fragile ; oikawa tooru

⎯ 11 ⎯

chikasue ikari,

i sighed as i took one last look in my mirror before leaving the house. i wasn't wearing anything fancy, just jeans and a large coat. i doubt oikawa was expecting me to show up in a yukata anyway so i forced a smile as i approached the porch, allowing a real one to take over my face once i grabbed my new gloves.

don't get me wrong, i was looking forward to the shrine visit with him. i haven't been to one since elementary school and the experience still caused my heart to swell a little with that childhood excitement.

the only thing worrying me was hattori. i know that i decided not to waste another moment on her, however, it was hard to keep her out of my mind during the holidays when i can't keep an eye on her. for all i know, she could be at the same shrine we're visiting.

i inhaled the late-night air, feeling the cold rattle through my body while i approached the steps.

i'm probably overthinking again...'

"chi-chan!~" i heard the enthusiastic call, oikawa's soft voice breaking me from my thoughts.

"stop calling me that," i chuckled gently, earning only a raised eyebrow from oikawa who looked at me well aware that the nickname no longer bothered me.

i dropped my smile and held a straight face. "stop calling me that."

oikawa laughed before he beckoned me to join him and we climbed the stairs to the shrine. looking up, the stars danced above us. there was only an hour or so before new years.

i looked ahead of me to see the nape of oikawa's neck, his chocolate hair falling messily over his ears and neck. he always seemed to be walking in front of me, his expression unreadable.

i thought back to that day again.

i wonder what the full story was, how he actually injured his ankle. i wonder how past me would react if i told her how close i am with the boy now.

i barely gave him a chance back then, huh?

we finally reached the top of the stairs to see the shrine standing tall on the hill, lights scattered all over the area and presenting it with a soft, yellow glow. oikawa waited for me to catch up at the top before he gave me a closed eye smile. i could feel my breath hitch, not expecting that kind of expression. and just like that, my questions and worries about everything temporarily disappeared.

"where do you want to go first?" he asked, his breath creating clouds in the night air.

"mm how about over there, where they're selling hot drinks. i'm freezing."

"ouch, those gloves i gifted you aren't enough to stop your complaining?" we began walking through the small crowd to the stall. "do i have to buy you a scarf and hat too?!"

i went silent and after a second, he looked at me and his face froze, preparing himself to beg for my forgiveness.

"you're taking this gift thing too far," i laughed once i earned the reaction i was hoping for.

"is that a bad thing?"

"stop pretending to be someone you're not!"