MAPS [Tamaki Amajiki x OC]

Chapter 10 - A Number

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They'd only been living together for a month.

In some ways, it felt like it couldn't be a month already, but in others it felt like they'd known each other their whole lives. Their friendship was easy, like breathing.

Tamaki was glad that he picked her, of all people, to be his roommate. Haru was quiet and considerate, tidy and cheerful, plus she made delicious food and liked Animal Crossing. He wasn't sure that he could have asked for a better person to live with. She barely even counted as a person... he didn't get drained from her antics like he did with other people.

And after the incident, they went everywhere together: work, grocery shopping, walks, out with Mirio and Nejire on the weekends... and Tamaki didn't mind. He liked escorting Haru to work and home and knowing that she was safe. He enjoyed going grocery shopping with her, learning her favorite foods and helping her out.

But after two weeks with no sign of the creeper, Fat Gum and the police called off the search and relaxed the guard on Haru. Tamaki didn't have to protect her anymore... but he kind of still wanted to anyway.

The first morning of the change, Haru was supposed to stay home to work instead of going into the agency as she had been, and Tamaki was preparing to leave, despite the anxiety twisting in his stomach. They stood together in the entryway, unsure of what to do. It would be their first time apart in over two weeks.

"So, um," Haru said, crossing her arms over her chest and chewing her lip, "Good luck today. Be safe."

Tamaki nodded. "I will," he answered, hesitating, "You too."

A half-smile pulled her lips, and Haru said, "I will. You have your lunch?"

Tamaki held up his bento box, full of useful and delicious foods, that Haru had whipped up in a fit of insomnia. After an awkward silence, Tamaki turned to leave. His hand caught the doorknob, and he paused as her arms wrapped around his torso.

She said nothing as he cautiously turned and hugged her back, sliding so that they were chest to chest. Haru's hands clammed up, but out of worry or something else she wasn't sure; She just knew she didn't want him to leave. Tamaki was part of her routine, her natural state now. She tugged tighter on his shirt, nervous and unstable, wholly unprepared for this new phase of loneliness.

He noticed Haru's shaky breathing, her tense shoulders, the dark circles under her eyes. Tamaki rested his head against her hair, his arms looped around her shoulders, and let her stay like that as long as she needed, even if it made him a little uncomfortable. He wanted to know what was running through Haru's head, but decided it wasn't the time to ask.

Finally, when she felt a little more steady, Haru released him from her grip, and gave him her strongest smile. "Okay, now be safe."

He chuckled and nodded as he left, leaving Haru alone for the first time in a long time.

🧭

Even with the backlog of assignments from other hero agencies, Haru managed to get through six hours of work before lunch and rewarded herself with a longer than usual break. She tied her hair up into two buns and slipped into a long-sleeved black dress, worried about the weather sliding from fall into winter. Hesitating in front of her closet, she slid on a pair of gray wool tights before zipping on her black boots. Her purse hung on the hook next to the front door, and she snatched it up, pausing in the doorway as she took stock of the apartment, checking off her mental list...

Did she lock all the windows?

Did she turn off the stove?

Did she turn off all of the lights?