Beautiful Stranger
Summary: Y/N meets Harry in a Japanese café and they have a little chat.
Warnings: None.
Pairing: Harry x Reader, Harry x Y/N, japanrry! x y/n
Word count: 1,984
A/N: been lookin at some japanrry content and got all soft, this is all fluff with like basically no plot lol ig its if u want something a little more lowkey, enjoy! Sorry about the ending ALKSLASK IK IT SUCKS OH WELL. lmk if i should do a part 2!
She gasped internally, eagerly turning the page of the book she’d had her nose in since she’d gotten to Japan. Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami. It’d been recommended to her by the owner of a small bookstore near the hotel she was staying at.
She paused for a second, hands reaching out to pull at the sleeves of her sweater before grabbing the cup of coffee that’d been calling for her in the form of warm steam and the creamiest, richest smell. Though the coldness of Japan in early January made itself known, the cafe, grey-knit sweater and her book all filled her with warmth.
As she set her cup back down, her eyes moved to peer out the large glass window beside her, admiring the few people engaged in conversation, before something else quickly caught her attention. The sound of someone walking through the door. The cafe was generally empty on this Wednesday afternoon, with only a small number of couples and students occupying the seats.
Usually, she wouldn’t have cared, returned her focus back to her book but there was something about this man. Something familiar about him, but every thing in her brain was telling her that she was wrong. There was no way it was who she thought it was.
Not here, not in Japan.
So after her eyes lingered on him for a bit too long, she reluctantly returned to her book, not wanting to eye the poor stranger down any longer.
That’s until he came to occupy the chair and table right beside her, soon after ordering. Almost as if he was trying to get her to keep staring. So, she did.
His hair was long. Longer than she’d seen on most guys and it further fed her suspicions.
It couldn’t be.
On his shoulders hung a tan cardigan, slipped over a white t-shirt and worn with some black trousers. Black vans completing his entire look. It didn’t take long for her eyes to travel to the skin that was exposed right below his sleeve, tattoos lining his hands. Thats when she knew, his ring clad fingers being her final confirmation.
She froze instantly, cheeks flushing due to his proximity and the realization of who he was. He’d always been cute to her when she was a teen and now here he was, sitting right next to her. That was really it though, a short minute of feeling flustered before she realized how normal and human he actually was.
Just sitting there in a cafe like she was, and she felt her nerves relax.
He set his stuff on the table.
A book, notebook, pen, phone and Airpods.
She almost giggled at the silliness of it all. Wondering why he hadn’t just brought a bag with him.
Her fingers reached out for her coffee once again, free hand on the page she was reading. The book flopped closed onto her hand and thats when he noticed it.
“Norwegian Wood. Such a good book,”
“One of my favorites.”
His voice was deep, raspy and quiet. Afraid to the scare off the stranger he’d so boldly decided to engage in a conversation with.
Her eyes flickered to his, caught off guard by the way his attention was now on her. His cheeks beginning to turn a bright red the longer she waited to respond.
“Oh, uh,” She began softly, not wanting to leave him hanging, but also not knowing what to say.
“I like it a lot so far. Owner of the bookstore I got it from seemed to like it too, he recommended it to me, actually.”
“Gave it to me discounted, too!” She giggled softly, which he joined in on, dimple poking through his cheeks.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to disturb you. Just love that book.” He said, nervously gesturing to it.
“No worries. It’s always cool when you meet people who’re into the same things as you are.” She flashed him a reassuring smile, gentle and sweet and she thought she could see his shoulders relax.
“Yea it is.” He agreed before a short silence washed over the two of them, gaze still on each other.
The butterflies in her stomach swirled around as her skin grew hot, feeling nervous under his intimidating, yet warm stare.
“So,” He cleared his throat.
“I reckon you’re not from here.”
She wonders why he hasn’t turned back to his tea and his books. Why he insists on having a conversation with her. Also questioning why she hadn’t turned back around before he could continue.
“Well, you reckon right.” She replied before cringing at her statement, which pulled a chuckle out of him.
“No, uh, I’m just visiting. I thought maybe I could save enough to travel somewhere really cool, just take some time off and I chose Tokyo.”
“Always wanted to come here, it’s just another world and so different from anything I’ve ever known. So out of my comfort zone coming to a foreign country where I have to navigate and be by myself.”
“Okay, I’m rambling.” She finished, cheeks flushing and hands reaching to cover her face which he smiled at.
“No, ‘s okay!” He reassured, his voice going up a pitch.
“Me too, actually.”
“Was only supposed to be here for a week, but now I’m on my third.” He informed.
She shifted in her seat slightly, feeling nervous from the way he stared so deeply into her eyes, full attention on her and her only.
“Wow, that’s a lot! I’ve only been here one.”
“What’ve you done so far?” She continued.
“Um, also, you can come sit over here if you want.” It was a suggestion that made her cheeks flush, not knowing where her sudden confidence had come from.
His lips were parted, ready to tell her about the amazing things he’d done so far on his trip when she offered, and his lips closed into a smile.
“Sure.” His accent was thick and she loved it, eager to hear it every time he opened his mouth to speak.
He rushed to collect his stuff and it wasn’t long before he was pulling out the chair in front of her.
“Um, I’m Y/N, by the way.”
“Figured if we’re gonna sit across from each other we should probably know each other’s names.” Her face burned even hotter. He was so close now, green eyes staring right into her soul again.
“Nice to meet yeh. ‘M Harry.” A shy smile tugged at his lips again and it was reassuring to her. He seemed just as flustered as she was. In a way, she was proud to also have that effect on him.
“Anyway, please, carry on. What’ve you been up to, Harry?” She said with a warm smile, chin resting on her palm.
His eyes lit up instantly as he began to describe the things he’d done so far on his trip.
She took note of the way he’d sometimes look down at his rings, twirling them around his fingers mindlessly. And the way the skin under his eyes would crinkle every time he spoke passionately about something he’d done, slight smile on his face. How his sentences were filled with lots of ‘um’s ‘you know’s and ‘obviously’s. Each and every one of those things had her charmed and under his spell. She soaked up everything he was willing to tell her, pausing only to hum or mutter short responses to assure him she was still listening and paying attention.
“I’ve actually been here before, but ‘s always been for work,” His face began to turn a shade of pink at the mention of his job.
It’s best not to bring it up or ask questions.
She thought. It confused her a bit, but she figured not mentioning that he was an international pop star to someone who was giving him the anonymity he often yearned for, made a lot of sense.
“But um, ‘s been nice to actually have some time to explore and relax. Lounge around a bit.” He continued.
“I bet!”
“Have you been doing all of that alone? I feel like I haven’t had the guts to do anything since I’m by myself.” She admitted, chin in the palm of her hands.
“Yes, and no. I mean, I have friends here so I’ve been spending a lot of time with them.” He leaned forward, arm on the wooden table and scooting his chair closer. The proximity once again succeeded at making her nervous, averting her gaze from his eyes to her now-empty cup.
“That’s nice. You’re the first person I’ve even been able to keep up a conversation with. Let alone approach me.” She smiled softly, returning her focus back to him.
“Find that hard to believe.”
It took everything in her to fight the smile pulling at her cheeks, but she ultimately failed, and he laughed. Laughed at how she looked away, smile growing wider by the second.
“Why’s that?” She asked flirtatiously, regaining the little confidence she had.
“Well, you don’t exactly look like you bite.” He laughed, the laugh she’d decided she really liked.
“And I guess you looked sweet. Approachable.” He continued.
She giggled, looking down at the table as her heart raced.
“Well, thank you. Could say the same about you. I don’t exactly take you for the ‘creep’ type.” And now it was his turn to laugh.
They were slowly approaching a silence once again, the tension between them feeling thicker by the second with the flirty atmosphere they’d established.
“Um, so. What you writin’?” She asked shyly, index finger brushing over the navy blue journal on the table.
He looked down for only a second before looking back up at her.
She knew exactly what was in the book. Dozens of song lyrics probably, ideas and she wondered if he’d be willing to show her any.
“Um,” He started before his phone vibrated. His eyes instinctively flickered down to the screen and his whole demeanor changed, shoulders sinking.
“I have to go.” He said, voice filled with sadness. Their conversation had been cut short so quickly.
She felt her heart sink into her stomach, swallowing hard at the thought of the beautiful ‘stranger’ leaving her after having enjoyed his company so much. The way he made her feel and the way they talked so comfortably. She’d never been good at masking her emotions, her face always exposing exactly how she felt on the inside and he noticed.
He sighed, looking slightly conflicted.
“I’d really like to see you again.” He confessed, eyes full of desperation, hoping that she’d tell him the same thing.
“Me too.”
He looked off to the side, staring out the window, deep in thought.
“I, uh. I left out some stuff. A-about who I am-“ The topic seemed to make him grow hot and anxious and she picked up on it, hand reaching out to grab his. He looked at their hands before meeting her eyes and she gave him a smile.
“Harry, I know who you are. It’s not a big deal to me.”
“No offense.” She quickly followed and they both chuckled.
“I just didn’t want to give you my contact and have you all surprised or anythin’.” He further explained and she nodded.
“Theres uh, theres this record bar I’ve really been into. Did you maybe want to meet there, tomorrow?”
She smiled at his proposition. No one had ever asked her out like this before.
“See you there!” And with that, he gave her one last smile, thanking her for letting him ‘intrude’ and have a chat. Thanking her for being so sweet and welcoming before giving her his number and leaving with a wave goodbye. It was a risky thing to do she thought, to trust a stranger after only spending such little time with them. But in his words, she didn’t exactly look like she bit.
