Ohisashiburi VI (Makoto Tachibana x Reader)

Feeling the familiar tickling sensation deep inside your nostrils, you narrowed your teary eyes and braced yourself for the inevitable.

”Ahh – aaah  -  ACHOO!”

You groaned, and immediately grabbed a tissue to wipe your running nose.  ’Being done with everything’ would have been an understatement how you felt right now. You were beyond that.  Out of all the times you could have caught a cold, it must have been now.  

But you shouldn’t be surprised now, should you? After all the crap you went through in less than one month, something like this was bound to happen.  Just another little rock thrown on to the pile of rocks that you had to carry on your back.  No big deal, you could handle it.  

You loudly sniffed, and tucked the tissue away in one of your pockets.

But the fact that you would survive it, did not lessen the fact how utterly annoying it was to be plagued by it. With a dizzy head, a sore throat and a stuffy nose – who would want to do anything in a condition like this?

But alas, you couldn’t stay home and sleep off your cold.  You had work to do, an apartment to keep, and a deal to fulfill.  You couldn’t just back off, and stay home.

And anyway.  Even if you wanted to stay home and bury yourself in a blanket – cocoon while drinking some hot beverage, your apartment was crappy enough not to give you this privilege. Still no heating and still no properly closed windows. This alone should have been enough to give you a cold, but then the whole pool incident last week was just another push in to this ever so annoying illness.  

Not to mention that the weather wasn’t helping you either. If anything, it only made everything worse.

Never before have you wanted spring to arrive this fast.

Still, despite what happened, you just couldn’t get mad at the two girls that unawarely drove you to the state you were in right now.  Sure, you were a bit annoyed  how things turned out, but you did not hate them. No, that would be too harsh. Rather, you were more confused than anything.

They claimed not to see you two, and at that time you didn’t really think anything about it, but somehow now that sounded a bit fishy. After training, Makoto and you were standing just at the edge of the pool. In your opinion, you two were pretty much visible from every angle in that hall,  especially from the entrance, where the girls had their after – training exercises.

Was it really possible that they didn’t see you two, and accidentally bumped in to you? But with that much force? Really? What pray tell must one do to oversee two adults standing at the edge of a pool...?

But more peculiar was Makoto’s reaction to all of this. He seemed more worked up over this, than you. You figured he was probably embarrassed by his pupils, but another feeling in you insisted that there may be something more to it. That he may know something he wasn’t to keen on sharing with you.

You just didn’t know if it was related to the girls or you.

Maybe this whole thing happened out of simple child cruelty. It’s well known, that kids can be just as rude as sweet. And maybe he was embarrassed because of that. Maybe he knew that Maiko and Hana were little rascals and now he blames himself for all that’s happened.

That would explain his apology in the locker room...

You sighed, and looked ahead.  There wasn’t a day when you didn’t remember what exactly had happened in that locker room. And everytime, you found yourself wistfully sighing at the memory and dazing off. It was sudden but not even unwelcome, as you already realized that there.

It felt actually really good, and when you think about how he was the one who initiated it... And with how much care and diligence he kissed you...

You felt your cheeks get their color.

His breath on you neck, his hands on your waist, his lips brushing against yours...  You swore you could still feel everything. After all, you spent almost every night in your bed closing your eyes, and trying to mentally reenact everything that happened, in fear that you would forget about how good it felt.

Maybe even more...  How he would have continued if he didn’t abruptly stop all of a sudden...

But it was a strange thing, really.  You never looked at Makoto like this, but you couldn’t deny the fact, that you did not like that kind of attention from him.

Or the things he sometimes told you, from reassurances to compliments. Or when he held you close to him, whenever you two were out on a stroll. His heart – warming hugs, his lingering touches on your shoulder, his...  – his everything!

You liked everything about him.  ...And such, with burning cheeks, you finally admitted to yourself that you were actually attracted to Makoto.  In more ways than one. This thought plagued you for days now and you couldn’t stop thinking about him. It’s not like it was so impossible to fall for him (on the contrary) – it’s just that you never really thought about falling for him.

You had more important things to worry about right now, and anyway;  the thought of you two being together together never really crossed your mind.
Yes, he was nice and all – around attractive, but the mere notion that you could be with someone like him just seemed so surreal. Someone like him would deserve someone as equally as perfect as him, right? Not someone like... well, you.

Still. The slight possibility that he may like you back was enough to make your heart skip a few beats.

You couldn’t really decipher this by only analyzing his attitude towards you. After all, he wasn’t only nice to you, he was nice to everyone! There is also the fact that you were still fresh friends with him. But you doubted that he would have acted towards you any different if you two would be much closer.

Thinking back, you distinctively remember that his group of friends and family meant everything to him, and you never saw them getting special treatments. ...But then again, it’s not like you saw him very often back then.

And even so, there is still the fact that he kissed you. You doubted that he kisses everyone just because they are dear to him. Not to mention that what you guys did was near turning out to be a make – out.

Even if it was just a spur of the moment kiss, he most certainly didn't do it because he wasn’t even just a little bit attracted to you. ...Right?  He wasn’t intoxicated or anything. So what else would be rational enough to explain his actions?

He must like you, even just a tiny bit. This again managed to tickle you pink.

However, a ring from your pocket managed to snap you out of your reverie.  Reaching for your phone, you glanced at the display and felt nervous the minute you saw who was calling you.

”Well, speak of the devil...,” you muttered in an amused tone underneath your breath.

It was Makoto.

You hesitated.  Since that kiss, you two didn’t speak with each other; only held contact via text messages.  Before that night he always used to call you here and there, so you did found it a bit strange that he neglected this lately, but in the same time you were thankful, because you didn’t know how you would have managed to talk to him after what’s happened. You figured it would have been all awkward silences and such.

Just like how it was after he walked you home on that memorable night.

Maybe he was just as nervous as you about all this? Who knows, he may have already regretted what he did. He sure as hell did not mention anything about the kiss in his messages. As if it never happened.

And you didn’t know if you should feel disappointed or relieved about this.
But before your thoughts would have carried you off – track, you pressed the green button.

”H – hello?”

Shoot! Your voice sounded weak and hoarse, and it even cracked at the beginning. You prayed he did not hear it.

”(Name)? Is that you...? Your voice sounds a bit strange...”

Of course he’d notice.  You cleared your throat, in a weak attempt to make your voice sound clearer.

”Yes, yes it’s me – I just – err  ...Did not talk for a long time and my voice got a bit rusty. Yeah, yeah – that’s it!” you explained to him, nervously laughing at the end of your sentence.  

A short silence followed, before –

”(Name).  You don’t have a cold, do you?”

Well, crap.  Chatting with him through text messages helped you keep this a secret from him. You feverishly thought about something to come up with, but nothing came.

Namely, because you couldn’t lie to him with the voice that betrayed you in the first place.

”(Name)?”

You sighed.

”Ahhh, well – yes. Yes, I got a bit of a cold,” you drawled out slowly. ”But you don’t have to worry about me! Honest! It’s nothing too severe, and It’ll pass sooner than you’d think,” you added almost instantly. But it wasn’t really convincing, because of your ill – ridden vocal chords.

You patiently waited for his reply, while an old motorbike leisurely passed you on the streets, loudly huffing and puffing. You winced slightly.

”(Name)? Where are you?” Makoto asked, worry clearly evident in his voice.

Once the oldtimer fully vanished behind blocks of houses, you answered him.

”I’m in town right now, I needed to buy some groceries and such. Why?”

You heard him heave a big sigh at the other end of the line, and you cocked an eyebrow at this.

”What? What is it?” you asked him, clearly confused.

”(Name). It’s freezing cold out there and you are sick! You shouldn’t be out there at all in the first place. Why didn’t you tell me that you were ill? I could have gone and bought you food.”

You didn’t needed long to answer this one. ”Because you’re a worrywart,” you stated boldly.

”E – eh?”

”Well, it’s true!”

You heard him sigh one more time. ”It’s not like I don’t have my reasons not to worry about you! Honestly, you are so reckless, (Name),” he whined back. You quietly giggled.

”Makoto, I’ll be fine. Don’t worry!”

”That’s what you always say, (Name), even when you are not, so I can’t really rely on that. I need to see it for myself if you are really all right.”

That shut you up.  Was it just you or was he grinning? With mouth agape, you tried to think if he perhaps was trying to imply something with this.  But you did not have to wait long for an explanation.

”So. ...Are you free now?”

You stuttered. ”Uh, y – yes, I am ...I guess...”

”Perfect. Then I’ll be at your place in half an hour or so. I’ll even bring a special kind of tea with me, that’s notorious for nursing people back to health. I’m sure it’ll help you too. Well, until then (Name)!”

And he hung up.

”How – what?”  You could only blink at your phone, utterly gobsmacked.

One wouldn’t think, but Makoto could be quite sneaky.




xxx




After the call, you picked up your space, determined to get home as early as you could.

You guessed it would have been useless to hide all the tissues and medicine from your kitchen counter, since he already found out about your cold, but that did not gave you the excuse to leave everything in a mess.

But running in knee – high snow while being sick was anything but easy, so you decided to just walk a bit faster instead. But at last, you reached your apartment.

Huffing and coughing, you searched for your keys; rummaging in your coat pocket for the metallic object. Fingertips meeting it’s cold surface, you grabbed it and reached it to your front door’s keyhole...


...and almost dropped it.


Your heart begun to race in panic, as you stared at the little gap between your door and it’s frame. Not believing your eyes, you could only stare at it, with lips parting in horror. For it wasn’t locked.  It was crack open!
 
Your hand got stuck in mid – air still holding your key as you feverishly tried to think if you were the one who left your door unlocked. Was it possible that you were so sick, so out of it, that you forgot something so important as locking your own door? Staring at it with disbelief, you felt dread pool in your chest.

  ...No, that couldn’t be. You may be a dreamer and you may be sick, but you wouldn’t forget something like this. This neighborhood wasn’t notorious for it’s high crime rate, but it was always better to be safe.

Or maybe you didn’t lock it right? You hoped that your door didn’t go awry. That was the last thing you needed right now.

Sighing, you were just about to grab it’s handle when you heard a noise coming from the other end of your door. It wasn’t loud at all, but you would not have catched it if you didn’t stand still before your apartment.

Your blood froze. It sounded like ...steps?  ’Dear Lord. Someone is in my apartment!’ you thought, feeling your heart pound painfully.

The worst thoughts started to flash in your mind, and you didn’t know what to do. Why would anyone brake in your apartment? You weren’t really rich, so what would they even want to steal from you?

Or was it your landlord? But what would he do in there? It’s against the law to enter the tenant’s apartment. This offends your right to privacy. This is common law, so you’re sure that he knows about this. ...Then again, he claimed that he ’didn’t get’ your money two weeks ago, when you clearly payed for your rent, so you wouldn’t be surprised if he did something else corrupt.

So was he searching for some money now? It’s true that he gave you one week  to pay for last month’s rent that you supposedly failed to do two weeks ago, but that did not give him the right to rummage in your apartment!

Anger and irritation replaced fear, and you forcefully grabbed your handle.

’That waste of mother’s love!’

You aggressively opened your door, and stepped inside. Brows drawn in anger, you quickly swept your eyes over the place, once, twice, thrice –

”Well, about time too (Name),” drawled a familiar, cocky voice.

Your eyes widened in terror. That voice was...!

Frozen to the spot, you slowly turned your head to the side and glanced over your shoulder with bathed breath; wishing and hoping with all of your heart that you wrongly identified the voice you just heard.

But it all crumbled apart when your eyes met cold, dark ones, accompanied by a knowing, arrogant smirk.

Suddenly feeling very scared, you could only stare at him. ”Katsuo...,” you whispered in disbelief.

And sure enough, there he was – leaning against your wall, with arms crossed over his chest, regarding you with cold amusement. You turned around, fully facing him.

”And just what the hell are you doing in my apartment?” you asked him, not being able to cover your irritation even though you were terrified. As usually, he wasn’t fazed by your tone, only shrugged nonchalantly, while his smirk grew a crack wider.

”Oh, you know. Making sure you fully feel my retaliation for the last couple of times. You know what I’m talking about.”

”Ah, yes. You mean me refusing to go to the dinner with you at your place? Of course. A perfect reason to break in to my apartment.”

He only snickered at this, endeared about your cynical reply. Shaking his head, he stepped away from the wall and slowly made his way in front of you, while you stepped back a few times.

”Whatever, (Name). I’m not just here to listen to your snarky replies.”

You felt a light layer of sweat breaking out on your skin, and grabbed the handle of your bag a bit tighter; determined to hit him with it if he so much as touched you.

”Yeah? Then what the hell do you want?”

Katsuo stopped a good few steps in front of you, and boldly replied. ”Your money.”

You thought you heard him wrong.  ”...What?” you asked him incredulously.

”You heard me right. I want your money.”

You had the urge to laugh. ”Are you kidding me right now? Do I look to you like a millionaire?!” you told him, not being able to hide a malign smirk that indicated how crazy you though him to be.

Katsuo only stared at you bored. ”No.  You always looked like a poor runt, to be honest,” he told you coolly, while briefly letting his eyes roam around the run- down entrance room, as if to prove his statement.

Your face immediately transformed in to an annoyed one, feeling your brow twitch in anger.

”How dare you - ”

”I just do. But getting back to our conversation, that’s not the money I was talking about. If memory serves me right, you volunteered to work over hours in exchange for a little pay – rise. And If I’m correct, your landlord gave you one week to get the money for rent. ...A week, which is already coming to an end.”

You only blinked, not liking where he was going with all of this.

”...How do you know about the latter...?” you asked him, narrowing your eyes at him. You knew he learned about the first one through eavesdropping on your conversation with your boss. But for the latter? That’s something only you, your landlord and Makoto knew about.

Katsuo looked anything but ashamed, and only raised his head a bit higher. ”You’d be surprised just in what kind of informations I’m in ownership, (Name).”

You involuntarily shivered. This dude was a complete nut job. A manipulative, power – hungry and dominant nut job.

But that still didn’t explain why he wanted the money you saved for your rent. Trying to act brave, you provocatively asked back.

”Yeah, so what of it? Why do you want it? It’s not like you are in a dire need of monetary help,” you finished while glancing down at his expensive, polished shoes.

He again snickered, not taking his eyes off of you. ”I don’t need the money for myself, (Name). I just simply don’t want you to have any.”

Growing more confused and angry at the same time, you snapped. ”For the love of God! Just quit beating around the bush and tell me why you want the money I earned!”

”Did you still not figure it out?” Katsuo asked arrogantly. ”Strange. You usually pick up the hints quite fast.” He nonchalantly glanced down at the sleeves of his dress shirt, and started to examine the neatly attached cuff links on it.  

”It’s simple. I don’t want you to have it beacuse then you wouldn’t be able to pay for your rent. And if you don’t pay for your rent, you’d be forced to leave your apartment. And then end on the streets. I know you, (Name). You are too stubborn to move in back to your parents or even to someone else. It’ll be quite the fun to see your resolve brake, because trust me; it will. And then,”

he couldn’t suppress his smirk. ” – you’ll most probably crawl back to me, and apologize for everything.”
You could only stare at him incredulously, while he quietly chuckled to himself, most probably giving himself a pat on the shoulder for being such a theatrical ”mastermind”.

Though the silence that followed was short lived for you let out a rahter loud snort. ...And then started quietly chuckling, slightly crouching and with shoulders shaking, desperately trying to hold it back.

Katsuo’s smirk graudally vanished. ”...What’s so funny?” he asked you coldly.

You quickly held up one finger, still chuckling and snickering to yourself, indicating that he should wait a bit ’til you’re finished with your little moment. He only gritted his teeth and continued watching you, his irritation growing with each passing second.

” Ahahahah – Aaah – hahah! Oh – oh, oh god...!” you wheezed out, grabbing on to your stomach. Though, after a minute or so, your chuckles slowly died down and you calmed down a bit. Taking one more deep breath, you slowly straightened yourself and looked at him, with good humor still plastered all over your face.  

”I don’t know if anyone has ever told you this, Katsuo, but you are bat shit insane.”

It was refreshing how easily this rolled off of your tongue.

Not for Katsuo, however.  He looked at you completely flabbergasted, as if you just grew out one more body part from somewhere. Mouth agape, he wordlessly stared at you, trying to snap back with something, but he couldn’t think of anything coherent.  He even forgot to get angry at your sentence.

Narrowing his eyes, he asked. ”What are you talking about...?”

You sneered at him, showing him how ridiculous you thought him to be.

”You are completely right; I am a bit stubborn. But don’t think that I am left all alone in this world, without any kind of support. Don’t think for even a moment that I am completely under your mercy!”

He frustratedly pressed his lips together, creating a perfect horizontal line with his mouth. It was suffice to say that he didn’t like your tone at all.

But what he absolutely hated right now was this whole situation. This played out completely different in his head! You were supposed to beg or plead of him not to rob you. You were supposed to cry and crawl to him, and continuously apologize for giving him such a huge hit to his ego. For offending him, rejecting him, for humiliating him!

Not to stand there proudly, giving him a fierce glare.

”Listen here, Katsuo,” you started, strangely calm and composed. ”I am no longer the wayward worker you came to learn when I started at that company. I learned a good few things. Some things I wish I knew earlier... But I am no longer ashamed about asking for help; for accepting help!”

The ever so familiar feeling of nervousness started to reappear in him, which left him feeling more frustrated. It should be him making you nervous, not the other way around!

Still, he wasn’t about to back down. He wanted to hear the end of this. Trying to compose himself, he straightened himself a bit more and threateningly drawled.

”Is that so...? Then care to enlighten me to who you would go if you happened to lose this sorry excuse of an apartment?”

”I would know someone,”  added a new,  but not unfamiliar voice.

Katsuo flinched, and immediately spun around with a horrified expression. Your eyes  also widened when you saw who entered your apartment.

”Y – you...!” Katsuo breathed, not believing his eyes.

Makoto stepped in a bit closer, his eyes hardening with each passing second. ”What are you doing in (Name) – san’s apartment?” he asked Katsuo, with the most hostile tone you have ever heard him speak.

Katsuo only gritted his teeth. ”I don’t think that’s any of your business!”

”It is my business! This person you are harassing is a very close friend of mine, and I won’t tolerate this anymore. Don’t make me call the police,” Makoto replied coldly and your mouth fell open. It was just like one week ago, when he came just in time to save you.  It was so hard for you to adjust to anything other than his gentle smile and it still caught you by surprise when you saw him acting like this.

The tension in your apartment rose to a highly uncomfortable level.

A deafening silence followed, with the two men glaring at each other. Katsuo tried to appear brave, but you did notice him shifting uncomfortably, having already realized that coming here was a bad idea. Now that Makoto arrived, he was trapped, with no way out.

And while you were relieved to know that Makoto was here, you did realize that it didn’t t need much to happen for everything to turn extremely ugly.

So when you saw the two men suddenly approaching each other with clenched fists and gritted teeth, you stepped in.

”Stop!” you shouted, and grabbed on to Makoto’s arm. He instantly stopped and looked at you confused. Katsuo did the same.

Situating your other hand on Makoto’s broad shoulder, you continued.  ”Just stop it. It’s not worth it,” you told to him, while shoting a nasty glare to Katsuo.  ”He came in here because he wanted my money that I saved up for keeping this apartment.  His childish way to practice revenge on me.”

Makoto only looked at you worriedly, but obeyed. ”So, what now?” he asked you while not so subtly pulling your form closer to his.

Your scowl faltered, and you looked up at him, the sheer fatigue evident on your pale cheeks. ”Oh, don’t worry ; I do have a plan. I just thought we could use a more ...effective way of getting back at him,” you murmured, showing him an enigmatic smirk, that caught Makoto quite honestly off guard.

You winked at him, letting him know that everything would be all right, before turning back to the man who was now staring at the two of you, completely dumbfounded and angry at the same time.

”I actually think its quite funny, Katuso,  that you just barged in my apartment and threatened me with all kinds of things, hoping that you’d see me begging for your forgiveness.  Because I think that if anyone should crawl and beg for forgiveness, it should be you,” you told him, and he recognized that familiar mocking tone in your voice, that he absolutely despised. That tone never promised any good.

And he knew that it wouldn’t  promise anything good this time as well.

He thought long and hard about what you just told him, but after a while he just skeptically narrowed his eyes and asked. ”What the hell are you talking about?”
Your smile only grew.

”Your quite the popular figure, isn’t that right?”

Makoto only gave you a side glance, not really sure where you wanted to go with all of this.  Not that Katsuo could follow you any better. After a bit of silence, he replied, albeit with poorly masked hesitation.

”Yeah. ...Why do you ask...?”

He did not like this one bit. But you only continued.

”Well, I just imagined how elated your father would be, if he woke up one day and saw the media covered with all kinds of juicy stories about his own flesh and blood. And let’s not mention how happy our boss would be...”

Katsuo paled. You restrained yourself from laughing, but you did allow your amusement to show. Makoto only watched you, slowly realizing what you had in mind, which made him smile as well.

”I mean, I’m just saying,” you continued with a grin. ”Just imagine all the newspapers and magazines and whatnot, all being about you and your ever so interesting adventures. And we all know how ruthless those tabloid magazines are, right? I am sure they would love to help in and color those stories a bit more...”

He only looked at you with eyes wide. ”You wouldn’t...,” he whispered.

”Oh, I would, all right. Do you know how much money I’d get with selling these stories about you? I’d be able to buy myself two completely intact apartments  - at once.  Especially, that I  have solid proof for everything.”

A tense silence followed. You watched with great satisfaction as Katsuo grew more and more hesitant. One of his legs moved a bit behind him, as if he was contemplating to run away from you two, but given that he had a fair amount of pride to just back away like a cornered animal, he didn’t.

Instead he let out an exasperated sigh, and straightened out his spine, as a last attempt to show that he still possessed a small amount of dignity.

”Solid proof, eh...? What kind of proof are you talking about, anyway?”

He didn’t sound that confident anymore. You playfully pouted.

”Aww, come on.  I know you don’t do much at work, but seriously? Have you never noticed that we have security cameras installed almost everywhere? Just imagine what wonderful moments they captured about you and me... Maybe even more about you...”

Katsuo grew even more confused and grimaced. ”Security cameras...? Nobody even watches what the security cameras record, anyway.  How do you plan to prove anything with those? Everything recorded is probably deleted by now!”

”That is where you are wrong,” you told him with a sickly sweet smile, that made him even more nervous.

”Just because no one watches the recordings, does not mean that they are deleted. They are archived. All it takes is to play back the video tape recorder, which is stored in our boss’s office. And with a video capture card it could be easily converted in to a digital format and stored on a PC. I think that’s enough solid proof.”

Katsuo only snorted. ”Oh, really? And you think our boss will let you in just like that and allow you to rummage through those archived recordings?”

”Perhaps not,” you said nonchalantly and shrugged your shoulders, that made Makoto give you a look of surprise and uncertainty. ”But when did the press ever need solid proof for anything...? Vague and half – true descriptions were always more than enough for them.”
There was absolutely no way out for him anymore.

A bead of sweat rolled down on the side of Katsuo’s face, despite the cold temperature in your apartment. He took a step back and rested one of his hands on the side of his neck, suddenly looking very tired.

That was when he uttered a familiar sentence, which was now drenched in complete hopelessness.

”Well... you got me...”

At this you exchanged a glance with Makoto, before looking back at the man before you. You have never seen Katsuo look anything but confident and satisfied. He always stood tall, had a poise of elegance, and had an air of complete self – reliance. Not even his expensive attire helped him look any better. In fact, he looked older and completely out of place with it.

And as to further propel your surprise, the most unimaginable thing happened. Katsuo s raised both of his hands before him in a defensive fashion. You couldn’t believe your eyes.  
 
”Let’s make a deal, all right?” he quietly uttered, almost whispered to the both of you to which you skeptically furrowed your brows. You had learned not to make a deal with him, since there wasn’t a way that he wouldn’t cheat. But Makoto gently nudged you, before you could open your mouth. He leaned in closer to your ear.

”Let’s just hear what he wants to say. There is no harm in that, right?” he whispered to you, and you considered what he said a few times before you nodded, albeit a bit hesitantly.

Katsuo saw this and quietly cleared his throat, as if it inflicted him great pain to tell you about this deal he came up with. But he got to the point fast.

”I will leave you alone,” he said and you couldn’t help but stare at him with wide eyes. ”Will you really?” you asked him, and he nodded. Genuine relief washed over you and you could tell that the same happened to Makoto, by the way he loudly exhaled behind you.

”But – ” Katsuo continued,  ”in exchange, you will not tell anyone anything about me. About us. What I did to you. You won’t tell anyone about that. ...Deal?”

Katsuo made sure to emphasize and articulate everything he said. A compensation for his suddenly meeker sounding voice and a sign that showed he really meant what he said. You stared back at him, your face void of any emotion. The deal sounded perfect, but you were still afraid that he just tricked you.

You closed your eyes for a few seconds and quietly exhaled.

’But is there any other choice for me right now...? It’s Katsuo who has the shorter stick now, anyway.’

”...All right,” you replied. Katsuo lowered his hands and looked at you expectantly. But you were not finished yet.

”However,” you started with a low, threatening voice. ”If you don’t hold the end of your deal, I will not hesitate and walk to the press. Am I clear, Katsuo?”

”Clear as water,” he nodded seriously. Then he slowly turned around. ”Well, then... Goodbye (Name),” he said before taking his leave...

...Or at least, before he could take his leave.

In the next minute, everyone in the room froze to their places. You watched as Katsuo stepped back a few times from your entrance door, with surprise evident on his face.

”Y – you...?” he whispered in disbelief to someone that was  standing at your entrance door.

Walking a bit closer to it, you saw that it was your landlord.

’What is he doing here...?’ went through your mind the moment you saw his shorter form. Curiosity welled up in you, especially when you saw their reaction to each other.

If Katsuo was shocked to see your landlord, you landlord was practically terrified to see Katsuo.
 
Both of them stared at each other with wide eyes, while you and Makoto were behind and watched with bathed breath as the scene unfolded before you. Your landlord started sweating.

”What...what are you doing here, sir...?” he asked Katsuo, and you swore he was about to faint. Katsuo only looked back at him with mouth agape, before he quietly told him.

”I was... I was just about to leave,” he answered and then continued on his way out.

But he was stopped, yet again.

For in the hallway, just outside your apartment door, stood two police officers.
Katsuo’s blood froze.

”W – what...,” he breathed, completely doumbfounded at the sight of the two policemen. Your landlord instantly started apologizing to him, that you honestly found strange and bizarre.

”I am so utterly sorry sir! I called the police, because the neighbours reported a lot of noise and commotion coming from this room, and I got scarred that something may have happened to Miss (Lastname)! I swear, I didn’t know it was you!”

Katuso only looked down at his feet, and tried to calmly reassure your landlord. ”It’s all right. Things just ...got a bit out of control, but everything is okay right now. Isn’t that right, Miss (Lastname)?”

He looked at you over his shoulder for certainty, to which you gave a small nod. You don’t even remember the last time he regarded you so formally. The two policemen and your landlord looked back and forth between Katsuo and you.

”Is that so...? Well, then. Please don’t make such a ruckus next time, all right?” your landlord stammered, wringing his hands nervously. Katsuo only nodded. ”Of course. This won’t happen again. Of that you can be assured,” and then he stepped outside, before he halted in his steps again.

You watched with raised eyebrow as he briefly stepped back to your landlord and whispered something to him. Something that he thought you couldn’t  hear.

”...And about that deal; it’s over! I’m done with her...”
”...Ah? S – so then what should I do with the money...?”
”...I do not care,  think up something...!”

You had a bad feeling about this.  Narrowing your eyes you stepped up to them and loudly asked – loud enough for the police to hear.

”What deal...? What money?! What is going on here?” you asked them, not backing away. Katsuo immediately turned to you and blanched, while the landlord was on the edge of hyperventilating. He helplessly looked over at Katsuo, who only stared at you with an iron face.

The two policeman’s interest also seemed to get piqued up by this, by the way they stepped closer to the little group that formed in the forefront of your apartment.

A tense silence followed and you felt Makoto follow you, stopping just one step behind you. Loud whispers and hushed talking seeped in from the hallway. Some neighbours came out and watched from a safe distance what was going on, curious about all the noise.

Katsuo hung his head, and humorlessly smiled. ”Tell her. It’s all over for me, anyway,” he told the landlord quietly. The landlord, however, only whimpered before he stepped before you and suddenly bowed his head to your utter surprise.

”(Miss Lastname)! Please accept my deepest and most sincere apology! Do you remember when I claimed that you did not pay your rent for last month? You were right! You did pay your rent! But this man approached me in the early afternoons one day, and told me to act as if you didn’t! I am so sorry! I couldn’t do anything but follow his orders!”

Your landlord remained bowed before you for quite a long time, completely ashamed of himself. The police was now fully intrigued, and remained within earshot, while also keeping the curious neighbours from peeking in through your door.

You in the meanwhile were at loss of words. Makoto was shocked as well.

But there was still something you did not really understand.

”W – what...? But why ...?” you asked, getting frustrated and irritated with each passing second.  At this, your landlord instantly whipped his head up at you, while still remaining in his bowed position.  

”Because, Miss (Lastname)...! He is the original owner of this apartment building!”

You felt the world spin with you.

”T – that’s why I had to follow his orders! He appointed me this apartment building’s landlord when I moved in with my wife a few years ago. Since then he hardly ever visited this building. But then he found out that you were living here for a while now, and ordered me to do this. I really did not have any say in this. I could have contacted the police, but I was so afraid that he’d fire me and kick me out of my flat, along with my wife. I am so sorry, Miss (Lastname)! Please understand...!”

You took in everything your landlord told you. Now everything clicked. Everything made sense.

You had underestimated Katsuo. Everything you had to go through was because of him.

Everything...!

A sudden burst of anger shot through you, and you felt yourself shaking from pure rage.

”You...! Son of a bi - ”

”(Name), don’t!” Makoto cried, while grabbing you at your shoulders, restraining you from hurling yourself at Katsuo, who was only calmly observing his feet. At this, one of the policeman stepped next to Katsuo, and asked.

”Sir, is this all true?”

Katsuo only raised his head. ”Yes. Everything’s true.”

A short silence followed, with the neighbours gasp quietly resonating in the background.

”Sir, I do hope you are aware that this is against the ’Landlord & Tenant Act’?”

Katsuo didn’t hesitate.

”I am fully aware of it.”

At this, the policeman turned back to his partner, who only nodded back at him. The former then grabbed his handcuffs and approached Katsuo.

”Sir, I am afraid I will have to arrest you for violating the right of this tenant’s. You’ll be detained in custody for 72 hours, under which a juridical proceeding will be held. You also have the right to make one call - ”

But you didn’t get to hear it to the end.

You felt your knees going weak, and a sudden wave of fatigue wash over you.  Too many things happened in this past two weeks, and you could only handle so much. All the troubles around your apartment, around Katsuo and now your cold – your system was low on its energy.

You saw the world slowly fade in to black.

”(Name)!”

”Miss (Lastname)...!!”

’I am so tired’



xxx




Among loud gasps and hushed talking, Katsuo was escorted by the two policemen, with head lowly bowed and absolutely no restrain.

The crowd in the hallway obediently parted to make way for the newly arrested, curios to take at least a glance at his face, some even following him out of the building until he stepped inside the police car.

The whole neighbourhood was alive. It wasn’t everyday that something so interesting and exciting happened in this little town.

The landlord tried to calm everyone down, but his old, rusty voice got swallowed by the loud chatter.

”...Wasn’t that the son of that really rich man, that owns that big company or something...?”

”...Yeah, I think it was. What was his name again...? Something with a K...?”

”...I think it was Kaeto or something, right...?”

”...No, no you got it wrong! It was Kaoru or Katashi...!”

It was hopeless. The group was livid as anything before.

Your landlord sighed and gave up to calm down the tenants for now. He closed his eyes and massaged his tired shoulders, while he glanced beside himself. His wrinkles only deepened in worry when his eyes met Makoto’s, who was currently carrying your exhausted form, making sure that you were warm in his arms.

Not hesitating a minute, he instantly went up to him.

”A – ah, excuse me young man. Do you know Miss (Lastname?)”

Makoto’s face was as pale as yours was. But he only nodded back and smiled at the old man.

”Yes, I am her friend.”

The landlord seemed relieved, and managed to crack a nervous smile.

”I am so glad! I never dreamt of this to happen...,” he let the sentence abruptly die on his tongue, to which Makoto raised a confused eyebrow.

That was when the landlord suddenly bowed down to him as well and Makoto swore he even heard his bones crack while doing so.

”Again, I apologize for everything! I feel so guilty for what happened to Miss (Lastname!) I never meant to do this...!”  His voice was overlaid with utter regret.

Makoto didn’t answer immediately, only switched his gaze back to your face, that was currently snuggled in the junction between his shoulders and neck. You were calmly breathing with parted lips, oblivious to everything around you. A few hair strands showed their rebellion by parting away from the rest and hanging in your face.  

The landlord in the meantime glanced up and saw the way Makoto was looking at you. His eyes only widened in surprise, the wrinkles around his eyes deepening even more.

”Oh...! You are...,” he breathed, but caught himself before he finished that sentence. Makoto let his eyes rest on your face once more, before he glanced at the landlord and gave him a knowing look and a smile.

The old man smiled back with sincere happiness. ”I am sure you will make her very happy. You seem like a really nice man.”

Makoto only hummed  absently.  ”Yes... I really hope so... ”

They both grew silent, and the chatter from the background only intensified at this. Some children also decided to come out of their apartments, despite their parents’ warning.

Makoto quietly chuckled as he watched them getting shooed back inside. The landlord too let out a quiet hum and smiled at the scene.

That was when Makoto spoke again.

”Also, ...about everything. ...I’m sure she forgives you.”

The landlord only blinked. ”I really am sorry. I swear I am ready to do everything for my apology to be accepted by her! I could even pay back the money she gave me two weeks ago...! Or even better! I’ll pay her rent for the next month!”

Makoto only shot him an enigmatic smile and the landlord didn’t really know how to react to that.

”That won’t be necessary anymore...,” Makoto started.

The old man only stared back at him incredulously. ”I’m sorry lad, but I don’t quite follow... Why...?”

His smile only grew.  

”Because she won’t be living here anymore. I’m taking her in.”



xxx