
"'warn mongering'?" you asked.
she rolled her eyes at you, drinking the remaining champagne and slammed the delicate glass in front of you. "the boy is a monster, [name]." she said, "that lohen is unbecoming. i can't wrap my mind around how he, of all people was accepted into the knights."
the way she said lohen's name â as if the very letters seared her tongue and offended her existence â made something churn in your stomach. you didn't know him, you reminded yourself, there's no point in defending him. in fact, with varka's prior reaction to you questioning his whereabouts, you're left with little but too much all the same; lohen was someone distasteful to be around.
"are you even listening to me, [name]?!" your mother rattled, "listen to me, dear archons above what have i done to deserve such a disobedient childâ"
you stood from your seat, the legs of your chair dragging across the floors before it dropped with a painfully loud thud. chatter paused, songs finished abruptly, and you simply smiled. "i'm tired, i'll be retiring for the day." you excused yourself from the others, bolting to the stairs, only to be stopped when the grandmaster weaved himself between you and the exit.
"now, your highness, you can't leave yet!" he said, one hand still holding a wooden mug of beer.
you raised a brow at him, your patience growing thin when he continues to block your path regardless of what step you took. "grandmaster," you warned. "please, step aside."
but he only shook his head, a finger scratched his chin while his eyes darted across the many faces in the bar. "y-you can't!"
"and why not?"
"because⊠um⊠you see, we were, umâŠ"
while he was busy thinking fo an excuse, you sent out a silent prayer to the tsaritsa that barbatos doesn't smite you for landing a blow on one of his knights (though calling it a blow would be an exaggeration when the grandmaster was double, if not triple your body mass). at best, you had landed a strong enough blow to his side to tickle, tickle, him to drop his guard and wheeze out of your way.
finally! you thought. you were almost free from this stuffy, beer-stinking room!
but as you opened the door, a force from the other side pulled it forward, taking you along with it. everyone gasped, and you shut your eyes to brace for the impact, already imagining the scolding you were about to receive if even a single scratch were to grace your face. but it never came.
instead, heavy and dirtied hands caught you by the forearms as your face planted into someone's uniform stained with blood. you stayed there for a moment longer than what would be considered necessary.
"well, ain't this a lovely first meeting, your highness!"
you felt the blood drain from your face as you realized who you had just fallen into. with a heavy sigh and grumbled curses, you lift your head enough to catch a glimpse of a face that did not match the tone of his voice. his eyes were something straight out of a fairytale, but it's not what you'd describe as "princely" or even a "knight" â they had no light, like never-ending, encompassing pool of carmine that bleeds into the sky.
your mother was right, lohen was a monster.
"what? do i have something on my face?" he asked, and you're mortified to realize that you had been caught staring right into a rabbit hole of his gaze. the pads of his gloves dragged from your forearms down to cup your palms â gentle, sure. you think you can feel the callouses from how he uses his weapons, and yet⊠"you okay there? i'm starting to think i'm not the only delusional one here." he joked with a chuckle under his breath.
"excuse me?"
"just a joke! no need to be offended, your highness," he assured you, but it did little to quell the somersaults that your stomach continued to perform. his skin was pale, maybe as pale as the snow back at home, and there's a single guiding star beneath the right of his eye. his mouth moved, and you thought what he said was funny when the other patrons laughed. but you didn't hear it. not when your hand, the one your father swore would never know the feeling of blood, dragged a thumb over the bleeding scratch that etched his cheekbone down to the side of his chin.
"what a wound. it must be painful," you muttered before a familiar condensation of dendro energy pooled at where the blood continued to stain his cheeks. "hold still," you asked, and against everyone's expectations, lohen did as you asked. he stood still, very still. when half of the wound had closed, you began to wonder if he was even breathing.
when his cheek was fully healed, only then did you finally breathe out a sigh of relief. noticing how the room had gone quiet, you became acutely aware how little distance was left between you and the vice-captain. with reddening cheeks, you let out a cough into your first, and stepped back. the warmth of his hold left a scalding trail on your skin that raised the hairs yet left you wanting for more, all the same.
lohen stumbled back, too. a hand clumsily tugging at the collar of his uniform, before both hands dusted down his shirt, cursing when he realized blood had managed to stain the spot you had planted your face in. when your eyes met again, you noticed the obvious flustering of his cheeks. it contrasted nicely against his pale, snow-stricken complexion. and it made the blush that crept up his ears all the more obvious.
your staring context was broken when you hear a snort from behind you. your head whipped to see the culprit, only to find varka ducking his head down just as you glared at him. he waved a hand in apology, setting his cup of beer down the counter, and going past you just to stand besides lohen.
lohen rolled his eyes, shrugged off varka's hand on his shoulder before reaching for something behind him. "can you tell me something i don't know, grandmaster? i do more than just fighting, you know."
"that's rather hard to believe, but sure! whatever you say!"
annoyed by his superior, lohen swiftly delivered an undamaging kick to the grandmaster's shin. the latter only laughed at his attempt, before shoving him forward, nearly sending you both toppling over if you had not caught him by the shoulders as he did with you.
"stupid grandmaster, i don't need your help," he grumbled under his breath.
you tilted your head curiously, slotting you perfectly in his visage that he stumbles over the next few words. "help with what?"
you heard the other knights holler and whistle, the grandmaster behind him laughed even harder as he passed you both, taking up his previous station by the bar and watching with amused eyes. "the same reason why he wasn't there to greet you when you arrived, your highness!" varka explained. "come on lohen, don't get all shy on us now! you we're all fire and spirit when you proposed the idea, where's that spirit gone?"
"drowned by your noise if you don't shut the hell up!" lohen shouted amidst the sea of laughter and cheering. "damned nosy assholes. who even said you were in on the plan in the first place?!"
"i'm⊠a little lost."
as he finally remembered who he was in proximity with, the blush on his face worsened, and the cheering grew louder. he slipped from your hold, taking a deep breath and continuing his grumbling, throwing a glare at the head that belonged to the grandmaster as he finally fixed his posture.
couhing into his fist, lohen did one final lookover his appearance â fixing the collar of his shirt, dusting down his cape, and brushing the bangs over his eyes. he took one step, then another, until he was only an arm's length away and you had to stop the squeek that nearly slipped from your throat when he took your hand in his, while the hand behind his back revealed a bouquet of local flowers in mondstadt.
"'welcome to mondstadt, my fiance.' now where, pray tell, did you learn to smooth-talk like that, lohen?"
the vice-captain only rolled his eyes. he continued wiping down his spear in jean's office (why it had to be here, lohen didn't know. and fankly, he was too tired to know.). "it was a formal welcome. since all you wanted to act like a stick had stuck up your ass, i decided to be⊠more me."
"more you, as in revealing your year-long crush on the duke's heir?"
"when have i said that?!"
albedo and kaeya shrugged, but the all-knowing and teasing smiles on their faces had lohen's heart hammering in his chest. when lisa chuckled and closed her book, only then did he realize that he had abruptly stood from his seat, his polearm lay forgotten on the floor along with the cloth he was using to clean it.
"now, now, don't tease him you two. it must have been hard to gather all those flowers in starsnatch cliff with the activity of the abyss."
"thank youâ"
"and confessing isn't exactly an easy thing to prepare for! the fact he even showed up is a miracle in and of itself."
"lisa?!"
"enough, you three."
when jean arrived, only then could lohen relax and sit back down on his seat. he picked up his polearm and glared at kaeya when the man snickered at him.
"now that we're all here, we will be discussing the appropriate accomodations to the duke and his family," jean's eyes landed on lohen first. "thankfully, master diluc had agreed to house them for a while until we finish the deal with northland bank." then, she nodded towards lisa and albedo's direction, "the duke's only request is that their highness's studies in alchemy to be continued, so i'll be trusting you both in that regard."
"thank you for trusting us, dear jean."
"yes, we'll do our utmost best."
jean smiled, shoulders finally relaxing, "that leaves kaeya and me with managing their transportation when the duke and duchess return. now lohen," the vice-captain stiffened. a shiver ran down his spine when he met jean's eyes and watched in horror as even her lips tugged into a teasing smile. "it'll be your job to assist them in any and every field. you are their hand-picked knight, ensure that they remain safe until the weeding."
"it offends me that you think i can't even do something as simple as that," lohen complained.
"ah, ah. i'm not finished.
"huh?"
jean smiled, in fact, everyone in the room smiled. and lohen felt cold, ice water was dumped over his head when the next words followed.
SYNOPSIS: When youâre set up to go on a date with your companyâs bossâs youngest son, Naoya Zenin, it was supposed to be a mere play-pretend relationship. But what happens when you actually catch feelings along the way?
WORDCOUNT: 10.7k (don't ask me how) | CONTENT & WARNINGS: naoya is a warning himself so you can already guess whats about to come, reader doesn't want to deal with his bs but she also can't help being attracted to him (same), ooc!naoya, bicker/banter, smoking, kissing, drinking; oneshot
TAG LIST: @aritsukemo, @sugary-strawberry-shortcake
AUTHOR'S NOTE: he's too fine to be doing ts bruh
âLetâs pay then.âÂ
Across the white-clad table sits none other than your companyâs boss's son: Naoya Zenin, wearing a now red-stained dress shirt that, unfortunately, looks too good on him, and is raising his hand to call out to the waitress for the bill. Â
Not even in your dreams would you ever go on a date with Naoya Zenin, so how'd you get tangled up in this mess?
From your workplace to the bar it takes around half an hour by train and five more minutes on foot. It takes some time, but in the meantime you spend observing the people you pass by. Â
There are other people like youâbusinesspeople commuting and tiredly staring at their phones, checking the time, teenage girls dressed in short skirts and hiding bottles of absolute vodka in their absolutely too small purses, students who look like theyâre on the brink of exhaustion and just want to lie down in their beds.
Back in high school, you thought everyone was exaggerating when they told you to enjoy your school and college times to the fullest, because âthose were the times when youâd see your friends the most.â
Joke's on you, because it turned out to be exactly as people described.
Nowadays, you are barely able to meet most of your friends, work gets in the way, someoneâs planning their wedding, and others are travelling the globe.
But there was one person you could always count on: your best friend Tsumiki. After graduation, when everyone started going their own separate ways, the two of you stayed together.Â
Despite everything that was happening, the two of you managed to meet every Friday in a bar of your choice and enjoyed a good glass of âwhateverâ together after an exhausting day of work.
Especially after today, first of all, your alarm didnât go off, and you barely managed to arrive in time; secondly, the printer decided that today would be a good day to give up, so you had to run to the copy shop down the street during your lunch break and if this wasnât enough, one of your co-workers called in sick for the beginning of next week, so now you have to pitch in for them during next weekâs report.Â
The meetings werenât bad per se; all you had to do was update your superiors about what your department was working on, the good things, the things that are still in the process, and new ideas. What was bad was with whom you had to do them, simply because you didn't know which of his sons your CEO would send this time.Â
The Zenin family has some kind of twisted sense of humor, because, yes, theyâre one of the most successful companies, but their way of treating their employees? Well, all you can hope for is that not one of the younger sons will be the one to evaluate you.
The train comes to a halt and announces the station's name; your cue to exit. Itâs a short walk, but you can still feel the ache in your feet from walking around in heels the whole day. Luckily for you, you arrive in no time.
As soon as the bell, which is strung to the door, rings, Tsumiki turns around and waves you over, delighted that you made it. Except her younger brother Megumi was here this timeâhis boyfriend Itadori tooâalong with their best friend Kugisaki.Â
Tsumiki slides over to the side to make room for you to set your bag down before sitting next to her. âWhat's your little brother doing here?â you eye Megumi, although he doesn't seem to pay much mind to it.Â
On the other hand, Yuji looks like heâs about to explode from nervousnessâKugisaki tooâbut from laughter.
âYou see,â she pauses for a moment and shoots you a sheepish smile. "He wanted to talk to you about something.â
âSo, you're telling me your family is fine with you marrying a man,â you recap what Megumi has just told you, âbut they draw the line at you getting married before Naoya?â Your finger traces along the rim of your glass, and you grimace, bewildered.
From your peripheral view, you can see Tsumiki and Kugisaki giggling to one another. âTrust me, I wouldnât go as far as asking you if I hadnât already tried everything else.â Megumi deadpans.
Thereâs a pregnant silence spanning around the room between Megumi's statement and your answer. âAnd now,â you begin, still not being able to wrap your head around this whole thing going on, âyou want me to go out with your cousin?âÂ
âMy condolences.â Kugisaki chirps in, âMaki told me that every time theyâre on family vacation together, he listens to these black pill songs in the shower.â She remarks. âLike unironically!â
Although he tries to hide it by muffling his mouth with his hand, Itadori is smiling from ear to ear. âHeâs on some crazy looksmaxxing shit.â He adds.
Next to him Megumi lets out an exasperated breath and side-eyes his friend before turning his attention on you again. âIâve never said anything about going out,â He drawls. âThose are your words now.â
Upon his words, you canât help but scoff. âIs âgo on a date with my cousinâ not the same as going out?â you exclaim, but youâve known Megumi long enough to know that heâs serious about this. âMegumi, he's my supervisor. I canât afford to lose my position.â A sigh accompanies your words.
âI know that, and I usually wouldnât even do this, but Naoya knows I want to marry, so heâs purposefully ruining every date his father sets him on.â Megumi furrows his eyebrows in frustration. âWell, heâs also an asshole, so the dates never work out,â Itadori adds offhandedly, before picking up his glass to empty it.
The conversation drifts from Megumi, Itadori, and Kugisaki commenting on the situation. âYou just have to pretend to like him, and as soon as he's like âyeah, sheâs the oneâ you can cut out the bullshit.â Kugisaki shrugs as if it were the easiest thing in the world.Â
âIâm only allowed to marry when heâs found someone, so please.â If you didn't know any better, Megumi is practically begging you to go out with Naoya.
âBut Megumi, my jobââ you interfere to make him stop, but heâs quick to cut you off before you can finish your sentence. âIâll also pay and handle the consequences. So please,â he frowns.
âCome on, it'll be a good story to tell your kids.â Tsumiki giggles, and you see the way thereâs a cheerful smile tugging at her lips. âYours and Naoyaâs kids, by the way.â Kugisaki comments, and Megumi throws her a blank stare. âDonât jinx it, Nobara.â Megumi mumbles and nudges her arm.Â
âFine, but I canât promise anything.â You tap your fingers against the wooden surface, already overcome with regret.
In all honesty, youâre not sure what made you agree; maybe it was the fact that the alcohol already took its effect, the pleading eyes Itadori threw at you, or the big stack of money Megumi slid over the table that kept growing every second you didnât answer.
Megumi sighs, his body visibly begins to relax, and the tension that was residing on his face starts to fade away. It wasnât obvious, but there was a small smile gracing his lips. âThank you.â
Okay, so, you lied. There are many things youâd do for your best friendâsheâs your better half after all, your soulmate, and unfortunately also the older sister of the guy who dragged you in this situation.Â
Sure, you like Megumi a lot and you really tried to give it your best to make this date somehow work, but your body gets a physical reaction as soon as Naoya Zenin dares to open his mouthâyouâd rather rip your ears off than listen to him talk any longer.
Honestly, he looks like heâd rather be anywhere else than here. For the past 40 minutes, heâs done nothing but pick apart his food, and see if âthey cooked it to his likingâ, glance at his wristwatch to see how much of your time he can still waste, or call for the waiter for the nth time to complain about the wine ânot being fermented enoughâ.Â
Admittedly, youâre no better. There are a couple of women sitting at the table behind you gossiping, and you canât help but overhear what theyâre talking about. Just as the one girl was getting to the interesting part, complaining about how her ex-boyfriend took his new girlfriend to the same restaurant she recommended to him on their first date, Naoya speaks up, and your eyes widen in surprise as he calls out to you.
âYouâre a friend of Megumi?â he doesnât even look at you as he asks and just continues cutting his food. The metal knife scratches against the porcelain plate and creates an unpleasant shrieking noise. âFriend of his sister,â you correct him and mimic him by dragging your fork along your plate.
Naoya's face contorts into an expression of disdain and finally spares you a glance. âHe told me youâre a friend of his, I thought at least someone whoâd I knew,â his amused remark, ânot some nobody.â is followed by tsk.
You donât answer, you donât want to answer, and you know better than to answer him because thatâs what he wantsâfor you to indulge in his provocations. But with every passing minute of him throwing blank stares at you, your resolve crumbles.
Instead, you pick up your glass of red wine thatâs been untouched the entire evening, because Naoya was whining left and right about the restaurant being some âtasteless tentâ whose food is âno better than dog foodâ.
To your surprise, the wine was really nice; it wasnât too sour, contrary to the cheap bottle you used to buy at your local corner shop when you and Tsumiki always tried to convince the cashier that you were old enough to buy alcohol.
Additionally, it was also just sweet enough for you to taste out the alcohol. Heâs got a good tasteâyouâll give him that.
Itâs like heâs watching you, because the second you put down your glassâmind you, not even a split second after it sits on the table againâNaoya dares to open his mouth again.Â
âWhatâs your job?â he asks, and you already sense the mocking intent behind his words. âI work at a company,â you say mindlessly and pick up your glass again to take a sip.
Sooner or later, heâd find out anywayâeven if youâd prefer not toâbut youâve already decided: this might be one of the top 5 worst dates youâve ever been on.
Also, itâs not like youâve lied to him anyway; itâs a white lie at best, and the chances of you ever running into Naoya ever again, in a workplace with hundreds of workers, are little to none.Â
Either way, he probably wouldnât recognise you anyway.
âNot a good paying one,â he smirks and diverts his eyes towards your body, âI can tell by the clothes you're wearing.âÂ
Well, this date just moved up to the top 4 worst dates ever.
You furrow your eyebrows in annoyance. âWhat can I say?â you let out a dry chuckle. âMy superior is a pain to be around and doesn't know where to invest his money.â Your words are followed by a mere shrug.
âOh yeah?â he asks, probably intending to interrogate you further. If it werenât Naoya Zenin asking you, youâd think it was almost a romantic gesture.
Keyword: almost.Â
âYeah.â You give him a tight-lipped smile, not willing to feed into his provocations any further. But, this doesnât tip men like Naoya offâmen who make it their purpose to ruin someone.Â
âHm, you were able to eat everything,â he crosses his arms over his chest, âIâm impressed.â He remarks mockingly, before taking a small sip from his glass. âItâs not often you meet a woman who has such a big appetite.â This time, he simply grins, and you hate to admit it, but his words are slowly getting under your skin.Â
Top 3 worst dates ever.
âYeah, you could learn from me.â You advise. âIf youâd actually eat the food they served you instead of whining, maybe youâd shut up for once.â
This finally seems to do the trick because you can see the way his jaw is tightening. âYou should learn how to behave like a proper woman.â Itâs quite funny seeing him lose his composure over such a measly comment. Itâs evident that he doesn't plan on giving up on harassing you. âI wonder who even hired someone like you.âÂ
Top 2 worst dates ever.
Well, he wonât have to ponder on it too longâshould he ever realize you work at the same company. âA woman should know where she belongs, and itâs certainly not at work.â He finalizes.
Well, this date officially took the first place for the worst date youâve ever been on.
Actually, what if this were your 13th reason? You donât respond to his comments, not because you want to give him the satisfaction heâs been looking for or agree with him, but because you know where you stand, and actually know what self-respect is. And you certainly know that Naoya isnât worth putting in effort for.
âOkay, so this isnât working out. Itadori, right when he said you're an asshole.â You sigh as you lean back in your chair, already hinting that youâre about to leave. Naoya has the audacity to tsk âThat guy just wants to marry his little boyfriend. I donât even know why you bother so much.â he cocks his head to the side, smirking at you.
There are certain levels of low, and you mightâve actually reached the lowest, because, yeah, this family affair is none of your business, and you shouldnât meddle in other peopleâs lives this much, but it seems Naoya never knows when to keep his mouth shut and when not. âOh my god, would it kill you not to have the last word for once?â you groan, and in the midst of your complaint, your hand hits your half-full wine glass and knocks it over.Â
Thereâs nothing you can do to stop the liquid from escaping the glass; it already ruined the white tablecloth and spilled onto Naoyaâs (now once) white dress shirt.
âFuck, I didnât plan for this to happen,â you hastily say and attempt to clean the table by soaking up the drink with napkins, unfortunately to no avail. âCan you women even do anything?â Naoya puts his hands on either side of the table and snaps at you.Â
His eyebrows scrunch up together in anger, and he tightly grips the tablecloth. This guyâs seriously got some screws loose. âLet's just pay,â he groans, sinking into his chair with his body still tensed up.Â
Upon seeing his stretched-out arm, the waitress rushes over almost immediately. âTook you long enough.â Naoya snides under his breath, but loud enough for her to hear, and you canât help but roll your eyes at his remark.Â
âThe bill, Sir? How would you like to pay?â The waitress nervously puts down the bill; there are more digits than you can count on one hand, and you hurriedly glance over to Naoya.
A mistake on your side.
Naoya, being Naoya, seizes the opportunity, âYouâre so full of yourself, right woman? Weâll split the bill then.â The playful smile that's tugging at the end of his lips doesn't go unnoticed.
For a moment, the waitress is taken aback, but she just nods, knowing itâs probably better not to ask any questions. She simply glances at you, but youâre just as, if not even more, surprised as she was just now and yelp out a loud âWhat?!â
Thereâs been a handful of terrible and right out awful dates youâve been on, but you doubt nothing will ever come close to this one.Â
Once there was a guy who stood you up 5 minutes prior to the date, then there was a guy who kept ranting about his best friend and how great she was, basically using you to get over her, and you donât even want to recall the other incidents; either way, youâre pretty sure that youâve blocked them out anyway.
Nonetheless, all of them always paid for the first dateâitâs basic courtesy and a simple, polite gesture, and you're certain that Naoyaâa man who has more money than senseâcan afford to pay for a first date.
At this point, youâre already so tired out from this date that you donât even have the strength in you to talk back anymore; instead, you rummage through your purse for your wallet. It doesnât take you long to find it, and when you do, you take out a handful of bills and slam them down on the table.Â
âHope youâre happy, asshole.â You feign a smile before taking your leave.Â
Well, the massive stash of money that Megumi gave you now didn't seem like such a big exaggeration anymore.
Not even a week has passedâto be precise, itâs been more than one day and a few hours since youâve seen him on your terrible date on Saturday.
Karmaâs a bitch, but so is Naoya Zenin.Â
The colleague you were supposed to fill in for still wasnât back, and now it was up to you, alongside a few other colleagues, to update your superiors on this month's work. Usually, these meetings donât take all too long; you just hope that this will be over soon and you can return to your cubicle and pretend youâre doing something on your computer.
When you stepped into the conference room, your eyes drifted around the room. The lightning here was unpleasant, bright white lights that illuminated the room, similar to hospital lights. A few people already sat down and chattered with one another, and others were frantically scrolling through their tablets to look over their notes again.
Soon, people started to flood in, and you barely managed to take in the room before finally sitting down yourself. The meeting was about to start, and the crowd that gathered at the front of the room started to scatter in different directions to sit down. Only then, when you glanced in the now empty direction, you spotted himâsurprise would be an understatementâyour eyes widened in shock when you saw that it was Naoya out of all the people sitting across the room.Â
To make matters worse, he was already looking at you, and before you knew it, you locked eyes with him. You didnât even have to second-guess what heâs thinking, his face says enoughâhe doesnât look particularly pleased to see you.Â
What a great way to start off your day.
Overall, the meeting went fine, it began with people presenting their achievements and how they wished to improve, but it didnât even look like Naoya was listening.Â
From time to time, heâd let out a tired yawn here and there, not even bothering to hide his boredom; sometimes, heâd also pretend to listen when in reality he was just playing with his helix and glance in your direction.
Considering how irksome this meeting was for him, you thought that heâd stop looking at you after a while, that heâd find himself a new distraction. Still, even as you teared your eyes away from him and concentrated on the colleague who was speaking, you could practically feel the way he was shooting daggers at the side of your head.
When it was finally your turn to speak, you tried to look at everyone but Naoya, which was hard when he was tracking your every move. He looks like heâs just waiting for the right momentâthe decisive moment where you slip up and he can attack. Just at the thought of that or Naoya in general, your vision turned green.Â
It took every ounce of willpower in you not to let your revulsion show on your face, because knowing how the Zenin family is, theyâd punish your whole department for even glancing at Naoya in the wrong way.
After a few other presentations, a round of questions, and a praise from Naoyaâwhich looked like it physically hurt him to say those words out loudâyou were permitted to leave.
âYou over there, stay here.â You immediately freeze on the spot upon hearing his words, peering at the people beside you to check if he means them, despite knowing that he was directly referring to you, even if you wished he werenât.
Around you, the people stop in their tracks, curiosity piqued, and you feel all the eyes in the room landing on you. âWere any of you even listening?â Naoya clicks his tongue in annoyance. âI told you to leave unless any of you insist on working more.â As soon as he said the words, everyone disappeared as fast as possible.Â
All you could do was helplessly watch after them, wishing that you were them. Â
âTurn around, will you?â If being in the same room as Naoya wasnât bad enough already, youâre now alone with him. You do as youâre told and face him. âWhat's someone like you doing here?â His words are laced with a distaste that you could only reciprocate. âI work here.â You reply curtly, knowing that thatâs not the answer he sought. âYou think youâre so funny.â He spits plainly, and you have to bite the inside of your cheek to prevent yourself from bursting out laughing on the spot.Â
âWhy didnât you tell me that you were working here?â He demands angrily, and this time, you canât help but let out a small laugh. âSorry, sorry,â you giggle after a while. âHonestly, at first I had my doubts, but the money convinced me.â You admit giddily, but it doesnât take long for you to realize that anger has risen to Naoyaâs face.
âYou want the money so bad?â He exclaims, irritation written all over his face, âWell then, work for it. You have nothing against working more, no?â He states, and that bullshit-eating grin of his tells you that heâs serious.
âBut Sir, thatâs against the rulââ You say, taken aback by his statement, âI donât give two shits. For a month, youâll be working more, and maybe youâve learned your lesson until then.â And the smile he gives you is eerily similar to the one you gave him on your dateâa smile full of condescension.
Yeah, you really hate this guy.
Itâs been a week since then, and you canât recall all the times someone came up to you and attempted to talk to you about you and Naoya. Thereâs been an absurd wave of rumors surging towards you every day.Â
Some claim that Naoya is your ex-husband, now turned superior; others suspect that you slept with him, consequently got pregnant, and he told you to abort the child, and during lunch break, you hear the young interns gossip about how Naoya probably made a move on you.
Obviously, each of these suspicions was false; you denied them every time, accentuating how you would never in your life voluntarily get in touch with Naoya Zenin unless youâd fallen on your head, lost all your memories, forgot his awful personality, and only wanted him for his nice looks.
You dislike Naoya for many things, but thereâs one thing youâll give himâheâs handsome. His eyes are both enticing and sharp, as if to lure you in, but then seize the moment to devour you when you let your guard down.Â
It happened to you once that a âheâs kinda fineâ slipped out of your mouth, and people immediately started to tease you about how they knew that you liked him. Apparently, there was âthe look of loveâ in Naoyaâs eyes every time he walked past you with a loving smile adorning his lips, and how you always returned his gaze fondly with a smile of your ownâwhatever thatâs supposed to mean.
If only they knew that the way Naoya looked at you was to make sure that you were working the extra task he assigned to you, before mocking you, and grinning as he saw you struggling with those tasks that take ridiculously long, and were simultaneously the most useless.Â
Also, the way you looked at him was a simple glare and a faux smile thatâs supposed to ease his âworriesâ of you âslacking off at work,â as he liked to call it.
Still, people come up with new, stupid ideas every other hour, and it was embarrassing how easily they got under your skin.
Along with the fact that Naoya does absolutely nothing to stop the rumors makes it ten times worse. (And because everyoneâs probably too scared to even approach him.)
Now you were beginning to understand what people meant by corporate-slaves, because this felt like some sleep-eat-work-repeat lifestyle, which you certainly did not want to live. However, itâs just 2 more weeks, and youâre free from this hell.
Although if there was one thing you were looking forward to, it was your weekly meeting with Tsumiki, only this time you came late. When you had the chance at work, you texted Tsumiki that you wouldnât make it in time today, and she only read and responded to your messages when she was already at the bar, saying that sheâd wait for you with a little surprise.
When you finally arrived, it took you a minute to look around and find herâit was a lot fuller than usual. Then, when you finally saw Tsumiki, you hugged her and apologized gullibly. âHey, Miki. Sorry that I kept you waiting.â You sigh before slumping down on the leather seats.
Tsumiki gives you a warm smile and makes room for you to sit closer. âNo worries.â She says sweetly before pouring herself another shot. âWhat took you so long?â She asks curiously and downs the glass. Once again, Megumi, Itadori, and Kugisaki sit at the table. Itâs obvious why theyâre here, but youâre not in the mood to talk to them about it.
âNaoyaâs ass ordered me to work longer, but please let's not talk about him.â You groan in annoyance, and as if on instinct, Tsumiki pours you a glass and hands it to you, smilingly. âHe has the power to do that?â The voice comes from across the tableâthe one who spoke up was Kugusaki. âApparently.â You shrug your shoulders before drinking from the glass.
Itâs silent for a while, and you notice that the air in the atmosphere has shifted. Itâs weird, but youâre not bothered enough to askâat least not yet. The evening goes by with a couple more rounds of drinks, stalking old classmates on social media, unrealistic âwhat-ifâ and âwhat-would-you-ratherâ scenarios, and more drinks.
âOkay, okay, I think thatâs enough.â Tsumiki asserts after a while and looks to the others for help. âUgh, seriously.â You utter in frustration. âIf heâd stop behaving like some male tradwife, Iâd actually go out with him.âÂ
The others observe you as you rant. âI mean, yeah, Iâll stay by my word, heâs fine as fuck, but someone needs to tell him to shut up, I swear.â You ramble. âHeâs actually so my type looks-wise, and you know if he wasnât him, I'd definitely date him.â When the words leave your mouth, you see how the others are throwing confused stares at each other before they land on you.
âSo, whoâs âheâ?â Megumi questions cautiously. âNaoya.â You muffle, voice already feeling hoarse, and Tsumiki hands you a glass of water. âUnfortunately.â You wipe your mouth with the sleeve of your blouse after the admission.
Suddenly, Itadori jumps up and puts his hands on the wooden table. âWell, then itâs your lucky day!â And you can practically see the way his eyes shine as he announces. âNaoya asked you on a second date.â
âA second what?â You cough on your water, and your eyes widen in shock. âA date,â Itadori repeats, all smiley. âNo, Itadori, I heard what you said, I'm just,â You pause for a moment, trying to find the right words. âNo, sorry, what?âÂ
For the first time this evening, Megumi expresses his thoughts. âThis is the first time Naoya has ever asked someone to go out with him again.â He pauses for a moment and coughs, before he mumbles something under his breath that you almost missedâ is he embarrassed? âAnd if it helps you, he kept blabbering to me about you. Which is weird, cause he usually says talking about people is a waste of breath.âÂ
âWow, how charming.â You huff dryly. He glances over Tsumiki before continuing. âMy sister already told me that youâd say no, and I donât want to force you into something you donât want to do, but,â He pauses and sighs. âHe might have actually developed some interest in you, and this is the best chance weâll ever get. So, would you mind going on a date with him again?â
âMegumi, you do know that he made me work more because I accidentally spilled wine on him, and made me do these tiresome, stupid tasks that he pulled out of his buttcrack.â You exclaim and take notice of Megumiâs frown.
Tsumiki pats on your shoulder reassuringly before glancing at Megumi. âYou know, Megs, I know you mean it well, but going on another date with Naoya would actually make me go crazy.â Her hand stays on your shoulder. âBut to me it also sounds like you kinda like him.âÂ
Her words strike you like lightning, and you immediately straighten up. âTsumiki, what the fuck?!â You screech, and you can feel the way the other customers turn around to look at you. âWell, I donât know, just a feeling.â She laughs softly. âMaybe just try it, and all of a sudden he realizes youâre like the love of his life and wants to change just for you.â She jokes.
âYeah, and then we live happily ever after.â You add, and the others join in Tsumikiâs laughter. âIâm not drunk enough for this.â You snort and rub your eyes with the pads of your fingers. âOkay, well, when does he want to meet me?âÂ
Thereâs a brief silence before Itadori breaks it. âYouâre actually agreeing?â He looks at you in bewilderment. âLike for real, for real?â He questions to ensure that he hasnât heard you wrong.
âMhm.â And you nod your head. Actually, you donât really know what made you say yes. Did you actually develop some feelings? Yeah, no. Was it the thrill of being with him? Or maybe youâve just become as unhinged as Naoya and accepted your fate; whatever it was, you were still certain in your choice and had no plan of going back on your wordâat least not yet.
âActually, already next Friday at seven,â Megumi tells you, and you stare at him in disbelief. âThatâs literally when work ends for me.â Tsumiki turns to you in confusion. âI thought work ended at six for you?â
âWell, Naoya gave me more work, so I also work longer on most days. Thatâs why I also came late today. Heâs practically setting me up.â You deadpan, and you can feel the toll your words have on the couple across from youâ how easily Megumiâs and Itadoriâs good moods were shattered.Â
Naoyaâs words replay in your head over and over. I donât even know why you bother so much. Itâs not like he was wrong, maybe you did feel something for Naoya, and this would be the only chance for you to find out without any co-workers interferingâthen itâd work out for the guys and youâcall it a win-win situation?
âBut,â And their heads immediately lifted. âIâll try my best to find a way.âÂ
Megumi and Itadori look at each other and smile. âThank you, Iâll send you the address later. I seriously owe you.â Megumi sighs in relief. âBut tell him to pay for it this time.â He furrows his eyebrows in confusion. âWhat do you mean?â If you werenât irritated already, you are now. âWell, the last time, he wanted to split the bill.â You explain.
âThatâs unlike him,â Megumi states. âHe usually always pays for the dates beforehand. Right after they ordered their food. He says it's manly.â If that were the case, then it wouldnât make sense for him to insist on only paying for his order. âWait, what?âÂ
You and Megumi look like two strangers who speak different languages and are trying to explain the same concept to one another, but the language barrier hinders you; in this case, itâs a matter of understanding the situation.
âYou know how Naoya is,â Megumi begins and bites his lower lip in the process, contemplating finding the right words.
He merely nods. âYeah, that sums it up.â The conversation continues to flow, going back and forth on different themes, and Naoya slowly fades into the background, that is, until youâre about to leave.Â
Tsumiki tilts her head to the side and speaks. âLetâs meet up on the weekend then. Canât believe Naoya is stealing my precious you-time away from me.â She grins. âYouâll have to tell me all about it then!âÂ
Outside, the rain heavily platters on the concrete, consequently staining the sidewalk with deep gray spots. With each minute passing by, youâre starting to regret this decision more and more.
The raindrops kiss the tinted car windows, blurring your view, almost like the rain is mocking you for blindly going on another date with Naoya.
On one hand, there are hundreds of thousands of excuses running around in your head that you should use to get the driver to stop, turn around, and drop you off at home again.
Then youâd just lie down, watch this one show that Tsumik kept suggesting to you these past few months.Â
âRight, so itâs like a drama about this one girl who helps out her best friend to go on dates with potential marriage candidates instead of her, and on this one date, she accidentally catches the attention of her boss!â
But thatâs the thing: when you think of Naoya, thereâs a familiar feeling bubbling in your chest, and twinges at your heartstrings, one akin to nervousness and excitementâyou know what it is, this feeling of an enjoyable thrill, filled with pleasure and doubtsâand you donât like it.
Because you know if you donât stop here, then thereâs no point going back.
After a while, the car comes to a halt, hauling you out of your thought-prison. The driver remains quiet in his seat, and itâs only when you bend forward to pay him that he lets out a deep huff of acknowledgement, before driving off.
Technically, you still have the option to run away and never look back, but your feet wonât budgeâtheyâre glued to the ground. Itâs like your body knows that you want to be here, despite denying it.
When you step inside, you notice how quiet it is: no rich folks chatter, no fancy live music, and no clattering of plates or anything of that sort.Â
At the reception, there stands a young boy, not much older than you, drowsily leaning his chin on the palm of his hand and lifelessly staring into the air. âUhm..hi?â You greet awkwardly. Only then does he seem to acknowledge your presence. âOh, sorry, hi, what can I do for you?â The boy stumbles over his words, his eyes take the form of crescent moons, and his lips twitch with an uncertain smile.Â
âIâm here on a daâ to meet Zenin.â You cough over your previous words, hoping that the waiter hasnât noticed your nervousness. âNaoya Zenin.â You manage to choke out, and the boy's eyes widen in surprise. âMr., Iâm so snobby and pay for everything, Zenin?â The boy rambles, talking to himself before realizing that you're still standing in front of him.âWait, sorry, Iâll bring you to the table right away.â He states and leads you to Naoya, whose arms are shrugged together over his chest, and he has skepticism written all over his face.
His gaze drifts over to the waiter, raising his eyebrow, and before he can say anything, the boy pulls out the chair for you, and you mutter something along the lines of a thank you before sitting down.
âYour food will be ready soon.â He says meekly while bowing down, not daring to meet the gaze of either of you. He excuses himself and rushes to leave.
He disappears, and you turn to Naoya, who looks like he just bit into a sour apple and now has to make his complaints about everyone's problem. âTwo minutes.â Naoya holds up his index and middle fingers.
âWhat?â Confused with his accusation, your eyebrow quirked up. âYouâre 2 minutes late.â He seethes and rolls up the sleeve of his shirt to point at his wristwatch. âSee, for that behavior, youâd get your pay lessened.â
Right now, you're seriously questioning yourself, and moreover, your taste in men, despite Naoya already knowing the reasonâhimâwhy do you feel a glimmer of excitement burning up in your chest talking to him again?
âVery funny.â You remark ironically, and he chuckles quietly before you change the topic. âWhyâs it so empty here?â Careful not to make any sounds, you shift in your chair and look around.Â
âHuh?â Naoyaâs face takes on a look of irritation. âI booked the whole thing,â he tells you as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.
âWhy would you do that?âÂ
âCause I wanted to spend time with you,â He gives you a half-hearted smile. âalone?â
âWhich means you want me so bad or what..?â You look at him, dumbfounded, because this wasn't how you expected to play out. When you first arrived and saw the deserted restaurant, you thought this was about to be some big prank, paranoia was crawling up your neck, and you looked for the hidden cameras everywhere.
He doesnât give you a direct answer and only says something that you make out to be a quiet "Believe what you want.â But the red blush slowly creeping up on his neck doesn't go unnoticed, and for the first time this evening, you feel like you can actually relax.
Maybe itâs out of embarrassment, anger, or perhaps even affection, youâve come to the point where it doesnât matter to you anymore. All you want is to spark more of these reactions out of him, ignoring how that makes you just as weird as he is.
A genuine and amused smile musters itself up on your lips, and you start giggling. âThe fuck are you laughing about?â He spits, and you just wave him off.Â
Youâve learned how to handle his remarks and know how to retort to them, which makes everything funnierâfor you at least.Â
The whole evening plays out like this: both of you talking over dinner with Naoya making stupid assumptions about youâbeing all serious about them too, and all you do is tell him off and counter with a question of your own. These are typically followed by Naoya adding his own two cents.
Your face takes on an expression of disgust as you take a sip from your drink. âEw.â Slightly sticking your tongue on as the alcohol further enveloped your mouth.
âAww, canât even hold a little alcohol?â The man across from you coos mockingly and takes a sip of his own. He sets down his glass and gives you a smug grin.
âNope, just reminded me of this one drink that I had in senior year that made me black out so bad, and in the morning, Tsumiki told me that she had to wipe all my vomit away.â You laugh softly as you recall the night it happened. âHonestly thought youâd be like super against a woman drinking,â You say, glass still in your hand and swirling the liquid inside around. â'Cause youâre like..â You pause for a moment.
Conservative, stuck up, an asshole
Ideas are popping up in your head, but you do your best to shake them off and attempt to find the right words. âConsidering youâre so..traditional?â You say weakly.
âTraditional?â Naoya repeats your words, his expression unreadable. âTraditional.â You say again, your lips pressed into a thin line. The man slowly nods his head, "Traditional." He concludes and shoots you a blank stare.
Heâs probably noticed it too, but youâre getting to know each other more over this date, and youâd be lying to yourself if you said that you didnât enjoy thisânot like youâd ever tell Naoya.
His eyes leave yours, and he starts fiddling with his cutlery again. A wall of silence builds up again; it stands steady in its place, and youâre not sure if youâre the one to take the first step to climb over it.
Thereâs no one else in the restaurantâjust the two of you. The only sounds that are being made are when the metal meets the porcelain again, but other than that, you donât find a way to fend this unbearable quietness away.Â
When you take today into account, your first date with Naoya and all the times at work you spent bickering with him, you realize Tsumiki might be right.
You do like Naoyaâas absurd as that even sounds. Admittedly, you're not sure yourself why you like him; all you know is that this attraction towards him only seems to grow by the minute.
Maybe you seriously need to check if youâre a masochist or something, because you donât think any sane person would admit to liking Naoya Zenin.Â
Suddenly, the sound of metal clattering against the table plays, and it rips you out of your thoughts.Â
âIs it true,â Naoya starts off and looks up from his plate, and with his words, he tears the wall built out of each unsaid word down. âThat you wanted to go out with me just to take advantage of my money?â
Once again, no matter how much you try to study his face, only stone-cold eyes meet yours, behind which his emotions are locked. Itâs like heâs trying to test you and base his reaction on your response.
Caught off guard, youâre uncertain what you should say at this moment, so you just tell him the first thing that comes to your mind. âNo, Megumi gave me money.â
Seeing the way his forehead creases and the way he slams his hand on the table tells you that this wasn't the answer he was hoping for. âOh, so you're paid to be here?âÂ
âWell,â you begin, still unsure of what to say. âYes?â You confirm after a while and immediately regret your words. âNo!â You hastily added, but Naoyaâs reaction only seemed to worsen with every passing second, so you just kept on talking, hoping that thereâd be one answer that satisfied him. âKind of?â
Naoya is quick to respond with a question of his own. âOh, is that so?â He asks, voice sharp as a knife's edge. âThought you were a gold digger, it turns out youâre actually just a lying bitch. Shouldâve expected that from you.â He huffs and rolls his eyes.Â
Something churns in your stomach. Taken aback, all you can do at this moment is snap back at him. âSorry?â You shout at him in disbelief. Feet already rising to take your leave. How did talking about embarrassing high school memories turn into him calling you names?
Everythingâs happening all at once and too fast for you to comprehend;Â the best thing you could do right now is to remove yourself from this conversation. âAnd here I thought you were actually pretty nice for once.â You donât tell him that itâs more than thatâthat you actually considered thisâconsidered him.
As you stand up and walk away, Naoya steadies himself on the table with his hand before stepping forward to grab your wrist, his grip tight on your arm. He stands close nowâmere inches away from youâhe doesnât say anything, but the way his hot breath fans against your nape tells you that heâs seething.
You shake his hand off and turn away from him, quickening your pace as you bolt off. âHey! You still need to pay!â He screams furiously after you.
âShut up!â You turn your head around and yell back at him from behind your shoulder. âI know that you already paid, dickhead! That server couldnât shut up for his fucking life!â Those were your last words before storming off, leaving Naoya alone in the empty restaurant.
Just when you thought this might turn into a serious thing, everything went down the river.
One and a half monthsâyouâve been living like this for a good almost two months, and if it werenât for the pay, you wouldâve already slammed the resignation papers on his desk.
Because why is it that another Friday night of yours with Tsumiki goes to waste, to meet Naoya? Not that you asked him out for a dateâitâs a work celebration dinner, which means there are several other employees with you to fill the awkward silence, because you really didnât want to engage in a conversation with Naoya.
Unfortunately for you, it was just your luck that you landed at the same table as Naoya.
Usually, six to eight people were sitting together at a table, but a few employees called in sick today, so there was one table that accommodated fewer people than the others, and it just so happened that you and Naoya got assigned together at this tableâtalk about a coincidence.
Next to you sat a blue-haired girl not much older than you, whom youâve never seen aroundâmost likely a new employeeâand kept sliding against her chair, presumably nervous that she was sitting at the same table as Naoya.Â
She keeps shooting hopeful glances at you, hoping youâd open your mouth and say something to start a conversation. Honestly, you felt bad, cause you know how stressful a first-time work dinner can be when you donât know anyone, but you really didnât want to talk to Naoya or anyone from work right now.
Youâll make it up to her someday.
Naoya sat right across from you, gawking at you from time to time, and youâd just roll your eyes at him. Next to him sat someone whom you didnât know, but from the looks Naoya was giving him, you assumed that he didnât like him much either.
It was plain obvious that the guy was drunk from the way he was talking and continuously threw his arms over Naoyaâs shoulder, attempting to act all buddy-buddy with him, to his dismay, Naoya kept angrily shoving him away.
âSay, Mr. Naoya, is it true you wanna marry?â The man slurs over his words before laughing to himself. Naoya shows minimal reaction; only a mere disapproving look tells that heâs not enjoying himself. âWhat about it?â He eventually says dryly.
Hearing Naoyaâs words, the manâs smile widens in happiness. âYou already got someone in,â He gulps and mutters a small sorry under his breath, all while laughing and brushes himself over the chest before continuing. âMind?â He finalises.
His question catches your attention, and for the first time this evening, you fully look at Naoya, whoâs already wearing a grin on his face that tells you that heâs up to no good. Naoya sighs dramatically before carding his fingers through his hair. Itâs as if he needs to muster up his courage before revealing his answer.Â
Naoya takes a good look at you before turning to his side. âYeah, Iâve got someoââ You donât get to hear the rest of his answers, because a scream erupts next to you. âI think my food just moved!â The girl next to you exclaimed as she squats on her chair and points at the bowl in front of her with her chopsticks.
âMiwa, stop messing around.â The voice from across the table half-shouts, and in response, she just frantically shakes her head. âI saw it move just now!â She squeals.âPinky promise, cross my heart, hope to die, I swear!â
She continues to ramble on for a while, and you canât help but let an exasperated sigh escape your lips. âYou have to put it in the broth, and it'll cook automatically then.â You tell her calmly, taking your chopsticks into your hand, and show her how to do it properly.
Her mouth takes the shape of an o, and she freezes for a moment. âOh, so thatâs how you do it.â She chuckles sheepishly and puts her hand on the back of her hair in embarrassment. Miwaâas you know nowâpicks up her chopsticks to place the meat in her bowl, but it just so happens that when she reaches over to grab the meat off the plate, the table topples and her bowl loses its balance.
The bowl falls over before you can even process what just happened. The bowl now lies on the table with the broth leaking all over the surface, some of it dripping down on your lap. âOh my god, Iâm so so sorry!â Miwa puts her hands over her mouth and shouts apologetically.Â
âItâs fine. This happens to everyone.â You give her a half-hearted smile as youâre reminded of when you spilled wine all over Naoya. âIâll get some tissues from the restroom.â You slide your chair backwards in order to stand up, but Miwa stops you by holding down your hands.
She keeps them tightly in her hands, as if she needs to keep them in a chokehold, and shakes her head as she looks down at the floor. âNo, it was my fault. Let me do this. Iâll clean this up.â She looks up at you with a pleading look, and you canât help but feel bad for her.
You donât think sheâll let go of you unless you give in to her request. âOkay,â Miwaâs eyes are practically sparkling as soon as the words leave your mouth, and her hold on your hands tightens. âStill, I'd like to go outside, â on my own, you think to yourself before throwing a bored glance at Naoya. âSo, can you let me go?â You ask her politely, looking down at your intertwined hands.
âOh,â She yelps. âYeah, sure, sorry!â She says in a docile tone, and her grip on your hands quickly loosens. âThanks.â You murmur and smile at her. Miwa hastily stands up and joins you. She mumbles a quiet see you later and disappears into the restroom.Â
Before going outside, you make sure to look behind you, ensuring that Naoya isnât making any moves on following you. Either way, he seems occupied with the colleague next to him, so he wonât be a problemâfor now.
Outside, in the parking lot, a cold gust of wind greets you, and you canât help but regret leaving your jacket inside, but you have no intention of returning back inside right now. Youâd rather freeze to death out here than hear Naoya open his mouth once more.
Cheerful, but obnoxious laughter fills the air, and you turn your head to the source of commotion. A group of older male colleagues stands together not too far away from you. Youâve walked past some of them once, bowed your head to show respect, or greeted them out of politeness.Â
But the way that all of them were looking at you and exchanged knowing glances with each other made something in your stomach twist. Itâs only then that one of the men emerges from the group and makes his way over to you.Â
Heâs a good head taller than you; from his position, youâre sure he can see the way your neck shivers as he comes closer to your face. âWhatâs a pretty thing like you doing out here alone?â He asks and reaches out for the strand of your hair thatâs been blown away by the wind.Â
Goosebumps are rising all over you, met with the fear of not knowing what happens next. Iâm just here to catch some air, but Iâll go back in now.â You manage to dodge his touch by a hairsbreadth, and you notice the way his expression immediately sours. âHave a good evening.â You mutter, and you hope he doesnât notice the way you tremble as you nod your head at him.Â
âGoing already?â The man is quick to latch onto your wrist, and you feel how everything stops for you. âIâm sorry.â You stutter. âBut I really have to go now.â Your words just seem to worsen his mood; in response to that, the grip he has on you becomes tighterâsuffocating.
The manâs lips curve into a smile. âItâll be fun, okay?â He assures, but his eyes deceive his words; whatever he plans to do isnât going to be fun in the slightest.Â
âThat girl canât do shit. Help her, will you?â A loud voice shouts over to you, one you recognize in an instant, and for the first time this evening, youâre glad that heâs here.
Naoya strides over to where you are. Simultaneously, the man immediately lets go of your arm and shoves his hands in his pockets, as if thatâd help to cover the grip marks he left on your forearm.
âMr. Zenin.â The man swallows and proceeds to nod at Naoya, who doesnât plan on responding in the same manner. âHope you enjoyed this work dinner. Itâs your last.â He states and pulls you away, leaving the man baffled.Â
He yells after the two of you, but you canât make out his words from this distance. âNaoya, let me go. I have to get my things and go home.â You demand and attempt to shake him off.Â
âIs that how you repay me?â He stops in his tracks and turns around. âWell,â you start, the words lying on the tip of your tongue. âThanks for just now, but I seriously just wanna get my things.âÂ
âWoman, listen. Iâll drive you home.â He says, voice nor face betraying himâheâs serious about this.
A beat of silence passes, and if it werenât for Naoyaâs hand holding yours, youâd think this was some sort of dream.
After a while, you manage to say a few words. âPlease donât?â And take a step away from him. âAlso, youâre not allowed to drive when you drink.â You remind him, because if there was one thing you didnât need now was being pulled over and getting a ticket for driving under the influence.
âBeing drunk doesnât make me an idiot.â Naoya retorts, letting go of your hand. âYouâre an asshole either way,â You scoff. âWith and without alcohol.âÂ
âDo you want me to drive you home now or not?
If love makes one blind, it apparently also makes one stupid, because why on earth did you agree to sleeping over at Naoyaâs place?
When you were in the car, you noticed that he wasnât driving in the right direction.
Fuck no. Iâm not driving across the whole city to bring you home.
He was even being so nice as to drop you off at this 24/7 open convenience store that sells toothbrushes and shirts, and if you didnât hurry, heâd drive off without youâif thatâs not princess treatment, then you donât know either.
Thatâs how you ended up sleeping on Naoyaâs couch for the night.
Technically, you didnât agree, more like you were forced, but if this included a cozy couch, a huge kitchen with a kitchen island, and bathrooms as big as your apartment, then maybe youâd consider it.Â
Maybe next time.
It must be nice being a nepo baby and having the privilege to spend money on everything, without worrying about ever running out of money.Â
Todayâs incident still keeps you up, and you feel a shiver running along your body as you remember how close he was to touching your skin. His smile is etched into your memory, and the way heâd talk to you plays over and over in your mind.
Itâs a memory engraved in your consciousness, and you donât know if youâll ever be able to rid this feeling of disgust and fear.
Trying to distract your head from these thoughts, you notice how cold it actually is. Does this man not heat his house? How does he even expect you to sleep well with a blanket thatâs as thin as his patience?
You donât know what made you decide to walk up the stairs and find Naoya, but youâre already here. If youâre already at it, you might as well take a look around.
The hallway is dark, and you carefully tread along the polished floors. His house is spaciousâit feels big but also incredibly empty at the same timeâyou wonder if Naoya always spends his nights alone in this cold space.
Before you left the bathroom, you spotted Naoya going into the room right at the end of the hall, assuming this must be his room. As you finally stand in front of his door, you contemplate running, but itâs not like youâre asking for a big favor. It shouldnât be as difficult as you're making it out to be.
You just want a blanket, that's everything. You're cold, thatâs everything. Naoya should help you warm up, that's everythingâ â
Three timesâyou knock a total of three times, but thereâs no answer coming from the other side of the door. Itâs only after the fourth unanswered knock that you enter his room, the door lightly squeaking as you push it open.
As you step in, youâre met with a cold breeze. âNaoya?â You call out his name, but youâre met with no response. âNaoya?â You repeat once more, hoping that heâd notice you know. Seeing that heâs not reacting, you search for the light switch, hands groping at the wall behind you until you find and turn it on.
Unsurprisingly, Naoya isnât in his bed or in his room at all. You take a look around, but canât find him anywhere; thatâs when you feel the breeze again. Now with the lights on, everything came into view, and it's only then that you notice the door to the balcony being slightly ajar.Â
You make your way over to the balcony, open the door, and step outside. âNaoya? What are you doing?â The back of his head greets you, and under the moonlit sky, you can see the way his blond hair gleams. Met with no response, you take another step forward, and now his side profile comes into your view.
Itâs eerily quiet.âWhat is it?â He takes a drag from his cigarette and ashes it down his balcony into the garden, probably hoping that in the morning the wind will blow it away. For a moment, itâs quiet, the wind quietly whistles in your ear, and the smell of smoke lingers in the air, enveloping the two of you. He looks good like this, dressed in casual attire, wearing a relaxed look on his face, and behaving unusually silent.
You canât take your eyes off Naoya.
Although he always tries to act all distant, Naoya takes everything personally and is always up to confront someone about it, too. âWhat are you looking at so dumbly?â He growls, and you can feel the corners of your lips twitching. âFor someone whoâs so traditional, you sure donât give a shit about your lungs.â
âDo you even inhaleâŠthe smoke?â You laugh, quirking an eyebrow, observing him skeptically. âThe fuck are you saying?â He ashes off his cigarette again. âWell, you're just taking puffs.â You point at his cigarette and then at him. âSomeone knows shit,â he scoffs and turns away from you. âTalk about fucked up lungs.âÂ
You donât dwell too long on his words and change the topic. âDid anyone ever tell you that youâre a terrible host?â You sneer and lean against the railing. âYou think it's funny to insult me?â If he doesnât ash off his cigarette very soon, itâll go out immediately, but you donât tell him that. âWell, weâre not at work, so I really couldnât care less.â
âWhy are you even awake? Donât you need your beauty sleep?â Naoya jokes, tone filled with mild condescension. âIâll take that as a compliment.â You say dryly and turn to meet him. âI just couldnât. What about you?â
Naoya finally ashes off his cigarette, so that only the butt of it is burning now, and he smudges it against the railing before chucking it down. âI was thinking about marriage.â He admits and smirks at you.
You ignore the way your heart tightens at his words and laugh it off. âHow much?â It doesnât take a genius to see that Naoya is irritated by your words. âHow much what?â
âHow much are you paying her to marry you?â You finally say and let out a final laugh. Naoyaâs face seems to relax at your words, and he asks a question of his own. âHow much are you getting paid?â
âThatâs secret information.â You deadpan and side-eye him. âNot like I donât know already.â Naoya sneers. âWhy are you even asking theâ Oh my god! Were you hitting on me just now?Â
âYouâre practically eye-fucking me every time I walk into the room.â He says it like itâs a fact. âDo you hear yourself?â You exclaim in disbelief, taking a step back from him.Â
Every time you take a step away from him, he takes a step forward. It goes on so long until your back meets the wall, and your eyes widen, knowing that Naoya has you exactly where he wants.Â
He leans forward and presses his hand against the wall, before nudging your ear with his nose. âJust admit it.â He whispers before backing away and smirking.Â
Itâs in this moment that you just let go of everythingâincluding your sanity, and give in to your desires. You cup his cheeks in your hands and pull him downwards to press your lips against hisâan action he quickly reciprocates.Â
He tastes of tobacco; usually, you dislike the taste, but there are some exceptions, and Naoya seems to be one of them. On him, it tastes comforting and soothing, although nothing is comforting about the way he kisses you.Â
His tongue darts over your lower lip, and before you can even grant him full access, he pushes his tongue in your mouth, and you involuntarily let out a high-pitched sound. Your hands find his hair to yank him down, and his roam beneath your shirt, his hands freezing cold as they press against your warm skin.
Only when you push him off to catch your breath does he stop kissing you, and his hands retreat from your skin.
You donât even get a full minute to breathe properly before Naoya pushes himself on you again, but you hold him in his place before he can slot his lips on yours again, your eyes warning him not to go any further.
To your surprise, Naoya actually seems to follow your warning and steps back. Itâs far enough so that he no longer breathes right into your face, but still near enough for you to see him up close and observe his features.
He seems to have noticed, and a wide grin forms on his face as he raises both his arms into the air, as if heâs been accused of something.Â
âDonât give me that face.â Naoya coos in faux sympathy. âTo make it up to you, how does going on a third date sound to you?â
END NOTE: i have an admission to make...i didnt even watch the new season yet...lol
SYNOPSIS: When youâre set up to go on a date with your companyâs bossâs youngest son, Naoya Zenin, it was supposed to be a mere play-pretend relationship. But what happens when you actually catch feelings along the way?
WORDCOUNT: 10.7k (don't ask me how) | CONTENT & WARNINGS: naoya is a warning himself so you can already guess whats about to come, reader doesn't want to deal with his bs but she also can't help being attracted to him (same), ooc!naoya, bicker/banter, smoking, kissing, drinking; oneshot
TAG LIST: @aritsukemo, @sugary-strawberry-shortcake
AUTHOR'S NOTE: he's too fine to be doing ts bruh
âLetâs pay then.âÂ
Across the white-clad table sits none other than your companyâs boss's son: Naoya Zenin, wearing a now red-stained dress shirt that, unfortunately, looks too good on him, and is raising his hand to call out to the waitress for the bill. Â
Not even in your dreams would you ever go on a date with Naoya Zenin, so how'd you get tangled up in this mess?
From your workplace to the bar it takes around half an hour by train and five more minutes on foot. It takes some time, but in the meantime you spend observing the people you pass by. Â
There are other people like youâbusinesspeople commuting and tiredly staring at their phones, checking the time, teenage girls dressed in short skirts and hiding bottles of absolute vodka in their absolutely too small purses, students who look like theyâre on the brink of exhaustion and just want to lie down in their beds.
Back in high school, you thought everyone was exaggerating when they told you to enjoy your school and college times to the fullest, because âthose were the times when youâd see your friends the most.â
Joke's on you, because it turned out to be exactly as people described.
Nowadays, you are barely able to meet most of your friends, work gets in the way, someoneâs planning their wedding, and others are travelling the globe.
But there was one person you could always count on: your best friend Tsumiki. After graduation, when everyone started going their own separate ways, the two of you stayed together.Â
Despite everything that was happening, the two of you managed to meet every Friday in a bar of your choice and enjoyed a good glass of âwhateverâ together after an exhausting day of work.
Especially after today, first of all, your alarm didnât go off, and you barely managed to arrive in time; secondly, the printer decided that today would be a good day to give up, so you had to run to the copy shop down the street during your lunch break and if this wasnât enough, one of your co-workers called in sick for the beginning of next week, so now you have to pitch in for them during next weekâs report.Â
The meetings werenât bad per se; all you had to do was update your superiors about what your department was working on, the good things, the things that are still in the process, and new ideas. What was bad was with whom you had to do them, simply because you didn't know which of his sons your CEO would send this time.Â
The Zenin family has some kind of twisted sense of humor, because, yes, theyâre one of the most successful companies, but their way of treating their employees? Well, all you can hope for is that not one of the younger sons will be the one to evaluate you.
The train comes to a halt and announces the station's name; your cue to exit. Itâs a short walk, but you can still feel the ache in your feet from walking around in heels the whole day. Luckily for you, you arrive in no time.
As soon as the bell, which is strung to the door, rings, Tsumiki turns around and waves you over, delighted that you made it. Except her younger brother Megumi was here this timeâhis boyfriend Itadori tooâalong with their best friend Kugisaki.Â
Tsumiki slides over to the side to make room for you to set your bag down before sitting next to her. âWhat's your little brother doing here?â you eye Megumi, although he doesn't seem to pay much mind to it.Â
On the other hand, Yuji looks like heâs about to explode from nervousnessâKugisaki tooâbut from laughter.
âYou see,â she pauses for a moment and shoots you a sheepish smile. "He wanted to talk to you about something.â
âSo, you're telling me your family is fine with you marrying a man,â you recap what Megumi has just told you, âbut they draw the line at you getting married before Naoya?â Your finger traces along the rim of your glass, and you grimace, bewildered.
From your peripheral view, you can see Tsumiki and Kugisaki giggling to one another. âTrust me, I wouldnât go as far as asking you if I hadnât already tried everything else.â Megumi deadpans.
Thereâs a pregnant silence spanning around the room between Megumi's statement and your answer. âAnd now,â you begin, still not being able to wrap your head around this whole thing going on, âyou want me to go out with your cousin?âÂ
âMy condolences.â Kugisaki chirps in, âMaki told me that every time theyâre on family vacation together, he listens to these black pill songs in the shower.â She remarks. âLike unironically!â
Although he tries to hide it by muffling his mouth with his hand, Itadori is smiling from ear to ear. âHeâs on some crazy looksmaxxing shit.â He adds.
Next to him Megumi lets out an exasperated breath and side-eyes his friend before turning his attention on you again. âIâve never said anything about going out,â He drawls. âThose are your words now.â
Upon his words, you canât help but scoff. âIs âgo on a date with my cousinâ not the same as going out?â you exclaim, but youâve known Megumi long enough to know that heâs serious about this. âMegumi, he's my supervisor. I canât afford to lose my position.â A sigh accompanies your words.
âI know that, and I usually wouldnât even do this, but Naoya knows I want to marry, so heâs purposefully ruining every date his father sets him on.â Megumi furrows his eyebrows in frustration. âWell, heâs also an asshole, so the dates never work out,â Itadori adds offhandedly, before picking up his glass to empty it.
The conversation drifts from Megumi, Itadori, and Kugisaki commenting on the situation. âYou just have to pretend to like him, and as soon as he's like âyeah, sheâs the oneâ you can cut out the bullshit.â Kugisaki shrugs as if it were the easiest thing in the world.Â
âIâm only allowed to marry when heâs found someone, so please.â If you didn't know any better, Megumi is practically begging you to go out with Naoya.
âBut Megumi, my jobââ you interfere to make him stop, but heâs quick to cut you off before you can finish your sentence. âIâll also pay and handle the consequences. So please,â he frowns.
âCome on, it'll be a good story to tell your kids.â Tsumiki giggles, and you see the way thereâs a cheerful smile tugging at her lips. âYours and Naoyaâs kids, by the way.â Kugisaki comments, and Megumi throws her a blank stare. âDonât jinx it, Nobara.â Megumi mumbles and nudges her arm.Â
âFine, but I canât promise anything.â You tap your fingers against the wooden surface, already overcome with regret.
In all honesty, youâre not sure what made you agree; maybe it was the fact that the alcohol already took its effect, the pleading eyes Itadori threw at you, or the big stack of money Megumi slid over the table that kept growing every second you didnât answer.
Megumi sighs, his body visibly begins to relax, and the tension that was residing on his face starts to fade away. It wasnât obvious, but there was a small smile gracing his lips. âThank you.â
Okay, so, you lied. There are many things youâd do for your best friendâsheâs your better half after all, your soulmate, and unfortunately also the older sister of the guy who dragged you in this situation.Â
Sure, you like Megumi a lot and you really tried to give it your best to make this date somehow work, but your body gets a physical reaction as soon as Naoya Zenin dares to open his mouthâyouâd rather rip your ears off than listen to him talk any longer.
Honestly, he looks like heâd rather be anywhere else than here. For the past 40 minutes, heâs done nothing but pick apart his food, and see if âthey cooked it to his likingâ, glance at his wristwatch to see how much of your time he can still waste, or call for the waiter for the nth time to complain about the wine ânot being fermented enoughâ.Â
Admittedly, youâre no better. There are a couple of women sitting at the table behind you gossiping, and you canât help but overhear what theyâre talking about. Just as the one girl was getting to the interesting part, complaining about how her ex-boyfriend took his new girlfriend to the same restaurant she recommended to him on their first date, Naoya speaks up, and your eyes widen in surprise as he calls out to you.
âYouâre a friend of Megumi?â he doesnât even look at you as he asks and just continues cutting his food. The metal knife scratches against the porcelain plate and creates an unpleasant shrieking noise. âFriend of his sister,â you correct him and mimic him by dragging your fork along your plate.
Naoya's face contorts into an expression of disdain and finally spares you a glance. âHe told me youâre a friend of his, I thought at least someone whoâd I knew,â his amused remark, ânot some nobody.â is followed by tsk.
You donât answer, you donât want to answer, and you know better than to answer him because thatâs what he wantsâfor you to indulge in his provocations. But with every passing minute of him throwing blank stares at you, your resolve crumbles.
Instead, you pick up your glass of red wine thatâs been untouched the entire evening, because Naoya was whining left and right about the restaurant being some âtasteless tentâ whose food is âno better than dog foodâ.
To your surprise, the wine was really nice; it wasnât too sour, contrary to the cheap bottle you used to buy at your local corner shop when you and Tsumiki always tried to convince the cashier that you were old enough to buy alcohol.
Additionally, it was also just sweet enough for you to taste out the alcohol. Heâs got a good tasteâyouâll give him that.
Itâs like heâs watching you, because the second you put down your glassâmind you, not even a split second after it sits on the table againâNaoya dares to open his mouth again.Â
âWhatâs your job?â he asks, and you already sense the mocking intent behind his words. âI work at a company,â you say mindlessly and pick up your glass again to take a sip.
Sooner or later, heâd find out anywayâeven if youâd prefer not toâbut youâve already decided: this might be one of the top 5 worst dates youâve ever been on.
Also, itâs not like youâve lied to him anyway; itâs a white lie at best, and the chances of you ever running into Naoya ever again, in a workplace with hundreds of workers, are little to none.Â
Either way, he probably wouldnât recognise you anyway.
âNot a good paying one,â he smirks and diverts his eyes towards your body, âI can tell by the clothes you're wearing.âÂ
Well, this date just moved up to the top 4 worst dates ever.
You furrow your eyebrows in annoyance. âWhat can I say?â you let out a dry chuckle. âMy superior is a pain to be around and doesn't know where to invest his money.â Your words are followed by a mere shrug.
âOh yeah?â he asks, probably intending to interrogate you further. If it werenât Naoya Zenin asking you, youâd think it was almost a romantic gesture.
Keyword: almost.Â
âYeah.â You give him a tight-lipped smile, not willing to feed into his provocations any further. But, this doesnât tip men like Naoya offâmen who make it their purpose to ruin someone.Â
âHm, you were able to eat everything,â he crosses his arms over his chest, âIâm impressed.â He remarks mockingly, before taking a small sip from his glass. âItâs not often you meet a woman who has such a big appetite.â This time, he simply grins, and you hate to admit it, but his words are slowly getting under your skin.Â
Top 3 worst dates ever.
âYeah, you could learn from me.â You advise. âIf youâd actually eat the food they served you instead of whining, maybe youâd shut up for once.â
This finally seems to do the trick because you can see the way his jaw is tightening. âYou should learn how to behave like a proper woman.â Itâs quite funny seeing him lose his composure over such a measly comment. Itâs evident that he doesn't plan on giving up on harassing you. âI wonder who even hired someone like you.âÂ
Top 2 worst dates ever.
Well, he wonât have to ponder on it too longâshould he ever realize you work at the same company. âA woman should know where she belongs, and itâs certainly not at work.â He finalizes.
Well, this date officially took the first place for the worst date youâve ever been on.
Actually, what if this were your 13th reason? You donât respond to his comments, not because you want to give him the satisfaction heâs been looking for or agree with him, but because you know where you stand, and actually know what self-respect is. And you certainly know that Naoya isnât worth putting in effort for.
âOkay, so this isnât working out. Itadori, right when he said you're an asshole.â You sigh as you lean back in your chair, already hinting that youâre about to leave. Naoya has the audacity to tsk âThat guy just wants to marry his little boyfriend. I donât even know why you bother so much.â he cocks his head to the side, smirking at you.
There are certain levels of low, and you mightâve actually reached the lowest, because, yeah, this family affair is none of your business, and you shouldnât meddle in other peopleâs lives this much, but it seems Naoya never knows when to keep his mouth shut and when not. âOh my god, would it kill you not to have the last word for once?â you groan, and in the midst of your complaint, your hand hits your half-full wine glass and knocks it over.Â
Thereâs nothing you can do to stop the liquid from escaping the glass; it already ruined the white tablecloth and spilled onto Naoyaâs (now once) white dress shirt.
âFuck, I didnât plan for this to happen,â you hastily say and attempt to clean the table by soaking up the drink with napkins, unfortunately to no avail. âCan you women even do anything?â Naoya puts his hands on either side of the table and snaps at you.Â
His eyebrows scrunch up together in anger, and he tightly grips the tablecloth. This guyâs seriously got some screws loose. âLet's just pay,â he groans, sinking into his chair with his body still tensed up.Â
Upon seeing his stretched-out arm, the waitress rushes over almost immediately. âTook you long enough.â Naoya snides under his breath, but loud enough for her to hear, and you canât help but roll your eyes at his remark.Â
âThe bill, Sir? How would you like to pay?â The waitress nervously puts down the bill; there are more digits than you can count on one hand, and you hurriedly glance over to Naoya.
A mistake on your side.
Naoya, being Naoya, seizes the opportunity, âYouâre so full of yourself, right woman? Weâll split the bill then.â The playful smile that's tugging at the end of his lips doesn't go unnoticed.
For a moment, the waitress is taken aback, but she just nods, knowing itâs probably better not to ask any questions. She simply glances at you, but youâre just as, if not even more, surprised as she was just now and yelp out a loud âWhat?!â
Thereâs been a handful of terrible and right out awful dates youâve been on, but you doubt nothing will ever come close to this one.Â
Once there was a guy who stood you up 5 minutes prior to the date, then there was a guy who kept ranting about his best friend and how great she was, basically using you to get over her, and you donât even want to recall the other incidents; either way, youâre pretty sure that youâve blocked them out anyway.
Nonetheless, all of them always paid for the first dateâitâs basic courtesy and a simple, polite gesture, and you're certain that Naoyaâa man who has more money than senseâcan afford to pay for a first date.
At this point, youâre already so tired out from this date that you donât even have the strength in you to talk back anymore; instead, you rummage through your purse for your wallet. It doesnât take you long to find it, and when you do, you take out a handful of bills and slam them down on the table.Â
âHope youâre happy, asshole.â You feign a smile before taking your leave.Â
Well, the massive stash of money that Megumi gave you now didn't seem like such a big exaggeration anymore.
Not even a week has passedâto be precise, itâs been more than one day and a few hours since youâve seen him on your terrible date on Saturday.
Karmaâs a bitch, but so is Naoya Zenin.Â
The colleague you were supposed to fill in for still wasnât back, and now it was up to you, alongside a few other colleagues, to update your superiors on this month's work. Usually, these meetings donât take all too long; you just hope that this will be over soon and you can return to your cubicle and pretend youâre doing something on your computer.
When you stepped into the conference room, your eyes drifted around the room. The lightning here was unpleasant, bright white lights that illuminated the room, similar to hospital lights. A few people already sat down and chattered with one another, and others were frantically scrolling through their tablets to look over their notes again.
Soon, people started to flood in, and you barely managed to take in the room before finally sitting down yourself. The meeting was about to start, and the crowd that gathered at the front of the room started to scatter in different directions to sit down. Only then, when you glanced in the now empty direction, you spotted himâsurprise would be an understatementâyour eyes widened in shock when you saw that it was Naoya out of all the people sitting across the room.Â
To make matters worse, he was already looking at you, and before you knew it, you locked eyes with him. You didnât even have to second-guess what heâs thinking, his face says enoughâhe doesnât look particularly pleased to see you.Â
What a great way to start off your day.
Overall, the meeting went fine, it began with people presenting their achievements and how they wished to improve, but it didnât even look like Naoya was listening.Â
From time to time, heâd let out a tired yawn here and there, not even bothering to hide his boredom; sometimes, heâd also pretend to listen when in reality he was just playing with his helix and glance in your direction.
Considering how irksome this meeting was for him, you thought that heâd stop looking at you after a while, that heâd find himself a new distraction. Still, even as you teared your eyes away from him and concentrated on the colleague who was speaking, you could practically feel the way he was shooting daggers at the side of your head.
When it was finally your turn to speak, you tried to look at everyone but Naoya, which was hard when he was tracking your every move. He looks like heâs just waiting for the right momentâthe decisive moment where you slip up and he can attack. Just at the thought of that or Naoya in general, your vision turned green.Â
It took every ounce of willpower in you not to let your revulsion show on your face, because knowing how the Zenin family is, theyâd punish your whole department for even glancing at Naoya in the wrong way.
After a few other presentations, a round of questions, and a praise from Naoyaâwhich looked like it physically hurt him to say those words out loudâyou were permitted to leave.
âYou over there, stay here.â You immediately freeze on the spot upon hearing his words, peering at the people beside you to check if he means them, despite knowing that he was directly referring to you, even if you wished he werenât.
Around you, the people stop in their tracks, curiosity piqued, and you feel all the eyes in the room landing on you. âWere any of you even listening?â Naoya clicks his tongue in annoyance. âI told you to leave unless any of you insist on working more.â As soon as he said the words, everyone disappeared as fast as possible.Â
All you could do was helplessly watch after them, wishing that you were them. Â
âTurn around, will you?â If being in the same room as Naoya wasnât bad enough already, youâre now alone with him. You do as youâre told and face him. âWhat's someone like you doing here?â His words are laced with a distaste that you could only reciprocate. âI work here.â You reply curtly, knowing that thatâs not the answer he sought. âYou think youâre so funny.â He spits plainly, and you have to bite the inside of your cheek to prevent yourself from bursting out laughing on the spot.Â
âWhy didnât you tell me that you were working here?â He demands angrily, and this time, you canât help but let out a small laugh. âSorry, sorry,â you giggle after a while. âHonestly, at first I had my doubts, but the money convinced me.â You admit giddily, but it doesnât take long for you to realize that anger has risen to Naoyaâs face.
âYou want the money so bad?â He exclaims, irritation written all over his face, âWell then, work for it. You have nothing against working more, no?â He states, and that bullshit-eating grin of his tells you that heâs serious.
âBut Sir, thatâs against the rulââ You say, taken aback by his statement, âI donât give two shits. For a month, youâll be working more, and maybe youâve learned your lesson until then.â And the smile he gives you is eerily similar to the one you gave him on your dateâa smile full of condescension.
Yeah, you really hate this guy.
Itâs been a week since then, and you canât recall all the times someone came up to you and attempted to talk to you about you and Naoya. Thereâs been an absurd wave of rumors surging towards you every day.Â
Some claim that Naoya is your ex-husband, now turned superior; others suspect that you slept with him, consequently got pregnant, and he told you to abort the child, and during lunch break, you hear the young interns gossip about how Naoya probably made a move on you.
Obviously, each of these suspicions was false; you denied them every time, accentuating how you would never in your life voluntarily get in touch with Naoya Zenin unless youâd fallen on your head, lost all your memories, forgot his awful personality, and only wanted him for his nice looks.
You dislike Naoya for many things, but thereâs one thing youâll give himâheâs handsome. His eyes are both enticing and sharp, as if to lure you in, but then seize the moment to devour you when you let your guard down.Â
It happened to you once that a âheâs kinda fineâ slipped out of your mouth, and people immediately started to tease you about how they knew that you liked him. Apparently, there was âthe look of loveâ in Naoyaâs eyes every time he walked past you with a loving smile adorning his lips, and how you always returned his gaze fondly with a smile of your ownâwhatever thatâs supposed to mean.
If only they knew that the way Naoya looked at you was to make sure that you were working the extra task he assigned to you, before mocking you, and grinning as he saw you struggling with those tasks that take ridiculously long, and were simultaneously the most useless.Â
Also, the way you looked at him was a simple glare and a faux smile thatâs supposed to ease his âworriesâ of you âslacking off at work,â as he liked to call it.
Still, people come up with new, stupid ideas every other hour, and it was embarrassing how easily they got under your skin.
Along with the fact that Naoya does absolutely nothing to stop the rumors makes it ten times worse. (And because everyoneâs probably too scared to even approach him.)
Now you were beginning to understand what people meant by corporate-slaves, because this felt like some sleep-eat-work-repeat lifestyle, which you certainly did not want to live. However, itâs just 2 more weeks, and youâre free from this hell.
Although if there was one thing you were looking forward to, it was your weekly meeting with Tsumiki, only this time you came late. When you had the chance at work, you texted Tsumiki that you wouldnât make it in time today, and she only read and responded to your messages when she was already at the bar, saying that sheâd wait for you with a little surprise.
When you finally arrived, it took you a minute to look around and find herâit was a lot fuller than usual. Then, when you finally saw Tsumiki, you hugged her and apologized gullibly. âHey, Miki. Sorry that I kept you waiting.â You sigh before slumping down on the leather seats.
Tsumiki gives you a warm smile and makes room for you to sit closer. âNo worries.â She says sweetly before pouring herself another shot. âWhat took you so long?â She asks curiously and downs the glass. Once again, Megumi, Itadori, and Kugisaki sit at the table. Itâs obvious why theyâre here, but youâre not in the mood to talk to them about it.
âNaoyaâs ass ordered me to work longer, but please let's not talk about him.â You groan in annoyance, and as if on instinct, Tsumiki pours you a glass and hands it to you, smilingly. âHe has the power to do that?â The voice comes from across the tableâthe one who spoke up was Kugusaki. âApparently.â You shrug your shoulders before drinking from the glass.
Itâs silent for a while, and you notice that the air in the atmosphere has shifted. Itâs weird, but youâre not bothered enough to askâat least not yet. The evening goes by with a couple more rounds of drinks, stalking old classmates on social media, unrealistic âwhat-ifâ and âwhat-would-you-ratherâ scenarios, and more drinks.
âOkay, okay, I think thatâs enough.â Tsumiki asserts after a while and looks to the others for help. âUgh, seriously.â You utter in frustration. âIf heâd stop behaving like some male tradwife, Iâd actually go out with him.âÂ
The others observe you as you rant. âI mean, yeah, Iâll stay by my word, heâs fine as fuck, but someone needs to tell him to shut up, I swear.â You ramble. âHeâs actually so my type looks-wise, and you know if he wasnât him, I'd definitely date him.â When the words leave your mouth, you see how the others are throwing confused stares at each other before they land on you.
âSo, whoâs âheâ?â Megumi questions cautiously. âNaoya.â You muffle, voice already feeling hoarse, and Tsumiki hands you a glass of water. âUnfortunately.â You wipe your mouth with the sleeve of your blouse after the admission.
Suddenly, Itadori jumps up and puts his hands on the wooden table. âWell, then itâs your lucky day!â And you can practically see the way his eyes shine as he announces. âNaoya asked you on a second date.â
âA second what?â You cough on your water, and your eyes widen in shock. âA date,â Itadori repeats, all smiley. âNo, Itadori, I heard what you said, I'm just,â You pause for a moment, trying to find the right words. âNo, sorry, what?âÂ
For the first time this evening, Megumi expresses his thoughts. âThis is the first time Naoya has ever asked someone to go out with him again.â He pauses for a moment and coughs, before he mumbles something under his breath that you almost missedâ is he embarrassed? âAnd if it helps you, he kept blabbering to me about you. Which is weird, cause he usually says talking about people is a waste of breath.âÂ
âWow, how charming.â You huff dryly. He glances over Tsumiki before continuing. âMy sister already told me that youâd say no, and I donât want to force you into something you donât want to do, but,â He pauses and sighs. âHe might have actually developed some interest in you, and this is the best chance weâll ever get. So, would you mind going on a date with him again?â
âMegumi, you do know that he made me work more because I accidentally spilled wine on him, and made me do these tiresome, stupid tasks that he pulled out of his buttcrack.â You exclaim and take notice of Megumiâs frown.
Tsumiki pats on your shoulder reassuringly before glancing at Megumi. âYou know, Megs, I know you mean it well, but going on another date with Naoya would actually make me go crazy.â Her hand stays on your shoulder. âBut to me it also sounds like you kinda like him.âÂ
Her words strike you like lightning, and you immediately straighten up. âTsumiki, what the fuck?!â You screech, and you can feel the way the other customers turn around to look at you. âWell, I donât know, just a feeling.â She laughs softly. âMaybe just try it, and all of a sudden he realizes youâre like the love of his life and wants to change just for you.â She jokes.
âYeah, and then we live happily ever after.â You add, and the others join in Tsumikiâs laughter. âIâm not drunk enough for this.â You snort and rub your eyes with the pads of your fingers. âOkay, well, when does he want to meet me?âÂ
Thereâs a brief silence before Itadori breaks it. âYouâre actually agreeing?â He looks at you in bewilderment. âLike for real, for real?â He questions to ensure that he hasnât heard you wrong.
âMhm.â And you nod your head. Actually, you donât really know what made you say yes. Did you actually develop some feelings? Yeah, no. Was it the thrill of being with him? Or maybe youâve just become as unhinged as Naoya and accepted your fate; whatever it was, you were still certain in your choice and had no plan of going back on your wordâat least not yet.
âActually, already next Friday at seven,â Megumi tells you, and you stare at him in disbelief. âThatâs literally when work ends for me.â Tsumiki turns to you in confusion. âI thought work ended at six for you?â
âWell, Naoya gave me more work, so I also work longer on most days. Thatâs why I also came late today. Heâs practically setting me up.â You deadpan, and you can feel the toll your words have on the couple across from youâ how easily Megumiâs and Itadoriâs good moods were shattered.Â
Naoyaâs words replay in your head over and over. I donât even know why you bother so much. Itâs not like he was wrong, maybe you did feel something for Naoya, and this would be the only chance for you to find out without any co-workers interferingâthen itâd work out for the guys and youâcall it a win-win situation?
âBut,â And their heads immediately lifted. âIâll try my best to find a way.âÂ
Megumi and Itadori look at each other and smile. âThank you, Iâll send you the address later. I seriously owe you.â Megumi sighs in relief. âBut tell him to pay for it this time.â He furrows his eyebrows in confusion. âWhat do you mean?â If you werenât irritated already, you are now. âWell, the last time, he wanted to split the bill.â You explain.
âThatâs unlike him,â Megumi states. âHe usually always pays for the dates beforehand. Right after they ordered their food. He says it's manly.â If that were the case, then it wouldnât make sense for him to insist on only paying for his order. âWait, what?âÂ
You and Megumi look like two strangers who speak different languages and are trying to explain the same concept to one another, but the language barrier hinders you; in this case, itâs a matter of understanding the situation.
âYou know how Naoya is,â Megumi begins and bites his lower lip in the process, contemplating finding the right words.
He merely nods. âYeah, that sums it up.â The conversation continues to flow, going back and forth on different themes, and Naoya slowly fades into the background, that is, until youâre about to leave.Â
Tsumiki tilts her head to the side and speaks. âLetâs meet up on the weekend then. Canât believe Naoya is stealing my precious you-time away from me.â She grins. âYouâll have to tell me all about it then!âÂ
Outside, the rain heavily platters on the concrete, consequently staining the sidewalk with deep gray spots. With each minute passing by, youâre starting to regret this decision more and more.
The raindrops kiss the tinted car windows, blurring your view, almost like the rain is mocking you for blindly going on another date with Naoya.
On one hand, there are hundreds of thousands of excuses running around in your head that you should use to get the driver to stop, turn around, and drop you off at home again.
Then youâd just lie down, watch this one show that Tsumik kept suggesting to you these past few months.Â
âRight, so itâs like a drama about this one girl who helps out her best friend to go on dates with potential marriage candidates instead of her, and on this one date, she accidentally catches the attention of her boss!â
But thatâs the thing: when you think of Naoya, thereâs a familiar feeling bubbling in your chest, and twinges at your heartstrings, one akin to nervousness and excitementâyou know what it is, this feeling of an enjoyable thrill, filled with pleasure and doubtsâand you donât like it.
Because you know if you donât stop here, then thereâs no point going back.
After a while, the car comes to a halt, hauling you out of your thought-prison. The driver remains quiet in his seat, and itâs only when you bend forward to pay him that he lets out a deep huff of acknowledgement, before driving off.
Technically, you still have the option to run away and never look back, but your feet wonât budgeâtheyâre glued to the ground. Itâs like your body knows that you want to be here, despite denying it.
When you step inside, you notice how quiet it is: no rich folks chatter, no fancy live music, and no clattering of plates or anything of that sort.Â
At the reception, there stands a young boy, not much older than you, drowsily leaning his chin on the palm of his hand and lifelessly staring into the air. âUhm..hi?â You greet awkwardly. Only then does he seem to acknowledge your presence. âOh, sorry, hi, what can I do for you?â The boy stumbles over his words, his eyes take the form of crescent moons, and his lips twitch with an uncertain smile.Â
âIâm here on a daâ to meet Zenin.â You cough over your previous words, hoping that the waiter hasnât noticed your nervousness. âNaoya Zenin.â You manage to choke out, and the boy's eyes widen in surprise. âMr., Iâm so snobby and pay for everything, Zenin?â The boy rambles, talking to himself before realizing that you're still standing in front of him.âWait, sorry, Iâll bring you to the table right away.â He states and leads you to Naoya, whose arms are shrugged together over his chest, and he has skepticism written all over his face.
His gaze drifts over to the waiter, raising his eyebrow, and before he can say anything, the boy pulls out the chair for you, and you mutter something along the lines of a thank you before sitting down.
âYour food will be ready soon.â He says meekly while bowing down, not daring to meet the gaze of either of you. He excuses himself and rushes to leave.
He disappears, and you turn to Naoya, who looks like he just bit into a sour apple and now has to make his complaints about everyone's problem. âTwo minutes.â Naoya holds up his index and middle fingers.
âWhat?â Confused with his accusation, your eyebrow quirked up. âYouâre 2 minutes late.â He seethes and rolls up the sleeve of his shirt to point at his wristwatch. âSee, for that behavior, youâd get your pay lessened.â
Right now, you're seriously questioning yourself, and moreover, your taste in men, despite Naoya already knowing the reasonâhimâwhy do you feel a glimmer of excitement burning up in your chest talking to him again?
âVery funny.â You remark ironically, and he chuckles quietly before you change the topic. âWhyâs it so empty here?â Careful not to make any sounds, you shift in your chair and look around.Â
âHuh?â Naoyaâs face takes on a look of irritation. âI booked the whole thing,â he tells you as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.
âWhy would you do that?âÂ
âCause I wanted to spend time with you,â He gives you a half-hearted smile. âalone?â
âWhich means you want me so bad or what..?â You look at him, dumbfounded, because this wasn't how you expected to play out. When you first arrived and saw the deserted restaurant, you thought this was about to be some big prank, paranoia was crawling up your neck, and you looked for the hidden cameras everywhere.
He doesnât give you a direct answer and only says something that you make out to be a quiet "Believe what you want.â But the red blush slowly creeping up on his neck doesn't go unnoticed, and for the first time this evening, you feel like you can actually relax.
Maybe itâs out of embarrassment, anger, or perhaps even affection, youâve come to the point where it doesnât matter to you anymore. All you want is to spark more of these reactions out of him, ignoring how that makes you just as weird as he is.
A genuine and amused smile musters itself up on your lips, and you start giggling. âThe fuck are you laughing about?â He spits, and you just wave him off.Â
Youâve learned how to handle his remarks and know how to retort to them, which makes everything funnierâfor you at least.Â
The whole evening plays out like this: both of you talking over dinner with Naoya making stupid assumptions about youâbeing all serious about them too, and all you do is tell him off and counter with a question of your own. These are typically followed by Naoya adding his own two cents.
Your face takes on an expression of disgust as you take a sip from your drink. âEw.â Slightly sticking your tongue on as the alcohol further enveloped your mouth.
âAww, canât even hold a little alcohol?â The man across from you coos mockingly and takes a sip of his own. He sets down his glass and gives you a smug grin.
âNope, just reminded me of this one drink that I had in senior year that made me black out so bad, and in the morning, Tsumiki told me that she had to wipe all my vomit away.â You laugh softly as you recall the night it happened. âHonestly thought youâd be like super against a woman drinking,â You say, glass still in your hand and swirling the liquid inside around. â'Cause youâre like..â You pause for a moment.
Conservative, stuck up, an asshole
Ideas are popping up in your head, but you do your best to shake them off and attempt to find the right words. âConsidering youâre so..traditional?â You say weakly.
âTraditional?â Naoya repeats your words, his expression unreadable. âTraditional.â You say again, your lips pressed into a thin line. The man slowly nods his head, "Traditional." He concludes and shoots you a blank stare.
Heâs probably noticed it too, but youâre getting to know each other more over this date, and youâd be lying to yourself if you said that you didnât enjoy thisânot like youâd ever tell Naoya.
His eyes leave yours, and he starts fiddling with his cutlery again. A wall of silence builds up again; it stands steady in its place, and youâre not sure if youâre the one to take the first step to climb over it.
Thereâs no one else in the restaurantâjust the two of you. The only sounds that are being made are when the metal meets the porcelain again, but other than that, you donât find a way to fend this unbearable quietness away.Â
When you take today into account, your first date with Naoya and all the times at work you spent bickering with him, you realize Tsumiki might be right.
You do like Naoyaâas absurd as that even sounds. Admittedly, you're not sure yourself why you like him; all you know is that this attraction towards him only seems to grow by the minute.
Maybe you seriously need to check if youâre a masochist or something, because you donât think any sane person would admit to liking Naoya Zenin.Â
Suddenly, the sound of metal clattering against the table plays, and it rips you out of your thoughts.Â
âIs it true,â Naoya starts off and looks up from his plate, and with his words, he tears the wall built out of each unsaid word down. âThat you wanted to go out with me just to take advantage of my money?â
Once again, no matter how much you try to study his face, only stone-cold eyes meet yours, behind which his emotions are locked. Itâs like heâs trying to test you and base his reaction on your response.
Caught off guard, youâre uncertain what you should say at this moment, so you just tell him the first thing that comes to your mind. âNo, Megumi gave me money.â
Seeing the way his forehead creases and the way he slams his hand on the table tells you that this wasn't the answer he was hoping for. âOh, so you're paid to be here?âÂ
âWell,â you begin, still unsure of what to say. âYes?â You confirm after a while and immediately regret your words. âNo!â You hastily added, but Naoyaâs reaction only seemed to worsen with every passing second, so you just kept on talking, hoping that thereâd be one answer that satisfied him. âKind of?â
Naoya is quick to respond with a question of his own. âOh, is that so?â He asks, voice sharp as a knife's edge. âThought you were a gold digger, it turns out youâre actually just a lying bitch. Shouldâve expected that from you.â He huffs and rolls his eyes.Â
Something churns in your stomach. Taken aback, all you can do at this moment is snap back at him. âSorry?â You shout at him in disbelief. Feet already rising to take your leave. How did talking about embarrassing high school memories turn into him calling you names?
Everythingâs happening all at once and too fast for you to comprehend;Â the best thing you could do right now is to remove yourself from this conversation. âAnd here I thought you were actually pretty nice for once.â You donât tell him that itâs more than thatâthat you actually considered thisâconsidered him.
As you stand up and walk away, Naoya steadies himself on the table with his hand before stepping forward to grab your wrist, his grip tight on your arm. He stands close nowâmere inches away from youâhe doesnât say anything, but the way his hot breath fans against your nape tells you that heâs seething.
You shake his hand off and turn away from him, quickening your pace as you bolt off. âHey! You still need to pay!â He screams furiously after you.
âShut up!â You turn your head around and yell back at him from behind your shoulder. âI know that you already paid, dickhead! That server couldnât shut up for his fucking life!â Those were your last words before storming off, leaving Naoya alone in the empty restaurant.
Just when you thought this might turn into a serious thing, everything went down the river.
One and a half monthsâyouâve been living like this for a good almost two months, and if it werenât for the pay, you wouldâve already slammed the resignation papers on his desk.
Because why is it that another Friday night of yours with Tsumiki goes to waste, to meet Naoya? Not that you asked him out for a dateâitâs a work celebration dinner, which means there are several other employees with you to fill the awkward silence, because you really didnât want to engage in a conversation with Naoya.
Unfortunately for you, it was just your luck that you landed at the same table as Naoya.
Usually, six to eight people were sitting together at a table, but a few employees called in sick today, so there was one table that accommodated fewer people than the others, and it just so happened that you and Naoya got assigned together at this tableâtalk about a coincidence.
Next to you sat a blue-haired girl not much older than you, whom youâve never seen aroundâmost likely a new employeeâand kept sliding against her chair, presumably nervous that she was sitting at the same table as Naoya.Â
She keeps shooting hopeful glances at you, hoping youâd open your mouth and say something to start a conversation. Honestly, you felt bad, cause you know how stressful a first-time work dinner can be when you donât know anyone, but you really didnât want to talk to Naoya or anyone from work right now.
Youâll make it up to her someday.
Naoya sat right across from you, gawking at you from time to time, and youâd just roll your eyes at him. Next to him sat someone whom you didnât know, but from the looks Naoya was giving him, you assumed that he didnât like him much either.
It was plain obvious that the guy was drunk from the way he was talking and continuously threw his arms over Naoyaâs shoulder, attempting to act all buddy-buddy with him, to his dismay, Naoya kept angrily shoving him away.
âSay, Mr. Naoya, is it true you wanna marry?â The man slurs over his words before laughing to himself. Naoya shows minimal reaction; only a mere disapproving look tells that heâs not enjoying himself. âWhat about it?â He eventually says dryly.
Hearing Naoyaâs words, the manâs smile widens in happiness. âYou already got someone in,â He gulps and mutters a small sorry under his breath, all while laughing and brushes himself over the chest before continuing. âMind?â He finalises.
His question catches your attention, and for the first time this evening, you fully look at Naoya, whoâs already wearing a grin on his face that tells you that heâs up to no good. Naoya sighs dramatically before carding his fingers through his hair. Itâs as if he needs to muster up his courage before revealing his answer.Â
Naoya takes a good look at you before turning to his side. âYeah, Iâve got someoââ You donât get to hear the rest of his answers, because a scream erupts next to you. âI think my food just moved!â The girl next to you exclaimed as she squats on her chair and points at the bowl in front of her with her chopsticks.
âMiwa, stop messing around.â The voice from across the table half-shouts, and in response, she just frantically shakes her head. âI saw it move just now!â She squeals.âPinky promise, cross my heart, hope to die, I swear!â
She continues to ramble on for a while, and you canât help but let an exasperated sigh escape your lips. âYou have to put it in the broth, and it'll cook automatically then.â You tell her calmly, taking your chopsticks into your hand, and show her how to do it properly.
Her mouth takes the shape of an o, and she freezes for a moment. âOh, so thatâs how you do it.â She chuckles sheepishly and puts her hand on the back of her hair in embarrassment. Miwaâas you know nowâpicks up her chopsticks to place the meat in her bowl, but it just so happens that when she reaches over to grab the meat off the plate, the table topples and her bowl loses its balance.
The bowl falls over before you can even process what just happened. The bowl now lies on the table with the broth leaking all over the surface, some of it dripping down on your lap. âOh my god, Iâm so so sorry!â Miwa puts her hands over her mouth and shouts apologetically.Â
âItâs fine. This happens to everyone.â You give her a half-hearted smile as youâre reminded of when you spilled wine all over Naoya. âIâll get some tissues from the restroom.â You slide your chair backwards in order to stand up, but Miwa stops you by holding down your hands.
She keeps them tightly in her hands, as if she needs to keep them in a chokehold, and shakes her head as she looks down at the floor. âNo, it was my fault. Let me do this. Iâll clean this up.â She looks up at you with a pleading look, and you canât help but feel bad for her.
You donât think sheâll let go of you unless you give in to her request. âOkay,â Miwaâs eyes are practically sparkling as soon as the words leave your mouth, and her hold on your hands tightens. âStill, I'd like to go outside, â on my own, you think to yourself before throwing a bored glance at Naoya. âSo, can you let me go?â You ask her politely, looking down at your intertwined hands.
âOh,â She yelps. âYeah, sure, sorry!â She says in a docile tone, and her grip on your hands quickly loosens. âThanks.â You murmur and smile at her. Miwa hastily stands up and joins you. She mumbles a quiet see you later and disappears into the restroom.Â
Before going outside, you make sure to look behind you, ensuring that Naoya isnât making any moves on following you. Either way, he seems occupied with the colleague next to him, so he wonât be a problemâfor now.
Outside, in the parking lot, a cold gust of wind greets you, and you canât help but regret leaving your jacket inside, but you have no intention of returning back inside right now. Youâd rather freeze to death out here than hear Naoya open his mouth once more.
Cheerful, but obnoxious laughter fills the air, and you turn your head to the source of commotion. A group of older male colleagues stands together not too far away from you. Youâve walked past some of them once, bowed your head to show respect, or greeted them out of politeness.Â
But the way that all of them were looking at you and exchanged knowing glances with each other made something in your stomach twist. Itâs only then that one of the men emerges from the group and makes his way over to you.Â
Heâs a good head taller than you; from his position, youâre sure he can see the way your neck shivers as he comes closer to your face. âWhatâs a pretty thing like you doing out here alone?â He asks and reaches out for the strand of your hair thatâs been blown away by the wind.Â
Goosebumps are rising all over you, met with the fear of not knowing what happens next. Iâm just here to catch some air, but Iâll go back in now.â You manage to dodge his touch by a hairsbreadth, and you notice the way his expression immediately sours. âHave a good evening.â You mutter, and you hope he doesnât notice the way you tremble as you nod your head at him.Â
âGoing already?â The man is quick to latch onto your wrist, and you feel how everything stops for you. âIâm sorry.â You stutter. âBut I really have to go now.â Your words just seem to worsen his mood; in response to that, the grip he has on you becomes tighterâsuffocating.
The manâs lips curve into a smile. âItâll be fun, okay?â He assures, but his eyes deceive his words; whatever he plans to do isnât going to be fun in the slightest.Â
âThat girl canât do shit. Help her, will you?â A loud voice shouts over to you, one you recognize in an instant, and for the first time this evening, youâre glad that heâs here.
Naoya strides over to where you are. Simultaneously, the man immediately lets go of your arm and shoves his hands in his pockets, as if thatâd help to cover the grip marks he left on your forearm.
âMr. Zenin.â The man swallows and proceeds to nod at Naoya, who doesnât plan on responding in the same manner. âHope you enjoyed this work dinner. Itâs your last.â He states and pulls you away, leaving the man baffled.Â
He yells after the two of you, but you canât make out his words from this distance. âNaoya, let me go. I have to get my things and go home.â You demand and attempt to shake him off.Â
âIs that how you repay me?â He stops in his tracks and turns around. âWell,â you start, the words lying on the tip of your tongue. âThanks for just now, but I seriously just wanna get my things.âÂ
âWoman, listen. Iâll drive you home.â He says, voice nor face betraying himâheâs serious about this.
A beat of silence passes, and if it werenât for Naoyaâs hand holding yours, youâd think this was some sort of dream.
After a while, you manage to say a few words. âPlease donât?â And take a step away from him. âAlso, youâre not allowed to drive when you drink.â You remind him, because if there was one thing you didnât need now was being pulled over and getting a ticket for driving under the influence.
âBeing drunk doesnât make me an idiot.â Naoya retorts, letting go of your hand. âYouâre an asshole either way,â You scoff. âWith and without alcohol.âÂ
âDo you want me to drive you home now or not?
If love makes one blind, it apparently also makes one stupid, because why on earth did you agree to sleeping over at Naoyaâs place?
When you were in the car, you noticed that he wasnât driving in the right direction.
Fuck no. Iâm not driving across the whole city to bring you home.
He was even being so nice as to drop you off at this 24/7 open convenience store that sells toothbrushes and shirts, and if you didnât hurry, heâd drive off without youâif thatâs not princess treatment, then you donât know either.
Thatâs how you ended up sleeping on Naoyaâs couch for the night.
Technically, you didnât agree, more like you were forced, but if this included a cozy couch, a huge kitchen with a kitchen island, and bathrooms as big as your apartment, then maybe youâd consider it.Â
Maybe next time.
It must be nice being a nepo baby and having the privilege to spend money on everything, without worrying about ever running out of money.Â
Todayâs incident still keeps you up, and you feel a shiver running along your body as you remember how close he was to touching your skin. His smile is etched into your memory, and the way heâd talk to you plays over and over in your mind.
Itâs a memory engraved in your consciousness, and you donât know if youâll ever be able to rid this feeling of disgust and fear.
Trying to distract your head from these thoughts, you notice how cold it actually is. Does this man not heat his house? How does he even expect you to sleep well with a blanket thatâs as thin as his patience?
You donât know what made you decide to walk up the stairs and find Naoya, but youâre already here. If youâre already at it, you might as well take a look around.
The hallway is dark, and you carefully tread along the polished floors. His house is spaciousâit feels big but also incredibly empty at the same timeâyou wonder if Naoya always spends his nights alone in this cold space.
Before you left the bathroom, you spotted Naoya going into the room right at the end of the hall, assuming this must be his room. As you finally stand in front of his door, you contemplate running, but itâs not like youâre asking for a big favor. It shouldnât be as difficult as you're making it out to be.
You just want a blanket, that's everything. You're cold, thatâs everything. Naoya should help you warm up, that's everythingâ â
Three timesâyou knock a total of three times, but thereâs no answer coming from the other side of the door. Itâs only after the fourth unanswered knock that you enter his room, the door lightly squeaking as you push it open.
As you step in, youâre met with a cold breeze. âNaoya?â You call out his name, but youâre met with no response. âNaoya?â You repeat once more, hoping that heâd notice you know. Seeing that heâs not reacting, you search for the light switch, hands groping at the wall behind you until you find and turn it on.
Unsurprisingly, Naoya isnât in his bed or in his room at all. You take a look around, but canât find him anywhere; thatâs when you feel the breeze again. Now with the lights on, everything came into view, and it's only then that you notice the door to the balcony being slightly ajar.Â
You make your way over to the balcony, open the door, and step outside. âNaoya? What are you doing?â The back of his head greets you, and under the moonlit sky, you can see the way his blond hair gleams. Met with no response, you take another step forward, and now his side profile comes into your view.
Itâs eerily quiet.âWhat is it?â He takes a drag from his cigarette and ashes it down his balcony into the garden, probably hoping that in the morning the wind will blow it away. For a moment, itâs quiet, the wind quietly whistles in your ear, and the smell of smoke lingers in the air, enveloping the two of you. He looks good like this, dressed in casual attire, wearing a relaxed look on his face, and behaving unusually silent.
You canât take your eyes off Naoya.
Although he always tries to act all distant, Naoya takes everything personally and is always up to confront someone about it, too. âWhat are you looking at so dumbly?â He growls, and you can feel the corners of your lips twitching. âFor someone whoâs so traditional, you sure donât give a shit about your lungs.â
âDo you even inhaleâŠthe smoke?â You laugh, quirking an eyebrow, observing him skeptically. âThe fuck are you saying?â He ashes off his cigarette again. âWell, you're just taking puffs.â You point at his cigarette and then at him. âSomeone knows shit,â he scoffs and turns away from you. âTalk about fucked up lungs.âÂ
You donât dwell too long on his words and change the topic. âDid anyone ever tell you that youâre a terrible host?â You sneer and lean against the railing. âYou think it's funny to insult me?â If he doesnât ash off his cigarette very soon, itâll go out immediately, but you donât tell him that. âWell, weâre not at work, so I really couldnât care less.â
âWhy are you even awake? Donât you need your beauty sleep?â Naoya jokes, tone filled with mild condescension. âIâll take that as a compliment.â You say dryly and turn to meet him. âI just couldnât. What about you?â
Naoya finally ashes off his cigarette, so that only the butt of it is burning now, and he smudges it against the railing before chucking it down. âI was thinking about marriage.â He admits and smirks at you.
You ignore the way your heart tightens at his words and laugh it off. âHow much?â It doesnât take a genius to see that Naoya is irritated by your words. âHow much what?â
âHow much are you paying her to marry you?â You finally say and let out a final laugh. Naoyaâs face seems to relax at your words, and he asks a question of his own. âHow much are you getting paid?â
âThatâs secret information.â You deadpan and side-eye him. âNot like I donât know already.â Naoya sneers. âWhy are you even asking theâ Oh my god! Were you hitting on me just now?Â
âYouâre practically eye-fucking me every time I walk into the room.â He says it like itâs a fact. âDo you hear yourself?â You exclaim in disbelief, taking a step back from him.Â
Every time you take a step away from him, he takes a step forward. It goes on so long until your back meets the wall, and your eyes widen, knowing that Naoya has you exactly where he wants.Â
He leans forward and presses his hand against the wall, before nudging your ear with his nose. âJust admit it.â He whispers before backing away and smirking.Â
Itâs in this moment that you just let go of everythingâincluding your sanity, and give in to your desires. You cup his cheeks in your hands and pull him downwards to press your lips against hisâan action he quickly reciprocates.Â
He tastes of tobacco; usually, you dislike the taste, but there are some exceptions, and Naoya seems to be one of them. On him, it tastes comforting and soothing, although nothing is comforting about the way he kisses you.Â
His tongue darts over your lower lip, and before you can even grant him full access, he pushes his tongue in your mouth, and you involuntarily let out a high-pitched sound. Your hands find his hair to yank him down, and his roam beneath your shirt, his hands freezing cold as they press against your warm skin.
Only when you push him off to catch your breath does he stop kissing you, and his hands retreat from your skin.
You donât even get a full minute to breathe properly before Naoya pushes himself on you again, but you hold him in his place before he can slot his lips on yours again, your eyes warning him not to go any further.
To your surprise, Naoya actually seems to follow your warning and steps back. Itâs far enough so that he no longer breathes right into your face, but still near enough for you to see him up close and observe his features.
He seems to have noticed, and a wide grin forms on his face as he raises both his arms into the air, as if heâs been accused of something.Â
âDonât give me that face.â Naoya coos in faux sympathy. âTo make it up to you, how does going on a third date sound to you?â
END NOTE: i have an admission to make...i didnt even watch the new season yet...lol
SYNOPSIS: When youâre set up to go on a date with your companyâs bossâs youngest son, Naoya Zenin, it was supposed to be a mere play-pretend relationship. But what happens when you actually catch feelings along the way?
WORDCOUNT: 10.7k (don't ask me how) | CONTENT & WARNINGS: naoya is a warning himself so you can already guess whats about to come, reader doesn't want to deal with his bs but she also can't help being attracted to him (same), ooc!naoya, bicker/banter, smoking, kissing, drinking; oneshot
TAG LIST: @aritsukemo, @sugary-strawberry-shortcake
AUTHOR'S NOTE: he's too fine to be doing ts bruh
âLetâs pay then.âÂ
Across the white-clad table sits none other than your companyâs boss's son: Naoya Zenin, wearing a now red-stained dress shirt that, unfortunately, looks too good on him, and is raising his hand to call out to the waitress for the bill. Â
Not even in your dreams would you ever go on a date with Naoya Zenin, so how'd you get tangled up in this mess?
From your workplace to the bar it takes around half an hour by train and five more minutes on foot. It takes some time, but in the meantime you spend observing the people you pass by. Â
There are other people like youâbusinesspeople commuting and tiredly staring at their phones, checking the time, teenage girls dressed in short skirts and hiding bottles of absolute vodka in their absolutely too small purses, students who look like theyâre on the brink of exhaustion and just want to lie down in their beds.
Back in high school, you thought everyone was exaggerating when they told you to enjoy your school and college times to the fullest, because âthose were the times when youâd see your friends the most.â
Joke's on you, because it turned out to be exactly as people described.
Nowadays, you are barely able to meet most of your friends, work gets in the way, someoneâs planning their wedding, and others are travelling the globe.
But there was one person you could always count on: your best friend Tsumiki. After graduation, when everyone started going their own separate ways, the two of you stayed together.Â
Despite everything that was happening, the two of you managed to meet every Friday in a bar of your choice and enjoyed a good glass of âwhateverâ together after an exhausting day of work.
Especially after today, first of all, your alarm didnât go off, and you barely managed to arrive in time; secondly, the printer decided that today would be a good day to give up, so you had to run to the copy shop down the street during your lunch break and if this wasnât enough, one of your co-workers called in sick for the beginning of next week, so now you have to pitch in for them during next weekâs report.Â
The meetings werenât bad per se; all you had to do was update your superiors about what your department was working on, the good things, the things that are still in the process, and new ideas. What was bad was with whom you had to do them, simply because you didn't know which of his sons your CEO would send this time.Â
The Zenin family has some kind of twisted sense of humor, because, yes, theyâre one of the most successful companies, but their way of treating their employees? Well, all you can hope for is that not one of the younger sons will be the one to evaluate you.
The train comes to a halt and announces the station's name; your cue to exit. Itâs a short walk, but you can still feel the ache in your feet from walking around in heels the whole day. Luckily for you, you arrive in no time.
As soon as the bell, which is strung to the door, rings, Tsumiki turns around and waves you over, delighted that you made it. Except her younger brother Megumi was here this timeâhis boyfriend Itadori tooâalong with their best friend Kugisaki.Â
Tsumiki slides over to the side to make room for you to set your bag down before sitting next to her. âWhat's your little brother doing here?â you eye Megumi, although he doesn't seem to pay much mind to it.Â
On the other hand, Yuji looks like heâs about to explode from nervousnessâKugisaki tooâbut from laughter.
âYou see,â she pauses for a moment and shoots you a sheepish smile. "He wanted to talk to you about something.â
âSo, you're telling me your family is fine with you marrying a man,â you recap what Megumi has just told you, âbut they draw the line at you getting married before Naoya?â Your finger traces along the rim of your glass, and you grimace, bewildered.
From your peripheral view, you can see Tsumiki and Kugisaki giggling to one another. âTrust me, I wouldnât go as far as asking you if I hadnât already tried everything else.â Megumi deadpans.
Thereâs a pregnant silence spanning around the room between Megumi's statement and your answer. âAnd now,â you begin, still not being able to wrap your head around this whole thing going on, âyou want me to go out with your cousin?âÂ
âMy condolences.â Kugisaki chirps in, âMaki told me that every time theyâre on family vacation together, he listens to these black pill songs in the shower.â She remarks. âLike unironically!â
Although he tries to hide it by muffling his mouth with his hand, Itadori is smiling from ear to ear. âHeâs on some crazy looksmaxxing shit.â He adds.
Next to him Megumi lets out an exasperated breath and side-eyes his friend before turning his attention on you again. âIâve never said anything about going out,â He drawls. âThose are your words now.â
Upon his words, you canât help but scoff. âIs âgo on a date with my cousinâ not the same as going out?â you exclaim, but youâve known Megumi long enough to know that heâs serious about this. âMegumi, he's my supervisor. I canât afford to lose my position.â A sigh accompanies your words.
âI know that, and I usually wouldnât even do this, but Naoya knows I want to marry, so heâs purposefully ruining every date his father sets him on.â Megumi furrows his eyebrows in frustration. âWell, heâs also an asshole, so the dates never work out,â Itadori adds offhandedly, before picking up his glass to empty it.
The conversation drifts from Megumi, Itadori, and Kugisaki commenting on the situation. âYou just have to pretend to like him, and as soon as he's like âyeah, sheâs the oneâ you can cut out the bullshit.â Kugisaki shrugs as if it were the easiest thing in the world.Â
âIâm only allowed to marry when heâs found someone, so please.â If you didn't know any better, Megumi is practically begging you to go out with Naoya.
âBut Megumi, my jobââ you interfere to make him stop, but heâs quick to cut you off before you can finish your sentence. âIâll also pay and handle the consequences. So please,â he frowns.
âCome on, it'll be a good story to tell your kids.â Tsumiki giggles, and you see the way thereâs a cheerful smile tugging at her lips. âYours and Naoyaâs kids, by the way.â Kugisaki comments, and Megumi throws her a blank stare. âDonât jinx it, Nobara.â Megumi mumbles and nudges her arm.Â
âFine, but I canât promise anything.â You tap your fingers against the wooden surface, already overcome with regret.
In all honesty, youâre not sure what made you agree; maybe it was the fact that the alcohol already took its effect, the pleading eyes Itadori threw at you, or the big stack of money Megumi slid over the table that kept growing every second you didnât answer.
Megumi sighs, his body visibly begins to relax, and the tension that was residing on his face starts to fade away. It wasnât obvious, but there was a small smile gracing his lips. âThank you.â
Okay, so, you lied. There are many things youâd do for your best friendâsheâs your better half after all, your soulmate, and unfortunately also the older sister of the guy who dragged you in this situation.Â
Sure, you like Megumi a lot and you really tried to give it your best to make this date somehow work, but your body gets a physical reaction as soon as Naoya Zenin dares to open his mouthâyouâd rather rip your ears off than listen to him talk any longer.
Honestly, he looks like heâd rather be anywhere else than here. For the past 40 minutes, heâs done nothing but pick apart his food, and see if âthey cooked it to his likingâ, glance at his wristwatch to see how much of your time he can still waste, or call for the waiter for the nth time to complain about the wine ânot being fermented enoughâ.Â
Admittedly, youâre no better. There are a couple of women sitting at the table behind you gossiping, and you canât help but overhear what theyâre talking about. Just as the one girl was getting to the interesting part, complaining about how her ex-boyfriend took his new girlfriend to the same restaurant she recommended to him on their first date, Naoya speaks up, and your eyes widen in surprise as he calls out to you.
âYouâre a friend of Megumi?â he doesnât even look at you as he asks and just continues cutting his food. The metal knife scratches against the porcelain plate and creates an unpleasant shrieking noise. âFriend of his sister,â you correct him and mimic him by dragging your fork along your plate.
Naoya's face contorts into an expression of disdain and finally spares you a glance. âHe told me youâre a friend of his, I thought at least someone whoâd I knew,â his amused remark, ânot some nobody.â is followed by tsk.
You donât answer, you donât want to answer, and you know better than to answer him because thatâs what he wantsâfor you to indulge in his provocations. But with every passing minute of him throwing blank stares at you, your resolve crumbles.
Instead, you pick up your glass of red wine thatâs been untouched the entire evening, because Naoya was whining left and right about the restaurant being some âtasteless tentâ whose food is âno better than dog foodâ.
To your surprise, the wine was really nice; it wasnât too sour, contrary to the cheap bottle you used to buy at your local corner shop when you and Tsumiki always tried to convince the cashier that you were old enough to buy alcohol.
Additionally, it was also just sweet enough for you to taste out the alcohol. Heâs got a good tasteâyouâll give him that.
Itâs like heâs watching you, because the second you put down your glassâmind you, not even a split second after it sits on the table againâNaoya dares to open his mouth again.Â
âWhatâs your job?â he asks, and you already sense the mocking intent behind his words. âI work at a company,â you say mindlessly and pick up your glass again to take a sip.
Sooner or later, heâd find out anywayâeven if youâd prefer not toâbut youâve already decided: this might be one of the top 5 worst dates youâve ever been on.
Also, itâs not like youâve lied to him anyway; itâs a white lie at best, and the chances of you ever running into Naoya ever again, in a workplace with hundreds of workers, are little to none.Â
Either way, he probably wouldnât recognise you anyway.
âNot a good paying one,â he smirks and diverts his eyes towards your body, âI can tell by the clothes you're wearing.âÂ
Well, this date just moved up to the top 4 worst dates ever.
You furrow your eyebrows in annoyance. âWhat can I say?â you let out a dry chuckle. âMy superior is a pain to be around and doesn't know where to invest his money.â Your words are followed by a mere shrug.
âOh yeah?â he asks, probably intending to interrogate you further. If it werenât Naoya Zenin asking you, youâd think it was almost a romantic gesture.
Keyword: almost.Â
âYeah.â You give him a tight-lipped smile, not willing to feed into his provocations any further. But, this doesnât tip men like Naoya offâmen who make it their purpose to ruin someone.Â
âHm, you were able to eat everything,â he crosses his arms over his chest, âIâm impressed.â He remarks mockingly, before taking a small sip from his glass. âItâs not often you meet a woman who has such a big appetite.â This time, he simply grins, and you hate to admit it, but his words are slowly getting under your skin.Â
Top 3 worst dates ever.
âYeah, you could learn from me.â You advise. âIf youâd actually eat the food they served you instead of whining, maybe youâd shut up for once.â
This finally seems to do the trick because you can see the way his jaw is tightening. âYou should learn how to behave like a proper woman.â Itâs quite funny seeing him lose his composure over such a measly comment. Itâs evident that he doesn't plan on giving up on harassing you. âI wonder who even hired someone like you.âÂ
Top 2 worst dates ever.
Well, he wonât have to ponder on it too longâshould he ever realize you work at the same company. âA woman should know where she belongs, and itâs certainly not at work.â He finalizes.
Well, this date officially took the first place for the worst date youâve ever been on.
Actually, what if this were your 13th reason? You donât respond to his comments, not because you want to give him the satisfaction heâs been looking for or agree with him, but because you know where you stand, and actually know what self-respect is. And you certainly know that Naoya isnât worth putting in effort for.
âOkay, so this isnât working out. Itadori, right when he said you're an asshole.â You sigh as you lean back in your chair, already hinting that youâre about to leave. Naoya has the audacity to tsk âThat guy just wants to marry his little boyfriend. I donât even know why you bother so much.â he cocks his head to the side, smirking at you.
There are certain levels of low, and you mightâve actually reached the lowest, because, yeah, this family affair is none of your business, and you shouldnât meddle in other peopleâs lives this much, but it seems Naoya never knows when to keep his mouth shut and when not. âOh my god, would it kill you not to have the last word for once?â you groan, and in the midst of your complaint, your hand hits your half-full wine glass and knocks it over.Â
Thereâs nothing you can do to stop the liquid from escaping the glass; it already ruined the white tablecloth and spilled onto Naoyaâs (now once) white dress shirt.
âFuck, I didnât plan for this to happen,â you hastily say and attempt to clean the table by soaking up the drink with napkins, unfortunately to no avail. âCan you women even do anything?â Naoya puts his hands on either side of the table and snaps at you.Â
His eyebrows scrunch up together in anger, and he tightly grips the tablecloth. This guyâs seriously got some screws loose. âLet's just pay,â he groans, sinking into his chair with his body still tensed up.Â
Upon seeing his stretched-out arm, the waitress rushes over almost immediately. âTook you long enough.â Naoya snides under his breath, but loud enough for her to hear, and you canât help but roll your eyes at his remark.Â
âThe bill, Sir? How would you like to pay?â The waitress nervously puts down the bill; there are more digits than you can count on one hand, and you hurriedly glance over to Naoya.
A mistake on your side.
Naoya, being Naoya, seizes the opportunity, âYouâre so full of yourself, right woman? Weâll split the bill then.â The playful smile that's tugging at the end of his lips doesn't go unnoticed.
For a moment, the waitress is taken aback, but she just nods, knowing itâs probably better not to ask any questions. She simply glances at you, but youâre just as, if not even more, surprised as she was just now and yelp out a loud âWhat?!â
Thereâs been a handful of terrible and right out awful dates youâve been on, but you doubt nothing will ever come close to this one.Â
Once there was a guy who stood you up 5 minutes prior to the date, then there was a guy who kept ranting about his best friend and how great she was, basically using you to get over her, and you donât even want to recall the other incidents; either way, youâre pretty sure that youâve blocked them out anyway.
Nonetheless, all of them always paid for the first dateâitâs basic courtesy and a simple, polite gesture, and you're certain that Naoyaâa man who has more money than senseâcan afford to pay for a first date.
At this point, youâre already so tired out from this date that you donât even have the strength in you to talk back anymore; instead, you rummage through your purse for your wallet. It doesnât take you long to find it, and when you do, you take out a handful of bills and slam them down on the table.Â
âHope youâre happy, asshole.â You feign a smile before taking your leave.Â
Well, the massive stash of money that Megumi gave you now didn't seem like such a big exaggeration anymore.
Not even a week has passedâto be precise, itâs been more than one day and a few hours since youâve seen him on your terrible date on Saturday.
Karmaâs a bitch, but so is Naoya Zenin.Â
The colleague you were supposed to fill in for still wasnât back, and now it was up to you, alongside a few other colleagues, to update your superiors on this month's work. Usually, these meetings donât take all too long; you just hope that this will be over soon and you can return to your cubicle and pretend youâre doing something on your computer.
When you stepped into the conference room, your eyes drifted around the room. The lightning here was unpleasant, bright white lights that illuminated the room, similar to hospital lights. A few people already sat down and chattered with one another, and others were frantically scrolling through their tablets to look over their notes again.
Soon, people started to flood in, and you barely managed to take in the room before finally sitting down yourself. The meeting was about to start, and the crowd that gathered at the front of the room started to scatter in different directions to sit down. Only then, when you glanced in the now empty direction, you spotted himâsurprise would be an understatementâyour eyes widened in shock when you saw that it was Naoya out of all the people sitting across the room.Â
To make matters worse, he was already looking at you, and before you knew it, you locked eyes with him. You didnât even have to second-guess what heâs thinking, his face says enoughâhe doesnât look particularly pleased to see you.Â
What a great way to start off your day.
Overall, the meeting went fine, it began with people presenting their achievements and how they wished to improve, but it didnât even look like Naoya was listening.Â
From time to time, heâd let out a tired yawn here and there, not even bothering to hide his boredom; sometimes, heâd also pretend to listen when in reality he was just playing with his helix and glance in your direction.
Considering how irksome this meeting was for him, you thought that heâd stop looking at you after a while, that heâd find himself a new distraction. Still, even as you teared your eyes away from him and concentrated on the colleague who was speaking, you could practically feel the way he was shooting daggers at the side of your head.
When it was finally your turn to speak, you tried to look at everyone but Naoya, which was hard when he was tracking your every move. He looks like heâs just waiting for the right momentâthe decisive moment where you slip up and he can attack. Just at the thought of that or Naoya in general, your vision turned green.Â
It took every ounce of willpower in you not to let your revulsion show on your face, because knowing how the Zenin family is, theyâd punish your whole department for even glancing at Naoya in the wrong way.
After a few other presentations, a round of questions, and a praise from Naoyaâwhich looked like it physically hurt him to say those words out loudâyou were permitted to leave.
âYou over there, stay here.â You immediately freeze on the spot upon hearing his words, peering at the people beside you to check if he means them, despite knowing that he was directly referring to you, even if you wished he werenât.
Around you, the people stop in their tracks, curiosity piqued, and you feel all the eyes in the room landing on you. âWere any of you even listening?â Naoya clicks his tongue in annoyance. âI told you to leave unless any of you insist on working more.â As soon as he said the words, everyone disappeared as fast as possible.Â
All you could do was helplessly watch after them, wishing that you were them. Â
âTurn around, will you?â If being in the same room as Naoya wasnât bad enough already, youâre now alone with him. You do as youâre told and face him. âWhat's someone like you doing here?â His words are laced with a distaste that you could only reciprocate. âI work here.â You reply curtly, knowing that thatâs not the answer he sought. âYou think youâre so funny.â He spits plainly, and you have to bite the inside of your cheek to prevent yourself from bursting out laughing on the spot.Â
âWhy didnât you tell me that you were working here?â He demands angrily, and this time, you canât help but let out a small laugh. âSorry, sorry,â you giggle after a while. âHonestly, at first I had my doubts, but the money convinced me.â You admit giddily, but it doesnât take long for you to realize that anger has risen to Naoyaâs face.
âYou want the money so bad?â He exclaims, irritation written all over his face, âWell then, work for it. You have nothing against working more, no?â He states, and that bullshit-eating grin of his tells you that heâs serious.
âBut Sir, thatâs against the rulââ You say, taken aback by his statement, âI donât give two shits. For a month, youâll be working more, and maybe youâve learned your lesson until then.â And the smile he gives you is eerily similar to the one you gave him on your dateâa smile full of condescension.
Yeah, you really hate this guy.
Itâs been a week since then, and you canât recall all the times someone came up to you and attempted to talk to you about you and Naoya. Thereâs been an absurd wave of rumors surging towards you every day.Â
Some claim that Naoya is your ex-husband, now turned superior; others suspect that you slept with him, consequently got pregnant, and he told you to abort the child, and during lunch break, you hear the young interns gossip about how Naoya probably made a move on you.
Obviously, each of these suspicions was false; you denied them every time, accentuating how you would never in your life voluntarily get in touch with Naoya Zenin unless youâd fallen on your head, lost all your memories, forgot his awful personality, and only wanted him for his nice looks.
You dislike Naoya for many things, but thereâs one thing youâll give himâheâs handsome. His eyes are both enticing and sharp, as if to lure you in, but then seize the moment to devour you when you let your guard down.Â
It happened to you once that a âheâs kinda fineâ slipped out of your mouth, and people immediately started to tease you about how they knew that you liked him. Apparently, there was âthe look of loveâ in Naoyaâs eyes every time he walked past you with a loving smile adorning his lips, and how you always returned his gaze fondly with a smile of your ownâwhatever thatâs supposed to mean.
If only they knew that the way Naoya looked at you was to make sure that you were working the extra task he assigned to you, before mocking you, and grinning as he saw you struggling with those tasks that take ridiculously long, and were simultaneously the most useless.Â
Also, the way you looked at him was a simple glare and a faux smile thatâs supposed to ease his âworriesâ of you âslacking off at work,â as he liked to call it.
Still, people come up with new, stupid ideas every other hour, and it was embarrassing how easily they got under your skin.
Along with the fact that Naoya does absolutely nothing to stop the rumors makes it ten times worse. (And because everyoneâs probably too scared to even approach him.)
Now you were beginning to understand what people meant by corporate-slaves, because this felt like some sleep-eat-work-repeat lifestyle, which you certainly did not want to live. However, itâs just 2 more weeks, and youâre free from this hell.
Although if there was one thing you were looking forward to, it was your weekly meeting with Tsumiki, only this time you came late. When you had the chance at work, you texted Tsumiki that you wouldnât make it in time today, and she only read and responded to your messages when she was already at the bar, saying that sheâd wait for you with a little surprise.
When you finally arrived, it took you a minute to look around and find herâit was a lot fuller than usual. Then, when you finally saw Tsumiki, you hugged her and apologized gullibly. âHey, Miki. Sorry that I kept you waiting.â You sigh before slumping down on the leather seats.
Tsumiki gives you a warm smile and makes room for you to sit closer. âNo worries.â She says sweetly before pouring herself another shot. âWhat took you so long?â She asks curiously and downs the glass. Once again, Megumi, Itadori, and Kugisaki sit at the table. Itâs obvious why theyâre here, but youâre not in the mood to talk to them about it.
âNaoyaâs ass ordered me to work longer, but please let's not talk about him.â You groan in annoyance, and as if on instinct, Tsumiki pours you a glass and hands it to you, smilingly. âHe has the power to do that?â The voice comes from across the tableâthe one who spoke up was Kugusaki. âApparently.â You shrug your shoulders before drinking from the glass.
Itâs silent for a while, and you notice that the air in the atmosphere has shifted. Itâs weird, but youâre not bothered enough to askâat least not yet. The evening goes by with a couple more rounds of drinks, stalking old classmates on social media, unrealistic âwhat-ifâ and âwhat-would-you-ratherâ scenarios, and more drinks.
âOkay, okay, I think thatâs enough.â Tsumiki asserts after a while and looks to the others for help. âUgh, seriously.â You utter in frustration. âIf heâd stop behaving like some male tradwife, Iâd actually go out with him.âÂ
The others observe you as you rant. âI mean, yeah, Iâll stay by my word, heâs fine as fuck, but someone needs to tell him to shut up, I swear.â You ramble. âHeâs actually so my type looks-wise, and you know if he wasnât him, I'd definitely date him.â When the words leave your mouth, you see how the others are throwing confused stares at each other before they land on you.
âSo, whoâs âheâ?â Megumi questions cautiously. âNaoya.â You muffle, voice already feeling hoarse, and Tsumiki hands you a glass of water. âUnfortunately.â You wipe your mouth with the sleeve of your blouse after the admission.
Suddenly, Itadori jumps up and puts his hands on the wooden table. âWell, then itâs your lucky day!â And you can practically see the way his eyes shine as he announces. âNaoya asked you on a second date.â
âA second what?â You cough on your water, and your eyes widen in shock. âA date,â Itadori repeats, all smiley. âNo, Itadori, I heard what you said, I'm just,â You pause for a moment, trying to find the right words. âNo, sorry, what?âÂ
For the first time this evening, Megumi expresses his thoughts. âThis is the first time Naoya has ever asked someone to go out with him again.â He pauses for a moment and coughs, before he mumbles something under his breath that you almost missedâ is he embarrassed? âAnd if it helps you, he kept blabbering to me about you. Which is weird, cause he usually says talking about people is a waste of breath.âÂ
âWow, how charming.â You huff dryly. He glances over Tsumiki before continuing. âMy sister already told me that youâd say no, and I donât want to force you into something you donât want to do, but,â He pauses and sighs. âHe might have actually developed some interest in you, and this is the best chance weâll ever get. So, would you mind going on a date with him again?â
âMegumi, you do know that he made me work more because I accidentally spilled wine on him, and made me do these tiresome, stupid tasks that he pulled out of his buttcrack.â You exclaim and take notice of Megumiâs frown.
Tsumiki pats on your shoulder reassuringly before glancing at Megumi. âYou know, Megs, I know you mean it well, but going on another date with Naoya would actually make me go crazy.â Her hand stays on your shoulder. âBut to me it also sounds like you kinda like him.âÂ
Her words strike you like lightning, and you immediately straighten up. âTsumiki, what the fuck?!â You screech, and you can feel the way the other customers turn around to look at you. âWell, I donât know, just a feeling.â She laughs softly. âMaybe just try it, and all of a sudden he realizes youâre like the love of his life and wants to change just for you.â She jokes.
âYeah, and then we live happily ever after.â You add, and the others join in Tsumikiâs laughter. âIâm not drunk enough for this.â You snort and rub your eyes with the pads of your fingers. âOkay, well, when does he want to meet me?âÂ
Thereâs a brief silence before Itadori breaks it. âYouâre actually agreeing?â He looks at you in bewilderment. âLike for real, for real?â He questions to ensure that he hasnât heard you wrong.
âMhm.â And you nod your head. Actually, you donât really know what made you say yes. Did you actually develop some feelings? Yeah, no. Was it the thrill of being with him? Or maybe youâve just become as unhinged as Naoya and accepted your fate; whatever it was, you were still certain in your choice and had no plan of going back on your wordâat least not yet.
âActually, already next Friday at seven,â Megumi tells you, and you stare at him in disbelief. âThatâs literally when work ends for me.â Tsumiki turns to you in confusion. âI thought work ended at six for you?â
âWell, Naoya gave me more work, so I also work longer on most days. Thatâs why I also came late today. Heâs practically setting me up.â You deadpan, and you can feel the toll your words have on the couple across from youâ how easily Megumiâs and Itadoriâs good moods were shattered.Â
Naoyaâs words replay in your head over and over. I donât even know why you bother so much. Itâs not like he was wrong, maybe you did feel something for Naoya, and this would be the only chance for you to find out without any co-workers interferingâthen itâd work out for the guys and youâcall it a win-win situation?
âBut,â And their heads immediately lifted. âIâll try my best to find a way.âÂ
Megumi and Itadori look at each other and smile. âThank you, Iâll send you the address later. I seriously owe you.â Megumi sighs in relief. âBut tell him to pay for it this time.â He furrows his eyebrows in confusion. âWhat do you mean?â If you werenât irritated already, you are now. âWell, the last time, he wanted to split the bill.â You explain.
âThatâs unlike him,â Megumi states. âHe usually always pays for the dates beforehand. Right after they ordered their food. He says it's manly.â If that were the case, then it wouldnât make sense for him to insist on only paying for his order. âWait, what?âÂ
You and Megumi look like two strangers who speak different languages and are trying to explain the same concept to one another, but the language barrier hinders you; in this case, itâs a matter of understanding the situation.
âYou know how Naoya is,â Megumi begins and bites his lower lip in the process, contemplating finding the right words.
He merely nods. âYeah, that sums it up.â The conversation continues to flow, going back and forth on different themes, and Naoya slowly fades into the background, that is, until youâre about to leave.Â
Tsumiki tilts her head to the side and speaks. âLetâs meet up on the weekend then. Canât believe Naoya is stealing my precious you-time away from me.â She grins. âYouâll have to tell me all about it then!âÂ
Outside, the rain heavily platters on the concrete, consequently staining the sidewalk with deep gray spots. With each minute passing by, youâre starting to regret this decision more and more.
The raindrops kiss the tinted car windows, blurring your view, almost like the rain is mocking you for blindly going on another date with Naoya.
On one hand, there are hundreds of thousands of excuses running around in your head that you should use to get the driver to stop, turn around, and drop you off at home again.
Then youâd just lie down, watch this one show that Tsumik kept suggesting to you these past few months.Â
âRight, so itâs like a drama about this one girl who helps out her best friend to go on dates with potential marriage candidates instead of her, and on this one date, she accidentally catches the attention of her boss!â
But thatâs the thing: when you think of Naoya, thereâs a familiar feeling bubbling in your chest, and twinges at your heartstrings, one akin to nervousness and excitementâyou know what it is, this feeling of an enjoyable thrill, filled with pleasure and doubtsâand you donât like it.
Because you know if you donât stop here, then thereâs no point going back.
After a while, the car comes to a halt, hauling you out of your thought-prison. The driver remains quiet in his seat, and itâs only when you bend forward to pay him that he lets out a deep huff of acknowledgement, before driving off.
Technically, you still have the option to run away and never look back, but your feet wonât budgeâtheyâre glued to the ground. Itâs like your body knows that you want to be here, despite denying it.
When you step inside, you notice how quiet it is: no rich folks chatter, no fancy live music, and no clattering of plates or anything of that sort.Â
At the reception, there stands a young boy, not much older than you, drowsily leaning his chin on the palm of his hand and lifelessly staring into the air. âUhm..hi?â You greet awkwardly. Only then does he seem to acknowledge your presence. âOh, sorry, hi, what can I do for you?â The boy stumbles over his words, his eyes take the form of crescent moons, and his lips twitch with an uncertain smile.Â
âIâm here on a daâ to meet Zenin.â You cough over your previous words, hoping that the waiter hasnât noticed your nervousness. âNaoya Zenin.â You manage to choke out, and the boy's eyes widen in surprise. âMr., Iâm so snobby and pay for everything, Zenin?â The boy rambles, talking to himself before realizing that you're still standing in front of him.âWait, sorry, Iâll bring you to the table right away.â He states and leads you to Naoya, whose arms are shrugged together over his chest, and he has skepticism written all over his face.
His gaze drifts over to the waiter, raising his eyebrow, and before he can say anything, the boy pulls out the chair for you, and you mutter something along the lines of a thank you before sitting down.
âYour food will be ready soon.â He says meekly while bowing down, not daring to meet the gaze of either of you. He excuses himself and rushes to leave.
He disappears, and you turn to Naoya, who looks like he just bit into a sour apple and now has to make his complaints about everyone's problem. âTwo minutes.â Naoya holds up his index and middle fingers.
âWhat?â Confused with his accusation, your eyebrow quirked up. âYouâre 2 minutes late.â He seethes and rolls up the sleeve of his shirt to point at his wristwatch. âSee, for that behavior, youâd get your pay lessened.â
Right now, you're seriously questioning yourself, and moreover, your taste in men, despite Naoya already knowing the reasonâhimâwhy do you feel a glimmer of excitement burning up in your chest talking to him again?
âVery funny.â You remark ironically, and he chuckles quietly before you change the topic. âWhyâs it so empty here?â Careful not to make any sounds, you shift in your chair and look around.Â
âHuh?â Naoyaâs face takes on a look of irritation. âI booked the whole thing,â he tells you as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.
âWhy would you do that?âÂ
âCause I wanted to spend time with you,â He gives you a half-hearted smile. âalone?â
âWhich means you want me so bad or what..?â You look at him, dumbfounded, because this wasn't how you expected to play out. When you first arrived and saw the deserted restaurant, you thought this was about to be some big prank, paranoia was crawling up your neck, and you looked for the hidden cameras everywhere.
He doesnât give you a direct answer and only says something that you make out to be a quiet "Believe what you want.â But the red blush slowly creeping up on his neck doesn't go unnoticed, and for the first time this evening, you feel like you can actually relax.
Maybe itâs out of embarrassment, anger, or perhaps even affection, youâve come to the point where it doesnât matter to you anymore. All you want is to spark more of these reactions out of him, ignoring how that makes you just as weird as he is.
A genuine and amused smile musters itself up on your lips, and you start giggling. âThe fuck are you laughing about?â He spits, and you just wave him off.Â
Youâve learned how to handle his remarks and know how to retort to them, which makes everything funnierâfor you at least.Â
The whole evening plays out like this: both of you talking over dinner with Naoya making stupid assumptions about youâbeing all serious about them too, and all you do is tell him off and counter with a question of your own. These are typically followed by Naoya adding his own two cents.
Your face takes on an expression of disgust as you take a sip from your drink. âEw.â Slightly sticking your tongue on as the alcohol further enveloped your mouth.
âAww, canât even hold a little alcohol?â The man across from you coos mockingly and takes a sip of his own. He sets down his glass and gives you a smug grin.
âNope, just reminded me of this one drink that I had in senior year that made me black out so bad, and in the morning, Tsumiki told me that she had to wipe all my vomit away.â You laugh softly as you recall the night it happened. âHonestly thought youâd be like super against a woman drinking,â You say, glass still in your hand and swirling the liquid inside around. â'Cause youâre like..â You pause for a moment.
Conservative, stuck up, an asshole
Ideas are popping up in your head, but you do your best to shake them off and attempt to find the right words. âConsidering youâre so..traditional?â You say weakly.
âTraditional?â Naoya repeats your words, his expression unreadable. âTraditional.â You say again, your lips pressed into a thin line. The man slowly nods his head, "Traditional." He concludes and shoots you a blank stare.
Heâs probably noticed it too, but youâre getting to know each other more over this date, and youâd be lying to yourself if you said that you didnât enjoy thisânot like youâd ever tell Naoya.
His eyes leave yours, and he starts fiddling with his cutlery again. A wall of silence builds up again; it stands steady in its place, and youâre not sure if youâre the one to take the first step to climb over it.
Thereâs no one else in the restaurantâjust the two of you. The only sounds that are being made are when the metal meets the porcelain again, but other than that, you donât find a way to fend this unbearable quietness away.Â
When you take today into account, your first date with Naoya and all the times at work you spent bickering with him, you realize Tsumiki might be right.
You do like Naoyaâas absurd as that even sounds. Admittedly, you're not sure yourself why you like him; all you know is that this attraction towards him only seems to grow by the minute.
Maybe you seriously need to check if youâre a masochist or something, because you donât think any sane person would admit to liking Naoya Zenin.Â
Suddenly, the sound of metal clattering against the table plays, and it rips you out of your thoughts.Â
âIs it true,â Naoya starts off and looks up from his plate, and with his words, he tears the wall built out of each unsaid word down. âThat you wanted to go out with me just to take advantage of my money?â
Once again, no matter how much you try to study his face, only stone-cold eyes meet yours, behind which his emotions are locked. Itâs like heâs trying to test you and base his reaction on your response.
Caught off guard, youâre uncertain what you should say at this moment, so you just tell him the first thing that comes to your mind. âNo, Megumi gave me money.â
Seeing the way his forehead creases and the way he slams his hand on the table tells you that this wasn't the answer he was hoping for. âOh, so you're paid to be here?âÂ
âWell,â you begin, still unsure of what to say. âYes?â You confirm after a while and immediately regret your words. âNo!â You hastily added, but Naoyaâs reaction only seemed to worsen with every passing second, so you just kept on talking, hoping that thereâd be one answer that satisfied him. âKind of?â
Naoya is quick to respond with a question of his own. âOh, is that so?â He asks, voice sharp as a knife's edge. âThought you were a gold digger, it turns out youâre actually just a lying bitch. Shouldâve expected that from you.â He huffs and rolls his eyes.Â
Something churns in your stomach. Taken aback, all you can do at this moment is snap back at him. âSorry?â You shout at him in disbelief. Feet already rising to take your leave. How did talking about embarrassing high school memories turn into him calling you names?
Everythingâs happening all at once and too fast for you to comprehend;Â the best thing you could do right now is to remove yourself from this conversation. âAnd here I thought you were actually pretty nice for once.â You donât tell him that itâs more than thatâthat you actually considered thisâconsidered him.
As you stand up and walk away, Naoya steadies himself on the table with his hand before stepping forward to grab your wrist, his grip tight on your arm. He stands close nowâmere inches away from youâhe doesnât say anything, but the way his hot breath fans against your nape tells you that heâs seething.
You shake his hand off and turn away from him, quickening your pace as you bolt off. âHey! You still need to pay!â He screams furiously after you.
âShut up!â You turn your head around and yell back at him from behind your shoulder. âI know that you already paid, dickhead! That server couldnât shut up for his fucking life!â Those were your last words before storming off, leaving Naoya alone in the empty restaurant.
Just when you thought this might turn into a serious thing, everything went down the river.
One and a half monthsâyouâve been living like this for a good almost two months, and if it werenât for the pay, you wouldâve already slammed the resignation papers on his desk.
Because why is it that another Friday night of yours with Tsumiki goes to waste, to meet Naoya? Not that you asked him out for a dateâitâs a work celebration dinner, which means there are several other employees with you to fill the awkward silence, because you really didnât want to engage in a conversation with Naoya.
Unfortunately for you, it was just your luck that you landed at the same table as Naoya.
Usually, six to eight people were sitting together at a table, but a few employees called in sick today, so there was one table that accommodated fewer people than the others, and it just so happened that you and Naoya got assigned together at this tableâtalk about a coincidence.
Next to you sat a blue-haired girl not much older than you, whom youâve never seen aroundâmost likely a new employeeâand kept sliding against her chair, presumably nervous that she was sitting at the same table as Naoya.Â
She keeps shooting hopeful glances at you, hoping youâd open your mouth and say something to start a conversation. Honestly, you felt bad, cause you know how stressful a first-time work dinner can be when you donât know anyone, but you really didnât want to talk to Naoya or anyone from work right now.
Youâll make it up to her someday.
Naoya sat right across from you, gawking at you from time to time, and youâd just roll your eyes at him. Next to him sat someone whom you didnât know, but from the looks Naoya was giving him, you assumed that he didnât like him much either.
It was plain obvious that the guy was drunk from the way he was talking and continuously threw his arms over Naoyaâs shoulder, attempting to act all buddy-buddy with him, to his dismay, Naoya kept angrily shoving him away.
âSay, Mr. Naoya, is it true you wanna marry?â The man slurs over his words before laughing to himself. Naoya shows minimal reaction; only a mere disapproving look tells that heâs not enjoying himself. âWhat about it?â He eventually says dryly.
Hearing Naoyaâs words, the manâs smile widens in happiness. âYou already got someone in,â He gulps and mutters a small sorry under his breath, all while laughing and brushes himself over the chest before continuing. âMind?â He finalises.
His question catches your attention, and for the first time this evening, you fully look at Naoya, whoâs already wearing a grin on his face that tells you that heâs up to no good. Naoya sighs dramatically before carding his fingers through his hair. Itâs as if he needs to muster up his courage before revealing his answer.Â
Naoya takes a good look at you before turning to his side. âYeah, Iâve got someoââ You donât get to hear the rest of his answers, because a scream erupts next to you. âI think my food just moved!â The girl next to you exclaimed as she squats on her chair and points at the bowl in front of her with her chopsticks.
âMiwa, stop messing around.â The voice from across the table half-shouts, and in response, she just frantically shakes her head. âI saw it move just now!â She squeals.âPinky promise, cross my heart, hope to die, I swear!â
She continues to ramble on for a while, and you canât help but let an exasperated sigh escape your lips. âYou have to put it in the broth, and it'll cook automatically then.â You tell her calmly, taking your chopsticks into your hand, and show her how to do it properly.
Her mouth takes the shape of an o, and she freezes for a moment. âOh, so thatâs how you do it.â She chuckles sheepishly and puts her hand on the back of her hair in embarrassment. Miwaâas you know nowâpicks up her chopsticks to place the meat in her bowl, but it just so happens that when she reaches over to grab the meat off the plate, the table topples and her bowl loses its balance.
The bowl falls over before you can even process what just happened. The bowl now lies on the table with the broth leaking all over the surface, some of it dripping down on your lap. âOh my god, Iâm so so sorry!â Miwa puts her hands over her mouth and shouts apologetically.Â
âItâs fine. This happens to everyone.â You give her a half-hearted smile as youâre reminded of when you spilled wine all over Naoya. âIâll get some tissues from the restroom.â You slide your chair backwards in order to stand up, but Miwa stops you by holding down your hands.
She keeps them tightly in her hands, as if she needs to keep them in a chokehold, and shakes her head as she looks down at the floor. âNo, it was my fault. Let me do this. Iâll clean this up.â She looks up at you with a pleading look, and you canât help but feel bad for her.
You donât think sheâll let go of you unless you give in to her request. âOkay,â Miwaâs eyes are practically sparkling as soon as the words leave your mouth, and her hold on your hands tightens. âStill, I'd like to go outside, â on my own, you think to yourself before throwing a bored glance at Naoya. âSo, can you let me go?â You ask her politely, looking down at your intertwined hands.
âOh,â She yelps. âYeah, sure, sorry!â She says in a docile tone, and her grip on your hands quickly loosens. âThanks.â You murmur and smile at her. Miwa hastily stands up and joins you. She mumbles a quiet see you later and disappears into the restroom.Â
Before going outside, you make sure to look behind you, ensuring that Naoya isnât making any moves on following you. Either way, he seems occupied with the colleague next to him, so he wonât be a problemâfor now.
Outside, in the parking lot, a cold gust of wind greets you, and you canât help but regret leaving your jacket inside, but you have no intention of returning back inside right now. Youâd rather freeze to death out here than hear Naoya open his mouth once more.
Cheerful, but obnoxious laughter fills the air, and you turn your head to the source of commotion. A group of older male colleagues stands together not too far away from you. Youâve walked past some of them once, bowed your head to show respect, or greeted them out of politeness.Â
But the way that all of them were looking at you and exchanged knowing glances with each other made something in your stomach twist. Itâs only then that one of the men emerges from the group and makes his way over to you.Â
Heâs a good head taller than you; from his position, youâre sure he can see the way your neck shivers as he comes closer to your face. âWhatâs a pretty thing like you doing out here alone?â He asks and reaches out for the strand of your hair thatâs been blown away by the wind.Â
Goosebumps are rising all over you, met with the fear of not knowing what happens next. Iâm just here to catch some air, but Iâll go back in now.â You manage to dodge his touch by a hairsbreadth, and you notice the way his expression immediately sours. âHave a good evening.â You mutter, and you hope he doesnât notice the way you tremble as you nod your head at him.Â
âGoing already?â The man is quick to latch onto your wrist, and you feel how everything stops for you. âIâm sorry.â You stutter. âBut I really have to go now.â Your words just seem to worsen his mood; in response to that, the grip he has on you becomes tighterâsuffocating.
The manâs lips curve into a smile. âItâll be fun, okay?â He assures, but his eyes deceive his words; whatever he plans to do isnât going to be fun in the slightest.Â
âThat girl canât do shit. Help her, will you?â A loud voice shouts over to you, one you recognize in an instant, and for the first time this evening, youâre glad that heâs here.
Naoya strides over to where you are. Simultaneously, the man immediately lets go of your arm and shoves his hands in his pockets, as if thatâd help to cover the grip marks he left on your forearm.
âMr. Zenin.â The man swallows and proceeds to nod at Naoya, who doesnât plan on responding in the same manner. âHope you enjoyed this work dinner. Itâs your last.â He states and pulls you away, leaving the man baffled.Â
He yells after the two of you, but you canât make out his words from this distance. âNaoya, let me go. I have to get my things and go home.â You demand and attempt to shake him off.Â
âIs that how you repay me?â He stops in his tracks and turns around. âWell,â you start, the words lying on the tip of your tongue. âThanks for just now, but I seriously just wanna get my things.âÂ
âWoman, listen. Iâll drive you home.â He says, voice nor face betraying himâheâs serious about this.
A beat of silence passes, and if it werenât for Naoyaâs hand holding yours, youâd think this was some sort of dream.
After a while, you manage to say a few words. âPlease donât?â And take a step away from him. âAlso, youâre not allowed to drive when you drink.â You remind him, because if there was one thing you didnât need now was being pulled over and getting a ticket for driving under the influence.
âBeing drunk doesnât make me an idiot.â Naoya retorts, letting go of your hand. âYouâre an asshole either way,â You scoff. âWith and without alcohol.âÂ
âDo you want me to drive you home now or not?
If love makes one blind, it apparently also makes one stupid, because why on earth did you agree to sleeping over at Naoyaâs place?
When you were in the car, you noticed that he wasnât driving in the right direction.
Fuck no. Iâm not driving across the whole city to bring you home.
He was even being so nice as to drop you off at this 24/7 open convenience store that sells toothbrushes and shirts, and if you didnât hurry, heâd drive off without youâif thatâs not princess treatment, then you donât know either.
Thatâs how you ended up sleeping on Naoyaâs couch for the night.
Technically, you didnât agree, more like you were forced, but if this included a cozy couch, a huge kitchen with a kitchen island, and bathrooms as big as your apartment, then maybe youâd consider it.Â
Maybe next time.
It must be nice being a nepo baby and having the privilege to spend money on everything, without worrying about ever running out of money.Â
Todayâs incident still keeps you up, and you feel a shiver running along your body as you remember how close he was to touching your skin. His smile is etched into your memory, and the way heâd talk to you plays over and over in your mind.
Itâs a memory engraved in your consciousness, and you donât know if youâll ever be able to rid this feeling of disgust and fear.
Trying to distract your head from these thoughts, you notice how cold it actually is. Does this man not heat his house? How does he even expect you to sleep well with a blanket thatâs as thin as his patience?
You donât know what made you decide to walk up the stairs and find Naoya, but youâre already here. If youâre already at it, you might as well take a look around.
The hallway is dark, and you carefully tread along the polished floors. His house is spaciousâit feels big but also incredibly empty at the same timeâyou wonder if Naoya always spends his nights alone in this cold space.
Before you left the bathroom, you spotted Naoya going into the room right at the end of the hall, assuming this must be his room. As you finally stand in front of his door, you contemplate running, but itâs not like youâre asking for a big favor. It shouldnât be as difficult as you're making it out to be.
You just want a blanket, that's everything. You're cold, thatâs everything. Naoya should help you warm up, that's everythingâ â
Three timesâyou knock a total of three times, but thereâs no answer coming from the other side of the door. Itâs only after the fourth unanswered knock that you enter his room, the door lightly squeaking as you push it open.
As you step in, youâre met with a cold breeze. âNaoya?â You call out his name, but youâre met with no response. âNaoya?â You repeat once more, hoping that heâd notice you know. Seeing that heâs not reacting, you search for the light switch, hands groping at the wall behind you until you find and turn it on.
Unsurprisingly, Naoya isnât in his bed or in his room at all. You take a look around, but canât find him anywhere; thatâs when you feel the breeze again. Now with the lights on, everything came into view, and it's only then that you notice the door to the balcony being slightly ajar.Â
You make your way over to the balcony, open the door, and step outside. âNaoya? What are you doing?â The back of his head greets you, and under the moonlit sky, you can see the way his blond hair gleams. Met with no response, you take another step forward, and now his side profile comes into your view.
Itâs eerily quiet.âWhat is it?â He takes a drag from his cigarette and ashes it down his balcony into the garden, probably hoping that in the morning the wind will blow it away. For a moment, itâs quiet, the wind quietly whistles in your ear, and the smell of smoke lingers in the air, enveloping the two of you. He looks good like this, dressed in casual attire, wearing a relaxed look on his face, and behaving unusually silent.
You canât take your eyes off Naoya.
Although he always tries to act all distant, Naoya takes everything personally and is always up to confront someone about it, too. âWhat are you looking at so dumbly?â He growls, and you can feel the corners of your lips twitching. âFor someone whoâs so traditional, you sure donât give a shit about your lungs.â
âDo you even inhaleâŠthe smoke?â You laugh, quirking an eyebrow, observing him skeptically. âThe fuck are you saying?â He ashes off his cigarette again. âWell, you're just taking puffs.â You point at his cigarette and then at him. âSomeone knows shit,â he scoffs and turns away from you. âTalk about fucked up lungs.âÂ
You donât dwell too long on his words and change the topic. âDid anyone ever tell you that youâre a terrible host?â You sneer and lean against the railing. âYou think it's funny to insult me?â If he doesnât ash off his cigarette very soon, itâll go out immediately, but you donât tell him that. âWell, weâre not at work, so I really couldnât care less.â
âWhy are you even awake? Donât you need your beauty sleep?â Naoya jokes, tone filled with mild condescension. âIâll take that as a compliment.â You say dryly and turn to meet him. âI just couldnât. What about you?â
Naoya finally ashes off his cigarette, so that only the butt of it is burning now, and he smudges it against the railing before chucking it down. âI was thinking about marriage.â He admits and smirks at you.
You ignore the way your heart tightens at his words and laugh it off. âHow much?â It doesnât take a genius to see that Naoya is irritated by your words. âHow much what?â
âHow much are you paying her to marry you?â You finally say and let out a final laugh. Naoyaâs face seems to relax at your words, and he asks a question of his own. âHow much are you getting paid?â
âThatâs secret information.â You deadpan and side-eye him. âNot like I donât know already.â Naoya sneers. âWhy are you even asking theâ Oh my god! Were you hitting on me just now?Â
âYouâre practically eye-fucking me every time I walk into the room.â He says it like itâs a fact. âDo you hear yourself?â You exclaim in disbelief, taking a step back from him.Â
Every time you take a step away from him, he takes a step forward. It goes on so long until your back meets the wall, and your eyes widen, knowing that Naoya has you exactly where he wants.Â
He leans forward and presses his hand against the wall, before nudging your ear with his nose. âJust admit it.â He whispers before backing away and smirking.Â
Itâs in this moment that you just let go of everythingâincluding your sanity, and give in to your desires. You cup his cheeks in your hands and pull him downwards to press your lips against hisâan action he quickly reciprocates.Â
He tastes of tobacco; usually, you dislike the taste, but there are some exceptions, and Naoya seems to be one of them. On him, it tastes comforting and soothing, although nothing is comforting about the way he kisses you.Â
His tongue darts over your lower lip, and before you can even grant him full access, he pushes his tongue in your mouth, and you involuntarily let out a high-pitched sound. Your hands find his hair to yank him down, and his roam beneath your shirt, his hands freezing cold as they press against your warm skin.
Only when you push him off to catch your breath does he stop kissing you, and his hands retreat from your skin.
You donât even get a full minute to breathe properly before Naoya pushes himself on you again, but you hold him in his place before he can slot his lips on yours again, your eyes warning him not to go any further.
To your surprise, Naoya actually seems to follow your warning and steps back. Itâs far enough so that he no longer breathes right into your face, but still near enough for you to see him up close and observe his features.
He seems to have noticed, and a wide grin forms on his face as he raises both his arms into the air, as if heâs been accused of something.Â
âDonât give me that face.â Naoya coos in faux sympathy. âTo make it up to you, how does going on a third date sound to you?â
END NOTE: i have an admission to make...i didnt even watch the new season yet...lol
SYNOPSIS: When youâre set up to go on a date with your companyâs bossâs youngest son, Naoya Zenin, it was supposed to be a mere play-pretend relationship. But what happens when you actually catch feelings along the way?
WORDCOUNT: 10.7k (don't ask me how) | CONTENT & WARNINGS: naoya is a warning himself so you can already guess whats about to come, reader doesn't want to deal with his bs but she also can't help being attracted to him (same), ooc!naoya, bicker/banter, smoking, kissing, drinking; oneshot
TAG LIST: @aritsukemo, @sugary-strawberry-shortcake
AUTHOR'S NOTE: he's too fine to be doing ts bruh
âLetâs pay then.âÂ
Across the white-clad table sits none other than your companyâs boss's son: Naoya Zenin, wearing a now red-stained dress shirt that, unfortunately, looks too good on him, and is raising his hand to call out to the waitress for the bill. Â
Not even in your dreams would you ever go on a date with Naoya Zenin, so how'd you get tangled up in this mess?
From your workplace to the bar it takes around half an hour by train and five more minutes on foot. It takes some time, but in the meantime you spend observing the people you pass by. Â
There are other people like youâbusinesspeople commuting and tiredly staring at their phones, checking the time, teenage girls dressed in short skirts and hiding bottles of absolute vodka in their absolutely too small purses, students who look like theyâre on the brink of exhaustion and just want to lie down in their beds.
Back in high school, you thought everyone was exaggerating when they told you to enjoy your school and college times to the fullest, because âthose were the times when youâd see your friends the most.â
Joke's on you, because it turned out to be exactly as people described.
Nowadays, you are barely able to meet most of your friends, work gets in the way, someoneâs planning their wedding, and others are travelling the globe.
But there was one person you could always count on: your best friend Tsumiki. After graduation, when everyone started going their own separate ways, the two of you stayed together.Â
Despite everything that was happening, the two of you managed to meet every Friday in a bar of your choice and enjoyed a good glass of âwhateverâ together after an exhausting day of work.
Especially after today, first of all, your alarm didnât go off, and you barely managed to arrive in time; secondly, the printer decided that today would be a good day to give up, so you had to run to the copy shop down the street during your lunch break and if this wasnât enough, one of your co-workers called in sick for the beginning of next week, so now you have to pitch in for them during next weekâs report.Â
The meetings werenât bad per se; all you had to do was update your superiors about what your department was working on, the good things, the things that are still in the process, and new ideas. What was bad was with whom you had to do them, simply because you didn't know which of his sons your CEO would send this time.Â
The Zenin family has some kind of twisted sense of humor, because, yes, theyâre one of the most successful companies, but their way of treating their employees? Well, all you can hope for is that not one of the younger sons will be the one to evaluate you.
The train comes to a halt and announces the station's name; your cue to exit. Itâs a short walk, but you can still feel the ache in your feet from walking around in heels the whole day. Luckily for you, you arrive in no time.
As soon as the bell, which is strung to the door, rings, Tsumiki turns around and waves you over, delighted that you made it. Except her younger brother Megumi was here this timeâhis boyfriend Itadori tooâalong with their best friend Kugisaki.Â
Tsumiki slides over to the side to make room for you to set your bag down before sitting next to her. âWhat's your little brother doing here?â you eye Megumi, although he doesn't seem to pay much mind to it.Â
On the other hand, Yuji looks like heâs about to explode from nervousnessâKugisaki tooâbut from laughter.
âYou see,â she pauses for a moment and shoots you a sheepish smile. "He wanted to talk to you about something.â
âSo, you're telling me your family is fine with you marrying a man,â you recap what Megumi has just told you, âbut they draw the line at you getting married before Naoya?â Your finger traces along the rim of your glass, and you grimace, bewildered.
From your peripheral view, you can see Tsumiki and Kugisaki giggling to one another. âTrust me, I wouldnât go as far as asking you if I hadnât already tried everything else.â Megumi deadpans.
Thereâs a pregnant silence spanning around the room between Megumi's statement and your answer. âAnd now,â you begin, still not being able to wrap your head around this whole thing going on, âyou want me to go out with your cousin?âÂ
âMy condolences.â Kugisaki chirps in, âMaki told me that every time theyâre on family vacation together, he listens to these black pill songs in the shower.â She remarks. âLike unironically!â
Although he tries to hide it by muffling his mouth with his hand, Itadori is smiling from ear to ear. âHeâs on some crazy looksmaxxing shit.â He adds.
Next to him Megumi lets out an exasperated breath and side-eyes his friend before turning his attention on you again. âIâve never said anything about going out,â He drawls. âThose are your words now.â
Upon his words, you canât help but scoff. âIs âgo on a date with my cousinâ not the same as going out?â you exclaim, but youâve known Megumi long enough to know that heâs serious about this. âMegumi, he's my supervisor. I canât afford to lose my position.â A sigh accompanies your words.
âI know that, and I usually wouldnât even do this, but Naoya knows I want to marry, so heâs purposefully ruining every date his father sets him on.â Megumi furrows his eyebrows in frustration. âWell, heâs also an asshole, so the dates never work out,â Itadori adds offhandedly, before picking up his glass to empty it.
The conversation drifts from Megumi, Itadori, and Kugisaki commenting on the situation. âYou just have to pretend to like him, and as soon as he's like âyeah, sheâs the oneâ you can cut out the bullshit.â Kugisaki shrugs as if it were the easiest thing in the world.Â
âIâm only allowed to marry when heâs found someone, so please.â If you didn't know any better, Megumi is practically begging you to go out with Naoya.
âBut Megumi, my jobââ you interfere to make him stop, but heâs quick to cut you off before you can finish your sentence. âIâll also pay and handle the consequences. So please,â he frowns.
âCome on, it'll be a good story to tell your kids.â Tsumiki giggles, and you see the way thereâs a cheerful smile tugging at her lips. âYours and Naoyaâs kids, by the way.â Kugisaki comments, and Megumi throws her a blank stare. âDonât jinx it, Nobara.â Megumi mumbles and nudges her arm.Â
âFine, but I canât promise anything.â You tap your fingers against the wooden surface, already overcome with regret.
In all honesty, youâre not sure what made you agree; maybe it was the fact that the alcohol already took its effect, the pleading eyes Itadori threw at you, or the big stack of money Megumi slid over the table that kept growing every second you didnât answer.
Megumi sighs, his body visibly begins to relax, and the tension that was residing on his face starts to fade away. It wasnât obvious, but there was a small smile gracing his lips. âThank you.â
Okay, so, you lied. There are many things youâd do for your best friendâsheâs your better half after all, your soulmate, and unfortunately also the older sister of the guy who dragged you in this situation.Â
Sure, you like Megumi a lot and you really tried to give it your best to make this date somehow work, but your body gets a physical reaction as soon as Naoya Zenin dares to open his mouthâyouâd rather rip your ears off than listen to him talk any longer.
Honestly, he looks like heâd rather be anywhere else than here. For the past 40 minutes, heâs done nothing but pick apart his food, and see if âthey cooked it to his likingâ, glance at his wristwatch to see how much of your time he can still waste, or call for the waiter for the nth time to complain about the wine ânot being fermented enoughâ.Â
Admittedly, youâre no better. There are a couple of women sitting at the table behind you gossiping, and you canât help but overhear what theyâre talking about. Just as the one girl was getting to the interesting part, complaining about how her ex-boyfriend took his new girlfriend to the same restaurant she recommended to him on their first date, Naoya speaks up, and your eyes widen in surprise as he calls out to you.
âYouâre a friend of Megumi?â he doesnât even look at you as he asks and just continues cutting his food. The metal knife scratches against the porcelain plate and creates an unpleasant shrieking noise. âFriend of his sister,â you correct him and mimic him by dragging your fork along your plate.
Naoya's face contorts into an expression of disdain and finally spares you a glance. âHe told me youâre a friend of his, I thought at least someone whoâd I knew,â his amused remark, ânot some nobody.â is followed by tsk.
You donât answer, you donât want to answer, and you know better than to answer him because thatâs what he wantsâfor you to indulge in his provocations. But with every passing minute of him throwing blank stares at you, your resolve crumbles.
Instead, you pick up your glass of red wine thatâs been untouched the entire evening, because Naoya was whining left and right about the restaurant being some âtasteless tentâ whose food is âno better than dog foodâ.
To your surprise, the wine was really nice; it wasnât too sour, contrary to the cheap bottle you used to buy at your local corner shop when you and Tsumiki always tried to convince the cashier that you were old enough to buy alcohol.
Additionally, it was also just sweet enough for you to taste out the alcohol. Heâs got a good tasteâyouâll give him that.
Itâs like heâs watching you, because the second you put down your glassâmind you, not even a split second after it sits on the table againâNaoya dares to open his mouth again.Â
âWhatâs your job?â he asks, and you already sense the mocking intent behind his words. âI work at a company,â you say mindlessly and pick up your glass again to take a sip.
Sooner or later, heâd find out anywayâeven if youâd prefer not toâbut youâve already decided: this might be one of the top 5 worst dates youâve ever been on.
Also, itâs not like youâve lied to him anyway; itâs a white lie at best, and the chances of you ever running into Naoya ever again, in a workplace with hundreds of workers, are little to none.Â
Either way, he probably wouldnât recognise you anyway.
âNot a good paying one,â he smirks and diverts his eyes towards your body, âI can tell by the clothes you're wearing.âÂ
Well, this date just moved up to the top 4 worst dates ever.
You furrow your eyebrows in annoyance. âWhat can I say?â you let out a dry chuckle. âMy superior is a pain to be around and doesn't know where to invest his money.â Your words are followed by a mere shrug.
âOh yeah?â he asks, probably intending to interrogate you further. If it werenât Naoya Zenin asking you, youâd think it was almost a romantic gesture.
Keyword: almost.Â
âYeah.â You give him a tight-lipped smile, not willing to feed into his provocations any further. But, this doesnât tip men like Naoya offâmen who make it their purpose to ruin someone.Â
âHm, you were able to eat everything,â he crosses his arms over his chest, âIâm impressed.â He remarks mockingly, before taking a small sip from his glass. âItâs not often you meet a woman who has such a big appetite.â This time, he simply grins, and you hate to admit it, but his words are slowly getting under your skin.Â
Top 3 worst dates ever.
âYeah, you could learn from me.â You advise. âIf youâd actually eat the food they served you instead of whining, maybe youâd shut up for once.â
This finally seems to do the trick because you can see the way his jaw is tightening. âYou should learn how to behave like a proper woman.â Itâs quite funny seeing him lose his composure over such a measly comment. Itâs evident that he doesn't plan on giving up on harassing you. âI wonder who even hired someone like you.âÂ
Top 2 worst dates ever.
Well, he wonât have to ponder on it too longâshould he ever realize you work at the same company. âA woman should know where she belongs, and itâs certainly not at work.â He finalizes.
Well, this date officially took the first place for the worst date youâve ever been on.
Actually, what if this were your 13th reason? You donât respond to his comments, not because you want to give him the satisfaction heâs been looking for or agree with him, but because you know where you stand, and actually know what self-respect is. And you certainly know that Naoya isnât worth putting in effort for.
âOkay, so this isnât working out. Itadori, right when he said you're an asshole.â You sigh as you lean back in your chair, already hinting that youâre about to leave. Naoya has the audacity to tsk âThat guy just wants to marry his little boyfriend. I donât even know why you bother so much.â he cocks his head to the side, smirking at you.
There are certain levels of low, and you mightâve actually reached the lowest, because, yeah, this family affair is none of your business, and you shouldnât meddle in other peopleâs lives this much, but it seems Naoya never knows when to keep his mouth shut and when not. âOh my god, would it kill you not to have the last word for once?â you groan, and in the midst of your complaint, your hand hits your half-full wine glass and knocks it over.Â
Thereâs nothing you can do to stop the liquid from escaping the glass; it already ruined the white tablecloth and spilled onto Naoyaâs (now once) white dress shirt.
âFuck, I didnât plan for this to happen,â you hastily say and attempt to clean the table by soaking up the drink with napkins, unfortunately to no avail. âCan you women even do anything?â Naoya puts his hands on either side of the table and snaps at you.Â
His eyebrows scrunch up together in anger, and he tightly grips the tablecloth. This guyâs seriously got some screws loose. âLet's just pay,â he groans, sinking into his chair with his body still tensed up.Â
Upon seeing his stretched-out arm, the waitress rushes over almost immediately. âTook you long enough.â Naoya snides under his breath, but loud enough for her to hear, and you canât help but roll your eyes at his remark.Â
âThe bill, Sir? How would you like to pay?â The waitress nervously puts down the bill; there are more digits than you can count on one hand, and you hurriedly glance over to Naoya.
A mistake on your side.
Naoya, being Naoya, seizes the opportunity, âYouâre so full of yourself, right woman? Weâll split the bill then.â The playful smile that's tugging at the end of his lips doesn't go unnoticed.
For a moment, the waitress is taken aback, but she just nods, knowing itâs probably better not to ask any questions. She simply glances at you, but youâre just as, if not even more, surprised as she was just now and yelp out a loud âWhat?!â
Thereâs been a handful of terrible and right out awful dates youâve been on, but you doubt nothing will ever come close to this one.Â
Once there was a guy who stood you up 5 minutes prior to the date, then there was a guy who kept ranting about his best friend and how great she was, basically using you to get over her, and you donât even want to recall the other incidents; either way, youâre pretty sure that youâve blocked them out anyway.
Nonetheless, all of them always paid for the first dateâitâs basic courtesy and a simple, polite gesture, and you're certain that Naoyaâa man who has more money than senseâcan afford to pay for a first date.
At this point, youâre already so tired out from this date that you donât even have the strength in you to talk back anymore; instead, you rummage through your purse for your wallet. It doesnât take you long to find it, and when you do, you take out a handful of bills and slam them down on the table.Â
âHope youâre happy, asshole.â You feign a smile before taking your leave.Â
Well, the massive stash of money that Megumi gave you now didn't seem like such a big exaggeration anymore.
Not even a week has passedâto be precise, itâs been more than one day and a few hours since youâve seen him on your terrible date on Saturday.
Karmaâs a bitch, but so is Naoya Zenin.Â
The colleague you were supposed to fill in for still wasnât back, and now it was up to you, alongside a few other colleagues, to update your superiors on this month's work. Usually, these meetings donât take all too long; you just hope that this will be over soon and you can return to your cubicle and pretend youâre doing something on your computer.
When you stepped into the conference room, your eyes drifted around the room. The lightning here was unpleasant, bright white lights that illuminated the room, similar to hospital lights. A few people already sat down and chattered with one another, and others were frantically scrolling through their tablets to look over their notes again.
Soon, people started to flood in, and you barely managed to take in the room before finally sitting down yourself. The meeting was about to start, and the crowd that gathered at the front of the room started to scatter in different directions to sit down. Only then, when you glanced in the now empty direction, you spotted himâsurprise would be an understatementâyour eyes widened in shock when you saw that it was Naoya out of all the people sitting across the room.Â
To make matters worse, he was already looking at you, and before you knew it, you locked eyes with him. You didnât even have to second-guess what heâs thinking, his face says enoughâhe doesnât look particularly pleased to see you.Â
What a great way to start off your day.
Overall, the meeting went fine, it began with people presenting their achievements and how they wished to improve, but it didnât even look like Naoya was listening.Â
From time to time, heâd let out a tired yawn here and there, not even bothering to hide his boredom; sometimes, heâd also pretend to listen when in reality he was just playing with his helix and glance in your direction.
Considering how irksome this meeting was for him, you thought that heâd stop looking at you after a while, that heâd find himself a new distraction. Still, even as you teared your eyes away from him and concentrated on the colleague who was speaking, you could practically feel the way he was shooting daggers at the side of your head.
When it was finally your turn to speak, you tried to look at everyone but Naoya, which was hard when he was tracking your every move. He looks like heâs just waiting for the right momentâthe decisive moment where you slip up and he can attack. Just at the thought of that or Naoya in general, your vision turned green.Â
It took every ounce of willpower in you not to let your revulsion show on your face, because knowing how the Zenin family is, theyâd punish your whole department for even glancing at Naoya in the wrong way.
After a few other presentations, a round of questions, and a praise from Naoyaâwhich looked like it physically hurt him to say those words out loudâyou were permitted to leave.
âYou over there, stay here.â You immediately freeze on the spot upon hearing his words, peering at the people beside you to check if he means them, despite knowing that he was directly referring to you, even if you wished he werenât.
Around you, the people stop in their tracks, curiosity piqued, and you feel all the eyes in the room landing on you. âWere any of you even listening?â Naoya clicks his tongue in annoyance. âI told you to leave unless any of you insist on working more.â As soon as he said the words, everyone disappeared as fast as possible.Â
All you could do was helplessly watch after them, wishing that you were them. Â
âTurn around, will you?â If being in the same room as Naoya wasnât bad enough already, youâre now alone with him. You do as youâre told and face him. âWhat's someone like you doing here?â His words are laced with a distaste that you could only reciprocate. âI work here.â You reply curtly, knowing that thatâs not the answer he sought. âYou think youâre so funny.â He spits plainly, and you have to bite the inside of your cheek to prevent yourself from bursting out laughing on the spot.Â
âWhy didnât you tell me that you were working here?â He demands angrily, and this time, you canât help but let out a small laugh. âSorry, sorry,â you giggle after a while. âHonestly, at first I had my doubts, but the money convinced me.â You admit giddily, but it doesnât take long for you to realize that anger has risen to Naoyaâs face.
âYou want the money so bad?â He exclaims, irritation written all over his face, âWell then, work for it. You have nothing against working more, no?â He states, and that bullshit-eating grin of his tells you that heâs serious.
âBut Sir, thatâs against the rulââ You say, taken aback by his statement, âI donât give two shits. For a month, youâll be working more, and maybe youâve learned your lesson until then.â And the smile he gives you is eerily similar to the one you gave him on your dateâa smile full of condescension.
Yeah, you really hate this guy.
Itâs been a week since then, and you canât recall all the times someone came up to you and attempted to talk to you about you and Naoya. Thereâs been an absurd wave of rumors surging towards you every day.Â
Some claim that Naoya is your ex-husband, now turned superior; others suspect that you slept with him, consequently got pregnant, and he told you to abort the child, and during lunch break, you hear the young interns gossip about how Naoya probably made a move on you.
Obviously, each of these suspicions was false; you denied them every time, accentuating how you would never in your life voluntarily get in touch with Naoya Zenin unless youâd fallen on your head, lost all your memories, forgot his awful personality, and only wanted him for his nice looks.
You dislike Naoya for many things, but thereâs one thing youâll give himâheâs handsome. His eyes are both enticing and sharp, as if to lure you in, but then seize the moment to devour you when you let your guard down.Â
It happened to you once that a âheâs kinda fineâ slipped out of your mouth, and people immediately started to tease you about how they knew that you liked him. Apparently, there was âthe look of loveâ in Naoyaâs eyes every time he walked past you with a loving smile adorning his lips, and how you always returned his gaze fondly with a smile of your ownâwhatever thatâs supposed to mean.
If only they knew that the way Naoya looked at you was to make sure that you were working the extra task he assigned to you, before mocking you, and grinning as he saw you struggling with those tasks that take ridiculously long, and were simultaneously the most useless.Â
Also, the way you looked at him was a simple glare and a faux smile thatâs supposed to ease his âworriesâ of you âslacking off at work,â as he liked to call it.
Still, people come up with new, stupid ideas every other hour, and it was embarrassing how easily they got under your skin.
Along with the fact that Naoya does absolutely nothing to stop the rumors makes it ten times worse. (And because everyoneâs probably too scared to even approach him.)
Now you were beginning to understand what people meant by corporate-slaves, because this felt like some sleep-eat-work-repeat lifestyle, which you certainly did not want to live. However, itâs just 2 more weeks, and youâre free from this hell.
Although if there was one thing you were looking forward to, it was your weekly meeting with Tsumiki, only this time you came late. When you had the chance at work, you texted Tsumiki that you wouldnât make it in time today, and she only read and responded to your messages when she was already at the bar, saying that sheâd wait for you with a little surprise.
When you finally arrived, it took you a minute to look around and find herâit was a lot fuller than usual. Then, when you finally saw Tsumiki, you hugged her and apologized gullibly. âHey, Miki. Sorry that I kept you waiting.â You sigh before slumping down on the leather seats.
Tsumiki gives you a warm smile and makes room for you to sit closer. âNo worries.â She says sweetly before pouring herself another shot. âWhat took you so long?â She asks curiously and downs the glass. Once again, Megumi, Itadori, and Kugisaki sit at the table. Itâs obvious why theyâre here, but youâre not in the mood to talk to them about it.
âNaoyaâs ass ordered me to work longer, but please let's not talk about him.â You groan in annoyance, and as if on instinct, Tsumiki pours you a glass and hands it to you, smilingly. âHe has the power to do that?â The voice comes from across the tableâthe one who spoke up was Kugusaki. âApparently.â You shrug your shoulders before drinking from the glass.
Itâs silent for a while, and you notice that the air in the atmosphere has shifted. Itâs weird, but youâre not bothered enough to askâat least not yet. The evening goes by with a couple more rounds of drinks, stalking old classmates on social media, unrealistic âwhat-ifâ and âwhat-would-you-ratherâ scenarios, and more drinks.
âOkay, okay, I think thatâs enough.â Tsumiki asserts after a while and looks to the others for help. âUgh, seriously.â You utter in frustration. âIf heâd stop behaving like some male tradwife, Iâd actually go out with him.âÂ
The others observe you as you rant. âI mean, yeah, Iâll stay by my word, heâs fine as fuck, but someone needs to tell him to shut up, I swear.â You ramble. âHeâs actually so my type looks-wise, and you know if he wasnât him, I'd definitely date him.â When the words leave your mouth, you see how the others are throwing confused stares at each other before they land on you.
âSo, whoâs âheâ?â Megumi questions cautiously. âNaoya.â You muffle, voice already feeling hoarse, and Tsumiki hands you a glass of water. âUnfortunately.â You wipe your mouth with the sleeve of your blouse after the admission.
Suddenly, Itadori jumps up and puts his hands on the wooden table. âWell, then itâs your lucky day!â And you can practically see the way his eyes shine as he announces. âNaoya asked you on a second date.â
âA second what?â You cough on your water, and your eyes widen in shock. âA date,â Itadori repeats, all smiley. âNo, Itadori, I heard what you said, I'm just,â You pause for a moment, trying to find the right words. âNo, sorry, what?âÂ
For the first time this evening, Megumi expresses his thoughts. âThis is the first time Naoya has ever asked someone to go out with him again.â He pauses for a moment and coughs, before he mumbles something under his breath that you almost missedâ is he embarrassed? âAnd if it helps you, he kept blabbering to me about you. Which is weird, cause he usually says talking about people is a waste of breath.âÂ
âWow, how charming.â You huff dryly. He glances over Tsumiki before continuing. âMy sister already told me that youâd say no, and I donât want to force you into something you donât want to do, but,â He pauses and sighs. âHe might have actually developed some interest in you, and this is the best chance weâll ever get. So, would you mind going on a date with him again?â
âMegumi, you do know that he made me work more because I accidentally spilled wine on him, and made me do these tiresome, stupid tasks that he pulled out of his buttcrack.â You exclaim and take notice of Megumiâs frown.
Tsumiki pats on your shoulder reassuringly before glancing at Megumi. âYou know, Megs, I know you mean it well, but going on another date with Naoya would actually make me go crazy.â Her hand stays on your shoulder. âBut to me it also sounds like you kinda like him.âÂ
Her words strike you like lightning, and you immediately straighten up. âTsumiki, what the fuck?!â You screech, and you can feel the way the other customers turn around to look at you. âWell, I donât know, just a feeling.â She laughs softly. âMaybe just try it, and all of a sudden he realizes youâre like the love of his life and wants to change just for you.â She jokes.
âYeah, and then we live happily ever after.â You add, and the others join in Tsumikiâs laughter. âIâm not drunk enough for this.â You snort and rub your eyes with the pads of your fingers. âOkay, well, when does he want to meet me?âÂ
Thereâs a brief silence before Itadori breaks it. âYouâre actually agreeing?â He looks at you in bewilderment. âLike for real, for real?â He questions to ensure that he hasnât heard you wrong.
âMhm.â And you nod your head. Actually, you donât really know what made you say yes. Did you actually develop some feelings? Yeah, no. Was it the thrill of being with him? Or maybe youâve just become as unhinged as Naoya and accepted your fate; whatever it was, you were still certain in your choice and had no plan of going back on your wordâat least not yet.
âActually, already next Friday at seven,â Megumi tells you, and you stare at him in disbelief. âThatâs literally when work ends for me.â Tsumiki turns to you in confusion. âI thought work ended at six for you?â
âWell, Naoya gave me more work, so I also work longer on most days. Thatâs why I also came late today. Heâs practically setting me up.â You deadpan, and you can feel the toll your words have on the couple across from youâ how easily Megumiâs and Itadoriâs good moods were shattered.Â
Naoyaâs words replay in your head over and over. I donât even know why you bother so much. Itâs not like he was wrong, maybe you did feel something for Naoya, and this would be the only chance for you to find out without any co-workers interferingâthen itâd work out for the guys and youâcall it a win-win situation?
âBut,â And their heads immediately lifted. âIâll try my best to find a way.âÂ
Megumi and Itadori look at each other and smile. âThank you, Iâll send you the address later. I seriously owe you.â Megumi sighs in relief. âBut tell him to pay for it this time.â He furrows his eyebrows in confusion. âWhat do you mean?â If you werenât irritated already, you are now. âWell, the last time, he wanted to split the bill.â You explain.
âThatâs unlike him,â Megumi states. âHe usually always pays for the dates beforehand. Right after they ordered their food. He says it's manly.â If that were the case, then it wouldnât make sense for him to insist on only paying for his order. âWait, what?âÂ
You and Megumi look like two strangers who speak different languages and are trying to explain the same concept to one another, but the language barrier hinders you; in this case, itâs a matter of understanding the situation.
âYou know how Naoya is,â Megumi begins and bites his lower lip in the process, contemplating finding the right words.
He merely nods. âYeah, that sums it up.â The conversation continues to flow, going back and forth on different themes, and Naoya slowly fades into the background, that is, until youâre about to leave.Â
Tsumiki tilts her head to the side and speaks. âLetâs meet up on the weekend then. Canât believe Naoya is stealing my precious you-time away from me.â She grins. âYouâll have to tell me all about it then!âÂ
Outside, the rain heavily platters on the concrete, consequently staining the sidewalk with deep gray spots. With each minute passing by, youâre starting to regret this decision more and more.
The raindrops kiss the tinted car windows, blurring your view, almost like the rain is mocking you for blindly going on another date with Naoya.
On one hand, there are hundreds of thousands of excuses running around in your head that you should use to get the driver to stop, turn around, and drop you off at home again.
Then youâd just lie down, watch this one show that Tsumik kept suggesting to you these past few months.Â
âRight, so itâs like a drama about this one girl who helps out her best friend to go on dates with potential marriage candidates instead of her, and on this one date, she accidentally catches the attention of her boss!â
But thatâs the thing: when you think of Naoya, thereâs a familiar feeling bubbling in your chest, and twinges at your heartstrings, one akin to nervousness and excitementâyou know what it is, this feeling of an enjoyable thrill, filled with pleasure and doubtsâand you donât like it.
Because you know if you donât stop here, then thereâs no point going back.
After a while, the car comes to a halt, hauling you out of your thought-prison. The driver remains quiet in his seat, and itâs only when you bend forward to pay him that he lets out a deep huff of acknowledgement, before driving off.
Technically, you still have the option to run away and never look back, but your feet wonât budgeâtheyâre glued to the ground. Itâs like your body knows that you want to be here, despite denying it.
When you step inside, you notice how quiet it is: no rich folks chatter, no fancy live music, and no clattering of plates or anything of that sort.Â
At the reception, there stands a young boy, not much older than you, drowsily leaning his chin on the palm of his hand and lifelessly staring into the air. âUhm..hi?â You greet awkwardly. Only then does he seem to acknowledge your presence. âOh, sorry, hi, what can I do for you?â The boy stumbles over his words, his eyes take the form of crescent moons, and his lips twitch with an uncertain smile.Â
âIâm here on a daâ to meet Zenin.â You cough over your previous words, hoping that the waiter hasnât noticed your nervousness. âNaoya Zenin.â You manage to choke out, and the boy's eyes widen in surprise. âMr., Iâm so snobby and pay for everything, Zenin?â The boy rambles, talking to himself before realizing that you're still standing in front of him.âWait, sorry, Iâll bring you to the table right away.â He states and leads you to Naoya, whose arms are shrugged together over his chest, and he has skepticism written all over his face.
His gaze drifts over to the waiter, raising his eyebrow, and before he can say anything, the boy pulls out the chair for you, and you mutter something along the lines of a thank you before sitting down.
âYour food will be ready soon.â He says meekly while bowing down, not daring to meet the gaze of either of you. He excuses himself and rushes to leave.
He disappears, and you turn to Naoya, who looks like he just bit into a sour apple and now has to make his complaints about everyone's problem. âTwo minutes.â Naoya holds up his index and middle fingers.
âWhat?â Confused with his accusation, your eyebrow quirked up. âYouâre 2 minutes late.â He seethes and rolls up the sleeve of his shirt to point at his wristwatch. âSee, for that behavior, youâd get your pay lessened.â
Right now, you're seriously questioning yourself, and moreover, your taste in men, despite Naoya already knowing the reasonâhimâwhy do you feel a glimmer of excitement burning up in your chest talking to him again?
âVery funny.â You remark ironically, and he chuckles quietly before you change the topic. âWhyâs it so empty here?â Careful not to make any sounds, you shift in your chair and look around.Â
âHuh?â Naoyaâs face takes on a look of irritation. âI booked the whole thing,â he tells you as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.
âWhy would you do that?âÂ
âCause I wanted to spend time with you,â He gives you a half-hearted smile. âalone?â
âWhich means you want me so bad or what..?â You look at him, dumbfounded, because this wasn't how you expected to play out. When you first arrived and saw the deserted restaurant, you thought this was about to be some big prank, paranoia was crawling up your neck, and you looked for the hidden cameras everywhere.
He doesnât give you a direct answer and only says something that you make out to be a quiet "Believe what you want.â But the red blush slowly creeping up on his neck doesn't go unnoticed, and for the first time this evening, you feel like you can actually relax.
Maybe itâs out of embarrassment, anger, or perhaps even affection, youâve come to the point where it doesnât matter to you anymore. All you want is to spark more of these reactions out of him, ignoring how that makes you just as weird as he is.
A genuine and amused smile musters itself up on your lips, and you start giggling. âThe fuck are you laughing about?â He spits, and you just wave him off.Â
Youâve learned how to handle his remarks and know how to retort to them, which makes everything funnierâfor you at least.Â
The whole evening plays out like this: both of you talking over dinner with Naoya making stupid assumptions about youâbeing all serious about them too, and all you do is tell him off and counter with a question of your own. These are typically followed by Naoya adding his own two cents.
Your face takes on an expression of disgust as you take a sip from your drink. âEw.â Slightly sticking your tongue on as the alcohol further enveloped your mouth.
âAww, canât even hold a little alcohol?â The man across from you coos mockingly and takes a sip of his own. He sets down his glass and gives you a smug grin.
âNope, just reminded me of this one drink that I had in senior year that made me black out so bad, and in the morning, Tsumiki told me that she had to wipe all my vomit away.â You laugh softly as you recall the night it happened. âHonestly thought youâd be like super against a woman drinking,â You say, glass still in your hand and swirling the liquid inside around. â'Cause youâre like..â You pause for a moment.
Conservative, stuck up, an asshole
Ideas are popping up in your head, but you do your best to shake them off and attempt to find the right words. âConsidering youâre so..traditional?â You say weakly.
âTraditional?â Naoya repeats your words, his expression unreadable. âTraditional.â You say again, your lips pressed into a thin line. The man slowly nods his head, "Traditional." He concludes and shoots you a blank stare.
Heâs probably noticed it too, but youâre getting to know each other more over this date, and youâd be lying to yourself if you said that you didnât enjoy thisânot like youâd ever tell Naoya.
His eyes leave yours, and he starts fiddling with his cutlery again. A wall of silence builds up again; it stands steady in its place, and youâre not sure if youâre the one to take the first step to climb over it.
Thereâs no one else in the restaurantâjust the two of you. The only sounds that are being made are when the metal meets the porcelain again, but other than that, you donât find a way to fend this unbearable quietness away.Â
When you take today into account, your first date with Naoya and all the times at work you spent bickering with him, you realize Tsumiki might be right.
You do like Naoyaâas absurd as that even sounds. Admittedly, you're not sure yourself why you like him; all you know is that this attraction towards him only seems to grow by the minute.
Maybe you seriously need to check if youâre a masochist or something, because you donât think any sane person would admit to liking Naoya Zenin.Â
Suddenly, the sound of metal clattering against the table plays, and it rips you out of your thoughts.Â
âIs it true,â Naoya starts off and looks up from his plate, and with his words, he tears the wall built out of each unsaid word down. âThat you wanted to go out with me just to take advantage of my money?â
Once again, no matter how much you try to study his face, only stone-cold eyes meet yours, behind which his emotions are locked. Itâs like heâs trying to test you and base his reaction on your response.
Caught off guard, youâre uncertain what you should say at this moment, so you just tell him the first thing that comes to your mind. âNo, Megumi gave me money.â
Seeing the way his forehead creases and the way he slams his hand on the table tells you that this wasn't the answer he was hoping for. âOh, so you're paid to be here?âÂ
âWell,â you begin, still unsure of what to say. âYes?â You confirm after a while and immediately regret your words. âNo!â You hastily added, but Naoyaâs reaction only seemed to worsen with every passing second, so you just kept on talking, hoping that thereâd be one answer that satisfied him. âKind of?â
Naoya is quick to respond with a question of his own. âOh, is that so?â He asks, voice sharp as a knife's edge. âThought you were a gold digger, it turns out youâre actually just a lying bitch. Shouldâve expected that from you.â He huffs and rolls his eyes.Â
Something churns in your stomach. Taken aback, all you can do at this moment is snap back at him. âSorry?â You shout at him in disbelief. Feet already rising to take your leave. How did talking about embarrassing high school memories turn into him calling you names?
Everythingâs happening all at once and too fast for you to comprehend;Â the best thing you could do right now is to remove yourself from this conversation. âAnd here I thought you were actually pretty nice for once.â You donât tell him that itâs more than thatâthat you actually considered thisâconsidered him.
As you stand up and walk away, Naoya steadies himself on the table with his hand before stepping forward to grab your wrist, his grip tight on your arm. He stands close nowâmere inches away from youâhe doesnât say anything, but the way his hot breath fans against your nape tells you that heâs seething.
You shake his hand off and turn away from him, quickening your pace as you bolt off. âHey! You still need to pay!â He screams furiously after you.
âShut up!â You turn your head around and yell back at him from behind your shoulder. âI know that you already paid, dickhead! That server couldnât shut up for his fucking life!â Those were your last words before storming off, leaving Naoya alone in the empty restaurant.
Just when you thought this might turn into a serious thing, everything went down the river.
One and a half monthsâyouâve been living like this for a good almost two months, and if it werenât for the pay, you wouldâve already slammed the resignation papers on his desk.
Because why is it that another Friday night of yours with Tsumiki goes to waste, to meet Naoya? Not that you asked him out for a dateâitâs a work celebration dinner, which means there are several other employees with you to fill the awkward silence, because you really didnât want to engage in a conversation with Naoya.
Unfortunately for you, it was just your luck that you landed at the same table as Naoya.
Usually, six to eight people were sitting together at a table, but a few employees called in sick today, so there was one table that accommodated fewer people than the others, and it just so happened that you and Naoya got assigned together at this tableâtalk about a coincidence.
Next to you sat a blue-haired girl not much older than you, whom youâve never seen aroundâmost likely a new employeeâand kept sliding against her chair, presumably nervous that she was sitting at the same table as Naoya.Â
She keeps shooting hopeful glances at you, hoping youâd open your mouth and say something to start a conversation. Honestly, you felt bad, cause you know how stressful a first-time work dinner can be when you donât know anyone, but you really didnât want to talk to Naoya or anyone from work right now.
Youâll make it up to her someday.
Naoya sat right across from you, gawking at you from time to time, and youâd just roll your eyes at him. Next to him sat someone whom you didnât know, but from the looks Naoya was giving him, you assumed that he didnât like him much either.
It was plain obvious that the guy was drunk from the way he was talking and continuously threw his arms over Naoyaâs shoulder, attempting to act all buddy-buddy with him, to his dismay, Naoya kept angrily shoving him away.
âSay, Mr. Naoya, is it true you wanna marry?â The man slurs over his words before laughing to himself. Naoya shows minimal reaction; only a mere disapproving look tells that heâs not enjoying himself. âWhat about it?â He eventually says dryly.
Hearing Naoyaâs words, the manâs smile widens in happiness. âYou already got someone in,â He gulps and mutters a small sorry under his breath, all while laughing and brushes himself over the chest before continuing. âMind?â He finalises.
His question catches your attention, and for the first time this evening, you fully look at Naoya, whoâs already wearing a grin on his face that tells you that heâs up to no good. Naoya sighs dramatically before carding his fingers through his hair. Itâs as if he needs to muster up his courage before revealing his answer.Â
Naoya takes a good look at you before turning to his side. âYeah, Iâve got someoââ You donât get to hear the rest of his answers, because a scream erupts next to you. âI think my food just moved!â The girl next to you exclaimed as she squats on her chair and points at the bowl in front of her with her chopsticks.
âMiwa, stop messing around.â The voice from across the table half-shouts, and in response, she just frantically shakes her head. âI saw it move just now!â She squeals.âPinky promise, cross my heart, hope to die, I swear!â
She continues to ramble on for a while, and you canât help but let an exasperated sigh escape your lips. âYou have to put it in the broth, and it'll cook automatically then.â You tell her calmly, taking your chopsticks into your hand, and show her how to do it properly.
Her mouth takes the shape of an o, and she freezes for a moment. âOh, so thatâs how you do it.â She chuckles sheepishly and puts her hand on the back of her hair in embarrassment. Miwaâas you know nowâpicks up her chopsticks to place the meat in her bowl, but it just so happens that when she reaches over to grab the meat off the plate, the table topples and her bowl loses its balance.
The bowl falls over before you can even process what just happened. The bowl now lies on the table with the broth leaking all over the surface, some of it dripping down on your lap. âOh my god, Iâm so so sorry!â Miwa puts her hands over her mouth and shouts apologetically.Â
âItâs fine. This happens to everyone.â You give her a half-hearted smile as youâre reminded of when you spilled wine all over Naoya. âIâll get some tissues from the restroom.â You slide your chair backwards in order to stand up, but Miwa stops you by holding down your hands.
She keeps them tightly in her hands, as if she needs to keep them in a chokehold, and shakes her head as she looks down at the floor. âNo, it was my fault. Let me do this. Iâll clean this up.â She looks up at you with a pleading look, and you canât help but feel bad for her.
You donât think sheâll let go of you unless you give in to her request. âOkay,â Miwaâs eyes are practically sparkling as soon as the words leave your mouth, and her hold on your hands tightens. âStill, I'd like to go outside, â on my own, you think to yourself before throwing a bored glance at Naoya. âSo, can you let me go?â You ask her politely, looking down at your intertwined hands.
âOh,â She yelps. âYeah, sure, sorry!â She says in a docile tone, and her grip on your hands quickly loosens. âThanks.â You murmur and smile at her. Miwa hastily stands up and joins you. She mumbles a quiet see you later and disappears into the restroom.Â
Before going outside, you make sure to look behind you, ensuring that Naoya isnât making any moves on following you. Either way, he seems occupied with the colleague next to him, so he wonât be a problemâfor now.
Outside, in the parking lot, a cold gust of wind greets you, and you canât help but regret leaving your jacket inside, but you have no intention of returning back inside right now. Youâd rather freeze to death out here than hear Naoya open his mouth once more.
Cheerful, but obnoxious laughter fills the air, and you turn your head to the source of commotion. A group of older male colleagues stands together not too far away from you. Youâve walked past some of them once, bowed your head to show respect, or greeted them out of politeness.Â
But the way that all of them were looking at you and exchanged knowing glances with each other made something in your stomach twist. Itâs only then that one of the men emerges from the group and makes his way over to you.Â
Heâs a good head taller than you; from his position, youâre sure he can see the way your neck shivers as he comes closer to your face. âWhatâs a pretty thing like you doing out here alone?â He asks and reaches out for the strand of your hair thatâs been blown away by the wind.Â
Goosebumps are rising all over you, met with the fear of not knowing what happens next. Iâm just here to catch some air, but Iâll go back in now.â You manage to dodge his touch by a hairsbreadth, and you notice the way his expression immediately sours. âHave a good evening.â You mutter, and you hope he doesnât notice the way you tremble as you nod your head at him.Â
âGoing already?â The man is quick to latch onto your wrist, and you feel how everything stops for you. âIâm sorry.â You stutter. âBut I really have to go now.â Your words just seem to worsen his mood; in response to that, the grip he has on you becomes tighterâsuffocating.
The manâs lips curve into a smile. âItâll be fun, okay?â He assures, but his eyes deceive his words; whatever he plans to do isnât going to be fun in the slightest.Â
âThat girl canât do shit. Help her, will you?â A loud voice shouts over to you, one you recognize in an instant, and for the first time this evening, youâre glad that heâs here.
Naoya strides over to where you are. Simultaneously, the man immediately lets go of your arm and shoves his hands in his pockets, as if thatâd help to cover the grip marks he left on your forearm.
âMr. Zenin.â The man swallows and proceeds to nod at Naoya, who doesnât plan on responding in the same manner. âHope you enjoyed this work dinner. Itâs your last.â He states and pulls you away, leaving the man baffled.Â
He yells after the two of you, but you canât make out his words from this distance. âNaoya, let me go. I have to get my things and go home.â You demand and attempt to shake him off.Â
âIs that how you repay me?â He stops in his tracks and turns around. âWell,â you start, the words lying on the tip of your tongue. âThanks for just now, but I seriously just wanna get my things.âÂ
âWoman, listen. Iâll drive you home.â He says, voice nor face betraying himâheâs serious about this.
A beat of silence passes, and if it werenât for Naoyaâs hand holding yours, youâd think this was some sort of dream.
After a while, you manage to say a few words. âPlease donât?â And take a step away from him. âAlso, youâre not allowed to drive when you drink.â You remind him, because if there was one thing you didnât need now was being pulled over and getting a ticket for driving under the influence.
âBeing drunk doesnât make me an idiot.â Naoya retorts, letting go of your hand. âYouâre an asshole either way,â You scoff. âWith and without alcohol.âÂ
âDo you want me to drive you home now or not?
If love makes one blind, it apparently also makes one stupid, because why on earth did you agree to sleeping over at Naoyaâs place?
When you were in the car, you noticed that he wasnât driving in the right direction.
Fuck no. Iâm not driving across the whole city to bring you home.
He was even being so nice as to drop you off at this 24/7 open convenience store that sells toothbrushes and shirts, and if you didnât hurry, heâd drive off without youâif thatâs not princess treatment, then you donât know either.
Thatâs how you ended up sleeping on Naoyaâs couch for the night.
Technically, you didnât agree, more like you were forced, but if this included a cozy couch, a huge kitchen with a kitchen island, and bathrooms as big as your apartment, then maybe youâd consider it.Â
Maybe next time.
It must be nice being a nepo baby and having the privilege to spend money on everything, without worrying about ever running out of money.Â
Todayâs incident still keeps you up, and you feel a shiver running along your body as you remember how close he was to touching your skin. His smile is etched into your memory, and the way heâd talk to you plays over and over in your mind.
Itâs a memory engraved in your consciousness, and you donât know if youâll ever be able to rid this feeling of disgust and fear.
Trying to distract your head from these thoughts, you notice how cold it actually is. Does this man not heat his house? How does he even expect you to sleep well with a blanket thatâs as thin as his patience?
You donât know what made you decide to walk up the stairs and find Naoya, but youâre already here. If youâre already at it, you might as well take a look around.
The hallway is dark, and you carefully tread along the polished floors. His house is spaciousâit feels big but also incredibly empty at the same timeâyou wonder if Naoya always spends his nights alone in this cold space.
Before you left the bathroom, you spotted Naoya going into the room right at the end of the hall, assuming this must be his room. As you finally stand in front of his door, you contemplate running, but itâs not like youâre asking for a big favor. It shouldnât be as difficult as you're making it out to be.
You just want a blanket, that's everything. You're cold, thatâs everything. Naoya should help you warm up, that's everythingâ â
Three timesâyou knock a total of three times, but thereâs no answer coming from the other side of the door. Itâs only after the fourth unanswered knock that you enter his room, the door lightly squeaking as you push it open.
As you step in, youâre met with a cold breeze. âNaoya?â You call out his name, but youâre met with no response. âNaoya?â You repeat once more, hoping that heâd notice you know. Seeing that heâs not reacting, you search for the light switch, hands groping at the wall behind you until you find and turn it on.
Unsurprisingly, Naoya isnât in his bed or in his room at all. You take a look around, but canât find him anywhere; thatâs when you feel the breeze again. Now with the lights on, everything came into view, and it's only then that you notice the door to the balcony being slightly ajar.Â
You make your way over to the balcony, open the door, and step outside. âNaoya? What are you doing?â The back of his head greets you, and under the moonlit sky, you can see the way his blond hair gleams. Met with no response, you take another step forward, and now his side profile comes into your view.
Itâs eerily quiet.âWhat is it?â He takes a drag from his cigarette and ashes it down his balcony into the garden, probably hoping that in the morning the wind will blow it away. For a moment, itâs quiet, the wind quietly whistles in your ear, and the smell of smoke lingers in the air, enveloping the two of you. He looks good like this, dressed in casual attire, wearing a relaxed look on his face, and behaving unusually silent.
You canât take your eyes off Naoya.
Although he always tries to act all distant, Naoya takes everything personally and is always up to confront someone about it, too. âWhat are you looking at so dumbly?â He growls, and you can feel the corners of your lips twitching. âFor someone whoâs so traditional, you sure donât give a shit about your lungs.â
âDo you even inhaleâŠthe smoke?â You laugh, quirking an eyebrow, observing him skeptically. âThe fuck are you saying?â He ashes off his cigarette again. âWell, you're just taking puffs.â You point at his cigarette and then at him. âSomeone knows shit,â he scoffs and turns away from you. âTalk about fucked up lungs.âÂ
You donât dwell too long on his words and change the topic. âDid anyone ever tell you that youâre a terrible host?â You sneer and lean against the railing. âYou think it's funny to insult me?â If he doesnât ash off his cigarette very soon, itâll go out immediately, but you donât tell him that. âWell, weâre not at work, so I really couldnât care less.â
âWhy are you even awake? Donât you need your beauty sleep?â Naoya jokes, tone filled with mild condescension. âIâll take that as a compliment.â You say dryly and turn to meet him. âI just couldnât. What about you?â
Naoya finally ashes off his cigarette, so that only the butt of it is burning now, and he smudges it against the railing before chucking it down. âI was thinking about marriage.â He admits and smirks at you.
You ignore the way your heart tightens at his words and laugh it off. âHow much?â It doesnât take a genius to see that Naoya is irritated by your words. âHow much what?â
âHow much are you paying her to marry you?â You finally say and let out a final laugh. Naoyaâs face seems to relax at your words, and he asks a question of his own. âHow much are you getting paid?â
âThatâs secret information.â You deadpan and side-eye him. âNot like I donât know already.â Naoya sneers. âWhy are you even asking theâ Oh my god! Were you hitting on me just now?Â
âYouâre practically eye-fucking me every time I walk into the room.â He says it like itâs a fact. âDo you hear yourself?â You exclaim in disbelief, taking a step back from him.Â
Every time you take a step away from him, he takes a step forward. It goes on so long until your back meets the wall, and your eyes widen, knowing that Naoya has you exactly where he wants.Â
He leans forward and presses his hand against the wall, before nudging your ear with his nose. âJust admit it.â He whispers before backing away and smirking.Â
Itâs in this moment that you just let go of everythingâincluding your sanity, and give in to your desires. You cup his cheeks in your hands and pull him downwards to press your lips against hisâan action he quickly reciprocates.Â
He tastes of tobacco; usually, you dislike the taste, but there are some exceptions, and Naoya seems to be one of them. On him, it tastes comforting and soothing, although nothing is comforting about the way he kisses you.Â
His tongue darts over your lower lip, and before you can even grant him full access, he pushes his tongue in your mouth, and you involuntarily let out a high-pitched sound. Your hands find his hair to yank him down, and his roam beneath your shirt, his hands freezing cold as they press against your warm skin.
Only when you push him off to catch your breath does he stop kissing you, and his hands retreat from your skin.
You donât even get a full minute to breathe properly before Naoya pushes himself on you again, but you hold him in his place before he can slot his lips on yours again, your eyes warning him not to go any further.
To your surprise, Naoya actually seems to follow your warning and steps back. Itâs far enough so that he no longer breathes right into your face, but still near enough for you to see him up close and observe his features.
He seems to have noticed, and a wide grin forms on his face as he raises both his arms into the air, as if heâs been accused of something.Â
âDonât give me that face.â Naoya coos in faux sympathy. âTo make it up to you, how does going on a third date sound to you?â
END NOTE: i have an admission to make...i didnt even watch the new season yet...lol
SYNOPSIS: When youâre set up to go on a date with your companyâs bossâs youngest son, Naoya Zenin, it was supposed to be a mere play-pretend relationship. But what happens when you actually catch feelings along the way?
WORDCOUNT: 10.7k (don't ask me how) | CONTENT & WARNINGS: naoya is a warning himself so you can already guess whats about to come, reader doesn't want to deal with his bs but she also can't help being attracted to him (same), ooc!naoya, bicker/banter, smoking, kissing, drinking; oneshot
TAG LIST: @aritsukemo, @sugary-strawberry-shortcake
AUTHOR'S NOTE: he's too fine to be doing ts bruh
âLetâs pay then.âÂ
Across the white-clad table sits none other than your companyâs boss's son: Naoya Zenin, wearing a now red-stained dress shirt that, unfortunately, looks too good on him, and is raising his hand to call out to the waitress for the bill. Â
Not even in your dreams would you ever go on a date with Naoya Zenin, so how'd you get tangled up in this mess?
From your workplace to the bar it takes around half an hour by train and five more minutes on foot. It takes some time, but in the meantime you spend observing the people you pass by. Â
There are other people like youâbusinesspeople commuting and tiredly staring at their phones, checking the time, teenage girls dressed in short skirts and hiding bottles of absolute vodka in their absolutely too small purses, students who look like theyâre on the brink of exhaustion and just want to lie down in their beds.
Back in high school, you thought everyone was exaggerating when they told you to enjoy your school and college times to the fullest, because âthose were the times when youâd see your friends the most.â
Joke's on you, because it turned out to be exactly as people described.
Nowadays, you are barely able to meet most of your friends, work gets in the way, someoneâs planning their wedding, and others are travelling the globe.
But there was one person you could always count on: your best friend Tsumiki. After graduation, when everyone started going their own separate ways, the two of you stayed together.Â
Despite everything that was happening, the two of you managed to meet every Friday in a bar of your choice and enjoyed a good glass of âwhateverâ together after an exhausting day of work.
Especially after today, first of all, your alarm didnât go off, and you barely managed to arrive in time; secondly, the printer decided that today would be a good day to give up, so you had to run to the copy shop down the street during your lunch break and if this wasnât enough, one of your co-workers called in sick for the beginning of next week, so now you have to pitch in for them during next weekâs report.Â
The meetings werenât bad per se; all you had to do was update your superiors about what your department was working on, the good things, the things that are still in the process, and new ideas. What was bad was with whom you had to do them, simply because you didn't know which of his sons your CEO would send this time.Â
The Zenin family has some kind of twisted sense of humor, because, yes, theyâre one of the most successful companies, but their way of treating their employees? Well, all you can hope for is that not one of the younger sons will be the one to evaluate you.
The train comes to a halt and announces the station's name; your cue to exit. Itâs a short walk, but you can still feel the ache in your feet from walking around in heels the whole day. Luckily for you, you arrive in no time.
As soon as the bell, which is strung to the door, rings, Tsumiki turns around and waves you over, delighted that you made it. Except her younger brother Megumi was here this timeâhis boyfriend Itadori tooâalong with their best friend Kugisaki.Â
Tsumiki slides over to the side to make room for you to set your bag down before sitting next to her. âWhat's your little brother doing here?â you eye Megumi, although he doesn't seem to pay much mind to it.Â
On the other hand, Yuji looks like heâs about to explode from nervousnessâKugisaki tooâbut from laughter.
âYou see,â she pauses for a moment and shoots you a sheepish smile. "He wanted to talk to you about something.â
âSo, you're telling me your family is fine with you marrying a man,â you recap what Megumi has just told you, âbut they draw the line at you getting married before Naoya?â Your finger traces along the rim of your glass, and you grimace, bewildered.
From your peripheral view, you can see Tsumiki and Kugisaki giggling to one another. âTrust me, I wouldnât go as far as asking you if I hadnât already tried everything else.â Megumi deadpans.
Thereâs a pregnant silence spanning around the room between Megumi's statement and your answer. âAnd now,â you begin, still not being able to wrap your head around this whole thing going on, âyou want me to go out with your cousin?âÂ
âMy condolences.â Kugisaki chirps in, âMaki told me that every time theyâre on family vacation together, he listens to these black pill songs in the shower.â She remarks. âLike unironically!â
Although he tries to hide it by muffling his mouth with his hand, Itadori is smiling from ear to ear. âHeâs on some crazy looksmaxxing shit.â He adds.
Next to him Megumi lets out an exasperated breath and side-eyes his friend before turning his attention on you again. âIâve never said anything about going out,â He drawls. âThose are your words now.â
Upon his words, you canât help but scoff. âIs âgo on a date with my cousinâ not the same as going out?â you exclaim, but youâve known Megumi long enough to know that heâs serious about this. âMegumi, he's my supervisor. I canât afford to lose my position.â A sigh accompanies your words.
âI know that, and I usually wouldnât even do this, but Naoya knows I want to marry, so heâs purposefully ruining every date his father sets him on.â Megumi furrows his eyebrows in frustration. âWell, heâs also an asshole, so the dates never work out,â Itadori adds offhandedly, before picking up his glass to empty it.
The conversation drifts from Megumi, Itadori, and Kugisaki commenting on the situation. âYou just have to pretend to like him, and as soon as he's like âyeah, sheâs the oneâ you can cut out the bullshit.â Kugisaki shrugs as if it were the easiest thing in the world.Â
âIâm only allowed to marry when heâs found someone, so please.â If you didn't know any better, Megumi is practically begging you to go out with Naoya.
âBut Megumi, my jobââ you interfere to make him stop, but heâs quick to cut you off before you can finish your sentence. âIâll also pay and handle the consequences. So please,â he frowns.
âCome on, it'll be a good story to tell your kids.â Tsumiki giggles, and you see the way thereâs a cheerful smile tugging at her lips. âYours and Naoyaâs kids, by the way.â Kugisaki comments, and Megumi throws her a blank stare. âDonât jinx it, Nobara.â Megumi mumbles and nudges her arm.Â
âFine, but I canât promise anything.â You tap your fingers against the wooden surface, already overcome with regret.
In all honesty, youâre not sure what made you agree; maybe it was the fact that the alcohol already took its effect, the pleading eyes Itadori threw at you, or the big stack of money Megumi slid over the table that kept growing every second you didnât answer.
Megumi sighs, his body visibly begins to relax, and the tension that was residing on his face starts to fade away. It wasnât obvious, but there was a small smile gracing his lips. âThank you.â
Okay, so, you lied. There are many things youâd do for your best friendâsheâs your better half after all, your soulmate, and unfortunately also the older sister of the guy who dragged you in this situation.Â
Sure, you like Megumi a lot and you really tried to give it your best to make this date somehow work, but your body gets a physical reaction as soon as Naoya Zenin dares to open his mouthâyouâd rather rip your ears off than listen to him talk any longer.
Honestly, he looks like heâd rather be anywhere else than here. For the past 40 minutes, heâs done nothing but pick apart his food, and see if âthey cooked it to his likingâ, glance at his wristwatch to see how much of your time he can still waste, or call for the waiter for the nth time to complain about the wine ânot being fermented enoughâ.Â
Admittedly, youâre no better. There are a couple of women sitting at the table behind you gossiping, and you canât help but overhear what theyâre talking about. Just as the one girl was getting to the interesting part, complaining about how her ex-boyfriend took his new girlfriend to the same restaurant she recommended to him on their first date, Naoya speaks up, and your eyes widen in surprise as he calls out to you.
âYouâre a friend of Megumi?â he doesnât even look at you as he asks and just continues cutting his food. The metal knife scratches against the porcelain plate and creates an unpleasant shrieking noise. âFriend of his sister,â you correct him and mimic him by dragging your fork along your plate.
Naoya's face contorts into an expression of disdain and finally spares you a glance. âHe told me youâre a friend of his, I thought at least someone whoâd I knew,â his amused remark, ânot some nobody.â is followed by tsk.
You donât answer, you donât want to answer, and you know better than to answer him because thatâs what he wantsâfor you to indulge in his provocations. But with every passing minute of him throwing blank stares at you, your resolve crumbles.
Instead, you pick up your glass of red wine thatâs been untouched the entire evening, because Naoya was whining left and right about the restaurant being some âtasteless tentâ whose food is âno better than dog foodâ.
To your surprise, the wine was really nice; it wasnât too sour, contrary to the cheap bottle you used to buy at your local corner shop when you and Tsumiki always tried to convince the cashier that you were old enough to buy alcohol.
Additionally, it was also just sweet enough for you to taste out the alcohol. Heâs got a good tasteâyouâll give him that.
Itâs like heâs watching you, because the second you put down your glassâmind you, not even a split second after it sits on the table againâNaoya dares to open his mouth again.Â
âWhatâs your job?â he asks, and you already sense the mocking intent behind his words. âI work at a company,â you say mindlessly and pick up your glass again to take a sip.
Sooner or later, heâd find out anywayâeven if youâd prefer not toâbut youâve already decided: this might be one of the top 5 worst dates youâve ever been on.
Also, itâs not like youâve lied to him anyway; itâs a white lie at best, and the chances of you ever running into Naoya ever again, in a workplace with hundreds of workers, are little to none.Â
Either way, he probably wouldnât recognise you anyway.
âNot a good paying one,â he smirks and diverts his eyes towards your body, âI can tell by the clothes you're wearing.âÂ
Well, this date just moved up to the top 4 worst dates ever.
You furrow your eyebrows in annoyance. âWhat can I say?â you let out a dry chuckle. âMy superior is a pain to be around and doesn't know where to invest his money.â Your words are followed by a mere shrug.
âOh yeah?â he asks, probably intending to interrogate you further. If it werenât Naoya Zenin asking you, youâd think it was almost a romantic gesture.
Keyword: almost.Â
âYeah.â You give him a tight-lipped smile, not willing to feed into his provocations any further. But, this doesnât tip men like Naoya offâmen who make it their purpose to ruin someone.Â
âHm, you were able to eat everything,â he crosses his arms over his chest, âIâm impressed.â He remarks mockingly, before taking a small sip from his glass. âItâs not often you meet a woman who has such a big appetite.â This time, he simply grins, and you hate to admit it, but his words are slowly getting under your skin.Â
Top 3 worst dates ever.
âYeah, you could learn from me.â You advise. âIf youâd actually eat the food they served you instead of whining, maybe youâd shut up for once.â
This finally seems to do the trick because you can see the way his jaw is tightening. âYou should learn how to behave like a proper woman.â Itâs quite funny seeing him lose his composure over such a measly comment. Itâs evident that he doesn't plan on giving up on harassing you. âI wonder who even hired someone like you.âÂ
Top 2 worst dates ever.
Well, he wonât have to ponder on it too longâshould he ever realize you work at the same company. âA woman should know where she belongs, and itâs certainly not at work.â He finalizes.
Well, this date officially took the first place for the worst date youâve ever been on.
Actually, what if this were your 13th reason? You donât respond to his comments, not because you want to give him the satisfaction heâs been looking for or agree with him, but because you know where you stand, and actually know what self-respect is. And you certainly know that Naoya isnât worth putting in effort for.
âOkay, so this isnât working out. Itadori, right when he said you're an asshole.â You sigh as you lean back in your chair, already hinting that youâre about to leave. Naoya has the audacity to tsk âThat guy just wants to marry his little boyfriend. I donât even know why you bother so much.â he cocks his head to the side, smirking at you.
There are certain levels of low, and you mightâve actually reached the lowest, because, yeah, this family affair is none of your business, and you shouldnât meddle in other peopleâs lives this much, but it seems Naoya never knows when to keep his mouth shut and when not. âOh my god, would it kill you not to have the last word for once?â you groan, and in the midst of your complaint, your hand hits your half-full wine glass and knocks it over.Â
Thereâs nothing you can do to stop the liquid from escaping the glass; it already ruined the white tablecloth and spilled onto Naoyaâs (now once) white dress shirt.
âFuck, I didnât plan for this to happen,â you hastily say and attempt to clean the table by soaking up the drink with napkins, unfortunately to no avail. âCan you women even do anything?â Naoya puts his hands on either side of the table and snaps at you.Â
His eyebrows scrunch up together in anger, and he tightly grips the tablecloth. This guyâs seriously got some screws loose. âLet's just pay,â he groans, sinking into his chair with his body still tensed up.Â
Upon seeing his stretched-out arm, the waitress rushes over almost immediately. âTook you long enough.â Naoya snides under his breath, but loud enough for her to hear, and you canât help but roll your eyes at his remark.Â
âThe bill, Sir? How would you like to pay?â The waitress nervously puts down the bill; there are more digits than you can count on one hand, and you hurriedly glance over to Naoya.
A mistake on your side.
Naoya, being Naoya, seizes the opportunity, âYouâre so full of yourself, right woman? Weâll split the bill then.â The playful smile that's tugging at the end of his lips doesn't go unnoticed.
For a moment, the waitress is taken aback, but she just nods, knowing itâs probably better not to ask any questions. She simply glances at you, but youâre just as, if not even more, surprised as she was just now and yelp out a loud âWhat?!â
Thereâs been a handful of terrible and right out awful dates youâve been on, but you doubt nothing will ever come close to this one.Â
Once there was a guy who stood you up 5 minutes prior to the date, then there was a guy who kept ranting about his best friend and how great she was, basically using you to get over her, and you donât even want to recall the other incidents; either way, youâre pretty sure that youâve blocked them out anyway.
Nonetheless, all of them always paid for the first dateâitâs basic courtesy and a simple, polite gesture, and you're certain that Naoyaâa man who has more money than senseâcan afford to pay for a first date.
At this point, youâre already so tired out from this date that you donât even have the strength in you to talk back anymore; instead, you rummage through your purse for your wallet. It doesnât take you long to find it, and when you do, you take out a handful of bills and slam them down on the table.Â
âHope youâre happy, asshole.â You feign a smile before taking your leave.Â
Well, the massive stash of money that Megumi gave you now didn't seem like such a big exaggeration anymore.
Not even a week has passedâto be precise, itâs been more than one day and a few hours since youâve seen him on your terrible date on Saturday.
Karmaâs a bitch, but so is Naoya Zenin.Â
The colleague you were supposed to fill in for still wasnât back, and now it was up to you, alongside a few other colleagues, to update your superiors on this month's work. Usually, these meetings donât take all too long; you just hope that this will be over soon and you can return to your cubicle and pretend youâre doing something on your computer.
When you stepped into the conference room, your eyes drifted around the room. The lightning here was unpleasant, bright white lights that illuminated the room, similar to hospital lights. A few people already sat down and chattered with one another, and others were frantically scrolling through their tablets to look over their notes again.
Soon, people started to flood in, and you barely managed to take in the room before finally sitting down yourself. The meeting was about to start, and the crowd that gathered at the front of the room started to scatter in different directions to sit down. Only then, when you glanced in the now empty direction, you spotted himâsurprise would be an understatementâyour eyes widened in shock when you saw that it was Naoya out of all the people sitting across the room.Â
To make matters worse, he was already looking at you, and before you knew it, you locked eyes with him. You didnât even have to second-guess what heâs thinking, his face says enoughâhe doesnât look particularly pleased to see you.Â
What a great way to start off your day.
Overall, the meeting went fine, it began with people presenting their achievements and how they wished to improve, but it didnât even look like Naoya was listening.Â
From time to time, heâd let out a tired yawn here and there, not even bothering to hide his boredom; sometimes, heâd also pretend to listen when in reality he was just playing with his helix and glance in your direction.
Considering how irksome this meeting was for him, you thought that heâd stop looking at you after a while, that heâd find himself a new distraction. Still, even as you teared your eyes away from him and concentrated on the colleague who was speaking, you could practically feel the way he was shooting daggers at the side of your head.
When it was finally your turn to speak, you tried to look at everyone but Naoya, which was hard when he was tracking your every move. He looks like heâs just waiting for the right momentâthe decisive moment where you slip up and he can attack. Just at the thought of that or Naoya in general, your vision turned green.Â
It took every ounce of willpower in you not to let your revulsion show on your face, because knowing how the Zenin family is, theyâd punish your whole department for even glancing at Naoya in the wrong way.
After a few other presentations, a round of questions, and a praise from Naoyaâwhich looked like it physically hurt him to say those words out loudâyou were permitted to leave.
âYou over there, stay here.â You immediately freeze on the spot upon hearing his words, peering at the people beside you to check if he means them, despite knowing that he was directly referring to you, even if you wished he werenât.
Around you, the people stop in their tracks, curiosity piqued, and you feel all the eyes in the room landing on you. âWere any of you even listening?â Naoya clicks his tongue in annoyance. âI told you to leave unless any of you insist on working more.â As soon as he said the words, everyone disappeared as fast as possible.Â
All you could do was helplessly watch after them, wishing that you were them. Â
âTurn around, will you?â If being in the same room as Naoya wasnât bad enough already, youâre now alone with him. You do as youâre told and face him. âWhat's someone like you doing here?â His words are laced with a distaste that you could only reciprocate. âI work here.â You reply curtly, knowing that thatâs not the answer he sought. âYou think youâre so funny.â He spits plainly, and you have to bite the inside of your cheek to prevent yourself from bursting out laughing on the spot.Â
âWhy didnât you tell me that you were working here?â He demands angrily, and this time, you canât help but let out a small laugh. âSorry, sorry,â you giggle after a while. âHonestly, at first I had my doubts, but the money convinced me.â You admit giddily, but it doesnât take long for you to realize that anger has risen to Naoyaâs face.
âYou want the money so bad?â He exclaims, irritation written all over his face, âWell then, work for it. You have nothing against working more, no?â He states, and that bullshit-eating grin of his tells you that heâs serious.
âBut Sir, thatâs against the rulââ You say, taken aback by his statement, âI donât give two shits. For a month, youâll be working more, and maybe youâve learned your lesson until then.â And the smile he gives you is eerily similar to the one you gave him on your dateâa smile full of condescension.
Yeah, you really hate this guy.
Itâs been a week since then, and you canât recall all the times someone came up to you and attempted to talk to you about you and Naoya. Thereâs been an absurd wave of rumors surging towards you every day.Â
Some claim that Naoya is your ex-husband, now turned superior; others suspect that you slept with him, consequently got pregnant, and he told you to abort the child, and during lunch break, you hear the young interns gossip about how Naoya probably made a move on you.
Obviously, each of these suspicions was false; you denied them every time, accentuating how you would never in your life voluntarily get in touch with Naoya Zenin unless youâd fallen on your head, lost all your memories, forgot his awful personality, and only wanted him for his nice looks.
You dislike Naoya for many things, but thereâs one thing youâll give himâheâs handsome. His eyes are both enticing and sharp, as if to lure you in, but then seize the moment to devour you when you let your guard down.Â
It happened to you once that a âheâs kinda fineâ slipped out of your mouth, and people immediately started to tease you about how they knew that you liked him. Apparently, there was âthe look of loveâ in Naoyaâs eyes every time he walked past you with a loving smile adorning his lips, and how you always returned his gaze fondly with a smile of your ownâwhatever thatâs supposed to mean.
If only they knew that the way Naoya looked at you was to make sure that you were working the extra task he assigned to you, before mocking you, and grinning as he saw you struggling with those tasks that take ridiculously long, and were simultaneously the most useless.Â
Also, the way you looked at him was a simple glare and a faux smile thatâs supposed to ease his âworriesâ of you âslacking off at work,â as he liked to call it.
Still, people come up with new, stupid ideas every other hour, and it was embarrassing how easily they got under your skin.
Along with the fact that Naoya does absolutely nothing to stop the rumors makes it ten times worse. (And because everyoneâs probably too scared to even approach him.)
Now you were beginning to understand what people meant by corporate-slaves, because this felt like some sleep-eat-work-repeat lifestyle, which you certainly did not want to live. However, itâs just 2 more weeks, and youâre free from this hell.
Although if there was one thing you were looking forward to, it was your weekly meeting with Tsumiki, only this time you came late. When you had the chance at work, you texted Tsumiki that you wouldnât make it in time today, and she only read and responded to your messages when she was already at the bar, saying that sheâd wait for you with a little surprise.
When you finally arrived, it took you a minute to look around and find herâit was a lot fuller than usual. Then, when you finally saw Tsumiki, you hugged her and apologized gullibly. âHey, Miki. Sorry that I kept you waiting.â You sigh before slumping down on the leather seats.
Tsumiki gives you a warm smile and makes room for you to sit closer. âNo worries.â She says sweetly before pouring herself another shot. âWhat took you so long?â She asks curiously and downs the glass. Once again, Megumi, Itadori, and Kugisaki sit at the table. Itâs obvious why theyâre here, but youâre not in the mood to talk to them about it.
âNaoyaâs ass ordered me to work longer, but please let's not talk about him.â You groan in annoyance, and as if on instinct, Tsumiki pours you a glass and hands it to you, smilingly. âHe has the power to do that?â The voice comes from across the tableâthe one who spoke up was Kugusaki. âApparently.â You shrug your shoulders before drinking from the glass.
Itâs silent for a while, and you notice that the air in the atmosphere has shifted. Itâs weird, but youâre not bothered enough to askâat least not yet. The evening goes by with a couple more rounds of drinks, stalking old classmates on social media, unrealistic âwhat-ifâ and âwhat-would-you-ratherâ scenarios, and more drinks.
âOkay, okay, I think thatâs enough.â Tsumiki asserts after a while and looks to the others for help. âUgh, seriously.â You utter in frustration. âIf heâd stop behaving like some male tradwife, Iâd actually go out with him.âÂ
The others observe you as you rant. âI mean, yeah, Iâll stay by my word, heâs fine as fuck, but someone needs to tell him to shut up, I swear.â You ramble. âHeâs actually so my type looks-wise, and you know if he wasnât him, I'd definitely date him.â When the words leave your mouth, you see how the others are throwing confused stares at each other before they land on you.
âSo, whoâs âheâ?â Megumi questions cautiously. âNaoya.â You muffle, voice already feeling hoarse, and Tsumiki hands you a glass of water. âUnfortunately.â You wipe your mouth with the sleeve of your blouse after the admission.
Suddenly, Itadori jumps up and puts his hands on the wooden table. âWell, then itâs your lucky day!â And you can practically see the way his eyes shine as he announces. âNaoya asked you on a second date.â
âA second what?â You cough on your water, and your eyes widen in shock. âA date,â Itadori repeats, all smiley. âNo, Itadori, I heard what you said, I'm just,â You pause for a moment, trying to find the right words. âNo, sorry, what?âÂ
For the first time this evening, Megumi expresses his thoughts. âThis is the first time Naoya has ever asked someone to go out with him again.â He pauses for a moment and coughs, before he mumbles something under his breath that you almost missedâ is he embarrassed? âAnd if it helps you, he kept blabbering to me about you. Which is weird, cause he usually says talking about people is a waste of breath.âÂ
âWow, how charming.â You huff dryly. He glances over Tsumiki before continuing. âMy sister already told me that youâd say no, and I donât want to force you into something you donât want to do, but,â He pauses and sighs. âHe might have actually developed some interest in you, and this is the best chance weâll ever get. So, would you mind going on a date with him again?â
âMegumi, you do know that he made me work more because I accidentally spilled wine on him, and made me do these tiresome, stupid tasks that he pulled out of his buttcrack.â You exclaim and take notice of Megumiâs frown.
Tsumiki pats on your shoulder reassuringly before glancing at Megumi. âYou know, Megs, I know you mean it well, but going on another date with Naoya would actually make me go crazy.â Her hand stays on your shoulder. âBut to me it also sounds like you kinda like him.âÂ
Her words strike you like lightning, and you immediately straighten up. âTsumiki, what the fuck?!â You screech, and you can feel the way the other customers turn around to look at you. âWell, I donât know, just a feeling.â She laughs softly. âMaybe just try it, and all of a sudden he realizes youâre like the love of his life and wants to change just for you.â She jokes.
âYeah, and then we live happily ever after.â You add, and the others join in Tsumikiâs laughter. âIâm not drunk enough for this.â You snort and rub your eyes with the pads of your fingers. âOkay, well, when does he want to meet me?âÂ
Thereâs a brief silence before Itadori breaks it. âYouâre actually agreeing?â He looks at you in bewilderment. âLike for real, for real?â He questions to ensure that he hasnât heard you wrong.
âMhm.â And you nod your head. Actually, you donât really know what made you say yes. Did you actually develop some feelings? Yeah, no. Was it the thrill of being with him? Or maybe youâve just become as unhinged as Naoya and accepted your fate; whatever it was, you were still certain in your choice and had no plan of going back on your wordâat least not yet.
âActually, already next Friday at seven,â Megumi tells you, and you stare at him in disbelief. âThatâs literally when work ends for me.â Tsumiki turns to you in confusion. âI thought work ended at six for you?â
âWell, Naoya gave me more work, so I also work longer on most days. Thatâs why I also came late today. Heâs practically setting me up.â You deadpan, and you can feel the toll your words have on the couple across from youâ how easily Megumiâs and Itadoriâs good moods were shattered.Â
Naoyaâs words replay in your head over and over. I donât even know why you bother so much. Itâs not like he was wrong, maybe you did feel something for Naoya, and this would be the only chance for you to find out without any co-workers interferingâthen itâd work out for the guys and youâcall it a win-win situation?
âBut,â And their heads immediately lifted. âIâll try my best to find a way.âÂ
Megumi and Itadori look at each other and smile. âThank you, Iâll send you the address later. I seriously owe you.â Megumi sighs in relief. âBut tell him to pay for it this time.â He furrows his eyebrows in confusion. âWhat do you mean?â If you werenât irritated already, you are now. âWell, the last time, he wanted to split the bill.â You explain.
âThatâs unlike him,â Megumi states. âHe usually always pays for the dates beforehand. Right after they ordered their food. He says it's manly.â If that were the case, then it wouldnât make sense for him to insist on only paying for his order. âWait, what?âÂ
You and Megumi look like two strangers who speak different languages and are trying to explain the same concept to one another, but the language barrier hinders you; in this case, itâs a matter of understanding the situation.
âYou know how Naoya is,â Megumi begins and bites his lower lip in the process, contemplating finding the right words.
He merely nods. âYeah, that sums it up.â The conversation continues to flow, going back and forth on different themes, and Naoya slowly fades into the background, that is, until youâre about to leave.Â
Tsumiki tilts her head to the side and speaks. âLetâs meet up on the weekend then. Canât believe Naoya is stealing my precious you-time away from me.â She grins. âYouâll have to tell me all about it then!âÂ
Outside, the rain heavily platters on the concrete, consequently staining the sidewalk with deep gray spots. With each minute passing by, youâre starting to regret this decision more and more.
The raindrops kiss the tinted car windows, blurring your view, almost like the rain is mocking you for blindly going on another date with Naoya.
On one hand, there are hundreds of thousands of excuses running around in your head that you should use to get the driver to stop, turn around, and drop you off at home again.
Then youâd just lie down, watch this one show that Tsumik kept suggesting to you these past few months.Â
âRight, so itâs like a drama about this one girl who helps out her best friend to go on dates with potential marriage candidates instead of her, and on this one date, she accidentally catches the attention of her boss!â
But thatâs the thing: when you think of Naoya, thereâs a familiar feeling bubbling in your chest, and twinges at your heartstrings, one akin to nervousness and excitementâyou know what it is, this feeling of an enjoyable thrill, filled with pleasure and doubtsâand you donât like it.
Because you know if you donât stop here, then thereâs no point going back.
After a while, the car comes to a halt, hauling you out of your thought-prison. The driver remains quiet in his seat, and itâs only when you bend forward to pay him that he lets out a deep huff of acknowledgement, before driving off.
Technically, you still have the option to run away and never look back, but your feet wonât budgeâtheyâre glued to the ground. Itâs like your body knows that you want to be here, despite denying it.
When you step inside, you notice how quiet it is: no rich folks chatter, no fancy live music, and no clattering of plates or anything of that sort.Â
At the reception, there stands a young boy, not much older than you, drowsily leaning his chin on the palm of his hand and lifelessly staring into the air. âUhm..hi?â You greet awkwardly. Only then does he seem to acknowledge your presence. âOh, sorry, hi, what can I do for you?â The boy stumbles over his words, his eyes take the form of crescent moons, and his lips twitch with an uncertain smile.Â
âIâm here on a daâ to meet Zenin.â You cough over your previous words, hoping that the waiter hasnât noticed your nervousness. âNaoya Zenin.â You manage to choke out, and the boy's eyes widen in surprise. âMr., Iâm so snobby and pay for everything, Zenin?â The boy rambles, talking to himself before realizing that you're still standing in front of him.âWait, sorry, Iâll bring you to the table right away.â He states and leads you to Naoya, whose arms are shrugged together over his chest, and he has skepticism written all over his face.
His gaze drifts over to the waiter, raising his eyebrow, and before he can say anything, the boy pulls out the chair for you, and you mutter something along the lines of a thank you before sitting down.
âYour food will be ready soon.â He says meekly while bowing down, not daring to meet the gaze of either of you. He excuses himself and rushes to leave.
He disappears, and you turn to Naoya, who looks like he just bit into a sour apple and now has to make his complaints about everyone's problem. âTwo minutes.â Naoya holds up his index and middle fingers.
âWhat?â Confused with his accusation, your eyebrow quirked up. âYouâre 2 minutes late.â He seethes and rolls up the sleeve of his shirt to point at his wristwatch. âSee, for that behavior, youâd get your pay lessened.â
Right now, you're seriously questioning yourself, and moreover, your taste in men, despite Naoya already knowing the reasonâhimâwhy do you feel a glimmer of excitement burning up in your chest talking to him again?
âVery funny.â You remark ironically, and he chuckles quietly before you change the topic. âWhyâs it so empty here?â Careful not to make any sounds, you shift in your chair and look around.Â
âHuh?â Naoyaâs face takes on a look of irritation. âI booked the whole thing,â he tells you as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.
âWhy would you do that?âÂ
âCause I wanted to spend time with you,â He gives you a half-hearted smile. âalone?â
âWhich means you want me so bad or what..?â You look at him, dumbfounded, because this wasn't how you expected to play out. When you first arrived and saw the deserted restaurant, you thought this was about to be some big prank, paranoia was crawling up your neck, and you looked for the hidden cameras everywhere.
He doesnât give you a direct answer and only says something that you make out to be a quiet "Believe what you want.â But the red blush slowly creeping up on his neck doesn't go unnoticed, and for the first time this evening, you feel like you can actually relax.
Maybe itâs out of embarrassment, anger, or perhaps even affection, youâve come to the point where it doesnât matter to you anymore. All you want is to spark more of these reactions out of him, ignoring how that makes you just as weird as he is.
A genuine and amused smile musters itself up on your lips, and you start giggling. âThe fuck are you laughing about?â He spits, and you just wave him off.Â
Youâve learned how to handle his remarks and know how to retort to them, which makes everything funnierâfor you at least.Â
The whole evening plays out like this: both of you talking over dinner with Naoya making stupid assumptions about youâbeing all serious about them too, and all you do is tell him off and counter with a question of your own. These are typically followed by Naoya adding his own two cents.
Your face takes on an expression of disgust as you take a sip from your drink. âEw.â Slightly sticking your tongue on as the alcohol further enveloped your mouth.
âAww, canât even hold a little alcohol?â The man across from you coos mockingly and takes a sip of his own. He sets down his glass and gives you a smug grin.
âNope, just reminded me of this one drink that I had in senior year that made me black out so bad, and in the morning, Tsumiki told me that she had to wipe all my vomit away.â You laugh softly as you recall the night it happened. âHonestly thought youâd be like super against a woman drinking,â You say, glass still in your hand and swirling the liquid inside around. â'Cause youâre like..â You pause for a moment.
Conservative, stuck up, an asshole
Ideas are popping up in your head, but you do your best to shake them off and attempt to find the right words. âConsidering youâre so..traditional?â You say weakly.
âTraditional?â Naoya repeats your words, his expression unreadable. âTraditional.â You say again, your lips pressed into a thin line. The man slowly nods his head, "Traditional." He concludes and shoots you a blank stare.
Heâs probably noticed it too, but youâre getting to know each other more over this date, and youâd be lying to yourself if you said that you didnât enjoy thisânot like youâd ever tell Naoya.
His eyes leave yours, and he starts fiddling with his cutlery again. A wall of silence builds up again; it stands steady in its place, and youâre not sure if youâre the one to take the first step to climb over it.
Thereâs no one else in the restaurantâjust the two of you. The only sounds that are being made are when the metal meets the porcelain again, but other than that, you donât find a way to fend this unbearable quietness away.Â
When you take today into account, your first date with Naoya and all the times at work you spent bickering with him, you realize Tsumiki might be right.
You do like Naoyaâas absurd as that even sounds. Admittedly, you're not sure yourself why you like him; all you know is that this attraction towards him only seems to grow by the minute.
Maybe you seriously need to check if youâre a masochist or something, because you donât think any sane person would admit to liking Naoya Zenin.Â
Suddenly, the sound of metal clattering against the table plays, and it rips you out of your thoughts.Â
âIs it true,â Naoya starts off and looks up from his plate, and with his words, he tears the wall built out of each unsaid word down. âThat you wanted to go out with me just to take advantage of my money?â
Once again, no matter how much you try to study his face, only stone-cold eyes meet yours, behind which his emotions are locked. Itâs like heâs trying to test you and base his reaction on your response.
Caught off guard, youâre uncertain what you should say at this moment, so you just tell him the first thing that comes to your mind. âNo, Megumi gave me money.â
Seeing the way his forehead creases and the way he slams his hand on the table tells you that this wasn't the answer he was hoping for. âOh, so you're paid to be here?âÂ
âWell,â you begin, still unsure of what to say. âYes?â You confirm after a while and immediately regret your words. âNo!â You hastily added, but Naoyaâs reaction only seemed to worsen with every passing second, so you just kept on talking, hoping that thereâd be one answer that satisfied him. âKind of?â
Naoya is quick to respond with a question of his own. âOh, is that so?â He asks, voice sharp as a knife's edge. âThought you were a gold digger, it turns out youâre actually just a lying bitch. Shouldâve expected that from you.â He huffs and rolls his eyes.Â
Something churns in your stomach. Taken aback, all you can do at this moment is snap back at him. âSorry?â You shout at him in disbelief. Feet already rising to take your leave. How did talking about embarrassing high school memories turn into him calling you names?
Everythingâs happening all at once and too fast for you to comprehend;Â the best thing you could do right now is to remove yourself from this conversation. âAnd here I thought you were actually pretty nice for once.â You donât tell him that itâs more than thatâthat you actually considered thisâconsidered him.
As you stand up and walk away, Naoya steadies himself on the table with his hand before stepping forward to grab your wrist, his grip tight on your arm. He stands close nowâmere inches away from youâhe doesnât say anything, but the way his hot breath fans against your nape tells you that heâs seething.
You shake his hand off and turn away from him, quickening your pace as you bolt off. âHey! You still need to pay!â He screams furiously after you.
âShut up!â You turn your head around and yell back at him from behind your shoulder. âI know that you already paid, dickhead! That server couldnât shut up for his fucking life!â Those were your last words before storming off, leaving Naoya alone in the empty restaurant.
Just when you thought this might turn into a serious thing, everything went down the river.
One and a half monthsâyouâve been living like this for a good almost two months, and if it werenât for the pay, you wouldâve already slammed the resignation papers on his desk.
Because why is it that another Friday night of yours with Tsumiki goes to waste, to meet Naoya? Not that you asked him out for a dateâitâs a work celebration dinner, which means there are several other employees with you to fill the awkward silence, because you really didnât want to engage in a conversation with Naoya.
Unfortunately for you, it was just your luck that you landed at the same table as Naoya.
Usually, six to eight people were sitting together at a table, but a few employees called in sick today, so there was one table that accommodated fewer people than the others, and it just so happened that you and Naoya got assigned together at this tableâtalk about a coincidence.
Next to you sat a blue-haired girl not much older than you, whom youâve never seen aroundâmost likely a new employeeâand kept sliding against her chair, presumably nervous that she was sitting at the same table as Naoya.Â
She keeps shooting hopeful glances at you, hoping youâd open your mouth and say something to start a conversation. Honestly, you felt bad, cause you know how stressful a first-time work dinner can be when you donât know anyone, but you really didnât want to talk to Naoya or anyone from work right now.
Youâll make it up to her someday.
Naoya sat right across from you, gawking at you from time to time, and youâd just roll your eyes at him. Next to him sat someone whom you didnât know, but from the looks Naoya was giving him, you assumed that he didnât like him much either.
It was plain obvious that the guy was drunk from the way he was talking and continuously threw his arms over Naoyaâs shoulder, attempting to act all buddy-buddy with him, to his dismay, Naoya kept angrily shoving him away.
âSay, Mr. Naoya, is it true you wanna marry?â The man slurs over his words before laughing to himself. Naoya shows minimal reaction; only a mere disapproving look tells that heâs not enjoying himself. âWhat about it?â He eventually says dryly.
Hearing Naoyaâs words, the manâs smile widens in happiness. âYou already got someone in,â He gulps and mutters a small sorry under his breath, all while laughing and brushes himself over the chest before continuing. âMind?â He finalises.
His question catches your attention, and for the first time this evening, you fully look at Naoya, whoâs already wearing a grin on his face that tells you that heâs up to no good. Naoya sighs dramatically before carding his fingers through his hair. Itâs as if he needs to muster up his courage before revealing his answer.Â
Naoya takes a good look at you before turning to his side. âYeah, Iâve got someoââ You donât get to hear the rest of his answers, because a scream erupts next to you. âI think my food just moved!â The girl next to you exclaimed as she squats on her chair and points at the bowl in front of her with her chopsticks.
âMiwa, stop messing around.â The voice from across the table half-shouts, and in response, she just frantically shakes her head. âI saw it move just now!â She squeals.âPinky promise, cross my heart, hope to die, I swear!â
She continues to ramble on for a while, and you canât help but let an exasperated sigh escape your lips. âYou have to put it in the broth, and it'll cook automatically then.â You tell her calmly, taking your chopsticks into your hand, and show her how to do it properly.
Her mouth takes the shape of an o, and she freezes for a moment. âOh, so thatâs how you do it.â She chuckles sheepishly and puts her hand on the back of her hair in embarrassment. Miwaâas you know nowâpicks up her chopsticks to place the meat in her bowl, but it just so happens that when she reaches over to grab the meat off the plate, the table topples and her bowl loses its balance.
The bowl falls over before you can even process what just happened. The bowl now lies on the table with the broth leaking all over the surface, some of it dripping down on your lap. âOh my god, Iâm so so sorry!â Miwa puts her hands over her mouth and shouts apologetically.Â
âItâs fine. This happens to everyone.â You give her a half-hearted smile as youâre reminded of when you spilled wine all over Naoya. âIâll get some tissues from the restroom.â You slide your chair backwards in order to stand up, but Miwa stops you by holding down your hands.
She keeps them tightly in her hands, as if she needs to keep them in a chokehold, and shakes her head as she looks down at the floor. âNo, it was my fault. Let me do this. Iâll clean this up.â She looks up at you with a pleading look, and you canât help but feel bad for her.
You donât think sheâll let go of you unless you give in to her request. âOkay,â Miwaâs eyes are practically sparkling as soon as the words leave your mouth, and her hold on your hands tightens. âStill, I'd like to go outside, â on my own, you think to yourself before throwing a bored glance at Naoya. âSo, can you let me go?â You ask her politely, looking down at your intertwined hands.
âOh,â She yelps. âYeah, sure, sorry!â She says in a docile tone, and her grip on your hands quickly loosens. âThanks.â You murmur and smile at her. Miwa hastily stands up and joins you. She mumbles a quiet see you later and disappears into the restroom.Â
Before going outside, you make sure to look behind you, ensuring that Naoya isnât making any moves on following you. Either way, he seems occupied with the colleague next to him, so he wonât be a problemâfor now.
Outside, in the parking lot, a cold gust of wind greets you, and you canât help but regret leaving your jacket inside, but you have no intention of returning back inside right now. Youâd rather freeze to death out here than hear Naoya open his mouth once more.
Cheerful, but obnoxious laughter fills the air, and you turn your head to the source of commotion. A group of older male colleagues stands together not too far away from you. Youâve walked past some of them once, bowed your head to show respect, or greeted them out of politeness.Â
But the way that all of them were looking at you and exchanged knowing glances with each other made something in your stomach twist. Itâs only then that one of the men emerges from the group and makes his way over to you.Â
Heâs a good head taller than you; from his position, youâre sure he can see the way your neck shivers as he comes closer to your face. âWhatâs a pretty thing like you doing out here alone?â He asks and reaches out for the strand of your hair thatâs been blown away by the wind.Â
Goosebumps are rising all over you, met with the fear of not knowing what happens next. Iâm just here to catch some air, but Iâll go back in now.â You manage to dodge his touch by a hairsbreadth, and you notice the way his expression immediately sours. âHave a good evening.â You mutter, and you hope he doesnât notice the way you tremble as you nod your head at him.Â
âGoing already?â The man is quick to latch onto your wrist, and you feel how everything stops for you. âIâm sorry.â You stutter. âBut I really have to go now.â Your words just seem to worsen his mood; in response to that, the grip he has on you becomes tighterâsuffocating.
The manâs lips curve into a smile. âItâll be fun, okay?â He assures, but his eyes deceive his words; whatever he plans to do isnât going to be fun in the slightest.Â
âThat girl canât do shit. Help her, will you?â A loud voice shouts over to you, one you recognize in an instant, and for the first time this evening, youâre glad that heâs here.
Naoya strides over to where you are. Simultaneously, the man immediately lets go of your arm and shoves his hands in his pockets, as if thatâd help to cover the grip marks he left on your forearm.
âMr. Zenin.â The man swallows and proceeds to nod at Naoya, who doesnât plan on responding in the same manner. âHope you enjoyed this work dinner. Itâs your last.â He states and pulls you away, leaving the man baffled.Â
He yells after the two of you, but you canât make out his words from this distance. âNaoya, let me go. I have to get my things and go home.â You demand and attempt to shake him off.Â
âIs that how you repay me?â He stops in his tracks and turns around. âWell,â you start, the words lying on the tip of your tongue. âThanks for just now, but I seriously just wanna get my things.âÂ
âWoman, listen. Iâll drive you home.â He says, voice nor face betraying himâheâs serious about this.
A beat of silence passes, and if it werenât for Naoyaâs hand holding yours, youâd think this was some sort of dream.
After a while, you manage to say a few words. âPlease donât?â And take a step away from him. âAlso, youâre not allowed to drive when you drink.â You remind him, because if there was one thing you didnât need now was being pulled over and getting a ticket for driving under the influence.
âBeing drunk doesnât make me an idiot.â Naoya retorts, letting go of your hand. âYouâre an asshole either way,â You scoff. âWith and without alcohol.âÂ
âDo you want me to drive you home now or not?
If love makes one blind, it apparently also makes one stupid, because why on earth did you agree to sleeping over at Naoyaâs place?
When you were in the car, you noticed that he wasnât driving in the right direction.
Fuck no. Iâm not driving across the whole city to bring you home.
He was even being so nice as to drop you off at this 24/7 open convenience store that sells toothbrushes and shirts, and if you didnât hurry, heâd drive off without youâif thatâs not princess treatment, then you donât know either.
Thatâs how you ended up sleeping on Naoyaâs couch for the night.
Technically, you didnât agree, more like you were forced, but if this included a cozy couch, a huge kitchen with a kitchen island, and bathrooms as big as your apartment, then maybe youâd consider it.Â
Maybe next time.
It must be nice being a nepo baby and having the privilege to spend money on everything, without worrying about ever running out of money.Â
Todayâs incident still keeps you up, and you feel a shiver running along your body as you remember how close he was to touching your skin. His smile is etched into your memory, and the way heâd talk to you plays over and over in your mind.
Itâs a memory engraved in your consciousness, and you donât know if youâll ever be able to rid this feeling of disgust and fear.
Trying to distract your head from these thoughts, you notice how cold it actually is. Does this man not heat his house? How does he even expect you to sleep well with a blanket thatâs as thin as his patience?
You donât know what made you decide to walk up the stairs and find Naoya, but youâre already here. If youâre already at it, you might as well take a look around.
The hallway is dark, and you carefully tread along the polished floors. His house is spaciousâit feels big but also incredibly empty at the same timeâyou wonder if Naoya always spends his nights alone in this cold space.
Before you left the bathroom, you spotted Naoya going into the room right at the end of the hall, assuming this must be his room. As you finally stand in front of his door, you contemplate running, but itâs not like youâre asking for a big favor. It shouldnât be as difficult as you're making it out to be.
You just want a blanket, that's everything. You're cold, thatâs everything. Naoya should help you warm up, that's everythingâ â
Three timesâyou knock a total of three times, but thereâs no answer coming from the other side of the door. Itâs only after the fourth unanswered knock that you enter his room, the door lightly squeaking as you push it open.
As you step in, youâre met with a cold breeze. âNaoya?â You call out his name, but youâre met with no response. âNaoya?â You repeat once more, hoping that heâd notice you know. Seeing that heâs not reacting, you search for the light switch, hands groping at the wall behind you until you find and turn it on.
Unsurprisingly, Naoya isnât in his bed or in his room at all. You take a look around, but canât find him anywhere; thatâs when you feel the breeze again. Now with the lights on, everything came into view, and it's only then that you notice the door to the balcony being slightly ajar.Â
You make your way over to the balcony, open the door, and step outside. âNaoya? What are you doing?â The back of his head greets you, and under the moonlit sky, you can see the way his blond hair gleams. Met with no response, you take another step forward, and now his side profile comes into your view.
Itâs eerily quiet.âWhat is it?â He takes a drag from his cigarette and ashes it down his balcony into the garden, probably hoping that in the morning the wind will blow it away. For a moment, itâs quiet, the wind quietly whistles in your ear, and the smell of smoke lingers in the air, enveloping the two of you. He looks good like this, dressed in casual attire, wearing a relaxed look on his face, and behaving unusually silent.
You canât take your eyes off Naoya.
Although he always tries to act all distant, Naoya takes everything personally and is always up to confront someone about it, too. âWhat are you looking at so dumbly?â He growls, and you can feel the corners of your lips twitching. âFor someone whoâs so traditional, you sure donât give a shit about your lungs.â
âDo you even inhaleâŠthe smoke?â You laugh, quirking an eyebrow, observing him skeptically. âThe fuck are you saying?â He ashes off his cigarette again. âWell, you're just taking puffs.â You point at his cigarette and then at him. âSomeone knows shit,â he scoffs and turns away from you. âTalk about fucked up lungs.âÂ
You donât dwell too long on his words and change the topic. âDid anyone ever tell you that youâre a terrible host?â You sneer and lean against the railing. âYou think it's funny to insult me?â If he doesnât ash off his cigarette very soon, itâll go out immediately, but you donât tell him that. âWell, weâre not at work, so I really couldnât care less.â
âWhy are you even awake? Donât you need your beauty sleep?â Naoya jokes, tone filled with mild condescension. âIâll take that as a compliment.â You say dryly and turn to meet him. âI just couldnât. What about you?â
Naoya finally ashes off his cigarette, so that only the butt of it is burning now, and he smudges it against the railing before chucking it down. âI was thinking about marriage.â He admits and smirks at you.
You ignore the way your heart tightens at his words and laugh it off. âHow much?â It doesnât take a genius to see that Naoya is irritated by your words. âHow much what?â
âHow much are you paying her to marry you?â You finally say and let out a final laugh. Naoyaâs face seems to relax at your words, and he asks a question of his own. âHow much are you getting paid?â
âThatâs secret information.â You deadpan and side-eye him. âNot like I donât know already.â Naoya sneers. âWhy are you even asking theâ Oh my god! Were you hitting on me just now?Â
âYouâre practically eye-fucking me every time I walk into the room.â He says it like itâs a fact. âDo you hear yourself?â You exclaim in disbelief, taking a step back from him.Â
Every time you take a step away from him, he takes a step forward. It goes on so long until your back meets the wall, and your eyes widen, knowing that Naoya has you exactly where he wants.Â
He leans forward and presses his hand against the wall, before nudging your ear with his nose. âJust admit it.â He whispers before backing away and smirking.Â
Itâs in this moment that you just let go of everythingâincluding your sanity, and give in to your desires. You cup his cheeks in your hands and pull him downwards to press your lips against hisâan action he quickly reciprocates.Â
He tastes of tobacco; usually, you dislike the taste, but there are some exceptions, and Naoya seems to be one of them. On him, it tastes comforting and soothing, although nothing is comforting about the way he kisses you.Â
His tongue darts over your lower lip, and before you can even grant him full access, he pushes his tongue in your mouth, and you involuntarily let out a high-pitched sound. Your hands find his hair to yank him down, and his roam beneath your shirt, his hands freezing cold as they press against your warm skin.
Only when you push him off to catch your breath does he stop kissing you, and his hands retreat from your skin.
You donât even get a full minute to breathe properly before Naoya pushes himself on you again, but you hold him in his place before he can slot his lips on yours again, your eyes warning him not to go any further.
To your surprise, Naoya actually seems to follow your warning and steps back. Itâs far enough so that he no longer breathes right into your face, but still near enough for you to see him up close and observe his features.
He seems to have noticed, and a wide grin forms on his face as he raises both his arms into the air, as if heâs been accused of something.Â
âDonât give me that face.â Naoya coos in faux sympathy. âTo make it up to you, how does going on a third date sound to you?â
END NOTE: i have an admission to make...i didnt even watch the new season yet...lol
SYNOPSIS: When youâre set up to go on a date with your companyâs bossâs youngest son, Naoya Zenin, it was supposed to be a mere play-pretend relationship. But what happens when you actually catch feelings along the way?
WORDCOUNT: 10.7k (don't ask me how) | CONTENT & WARNINGS: naoya is a warning himself so you can already guess whats about to come, reader doesn't want to deal with his bs but she also can't help being attracted to him (same), ooc!naoya, bicker/banter, smoking, kissing, drinking; oneshot
TAG LIST: @aritsukemo, @sugary-strawberry-shortcake
AUTHOR'S NOTE: he's too fine to be doing ts bruh
âLetâs pay then.âÂ
Across the white-clad table sits none other than your companyâs boss's son: Naoya Zenin, wearing a now red-stained dress shirt that, unfortunately, looks too good on him, and is raising his hand to call out to the waitress for the bill. Â
Not even in your dreams would you ever go on a date with Naoya Zenin, so how'd you get tangled up in this mess?
From your workplace to the bar it takes around half an hour by train and five more minutes on foot. It takes some time, but in the meantime you spend observing the people you pass by. Â
There are other people like youâbusinesspeople commuting and tiredly staring at their phones, checking the time, teenage girls dressed in short skirts and hiding bottles of absolute vodka in their absolutely too small purses, students who look like theyâre on the brink of exhaustion and just want to lie down in their beds.
Back in high school, you thought everyone was exaggerating when they told you to enjoy your school and college times to the fullest, because âthose were the times when youâd see your friends the most.â
Joke's on you, because it turned out to be exactly as people described.
Nowadays, you are barely able to meet most of your friends, work gets in the way, someoneâs planning their wedding, and others are travelling the globe.
But there was one person you could always count on: your best friend Tsumiki. After graduation, when everyone started going their own separate ways, the two of you stayed together.Â
Despite everything that was happening, the two of you managed to meet every Friday in a bar of your choice and enjoyed a good glass of âwhateverâ together after an exhausting day of work.
Especially after today, first of all, your alarm didnât go off, and you barely managed to arrive in time; secondly, the printer decided that today would be a good day to give up, so you had to run to the copy shop down the street during your lunch break and if this wasnât enough, one of your co-workers called in sick for the beginning of next week, so now you have to pitch in for them during next weekâs report.Â
The meetings werenât bad per se; all you had to do was update your superiors about what your department was working on, the good things, the things that are still in the process, and new ideas. What was bad was with whom you had to do them, simply because you didn't know which of his sons your CEO would send this time.Â
The Zenin family has some kind of twisted sense of humor, because, yes, theyâre one of the most successful companies, but their way of treating their employees? Well, all you can hope for is that not one of the younger sons will be the one to evaluate you.
The train comes to a halt and announces the station's name; your cue to exit. Itâs a short walk, but you can still feel the ache in your feet from walking around in heels the whole day. Luckily for you, you arrive in no time.
As soon as the bell, which is strung to the door, rings, Tsumiki turns around and waves you over, delighted that you made it. Except her younger brother Megumi was here this timeâhis boyfriend Itadori tooâalong with their best friend Kugisaki.Â
Tsumiki slides over to the side to make room for you to set your bag down before sitting next to her. âWhat's your little brother doing here?â you eye Megumi, although he doesn't seem to pay much mind to it.Â
On the other hand, Yuji looks like heâs about to explode from nervousnessâKugisaki tooâbut from laughter.
âYou see,â she pauses for a moment and shoots you a sheepish smile. "He wanted to talk to you about something.â
âSo, you're telling me your family is fine with you marrying a man,â you recap what Megumi has just told you, âbut they draw the line at you getting married before Naoya?â Your finger traces along the rim of your glass, and you grimace, bewildered.
From your peripheral view, you can see Tsumiki and Kugisaki giggling to one another. âTrust me, I wouldnât go as far as asking you if I hadnât already tried everything else.â Megumi deadpans.
Thereâs a pregnant silence spanning around the room between Megumi's statement and your answer. âAnd now,â you begin, still not being able to wrap your head around this whole thing going on, âyou want me to go out with your cousin?âÂ
âMy condolences.â Kugisaki chirps in, âMaki told me that every time theyâre on family vacation together, he listens to these black pill songs in the shower.â She remarks. âLike unironically!â
Although he tries to hide it by muffling his mouth with his hand, Itadori is smiling from ear to ear. âHeâs on some crazy looksmaxxing shit.â He adds.
Next to him Megumi lets out an exasperated breath and side-eyes his friend before turning his attention on you again. âIâve never said anything about going out,â He drawls. âThose are your words now.â
Upon his words, you canât help but scoff. âIs âgo on a date with my cousinâ not the same as going out?â you exclaim, but youâve known Megumi long enough to know that heâs serious about this. âMegumi, he's my supervisor. I canât afford to lose my position.â A sigh accompanies your words.
âI know that, and I usually wouldnât even do this, but Naoya knows I want to marry, so heâs purposefully ruining every date his father sets him on.â Megumi furrows his eyebrows in frustration. âWell, heâs also an asshole, so the dates never work out,â Itadori adds offhandedly, before picking up his glass to empty it.
The conversation drifts from Megumi, Itadori, and Kugisaki commenting on the situation. âYou just have to pretend to like him, and as soon as he's like âyeah, sheâs the oneâ you can cut out the bullshit.â Kugisaki shrugs as if it were the easiest thing in the world.Â
âIâm only allowed to marry when heâs found someone, so please.â If you didn't know any better, Megumi is practically begging you to go out with Naoya.
âBut Megumi, my jobââ you interfere to make him stop, but heâs quick to cut you off before you can finish your sentence. âIâll also pay and handle the consequences. So please,â he frowns.
âCome on, it'll be a good story to tell your kids.â Tsumiki giggles, and you see the way thereâs a cheerful smile tugging at her lips. âYours and Naoyaâs kids, by the way.â Kugisaki comments, and Megumi throws her a blank stare. âDonât jinx it, Nobara.â Megumi mumbles and nudges her arm.Â
âFine, but I canât promise anything.â You tap your fingers against the wooden surface, already overcome with regret.
In all honesty, youâre not sure what made you agree; maybe it was the fact that the alcohol already took its effect, the pleading eyes Itadori threw at you, or the big stack of money Megumi slid over the table that kept growing every second you didnât answer.
Megumi sighs, his body visibly begins to relax, and the tension that was residing on his face starts to fade away. It wasnât obvious, but there was a small smile gracing his lips. âThank you.â
Okay, so, you lied. There are many things youâd do for your best friendâsheâs your better half after all, your soulmate, and unfortunately also the older sister of the guy who dragged you in this situation.Â
Sure, you like Megumi a lot and you really tried to give it your best to make this date somehow work, but your body gets a physical reaction as soon as Naoya Zenin dares to open his mouthâyouâd rather rip your ears off than listen to him talk any longer.
Honestly, he looks like heâd rather be anywhere else than here. For the past 40 minutes, heâs done nothing but pick apart his food, and see if âthey cooked it to his likingâ, glance at his wristwatch to see how much of your time he can still waste, or call for the waiter for the nth time to complain about the wine ânot being fermented enoughâ.Â
Admittedly, youâre no better. There are a couple of women sitting at the table behind you gossiping, and you canât help but overhear what theyâre talking about. Just as the one girl was getting to the interesting part, complaining about how her ex-boyfriend took his new girlfriend to the same restaurant she recommended to him on their first date, Naoya speaks up, and your eyes widen in surprise as he calls out to you.
âYouâre a friend of Megumi?â he doesnât even look at you as he asks and just continues cutting his food. The metal knife scratches against the porcelain plate and creates an unpleasant shrieking noise. âFriend of his sister,â you correct him and mimic him by dragging your fork along your plate.
Naoya's face contorts into an expression of disdain and finally spares you a glance. âHe told me youâre a friend of his, I thought at least someone whoâd I knew,â his amused remark, ânot some nobody.â is followed by tsk.
You donât answer, you donât want to answer, and you know better than to answer him because thatâs what he wantsâfor you to indulge in his provocations. But with every passing minute of him throwing blank stares at you, your resolve crumbles.
Instead, you pick up your glass of red wine thatâs been untouched the entire evening, because Naoya was whining left and right about the restaurant being some âtasteless tentâ whose food is âno better than dog foodâ.
To your surprise, the wine was really nice; it wasnât too sour, contrary to the cheap bottle you used to buy at your local corner shop when you and Tsumiki always tried to convince the cashier that you were old enough to buy alcohol.
Additionally, it was also just sweet enough for you to taste out the alcohol. Heâs got a good tasteâyouâll give him that.
Itâs like heâs watching you, because the second you put down your glassâmind you, not even a split second after it sits on the table againâNaoya dares to open his mouth again.Â
âWhatâs your job?â he asks, and you already sense the mocking intent behind his words. âI work at a company,â you say mindlessly and pick up your glass again to take a sip.
Sooner or later, heâd find out anywayâeven if youâd prefer not toâbut youâve already decided: this might be one of the top 5 worst dates youâve ever been on.
Also, itâs not like youâve lied to him anyway; itâs a white lie at best, and the chances of you ever running into Naoya ever again, in a workplace with hundreds of workers, are little to none.Â
Either way, he probably wouldnât recognise you anyway.
âNot a good paying one,â he smirks and diverts his eyes towards your body, âI can tell by the clothes you're wearing.âÂ
Well, this date just moved up to the top 4 worst dates ever.
You furrow your eyebrows in annoyance. âWhat can I say?â you let out a dry chuckle. âMy superior is a pain to be around and doesn't know where to invest his money.â Your words are followed by a mere shrug.
âOh yeah?â he asks, probably intending to interrogate you further. If it werenât Naoya Zenin asking you, youâd think it was almost a romantic gesture.
Keyword: almost.Â
âYeah.â You give him a tight-lipped smile, not willing to feed into his provocations any further. But, this doesnât tip men like Naoya offâmen who make it their purpose to ruin someone.Â
âHm, you were able to eat everything,â he crosses his arms over his chest, âIâm impressed.â He remarks mockingly, before taking a small sip from his glass. âItâs not often you meet a woman who has such a big appetite.â This time, he simply grins, and you hate to admit it, but his words are slowly getting under your skin.Â
Top 3 worst dates ever.
âYeah, you could learn from me.â You advise. âIf youâd actually eat the food they served you instead of whining, maybe youâd shut up for once.â
This finally seems to do the trick because you can see the way his jaw is tightening. âYou should learn how to behave like a proper woman.â Itâs quite funny seeing him lose his composure over such a measly comment. Itâs evident that he doesn't plan on giving up on harassing you. âI wonder who even hired someone like you.âÂ
Top 2 worst dates ever.
Well, he wonât have to ponder on it too longâshould he ever realize you work at the same company. âA woman should know where she belongs, and itâs certainly not at work.â He finalizes.
Well, this date officially took the first place for the worst date youâve ever been on.
Actually, what if this were your 13th reason? You donât respond to his comments, not because you want to give him the satisfaction heâs been looking for or agree with him, but because you know where you stand, and actually know what self-respect is. And you certainly know that Naoya isnât worth putting in effort for.
âOkay, so this isnât working out. Itadori, right when he said you're an asshole.â You sigh as you lean back in your chair, already hinting that youâre about to leave. Naoya has the audacity to tsk âThat guy just wants to marry his little boyfriend. I donât even know why you bother so much.â he cocks his head to the side, smirking at you.
There are certain levels of low, and you mightâve actually reached the lowest, because, yeah, this family affair is none of your business, and you shouldnât meddle in other peopleâs lives this much, but it seems Naoya never knows when to keep his mouth shut and when not. âOh my god, would it kill you not to have the last word for once?â you groan, and in the midst of your complaint, your hand hits your half-full wine glass and knocks it over.Â
Thereâs nothing you can do to stop the liquid from escaping the glass; it already ruined the white tablecloth and spilled onto Naoyaâs (now once) white dress shirt.
âFuck, I didnât plan for this to happen,â you hastily say and attempt to clean the table by soaking up the drink with napkins, unfortunately to no avail. âCan you women even do anything?â Naoya puts his hands on either side of the table and snaps at you.Â
His eyebrows scrunch up together in anger, and he tightly grips the tablecloth. This guyâs seriously got some screws loose. âLet's just pay,â he groans, sinking into his chair with his body still tensed up.Â
Upon seeing his stretched-out arm, the waitress rushes over almost immediately. âTook you long enough.â Naoya snides under his breath, but loud enough for her to hear, and you canât help but roll your eyes at his remark.Â
âThe bill, Sir? How would you like to pay?â The waitress nervously puts down the bill; there are more digits than you can count on one hand, and you hurriedly glance over to Naoya.
A mistake on your side.
Naoya, being Naoya, seizes the opportunity, âYouâre so full of yourself, right woman? Weâll split the bill then.â The playful smile that's tugging at the end of his lips doesn't go unnoticed.
For a moment, the waitress is taken aback, but she just nods, knowing itâs probably better not to ask any questions. She simply glances at you, but youâre just as, if not even more, surprised as she was just now and yelp out a loud âWhat?!â
Thereâs been a handful of terrible and right out awful dates youâve been on, but you doubt nothing will ever come close to this one.Â
Once there was a guy who stood you up 5 minutes prior to the date, then there was a guy who kept ranting about his best friend and how great she was, basically using you to get over her, and you donât even want to recall the other incidents; either way, youâre pretty sure that youâve blocked them out anyway.
Nonetheless, all of them always paid for the first dateâitâs basic courtesy and a simple, polite gesture, and you're certain that Naoyaâa man who has more money than senseâcan afford to pay for a first date.
At this point, youâre already so tired out from this date that you donât even have the strength in you to talk back anymore; instead, you rummage through your purse for your wallet. It doesnât take you long to find it, and when you do, you take out a handful of bills and slam them down on the table.Â
âHope youâre happy, asshole.â You feign a smile before taking your leave.Â
Well, the massive stash of money that Megumi gave you now didn't seem like such a big exaggeration anymore.
Not even a week has passedâto be precise, itâs been more than one day and a few hours since youâve seen him on your terrible date on Saturday.
Karmaâs a bitch, but so is Naoya Zenin.Â
The colleague you were supposed to fill in for still wasnât back, and now it was up to you, alongside a few other colleagues, to update your superiors on this month's work. Usually, these meetings donât take all too long; you just hope that this will be over soon and you can return to your cubicle and pretend youâre doing something on your computer.
When you stepped into the conference room, your eyes drifted around the room. The lightning here was unpleasant, bright white lights that illuminated the room, similar to hospital lights. A few people already sat down and chattered with one another, and others were frantically scrolling through their tablets to look over their notes again.
Soon, people started to flood in, and you barely managed to take in the room before finally sitting down yourself. The meeting was about to start, and the crowd that gathered at the front of the room started to scatter in different directions to sit down. Only then, when you glanced in the now empty direction, you spotted himâsurprise would be an understatementâyour eyes widened in shock when you saw that it was Naoya out of all the people sitting across the room.Â
To make matters worse, he was already looking at you, and before you knew it, you locked eyes with him. You didnât even have to second-guess what heâs thinking, his face says enoughâhe doesnât look particularly pleased to see you.Â
What a great way to start off your day.
Overall, the meeting went fine, it began with people presenting their achievements and how they wished to improve, but it didnât even look like Naoya was listening.Â
From time to time, heâd let out a tired yawn here and there, not even bothering to hide his boredom; sometimes, heâd also pretend to listen when in reality he was just playing with his helix and glance in your direction.
Considering how irksome this meeting was for him, you thought that heâd stop looking at you after a while, that heâd find himself a new distraction. Still, even as you teared your eyes away from him and concentrated on the colleague who was speaking, you could practically feel the way he was shooting daggers at the side of your head.
When it was finally your turn to speak, you tried to look at everyone but Naoya, which was hard when he was tracking your every move. He looks like heâs just waiting for the right momentâthe decisive moment where you slip up and he can attack. Just at the thought of that or Naoya in general, your vision turned green.Â
It took every ounce of willpower in you not to let your revulsion show on your face, because knowing how the Zenin family is, theyâd punish your whole department for even glancing at Naoya in the wrong way.
After a few other presentations, a round of questions, and a praise from Naoyaâwhich looked like it physically hurt him to say those words out loudâyou were permitted to leave.
âYou over there, stay here.â You immediately freeze on the spot upon hearing his words, peering at the people beside you to check if he means them, despite knowing that he was directly referring to you, even if you wished he werenât.
Around you, the people stop in their tracks, curiosity piqued, and you feel all the eyes in the room landing on you. âWere any of you even listening?â Naoya clicks his tongue in annoyance. âI told you to leave unless any of you insist on working more.â As soon as he said the words, everyone disappeared as fast as possible.Â
All you could do was helplessly watch after them, wishing that you were them. Â
âTurn around, will you?â If being in the same room as Naoya wasnât bad enough already, youâre now alone with him. You do as youâre told and face him. âWhat's someone like you doing here?â His words are laced with a distaste that you could only reciprocate. âI work here.â You reply curtly, knowing that thatâs not the answer he sought. âYou think youâre so funny.â He spits plainly, and you have to bite the inside of your cheek to prevent yourself from bursting out laughing on the spot.Â
âWhy didnât you tell me that you were working here?â He demands angrily, and this time, you canât help but let out a small laugh. âSorry, sorry,â you giggle after a while. âHonestly, at first I had my doubts, but the money convinced me.â You admit giddily, but it doesnât take long for you to realize that anger has risen to Naoyaâs face.
âYou want the money so bad?â He exclaims, irritation written all over his face, âWell then, work for it. You have nothing against working more, no?â He states, and that bullshit-eating grin of his tells you that heâs serious.
âBut Sir, thatâs against the rulââ You say, taken aback by his statement, âI donât give two shits. For a month, youâll be working more, and maybe youâve learned your lesson until then.â And the smile he gives you is eerily similar to the one you gave him on your dateâa smile full of condescension.
Yeah, you really hate this guy.
Itâs been a week since then, and you canât recall all the times someone came up to you and attempted to talk to you about you and Naoya. Thereâs been an absurd wave of rumors surging towards you every day.Â
Some claim that Naoya is your ex-husband, now turned superior; others suspect that you slept with him, consequently got pregnant, and he told you to abort the child, and during lunch break, you hear the young interns gossip about how Naoya probably made a move on you.
Obviously, each of these suspicions was false; you denied them every time, accentuating how you would never in your life voluntarily get in touch with Naoya Zenin unless youâd fallen on your head, lost all your memories, forgot his awful personality, and only wanted him for his nice looks.
You dislike Naoya for many things, but thereâs one thing youâll give himâheâs handsome. His eyes are both enticing and sharp, as if to lure you in, but then seize the moment to devour you when you let your guard down.Â
It happened to you once that a âheâs kinda fineâ slipped out of your mouth, and people immediately started to tease you about how they knew that you liked him. Apparently, there was âthe look of loveâ in Naoyaâs eyes every time he walked past you with a loving smile adorning his lips, and how you always returned his gaze fondly with a smile of your ownâwhatever thatâs supposed to mean.
If only they knew that the way Naoya looked at you was to make sure that you were working the extra task he assigned to you, before mocking you, and grinning as he saw you struggling with those tasks that take ridiculously long, and were simultaneously the most useless.Â
Also, the way you looked at him was a simple glare and a faux smile thatâs supposed to ease his âworriesâ of you âslacking off at work,â as he liked to call it.
Still, people come up with new, stupid ideas every other hour, and it was embarrassing how easily they got under your skin.
Along with the fact that Naoya does absolutely nothing to stop the rumors makes it ten times worse. (And because everyoneâs probably too scared to even approach him.)
Now you were beginning to understand what people meant by corporate-slaves, because this felt like some sleep-eat-work-repeat lifestyle, which you certainly did not want to live. However, itâs just 2 more weeks, and youâre free from this hell.
Although if there was one thing you were looking forward to, it was your weekly meeting with Tsumiki, only this time you came late. When you had the chance at work, you texted Tsumiki that you wouldnât make it in time today, and she only read and responded to your messages when she was already at the bar, saying that sheâd wait for you with a little surprise.
When you finally arrived, it took you a minute to look around and find herâit was a lot fuller than usual. Then, when you finally saw Tsumiki, you hugged her and apologized gullibly. âHey, Miki. Sorry that I kept you waiting.â You sigh before slumping down on the leather seats.
Tsumiki gives you a warm smile and makes room for you to sit closer. âNo worries.â She says sweetly before pouring herself another shot. âWhat took you so long?â She asks curiously and downs the glass. Once again, Megumi, Itadori, and Kugisaki sit at the table. Itâs obvious why theyâre here, but youâre not in the mood to talk to them about it.
âNaoyaâs ass ordered me to work longer, but please let's not talk about him.â You groan in annoyance, and as if on instinct, Tsumiki pours you a glass and hands it to you, smilingly. âHe has the power to do that?â The voice comes from across the tableâthe one who spoke up was Kugusaki. âApparently.â You shrug your shoulders before drinking from the glass.
Itâs silent for a while, and you notice that the air in the atmosphere has shifted. Itâs weird, but youâre not bothered enough to askâat least not yet. The evening goes by with a couple more rounds of drinks, stalking old classmates on social media, unrealistic âwhat-ifâ and âwhat-would-you-ratherâ scenarios, and more drinks.
âOkay, okay, I think thatâs enough.â Tsumiki asserts after a while and looks to the others for help. âUgh, seriously.â You utter in frustration. âIf heâd stop behaving like some male tradwife, Iâd actually go out with him.âÂ
The others observe you as you rant. âI mean, yeah, Iâll stay by my word, heâs fine as fuck, but someone needs to tell him to shut up, I swear.â You ramble. âHeâs actually so my type looks-wise, and you know if he wasnât him, I'd definitely date him.â When the words leave your mouth, you see how the others are throwing confused stares at each other before they land on you.
âSo, whoâs âheâ?â Megumi questions cautiously. âNaoya.â You muffle, voice already feeling hoarse, and Tsumiki hands you a glass of water. âUnfortunately.â You wipe your mouth with the sleeve of your blouse after the admission.
Suddenly, Itadori jumps up and puts his hands on the wooden table. âWell, then itâs your lucky day!â And you can practically see the way his eyes shine as he announces. âNaoya asked you on a second date.â
âA second what?â You cough on your water, and your eyes widen in shock. âA date,â Itadori repeats, all smiley. âNo, Itadori, I heard what you said, I'm just,â You pause for a moment, trying to find the right words. âNo, sorry, what?âÂ
For the first time this evening, Megumi expresses his thoughts. âThis is the first time Naoya has ever asked someone to go out with him again.â He pauses for a moment and coughs, before he mumbles something under his breath that you almost missedâ is he embarrassed? âAnd if it helps you, he kept blabbering to me about you. Which is weird, cause he usually says talking about people is a waste of breath.âÂ
âWow, how charming.â You huff dryly. He glances over Tsumiki before continuing. âMy sister already told me that youâd say no, and I donât want to force you into something you donât want to do, but,â He pauses and sighs. âHe might have actually developed some interest in you, and this is the best chance weâll ever get. So, would you mind going on a date with him again?â
âMegumi, you do know that he made me work more because I accidentally spilled wine on him, and made me do these tiresome, stupid tasks that he pulled out of his buttcrack.â You exclaim and take notice of Megumiâs frown.
Tsumiki pats on your shoulder reassuringly before glancing at Megumi. âYou know, Megs, I know you mean it well, but going on another date with Naoya would actually make me go crazy.â Her hand stays on your shoulder. âBut to me it also sounds like you kinda like him.âÂ
Her words strike you like lightning, and you immediately straighten up. âTsumiki, what the fuck?!â You screech, and you can feel the way the other customers turn around to look at you. âWell, I donât know, just a feeling.â She laughs softly. âMaybe just try it, and all of a sudden he realizes youâre like the love of his life and wants to change just for you.â She jokes.
âYeah, and then we live happily ever after.â You add, and the others join in Tsumikiâs laughter. âIâm not drunk enough for this.â You snort and rub your eyes with the pads of your fingers. âOkay, well, when does he want to meet me?âÂ
Thereâs a brief silence before Itadori breaks it. âYouâre actually agreeing?â He looks at you in bewilderment. âLike for real, for real?â He questions to ensure that he hasnât heard you wrong.
âMhm.â And you nod your head. Actually, you donât really know what made you say yes. Did you actually develop some feelings? Yeah, no. Was it the thrill of being with him? Or maybe youâve just become as unhinged as Naoya and accepted your fate; whatever it was, you were still certain in your choice and had no plan of going back on your wordâat least not yet.
âActually, already next Friday at seven,â Megumi tells you, and you stare at him in disbelief. âThatâs literally when work ends for me.â Tsumiki turns to you in confusion. âI thought work ended at six for you?â
âWell, Naoya gave me more work, so I also work longer on most days. Thatâs why I also came late today. Heâs practically setting me up.â You deadpan, and you can feel the toll your words have on the couple across from youâ how easily Megumiâs and Itadoriâs good moods were shattered.Â
Naoyaâs words replay in your head over and over. I donât even know why you bother so much. Itâs not like he was wrong, maybe you did feel something for Naoya, and this would be the only chance for you to find out without any co-workers interferingâthen itâd work out for the guys and youâcall it a win-win situation?
âBut,â And their heads immediately lifted. âIâll try my best to find a way.âÂ
Megumi and Itadori look at each other and smile. âThank you, Iâll send you the address later. I seriously owe you.â Megumi sighs in relief. âBut tell him to pay for it this time.â He furrows his eyebrows in confusion. âWhat do you mean?â If you werenât irritated already, you are now. âWell, the last time, he wanted to split the bill.â You explain.
âThatâs unlike him,â Megumi states. âHe usually always pays for the dates beforehand. Right after they ordered their food. He says it's manly.â If that were the case, then it wouldnât make sense for him to insist on only paying for his order. âWait, what?âÂ
You and Megumi look like two strangers who speak different languages and are trying to explain the same concept to one another, but the language barrier hinders you; in this case, itâs a matter of understanding the situation.
âYou know how Naoya is,â Megumi begins and bites his lower lip in the process, contemplating finding the right words.
He merely nods. âYeah, that sums it up.â The conversation continues to flow, going back and forth on different themes, and Naoya slowly fades into the background, that is, until youâre about to leave.Â
Tsumiki tilts her head to the side and speaks. âLetâs meet up on the weekend then. Canât believe Naoya is stealing my precious you-time away from me.â She grins. âYouâll have to tell me all about it then!âÂ
Outside, the rain heavily platters on the concrete, consequently staining the sidewalk with deep gray spots. With each minute passing by, youâre starting to regret this decision more and more.
The raindrops kiss the tinted car windows, blurring your view, almost like the rain is mocking you for blindly going on another date with Naoya.
On one hand, there are hundreds of thousands of excuses running around in your head that you should use to get the driver to stop, turn around, and drop you off at home again.
Then youâd just lie down, watch this one show that Tsumik kept suggesting to you these past few months.Â
âRight, so itâs like a drama about this one girl who helps out her best friend to go on dates with potential marriage candidates instead of her, and on this one date, she accidentally catches the attention of her boss!â
But thatâs the thing: when you think of Naoya, thereâs a familiar feeling bubbling in your chest, and twinges at your heartstrings, one akin to nervousness and excitementâyou know what it is, this feeling of an enjoyable thrill, filled with pleasure and doubtsâand you donât like it.
Because you know if you donât stop here, then thereâs no point going back.
After a while, the car comes to a halt, hauling you out of your thought-prison. The driver remains quiet in his seat, and itâs only when you bend forward to pay him that he lets out a deep huff of acknowledgement, before driving off.
Technically, you still have the option to run away and never look back, but your feet wonât budgeâtheyâre glued to the ground. Itâs like your body knows that you want to be here, despite denying it.
When you step inside, you notice how quiet it is: no rich folks chatter, no fancy live music, and no clattering of plates or anything of that sort.Â
At the reception, there stands a young boy, not much older than you, drowsily leaning his chin on the palm of his hand and lifelessly staring into the air. âUhm..hi?â You greet awkwardly. Only then does he seem to acknowledge your presence. âOh, sorry, hi, what can I do for you?â The boy stumbles over his words, his eyes take the form of crescent moons, and his lips twitch with an uncertain smile.Â
âIâm here on a daâ to meet Zenin.â You cough over your previous words, hoping that the waiter hasnât noticed your nervousness. âNaoya Zenin.â You manage to choke out, and the boy's eyes widen in surprise. âMr., Iâm so snobby and pay for everything, Zenin?â The boy rambles, talking to himself before realizing that you're still standing in front of him.âWait, sorry, Iâll bring you to the table right away.â He states and leads you to Naoya, whose arms are shrugged together over his chest, and he has skepticism written all over his face.
His gaze drifts over to the waiter, raising his eyebrow, and before he can say anything, the boy pulls out the chair for you, and you mutter something along the lines of a thank you before sitting down.
âYour food will be ready soon.â He says meekly while bowing down, not daring to meet the gaze of either of you. He excuses himself and rushes to leave.
He disappears, and you turn to Naoya, who looks like he just bit into a sour apple and now has to make his complaints about everyone's problem. âTwo minutes.â Naoya holds up his index and middle fingers.
âWhat?â Confused with his accusation, your eyebrow quirked up. âYouâre 2 minutes late.â He seethes and rolls up the sleeve of his shirt to point at his wristwatch. âSee, for that behavior, youâd get your pay lessened.â
Right now, you're seriously questioning yourself, and moreover, your taste in men, despite Naoya already knowing the reasonâhimâwhy do you feel a glimmer of excitement burning up in your chest talking to him again?
âVery funny.â You remark ironically, and he chuckles quietly before you change the topic. âWhyâs it so empty here?â Careful not to make any sounds, you shift in your chair and look around.Â
âHuh?â Naoyaâs face takes on a look of irritation. âI booked the whole thing,â he tells you as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.
âWhy would you do that?âÂ
âCause I wanted to spend time with you,â He gives you a half-hearted smile. âalone?â
âWhich means you want me so bad or what..?â You look at him, dumbfounded, because this wasn't how you expected to play out. When you first arrived and saw the deserted restaurant, you thought this was about to be some big prank, paranoia was crawling up your neck, and you looked for the hidden cameras everywhere.
He doesnât give you a direct answer and only says something that you make out to be a quiet "Believe what you want.â But the red blush slowly creeping up on his neck doesn't go unnoticed, and for the first time this evening, you feel like you can actually relax.
Maybe itâs out of embarrassment, anger, or perhaps even affection, youâve come to the point where it doesnât matter to you anymore. All you want is to spark more of these reactions out of him, ignoring how that makes you just as weird as he is.
A genuine and amused smile musters itself up on your lips, and you start giggling. âThe fuck are you laughing about?â He spits, and you just wave him off.Â
Youâve learned how to handle his remarks and know how to retort to them, which makes everything funnierâfor you at least.Â
The whole evening plays out like this: both of you talking over dinner with Naoya making stupid assumptions about youâbeing all serious about them too, and all you do is tell him off and counter with a question of your own. These are typically followed by Naoya adding his own two cents.
Your face takes on an expression of disgust as you take a sip from your drink. âEw.â Slightly sticking your tongue on as the alcohol further enveloped your mouth.
âAww, canât even hold a little alcohol?â The man across from you coos mockingly and takes a sip of his own. He sets down his glass and gives you a smug grin.
âNope, just reminded me of this one drink that I had in senior year that made me black out so bad, and in the morning, Tsumiki told me that she had to wipe all my vomit away.â You laugh softly as you recall the night it happened. âHonestly thought youâd be like super against a woman drinking,â You say, glass still in your hand and swirling the liquid inside around. â'Cause youâre like..â You pause for a moment.
Conservative, stuck up, an asshole
Ideas are popping up in your head, but you do your best to shake them off and attempt to find the right words. âConsidering youâre so..traditional?â You say weakly.
âTraditional?â Naoya repeats your words, his expression unreadable. âTraditional.â You say again, your lips pressed into a thin line. The man slowly nods his head, "Traditional." He concludes and shoots you a blank stare.
Heâs probably noticed it too, but youâre getting to know each other more over this date, and youâd be lying to yourself if you said that you didnât enjoy thisânot like youâd ever tell Naoya.
His eyes leave yours, and he starts fiddling with his cutlery again. A wall of silence builds up again; it stands steady in its place, and youâre not sure if youâre the one to take the first step to climb over it.
Thereâs no one else in the restaurantâjust the two of you. The only sounds that are being made are when the metal meets the porcelain again, but other than that, you donât find a way to fend this unbearable quietness away.Â
When you take today into account, your first date with Naoya and all the times at work you spent bickering with him, you realize Tsumiki might be right.
You do like Naoyaâas absurd as that even sounds. Admittedly, you're not sure yourself why you like him; all you know is that this attraction towards him only seems to grow by the minute.
Maybe you seriously need to check if youâre a masochist or something, because you donât think any sane person would admit to liking Naoya Zenin.Â
Suddenly, the sound of metal clattering against the table plays, and it rips you out of your thoughts.Â
âIs it true,â Naoya starts off and looks up from his plate, and with his words, he tears the wall built out of each unsaid word down. âThat you wanted to go out with me just to take advantage of my money?â
Once again, no matter how much you try to study his face, only stone-cold eyes meet yours, behind which his emotions are locked. Itâs like heâs trying to test you and base his reaction on your response.
Caught off guard, youâre uncertain what you should say at this moment, so you just tell him the first thing that comes to your mind. âNo, Megumi gave me money.â
Seeing the way his forehead creases and the way he slams his hand on the table tells you that this wasn't the answer he was hoping for. âOh, so you're paid to be here?âÂ
âWell,â you begin, still unsure of what to say. âYes?â You confirm after a while and immediately regret your words. âNo!â You hastily added, but Naoyaâs reaction only seemed to worsen with every passing second, so you just kept on talking, hoping that thereâd be one answer that satisfied him. âKind of?â
Naoya is quick to respond with a question of his own. âOh, is that so?â He asks, voice sharp as a knife's edge. âThought you were a gold digger, it turns out youâre actually just a lying bitch. Shouldâve expected that from you.â He huffs and rolls his eyes.Â
Something churns in your stomach. Taken aback, all you can do at this moment is snap back at him. âSorry?â You shout at him in disbelief. Feet already rising to take your leave. How did talking about embarrassing high school memories turn into him calling you names?
Everythingâs happening all at once and too fast for you to comprehend;Â the best thing you could do right now is to remove yourself from this conversation. âAnd here I thought you were actually pretty nice for once.â You donât tell him that itâs more than thatâthat you actually considered thisâconsidered him.
As you stand up and walk away, Naoya steadies himself on the table with his hand before stepping forward to grab your wrist, his grip tight on your arm. He stands close nowâmere inches away from youâhe doesnât say anything, but the way his hot breath fans against your nape tells you that heâs seething.
You shake his hand off and turn away from him, quickening your pace as you bolt off. âHey! You still need to pay!â He screams furiously after you.
âShut up!â You turn your head around and yell back at him from behind your shoulder. âI know that you already paid, dickhead! That server couldnât shut up for his fucking life!â Those were your last words before storming off, leaving Naoya alone in the empty restaurant.
Just when you thought this might turn into a serious thing, everything went down the river.
One and a half monthsâyouâve been living like this for a good almost two months, and if it werenât for the pay, you wouldâve already slammed the resignation papers on his desk.
Because why is it that another Friday night of yours with Tsumiki goes to waste, to meet Naoya? Not that you asked him out for a dateâitâs a work celebration dinner, which means there are several other employees with you to fill the awkward silence, because you really didnât want to engage in a conversation with Naoya.
Unfortunately for you, it was just your luck that you landed at the same table as Naoya.
Usually, six to eight people were sitting together at a table, but a few employees called in sick today, so there was one table that accommodated fewer people than the others, and it just so happened that you and Naoya got assigned together at this tableâtalk about a coincidence.
Next to you sat a blue-haired girl not much older than you, whom youâve never seen aroundâmost likely a new employeeâand kept sliding against her chair, presumably nervous that she was sitting at the same table as Naoya.Â
She keeps shooting hopeful glances at you, hoping youâd open your mouth and say something to start a conversation. Honestly, you felt bad, cause you know how stressful a first-time work dinner can be when you donât know anyone, but you really didnât want to talk to Naoya or anyone from work right now.
Youâll make it up to her someday.
Naoya sat right across from you, gawking at you from time to time, and youâd just roll your eyes at him. Next to him sat someone whom you didnât know, but from the looks Naoya was giving him, you assumed that he didnât like him much either.
It was plain obvious that the guy was drunk from the way he was talking and continuously threw his arms over Naoyaâs shoulder, attempting to act all buddy-buddy with him, to his dismay, Naoya kept angrily shoving him away.
âSay, Mr. Naoya, is it true you wanna marry?â The man slurs over his words before laughing to himself. Naoya shows minimal reaction; only a mere disapproving look tells that heâs not enjoying himself. âWhat about it?â He eventually says dryly.
Hearing Naoyaâs words, the manâs smile widens in happiness. âYou already got someone in,â He gulps and mutters a small sorry under his breath, all while laughing and brushes himself over the chest before continuing. âMind?â He finalises.
His question catches your attention, and for the first time this evening, you fully look at Naoya, whoâs already wearing a grin on his face that tells you that heâs up to no good. Naoya sighs dramatically before carding his fingers through his hair. Itâs as if he needs to muster up his courage before revealing his answer.Â
Naoya takes a good look at you before turning to his side. âYeah, Iâve got someoââ You donât get to hear the rest of his answers, because a scream erupts next to you. âI think my food just moved!â The girl next to you exclaimed as she squats on her chair and points at the bowl in front of her with her chopsticks.
âMiwa, stop messing around.â The voice from across the table half-shouts, and in response, she just frantically shakes her head. âI saw it move just now!â She squeals.âPinky promise, cross my heart, hope to die, I swear!â
She continues to ramble on for a while, and you canât help but let an exasperated sigh escape your lips. âYou have to put it in the broth, and it'll cook automatically then.â You tell her calmly, taking your chopsticks into your hand, and show her how to do it properly.
Her mouth takes the shape of an o, and she freezes for a moment. âOh, so thatâs how you do it.â She chuckles sheepishly and puts her hand on the back of her hair in embarrassment. Miwaâas you know nowâpicks up her chopsticks to place the meat in her bowl, but it just so happens that when she reaches over to grab the meat off the plate, the table topples and her bowl loses its balance.
The bowl falls over before you can even process what just happened. The bowl now lies on the table with the broth leaking all over the surface, some of it dripping down on your lap. âOh my god, Iâm so so sorry!â Miwa puts her hands over her mouth and shouts apologetically.Â
âItâs fine. This happens to everyone.â You give her a half-hearted smile as youâre reminded of when you spilled wine all over Naoya. âIâll get some tissues from the restroom.â You slide your chair backwards in order to stand up, but Miwa stops you by holding down your hands.
She keeps them tightly in her hands, as if she needs to keep them in a chokehold, and shakes her head as she looks down at the floor. âNo, it was my fault. Let me do this. Iâll clean this up.â She looks up at you with a pleading look, and you canât help but feel bad for her.
You donât think sheâll let go of you unless you give in to her request. âOkay,â Miwaâs eyes are practically sparkling as soon as the words leave your mouth, and her hold on your hands tightens. âStill, I'd like to go outside, â on my own, you think to yourself before throwing a bored glance at Naoya. âSo, can you let me go?â You ask her politely, looking down at your intertwined hands.
âOh,â She yelps. âYeah, sure, sorry!â She says in a docile tone, and her grip on your hands quickly loosens. âThanks.â You murmur and smile at her. Miwa hastily stands up and joins you. She mumbles a quiet see you later and disappears into the restroom.Â
Before going outside, you make sure to look behind you, ensuring that Naoya isnât making any moves on following you. Either way, he seems occupied with the colleague next to him, so he wonât be a problemâfor now.
Outside, in the parking lot, a cold gust of wind greets you, and you canât help but regret leaving your jacket inside, but you have no intention of returning back inside right now. Youâd rather freeze to death out here than hear Naoya open his mouth once more.
Cheerful, but obnoxious laughter fills the air, and you turn your head to the source of commotion. A group of older male colleagues stands together not too far away from you. Youâve walked past some of them once, bowed your head to show respect, or greeted them out of politeness.Â
But the way that all of them were looking at you and exchanged knowing glances with each other made something in your stomach twist. Itâs only then that one of the men emerges from the group and makes his way over to you.Â
Heâs a good head taller than you; from his position, youâre sure he can see the way your neck shivers as he comes closer to your face. âWhatâs a pretty thing like you doing out here alone?â He asks and reaches out for the strand of your hair thatâs been blown away by the wind.Â
Goosebumps are rising all over you, met with the fear of not knowing what happens next. Iâm just here to catch some air, but Iâll go back in now.â You manage to dodge his touch by a hairsbreadth, and you notice the way his expression immediately sours. âHave a good evening.â You mutter, and you hope he doesnât notice the way you tremble as you nod your head at him.Â
âGoing already?â The man is quick to latch onto your wrist, and you feel how everything stops for you. âIâm sorry.â You stutter. âBut I really have to go now.â Your words just seem to worsen his mood; in response to that, the grip he has on you becomes tighterâsuffocating.
The manâs lips curve into a smile. âItâll be fun, okay?â He assures, but his eyes deceive his words; whatever he plans to do isnât going to be fun in the slightest.Â
âThat girl canât do shit. Help her, will you?â A loud voice shouts over to you, one you recognize in an instant, and for the first time this evening, youâre glad that heâs here.
Naoya strides over to where you are. Simultaneously, the man immediately lets go of your arm and shoves his hands in his pockets, as if thatâd help to cover the grip marks he left on your forearm.
âMr. Zenin.â The man swallows and proceeds to nod at Naoya, who doesnât plan on responding in the same manner. âHope you enjoyed this work dinner. Itâs your last.â He states and pulls you away, leaving the man baffled.Â
He yells after the two of you, but you canât make out his words from this distance. âNaoya, let me go. I have to get my things and go home.â You demand and attempt to shake him off.Â
âIs that how you repay me?â He stops in his tracks and turns around. âWell,â you start, the words lying on the tip of your tongue. âThanks for just now, but I seriously just wanna get my things.âÂ
âWoman, listen. Iâll drive you home.â He says, voice nor face betraying himâheâs serious about this.
A beat of silence passes, and if it werenât for Naoyaâs hand holding yours, youâd think this was some sort of dream.
After a while, you manage to say a few words. âPlease donât?â And take a step away from him. âAlso, youâre not allowed to drive when you drink.â You remind him, because if there was one thing you didnât need now was being pulled over and getting a ticket for driving under the influence.
âBeing drunk doesnât make me an idiot.â Naoya retorts, letting go of your hand. âYouâre an asshole either way,â You scoff. âWith and without alcohol.âÂ
âDo you want me to drive you home now or not?
If love makes one blind, it apparently also makes one stupid, because why on earth did you agree to sleeping over at Naoyaâs place?
When you were in the car, you noticed that he wasnât driving in the right direction.
Fuck no. Iâm not driving across the whole city to bring you home.
He was even being so nice as to drop you off at this 24/7 open convenience store that sells toothbrushes and shirts, and if you didnât hurry, heâd drive off without youâif thatâs not princess treatment, then you donât know either.
Thatâs how you ended up sleeping on Naoyaâs couch for the night.
Technically, you didnât agree, more like you were forced, but if this included a cozy couch, a huge kitchen with a kitchen island, and bathrooms as big as your apartment, then maybe youâd consider it.Â
Maybe next time.
It must be nice being a nepo baby and having the privilege to spend money on everything, without worrying about ever running out of money.Â
Todayâs incident still keeps you up, and you feel a shiver running along your body as you remember how close he was to touching your skin. His smile is etched into your memory, and the way heâd talk to you plays over and over in your mind.
Itâs a memory engraved in your consciousness, and you donât know if youâll ever be able to rid this feeling of disgust and fear.
Trying to distract your head from these thoughts, you notice how cold it actually is. Does this man not heat his house? How does he even expect you to sleep well with a blanket thatâs as thin as his patience?
You donât know what made you decide to walk up the stairs and find Naoya, but youâre already here. If youâre already at it, you might as well take a look around.
The hallway is dark, and you carefully tread along the polished floors. His house is spaciousâit feels big but also incredibly empty at the same timeâyou wonder if Naoya always spends his nights alone in this cold space.
Before you left the bathroom, you spotted Naoya going into the room right at the end of the hall, assuming this must be his room. As you finally stand in front of his door, you contemplate running, but itâs not like youâre asking for a big favor. It shouldnât be as difficult as you're making it out to be.
You just want a blanket, that's everything. You're cold, thatâs everything. Naoya should help you warm up, that's everythingâ â
Three timesâyou knock a total of three times, but thereâs no answer coming from the other side of the door. Itâs only after the fourth unanswered knock that you enter his room, the door lightly squeaking as you push it open.
As you step in, youâre met with a cold breeze. âNaoya?â You call out his name, but youâre met with no response. âNaoya?â You repeat once more, hoping that heâd notice you know. Seeing that heâs not reacting, you search for the light switch, hands groping at the wall behind you until you find and turn it on.
Unsurprisingly, Naoya isnât in his bed or in his room at all. You take a look around, but canât find him anywhere; thatâs when you feel the breeze again. Now with the lights on, everything came into view, and it's only then that you notice the door to the balcony being slightly ajar.Â
You make your way over to the balcony, open the door, and step outside. âNaoya? What are you doing?â The back of his head greets you, and under the moonlit sky, you can see the way his blond hair gleams. Met with no response, you take another step forward, and now his side profile comes into your view.
Itâs eerily quiet.âWhat is it?â He takes a drag from his cigarette and ashes it down his balcony into the garden, probably hoping that in the morning the wind will blow it away. For a moment, itâs quiet, the wind quietly whistles in your ear, and the smell of smoke lingers in the air, enveloping the two of you. He looks good like this, dressed in casual attire, wearing a relaxed look on his face, and behaving unusually silent.
You canât take your eyes off Naoya.
Although he always tries to act all distant, Naoya takes everything personally and is always up to confront someone about it, too. âWhat are you looking at so dumbly?â He growls, and you can feel the corners of your lips twitching. âFor someone whoâs so traditional, you sure donât give a shit about your lungs.â
âDo you even inhaleâŠthe smoke?â You laugh, quirking an eyebrow, observing him skeptically. âThe fuck are you saying?â He ashes off his cigarette again. âWell, you're just taking puffs.â You point at his cigarette and then at him. âSomeone knows shit,â he scoffs and turns away from you. âTalk about fucked up lungs.âÂ
You donât dwell too long on his words and change the topic. âDid anyone ever tell you that youâre a terrible host?â You sneer and lean against the railing. âYou think it's funny to insult me?â If he doesnât ash off his cigarette very soon, itâll go out immediately, but you donât tell him that. âWell, weâre not at work, so I really couldnât care less.â
âWhy are you even awake? Donât you need your beauty sleep?â Naoya jokes, tone filled with mild condescension. âIâll take that as a compliment.â You say dryly and turn to meet him. âI just couldnât. What about you?â
Naoya finally ashes off his cigarette, so that only the butt of it is burning now, and he smudges it against the railing before chucking it down. âI was thinking about marriage.â He admits and smirks at you.
You ignore the way your heart tightens at his words and laugh it off. âHow much?â It doesnât take a genius to see that Naoya is irritated by your words. âHow much what?â
âHow much are you paying her to marry you?â You finally say and let out a final laugh. Naoyaâs face seems to relax at your words, and he asks a question of his own. âHow much are you getting paid?â
âThatâs secret information.â You deadpan and side-eye him. âNot like I donât know already.â Naoya sneers. âWhy are you even asking theâ Oh my god! Were you hitting on me just now?Â
âYouâre practically eye-fucking me every time I walk into the room.â He says it like itâs a fact. âDo you hear yourself?â You exclaim in disbelief, taking a step back from him.Â
Every time you take a step away from him, he takes a step forward. It goes on so long until your back meets the wall, and your eyes widen, knowing that Naoya has you exactly where he wants.Â
He leans forward and presses his hand against the wall, before nudging your ear with his nose. âJust admit it.â He whispers before backing away and smirking.Â
Itâs in this moment that you just let go of everythingâincluding your sanity, and give in to your desires. You cup his cheeks in your hands and pull him downwards to press your lips against hisâan action he quickly reciprocates.Â
He tastes of tobacco; usually, you dislike the taste, but there are some exceptions, and Naoya seems to be one of them. On him, it tastes comforting and soothing, although nothing is comforting about the way he kisses you.Â
His tongue darts over your lower lip, and before you can even grant him full access, he pushes his tongue in your mouth, and you involuntarily let out a high-pitched sound. Your hands find his hair to yank him down, and his roam beneath your shirt, his hands freezing cold as they press against your warm skin.
Only when you push him off to catch your breath does he stop kissing you, and his hands retreat from your skin.
You donât even get a full minute to breathe properly before Naoya pushes himself on you again, but you hold him in his place before he can slot his lips on yours again, your eyes warning him not to go any further.
To your surprise, Naoya actually seems to follow your warning and steps back. Itâs far enough so that he no longer breathes right into your face, but still near enough for you to see him up close and observe his features.
He seems to have noticed, and a wide grin forms on his face as he raises both his arms into the air, as if heâs been accused of something.Â
âDonât give me that face.â Naoya coos in faux sympathy. âTo make it up to you, how does going on a third date sound to you?â
END NOTE: i have an admission to make...i didnt even watch the new season yet...lol
SYNOPSIS: When youâre set up to go on a date with your companyâs bossâs youngest son, Naoya Zenin, it was supposed to be a mere play-pretend relationship. But what happens when you actually catch feelings along the way?
WORDCOUNT: 10.7k (don't ask me how) | CONTENT & WARNINGS: naoya is a warning himself so you can already guess whats about to come, reader doesn't want to deal with his bs but she also can't help being attracted to him (same), ooc!naoya, bicker/banter, smoking, kissing, drinking; oneshot
TAG LIST: @aritsukemo, @sugary-strawberry-shortcake
AUTHOR'S NOTE: he's too fine to be doing ts bruh
âLetâs pay then.âÂ
Across the white-clad table sits none other than your companyâs boss's son: Naoya Zenin, wearing a now red-stained dress shirt that, unfortunately, looks too good on him, and is raising his hand to call out to the waitress for the bill. Â
Not even in your dreams would you ever go on a date with Naoya Zenin, so how'd you get tangled up in this mess?
From your workplace to the bar it takes around half an hour by train and five more minutes on foot. It takes some time, but in the meantime you spend observing the people you pass by. Â
There are other people like youâbusinesspeople commuting and tiredly staring at their phones, checking the time, teenage girls dressed in short skirts and hiding bottles of absolute vodka in their absolutely too small purses, students who look like theyâre on the brink of exhaustion and just want to lie down in their beds.
Back in high school, you thought everyone was exaggerating when they told you to enjoy your school and college times to the fullest, because âthose were the times when youâd see your friends the most.â
Joke's on you, because it turned out to be exactly as people described.
Nowadays, you are barely able to meet most of your friends, work gets in the way, someoneâs planning their wedding, and others are travelling the globe.
But there was one person you could always count on: your best friend Tsumiki. After graduation, when everyone started going their own separate ways, the two of you stayed together.Â
Despite everything that was happening, the two of you managed to meet every Friday in a bar of your choice and enjoyed a good glass of âwhateverâ together after an exhausting day of work.
Especially after today, first of all, your alarm didnât go off, and you barely managed to arrive in time; secondly, the printer decided that today would be a good day to give up, so you had to run to the copy shop down the street during your lunch break and if this wasnât enough, one of your co-workers called in sick for the beginning of next week, so now you have to pitch in for them during next weekâs report.Â
The meetings werenât bad per se; all you had to do was update your superiors about what your department was working on, the good things, the things that are still in the process, and new ideas. What was bad was with whom you had to do them, simply because you didn't know which of his sons your CEO would send this time.Â
The Zenin family has some kind of twisted sense of humor, because, yes, theyâre one of the most successful companies, but their way of treating their employees? Well, all you can hope for is that not one of the younger sons will be the one to evaluate you.
The train comes to a halt and announces the station's name; your cue to exit. Itâs a short walk, but you can still feel the ache in your feet from walking around in heels the whole day. Luckily for you, you arrive in no time.
As soon as the bell, which is strung to the door, rings, Tsumiki turns around and waves you over, delighted that you made it. Except her younger brother Megumi was here this timeâhis boyfriend Itadori tooâalong with their best friend Kugisaki.Â
Tsumiki slides over to the side to make room for you to set your bag down before sitting next to her. âWhat's your little brother doing here?â you eye Megumi, although he doesn't seem to pay much mind to it.Â
On the other hand, Yuji looks like heâs about to explode from nervousnessâKugisaki tooâbut from laughter.
âYou see,â she pauses for a moment and shoots you a sheepish smile. "He wanted to talk to you about something.â
âSo, you're telling me your family is fine with you marrying a man,â you recap what Megumi has just told you, âbut they draw the line at you getting married before Naoya?â Your finger traces along the rim of your glass, and you grimace, bewildered.
From your peripheral view, you can see Tsumiki and Kugisaki giggling to one another. âTrust me, I wouldnât go as far as asking you if I hadnât already tried everything else.â Megumi deadpans.
Thereâs a pregnant silence spanning around the room between Megumi's statement and your answer. âAnd now,â you begin, still not being able to wrap your head around this whole thing going on, âyou want me to go out with your cousin?âÂ
âMy condolences.â Kugisaki chirps in, âMaki told me that every time theyâre on family vacation together, he listens to these black pill songs in the shower.â She remarks. âLike unironically!â
Although he tries to hide it by muffling his mouth with his hand, Itadori is smiling from ear to ear. âHeâs on some crazy looksmaxxing shit.â He adds.
Next to him Megumi lets out an exasperated breath and side-eyes his friend before turning his attention on you again. âIâve never said anything about going out,â He drawls. âThose are your words now.â
Upon his words, you canât help but scoff. âIs âgo on a date with my cousinâ not the same as going out?â you exclaim, but youâve known Megumi long enough to know that heâs serious about this. âMegumi, he's my supervisor. I canât afford to lose my position.â A sigh accompanies your words.
âI know that, and I usually wouldnât even do this, but Naoya knows I want to marry, so heâs purposefully ruining every date his father sets him on.â Megumi furrows his eyebrows in frustration. âWell, heâs also an asshole, so the dates never work out,â Itadori adds offhandedly, before picking up his glass to empty it.
The conversation drifts from Megumi, Itadori, and Kugisaki commenting on the situation. âYou just have to pretend to like him, and as soon as he's like âyeah, sheâs the oneâ you can cut out the bullshit.â Kugisaki shrugs as if it were the easiest thing in the world.Â
âIâm only allowed to marry when heâs found someone, so please.â If you didn't know any better, Megumi is practically begging you to go out with Naoya.
âBut Megumi, my jobââ you interfere to make him stop, but heâs quick to cut you off before you can finish your sentence. âIâll also pay and handle the consequences. So please,â he frowns.
âCome on, it'll be a good story to tell your kids.â Tsumiki giggles, and you see the way thereâs a cheerful smile tugging at her lips. âYours and Naoyaâs kids, by the way.â Kugisaki comments, and Megumi throws her a blank stare. âDonât jinx it, Nobara.â Megumi mumbles and nudges her arm.Â
âFine, but I canât promise anything.â You tap your fingers against the wooden surface, already overcome with regret.
In all honesty, youâre not sure what made you agree; maybe it was the fact that the alcohol already took its effect, the pleading eyes Itadori threw at you, or the big stack of money Megumi slid over the table that kept growing every second you didnât answer.
Megumi sighs, his body visibly begins to relax, and the tension that was residing on his face starts to fade away. It wasnât obvious, but there was a small smile gracing his lips. âThank you.â
Okay, so, you lied. There are many things youâd do for your best friendâsheâs your better half after all, your soulmate, and unfortunately also the older sister of the guy who dragged you in this situation.Â
Sure, you like Megumi a lot and you really tried to give it your best to make this date somehow work, but your body gets a physical reaction as soon as Naoya Zenin dares to open his mouthâyouâd rather rip your ears off than listen to him talk any longer.
Honestly, he looks like heâd rather be anywhere else than here. For the past 40 minutes, heâs done nothing but pick apart his food, and see if âthey cooked it to his likingâ, glance at his wristwatch to see how much of your time he can still waste, or call for the waiter for the nth time to complain about the wine ânot being fermented enoughâ.Â
Admittedly, youâre no better. There are a couple of women sitting at the table behind you gossiping, and you canât help but overhear what theyâre talking about. Just as the one girl was getting to the interesting part, complaining about how her ex-boyfriend took his new girlfriend to the same restaurant she recommended to him on their first date, Naoya speaks up, and your eyes widen in surprise as he calls out to you.
âYouâre a friend of Megumi?â he doesnât even look at you as he asks and just continues cutting his food. The metal knife scratches against the porcelain plate and creates an unpleasant shrieking noise. âFriend of his sister,â you correct him and mimic him by dragging your fork along your plate.
Naoya's face contorts into an expression of disdain and finally spares you a glance. âHe told me youâre a friend of his, I thought at least someone whoâd I knew,â his amused remark, ânot some nobody.â is followed by tsk.
You donât answer, you donât want to answer, and you know better than to answer him because thatâs what he wantsâfor you to indulge in his provocations. But with every passing minute of him throwing blank stares at you, your resolve crumbles.
Instead, you pick up your glass of red wine thatâs been untouched the entire evening, because Naoya was whining left and right about the restaurant being some âtasteless tentâ whose food is âno better than dog foodâ.
To your surprise, the wine was really nice; it wasnât too sour, contrary to the cheap bottle you used to buy at your local corner shop when you and Tsumiki always tried to convince the cashier that you were old enough to buy alcohol.
Additionally, it was also just sweet enough for you to taste out the alcohol. Heâs got a good tasteâyouâll give him that.
Itâs like heâs watching you, because the second you put down your glassâmind you, not even a split second after it sits on the table againâNaoya dares to open his mouth again.Â
âWhatâs your job?â he asks, and you already sense the mocking intent behind his words. âI work at a company,â you say mindlessly and pick up your glass again to take a sip.
Sooner or later, heâd find out anywayâeven if youâd prefer not toâbut youâve already decided: this might be one of the top 5 worst dates youâve ever been on.
Also, itâs not like youâve lied to him anyway; itâs a white lie at best, and the chances of you ever running into Naoya ever again, in a workplace with hundreds of workers, are little to none.Â
Either way, he probably wouldnât recognise you anyway.
âNot a good paying one,â he smirks and diverts his eyes towards your body, âI can tell by the clothes you're wearing.âÂ
Well, this date just moved up to the top 4 worst dates ever.
You furrow your eyebrows in annoyance. âWhat can I say?â you let out a dry chuckle. âMy superior is a pain to be around and doesn't know where to invest his money.â Your words are followed by a mere shrug.
âOh yeah?â he asks, probably intending to interrogate you further. If it werenât Naoya Zenin asking you, youâd think it was almost a romantic gesture.
Keyword: almost.Â
âYeah.â You give him a tight-lipped smile, not willing to feed into his provocations any further. But, this doesnât tip men like Naoya offâmen who make it their purpose to ruin someone.Â
âHm, you were able to eat everything,â he crosses his arms over his chest, âIâm impressed.â He remarks mockingly, before taking a small sip from his glass. âItâs not often you meet a woman who has such a big appetite.â This time, he simply grins, and you hate to admit it, but his words are slowly getting under your skin.Â
Top 3 worst dates ever.
âYeah, you could learn from me.â You advise. âIf youâd actually eat the food they served you instead of whining, maybe youâd shut up for once.â
This finally seems to do the trick because you can see the way his jaw is tightening. âYou should learn how to behave like a proper woman.â Itâs quite funny seeing him lose his composure over such a measly comment. Itâs evident that he doesn't plan on giving up on harassing you. âI wonder who even hired someone like you.âÂ
Top 2 worst dates ever.
Well, he wonât have to ponder on it too longâshould he ever realize you work at the same company. âA woman should know where she belongs, and itâs certainly not at work.â He finalizes.
Well, this date officially took the first place for the worst date youâve ever been on.
Actually, what if this were your 13th reason? You donât respond to his comments, not because you want to give him the satisfaction heâs been looking for or agree with him, but because you know where you stand, and actually know what self-respect is. And you certainly know that Naoya isnât worth putting in effort for.
âOkay, so this isnât working out. Itadori, right when he said you're an asshole.â You sigh as you lean back in your chair, already hinting that youâre about to leave. Naoya has the audacity to tsk âThat guy just wants to marry his little boyfriend. I donât even know why you bother so much.â he cocks his head to the side, smirking at you.
There are certain levels of low, and you mightâve actually reached the lowest, because, yeah, this family affair is none of your business, and you shouldnât meddle in other peopleâs lives this much, but it seems Naoya never knows when to keep his mouth shut and when not. âOh my god, would it kill you not to have the last word for once?â you groan, and in the midst of your complaint, your hand hits your half-full wine glass and knocks it over.Â
Thereâs nothing you can do to stop the liquid from escaping the glass; it already ruined the white tablecloth and spilled onto Naoyaâs (now once) white dress shirt.
âFuck, I didnât plan for this to happen,â you hastily say and attempt to clean the table by soaking up the drink with napkins, unfortunately to no avail. âCan you women even do anything?â Naoya puts his hands on either side of the table and snaps at you.Â
His eyebrows scrunch up together in anger, and he tightly grips the tablecloth. This guyâs seriously got some screws loose. âLet's just pay,â he groans, sinking into his chair with his body still tensed up.Â
Upon seeing his stretched-out arm, the waitress rushes over almost immediately. âTook you long enough.â Naoya snides under his breath, but loud enough for her to hear, and you canât help but roll your eyes at his remark.Â
âThe bill, Sir? How would you like to pay?â The waitress nervously puts down the bill; there are more digits than you can count on one hand, and you hurriedly glance over to Naoya.
A mistake on your side.
Naoya, being Naoya, seizes the opportunity, âYouâre so full of yourself, right woman? Weâll split the bill then.â The playful smile that's tugging at the end of his lips doesn't go unnoticed.
For a moment, the waitress is taken aback, but she just nods, knowing itâs probably better not to ask any questions. She simply glances at you, but youâre just as, if not even more, surprised as she was just now and yelp out a loud âWhat?!â
Thereâs been a handful of terrible and right out awful dates youâve been on, but you doubt nothing will ever come close to this one.Â
Once there was a guy who stood you up 5 minutes prior to the date, then there was a guy who kept ranting about his best friend and how great she was, basically using you to get over her, and you donât even want to recall the other incidents; either way, youâre pretty sure that youâve blocked them out anyway.
Nonetheless, all of them always paid for the first dateâitâs basic courtesy and a simple, polite gesture, and you're certain that Naoyaâa man who has more money than senseâcan afford to pay for a first date.
At this point, youâre already so tired out from this date that you donât even have the strength in you to talk back anymore; instead, you rummage through your purse for your wallet. It doesnât take you long to find it, and when you do, you take out a handful of bills and slam them down on the table.Â
âHope youâre happy, asshole.â You feign a smile before taking your leave.Â
Well, the massive stash of money that Megumi gave you now didn't seem like such a big exaggeration anymore.
Not even a week has passedâto be precise, itâs been more than one day and a few hours since youâve seen him on your terrible date on Saturday.
Karmaâs a bitch, but so is Naoya Zenin.Â
The colleague you were supposed to fill in for still wasnât back, and now it was up to you, alongside a few other colleagues, to update your superiors on this month's work. Usually, these meetings donât take all too long; you just hope that this will be over soon and you can return to your cubicle and pretend youâre doing something on your computer.
When you stepped into the conference room, your eyes drifted around the room. The lightning here was unpleasant, bright white lights that illuminated the room, similar to hospital lights. A few people already sat down and chattered with one another, and others were frantically scrolling through their tablets to look over their notes again.
Soon, people started to flood in, and you barely managed to take in the room before finally sitting down yourself. The meeting was about to start, and the crowd that gathered at the front of the room started to scatter in different directions to sit down. Only then, when you glanced in the now empty direction, you spotted himâsurprise would be an understatementâyour eyes widened in shock when you saw that it was Naoya out of all the people sitting across the room.Â
To make matters worse, he was already looking at you, and before you knew it, you locked eyes with him. You didnât even have to second-guess what heâs thinking, his face says enoughâhe doesnât look particularly pleased to see you.Â
What a great way to start off your day.
Overall, the meeting went fine, it began with people presenting their achievements and how they wished to improve, but it didnât even look like Naoya was listening.Â
From time to time, heâd let out a tired yawn here and there, not even bothering to hide his boredom; sometimes, heâd also pretend to listen when in reality he was just playing with his helix and glance in your direction.
Considering how irksome this meeting was for him, you thought that heâd stop looking at you after a while, that heâd find himself a new distraction. Still, even as you teared your eyes away from him and concentrated on the colleague who was speaking, you could practically feel the way he was shooting daggers at the side of your head.
When it was finally your turn to speak, you tried to look at everyone but Naoya, which was hard when he was tracking your every move. He looks like heâs just waiting for the right momentâthe decisive moment where you slip up and he can attack. Just at the thought of that or Naoya in general, your vision turned green.Â
It took every ounce of willpower in you not to let your revulsion show on your face, because knowing how the Zenin family is, theyâd punish your whole department for even glancing at Naoya in the wrong way.
After a few other presentations, a round of questions, and a praise from Naoyaâwhich looked like it physically hurt him to say those words out loudâyou were permitted to leave.
âYou over there, stay here.â You immediately freeze on the spot upon hearing his words, peering at the people beside you to check if he means them, despite knowing that he was directly referring to you, even if you wished he werenât.
Around you, the people stop in their tracks, curiosity piqued, and you feel all the eyes in the room landing on you. âWere any of you even listening?â Naoya clicks his tongue in annoyance. âI told you to leave unless any of you insist on working more.â As soon as he said the words, everyone disappeared as fast as possible.Â
All you could do was helplessly watch after them, wishing that you were them. Â
âTurn around, will you?â If being in the same room as Naoya wasnât bad enough already, youâre now alone with him. You do as youâre told and face him. âWhat's someone like you doing here?â His words are laced with a distaste that you could only reciprocate. âI work here.â You reply curtly, knowing that thatâs not the answer he sought. âYou think youâre so funny.â He spits plainly, and you have to bite the inside of your cheek to prevent yourself from bursting out laughing on the spot.Â
âWhy didnât you tell me that you were working here?â He demands angrily, and this time, you canât help but let out a small laugh. âSorry, sorry,â you giggle after a while. âHonestly, at first I had my doubts, but the money convinced me.â You admit giddily, but it doesnât take long for you to realize that anger has risen to Naoyaâs face.
âYou want the money so bad?â He exclaims, irritation written all over his face, âWell then, work for it. You have nothing against working more, no?â He states, and that bullshit-eating grin of his tells you that heâs serious.
âBut Sir, thatâs against the rulââ You say, taken aback by his statement, âI donât give two shits. For a month, youâll be working more, and maybe youâve learned your lesson until then.â And the smile he gives you is eerily similar to the one you gave him on your dateâa smile full of condescension.
Yeah, you really hate this guy.
Itâs been a week since then, and you canât recall all the times someone came up to you and attempted to talk to you about you and Naoya. Thereâs been an absurd wave of rumors surging towards you every day.Â
Some claim that Naoya is your ex-husband, now turned superior; others suspect that you slept with him, consequently got pregnant, and he told you to abort the child, and during lunch break, you hear the young interns gossip about how Naoya probably made a move on you.
Obviously, each of these suspicions was false; you denied them every time, accentuating how you would never in your life voluntarily get in touch with Naoya Zenin unless youâd fallen on your head, lost all your memories, forgot his awful personality, and only wanted him for his nice looks.
You dislike Naoya for many things, but thereâs one thing youâll give himâheâs handsome. His eyes are both enticing and sharp, as if to lure you in, but then seize the moment to devour you when you let your guard down.Â
It happened to you once that a âheâs kinda fineâ slipped out of your mouth, and people immediately started to tease you about how they knew that you liked him. Apparently, there was âthe look of loveâ in Naoyaâs eyes every time he walked past you with a loving smile adorning his lips, and how you always returned his gaze fondly with a smile of your ownâwhatever thatâs supposed to mean.
If only they knew that the way Naoya looked at you was to make sure that you were working the extra task he assigned to you, before mocking you, and grinning as he saw you struggling with those tasks that take ridiculously long, and were simultaneously the most useless.Â
Also, the way you looked at him was a simple glare and a faux smile thatâs supposed to ease his âworriesâ of you âslacking off at work,â as he liked to call it.
Still, people come up with new, stupid ideas every other hour, and it was embarrassing how easily they got under your skin.
Along with the fact that Naoya does absolutely nothing to stop the rumors makes it ten times worse. (And because everyoneâs probably too scared to even approach him.)
Now you were beginning to understand what people meant by corporate-slaves, because this felt like some sleep-eat-work-repeat lifestyle, which you certainly did not want to live. However, itâs just 2 more weeks, and youâre free from this hell.
Although if there was one thing you were looking forward to, it was your weekly meeting with Tsumiki, only this time you came late. When you had the chance at work, you texted Tsumiki that you wouldnât make it in time today, and she only read and responded to your messages when she was already at the bar, saying that sheâd wait for you with a little surprise.
When you finally arrived, it took you a minute to look around and find herâit was a lot fuller than usual. Then, when you finally saw Tsumiki, you hugged her and apologized gullibly. âHey, Miki. Sorry that I kept you waiting.â You sigh before slumping down on the leather seats.
Tsumiki gives you a warm smile and makes room for you to sit closer. âNo worries.â She says sweetly before pouring herself another shot. âWhat took you so long?â She asks curiously and downs the glass. Once again, Megumi, Itadori, and Kugisaki sit at the table. Itâs obvious why theyâre here, but youâre not in the mood to talk to them about it.
âNaoyaâs ass ordered me to work longer, but please let's not talk about him.â You groan in annoyance, and as if on instinct, Tsumiki pours you a glass and hands it to you, smilingly. âHe has the power to do that?â The voice comes from across the tableâthe one who spoke up was Kugusaki. âApparently.â You shrug your shoulders before drinking from the glass.
Itâs silent for a while, and you notice that the air in the atmosphere has shifted. Itâs weird, but youâre not bothered enough to askâat least not yet. The evening goes by with a couple more rounds of drinks, stalking old classmates on social media, unrealistic âwhat-ifâ and âwhat-would-you-ratherâ scenarios, and more drinks.
âOkay, okay, I think thatâs enough.â Tsumiki asserts after a while and looks to the others for help. âUgh, seriously.â You utter in frustration. âIf heâd stop behaving like some male tradwife, Iâd actually go out with him.âÂ
The others observe you as you rant. âI mean, yeah, Iâll stay by my word, heâs fine as fuck, but someone needs to tell him to shut up, I swear.â You ramble. âHeâs actually so my type looks-wise, and you know if he wasnât him, I'd definitely date him.â When the words leave your mouth, you see how the others are throwing confused stares at each other before they land on you.
âSo, whoâs âheâ?â Megumi questions cautiously. âNaoya.â You muffle, voice already feeling hoarse, and Tsumiki hands you a glass of water. âUnfortunately.â You wipe your mouth with the sleeve of your blouse after the admission.
Suddenly, Itadori jumps up and puts his hands on the wooden table. âWell, then itâs your lucky day!â And you can practically see the way his eyes shine as he announces. âNaoya asked you on a second date.â
âA second what?â You cough on your water, and your eyes widen in shock. âA date,â Itadori repeats, all smiley. âNo, Itadori, I heard what you said, I'm just,â You pause for a moment, trying to find the right words. âNo, sorry, what?âÂ
For the first time this evening, Megumi expresses his thoughts. âThis is the first time Naoya has ever asked someone to go out with him again.â He pauses for a moment and coughs, before he mumbles something under his breath that you almost missedâ is he embarrassed? âAnd if it helps you, he kept blabbering to me about you. Which is weird, cause he usually says talking about people is a waste of breath.âÂ
âWow, how charming.â You huff dryly. He glances over Tsumiki before continuing. âMy sister already told me that youâd say no, and I donât want to force you into something you donât want to do, but,â He pauses and sighs. âHe might have actually developed some interest in you, and this is the best chance weâll ever get. So, would you mind going on a date with him again?â
âMegumi, you do know that he made me work more because I accidentally spilled wine on him, and made me do these tiresome, stupid tasks that he pulled out of his buttcrack.â You exclaim and take notice of Megumiâs frown.
Tsumiki pats on your shoulder reassuringly before glancing at Megumi. âYou know, Megs, I know you mean it well, but going on another date with Naoya would actually make me go crazy.â Her hand stays on your shoulder. âBut to me it also sounds like you kinda like him.âÂ
Her words strike you like lightning, and you immediately straighten up. âTsumiki, what the fuck?!â You screech, and you can feel the way the other customers turn around to look at you. âWell, I donât know, just a feeling.â She laughs softly. âMaybe just try it, and all of a sudden he realizes youâre like the love of his life and wants to change just for you.â She jokes.
âYeah, and then we live happily ever after.â You add, and the others join in Tsumikiâs laughter. âIâm not drunk enough for this.â You snort and rub your eyes with the pads of your fingers. âOkay, well, when does he want to meet me?âÂ
Thereâs a brief silence before Itadori breaks it. âYouâre actually agreeing?â He looks at you in bewilderment. âLike for real, for real?â He questions to ensure that he hasnât heard you wrong.
âMhm.â And you nod your head. Actually, you donât really know what made you say yes. Did you actually develop some feelings? Yeah, no. Was it the thrill of being with him? Or maybe youâve just become as unhinged as Naoya and accepted your fate; whatever it was, you were still certain in your choice and had no plan of going back on your wordâat least not yet.
âActually, already next Friday at seven,â Megumi tells you, and you stare at him in disbelief. âThatâs literally when work ends for me.â Tsumiki turns to you in confusion. âI thought work ended at six for you?â
âWell, Naoya gave me more work, so I also work longer on most days. Thatâs why I also came late today. Heâs practically setting me up.â You deadpan, and you can feel the toll your words have on the couple across from youâ how easily Megumiâs and Itadoriâs good moods were shattered.Â
Naoyaâs words replay in your head over and over. I donât even know why you bother so much. Itâs not like he was wrong, maybe you did feel something for Naoya, and this would be the only chance for you to find out without any co-workers interferingâthen itâd work out for the guys and youâcall it a win-win situation?
âBut,â And their heads immediately lifted. âIâll try my best to find a way.âÂ
Megumi and Itadori look at each other and smile. âThank you, Iâll send you the address later. I seriously owe you.â Megumi sighs in relief. âBut tell him to pay for it this time.â He furrows his eyebrows in confusion. âWhat do you mean?â If you werenât irritated already, you are now. âWell, the last time, he wanted to split the bill.â You explain.
âThatâs unlike him,â Megumi states. âHe usually always pays for the dates beforehand. Right after they ordered their food. He says it's manly.â If that were the case, then it wouldnât make sense for him to insist on only paying for his order. âWait, what?âÂ
You and Megumi look like two strangers who speak different languages and are trying to explain the same concept to one another, but the language barrier hinders you; in this case, itâs a matter of understanding the situation.
âYou know how Naoya is,â Megumi begins and bites his lower lip in the process, contemplating finding the right words.
He merely nods. âYeah, that sums it up.â The conversation continues to flow, going back and forth on different themes, and Naoya slowly fades into the background, that is, until youâre about to leave.Â
Tsumiki tilts her head to the side and speaks. âLetâs meet up on the weekend then. Canât believe Naoya is stealing my precious you-time away from me.â She grins. âYouâll have to tell me all about it then!âÂ
Outside, the rain heavily platters on the concrete, consequently staining the sidewalk with deep gray spots. With each minute passing by, youâre starting to regret this decision more and more.
The raindrops kiss the tinted car windows, blurring your view, almost like the rain is mocking you for blindly going on another date with Naoya.
On one hand, there are hundreds of thousands of excuses running around in your head that you should use to get the driver to stop, turn around, and drop you off at home again.
Then youâd just lie down, watch this one show that Tsumik kept suggesting to you these past few months.Â
âRight, so itâs like a drama about this one girl who helps out her best friend to go on dates with potential marriage candidates instead of her, and on this one date, she accidentally catches the attention of her boss!â
But thatâs the thing: when you think of Naoya, thereâs a familiar feeling bubbling in your chest, and twinges at your heartstrings, one akin to nervousness and excitementâyou know what it is, this feeling of an enjoyable thrill, filled with pleasure and doubtsâand you donât like it.
Because you know if you donât stop here, then thereâs no point going back.
After a while, the car comes to a halt, hauling you out of your thought-prison. The driver remains quiet in his seat, and itâs only when you bend forward to pay him that he lets out a deep huff of acknowledgement, before driving off.
Technically, you still have the option to run away and never look back, but your feet wonât budgeâtheyâre glued to the ground. Itâs like your body knows that you want to be here, despite denying it.
When you step inside, you notice how quiet it is: no rich folks chatter, no fancy live music, and no clattering of plates or anything of that sort.Â
At the reception, there stands a young boy, not much older than you, drowsily leaning his chin on the palm of his hand and lifelessly staring into the air. âUhm..hi?â You greet awkwardly. Only then does he seem to acknowledge your presence. âOh, sorry, hi, what can I do for you?â The boy stumbles over his words, his eyes take the form of crescent moons, and his lips twitch with an uncertain smile.Â
âIâm here on a daâ to meet Zenin.â You cough over your previous words, hoping that the waiter hasnât noticed your nervousness. âNaoya Zenin.â You manage to choke out, and the boy's eyes widen in surprise. âMr., Iâm so snobby and pay for everything, Zenin?â The boy rambles, talking to himself before realizing that you're still standing in front of him.âWait, sorry, Iâll bring you to the table right away.â He states and leads you to Naoya, whose arms are shrugged together over his chest, and he has skepticism written all over his face.
His gaze drifts over to the waiter, raising his eyebrow, and before he can say anything, the boy pulls out the chair for you, and you mutter something along the lines of a thank you before sitting down.
âYour food will be ready soon.â He says meekly while bowing down, not daring to meet the gaze of either of you. He excuses himself and rushes to leave.
He disappears, and you turn to Naoya, who looks like he just bit into a sour apple and now has to make his complaints about everyone's problem. âTwo minutes.â Naoya holds up his index and middle fingers.
âWhat?â Confused with his accusation, your eyebrow quirked up. âYouâre 2 minutes late.â He seethes and rolls up the sleeve of his shirt to point at his wristwatch. âSee, for that behavior, youâd get your pay lessened.â
Right now, you're seriously questioning yourself, and moreover, your taste in men, despite Naoya already knowing the reasonâhimâwhy do you feel a glimmer of excitement burning up in your chest talking to him again?
âVery funny.â You remark ironically, and he chuckles quietly before you change the topic. âWhyâs it so empty here?â Careful not to make any sounds, you shift in your chair and look around.Â
âHuh?â Naoyaâs face takes on a look of irritation. âI booked the whole thing,â he tells you as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.
âWhy would you do that?âÂ
âCause I wanted to spend time with you,â He gives you a half-hearted smile. âalone?â
âWhich means you want me so bad or what..?â You look at him, dumbfounded, because this wasn't how you expected to play out. When you first arrived and saw the deserted restaurant, you thought this was about to be some big prank, paranoia was crawling up your neck, and you looked for the hidden cameras everywhere.
He doesnât give you a direct answer and only says something that you make out to be a quiet "Believe what you want.â But the red blush slowly creeping up on his neck doesn't go unnoticed, and for the first time this evening, you feel like you can actually relax.
Maybe itâs out of embarrassment, anger, or perhaps even affection, youâve come to the point where it doesnât matter to you anymore. All you want is to spark more of these reactions out of him, ignoring how that makes you just as weird as he is.
A genuine and amused smile musters itself up on your lips, and you start giggling. âThe fuck are you laughing about?â He spits, and you just wave him off.Â
Youâve learned how to handle his remarks and know how to retort to them, which makes everything funnierâfor you at least.Â
The whole evening plays out like this: both of you talking over dinner with Naoya making stupid assumptions about youâbeing all serious about them too, and all you do is tell him off and counter with a question of your own. These are typically followed by Naoya adding his own two cents.
Your face takes on an expression of disgust as you take a sip from your drink. âEw.â Slightly sticking your tongue on as the alcohol further enveloped your mouth.
âAww, canât even hold a little alcohol?â The man across from you coos mockingly and takes a sip of his own. He sets down his glass and gives you a smug grin.
âNope, just reminded me of this one drink that I had in senior year that made me black out so bad, and in the morning, Tsumiki told me that she had to wipe all my vomit away.â You laugh softly as you recall the night it happened. âHonestly thought youâd be like super against a woman drinking,â You say, glass still in your hand and swirling the liquid inside around. â'Cause youâre like..â You pause for a moment.
Conservative, stuck up, an asshole
Ideas are popping up in your head, but you do your best to shake them off and attempt to find the right words. âConsidering youâre so..traditional?â You say weakly.
âTraditional?â Naoya repeats your words, his expression unreadable. âTraditional.â You say again, your lips pressed into a thin line. The man slowly nods his head, "Traditional." He concludes and shoots you a blank stare.
Heâs probably noticed it too, but youâre getting to know each other more over this date, and youâd be lying to yourself if you said that you didnât enjoy thisânot like youâd ever tell Naoya.
His eyes leave yours, and he starts fiddling with his cutlery again. A wall of silence builds up again; it stands steady in its place, and youâre not sure if youâre the one to take the first step to climb over it.
Thereâs no one else in the restaurantâjust the two of you. The only sounds that are being made are when the metal meets the porcelain again, but other than that, you donât find a way to fend this unbearable quietness away.Â
When you take today into account, your first date with Naoya and all the times at work you spent bickering with him, you realize Tsumiki might be right.
You do like Naoyaâas absurd as that even sounds. Admittedly, you're not sure yourself why you like him; all you know is that this attraction towards him only seems to grow by the minute.
Maybe you seriously need to check if youâre a masochist or something, because you donât think any sane person would admit to liking Naoya Zenin.Â
Suddenly, the sound of metal clattering against the table plays, and it rips you out of your thoughts.Â
âIs it true,â Naoya starts off and looks up from his plate, and with his words, he tears the wall built out of each unsaid word down. âThat you wanted to go out with me just to take advantage of my money?â
Once again, no matter how much you try to study his face, only stone-cold eyes meet yours, behind which his emotions are locked. Itâs like heâs trying to test you and base his reaction on your response.
Caught off guard, youâre uncertain what you should say at this moment, so you just tell him the first thing that comes to your mind. âNo, Megumi gave me money.â
Seeing the way his forehead creases and the way he slams his hand on the table tells you that this wasn't the answer he was hoping for. âOh, so you're paid to be here?âÂ
âWell,â you begin, still unsure of what to say. âYes?â You confirm after a while and immediately regret your words. âNo!â You hastily added, but Naoyaâs reaction only seemed to worsen with every passing second, so you just kept on talking, hoping that thereâd be one answer that satisfied him. âKind of?â
Naoya is quick to respond with a question of his own. âOh, is that so?â He asks, voice sharp as a knife's edge. âThought you were a gold digger, it turns out youâre actually just a lying bitch. Shouldâve expected that from you.â He huffs and rolls his eyes.Â
Something churns in your stomach. Taken aback, all you can do at this moment is snap back at him. âSorry?â You shout at him in disbelief. Feet already rising to take your leave. How did talking about embarrassing high school memories turn into him calling you names?
Everythingâs happening all at once and too fast for you to comprehend;Â the best thing you could do right now is to remove yourself from this conversation. âAnd here I thought you were actually pretty nice for once.â You donât tell him that itâs more than thatâthat you actually considered thisâconsidered him.
As you stand up and walk away, Naoya steadies himself on the table with his hand before stepping forward to grab your wrist, his grip tight on your arm. He stands close nowâmere inches away from youâhe doesnât say anything, but the way his hot breath fans against your nape tells you that heâs seething.
You shake his hand off and turn away from him, quickening your pace as you bolt off. âHey! You still need to pay!â He screams furiously after you.
âShut up!â You turn your head around and yell back at him from behind your shoulder. âI know that you already paid, dickhead! That server couldnât shut up for his fucking life!â Those were your last words before storming off, leaving Naoya alone in the empty restaurant.
Just when you thought this might turn into a serious thing, everything went down the river.
One and a half monthsâyouâve been living like this for a good almost two months, and if it werenât for the pay, you wouldâve already slammed the resignation papers on his desk.
Because why is it that another Friday night of yours with Tsumiki goes to waste, to meet Naoya? Not that you asked him out for a dateâitâs a work celebration dinner, which means there are several other employees with you to fill the awkward silence, because you really didnât want to engage in a conversation with Naoya.
Unfortunately for you, it was just your luck that you landed at the same table as Naoya.
Usually, six to eight people were sitting together at a table, but a few employees called in sick today, so there was one table that accommodated fewer people than the others, and it just so happened that you and Naoya got assigned together at this tableâtalk about a coincidence.
Next to you sat a blue-haired girl not much older than you, whom youâve never seen aroundâmost likely a new employeeâand kept sliding against her chair, presumably nervous that she was sitting at the same table as Naoya.Â
She keeps shooting hopeful glances at you, hoping youâd open your mouth and say something to start a conversation. Honestly, you felt bad, cause you know how stressful a first-time work dinner can be when you donât know anyone, but you really didnât want to talk to Naoya or anyone from work right now.
Youâll make it up to her someday.
Naoya sat right across from you, gawking at you from time to time, and youâd just roll your eyes at him. Next to him sat someone whom you didnât know, but from the looks Naoya was giving him, you assumed that he didnât like him much either.
It was plain obvious that the guy was drunk from the way he was talking and continuously threw his arms over Naoyaâs shoulder, attempting to act all buddy-buddy with him, to his dismay, Naoya kept angrily shoving him away.
âSay, Mr. Naoya, is it true you wanna marry?â The man slurs over his words before laughing to himself. Naoya shows minimal reaction; only a mere disapproving look tells that heâs not enjoying himself. âWhat about it?â He eventually says dryly.
Hearing Naoyaâs words, the manâs smile widens in happiness. âYou already got someone in,â He gulps and mutters a small sorry under his breath, all while laughing and brushes himself over the chest before continuing. âMind?â He finalises.
His question catches your attention, and for the first time this evening, you fully look at Naoya, whoâs already wearing a grin on his face that tells you that heâs up to no good. Naoya sighs dramatically before carding his fingers through his hair. Itâs as if he needs to muster up his courage before revealing his answer.Â
Naoya takes a good look at you before turning to his side. âYeah, Iâve got someoââ You donât get to hear the rest of his answers, because a scream erupts next to you. âI think my food just moved!â The girl next to you exclaimed as she squats on her chair and points at the bowl in front of her with her chopsticks.
âMiwa, stop messing around.â The voice from across the table half-shouts, and in response, she just frantically shakes her head. âI saw it move just now!â She squeals.âPinky promise, cross my heart, hope to die, I swear!â
She continues to ramble on for a while, and you canât help but let an exasperated sigh escape your lips. âYou have to put it in the broth, and it'll cook automatically then.â You tell her calmly, taking your chopsticks into your hand, and show her how to do it properly.
Her mouth takes the shape of an o, and she freezes for a moment. âOh, so thatâs how you do it.â She chuckles sheepishly and puts her hand on the back of her hair in embarrassment. Miwaâas you know nowâpicks up her chopsticks to place the meat in her bowl, but it just so happens that when she reaches over to grab the meat off the plate, the table topples and her bowl loses its balance.
The bowl falls over before you can even process what just happened. The bowl now lies on the table with the broth leaking all over the surface, some of it dripping down on your lap. âOh my god, Iâm so so sorry!â Miwa puts her hands over her mouth and shouts apologetically.Â
âItâs fine. This happens to everyone.â You give her a half-hearted smile as youâre reminded of when you spilled wine all over Naoya. âIâll get some tissues from the restroom.â You slide your chair backwards in order to stand up, but Miwa stops you by holding down your hands.
She keeps them tightly in her hands, as if she needs to keep them in a chokehold, and shakes her head as she looks down at the floor. âNo, it was my fault. Let me do this. Iâll clean this up.â She looks up at you with a pleading look, and you canât help but feel bad for her.
You donât think sheâll let go of you unless you give in to her request. âOkay,â Miwaâs eyes are practically sparkling as soon as the words leave your mouth, and her hold on your hands tightens. âStill, I'd like to go outside, â on my own, you think to yourself before throwing a bored glance at Naoya. âSo, can you let me go?â You ask her politely, looking down at your intertwined hands.
âOh,â She yelps. âYeah, sure, sorry!â She says in a docile tone, and her grip on your hands quickly loosens. âThanks.â You murmur and smile at her. Miwa hastily stands up and joins you. She mumbles a quiet see you later and disappears into the restroom.Â
Before going outside, you make sure to look behind you, ensuring that Naoya isnât making any moves on following you. Either way, he seems occupied with the colleague next to him, so he wonât be a problemâfor now.
Outside, in the parking lot, a cold gust of wind greets you, and you canât help but regret leaving your jacket inside, but you have no intention of returning back inside right now. Youâd rather freeze to death out here than hear Naoya open his mouth once more.
Cheerful, but obnoxious laughter fills the air, and you turn your head to the source of commotion. A group of older male colleagues stands together not too far away from you. Youâve walked past some of them once, bowed your head to show respect, or greeted them out of politeness.Â
But the way that all of them were looking at you and exchanged knowing glances with each other made something in your stomach twist. Itâs only then that one of the men emerges from the group and makes his way over to you.Â
Heâs a good head taller than you; from his position, youâre sure he can see the way your neck shivers as he comes closer to your face. âWhatâs a pretty thing like you doing out here alone?â He asks and reaches out for the strand of your hair thatâs been blown away by the wind.Â
Goosebumps are rising all over you, met with the fear of not knowing what happens next. Iâm just here to catch some air, but Iâll go back in now.â You manage to dodge his touch by a hairsbreadth, and you notice the way his expression immediately sours. âHave a good evening.â You mutter, and you hope he doesnât notice the way you tremble as you nod your head at him.Â
âGoing already?â The man is quick to latch onto your wrist, and you feel how everything stops for you. âIâm sorry.â You stutter. âBut I really have to go now.â Your words just seem to worsen his mood; in response to that, the grip he has on you becomes tighterâsuffocating.
The manâs lips curve into a smile. âItâll be fun, okay?â He assures, but his eyes deceive his words; whatever he plans to do isnât going to be fun in the slightest.Â
âThat girl canât do shit. Help her, will you?â A loud voice shouts over to you, one you recognize in an instant, and for the first time this evening, youâre glad that heâs here.
Naoya strides over to where you are. Simultaneously, the man immediately lets go of your arm and shoves his hands in his pockets, as if thatâd help to cover the grip marks he left on your forearm.
âMr. Zenin.â The man swallows and proceeds to nod at Naoya, who doesnât plan on responding in the same manner. âHope you enjoyed this work dinner. Itâs your last.â He states and pulls you away, leaving the man baffled.Â
He yells after the two of you, but you canât make out his words from this distance. âNaoya, let me go. I have to get my things and go home.â You demand and attempt to shake him off.Â
âIs that how you repay me?â He stops in his tracks and turns around. âWell,â you start, the words lying on the tip of your tongue. âThanks for just now, but I seriously just wanna get my things.âÂ
âWoman, listen. Iâll drive you home.â He says, voice nor face betraying himâheâs serious about this.
A beat of silence passes, and if it werenât for Naoyaâs hand holding yours, youâd think this was some sort of dream.
After a while, you manage to say a few words. âPlease donât?â And take a step away from him. âAlso, youâre not allowed to drive when you drink.â You remind him, because if there was one thing you didnât need now was being pulled over and getting a ticket for driving under the influence.
âBeing drunk doesnât make me an idiot.â Naoya retorts, letting go of your hand. âYouâre an asshole either way,â You scoff. âWith and without alcohol.âÂ
âDo you want me to drive you home now or not?
If love makes one blind, it apparently also makes one stupid, because why on earth did you agree to sleeping over at Naoyaâs place?
When you were in the car, you noticed that he wasnât driving in the right direction.
Fuck no. Iâm not driving across the whole city to bring you home.
He was even being so nice as to drop you off at this 24/7 open convenience store that sells toothbrushes and shirts, and if you didnât hurry, heâd drive off without youâif thatâs not princess treatment, then you donât know either.
Thatâs how you ended up sleeping on Naoyaâs couch for the night.
Technically, you didnât agree, more like you were forced, but if this included a cozy couch, a huge kitchen with a kitchen island, and bathrooms as big as your apartment, then maybe youâd consider it.Â
Maybe next time.
It must be nice being a nepo baby and having the privilege to spend money on everything, without worrying about ever running out of money.Â
Todayâs incident still keeps you up, and you feel a shiver running along your body as you remember how close he was to touching your skin. His smile is etched into your memory, and the way heâd talk to you plays over and over in your mind.
Itâs a memory engraved in your consciousness, and you donât know if youâll ever be able to rid this feeling of disgust and fear.
Trying to distract your head from these thoughts, you notice how cold it actually is. Does this man not heat his house? How does he even expect you to sleep well with a blanket thatâs as thin as his patience?
You donât know what made you decide to walk up the stairs and find Naoya, but youâre already here. If youâre already at it, you might as well take a look around.
The hallway is dark, and you carefully tread along the polished floors. His house is spaciousâit feels big but also incredibly empty at the same timeâyou wonder if Naoya always spends his nights alone in this cold space.
Before you left the bathroom, you spotted Naoya going into the room right at the end of the hall, assuming this must be his room. As you finally stand in front of his door, you contemplate running, but itâs not like youâre asking for a big favor. It shouldnât be as difficult as you're making it out to be.
You just want a blanket, that's everything. You're cold, thatâs everything. Naoya should help you warm up, that's everythingâ â
Three timesâyou knock a total of three times, but thereâs no answer coming from the other side of the door. Itâs only after the fourth unanswered knock that you enter his room, the door lightly squeaking as you push it open.
As you step in, youâre met with a cold breeze. âNaoya?â You call out his name, but youâre met with no response. âNaoya?â You repeat once more, hoping that heâd notice you know. Seeing that heâs not reacting, you search for the light switch, hands groping at the wall behind you until you find and turn it on.
Unsurprisingly, Naoya isnât in his bed or in his room at all. You take a look around, but canât find him anywhere; thatâs when you feel the breeze again. Now with the lights on, everything came into view, and it's only then that you notice the door to the balcony being slightly ajar.Â
You make your way over to the balcony, open the door, and step outside. âNaoya? What are you doing?â The back of his head greets you, and under the moonlit sky, you can see the way his blond hair gleams. Met with no response, you take another step forward, and now his side profile comes into your view.
Itâs eerily quiet.âWhat is it?â He takes a drag from his cigarette and ashes it down his balcony into the garden, probably hoping that in the morning the wind will blow it away. For a moment, itâs quiet, the wind quietly whistles in your ear, and the smell of smoke lingers in the air, enveloping the two of you. He looks good like this, dressed in casual attire, wearing a relaxed look on his face, and behaving unusually silent.
You canât take your eyes off Naoya.
Although he always tries to act all distant, Naoya takes everything personally and is always up to confront someone about it, too. âWhat are you looking at so dumbly?â He growls, and you can feel the corners of your lips twitching. âFor someone whoâs so traditional, you sure donât give a shit about your lungs.â
âDo you even inhaleâŠthe smoke?â You laugh, quirking an eyebrow, observing him skeptically. âThe fuck are you saying?â He ashes off his cigarette again. âWell, you're just taking puffs.â You point at his cigarette and then at him. âSomeone knows shit,â he scoffs and turns away from you. âTalk about fucked up lungs.âÂ
You donât dwell too long on his words and change the topic. âDid anyone ever tell you that youâre a terrible host?â You sneer and lean against the railing. âYou think it's funny to insult me?â If he doesnât ash off his cigarette very soon, itâll go out immediately, but you donât tell him that. âWell, weâre not at work, so I really couldnât care less.â
âWhy are you even awake? Donât you need your beauty sleep?â Naoya jokes, tone filled with mild condescension. âIâll take that as a compliment.â You say dryly and turn to meet him. âI just couldnât. What about you?â
Naoya finally ashes off his cigarette, so that only the butt of it is burning now, and he smudges it against the railing before chucking it down. âI was thinking about marriage.â He admits and smirks at you.
You ignore the way your heart tightens at his words and laugh it off. âHow much?â It doesnât take a genius to see that Naoya is irritated by your words. âHow much what?â
âHow much are you paying her to marry you?â You finally say and let out a final laugh. Naoyaâs face seems to relax at your words, and he asks a question of his own. âHow much are you getting paid?â
âThatâs secret information.â You deadpan and side-eye him. âNot like I donât know already.â Naoya sneers. âWhy are you even asking theâ Oh my god! Were you hitting on me just now?Â
âYouâre practically eye-fucking me every time I walk into the room.â He says it like itâs a fact. âDo you hear yourself?â You exclaim in disbelief, taking a step back from him.Â
Every time you take a step away from him, he takes a step forward. It goes on so long until your back meets the wall, and your eyes widen, knowing that Naoya has you exactly where he wants.Â
He leans forward and presses his hand against the wall, before nudging your ear with his nose. âJust admit it.â He whispers before backing away and smirking.Â
Itâs in this moment that you just let go of everythingâincluding your sanity, and give in to your desires. You cup his cheeks in your hands and pull him downwards to press your lips against hisâan action he quickly reciprocates.Â
He tastes of tobacco; usually, you dislike the taste, but there are some exceptions, and Naoya seems to be one of them. On him, it tastes comforting and soothing, although nothing is comforting about the way he kisses you.Â
His tongue darts over your lower lip, and before you can even grant him full access, he pushes his tongue in your mouth, and you involuntarily let out a high-pitched sound. Your hands find his hair to yank him down, and his roam beneath your shirt, his hands freezing cold as they press against your warm skin.
Only when you push him off to catch your breath does he stop kissing you, and his hands retreat from your skin.
You donât even get a full minute to breathe properly before Naoya pushes himself on you again, but you hold him in his place before he can slot his lips on yours again, your eyes warning him not to go any further.
To your surprise, Naoya actually seems to follow your warning and steps back. Itâs far enough so that he no longer breathes right into your face, but still near enough for you to see him up close and observe his features.
He seems to have noticed, and a wide grin forms on his face as he raises both his arms into the air, as if heâs been accused of something.Â
âDonât give me that face.â Naoya coos in faux sympathy. âTo make it up to you, how does going on a third date sound to you?â
END NOTE: i have an admission to make...i didnt even watch the new season yet...lol
SYNOPSIS: When youâre set up to go on a date with your companyâs bossâs youngest son, Naoya Zenin, it was supposed to be a mere play-pretend relationship. But what happens when you actually catch feelings along the way?
WORDCOUNT: 10.7k (don't ask me how) | CONTENT & WARNINGS: naoya is a warning himself so you can already guess whats about to come, reader doesn't want to deal with his bs but she also can't help being attracted to him (same), ooc!naoya, bicker/banter, smoking, kissing, drinking; oneshot
TAG LIST: @aritsukemo, @sugary-strawberry-shortcake
AUTHOR'S NOTE: he's too fine to be doing ts bruh
âLetâs pay then.âÂ
Across the white-clad table sits none other than your companyâs boss's son: Naoya Zenin, wearing a now red-stained dress shirt that, unfortunately, looks too good on him, and is raising his hand to call out to the waitress for the bill. Â
Not even in your dreams would you ever go on a date with Naoya Zenin, so how'd you get tangled up in this mess?
From your workplace to the bar it takes around half an hour by train and five more minutes on foot. It takes some time, but in the meantime you spend observing the people you pass by. Â
There are other people like youâbusinesspeople commuting and tiredly staring at their phones, checking the time, teenage girls dressed in short skirts and hiding bottles of absolute vodka in their absolutely too small purses, students who look like theyâre on the brink of exhaustion and just want to lie down in their beds.
Back in high school, you thought everyone was exaggerating when they told you to enjoy your school and college times to the fullest, because âthose were the times when youâd see your friends the most.â
Joke's on you, because it turned out to be exactly as people described.
Nowadays, you are barely able to meet most of your friends, work gets in the way, someoneâs planning their wedding, and others are travelling the globe.
But there was one person you could always count on: your best friend Tsumiki. After graduation, when everyone started going their own separate ways, the two of you stayed together.Â
Despite everything that was happening, the two of you managed to meet every Friday in a bar of your choice and enjoyed a good glass of âwhateverâ together after an exhausting day of work.
Especially after today, first of all, your alarm didnât go off, and you barely managed to arrive in time; secondly, the printer decided that today would be a good day to give up, so you had to run to the copy shop down the street during your lunch break and if this wasnât enough, one of your co-workers called in sick for the beginning of next week, so now you have to pitch in for them during next weekâs report.Â
The meetings werenât bad per se; all you had to do was update your superiors about what your department was working on, the good things, the things that are still in the process, and new ideas. What was bad was with whom you had to do them, simply because you didn't know which of his sons your CEO would send this time.Â
The Zenin family has some kind of twisted sense of humor, because, yes, theyâre one of the most successful companies, but their way of treating their employees? Well, all you can hope for is that not one of the younger sons will be the one to evaluate you.
The train comes to a halt and announces the station's name; your cue to exit. Itâs a short walk, but you can still feel the ache in your feet from walking around in heels the whole day. Luckily for you, you arrive in no time.
As soon as the bell, which is strung to the door, rings, Tsumiki turns around and waves you over, delighted that you made it. Except her younger brother Megumi was here this timeâhis boyfriend Itadori tooâalong with their best friend Kugisaki.Â
Tsumiki slides over to the side to make room for you to set your bag down before sitting next to her. âWhat's your little brother doing here?â you eye Megumi, although he doesn't seem to pay much mind to it.Â
On the other hand, Yuji looks like heâs about to explode from nervousnessâKugisaki tooâbut from laughter.
âYou see,â she pauses for a moment and shoots you a sheepish smile. "He wanted to talk to you about something.â
âSo, you're telling me your family is fine with you marrying a man,â you recap what Megumi has just told you, âbut they draw the line at you getting married before Naoya?â Your finger traces along the rim of your glass, and you grimace, bewildered.
From your peripheral view, you can see Tsumiki and Kugisaki giggling to one another. âTrust me, I wouldnât go as far as asking you if I hadnât already tried everything else.â Megumi deadpans.
Thereâs a pregnant silence spanning around the room between Megumi's statement and your answer. âAnd now,â you begin, still not being able to wrap your head around this whole thing going on, âyou want me to go out with your cousin?âÂ
âMy condolences.â Kugisaki chirps in, âMaki told me that every time theyâre on family vacation together, he listens to these black pill songs in the shower.â She remarks. âLike unironically!â
Although he tries to hide it by muffling his mouth with his hand, Itadori is smiling from ear to ear. âHeâs on some crazy looksmaxxing shit.â He adds.
Next to him Megumi lets out an exasperated breath and side-eyes his friend before turning his attention on you again. âIâve never said anything about going out,â He drawls. âThose are your words now.â
Upon his words, you canât help but scoff. âIs âgo on a date with my cousinâ not the same as going out?â you exclaim, but youâve known Megumi long enough to know that heâs serious about this. âMegumi, he's my supervisor. I canât afford to lose my position.â A sigh accompanies your words.
âI know that, and I usually wouldnât even do this, but Naoya knows I want to marry, so heâs purposefully ruining every date his father sets him on.â Megumi furrows his eyebrows in frustration. âWell, heâs also an asshole, so the dates never work out,â Itadori adds offhandedly, before picking up his glass to empty it.
The conversation drifts from Megumi, Itadori, and Kugisaki commenting on the situation. âYou just have to pretend to like him, and as soon as he's like âyeah, sheâs the oneâ you can cut out the bullshit.â Kugisaki shrugs as if it were the easiest thing in the world.Â
âIâm only allowed to marry when heâs found someone, so please.â If you didn't know any better, Megumi is practically begging you to go out with Naoya.
âBut Megumi, my jobââ you interfere to make him stop, but heâs quick to cut you off before you can finish your sentence. âIâll also pay and handle the consequences. So please,â he frowns.
âCome on, it'll be a good story to tell your kids.â Tsumiki giggles, and you see the way thereâs a cheerful smile tugging at her lips. âYours and Naoyaâs kids, by the way.â Kugisaki comments, and Megumi throws her a blank stare. âDonât jinx it, Nobara.â Megumi mumbles and nudges her arm.Â
âFine, but I canât promise anything.â You tap your fingers against the wooden surface, already overcome with regret.
In all honesty, youâre not sure what made you agree; maybe it was the fact that the alcohol already took its effect, the pleading eyes Itadori threw at you, or the big stack of money Megumi slid over the table that kept growing every second you didnât answer.
Megumi sighs, his body visibly begins to relax, and the tension that was residing on his face starts to fade away. It wasnât obvious, but there was a small smile gracing his lips. âThank you.â
Okay, so, you lied. There are many things youâd do for your best friendâsheâs your better half after all, your soulmate, and unfortunately also the older sister of the guy who dragged you in this situation.Â
Sure, you like Megumi a lot and you really tried to give it your best to make this date somehow work, but your body gets a physical reaction as soon as Naoya Zenin dares to open his mouthâyouâd rather rip your ears off than listen to him talk any longer.
Honestly, he looks like heâd rather be anywhere else than here. For the past 40 minutes, heâs done nothing but pick apart his food, and see if âthey cooked it to his likingâ, glance at his wristwatch to see how much of your time he can still waste, or call for the waiter for the nth time to complain about the wine ânot being fermented enoughâ.Â
Admittedly, youâre no better. There are a couple of women sitting at the table behind you gossiping, and you canât help but overhear what theyâre talking about. Just as the one girl was getting to the interesting part, complaining about how her ex-boyfriend took his new girlfriend to the same restaurant she recommended to him on their first date, Naoya speaks up, and your eyes widen in surprise as he calls out to you.
âYouâre a friend of Megumi?â he doesnât even look at you as he asks and just continues cutting his food. The metal knife scratches against the porcelain plate and creates an unpleasant shrieking noise. âFriend of his sister,â you correct him and mimic him by dragging your fork along your plate.
Naoya's face contorts into an expression of disdain and finally spares you a glance. âHe told me youâre a friend of his, I thought at least someone whoâd I knew,â his amused remark, ânot some nobody.â is followed by tsk.
You donât answer, you donât want to answer, and you know better than to answer him because thatâs what he wantsâfor you to indulge in his provocations. But with every passing minute of him throwing blank stares at you, your resolve crumbles.
Instead, you pick up your glass of red wine thatâs been untouched the entire evening, because Naoya was whining left and right about the restaurant being some âtasteless tentâ whose food is âno better than dog foodâ.
To your surprise, the wine was really nice; it wasnât too sour, contrary to the cheap bottle you used to buy at your local corner shop when you and Tsumiki always tried to convince the cashier that you were old enough to buy alcohol.
Additionally, it was also just sweet enough for you to taste out the alcohol. Heâs got a good tasteâyouâll give him that.
Itâs like heâs watching you, because the second you put down your glassâmind you, not even a split second after it sits on the table againâNaoya dares to open his mouth again.Â
âWhatâs your job?â he asks, and you already sense the mocking intent behind his words. âI work at a company,â you say mindlessly and pick up your glass again to take a sip.
Sooner or later, heâd find out anywayâeven if youâd prefer not toâbut youâve already decided: this might be one of the top 5 worst dates youâve ever been on.
Also, itâs not like youâve lied to him anyway; itâs a white lie at best, and the chances of you ever running into Naoya ever again, in a workplace with hundreds of workers, are little to none.Â
Either way, he probably wouldnât recognise you anyway.
âNot a good paying one,â he smirks and diverts his eyes towards your body, âI can tell by the clothes you're wearing.âÂ
Well, this date just moved up to the top 4 worst dates ever.
You furrow your eyebrows in annoyance. âWhat can I say?â you let out a dry chuckle. âMy superior is a pain to be around and doesn't know where to invest his money.â Your words are followed by a mere shrug.
âOh yeah?â he asks, probably intending to interrogate you further. If it werenât Naoya Zenin asking you, youâd think it was almost a romantic gesture.
Keyword: almost.Â
âYeah.â You give him a tight-lipped smile, not willing to feed into his provocations any further. But, this doesnât tip men like Naoya offâmen who make it their purpose to ruin someone.Â
âHm, you were able to eat everything,â he crosses his arms over his chest, âIâm impressed.â He remarks mockingly, before taking a small sip from his glass. âItâs not often you meet a woman who has such a big appetite.â This time, he simply grins, and you hate to admit it, but his words are slowly getting under your skin.Â
Top 3 worst dates ever.
âYeah, you could learn from me.â You advise. âIf youâd actually eat the food they served you instead of whining, maybe youâd shut up for once.â
This finally seems to do the trick because you can see the way his jaw is tightening. âYou should learn how to behave like a proper woman.â Itâs quite funny seeing him lose his composure over such a measly comment. Itâs evident that he doesn't plan on giving up on harassing you. âI wonder who even hired someone like you.âÂ
Top 2 worst dates ever.
Well, he wonât have to ponder on it too longâshould he ever realize you work at the same company. âA woman should know where she belongs, and itâs certainly not at work.â He finalizes.
Well, this date officially took the first place for the worst date youâve ever been on.
Actually, what if this were your 13th reason? You donât respond to his comments, not because you want to give him the satisfaction heâs been looking for or agree with him, but because you know where you stand, and actually know what self-respect is. And you certainly know that Naoya isnât worth putting in effort for.
âOkay, so this isnât working out. Itadori, right when he said you're an asshole.â You sigh as you lean back in your chair, already hinting that youâre about to leave. Naoya has the audacity to tsk âThat guy just wants to marry his little boyfriend. I donât even know why you bother so much.â he cocks his head to the side, smirking at you.
There are certain levels of low, and you mightâve actually reached the lowest, because, yeah, this family affair is none of your business, and you shouldnât meddle in other peopleâs lives this much, but it seems Naoya never knows when to keep his mouth shut and when not. âOh my god, would it kill you not to have the last word for once?â you groan, and in the midst of your complaint, your hand hits your half-full wine glass and knocks it over.Â
Thereâs nothing you can do to stop the liquid from escaping the glass; it already ruined the white tablecloth and spilled onto Naoyaâs (now once) white dress shirt.
âFuck, I didnât plan for this to happen,â you hastily say and attempt to clean the table by soaking up the drink with napkins, unfortunately to no avail. âCan you women even do anything?â Naoya puts his hands on either side of the table and snaps at you.Â
His eyebrows scrunch up together in anger, and he tightly grips the tablecloth. This guyâs seriously got some screws loose. âLet's just pay,â he groans, sinking into his chair with his body still tensed up.Â
Upon seeing his stretched-out arm, the waitress rushes over almost immediately. âTook you long enough.â Naoya snides under his breath, but loud enough for her to hear, and you canât help but roll your eyes at his remark.Â
âThe bill, Sir? How would you like to pay?â The waitress nervously puts down the bill; there are more digits than you can count on one hand, and you hurriedly glance over to Naoya.
A mistake on your side.
Naoya, being Naoya, seizes the opportunity, âYouâre so full of yourself, right woman? Weâll split the bill then.â The playful smile that's tugging at the end of his lips doesn't go unnoticed.
For a moment, the waitress is taken aback, but she just nods, knowing itâs probably better not to ask any questions. She simply glances at you, but youâre just as, if not even more, surprised as she was just now and yelp out a loud âWhat?!â
Thereâs been a handful of terrible and right out awful dates youâve been on, but you doubt nothing will ever come close to this one.Â
Once there was a guy who stood you up 5 minutes prior to the date, then there was a guy who kept ranting about his best friend and how great she was, basically using you to get over her, and you donât even want to recall the other incidents; either way, youâre pretty sure that youâve blocked them out anyway.
Nonetheless, all of them always paid for the first dateâitâs basic courtesy and a simple, polite gesture, and you're certain that Naoyaâa man who has more money than senseâcan afford to pay for a first date.
At this point, youâre already so tired out from this date that you donât even have the strength in you to talk back anymore; instead, you rummage through your purse for your wallet. It doesnât take you long to find it, and when you do, you take out a handful of bills and slam them down on the table.Â
âHope youâre happy, asshole.â You feign a smile before taking your leave.Â
Well, the massive stash of money that Megumi gave you now didn't seem like such a big exaggeration anymore.
Not even a week has passedâto be precise, itâs been more than one day and a few hours since youâve seen him on your terrible date on Saturday.
Karmaâs a bitch, but so is Naoya Zenin.Â
The colleague you were supposed to fill in for still wasnât back, and now it was up to you, alongside a few other colleagues, to update your superiors on this month's work. Usually, these meetings donât take all too long; you just hope that this will be over soon and you can return to your cubicle and pretend youâre doing something on your computer.
When you stepped into the conference room, your eyes drifted around the room. The lightning here was unpleasant, bright white lights that illuminated the room, similar to hospital lights. A few people already sat down and chattered with one another, and others were frantically scrolling through their tablets to look over their notes again.
Soon, people started to flood in, and you barely managed to take in the room before finally sitting down yourself. The meeting was about to start, and the crowd that gathered at the front of the room started to scatter in different directions to sit down. Only then, when you glanced in the now empty direction, you spotted himâsurprise would be an understatementâyour eyes widened in shock when you saw that it was Naoya out of all the people sitting across the room.Â
To make matters worse, he was already looking at you, and before you knew it, you locked eyes with him. You didnât even have to second-guess what heâs thinking, his face says enoughâhe doesnât look particularly pleased to see you.Â
What a great way to start off your day.
Overall, the meeting went fine, it began with people presenting their achievements and how they wished to improve, but it didnât even look like Naoya was listening.Â
From time to time, heâd let out a tired yawn here and there, not even bothering to hide his boredom; sometimes, heâd also pretend to listen when in reality he was just playing with his helix and glance in your direction.
Considering how irksome this meeting was for him, you thought that heâd stop looking at you after a while, that heâd find himself a new distraction. Still, even as you teared your eyes away from him and concentrated on the colleague who was speaking, you could practically feel the way he was shooting daggers at the side of your head.
When it was finally your turn to speak, you tried to look at everyone but Naoya, which was hard when he was tracking your every move. He looks like heâs just waiting for the right momentâthe decisive moment where you slip up and he can attack. Just at the thought of that or Naoya in general, your vision turned green.Â
It took every ounce of willpower in you not to let your revulsion show on your face, because knowing how the Zenin family is, theyâd punish your whole department for even glancing at Naoya in the wrong way.
After a few other presentations, a round of questions, and a praise from Naoyaâwhich looked like it physically hurt him to say those words out loudâyou were permitted to leave.
âYou over there, stay here.â You immediately freeze on the spot upon hearing his words, peering at the people beside you to check if he means them, despite knowing that he was directly referring to you, even if you wished he werenât.
Around you, the people stop in their tracks, curiosity piqued, and you feel all the eyes in the room landing on you. âWere any of you even listening?â Naoya clicks his tongue in annoyance. âI told you to leave unless any of you insist on working more.â As soon as he said the words, everyone disappeared as fast as possible.Â
All you could do was helplessly watch after them, wishing that you were them. Â
âTurn around, will you?â If being in the same room as Naoya wasnât bad enough already, youâre now alone with him. You do as youâre told and face him. âWhat's someone like you doing here?â His words are laced with a distaste that you could only reciprocate. âI work here.â You reply curtly, knowing that thatâs not the answer he sought. âYou think youâre so funny.â He spits plainly, and you have to bite the inside of your cheek to prevent yourself from bursting out laughing on the spot.Â
âWhy didnât you tell me that you were working here?â He demands angrily, and this time, you canât help but let out a small laugh. âSorry, sorry,â you giggle after a while. âHonestly, at first I had my doubts, but the money convinced me.â You admit giddily, but it doesnât take long for you to realize that anger has risen to Naoyaâs face.
âYou want the money so bad?â He exclaims, irritation written all over his face, âWell then, work for it. You have nothing against working more, no?â He states, and that bullshit-eating grin of his tells you that heâs serious.
âBut Sir, thatâs against the rulââ You say, taken aback by his statement, âI donât give two shits. For a month, youâll be working more, and maybe youâve learned your lesson until then.â And the smile he gives you is eerily similar to the one you gave him on your dateâa smile full of condescension.
Yeah, you really hate this guy.
Itâs been a week since then, and you canât recall all the times someone came up to you and attempted to talk to you about you and Naoya. Thereâs been an absurd wave of rumors surging towards you every day.Â
Some claim that Naoya is your ex-husband, now turned superior; others suspect that you slept with him, consequently got pregnant, and he told you to abort the child, and during lunch break, you hear the young interns gossip about how Naoya probably made a move on you.
Obviously, each of these suspicions was false; you denied them every time, accentuating how you would never in your life voluntarily get in touch with Naoya Zenin unless youâd fallen on your head, lost all your memories, forgot his awful personality, and only wanted him for his nice looks.
You dislike Naoya for many things, but thereâs one thing youâll give himâheâs handsome. His eyes are both enticing and sharp, as if to lure you in, but then seize the moment to devour you when you let your guard down.Â
It happened to you once that a âheâs kinda fineâ slipped out of your mouth, and people immediately started to tease you about how they knew that you liked him. Apparently, there was âthe look of loveâ in Naoyaâs eyes every time he walked past you with a loving smile adorning his lips, and how you always returned his gaze fondly with a smile of your ownâwhatever thatâs supposed to mean.
If only they knew that the way Naoya looked at you was to make sure that you were working the extra task he assigned to you, before mocking you, and grinning as he saw you struggling with those tasks that take ridiculously long, and were simultaneously the most useless.Â
Also, the way you looked at him was a simple glare and a faux smile thatâs supposed to ease his âworriesâ of you âslacking off at work,â as he liked to call it.
Still, people come up with new, stupid ideas every other hour, and it was embarrassing how easily they got under your skin.
Along with the fact that Naoya does absolutely nothing to stop the rumors makes it ten times worse. (And because everyoneâs probably too scared to even approach him.)
Now you were beginning to understand what people meant by corporate-slaves, because this felt like some sleep-eat-work-repeat lifestyle, which you certainly did not want to live. However, itâs just 2 more weeks, and youâre free from this hell.
Although if there was one thing you were looking forward to, it was your weekly meeting with Tsumiki, only this time you came late. When you had the chance at work, you texted Tsumiki that you wouldnât make it in time today, and she only read and responded to your messages when she was already at the bar, saying that sheâd wait for you with a little surprise.
When you finally arrived, it took you a minute to look around and find herâit was a lot fuller than usual. Then, when you finally saw Tsumiki, you hugged her and apologized gullibly. âHey, Miki. Sorry that I kept you waiting.â You sigh before slumping down on the leather seats.
Tsumiki gives you a warm smile and makes room for you to sit closer. âNo worries.â She says sweetly before pouring herself another shot. âWhat took you so long?â She asks curiously and downs the glass. Once again, Megumi, Itadori, and Kugisaki sit at the table. Itâs obvious why theyâre here, but youâre not in the mood to talk to them about it.
âNaoyaâs ass ordered me to work longer, but please let's not talk about him.â You groan in annoyance, and as if on instinct, Tsumiki pours you a glass and hands it to you, smilingly. âHe has the power to do that?â The voice comes from across the tableâthe one who spoke up was Kugusaki. âApparently.â You shrug your shoulders before drinking from the glass.
Itâs silent for a while, and you notice that the air in the atmosphere has shifted. Itâs weird, but youâre not bothered enough to askâat least not yet. The evening goes by with a couple more rounds of drinks, stalking old classmates on social media, unrealistic âwhat-ifâ and âwhat-would-you-ratherâ scenarios, and more drinks.
âOkay, okay, I think thatâs enough.â Tsumiki asserts after a while and looks to the others for help. âUgh, seriously.â You utter in frustration. âIf heâd stop behaving like some male tradwife, Iâd actually go out with him.âÂ
The others observe you as you rant. âI mean, yeah, Iâll stay by my word, heâs fine as fuck, but someone needs to tell him to shut up, I swear.â You ramble. âHeâs actually so my type looks-wise, and you know if he wasnât him, I'd definitely date him.â When the words leave your mouth, you see how the others are throwing confused stares at each other before they land on you.
âSo, whoâs âheâ?â Megumi questions cautiously. âNaoya.â You muffle, voice already feeling hoarse, and Tsumiki hands you a glass of water. âUnfortunately.â You wipe your mouth with the sleeve of your blouse after the admission.
Suddenly, Itadori jumps up and puts his hands on the wooden table. âWell, then itâs your lucky day!â And you can practically see the way his eyes shine as he announces. âNaoya asked you on a second date.â
âA second what?â You cough on your water, and your eyes widen in shock. âA date,â Itadori repeats, all smiley. âNo, Itadori, I heard what you said, I'm just,â You pause for a moment, trying to find the right words. âNo, sorry, what?âÂ
For the first time this evening, Megumi expresses his thoughts. âThis is the first time Naoya has ever asked someone to go out with him again.â He pauses for a moment and coughs, before he mumbles something under his breath that you almost missedâ is he embarrassed? âAnd if it helps you, he kept blabbering to me about you. Which is weird, cause he usually says talking about people is a waste of breath.âÂ
âWow, how charming.â You huff dryly. He glances over Tsumiki before continuing. âMy sister already told me that youâd say no, and I donât want to force you into something you donât want to do, but,â He pauses and sighs. âHe might have actually developed some interest in you, and this is the best chance weâll ever get. So, would you mind going on a date with him again?â
âMegumi, you do know that he made me work more because I accidentally spilled wine on him, and made me do these tiresome, stupid tasks that he pulled out of his buttcrack.â You exclaim and take notice of Megumiâs frown.
Tsumiki pats on your shoulder reassuringly before glancing at Megumi. âYou know, Megs, I know you mean it well, but going on another date with Naoya would actually make me go crazy.â Her hand stays on your shoulder. âBut to me it also sounds like you kinda like him.âÂ
Her words strike you like lightning, and you immediately straighten up. âTsumiki, what the fuck?!â You screech, and you can feel the way the other customers turn around to look at you. âWell, I donât know, just a feeling.â She laughs softly. âMaybe just try it, and all of a sudden he realizes youâre like the love of his life and wants to change just for you.â She jokes.
âYeah, and then we live happily ever after.â You add, and the others join in Tsumikiâs laughter. âIâm not drunk enough for this.â You snort and rub your eyes with the pads of your fingers. âOkay, well, when does he want to meet me?âÂ
Thereâs a brief silence before Itadori breaks it. âYouâre actually agreeing?â He looks at you in bewilderment. âLike for real, for real?â He questions to ensure that he hasnât heard you wrong.
âMhm.â And you nod your head. Actually, you donât really know what made you say yes. Did you actually develop some feelings? Yeah, no. Was it the thrill of being with him? Or maybe youâve just become as unhinged as Naoya and accepted your fate; whatever it was, you were still certain in your choice and had no plan of going back on your wordâat least not yet.
âActually, already next Friday at seven,â Megumi tells you, and you stare at him in disbelief. âThatâs literally when work ends for me.â Tsumiki turns to you in confusion. âI thought work ended at six for you?â
âWell, Naoya gave me more work, so I also work longer on most days. Thatâs why I also came late today. Heâs practically setting me up.â You deadpan, and you can feel the toll your words have on the couple across from youâ how easily Megumiâs and Itadoriâs good moods were shattered.Â
Naoyaâs words replay in your head over and over. I donât even know why you bother so much. Itâs not like he was wrong, maybe you did feel something for Naoya, and this would be the only chance for you to find out without any co-workers interferingâthen itâd work out for the guys and youâcall it a win-win situation?
âBut,â And their heads immediately lifted. âIâll try my best to find a way.âÂ
Megumi and Itadori look at each other and smile. âThank you, Iâll send you the address later. I seriously owe you.â Megumi sighs in relief. âBut tell him to pay for it this time.â He furrows his eyebrows in confusion. âWhat do you mean?â If you werenât irritated already, you are now. âWell, the last time, he wanted to split the bill.â You explain.
âThatâs unlike him,â Megumi states. âHe usually always pays for the dates beforehand. Right after they ordered their food. He says it's manly.â If that were the case, then it wouldnât make sense for him to insist on only paying for his order. âWait, what?âÂ
You and Megumi look like two strangers who speak different languages and are trying to explain the same concept to one another, but the language barrier hinders you; in this case, itâs a matter of understanding the situation.
âYou know how Naoya is,â Megumi begins and bites his lower lip in the process, contemplating finding the right words.
He merely nods. âYeah, that sums it up.â The conversation continues to flow, going back and forth on different themes, and Naoya slowly fades into the background, that is, until youâre about to leave.Â
Tsumiki tilts her head to the side and speaks. âLetâs meet up on the weekend then. Canât believe Naoya is stealing my precious you-time away from me.â She grins. âYouâll have to tell me all about it then!âÂ
Outside, the rain heavily platters on the concrete, consequently staining the sidewalk with deep gray spots. With each minute passing by, youâre starting to regret this decision more and more.
The raindrops kiss the tinted car windows, blurring your view, almost like the rain is mocking you for blindly going on another date with Naoya.
On one hand, there are hundreds of thousands of excuses running around in your head that you should use to get the driver to stop, turn around, and drop you off at home again.
Then youâd just lie down, watch this one show that Tsumik kept suggesting to you these past few months.Â
âRight, so itâs like a drama about this one girl who helps out her best friend to go on dates with potential marriage candidates instead of her, and on this one date, she accidentally catches the attention of her boss!â
But thatâs the thing: when you think of Naoya, thereâs a familiar feeling bubbling in your chest, and twinges at your heartstrings, one akin to nervousness and excitementâyou know what it is, this feeling of an enjoyable thrill, filled with pleasure and doubtsâand you donât like it.
Because you know if you donât stop here, then thereâs no point going back.
After a while, the car comes to a halt, hauling you out of your thought-prison. The driver remains quiet in his seat, and itâs only when you bend forward to pay him that he lets out a deep huff of acknowledgement, before driving off.
Technically, you still have the option to run away and never look back, but your feet wonât budgeâtheyâre glued to the ground. Itâs like your body knows that you want to be here, despite denying it.
When you step inside, you notice how quiet it is: no rich folks chatter, no fancy live music, and no clattering of plates or anything of that sort.Â
At the reception, there stands a young boy, not much older than you, drowsily leaning his chin on the palm of his hand and lifelessly staring into the air. âUhm..hi?â You greet awkwardly. Only then does he seem to acknowledge your presence. âOh, sorry, hi, what can I do for you?â The boy stumbles over his words, his eyes take the form of crescent moons, and his lips twitch with an uncertain smile.Â
âIâm here on a daâ to meet Zenin.â You cough over your previous words, hoping that the waiter hasnât noticed your nervousness. âNaoya Zenin.â You manage to choke out, and the boy's eyes widen in surprise. âMr., Iâm so snobby and pay for everything, Zenin?â The boy rambles, talking to himself before realizing that you're still standing in front of him.âWait, sorry, Iâll bring you to the table right away.â He states and leads you to Naoya, whose arms are shrugged together over his chest, and he has skepticism written all over his face.
His gaze drifts over to the waiter, raising his eyebrow, and before he can say anything, the boy pulls out the chair for you, and you mutter something along the lines of a thank you before sitting down.
âYour food will be ready soon.â He says meekly while bowing down, not daring to meet the gaze of either of you. He excuses himself and rushes to leave.
He disappears, and you turn to Naoya, who looks like he just bit into a sour apple and now has to make his complaints about everyone's problem. âTwo minutes.â Naoya holds up his index and middle fingers.
âWhat?â Confused with his accusation, your eyebrow quirked up. âYouâre 2 minutes late.â He seethes and rolls up the sleeve of his shirt to point at his wristwatch. âSee, for that behavior, youâd get your pay lessened.â
Right now, you're seriously questioning yourself, and moreover, your taste in men, despite Naoya already knowing the reasonâhimâwhy do you feel a glimmer of excitement burning up in your chest talking to him again?
âVery funny.â You remark ironically, and he chuckles quietly before you change the topic. âWhyâs it so empty here?â Careful not to make any sounds, you shift in your chair and look around.Â
âHuh?â Naoyaâs face takes on a look of irritation. âI booked the whole thing,â he tells you as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.
âWhy would you do that?âÂ
âCause I wanted to spend time with you,â He gives you a half-hearted smile. âalone?â
âWhich means you want me so bad or what..?â You look at him, dumbfounded, because this wasn't how you expected to play out. When you first arrived and saw the deserted restaurant, you thought this was about to be some big prank, paranoia was crawling up your neck, and you looked for the hidden cameras everywhere.
He doesnât give you a direct answer and only says something that you make out to be a quiet "Believe what you want.â But the red blush slowly creeping up on his neck doesn't go unnoticed, and for the first time this evening, you feel like you can actually relax.
Maybe itâs out of embarrassment, anger, or perhaps even affection, youâve come to the point where it doesnât matter to you anymore. All you want is to spark more of these reactions out of him, ignoring how that makes you just as weird as he is.
A genuine and amused smile musters itself up on your lips, and you start giggling. âThe fuck are you laughing about?â He spits, and you just wave him off.Â
Youâve learned how to handle his remarks and know how to retort to them, which makes everything funnierâfor you at least.Â
The whole evening plays out like this: both of you talking over dinner with Naoya making stupid assumptions about youâbeing all serious about them too, and all you do is tell him off and counter with a question of your own. These are typically followed by Naoya adding his own two cents.
Your face takes on an expression of disgust as you take a sip from your drink. âEw.â Slightly sticking your tongue on as the alcohol further enveloped your mouth.
âAww, canât even hold a little alcohol?â The man across from you coos mockingly and takes a sip of his own. He sets down his glass and gives you a smug grin.
âNope, just reminded me of this one drink that I had in senior year that made me black out so bad, and in the morning, Tsumiki told me that she had to wipe all my vomit away.â You laugh softly as you recall the night it happened. âHonestly thought youâd be like super against a woman drinking,â You say, glass still in your hand and swirling the liquid inside around. â'Cause youâre like..â You pause for a moment.
Conservative, stuck up, an asshole
Ideas are popping up in your head, but you do your best to shake them off and attempt to find the right words. âConsidering youâre so..traditional?â You say weakly.
âTraditional?â Naoya repeats your words, his expression unreadable. âTraditional.â You say again, your lips pressed into a thin line. The man slowly nods his head, "Traditional." He concludes and shoots you a blank stare.
Heâs probably noticed it too, but youâre getting to know each other more over this date, and youâd be lying to yourself if you said that you didnât enjoy thisânot like youâd ever tell Naoya.
His eyes leave yours, and he starts fiddling with his cutlery again. A wall of silence builds up again; it stands steady in its place, and youâre not sure if youâre the one to take the first step to climb over it.
Thereâs no one else in the restaurantâjust the two of you. The only sounds that are being made are when the metal meets the porcelain again, but other than that, you donât find a way to fend this unbearable quietness away.Â
When you take today into account, your first date with Naoya and all the times at work you spent bickering with him, you realize Tsumiki might be right.
You do like Naoyaâas absurd as that even sounds. Admittedly, you're not sure yourself why you like him; all you know is that this attraction towards him only seems to grow by the minute.
Maybe you seriously need to check if youâre a masochist or something, because you donât think any sane person would admit to liking Naoya Zenin.Â
Suddenly, the sound of metal clattering against the table plays, and it rips you out of your thoughts.Â
âIs it true,â Naoya starts off and looks up from his plate, and with his words, he tears the wall built out of each unsaid word down. âThat you wanted to go out with me just to take advantage of my money?â
Once again, no matter how much you try to study his face, only stone-cold eyes meet yours, behind which his emotions are locked. Itâs like heâs trying to test you and base his reaction on your response.
Caught off guard, youâre uncertain what you should say at this moment, so you just tell him the first thing that comes to your mind. âNo, Megumi gave me money.â
Seeing the way his forehead creases and the way he slams his hand on the table tells you that this wasn't the answer he was hoping for. âOh, so you're paid to be here?âÂ
âWell,â you begin, still unsure of what to say. âYes?â You confirm after a while and immediately regret your words. âNo!â You hastily added, but Naoyaâs reaction only seemed to worsen with every passing second, so you just kept on talking, hoping that thereâd be one answer that satisfied him. âKind of?â
Naoya is quick to respond with a question of his own. âOh, is that so?â He asks, voice sharp as a knife's edge. âThought you were a gold digger, it turns out youâre actually just a lying bitch. Shouldâve expected that from you.â He huffs and rolls his eyes.Â
Something churns in your stomach. Taken aback, all you can do at this moment is snap back at him. âSorry?â You shout at him in disbelief. Feet already rising to take your leave. How did talking about embarrassing high school memories turn into him calling you names?
Everythingâs happening all at once and too fast for you to comprehend;Â the best thing you could do right now is to remove yourself from this conversation. âAnd here I thought you were actually pretty nice for once.â You donât tell him that itâs more than thatâthat you actually considered thisâconsidered him.
As you stand up and walk away, Naoya steadies himself on the table with his hand before stepping forward to grab your wrist, his grip tight on your arm. He stands close nowâmere inches away from youâhe doesnât say anything, but the way his hot breath fans against your nape tells you that heâs seething.
You shake his hand off and turn away from him, quickening your pace as you bolt off. âHey! You still need to pay!â He screams furiously after you.
âShut up!â You turn your head around and yell back at him from behind your shoulder. âI know that you already paid, dickhead! That server couldnât shut up for his fucking life!â Those were your last words before storming off, leaving Naoya alone in the empty restaurant.
Just when you thought this might turn into a serious thing, everything went down the river.
One and a half monthsâyouâve been living like this for a good almost two months, and if it werenât for the pay, you wouldâve already slammed the resignation papers on his desk.
Because why is it that another Friday night of yours with Tsumiki goes to waste, to meet Naoya? Not that you asked him out for a dateâitâs a work celebration dinner, which means there are several other employees with you to fill the awkward silence, because you really didnât want to engage in a conversation with Naoya.
Unfortunately for you, it was just your luck that you landed at the same table as Naoya.
Usually, six to eight people were sitting together at a table, but a few employees called in sick today, so there was one table that accommodated fewer people than the others, and it just so happened that you and Naoya got assigned together at this tableâtalk about a coincidence.
Next to you sat a blue-haired girl not much older than you, whom youâve never seen aroundâmost likely a new employeeâand kept sliding against her chair, presumably nervous that she was sitting at the same table as Naoya.Â
She keeps shooting hopeful glances at you, hoping youâd open your mouth and say something to start a conversation. Honestly, you felt bad, cause you know how stressful a first-time work dinner can be when you donât know anyone, but you really didnât want to talk to Naoya or anyone from work right now.
Youâll make it up to her someday.
Naoya sat right across from you, gawking at you from time to time, and youâd just roll your eyes at him. Next to him sat someone whom you didnât know, but from the looks Naoya was giving him, you assumed that he didnât like him much either.
It was plain obvious that the guy was drunk from the way he was talking and continuously threw his arms over Naoyaâs shoulder, attempting to act all buddy-buddy with him, to his dismay, Naoya kept angrily shoving him away.
âSay, Mr. Naoya, is it true you wanna marry?â The man slurs over his words before laughing to himself. Naoya shows minimal reaction; only a mere disapproving look tells that heâs not enjoying himself. âWhat about it?â He eventually says dryly.
Hearing Naoyaâs words, the manâs smile widens in happiness. âYou already got someone in,â He gulps and mutters a small sorry under his breath, all while laughing and brushes himself over the chest before continuing. âMind?â He finalises.
His question catches your attention, and for the first time this evening, you fully look at Naoya, whoâs already wearing a grin on his face that tells you that heâs up to no good. Naoya sighs dramatically before carding his fingers through his hair. Itâs as if he needs to muster up his courage before revealing his answer.Â
Naoya takes a good look at you before turning to his side. âYeah, Iâve got someoââ You donât get to hear the rest of his answers, because a scream erupts next to you. âI think my food just moved!â The girl next to you exclaimed as she squats on her chair and points at the bowl in front of her with her chopsticks.
âMiwa, stop messing around.â The voice from across the table half-shouts, and in response, she just frantically shakes her head. âI saw it move just now!â She squeals.âPinky promise, cross my heart, hope to die, I swear!â
She continues to ramble on for a while, and you canât help but let an exasperated sigh escape your lips. âYou have to put it in the broth, and it'll cook automatically then.â You tell her calmly, taking your chopsticks into your hand, and show her how to do it properly.
Her mouth takes the shape of an o, and she freezes for a moment. âOh, so thatâs how you do it.â She chuckles sheepishly and puts her hand on the back of her hair in embarrassment. Miwaâas you know nowâpicks up her chopsticks to place the meat in her bowl, but it just so happens that when she reaches over to grab the meat off the plate, the table topples and her bowl loses its balance.
The bowl falls over before you can even process what just happened. The bowl now lies on the table with the broth leaking all over the surface, some of it dripping down on your lap. âOh my god, Iâm so so sorry!â Miwa puts her hands over her mouth and shouts apologetically.Â
âItâs fine. This happens to everyone.â You give her a half-hearted smile as youâre reminded of when you spilled wine all over Naoya. âIâll get some tissues from the restroom.â You slide your chair backwards in order to stand up, but Miwa stops you by holding down your hands.
She keeps them tightly in her hands, as if she needs to keep them in a chokehold, and shakes her head as she looks down at the floor. âNo, it was my fault. Let me do this. Iâll clean this up.â She looks up at you with a pleading look, and you canât help but feel bad for her.
You donât think sheâll let go of you unless you give in to her request. âOkay,â Miwaâs eyes are practically sparkling as soon as the words leave your mouth, and her hold on your hands tightens. âStill, I'd like to go outside, â on my own, you think to yourself before throwing a bored glance at Naoya. âSo, can you let me go?â You ask her politely, looking down at your intertwined hands.
âOh,â She yelps. âYeah, sure, sorry!â She says in a docile tone, and her grip on your hands quickly loosens. âThanks.â You murmur and smile at her. Miwa hastily stands up and joins you. She mumbles a quiet see you later and disappears into the restroom.Â
Before going outside, you make sure to look behind you, ensuring that Naoya isnât making any moves on following you. Either way, he seems occupied with the colleague next to him, so he wonât be a problemâfor now.
Outside, in the parking lot, a cold gust of wind greets you, and you canât help but regret leaving your jacket inside, but you have no intention of returning back inside right now. Youâd rather freeze to death out here than hear Naoya open his mouth once more.
Cheerful, but obnoxious laughter fills the air, and you turn your head to the source of commotion. A group of older male colleagues stands together not too far away from you. Youâve walked past some of them once, bowed your head to show respect, or greeted them out of politeness.Â
But the way that all of them were looking at you and exchanged knowing glances with each other made something in your stomach twist. Itâs only then that one of the men emerges from the group and makes his way over to you.Â
Heâs a good head taller than you; from his position, youâre sure he can see the way your neck shivers as he comes closer to your face. âWhatâs a pretty thing like you doing out here alone?â He asks and reaches out for the strand of your hair thatâs been blown away by the wind.Â
Goosebumps are rising all over you, met with the fear of not knowing what happens next. Iâm just here to catch some air, but Iâll go back in now.â You manage to dodge his touch by a hairsbreadth, and you notice the way his expression immediately sours. âHave a good evening.â You mutter, and you hope he doesnât notice the way you tremble as you nod your head at him.Â
âGoing already?â The man is quick to latch onto your wrist, and you feel how everything stops for you. âIâm sorry.â You stutter. âBut I really have to go now.â Your words just seem to worsen his mood; in response to that, the grip he has on you becomes tighterâsuffocating.
The manâs lips curve into a smile. âItâll be fun, okay?â He assures, but his eyes deceive his words; whatever he plans to do isnât going to be fun in the slightest.Â
âThat girl canât do shit. Help her, will you?â A loud voice shouts over to you, one you recognize in an instant, and for the first time this evening, youâre glad that heâs here.
Naoya strides over to where you are. Simultaneously, the man immediately lets go of your arm and shoves his hands in his pockets, as if thatâd help to cover the grip marks he left on your forearm.
âMr. Zenin.â The man swallows and proceeds to nod at Naoya, who doesnât plan on responding in the same manner. âHope you enjoyed this work dinner. Itâs your last.â He states and pulls you away, leaving the man baffled.Â
He yells after the two of you, but you canât make out his words from this distance. âNaoya, let me go. I have to get my things and go home.â You demand and attempt to shake him off.Â
âIs that how you repay me?â He stops in his tracks and turns around. âWell,â you start, the words lying on the tip of your tongue. âThanks for just now, but I seriously just wanna get my things.âÂ
âWoman, listen. Iâll drive you home.â He says, voice nor face betraying himâheâs serious about this.
A beat of silence passes, and if it werenât for Naoyaâs hand holding yours, youâd think this was some sort of dream.
After a while, you manage to say a few words. âPlease donât?â And take a step away from him. âAlso, youâre not allowed to drive when you drink.â You remind him, because if there was one thing you didnât need now was being pulled over and getting a ticket for driving under the influence.
âBeing drunk doesnât make me an idiot.â Naoya retorts, letting go of your hand. âYouâre an asshole either way,â You scoff. âWith and without alcohol.âÂ
âDo you want me to drive you home now or not?
If love makes one blind, it apparently also makes one stupid, because why on earth did you agree to sleeping over at Naoyaâs place?
When you were in the car, you noticed that he wasnât driving in the right direction.
Fuck no. Iâm not driving across the whole city to bring you home.
He was even being so nice as to drop you off at this 24/7 open convenience store that sells toothbrushes and shirts, and if you didnât hurry, heâd drive off without youâif thatâs not princess treatment, then you donât know either.
Thatâs how you ended up sleeping on Naoyaâs couch for the night.
Technically, you didnât agree, more like you were forced, but if this included a cozy couch, a huge kitchen with a kitchen island, and bathrooms as big as your apartment, then maybe youâd consider it.Â
Maybe next time.
It must be nice being a nepo baby and having the privilege to spend money on everything, without worrying about ever running out of money.Â
Todayâs incident still keeps you up, and you feel a shiver running along your body as you remember how close he was to touching your skin. His smile is etched into your memory, and the way heâd talk to you plays over and over in your mind.
Itâs a memory engraved in your consciousness, and you donât know if youâll ever be able to rid this feeling of disgust and fear.
Trying to distract your head from these thoughts, you notice how cold it actually is. Does this man not heat his house? How does he even expect you to sleep well with a blanket thatâs as thin as his patience?
You donât know what made you decide to walk up the stairs and find Naoya, but youâre already here. If youâre already at it, you might as well take a look around.
The hallway is dark, and you carefully tread along the polished floors. His house is spaciousâit feels big but also incredibly empty at the same timeâyou wonder if Naoya always spends his nights alone in this cold space.
Before you left the bathroom, you spotted Naoya going into the room right at the end of the hall, assuming this must be his room. As you finally stand in front of his door, you contemplate running, but itâs not like youâre asking for a big favor. It shouldnât be as difficult as you're making it out to be.
You just want a blanket, that's everything. You're cold, thatâs everything. Naoya should help you warm up, that's everythingâ â
Three timesâyou knock a total of three times, but thereâs no answer coming from the other side of the door. Itâs only after the fourth unanswered knock that you enter his room, the door lightly squeaking as you push it open.
As you step in, youâre met with a cold breeze. âNaoya?â You call out his name, but youâre met with no response. âNaoya?â You repeat once more, hoping that heâd notice you know. Seeing that heâs not reacting, you search for the light switch, hands groping at the wall behind you until you find and turn it on.
Unsurprisingly, Naoya isnât in his bed or in his room at all. You take a look around, but canât find him anywhere; thatâs when you feel the breeze again. Now with the lights on, everything came into view, and it's only then that you notice the door to the balcony being slightly ajar.Â
You make your way over to the balcony, open the door, and step outside. âNaoya? What are you doing?â The back of his head greets you, and under the moonlit sky, you can see the way his blond hair gleams. Met with no response, you take another step forward, and now his side profile comes into your view.
Itâs eerily quiet.âWhat is it?â He takes a drag from his cigarette and ashes it down his balcony into the garden, probably hoping that in the morning the wind will blow it away. For a moment, itâs quiet, the wind quietly whistles in your ear, and the smell of smoke lingers in the air, enveloping the two of you. He looks good like this, dressed in casual attire, wearing a relaxed look on his face, and behaving unusually silent.
You canât take your eyes off Naoya.
Although he always tries to act all distant, Naoya takes everything personally and is always up to confront someone about it, too. âWhat are you looking at so dumbly?â He growls, and you can feel the corners of your lips twitching. âFor someone whoâs so traditional, you sure donât give a shit about your lungs.â
âDo you even inhaleâŠthe smoke?â You laugh, quirking an eyebrow, observing him skeptically. âThe fuck are you saying?â He ashes off his cigarette again. âWell, you're just taking puffs.â You point at his cigarette and then at him. âSomeone knows shit,â he scoffs and turns away from you. âTalk about fucked up lungs.âÂ
You donât dwell too long on his words and change the topic. âDid anyone ever tell you that youâre a terrible host?â You sneer and lean against the railing. âYou think it's funny to insult me?â If he doesnât ash off his cigarette very soon, itâll go out immediately, but you donât tell him that. âWell, weâre not at work, so I really couldnât care less.â
âWhy are you even awake? Donât you need your beauty sleep?â Naoya jokes, tone filled with mild condescension. âIâll take that as a compliment.â You say dryly and turn to meet him. âI just couldnât. What about you?â
Naoya finally ashes off his cigarette, so that only the butt of it is burning now, and he smudges it against the railing before chucking it down. âI was thinking about marriage.â He admits and smirks at you.
You ignore the way your heart tightens at his words and laugh it off. âHow much?â It doesnât take a genius to see that Naoya is irritated by your words. âHow much what?â
âHow much are you paying her to marry you?â You finally say and let out a final laugh. Naoyaâs face seems to relax at your words, and he asks a question of his own. âHow much are you getting paid?â
âThatâs secret information.â You deadpan and side-eye him. âNot like I donât know already.â Naoya sneers. âWhy are you even asking theâ Oh my god! Were you hitting on me just now?Â
âYouâre practically eye-fucking me every time I walk into the room.â He says it like itâs a fact. âDo you hear yourself?â You exclaim in disbelief, taking a step back from him.Â
Every time you take a step away from him, he takes a step forward. It goes on so long until your back meets the wall, and your eyes widen, knowing that Naoya has you exactly where he wants.Â
He leans forward and presses his hand against the wall, before nudging your ear with his nose. âJust admit it.â He whispers before backing away and smirking.Â
Itâs in this moment that you just let go of everythingâincluding your sanity, and give in to your desires. You cup his cheeks in your hands and pull him downwards to press your lips against hisâan action he quickly reciprocates.Â
He tastes of tobacco; usually, you dislike the taste, but there are some exceptions, and Naoya seems to be one of them. On him, it tastes comforting and soothing, although nothing is comforting about the way he kisses you.Â
His tongue darts over your lower lip, and before you can even grant him full access, he pushes his tongue in your mouth, and you involuntarily let out a high-pitched sound. Your hands find his hair to yank him down, and his roam beneath your shirt, his hands freezing cold as they press against your warm skin.
Only when you push him off to catch your breath does he stop kissing you, and his hands retreat from your skin.
You donât even get a full minute to breathe properly before Naoya pushes himself on you again, but you hold him in his place before he can slot his lips on yours again, your eyes warning him not to go any further.
To your surprise, Naoya actually seems to follow your warning and steps back. Itâs far enough so that he no longer breathes right into your face, but still near enough for you to see him up close and observe his features.
He seems to have noticed, and a wide grin forms on his face as he raises both his arms into the air, as if heâs been accused of something.Â
âDonât give me that face.â Naoya coos in faux sympathy. âTo make it up to you, how does going on a third date sound to you?â
END NOTE: i have an admission to make...i didnt even watch the new season yet...lol
SYNOPSIS: When youâre set up to go on a date with your companyâs bossâs youngest son, Naoya Zenin, it was supposed to be a mere play-pretend relationship. But what happens when you actually catch feelings along the way?
WORDCOUNT: 10.7k (don't ask me how) | CONTENT & WARNINGS: naoya is a warning himself so you can already guess whats about to come, reader doesn't want to deal with his bs but she also can't help being attracted to him (same), ooc!naoya, bicker/banter, smoking, kissing, drinking; oneshot
TAG LIST: @aritsukemo, @sugary-strawberry-shortcake
AUTHOR'S NOTE: he's too fine to be doing ts bruh
âLetâs pay then.âÂ
Across the white-clad table sits none other than your companyâs boss's son: Naoya Zenin, wearing a now red-stained dress shirt that, unfortunately, looks too good on him, and is raising his hand to call out to the waitress for the bill. Â
Not even in your dreams would you ever go on a date with Naoya Zenin, so how'd you get tangled up in this mess?
From your workplace to the bar it takes around half an hour by train and five more minutes on foot. It takes some time, but in the meantime you spend observing the people you pass by. Â
There are other people like youâbusinesspeople commuting and tiredly staring at their phones, checking the time, teenage girls dressed in short skirts and hiding bottles of absolute vodka in their absolutely too small purses, students who look like theyâre on the brink of exhaustion and just want to lie down in their beds.
Back in high school, you thought everyone was exaggerating when they told you to enjoy your school and college times to the fullest, because âthose were the times when youâd see your friends the most.â
Joke's on you, because it turned out to be exactly as people described.
Nowadays, you are barely able to meet most of your friends, work gets in the way, someoneâs planning their wedding, and others are travelling the globe.
But there was one person you could always count on: your best friend Tsumiki. After graduation, when everyone started going their own separate ways, the two of you stayed together.Â
Despite everything that was happening, the two of you managed to meet every Friday in a bar of your choice and enjoyed a good glass of âwhateverâ together after an exhausting day of work.
Especially after today, first of all, your alarm didnât go off, and you barely managed to arrive in time; secondly, the printer decided that today would be a good day to give up, so you had to run to the copy shop down the street during your lunch break and if this wasnât enough, one of your co-workers called in sick for the beginning of next week, so now you have to pitch in for them during next weekâs report.Â
The meetings werenât bad per se; all you had to do was update your superiors about what your department was working on, the good things, the things that are still in the process, and new ideas. What was bad was with whom you had to do them, simply because you didn't know which of his sons your CEO would send this time.Â
The Zenin family has some kind of twisted sense of humor, because, yes, theyâre one of the most successful companies, but their way of treating their employees? Well, all you can hope for is that not one of the younger sons will be the one to evaluate you.
The train comes to a halt and announces the station's name; your cue to exit. Itâs a short walk, but you can still feel the ache in your feet from walking around in heels the whole day. Luckily for you, you arrive in no time.
As soon as the bell, which is strung to the door, rings, Tsumiki turns around and waves you over, delighted that you made it. Except her younger brother Megumi was here this timeâhis boyfriend Itadori tooâalong with their best friend Kugisaki.Â
Tsumiki slides over to the side to make room for you to set your bag down before sitting next to her. âWhat's your little brother doing here?â you eye Megumi, although he doesn't seem to pay much mind to it.Â
On the other hand, Yuji looks like heâs about to explode from nervousnessâKugisaki tooâbut from laughter.
âYou see,â she pauses for a moment and shoots you a sheepish smile. "He wanted to talk to you about something.â
âSo, you're telling me your family is fine with you marrying a man,â you recap what Megumi has just told you, âbut they draw the line at you getting married before Naoya?â Your finger traces along the rim of your glass, and you grimace, bewildered.
From your peripheral view, you can see Tsumiki and Kugisaki giggling to one another. âTrust me, I wouldnât go as far as asking you if I hadnât already tried everything else.â Megumi deadpans.
Thereâs a pregnant silence spanning around the room between Megumi's statement and your answer. âAnd now,â you begin, still not being able to wrap your head around this whole thing going on, âyou want me to go out with your cousin?âÂ
âMy condolences.â Kugisaki chirps in, âMaki told me that every time theyâre on family vacation together, he listens to these black pill songs in the shower.â She remarks. âLike unironically!â
Although he tries to hide it by muffling his mouth with his hand, Itadori is smiling from ear to ear. âHeâs on some crazy looksmaxxing shit.â He adds.
Next to him Megumi lets out an exasperated breath and side-eyes his friend before turning his attention on you again. âIâve never said anything about going out,â He drawls. âThose are your words now.â
Upon his words, you canât help but scoff. âIs âgo on a date with my cousinâ not the same as going out?â you exclaim, but youâve known Megumi long enough to know that heâs serious about this. âMegumi, he's my supervisor. I canât afford to lose my position.â A sigh accompanies your words.
âI know that, and I usually wouldnât even do this, but Naoya knows I want to marry, so heâs purposefully ruining every date his father sets him on.â Megumi furrows his eyebrows in frustration. âWell, heâs also an asshole, so the dates never work out,â Itadori adds offhandedly, before picking up his glass to empty it.
The conversation drifts from Megumi, Itadori, and Kugisaki commenting on the situation. âYou just have to pretend to like him, and as soon as he's like âyeah, sheâs the oneâ you can cut out the bullshit.â Kugisaki shrugs as if it were the easiest thing in the world.Â
âIâm only allowed to marry when heâs found someone, so please.â If you didn't know any better, Megumi is practically begging you to go out with Naoya.
âBut Megumi, my jobââ you interfere to make him stop, but heâs quick to cut you off before you can finish your sentence. âIâll also pay and handle the consequences. So please,â he frowns.
âCome on, it'll be a good story to tell your kids.â Tsumiki giggles, and you see the way thereâs a cheerful smile tugging at her lips. âYours and Naoyaâs kids, by the way.â Kugisaki comments, and Megumi throws her a blank stare. âDonât jinx it, Nobara.â Megumi mumbles and nudges her arm.Â
âFine, but I canât promise anything.â You tap your fingers against the wooden surface, already overcome with regret.
In all honesty, youâre not sure what made you agree; maybe it was the fact that the alcohol already took its effect, the pleading eyes Itadori threw at you, or the big stack of money Megumi slid over the table that kept growing every second you didnât answer.
Megumi sighs, his body visibly begins to relax, and the tension that was residing on his face starts to fade away. It wasnât obvious, but there was a small smile gracing his lips. âThank you.â
Okay, so, you lied. There are many things youâd do for your best friendâsheâs your better half after all, your soulmate, and unfortunately also the older sister of the guy who dragged you in this situation.Â
Sure, you like Megumi a lot and you really tried to give it your best to make this date somehow work, but your body gets a physical reaction as soon as Naoya Zenin dares to open his mouthâyouâd rather rip your ears off than listen to him talk any longer.
Honestly, he looks like heâd rather be anywhere else than here. For the past 40 minutes, heâs done nothing but pick apart his food, and see if âthey cooked it to his likingâ, glance at his wristwatch to see how much of your time he can still waste, or call for the waiter for the nth time to complain about the wine ânot being fermented enoughâ.Â
Admittedly, youâre no better. There are a couple of women sitting at the table behind you gossiping, and you canât help but overhear what theyâre talking about. Just as the one girl was getting to the interesting part, complaining about how her ex-boyfriend took his new girlfriend to the same restaurant she recommended to him on their first date, Naoya speaks up, and your eyes widen in surprise as he calls out to you.
âYouâre a friend of Megumi?â he doesnât even look at you as he asks and just continues cutting his food. The metal knife scratches against the porcelain plate and creates an unpleasant shrieking noise. âFriend of his sister,â you correct him and mimic him by dragging your fork along your plate.
Naoya's face contorts into an expression of disdain and finally spares you a glance. âHe told me youâre a friend of his, I thought at least someone whoâd I knew,â his amused remark, ânot some nobody.â is followed by tsk.
You donât answer, you donât want to answer, and you know better than to answer him because thatâs what he wantsâfor you to indulge in his provocations. But with every passing minute of him throwing blank stares at you, your resolve crumbles.
Instead, you pick up your glass of red wine thatâs been untouched the entire evening, because Naoya was whining left and right about the restaurant being some âtasteless tentâ whose food is âno better than dog foodâ.
To your surprise, the wine was really nice; it wasnât too sour, contrary to the cheap bottle you used to buy at your local corner shop when you and Tsumiki always tried to convince the cashier that you were old enough to buy alcohol.
Additionally, it was also just sweet enough for you to taste out the alcohol. Heâs got a good tasteâyouâll give him that.
Itâs like heâs watching you, because the second you put down your glassâmind you, not even a split second after it sits on the table againâNaoya dares to open his mouth again.Â
âWhatâs your job?â he asks, and you already sense the mocking intent behind his words. âI work at a company,â you say mindlessly and pick up your glass again to take a sip.
Sooner or later, heâd find out anywayâeven if youâd prefer not toâbut youâve already decided: this might be one of the top 5 worst dates youâve ever been on.
Also, itâs not like youâve lied to him anyway; itâs a white lie at best, and the chances of you ever running into Naoya ever again, in a workplace with hundreds of workers, are little to none.Â
Either way, he probably wouldnât recognise you anyway.
âNot a good paying one,â he smirks and diverts his eyes towards your body, âI can tell by the clothes you're wearing.âÂ
Well, this date just moved up to the top 4 worst dates ever.
You furrow your eyebrows in annoyance. âWhat can I say?â you let out a dry chuckle. âMy superior is a pain to be around and doesn't know where to invest his money.â Your words are followed by a mere shrug.
âOh yeah?â he asks, probably intending to interrogate you further. If it werenât Naoya Zenin asking you, youâd think it was almost a romantic gesture.
Keyword: almost.Â
âYeah.â You give him a tight-lipped smile, not willing to feed into his provocations any further. But, this doesnât tip men like Naoya offâmen who make it their purpose to ruin someone.Â
âHm, you were able to eat everything,â he crosses his arms over his chest, âIâm impressed.â He remarks mockingly, before taking a small sip from his glass. âItâs not often you meet a woman who has such a big appetite.â This time, he simply grins, and you hate to admit it, but his words are slowly getting under your skin.Â
Top 3 worst dates ever.
âYeah, you could learn from me.â You advise. âIf youâd actually eat the food they served you instead of whining, maybe youâd shut up for once.â
This finally seems to do the trick because you can see the way his jaw is tightening. âYou should learn how to behave like a proper woman.â Itâs quite funny seeing him lose his composure over such a measly comment. Itâs evident that he doesn't plan on giving up on harassing you. âI wonder who even hired someone like you.âÂ
Top 2 worst dates ever.
Well, he wonât have to ponder on it too longâshould he ever realize you work at the same company. âA woman should know where she belongs, and itâs certainly not at work.â He finalizes.
Well, this date officially took the first place for the worst date youâve ever been on.
Actually, what if this were your 13th reason? You donât respond to his comments, not because you want to give him the satisfaction heâs been looking for or agree with him, but because you know where you stand, and actually know what self-respect is. And you certainly know that Naoya isnât worth putting in effort for.
âOkay, so this isnât working out. Itadori, right when he said you're an asshole.â You sigh as you lean back in your chair, already hinting that youâre about to leave. Naoya has the audacity to tsk âThat guy just wants to marry his little boyfriend. I donât even know why you bother so much.â he cocks his head to the side, smirking at you.
There are certain levels of low, and you mightâve actually reached the lowest, because, yeah, this family affair is none of your business, and you shouldnât meddle in other peopleâs lives this much, but it seems Naoya never knows when to keep his mouth shut and when not. âOh my god, would it kill you not to have the last word for once?â you groan, and in the midst of your complaint, your hand hits your half-full wine glass and knocks it over.Â
Thereâs nothing you can do to stop the liquid from escaping the glass; it already ruined the white tablecloth and spilled onto Naoyaâs (now once) white dress shirt.
âFuck, I didnât plan for this to happen,â you hastily say and attempt to clean the table by soaking up the drink with napkins, unfortunately to no avail. âCan you women even do anything?â Naoya puts his hands on either side of the table and snaps at you.Â
His eyebrows scrunch up together in anger, and he tightly grips the tablecloth. This guyâs seriously got some screws loose. âLet's just pay,â he groans, sinking into his chair with his body still tensed up.Â
Upon seeing his stretched-out arm, the waitress rushes over almost immediately. âTook you long enough.â Naoya snides under his breath, but loud enough for her to hear, and you canât help but roll your eyes at his remark.Â
âThe bill, Sir? How would you like to pay?â The waitress nervously puts down the bill; there are more digits than you can count on one hand, and you hurriedly glance over to Naoya.
A mistake on your side.
Naoya, being Naoya, seizes the opportunity, âYouâre so full of yourself, right woman? Weâll split the bill then.â The playful smile that's tugging at the end of his lips doesn't go unnoticed.
For a moment, the waitress is taken aback, but she just nods, knowing itâs probably better not to ask any questions. She simply glances at you, but youâre just as, if not even more, surprised as she was just now and yelp out a loud âWhat?!â
Thereâs been a handful of terrible and right out awful dates youâve been on, but you doubt nothing will ever come close to this one.Â
Once there was a guy who stood you up 5 minutes prior to the date, then there was a guy who kept ranting about his best friend and how great she was, basically using you to get over her, and you donât even want to recall the other incidents; either way, youâre pretty sure that youâve blocked them out anyway.
Nonetheless, all of them always paid for the first dateâitâs basic courtesy and a simple, polite gesture, and you're certain that Naoyaâa man who has more money than senseâcan afford to pay for a first date.
At this point, youâre already so tired out from this date that you donât even have the strength in you to talk back anymore; instead, you rummage through your purse for your wallet. It doesnât take you long to find it, and when you do, you take out a handful of bills and slam them down on the table.Â
âHope youâre happy, asshole.â You feign a smile before taking your leave.Â
Well, the massive stash of money that Megumi gave you now didn't seem like such a big exaggeration anymore.
Not even a week has passedâto be precise, itâs been more than one day and a few hours since youâve seen him on your terrible date on Saturday.
Karmaâs a bitch, but so is Naoya Zenin.Â
The colleague you were supposed to fill in for still wasnât back, and now it was up to you, alongside a few other colleagues, to update your superiors on this month's work. Usually, these meetings donât take all too long; you just hope that this will be over soon and you can return to your cubicle and pretend youâre doing something on your computer.
When you stepped into the conference room, your eyes drifted around the room. The lightning here was unpleasant, bright white lights that illuminated the room, similar to hospital lights. A few people already sat down and chattered with one another, and others were frantically scrolling through their tablets to look over their notes again.
Soon, people started to flood in, and you barely managed to take in the room before finally sitting down yourself. The meeting was about to start, and the crowd that gathered at the front of the room started to scatter in different directions to sit down. Only then, when you glanced in the now empty direction, you spotted himâsurprise would be an understatementâyour eyes widened in shock when you saw that it was Naoya out of all the people sitting across the room.Â
To make matters worse, he was already looking at you, and before you knew it, you locked eyes with him. You didnât even have to second-guess what heâs thinking, his face says enoughâhe doesnât look particularly pleased to see you.Â
What a great way to start off your day.
Overall, the meeting went fine, it began with people presenting their achievements and how they wished to improve, but it didnât even look like Naoya was listening.Â
From time to time, heâd let out a tired yawn here and there, not even bothering to hide his boredom; sometimes, heâd also pretend to listen when in reality he was just playing with his helix and glance in your direction.
Considering how irksome this meeting was for him, you thought that heâd stop looking at you after a while, that heâd find himself a new distraction. Still, even as you teared your eyes away from him and concentrated on the colleague who was speaking, you could practically feel the way he was shooting daggers at the side of your head.
When it was finally your turn to speak, you tried to look at everyone but Naoya, which was hard when he was tracking your every move. He looks like heâs just waiting for the right momentâthe decisive moment where you slip up and he can attack. Just at the thought of that or Naoya in general, your vision turned green.Â
It took every ounce of willpower in you not to let your revulsion show on your face, because knowing how the Zenin family is, theyâd punish your whole department for even glancing at Naoya in the wrong way.
After a few other presentations, a round of questions, and a praise from Naoyaâwhich looked like it physically hurt him to say those words out loudâyou were permitted to leave.
âYou over there, stay here.â You immediately freeze on the spot upon hearing his words, peering at the people beside you to check if he means them, despite knowing that he was directly referring to you, even if you wished he werenât.
Around you, the people stop in their tracks, curiosity piqued, and you feel all the eyes in the room landing on you. âWere any of you even listening?â Naoya clicks his tongue in annoyance. âI told you to leave unless any of you insist on working more.â As soon as he said the words, everyone disappeared as fast as possible.Â
All you could do was helplessly watch after them, wishing that you were them. Â
âTurn around, will you?â If being in the same room as Naoya wasnât bad enough already, youâre now alone with him. You do as youâre told and face him. âWhat's someone like you doing here?â His words are laced with a distaste that you could only reciprocate. âI work here.â You reply curtly, knowing that thatâs not the answer he sought. âYou think youâre so funny.â He spits plainly, and you have to bite the inside of your cheek to prevent yourself from bursting out laughing on the spot.Â
âWhy didnât you tell me that you were working here?â He demands angrily, and this time, you canât help but let out a small laugh. âSorry, sorry,â you giggle after a while. âHonestly, at first I had my doubts, but the money convinced me.â You admit giddily, but it doesnât take long for you to realize that anger has risen to Naoyaâs face.
âYou want the money so bad?â He exclaims, irritation written all over his face, âWell then, work for it. You have nothing against working more, no?â He states, and that bullshit-eating grin of his tells you that heâs serious.
âBut Sir, thatâs against the rulââ You say, taken aback by his statement, âI donât give two shits. For a month, youâll be working more, and maybe youâve learned your lesson until then.â And the smile he gives you is eerily similar to the one you gave him on your dateâa smile full of condescension.
Yeah, you really hate this guy.
Itâs been a week since then, and you canât recall all the times someone came up to you and attempted to talk to you about you and Naoya. Thereâs been an absurd wave of rumors surging towards you every day.Â
Some claim that Naoya is your ex-husband, now turned superior; others suspect that you slept with him, consequently got pregnant, and he told you to abort the child, and during lunch break, you hear the young interns gossip about how Naoya probably made a move on you.
Obviously, each of these suspicions was false; you denied them every time, accentuating how you would never in your life voluntarily get in touch with Naoya Zenin unless youâd fallen on your head, lost all your memories, forgot his awful personality, and only wanted him for his nice looks.
You dislike Naoya for many things, but thereâs one thing youâll give himâheâs handsome. His eyes are both enticing and sharp, as if to lure you in, but then seize the moment to devour you when you let your guard down.Â
It happened to you once that a âheâs kinda fineâ slipped out of your mouth, and people immediately started to tease you about how they knew that you liked him. Apparently, there was âthe look of loveâ in Naoyaâs eyes every time he walked past you with a loving smile adorning his lips, and how you always returned his gaze fondly with a smile of your ownâwhatever thatâs supposed to mean.
If only they knew that the way Naoya looked at you was to make sure that you were working the extra task he assigned to you, before mocking you, and grinning as he saw you struggling with those tasks that take ridiculously long, and were simultaneously the most useless.Â
Also, the way you looked at him was a simple glare and a faux smile thatâs supposed to ease his âworriesâ of you âslacking off at work,â as he liked to call it.
Still, people come up with new, stupid ideas every other hour, and it was embarrassing how easily they got under your skin.
Along with the fact that Naoya does absolutely nothing to stop the rumors makes it ten times worse. (And because everyoneâs probably too scared to even approach him.)
Now you were beginning to understand what people meant by corporate-slaves, because this felt like some sleep-eat-work-repeat lifestyle, which you certainly did not want to live. However, itâs just 2 more weeks, and youâre free from this hell.
Although if there was one thing you were looking forward to, it was your weekly meeting with Tsumiki, only this time you came late. When you had the chance at work, you texted Tsumiki that you wouldnât make it in time today, and she only read and responded to your messages when she was already at the bar, saying that sheâd wait for you with a little surprise.
When you finally arrived, it took you a minute to look around and find herâit was a lot fuller than usual. Then, when you finally saw Tsumiki, you hugged her and apologized gullibly. âHey, Miki. Sorry that I kept you waiting.â You sigh before slumping down on the leather seats.
Tsumiki gives you a warm smile and makes room for you to sit closer. âNo worries.â She says sweetly before pouring herself another shot. âWhat took you so long?â She asks curiously and downs the glass. Once again, Megumi, Itadori, and Kugisaki sit at the table. Itâs obvious why theyâre here, but youâre not in the mood to talk to them about it.
âNaoyaâs ass ordered me to work longer, but please let's not talk about him.â You groan in annoyance, and as if on instinct, Tsumiki pours you a glass and hands it to you, smilingly. âHe has the power to do that?â The voice comes from across the tableâthe one who spoke up was Kugusaki. âApparently.â You shrug your shoulders before drinking from the glass.
Itâs silent for a while, and you notice that the air in the atmosphere has shifted. Itâs weird, but youâre not bothered enough to askâat least not yet. The evening goes by with a couple more rounds of drinks, stalking old classmates on social media, unrealistic âwhat-ifâ and âwhat-would-you-ratherâ scenarios, and more drinks.
âOkay, okay, I think thatâs enough.â Tsumiki asserts after a while and looks to the others for help. âUgh, seriously.â You utter in frustration. âIf heâd stop behaving like some male tradwife, Iâd actually go out with him.âÂ
The others observe you as you rant. âI mean, yeah, Iâll stay by my word, heâs fine as fuck, but someone needs to tell him to shut up, I swear.â You ramble. âHeâs actually so my type looks-wise, and you know if he wasnât him, I'd definitely date him.â When the words leave your mouth, you see how the others are throwing confused stares at each other before they land on you.
âSo, whoâs âheâ?â Megumi questions cautiously. âNaoya.â You muffle, voice already feeling hoarse, and Tsumiki hands you a glass of water. âUnfortunately.â You wipe your mouth with the sleeve of your blouse after the admission.
Suddenly, Itadori jumps up and puts his hands on the wooden table. âWell, then itâs your lucky day!â And you can practically see the way his eyes shine as he announces. âNaoya asked you on a second date.â
âA second what?â You cough on your water, and your eyes widen in shock. âA date,â Itadori repeats, all smiley. âNo, Itadori, I heard what you said, I'm just,â You pause for a moment, trying to find the right words. âNo, sorry, what?âÂ
For the first time this evening, Megumi expresses his thoughts. âThis is the first time Naoya has ever asked someone to go out with him again.â He pauses for a moment and coughs, before he mumbles something under his breath that you almost missedâ is he embarrassed? âAnd if it helps you, he kept blabbering to me about you. Which is weird, cause he usually says talking about people is a waste of breath.âÂ
âWow, how charming.â You huff dryly. He glances over Tsumiki before continuing. âMy sister already told me that youâd say no, and I donât want to force you into something you donât want to do, but,â He pauses and sighs. âHe might have actually developed some interest in you, and this is the best chance weâll ever get. So, would you mind going on a date with him again?â
âMegumi, you do know that he made me work more because I accidentally spilled wine on him, and made me do these tiresome, stupid tasks that he pulled out of his buttcrack.â You exclaim and take notice of Megumiâs frown.
Tsumiki pats on your shoulder reassuringly before glancing at Megumi. âYou know, Megs, I know you mean it well, but going on another date with Naoya would actually make me go crazy.â Her hand stays on your shoulder. âBut to me it also sounds like you kinda like him.âÂ
Her words strike you like lightning, and you immediately straighten up. âTsumiki, what the fuck?!â You screech, and you can feel the way the other customers turn around to look at you. âWell, I donât know, just a feeling.â She laughs softly. âMaybe just try it, and all of a sudden he realizes youâre like the love of his life and wants to change just for you.â She jokes.
âYeah, and then we live happily ever after.â You add, and the others join in Tsumikiâs laughter. âIâm not drunk enough for this.â You snort and rub your eyes with the pads of your fingers. âOkay, well, when does he want to meet me?âÂ
Thereâs a brief silence before Itadori breaks it. âYouâre actually agreeing?â He looks at you in bewilderment. âLike for real, for real?â He questions to ensure that he hasnât heard you wrong.
âMhm.â And you nod your head. Actually, you donât really know what made you say yes. Did you actually develop some feelings? Yeah, no. Was it the thrill of being with him? Or maybe youâve just become as unhinged as Naoya and accepted your fate; whatever it was, you were still certain in your choice and had no plan of going back on your wordâat least not yet.
âActually, already next Friday at seven,â Megumi tells you, and you stare at him in disbelief. âThatâs literally when work ends for me.â Tsumiki turns to you in confusion. âI thought work ended at six for you?â
âWell, Naoya gave me more work, so I also work longer on most days. Thatâs why I also came late today. Heâs practically setting me up.â You deadpan, and you can feel the toll your words have on the couple across from youâ how easily Megumiâs and Itadoriâs good moods were shattered.Â
Naoyaâs words replay in your head over and over. I donât even know why you bother so much. Itâs not like he was wrong, maybe you did feel something for Naoya, and this would be the only chance for you to find out without any co-workers interferingâthen itâd work out for the guys and youâcall it a win-win situation?
âBut,â And their heads immediately lifted. âIâll try my best to find a way.âÂ
Megumi and Itadori look at each other and smile. âThank you, Iâll send you the address later. I seriously owe you.â Megumi sighs in relief. âBut tell him to pay for it this time.â He furrows his eyebrows in confusion. âWhat do you mean?â If you werenât irritated already, you are now. âWell, the last time, he wanted to split the bill.â You explain.
âThatâs unlike him,â Megumi states. âHe usually always pays for the dates beforehand. Right after they ordered their food. He says it's manly.â If that were the case, then it wouldnât make sense for him to insist on only paying for his order. âWait, what?âÂ
You and Megumi look like two strangers who speak different languages and are trying to explain the same concept to one another, but the language barrier hinders you; in this case, itâs a matter of understanding the situation.
âYou know how Naoya is,â Megumi begins and bites his lower lip in the process, contemplating finding the right words.
He merely nods. âYeah, that sums it up.â The conversation continues to flow, going back and forth on different themes, and Naoya slowly fades into the background, that is, until youâre about to leave.Â
Tsumiki tilts her head to the side and speaks. âLetâs meet up on the weekend then. Canât believe Naoya is stealing my precious you-time away from me.â She grins. âYouâll have to tell me all about it then!âÂ
Outside, the rain heavily platters on the concrete, consequently staining the sidewalk with deep gray spots. With each minute passing by, youâre starting to regret this decision more and more.
The raindrops kiss the tinted car windows, blurring your view, almost like the rain is mocking you for blindly going on another date with Naoya.
On one hand, there are hundreds of thousands of excuses running around in your head that you should use to get the driver to stop, turn around, and drop you off at home again.
Then youâd just lie down, watch this one show that Tsumik kept suggesting to you these past few months.Â
âRight, so itâs like a drama about this one girl who helps out her best friend to go on dates with potential marriage candidates instead of her, and on this one date, she accidentally catches the attention of her boss!â
But thatâs the thing: when you think of Naoya, thereâs a familiar feeling bubbling in your chest, and twinges at your heartstrings, one akin to nervousness and excitementâyou know what it is, this feeling of an enjoyable thrill, filled with pleasure and doubtsâand you donât like it.
Because you know if you donât stop here, then thereâs no point going back.
After a while, the car comes to a halt, hauling you out of your thought-prison. The driver remains quiet in his seat, and itâs only when you bend forward to pay him that he lets out a deep huff of acknowledgement, before driving off.
Technically, you still have the option to run away and never look back, but your feet wonât budgeâtheyâre glued to the ground. Itâs like your body knows that you want to be here, despite denying it.
When you step inside, you notice how quiet it is: no rich folks chatter, no fancy live music, and no clattering of plates or anything of that sort.Â
At the reception, there stands a young boy, not much older than you, drowsily leaning his chin on the palm of his hand and lifelessly staring into the air. âUhm..hi?â You greet awkwardly. Only then does he seem to acknowledge your presence. âOh, sorry, hi, what can I do for you?â The boy stumbles over his words, his eyes take the form of crescent moons, and his lips twitch with an uncertain smile.Â
âIâm here on a daâ to meet Zenin.â You cough over your previous words, hoping that the waiter hasnât noticed your nervousness. âNaoya Zenin.â You manage to choke out, and the boy's eyes widen in surprise. âMr., Iâm so snobby and pay for everything, Zenin?â The boy rambles, talking to himself before realizing that you're still standing in front of him.âWait, sorry, Iâll bring you to the table right away.â He states and leads you to Naoya, whose arms are shrugged together over his chest, and he has skepticism written all over his face.
His gaze drifts over to the waiter, raising his eyebrow, and before he can say anything, the boy pulls out the chair for you, and you mutter something along the lines of a thank you before sitting down.
âYour food will be ready soon.â He says meekly while bowing down, not daring to meet the gaze of either of you. He excuses himself and rushes to leave.
He disappears, and you turn to Naoya, who looks like he just bit into a sour apple and now has to make his complaints about everyone's problem. âTwo minutes.â Naoya holds up his index and middle fingers.
âWhat?â Confused with his accusation, your eyebrow quirked up. âYouâre 2 minutes late.â He seethes and rolls up the sleeve of his shirt to point at his wristwatch. âSee, for that behavior, youâd get your pay lessened.â
Right now, you're seriously questioning yourself, and moreover, your taste in men, despite Naoya already knowing the reasonâhimâwhy do you feel a glimmer of excitement burning up in your chest talking to him again?
âVery funny.â You remark ironically, and he chuckles quietly before you change the topic. âWhyâs it so empty here?â Careful not to make any sounds, you shift in your chair and look around.Â
âHuh?â Naoyaâs face takes on a look of irritation. âI booked the whole thing,â he tells you as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.
âWhy would you do that?âÂ
âCause I wanted to spend time with you,â He gives you a half-hearted smile. âalone?â
âWhich means you want me so bad or what..?â You look at him, dumbfounded, because this wasn't how you expected to play out. When you first arrived and saw the deserted restaurant, you thought this was about to be some big prank, paranoia was crawling up your neck, and you looked for the hidden cameras everywhere.
He doesnât give you a direct answer and only says something that you make out to be a quiet "Believe what you want.â But the red blush slowly creeping up on his neck doesn't go unnoticed, and for the first time this evening, you feel like you can actually relax.
Maybe itâs out of embarrassment, anger, or perhaps even affection, youâve come to the point where it doesnât matter to you anymore. All you want is to spark more of these reactions out of him, ignoring how that makes you just as weird as he is.
A genuine and amused smile musters itself up on your lips, and you start giggling. âThe fuck are you laughing about?â He spits, and you just wave him off.Â
Youâve learned how to handle his remarks and know how to retort to them, which makes everything funnierâfor you at least.Â
The whole evening plays out like this: both of you talking over dinner with Naoya making stupid assumptions about youâbeing all serious about them too, and all you do is tell him off and counter with a question of your own. These are typically followed by Naoya adding his own two cents.
Your face takes on an expression of disgust as you take a sip from your drink. âEw.â Slightly sticking your tongue on as the alcohol further enveloped your mouth.
âAww, canât even hold a little alcohol?â The man across from you coos mockingly and takes a sip of his own. He sets down his glass and gives you a smug grin.
âNope, just reminded me of this one drink that I had in senior year that made me black out so bad, and in the morning, Tsumiki told me that she had to wipe all my vomit away.â You laugh softly as you recall the night it happened. âHonestly thought youâd be like super against a woman drinking,â You say, glass still in your hand and swirling the liquid inside around. â'Cause youâre like..â You pause for a moment.
Conservative, stuck up, an asshole
Ideas are popping up in your head, but you do your best to shake them off and attempt to find the right words. âConsidering youâre so..traditional?â You say weakly.
âTraditional?â Naoya repeats your words, his expression unreadable. âTraditional.â You say again, your lips pressed into a thin line. The man slowly nods his head, "Traditional." He concludes and shoots you a blank stare.
Heâs probably noticed it too, but youâre getting to know each other more over this date, and youâd be lying to yourself if you said that you didnât enjoy thisânot like youâd ever tell Naoya.
His eyes leave yours, and he starts fiddling with his cutlery again. A wall of silence builds up again; it stands steady in its place, and youâre not sure if youâre the one to take the first step to climb over it.
Thereâs no one else in the restaurantâjust the two of you. The only sounds that are being made are when the metal meets the porcelain again, but other than that, you donât find a way to fend this unbearable quietness away.Â
When you take today into account, your first date with Naoya and all the times at work you spent bickering with him, you realize Tsumiki might be right.
You do like Naoyaâas absurd as that even sounds. Admittedly, you're not sure yourself why you like him; all you know is that this attraction towards him only seems to grow by the minute.
Maybe you seriously need to check if youâre a masochist or something, because you donât think any sane person would admit to liking Naoya Zenin.Â
Suddenly, the sound of metal clattering against the table plays, and it rips you out of your thoughts.Â
âIs it true,â Naoya starts off and looks up from his plate, and with his words, he tears the wall built out of each unsaid word down. âThat you wanted to go out with me just to take advantage of my money?â
Once again, no matter how much you try to study his face, only stone-cold eyes meet yours, behind which his emotions are locked. Itâs like heâs trying to test you and base his reaction on your response.
Caught off guard, youâre uncertain what you should say at this moment, so you just tell him the first thing that comes to your mind. âNo, Megumi gave me money.â
Seeing the way his forehead creases and the way he slams his hand on the table tells you that this wasn't the answer he was hoping for. âOh, so you're paid to be here?âÂ
âWell,â you begin, still unsure of what to say. âYes?â You confirm after a while and immediately regret your words. âNo!â You hastily added, but Naoyaâs reaction only seemed to worsen with every passing second, so you just kept on talking, hoping that thereâd be one answer that satisfied him. âKind of?â
Naoya is quick to respond with a question of his own. âOh, is that so?â He asks, voice sharp as a knife's edge. âThought you were a gold digger, it turns out youâre actually just a lying bitch. Shouldâve expected that from you.â He huffs and rolls his eyes.Â
Something churns in your stomach. Taken aback, all you can do at this moment is snap back at him. âSorry?â You shout at him in disbelief. Feet already rising to take your leave. How did talking about embarrassing high school memories turn into him calling you names?
Everythingâs happening all at once and too fast for you to comprehend;Â the best thing you could do right now is to remove yourself from this conversation. âAnd here I thought you were actually pretty nice for once.â You donât tell him that itâs more than thatâthat you actually considered thisâconsidered him.
As you stand up and walk away, Naoya steadies himself on the table with his hand before stepping forward to grab your wrist, his grip tight on your arm. He stands close nowâmere inches away from youâhe doesnât say anything, but the way his hot breath fans against your nape tells you that heâs seething.
You shake his hand off and turn away from him, quickening your pace as you bolt off. âHey! You still need to pay!â He screams furiously after you.
âShut up!â You turn your head around and yell back at him from behind your shoulder. âI know that you already paid, dickhead! That server couldnât shut up for his fucking life!â Those were your last words before storming off, leaving Naoya alone in the empty restaurant.
Just when you thought this might turn into a serious thing, everything went down the river.
One and a half monthsâyouâve been living like this for a good almost two months, and if it werenât for the pay, you wouldâve already slammed the resignation papers on his desk.
Because why is it that another Friday night of yours with Tsumiki goes to waste, to meet Naoya? Not that you asked him out for a dateâitâs a work celebration dinner, which means there are several other employees with you to fill the awkward silence, because you really didnât want to engage in a conversation with Naoya.
Unfortunately for you, it was just your luck that you landed at the same table as Naoya.
Usually, six to eight people were sitting together at a table, but a few employees called in sick today, so there was one table that accommodated fewer people than the others, and it just so happened that you and Naoya got assigned together at this tableâtalk about a coincidence.
Next to you sat a blue-haired girl not much older than you, whom youâve never seen aroundâmost likely a new employeeâand kept sliding against her chair, presumably nervous that she was sitting at the same table as Naoya.Â
She keeps shooting hopeful glances at you, hoping youâd open your mouth and say something to start a conversation. Honestly, you felt bad, cause you know how stressful a first-time work dinner can be when you donât know anyone, but you really didnât want to talk to Naoya or anyone from work right now.
Youâll make it up to her someday.
Naoya sat right across from you, gawking at you from time to time, and youâd just roll your eyes at him. Next to him sat someone whom you didnât know, but from the looks Naoya was giving him, you assumed that he didnât like him much either.
It was plain obvious that the guy was drunk from the way he was talking and continuously threw his arms over Naoyaâs shoulder, attempting to act all buddy-buddy with him, to his dismay, Naoya kept angrily shoving him away.
âSay, Mr. Naoya, is it true you wanna marry?â The man slurs over his words before laughing to himself. Naoya shows minimal reaction; only a mere disapproving look tells that heâs not enjoying himself. âWhat about it?â He eventually says dryly.
Hearing Naoyaâs words, the manâs smile widens in happiness. âYou already got someone in,â He gulps and mutters a small sorry under his breath, all while laughing and brushes himself over the chest before continuing. âMind?â He finalises.
His question catches your attention, and for the first time this evening, you fully look at Naoya, whoâs already wearing a grin on his face that tells you that heâs up to no good. Naoya sighs dramatically before carding his fingers through his hair. Itâs as if he needs to muster up his courage before revealing his answer.Â
Naoya takes a good look at you before turning to his side. âYeah, Iâve got someoââ You donât get to hear the rest of his answers, because a scream erupts next to you. âI think my food just moved!â The girl next to you exclaimed as she squats on her chair and points at the bowl in front of her with her chopsticks.
âMiwa, stop messing around.â The voice from across the table half-shouts, and in response, she just frantically shakes her head. âI saw it move just now!â She squeals.âPinky promise, cross my heart, hope to die, I swear!â
She continues to ramble on for a while, and you canât help but let an exasperated sigh escape your lips. âYou have to put it in the broth, and it'll cook automatically then.â You tell her calmly, taking your chopsticks into your hand, and show her how to do it properly.
Her mouth takes the shape of an o, and she freezes for a moment. âOh, so thatâs how you do it.â She chuckles sheepishly and puts her hand on the back of her hair in embarrassment. Miwaâas you know nowâpicks up her chopsticks to place the meat in her bowl, but it just so happens that when she reaches over to grab the meat off the plate, the table topples and her bowl loses its balance.
The bowl falls over before you can even process what just happened. The bowl now lies on the table with the broth leaking all over the surface, some of it dripping down on your lap. âOh my god, Iâm so so sorry!â Miwa puts her hands over her mouth and shouts apologetically.Â
âItâs fine. This happens to everyone.â You give her a half-hearted smile as youâre reminded of when you spilled wine all over Naoya. âIâll get some tissues from the restroom.â You slide your chair backwards in order to stand up, but Miwa stops you by holding down your hands.
She keeps them tightly in her hands, as if she needs to keep them in a chokehold, and shakes her head as she looks down at the floor. âNo, it was my fault. Let me do this. Iâll clean this up.â She looks up at you with a pleading look, and you canât help but feel bad for her.
You donât think sheâll let go of you unless you give in to her request. âOkay,â Miwaâs eyes are practically sparkling as soon as the words leave your mouth, and her hold on your hands tightens. âStill, I'd like to go outside, â on my own, you think to yourself before throwing a bored glance at Naoya. âSo, can you let me go?â You ask her politely, looking down at your intertwined hands.
âOh,â She yelps. âYeah, sure, sorry!â She says in a docile tone, and her grip on your hands quickly loosens. âThanks.â You murmur and smile at her. Miwa hastily stands up and joins you. She mumbles a quiet see you later and disappears into the restroom.Â
Before going outside, you make sure to look behind you, ensuring that Naoya isnât making any moves on following you. Either way, he seems occupied with the colleague next to him, so he wonât be a problemâfor now.
Outside, in the parking lot, a cold gust of wind greets you, and you canât help but regret leaving your jacket inside, but you have no intention of returning back inside right now. Youâd rather freeze to death out here than hear Naoya open his mouth once more.
Cheerful, but obnoxious laughter fills the air, and you turn your head to the source of commotion. A group of older male colleagues stands together not too far away from you. Youâve walked past some of them once, bowed your head to show respect, or greeted them out of politeness.Â
But the way that all of them were looking at you and exchanged knowing glances with each other made something in your stomach twist. Itâs only then that one of the men emerges from the group and makes his way over to you.Â
Heâs a good head taller than you; from his position, youâre sure he can see the way your neck shivers as he comes closer to your face. âWhatâs a pretty thing like you doing out here alone?â He asks and reaches out for the strand of your hair thatâs been blown away by the wind.Â
Goosebumps are rising all over you, met with the fear of not knowing what happens next. Iâm just here to catch some air, but Iâll go back in now.â You manage to dodge his touch by a hairsbreadth, and you notice the way his expression immediately sours. âHave a good evening.â You mutter, and you hope he doesnât notice the way you tremble as you nod your head at him.Â
âGoing already?â The man is quick to latch onto your wrist, and you feel how everything stops for you. âIâm sorry.â You stutter. âBut I really have to go now.â Your words just seem to worsen his mood; in response to that, the grip he has on you becomes tighterâsuffocating.
The manâs lips curve into a smile. âItâll be fun, okay?â He assures, but his eyes deceive his words; whatever he plans to do isnât going to be fun in the slightest.Â
âThat girl canât do shit. Help her, will you?â A loud voice shouts over to you, one you recognize in an instant, and for the first time this evening, youâre glad that heâs here.
Naoya strides over to where you are. Simultaneously, the man immediately lets go of your arm and shoves his hands in his pockets, as if thatâd help to cover the grip marks he left on your forearm.
âMr. Zenin.â The man swallows and proceeds to nod at Naoya, who doesnât plan on responding in the same manner. âHope you enjoyed this work dinner. Itâs your last.â He states and pulls you away, leaving the man baffled.Â
He yells after the two of you, but you canât make out his words from this distance. âNaoya, let me go. I have to get my things and go home.â You demand and attempt to shake him off.Â
âIs that how you repay me?â He stops in his tracks and turns around. âWell,â you start, the words lying on the tip of your tongue. âThanks for just now, but I seriously just wanna get my things.âÂ
âWoman, listen. Iâll drive you home.â He says, voice nor face betraying himâheâs serious about this.
A beat of silence passes, and if it werenât for Naoyaâs hand holding yours, youâd think this was some sort of dream.
After a while, you manage to say a few words. âPlease donât?â And take a step away from him. âAlso, youâre not allowed to drive when you drink.â You remind him, because if there was one thing you didnât need now was being pulled over and getting a ticket for driving under the influence.
âBeing drunk doesnât make me an idiot.â Naoya retorts, letting go of your hand. âYouâre an asshole either way,â You scoff. âWith and without alcohol.âÂ
âDo you want me to drive you home now or not?
If love makes one blind, it apparently also makes one stupid, because why on earth did you agree to sleeping over at Naoyaâs place?
When you were in the car, you noticed that he wasnât driving in the right direction.
Fuck no. Iâm not driving across the whole city to bring you home.
He was even being so nice as to drop you off at this 24/7 open convenience store that sells toothbrushes and shirts, and if you didnât hurry, heâd drive off without youâif thatâs not princess treatment, then you donât know either.
Thatâs how you ended up sleeping on Naoyaâs couch for the night.
Technically, you didnât agree, more like you were forced, but if this included a cozy couch, a huge kitchen with a kitchen island, and bathrooms as big as your apartment, then maybe youâd consider it.Â
Maybe next time.
It must be nice being a nepo baby and having the privilege to spend money on everything, without worrying about ever running out of money.Â
Todayâs incident still keeps you up, and you feel a shiver running along your body as you remember how close he was to touching your skin. His smile is etched into your memory, and the way heâd talk to you plays over and over in your mind.
Itâs a memory engraved in your consciousness, and you donât know if youâll ever be able to rid this feeling of disgust and fear.
Trying to distract your head from these thoughts, you notice how cold it actually is. Does this man not heat his house? How does he even expect you to sleep well with a blanket thatâs as thin as his patience?
You donât know what made you decide to walk up the stairs and find Naoya, but youâre already here. If youâre already at it, you might as well take a look around.
The hallway is dark, and you carefully tread along the polished floors. His house is spaciousâit feels big but also incredibly empty at the same timeâyou wonder if Naoya always spends his nights alone in this cold space.
Before you left the bathroom, you spotted Naoya going into the room right at the end of the hall, assuming this must be his room. As you finally stand in front of his door, you contemplate running, but itâs not like youâre asking for a big favor. It shouldnât be as difficult as you're making it out to be.
You just want a blanket, that's everything. You're cold, thatâs everything. Naoya should help you warm up, that's everythingâ â
Three timesâyou knock a total of three times, but thereâs no answer coming from the other side of the door. Itâs only after the fourth unanswered knock that you enter his room, the door lightly squeaking as you push it open.
As you step in, youâre met with a cold breeze. âNaoya?â You call out his name, but youâre met with no response. âNaoya?â You repeat once more, hoping that heâd notice you know. Seeing that heâs not reacting, you search for the light switch, hands groping at the wall behind you until you find and turn it on.
Unsurprisingly, Naoya isnât in his bed or in his room at all. You take a look around, but canât find him anywhere; thatâs when you feel the breeze again. Now with the lights on, everything came into view, and it's only then that you notice the door to the balcony being slightly ajar.Â
You make your way over to the balcony, open the door, and step outside. âNaoya? What are you doing?â The back of his head greets you, and under the moonlit sky, you can see the way his blond hair gleams. Met with no response, you take another step forward, and now his side profile comes into your view.
Itâs eerily quiet.âWhat is it?â He takes a drag from his cigarette and ashes it down his balcony into the garden, probably hoping that in the morning the wind will blow it away. For a moment, itâs quiet, the wind quietly whistles in your ear, and the smell of smoke lingers in the air, enveloping the two of you. He looks good like this, dressed in casual attire, wearing a relaxed look on his face, and behaving unusually silent.
You canât take your eyes off Naoya.
Although he always tries to act all distant, Naoya takes everything personally and is always up to confront someone about it, too. âWhat are you looking at so dumbly?â He growls, and you can feel the corners of your lips twitching. âFor someone whoâs so traditional, you sure donât give a shit about your lungs.â
âDo you even inhaleâŠthe smoke?â You laugh, quirking an eyebrow, observing him skeptically. âThe fuck are you saying?â He ashes off his cigarette again. âWell, you're just taking puffs.â You point at his cigarette and then at him. âSomeone knows shit,â he scoffs and turns away from you. âTalk about fucked up lungs.âÂ
You donât dwell too long on his words and change the topic. âDid anyone ever tell you that youâre a terrible host?â You sneer and lean against the railing. âYou think it's funny to insult me?â If he doesnât ash off his cigarette very soon, itâll go out immediately, but you donât tell him that. âWell, weâre not at work, so I really couldnât care less.â
âWhy are you even awake? Donât you need your beauty sleep?â Naoya jokes, tone filled with mild condescension. âIâll take that as a compliment.â You say dryly and turn to meet him. âI just couldnât. What about you?â
Naoya finally ashes off his cigarette, so that only the butt of it is burning now, and he smudges it against the railing before chucking it down. âI was thinking about marriage.â He admits and smirks at you.
You ignore the way your heart tightens at his words and laugh it off. âHow much?â It doesnât take a genius to see that Naoya is irritated by your words. âHow much what?â
âHow much are you paying her to marry you?â You finally say and let out a final laugh. Naoyaâs face seems to relax at your words, and he asks a question of his own. âHow much are you getting paid?â
âThatâs secret information.â You deadpan and side-eye him. âNot like I donât know already.â Naoya sneers. âWhy are you even asking theâ Oh my god! Were you hitting on me just now?Â
âYouâre practically eye-fucking me every time I walk into the room.â He says it like itâs a fact. âDo you hear yourself?â You exclaim in disbelief, taking a step back from him.Â
Every time you take a step away from him, he takes a step forward. It goes on so long until your back meets the wall, and your eyes widen, knowing that Naoya has you exactly where he wants.Â
He leans forward and presses his hand against the wall, before nudging your ear with his nose. âJust admit it.â He whispers before backing away and smirking.Â
Itâs in this moment that you just let go of everythingâincluding your sanity, and give in to your desires. You cup his cheeks in your hands and pull him downwards to press your lips against hisâan action he quickly reciprocates.Â
He tastes of tobacco; usually, you dislike the taste, but there are some exceptions, and Naoya seems to be one of them. On him, it tastes comforting and soothing, although nothing is comforting about the way he kisses you.Â
His tongue darts over your lower lip, and before you can even grant him full access, he pushes his tongue in your mouth, and you involuntarily let out a high-pitched sound. Your hands find his hair to yank him down, and his roam beneath your shirt, his hands freezing cold as they press against your warm skin.
Only when you push him off to catch your breath does he stop kissing you, and his hands retreat from your skin.
You donât even get a full minute to breathe properly before Naoya pushes himself on you again, but you hold him in his place before he can slot his lips on yours again, your eyes warning him not to go any further.
To your surprise, Naoya actually seems to follow your warning and steps back. Itâs far enough so that he no longer breathes right into your face, but still near enough for you to see him up close and observe his features.
He seems to have noticed, and a wide grin forms on his face as he raises both his arms into the air, as if heâs been accused of something.Â
âDonât give me that face.â Naoya coos in faux sympathy. âTo make it up to you, how does going on a third date sound to you?â
END NOTE: i have an admission to make...i didnt even watch the new season yet...lol
SYNOPSIS: When youâre set up to go on a date with your companyâs bossâs youngest son, Naoya Zenin, it was supposed to be a mere play-pretend relationship. But what happens when you actually catch feelings along the way?
WORDCOUNT: 10.7k (don't ask me how) | CONTENT & WARNINGS: naoya is a warning himself so you can already guess whats about to come, reader doesn't want to deal with his bs but she also can't help being attracted to him (same), ooc!naoya, bicker/banter, smoking, kissing, drinking; oneshot
TAG LIST: @aritsukemo, @sugary-strawberry-shortcake
AUTHOR'S NOTE: he's too fine to be doing ts bruh
âLetâs pay then.âÂ
Across the white-clad table sits none other than your companyâs boss's son: Naoya Zenin, wearing a now red-stained dress shirt that, unfortunately, looks too good on him, and is raising his hand to call out to the waitress for the bill. Â
Not even in your dreams would you ever go on a date with Naoya Zenin, so how'd you get tangled up in this mess?
From your workplace to the bar it takes around half an hour by train and five more minutes on foot. It takes some time, but in the meantime you spend observing the people you pass by. Â
There are other people like youâbusinesspeople commuting and tiredly staring at their phones, checking the time, teenage girls dressed in short skirts and hiding bottles of absolute vodka in their absolutely too small purses, students who look like theyâre on the brink of exhaustion and just want to lie down in their beds.
Back in high school, you thought everyone was exaggerating when they told you to enjoy your school and college times to the fullest, because âthose were the times when youâd see your friends the most.â
Joke's on you, because it turned out to be exactly as people described.
Nowadays, you are barely able to meet most of your friends, work gets in the way, someoneâs planning their wedding, and others are travelling the globe.
But there was one person you could always count on: your best friend Tsumiki. After graduation, when everyone started going their own separate ways, the two of you stayed together.Â
Despite everything that was happening, the two of you managed to meet every Friday in a bar of your choice and enjoyed a good glass of âwhateverâ together after an exhausting day of work.
Especially after today, first of all, your alarm didnât go off, and you barely managed to arrive in time; secondly, the printer decided that today would be a good day to give up, so you had to run to the copy shop down the street during your lunch break and if this wasnât enough, one of your co-workers called in sick for the beginning of next week, so now you have to pitch in for them during next weekâs report.Â
The meetings werenât bad per se; all you had to do was update your superiors about what your department was working on, the good things, the things that are still in the process, and new ideas. What was bad was with whom you had to do them, simply because you didn't know which of his sons your CEO would send this time.Â
The Zenin family has some kind of twisted sense of humor, because, yes, theyâre one of the most successful companies, but their way of treating their employees? Well, all you can hope for is that not one of the younger sons will be the one to evaluate you.
The train comes to a halt and announces the station's name; your cue to exit. Itâs a short walk, but you can still feel the ache in your feet from walking around in heels the whole day. Luckily for you, you arrive in no time.
As soon as the bell, which is strung to the door, rings, Tsumiki turns around and waves you over, delighted that you made it. Except her younger brother Megumi was here this timeâhis boyfriend Itadori tooâalong with their best friend Kugisaki.Â
Tsumiki slides over to the side to make room for you to set your bag down before sitting next to her. âWhat's your little brother doing here?â you eye Megumi, although he doesn't seem to pay much mind to it.Â
On the other hand, Yuji looks like heâs about to explode from nervousnessâKugisaki tooâbut from laughter.
âYou see,â she pauses for a moment and shoots you a sheepish smile. "He wanted to talk to you about something.â
âSo, you're telling me your family is fine with you marrying a man,â you recap what Megumi has just told you, âbut they draw the line at you getting married before Naoya?â Your finger traces along the rim of your glass, and you grimace, bewildered.
From your peripheral view, you can see Tsumiki and Kugisaki giggling to one another. âTrust me, I wouldnât go as far as asking you if I hadnât already tried everything else.â Megumi deadpans.
Thereâs a pregnant silence spanning around the room between Megumi's statement and your answer. âAnd now,â you begin, still not being able to wrap your head around this whole thing going on, âyou want me to go out with your cousin?âÂ
âMy condolences.â Kugisaki chirps in, âMaki told me that every time theyâre on family vacation together, he listens to these black pill songs in the shower.â She remarks. âLike unironically!â
Although he tries to hide it by muffling his mouth with his hand, Itadori is smiling from ear to ear. âHeâs on some crazy looksmaxxing shit.â He adds.
Next to him Megumi lets out an exasperated breath and side-eyes his friend before turning his attention on you again. âIâve never said anything about going out,â He drawls. âThose are your words now.â
Upon his words, you canât help but scoff. âIs âgo on a date with my cousinâ not the same as going out?â you exclaim, but youâve known Megumi long enough to know that heâs serious about this. âMegumi, he's my supervisor. I canât afford to lose my position.â A sigh accompanies your words.
âI know that, and I usually wouldnât even do this, but Naoya knows I want to marry, so heâs purposefully ruining every date his father sets him on.â Megumi furrows his eyebrows in frustration. âWell, heâs also an asshole, so the dates never work out,â Itadori adds offhandedly, before picking up his glass to empty it.
The conversation drifts from Megumi, Itadori, and Kugisaki commenting on the situation. âYou just have to pretend to like him, and as soon as he's like âyeah, sheâs the oneâ you can cut out the bullshit.â Kugisaki shrugs as if it were the easiest thing in the world.Â
âIâm only allowed to marry when heâs found someone, so please.â If you didn't know any better, Megumi is practically begging you to go out with Naoya.
âBut Megumi, my jobââ you interfere to make him stop, but heâs quick to cut you off before you can finish your sentence. âIâll also pay and handle the consequences. So please,â he frowns.
âCome on, it'll be a good story to tell your kids.â Tsumiki giggles, and you see the way thereâs a cheerful smile tugging at her lips. âYours and Naoyaâs kids, by the way.â Kugisaki comments, and Megumi throws her a blank stare. âDonât jinx it, Nobara.â Megumi mumbles and nudges her arm.Â
âFine, but I canât promise anything.â You tap your fingers against the wooden surface, already overcome with regret.
In all honesty, youâre not sure what made you agree; maybe it was the fact that the alcohol already took its effect, the pleading eyes Itadori threw at you, or the big stack of money Megumi slid over the table that kept growing every second you didnât answer.
Megumi sighs, his body visibly begins to relax, and the tension that was residing on his face starts to fade away. It wasnât obvious, but there was a small smile gracing his lips. âThank you.â
Okay, so, you lied. There are many things youâd do for your best friendâsheâs your better half after all, your soulmate, and unfortunately also the older sister of the guy who dragged you in this situation.Â
Sure, you like Megumi a lot and you really tried to give it your best to make this date somehow work, but your body gets a physical reaction as soon as Naoya Zenin dares to open his mouthâyouâd rather rip your ears off than listen to him talk any longer.
Honestly, he looks like heâd rather be anywhere else than here. For the past 40 minutes, heâs done nothing but pick apart his food, and see if âthey cooked it to his likingâ, glance at his wristwatch to see how much of your time he can still waste, or call for the waiter for the nth time to complain about the wine ânot being fermented enoughâ.Â
Admittedly, youâre no better. There are a couple of women sitting at the table behind you gossiping, and you canât help but overhear what theyâre talking about. Just as the one girl was getting to the interesting part, complaining about how her ex-boyfriend took his new girlfriend to the same restaurant she recommended to him on their first date, Naoya speaks up, and your eyes widen in surprise as he calls out to you.
âYouâre a friend of Megumi?â he doesnât even look at you as he asks and just continues cutting his food. The metal knife scratches against the porcelain plate and creates an unpleasant shrieking noise. âFriend of his sister,â you correct him and mimic him by dragging your fork along your plate.
Naoya's face contorts into an expression of disdain and finally spares you a glance. âHe told me youâre a friend of his, I thought at least someone whoâd I knew,â his amused remark, ânot some nobody.â is followed by tsk.
You donât answer, you donât want to answer, and you know better than to answer him because thatâs what he wantsâfor you to indulge in his provocations. But with every passing minute of him throwing blank stares at you, your resolve crumbles.
Instead, you pick up your glass of red wine thatâs been untouched the entire evening, because Naoya was whining left and right about the restaurant being some âtasteless tentâ whose food is âno better than dog foodâ.
To your surprise, the wine was really nice; it wasnât too sour, contrary to the cheap bottle you used to buy at your local corner shop when you and Tsumiki always tried to convince the cashier that you were old enough to buy alcohol.
Additionally, it was also just sweet enough for you to taste out the alcohol. Heâs got a good tasteâyouâll give him that.
Itâs like heâs watching you, because the second you put down your glassâmind you, not even a split second after it sits on the table againâNaoya dares to open his mouth again.Â
âWhatâs your job?â he asks, and you already sense the mocking intent behind his words. âI work at a company,â you say mindlessly and pick up your glass again to take a sip.
Sooner or later, heâd find out anywayâeven if youâd prefer not toâbut youâve already decided: this might be one of the top 5 worst dates youâve ever been on.
Also, itâs not like youâve lied to him anyway; itâs a white lie at best, and the chances of you ever running into Naoya ever again, in a workplace with hundreds of workers, are little to none.Â
Either way, he probably wouldnât recognise you anyway.
âNot a good paying one,â he smirks and diverts his eyes towards your body, âI can tell by the clothes you're wearing.âÂ
Well, this date just moved up to the top 4 worst dates ever.
You furrow your eyebrows in annoyance. âWhat can I say?â you let out a dry chuckle. âMy superior is a pain to be around and doesn't know where to invest his money.â Your words are followed by a mere shrug.
âOh yeah?â he asks, probably intending to interrogate you further. If it werenât Naoya Zenin asking you, youâd think it was almost a romantic gesture.
Keyword: almost.Â
âYeah.â You give him a tight-lipped smile, not willing to feed into his provocations any further. But, this doesnât tip men like Naoya offâmen who make it their purpose to ruin someone.Â
âHm, you were able to eat everything,â he crosses his arms over his chest, âIâm impressed.â He remarks mockingly, before taking a small sip from his glass. âItâs not often you meet a woman who has such a big appetite.â This time, he simply grins, and you hate to admit it, but his words are slowly getting under your skin.Â
Top 3 worst dates ever.
âYeah, you could learn from me.â You advise. âIf youâd actually eat the food they served you instead of whining, maybe youâd shut up for once.â
This finally seems to do the trick because you can see the way his jaw is tightening. âYou should learn how to behave like a proper woman.â Itâs quite funny seeing him lose his composure over such a measly comment. Itâs evident that he doesn't plan on giving up on harassing you. âI wonder who even hired someone like you.âÂ
Top 2 worst dates ever.
Well, he wonât have to ponder on it too longâshould he ever realize you work at the same company. âA woman should know where she belongs, and itâs certainly not at work.â He finalizes.
Well, this date officially took the first place for the worst date youâve ever been on.
Actually, what if this were your 13th reason? You donât respond to his comments, not because you want to give him the satisfaction heâs been looking for or agree with him, but because you know where you stand, and actually know what self-respect is. And you certainly know that Naoya isnât worth putting in effort for.
âOkay, so this isnât working out. Itadori, right when he said you're an asshole.â You sigh as you lean back in your chair, already hinting that youâre about to leave. Naoya has the audacity to tsk âThat guy just wants to marry his little boyfriend. I donât even know why you bother so much.â he cocks his head to the side, smirking at you.
There are certain levels of low, and you mightâve actually reached the lowest, because, yeah, this family affair is none of your business, and you shouldnât meddle in other peopleâs lives this much, but it seems Naoya never knows when to keep his mouth shut and when not. âOh my god, would it kill you not to have the last word for once?â you groan, and in the midst of your complaint, your hand hits your half-full wine glass and knocks it over.Â
Thereâs nothing you can do to stop the liquid from escaping the glass; it already ruined the white tablecloth and spilled onto Naoyaâs (now once) white dress shirt.
âFuck, I didnât plan for this to happen,â you hastily say and attempt to clean the table by soaking up the drink with napkins, unfortunately to no avail. âCan you women even do anything?â Naoya puts his hands on either side of the table and snaps at you.Â
His eyebrows scrunch up together in anger, and he tightly grips the tablecloth. This guyâs seriously got some screws loose. âLet's just pay,â he groans, sinking into his chair with his body still tensed up.Â
Upon seeing his stretched-out arm, the waitress rushes over almost immediately. âTook you long enough.â Naoya snides under his breath, but loud enough for her to hear, and you canât help but roll your eyes at his remark.Â
âThe bill, Sir? How would you like to pay?â The waitress nervously puts down the bill; there are more digits than you can count on one hand, and you hurriedly glance over to Naoya.
A mistake on your side.
Naoya, being Naoya, seizes the opportunity, âYouâre so full of yourself, right woman? Weâll split the bill then.â The playful smile that's tugging at the end of his lips doesn't go unnoticed.
For a moment, the waitress is taken aback, but she just nods, knowing itâs probably better not to ask any questions. She simply glances at you, but youâre just as, if not even more, surprised as she was just now and yelp out a loud âWhat?!â
Thereâs been a handful of terrible and right out awful dates youâve been on, but you doubt nothing will ever come close to this one.Â
Once there was a guy who stood you up 5 minutes prior to the date, then there was a guy who kept ranting about his best friend and how great she was, basically using you to get over her, and you donât even want to recall the other incidents; either way, youâre pretty sure that youâve blocked them out anyway.
Nonetheless, all of them always paid for the first dateâitâs basic courtesy and a simple, polite gesture, and you're certain that Naoyaâa man who has more money than senseâcan afford to pay for a first date.
At this point, youâre already so tired out from this date that you donât even have the strength in you to talk back anymore; instead, you rummage through your purse for your wallet. It doesnât take you long to find it, and when you do, you take out a handful of bills and slam them down on the table.Â
âHope youâre happy, asshole.â You feign a smile before taking your leave.Â
Well, the massive stash of money that Megumi gave you now didn't seem like such a big exaggeration anymore.
Not even a week has passedâto be precise, itâs been more than one day and a few hours since youâve seen him on your terrible date on Saturday.
Karmaâs a bitch, but so is Naoya Zenin.Â
The colleague you were supposed to fill in for still wasnât back, and now it was up to you, alongside a few other colleagues, to update your superiors on this month's work. Usually, these meetings donât take all too long; you just hope that this will be over soon and you can return to your cubicle and pretend youâre doing something on your computer.
When you stepped into the conference room, your eyes drifted around the room. The lightning here was unpleasant, bright white lights that illuminated the room, similar to hospital lights. A few people already sat down and chattered with one another, and others were frantically scrolling through their tablets to look over their notes again.
Soon, people started to flood in, and you barely managed to take in the room before finally sitting down yourself. The meeting was about to start, and the crowd that gathered at the front of the room started to scatter in different directions to sit down. Only then, when you glanced in the now empty direction, you spotted himâsurprise would be an understatementâyour eyes widened in shock when you saw that it was Naoya out of all the people sitting across the room.Â
To make matters worse, he was already looking at you, and before you knew it, you locked eyes with him. You didnât even have to second-guess what heâs thinking, his face says enoughâhe doesnât look particularly pleased to see you.Â
What a great way to start off your day.
Overall, the meeting went fine, it began with people presenting their achievements and how they wished to improve, but it didnât even look like Naoya was listening.Â
From time to time, heâd let out a tired yawn here and there, not even bothering to hide his boredom; sometimes, heâd also pretend to listen when in reality he was just playing with his helix and glance in your direction.
Considering how irksome this meeting was for him, you thought that heâd stop looking at you after a while, that heâd find himself a new distraction. Still, even as you teared your eyes away from him and concentrated on the colleague who was speaking, you could practically feel the way he was shooting daggers at the side of your head.
When it was finally your turn to speak, you tried to look at everyone but Naoya, which was hard when he was tracking your every move. He looks like heâs just waiting for the right momentâthe decisive moment where you slip up and he can attack. Just at the thought of that or Naoya in general, your vision turned green.Â
It took every ounce of willpower in you not to let your revulsion show on your face, because knowing how the Zenin family is, theyâd punish your whole department for even glancing at Naoya in the wrong way.
After a few other presentations, a round of questions, and a praise from Naoyaâwhich looked like it physically hurt him to say those words out loudâyou were permitted to leave.
âYou over there, stay here.â You immediately freeze on the spot upon hearing his words, peering at the people beside you to check if he means them, despite knowing that he was directly referring to you, even if you wished he werenât.
Around you, the people stop in their tracks, curiosity piqued, and you feel all the eyes in the room landing on you. âWere any of you even listening?â Naoya clicks his tongue in annoyance. âI told you to leave unless any of you insist on working more.â As soon as he said the words, everyone disappeared as fast as possible.Â
All you could do was helplessly watch after them, wishing that you were them. Â
âTurn around, will you?â If being in the same room as Naoya wasnât bad enough already, youâre now alone with him. You do as youâre told and face him. âWhat's someone like you doing here?â His words are laced with a distaste that you could only reciprocate. âI work here.â You reply curtly, knowing that thatâs not the answer he sought. âYou think youâre so funny.â He spits plainly, and you have to bite the inside of your cheek to prevent yourself from bursting out laughing on the spot.Â
âWhy didnât you tell me that you were working here?â He demands angrily, and this time, you canât help but let out a small laugh. âSorry, sorry,â you giggle after a while. âHonestly, at first I had my doubts, but the money convinced me.â You admit giddily, but it doesnât take long for you to realize that anger has risen to Naoyaâs face.
âYou want the money so bad?â He exclaims, irritation written all over his face, âWell then, work for it. You have nothing against working more, no?â He states, and that bullshit-eating grin of his tells you that heâs serious.
âBut Sir, thatâs against the rulââ You say, taken aback by his statement, âI donât give two shits. For a month, youâll be working more, and maybe youâve learned your lesson until then.â And the smile he gives you is eerily similar to the one you gave him on your dateâa smile full of condescension.
Yeah, you really hate this guy.
Itâs been a week since then, and you canât recall all the times someone came up to you and attempted to talk to you about you and Naoya. Thereâs been an absurd wave of rumors surging towards you every day.Â
Some claim that Naoya is your ex-husband, now turned superior; others suspect that you slept with him, consequently got pregnant, and he told you to abort the child, and during lunch break, you hear the young interns gossip about how Naoya probably made a move on you.
Obviously, each of these suspicions was false; you denied them every time, accentuating how you would never in your life voluntarily get in touch with Naoya Zenin unless youâd fallen on your head, lost all your memories, forgot his awful personality, and only wanted him for his nice looks.
You dislike Naoya for many things, but thereâs one thing youâll give himâheâs handsome. His eyes are both enticing and sharp, as if to lure you in, but then seize the moment to devour you when you let your guard down.Â
It happened to you once that a âheâs kinda fineâ slipped out of your mouth, and people immediately started to tease you about how they knew that you liked him. Apparently, there was âthe look of loveâ in Naoyaâs eyes every time he walked past you with a loving smile adorning his lips, and how you always returned his gaze fondly with a smile of your ownâwhatever thatâs supposed to mean.
If only they knew that the way Naoya looked at you was to make sure that you were working the extra task he assigned to you, before mocking you, and grinning as he saw you struggling with those tasks that take ridiculously long, and were simultaneously the most useless.Â
Also, the way you looked at him was a simple glare and a faux smile thatâs supposed to ease his âworriesâ of you âslacking off at work,â as he liked to call it.
Still, people come up with new, stupid ideas every other hour, and it was embarrassing how easily they got under your skin.
Along with the fact that Naoya does absolutely nothing to stop the rumors makes it ten times worse. (And because everyoneâs probably too scared to even approach him.)
Now you were beginning to understand what people meant by corporate-slaves, because this felt like some sleep-eat-work-repeat lifestyle, which you certainly did not want to live. However, itâs just 2 more weeks, and youâre free from this hell.
Although if there was one thing you were looking forward to, it was your weekly meeting with Tsumiki, only this time you came late. When you had the chance at work, you texted Tsumiki that you wouldnât make it in time today, and she only read and responded to your messages when she was already at the bar, saying that sheâd wait for you with a little surprise.
When you finally arrived, it took you a minute to look around and find herâit was a lot fuller than usual. Then, when you finally saw Tsumiki, you hugged her and apologized gullibly. âHey, Miki. Sorry that I kept you waiting.â You sigh before slumping down on the leather seats.
Tsumiki gives you a warm smile and makes room for you to sit closer. âNo worries.â She says sweetly before pouring herself another shot. âWhat took you so long?â She asks curiously and downs the glass. Once again, Megumi, Itadori, and Kugisaki sit at the table. Itâs obvious why theyâre here, but youâre not in the mood to talk to them about it.
âNaoyaâs ass ordered me to work longer, but please let's not talk about him.â You groan in annoyance, and as if on instinct, Tsumiki pours you a glass and hands it to you, smilingly. âHe has the power to do that?â The voice comes from across the tableâthe one who spoke up was Kugusaki. âApparently.â You shrug your shoulders before drinking from the glass.
Itâs silent for a while, and you notice that the air in the atmosphere has shifted. Itâs weird, but youâre not bothered enough to askâat least not yet. The evening goes by with a couple more rounds of drinks, stalking old classmates on social media, unrealistic âwhat-ifâ and âwhat-would-you-ratherâ scenarios, and more drinks.
âOkay, okay, I think thatâs enough.â Tsumiki asserts after a while and looks to the others for help. âUgh, seriously.â You utter in frustration. âIf heâd stop behaving like some male tradwife, Iâd actually go out with him.âÂ
The others observe you as you rant. âI mean, yeah, Iâll stay by my word, heâs fine as fuck, but someone needs to tell him to shut up, I swear.â You ramble. âHeâs actually so my type looks-wise, and you know if he wasnât him, I'd definitely date him.â When the words leave your mouth, you see how the others are throwing confused stares at each other before they land on you.
âSo, whoâs âheâ?â Megumi questions cautiously. âNaoya.â You muffle, voice already feeling hoarse, and Tsumiki hands you a glass of water. âUnfortunately.â You wipe your mouth with the sleeve of your blouse after the admission.
Suddenly, Itadori jumps up and puts his hands on the wooden table. âWell, then itâs your lucky day!â And you can practically see the way his eyes shine as he announces. âNaoya asked you on a second date.â
âA second what?â You cough on your water, and your eyes widen in shock. âA date,â Itadori repeats, all smiley. âNo, Itadori, I heard what you said, I'm just,â You pause for a moment, trying to find the right words. âNo, sorry, what?âÂ
For the first time this evening, Megumi expresses his thoughts. âThis is the first time Naoya has ever asked someone to go out with him again.â He pauses for a moment and coughs, before he mumbles something under his breath that you almost missedâ is he embarrassed? âAnd if it helps you, he kept blabbering to me about you. Which is weird, cause he usually says talking about people is a waste of breath.âÂ
âWow, how charming.â You huff dryly. He glances over Tsumiki before continuing. âMy sister already told me that youâd say no, and I donât want to force you into something you donât want to do, but,â He pauses and sighs. âHe might have actually developed some interest in you, and this is the best chance weâll ever get. So, would you mind going on a date with him again?â
âMegumi, you do know that he made me work more because I accidentally spilled wine on him, and made me do these tiresome, stupid tasks that he pulled out of his buttcrack.â You exclaim and take notice of Megumiâs frown.
Tsumiki pats on your shoulder reassuringly before glancing at Megumi. âYou know, Megs, I know you mean it well, but going on another date with Naoya would actually make me go crazy.â Her hand stays on your shoulder. âBut to me it also sounds like you kinda like him.âÂ
Her words strike you like lightning, and you immediately straighten up. âTsumiki, what the fuck?!â You screech, and you can feel the way the other customers turn around to look at you. âWell, I donât know, just a feeling.â She laughs softly. âMaybe just try it, and all of a sudden he realizes youâre like the love of his life and wants to change just for you.â She jokes.
âYeah, and then we live happily ever after.â You add, and the others join in Tsumikiâs laughter. âIâm not drunk enough for this.â You snort and rub your eyes with the pads of your fingers. âOkay, well, when does he want to meet me?âÂ
Thereâs a brief silence before Itadori breaks it. âYouâre actually agreeing?â He looks at you in bewilderment. âLike for real, for real?â He questions to ensure that he hasnât heard you wrong.
âMhm.â And you nod your head. Actually, you donât really know what made you say yes. Did you actually develop some feelings? Yeah, no. Was it the thrill of being with him? Or maybe youâve just become as unhinged as Naoya and accepted your fate; whatever it was, you were still certain in your choice and had no plan of going back on your wordâat least not yet.
âActually, already next Friday at seven,â Megumi tells you, and you stare at him in disbelief. âThatâs literally when work ends for me.â Tsumiki turns to you in confusion. âI thought work ended at six for you?â
âWell, Naoya gave me more work, so I also work longer on most days. Thatâs why I also came late today. Heâs practically setting me up.â You deadpan, and you can feel the toll your words have on the couple across from youâ how easily Megumiâs and Itadoriâs good moods were shattered.Â
Naoyaâs words replay in your head over and over. I donât even know why you bother so much. Itâs not like he was wrong, maybe you did feel something for Naoya, and this would be the only chance for you to find out without any co-workers interferingâthen itâd work out for the guys and youâcall it a win-win situation?
âBut,â And their heads immediately lifted. âIâll try my best to find a way.âÂ
Megumi and Itadori look at each other and smile. âThank you, Iâll send you the address later. I seriously owe you.â Megumi sighs in relief. âBut tell him to pay for it this time.â He furrows his eyebrows in confusion. âWhat do you mean?â If you werenât irritated already, you are now. âWell, the last time, he wanted to split the bill.â You explain.
âThatâs unlike him,â Megumi states. âHe usually always pays for the dates beforehand. Right after they ordered their food. He says it's manly.â If that were the case, then it wouldnât make sense for him to insist on only paying for his order. âWait, what?âÂ
You and Megumi look like two strangers who speak different languages and are trying to explain the same concept to one another, but the language barrier hinders you; in this case, itâs a matter of understanding the situation.
âYou know how Naoya is,â Megumi begins and bites his lower lip in the process, contemplating finding the right words.
He merely nods. âYeah, that sums it up.â The conversation continues to flow, going back and forth on different themes, and Naoya slowly fades into the background, that is, until youâre about to leave.Â
Tsumiki tilts her head to the side and speaks. âLetâs meet up on the weekend then. Canât believe Naoya is stealing my precious you-time away from me.â She grins. âYouâll have to tell me all about it then!âÂ
Outside, the rain heavily platters on the concrete, consequently staining the sidewalk with deep gray spots. With each minute passing by, youâre starting to regret this decision more and more.
The raindrops kiss the tinted car windows, blurring your view, almost like the rain is mocking you for blindly going on another date with Naoya.
On one hand, there are hundreds of thousands of excuses running around in your head that you should use to get the driver to stop, turn around, and drop you off at home again.
Then youâd just lie down, watch this one show that Tsumik kept suggesting to you these past few months.Â
âRight, so itâs like a drama about this one girl who helps out her best friend to go on dates with potential marriage candidates instead of her, and on this one date, she accidentally catches the attention of her boss!â
But thatâs the thing: when you think of Naoya, thereâs a familiar feeling bubbling in your chest, and twinges at your heartstrings, one akin to nervousness and excitementâyou know what it is, this feeling of an enjoyable thrill, filled with pleasure and doubtsâand you donât like it.
Because you know if you donât stop here, then thereâs no point going back.
After a while, the car comes to a halt, hauling you out of your thought-prison. The driver remains quiet in his seat, and itâs only when you bend forward to pay him that he lets out a deep huff of acknowledgement, before driving off.
Technically, you still have the option to run away and never look back, but your feet wonât budgeâtheyâre glued to the ground. Itâs like your body knows that you want to be here, despite denying it.
When you step inside, you notice how quiet it is: no rich folks chatter, no fancy live music, and no clattering of plates or anything of that sort.Â
At the reception, there stands a young boy, not much older than you, drowsily leaning his chin on the palm of his hand and lifelessly staring into the air. âUhm..hi?â You greet awkwardly. Only then does he seem to acknowledge your presence. âOh, sorry, hi, what can I do for you?â The boy stumbles over his words, his eyes take the form of crescent moons, and his lips twitch with an uncertain smile.Â
âIâm here on a daâ to meet Zenin.â You cough over your previous words, hoping that the waiter hasnât noticed your nervousness. âNaoya Zenin.â You manage to choke out, and the boy's eyes widen in surprise. âMr., Iâm so snobby and pay for everything, Zenin?â The boy rambles, talking to himself before realizing that you're still standing in front of him.âWait, sorry, Iâll bring you to the table right away.â He states and leads you to Naoya, whose arms are shrugged together over his chest, and he has skepticism written all over his face.
His gaze drifts over to the waiter, raising his eyebrow, and before he can say anything, the boy pulls out the chair for you, and you mutter something along the lines of a thank you before sitting down.
âYour food will be ready soon.â He says meekly while bowing down, not daring to meet the gaze of either of you. He excuses himself and rushes to leave.
He disappears, and you turn to Naoya, who looks like he just bit into a sour apple and now has to make his complaints about everyone's problem. âTwo minutes.â Naoya holds up his index and middle fingers.
âWhat?â Confused with his accusation, your eyebrow quirked up. âYouâre 2 minutes late.â He seethes and rolls up the sleeve of his shirt to point at his wristwatch. âSee, for that behavior, youâd get your pay lessened.â
Right now, you're seriously questioning yourself, and moreover, your taste in men, despite Naoya already knowing the reasonâhimâwhy do you feel a glimmer of excitement burning up in your chest talking to him again?
âVery funny.â You remark ironically, and he chuckles quietly before you change the topic. âWhyâs it so empty here?â Careful not to make any sounds, you shift in your chair and look around.Â
âHuh?â Naoyaâs face takes on a look of irritation. âI booked the whole thing,â he tells you as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.
âWhy would you do that?âÂ
âCause I wanted to spend time with you,â He gives you a half-hearted smile. âalone?â
âWhich means you want me so bad or what..?â You look at him, dumbfounded, because this wasn't how you expected to play out. When you first arrived and saw the deserted restaurant, you thought this was about to be some big prank, paranoia was crawling up your neck, and you looked for the hidden cameras everywhere.
He doesnât give you a direct answer and only says something that you make out to be a quiet "Believe what you want.â But the red blush slowly creeping up on his neck doesn't go unnoticed, and for the first time this evening, you feel like you can actually relax.
Maybe itâs out of embarrassment, anger, or perhaps even affection, youâve come to the point where it doesnât matter to you anymore. All you want is to spark more of these reactions out of him, ignoring how that makes you just as weird as he is.
A genuine and amused smile musters itself up on your lips, and you start giggling. âThe fuck are you laughing about?â He spits, and you just wave him off.Â
Youâve learned how to handle his remarks and know how to retort to them, which makes everything funnierâfor you at least.Â
The whole evening plays out like this: both of you talking over dinner with Naoya making stupid assumptions about youâbeing all serious about them too, and all you do is tell him off and counter with a question of your own. These are typically followed by Naoya adding his own two cents.
Your face takes on an expression of disgust as you take a sip from your drink. âEw.â Slightly sticking your tongue on as the alcohol further enveloped your mouth.
âAww, canât even hold a little alcohol?â The man across from you coos mockingly and takes a sip of his own. He sets down his glass and gives you a smug grin.
âNope, just reminded me of this one drink that I had in senior year that made me black out so bad, and in the morning, Tsumiki told me that she had to wipe all my vomit away.â You laugh softly as you recall the night it happened. âHonestly thought youâd be like super against a woman drinking,â You say, glass still in your hand and swirling the liquid inside around. â'Cause youâre like..â You pause for a moment.
Conservative, stuck up, an asshole
Ideas are popping up in your head, but you do your best to shake them off and attempt to find the right words. âConsidering youâre so..traditional?â You say weakly.
âTraditional?â Naoya repeats your words, his expression unreadable. âTraditional.â You say again, your lips pressed into a thin line. The man slowly nods his head, "Traditional." He concludes and shoots you a blank stare.
Heâs probably noticed it too, but youâre getting to know each other more over this date, and youâd be lying to yourself if you said that you didnât enjoy thisânot like youâd ever tell Naoya.
His eyes leave yours, and he starts fiddling with his cutlery again. A wall of silence builds up again; it stands steady in its place, and youâre not sure if youâre the one to take the first step to climb over it.
Thereâs no one else in the restaurantâjust the two of you. The only sounds that are being made are when the metal meets the porcelain again, but other than that, you donât find a way to fend this unbearable quietness away.Â
When you take today into account, your first date with Naoya and all the times at work you spent bickering with him, you realize Tsumiki might be right.
You do like Naoyaâas absurd as that even sounds. Admittedly, you're not sure yourself why you like him; all you know is that this attraction towards him only seems to grow by the minute.
Maybe you seriously need to check if youâre a masochist or something, because you donât think any sane person would admit to liking Naoya Zenin.Â
Suddenly, the sound of metal clattering against the table plays, and it rips you out of your thoughts.Â
âIs it true,â Naoya starts off and looks up from his plate, and with his words, he tears the wall built out of each unsaid word down. âThat you wanted to go out with me just to take advantage of my money?â
Once again, no matter how much you try to study his face, only stone-cold eyes meet yours, behind which his emotions are locked. Itâs like heâs trying to test you and base his reaction on your response.
Caught off guard, youâre uncertain what you should say at this moment, so you just tell him the first thing that comes to your mind. âNo, Megumi gave me money.â
Seeing the way his forehead creases and the way he slams his hand on the table tells you that this wasn't the answer he was hoping for. âOh, so you're paid to be here?âÂ
âWell,â you begin, still unsure of what to say. âYes?â You confirm after a while and immediately regret your words. âNo!â You hastily added, but Naoyaâs reaction only seemed to worsen with every passing second, so you just kept on talking, hoping that thereâd be one answer that satisfied him. âKind of?â
Naoya is quick to respond with a question of his own. âOh, is that so?â He asks, voice sharp as a knife's edge. âThought you were a gold digger, it turns out youâre actually just a lying bitch. Shouldâve expected that from you.â He huffs and rolls his eyes.Â
Something churns in your stomach. Taken aback, all you can do at this moment is snap back at him. âSorry?â You shout at him in disbelief. Feet already rising to take your leave. How did talking about embarrassing high school memories turn into him calling you names?
Everythingâs happening all at once and too fast for you to comprehend;Â the best thing you could do right now is to remove yourself from this conversation. âAnd here I thought you were actually pretty nice for once.â You donât tell him that itâs more than thatâthat you actually considered thisâconsidered him.
As you stand up and walk away, Naoya steadies himself on the table with his hand before stepping forward to grab your wrist, his grip tight on your arm. He stands close nowâmere inches away from youâhe doesnât say anything, but the way his hot breath fans against your nape tells you that heâs seething.
You shake his hand off and turn away from him, quickening your pace as you bolt off. âHey! You still need to pay!â He screams furiously after you.
âShut up!â You turn your head around and yell back at him from behind your shoulder. âI know that you already paid, dickhead! That server couldnât shut up for his fucking life!â Those were your last words before storming off, leaving Naoya alone in the empty restaurant.
Just when you thought this might turn into a serious thing, everything went down the river.
One and a half monthsâyouâve been living like this for a good almost two months, and if it werenât for the pay, you wouldâve already slammed the resignation papers on his desk.
Because why is it that another Friday night of yours with Tsumiki goes to waste, to meet Naoya? Not that you asked him out for a dateâitâs a work celebration dinner, which means there are several other employees with you to fill the awkward silence, because you really didnât want to engage in a conversation with Naoya.
Unfortunately for you, it was just your luck that you landed at the same table as Naoya.
Usually, six to eight people were sitting together at a table, but a few employees called in sick today, so there was one table that accommodated fewer people than the others, and it just so happened that you and Naoya got assigned together at this tableâtalk about a coincidence.
Next to you sat a blue-haired girl not much older than you, whom youâve never seen aroundâmost likely a new employeeâand kept sliding against her chair, presumably nervous that she was sitting at the same table as Naoya.Â
She keeps shooting hopeful glances at you, hoping youâd open your mouth and say something to start a conversation. Honestly, you felt bad, cause you know how stressful a first-time work dinner can be when you donât know anyone, but you really didnât want to talk to Naoya or anyone from work right now.
Youâll make it up to her someday.
Naoya sat right across from you, gawking at you from time to time, and youâd just roll your eyes at him. Next to him sat someone whom you didnât know, but from the looks Naoya was giving him, you assumed that he didnât like him much either.
It was plain obvious that the guy was drunk from the way he was talking and continuously threw his arms over Naoyaâs shoulder, attempting to act all buddy-buddy with him, to his dismay, Naoya kept angrily shoving him away.
âSay, Mr. Naoya, is it true you wanna marry?â The man slurs over his words before laughing to himself. Naoya shows minimal reaction; only a mere disapproving look tells that heâs not enjoying himself. âWhat about it?â He eventually says dryly.
Hearing Naoyaâs words, the manâs smile widens in happiness. âYou already got someone in,â He gulps and mutters a small sorry under his breath, all while laughing and brushes himself over the chest before continuing. âMind?â He finalises.
His question catches your attention, and for the first time this evening, you fully look at Naoya, whoâs already wearing a grin on his face that tells you that heâs up to no good. Naoya sighs dramatically before carding his fingers through his hair. Itâs as if he needs to muster up his courage before revealing his answer.Â
Naoya takes a good look at you before turning to his side. âYeah, Iâve got someoââ You donât get to hear the rest of his answers, because a scream erupts next to you. âI think my food just moved!â The girl next to you exclaimed as she squats on her chair and points at the bowl in front of her with her chopsticks.
âMiwa, stop messing around.â The voice from across the table half-shouts, and in response, she just frantically shakes her head. âI saw it move just now!â She squeals.âPinky promise, cross my heart, hope to die, I swear!â
She continues to ramble on for a while, and you canât help but let an exasperated sigh escape your lips. âYou have to put it in the broth, and it'll cook automatically then.â You tell her calmly, taking your chopsticks into your hand, and show her how to do it properly.
Her mouth takes the shape of an o, and she freezes for a moment. âOh, so thatâs how you do it.â She chuckles sheepishly and puts her hand on the back of her hair in embarrassment. Miwaâas you know nowâpicks up her chopsticks to place the meat in her bowl, but it just so happens that when she reaches over to grab the meat off the plate, the table topples and her bowl loses its balance.
The bowl falls over before you can even process what just happened. The bowl now lies on the table with the broth leaking all over the surface, some of it dripping down on your lap. âOh my god, Iâm so so sorry!â Miwa puts her hands over her mouth and shouts apologetically.Â
âItâs fine. This happens to everyone.â You give her a half-hearted smile as youâre reminded of when you spilled wine all over Naoya. âIâll get some tissues from the restroom.â You slide your chair backwards in order to stand up, but Miwa stops you by holding down your hands.
She keeps them tightly in her hands, as if she needs to keep them in a chokehold, and shakes her head as she looks down at the floor. âNo, it was my fault. Let me do this. Iâll clean this up.â She looks up at you with a pleading look, and you canât help but feel bad for her.
You donât think sheâll let go of you unless you give in to her request. âOkay,â Miwaâs eyes are practically sparkling as soon as the words leave your mouth, and her hold on your hands tightens. âStill, I'd like to go outside, â on my own, you think to yourself before throwing a bored glance at Naoya. âSo, can you let me go?â You ask her politely, looking down at your intertwined hands.
âOh,â She yelps. âYeah, sure, sorry!â She says in a docile tone, and her grip on your hands quickly loosens. âThanks.â You murmur and smile at her. Miwa hastily stands up and joins you. She mumbles a quiet see you later and disappears into the restroom.Â
Before going outside, you make sure to look behind you, ensuring that Naoya isnât making any moves on following you. Either way, he seems occupied with the colleague next to him, so he wonât be a problemâfor now.
Outside, in the parking lot, a cold gust of wind greets you, and you canât help but regret leaving your jacket inside, but you have no intention of returning back inside right now. Youâd rather freeze to death out here than hear Naoya open his mouth once more.
Cheerful, but obnoxious laughter fills the air, and you turn your head to the source of commotion. A group of older male colleagues stands together not too far away from you. Youâve walked past some of them once, bowed your head to show respect, or greeted them out of politeness.Â
But the way that all of them were looking at you and exchanged knowing glances with each other made something in your stomach twist. Itâs only then that one of the men emerges from the group and makes his way over to you.Â
Heâs a good head taller than you; from his position, youâre sure he can see the way your neck shivers as he comes closer to your face. âWhatâs a pretty thing like you doing out here alone?â He asks and reaches out for the strand of your hair thatâs been blown away by the wind.Â
Goosebumps are rising all over you, met with the fear of not knowing what happens next. Iâm just here to catch some air, but Iâll go back in now.â You manage to dodge his touch by a hairsbreadth, and you notice the way his expression immediately sours. âHave a good evening.â You mutter, and you hope he doesnât notice the way you tremble as you nod your head at him.Â
âGoing already?â The man is quick to latch onto your wrist, and you feel how everything stops for you. âIâm sorry.â You stutter. âBut I really have to go now.â Your words just seem to worsen his mood; in response to that, the grip he has on you becomes tighterâsuffocating.
The manâs lips curve into a smile. âItâll be fun, okay?â He assures, but his eyes deceive his words; whatever he plans to do isnât going to be fun in the slightest.Â
âThat girl canât do shit. Help her, will you?â A loud voice shouts over to you, one you recognize in an instant, and for the first time this evening, youâre glad that heâs here.
Naoya strides over to where you are. Simultaneously, the man immediately lets go of your arm and shoves his hands in his pockets, as if thatâd help to cover the grip marks he left on your forearm.
âMr. Zenin.â The man swallows and proceeds to nod at Naoya, who doesnât plan on responding in the same manner. âHope you enjoyed this work dinner. Itâs your last.â He states and pulls you away, leaving the man baffled.Â
He yells after the two of you, but you canât make out his words from this distance. âNaoya, let me go. I have to get my things and go home.â You demand and attempt to shake him off.Â
âIs that how you repay me?â He stops in his tracks and turns around. âWell,â you start, the words lying on the tip of your tongue. âThanks for just now, but I seriously just wanna get my things.âÂ
âWoman, listen. Iâll drive you home.â He says, voice nor face betraying himâheâs serious about this.
A beat of silence passes, and if it werenât for Naoyaâs hand holding yours, youâd think this was some sort of dream.
After a while, you manage to say a few words. âPlease donât?â And take a step away from him. âAlso, youâre not allowed to drive when you drink.â You remind him, because if there was one thing you didnât need now was being pulled over and getting a ticket for driving under the influence.
âBeing drunk doesnât make me an idiot.â Naoya retorts, letting go of your hand. âYouâre an asshole either way,â You scoff. âWith and without alcohol.âÂ
âDo you want me to drive you home now or not?
If love makes one blind, it apparently also makes one stupid, because why on earth did you agree to sleeping over at Naoyaâs place?
When you were in the car, you noticed that he wasnât driving in the right direction.
Fuck no. Iâm not driving across the whole city to bring you home.
He was even being so nice as to drop you off at this 24/7 open convenience store that sells toothbrushes and shirts, and if you didnât hurry, heâd drive off without youâif thatâs not princess treatment, then you donât know either.
Thatâs how you ended up sleeping on Naoyaâs couch for the night.
Technically, you didnât agree, more like you were forced, but if this included a cozy couch, a huge kitchen with a kitchen island, and bathrooms as big as your apartment, then maybe youâd consider it.Â
Maybe next time.
It must be nice being a nepo baby and having the privilege to spend money on everything, without worrying about ever running out of money.Â
Todayâs incident still keeps you up, and you feel a shiver running along your body as you remember how close he was to touching your skin. His smile is etched into your memory, and the way heâd talk to you plays over and over in your mind.
Itâs a memory engraved in your consciousness, and you donât know if youâll ever be able to rid this feeling of disgust and fear.
Trying to distract your head from these thoughts, you notice how cold it actually is. Does this man not heat his house? How does he even expect you to sleep well with a blanket thatâs as thin as his patience?
You donât know what made you decide to walk up the stairs and find Naoya, but youâre already here. If youâre already at it, you might as well take a look around.
The hallway is dark, and you carefully tread along the polished floors. His house is spaciousâit feels big but also incredibly empty at the same timeâyou wonder if Naoya always spends his nights alone in this cold space.
Before you left the bathroom, you spotted Naoya going into the room right at the end of the hall, assuming this must be his room. As you finally stand in front of his door, you contemplate running, but itâs not like youâre asking for a big favor. It shouldnât be as difficult as you're making it out to be.
You just want a blanket, that's everything. You're cold, thatâs everything. Naoya should help you warm up, that's everythingâ â
Three timesâyou knock a total of three times, but thereâs no answer coming from the other side of the door. Itâs only after the fourth unanswered knock that you enter his room, the door lightly squeaking as you push it open.
As you step in, youâre met with a cold breeze. âNaoya?â You call out his name, but youâre met with no response. âNaoya?â You repeat once more, hoping that heâd notice you know. Seeing that heâs not reacting, you search for the light switch, hands groping at the wall behind you until you find and turn it on.
Unsurprisingly, Naoya isnât in his bed or in his room at all. You take a look around, but canât find him anywhere; thatâs when you feel the breeze again. Now with the lights on, everything came into view, and it's only then that you notice the door to the balcony being slightly ajar.Â
You make your way over to the balcony, open the door, and step outside. âNaoya? What are you doing?â The back of his head greets you, and under the moonlit sky, you can see the way his blond hair gleams. Met with no response, you take another step forward, and now his side profile comes into your view.
Itâs eerily quiet.âWhat is it?â He takes a drag from his cigarette and ashes it down his balcony into the garden, probably hoping that in the morning the wind will blow it away. For a moment, itâs quiet, the wind quietly whistles in your ear, and the smell of smoke lingers in the air, enveloping the two of you. He looks good like this, dressed in casual attire, wearing a relaxed look on his face, and behaving unusually silent.
You canât take your eyes off Naoya.
Although he always tries to act all distant, Naoya takes everything personally and is always up to confront someone about it, too. âWhat are you looking at so dumbly?â He growls, and you can feel the corners of your lips twitching. âFor someone whoâs so traditional, you sure donât give a shit about your lungs.â
âDo you even inhaleâŠthe smoke?â You laugh, quirking an eyebrow, observing him skeptically. âThe fuck are you saying?â He ashes off his cigarette again. âWell, you're just taking puffs.â You point at his cigarette and then at him. âSomeone knows shit,â he scoffs and turns away from you. âTalk about fucked up lungs.âÂ
You donât dwell too long on his words and change the topic. âDid anyone ever tell you that youâre a terrible host?â You sneer and lean against the railing. âYou think it's funny to insult me?â If he doesnât ash off his cigarette very soon, itâll go out immediately, but you donât tell him that. âWell, weâre not at work, so I really couldnât care less.â
âWhy are you even awake? Donât you need your beauty sleep?â Naoya jokes, tone filled with mild condescension. âIâll take that as a compliment.â You say dryly and turn to meet him. âI just couldnât. What about you?â
Naoya finally ashes off his cigarette, so that only the butt of it is burning now, and he smudges it against the railing before chucking it down. âI was thinking about marriage.â He admits and smirks at you.
You ignore the way your heart tightens at his words and laugh it off. âHow much?â It doesnât take a genius to see that Naoya is irritated by your words. âHow much what?â
âHow much are you paying her to marry you?â You finally say and let out a final laugh. Naoyaâs face seems to relax at your words, and he asks a question of his own. âHow much are you getting paid?â
âThatâs secret information.â You deadpan and side-eye him. âNot like I donât know already.â Naoya sneers. âWhy are you even asking theâ Oh my god! Were you hitting on me just now?Â
âYouâre practically eye-fucking me every time I walk into the room.â He says it like itâs a fact. âDo you hear yourself?â You exclaim in disbelief, taking a step back from him.Â
Every time you take a step away from him, he takes a step forward. It goes on so long until your back meets the wall, and your eyes widen, knowing that Naoya has you exactly where he wants.Â
He leans forward and presses his hand against the wall, before nudging your ear with his nose. âJust admit it.â He whispers before backing away and smirking.Â
Itâs in this moment that you just let go of everythingâincluding your sanity, and give in to your desires. You cup his cheeks in your hands and pull him downwards to press your lips against hisâan action he quickly reciprocates.Â
He tastes of tobacco; usually, you dislike the taste, but there are some exceptions, and Naoya seems to be one of them. On him, it tastes comforting and soothing, although nothing is comforting about the way he kisses you.Â
His tongue darts over your lower lip, and before you can even grant him full access, he pushes his tongue in your mouth, and you involuntarily let out a high-pitched sound. Your hands find his hair to yank him down, and his roam beneath your shirt, his hands freezing cold as they press against your warm skin.
Only when you push him off to catch your breath does he stop kissing you, and his hands retreat from your skin.
You donât even get a full minute to breathe properly before Naoya pushes himself on you again, but you hold him in his place before he can slot his lips on yours again, your eyes warning him not to go any further.
To your surprise, Naoya actually seems to follow your warning and steps back. Itâs far enough so that he no longer breathes right into your face, but still near enough for you to see him up close and observe his features.
He seems to have noticed, and a wide grin forms on his face as he raises both his arms into the air, as if heâs been accused of something.Â
âDonât give me that face.â Naoya coos in faux sympathy. âTo make it up to you, how does going on a third date sound to you?â
END NOTE: i have an admission to make...i didnt even watch the new season yet...lol
