Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It's hard to bear this weight on your head.

Your head feels dizzy, your eyelids struggle to succeed being open and your body feels… devoid, devoid of the energy it once had. The door in front of you inspires anger as the key you insert into the lock takes too long to open, making you feel like the task was an ordeal.

Exhaling, you fall onto the sofa. A long day of work was everything needed to take you out. It sucks to be an adult. Your body doesn't act the way you want, you don't have energy for stuff you want to do, and the time, the lack of time really does a number on you.

You didn't even take off your clothes, just went straight to the sofa to breathe a bit.

Things… doesn't seem to improve. A day to day grind, hours in and out of a small room, five days a week… it's boring, dull, necessary, although grading. Your present days… are not satisfying.

Amidst this heavy head of yours, a thought makes its presence, and not a good one.

You lament, breaking a promise that held you together for a while.

‘If this is what the present holds, then I'll gladly look forward to the future. I'm sorry… Sakura.’

.

.

Sixteen o’ clock, the magic hour, time of gratefulness, time of gratitude, or as Sakura likes to call it: the end of her shift. Handing over the keys to her co-worker Himiko, she takes her leave alongside her other co-worker and friend, Akari, to the train station. Usually, they would take the same train, since theirs share the same route home, but today? It's a special day.

She says bye to her friend and takes the train opposite to hers. After finding a vacant chair to sit, she fights the urge to sleep middletrip. It's one of these days where she sleeps well but still ends the day feeling spent. She shakes her head to the sides and slaps her cheeks to channel some remaining strength left on her. Did it work? She rather think it did.

The train comes to her stop, convincing herself she’s awaken she bolts toward the exit. The trip now it’s short. She puts her arms behind her back, a smile brightens her face, enthusiasm follows her steps as she finds herself at a small apartment complex, before taking her keys and opening the door.

.

.

As you wake-up. first, you feel the grogginess, second, a faint headache but third? It’s usually the sounds of the air-conditioner ringing in your ear, pleasant, lovable even to have some white noise while you sleep. Yet, that noise is coming forth now, in third something else takes place. A voice, a familiar one, kind, gentle and compassionate.

You open your eyes, meeting a familiar face. “Hi sweetie.” She utters to you.

You respond. “Sakura.” Before you could even lift yourself, she reaches out to you, putting both of her hands on your lower cheeks and pulling you to her lips. 

Her hand is soft, her touch gentle, the pressure light, only for it to gradually increase as it goes. Her warm lips, caressing yours, start picking up a faster pace, whereas the touch of the lips were once soft, it hardens, you feel more of her weight being used against you. 

The gradual increase stops and she parts from you. As she pulls back and takes breaths, you ponder if the kiss took long, the soft, warm, tired breaths making way to your face don’t make you wonder long, they stop, and as soon as you take a good glance at her tired face, she opens her mouth. “...I’m home.” And you step in.

Whereas before you were laid down on the sofa, you get up and pick her up by the waist, not wasting time and making her lips meet yours. But you are not Sakura, you can't pretend you’re not needy. Your hand is rough, your touch firmer, the pressure heavier and yes, it only increases, your right hand part ways from her back onto the back of her head, making it go harder against your lips, to guarantee you both will feel this kiss as much as you can.

It was just an appetizer though. In this same pose you take her, you put Sakura on the couch beneath you two. A ‘ah’ goes off her mouth and you find yourself on top of her. Now taking more charge than before, you double down. Your mouths meet, not lips, mouths. You tongue makes its way through her mouth, teasing her own, slow but fierce the tongues meet with pressure, the way you like it, a tease mixed with pressure. It’s like you are her bully, bothering her for some fun, getting a kick out of her reaction.

Yet, Sakura doesn't just let you do all the work, her tongue fights back, putting some pressure on yours back. You like it. You let her have her way and slowly let her pick the pace, the struggle she puts up is entertaining on its own, seeing her become as much of a tease like you. And with that, she stood up to her bully.

You separate, to catch your breath back, the sound of breathing on your ear making it obvious she shares the same route. Your eyes and her meet. Sakura’s face is red. A sports girl like her wouldn't get tired from just this, you pressed the right buttons. Not before you could feel proud of yourself, she smiles, her eyebrows on her red face are now frowning as she smirks, seeing your face being the same tone as hers. 

A giggle comes out of her mouth, just as you enjoy pushing her buttons, she loves pushing yours too.

Eager to take revenge, still on top of her, you take a nosedive to her neck, taking a huge sniff on it.

“Ha! Hahaha! Stop it!” She laughs feeling the ticklish air going quickly through her nape. You respond by taking her into your arms and diving deeper. “Hahahaha! Sto- Hahaha!”

You hold her. Tightly. One thought in your head right now. A single one. With your girlfriend laughing hysterically in your arms in this very moment, the only thought in you head is:

‘I missed you.’

.

.

You walk towards the kitchen from your now empty room. The evening came and went leaving only the night outside, could have taken your weariness with you but didn’t, as you make your way through the hallway you cease to scratch your eyes and are presented with a voice.

“Sure. I’ll do it… yes… ok mom.” Sakura says as she holds her phone with her shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’ll stay safe… sure, I’ll tell him… you too. Love you mom.” Letting down her phone Sakura’s eyes keep fixated on the timer of the rice-cooker. 

Without being noticed, you gaze at her figure. She’s wearing your shirt. She didn’t borrow, borrowing requires asking and she skipped that step, the shorts are hers tho. She picked it up in the drawer you separated for her. Battled-up from being bought at a garage sale, you can’t help but give it a nice look.

You don’t think if she noticed or not, with her back to you, you embrace her into your arms. “Ah.” She didn’t. Yet, it’s not as if she doesn’t recognize your breath on her neck, your arms around her, and the kisses you give her shoulder. She giggles, fondling your hair.

“‘Night.”

“Heya, (y/n).” An ear-to-ear smile makes way to her face. And then… you squeeze it. “Ah!” You unmake the hug, dodging the elbow coming at your stomach. Staying at the corner of the kitchen. She gives you a sulky look. “Humph.”

You giggle, don’t apologize, if the butt is squeezable you will take the opening. “Don’t look at me like that.”

“A full month away and that’s how I’m received.” Her attention goes back to the rice cooker.

“Yes, because you entered that door a minute ago. I see the past two hours were just a shared dream we had.” You tease, fully knowing the hickey at her shoulder tells a different story.

“Out of all boys in the world I have to get the perviest one.” 

“You didn’t seem to mind that an hour ago.” You comment, knowing full well how much the hickey on her shoulder betrays her words.

“Can’t even make my rice in peace.” 

With a pout and this subtle change of subject, you know full well you won the argument, so you just chuckle to celebrate your victory.

College huh. Not much to say. But if you insist on me elaborating then, it’s been a while since you two saw each other. Sakura is just out of test week, and because she had some subjects to catch up to, she decided to spend some more time away. 

You generally see each other once a week, or once every two weeks, but even then you message each other rather frequently. But with her getting home just to nap, study and finally sleeping, sometimes skipping that second step for her own good, yeah, test week did a number on you. You two are a busy couple. So after a while the two of you finally have some time to one another.

Not letting the silence remain, you follow-up. “Was that your mom? Chores again?”

“Pretty much, just saying she’ll leave the dishes for when I come back on sunday.”

“Your turn, huh?”

“Yeah, test week is finally done, I’m over at my boyfriends and still, the threat of chores never stops.” She smiles, kinda bitterly but you don’t let her finish this train of thought.

“The ever so reliable daughter slash sister.” You ironize a bit. Sakura, like any other children, has her responsibilities at home too. It’s annoying of course, but in her own words, Sakura’s mom is getting old too, even if she is a stay at home wife, Sakura still has her own stuff to do. Not to mention she has a brother who, for once, is actually starting to learn some responsibility. So she also has an example to set.

And it's exactly because of it that you will take good care of her. “You know what? Since it’s your turn at home, for the weekend, you can leave the dishes for me.”

“Oh sweetie, don’t need to force yourself.” She insists, before you touch her face and she lays her head on your palm.

“It’s nothing, really. Imagine doing my own dishes, Am I right? Now, the threat of dishes is gone and you can relax as long as you’re here.”

“Own! You’re so considerate.” She thanks you. Her eyes tighten, her lips widen and a smile on her face takes over. But she had to continue. “...I’m taking all the leftovers in the fridge then, and let’s see if I can boil something to make broth.” She kisses your hand and goes back to the rice cooker.

And by that she means the jars, lids, pots. There’s a bunch in the fridge.

“You’re horrible.”

She turns her head back and replies with a smile. “Don’t be a good boyfriend then.”

“Yeah. My mistake, never again. I guess I won’t hug you as tightly as I do when you get home now.”

“Oh you’re such a rebel.”

“That’s what you get when you act like a bad girl.”

"And what else do bad girls get?”

You take her by the waist and pull her towards you to a tight hug again. You laugh. She goes in for a kiss, pressing her lips on yours and letting it linger. Separating to take a breather. She goes in for another and you take it a step further, picking-up her lower lip and nibbing it. Sakura is taken by surprise, but you can see her smile forming as you let go of her. Your eyes meet and as you close in for a kiss-

*Crack* *Crash* *Shatter*

The window shatters. Pieces of glass fly across the living room, some bricks break in half, either partly or completely around the spot broken, and a reddened figure appears at the center of the room, the culprit behind this now clear to be invasion.

“Make way peasants! The fabulous, powerful and glorious leader of the Kanzuki Zaibatsu finds herself in your presence! Celebrate, rejoice and thank whoever deity for my stay here, as this privilege given by few, is now yours! OHOHOHOHOHOHO!”

Making her appearance on the scene, rival to your girlfriend and one of the richest women in Tokyo, Karin Kanzuki breaks through your apartment.

You just wish you and Sakura had on more than a shirt and underwear.

.

.

We cut to you, now wearing pants, asking to explain again. “What you mean by ‘the ninja spies turned on you after 500 years?’”

She raises an eyebrow before replying. “Out of all names I could be calling you right now, I didn’t expect ‘deaf’ to be one of them.” Sat on the kitchen table, she takes a sip of the tea you just served her. 

You don’t even mind the snark, she ‘entered’ the room; you make the conscious decision to call that an entrance and not an invasion of property, only to find her best friend and her boyfriend half naked. So you decide to let go of her disappointed expression, that and the especially displeased every time she raises her cup.

That doesn't mean shes walking scott-free. “No, I mean, I expected the Kanzuki clan to have better employees. You all fell off.” 

She nods. “Truly embarrassing, I know, five hundred years of servitude running in the family means nothing apparently.” You were teasing, not expecting her to take it seriously, when the surprise wears off, you remember something.

“Oh man, I can’t believe Kisuke would betray me like that.” You say shocked and disappointed. “Pizza tuesday is ruined now.”

“Your days off are the least of my concerns. Right now I have to completely rebuild a full quarter of the network of agents of the Kanzuki.”

“Don’t give me that. You do know that’s just another friday to you.” You tease.

“Heh.” She gives you a contemptuous grin. “You know me.” Somehow making you more confused.

“I’m so glad that you two get along.” Sakura interjects coming from the kitchen, having just finished her rice.

She says that as if every interaction between you and Karin weren’t you defaulting to sass and her flipping a coin to see if she takes it seriously or decides to threaten your life.

She is hard to deal with. But as a friend of your girlfriend you do try your best to be nice to her.

“Also this tea is terrible.”

As best as you can.

After telling you the one of the most convoluted stories she told you, yes, there were others worse than that she told you, Karin stands up and prepares to leave. “Anyhow… tomorrow early we are all going to my beach house to stay a pleasant day away from all of the pit of treatery and debauchery that has been the past two weeks. You two understand?”

“What, like, tomorrow morning???” Sakura comes out from the kitchen, having heard the conversation and joining you two.

“Can’t you just ask politely?” You blurt out, not wanting to waste time. 

“I don’t know what you mean. Hearing my voice is the biggest privilege I could give to the double menace the likes of you are, a commoner and a foreigner, and you are not satisfied?”

You pretend to think the concept of empathy isn’t foreign to her. You whisper to Sakura, who is watching at your side. “think we can refuse?” 

She whispers back. “remember when we refused the water park and she sent us photos everyday for a month?” You sigh, after all, how could you forget waking-up everyday for two months with a printed picture of the day you refused to spend with her?

Empathy really is foreign for her isn’t it?

“And everyone from school is invited, expect them to show up.”

Sakura jumps with excitement. “You mean all the girls will be there!?!?” Even a blind man would guess the look in her eyes.

“Hump! Think I would forget about them? Isn’t that the saying? ‘The more to experience my greatness, the merrier.’."

“Mom said that to me all the time.” You snark. 

A loud propeller sound takes over the room. Karin goes back to the balcony, opening the door and you wonder when it was fixed. A helicopter with a ladder down comes into view and she grabs it, not before stating one more thing with her trademark smug smile. “Be grateful. This weekend of yours just got favored by the gods. For the Kanzuki clan opened their doors for you commoners, and to achieve such honor before five hundred years… you are left with me speechless. OHOHOHOHOHO!” And with a laughter so characteristic you could hear in your dreams, the helicopter flies away.

.

You and Sakura are left on the balcony completely silent. Not impressed although, this ain't the first time this happens.

You shrug. “She fell off.”       

“She is getting predictable, yes.” 

You chuckle and let out a smile with your lips closed. The two of you remain there, silence once again. Except, right now, you find yourself unable to break it.

Already having the answer to your silence, Sakura reaches out to you, warping her arms onto your left arm and laying her head on your shoulder. “Our weekend just got busier didn’t it?”

You decide to not let your disappointment take over you and reply forcing a smile. “It happens, of course.” Yet, you still shift the conversation away from yourself. “She is scared, in her own way, after something as overdramatic as… all of this, she needs the support of her friends.” You struggle to find the right words, in spite of that, still saying the right things. The forced smile not leaving your face.

Of course it doesn’t. You can’t pretend you aren’t disappointed. You can’t pretend you don’t have needs. Going from college to an internship all day and coming home to an empty apartment… of course you need a kiss, a hug and some words of encouragement to keep yourself up during the day. It might be an overused comparison but there’s a reason you call Sakura your anchor, because she is the one keeping you afloat throughout all of this.

Holding onto you, her face sours too. You can’t let that happen, following her expression shift you hold her closer to you and give her your trademark forehead kiss.

“Alright then.” You try to figuratively pull yourself up. “Tomorrow morning we eat breakfast, take an uber to your house, pack some things and leave for her mansion.”

Seeing your attempt to not let yourself down and cheer up, she tenses down a little. “...ooooh a Uber. I see I’m getting the premium treatment.” 

“My girl only gets the best.”

Sakura lets out a chuckle. “You’re cute when you take charge.”

You two make eye contact. That’s it, the two of you just take this moment to appreciate your company. This small moment of reassurance after some tougher days you had.

This moment where these tougher days feel so short, so distant.

If only you could savor it before it becomes too much. “It’s only 20,  let’s pick something up. You'd rather pick up a blanket and watch something together or wanna boot up the old PS3?”

Two options also known as: ‘Begin watching a movie, make-out in-between and then rewind to where you think it stopped, rinse and repeat.’ or ‘Play RE5 NewGame+ while teasing each other until you make-out, rinse and re-.’ You get the point.

And the smile on her face doesn’t lie, Sakura sure does know. “Let’s get the PS3.”

You smile back to her.

Chapter Text

You confidently strive by the moving doors of the arcade, a place so familiar to you it might as well be your second home.

Why you ask? Is it because you are the king of the arcade? A master of the local scene admired by all that come and go? A Pro to rival Daigo Umehara and Justin Wong themselves? Nah, not by a longshot.

“「いらっしゃいませ! 」- (Irasshaimase!)” 

You mostly come in for the girls.

Members of the staff, two girls meet you in the entrance. They open up a huge smile when greeting you. You whisper a ‘good evening’ in a lower tone and drag your eyes. Towards the one on the left.

Brown eyes, brown short hair and a red bandana. Exactly your type.

You let out a small whisper before eyeballing her a bit. You look at her eyes and move your head to the left, where the games are, trying to get her to follow you. It works. Her and the worker at her side share a look and she follows you towards one of the farther arcades available. 

The treat for the day? Let's see how you fare when the subject is Vampire Savior.

Why did you pull an employee with you? Oh sweet child, let me enlighten you about Japanese arcades.

Not only arcades are alive and well in this side of the world, which is already shocking by itself, but they also provide some interesting services that make them stand out. Presenting: ‘The cheer girl’.

Need backup? Moral support? A boost in confidence? Do not worry, the eastern arcades got you covered! For a additional fee, you can call the cheer girl, and have her do what exactly? That 's right. Cheer for you!

Hence bringing this girl with you.

You put up the quarters in the machine and choose your faithful Gallon, as the screen transitions into the first match, a pleasing sound makes it's way to your ears.

"「うーん… 頑張ってね。」" (Ūn… Ganbatte ne.)

And with these inspiring words, you lock in. There isn't much to Vampire Savior that would make it a difficult game, with a lot of short combos that knock down and an emphasis on mix-ups, get used to the high pacing and you're golden. And golden you were.

Push blocking? On point. Guard cancelling? Right on. The air dashing? Rusty, but only at first, you soon catch up. All backed up with fantastic fundamentals. With relative ease, they all feel to your tactics, Morrigan, Anakaris, Hsien-ko, were no match for you.

“いけ！いけ！いけ！(Ike! Ike! Ike!).”

Good thing you have a cheerleader here with you to celebrate with you.

“Heh.” And with every word, you soon realise that this cheer girl thing is gas. Sharing a gaze with her you smile confidently, noticing you finally met the final boss, Jedah.

Everything in one quarter.

Letting your ego take over you crouch and whisper. “Quite the feat huh? Enough to get something on the house.”

She half scoffs, half laughs. “What exactly? Somebody is getting cocky.”

“Really?” You tease. “No secret menu for special clients?”

You catch the smirk on her face. “Not. At. All.” She teases back. Probably taking a bit after you, she continues with a daring look and a surprise. “Although… nothing an extra won't solve.”

So this is the Japanese arcade experience huh? Always finding ways to take more money from you. You learned here first.

And with that, Jedah stood no chance. Were you that good? Maybe. A prodigy of the community? Kinda. A fundamentals God that left everyone to shame?

“WOOOOW!!!!” 

Also maybe, but let's be humble and credit our other hard-worker here.

She raises her hands up and jumps high into the air, celebrating your victory. “Cus-tomer wooon! Cus-tomer wooon!” A small dance follows her victory. You smile cockly to her chanting.

Before she could stop celebrating you, you take charge. Wrapping around you arm around her waist. “So…” With her so close to you, you lock gazes. “...what about that secret menu?”

She holds herself to not let show her surprise, and her slight blush. Somehow composing herself, she responds.

“I guess it's time I earn that extra.”

She smirks, circles her arms around your neck and starts getting closer. Smiling back to the girl in front of you, you lean in closed to a kiss…

“You both! Stop right THERE!”

…that never comes.

The girl at the entrance comes back and interrupts your little moment.

She looks at her co-worker and points at her. “For an extra!? Thought you had more decency than this.” She scoffs, and to make everything worse, switches her target to you. “And you!”

You recoil back in reaction to her firm tone. “Sweetie, help.”

“Nonono, don't look at her, look at me.” Her anger still lingers further. “Do you have any idea the amount of customers we have to take daily? We don't need your rockstar acting-ass here giving us trouble. We are honest girls trying to make a living here amidst a lot of stress.”

Her friend tries to call her. “Himeno…”

“Not now!” She snaps back, still “And don't even think that we are the easy types that will simply obey and do what you think you deserve, cause guess what? We can think outside of the things you think we can!”

“Himeno.”

“You know what, Sakura, aren't you the fighter here? Throw him out, kick him in the ribs and get him outta here.”

“Oh, I don't think I can do this Himeno.”

“Why!?” she looks back at Sakura and looks at her phone. She is showing a picture of you and her. Boyfriend and Girlfriend, together. Himeno lets out a shocked expression, realizing the mistake she just made. “Ah.”

.

.

.

Not much later you and Sakura walk through the sunlit streets after leaving the arcade.

The awkward silence is annoying, not insufferable, just plain annoying, both parties were left rather wordless after that. Good thing coincidentally it was a slow day in the arcade.

You speak, in an attempt to break out the boredom. “Wow, can't believe you didn't even comment about me.”

“I know… sorry.”

You sign, trying to shield her from your down mood and calm yourself. “Japan moment, I guess.” You try making fun of the situation, you fail.

It’s… not cool to be in this situation, anyhow it would be upsetting, but as a guy, especially. However, you can’t blame her much, that’s sort of how the japanese are. Shy, introverted, not exactly talkative about their personal lives. This isn’t a thing exclusive to Sakura, more of a cultural stuff.

Heck, if anything, Sakura is the odd one out, considering how excitable and talkative she usually is. So even if all of this sucks, she is pretty much the least bad about it.

You continue. “Well, It could be worse. Could have been Cammy again.”

“Oh no.”

You remind you both about the events that transpired about two months ago.

.

“*Cof* *Cof* Uuuurgh! *Cof*” You're getting choked and not in the fun way.

“Ca-Cammy?!” from the window of her bedroom, Sakura yells.

“I found this strange man throwing rocks at your window trying to bother you. Don't worry, I have the situation under control.” Cammy replies.

*gasp* *gasp* You feel dizzy all of a sudden.

.

“Hey, it wasn't that bad.”

“If you mean the part before I passed out? I don't think so.” You swear you saw some Japanese gods that day.

But it's fine. Sure, you wish she was more open about both of you, but you are willing to make exceptions for her, so what if some strangers don't care about you dating? It's whatever, you are a grown ass man, you can handle it.

Ayo, where 's Sakura?

You closed your eyes thinking about your stuff and she vanished all of a sudden. She can't have gone too far, you looked away for an instant!

You don't linger on it, you focus and try to hear something around you. You hear someone calling their Special Moves. You walk towards it, not impressed, you can put two and two together and see where this is going, and no, it isn't the first time it happened.

The cries becomes louder as you make your way to a field with some small fences on the border. Where you find Sakura herself, but alongside her, there's someone else. 

You didn't recognize him at first, your references were always some videos online and the photos and posters and advertisements and pamphlets and the merch and the plushies… all on Sakura's room, but the blue energy and red headband duo delivers it. If it's not your girl, it's him. 

One of the original World Warriors, the man to defeat Legendary Muay Thai Champion Sagat, wielder of the mythical Ansatsuken, and last but not least, your girlfriend’s idol.

“Shinkuu… Hadouken!!!”

Ryu.

Impressed by the view, you don't even care that he just beat up your girlfriend.

.

.

.

It's been around 15 minutes, you didn't move.

Of course you didn't, you sat on the fence and watched it all. Since you're dating a street fighter, you kind of grew used to these types of things. It's the ‘Dating Sakura Kasugano Experience’ you're gonna hear about fights, watch fights on tv, watch fights in person and help with fights. No you're not jumping anyone as a couple, aside from that one time with that gang,  it's mostly training.

But it's engrossing, naturally, you don't have that good of a view on tv. Ryu might actually be everything she spoke of. Discipline, strength, technique, you can't provide more nuanced commentary, but even a casual like you can look at it and be impressed.

His defensive style and short combos mixed in with a balanced moveset make for a deadly mix. Feels like his moves have a bit of everything in them, all numerous small techniques that stack up and make approaching difficult. You definitely don't want to be caught in a long battle against him, he'd always be the one to come out on top. If you wanna have a chance, then rush him down and overwhelm him, it's only a possibility, but you can still see how it would go.

And hey, that's pretty much Sakura's style, which made watching the fight more engaging. Seeing how each other would adapt to their opponent’s fighting style only made it a better showing.

Now with both fighters having stopped, with two bottles of water in hand, from the vending machine nearby, you go over to her and her old friend, who look pretty tired, Sakura more so. “You two looked great.” You then make small talk.

She reaches out first with a huge smile on her face, clearly in a good mood, before taking the water bottle. “Thanks!” Then opening it and starting to gobble up.

You offer the other bottle to Ryu and he takes it too, opening up a smile clearly sharing her good mood. “Thank you.” Before opening it and taking a sip. You are kinda surprised, in a good way. From the posters in her room and the ones she gave you, you expected someone more on the angry type, more of a tough guy persona. Yet, in your presence lies someone… he is just kinda chill, that's the best way to describe it.

It's your first time meeting him after all. A first impression is not everything, but very pleasant nonetheless.

I'm just kidding, this is the second impression. The first was the punch to the gut followed by an ascending uppercut on your girlfriend’s chin. But counter-argument: he had her consent, and second counter-argument: it was insanely cool.

“Fuwaaa! Woooo, I needed that!” She closes the bottle after drinking everything in one go. Sakura really seems to be in a good mood. You might have met her as a spunky tomboyish high school girl, but over time her overall enthusiasm kinda died down a bit, not to say she got sadder, it's just that the same girl you met back then is more selective about the times she appears.

This is one of those times where the girl you met appears.

She strikes up conversation. “That. Was. Awesome!” She pretty much yells. Just like that, as if opening a tap to the maximum, Sakura is now completely on fangirl mode. “You really stepped up your game!” 

“The daily training will do that to ya.” He used a contraption? You didn't expect that.

“That new move is amazing! Hashigi- Hashe- what's it called!?”

“The Hashogeki.”

“Hashogeki! Sooo cool, and you can use a bigger version of it! That charge move is incredible too!!”

“Nice, isn't it?”

“OF COURSE! The Denjin Hadouken was always sooo sick! And now other moves can be just as cool!” She keeps on. “And that green run!? Is that a new move too!?”

“Green Run? Come on, get with the times already, everyone is doing it.” Did that 40 something's told a college student to get on with the times?

“Come on! Not everyone's fighting around everyday! I don't have time to get every single thing you youngsters do!”

You scratch your eyes, the internship might be hurting your brain, you must be hearing the wrong voices coming from the wrong mouth. 

And it seems they notice too. As if watching your reaction, they start laughing together. Sakura going for a full belly laugh one, while Ryu covers his mouth a bit to not show as much. He fails, you can tell his enthusiasm from there.

They take their time being lost in laughter. So much so when it ends, both are gasping for air. Seems Sakura cooled off a bit after that. Consider the sink to be closed for the while.

As if noticing that herself, she asks something grounded for once. “And you?” *Huff*” she catches her breath a little. “Still the same?”

“You know me. I do things my own time.” She smiles, it seems comforting it it's own way. “And you? I'm kind of impressed. You’re not as out of shape as I expected.” 

“Aaaah, I know. I have been- Uh.” She gives you a look. You know what it means. “I have been sort of busy these days, not much time left to train more, just modest stuff, stretches, a bit of working out, the occasional jogging and, y’know, the same old moves.” That's not modest at all you think to yourself. 

“I suppose it's work, huh?”

“Not at all. I mean, these days are kind of calmer. New period in college just started; don't know if that's a bad or good things to be honest, I'm back at playing volleyball on Sundays; quickly getting my edge back, I've let Kei bring me and the girls to some new places; beginner mistake, should have known better and…” she pauses, tilts her head and looks down, she smiles, and looks at you. “Yeah, new experiences overall.” 

You pretend to not notice and keep it to yourself.

“Ah, that's a good thing then. It means it's all according to plan.” He pauses for a moment. “Ear to ear smile and wide eyes full of confidence, exactly how I like to see you.”

Her entire face lit up after that. With a big ear-to-ear smile, Sakura's eyes widen, no, let me rephrase that. Sakura's eyes wiiiiiiiiden to the compliment. It's obvious how much it means to her. 

You smile alongside her too. Her joy is your joy too after all. “I agree.” You say right after him. “Couldn't have put it better myself.”

After this long catch-up session, you finally manage to say something, and now you have the spotlight. 

“Ah, apologies, how rude of me. I don't think we have met.”

You let out a snort, and with this shift in behavior, how couldn't you? “(y/n), It’s a pleasure, especially with how much I hear about you.”

He chuckles. “It’s no secret I have have a loyal fan.” She covers her face in her hands. “Did she show the tape of the World Warrior tournament?”

“Yes she did. And the posters that came from it. I have one copy, it was one of her greatest treasures she said.”

“Was that the one I signed?” 

“Pfff, as if, it's like saying If I ever got one of the drooled up plushes she has.”

He shrugs. “Seems unlikely.”

Confused, she feels the need to day something. “Humm, guys, I'm right here.”

“I couldn't even touch the replica of your gi.”

“Oh, I remember that one. Easily the biggest scam ever.”

“I know right, I mean, the collector cards I get it, but the gi was too much.”

“Guys?”

“There was even a punching bag, you saw that one?”

“Actually no I didn't. She has the Rainbow Mika one.”

“Guys?!”

“Good to see, that one offended me too.

“I worry about her, you know? She is so gullible, those are the ones most prone to this sort of stuff.”

“Me too, good thing you're taking care of her.”

“Screw Street Fights, Sakura needs help not spending money.”

“GUYS!!!”

Taken back from being engaged in the conversation, you and Ryu in unison look back at Sakura, who is pouting at you two.

A titter comes out of Ryu’s mouth. Slightly embarrassed he explains himself. “...heh, sorry, we ran off the proverbial rails I suppose.”

“Yeah… off the rails.”You say with a big fat smile on top of it.

*Hump* “I get it! I'm a crazy stalker who doesn't know how to spend my money.”

Still embarrassed, Ryu goes for damage control. “Uhh… we, don't, think that.”

You however: “Yeah, hyperfocus is a superpower, you're clean.” Makes it worse.

Sakura's arms are crossed, her legs spread apart. Her eyebrows draw together under an intense gaze, she is FUMING right now, but she's also pretty cute when she's angry, so it's okay.

“So, Ryu.” You ignore the paragraph above, no care given. “What you doing around here?”

“Uh…” he nervously looks at her then at you. Unsure of what to say, he just answers your question. “I… have a house here. Every now and then I come to look at how it's doing. Got here just yesterday, looking for some old friends to catch up to. That's when I met you two.”

You ignore ‘someone’ in the background breathing in and breathing out. “How great! Not letting the monk lifestyle get in the way of the bonds. I respect that.”

A chuckle comes out of his mouth. “Heh, thank you. It's always a priority to rest and take a look at how everybody is doing.” Catching the prior subject before Sakura's questionable purchases, he traces back the subject. “It's great to finally meet you. I've heard a lot about the great (y/n).”

You let out a smile. “Oh.” 

“Oh no.” Sakura doesn't. 

Your face is taken over by a radiant expression. Of course it is, it's always nice to hear about how you've been talked about. Your stories, your mannerisms, things you did, things you didn't even remember you did. Let's see what he has to say about you.

“Indeed. I have been hearing about you the whole year.” Here it goes. “Convincing her get back to volleyball, playing these games of video after work, the dinners at your place. Just seemed like a good presence in her life.”

“Owwn, that's so cute, sweetie.”

“Yes, I'm glad she has such a good friend.”

You freeze. You don't move, don't flinch, you do not react to the previous sentence at all. Such is your state of mind.

“(y/n), dear?”

“Uh… is something amiss?”

You try, god knows you put effort in keeping yourself in check, but the thing about putting effort into something is that effort can be a circle, and sometimes you go back to where you started.

You calmly say the following: “Nononononono, no, no. You're right, you're absolutely right, you are sooo right.” in the same tone you move over. “In fact, I commend you even harder for taking such a detour to check on your friends, you know why? Becaaaause-” You take Sakura by the waist and spin around her, ending up behind her, hugging her. And as you rest your chin on her head, with the biggest smile you could ever put out, you deal the finishing blow. “Sakura and I have been dating for the past year.” And with that statement on the table:

Silence. Not a word, not a sound, not a single movement. All there is around you all is the proverbial mic drop.

Your smile doesn't change. Bright-ass smile looking bi-

Funny enough, you thought you were hugging your girlfriend, but in her place, a tomato took over when you weren't looking.

“Oh that's… that's fantastic!” He was ecstatic, beaming even.

Same dumbass smile on your face you share the mood. “Thank you! We've been so happy for the past months. I'm glad to share the news.”

Ryu lets out a giggle, a awkward one, but despite the surprise he still maintains himself collected. He crouches a bit to meet her gaze, trying to comfort her, Sakura, who is red as a cherry, covers her entire face, very obviously embarrassed.

“I'm happy for you two.” Unlike you, Ryu goes for damage control. 

And that was the final blow. Sakura passes out. 

You hold her before she can fall to the ground.

“S… Sakura!?” Confused and concerned, he asks.

“Don't worry this happens when you are the subject.” You barely react. “Let's get out of here, my apartment is nearby.”

That did nothing to stop his concerns. “I… is this really often as you say?”

You shrug it off. “I once Jokingly made her kiss a plush of yo- a plush of R. Mika, that's what I made her kiss, and then she passed out.” Ryu just stares at you, no reaction at all. “So far so good. Just let her breathe a bit and she'll be good.” You finish, wrapping her arms around your neck and taking her by the knees piggyback style carrying her. “Let 's go.”

Your casual behavior seemed to rub off on him, since he does look calmer. Seems like treating your gf’s hyperbolic reactions to her hyperfixations like normal, mundane events really pays off.

You strike up a conversation. “So, you good at cooking something?”

Even after a scene that could make anyone uncomfortable, you can tell a smirk made it's way on his face. “Not to brag but… I'm quite proud of my soba.”

.

.

.

Back at your apartment, the evening ended up being very pleasant.

You let Sakura pass out and sleep in your bed with the AC on. A change of clothes later and you went on Shopping with Ryu for dinner. You're kinda surprised, turns out he has indeed normal clothes, you thought he'd wear that gi everywhere. 

A Short Walk later you get to the store. You don't need much, there's a bunch already at home, you just felt the need to do something more for your guest. A short trip later and you find everything you need. Soda Noodles, Brocolli, carrots, bell pepper and ginger. You leave out the tofu, last time you added tofu on top of a lot of stuff, Sakura gave you the goofy eye. You finish the trip by taking a sesame seeds and green onions to top it off. And light beer, because of course.

And just as you thought it was over, BAM, shrimp sale. Oh nah, you will not let that slide. You take two portions and since this store has your back you look over and get some bread crumbs. Ryu insisted on paying for it, you didn't question it where he got that money, but you let that black credit card do the talking.

Getting home you see an irritated Sakura awakened waiting for you, already having showered and changed her clothes, and you go for a kiss. She rejects it, you joke around. You bring everything to the kitchen and get ready.

You bring out three pots. A large, and a medium. The large one for boiling the soba noodles, while the two mediums will take care of the vegetables and shrimp. This will take a group effort.

Ryu has the easy part, he'll just wait the water to boil in the large pot, and then put the instant soba noodles for the 5-7 minutes until it's al dente.

You put the sesame oil you had in the fridge in one of the medium pots to heat up, all while you chop the brocolli and shred the carrots. Once you put it all together and it starts getting color, you finally top it off with the remaining pork broth you still have in the fridge. It was for a whole month, but it's a special occasion. You open one of the light beers, congratulating yourself for a job well done.

Meanwhile, Sakura takes the shrimp from the bags, letting out a little smile; you know she loved the surprise because her frow wore off, and readied beaten eggs and the bread crumbs, frying everything in oil. She takes a sip of your can, not asking for it.

And once everything was done and the table was set, for the dinner: Soba noodles with vegetables and fried shrimp as toppings.

As for the dinner itself? Fantastic. Just an all around pleasant evening. The food was as good and you'd expect and the company, even better. You're all meeting yourselves pretty much, so there's a lot to talk about and make this night was rather loud. Ryu and Sakura still had some catch up, you had a lot about yourself to talk about, even letting some stuff even Sakura didn't know slip up, and Ryu and Sakura had their own stories, both alone and together to tell. It was so much so, even in the kitchen you three were already yapping.

The night ends on a high note, Ryu promises to bring some of his handmade soba next week when he comes back, it's already scheduled, same time, same place. You and Sakura bring him to the door and say your goodbyes, a farewell to a pleasant night.

You then strike up conversation, still well humored. “You were right, he is actually pretty cool.”

Sakura however makes a circle with her hand and puts it on her ear, clearly trying to listen to something in the distance. Some seconds giving you the silent treatment and she mutters. “He is gone.”

Her very next following movement?

3HK, 2MP, 4HP xx HP-HK, HP xx 214K, MP-MP -> K, 623P xx 236236P

I'm not using abbreviation notation.

But if you need me to write it down for you.

Catching you off-guard, Sakura stands on one foot and kicks up with a kick going all the way up to her head, she hits you with her elbow and gathers both of her hands together to hit you in the chin. She uses her chi to power herself up and goes in for a fierce punch, before using her Shunpukyaku and spinning around kicking you, a final kick propels you up and she jumps. In this jump, she goes for a dive kick with both feet, and on the landing, ends it with a double Shououken, or at least you thought. For the final act, she does a huge Hadouken, taking advantage of your dizziness, a Shunpu follows after, and in a blow filled with chi, a massive Shououken finishes the chain, throwing you all across the room in a state of dizzyness.

On the ground, barely able to move, about to pass out, you blurt out  faintly a last question.”Where… where did you get… that meter…?”

.

.

.

Some minutes later, you both sit on the couch with two ice bags. A familiar scene, except, whereas once these bags were for her, now they are for you.

Every now and then she appears on your door all battered up, courtesy of her latest fighting encounter. It's never something too serious but you can't let it go, a pretty girl being covered in bruises isn't something you can ignore, even if her bruises don't stay for too long.

She’s been giving you the silent treatment again for a while, pressing the icebag against your belly, you press another on your head. You decide to warm this cold treatment a little.

“Not very polite to treat your pacients like that, Doctor Kasugano.”

“Really? You're gonna open up with that!?” 

Yeah, that didn't went well. Next strategy, not argue and take the L. “Ok, ok, I messed up-

“MESSED UP!?” Yeah, you're not getting out of this easily bud. “Messed up doesn't even begin to describe!”

You physically recoil from the yelling. This will be a big one.

“Ok, I stepped out of line today.”

“Oh, oh, you stepped out sooooo far, you saw the line and decided to break an Olympic record!!! That's how out of line you were!”

“Yes, yes, I know-”

“And even worse! Even after it was said and done, you still had to ramp it up didn't you!?”

“Hey, since it was done already, I just acted normally, I was trying to be myself.”

“You grabbed my ass when he wasn't looking! Multiple. Times.”

“You're right, I messed up, in his travels, he probably learned a third eye ability and can now see in a 360 degree angle.” You joke.

She blushes up and buries her face in her hands. “... Oh no, I can't believe it, he saw everything!”

You won't correct her.

“No, no, whatever, I'm so, so mad, no, no, no, I ascended today and I'm beyond mad. I’m so beyond mad in fact, I achieved a higher plane of existence, I achieved the opposite of enlightenment, I am endarkened! That's how mad I am!!”

You hold in laughter. “...you mean, throughout Heaven and Earth, you alone are the dishonored one- PFFFF-”

She points at you. “Don't even!” And lands out an audible ‘puff’ before scratching her hair, as if looking for things to do. “Wow, I wish those beers weren't light, can't believe I'm dealing with this sober.”

“By the way, Ryu knows you drink?”

Her eyes threaten to jump out of her skull, as she silently sits on the couch covering her face. She's reached another level of anger, one where she is simply. Silent.

You change your strategy yet again. First you tried joking around, second you took the blame, for the third, you'll try to de-escalate the situation.

“Come-on sweetie. I know I made things difficult, but we had such a good evening. A cool company, a nice dinner and a pleasant talk… Can't you let it go, just this once?”

By the look in her face, sharp eyes, piercing gaze, tightly pressed lips, it didn’t seem to work that well. “Whatever, I'm leaving!”

“Sweetie-”

“I'm out.” She speeds towards the door, opening it and finishing her thought. “I'm getting you and your inconsiderate ass out of my sight!!!” *SLAM* And closes it slamming it very loudly.

You breathe out, trying to process the situation. Until you realize she left in sleeping attire. 

She seems to have noticed the same, while you went back to the kitchen. Sakura opens the door, full force and goes to your room. “FORGOT MY CLOTHES!”

You hold back a snicker and remind her of something else while you take tupperware outside of the cupboard. “Sweetie, you want some leftovers too?”

“YES I DO!” Sakura screams as she scrambles around putting on her work clothes in your room.

You let another snicker out and fill the pot in front of you with the leftover soba and toppings left. Before you finish, she waits for you fully clothed on your right, her arms on her hips, tapping her foot waiting.

You try to hold in another laugh when you finish and go over to her to give it.

She shows you her tongue. “Bleh!”

“I love you too.” You just smile at her.

*SLAM* She frowns and slams the door.

A chuckle makes its way on your face. You can't with her man, she's adorable when angry.

For now, you'll let her have her reaction. Wait a bit, let her be angry and apologize again, things will come to pass.

Although, you probably shouldn't have chosen today to pull this off. No, this was the worst day for you to have pulled this off. Because tomorrow she will face them, and they will put her against you. That's right, tomorrow Sakura will meet…

The Rival Divas.

.

.

.

“I can't believe it.”

“Oh nooo!”

“Possessive of him, damn, that's kinda hot.”

The circle of friends gathers in a table on the middle of a park. This is their gathering spot of choice.

The Rival Divas, as you so call, is Sakura's friend group. The girls she knew since High school. Natsu, Hinata and Kei.

And also Akira, she's not here but she swears she will appear. It's been a year, they're still waiting.

Every now and then they all gather to check up how everyone's doing. You know, the stuff friends are famous for.

And the cake, Natsu makes a mean cake and brings it for everyone.

Meanwhile, Kei just casually ruins the mood, as she is known for.

“Kei, you're not helping.”

“Oh no, I am helping.” Chitose doubles down on her statement. “You got your man cornered and he felt the need to impose himself? Kinda hot, I'm just giving my piece.”

“Oh Kei…”

Yet, Kei seems to have a sympathizer. “I actually agree with her, Sakura.”

“What!?” Not expecting this level of betrayal from the ever level headed Natsu.

“I mean, he couldn't even lie about you two.” Natsu adds. “It's kinda romantic.” 

“Uhmm!?”

Hinata is not really the expert when it comes to boys, it's the extreme opposite in fact. Yet, trying to be a part of the conversation, speaks up. “... it's… kind of rude, I think.” Hinata

Kei, making sure Hinata regrets her life decisions, follows-up. “No, no, no, Hinata, darling, listen to me.” She stops for a moment to give emphasis. “Girl, if a man tries to tell you what to do, biggest red flag ever, I'm talking run in sight type of stuff, don't ever let them have too much leverage on you.” She says. “Buuuuuut-”

Sakura faceplams. “Oh no, not the but.”

“But in a small fraction, not gonna lie, kinda hot.” She doesn't receive the best looks from her friends after this.

Their gazes fixate on Kei, all going from not amused, from ‘huh’, to ‘what is wrong with you?’ You can tell which girl had which.

“I think what Kei is trying to say…” Natsu feels the need to salvage this conversation. “Is that it's nice when guys show initiative. And (y/n) did just that.”

Annoyed, Sakura sighs heavily and buries her face in her hands, she breathes in and out.

Hinata intervenes again. “Eh, Uh, I, It did sound nice when you were cooking together.”

“Urrrrrgh…” She roars, clearly making it clear she made it worse. It then hits her.  “Ah, shoot, it was so fun. The three of us, laughing and telling stories while cooking. Would have been so cute if (y/n) hadn't messed up everything. I wasn't even doing the hard part, (y/n) cooked all the toppings.”

Kei is surprised. “You have a boyfriend who cooks for you?” 

“Damn.” 

“Damn.”

“Shucks.” She got the whole squad thinking.

“That’s how you know he is a westerner.” Kei thinks to herself, but snaps soon after. “And owwn, it's so cute that you got to spend time with your boys, isn't it?”

“D-don’t say it like this, it's so embarrassing.” “ALSO, Ryu is like, 38!?”

“So hot.”

“Kei Amano, I will test my new setup on you.”

“Doesn't make it less hot.”

Good thing Sakura has common sense to not throw loop her best friend, cause someone else sure would now.

She should however, have considered, maybe it would have stopped the rest of the conversation to come. 

Natsu however holds her chin with one hand, deep in thought. “Say… don't you think that was the reason he reacted?”

“Huh?”

“Ohooo, you think it was that too?” Kei seems to be following something everyone isn't.

“It might have been, I don't doubt it.”

“It has to be that .”

The conversation happening with those two is leaving the rest of the table confused. “Oh no, I don't wanna hear what you two are scheming.” Sakura spouts.

Ke giggles to herself, deviously going in. “Heeeeey, Sakuraaaaaa.”

“What.”

“Don't you think (y/n) miiiight have been jealous?”

“Wha…” “Pffff, nooo.” “What? Noooo. He would never, (y/n) isn't like that.”

“Uhuuuum. He isn't like that normally. But!” “What if he BECAME after yesterday?”

“What you mean?”

“Say, say, Ryu.”

“No, no, don't say anything.”

“Beefcake.”

“Stop!”

“Beefcake x2”

“We will throw hands right here and now sister! Divas 101!"

“I ate beefcake last week.”

“Aaaaaargh!”

“PFFFFFFFF-”

“AHAHAHA, I'M TELLING YOU!”

For Two days in a row Sakura has been annoyed with no break.

Natsu composes herself. “Heh, heh but, heh, I think, he really was tho.”

“Yeah girl.” Kei wipes off a tear from her face. “With a guy like that, any man would fold.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Bruh.”

“Bruh.”

Hinata is silent, she doesn't get it too, but knows it will be worse if she asks.

“Damn girl, you are dating, and even still your knowledge of men is in the negatives.”

“And on woman too.”

“Average people really.”

“Listen.” Kei calmly says. “When you put two guys together with one girl, of course things will become competitive. And when there's PAST!? Of course things will become spicy.”

“Oh my God, not the past.”

“It's the past that kills it.”

“Huh?”

“Listen sweetie. Your man saw you with another man and became protective. That's why we're here today.”

“What…? (Y/n)? Jealous?” “There's no way.”

“Happens to the best of them.”

“Could be the best of boys, they still fall prey.”

“No, no, he even called Ryu next week for dinner again, and Ryu will be the one doing the dinner.”

“Ryu cooks too!?”

“(Y/n) is done, can't believe it.”

“That’s so sad, I always liked him.”

She covers her mouth, eyes widening, Sakura makes a realization. A somber one, realizing she might have had a portion of the blame here. “... Perhaps I should have thought about how he felt.”

Hinata keeps quiet; still paying attention, while Natsu looks over at Kei, who puts a hand forward. Reading the room for once, Kei chooses to tranquilize her.

“It’s okay Sakura, it’s too soon for anything more.” “For him to still be joking after everything, at the very least he is somewhat well.”

Sakura lays back on her chair. Covers her face and takes a deep breath, trying to soothe from the guilt slowly taking over.

Now calm, feeling better and relieved of a weight on her consciousness, her thoughts make way towards her mouth.

“... dang it.” She curses, defeated. “... That shrimp really was great.”

The rest of the divas all smile to themselves.

.

.

.

“So Ryu, how's the assexual lifestyle going?”

Sakura slurps her handmade Soba noodles. Moody, it's good, but she's still moody.

A week later the day you all agreed on finally came, and wow, Ryu was right, this soba really is something. 

With grilled salmon on the table alongside it, this evening is another pleasant one. And with the direction this conversation is going, it will be even more.

“I believe you mean my travels. It's going well as always.”

“Not really what I meant, but sure.”

“I know.” “Not really the first time I heard this term, ‘would be accurate although.”

“It's a Buddhist thing, isn't it?”

“You could say that my path… is kind of similar. What you both have here… is not what I look for me.” “The more time passes, the more I can see those in my life taking steps towards a life I did not choose. Be it Ken, Chun-li, Sakura, the past few years have been filled with different paths from my own, it has been made clear for a while by now. Yet… it never brought me dullness. The happiness of others never brought me jealousy, not even envy… Never once have I looked at my peers and compared themselves to me. Everyone is… valid, understandable… and I think this is what makes me go on with my journey.”

You freeze, eyes and mouth remain unshaken. You do have what to say, but your brain needs a delay to process this information.

Sakura too. Sure, she always knew this, yet she was never told, she never needed to. Years and years she spent at Ryu’s side, be it at small or big moments of their lives, so as the time went on, it simply was something she herself caught up on. Still, it's her first time hearing it from his very own mouth, and the feeling is… almost foreign.

You collect yourself and keep on the thought you have. “H… huh, who would have thought? I sure know I wouldn't.”

Ryu lets out a small laugh. “I’m in my mid 30’s, I suppose it gave me a lot of time to think about it.” He pauses. “A small part in my life, I always considered, but one riddled with thought.” With his chopsticks, he picks up and eats the remains of his noodles. “Ah. Before they went cold.” He puts the plate on the table and leans back on his chair.

You let a giggle out, you look at Sakura and she's grinning too.

Ryu looks at you two, curious. 

“What? It's not as good when it's cold.”

.

Once dinner ends, you take your guest to the entrance.

“Thanks for coming man.”

“It was a pleasure.”

You know this japanese guy travels a lot when you reach for a handshake and his face doesn't contort with confusion. Especially with your advanced pro-handshaker move: using both hands.

You keep the thought to yourself. Playfully, you continue. “I think I'll have to try a new dish next time.”

“Oh? Is that a challenge?”

You hear a gasp from your side. Yeah, it did impress her.

And with that, you feel devious all of a sudden.

“You know what? It is.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Oh.”

“Iiiiiiih!” 

You look to your side and flash her a grin, Knowing your cheerleader has your back.

“Then let us proceed like this, japanese man.”

“Ou!”

“Next time your travels bring you to our dear Tokyo, our dishes will battle.”

“Then I guess it'll be a battle of silver.”

“OU!”

“Not a battle of fists…”

“... but a battle of culinary arts.”

You two lock gazes.

“OOOOOOH!!!”

Now your gaze locks on her.

“... Hehe.”  “ Sorry…”

You crouch, holding in your stomach to make sure that laughter doesn't come out. Yes, you did catch a glimpse of Ryu holding in the laughter, you saw that.

You breathe in and calm yourselves down. 

Sakura and Ryu lock their gaze.

After everything, period, there isn't much to say, so they just shake hands and say the obvious.

“See you later.” 

“See you.”

He expects her to just bow down politely as always, to his surprise… she went in for a hug.

And Ryu? Finally feels like the Japanese man he is. He stutters, looking for something to say, his eyes wander, looking for guidance. His confused gaze falls on you. Your time to shine. You jokingly frown, put your index finger to your lips and spread your arms in a circle. Putting it into words: ‘Just hug her back.’

He calms himself and, still confused however, wraps his arms around her, giving back the hug. It lingers for a bit.

Once undone, Ryu still tries to process what happens while you in a good mood, hold your laughter. They say their farewells again and Ryu leaves for the door.

Her gaze stays at the door. Her arms crossed, from where you are you can't see the look on her face, yet the gloom is evident.

You try out something. “Legendary World Warrior. Mastered a thousand year old martial style and the void itself. Can't handle a hug.”

No reaction. You walk towards her direction. You put your hands on her shoulders and give her a lasting kiss on her cheek. Once she turns her head and her eyes meet yours, she leans into you, laying her head against your neck.

With your arms around her, Sakura closes her eyes and just… stays there, in spite of the fun day, her mind and body seem worn out.

Not thinking, you instinctively started lightly moving left to right. Why? Who knows, can't speak for you.

Still, Sakura chuckles. “... Are you dandling me?” She looks up, your eyes meet, and you take a look at her big, confused smile.

“Shhhh… just enjoy it.”

She listens, holding her laugh, she leans back onto you.

Standing, in her arms while you lull her a bit, in this cozy night… you lose track of time.

After a bit more of this, you make her a question:

“Will you be okay?”

“I don't know.” You didn't expect this answer. “ It's just…” she pauses. “Like a part of my life is over. I guess we're official now.”

“We sounded pretty official last month when we got home after the holidays.”

She smiles and huffs. “...yeah.”

“We looked pretty official when I gave you that silver ring.”

“...yeah.”

“Sweetie, I met your parents two months ago.”

“...yeah.”

You can't help but silently laugh at her bit.

Giggling on your shoulder, she leans a bit closer to your chest. 

You feel a pain on your chest. “Uh.” Failing to hide it. 

Startled, she looks up. “Something wrong?

Now this makes you giggle. “Would be weird if I was fine, after that full combo I received.”

“Oh.”

“But don't worry, I'm much better, not one hundred per cent, but still better.” She presses your chest. “Uh.”

She sighs. “Boys, just lay down.” 

You let go of her and obey, laying down on the couch. Sakura goes to the fridge and takes the ice bag, going back you and pressing it against your chest. You take heavy breaths trying your best to hide your pain.

You fail again and she speaks. “... Sorry, I overreacted.”

“No, I deserved it.” You admit. “It was just on impulse, but I still shouldn't have done it. I’m sorry, I won't do it again.”

She smiles, recalling Natsu’s words and the good night they had last week and today. She smiles and lets it go. “I'll hold you to that.”

You supress a laugh, happy to be on good terms with your sweetie again.

On your couch, being taken care of by her, you feel yourself being in the clouds, smiling happily to yourself.

Yet, one last thing remains on Sakura’s head.

“Just, one more thing.” She says. “I thought you might be jealous.”

“Jealous? Why would I be jealous?”

She is confused. “Huh, I mean.” Looking for reasons, she recalls her frustrating conversation with her friends last week. Trying to avoid the embarrassing stuff, she continues. “... I mean. He is famous, strong, tall-”

“Not tall, he's 1,75, I’m taller than him.” Yes you are, don't question it.

She huffs and keeps going. “I just thought you would feel uncomfortable somehow.”

“Don't worry, I’m not this type of guy.” You come clean, you should however have finished the sentence here. “Plus I don't think you could have done it.”

Sakura smiles. “Owwwn, you thought I wouldn't cheat on you.”

“You would never. But Ryu? Nah, he is too much for you.”

Before you could even think about what you said, she freezes. Sakura looks wide eyed, deep into your eyes with no reaction in sight.

“... what?”

Yeah, bad idea.

“Uuuuuh-”

“What you mean by I can't? I completely could, If I wanted to, of course.”

“What? No, sweetie, I didn't mean it like that.”

“Then how did you meant it? ”

You try looking for the right thing to say. “I-I just, come on he's a celebrity. I mean, if you can get with Ryu, then I can get with Scarlett Johansson- Urgh!”

She fiercely presses the ice bag onto you harder. You physically shake your whole body in reaction to that. Looking up, you meet her pout.

“Humph.”

And there she is, your girl, adorable when angry. You refuse to hold back now, getting up from the couch and picking her by the waist.

“No, don't even, I'm mad-” *smooch* You give her lips a little peck. “No, don't you-” *smooch* You give her another kiss, tongue first, silencing her protests.

With her hips in your hands, you swing her down the couch getting on top of her. A devious grin makes its way on your face, and as you go in for another kiss, you notice her face, brightly red, eyebrows creased and the most bothersome of all, tucked lips. 

You hold a laugh. Diving in to her face and giving her small pecks on her hidden lips, one, after the other, after the other, not bringing yourself to stop, while all you can hear are her muffled impatient breath. No response, her face doesn't change.

You change your tactics. You take a plunge to her neck and give it a kiss. But not the pecks you gave before, as your lips connect to her skin you hold them in place, only to take them out after a while with an audible pop. Why? To make her impatient. Let her be mad at the anticipation and be more eager to receive some.

And as you go lower and make your way towards her shoulder, slowly losing yourself to the tease, a moan. A moan joint by a deep exhale. You let yourself out of your trance to meet her gaze, and shock, the lips are still tucked.

You switch tactics yet again. You pick her waist, getting a startled high pitch ‘Hmm!’ out of her, and as soon as you do, you nosedive into her shoulder and give it a good sniff. And as soon as you do…

“Ahahaha!”

Her voice comes out.

You smile. “Gotcha!” And with that cue, you make your way back to her lips. As soon as you meet both, you take the lower lip with your teeth, as if to reclaim a trophy, and after this little tease you plunge your tongue into her mouth, making sure she won't escape.

And after resisting your teasing for so long, Sakura wraps her arms around your neck, moving her tongue to meet yours.

You bask in the moment, slowly moving your tongue to feel her, your lungs betray you although and you let go of her. Taking back your breath, you look into her eyes and meet with a daring face.

Her eyebrows knit, she smiles confidently. “Don't think I’lI let you off the hook that easily.”

“Heh.” You snicker, knowing fully well what that entails. “Guess I'll have to make up for it…” and with your breath finally back, you take off your shirt and go again to the encounter of your girlfriend's lips.

.

.

Sakura: you were all capping

Sakura: hate all of you

Hinata: 😭 😭 😭 😭 

Sakura: not you Hinata

Sakura: you didn't do anything wrong

Sakura: love you

Sakura: ♥️

Hinata: 🥹

Chapter Text

 Triiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiim

With the ring of the Bell, the teacher announces the end of the school day.

「これで授業を終わります。」(Kore de jugyō o owarimasu.) – "And with this, we conclude today’s lesson.”

Watching the entire class stand up, you follow them in a traditional bow, repeating alongside the other students.

「ありがとうございました。」(Arigatou gozaimashita.) – "Thank you very much.”

You finish your bow and sit back onto your chair, you lay down, letting your head fall on top of the backrest. Taking a deep breath through the nose and exhaling through the mouth as you try to absorb and fully take in your first day as an exchange student in Tamagawa Minami High School.

A slight headache takes over you. Your classmates all start packing their things, but one comes close to you.

“Yo, (y/n).” A boy calls out to you. “Wanna head out somewhere?”

“Heh.” You let out snicker. Finding it humorous that after such a day and such a reaction you still have it in you to head somewhere. “I'm beat man, maybe some other time.”

Anothe boy comes up to you. “He's right, you know? Only you would want to go to an arcade on a Monday, Waki.”

“It's called ‘Hospitality’ Yaku, ever heard of it? Besides, wasn't he the one telling us that he could bring us down at Vampire Savior EX?”

Hearing the name of the game he likes, the other boy is suddenly convinced. “Nah, my bad, I'm down any day of the week for that.”

Those are Wakisuke and Yakumaru, two students from your class, cool enough to let you feel welcomed into the school.

You chuckle, suddenly feeling a small burst of energy. A small one though, not enough to take on the challenge.

“Nah, bud, after today I kind of need a break.”

“Skill Issue I say.” Nothing but a reasonable excuse but Waki finds in himself the will to tease you. “Oh wow, you hear this everyone!? One day in and the foreign kid already wants to call it quits!” 

You feel your cheeks heat up to the loud-ass tease as the entire class almost leaving the room begins to giggle.

You get in on the joke. “I could never, one day was enough, bring that plane, imma go back.”

You hear a giggle or two from behind you, the joke did land. You also did see that snicker coming out from Yakumaru, he can pretend he didn't, but you know he did.

“Heh, but don't worry.” You take your breath back. “You have the whole semester to challenge me, so once the jet-lag, the time-zone change and the long-hours of japanese schools wear off on me…” You pause. “I'll be good in no time.”

The duo of boys look at you. No facial expression, until Yaku says:

“Yeah, he's cooked.”

Waki smiles at the thought.

After humoring you, the boys take their leave. You'd follow one another to the bus stop, but coincidentally, the three of you all go to different ones. Even though the family taking you in doesn't live far.

After waving each other good-bye, you lean back onto your chair taking a deep breath again.

What a day. You knew going to Japanese Schools was going to be tough, and damn, they didn’t disappoint you on that. Morning classes? Afternoon classes? No. Only one turn and it’s 9-to-3, from 9am to 3pm, two recess and a lunch break in-between. Sure, them japanese might be doing this their entire lives, but coming from a western school, no wonder you feel like someone hit you in the head with a brick. You, I'll need some time to get used to it.

A time you will have, as you are in for the whole semester.

But enough of that, you must say, this uniform kicks ass. A fully blue jacket with a long collar, classic stuff straight out of the 90’s. Sure, the social shirt you are wearing takes a bit away from the cool factor, but that won’t stop you from finding it cool. Were you to name the numerous anime and gaming characters who have this same fit you’d be here all day! 

Who cares if it’s the most trivial, normal occurrence, you’ll let yourself enjoy this one and with that you can’t help but smile.

And it’s not your only reason to smile, after all, you are the top-grading student of the Nijuryu.

As the number one student chosen from the Nijuryu program for exchange students, and as such, you have a responsibility to uphold. To take in as much of the Japanese experience and use it to further not only your academic career, but your overall future!

And what does a number one student do? He excels.

Such a coveted opportunity, you are so special for it. This is a unique opportunity and you have to do everything in order to take it fully!

The thought of that makes you swallow. 

You get up from your chair and try to shake off the feeling, fighting a slight headache instead of letting it take over you. It will win the battle for today and you know that, just let the battlefield it wins be your very own bed.

Leaving the classroom, you walk towards the entrance. Your spinning head zoning out the chats and whispers of your fellow colleagues, were they to be gossiping about the day, their personal lives and even about you, you wouldn’t be able to tell. 

Setting the gps on your phone to show the bus stop your host family told you, you make your way towards it. Not in a rush although, being your first day you yourself expect to be late, probably going to miss and go to the wrong bus, and up at a terminal looking for directions and then stop at a neighboring city.

You reach an alleyway with a broken lightbulb. Turning left and-

A guy runs past you.

Before you could enter the alleyway, a guy ran away from it, bolting straight out of it. Seems like bad news and you don't fool around, instantly turning around and quickening your pace, but not running away. 

The puffs in the background don't make you falter, you continue walking.

*puff* *puff* “Damn, we lost him.” Three students come out from the alleyway, looking left and right. Three students your age, all wearing uniforms, turn their attention away from the runner… “Hey!” …and straight to you.

Staying silent you pretend not to hear. Don't. Slow. Down.

A call to your left. “Oi, kid.”

“Urgh!” Startled, you freeze. 

You turn your head, and up, way up. A huge guy lies standing at your side…  Wearing the same uniform as the other after you.

Where did he come from? How is he so tall? Is he really a teenager? What is he doing here?

“Hey chief, I don't think he is the guy.”

The kid your age who first yelled at you started to make it way.

“Heh, you'd have to be blind to think this foreigner is the guy.” says the kid. Clearly the boss of the other two and the big guy at your side. “So much for divide and conquer.”

Their uniforms… they’re not from your school. It is the same classic vest you have, only instead of a light blue, theirs is black with very slight white margins, with everyone else wearing a yellow shirt. But not the main kid, he wears a red shirt with a kanji on it.

「無」Mu, the kanji for “Nothingness”.

Tap tap tap.

Your breath steeps. You try not to make visual contact with him. Not out of intimidation, it's just that the image of the cane he's holding over his shoulder is unnerving.

Unfortunately, he notices. “What? Just because I'm handsome doesn't mean you can't check me out.” His goons laugh, affirming and tapping on his back.

“Heh, nice one boss. But tell us foreigner.” The big guy calls you out, his deep gruff voice giving you chills. “Where did you see the kid running to?” He is met with silence.

Tap tap tap.

Air escapes your lungs, you are still silent, your mind fighting desperately to bring out any sort of information. Fighting the situation around you, you try to rationalize.

You saw the student who ran. After running from the alleyway he turned left, and entered another alleway turning right again. You could see it before turning around.

Just say that, open your mouth and say that. Sell out the kid, you have nothing to gain from protecting a stranger. No one would blame you for it when you are in a situation like this. Just. Do it. Yet…

Tap tap tap.

The words don't reach your brain, let alone your mouth.

“Tsc!” Their boss loses his temper. He picks you up by the collar, his pull stretching the fabric of your shirt. “I had enough of the silent treatment.” He groans, you expect him to keep on yapping, yet concerningly so, he pauses. “... Ah, I get it now. You're protecting that boy aren't you?”

Your eyes widen to the atrocious conclusion the boy had.

“You know, he was the one who messed with us first, something about his friend being capped or some shit, to think he would go so far as to threaten us, tsc, pisses me off!” “You see, if I let things like this slide, my boys will think I'm a wimp.” He pauses. “Can't have that, can you?”

You don't reply.

The Student Grows. “That's it, Hadamatsu, Hold him.”

You grasp, being taken from behind by your arms by the big guy. Struggling, shaking your body to try to get rid of him, when that doesn't work, you try kicking him. He does not flinch.

He doesn't even flinch from your struggle. “Hey, hey, this one is pretty light actually.” Isn't he feeling your kicks? “Can't pack a punch or a kick.” What the hell, what is this guy even made out of?

You breathe out.

You are immobilized. Cannot fight back, can't even speak and worst of all.

That.

Tap.

Damn.

Tap.

Sound.

Tap.

The Boss laughs. “Hahaha, I'm going to enjoy that. Hada! Hold still.”

Your face contorts as dread and fear take over. You don't know how you got here, yet, It doesn't sound like there's a way out.

Maybe the fear has made you numb, cause all you can think about right now is for this to end. You close your eyes and brace for impact.

And then.

A scream.

“Argh!”

You didn't look well, only a blue light made its way to your eye.

Bright in yellow, a girl in uniform appears. Throwing one goon to the ground. She doesn't waste time, jumping over to the back of the goon at her side. She hits him with her knee, a spinning kick, then hits with both of her hands, another spinning kick, a far away kick, finishing it with a far away lighter kick and a uppercut, the former being incomplete, due to her dashing back in the middle of it, the move still manages to down the guy.

“What!” The boss is taken back by the moves, surprised, he recklessly swings his cane towards her, she walks back making him miss it. His whiffed move leaving him open, she uses a way stronger version of the spinning kick. Brightening yellow again, she twists and spins around while kicking the man, bringing herself to a halt, she deals a final kick which sends him flying upwards.

“Boss!?!?” And with that scream he lets you go, prioritizing his companion over you. Freed from his arms, falling on your knees and breathing heavily, trying to calm yourself and assess the situation. But before that’s possible…

“Shououken!!!”

You react to the cry and look up. The girl is flying, ascending to the heavens like a dragon, her fist guiding her. And with that, alongside her landing, the big guy is down for the count.

On the ground, you look around. The three boys are on the ground.

“Guh…” Their leader grunts, struggling to lift himself up, as he feels the pain coursing through the body, he speaks. “...get up you morons, after them!”

Before you could gasp, the girl grabs your arm, pulling you away.

“Come! Quick!”

Her yell takes you out of the frozen state of before, making you get up hasting your pace. As you follow the girl away from the scene, all you could hear are the screams of the boss getting farther and farther.

.

*Puff* *puff* *puff*

With no perspective on how much you ran. You just followed the girl left and right, and oh boy, left and right you went. Zig-Zagging around other alleyways to chase the boys away, something you caught on in real time. A tactic that proved effective, as you find yourselves alone.

An alleyway you have no idea where.

At least you don't feel unsafe while here. You are not the only one breathing in and out, the fighter girl is at your side right now.

Your brain is scattered in and out. Relief is taking place, however shock and anxiety are yet to find their way out of your mind. Yet still, you find yourself resting your eyes upon this girl.

And with one last puff she giggles, putting her hand on her hip and tilting it to the left, her other hand pointing at you.

She smiles. “Hehe, guess you really needed me back there didn't you?”

In between puffs, you smile back, taking the jab in good faith. 

“Haha…” You puff more, finally catching your breath, the fact that you both ran the same distance and she doesn't seem as affected doesn't escape you. “Yeah… I guess you're right.” You finally feel your body cool down a bit, but you remain on the ground.

Her face brightens. “So you can talk! I thought you were mute for a minute back then.”

You suddenly freeze again. “What?”

“Yeah dude, you didn't say anything back there, I thought they chose a mute guy to mess with!”

You hold back a laugh. Anyone would think that, of course, hell, those bullies probably thought that too, who wouldn’t make a single sound upon such a reaction, if anything you are the weird one out here, can’t blame them.

Still, that’s kinda mean.

“Come on, give me some credit, It was scary.” You shrug, defending yourself. Would you be all tough when surrounded like that? Please.”

“Oh, I wouldn't be quiet, that's for sure.” With arms crossed, she keeps going. “I would give them a piece of my mind first, THEN finish them all.”

You find the idea humorous, but it's her confidence that sells it and puts a smile on your face. “Hah! Okay then.”

“What? Do you not believe me?” The girl narrows her eyebrows.

You wouldn’t laugh at her, it’s more the cute enthusiastic delivery that makes you giggle like a little girl. You can’t tell her that though so you play it off as a tease, hoping she doesn’t notice your slight blush. “Just saying you might be a bit too confident, that's all.”

“Yeah dude, I am, I would go after them myself, they'd fear me.” She rests her arms on her hips, clearly challenging you.

“Fear a tiny girl like you? Heh.” You commit to the tease, you keep up. “Then tell me, what you would do in my shoes?”

She seems to have picked up your energy. “Hmmm, I’d probably say: ‘Oh yeah!? You wanna try me dude!?’ and then I would be all like ‘pow!’, ‘smack!’, ‘wham!’ and they’d be like ‘Noooo, Lady Sakura, please spare us!’ and I would: ‘No! You messed with the wrong gal!’ ‘Pow!’, ‘Wham!’ ‘Shablam!’. She throws a punch, throws a kick and then one last kick before a cry… and then her shoe falls on her head. 

The confidence… doubling down on her statement her confidence goes through and you burst out laughing. She is so cute, especially with that blush on her face, you’ll keep that to yourself.

“Haha! You know what? I believe you, love to see you giving them a lesson.”

“You mean another lesson do ya?! I'd be glad to, just tell me when and It will be done!” She raises her chin.

She laughs it off while your ear to ear smile remains. She is a funny girl. Energetic, confident and talkative, exactly what you needed right now. And- wow, those legs look nice- stop looking at her legs.

With all of this cute bravado you even forgot the situation you were in. Your head has cooled off and your breath is back, with no adrenaline in your veins left, you can finally think clearly about what just happened.

Making your way home, being attacked by a gang of bullies who clung to you after their prey left you in his spot, only to be saved by a girl and run away somewhere. Complete random chance, everything really, to think your first day in Japan you would be met by a gang threatening to beat you to a pulp, out of sheer bad luck. And a strong girl like her seeing everything only for her to jump in and defeat them easily is hilariously opposite to that, how could sheer good luck also happen-

Wait, dial back a bit let’s review the information we have here a bit.

You were threatened by other students to be beaten up, but you were not, instead what happened was SHE stopped everything by appearing and beating up the rest of the guys.

Wait… this girl just beat all of those guys up by herself.

The realization kicks you in the guts. “Oh… oh you're being real!”

Confused by your sudden reaction, she affirms. “Uh, yeah, that's what I do.”

A smile makes its way on your face. It all comes back to you, the energy wave, spinning kick, flying uppercut and the yellow flashing for some reason, these elaborate flashy techniques coming to your rescue. All while she was outnumbered.

“That was awesome!”

Your compliments take her back. She suddenly finds herself speechless. “Oh, hum, thanks.”

“You just-you really, took all of them by yourself and like, it was a 1 v 4, and you did it!”

Her eyes widen. “Oh! Hehe, yes, yes, it’s what I do.”

“What you do? Like its frequent!? You’re always saving people from gangs and stuff?”

“Pfff, no, no…”

Your mouth hangs in the air. “Oh, oh, so I’m special then. Hahaha! I’m the lucky one to get saved by a superhero of a girl!”

You hear a muffled giggle. “Ah, uh, hehee, it wasn’t much actually.” She scratches her head. “They were caught off-guard, too.”

You smile, the shock and enthusiasm still going strong in your tone.

“Not much!? It was awesome!” You correct her. “You jumped in alone and saved me like a superhero! How is that not amazing? You were sick!” 

“Ah, huh, alright, alright.” She cuts you off, uncaught by your excited state, you fail to notice the blush on her face. “Uh, but still, I’m just glad you’re okay.” She stutters trying to get you to change the subject.

You catch the cue. Still with a brimming smile, you take a breather and compose yourself before answering.

“Ahah, sure, sure… but thanks. I really needed you back there.”

She lowers her head.

“It was nothing.”

Your eyes linger on her. She’s so tiny, you knew japanese girls were short, but seeing this close really makes you realize, she’s small. To think she just pulled the moves she did… makes it more amazing. You pay attention to her features. Her brown, short hair that doesn’t cover her ears, the white headband covering her forehead, brown eyes, the red all stars shoes, all topped off by her sailor outfit…

Like dude stop looking so much, it’s rude to stare.

Shaking your head a question pops up in your head. You haven’t said much to make yourself look rude, but it's just unacceptable to let this slide. “Ah, my bad, how rude of me. I didn't even ask your name.”

Her eyebrows pop-up, seeming also to be startled by herself noticing too. “Oh…my name is…"

“Sakura~~!”

A voice slightly away from you two approaches. A group of 4 girls appears and runs towards the girl who saved you. She leaves your company and walks towards them.

“Are you okay!?”

Their attires… they all seem to be high schoolers, just like you, yet no uniform matches the other.

Your saviour is surrounded by the friend group. They all seem concerned, trying to check on her. With it, comes the full package. Widened eyes as far as the eyes can see, a short girl is shaking her leg, one is biting her nails, other is biting her own lip, no one here is taking this lightly. It's easy to tell they've been friends for a while.

Their nerves seem to calm down a bit, now that Sakura is answering the questions. The ‘Where were you?’, ‘Are you okay?’, ‘Did you get hurt?’ comes to your ears.

“Hinata caught a glimpse of them all running, you weren’t in your spot.”

“Yes, yes I'm fine.” 

You glance at her calming expression.

“So your name is Sakura?” You stand straight-up and make your voice be heard.

The group of girls turn around to meet your gaze.

“Heh.” You try not to say it's anime-esche, but you do think it. “It's a nice name.” You smile at her.

“You!” You squint at the call out. “You have any idea how much trouble you put her in!?” 

Another girl in gym clothes and dark blue hair raises her voice at you. She walks over to you and holy shit, she must be 6 feet tall, she towers over you.

Sakura steps in. “No, Natsu it's okay.”

“It's not okay.” She speaks back. “It ruins the plan, we've been over this. And for what? For his carelessness to ruin everything?”

“He isn't him.” Sakura explains. “It was another kid, Hata-san ran away safely.”

The tall girl’s eyes widened, before her expression became more tame. Looks like that worked. She doesn't seem as intense as before and doesn't look at you with the same anger.

“... it's getting worse by the day.” The tall girl sighs as she walks away from you into her group.

You access the situation, trying to wrap the situation around your head. These girls definitely have some sort of control over the situation.

You decide to speak up. Because if you allow your brain to register that you're talking to a bunch of pretty, very angry girls your age, you’ll likely stay quiet for the rest of the week. “This isn’t new to any of you isn’t it?” You scratch the back of your head, trying to signalise some friendliness. 

A short girl with a bandana, just like Sakura's, speaks up. “You are new here, aren't you, student-san?” She speaks in a polite tone, kinda taking you off-guard.

“Uhh, yes, It's actually my first day of school here, I'm an exchange student. My name is (y/n).”

“... So he is new here.”

Sakura comes close to you, smiles, covers her mouth and whispers. “... it's a nice name.” You smile back at her.

“So what now?”

Sakura steps forward and defends you. “Let's just take him away, he's got nothing to do with this.”

“Be real, this is not how they work.” A girl with a biker outfit replies.

The girls discuss. Being spoken about right in front of you is weird, but tolerable, yet being left in the dark like this? Nope, absolutely not.

“... You’re all creeping me out.” You admit. “Can somebody explain to me what's happening?”

The tall girl comes forward. “Walk with us, will you?” She says. “Where do you live?” You tell her. “It's not too far from here, let's go girls.” The gals follow her. “My name is Natsu Ayuhara, I'm from Gorin High school.”

The girl with a Headband follows. “I'm Hinata Wakaba! I'm from Taiyo.”

A girl with motorcycle attire speaks. “The name's Akira Kazama. I'm from Gedou.”

“And you met me! Your saviour. Sakura Kasugano, I'm from Tamagawa Minami, just like you!” Sakura says excitedly.

“I'm Kei Chitose by the way, I'm from Minami too.” A brown-haired girl says.

“And together we are-”

“The Fearless Femmes.”

“Wildflowers.”

“The Glitter Gang.”

“Cherry bombs.”

The girls all look at each other, dumbfounded.

“Didn't we agree on Wildflowers?”

“No! It's too much! Needs to be more girly, Glitter gang is perfect.”

“It's too feminine, I prefer Fearless Femmes.”

“It's too much!”

“Cherry Gang sounds nice, I'm just sayin’.”

“Sakura, our life doesn't spin around you.”

“Would be cool if you all just gave it a chance.”

Natsu sighs. This definitely has been going on for a while. You suppress a laugh, not wanting to leave a bad impression.

“Anyhow… as you can see, we are all friends from different schools around here.”

“... you are all fighters like Sakura, aren’t you?”

“Indeed.” A smile comes to her. “For us, it’s mostly friendly sparring and some school activities. However, every now and then something drastic happens which requires us to band up and go after it.”

You raise an eyebrow. “Every now and then? You mean hussles like these are frequent?”

Natsu continues. “Last year we had serial kidnappings and earlier this year, a murderous ninja.” 

You make a conscious decision not to process this information, if you ask more questions it will get worse.

“... I understand.” You lie.

“Other than that, we are normal girls from normal schools, who every now and then engage in some friendly fighting.”

“You mean, the schools are rivals…?”

“Pretty much.” She continues. “And for now, the new threat is the new gang around here. The Hayabusas. That's whom you've met.”

“… I see.” You look down. “So, my first day here and I end up having to run from the big bad guys already.”

Natsu puts her hand on your shoulder, surprisingly so. “I'm sorry for that.” Against her previous behaviors, her expression looks… tender. “I promise we are doing what we can to make sure they don't go too far.” Squished eyes and a faint smile… your cheeks heat up. Just, wow, she is so tall.

“Yeah.” Sakura intervenes. “We are all trying our best to make sure they don't mess around.” She puts her arms on her hips. “To make sure things don't escalate, once school ends we all have some posts where we watch over some points around the school. To make sure they don't mess with us.”

“Sakura is right, we are doing what we can.” Hinata comes in. “In fact, we even have our eyes on some students. We were checking on a kid called Hata-san before, as we heard some rumors he might be being taken advantage of. So today specifically we were not on guard, but on high alert.”

That explains the kid running away.

You smile and let some air out of your nose, playfully while you glance back at Sakura.

“So that's why you came to my aid.” You respond, glancing at her small figure with hands on her waist.

“Yup! You happened to be close to my post. I had my sight on you and went to your rescue. So I don't wanna see you moping around ok? We. Got it. Covered.”

Here's the confidence that caught you off guard before. And now it does too.

“But even so…” Akira interrupts. “The Hayabusas are different from others, more temperamental and prone to violence, all thanks to their leader, Nozomi Zento.”

“Still, we've been through some stuff other people wouldn't handle, the Hayabusas are no different in that regard.” Hinata says. “But good thing we won't have to deal with them for long, we have an advantage on our side.”

You question. “Advantage?”

Akira keeps going. “My brother. Daigo went off city to solve a family dispute we are having and he comes back this week. The Hayabusas think he'll spend some more time away. Hence their rise.” You notice her fists getting clenched. “Their plan is to gather influence and status while he is away… so pathetic. So-”

“It’s essentially a race against time until he comes back.” You follow through.

“Good to see you catch on to things quickly.” Akira compliments you.

“... I see your brother commands a lot of respect. Must be nice to have a reliable family at this time.” You compliment, being met with not a smile, but eyebrows unfrowing. You continue your line of thought. “Well, that takes a load off, even though I’m cooked, nice to see I’m not burned at the very least.” You try to cheer yourself up, it doesn't work. You take a breather. “So, if that’s how we win the war, how do we survive the battle?”

“You don’t fight, do you?” Natsu puts it forward.

“Uuuhhh…”

“Nope.” Sakura comes forward. “You should have seen, couldn’t even scratch Hadamatsu of all people.” She says, citing the previous events.

Akira steps-up. “Wow, now that is embarrassing.” You’re not really fond of how she thinks a guy almost 2 meters tall is seen as a free lick.

Natsu puts a hand on her chin and looks down, seemingly lost in thought. You and the girls share a concerned look, before their lead breaks her silence. “Sakura, how about skipping guard duty?”

“What?” She looks around. “I thought you all needed my help.”

“So does he.”

Sakura stutters. She looks around nervous. It’s clear that things are going fast for her too, not only you. You decide to try something.

“Eh.” You shrug. “Guess I’ll get beat up by Hadamatsu again. Time to try some of that ‘Pow!’, that ‘Wham!’ and the ‘Shablam!’ you so spoke of. 1 v 4 huh?” You smile and pound your chest. “Only one way to find out.”

Akira and Hinata cover their mouths so as not to laugh.

After your attempt to make Sakura laugh you catch a smirk at the side of her mouth. 

“If you say so.” Her view changes targets from Natsu to you. “Listen here my guy! You’re under my wing now. Nobody, you hear me? NOBODY will even touch you when I'm close. Being with me will be like being with a guardian angel, a super cool one. Whatever it takes, I swear by my master, Ryu himself, that I will, however it takes, I will protect you!”

Bro she is so tiny, you can’t take all that bravado seriously.

Even so…

‘I will protect you!’

The words echo in your head.

… Is it hotter all of a sudden or is it just you?

You look to the side and your eyes meet Natsu’s and they’re… wide open? Her mouth is agape too.

Natsu points at you, she gasps.

Before can register her reaction, Sakura exclaims. “Alright then, see you tomorrow girls! Come!” she says and hastily pulls you by the arm. She picks up speed and runs, dragging you around with your arm crossed to hers. Leaving the all-girl friend group, you two are once again running together.

It’s been like what…? Thirty minutes since you were about to get beaten up? Only for you to be saved by a spunky strong and hyperactive girl and receive the news you will be chased by a gang, by a bunch of cute, tough girls. This day has been nuts, things moved so much so fast, you will probably rest your head on your pillow and forget everything. 

With no time to process anything, you cling to the present, to the feeling you have right now, the one thing tying you together at this very moment.

A smile. Of complete enthusiasm and excitement on Sakura’s face. And for once today, something registers without difficulty.

You’ll get to see the smile of this girl again.

She speaks. “Where do you live again?” You answer her question. “Oof, wrong way! Wrong way!” Sakura pulls you back to the actual opposite direction.

.

.

Triiiiiiiiiiiiiiim

The bell rings and the students start to walk away, from hallways, benches and the cafeteria. Pretty much a given, considering the basic function of a school. There is one exception however.

Kei Chitose, still waiting on the gates to Tamagawa Minami.

Ms. Hanamura, the PE teacher calls her. “Hey miss, you’re gonna be late.”

“Hmm? Yes, I know.” She responds. “Just waiting a little longer.” A silence falls, only for it to linger longer and longer. Soon the second bell will ring and Kei will have to go.

Kei sighs, after all that’s happened tomorrow she just wanted to make sure everyone was fine, waiting on a gate for almost half an hour only makes her more concerned.

She sighs, hoping for the best, all she can do now really.

“...ow do…”

Then.

“... st there…”

There comes a bike.

“Too fast, too fast! Slow down Sakuraaa!”

“Hang on, we’re almost there!”

You beg for mercy but Sakura doesn’t listen. This bike is going at 50 mph.

You hold on to dear life while on the rear rack of her bike. The wind is going so fast at your face, you think you swallowed a bug.

“Kasugano.” With a slight discriminatory tone on that hard K, the PE teacher starts closing the gate.

“Wait, the second bell hasn’t rung!” Kei protests

“I don’t care about the specifics, I just want Kasugano to lose.” He starts pulling the gate by himself.

Kei has to do something. Sure, Sakura is Sakura, she can probably jump the school gate alone, jump with the bike, jump off the bike as if it were a Yoshi and still land on her feet and run for the class. With you on the rear rack of the bicycle?

“Sakura you’re gonna get us both killed!”

“Only one way to find out!” 

Not so much.

Kei pulls something. “Oh my Gosh! Is that Class president Shirogane in her gym suit!?”

“Oh shi- Where!”

K-thunk

Kei kicks him to the ground. She runs over to the gate, pulling her entire weight to open it slightly more.

Sakura smiles, going in for the opportunity. With nothing to hold yourself on, you grab her waist and brace for impact.

She swifty crosses the gates just on time, hitting the brakes and tilting the bicycle right to break the speed. And with it all, she comes to a full stop. The bike tilted to the right now falls to the ground, a small fall, not enough to hurt any of you.

Your heart pounds and you breathe heavily while grabbing, almost scooping, the dirt beneath you, a feeling whose for a minute you didn’t think you’d feel again, relieved. 

This was wild, when Sakura said she'd take you to school on her bike everyday last night, you certainly didn’t expect this.

It takes you back to last night. Once you two found her bike, it was a smooth ride back home. It’s burned into your mind. The night city lights reflecting on your irises, the busy sounds of the busy streets at rush hour, the wind rubbing your cheeks… all on the passenger seat on Sakura’s bike. It was a comfortable, quick, but pleasant ride.

But now? If this happens everyday it might be safer to just let the Hayabusa go after you.

Sakura spins around and you know her ass is going to do the ‘Ah, eto, bleh.’ reaction. You stare back at her.

“Heheee…” There’s the expression. “Not bad for a first ride huh?”

Goddamn, this somehow works. Your heart is still running, your face is blood red with anxiety and no, these are not tears threatening to escape your eye sockets, but goodness, she is cute. 

You try to control your nerves to get a reply. “I suppose that’s the bodyguard experience.”

“That’s right.” She doesn’t skip a beat. “It’s all part of the plan, don't question the method.” She thinks she hid that grunt, her ass wants to start laughing right now.

Even so, you still felt like you were going to die… but honestly it is kind of funny.

You’re still holding her waist. 

Before you could think about that, you hear a grunt over you.

“Ahem!” You two look up, it’s Ms. Hanamura.

Triiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiim

“Oh Thank Goodness.” You say.

“Run! Let’s go Kei!” The two of you get up from the ground and join Kei to start bolting towards your respective classes.

.

.

.

Your ear is graced with another ring, this time for lunch break. Especially after today, your heart is still pumping after this morning with Sakura, for different reasons than last night.

Oh yeah, last night, those red bloomers haunted your dreams and your daydreams.

Your head spent the entire first period thinking about this very morning. Saying Bye to Hifumi and Naoto, your caretakers, not going to school and waiting for her in the nearby park, only for her to be late and you to be greeted by her with this excuse.

‘Uh, Ah, I overslept, Bleh!’

Weren’t for her energy you would be mad. And her confidence. And her smile. And her nice legs- stop thinking about her legs. And oh, her waist. You still can’t believe you were practically cuddling in the dirt when you got here. So small and slim… and hard for some reason. Oh God, she works out. Oh God, is she packing a 6-pack under that uniform?

Seriously dude, chill out.

“So.” Waki flips the chair, interrupting your train of thought, thank goodness. “Time to continue the tier list.”

You groan. Laying down and putting your hands behind the backrest of the chair. “Nah. We’re done here Waki. I don’t wanna argue about which Darkstakers character has the biggest butt again.”

“I’m still of the opinion that we should put Dimitri above Anakaris.”

Yaku interjects. “Can you hear this guy (y/n)?”

You reply. “That’s the same guy that thinks Q-bee’s tail counts, what did you expect? ”

“With the tail, she breaks the tier list, without it, she’s Galleon Tier.” 

“I’m impressed we could agree on anything at all.” Yaku doesn’t let that slide.

“Whatever, I’m not doing this shit again.”

“Let’s do biggest breasts then?”

You lean in. “Shit dawg, that’s all you had to say.” You rub your hands together preparing yourself for the discussion to come. You might fight these two and never look them eye-to-eye again, but that’s a small price to pay.

Knock Knock

You turn around after hearing the knock on the class door.

It’s Sakura. Smiling. Raising her lunchbox to the air, the message is clear.

You smile back at her.

“(y/n)?” Waki says.

“Huh? Oh, yeah, I gotta go.”

“What?”

“Yeah, see you later, I’m gonna...” You don’t feel the need to explain, taking your lunch and rising from your seat, making your way to the door. Leaving the classroom, you meet the energetic bodyguard with a smile on your face.

Waki and Yaku stare at the door. Caught mid-breath, mouth agape, furrowed eyebrows and no words. Their stare lasts, until Waki catches himself drooling.

He cleans his chin. “Dude… what…”

Yakumaru has no idea either of what to make of the scenario. “I don’t know either.”

Waki tries to shake off the thought, looking for anything that might sound like a better alternative than to just gaze at the door looking lost.

“Oh, oh, uhhhhh, the Tier list, okay.” He says to Yaku, who looks back at him. “Talbain is S-Tier by the way.”

“You know what? Maybe I should leave too.”

.

.

Sakura brings you to her class, 10-A, close to yours, 10-B. Curious eyes are pointed to you. You have no idea what’s on their minds right now. It’s embarrassing to be stared at already, but you decide to be patient, a lot of japanese people have close to no contact with foreigners. So it’s only natural to be curious;

Or at least let’s just hope and trust they’re just curious and not flat-out xenophobic, that’s best for now.

She brings you to a table with another girl, you recognise the face. “Kei, right?”

“Yup.” She answers with a big smile on her face. You sit down alongside Sakura to meet her gaze.

Huh, this might be awkward. You don’t have much to say to Kei, well, actually, you don’t have much to think about Kei. The rest of the girls of the group last evening had all sorts of colorful personalities and she’s like… normal. Hinata is overly polite and smiley, Natsu feels stern and serious, but you also get an almost motherly vibe from her; you’d trust her with your life, Akira feels tough, but she’s clearly on edge; you hope to meet with her when she’s more relaxed in the future.

And what to say about Sakura? A lot, you can say a lot about Sakura. Nothing that wouldn’t make your cheeks red though.

Not to mention every girl in that friend group does fight, so you might be losing a whole dimension to their personalities here. Who knows? Maybe your first impression of Akira is right and she is indeed a monster when she fights. It’s early to say yet.

But Kei? Nah, she feels like a normal down to earth girl. It’s hard to tell if she fights or not, but if she doesn’t…it wouldn’t be surprising. You don’t wanna say she has side-character vibes… but she does.

You shake your head to the side, before letting the droplets of mean thoughts get to you and focus on the lunch in front of you.

Opening your lunchbox, you are met with a nice surprise, you knew Bentos were elaborated but seeing one in person feels different. Inside this big, tupperware looking square box you have, there’s rice, fried chicken, tamago; an egg roll, baby tomatoes and some vegetables. The Japanese are all they’re gassed up to be if they can make one of these everyday.

You pick-up your fork and pretend not to notice the judgemental curled up smiles of the girls.

“So what you think of the school? Enjoying your stay yet?” Sakura smiles and asks.

“It’s only my second day. So not much besides being tired. You all study from 9 to 3, that’s nuts you know?”

“Skill issue I say.” 

The Japanese man, I swear.

Thinking about how much she would get along with Waki, you don’t linger on it and keep going. “All I got was a tour around the school. It’s night and day really. All of these clubs, pools, huge hallways, they’re all on all of the expensive ones most of us can’t afford. So it feels like a privilege being here.”

Sakura responds. “Poor foreigners man. Tamagawa is not much to look at, hard to believe someone would be impressed here, your schools must be pretty bad.”

The Japanese man, I swear.

Kei is eating her lunch silently.

While Sakura keeps at it with the questions.

“But you made some friends already didn’t you? That’s kind of impressive. First day even, like what? You all like the same stuff or something?” Sakura infers, and very precisely too, all it took was seeing Waki’s Darkstalkers wallpaper and the conversation just sort of started. And then it was done, you were all friends.

You are not talking about the ass tier list tho. “Well, kind of.” Not even the boob tier list. Although, you can mention the stuff around it. “Turns out we play the same game. So the talk was just natural.”

Sakura’s eyes sparkle up as she seems to have noticed something. “Oh cool! What game?”

You don’t expect a girl to know about niche games from the 90’s, but you say it either way, what’s the worst that can happen? Her getting irked out, calling you an Otaku and deciding to let the gang run hands with you?

Let’s pretend this thought experiment didn’t happen, just say the name of the game already. “It’s Darkstalkers, the Gapcom fighting game.”

You turn your head to check on Kei. She looks away as soon as the game’s name comes out of your mouth. Yeah, if she was guarding you instead of Sakura she might do the above and leave the table altogether. 

Kei eats her meal silently.

Urgh, talking about games with girls, what are you thinking dude? You thought.

Only that before you could think about what you said further…

She joins her hands and you watch her mouth agape. “Oh! You like Darkstalkers too!?” Sakura exclaims.

You’re taken by a need to get this woman pregnant.

Repressing that primal, caveman-like urge, you smile and express surprise. “There’s no way you know Darkstalkers.”

“Oh yeah? Just because I’m a girl does that mean I can’t main Lei-Lei?!”

If it was Morrigan, Lilith or even Felicia, you’d be yelling casual right here in the middle of the room, but Hsien-ko? Nah, this girl knows ball. “Heh, I suppose both genders can know what peak is.” You answer. “I use Gallon, my irreplaceable.”

Kei keeps eating silently.

“And you’re any good at it?”

“Wow.” You snicker. “Me and my friends once when nobody was watching, we unpluggled the arcade and turned it back on to change the difficulty to the max! We spent the entire day getting our ass beat.”

“No way!” Sakura replies.

“We didn't even make it to jedah! And that's not even the craziest part. We FORGOT to change it back.”

“Get out of here!”

“Yeah! When we got there next we realized people were getting beaten up the entire month! And the staff had no idea what happened.”

“You guys were the worst!”

“We were gonna let it slide but the arcade wanted to retire the machine since the place was actively losing money because of our prank. So we had to come clean.”

“They lost money! And they let it slide?”

“They banned us for a year. It was so funny.”

“You guys deserved, Imma be real.”

“We did, people could barely defeat Jedah before, but then? Nah, there was no way, me and my friends barely made it to the 7th characters, and we played all the time, most people would stop at the third, maybe second even, difficulty 8 was something else.”

“I Can't believe you guys pulled this off, I'd be pissed, I can barely make it through Normal Jedah myself.”

“And it wasn't even the craziest stunt we pulled, this one time-

Thunk

Kei loudly puts her plate down. 

She aggressively picks up her cup of tea and takes a large gulp. Once her cup is finished, another loud table slam from her. With her meal done, she puts her hand on her chin and looks at you.

“So what type of girl you like?”

“...”

“...”

Silence takes over. In the span of 15 seconds the enthusiastic conversation feels like it has been hours ago. Swallowed up by a merciless, all consuming void, completely disinterested in their safety.

Forget about the side-character bit, Kei is a menace.

Sakura’s jaw is firmly on the floor right now. Feels like she was hit by Sub-Zero's Quarter Circle Forward because she is frozen right now.

Caught off guard you are not sure how to take that. But you try to mumble something not to embarrass yourself.

“Uhhhhhhhhh.” I said you tried. “I

“Own, you're shy then? Don't worry, I don't bite.” The head nod betrays her words.

You also pretend to not process the ‘yes I do.’ she mumbled under her breath. Damn dude, just say something. “Uuuuhhhh.” Nothing comes.

You look around. Finding Sakura, the past day comes to mind.

What's the first thing you noted about her?

The blue wave, the yellow flashing, the spinning kick and the flying uppercut. To you, incredible moves when least expected and when most needed.

Kei would hate all of these answers, you doubt she can fight, what else would be relevant to her?

No, no, no you can't say you like her big butt, chill out.

I mean, yeah, you could, but y’know, Sakura's right there.

“So…?”

You then think of her headband, but still, not enough, only then, it comes to you. What exactly is covering her headband? “Shhh… Short Hair.”

“Oh?” 

“Yeah, Uh, Short Hair. It's the first thing I notice.” You lie, she seems satisfied.

“Owwwn, that's so nice.” Her hand not leaving her chin, she smiles and with her fingers, rubs it through your arm.

Sakura tries to intervene. “Uh, Kei-”

“So that’s what you do on your ideal first date.”

Coming in for the assist, Sakura says. “Come on Kei, nobody cares about that stuff.”

“Well I do.” Kei insists. “And you never know, our foreigner friend might too.”

You and Sakura exchange looks. Words are not necessary, your eyes say everything.

“Kei?”

“Yes.” Kei says, eyes still locked with you.

“Remember Yusuke?”

You have no idea who Yusuke is, but Kei sure as hell does, as if splashed with cold water. 

Where once her eyes were aggressively affectionate, they now are wide open, Kei’s shoulders stiffen and her chest comes to a halt.

“I see.”

She pouts and turns her face, crossing her arms clearly sulking hard.

Sakura has to be a magician to make this happen. Feels like she can do everything.

“So.” With the momentum of the conversation gone, Sakura picks it back up. “How did you get here? In Japan I mean.” She says while changing up the subject, you don't mind though, if Kei gets bored again she might do her worst again.

“Ah yes. My school partnered with a program called ‘Nijuryu: the double school exchange program.’ so now I get to spend the semester abroad and all my grades will transfer over once I'm back.”

“Wow. You must be smart then.” Sakura comments.

You could brag a bit to make yourself look better, but Sakura doesn’t feel like the type to be impressed by intelligence so you let that opportunity go. “It wasn’t exactly sought after, Nijuryu is a small starting company so I could go by with some above average grades.”

“Psssh.” Kei calls out, slightly pretending to whisper. “You could at least brag a bit to make yourself look better.”

Entertained, you huff a bit before continuing. “Yet still, small company it may be, I got all of the benefits of a normal exchange program.”

“You’re in a hotel or with a host family?”

“Host family, a hotel is completely out of the question.” You say. Recalling how the whole thing went, a cheap looking wooden stand with a guy who was dressed up in the messiest suit you’ve ever seen in your life. If the stand wasn’t inside your actual school you’d assume it was a scam.

Thankfully you took the chance and decided to apply. As far as you researched, Nijuryu doesn’t seem much different from normal exchange programs, even if their budget is lower it’s impressive you don’t feel that difference so much. 

Your mind goes back to the conversation. “Well, it just sucks I won’t be going to the tour.”

Sakura doesn’t let this one go. “Tour?”

“Yep. Nijuryu has a ‘week one tour’ where they, as the name implies, take you to some tourist spots on your first week.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, It seemed like a lot of fun, until I found out it would be just my teacher and me strolling through Tokyo. Remember, small company after all, so they don’t really have the infrastructure to make something big.” You wail. “They just made like… 4 reservations, and after checking out this stuff, the places themselves are quite basic, all things I could have done myself.”

“Like, what places are we talking about?”

“The Shibuya Scramble Square, the teamlab Planets, The Toyosu Fish Market and the Tokyo Skytree.”

“Oof, you’re right, this one is a blow.” Kei says. 

“Yeah, that’s a boring selection huh.” Sakura says.

“Plus, the Skytree? That’s more of a couples thing, you mean it would be only you and your teacher? Double blow.” Kei pauses for a moment, before handing out the most devious grin. “Not even for you to go with a female, middle aged teacher who’s been single for forever and in need of some comfort. And you two appreciate the view in front of you only for you to say ‘I like this view way more.’ she, surprised but longing for attention mutters defyingly: ‘Oh! Don’t come at me with this, you’re just a boy.’ and you go ‘There is no boy here, only a man longing for a woman.’ and then she goes ‘Don’t! We are teacher and student.’ and as you take her in your arms you give her the finishing blow to her attitude and say ‘That’s the best part.’ Kyaaaa!!!”

“So anyway” Sakura decides to ignore the wild scenario above. “That’s so lame (y/n) It sucks you can’t go.” 

“... yeah, it’s a bother.” You respond, trying not to entertain the idea… although it sounds rather nice. “... but now that you talk about it, the lack of company might be the real downer really.”

“See Sakura? Finally someone who gets it.”

“Whatever dude.” Sakura dismisses the idea. Still, her side eye catches a glimpse, your very own eyes. While you look to the side, at the window close to you this singular glimpse reflects something she can’t unsee.

Sakura is not articulate, she can’t really tell what she feels, or matter the fact others even, something that doesn’t translate to being insensitive. Were you to ask her what someone else feels, she couldn’t describe it. Even so, she knows what lies beyond your calm behavior and fake smile.

Lament.

“... screw that.”

“Hmm?”

Sakura raises her head and proclaims. “I’m taking you myself.”

Your eyes widen as you process the information, only for your brows to raise and mouth open at the realization.

Your face glows. “... really?”

“Yeah! You don’t need no boring teacher to take you, and since I’m your reliable bodyguard anyway, I’ll do it!” 

A smile forms, before the realization kicks in. “W-what! But what about the Hayabusas?”

“Heh.” She smirks. “I’ll be there to protect you anyway, why worry?”

She is right. It’s dangerous to go with these petty guys around, but you saw what Sakura can do to them. Those moves she has were more than enough to take care of them, the energy wave, the spinning kick and the flying uppercut, and the bullies who surrounded you were no more.

If anything happens, you know she will take care of you. You just know.

Unable to contain the excitement, your words leave your mouth as radiant as your expression. “... You’re right, you’re so right! Let’s go.”

She rises from her chair, planting her hands on the desk. “Hoho! It is time. Time for my second job, as CEO of the Kasugano tourist agency! Where your joy is my priority!”

You chuckle, following her motion and rising from your seat too.

“And my second role! By day the Nijuryu student and by night the singular customer of the Kasugano tourist agency!” 

You both laugh, pure, unfiltered enthusiasm coming from your actions. Unable to be contained by your bodies while you make plans for the weekend.

Kei hides her face, for you two are screaming in the middle of the classroom half-filled with people.

.

.

Triiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiim

With the ring of the Bell, the teacher announces the end of the school day.

「これで授業を終わります。」(Kore de jugyō o owarimasu.) – "And with this, we conclude today’s lesson.”

Watching the entire class stand up, you follow them in a traditional bow, repeating alongside the other students.

「ありがとうございました。」(Arigatou gozaimashita.) – "Thank you very much.”

You finish your bow and sit back onto your chair, you lay down, letting your head fall on top of the backrest. Taking a deep breath through the nose and exhaling through the mouth as you try to absorb and fully take in your second day as an exchange student in Tamagawa Minami High School.

“Yo, (y/n).” Wakisuke calls out to you. “Wanna take that offer?”

“Heh.” You let out a snicker. “Not today man.”

Yakumaru comes up. “I called out because it was Monday, but now it's Tuesday, so you don't have an excuse.”

“So much so for hospitality.” He looks straight into your eyes. “Day 2 with no Vampire Savior EX, I'm starting to think you are all talk.”

As much as you can't let yourself be disrespected like that, more pressing matters call. Plus, you put Lilith on the S tier in the latter tier list, so you don't feel a need to prove yourself.

“Then be ready to make that Day 7, cause the whole week is booked for me.”

“Nooo, not my 1v1! What am I going to do if I don't prove myself to a stranger!?”

“Fall apart, that's what.”

“Your street cred is gone Waki.” Yaku says.

Waki laughs. A striking and jovial laugh you feel you'll remember for a while. It just exudes youth. You hope your friend remains carefree.

Once he finishes, he takes a breather. “But hey, the whole week? You have plans already or something?”

It's been only a day huh?

A single day, yet it feels like a year has passed. A gang, street fights, rival schoolgirls and a cute tomboy. To think you two friends missed that is pretty insane.

You'll hate to get them involved also, so for now you'll keep it short. “I'll tell you two eventually.”

“Oh, come on! That's my 1v1 you're talking about, I deserve to know.”

Of all people, Yaku starts pressing you too. “I agree, you have some secret or something? You just got in Japan, what possibly could you have to hide?”

“Uhhhh.” 

So, what will it be? Deflecting? Leaving abruptly? Flat-out running? You try to rationalize the options around here.

Knock Knock

You turn around after hearing the knock on the class door.

It’s Sakura. Smiling.

You smile back at her.

Realizing this is your cue, you let a breath out, get up from your seat and make you way through the door.

“(y/n)?”

You turn back at Waki. With your most devious grin you could ever muster, you say. 

“I told you I'll say it eventually.” You wink, closing the classroom door and leaving the room.

With the boys left shocked in the class before you, you turn your head to come face to face with her.

Your bodyguard.

The smile, confident stance, hands on her hips… the girl you now trust your safety with is in front of you.

Locking eyes with her, you extend your hand to her and as expected, she hastily pulls you by the arm. She picks up speed and runs, dragging you around with your arm crossed to hers. You two are once again running together.

Chapter Text

The wind graces your face with its dry but fresh feel. Brushing against your hair, you feel it coldening the saliva in your mouth, as you look up and meet the sun, your vision obstructed by the blinding sunlight, you look to the side meeting the blue, unclouded skies. And you rejoice.

For once, a ride on Sakura's bike doesn't make you fear for your life.

As you go forward a cliff, the one seated bike with a baggage seat runs through the hot asphalt as the view starts growing more and more urban. Tamagawa Minami is by no means isolated from the rest of town, in fact being right in the middle of it, but it’s definitely a more arborized neighborhood. And with that feel gone, you now meet the gray, tall buildings of a deeply urbanized, almost futuristic city.

And with that, your day begins.

Your first stop is Shibuya, the ultimate Jack of all trades of Tokyo. A region where technology and tradition, modernity and convention, youth and age meet. Although biased towards technology.

And you can tell. So many tall buildings with huge screens playing ads in the middle of the street, it creates this unique, hugely urban landscape you can't help but be drawn to. Lots of malls and japanese pop culture things; as in anime, fashion brands, idols, movies, restaurants, make their way coloring the gray buildings. 

With such a picturesque view you fail to notice you got to your first stop. Sakura stops the bike and runs up to a statue. You look up and realize its subject is a dog. 

The Hachiko Statue. The legendary dog who waited for his owner every day at the train station, even after his passing. You don't remember the context, but you saw the movie at school when you were younger. A real tearjerker that one was.

Sakura tells you it's one of her favorite spots in the city.

After a short break to let Sakura breathe a bit, you two tidy up. Next stop, Shinjuku. 

Shinjuku is a much more, for the lack of a better term, ‘formal’ side of the city. The lack of the pop, youthful culture that painted the skies of Shibuya is not present around this region, leaving the grey buildings alone. Still an impressive urban view, nonetheless. 

Although it's a matter of timing, the real charm of Shinjuku is at nighttime. The darkness takes away the grey and makes way for the light of the moon and the huge sighs presenting their establishments.

It's a wild place at night. Bars, Nightclubs, fancy restaurants, Pachinko houses and companion houses. Fortunately, or depending on your mood, unfortunately, it's the middle of the day and you're both minors, so that's a subject for another time.

And it's because of that fame that it makes your next stop surprising: A beautiful park.

It's a complete 180° of your expectations. Not a plethora of colorless buildings make their way onto your eyes, they're filled with foliage and greenery.

It's a long park, with multiple roads leading into densely green areas. Usually filled with passerbys and tourists in general, but since you're just out of school, the place hasn't had time to fill up yet. Making it a smoother ride throughout the park.

Sakura slows down, eyeing your reaction. You wish you could have seen her smile as she looked back at you. 

You don't catch it though, and after a long and slow lap around the place, she takes you to the entrance and readies for the next stop. Harajuku.

A little stop however, since she made a quick detour to issue you a challenge. She wanted you to find Godzilla. You thought she was kidding, she wasn't, you looked up and it jumpscared you like a fnafanimatronic 5 minutes later.

You also never thought Japan had this much infrastructure for bikes. There’s another reason besides being so close to her and having this excuse to hold Sakura when there’s a bump on the road, the bike lanes in Tokyo are numerous, you could live comfortably just with a bicycle around this city.

Now, if Shinjuku is an adult people's entertainment place, then Harajuku is it's edgy, extravagant and extra much, much younger brother.

The region is filled to the brim with stores and fashion. It's like you're back in Shibuya except with less ads and somehow more colour. Branded clothing stores one after another with no end in sight. And with multiple styles too! You recognize these trends, going from the extravagant lolita styles, jeans and black covered punk ones and the overly bright and colorful decora. 

The younger brother analogy fits like a glove, it exudes youth.

Sakura told you about this thing called ‘Purikura’. Elaborate photo booths with lots of options. You looked forward to taking some pictures, of course, but you didn't expect such a huge place to take it.

They had everything. Huge walls with different pictures with different effects, a flat out wardrobe to change your attire; just for the sake of the picture, a plethora of options of effects to each occasion… These Japanese aren't kidding around about this purikura thing. Photo booth? Nah, this is a photo stadium.

You and Sakura pay for the, which Kanji you're pretty sure reads: ‘Dirt Cheap Poor Option’. Entering the cabin and making some faces and splitting the 8 copies you got.

“Take these and I'll keep those.” She says, as you take your pictures and put them in your wallet.

You wanted to go to Akihabara, but Sakura said it's kind of a huge place, and it would be best if they dedicated an entire day to check it out. You didn't insist on going, outing yourself as a geek is a prime way to scare the hoes.

“Hungry?” She looks back at you and asks.

“Uuuuh, a bit, yeah.”

“Ever tried Ramen?”

As soon as you hear that, it's like lightning strikes at your chest making the entire body react and sprout forward. “Ramen!?” 

“Yeah,” She innocently agrees, not knowing the bombshell she dropped on you. “I know a place around here, let's try some! How about it?”

Ramen. The Anime Protagonist's Meal. A food of chosen ones, heir to gods, devil fruit eaters, nine-tailed fox ninjas and Shinigamis. If one singular food is to represent Japan besides sushi, it's ramen.

“Then let us not waste a single second. Take me! Oh valiant bodyguard, to the meal of the Yamato waits for us!”

“Pffff, sure bro.”

“My treat by the way!”

“OH! Now you're talking!”

Following that remark, Sakura comes through another region. This time, Shinagawa. Shinagawa is a historic region, used to go from Edo to Kyoto in the Edo era. We're talking 1600s here, it's an old-ass place. Fittingly, as in-between the cities, it's filled with hotels, restaurants and cafes, you can tell by the Kanji in the store sighs.

And wow, these hotels are huge. Skycrappers fill this region to the brim. Sure, other places also had tall buildings, especially Shibuya of course, but by sheer numbers Shinagawa stands out. The buildings cover the sky in an atmosphere almost claustrophobic when you look up, it's mesmerizing.

This one is not a stop however, only passing by to get to the restaurant. Yet, something catches your eye. 

As she rides slowly to avoid pedestrians you notice a river going downstream, something catches the corner of your eye.

“What's that?”

“Oh, that's the Megumi river, a pretty great spot.”

You turn your head, lighting up. "Can we go see it?”

“Hmmm. No.”

“Oh come on! Aren't you the one showing me around?”

“Yeah, but you know,” She tilts her head. “I'm in charge and I don't want you to see it.”

“????” You're very confused. Bossy and petty? Sakura? These don't fill in the same sentence without a huge ‘no’ in the middle.

You groan and huff trying to sound as displeased as you can. Cause how dare she. But amidst the grey buildings and green foliage.

Your eyes widen, unblinking, your mouth hangs opens and you freeze. Cause in the middle of this city, going over a river to go to a simple Ramen shop…

You see pink.

And then this girl Sakura says: “Oopsie Daisies!” And CRANKS the bicycle with all her strength to the left. You try your hardest to hold yourself in the baggage seat where you are. For some miracle, you don't fall and only lean into Sakura’s shoulder.

“Are you out of your mind gurl!?!?”

“Oh! Silly me, I guess I just forgot the right way. Tehee.”

Nonono, she doesn't get to pull the ‘tehee’ after what you saw. She HAS to go back and show you that, wouldn't be a trip to Japan without it. And as soon as you open your mouth to say just that, before the words can even come out…

“Pff…Hhhh…” You catch a glimpse of her own mouth, big-ass smile, corners of her mouth going up and down while she rather loudly inhales and exhales over and over again. And when the picture is already pretty clear, she opens up. “Just… pfff… trust me bro.”

Oh dang it, now you want to laugh too. Your previous anger leaves you slightly and with this, you lean back into your seat and relax, remembering to trust and leave it to your bodyguard.

Now let's eat some Ramen.

.

After the meal you leave the Ramen Shop with Sakura.

The sun is setting by now making for a gorgeous view right in front of you. An everlasting orange fills the sky above both of you, marking the imminent ending of the afternoon. Which grabs full attention from you two high schoolers. Sakura really has a knack for restaurants cause this one is right before a hill. So the warm, embracing view of the city covered in orange after a warm meal is quite the ender.

The two of you lean onto the wooden fence, taking in the view. Following the bite, the two of you should be satisfied, enjoying a comfortable silence in the sun. But Sakura feels uneasy, as if there's something wrong, not with her, but with you. She turns to you and, although faint, can see a touch of melancholy in your eye.

Not allowing that thought to persevere, she decides to be straight. “You okay?”

And when you turn, that touch is more prominent. But before she can fear the worst, you speak.

“It's soup.”

“What?”

“It's soup.”

“What is soup?”

“The ramen. It's just soup.”

“Ye… yeah, ramen is sort of like soup.”

“No, no, no, you don't get it.” You emphasize. “It's just soup.”

Sakura’s head starts to spin. Not knowing what you mean is not doing any favors.

“What are you talking about!?!?”

“Ramen. It's just. Soup. It's soup with noodles and other toppings.”

“Ye… yeah, pretty much dude.”

“It's so… normal. Every other character loses their mind when they eat it. Their mouth foams, eyes brighten, they eagerly await for their dreamy meal and when it comes they feel so fulfilled! So happy! And I wanted to be blown away too!”

“PFFFF! Hahahaha!” Her torso crouches and she clutches her stomach as she puts her entire lung capacity into her laughter. With this sight, you can't help but start gasping at air yourself. You look forward embarrassed, pressing your lips together.

She leans into the fence and breathes deeply, pulling herself together and calming down, still a huge smile on her face. “You're a Riot, you know that, don't you, (y/n)?”

You laugh along, only half kidding, it really was just soup with some toppings.

While still recovering, she decides to boast a little. “... heh, and you better give it some credit aight? Most stuff is homemade here. They actually boil the juices of the meat and use it to make the broth. I heard overseas they just put the premade packets in the water and leave it at that. Not here though.”

She's not just bragging, actually. Most food in Japan isn't as processed as other countries, you read it in one of the pamphlets Nijuryu gave you before the trip. Preservatives aren’t prevalent on food here in Japan. Most restaurants will actually serve and use fresh food without concern of it going bad, being fresh is what's important. So the quality of the food around here is quite good. Not to mention cheap, so you can realistically only eat at restaurants and not get fat.

You chuckle under your breath, realizing she's right and you agree. “Heh, I suppose so.” She looked downward. “But actually I'm still kinda hungry, for all of those toppings, I don't really feel full.”

“You westerners are big for a reason, huh?”

“It's just you easterners that are tiny.”

“Bleh.”

“Bleh.”

After this short tease. Sakura runs up to her bike and opens her bag. She picks up something you can't discern and brings it back to you, hiding it in her back around her hands.

“If there's still space left on that western belly, try some of this.” And she outs her hands and unwarps…

Two Onigiris.

A triangular shaped rice ball with a piece of seaweed tied around its bottom. Your eyes lighten up, they look good.

“You had this all this time?”

“Yeah… My mom made it this morning. But I was so enticed with making the trip I just sort of forgot about them.”

You’d be concerned in any other case, but you can't with this face. Her usual big, ear-to-ear smile is replaced by a timid, small one. And witnessing this… words fail you.

Smiling, you reach out for the snack. “Alright then. Itadakimasu I guess.”

You bring the snack to your mouth and take a small bite of it. The texture is familiar, you still haven't grown used to Gohan; japanese rice, yet it feels different from the stuff Hifumi does, Sakura's mom must have a secret recipe. You keep chewing and you feel the tuna come in, the creamy and ‘eggery’ taste of mayo, shoyu and a hint of… sugar? That one is new, Tuna mayo with sugar? Sakura's mom might be a little eccentric for this one.

And it all together tastes amazing.

Your eyebrows lead the way to a brightened face. “This is so good!” Turning and seeing her with a warm smile on her face, as she reaches out to her own food and takes a bite alongside you. She smiles too, over the same sunset as you. 

Sakura strikes up a conversation and talks about R. Mika, her favorite wrestler. She has so much to say about her it’s funny, she has merch, new moves she wants to introduce to her moveset, an autographed poster and, somehow, an interview with both her and Mika… in cassette tape, cd, mp3, mp4, and there’s a backup on her pc and her portable hard drive. Average girl behaviour really.

You hold yourself back not to laugh, you let a giggle through tho, Sakura looks so enthusiastic you can’t help but feel engaged in her mood. You have no idea who Nadeshiko or Zangief are, or how his tornado has no Double Lariat is nothing compared to her Rainbow Typhoon, or even how R. Mika powerscales to John Cena, you have no actual idea, all you know is how adorable she looks being so excited.

Her whole body tilting upwards, the eye popping forward wide open, her bright, big smile talking about her interests, the lil excited hands… You could watch her forever.

And that warm fuzzy feeling in your chest seems to agree too.

And as you go, the local delicacy grows smaller and smaller in your hands until the dreaded Last. Bite. 

You look at it, a small piece of the snack, you hold it, because you know when you finally swallow, it'll be time to go. 

Yet… you hold on to it.

You feel silly. It's just food, it has that function, you shouldn't fear a printer for doing its work. With this mindset you look at Sakura, and to your shock, she also holds a piece of the lasting Onigiri. And with that small piece of the snack in your hands, you still stare at the sunset.

You breathe rather loudly, holding yourself not to be rude and sigh. A bad actor you are, unfortunately, and your bodyguard sees over you.

“I still have places to take you, you know?”

Your pupils go wide with the phrase. Turning around meeting her gaze, you speak. “Really?”

“Of course I do.” She boasts and puts an arm on her hip, triumphantly. “This wouldn't be the capital of the land of the rising sun if we saw everything in one day.”

The excitement made your eyes shine brighter than the sun in front of you. Coughing to leave your daze, you respond. “Ahem, ye-yeah, we still have a lot to see some other day, don't we?”

“Right!” As she firmly and excitedly responds, she picks up the last piece of the Onigiri and finally eats it, smiling all the way through.

Following her example, you finally take the last bite, ending your meal.

After swallowing, you speak up. “I had fun today.”

Sakura laughs it off. “What? You think the day is already over?” And just as you thought the ride was done, she speaks up. “Up for another ride?”

You snicker. “One more? Isn't it kind of getting late?”

“Maybe a little.” She agrees. “But just a short trip, there isn't much to do there anyway. Unless you don't wanna see the Statue of Liberty.”

The what?

“The… what?”

Sakura sparkles up and runs to her bike, taking it from the side of the store, before sitting on the bench and patting the backseat, calling you to it.

A quick laugh later, you run up to her and sit on the backseat. With that, she bolts off to the distance, one more ride until the end of the day, once again, leaving it up to your bodyguard.

.

.

The light rain outside caresses your ears. It’s always funny when it rains and the sun is still around.

Gaps among the clouds allow the sunlight to pass and come through, sipping through and lighting the ground above, yet the clouds precipitate even so. To be told they’re mutually exclusive and see them together with your own eyes, it’s a sight to behold.

Inside the class during recess you lay your head on your forearms while you glance at the window. You dwell on your girlfriend… and by that, you mean your girl, friend, your friend that is a girl. Your Bodyguard, your oh so dear Bodyguard. Of course you are, you had an amazing day after-all. You keep thinking… where else you could go after such a trip.

Your hometown sure had its spots, but comparing them to Tokyo? It’s not even close,obviously. How many places have so much history like this, it’s one of the benefits of being in Japan. It’s not only the cute asian waifus, there’s a whole package here.

You look at the rain falling down and the thoughts keep flowing back to you, finding yourself in a circle. Not being able to escape the face of your valiant saviour. Her smile, her short hair, her slightly toned up figure, her energy and charisma and those legs- stop thinking about her legs.

“Hey, (y/n)!”

“Huh?” Turning around, you react to the voice close to you, it’s Wakisuke. A friendly face finally, you get your head away from Sakura before it gets weird. So you take a deep breath, put on a smile and turn around to meet your buddy.  “Oh, what’s up Waki-”

“Heeeeeeeeeh.”

And when you do, he has the biggest grin you have ever seen in your life. Yeah, this will be annoying.

“Sooooooo… Didn't think you would just leave us to be with a girl.” Waki smiles as if the contours of his mouth will do a 360º on his entire head. “So, what is up with you and Kasugano-san?”

You don't wanna say you're afraid of getting jumped by five guys going home. What can you say without sounding insane?

“Oh, Sakura? You see, I messed up and got entangled with the gangs around the school. So she is protecting me from thugs that want me dead.” 

Yeah, that'll do.

“Pffff, alright, tell me another one.”

“I'm messing with you dawg.” You joke. “We just went to the doctor together.”

Way to sour the mood, and Waki notices, being taken back by the statement. “Oh, uh, damn, now I feel bad for joking around. Is she doing okay? What doctor?”

“Gynecologist, she's pregnant and I'm the father.”

Waki pouts.

“Fine, keep your secrets then.” He leans back to his chair. “I'm gonna keep with my headcannon you two eloped together yesterday.”

“I like that one better.” You lay on your arm. “Is it that easy to think I already rizzed up a Japanese girl on my second day of class?”

“You want me to be sincere or not, cause that conversation will differ completely.”

You laugh it off. 

But even so, you still need to kill their curiosity. If they keep asking and wondering, this might not even go well with them.

“But for real now, she just took me home. Her house is close to my foster family’s.”

“What? Laaaaaame. I like my version better. Can't you be more interesting?”

“I just told you I was fathering her children and you wanted something else. Could have kept quiet with that.”

“Uuuurgh, you're right! That's way juicier!”

You turn to the left and see Yakumaru staring at you two. Did he hear everything? You hope so.

“Impressed too?”

“Uh. No.”

“You mean you could do better?”

“Oh come on, being a foreigner is essentially an auto-buff. Anyone could pull it off.” Yaku scoffs at you completely disregarding your hypothetical hard work. “Everyone wants a dreamy foreigner to take them from their lives and bring them to another country.”

“It can't be that easy.”

“If a Brown Brazillian girl with a Wolf cut appeared here and asked you to live in the jungle you'd be folding like laundry."

You look at Waki, Waki looks at you, you two nod at one another.

“Alright. I lost this argument. That's the dream.” You snicker, yielding to Yaku’s point.

Yaku sits in-between both of you. He lowers his head, however, he looks up, and smiles. From his backpack, he picks up an already opened up letter and gives it to you. “Read this out loud for me.”

Picking up the letter you unfold the paper and do as you're told. “Dear Yoshizawa Yakumaru, we are very happy to announce you have been approved for the internship at Kitsune Incoporated… Dude, you’re in for an internship?” Your eyes pop up. As soon as the words leave your mouth, your heart leaps from your chest.

Yaku smiles. “Yeah, cool huh? I was looking around for something like this. Anything vocational, preparatory or technical, something I can learn from and get paid to do it. It's the best of both worlds really.”

Your breath stiffens. 

“Holy- Congrats bud!” Waki celebrates, his face lighting and body arching up, raising his hand to meet his friend’s in a huge High-five followed by a pat on the back. “I never doubted.” “Oh, Look at you, Mr. Grow up himself with his grown-up talk. Aren't ya proud?”

Your gaze remains on the paper.

“Come on Waki.” Yaku says it back. “I'm just looking for an advantage, and the money, the money is good too.”

“Come oooon, teenagers are not meant to have money. You're supposed to be broke just like me!”

Your lips tremble.

“Well, someone has to have money to loan to you and not ever receive it back.”

“I told you I'm paying you back.”

“Find someone else who'll fall for your bs next time.”

Shaking your head as an attempt to unfreeze it. You try to say something, anything. “Wow, that's… hum… good, good, congrats dude, it’s quite the...” You swallow, dry. “...opportunity.”

“Yeah, that's gonna impress the 50 year old bosses. ‘omg, he has 6 months in Shinjuku, let's hire him!’”

Yaku lays back on his chair, with a more confident smile than ever. “Maybe, but at least I’ll be better than you. It’s clear as day in my mind’s eye, Waki will be the salaryman meme one day, you know? You'll get to the arcade and defeat anybody at Darkstalkers while getting the worst position at a black company.”

Not letting the comment get to him, Waki replies. “Naaaah, nine-to-fives have no future, watch me become a streamer dude, Imma crack some jokes, entertain everybody with my wits and I'll just watch as the money comes. GG.”

Yaku laughs, he knows better not to question Waki’s logic, at some point he’ll start ragebaiting and there’s no use winning by then. So he immediately gives up and turns to you. “So, Streamer and Salaryman. What about you (y/n)?”

You stiffen in your seat. Your head is low looking for a place to hide, your face is white as the frailest china ever produced in this life, gaze focused on the corner of the room unmoved. Your body once again has become a statue.

“(y/n)?”

Reacting to the words your body arches foward. You cover your month, swallowing anything that might leave your throat. Seeing the concerned looks of the boys, you hope they haven’t noticed your heavy breath.

“... What I wanna do?” You swallow again. “...I’m thinking about it.”

.

Wednesday 12:20 A.M.

The school cafeteria is as busy as you expect at lunchtime.

Tamagawa is not a private school, it’s not fancy by any means, if you told any of the students there they would instantly agree. The state of the cafeteria reflects that like a glove. Voices filling the room, silverware clanking and chairs moving up and down. Screams to whispers, clashing of furniture and silverware, the eventual ball bouncing, crunching, slamming of backpacks, it’s non-stop.

Whoever thought a school could ever be solely a place of education definitely never been to one and this very school is the biggest example of that.

And adding to all of it is the one group that matters to us. 

“I’m telling you, glitter gang sounds cuter.” Hinata pushes.

“That again?” “I’ll insist on Wildflowers until the day I die.” Akira slams the table. Prompting Natsu to laugh.

It was their usual day. The Glitter Gang finally can live the school-life as intended. With the Hayabusas on the run things might be hard, no one is hiding from that fact, yet today will be different. Natsu’s idea was simple, to just gather and bring lunch to eat together, the average hangout, it’s the timing that makes it special. Once afternoon begins, it’s back to patrolling. So for now, let’s enjoy our average programming.

One thing is missing whatever. We have Kei talking about which boys she thinks are dreamy, Akira going on about Motorcycles and seriously considering one of those loud-ass middle of the night motors all while Hinata is understanding only half of what’s going on. All while Natsu is playing all sides and giving fuel to everyone. Yet… Sakura is right there too.

Sitting on the table certainly was Sakura. Headband on her forehead, clear as day for everybody to see and her trademark red dirty sneakers telling you everything you need to know. But where is the outgoing persona? She simply eats silently while exchanging glances with her colleagues. No devouring her food in a minute like always, it’s halfway through lunch and she is still not done, unheard of for her.

Sakura usually brings something fighting related to the table, a magazine’s specs on Bruce lee or a theory on how Gichin Funakoshi might do a number on Conor Mcgregor, but today there’s nothing. The girl who would yap and yap about a single kick and perfect strike after a wrestling match, was suddenly quiet, lost in thought, as if her priorities suddenly shifted.

‘What do you do? Like it's frequent!? You’re always saving people from gangs and stuff?’

‘Not bad for a first ride huh?’

In fact… there is a shift in priority. There is something new, something that wasn’t in her mind before.

‘Time to try some of that ‘Pow!’, that ‘Wham!’ and the ‘Shablam!’ you so spoke of. 1 v 4 huh?’

‘And I wanted to be blown away too!’

You.

“Sakura,” Hinata calls out. “You listening?”

“Huh?” She turns around, her ass was not listening.

“Really? We finally get into the subject of fights and you’re not even paying attention? Come on, be better.” Akira complains. “Come to think of it… how didn’t you start that subject in the first place?”

Realizing Akira is right, Hinata agrees. “You are right, she is not as talkative today.”

“What’s going on, dear?” Natsu in her kind way as always, asks Sakura.

Kei, as if predicting her role as an agent of chaos today, freely speaks her mind. “Don’t worry, she’s thinking about boys.”

“Pfffff, yeah she is.” Not in a million years would Akira believe in that statement.

“Sakura would never think about boys,” Hinata says. “Only about ways to beat them-up.”

“Kind of a mood if you ask me.” Kei says. And gets stared at by the entire table. “Just being real.” 

“The only ‘boys’ Sakura cares about are sweaty 30-somethings that do Karate.” Akira knows her friend. “If your name is not Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan or Jet Li, she’s not paying attention.”

“No, no, cause I would respect that at least.” Kei says. And gets stared at by the entire table. “Just being real.” Who somehow doubles it down. 

Natsu steps up. “Anyway, for real, what’s up with you? We’re getting concerned.”

Realizing her friends are worried, Sakura tries to cheer herself up and then say something. “... Oh, I’m just…” But that something doesn’t come.

What comes instead is the smell of the rubber on asphalt. The greenery of the leaves around her leaving school, that sky only half covered by the clouds. The colorful lights filled districts she went though, the green foliage of the park and the rose tinted trees she saw but chose not to observe yet, only to end the day with the view of the sun setting on the land.

And most of all, alongside those views, was your smile.

“Just… thinking about my day yesterday.” She replies.

*SLAM*

And with the most sounding slam, Kei hits the table with both of her palms.

“Ugh, what the hell Kei?” Akira complains.

“Fufufufu…”

Sakura knows Kei well enough to know she’s gonna say something stupid, so she can’t exactly let it slide. “Kei, please, I don’t know what you’re thinking, but don’t.”

“I knew the goddess would reward me for this if I waited.” Her ass is not listening.

“What?”

“Good results, fortune, luck, anything for those with patience.”

“Kei what-”

“I wanted to talk about it for so long, the whole day really… but I needed to make sure I was reacting to the right thing, and I knew everyone in this friend group would want to hear it too.”

“Kei what are you even talking about-”

“Girls. Girls. GIRLS! Sakura just. Had. A DATE! AAAAAAAAAH!!”

“KYAAAAAAHHH!!!”

“HIYAAAAAA!!!”

“I wanna know! Tell us! Everything!”

The table erupted. Like a giant volcano holding its deepest loads only to burst with utmost intensity. The wildflowers now have awoken from their sleep and now are ready to discuss something they always wanted but never could. Sakura 's love life.

Hinata is on the edge of her seat, her eyes shining with expectation at the prospect of Sakura liking someone. Akira is now acting like a normal girl, her biker facade? Gone. It’s girl talk time and she needs the tea.

Kei is making a disgusting and irrecognizable face, I don’t even wanna describe it dawg.

Seeing the excitement in the girls, Natsu felt bad, but had to step in. “Wait, wait, wait! A date!? Sakura, how about the transfer student, you're supposed to protect him.” As soon as she ends her sentence, Sakura turns away, not being able to look Natsu in the eye, her face red. And just like that her remorse for being a party pooper is gone. Natsu smiles. “Oh.” 

“It WASN'T a date. I just showed him around the city… on my bike… and then we ate Ramen together…” Sakura blinks… before coming to an interesting realization. “Oh.”

“Kyaaaaaa!!!” Kei screams, before doing another irrecognizable face.

“A bike date!? That's so cute! Ohmygod, and he took you in? You guided him through the city?”

“No…” Sakura looks down, feeling her cheeks heat up. “I drove him, he was in my backseat.”

“Owwnn. That's so cute!” Hinata states.

“I knew you were the ‘take-charge’ type of girl, never been more proud of you.” Akira states.

“Me too. Always thought you'd order any boy around.” Natsu goes.

“?????” Sakura somehow got more confused. “Thanks, I guess???”

“Oh, that's so dreamy, did he tell you he's going to take you to his country? That's the dream.” Kei asks.

Natsu covers her cheeks. “Ooooh, it is! So romantic.” Something that doesn't sit well with Akira.

“You think so? Nah, no one ACTUALLY wants what.”

Natsu puts her hands on her hips. “Akira if a Brazilian Boy with a wolfcut asked you to live in the jungle with him, you'd be folding like laundry.”

Akira grew quiet.

Hinata's eyes grew. “Folding what? How would I do laundry in the jungle?”

“One day she'll get it.” Kei sighs. “Sa-ku-ra~~” And just with that, Sakura wishes she was dead. “What did he say to you, something romantic like: ‘Never thought Japan could be this beautiful’ All while looking at you, or, or ‘Japan is not only the land of the rising sun, but the land of you my dear Cherry Blossom’ or, or did he stroke your cheek and said: ‘In my country we have many beautiful things… none compare to you.’” Kei then proceeded to make indescribable noises.

“FUN. He said he had fun, that's it.”

“Oooown, you took him on a date and right after he was swooning all over you.” Sakura doesn't get how Kei took a single word and wrapped it to the point of ridiculousness and she neither wants to.

And to make it even worse, Natsu interjects. “Noooo, no, you got it wrong. He was always into her. Sakura just saw the opportunity and went for it.” That gets Sakura's ire.

“You were the chosen one.”

Something that doesn't scare Natsu as she raises her finger. “Oh my, I guess Sakura just has success with western boys.”

“You were supposed to destroy the sith, not join them.” 

“See? I told you there was a market for Tomboys!”

Sakura turns her face. “... Don't be ridiculous…”

Her friend raises an eyebrow.

Sakura coughs while taking a step back from the table. The entire table expecting her to leave, but it doesn’t happen. She turns around, puts a hand on her hip, another she points at the friend group. 

“Listen! It wasn't a date. I'm just keeping my duties as his bodyguard. Come on, this is what you asked of me, it's just my job!”

Since Kei is out to scare me today, girl puts the most devious smile on her face and starts questioning hard. “Oh yeah!? Since when being a bodyguard is making sure your employee goes on a romantic trip?!”

“It WASN’T a romantic trip, just a trip. A trip. That’s as far as it went!”

“Or didn’t!? Wasn’t it romantic when he said you looked like the most brilliant and shining pearl he’s ever seen!?”

“What are you-”

‘Wasn’t it romantic when you went biking with (y/n) and you both fell into a grassy field only for you to roll together in the grass? Only for you to end up on top of him and lay down on his chest while you both took a nap!?”

“We didn’t do that!”

“Or didn’t you like it when you were eating Ramen and you both picked the same strand of noodles and then you KISSED SLOPPY, cause I know you liked that shit!”

“That didn’t happen either! You’re making that up!”

“Oh! I can’t wait for the next date!”

“There was no date!”

“Date! Date! Date! Date! Date!”

“Uuurugh!!!!”

Watching the two friends debate and scream over each other, prime entertainment really, Natsu’s had enough. “Come here Kei.” With the calm step of a buddhist monk and the delicate touch of a glass maker, Natsu slowly walks forward and takes Kei into her arms and presses her against her chest. Gently patting her head waiting for her to calm down.

The rest of the Fearless Femmes are suddenly silent. The loud-ass discussion suddenly ended with stark silence and nobody can tell why. Kei is simply silent, that was enough. I guess Natsu just has magical tiddies.

The silence lingers in the room. Shock and confusion hold back everyone from speaking. 

But that doesn’t stop Natsu, whose mouth starts curling upwards and still holding Kei, she speaks. “But it totally was a date.” Sakura pouts. “No, no. I’m happy you put effort into making sure (y/n) was comfortable and not scared, that’s so cute. I’m proud of you.”

Noticing she was getting upset for real, Natsu did her best to de-escalate the situation and make sure nobody was hurt from this.

“... thanks.” Sakura blushes. “I just tried being nice… no ulterior motives.”

Akira brings a smug smile to the conversation and ends her silence. “But you liked it, didn't you?”

“That wild ride on his lap while he called you a-” Natsu pressed Kei against her chest saying ‘Shush shush’ and Kei just- “Grrr… Grrr…” Does some weird shit I guess.

And with just that, Sakura’s temper goes bad again. “Rrrrgh! Say whatever! Cause I'm not letting this gang ruin his stay.” 

Once again Sakura finds herself on the defensive. Standing up once again to defend herself against the ‘You like him’ allegations.

Then you appear from behind her.

You say hi. “Hey girls-”

“I won't let his first impression of the school be a scary one.” But Sakura doesn’t let you finish. “You know, he's losing a nice, calm tour around the city. We LIVE here, shouldn't we show him this place is supposed to be better?”

Natsu tries to say something. “Sakura, dear-”

“I guessed so. But you're all busy, so let me take care of things! I will show him around the city once AGAIN and he will love it!”

Akira stiffens her body up and takes a deep breath, she inhales and exhales, ending up tucking her hips, the ends of her mouth curling upwards. Hinata tries to speak up. “Sakura it's just that-”

“You wanna know our next stop? We are going to Aqua City. That's right, we are going to look at huge malls around a neighborhood island. Massive views that will make us dizzy and fall with our butts on the ground, the fanciest store to leave any middle class citizen grasping for money and a magnificent view of the ocean to mesmerize anybody. Once (y/n) sees that, he will never wanna leave. And you know who’s gonna do that? That’s right. Me!” 

Sakura pouts, spreads her legs and crosses her arms. Tilting her head, she looks up at her friends. Assertively, she smiles, congratulating herself on a well done speech.

“So, how about that for a date!?”

And then you speak up.

“Sounds great!”

Sakura freezes.

“But ‘Aqua City’? I never ever heard about it, but a shopping mall? Count me in, I can't wait.”

Sakura feels her body being light, as if her organs spontaneously combusted and she is left all empty.

“Oh man, can’t believe you still have something up your sleeve after all of those places. I loved the Hachiko statue, getting jumpscared by Godzilla and the Statue of Liberty? Wow! That really threw me for a loop.” You half-ironically say. “To know so many places, I knew you were awesome from the start and you keep proving me right!”

Sakura simply has no reaction, unmoved and unshaken. If you passed by this very room right now, you’d think there’s a statue on display right and these high schoolers somehow became really good sculptures at fifteen.

Natsu notices and tries to break the proverbial ice.

“Hey (y/n). Doing fine?” Natsu calls, still while holding Kei to her chest, who is still making incoherent noises.

“Ah, Natsu. Y… yes.” You stutter, still not knowing how to interact with her. Natsu is so tall and chill after all. But you pull through and try to joke around. “I’m great of course, my bodyguard is good at her job after all.”

Natsu smiles, seeing how much faith you already have in her. “That's so cool to know.” She says. “Were you looking for her?”

“I was.” You answer. “Didn't expect her to be accompanied, but a nice surprise to find her with the ‘Rival Divas’.”

“...Rival…”

“...Divas?”

“Wait, no, that name is cool.”

“Really cool!”

“Quick! Someone, write it somewhere before we forget it!” And they do. Scrambling to pick up their backpacks and write it down. Hinata’s sheep pen almost breaks and she stops to check it meanwhile Akira struggles to find a page not scratched with drawings of bikes.

You chuckle, thinking about how fantastic it is to see the girls active like this. Just like you expected them to be on their off days.

As the girls you admire find themselves enticed, you turn around to call up your friend. “Sakura?”

Sakura smacks her cheeks, with so much strength red hand marks appear on her face. She shakes her head to wear off her embarrassment and only then, looking down, turns to meet your gaze. “Did you… need something?” With a face so red it's impossible to tell if she is blushing or swollen.

“Uhmm.” You suddenly forget what you went here to say.

Caught off guard, struggling to keep composure, she looks at you. And that's when you realize something. 

Man… she is so cute.

“I…” Your gaze gets lost in her.

A silence grows among you two. There are no tongues to move here, no vocal cords to realize any movement. Just two presences, trying to justify its presence even though the rest of their bodies clearly tell a different story.

Your eyes betray you. You scratch the back of your head as you look down and focus on the meatball on the ground, something so mundane it could never take your mind away from the blushing tomboy in front of you, yet you don’t find yourself the courage to look her in the eye. Sakura is hunched over, looking at her feet, she brings her hands together and starts fiddling her thumbs, making them overlap and roll over each other again and again. Now that she realized they’ve been technically on a date, what is she supposed to say?

Their heart beats like a drum on a rock concert filled with a crowd, their body heats, like stone exposed long to the sun, being able to burn directly anything it touches, and their breath is irregular, failing them consistently.

Who is feeling like this anyway?

“I just wanted to let you know I'm fine, hum, just… not to worry you.” You feel your cheeks heat up. You speak up.

“Oh… that's… considerate, thanks.” Sakura replies, still looking down.

I’ll let you solve this for yourself.

You cannot stand that any longer. Smacking both of your cheeks, just like Sakura. And now it's both of you with the face swollen.

“Uuuuuh, not just that… do you… want to grab something in the food court?”

Sakura’s eyes widen, confused, perplexed even, she blinks again and again, until the realization actually hits her. She's being silly, if you can be you right now, then she can be herself.

She brings her hands to her cheeks and rubs them together. “Su-sure, I'll accompany you.” Her mind calmer, she steps forward and walks with you.

Then Kei leaves Natsu’s chest and ruins everything.

“Hope you have a pleasant second date!”

And then Sakura returns to her previous mood. She turns around to meet her friend,ready for another screaming match she has no intention of losing. But before she could say anything back…

“Sakura, come here real quick.” Natsu appears from behind and wraps her arms around Sakura's, dragging her away. 

“Oh no, I’m not letting that slide, I’m pumped up again.”

Natsu turns to you. “Sorry (y/n), I’m taking her with me for a bit.” 

Not wanting to create a scene, she waits until they're far from you to protest. There’s a door to an outdoors area and they open it to see the blue skies above and the running field at their side. It’s a decent spot to have some privacy, who would eat in a corridor? With most of the students already eating somewhere normal they can talk normally.

Sakura shrugs, her patience already gone with Kei and her teasing. “What is it, or will you just tease me again like Kei-" She turns to meet Natsu, but stops her line of thought and takes a step back upon doing so.

As she meets a completely serious gaze from her friend.

“Sakura.” Natsu speaks, her voice clearly deeper than Sakura ever thought hearing from her. 

Sakura gulps. Natsu’s slight frown is a red flag on its own. But it 's Natsu. This close, her towering stature gives tension to every word she says. Looking up, it's like Sakura is facing judgement, even if she knows it’s a merciful one.

“I get what you're doing here, I really do.” Natsu points. “It’s these kinds of things that make you what you are, I would never complain about it. But I need you to be careful.” 

Sakura doesn’t blink. Her ears listen to each word, recording it to a vinyl, something to be engraved to; a mechanical imprinting, to be collected and treasured, side to side to an all time classic. And her eyes become a tape that records a movie, as if she would have to replay and recalibrate the tape over and over for the film not to go bad.

“I won't stop you, you are more mature than anyone gives you credit for, so I'll choose to trust you with him. No matter what happens, I won't blame you, point any finger, or regret it later. I owe you that as a friend. I just need you to promise me one thing. Alright?”

With eyes widening like a gaping canyon, where only darkness awaits its bottom swallowing any light it might come across, Sakura asks. “Wh-what?”

Natsu then grabs her shoulders, pressing them in between her fingers and looks into Sakura’s eyes with a firm gaze, all encompassing gaze.

“Do not. Fight. The Hayabusas. You promise?”

With recorders for her eyes and ears, Sakura loads her words into her mind.

“... I promise.”

“Good.” Natsu takes off her hands, relaxing her posture and inhaling deeply. As soon as she does she raises her head, looks upward and covers her mouth with her hands, finally exhaling after what feels like a while. When she lowers her head back, looking into Sakura’s eyes, she meets the gaze of her concerned friend.

Even if she’s taken by fear, a righteous one she should have always been more attentive to, she can’t feel frustrated. It’s Natsu after all. If she can’t truly trust her, she might as well not trust anyone ever. 

True to her thoughts, Natsu then reaches out for her, grabbing her face and looking downward, a move that really highlighted her height. And with a hand stretching from Sakura’s chin to her earglobe, Natsu smiles. “I believe in you. You know that right?” 

Natsu is so close, her warm breath can be felt. Sakura takes the back of her hand, pressing it against her own face, laying on the hand. Sakura closes her eyes, holding her friend’s wrist while feeling its warmth. With that, Sakura finally eases up, opening her eyes again letting the hand go. 

Classic Natsu, always trying to make you feel special. 

“Yeah. I know. Of course I do.”

Her friend smiles. With this, Natsu holds her by the arm and they walk away from the corridor. Once back in the Cafeteria, they are walking together arm in arm. 

Coming to you, who patiently waited for them, Natsu leaves her in your care.

With a slightly smug smile, she turns around and waves goodbye, leaving one last word before leaving. “Have fun you two!” 

Alone again with Sakura, curious, you make a question. “Something wrong?”

Beet re“Huh? No, no, no. Going great, don't worry.” She then tries to disguise the lie harder. “Humm, just some… girl talk.”

Your rosy cheeks are so bright right now. Turning away, you say. “...uhhhh. Alright then, just checking.” You embarrassingly say, before joining her and walking towards the venue.

Natsu goes back to the table and meets her girl friends. The finally named Rival Divas glance at the tall girl, curiously wondering what happened. 

Akira steps up. “Something wrong?”

“It’s just…” The tall girl looks back at her friend. Not a tint of red, only smiles. You laugh at one of her jokes, she puts her arms on her hips proud of herself, it’s exactly how she imagines her buddy with her, let’s just say, ‘special friend’.

Her heart fluttering, Natsu finishes her thought.

“We tend to do stupid things for boys."

.

.

You and Sakura make your way through the hallways ready to leave school. On your way you meet the orange, parting sunset in front of you, embracing and welcoming the skies under it. Its warmth caressing your skin. You remember Sakura telling you how hot Japan could be at times, you struggle to imagine that feel right now. But of course, it’s barely evening yet.

School might end at three, something you’re still getting used to, but today was different. After class, there are still the club activities that can happen before or after school. And today it was no different, the volleyball team wanted a friendly match and Sakura, as part of the team, didn’t think once, yes, before accepting it. It would have been a wash, but remember, Natsu was here too, so it was as one sided as you can guess.

So between the game and the rematch that followed, needless to say time came and went, it’s around 5 pm right now. Natsu and Sakura were playing, but Akira was close to you too, cheering and rooting for the girls as she stood at your side. With you safe and in view, the girls could play peacefully and get their head in the game.

And with that, you now get to be taken home by Sakura with this beautiful view above you.

“ I’m not holding your hand today.” She teases.

“Awn. You big old meanie.” You joke.

She smiles, with a serene, and not subtle, delight on her face. “Sorry to disappoint."

You and Sakura joke around before taking her bike to go home.

All that’s left is waiting for the day to end. Once in the safety of your house, read a book, boot up a game, maybe a fighting one to practice your combos and setups to defeat Waki, or just watch some tv. It’s not really important, as long as you wait for this situation to wash over.

Once it’s all over, you can enjoy some Japanese night-life. Who knows? Maybe once it’s done you can go somewhere real nice with Sakura.

Not like yesterday. It was such a wonderful day, you two told jokes, teased one another, chatted away and you got to know her tastes a bit. All after going around the city, with so many beautiful and striking places being seen… it was wonderful… Yet, it was hectic. You want to BE with her, not only do something with her at your side, but to let linger her presence and really feel and enjoy what makes Sakura be Sakura.

What if you went see… the same tree she is named after. Yes, that. This is what you actually wants right now.

All you need is for Daigo to come back.

As the two of you walk towards her bike, Sakura stops. Her eyes lift to the view in front of her. Curious, you look too, only to find Hinata, you wondered where she was during the game; it seems you have your answer, and she is here with an average looking student. A timid gaze and a curved posture shape your view of him. 

He speaks. “H… Hi…”

“It’s you.” Sakura says, her pupils dilating and her body sparking upwards.

“Who is he?”

“Oh yeah…” She replies, her previous reaction gone seeing yours. “I guess you didn’t get the chance to get a good look at him. (y/n), this is Hata-san.”

And then it clicks.

This is the student that got away. The one that got you into this mess to begin with.

.

Shiji Hata bows down to you.

You all are back inside the school, in the open air gym. Hinata stands guard outside.The keys usually remain with the student council, but due to the upcoming tournament, Sakura has been given a key by the class rep to practice in her off hours. It’s a good place to hide in the meantime. You all meet under a shadow.

Where the sun you complemented before can’t reach you.

“Don’t worry about it.” You say. You could have ended it there, yet you find a need to keep going further. “... I just happened to freeze at the right hour really… Nothing but inaction… You should save your kind words to the girls doing the heavy lifting really.” You look down.

He keeps his head down. “I don’t care.” Only then to stand straight. “When I was told someone helped me I felt the need to come and say something.” He looks into your eyes. “Thank you. I’m so sorry for my actions getting you in this mess.”

Shiji seems like a good kid. Even if spending more time talking about this is tiring, you're satisfied with knowing he is safe. Now just make sure to say that to him.

“If you say so-”

“And you should.” Sakura interrupts. “It was very irresponsible of you!” 

“*gulp*” Shiji’s entire body recoils from that, his once straight pose is gone, being back to the slouching position.

“Everyone is on edge these days. Not just the students but the schools too, this is not new. After what happened with the ‘Reverse Society’ and the Iwamano Family the schools are all trying to prevent something worse, and you still find yourself in some trouble. For real man, what were you thinking? To mess with the Hayabusas, are you stupid or something?”

“... Sakura?” As you turn your head to meet her, your mind goes blank.

What was that? You never saw Sakura angry.

“Ah… I…” With that, Shiji’s face returns to what it was before. “I… am very sorry.”

“Humph!”

“I… hum… it’s just that…” *sniff*

Shiji’s eyes tremble, you can only faintly see them, since he stopped looking into your eyes. His curved posture burns into your retina as you feel you’ll remember this posture until the day you die. Shiji stutters, his words are stuck in between his increasingly runny nose and his hasty breath. Constantly resetting what he wants to say while pressured to say something, anything to get out of this situation, all looping back on itself. It’s hard to watch.

And then, you remember he’s going through the same as you.

It’s flat out vexing.

You take a step towards him, another, and another, three of which feel like an eternity, you raise your hand towards the anxious kid. And you pat his head. He trembles to your touch, you insist and continue. Your whole palm into the top of his head. You slowly and gently rub,  as if  unable to stand seeing him losing it in front of you. Unable to look further into this mirror.

“It’s okay Shiji. You don’t have to say if you don’t want to.” You keep patting. “If there’s someone who knows how hard things are right now, that person is me.”

Shiji raises his head, his eyes finally meeting yours, dilated, pupils wide. You know what he sees, it's the light, a light at the horizon Illuminating his perspective. Tearing apart and expunging the shadows of his doubts leaving only clarity behind. This is the look you receive.

You know this look. 

You once looked at Sakura the same way.

Taking off your hand from him, Shiji recoils; he exhales, but comes back to standing up straight, as straight as someone still scared can be. Pressing his eyes together and tightly holding the strap of his bag, he works up the courage to speak his mind.

“They took my cat.”

“!”

“!!!”

His lips still shake like a tuning fork and his heart still is a bird beating its wings against a cage. But this doesn’t stop him. Shiji continues.  “Some students noticed I tend to bring a bit more money for lunch at school… and tried taking it from me. But I kept saying no and they didn’t listen. Their threats kept going until one day I came back home and noticed my cat hadn't come home for a while. I thought he was just lost… and then they sent a picture of the cat with them.”

“Tsc!”

“How dare they…”

“So I just gave them my money and obeyed, but they didn’t give him back… So I went up to them… alone.” You can picture the image, an image as clear as a cloudless sky. Shiji trembling, shaking, his voice faltering and putting all the muscle he could contract and the ones he couldn’t. All while facing like, five guys. “... but you know how that went, so I just ran and ran until I noticed they stopped. And then I saw Wakaba-san.”

You didn’t think much of Shiji. When it all went down, you didn’t stop to consider what he thought of you, you didn’t think about how his actions screwed you over or even how all of this, happening to you right now is unfair and it was supposed to be him. At your lowest, you never thought ill of him.

Seeing him like this doesn't bring you any joy.

Yet… for all the ways he acted… he didn’t do something. And that makes him different from you.

“I know it wasn’t fair to you, and I can’t apologize enough… it’s just I… was so scared…”

He didn’t freeze.

“You're brave Shiji.” You say.

This close and with your eyes on him, you have first seat to his reaction. As if there’s a lightbulb between you both, a light comes to life on his face. His brown orbs dilate, his jaw opens and his eyebrows curve upwards in a faint, quick beautiful expression of joy. All before coming back to the usual arched posture and half open eyes, even so, now he holds a smile. A timid one but a smile nonetheless.

“T… thank you.” Shiji puts a hand to his face. He takes deep breaths, inhaling deeply and exhaling quickly. “No one ever called me that…”

You’re tired. Your limbs feel heavy and your head hurts. A frown invades your face, a foreign invader to this moment of relief. All of this informs your state of mind.

You had enough for a day, so you decide not to process the hint of white on his eyes.

.

You wave goodbye to the kid your age. Leaving accompanied by Hinata, him with a sincere smile and you… This conversation definitely helped raise Shiji’s spirits. As his figure grows thinner and thinner in your eyes, until he is invisible from the spot.

You stand silent. Sakura does too.

Looking at the empty spot where Shiji once was, the two of you stare at the empty spot where once stood the other victim of the Hayabusas. A gang of thugs who only seems to be getting even worse with time. You knew they were tougher than most, at least more clear on their intentions to hold dominance and more willing to display their power, but to be met with a reality check like this?

Did you ever stop? Stop to really think about what’s happening? Did you even consider in how much danger you are? How further can they go?

You didn’t… did you?

“I’m sorry for that. I… I guess I have lots to explain.” She lowers her head. 

tap

“Things are getting more serious. The Hayabusas are expanding quickly, they never seem to stop… Natsu thinks I can't deal with them.” Sakura pauses. “She thinks I'm over my head, that I can’t take it but… I don't want you to stop living just because we're at a bad time.”

tap

“I’m trying my best and I still feel tense… now look at me, screaming at a scared kid who tried his best. Nice going Sakura, now you’re the bully.” She lowers her head. “I'm sorry you had to hear that.”

tap

You can hear it until now.

You turn to Sakura. Slowly. Like a rock turning from its spot and revealing the hidden dirt below itself. Exposed. Eyes shaking, brows arching, you make eye contact only to see your view obstructed.

“He… hey…”

A single tear drops from your eye. 

“... what will they do to me…?”

You exhale, and as soon as you realize, you cover the mouth who did. Realizing your face is red and nose is running. You try breathing with your mouth to calm down, but even the breaths stutter. You’re falling apart.

“No. No, no, no.”

Sakura is struck, as if your tears were cold water to her thoughts. Her overreaction to Shiji isn’t something she’s proud of. She can’t explain why she had such a reaction, one that scared even herself. She thought everything was under control… yet now it seems waiting a week for Daigo to return is harder than she thought.

She is stressed, so is Natsu and her colleagues. Their patrols around are starting to show their cracks, the situation is slowly getting out of control. 

But none of this matters. Now that your face is red, she can't think of anything else.

She reaches for you. Sakura reaches for your face, getting closer and looking up at you, she puts her hands on your cheeks, grabbing your reddened face. And with hands that stretch from your chin to your earglobe, with her thumbs, Sakura wipes your tears.

She is close, so close she can feel your stuttered, warm breaths. The tears keep falling from your eyes, and now on her face. You blink quickly, trying to stop yourself in any way, shape or form, but to no avail, and in your state, not noticing she’s blinking quickly too. You don’t notice the line of white on her eyes.

Another tear falls, then another. You breathe through the mouth, It doesn’t help, it doesn’t stop. You hold your breath, bite and your lower lip to not let the Hiccups out. It doesn’t work, making you let out a huge puff of air. With your breath now hastened, Sakura speaks.

Her throat tightens, her face feels heavy and nose … but she pulls through, wiping one last tear from you. “Don’t cry alright… I’ll keep you safe…”

Two words. All you want to say are two words. To assert yourself, to not forget, to let your bodyguard know you trust her and are fully confident in her ability to keep you safe. Two words.

‘I know.’

And with all your strength combined, you manage to say three.  

“I am scared.”

Sakura wipes away another one of your tears.

“I’m here… I’m here ok? I won’t let you get hurt. I promised, didn’t I?”

You reach out for her hands. You take them. You hold and you grip your bodyguard’s hands as if you are falling, falling from a precipice about to let you fall into the abyss of your mind. Grabbing these ledges like your life depends on it. And once you do, you press her hands against your face. 

You breathe through the mouth, arched body leaning forward as the height difference between you two grows more evident, and you feel those hands. You bask in them. With each breath your chest moves and shoulders grow upwards, and your entire being struggles with letting the moment sink in.

And amidst this… there is warmth. In your face rests hands two hearths. Two hearths stopping you from numbing right now. Your beating heart pumps out your blood leaving a freezing hollow chest, its ice tearing muscle, convulsing and making your entire body jolt to the erratic feeling of your breath. Your lungs and throat struggling to return to their everyday pace.

But you feel the hearth. You don’t think about the cold, a polar intrusion in your torso, or the fear, an all-consuming shadowy abyss where hope goes to die, you let the heat sink. Not the glacier, not the void but the kind, encompassing mellow feel of Sakura’s hands. Her cushy, homey, cozy hands.

You don’t know for how long, how long you just kept holding her. Breathing in and breathing out, all while feeling her warm hands. You don’t know how pathetic you look, with your red face and face full of tears. Not even knowing why Sakura’s still here, holding you tight. For all the things you don’t, there’s one you do. 

The tears have stopped.

Your nose is clogged but not running, your breath isn’t erratic, it’s normal. You breathe normally, yet, relieved, because for a singular moment, you don’t feel overwhelmed anymore. Especially with Sakura so close to you.

Eyes closed, you sniff, you exhale. Breath, exhale again. Letting yourself bask in this moment of relief.

And once the world is silent, then… the two words come back.

“Thank you.”

Sakura looks at you, smiling. Unbeknownst to you, it seems she’s looking at the most precious thing on earth.

.

.

It’s night already. The sun went down leaving only the moon shining above you both.

As always Sakura accompanies you to your door. 

The house you are staying in is in a small apartment complex. Really small. Some apartments in Japan don’t follow the norm in other places. Where others have huge multi-store buildings reaching out to the heavens and elevators that take forever to come down because someone on floor eighteen is holding them up, Japan will not always have this. For example your complex, four to six or seven apartments cramped together, no ordinance, no lobby. It’s a much simpler way.

Sakura walks with you while bringing her bike on the side. She goes the full way, not skipping a step in the process, like a real bodyguard on service. You smile all the way through.

A quiet, satisfying short walk. You usually would feel comfortable with those. There's always a need to perform, isn’t it? To act, do something, be interesting and eye-catching. I guess we all feel that, don’t we? Yet, you feel comfortable around Sakura.

This feeling… you'd be a fool not to cherish something like this.

You know better, fortunately.

Finally at your door, you struggle to find the right words. . What else is left after such a long day? 

“Huh… thanks… again.” *Thud* “Ow!”

And then she smacks you in the arm.

She puts on a confident face. “Come on, don’t go telling me things I know already…” Which promptly disappears as she lowers her head. “... don’t make it weird, it was nothing.”

“Heh…” ‘Nothing’, huh? There’s a part of you that doesn’t believe that. “I didn’t know bodyguards could go so far.” You say under your breath. “Seems to me that you are doing unpaid extra.”

Sakura points at you. “Don’t even.” She fiercely says. “You’re my friend, (y/n). I want to see you smiling. Don’t you forget about that.” With another firm tone to her voice, she rests her hands on her hips

Impressed again, you simply stare at her. Sakra’s light brown eyes filled with confidence and wonder. You will never know where she finds the strength to be like this, as of right now, you can only wonder. And as if taking advantage of your stunned look, she says her goodbyes.

“See you tomorrow, okay?”

Her sweet voice is the cherry on top.

“Right… See you.” And with this, you open the door to your apartment, waving goodbye to her and entering inside.

You feel dizzy. Your heart is beating so fast you feel like collapsing. Your breath stops, inhaling feels insufficient while exhaling stops midway through. You held something back there, didn’t you?

You swallow. The image of her smile still vivid on your face, you feel the need to act quickly.

And with this, you open the door again.

“Sakura!” You scream, not knowing where she is or how far she went.

“What!?” She is still relatively close by.

“Let's have a picnic tomorrow!”

“A picnic!?”

“Yes! Let's go somewhere nice and eat something together!”

She smiles, her eyes widen.

“That sounds so nice! Let's go!”

“Bring your rice balls! I wanna try them again!”

“And let’s have lunch tomorrow too!

“And lunch too!? Alright!”

“I will! See you tomorrow morning!”

“See you!”

You wave goodbye once again before she goes away and hops on her bike. Leaving the small apartment complex and returning home, where you can’t see her anymore.

And there goes your bodyguard. Going home, leaving you safe and returning to have her so deserved rest. Her unpaid extra- no. You won’t refer to it like that. Her duties over, she can finally have some time to herself.

You close the door to the apartment, head fresh with the vivid images of her smile. And once you take off your shoes and enters, you find someone.

「あっ、[名前]、おかえりなさい！」(A, [namae], okaerinasai!) - “Ah, [y/n], welcome back!”

「ただいま！」(Tadaima!) — “I’m home!”

You smile at Hifumi while you step into the house.

“You came in quite late again.” She says worried. “Are you feeling any better?”

“I am.” You smile, attempting to ease her spirits. “Just felt some need to review the homework at school, while the teachers are close by, there's still some Kanji I don't know yet.” You're only partially lying but you do need to review some of your content.

This is Hifumi, part of your host family. A host family is exactly what it sounds like, they host foreigners coming from other countries. Tourists, students or even full-time workers at times, you name it.

They are of course paid by either the government or a third party entity. If a family is needing some extra cash, they can subscribe to a program and get some benefits.

It feels inconvenient to receive strangers at your own home, however, most people who come tend to spend the day away anyway, so you likely will be only seeing them at night. Not to mention some benefits the companies involved give the families can include some money for expenses, so it can be less difficult than it seems.

In your case, you're being received by a couple, Hifumi and Tadashi. They are a simple, very traditional couple, he works a 9-5 office job and she takes care of the house, a very traditional couple. Very kind and very welcoming, their hospitality is a warm gift.

Hifumi speaks up. “Oh, I see. Poor thing. You must be struggling through classes then?”

“I can handle myself pretty well.” You smirk. “Just not forever, but come on, who can?” 

You also didn't tell her the truth.

“But outside of the Japanese, how was your day? Something cool happened?”

Sakura happened. She comforted you while you were going through a hard moment in your life. Holding you, and consoling you and making you feel safe amongst the chaos.

You can't put into words how much that meant. Not that you don't want to.

“... Not much… just your average day outside of that.” you whisper, frustrated. It gets hard to keep secrets for long. You don't need to yap about all of this, yet it becomes tiring to lie this long. You can physically feel the weight in your chest when stopping yourself to speak.

“Oh, don't give me that. How about the girls? Did you see them today?”

That puts a smile on your face.“I have.” After all, you didn’t lie about everything. “They were at school today. We didn't talk much, they've been quite busy recently, but by next week they'll be free. I don’t know much about them but they all seem cool, who knows? I might play Volley with Natsu or Akira might show me her bike.”

“Oh aren’t they nice?” Hifumi says. You did in fact tell her about some of the stuff. Half-Truths make for convincing lies, and you don’t want any of this stuff reflecting on your hosts. “And Sakura?”

You wouldn't even know where to start with that. Just hearing her name makes you smile, you let out a grin thinking about the day and you say the first thing that comes to mind.

“Same as always. Cheerful, energetic, talkative and outgoing as always. The usual Sakura we’ve come to know.”

“Oh, that's amazing!”

You smile even harder right now. It feels so good to let these things out. So much weight recently it feels crazy, overwhelming either. Japan has been a high for you, an intense one at that.

The lows have been lows yet… you wouldn’t exchange the highs for nothing in your life.

“So what will you bring to the picnic?”

“What?”

Wait… she heard that?

“Oh please, you two were practically screaming in the corridor. I think half the building heard that. So, you’re gonna let the lady pull all the weight in the relationship or you will show you have something to offer too?”

“... I… Uhhh…” You stuttle, caught completely off guard by what Hifumi just proposed. 

Recollecting your thoughts, frozen in the middle of the kitchen, you realize something: She’s right. Sakura saved you, protected you, took you home and took you home, she brought you on a date- TOUR, that was a tour, and most of all, she had you close. All of that, while all you did was give her some compliments and glaze her a bit.

After everything… is that all you amount to? A cheerleader? Will you always need the brave and strong quarterback of the football team to protect you?

Crazy comparison aside, for how long will you let her do everything in this friendship. She gives everything, and all you do is… take.

Breathing in and breathing out, not allowing this thought to take over, you look up, grab your forehead and let this feeling sink in. Not to forget about it, but to remember and use it, use it to fuel you to the very next action you are preparing to take. 

With this in mind, you turn your head to meet Hifumi and you call out her name.

“Hifumi?”

“Yes?”

“Can you teach me how to make Onigiri?”