Denki Mystery - Tumblr Posts

♔ | 𝐕𝐈𝐈

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You walked down the stone steps you had traversed the previous day, holding down a lock of your hair as it swayed in the breeze. The petals of the azalea flowers glistened in the sunshine, fluttering in the wind as they kept your styled hair in place.

Dayoko had done a beautiful job of your hair, twirling and plaiting your locks in an elegant fashion, pinning everything in place with bunches of azaleas, red and eye catching.

'I also saw you had no dresses with you, so you can borrow one of mine!'

You smiled down at your attire, admiring the black floral material that rested over your upper body, feeling the loose flow of the red skirt around your legs. A black shoulder bag rested just above your hips, swinging lightly to the left and right with each move you made. Your small black heels clicked against the grey stone beneath you satisfyingly, filling the air around you with the gentle sound.

You had thanked Dayoko profusely, tracing feather light touches over your locks in awe. You would never be able to do something this pretty with your hair. You did look just as pretty as Dayoko, but she insisted you had surpassed her looks greatly.

She sent you off with a bright smile and a wave, watching as you ventured away from the Estate and back down into Akatsuka Village.

You were too busy glancing up at the trees bending up around you, smiling fondly as the leaves seemed to wave as you passed by, rays of light filtering through from above. As you reached the last step, the sun suddenly glaring down at you making you squint, you heard a low whistle from ahead.

"You clean up nice, doll!"

A deep blush coated your cheeks at the compliment, immediately recognising the voice with a small sense of dread. Memories of last night flooded your mind, embarrassingly increasing your red glow.

Ozo stood in front of a parked white car — most likely a taxi, you thought — leaning against the side of it with a green can in his hand. He grinned over at you, brushing a hand through his hair. You couldn't help but notice each strand falling through the gaps of his fingers, resting over his forehead with a slight sway.

"You... actually waited? F-For me?" You mumbled timidly, taking slow steps closer to him.

"I told you I would, didn't I?" He replied, soft and gentle. "Besides, how could I pass up the chance to help such a pretty lady?" He pushed himself off the car, closing the gap between you both as he reached a hand up to your hair, brushing over the decorations. He chuckled lightly, "They look good on you. I'm starting to think that red really is your colour."

"Ah, th-thank you..." you averted your eyes downwards, accidentally resting over the hand that clutched onto what you could now see was a beer can, the cooled droplets of water cascading downwards and over his fingertips, glistening as they rolled down his warm skin...

"Where are ya' headed?" Ozo suddenly asked, moving back.

"Huh..? Oh!" You snapped out of your daze, cursing yourself for getting so.. distracted like that. "I was going to head over to Iriabi, actually. To that cafe you told me about."

Ozo's smile brightened, rubbing a finger under his nose. "Wow, you're taking my suggestion! I'm flattered," he joked. He tucked a hand into his trouser pocket, taking out a ring of keys, spinning it around his finger. "Let's get going, shall we?"

"You're gonna take me there?" You questioned, following him nevertheless as he nodded.

"I mean, it's kinda my job to do that," he laughed. He moved around to the passengers side, opening the door with a deep bow. "After you."

You chuckled at his performance, taking up his offer and slipping into your seat, catching a glimpse of his large grin before he closed the door, moving back to the driver's seat and strapping in. He brushed his hair away as he inserted the keys, the engine causing the car to rumble.

Carefully manoeuvring the vehicle onto the road, you started to pick up speed on the empty dirt road, driving past the shops and houses you had seen before. They looked just as empty as yesterday, and you felt slightly uneasy at the stillness of the area; not having any bustling streets and crowds of people wasn't something you were used to.

A little further down was a large building standing on its own. On the roof was a sign, which looked to be similar to neon lights, although they weren't activated due to it being daytime. As you passed by, you squinted to try and make out what they were shaped to be, raising a brow as you saw they looked similar to two chickens on either side of some words you didn't get to read.

"What's that building?" You asked, pointing back to it. Ozo glanced over to where you pointed, smiling widely.

"That is my favourite place in this entire District," he leaned an arm against the window edge beside him, using one hand to steer the car around a soft bend. "That's the Bang Bang Chicken Bar. I'm a regular, but I guess that's 'cuz it's the only bar around here."

He sounded pretty proud of himself, although you felt a slight concern fester inside of you. How often did he go there? That was a bad thing, wasn't it? Also; 'Bang Bang Chicken Bar...' Another interesting name, but why chickens? Before you could voice your questions, Ozo continued.

"I'll take you for a drink sometime! On me, since I've actually got money now!" He seemed to find this quite funny, laughing loudly at his own words.

"I'll think about it," you replied. You hadn't gone out for a drink with anyone for a while. You wondered if you'd even be able to handle your liquor as well as you used to, or if you'd just make a fool of yourself in front of him.

The chatter died down after a moment, leaving Ozo to concentrate on the road whilst you continued peering out the window, a soft smile playing on your lips as you took in the sights. The sky was a brilliant azure, decorated with light wisps of white clouds, drifting off further into the distance. Fields of sunflowers and tulips filled the empty spaces beside the road, fluttering in the summer wind. The sunshine rested on your face, it's warmth a lot more gentle this time, lighting up your face with a golden glow.

Ozo cleared his throat after a while, his hands gripping the wheel a little too tightly. He couldn't help but turn his eyes to your relaxed form every few seconds, attracted to your plump lips and warm cheeks, your glistening orbs and curled hair. Your dress fit you perfectly, complimenting your curves and skin beautifully, and damn— the colour red was just too good on you.

"[Y/N], y-you..." he swore under his breath, hating that he was feeling so nervous. What happened to his usual confidence? Why did he suddenly feel scared of you rejecting his attempts, even though that was all he was ever used to?

"Ozo?" You turned to him, tilting you head. He stared at you for a minute, his half-lidded eyes widening slightly before he turned away again. He took a deep breath, blaming the flush on his cheeks on the summer heat.

"...You look really good... I mean it.."

There was a stunned silence in the car. Your fingers clutched tightly at the skirt of your dress, legs pressing together nervously. You saw the obvious blush on his face, which made yours multiply tenfold.

Eventually, you broke out of your daze, a bright smile on your face. If Ozo wasn't driving, he'd gladly stare at it all day.

"Thank you, Ozo. You don't look too bad yourself."

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♔ | 𝐗

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The car rumbled over a gravel pathway, entering though opened steel gates and down a road lined with tall pine trees. You craned your neck upwards, hand blocking out the sun in an attempt to see just how high they reached.

"Where are we?" You asked for the hundredth time, still hoping Ozo would give you even the slightest hint of where he had planned to take you. The whole time, he had avoided the question, and he did just the same now, grinning cheekily as he gave you same answer.

"You'll see when we get there!" He laughed at your exasperated sigh.

"You can't even give me just one hint?" You tried.

"[Y/N], you're smart. If I give you a hint, you'll know the answer straight away! Then there'd be no surprise!" He tutted, not giving in to your pouting, no matter how cute you looked. If he could get past Takashi, he could get past you. Albeit, with a lot more struggle.

And so, you waited, leg bouncing in anticipation as the road finally widened out, the trees dispersing to reveal a modern mansion, with large windows almost completely covering the entire front of it. It was pale in colour, it's tiled roof a matte black.

Ozo manoeuvred the car around the fountain in the front drive way, steadily coming to a halt.

"Where... Who's house is this??" You stated in bewilderment. How many mansions did this place have? Ozo only continued to remove his seatbelt, prompting you to do the same until he stopped you.

"Stay in the car for a sec. This isn't the final destination," with that, he jumped out of the car, walking up a small platform of stairs and knocking loudly on the large dark oak doors. You watched him as he leaned his weight on one foot, resting a hand in his pocket as the other fanned his face.

As you both waited for someone to arrive at the door, you began to think about who this person could be. If Ozo thought you would guess who it was easily, then that meant you had to have met this person before, right? You cupped your chin, brows furrowed as you thought further. You knew Chorosuke and Dayoko definitely didn't live here, Takashi lives in Iriabi, so it's not him... If Ozo lived here, then he wouldn't have to knock on the door... Then the only other person it could be was...

"Osomatsu-niisan!"

The doors swung open violently, a yellow blur tackling the driver, close to knocking him over. Ozo yelped in surprise, quickly melting into a laugh.

"Jyushimatsu!" Ozo patted his brother's back affectionately. "See, this is why you're my favourite!"

Ah, now the mansion made sense. Jyushimatsu was the son of the mayor here, so of course they would live in luxury.

As you observed the scene with a fond smile, you noticed that Jyushimatsu was actually wearing the paper bag he had with him the night before, his large eyes peering through the two holes haphazardly cut into the front of the brown paper. You wondered why he wore it; was he self-conscious?

'No,' you thought. 'If he was, he would've kept it on when we first met.'

"What are you doing here, niisan?" Jyushimatsu asked, leaning away.

"I'm taking [Y/N] around Akashika, to show her the sights and stuff," he glanced back at you. "Wanna come with us?"

The two caught eyes, an understanding glimmer flashing between them as Jyushimatsu nodded eagerly, already running towards the car. He jumped into the back seats — literally — and greeted you loudly.

"[Y/N]-chan!" He exclaimed happily, leaning through the gap between your front seats.

"Hello, Jyushimatsu!" His enthusiasm was infectious, your own smile widening greatly.

"You look really pretty today!" He added. "I can tell Osomatsu-niisan thinks so, too!" He pointed to said person as they sat themselves into the car, freezing at the sudden call-out. You giggled, cheeks flushing.

"I'm sure he does," your mind went back to the first car ride, unable to stop the butterflies fluttering in your stomach as you watched Ozo's face darken to red. He glared at Jyushimatsu from the rear view mirror as he started up the car, driving away from the mansion.

"So you live here, Jyushimatsu?" You did Ozo a favour, diverting the subject easily.

"Yup! This is the Ogami Family Estate!" He pointed back to his home as it slowly disappeared from view. "My dad and I live here! You can visit anytime you like!"

You smiled, keeping the offer in mind. Ozo stayed silent, squinting at the road as he drove back the way he came, taking a left towards the mountain peaks in the distance.

"Boobs!" The sudden call from Jyushimatsu made you jump. You glanced back at him with a raised brow to see him pointing straight ahead towards the two twin peaks.

"He thinks they look like tits." Ozo's blunt explanation didn't help the burn of your skin.

"O-Oh..." you mumbled, shrinking slightly in your seat.

'That's one way to look at it, I guess...'

The rest of the car ride was mostly uneventful, the only noise coming from Jyushimatsu as he hummed a tune you hadn't heard before. It sounded like a nursery rhyme.

At one point, the stretch of road ahead of you was devoid of any trees or shade, allowing the sun to shine down on you with no mercy.

"Man, it's hot today...!" Ozo sighed, rolling down his window. You nodded, doing the same.

"Hey, Osomatsu nii-san..." Jyushimatsu called from the back, tired as he fanned himself. "Can't you put the AC on?"

"Ah, well..." Ozo laughed nervously. "I still haven't gotten it fixed yet..."

"What?!" Jyushimatsu cried. "I'm gonna die..!"

"How can you survive this summer heat when you're driving around all day?" You asked incredulously, peering over to the driver who was busy unbuttoning a third button from his shirt, tousling his hair to provide some kind of cool breeze for his head. His sleeves were sticking to his biceps, clinging onto his skin and defining his slightly toned arms.

"I don't." Ozo replied, not noticing your blatant stares, unlike a certain someone behind you. You heard Jyushimatsu giggle, making you avert your eyes with a silent huff in turn.

Soldiering through the dizzying heat, the car eventually pulled to a stop in front of the beginnings of a mountain trail. Clambering out, you squinted your eyes at the path as it trailed upwards.

"Are we climbing all the way up to the top?" Wearily, you took a subtle step back. Jyushimatsu laughed loudly, readjusting the paper bag on his head.

"Nope! Just a little further up this way!" He headed off, waving a hand back towards you and Ozo. "Let's go!"

The heavy slam of the trunk of the car caused you to turn around, watching as Ozo adjusted his grip on the handle of a blue and white box before following behind you.

"What's that?" Ozo glanced at you then down to the box, grinning.

"I always carry a few extra drinks with me on the job. Don't tell my boss, though!" He mockingly held a finger up to his lips, winking at you.

"Don't tell me there's only beer cans in there.." you raised a brow. As nice as the thought was, you weren't planning to get drunk during the day, especially on a mountain trail.

"Nah, 'course not!" Ozo waved a hand. "As much as I love my alcohol, a soda or too aren't so bad every now and then, too!"

You felt something slip around your wrist, your steps faltering. Recognising that warmth, your eyes widened slightly as Ozo's hand wrapped themselves around you again, gently tugging you forward along with him.

"Wouldn't want you to trip or anything, right?" His dark lidded eyes moved over to you from over his shoulder. His stare made you want to bury your face into your hands.

"Not when you're looking that gorgeous."

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♔ | 𝐗𝐈

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You were glad Jyushimatsu had chosen a more shaded route, or else you were sure you would have collapsed from the harsh heat by now. Ozo's hand had slipped into your own at some point, and when you noticed, you simply squeezed his hand lightly, smiling when he did the same.

"Just through here!" Jyushimatsu called, pushing away a small tuft of bushes and wandering through. You glanced at Ozo.

"Do you know where we are?"

"Yup. Trust me — you're gonna love it."

He took the lead, carefully manoeuvring you over the poking branches and fallen leaves, breaking through the darkly shaded area to a bright field, stretching far beyond the eye can see, rows and rows of soil filled with tall stalks of sunflowers, pointing their heads high towards the sun. They reached just up to your waist, surrounding you in a sweet scent.

You gasped softly, mouthing breaking into a wide gleeful smile. A bubble of laughter escaped your throat as you released your hold on Ozo's hand, running straight into the field. Your hands gently cupped the large yellow petals, running a finger over the soft texture, like velvet, bringing it close to take in its scent. You wandered in further until you were stood in the middle of the sea of flowers, twirling with a giggle as your eyes tried to soak in the beauty around you, sparkling and full of wonder.

You came to a stand still as a breeze flew over you, rustling your hair and stroking your skin. You closed your eyes, taking a deep breath, lost in the moment. It felt so peaceful, so calming, the kind of place you could only ever hope to find, and now you had found it.

"What d'ya think?"

Ozo's voice sounded from behind you as he slowly, carefully, wrapped his arms around your waist, resting his chin on your shoulder. You tensed at first, then almost melted into his hold, leaning against his chest as your own hands came up to press against his.

"You were right; I do love it."

"Told you so," he grinned. His teasing tone murmured against your ear, the sound not unpleasant, and more comforting than anything. You relaxed further, sighing blissfully as you opened your eyes again, staring up into the clear sky.

Although it seemed like such a childish thought, you couldn't help but wish you could stay like this forever, free from any worries, with the wind pushing you forward and a warm hand as your guide.

┊ •° ੈ ⋆° ┊

You pressed the cold can to your temple before opening it up, sighing deeply as the drink cooled your body.

After exploring the field for a while, you had decided to give your legs a break, seating yourself down on the green cut grass close to where you had entered the field. Ozo joined you, saying it was the perfect time to break out the drinks. Jyushimatsu, however, said that he would go exploring, to 'add more bugs to his collection.'

He took off before you could reply, leaving the two of you behind.

"Will Jyushimatsu be alright?" You asked after a moment. Ozo hummed, taking a swig of his drink.

"Yeah. He does this all the time, so there's nothin' to worry about. Instead..." he shuffled closer to you, shoulders practically touching as he grinned down at you, "Why don't you and I have a little chat?"

"Chat? About what?"

"Anything, and everything! I wanna know more about you!"

You blinked, chuckling wearily. "You wanna know about me? I'm really not that interesting..."

"C'mon, sure you are!" He nudged you. "I already have something I wanna ask you, anyway."

"Oh?" You raised a brow. "And what is it?"

"Are you single?"

Your eyes widened, spluttering for words at the sudden question. You looked away from his wide eyes, nibbling at your lower lip. Why had such a simple question flustered you this much? It wasn't fair, the effect this man has on you.

"Uh... Y-Yeah, I am..." you answered after a moment. "But why would you wanna know that?"

"'Cuz it means that I can actually have a shot with you!"

You whipped your head back around, staring at him with cheeks ablaze.

"W-What are you talking about? A shot with me?? Why would you want that?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Ozo stared at you with a confused grimace. "I mean, look at you! You're so hot! Who wouldn't want you?!"

Your mouth was hanging open, unable to speak. Receiving such compliments, hearing such a confession... All things that you were a stranger to.

A strained silence passed before you sighed, averting your gaze to your lap.

"..Ozo, we've only just met. I doubt it's that quick to fall in love with someone, let alone me..."

'But weren't you feeling the same way only a few hours ago?'

"You put yourself down too much, [Y/N]." Ozo stated firmly. "I know what I'm saying, and I know that you're probably the prettiest girl I've ever seen."

You clutched your drink tighter in your hands, ignoring the prickling cold at your fingertips. A part of you knew that this was all moving way too fast for it to be possible. There was no such thing as 'love at first sight.' And yet... And yet, the other part of you wanted to give in so badly. You wanted to wrap your arms around him and say 'yes,' as if it were meant to be.

"...Can I... have some time to think about it?" It seemed to be the only rational thing to do.

Ozo, on the other hand, couldn't have been more thrilled to hear that. He was actually being considered, by you. He actually had a chance..! This was all too good to be true for him!

He smiled giddily as he leaned his shoulder against you, looking out into the sky, the sun lowering slowly, resting above the tips of the far away trees. His lips stretched wider as he felt you lean back onto him, hesitantly resting your head against his shoulder, allowing him to rest his cheek on the top of your head.

"Take as long as you need, sweetheart. I'll be here waiting' for ya'."

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♚ | 𝐗𝐕

NSFW CONTENT

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Ozo was unbearably hard. But could you blame him?

It wasn't like he did it on purpose, either! It just... happened. On accident. But it was a happy accident. In his eyes.

Leaning against the bathroom door heavily, he slapped a hand harshly against his forehead. Why did he suddenly decide to excuse himself and leave you there like that? Was he an idiot?

'The biggest idiot to ever exist, apparently,' he thought bitterly.

He recalled how the both of you sat there in a tense silence, with your form still beneath him and his knee still wedged between your thighs. Your dress had ridden up during your little scuffle, so close to hitching over your hips. Your arms were still above your head as you heaved, your chest rising up and down. He remembered how they moved very clearly. The tightness of your dress didn't leave much to the imagination...

The sound of a belt buckle hitting the floor echoed through the tiled walls. He sunk down to his knees, his pants shoved downwards haphazardly. Somewhere in the back of his filthy mind, Ozo was aware of how dirty he was. Jacking off to the thought of you when you were so close nearby not once, but twice now. The other three times didn't count — you weren't anywhere near him at the time.

He sighed a breath of relief as his member was finally released from his boxers. It stood to attention, stiff and throbbing desperately with need. His hand closed around his shaft, first rubbing his thumb over the top, smearing precum over the head. Ozo bit his lip, the sensation already becoming too much.

Closing his eyes, he began to wonder what would have happened if it had continued...

He grinned deviously at the thought of you making the first move. You would grind down against his knee, whimpering at the feeling of him against you. You'd keep going, shivering and moaning for him, for more.

His hand slipped slowly down from the tip to his base, pausing for a moment before delicately tracing back upwards, repeating the motion a few times before steadily picking up the pace.

You would grasp at his shirt, pulling him down for a kiss, on his lips this time. He could practically feel your mouth against his, moving so enticingly against his own. But it would be a distraction. Your hands were always wandering, travelling lower down his body, hovering over the tent in his slacks...

Ozo threw his head back with a gasp as his hips stuttered in his palm. He tightened his grip over his cock, pumping faster at the thought.

You would handle him so nicely. He imagined that you would take control the first time, forcefully rolling on top of him and straddling his hips. You'd roll your hips against him teasingly, smiling down at him as you began to unbutton the upper half of his shirt, your soft hands rubbing against his chest. His own hands would come up to feel your breasts, weighing them in each palm and squeezing them between his fingers, loving the way you would bite your lip and moan so cutely...

"[Y-Y/N]..." he breathed. He was so close. His cock felt so heavy in his palm, twitching with each move of his hand, precum now leaking in thick streams down his length and over his fingers.

At some point, you had removed his slacks for him, your own panties thrown off to the side somewhere while he was busy fondling your tits. It was all moving so fast. You would pull up the lower half of your dress, showing off your hips and stomach before lowering onto him, inch by inch. You would have to stop half way, your walls stretching to accommodate his size. When you finally took all of him in, you would steady yourself on his chest, leaning down to nip and nibble at his neck as you began sliding up and down over his rod.

Ozo groaned, his vivid imagination conjuring up the feeling of your hot, tight walls constricting around him.

"Please..." He panted, eyes screwed shut as his tongue lolled out of his mouth.

You would enjoy his begging, murmuring sweet, naughty words into his ears in that beautiful voice of yours, knowing just how much he liked it. You would ask if he was close, and you would tell him how close you were, too.

By now, Ozo was murmuring nonsense pleas under his breath as he stroked himself fervently, his climax just within his reach.

His mind went back to when he had you beneath him, your arms pinned under his strong hands and your flushed, reddened cheeks. He loved the way you spoke his name then.

"O-Ozo!"

With that final thought, he tipped over the edge. His hips bucked rapidly into his hand as he came, using his other to quickly catch the spurts of cum he was releasing, the sticky substance coated his hands in a thin sheen. He whined and moaned breathily, gritting his teeth as he fought against calling out your name over and over again as he came down from his high.

He took in a shaky breath, his body finally slumping over as the tension left his body. Sitting still for a few moments to catch his breath, he carefully stood up, leaning against the cool wall to support himself on wobbling legs. He washed his hands, using a tissue to clean up the rest of himself. Buckling his pants up again, he caught his own reflection in the mirror.

His hair was the only thing slightly out of place. He could sort that our easy. Straightening out his collar, he shot a wide grin to himself before leaving the bathroom, hands tucked into his pockets as if nothing had ever happened.

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Chapter 1

Akatsuka village was a quiet place.

Not much ever happened, and whenever something did, it wouldn't stick to your mind, eventually fading from memory, and the still silence of the village would take a hold of your every day life once more.

Despite living in Akatsuka for a good few years now, you had a habit of keeping to yourself. You rarely ever found yourself willingly conversing with the other townsfolk living in the houses around you. You always hoped it didn't come off as rude — you just lacked decent social skills, they could understand that, right?

On top of that, the village had always felt.. off to you. There was always this pressurising feeling of someone watching you at all times, peering over your shoulder and burning holes into your back. It was unnerving and uncomfortable, and the worst part was, there was never anyone there.

However, it wasn't like you could just up and leave the Akashika District so easily. It required time and money, and you only had one of those. A part of you wondered if you regretted moving all that time ago, but in the end, you couldn't muster the energy to be so bothered anymore. All in all, you had achieved the quiet and easy-going countryside life you had been needing, and that was all that mattered to you.

Sitting in your fenced off garden, basking in the summer's heat, you began wondering if your life was boring. If it was too simple. If you had sheltered yourself too much. You didn't really have any friends, as sad as it was. They had all slowly fallen out of touch with you once you had moved, and although you had tried convincing them to come down for a visit — or even suggesting that you visiting them — they all happened to be busy. Every time, without fail.

Then maybe, you began to wonder, it was you who was boring. You recalled how plain your life had been, as a toddler to a teen, and now as an adult. You didn't have any interesting stories to share. You didn't have any personal traits that were particularly intriguing or quirky. You were just... normal. Probably a bit too normal.

With a sigh, you cast your sullen gaze towards the sky. It was a single block of blue, but it looked so pretty. It stretched far beyond the horizon, free of clouds and scattered with the occasional soaring bird. The flutter of a white butterfly caught your eye, and you watched the muted coloured insect traverse through your garden, finally landing on a bush of blush pink camellias you had been caring for over the past year or so.

Your mind fell silent, only for it to have a sudden craving for watermelon. You tilted your head curiously, trying to remember if you had any left or not. Standing up, you stretched your arms above your head, lazily readjusting your t-shirt that had ridden up your stomach with the movement before heading towards your kitchen, scouring your table tops and refrigerator for the sweet fruit. To your dismay, there was none left. Which only meant one thing...

"I have to go outside today..." you whined to yourself. Well, you didn't have to. It wasn't like you had to get the watermelon. No, you didn't have to, but you really wanted to eat some under the sun, like you did every summer. You needed to satiate your craving for watermelon.

And so you set about your home, reluctantly attempting to sort out your hair and change your clothes. You were too lazy, though, and ended up swapping out your joggers you were lounging in to a pair of shorts, not wanting to melt on the way to the store, tucking your t-shirt into the hem of the bottoms and messily scrunching your hair up into a bun.

You twirled a few loose strands around your fingers, debating whether you should put more effort into your hairdo, but ultimately deciding there wasn't any point since you would just be hiding away again for the rest of the weekend. No one paid attention to you, anyway.

Grabbing your small purse and pushing it into your back pocket along with your phone, you slipped on a pair of gladiator sandals, securing the intricate straps around your ankles and feet before setting off.

The heat seemed to be far more intense than before, pushing the humid air into your face and causing a cool sweat to suddenly break out over your skin. You grimaced at your clammy hands, discreetly brushing them against the denim of your shorts.

As you walked, you threw your gaze to your surroundings, not finding anything new amongst the same square houses and the same empty shops, the same trio of cats laying in the same position in front of someone's doorway, their eyes watching you as they always did as you trotted past them. It was the same routine, as usual.

The cool air that wafted over you as you stepped through the doors of the supermarket gave you a sense of relief from the roasting warmth. You closed your eyes for a moment, relishing in the soft blow of air before finally moving inside, peering through the empty aisle in search of the perfect watermelon.

Soft music echoed distantly throughout the store, almost silent under the pitter of your footsteps against the tiled ground. You stood still for a moment, straining your ears to try and catch the words that were being sung, but it was much too quiet and muffled, a mix of many different voices merging together to a nursery-like tune. It was odd; they never played music in the store before.

As you continued onward, you pushed the urge to pick up miscellaneous objects and snacks down and away from your mind, even if you had the feeling you were forgetting something. You only came for watermelon. Should you get distracted now, you'd end up with a whole basket full of groceries that you probably didn't need. You crossed your arms over your chest, tucking your hands away into the crooks of your elbows so as not to feel any more tempted.

Eventually, you stumbled upon the correct aisle, tracing along the variety of in-season fruit before they landed on the one you were looking for at the far end of the aisle. The small smile that had graced your lips, however, dropped in an instant at the sight of another person gazing at your desired fruit, a look of confusion lacing your furrowed brows. You had never seen another person shopping here before.

It was a man, donned in a fern green yukata, his brown hair neatly combed to one side as his narrowed eyes scrutinised the two remaining watermelons, his lips upturned into a frown as he held the two heavy fruits in his hands. He hadn't noticed your presence, it had seemed, and you reluctantly began edging your way towards him.

You could feel your cheeks slowly begin to heat up the closer you got, your hands becoming clammier as you realised that you would have to speak to this stranger. Social interaction was never your forte, and you became afraid that your words would fall out of your mouth like running water, gushing and incoherent. But your mind was set on getting the large, jaded fruit, and your feet wouldn't stop moving until you were stood right beside him.

At long last, the man caught the movement at his side from the corner of his eyes, glancing over and jolting in shock at your sudden appearance. His rounded face flushed a pretty pink, tracing over the tips of his ears at the sight of you, and you couldn't control the added heat to your own skin.

"Excuse me..." you spoke softly, averting your gaze from his own smaller pupils to the fruit in his hands. You quickly noted how he had a hold of the last two melons, before continuing to say: "I-I'm sorry to bother you, but could I have one of those?"

Deep down, you felt awful, as if you were stealing something from this poor and unsuspecting man. What if he wanted both of them? You would just have to go home empty handed, remembering how you had bothered somebody for no reason. Maybe you would grab a tub of ice-cream on the way, on second thought, for some comfort food.

The man's mouth flailed open and closed, minute squeaks of words escaping him before he cleared his throat, taking a deep breath.

"OF COURSE!" The sudden loudness of his voice caused the both of you to flinch, his face deepening in colour in embarrassment. "I mean — o-of course! You can have one!" He swiftly pushed the melon in his left hand towards you, a shaky smile on his lips as his hand trembled under the weight of the fruit.

"Th-This one is much sweeter than the other, ha ha."

You raised a brow, staring at the two green misshaped ovals and wondered how he knew that just by looking. You tilted your head, hesitantly brushing your fingers against the melon. "Are you sure? I don't mind taking the other one."

"No no! It's perfectly fine! I-I prefer the more watery ones, anyway..."

That was a blatant lie, but you took the melon from him, saving the both of you from an even more awkward conversation. With a timid smile, you bowed politely, thanking him.

"N-No worries! I — well, uh — goodbye!" The man immediately scurried off, clutching the melon securely to his chest as he rounded the corner, disappearing from your sight. You wondered if you had scared him off, somehow. You could understand, although, you would be lying if you said you didn't feel a twinge of disappointment bubble in your chest. You could have made a friend today if you hadn't made the atmosphere so stiff.

You dejectedly dragged your feet through the shop, reaching the till and finding the man to have already left. You lowered your gaze to your feet as you handed your money over to the sleepy looking cashier, carrying the watermelon in your arms. Standing in front of the empty store entrance, you stared at the ground in brief silence, an unhappy frown making its way onto your face.

The walk home was gloomy, as if grey clouds were hanging over your head despite the sun beaming vehemently down onto your skin. You were starting to regret going out to buy the watermelon. Maybe it would have been better if you had just stayed home and ignored the craving. Maybe then you wouldn't have had to ruin someone's day. That's what you did, right?

Silence echoed throughout the barren streets louder than ever before, pulling you deeper into your dampened thoughts and drowning in the sudden sense of guilt that had welled inside of you, gluing itself to your heart like a hardened stone. It seemed that no matter how much you walked, you couldn't escape that voice in the forefront of your mind, whispering into your ear and reminding how much of a failure you were, greeting you as an old friend as you re-entered your home.

You left the watermelon on your kitchen table, and as you walked out, the glint of sunlight bouncing off of metal and into your eyes made you wince. Glancing over, you saw that it was only the metal of your large kitchen knife, displayed on your far countertop for whenever you would need it next. The yellow light it reflected burned into your eyes dangerously, shimmering and beckoning you closer.

Your sullen gaze merely sent it a flat and unimpressed glare before you turned away with a sigh. The games your mind liked to play with you weren't any fun in the slightest. Suddenly, you didn't feel like eating the watermelon anymore.

Falling asleep sounded much more appealing to you. Trudging through the empty hallways of your home, you collapsed onto your cool bed, curling into yourself with baited breath, the light breeze sifting through your opened window cradling you in its hold as you squeezed your eyes shut.

In that moment, all you wanted to do was sleep forever, and the wind encouraged you as you slowly fell into a restless slumber.

Chapter 4

The train journey was excruciatingly long, just as they remembered it to be. Karatsugu peered out the window beside him, his eyes stuck to the darkening sky above, which was also tinted a slight shade darker due to him wearing his large aviator sunglasses. He watched as the scenery outside gradually changed from strictly endless waves of tall green grass and trees to small buildings in the far distance and flat earth.

Across from him, Hajime sat silently, slouching in his seat as he clutched his large backpack to his chest to rest his chin atop it, his eyes shut as he slept quietly. A small smile came to Karatsugu's lips before he yawned, covering his mouth with the back of his hand whilst his other arm stretched up above his head. He let it fall down onto his lap lazily as he went back to staring out the window, his leg jumping up and down lightly as he inwardly became impatient.

It had been quite a while since he had last come to Akashika District; a year, to be exact. He still remembered the first time he had visited that place like it was only yesterday, as well as the interesting adventure he and his newfound brothers took part in. Karatsugu smiled fondly at the memory, wondering just what else they would be getting up to this time.

He was quickly snapped out of his daydreams as a voice spoke over the intercom, and although it sounded very fuzzy and full of static, he could just about make out what the voice said:

'We are now arriving at Akashika Station. This is the train's final stop. Please ensure you have all your items of belonging before leaving the train. We are now arriving at...'

The voice repeated itself several more times before it fell silent, and Karatsugu could feel the train begin to slow down. He carefully, and very cautiously, leaned forward to nudge Hajime's knee, attempting to rouse him from his nap.

"Hajime... You need to wake up now, we're here..." he mumbled, gently calling for his younger brother. He could feel a bead of sweat beginning to accumulate on his temple as Hajime didn't stir, prompting him to nudge a tad bit harder whilst also bearing in mind to not push his own luck, lest he want a fist to the face.

Thankfully, that didn't happen, and Hajime grumbled against his backpack as his eyes sluggishly cracked open. His dark gaze landed on Karatsugu for a moment before it wandered around the train compartment, shifting slightly in his seat and raising his head. He rubbed a hand against the back of his neck, wincing at the soreness from the awkward position he had fallen asleep in.

"... We're here?" he mumbled, barely audible over the ruckus of the train still moving against the tracks. Karatsugu nodded, taking his phone out of his pocket whilst Hajime stretched his arms. Karatsugu swiped through the group chat one of his brothers had created, skimming over his unread messages from hours ago to begin tapping away at his screen.

── SEX🤤🍆tuplets

12:24

[Chorosuke💐🌹] Who changed the group chat name?

[Takashi🍰🍬🍭] Who do u think lol

[Ozo🍺🚖] its gr8 right! sexxxxxxxxxxxx tuplets HAHAH

[Chorosuke💐🌹] Please shut up.

[Ozo🍺🚖] ur alwas so booooooring chorosuk e lolol anyway! karatsugu n hajime! wya?

[Hajime🐈‍⬛🐾] train

That is correct burazzas!~~😎😎✨✨ Our travels have only barely just begun!💫💫 We will be arriving later tonight! I'm sure you are all very excited for our arrival, hmm~~? 🥀🥀🥀🥀😎😎😎😎

[Takashi🍰🍬🍭] We get it plz stop with those ugly ass emojis

[Jyushimatsu🌻🌼☀️] KARAMATSU NIISAN ICHIMATSU NIISAN HIHHIHUHIHUU!!!!! HIRRY UP I WANNA PLAY!!!!!!

[Chorosuke💐🌹] I don't want to kick you out again, Jyushimatsu. Please don't spam.

── SEX🤤🍆tuplets 19:03

[72 unread messages]

We are arriving at the station!✨✨ Ozo, burazza, would you be so kind as to give us a lift?😎😎😎

[Ozo🍺🚖] sureeee its abt time u guys got here!

[Jyushimatsu🌻🌼☀️] YAYYYYAYA!!! YOUR HERE YOURH ERE!!! OSOMATSU NIISAN CAN I CUM A SWELL????!!!!

[Takashi🍰🍬🍭] oh my god eww

[Ozo🍺🚖] Yh! the more the happier as they say

[Chorosuke💐🌹] It's: 'The more, the merrier.' Honestly, how do you not know?

[Ozo🍺🚖] I ain't no nerd anyway ill be there in 10!

──

Satisfied with Ozo's response, Karatsugu put away his phone and stood up, reaching up to the overhang and carefully sliding his suitcase out and onto the floor. He also did the same for Hajime's suitcase, having a sneaking suspicion that the man wouldn't get it himself, but he wasn't bothered by it.

They waited for the train to pull to a stop, the metal wheels against the tracks squeaking and groaning loudly into the air. The voice over the intercom spoke again, signalling that all passengers were now allowed to leave.

So, with their suitcases in hand and their backpacks slung over their shoulders, the two brothers exited the train and stepped onto the same barren and quiet platform. The warm evening air pushed into their faces, the heat a lot tamer than it would be during the day. Hajime looked up towards the sky for a moment, witnessing the final shreds of sunlight melt away into the night as a dark blanket covered the sky.

"We should head outside," Karatsugu spoke up, his baritone voice echoing around the area, "they could be here any minute, now." He had already begun walking towards the exit, and after a few seconds, he heard his brother's footsteps shuffling along the concrete ground, following him from behind.

Karatsugu stepped out first, taking a deep breath of fresh air as a soft breeze picked up around him briefly before it died down. He smiled at the scenery, already feeling at home with his excitement growing by the second.

"Karamatsu-niisan."

The man screamed, jumping on the spot and tripping over his own feet as he tumbled to the ground, his mouth agape and sunglasses askew on his face, eyes darting around to see where that sudden voice came from, only to find a man standing to his right with a brown paper bag over his head and the roughly cut holes where his eyes should be dark and devoid of life.

Hajime stepped out next, taking one good look at Karatsugu on the ground and raising his brow before looking over to the paper bag man. He barely reacted, only giving a slight nod and saying:

"Long time no see, Jyushimatsu."

"Aha! Same here, Ichimatsu-niisan!" Jyushimatsu laughed, rocking back and forth on his heels giddily. Karatsugu, still on the ground, gradually collected himself and cupped his chin with this thumb and forefinger, smirking as if he hadn't just screamed like he had seen a ghost.

"Heh! Jyushimatsu! It has been some time since we last spoke in person!" Unsurprisingly, Karatsugu went ignored as the other headed towards a car that was parked a little further down the road, with the engine still running and the lights beaming down onto the gravelled path. Karatsugu only hummed amusedly, standing up and brushing himself off, making sure to readjust his glasses before grabbing his things and following behind them, listening in on their conversation.

"A lot of things have changed around here since you last visited, you know!" Jyushimatsu swung his arms back and forth as he walked, the smile in his voice heard through his words.

"Yeah? Like what?" Hajime readjusted his backpack on his shoulder, throwing a side glance towards Jyushimatsu. The paper bag man only giggled, his head now swaying side to side, as if nodding along to some unheard tune.

"Things!" Was all he said as they reached the car. The trio paused as the driver's door opened, and out clambered a grinning Ozo with a beer can in hand.

"Finally! I thought you guys were never gonna show up!" He complained, though there was no bite behind his words. Hajime shook his head as he watched Ozo take a large swig from his can.

"You couldn't wait until we got to that otaku's house to start drinking? I don't want to die because of your shitty driving..." he shuffled over to the car, opening the trunk and pushing his suitcase in there as Jyushimatsu sat in the back seats.

"I'm not a lightweight! I can handle more than one can, y'know!" Ozo sat back down in his seat, and Karatsugu also went over to place his suitcase in the trunk before closing it. Hajime sat in the back with Jyushimatsu, leaving the passenger seat up front available. Once they were all settled in the car, Ozo manoeuvred the car out of its parked position and back onto the road.

"Let's chuck your stuff at that guy's place, and then we can go drinking!" Ozo cheered, Jyushimatsu matching his excitement. Karatsugu couldn't help but laugh, and even Hajime couldn't control the small smirk that crept its way onto his face, which he quickly hid behind his backpack.

It was nice to be back.

»»-----　♔　-----««

You sighed softly as you wiped down the bar top with the slightly damp cloth in your palm. Glancing at the small clock on the wall behind you, you took note of how it had been just over an hour since your shift at Bang Bang Chicken Bar had started and, as per usual, barely anyone had entered the bar. There was that one regular customer who had already came and went — a man with very large front teeth who asked for the same drink every other night, attempted to flirt with you, then would leave with the promise of coming back as a rich French man... whatever that means.

Another sigh escaped you. It was now just past nine o'clock, and you had a strong feeling that the hours were going to slip by a lot slower than you would like. That, and coupled with the fact that you would be the only one working at the bar at this hour (aside from your boss, who would be cooped up in his office until early hours of the morning), you knew it would be yet another boring night ahead.

Well, maybe not entirely boring.

The sound of drums suddenly filled the silence in the bar, which was soon followed by the sound of heavy strums of electric guitars and keyboards. A woman's voice began belting lyrics into the microphone. You watched the band, Killer Fish, perform on the raised platform in the centre of the room, the seven women on stage lost in their own world of death metal music as their heads nodded along violently to the beat.

When you had first started working at Bang Bang Chicken Bar — an obscure bar at the end of a long, winding and empty road on the outskirts of Akatsuka Village — you did not expect the seven quiet and well-dressed women on the stage to start singing death metal. It scared you half to death the first time you heard the screech of guitar strings echoing through the desolate bar. Even the lead singer, Totoko, dressed in a formal Japanese yukata with her hair styled up in an old-fashioned bun, her face stoic and serious, shocked you with her booming voice and scratchy vocals of a true death metal singer.

It was all so unexpected, and the tremors of the music had left you slightly shaky once the first performance was over. Now, though, you had become used to the music, and although it wasn't your preferred choice of music, you began to enjoy the performances. It made the whole bar feel so much more alive.

By the time you snapped out of your thoughts, the performance was over and the group was setting themselves up for another song. You, with nothing better to do, decided you would turn to the shelves stacked with all kinds of alcoholic drinks behind you and sort through them again, making sure they were presented with their labels faced towards the patrons and that they were organised neatly, despite the fact that you had already done this. Three times.

Whilst you mindlessly traced your fingers along the glass bottles, the music started up again, drowning out the sound of the door to the bar opening.

In walked six men, each dressed in black suits, and each of them boisterous and excited to begin their night of drinking. They awed at the group on stage for a moment before one of them took charge and pushed them over to an empty table in the middle of the room. They took their seats and began conversing with each other, laughing at some joke someone made or at another's crazy antics.

Eventually, two of them stood up from their seats, one seemingly more casual with his hands tucked into his pockets whilst the other, donning a black yukata, seemed more uptight with an annoyed frown pressed onto his upturned lips. The two began making their way over to the bar, where you were stood with your back still turned, oblivious of what was happening behind you until your ears picked up the sound of two men conversing.

You tilted your head slightly, squinting your eyes as if it would help with figuring out whether you were hearing things or not, but as the voices grew closer, your eyes widened as you realised no, this wasn't your imagination, and there were actually other customers in the bar.

Turning on your heel, you physically felt your brain fizzle and pop like an old lightbulb at the sight of the two men coming closer towards you, their faces still fresh in your mind from the first time you had encountered them on separate occasions.

"Come on, Chorosuke! You're loaded! A couple of drinks with your money won't hurt anyone!" It was that taxi driver from the other day who was talking, that same sleazy grin displayed proudly on his face as he poked fun at the man next time him; that man from the store who had given you that watermelon, which actually was sweet.

"You and I both know you won't be having 'a couple of drinks!' And you have your own money! Pay for yourself!" He shouted over the music, his eyes narrowing in frustration as he knew all too well that he would inevitably be paying for the drinks. You could only stand in silence as they grew closer and closer, neither of them truly paying attention to your presence as they continued to bicker back and forth until they were stood right in front of you.

Ozo turned to you first, his mouth opening to make his request until his half-lidded eyes locked onto your face. He frowned for a split-second before his eyes widened, the smirk on his lips stretching into an excited grin as he instantly recognised you. Chorosuke, confused by his brother's odd reaction, turned to you as well, only for his expression to fall into a look of horror, his pale cheeks flushing a bright crimson.

"It's you!" They exclaimed together, their tones completely opposite to one another. Pausing, they whipped their heads to look at each other confusedly. "Wait, what?" they questioned in unison.

"How do you know her?" Chorosuke quickly demanded, his eyes flitting between your nervous form and the man beside him.

"I told you, I met a pretty girl yesterday!" Ozo reminded him, "And what about you?"

"I-I, well... We bumped into each other at the market the other day..." Chorosuke's voice trailed off, secretly hoping you would remember him so that he wouldn't be humiliated in front of the one man who wouldn't let something like this go. Lucky for him, you did remember. You remembered that interaction all too well.

"Really?! Wow! Small world, right?" Ozo turned to you, leaning against the bar top with one arm as he gave you a quick once over, a flirtatious look in his eyes that only served to make you shrink into yourself. "Do you remember me? I dropped you off yesterday! Man, if I knew you worked here, I would come by more often!"

They seemed to be waiting for some kind of reaction from you, so you took a minute step back from the countertop and chuckled nervously, an odd smile on your face that probably didn't look like a smile at all.

"Aha... Yeah! Hi... again..."

This was going to be a long, long night.