Hello everyone!
Before all my useless talks, I'd like to point out that this chapter is a view into RokuBeni's life after living together for a year and not a continuation of the story. I wanted to rewind for you to suffer- I mean, look forward to the reunion *evil laugh*
Ofcourse, they didn't know the trials they'd have to face in the future, but you do! *nudge nudge*
Oh and before I forget, if you haven't ready noticed, I've written another story for this manga which you can probably view if you go to the page or click on my link!
I hope you enjoy this and I'm looking forward to your reviews! I love y'all!
Change
Rokuro eyed his assignment, scratching his head in frustration, unable to conjure up any ideas to get it done. In contrast to Mayura's 'Sports around the world' and Benio's 'Leaders of tomorrow ', his topic was infinitely more difficult and completely obscure.
He spinned around in his rotating chair, attempting to get the gears of his brain to work, which it did not, ofcourse.
But it made him question; apart from them having been promoted a year, what had really changed in Rokuro's life?
And the answer was simple:
Nothing.
Life for him was as chaotic as ever, shuffling school, work and training, being dead tired by the end of the day, sometimes sleeping with an empty stomach and sometimes just stuffing bare minimum food to quieten the rumbling.
There wasn't any major difference in the people he met either, Mayura being a regular visitor to their mansion, 'protecting Benio's chastity' being her reason at which Rokuro had always rolled his eyes.
Seigen dropped by now and then to check on their progress, not that he ever vocalized his intentions. His 'I don't give a shit' attitude aside, Seigen was a very caring man, more so in Rokuro's case, being the one who had found him and raised him since he was a child.
They went by to the Seika dorm every other day, meeting Ryogo, Atsushi and Shinnosuke, who would either be lazing by the diner, or- in the event that Seigen was visiting- working their asses off.
And Jisamma as per usual sat sipping his coffee, entertaining the ever annoying Baaya, who would chase the boy with a laddle every time he left Benio alone.
As for Rokuro's life at home...well, that was another story altogether. It hadn't changed one bit in the past year; food included, much to the his chagrin.
And every time he snacked on junk, she would admonish him.
"You'll turn into a pig."
Every man has his pride and she tended to hurt it more often than not and he didn't like it one bit, especially since it came from someone he was trying so hard to impress.
Benio was quite hard to please, any progress in training being just 'decent' to her and there was always something better to achieve. He had to admit though, she was half the reason he had worked so hard, but a 'well done' once in a while wouldn't hurt either.
Living with Benio was a disaster, her being extremely messy and queen-like, unable to do half the things every person her age could, but their patterned life had dealt with that too, given the daily and weekly duties they shared, assigned based on a time table they had chalked out.
In all their time together, the duo lived a settled and routined life, much like an old married couple as Ryogo loved to point out every single time.
So exactly what did this assignment demand ?
"Rokuro!" The boy snapped out of his thoughts as the soft feminine voice of his partner called him from below the steps, her footfalls making the floorboard creak.
"It's time for dinner!"
While the girl's attempts at cooking were respectable, they often ended in disaster. It's the thought that counts, Rokuro had told himself, but his body said otherwise.
The crimson eyed teenager sighed, putting down the pen he had been impatiently twirling in between his fingers on the blank page. It was her turn to make food that day to his horror and he braced himself for yet another sleep full of 'drowning in curry' nightmares.
What met his eyes however was a pleasant surprise, catching him completely off guard.
His mouth watered in response to the fragrance of the food that now circulated in the giant living room.
In front of him, on their oversized dining table that was apparently meant for two, were a variety of ingredients on individual trays, kept in succession, leading to flipped pairs of buns on the last of them, fried meat patties on the one preceding it.
Hamburgers.
"Wh-when I asked Nagitsuji-san what your favorite dish is," Benio stuttered, evidently scared to hear the boy's reaction. The colour of her face transformed from her usual wheatish complexion to a bright red, putting even the sky at dawn to shame.
"He said it was a hamburger."
Even after he had mocked her cooking skills time and time again, she never backed down, proving just how stubborn she was.
Smiling, Rokuro seated himself, pulling another chair beside his, motioning her to do the same.
As they ate in silence, an occasional 'this is delicious!' coming from the amazed boy, Benio hid her burnt hands from his view.
He didn't need to see, she thought to herself.
His smile was medicine enough.
'Happy One Year of living together ' the raven haired beauty whispered to herself, ignoring the fact that he didn't remember.
He had the memory of a goldfish, after all.
Rokuro never actually got down to finishing the assignment that night, the book that would be lying open on his desk till the day of submission blank, but he definitely learned something of much more value in his life.
It had always been the small things that had mattered, the little things they did for each other, from occasionally passing on tasks, to their brilliant teamwork while on a mission.
They had no need to rush, he thought, cleaning up the mess she had made of the kitchen in her efforts to cook another mindblowing meal for him.
Baby steps suited them just fine.
After all, with her by his side, he had a lifetime to live the change.
Done! I just wanted to keep it short and simple and I hope it served the purpose!
Thank you so much for reading and I'm looking forward to your reviews. I love y'all