Close to You || Chifuyu Matsuno

Chapter 1

You hated being around people. Even when you were a child you had trouble speaking to strangers, and it stayed the same way even when you had grown up. You had trouble making eye contact, and even when you managed to look someone in the eye, you felt like they were judging you, looking down at you, that when they have smiles on their faces it was fake. You hated walking on the street, you felt insecure even when you were walking, so how you were supposed to act in THIS situation?

The assisstant told you that you don't have enough money on your card. How is that possible? You only bought milk, some bread, eggs and a bottle of water.

You nervously started scraping the side of your neck.

"Can you... check again?"

You saw the assistant let out a sigh and you were sure that she thought that you were a loser. But you were angry at her, isn't she supposed to be helpful and friendly? You wished you were more confident so you could tell her to go fuck herself, but you weren't.

She checked your card again, and she told you the result was the same.

Not enough money.

You scrapped your neck more aggressively and you felt how not only the assisstant's but every other person's eyes were on you, who were standing behind you in the line.

Of course. You bought two books the day before. Yes, you were a loser for not remembering that.

Okay, you just pay with cash then.

You were about to pull out the money from your purse, when you realized in absolute horror that there were not enough money in there.

Your eyes widened and you felt as your heartbeat quickened as you were staring at 1$ in your purse. You were sure you had 20$.

Why is this have to happen to you?!

You looked behind you nervously when you heard someone groan in annoyence behind you in the line.

"Jesus, she came shopping without money, congrats..."

You felt as your heart started to race even more in your chest, and suddenly breathing became more difficult. In your last attempt, you reached in the back pocket of your pants and you felt relieved when you found more money there.

You threw it in front of the assisstant, and without waiting for the change, you grabbed the bag of food and stormed out of the shop as quickly as you could. After a few steps you leaned against the wall and put your free hand on your chest, over your heart. It was beating so fast, like you've just run a marathon.

You raised your other hand in front of you, while still holding the bag, and looked at the old, beaten up watch, which was on your wrist. You concentrated on the second watch hand. You tried to time your breathings in rythm with that.

1...2...3 - breath in

4...5...6 - breath out

7...8...9 - breath in

It took you a few minutes, but you managed to slow down your heart and stop the tears which were running down your cheeks freely. You took one last deep breath, straightened up and started walking to the building of your apartment, trying to ignore the stares the strangers were giving you. You entered the building and used the lift to go up to your floor. It gave screeching noises as the doors closed and started to go up. When you stepped out of it, you saw a few big boxes in front of the door, opposite of your flat.

'Did someone move in?' you asked yourself as you passed both doors, and walked to the one beside yours.

You knocked on it, and after a few seconds of waiting, your neighbor opened it.

"Y/N!" Ian, an old man greeted you with his warm smile. "Did you managed to buy everything?"

"Yeah." you said as you walked past him without making eye contact.

"I feel bad for asking you to do the grocery shopping for me." he said as he closed the door and followed you slowly to the kitchen. "But my knees..."

"I know, I know." you cut him off, and stopped dead in your tracks, when you saw a stranger sitting at the kitchen table, a cup of coffee in front of him.

Ian entered the kitchen, his warm, friendly smile still on his face, and he turned to you, pointing at the stranger with slightly shaking hands.

"Y/N, this young man is Chifuyu Matsuno, our new neighbor."

Chifuyu stood up from the table and he nodded his head to you.

"Nice to meet you." he said with a smile.

You looked him up and down quickly then your eyes fixed on the floor again as you nodded your head and you put the bag on the table next to him, and turned to leave.

"Y/N, wait!" Ian said, making you stop in the doorway, and you turned your head sideways, watching his form as he walked to the counter.

You felt Chifuyu's eyes on you, as his look burned the back of your head.

"How much do I owe you?" Ian asked as he opened his purse.

"Nothing, really." you said as you started walking again.

"Y/N!" your old neighbor called your name again and you couldn't help when a frustrated sigh left your lungs.

It wasn't because of him, he was always nice to you, and he was the only friend you had. People your age always asked questions which you didn't like answering, and when you refused they either pushed you, or called you weird for not opening up.

When you met Ian, he asked questions like that too, but when he saw you stiffen up, he quickly changed the subject, and after a while he's constant talking made you warm up to him. Maybe because he was the complete opposite of you. He talked a lot, and you talked little, he was always smiling and was friendly to strangers, while you wore constant frown on your face, and always felt uncomfortable among people.

"I swear this girl is always rushing." Ian joked, and you heard Chifuyu chuckle.

You turned around, while still looking at the floor and you leaned against the doorway with your arms crossed over your chest.

"You see, Chifuyu is just moving in, and he bought this... this... what is it you bought again?"

"A microwave."

"Yes, that, and it's not working and I told him that you're very good with electronic devices, and can fix it for him." Ian said with his ever present smile.

Your body stiffened a little, but you shrugged your shoulders, briefly looking at Ian, then to the floor again.

"I can take a look." you said.

"Excellent!" your old friend said and he gestured with one of his arms towards the door. "Shall we?"