CHAINSAW MAN, oneshots

ESCAPISM - Kobeni Higashiyama/Male Reader

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In the midst of a lively park and bustling street, Kobeni found solace in the enduring glow of the streetlights. As the noises faded into the background, her focus shifted to the person by her side—you, who walked briskly beside her. Your face attracted the light and a sparkle twinkled in your eye, she noticed, as she stared.

After a fun night of drinking with the rest of the division, Kobeni reveled in the joy of dining out. Eating out was one of her greatest pleasures. Once the night came to an end, you kindly offered to chaperone her on the walk to the train station. Though the walk felt more like roaming.

Despite your aimless wandering, a glimmer of hollow light constantly followed you, devouring you. No matter how far you both went, there was always that persistent glimmer. You had a radiant glow for as long as she could remember. Kobeni's memories were all in a monochromatic filter, melancholic and lagging. Despite the darkness of her life, she met you, her bright light at the end of the tunnel. You shone with vivid color in every memory you shared. She was at a loss for words in the face of your enlightening presence.

Luckily, you broke the silence with ease. "How has work been?" you inquired, curiosity lacing your voice. "I heard your division was assigned to eliminate some devil at some hotel. Which one was it?"

Kobeni's gaze dropped, her hands clasping together in a display of unease. "It was the Eternity devil," she admitted, her tone tinged with remorse.

You nodded, sensing the weight of her words. "Did everything go smoothly?" you asked cautiously.

A shadow of shame passed over Kobeni's face as she took a deep breath. "No, it didn't... I... I made a terrible mistake," she stammered, struggling to find the right words. "I panicked...and tried to stab out the heart of one of my coworkers, it was Denji. But instead, I...stabbed one of my superiors, it was Hayakawa."

You struggled to conceal your amazement, the marvel evident in your voice. "Woah! That's quite out of character for you, Kobeni," you remarked, though deep down, you knew that her impulsive tendencies were not entirely foreign to you. Kobeni had always possessed a combination of timidity and recklessness, traits that had persisted since childhood. The life of a devil hunter seemed ill-suited for her, you knew that, and witnessing her current state pained you deeply.

Kobeni frowned. "Yeah...I really need to apologize." She continued, strolling unhurriedly beside you. "How about...your work?" she asked, her voice trembling like a flickering flame, trying to sustain the conversation.

Resting your chin in your hand, you responded. "Miss Makima had requested for me to accompany her on a trip to Kyoto tomorrow, but with all honesty, I don't anticipate anything eventful happening."

"Oh, well, I'll be patrolling with Galgali tomorrow," Kobeni shared.

You let out a sigh, disapproving of Kobeni working alongside a fiend of all things. "The violence fiend, huh? I wish I didn't have to leave you with it."

Kobeni wanted to defend the fiend, tell you how he wasn't all that bad, but she bit her tongue, opting to remain hushed. "It's alright, really. I wouldn't want to be a bother--"

You interrupted her, your voice filled with affection. "It's cute how apologetic you are, but Kobeni, know that you could never bother me."

A fiery blush crept onto Kobeni's cheeks as she softly replied, "I'm sorry."

Suppressing the urge to laugh at her response, you decided against teasing her about her apologetic nature. Instead, you simply smiled down at her, letting the conversation naturally come to a close. Sometimes, silence and a knowing smile spoke louder than words, you thought.