↳ ❝ [𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍] ¡! ❞
↳ ❝ In which Chishiya meets you, who happens to be painfully lost. He barely speaks English, and you barely speak Japanese. Is helping you worth being late?
;;- chishiya x f!reader, fluff (?), umm idk... he's lowkey funny asf and sarcastic so glaze me.
;;- honestly idc if this is "ooc" because this is after the meteor shit, 5 years later. he likely changed a bit, plus he's CUTE!! i <3 him smsmsm. also lowkey inspired by something my gf & i did...
also only like 2k words, i got lazy .. i also hate the spacing but whatever
do we prefer small or big text.. im trying out big today
The bell above the convenience store door chimed softly as another customer wandered inside, disappearing into one of the narrow aisles without so much as a glance in your direction. The sound blended into the steady hum of refrigerators, everything inside feeling oddly calm compared to the overwhelming rush of the station just outside.
It should have been relaxing. Instead, you stood frozen in front of an entire wall of drinks, turning another unfamiliar bottle over in your hands as though the Japanese characters might suddenly rearrange themselves into English if you stared long enough.
No luck.
You sighed quietly, your shoulders sinking. "There's absolutely no way that's tea.." You squinted at the label. "Or maybe it is…?"
A cartoon lemon smiled back at you. That wasn't exactly helpful.
You reached for another bottle instead, comparing the two as if that somehow improved your odds.
"Excuse me."
You turned instinctively, expecting an employee.
Instead, the person speaking had been reaching into the refrigerator beside you. He looked around your age, perhaps a year or two older. His blond hair brushed just past his shoulders, naturally curling inward near the ends in a way that looked almost effortless. Despite the summer heat outside, he wore a light grey hoodie with the sleeves pushed up to his forearms.
He wasn't looking at you, he was looking at the bottle in your hand. "...No."
You blinked. "I'm sorry?"
He pointed at the drink, "...Bad."
"...Bad?"
A small nod. "Very."
His English carried a noticeable accent. Not because he pronounced words incorrectly, but you could tell he wasn't fluent.
"Oh." You glanced back at the bottle. "It tastes bad?"
"Mhm." He reached into the refrigerator, grabbing a canned coffee before stepping back. “...Bitter."
You looked at the drink again before quietly placing it back onto the shelf. "Thank you."
He dipped his head once in acknowledgment. "Mhm."
And that seemed to be the end of the interaction. He turned, beginning to walk toward the registers with the same unhurried pace he'd approached with.
You watched him go.
You probably shouldn't have stopped him—there were dozens of people outside.
Surely somebody else spoke English. Surely.
"...Wait!"
He stopped after only two steps, simply pausing before turning his head slightly to look at you again.
You suddenly realized you had absolutely no idea what to say. "...Uh..."
Brilliant start.
He waited, expression remaining almost unreadable, though there was the faintest suggestion of curiosity behind those pale brown eyes.
"Do..." You awkwardly gestured between the two of you. "...Do you speak English?"
He considered the question for several seconds. "Little." His thumb and index finger lifted, leaving barely an inch between them. "...Very little."
You laughed despite yourself. "Honestly, that's still more than my Japanese."
His eyebrows lifted just slightly. "...Japanese?"
You rubbed the back of your neck. "Almost none."
"Tourist?" He raises an eyebrow.
"Yeah."
He looks like he's testing the words before he says them, pronunciation slightly off. "Vacation?"
"Mhm."
"Alone?"
You bite your lip. "Unfortunately."
His gaze drifted toward the folded transit map sticking halfway out of your bag, then back to you. "Lost?"
You let out a long breath before smiling sheepishly. "Very."
He reached toward your bag, slowly enough that you understood he wasn't trying to take anything. "Map?"
"Oh." You quickly pulled it out. "Right." You unfolded it carefully, apologizing under your breath when one of the corners ripped a little more. "I think I've folded this thing wrong about fifty times."
He accepted it carefully, eyes scanning the colorful train lines with remarkable speed. Unlike you, he didn't seem to actually read every station. He simply... knew them.
His finger traced one route. Stopped and moved to another, before he frowned ever so slightly. "...Ah."
"What?"
He tapped one station, finally looking up. "No."
"No?"
He shook his head. "Wrong."
"I gathered that much."
Another tiny pause. He searched for the words. "Hotel..." He pointed at one station. "You." Another station. "...Here."
Then he slowly moved his finger halfway across the map. "Now."
Your stomach dropped. "...I'm that far away?"
He looked at the map, then at you. "Mhm."
"Oh."
"Very far." He says awkwardly.
You nod. "Thank you."
He tilted his head slightly. "Welcome."
It sounded like he'd almost said you're welcome, thought better of it halfway through, and settled on the one word he knew would work.
You smiled anyway.
"So," You pointed uncertainly at the map. "How do I get back?"
His expression became thoughtful. "Train."
"Well,” You laughed. "I figured that much."
He blinked, "Ah." The tiniest hint of embarrassment crossed his face, though it disappeared almost immediately. He pulled a pen from the pocket of his hoodie.
You hadn't even noticed he was carrying one.
Without asking, he crouched beside one of the small shelves lining the window and spread the map carefully across his knee. His handwriting was incredibly messy. Not clean or precise.
He circled one station, then another. Then drew a clean line between them.
"This." He said while pointing. "You." Then another station. "...Change." He mimed stepping from one train to another with two fingers walking across the map.
"Oh."
"Then.." Another line. "...Go."
"...Okay." You nodded enthusiastically. "I think I understand.
"He looked at you, before shaking his head. "No."
Your head tilted. "What?"
"Not." He says firmly.
"...I don't?"
A tiny shake of his head. "Half."
You stared. "...You can tell?"
"...Face."
"My face?"
"Mhm."
"What does my face say?"
He thought for a moment. "Confused."
"...Fair."
Another silence followed.
You looked down at the map again, then back toward the station entrance visible through the convenience store's windows.
Hundreds of people crossed the intersection outside in perfectly timed waves, each one seemingly knowing exactly where they were going.
You felt your confidence slipping again. "I’m—" You hesitated. "I don't want to get lost again."
He followed your gaze outside. "Hmm." Then back at the map, then back at you.
For a few seconds, he didn't speak. You assumed he'd politely excuse himself.
Instead… he folded the map neatly, far neater than you ever had. He handed it back to you before adjusting the strap of the messenger bag resting against his shoulder. "Come."
You blinked. "Sorry?"
He gestured toward the exit. "Show."
"You'll... show me?"
"Station." His face was unreadable.
"You don't have somewhere to be?"
He looked toward the automatic doors. "University."
"Oh."
"I probably shouldn't make you late."
"Late." He nodded once. "But.." He paused again, quietly searching for the words. "You.." Another pause. "...More?”
You frowned. "More?"
He sighed very quietly, clearly dissatisfied with his own English. He looked toward the ceiling for a moment, thinking.
"You..." He pointed gently toward you. "Lost." Then toward himself. "...Late."
You stared at him for a second before understanding dawned. "...You'd rather be late than have me get more lost?"
His shoulders lifted in the smallest shrug imaginable. "Mhm."
You couldn't help smiling. "That's surprisingly kind."
His expression didn't change. "No."
"No?"
"Easy."
Your brow twitched, "Helping people is easy?"
Another shrug. "Today."
You laughed softly. "I don't think I've even asked your name."
He reached for the door, holding it open. Outside, warm summer air rushed in alongside the distant rumble of another arriving train.
"Chishiya." He said softly.
You stepped out beside him. "I'm—"
He gave a tiny shake of his head before you could finish. "Later."
You looked at him in confusion.
He glanced toward the pedestrian crossing where the light had just turned green. "Train first."
For reasons you couldn't quite explain, you found yourself smiling again. "Right."
Train first. The introductions, apparently, could wait. And somehow, despite the fact that you'd known this quiet stranger for barely ten minutes and still understood perhaps every third sentence he spoke, following him across the crowded streets of Tokyo felt like the most sensible decision you'd made all day.
The familiar melody signaled that it was safe to cross played from the traffic lights, and within seconds a sea of people moved together as though they had rehearsed it hundreds of times before. Businessmen with briefcases, students in uniforms, elderly couples carrying shopping bags—everyone walked with quiet confidence, weaving effortlessly around one another without a single collision.
You, meanwhile, nearly walked straight into a bicycle. "Oh!" You stumbled back instinctively.
The cyclist offered a quick apology before continuing down the street.
Heat rushed to your face. "I swear I'm usually not this much of a disaster."
A few steps ahead, Chishiya had stopped walking. He turned just enough to see what had happened. "Mmm."
"'Mmm' what?"
His gaze lingered on you for another second before he looked back toward the crossing. "Today," He paused, searching. "Little.."
You frowned. "A little disaster?"
A tiny nod.
You laughed under your breath. "I'll take that."
The corner of his mouth twitched, not quite a smile. It was gone before you could decide if you'd imagined it.
He resumed walking, slipping through the crowd with an ease that made it obvious he'd lived here his whole life. He wasn't particularly fast, but people seemed to naturally move around him. You found yourself weaving after him, apologizing twice after nearly bumping into strangers while trying not to lose sight of his light grey hoodie.
Every now and then he'd glance over his shoulder. Not because he expected conversation, simply to make sure you were still there. The gesture was subtle enough that you weren't sure he even realized he was doing it.
After another minute or so, the towering entrance to the station came into view again. Trains rumbled overhead while announcements echoed through the cavernous building.
You let out a relieved sigh. "I've never been so happy to see a train station."
Chishiya looked at the sign above the entrance. "Big."
"It is."
"Too big."
"You think so too?"
He gave a single nod. "Many people."
"I've noticed."
He grimaced, "Noisy."
"I thought Tokyo was supposed to be quiet."
He looked at you for a moment. "Not station."
"Fair point."
The two of you stepped inside, cool air washing over you almost immediately. The temperature change was enough to make you shiver.
Without saying anything, Chishiya slowed his pace. You didn't notice it consciously. Only that, somehow, you were no longer struggling to keep up.
・・・・・
He stopped in front of one of the large ticket machines.
You immediately recognized it. It was the same machine you'd spent nearly ten minutes arguing with earlier.
"This thing hates me."
He looked between you and the machine. "No."
"No?"
"Machine.” He nodded, "...Not hate."
You smiled. "Glad to know I'm not personally offending Japanese ticket machines."
He stared at you.
"Never mind."
He looked unconvinced but decided not to ask. Instead, he gestured toward the screen. "Ticket."
Right.
You stepped up beside him. Immediately, the screen filled with Japanese text. "Umm...." You looked hopefully toward him. "I have absolutely no clue."
He leaned forward slightly and pressed a button, the display switched to English.
You blinked. "There's an English option!?"
"Mhm."
You groaned. "I spent ten minutes this morning trying to translate every button with my camera.. And there was an English button."
"Mm."
You looked at him. "You're judging me."
His expression remained completely neutral. "Little."
You laughed. "There it is! You do have a sense of humor"
"I..." He hesitated, as though unsure whether he'd understood correctly. "Humor?"
"You were joking."
"No." He shakes his head quickly.
"You weren't?"
His head tilts slightly, "Truth."
"..That somehow makes it funnier."
A faint crease appeared between his eyebrows. It seemed he couldn't quite understand why you were smiling. He didn't ask. Instead, he pressed another button before stepping back to give you room.
"Now."
"Oh."
You hurriedly bought your ticket before looking at the small paper slip in your hand as though it might disappear. "There."
You held it up with an exaggerated grin. "I did it!”
He looked at the ticket, then at you. "Mm."
"That's all I get?"
He tilted his head. "Good."
"You sound thrilled."
"Mm." He didn't sound too pleased.
・・・・・
The station was just as overwhelming inside as it had been earlier.
People streamed toward platforms in every direction while electronic boards flickered overhead with departure times you couldn't hope to read fast enough.
Without thinking, you moved a little closer to Chishiya. Not enough to invade his space, just enough that you wouldn't lose him in the crowd.
He noticed. His eyes flicked briefly toward where you'd closed the distance before returning to the overhead signs. He didn't comment.
Instead, he lifted one hand slightly, motioning for you to stay beside him as another wave of commuters hurried between you.
You followed without question.
For several minutes, the only sounds between you were footsteps, train announcements, and the occasional rumble of passing trains.
Oddly enough… the silence wasn't awkward anymore. Back at the convenience store, every pause made you feel like you should say something.
Now, walking beside him, there didn't seem to be any pressure at all. You found yourself simply looking around instead.
Students laughed quietly near one platform. An elderly station attendant bowed politely as passengers thanked him. Somewhere nearby, the unmistakable smell of fresh bread drifted from a bakery tucked between two exits.
Your stomach growled loudly. You immediately wished the ground would open beneath your feet. "...Please pretend that didn't happen."
Chishiya looked at you. Then, almost instinctively, toward the bakery. Then back at you. "Lunch?"
You rubbed the back of your neck. "I may have forgotten."
"Forgot."
"Well..." You smiled sheepishly. "I was busy getting lost."
He stood there for a second, watching you with that same unreadable expression. "Hmm."
"What?"
He looked toward the departure board, then at his wristwatch, then back toward the bakery.
You had the distinct feeling he was calculating something.
After a few moments, he spoke. "Five."
"...Five?"
He held up an open hand. "Minutes."
You blinked. "For what?"
He nodded toward the bakery. "Eat."
"Oh, no, that's okay."
"Need."
"I can eat when I get back to the hotel."
He was already walking toward the bakery.
You hurried after him. "Chishiya—"
He stopped just outside the entrance, looking at you with curiosity.
"You've already spent enough time helping me."
"Mm."
"I mean it."
"....Mm." His face looks dissatisfied, almost grumpy.
"You keep saying 'mm,' but that doesn't answer anything."
For the first time since you'd met him, he looked incredibly thoughtful. As though trying to decide how to explain something in a language that refused to cooperate.
Finally, he spoke. "People hungry." A pause. "Think.." He frowned. "...Bad."
You waited patiently.
He looked faintly frustrated with himself before trying again. "Hungry..." He pointed toward his temple. "...Bad." Then toward the bakery. "Eat, then train."
It was a surprisingly practical explanation. Not I want to buy you lunch, or you look exhausted. Just a simple observation: hungry people don't think clearly, and lost people probably needed to think clearly.
You couldn't help smiling. "Okay."
He gave one small nod.
As the two of you stepped inside the little bakery, neither of you realized that what was meant to be a five-minute stop would end up delaying him much longer than either of you had planned. It also became the first of many small, ordinary moments that neither of you would think much about at the time—but months later, both of you would remember with startling clarity.
im sobbing rn he's so cute. reminder to PLS GIVE ME REQUESTS :(
