𝘀𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲, 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲.
loss. you always lose something. people have a habit of losing things . . . their phones, their keys, their wallets. some, their sense of humanity, or a loved one. things began to spiral the moment you lost your father due to gang violence. since then, you were not big of gangs. to you, they were all horrible. however . . . there a specific gang that made you question your feelings. the tokyo manji gang worked their way into your life and you weren't sure if this was a blessing or a curse . . .
would you lose them, or would they inevitably lose you?
reminder squad: @justmare , @denki1kirishima
maybe if you weren't so kind you wouldn't be in this situation.
the room was bright, and the sheets were warm from your body heat. the fabric was soft, and the room smelled faintly of eucalyptus. the room was silent, despite the soft beeping in the hallway. you were escorted carefully to the hospital by ken-chin and mikey. that's all you could remember. perhaps you dozed off in between the interchange.
but you do remember a few tests offered. when you dozed, you were quickly awoken by the nurses and doctors. they encouraged you to remain awake, and you did. they took a blood sample from you and ran a few tests,. it was enough for them to diagnose you with a stage one concussion. did he really hit you that hard?
" do you play any sports, love? " the nurse asked with a soft smile. she had a pretty smile. her hair was tied back neatly in a bun, and she wore blue-colored scrubs.
" no, " you answered, " i do not. "
it was obvious that your reply sparked a bit of concern. you had a few bruises, and it was odd that you don't play any sports. you smiled a bit awkwardly. " of course. how do you feel? i can supply medicine if you're in pain. "
you thought for a moment and lightly shook your head. your head didn't hurt, it was your neck and arms that were a major issue. you brought a hand to rest at the scar that kiyomasa left from his bud. it was covered by a bandage; you should have known.
" ah, you're awake, hoho! " a female gasped, and you knew who it was. you looked over at your mother, maiko, who stood with a worried expression. she wore her work attire; a beautiful creme-colored dress, and nude heels. a purse dangled from her arm, and she held a bag. her hair was short now, cut into a bob. her wrinkles were faint and she wore very little makeup. and still, she wore those diamond earrings from that night.
" i'm so glad you're okay ... " she walked over, the heels of her shoes echoing faintly. " i brought you something to eat! " her voice was gentle as she walked over to the table and chair, and quickly sat down. " you should eat it while it's warm, hoho." she began to unpack the bag, and you smiled.
" i'll give you two some space. please ring me if you need me. " the nurse looked at you and then at maiko, and they shared a nod.
hoho ... a nickname your dad gave you when you were little. you had chubby cheeks, and he would always pull on them. your hand moved from your neck to your cheek softly as you thought about the past ...
you sat in the park with your father. the spring wind was refreshing and pushed those pretty pink petals off their branches. you sat underneath the tree, on a checkered sheet that your mother supplied. on the sheet was a feast of food. fresh handmade sandwiches, fruits, and cake from the local bakery. it was normal for you and your parents to have picnics when the weather was as pretty as it was.
you stuffed your face with the honey turkey sandwich that you held in your tiny hands, feet twirling over one another as your parents flirted beside each other. your mother, maiko, was the prettiest woman you've ever met. she wore a long soft pink floral dress, with white sandals. her hair was down and pinned to the side by her flower clip. and she smiled at you. always.
your dad was just as charming. sitting on the other side of you while plucking flowers from your hair and maiko's hair. " look at your face, (y/n) ! " she giggled, and you looked over at your mom at the mention of your name. you were confused and then looked over at your father. he gazed down at you, " oh look at those cheeks! " he grinned, placing a hand on your plump cheek. his thumb rubbed against them softly, and you blinked.
" you are so precious, you know that? " he hummed, and your eyes sparkled. " the most precious of them all. your sweet little face ... "sugita then pressed a kiss to the middle of your forehead, and your face beamed happily. " so chubby and warm~ " he pinched them playfully, and you couldn't help the laugh that erupted from your chest, " hoho. "
at first you didn't understand at the moment, but your mother seemed to really like the idea of keeping the nickname 'hoho' for you. eventually, you adopted that nickname, and you replied to it quickly. when hearing it, it made you smile.
" (y/n)? are you listening to me? " maiko called out and you brought yourself back to reality. " sorry, mom. " you smiled sheepishly, " i zoned out. " but the food she offered to you swept your senses. it smelt lovely. there was a bowl of oyakodon waiting for you, followed by a bottle of water, and an iced green mango tea. you didn't know you were so hungry until then.
" it's okay. " maiko smiled softly, " i said that i can't stay for long. i have to rush back to work, but know that i love you so, so, sooo much! " she leaned over, and placed a kiss to your head as you opened your chopsticks, " and if you need me, just give me a call and i'll be here! i know they said they won't keep you for long, but still ... i'm going to miss you. " she readjusted her purse on her shoulder, " i also brought you a few snacks. it's in that bag. " she pointed over at the bag on the nightstand.
" i love you too mom! " you laughed softly, " don't worry about me, i'm alright! " you tried to reassure her as much as you could. you began to eat as she nodded and walked out, leaving you alone. you took a few more bites in before there was a loud knock. with your cheeks full, you looked over, " come in! " you called, assuming it was the doctor once more. but what you didn't expect was to see two best friends and a bouquet of flowers.
" hey, hey, (y/n)! how 'ya feelin'? " mikey waved, as draken held said flowers. instantly, you felt your cheeks flush in shock. the flowers ... they were beautiful. the flowers were all bright and lively. yellow lilies, orange roses, and alstroemeria were styled in a glass vase. your eyes lit up at them, and you smiled softly, " i feel a lot better, actually. everyone's been taking great care of me... " you mentioned as draken placed them by your bedside.
" thank you - " you went to thank them both, only for a small stuffed bear to be forced in your face, " don't thank us. " mikey shook his head, and you accepted the small toy happily. they were sweet. " i dunno if this is your kind of thing. my sister helped pick it out. " mikey plopped in the seat beside you, getting rather comfortable. your fingers grazed against the "fur" of the brown bear, and it was obvious how happy you were. you ... couldn't form it into words. but they knew just how much you loved the items you were given.
" takemitchy and his girlfriend should be coming to see you too. " draken mentioned, sitting on the other side of the bed. mikey was too busy peering into the bag of the snacks that your mom had for you. that caused draken to yell at him, and you chuckled sheepishly, " ah, ken-chin it's fine! i don't mind! you guys can help yourselves! "
" ken-chin ... ? " draken repeated, eyes slightly wide and if you looked hard enough, you could see his veins surface on his temple. and your blood went a bit cold. was that not his name?! you stared nervously, mouth gawking as you tried to find a way to redeem yourself. and mikey nearly snickered.
" ah, sorry! i forgot my cell! " maiko sighed, barging back into the room before stopping abruptly. good save mom. " oh! are these your friends, hoho?" maiko smiled softly, and they stood on their feet. draken was the one to rise first, and he quickly bowed his head at her as a greeting. " we are. " mikey hummed, waving kindly with his mouth full of the chips he stole from your bag. your mom smiled softly at them, " you boys are kind..."
you cleared your throat, " mom this is mikey , " you gestured over to the food junkie, and he grinned once more, "and this is - " you then pointed over at draken. " draken. he's my best friend. " mikey spoke up. " it's nice to meet you both! those flowers ... " she noticed them the moment she walked in, " thank you. for looking out for her. " maiko thanked them with a bow, " i'm not able to stay, but i know she's in lovely hands. "
so his name was draken. you wanted to hide underneath the sheets. " don't worry . " draken spoke before looking over at you, " we'll take good care of her. " his smile was light but sincere. you wouldn't have thought he was so annoyed earlier. he was well-mannered between the two, you knew of that. and yet the moment he looked over at you, and reassured you, you felt your heart skip a beat.
they were willing to watch over you. and you ... you wanted to do the same for them.
you returned the smile, as your mom gave you a devilish look. you knew what she was thinking, and you frowned, " get out. " you joked as she laughed and walked beside mikey to grab her phone that rested there. " you should invite them over for dinner every once in a while, hoho! " and she waved, " have a good day, boys! " and left. you exhaled and returned to eating your food as the other two took their seats.
" hoho, hm? " mikey repeated teasingly, and you nearly choked. you weren't angry that he called you this, but you weren't expecting it to happen! " i like that. " mikey nodded, digging his hand back into the bag of chips, " that's your new name from now on! " he hummed, and you didn't bother arguing. " where'd it come from anyway? it's weird. " he was pretty forward, wasn't he?
you swallowed the food that was in your mouth and looked over, " my dad. " you answered, grabbing the bag of snacks and offering it to draken. he was hesitant, but accepted. " he used to call me that. " the atmosphere shifted, and mikey picked up on it. " used to ... " he hummed, and then turned to look out the window. that was enough for them to understand that he was no longer with you. " how'd you lose him? " mikey asked, curiously, and frowned only a bit.
" gang violence, " you replied, " he was stabbed. " it wasn't exactly sensitive to you, but at the same time, it was. " i always had round cheeks. he pinched them often. so that's where it came from. "
there was a second of silence. " i'm sorry. " mikey murmured from the side. and you frowned, " it's okay, don't worry about it. you can still call me that, i don't mind at all! it ... makes me smile, in a way! " and it did. the moment you heard it, it made you remember your dad, and you smiled every time. you smiled so wide that your cheeks ached, and you didn't want that memory to die.
" oh! draken, mikey, you're here too? " takemichi smiled softly, with hinata right beside him as they entered the room. you were getting pretty popular, weren't you? hinata rushed over to hug you, and you hugged her back, " i was so worried about you! " she sighed softly, feeling a moment of relief. you didn't mean to make anyone worry. you would have been fine ... you could have just went to the bathroom and pulled yourself together.
but maybe this was needed.
◤ ──┅┅┄┄*ೃ:.✧✲ﾟ*｡⋆─── ⋆✩⋆
the group of you sat around and simply spoke. you got to know one another. had a few smiles and laughs, and you were glad they came to see you. everyone did lift your spirits. the sun died quickly, and the moon was slowly beginning to rise. " hina, let me walk you home! " takemichi spoke as hinata got herself together, " ah, you don't have too - " " but i want to! " he countered her quickly. he was serious, and a bit desperate. " okay. " hinata smiled and walked beside your bed to give you one last hug, " get better soon! school's a bit boring without you! "
you returned the embrace, " please get home safely. the both of you. hina, let me know when you make it home! " she nodded, and takemichi waved at you. the two left, leaving you, mikey, and draken alone once more. you were getting a bit tired, but you weren't ever going to kick them out. you valued their company.
" so ... when were you going to tell us that kiyomizu did this to you? " mikey asked, and you stiffened. you found yourself frozen ... not in fear, but in shock. your fingers gripped the blanket that kept you warm, " he didn't - "
" you don't have to lie to us. " draken butted in, and you knew there was nothing you could do to defend him. defend ... him? why would you want to do that?
you took a deep breath, and then exhaled. " and if i did admit that it was him, what would happen? " a rather bold choice of words. but you wondered what the aftermath would be. if you say something, what will happen, and will it benefit him, or you? mikey snickered faintly. it was so quiet, but then he spoke up.
" DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT. I'LL HANDLE IT. "
and you realized that you were fearing the wrong person. you didn't know of mikey's history, but you would soon. but as you said before, karma's a bitch. you let your shoulders drop, growing completely vulnerable, and your grip loosened. " yes , " you voiced, " this was because of him. "
or maybe the storm is finally brewing, and all evil will feel your wrath.
chapter one [here]
chapter two [here]
chapter three [here]
