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Red String Theory <-AO3

Pairing: Haku Kusanagi x F! Hotarubi! Reader Tags: Nemesis/Rivals (one-sided), implied arranged marriage, spiritual rituals & ceremonies, red thread of fate, slowburn payoff, kiss, teasing/flirting, soft Haku, tipsy confession, fluff. Note: I always found it funny that Haku got paired up with that one overachieving, honor student! Reader. Masterlist

Maybe you were born into the same kind of traditional heirline, filled with etiquette, just like Haku. But the thing is, you were always compared to him.

“The son of Kusanagi this,” “the son of Kusanagi that.”

And it frustrated you because you felt that no matter how hard you tried or how much you achieved, you were still somehow a step behind Haku.

And!

You. Couldn’t. Stand. That!

Ever since you were a kid, you had always been compared to him, to the point that you didn’t even know his face, yet remembered his name better than your own parents’.

Because of that, you developed a one-sided grudge against Haku. You tried so hard to achieve what he could and couldn’t, but every time you succeeded at something, you’d hear remarks like:

“Oh, the future heir of the Kusanagi already did that when he was twelve.”

You grew too tired of the nagging and comparisons, to the point that even in your dreams, you were haunted by nightmares, people surrounding you, repeating his name, looking down on you for being unable to match him.

And just when you thought nothing could get worse, the day came when every sorcerer family had to gather at the Shinto Shrine for one of the cleansing ceremonies. It was a ritual held by each family’s ancestors, once every hundred years, to guide spirits into the other world and preserve the balance of the spiritual realm.

You met Haku there for the very first time.

He and Mr. Kusanagi were the ones hosting the ceremony. After each step, other families would take their turn to proceed with it. You remembered the vast staircase at the shrine, larger than any temple or shrine you had ever visited.

Why had you never been to the Shinto Shrine before?

To be honest, there had never been a reason. You had older siblings, so most of the time you didn’t have to handle many rituals. However, because Haku turned out to be around your age and the youngest heir among the families, his name kept appearing in your life.

The first time you saw Haku was when you were walking up those stairs with other miko to continue the ceremony. While your group moved forward, the Kusanagi group was coming down.

It was only a brief encounter. You could only see the side of his face because his ofuda mask covered most of it.

You could already feel the energy radiating from him, it's so heavy and dark, as if a thousand crying spirits clung to him, haunting and tangling themselves in the long sleeves of his kannushi robe.

It must have frightened most people around him, at least those with the ability strong enough to sense his presence from afar. It made your throat dry and your stomach twist, as if you could cough up blood at any moment.

Even someone like you, accustomed to dealing with curses and spirits, nearly passed out from the suffocating aura he carried, let alone everyone else.

So it made you curious. It made you steal a glance at him from the corner of your eye.

All you saw was the thin layer of white fabric draped over his face. Prayers, seals, and his name were written across it. You couldn’t see his features, even at such close range.

But just as you were about to look away, a sudden gust of wind rose, as if it disturbed the sacred stillness of the ceremony.

And in that moment, just for a second, the wind mischievously lifted the thin fabric, revealing the side of his face. Your eyes captured it completely.

He was very young, just as people said.

But what caught your attention the most was his pair of green eyes.

They were sharp, almost snake-like, with a glimmer that barely pierced through the veil. They seemed to shimmer with a faint hint of yellow. You thought you must have imagined it.

But what stood out more was his gaze, it's so cold, sharp, and dark, holding stories you couldn’t begin to understand.

He didn’t seem to notice you. His eyes remained fixed ahead as he descended the stairs, standing tall, his presence alone enough to make others step aside and clear the path for him.

His sleeve brushed lightly against yours, so faint you didn’t even notice.

But perhaps, on that day, it created a thread that tied the two of you together.

⊹﹒⊹﹒⊹

Because an incident happened that day.

It was supposed to be a sunny day, no rain, no wind. The sky was meant to be a clear blue without even a hint of clouds, because that was strictly written in the rules of the ceremony. But unfortunately, the wind you felt on the stairs had already been a bad sign, one you didn’t quite notice because your attention was elsewhere.

That incident caused a lot of trouble. Fortunately, no one got hurt but not so fortunately for the Kusanagi family. Something had happened to their heir, which made everyone rush in a panic. You didn’t understand the circumstances and were evacuated along with the others.

Not long after that, you heard about Haku again. You didn’t know exactly what had happened, but now he had enrolled at Darkwick and was no longer present at the Shinto Shrine. If anything, he only returned occasionally for ceremonies. Other than that, he was practically confined to that island.

So, being the overachiever you were and with your family constantly comparing the two of you, you took the entrance exam to Darkwick. All your hard work paid off, and you successfully enrolled. But now that you were in the same place as Haku, the comparisons only grew stronger. It didn’t stop within your family anymore but spread through gossip and rumors among students across campus.

You were glad that you were in a different House from him. Otherwise, you might have gone insane seeing him every day, everywhere.

And well, being the overachiever you were, a change in environment didn’t hinder that part of you. What it did was challenge you and give you more motivation to achieve even more.

Unfortunately, after the Clash, many things changed. Every student in Hotarubi was certain that you would be the next vice-captain or maybe even captain. But due to the new policy Darkwick implemented after what had happened, only ghouls could be captain and vice-captain. And in your House, the only available ghoul at the time was Subaru.

Subaru told you he would ask the school to let you be vice-captain so you could support him with tasks, but Darkwick didn’t agree. Instead, they brought in another ghoul from a different House, someone transferred from Froistheim. You wondered who it was.

Until someone walked through the door and introduced himself.

Haku Kusanagi. Transfer from Froistheim to Hotarubi. The new vice-captain. He said he hoped you and Subaru would take care of him.

Your eyes nearly fell out of their sockets, your jaw almost hitting the floor.

Out of anyone! Anyone at all!

It had to be him?!

Was fate really that twisted? Did the universe hate you?

Why bring the person you had been compared to for almost half your life into the same House as you, and even hand him the position you had worked so hard for?

And since Haku didn’t know about the one-sided grudge you had against him, of course he was nice and friendly, though you could still see that laid-back attitude in him.

You almost furrowed your brows, your lips pressed into a thin line, clearly unhappy with Darkwick’s decision. But what could you do about it? Cry?

There was also one more thing.

Haku had technically enrolled a year earlier than you, which made him your senior. And with the polished image you maintained, of course you had to be polite to your senpai.

So you were forced to act formal and professional around someone you had held a one-sided grudge against since childhood, while he had absolutely no idea who you were.

Your first impression of Haku was that he was completely different from what you had imagined.

From all the rumors and gossip you had heard, you thought he would be cold, strict, and impeccably proper, the type who tolerated no nonsense, worked with precision, and demanded perfection. You had even felt nervous.

What if you didn’t perform well?

What if he didn’t like working with you and asked Subaru to replace you?

What if he saw you as “not enough” just like everyone else had since you were a child?

Those thoughts consumed you, making you stiff and tense whenever you were around him.

But in contrast to everything you expected, Haku was… surprisingly chill.

He was casual. He dropped formalities with ease. You had assumed that, since you both came from long-standing traditional families, he would be rigid and a bit rule bound like you.

But instead, he was far more relaxed than you ever imagined.

He was always telling you to loosen up. Always reminding you not to overwork yourself. Always insisting that you could relax around him.

And after working with him for a while, there was one thing you had to admit, you could understand why Darkwick had entrusted him with the role of vice-captain.

Not just in schoolwork, but in everything.

Missions, low rank or high rank, team-based or solo, he always completed them on time, sometimes even before the deadline. He finished reports faster than both you and Subaru. Even when he was on campus, he was constantly running around, handling small tasks.

It felt like he carried an overwhelming amount of responsibility while pretending not to.

He was more hardworking than most, yet always acted like a lazy, sleepy, drowsy person. You couldn’t tell if that was just his nature, or if he was simply exhausted from everything he had to do.

Yes, he was a reliable, easygoing senior.

But what stood out was that most students in your House sought him out whenever they needed help, even though he was new to Hotarubi.

Even though your captain was more available.

There was just something about him, something in his demeanor, that made people feel at ease around him.

And somehow…

It worked on you too.

When it was just the two of you, you found yourself relaxing more than usual. You didn’t have to be that perfect honor student everyone expected you to be.

⊹﹒⊹﹒⊹

But there was one thing you didn’t like about Haku.

Occasionally, he would tease you, even while you were working.

That was extremely unprofessional of him!!!

And why did his random, meaningless flirting make your heart beat so fast and your face heat up?

Damn it. You already knew he was trouble but not in this way.

You ignored his antics most of the time, but Haku seemed to notice your subtle attitude around him.

He would make small jokes.

“What should I do to make you like me more?”

Maybe he could start by not appearing out of nowhere when you were alone.

You still remembered almost tripping over him while walking through the engawa hallway, because of him.

He would randomly take naps everywhere around Hotarubi. He always seemed to enjoy short naps, especially during lunchtime. Maybe he had poor sleep, or maybe that was the only time he could rest his eyes.

You didn’t know.

But seeing him lounging around was… oddly interesting to you.

Because despite his casual, laid-back attitude, Haku rarely shared anything about himself. You didn’t know much about him, nor were you particularly curious. The two of you weren’t close enough to exchange personal stories.

So even though he always seemed to slack off, he was actually very serious about his work. You rarely saw him this relaxed.

Seeing him lying on the wooden floor, sunlight scattering across his face, a gentle breeze brushing past as soft purple petals drifted against his green, silky hair.

He looked peaceful like that.

But wasn’t the air a bit too cold to sleep like this?

And before you could even think it through, you had already gone to find a small blanket, draping it over him and covering him with a thin layer of soft fabric.

What you had come to understand about Subaru and Haku while working with them was this.

They both neglected their health. Just in different ways.

And you couldn’t accept that.

How could the pillars of your House be like this? Why were they so careless when it came to taking care of themselves?

So aside from being their assistant, you sometimes felt like you had to babysit them too.

Haku, for example, had a habit of not wearing his necktie. He claimed he would toss them somewhere and never find them again. As a result, during special events or formal occasions, he would have zero neckties to wear.

And then you had to run all over Hotarubi, asking to borrow one from other students.

Sometimes the length or color wouldn’t match his outfit, forcing you to ask students from other Houses as well.

Yes, Haku was reliable.

But at the same time, incredibly troublesome and annoying.

And you, someone who aimed for perfection, whenever you looked at Haku, you just wanted to grab his shoulders and shake him.

Though, knowing him, he would probably just laugh it off without a care.

So what exactly shifted in your relationship?

Well, even though you’re not a ghoul, your spiritual abilities are still very useful to Darkwick, so sometimes they pair you on missions with Haku, sometimes with Subaru as well.

It was during one particular mission, assigned to capture an anomaly that seemed to enjoy “spreading” love among random couples.

⊹﹒⊹﹒⊹

Based on the legend of this anomaly.

Long ago, at a small matchmaking shrine in the mountains, there lived a shrine maiden named Kikuri. She was famed for her ability to bless couples with unbreakable bonds. But when her own lover was taken by illness on the eve of their wedding, she went mad with grief. Using forbidden rites, she bound their souls together with a thread of violent divinity, so that even in death they could not part.

The gods, angered by her defiance, cursed her.

Her flesh dissolved. Her bones remained.

And the jar that held her lover’s ashes became her eternal prison.

Now she wanders, still seeking to “bless” others with the eternal bond she was denied, without understanding that what she gives is not love, but imprisonment.

Based on the description, the anomaly’s appearance is as follows.

A weathered ancient ceramic jar, approximately 40 cm tall, covered in fading ink inscriptions of couples’ names and dates from centuries past. The jar appears ordinary until activated. From its mouth emerges a zigzag paper strip made of luminous red light. This shide extends, splits into two, and wraps around the targets’ ankles or wrists.

At the anomaly’s core is the skeletal remains of an ancient shrine maiden wrapped in tattered white cloth, crouched eternally inside the jar. Her bony fingers still clutch ceremonial chopsticks used to cut spiritual threads.

The binding is called: Chained Fate.

Once activated, the anomaly manifests its binding through a visible red thread.

The thread appears as a single crimson strand, glowing faintly with spiritual energy.

It wraps around the wrists or ankles of the victims.

Maximum separation: 2 meters.

The problem is, no one knows how long the bond lasts. If the pair is unable to show enough affection toward each other, the thread might bind them together forever.

You had never imagined.

That you and Haku would become the victims.

⊹﹒⊹﹒⊹

Walking through the abandoned shrine, you were very careful as you stayed close to the others. But the deeper you went, the more spacious and different the scenery became. By the time you realized it, you had been separated from the others.

You looked around and called out their names, but there was no answer.

So you continued moving forward, only to see a small kamidana. It seemed to be worshipping something as it emitted a faint red light. You took out your phone, about to take a photo of the shrine. But when you snapped a picture, you saw the faint shadow of a shrine maiden on your screen. You almost dropped your phone, but when you looked up, nothing was there.

You stepped forward to observe the place more carefully, only to notice a ceramic jar sitting right in the middle. You were unsure what to do with it as you took out an omamori, holding it between your fingertips. The jar seemed normal as you prepared to wrap and seal it.

“Stop! Stay away from it!”

A voice shouted from behind you. You turned slightly and saw Haku standing at the doorway.

Before you could react, a sudden mist flashed across your vision like a shadow, and a red thread shot out from the jar, wrapping around your body.

You lifted your arm to shield yourself. When you opened your eyes, Haku was already in front of you, blocking whatever it was.

You peeked from behind him and saw a thin woman in a miko outfit, her long hair draping down and covering her face. She raised her hand, pointing at you and Haku but he had already lifted his flute and begun to play a soft melody.

The anomaly stiffened, its movements halted as if bound in place.

Soon, Subaru stepped into the room. You looked at the figure in front of you.

“Did we catch her?” you asked.

Haku’s brows furrowed slightly.

“Not yet. Can you grab the jar?” he asked quietly.

You quickly nodded and turned, only to find that the jar was no longer there.

“It’s not here anymore!” you alerted Haku, who seemed startled as well.

“Not good. Subaru, catch her!”

He shouted as the shadow rushed out of the room into the hallway. You ran after it, even passing Haku as you turned down the corridor. But suddenly, a powerful force yanked you backward, and you stumbled, falling onto the creaking wooden floor.

“Are you okay?” Subaru asked in panic as he saw you on the ground.

You shook your head, realizing you must have scraped your knees from the fall. Soon, Haku appeared at the corner, and you all looked at each other, only to realize.

Between you and Haku was a crimson thread, tightly wrapped around both your wrist and his.

You had got to be kidding me!!!

⊹﹒⊹﹒⊹

So until you figured out how to get rid of that thread, you and Haku were stuck together.

You even had to share a room. He was kind enough to put up a curtain to divide the space between your futon and his. But it still felt strange, especially when he had to stay outside the hall while you used the shower.

Oh god, just kill you already.

You stepped out into the wooden hallway, only to see Haku sitting calmly under the roof, gazing at the rainy night. You wondered how he could be so relaxed when the two of you were tied together, with no idea when you would be free from it.

“Hey,” he called casually, gesturing for you to sit beside him.

And you did.

The school had given you a few days off to figure out the thread, but you had gone through countless files and documents without finding any solution.

There was a small tray Haku had prepared, and he handed you a cup. The strong scent filled your lungs.

“Really? Sake? Right now?” you asked, your tone skeptical.

He just laughed as he picked up a document beside him.

“Maybe relaxing a bit tonight is a good idea.”

His voice was low and soft, almost as if the cool night air carried his words to brush against your ear.

Right. You knew he was trying to help you relax, as you had been nervous about staying in the same room with him. Maybe you should just drink and pass out. Going to bed normally might make it impossible to sleep, knowing he was just behind that thin curtain.

You looked at the small cup before taking a gulp.

Haku let out a laugh at your action as he also took a sip from his cup before flipping through the document again.

You could already feel the back of your neck heating up from that single gulp as you set the cup down.

“What are you looking at?”

You asked as he shifted slightly to let you see the paper more clearly.

“Some records about that anomaly. I wonder why it chose to bind us together.”

You moved closer to his side to read the paper in his hand, but he quickly pulled it away before you could.

“Let me read it too,” you said, but he had already put the file away.

“How about we loosen up for tonight? You’ve been busy all week.”

Same old Haku, always avoiding topics when things were about to get serious.

You were already used to that, so you didn’t push any further.

He lifted his hand and poured some liquid for both of you, then raised his cup toward you, gesturing for a toast. And you did, picking up your cup, the soft clink of the surfaces touching as you both took a gulp. Haku let out a satisfied, long sigh as the liquid seemed to warm his throat just as much as yours.

“Can you hold your liquor?” he asked, the same familiar smile on his face.

“A bit. I’ve had some during ceremonies with my family,” you answered honestly.

His gaze shifted to the rainy veil outside. The moonlight was faint tonight, but the dim glow still cast itself across the side of his face. His sharp eyes seemed to gleam, even with half of them buried in shadow.

It reminded you of the first time you saw him.

The same angle. The same sharp eyes.

The only difference was that they were no longer cold or distant. His lips curved slightly now, instead of resting in that thin, indifferent line.

“Do you… remember the day you became a ghoul?”

The question slipped from your tongue before you could stop yourself.

You almost bit your tongue right after, worried he might not like recalling it or that he might be offended. But he looked oddly calm about it.

“Not really. Most of my memories from that day are very blurry,” he answered quietly, his gaze still fixed on the rain.

And somehow, that made your heart twist.

Because it wasn’t exactly a special day for you either, but it was the first time you had ever seen Haku. Even if he didn’t notice you, even if it was brief, even if you couldn’t see him clearly, it was still the first time you met him.

So, in a way, it mattered to you.

You had thought it would be important to him too, since it marked the day his life completely changed.

But it didn’t seem to hold any special meaning for him.

Or maybe he just didn’t want to talk about it.

You couldn’t tell.

Because you never truly understood Haku, and you doubted anyone ever did. He always carried this strange air around him, as if he let people in while keeping them at a distance at the same time. No one seemed able to break through whatever barrier he had built.

“You were there too, weren’t you?”

His voice pulled you back.

Your eyes met his, and you realized he was already looking at you. Your heart nearly jumped out of your chest, you wondered if he knew you had stolen that glance at him that day.

“Yeah… I was there,” you replied simply. “It was the first time I saw you too.”

He chuckled, leaning back slightly, his palm pressing against the wooden floor behind him.

“I see,” he murmured, his gaze drifting back to the rain, as if recalling something from long ago. “It wasn’t the first time I saw you, though.”

That caught your attention immediately.

Because you were certain, you had never met anyone from the Kusanagi family before that.

And if you had… you didn’t remember.

“I don’t recall ever meeting you before that ceremony,” you said, curiosity creeping into your voice as he poured another cup of sake for both of you.

“Well, I only met you briefly. More like… saw you briefly.”

His answer only confused you more as you tried to search your memory for any trace of him.

He laughed softly at the way you seemed to freeze, like a malfunctioning machine.

“You wouldn’t remember, princess,” he said, the nickname rolling off his tongue naturally. “You seemed to be in quite a hurry at the time.”

He slipped his hand into the wide sleeve of his yukata and pulled out a small object.

A hair clip.

More specifically, a miko kanzashi.

It was part of the ceremonial attire, worn as a headdress.

“You even dropped this without realizing,” Haku said, holding it out to you.

Your gaze flickered from him to the clip resting in his palm.

You tried to recall when you might have lost it.

Back when you still served as a miko, you had lost countless accessories during ceremonies. Your parents would always scold you for it, but you had never quite been able to fix the habit of rushing through halls whenever you were in a hurry. And with how restrictive the ceremonial outfit was, it wasn’t unusual to lose something without noticing.

But soon you recognized it.

A slight dent at the edge. The fabric was faintly torn.

This was one of your oldest kanzashi.

The very first one your mother had placed in your hair when you first became a miko.

Since then, you had worn it in every ceremony.

When you lost it, you had been devastated. It meant so much to you.

Slowly, you reached out and took the clip from his hand. The fabric pressed gently against your fingers, but the warmth from his palm disappeared the moment he let go.

You stared at it, lost in thought.

“How did you have this?” you finally asked, lifting your gaze back to him.

He only smiled.

“You were rushing down the stairs in your Miko outifit. I thought you might fall but you didn’t,” he said, his smile deepening slightly as he recalled the memory. “Instead… you dropped your headdress, like some Cinderella past midnight.”

You had rushed past him as if he were nothing more than air.

So hurried that when the clip slipped from your hair, you didn’t even notice.

Your sleeve brushed lightly against the back of his hand.

By the time he bent down to pick it up and planned to return it.

You were already gone.

Like a fleeting spring spirit.

Like a breeze that brushed past him for a moment, only to disappear into the scenery.

If your scent hadn’t lingered in the air, he might have thought he had imagined you or mistaken you for a spirit.

The light had fallen perfectly across your face, brushing your hair in a soft glow as your eyes stayed focused ahead, uncaring of everything else around you.

A youthful spirit.

One he wished he still had.

Your cheeks burned at his words, and you quickly took another gulp from your cup to distract yourself.

“Slow down, princess. That’s quite strong, you know,” he chuckled, reminding you.

“I know, I can handle it,” you almost argued back out of embarrassment.

You always had that neat, proper, serious image in front of everyone. People rarely saw you lose your composure or rush around. But out of anyone who had to see you like that, Haku Kusanagi happened to be one of them.

Oh, fuck my life.

As you wailed internally, you fidgeted with the piece in your hand. Even after all this time, the fabric still seemed new, not worn nor frayed, as if it had been carefully preserved.

“Why didn’t you give it back to me?” you asked confused.

Knowing which family you were from, returning it wouldn’t have been difficult, right?

“Haha…” he let out a faint laugh. “I planned to…” He paused for a moment, recalling something, unsure how to continue. “When our families announced our marriage.”

“WHAT?!”

You nearly screamed, your voice cutting through the quiet rain.

What marriage?

You had never heard about this. You stared at Haku.

Maybe the alcohol was kicking in, you felt slightly tipsy. His face blurred in your vision as he laughed quietly at your reaction.

“I knew you’d react like that.” A hint of guilt laced his tone, this was the first time you had ever seen Haku troubled by something.

“At that time, my family was rushing me to marry, forcing me to choose a bride.” His gaze never left you as he spoke, his eyes faintly glinting in the dim light. “And… I happened to see your picture…” he continued awkwardly. “Before I realized it, I had already slid your picture over… haha.”

That was not something to laugh about.

Since when did your family arrange marriages? And with someone you had a one-sided grudge against?

And you had absolutely no idea about any of this.

Was it because it was the Kusanagi family, and their heir, no less, that your family agreed so quickly?

“I didn’t mean to hide it from you. I wanted to ask for your permission…” he explained, while you remained stunned, unable to process everything.

“I didn’t know anything about that…” you murmured.

“I doubt you would’ve said yes either way,” he replied, a hint of hopelessness in his voice, though his lips still curved slightly.

“It got canceled before I could announce it to you.”

“Why?” you asked again. Maybe it was the alcohol making your intrusive thoughts spill out, you were asking things you normally never would.

“…My circumstances at the time didn’t exactly make me ideal husband material,” he answered casually, but you could sense the bitterness and sadness beneath his tone.

“Was it after that ceremony?” you asked quietly.

He didn’t answer.

But his silence was enough.

His gaze drifted back to the rain, and yours followed. For a moment, neither of you spoke. The only sound between you was the rain growing heavier with each passing second.

You looked down at the kanzashi in your hand before setting it aside, as if putting the memory away as well. Then you poured yourself another cup of sake and raised it toward Haku, gesturing for a toast.

His eyes shifted to you, and he smiled softly before picking up his cup and clinking it against yours. You both took another sip.

“This is for you, Haku,” you said, his smile still lingering. “For being a good vice-captain of Hotarubi and completing so many missions.”

You weren’t very good at comforting people. You weren’t sure what to say, but you tried your best.

As your hands lifted, the red thread between you seemed to glow darker under the dim light.

“Thank you,” he replied softly, his gaze flickering to the string binding you together.

“So… I guess that’s why that Miko bound us together?” you said, though it sounded more like a doubtful question.

“Maybe. It feels like unresolved business between us,” he answered.

“So I have to marry you to break this curse?” you asked, dumbfounded.

Haku laughed softly, shaking his head.

“No, I don’t think it would go that far.” He paused before adding, “And I know you wouldn’t want that.”

Well, obviously.

You were still young. There was no way you wanted to tie yourself down in a marriage. There were still so many things you wanted to do. Maybe if your partner could support whatever path you chose, you would consider it.

But Haku?

You sneaked a glance at him, thinking for a moment. Would he be a good partner? You had never really considered it before.

Sensing your gaze, Haku looked at you.

“What’s wrong?”

“Why are you only telling me this now?” you asked.

He had had so many chances to tell you after transferring to Hotarubi, yet he kept it hidden, like a secret locked away in Pandora’s box.

It wasn’t like you were going to kill him after hearing it.

Maybe you’d be surprised. Or maybe angry.

“You didn’t seem to like me, so I thought it was best not to tell you,” he admitted with a boyish smile, startling you.

You thought you had hidden it well. You had always been serious and professional at work. You never let him know about your one-sided grudge, not even Subaru had noticed.

So how could Haku?

“When did I say I don’t like you?” you asked, a bit offended, almost arguing with him.

“Sorry. I just jumped to that conclusion,” he said.

One of his legs curled slightly as he rested his arm over it, tilting his head into his palm. He looked at you with a hint of mischief in his eyes.

“Does that mean you hate me less now?”

His teasing tone made you want to strangle him.

“I never hated you…” you murmured.

You had never truly hated him, maybe you had been jealous. But after getting to know him, you weren’t even sure what you were jealous of anymore.

“That’s good to hear,” he said, holding your gaze.

“I’ve tried really hard to make you like me more.”

Your face heated up at his words. You reached for your cup again to distract yourself, but Haku stopped you.

“I think that’s enough. You look pretty tipsy now,” he said gently, concern lacing his voice.

“I can still drink more,” you argued.

You knew you were stubborn. Most people couldn’t stand that about you. But you didn’t really care what others thought, you cared more about what you could achieve.

“Alright, but don’t blame me if you have a hangover tomorrow.”

You groaned in protest, he was right. You hated hangovers. So you pulled your hand back.

Seeing that you listened, Haku chuckled softly before standing up.

“Let’s go inside. You should get some rest.”

You nodded and stood up as well, thinking you were still mostly sober, just a little tipsy.

But the moment you stood too quickly, your vision blurred, your head grew heavy, and you nearly fell.

Haku caught you instantly.

“Careful, princess,” he said softly, his voice close to you.

You felt his warm breath against your skin, tinged with the sweetness of alcohol. You looked up at him, but his face blurred in your vision as you struggled to stay steady.

He helped you stand, but when you tried to straighten yourself and create distance.

You gave up.

Haku was almost holding you in his arms, his hands hovering uncertainly.

“You can lean on me. I’ll help you inside.”

You looked at him as he leaned down slightly, taking your hand and letting your arm rest over his shoulder.

And in that moment.

The light hit just right.

The cold breeze. The rain. The scattered petals.

And whatever surged in your chest, maybe it was adrenaline, not just your heartbeat.

The wind tousled his slightly long hair. His musubi earring glinted crimson under your gaze.

Under the influence of alcohol.

Looking at him stirred a strange sense of nostalgia, like remembering something you had never experienced.

As if you had known him for a long time.

And yet.

You knew nothing about him at all.

You didn’t know what pushed you to do it.

Was it the curse?

The red thread binding the two of you, tugging at something inside you, wrapping around your heart and his, pulling your heartbeats so close together that you couldn’t tell them apart anymore?

Haku was looking ahead, but he seemed to notice your lingering gaze. Before he could say anything.

Your arm, resting on his shoulder, slid upward. Your hand pressed against the back of his neck.

Your other hand grabbed the collar of his yukata, pulling him down, rougher than you intended.

You closed your eyes and your lips met his.

You felt his body stiffen, clearly stunned. His hands hovered around you, unsure where to go, as if his mind had completely shut down, even when you pulled away slightly.

It was just a soft kiss.

A brief one.

Barely more than your lips brushing against his for a second.

But long enough for the world to stop.

The sound of rain faded into the background. Even the cold air seemed to vanish, replaced by the warmth between you.

Your hand still clutched his collar as Haku looked down at you. Embarrassment flooded you as you realized what you had done. Your gaze dropped, and even the back of your neck burned.

“Princess… do you even know who I am right now?”

His voice sounded almost helpless, tinged with sadness, a hint of desperation, and something bitter beneath it.

As if your kiss had offended him somehow.

Maybe you shouldn’t have done that.

It was rude and so inappropriate.

You only wanted to understand why your heart kept racing whenever you were around him.

But maybe he didn’t like it.

And somehow. That made you feel offended too.

Your grip tightened on his collar as you shook him slightly, a rude and uncharacteristic action.

“Of course I know who you are!” you snapped, a little too loudly.

His eyes widened in surprise.

“You think I’d just kiss random people when I’m drunk?!”

You shook him again as his hands moved to your hips, trying to steady you.

Yes, you were drunk.

But strangely, when you were drunk, you felt even more honest than usual.

Maybe that was what alcohol did.

It forced the truth out of you.

Haku held you gently, trying to calm you down. He didn’t even dare to hold you too tightly, as if afraid of making things worse.

“You know I didn’t mean it like that, princess,” he said softly.

You looked up at him, your head aching slightly as your vision blurred and cleared again. You tried to read his expression, tried to understand how he truly felt.

Despite all his teasing, Haku had never crossed a line. He always kept a certain distance, never taking advantage of you.

Which made you wonder.

Was he just playing around?

Or was he serious?

“Didn’t the document say that to break the curse, the two people have to show enough affection and feelings for each other?” you asked, bringing up the file he had hidden earlier.

He thought you didn’t know.

But you always did your homework.

Maybe he underestimated you sometimes.

Haku sighed softly, looking at you.

“If that’s the only reason you kissed me…”

His voice brushed against your ear.

“Then I’d rather stay tied to you forever.”

Your gaze flickers on him for a moment, trying to read something out of his expression, anything at all, but the tipsiness makes you unable to focus your vision as it only blurs his face even more, and with the dim light, you can't make out anything.

"Haku." You suddenly call his name, and you feel his chest shiver slightly.

Did you calling his name have that much effect on him?

"Haku." You call again, softening your voice this time as his arms wrap around you more tightly, but he still doesn’t answer.

You become more impatient with each passing minute as you drape your arms over his shoulders. He reaches up slightly to prevent you from kissing him again.

"Then what's the reason you want me to kiss you for?" you ask aloud, as

Haku’s green-yellow eyes gaze at you so deeply that you wonder if he’s trying to analyze what’s going on inside your head.

But he doesn’t answer your question. Instead, he leans closer, his forehead pressing gently against yours. His hair tickles your skin softly as your arms cling to the fabric of his yukata.

"I want you to want me," he answers in a low whisper, his warm breath brushing against you.

"All the same as I want you," he adds.

You stay quiet for a moment as a heavy silence drapes over the two of you. Haku’s hands loosen around your waist, and he takes your silence as disapproval. He slowly pulls away, giving you enough space.

"Let’s get to bed," he says casually, as if you two hadn’t just been so close a moment ago.

He leads you inside and tucks you into your futon, making sure you’re lying down comfortably. Then he returns to his side, behind the thin curtain that separates you.

⊹﹒⊹﹒⊹

But you couldn't sleep. You thought maybe the alcohol, the tipsiness, would make you pass out immediately, but no, you just felt more wide awake, your heartbeat so loud it annoyed you, and your face still felt burned up.

You both lay there in a long moment of darkness. The rain still fell heavily outside.

"Haku," you called his name so quietly, unsure whether he was asleep or still awake.

He didn't answer at first. You thought he must have been asleep then, and as you were about to turn away, the other side made some noise.

"Yes," his voice was so low you almost didn’t recognize it.

You stared at the thin curtain between you and him as you spoke up.

"I'm sorry..."

And for a moment, he just let out a laugh, a bit bitter and silly, as he asked,

"What're you sorry for? I'm not mad."

He spoke so casually that it made you feel even worse, made you feel even more guilty as you spoke up once again.

"No, I'm sorry. That was very inappropriate of me." You felt more sober now as you regretted what you did earlier.

And maybe even through this thin veil, it gave you more courage to talk to him again.

"I didn't mean to hurt your feelings," you continued.

And the other side remained quiet again. He then let out such a heavy sigh you doubted you had ever heard Haku sigh that heavily as his hand slipped through the thin layer of the curtain.

"Promise me you won't drink with anyone else, then I will consider your apology."

You looked at the large hand sticking through the fabric as he held his pinky out, waiting for you to do the same. So you did, stuck out your pinky as you made a promise with him.

But only to fool him, because you kept count of how many times Haku had teased you, and you did not plan to let any of that slide away so easily. So when he was about to pull his hand away, you grabbed his hand tightly with yours.

He seemed to stiffen at your action, but you didn’t give him time to question anything.

"I want to hold your hand like this."

And you didn't know if it was your imagination, but the warm palm of his large hand seemed to become more sweaty as he just let his hand stay like that. Now that you knew he had a soft spot for you, you didn’t really find the need to be so nervous and cautious around him anymore.

You fidgeted with his fingers and hand a bit, seeing the red thread illuminate, tangled between Haku’s wrist and yours as it seemed to glow more in the dark.

And your fidgeting might have been too much, as his hand caught your mischievous one.

"That's enough. You should get some sleep," and he pulled his hand away again.

You were left with that empty feeling once again. And even when you couldn’t see Haku, you could tell that he was unable to sleep just like you.

So after another moment of silence, you called out his name one last time.

And as always, he answered your call, as if you constantly disturbing his sleep didn’t bother him at all.

"If I say... I want to kiss you again, would you allow me?" You finally managed to ask that question.

You didn’t hear his answer, but you could hear his breath hitch slightly at your question, before you heard some rustling from his side as he lifted the curtain, breaking the thin barrier between you and him.

You sat up slightly from your futon as you looked at Haku, but because of the darkness of the room, you could barely see anything, let alone his expression.

"Don't say stuff like that."

His tone was darker now, and it scared you a bit. But knowing Haku, you knew he wouldn’t do anything you didn’t want.

So you loosened your grip on the fabric of your blanket as you flipped it open. Getting out from under the covers, you made your way toward him, almost tripping in the dark but Haku somehow managed to catch you, making him fall onto the futon behind him.

"That's dangerous, princess."

The fall didn’t cause any damage as you both landed on the soft cotton futon. You could smell the scent of shower gel on him. It was the same one you used, but somehow, it seemed to smell way better on him.

You didn’t move away as your arms wrapped around him, hugging him tightly.

Haku couldn’t do anything but go along with your antics. His hand lifted to pat your head gently, almost making you melt under his touch. You nuzzled your face against the crook of his neck as you felt his warmth radiating around you once again.

"I'm not good at being honest... unlike you," you explained, as Haku didn’t stop smoothing your hair while he listened closely, letting you finish what you had to say.

"So I tend to use actions to replace that..." you continued as you buried your face against him. "I'm not trying to make an excuse for myself."

"...But if you’ve been that patient with me, can you be more patient with me now?"

You knew it was unfair to ask him that, when he had done his best not to cross any lines between you two, when he had never once closed the distance, even when you were drunk, never taking advantage of you. And now you were asking him to yield to you, taking advantage of the fact that he had a soft spot for you. Sometimes you wondered, was he sly, or were you the sly one now?

He didn’t answer at all, but the motion of his hand stopped as he slowly sat up, making you shift with him.

"How patient are you asking me to be?" he asked, but it didn’t sound like a question, as if he was holding something back, his voice seems darker now.

"Days? Weeks? Months?"

It was the first time you had ever heard Haku speak like that, not with his usual casual tone, but with a bluntness that was almost threatening.

"Because I don’t think I can promise that." He answered his own question as his arms wrapped tightly around you, pulling you deeply into his embrace.

You could feel his warm breath and even his heartbeat as he nuzzled his head against your shoulder. It showed how frustrated and impatient he was, but at the same time, it felt like he was trying to calm himself down.

You felt like you were being caged in the mouth of a giant snake as it bared its fangs at you, his embrace so tight, as if he wanted to carve you into him, as if with one more bit of strength he could break all your bones. You couldn’t even move and could barely breathe.

But soon, he let you go, as if one more moment of holding you might make him do something further than that. But you didn’t move away. Instead, you lay down on his futon and patted the space next to you.

"Can I at least stay here?"

Your request was like a death sentence to him, but since he couldn’t say no to you, he moved to lie down next to you without any complaint. But before he could, you pulled him by his collar again, his arms braced on either side of your head, preventing himself from collapsing onto you.

You were being extremely disobedient and mischievous tonight. He should not let you near a single drop of alcohol ever again.

"So... do I get permission?" you asked, reminding him why you were even here.

He didn’t answer you at all. Instead, he leaned down and kissed you, pressing his lips against yours, his hand holding your face in place as he kissed you like a starved man.

You could hear his rough breathing around you, feel how hot his skin was as he tilted his face just right to have better access to your lips, making you part them as his tongue slid between them and met yours. You tried to follow his movements, almost melting under how hungrily he kissed you.

You should have known better, how scary and starving a beast could be. But you had already expected that, and you weren’t afraid of Haku. So you draped your arms over his shoulders, pulling him down, deepening the kiss, trying to follow his rhythm, but failing miserably.

In the dark room, with heavy rain outside the window, the only sound left echoing was your embarrassed kisses and your pants when he finally pulled away.

Your hand tangled into his hair at the back of his neck, possibly tickling him a bit. His breath lingered against your skin as he rubbed his nose gently against yours, so gently you could barely feel it if not for his hot breath fanning over your skin.

Even in this darkness, even when you couldn’t see his face, his eyes somehow seemed to glow brightly. You almost felt like you were imagining things, or maybe the alcohol was still messing with your head. But that wasn’t what you cared about most right now.

How Haku’s arms wrapped around you, holding you close, you felt like a giant snake had coiled around you, twisting and binding you, suffocating your breath, breaking your bones.

You wanted to break free from his tight embrace, but you were afraid he might pull away again if you did, so you just stayed still, hearing your breaths mingle in the air, blurring out the heavy rain outside.

You heard his quiet voice as he shifted slightly, lying next to you on the soft futon, pulling you into his chest. Tugging the blanket over you so carefully, you almost felt too comfortable and drifted to sleep immediately.

This was the first time you had shared a bed with someone this close, you could hear his heartbeat, feel his chest rise and fall against you. His hand gently patted your head as his fingers threaded through your hair so softly.

“Go to sleep, princess.”

And he finally spoke in the most tender voice you had ever heard from him.

And maybe you were indeed tired. Maybe it was the alcohol or maybe it was his warmth. You didn’t know. But the glowing light from the crimson thread seemed to illuminate brighter between you two as your eyelids grew heavy and you slowly fell asleep, right in his arms.

⊹﹒⊹﹒⊹

When sunlight pours from the window into the room, you feel yourself stir in your sleep, but something seems to block you from moving. You slowly open your eyes, a bit dizzy and groggy, your head throbbing slightly.

As your vision adjusts, Haku’s face seems to zoom into your space.

You freeze for a moment, trying to process it. Carefully sitting up, you try to recall what happened yesterday and how you ended up on his side. Shouldn’t you be sleeping in your own futon right now?

And when those memories slowly flood back into your mind, you feel heat creep up from the back of your neck to your face, making you want to strangle yourself.

What have you done?!

Why did you do that?

You want to yell that at your past self as you shift your gaze slightly to the man still sleeping soundly beside you. Sunlight dances softly across the room, scattering over the side of his face. His long, soft strands of hair fall across his features, his eyelashes still as he sleeps. He looks peaceful, his expression softened in rest.

You wonder if you should wake him up, but knowing Haku, he always seems sleepy. Based on the amount of work he handles every day around Hotarubi, on campus, and outside Darkwick, you doubt he even has a proper sleeping schedule, let alone enough rest. He also seems to enjoy taking quick naps whenever he can, so maybe that’s just how he manages.

Since you both have a day off today, you don’t want to disturb his quiet sleep. Maybe you should let him rest a bit longer. It must be early anyway, since you always wake up early.

So you carefully try to move away from him, slipping out of the blanket as you look for your phone.

But before you can move any farther, a pair of arms wraps tightly around your waist, making you turn back in panic.

“G’morning, princess,” he murmurs in a sleepy voice, and you wonder when he even woke up.

Feeling his grip on you while you’re sober is really not something you ever imagined. You feel awkward and nervous, unsure what to say or how to face him, especially after what happened last night.

“Good morning…” you reply quietly, your face heating up.

“No good morning kiss for me, then?” he teases you this early in the morning, making you want to whack him.

But when he nuzzles against you like a lazy, oversized cat, you can’t bring yourself to do it. He looks so relaxed and comfortable, and it stirs something in your chest. And he didn’t push you away yesterday… it makes you feel a little guilty.

You don’t answer him. Instead, you gently pat his hair. He lets out a small laugh before lifting his face, your eyes meeting his sleepy gaze as he beams a bright smile.

“Nice to see such beauty first thing in the morning.”

“If you’re awake, then sit up properly.”

You ignore his flirting and pat his back lightly.

He sits up, the collar of his yukata loosening slightly as he yawns and stretches. His hair is a complete mess, sticking out in different directions. He notices your gaze.

“Is there something on my face?” he asks as you quickly look away.

“Nothing,” you mumble, unable to meet his eyes.

How is he acting so casual while you’re here ready to combust? Did last night not affect him that much, or is he just that good at pretending nothing happened?

Before your thoughts can wander further, Haku’s face suddenly leans close into your view, making you instinctively lean back.

“W-what?”

He leans in so close your heart nearly jumps out of your chest.

“Nothing,” he mimics your earlier tone, clearly mocking you.

You push him lightly by the shoulder, wanting to grab him and shake that dumb smile off his face. But he doesn’t mind your antics at all. He just laughs, catching your hand and gently lifting it to press small kisses against the back of it.

Your face burns even more as his soft lips brush your skin, reminding you of how heated everything felt last night.

Despite your embarrassment, you still bring up a serious conversation, because of who you are and how you were raised. You want to take responsibility for what happened.

Haku listens… and then bursts out laughing, his whole body shaking so much you almost punch him.

But then he softens, speaking gently.

“Then I’d be in your care from now on, princess.”

And just like that, you officially become a couple.

Subaru seems surprised by the news, though not entirely, as if he had always expected it.

And the thread between you disappears.

The curse is broken, undone by the honest feelings you finally shared with each other.

⊹﹒⊹﹒⊹

Although you two have been going out now, you find that not many things have changed. You’re still around to help him and Subaru. He still slacks off sometimes or goes on solo missions. When he has free time, he’d take a quick nap and disappear somewhere too.

What’s different is that now, in his routine, he adds more time to annoy you, bother you, tease you, and flirt with you. Yeah, if he’s free, he’d be around you all the time.

You wouldn’t call him clingy, but he always lingers wherever you are when he has nothing to do.

Like those cats on campus that rub around people’s legs for attention, Haku is just the same. He likes having your presence around him, as if it eases him down a bit, and he likes that you pay attention to him. Even when most of the time he’s just napping while you’re doing your own thing, he simply enjoys the atmosphere.

Though finding him during lunch break is difficult, because he literally finds any place in Hotarubi or on campus, to be nap-worthy.

As you walk around the corridor to find him, you’re unable to locate him anywhere at all. Even when you're usually very quick on spotting him.

Where the hell is he?!

You text him too, but he seems busy this whole morning, so you don’t want to bother him that much.

As you walk down the hall, you bump into Saburo.

“Oh, doll, where are you going, my dear?”

The familiar voice travels to your ears as you look up.

“Zenji,” you greet him quietly as you look around, making sure no one is there. “Do you happen to know where Haku is?”

You ask the man in front of you as his lips curve up deeply. Let’s just say, besides some of the other students who congratulated you and Haku for becoming a couple, Zenji must be the happiest person to hear that, he even broke into tears.

You wonder how long he has known, because it makes you feel a bit embarrassed.

His eyes shimmer behind the lenses of his glasses as if he knows you so well.

“Further down this hall, at the left corridor,” he answers as he seems to float even higher every time he’s in a good mood. “He likes it there because the cats always nap around the area,” the man adds before floating away.

“I won’t bother you anymore, dear. I have to visit my adorable brother now.”

You give him a small wave as he leaves with Saburo, humming a soft melody that blends so well with the sound of the rain.

And you, following his guidance, walk further down the hall until you reach a corridor. Taking the left turn, you slow your pace a bit, knowing he’s near now.

The rain falls softly against the roofs, fresh air breezing through with gentle winds as you continue to walk forward, your eyes drifting toward the garden as your mind wanders elsewhere.

More specifically, it drifts back to when you first saw him at the Shinto shrine.

It was just a very brief moment, but you wonder why it burned so vividly in your mind, you still remember that day so clearly. You wonder if that’s also how Haku felt about the first time he saw you, since he seems to remember it so well too.

But your face still heats up a bit when you recall how he saw you in such a rushed state, running down the stairs and dropping your thing without even noticing.

You rarely lose composure in front of anyone, and Haku just happens to have seen all the sides of you you never wanted anyone to see.

But before your mind can wander further, you stumble slightly as your foot catches on something, almost falling over as you gasp and look down, only to see a familiar figure lying on the engawa.

Haku, in the middle of his usual nap. Beside him, in his arm, lies a chunky cat loafing peacefully next to him.

You slowly sit down as you look at the two of them. They must both be used to lazing around, because how the hell did they not notice you coming close?

The sound of rain blends with his steady breathing. Haku always looks so peaceful when he sleeps, even if it’s just a nap. He once said he could rarely get deep sleep, that even the smallest sound could wake him, but recently, he seems to be sleeping better.

You watch how his chest rises and falls, matching the rhythm of the chunky cat beside him.

…That is… kinda adorable, you have to admit.

You almost have to clutch your chest to stop your heart from jumping out as you quietly take out your phone. You just want to snap a quick picture.

Ever since you two started dating, you’ve found yourself taking pictures of him. You’re not sure why, you’ve never done that before. Usually, the most you’d take are photos of the Hotarubi garden or some cats around campus.

But Haku always has that soft, silly, boyish edge when he’s around you, and you can’t help but want to capture those moments. At this point, your camera roll is probably full of his pictures, with you and Subaru included.

As you admire the photo you’ve taken, the cat beside him suddenly yawns and stretches its chubby body. It wakes up and looks at you.

“Hello there,” you greet softly.

The cat meows back, as if answering you.

And just when you think it will go back to sleep, it suddenly moves toward you and settles itself on your lap. You almost scream, this is a sacred moment.

Let’s just say, most cats on campus don’t let you touch them, so most of the time you can only admire them from afar. Haku, on the other hand, animals always seem to cling to him.

You used to wonder if it was because of his spiritual energy attracting them, and ever since you started working with him, you’ve secretly been a bit jealous of that.

Because how the hell is he so effortlessly better than you at everything?

But that thought fades the longer you work with him, because Haku isn’t effortless at all, he works harder than most people you know. He just never shows it or talks about it. Subaru falls into that same category too. You wonder what goes on in their minds for them to disregard their own hard work like that.

As you drift in your thoughts, the cat on your lap purrs and meows, drawing your attention back to it, as if asking for pats.

And you oblige. Who wouldn’t?

You hesitate at first, you know how cats are. You have to let them give you permission, or they’ll just walk away and never let you touch them again.

So you gently place your hand on its soft, fluffy fur. It purrs in approval, encouraging you to pet it more. And so you do, stroking its fur, its head, gently as it relaxes comfortably in your lap.

“Am I getting some pats too?”

The voice makes you jump in startlement as the cat lets out a loud, disapproving meow at Haku suddenly scaring you like that.

“H-Haku,” you call his name as the man lies lazily on the floor. “When did you wake up?”

The same smirk rests softly on his lips as his eyes are now open, still sharp like a cat’s as they seem to glow under the soft light.

“Just now.” He answers, still a bit sleepy, as you see the haze in his eyes when he slowly sits up. “I could get used to waking up seeing such an angel.”

Ugh, he’s so shameless.

You don’t stop patting the cat as you look at Haku. He rubs his eyes softly as he lets out a yawn, and at the same time, the cat in your lap yawns too, creating such a synchronized picture that you can’t help but let out a small laugh.

“What’s so funny, princess?” he asks with a soft smile when he leans closer to you with raised eyebrows.

“Nothing,” you answer him quietly as you ask, “Did I wake you up?”

He shakes his head slightly. “I only planned for a quick nap. You came just in time.”

He doesn’t even question how you found him, as if he knows you’d be able to find him regardless. After all, all the time he lounges around campus, you always somehow manage to find every single hideout spot he has for himself, even when Zenji doesn’t tell you where he is and even when you have no hint at all.

And he’s the same when it comes to finding you. It makes him wonder sometimes whether the two of you are truly bound by some kind of destiny string to find one another. And he finds the idea thrilling.

The rain falls softly against the rooftop as your eyes flicker toward him. How does he always manage to make you nervous even when you two have been going out for a while now? And he really doesn’t know what personal space is.

Because one thing you’ve learned when dating Haku is that he’s very unhinged. He’d pop up out of nowhere, steal one or two kisses from you, flirt with you a bit, tease you even more, then return to his tasks after he’s done annoying you and making your heart fluster. That’s something you both hate and love about him.

You look at him as the cat continues to purr in your arms.

“What?”

You ask when he has no intention of giving you any personal space, but you’re so used to it at this point that you don’t bother pushing him away anymore.

“You’re looking for me, aren’t you?” he asks, but doesn’t even let you answer. “But all your attention is on that Tama.”

“Tama?” you ask, a bit confused, as his gaze shifts to the fat cat on your lap.

“His name is Tama,” he answers softly as you continue to pat and rub the cat’s ears.

“You named him?” you ask, and Haku shakes his head slightly.

“Some spirits call him that. I just copied them.” He sticks his tongue out mischievously when he answers you.

You wonder how he always seems to attract every creature to him, cats, dogs, bugs, birds, bunnies, even spirits. They all seem to linger and wander around him for some reason. Unlike you, most creatures would run away, as your energy seems to radiate in a way that irritates them.

And Haku might have noticed your down mood, as he shifts closer, leaning in to kiss you softly on the lips, distracting you and pulling you away from your thoughts.

Your face burns up immediately as you almost yell at him.

“Haku!”

He only laughs out loud, his chest rumbling as the sound echoes warmly in the cold air, almost making the raindrops seem to jingle. And maybe the noise you two make is too much, because the cat in your lap gets annoyed.

It sits up, then jumps away and dashes away from the hallway. You gasp as you watch it disappear into a small dot at the corner.

“You made him run away!”

When you finally manage to get a cat to come near you, this man makes all your effort go to waste!

Well… to be fair, you think the cat stayed with you because of Haku, maybe his scent or energy lingered on you in some way that made it feel comfortable enough to stay.

“Sorry, princess.” He apologizes, but you hear no sincerity in his tone as you frown. “I’ll make it up to you.”

Before you can even ask how, he suddenly lays his head right onto your lap as if it’s his rightful place, like the cat earlier had invaded his territory.

You don’t even get the chance to stop him as he looks at you with that laid-back smile.

“I’m gonna replace Tama so you won’t be lonely, yeah?”

He nuzzles his face against you softly, and even through the fabric of your uniform, it still tickles you somehow.

“So you can pat me and rub my hair like you did to Tama,” he says, sounding like a child wheedling for a toy or a snack, making you almost laugh.

But you only hesitate for a moment before lifting your hand to pat his head gently, threading your fingers through the soft strands of his hair. You can almost feel how Haku melts, relaxing completely under your touch. You stroke his hair so gently, as if afraid even your fingertips might hurt him.

He seems to enjoy your touch against his scalp, and you feel like if he were a cat, he’d definitely be purring right now.

He closes his eyes to enjoy the sensation, like a lazy cat on your lap, but then his sharp eyes open once again and he’s just staring at your face, making you feel a bit exposed.

“Stop staring at me.” You almost have to cover his eyes as he doesn’t stop at all.

“How could I, when my girlfriend looks like an angel?” He speaks so bluntly, shameless and flirtatious, that you almost want to flick him off your lap.

But you don’t, as your fingers travel slightly to his earlobe, feeling the ribbon of his earrings as it reminds you of that red string that bound you two together before.

You wonder why he wears these earrings everywhere, even in his sleep. He only occasionally takes them off, maybe when he bathes or sometimes when you sleep over.

Feeling you fidget with his earring tickles his ear a bit, and he lets out a small laugh again.

“Do you like them?”

His question is so random and sudden that you don’t know how to answer. You’ve never really thought about it, but these crimson earrings seem to fit Haku so well, like they were made for him, those significant details in his life that add to his mysterious aura, not just some normal decorative accessories.

“They suit you,” you answer, though it’s not quite enough.

Because you like everything about him, no matter what it is.

And your answer earns another laugh from him, as he looks like his face could bloom flowers at any moment.

“So you like them?” he asks as he catches your hand and slides it to his face, pressing your palm against the side of his cheek as he places a soft kiss against your skin.

The warm, gentle contact feels like an electric shock. You want to pull your hand away, but he doesn’t let you. His grip tightens, making it clear he won’t let go until you answer him.

“…Yes, I like them.” You finally admit, embarrassed, not wanting him to see your face right now.

But suddenly, Haku sits back up and looks at you, still with that laid-back smile, though something more serious now lingers beneath his expression.

“Do you want a pair?” he asks, another random, out-of-nowhere question.

“Why? Do they have some meaning?” you ask back, feeling like he’s luring you into some kind of trap.

His earrings seem inspired by a mizuhiki knot, and you know those always symbolize connection and protection, so what other meaning could they hold for him to ask you that?

“Yeah, they do,” he nods slightly as he answers you. “Only the wife can touch her husband’s earrings.”

You flinch at his words, your eyes widening. Looking at him, you think he must be joking again just to mess with you, so you shove his face away softly as he’s way too close to your personal space.

“Stop joking around. If you’re that awake, we should-”

He doesn’t even let you finish your sentence. His large hand catches your wrist gently, sliding up to hold your hand in his palm as he looks at you.

“I’m not joking, though.” Seriousness laces his tone as you feel his hand tighten slightly around yours.

“In the Kusanagi clan, only those who have completed their rite of passage and coming of age ceremony can wear these.”

His voice is low and slow, blending with the rain outside in the garden.

You listen closely as he continues.

“I got my pair after completing my rite and ceremony,” he says so quietly you almost miss it.

“Only our spouses are allowed to touch them besides us,” he emphasizes, and you feel your face burn even hotter.

“Why didn’t you tell me before?! I wouldn’t-”

You try to explain, stumbling over your words, almost biting your tongue. You don’t want to come off as offending him or crossing a line or disrespecting his family’s traditions.

“I want you to, though.”

But he cuts through your words once again, as if he’s trying so hard to make your brain malfunction and your heart jump out of your chest.

His lips curve a bit deeper as he looks at you, all confused and flustered in front of him.

“You can touch these as much as you like. I have no complaints,” he continues as he holds your hand, sliding it up to the side of his face, letting your palm spread and rest against his skin as he even lets your fingertips graze his earring softly.

“So… do you want a pair, princess?” he asks again, very serious this time, and you can see the anticipation in his eyes.

You wonder what meaning it holds for him to want to give you one so badly. He’s so persistent, and his eyes sharpen, narrowing slightly with a darker tint behind them.

“They’re beautiful… but I don’t think I deserve them,” you answer honestly, because didn’t he say there needed to be a rite to receive one?

What if you’re not worthy of them? You don’t feel right accepting something that doesn’t belong to you in the first place.

“I’ll give you a pair,” he says in a lower voice, laced with a bit of mischief as your gaze flickers to his face.

“Is it something you can just give to anyone like that?” you ask to make sure, and he shakes his head with a chuckle.

Taking your other hand in his, he clasps both of your hands against his face so gently as he beams a soft smile, looking straight into your eyes.

“You’re not just anyone. You’re my partner.”

His words make your heart skip several beats, and you almost want to slap him because of how much they affect you.

“Besides, we’re allowed to give one to our spouse,” he adds, making you even more confused.

Raising your eyebrows, you ask him, “But I’m not your spouse...”

He just smirks as he looks at you, as if you’ve just answered your own question, princess.

And after a minute of processing what he means, your brain completely fries as you gasp out incoherent words, your face so hot you feel like running out into the rain to cool down.

“So what do you say? Do you want a pair?” he repeats his question, looking at you with that bright anticipation in his sharp eyes.

“I… I’ll think about it…” you answer, and he smiles again.

Because even though you haven’t said yes, that answer is enough to satisfy him, for now.

“Mm, okay. I’ll keep that in mind,” he says, almost like a promise, as he presses his forehead against yours. Rubbing his nose gently against you, you feel his warm breath against your skin.

And you can’t help but lean in, pressing your lips softly against his. He almost sighs in satisfaction as you feel him cup your face with his hands, so gentle and careful as he kisses you back with a softness like falling wisteria petals.

-The End-

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