I didn't think I'd update today? XD Much less at 4am? Am I okay?

The answer is no.

Ugh, I haven't been sleeping well latley. Or drawing well. Or writing much. Until tonight, I guess. Literally I just sat down to TRY to write a little and wound up with a new chapter haha XD It might be a lil short, sorry, but we're at an interesting part so anoter (hopefully longer) update shouldn't be too far off? Shit, hope I didn't just Jinx that...

As always- the playlist!

playlist?list=PLu19NGJeb1JeQhvwSyBcLaBkmtk93U8lB

Songs are:

Fake you out- Twenty One Pilots! Yes, everything about this song is so Izaya? Well, most things.

COPYCAT- Billie Eillish. I LOVE THIS. It's so perfect with what happens at the end! Please, please, please, when you're getting semi close to the end, play this song. You won't regret it!

If you're wondering why I changed the chapter names, well, honestly legit for real... I was just running out of stuff. After sweet, bitter, pleasant, sour, sticky, hot, savory, and then the two special chapters, well, I just needed a change of pace.

So, we'll call this the second half, and start a new theme~~

It's been bugging her.

"I-I mean, yeah, she's cute but, well, she's just so... temperamental."

Project Medium. That blonde woman had been talking about that on the streets, right? And she'd mentioned a man had stolen it-whatever it was- too. What was that man's name again?

"Well she smiled at me once, though. At least, I think she did. The sun was in my eyes, so I couldn't really see that well. Maybe she was glaring-"

Imari Uchihara? No, that was wrong.

Unapi Okiyaha? No, no!
Izuhayza Yukihahaha?

...maybe.

No, no no. What a ridiculous name!

"And well, you know, being so strong, you know exactly who she must have been related to…"

Maybe it was- wait, what was that?

"Pardon?" She looks up, concentrating on the boy before her. He blinks, pausing in the middle of whatever stupid thing he had been saying.

He's a painfully average boy, with messy brown hair and eyes about the same shade. A background character if you've ever met one, content to wander through life with a dim smile and dimmer eyes. Like a stupid little mouse, content with nothing in it's head but styrofoam peanuts and bubble wrap. Essentially, empty.

"Ah… I said it's obvious who she must have been related to," Yoshi, the boy, repeats quietly. They're in the storage room Kanra likes to consider her office, and she's been trying to talk Shizuka up to an easy target. He's reluctant, however, and she doesn't blame him.

She considers who he could possibly be referring to, but nothing comes to mind. "And just who would that be?" She smiles, easy and playful, enjoying the faint blush across his face. Could he be referring to that cranky old movie star, Yuuhei Hanejima? They looked nothing alike! And it's not like anyone knew that they were… acquainted.

Still, she needed to know who this man was; It felt important.

"Ahh..." the boy pauses, looking around the little room carefully before leaning in close, shoving himself over her (stolen) desk to do so. "Um, y'know. Heiwajima Shizuo," He stage whispers, fidgeting as he plops back in his seat, tense like he's expecting something awful to appear out of the shadows.

...Who?

"Ahh, and that would be?" Similar first names aside, this man doesn't sound at all special, and therefore nothing like her dear monster. Yoshi looks surprised again, which is more annoying this time.

"Um… well." He squirms in his chair, nervously. "I… I should probably get back to class," he says in a rush, standing up with a quick and jerky bow.

Hmm… Looks like he might need some convincing.

"Oh, do a wait a moment," she requests, gesting at the chair.

He twitches, body jerking anxiously, before retaking his seat. "O-okay then…"

The light from her (stolen) lamp casts shadows on his face, illuminating that nervous expression she's rather fond of. Aah, what a painfully simple little human before her. Isn't she a lucky god, to have such fun toys to play with!

Smiling slow and devious, she tilts her head in his direction."Yuki-kun...let's make a deal."

"It's Yoshi…" he mumbles, and goes entirely ignored.

"I know your type, Yoshi!" She slams her hands on the table with a loud smack, pushing up from her chair to bend forward and closer to her prey. He gulps, tensing up like a scared little mouse.

"Y-you do?"

"You like the naturally open, sweet type... the homemaker, the housewife, the good mommy- Am I wrong, Yori?"

"Well…" hesitantly, he shakes his head. "No, ma'am." He glances at her, then back to the desk, biting his lip.

"Well." She straightens up, to his very obvious disappointment, letting her hands fall to her hips. "And here I was hoping I was wrong…" She shakes her head in disappointment, and he looks to her with wide eyes.

"Huh? Why…?"

She tsks. "Oh, Yumi." It's hard to keep her face a disappointed one, when she feels so painfully smug. "Yumi, Yumi, Yumi… can you not see the bigger picture? Have you have no imagination?"

"Yumi is a girls name…" He sighs, running a hand through messy brown locks. Shyly, he looks up and-yes! Now she's got his attention. "The bigger picture?

"Picture this." She stalks around the desk to his side, throwing an arm around his shoulders. "A girl- beautiful and blonde! She's got a temper, sure, but that's only a shell. Slowly, you get to know her…"

"Uh-huh?" He nods, head craned to stare at her. Dull brown eyes are wholly captivated, sending a jolt of excitement up her spine.

"And as you get to know her, you start to peel away her shell..." He holds his breathe as she pauses, waiting patiently for her to continue. Perfect.

"And do you know what you find-" she eventually asks, "-when you peel away that shell?"

"What...?"

"You find your soulmate, Yuuto! You find that this girl, so wild and fierce, is actually a shy and soft maiden. You find a girl ready for love- she's opening her very heart and soul to you, Yuuto!"

He gasps, awed by her words. "Yeah? Really?"

"Yes!" She pulls away to throw her hands in the air, and he jumps from his chair, vibrating with vigor. "Yumma, this girl is everything you've ever wanted! She's wild, but sweet! Defensive- but loyal! She's someone who'll try her best to cook for you, who'll rub your shoulders when you asks, who'll act shy when you compliment her, who'll moan when you kiss her-ah." She bites her tongue, literally. Whoops.

Thankfully Yoshi doesn't pick up on her little slip up, practically vibrating where he stands. "Yes! Yes, that's what I want! All of that!"

"...Aha, well then." She recovers quickly enough. "I can set you up on a date with her, Yoshi… but I'll need a little something from you first."

"Anything, anything! Oh, I can't bare to be away from her anymore!"

"Yes, yes," she laughs. "Don't you worry, we'll get to that. But first…" she goes back to her (stolen) chair, sitting back down as calmly as if she hadn't been shouting and yelling about Shizuka just moments ago."I'll need you to tell me about this Heiwajima Shizuo."

The door slides open, then, and she glances up to see another boy, around the same age as her and Yoshi stride in. He's grinning, though it looks oddly strained, like he's forcing the mirth that should come naturally.

"Aah, Ikari," Yoshi greets. "Give me five minutes, okay?" She huffs quietly, a little annoyed that her client has just invited some other boy without a thought.

"Sure," the boy, Ikari says. Ikari leans against one of the far walls, playing with his phone, still wearing that odd grin. She doesn't recognize him as one of the students, but doesn't have time to question him when Yoshi starts to talk again.
"Um, well, Heiwajima was a guy who-"

"Heiwajima Shizuo?" Ikari's head snaps up, and Yoshi sighs.

"Yes."

"Well, well…" He ventures closer, pocketing his phone. He looks hot under the ratty old coat he's wearing. It's lined with fake fur, clumped on like he glued it on himself. "If you're talking about him, then you've got to talk about Orihara Izaya as well." His eyes gleam in an unnerving sort of way, and his smile doesn't seem so fake or strained anymore.

Wait. Orihara Izaya?

"Ah, I've heard that name," she blurts, and he laughs, patronizing.

"Of course you have, doll." He smiles down at her, shoving his hands in his pockets and rocking on his heels in a way that looks painfully practiced. "I was, after all, the most famous informant in Ikebukuro."

My, my, my~~ I am eager to hear what you think of that.

Special thanks to my reviewers! I know I never reply to you guys like I do on Ao3 but your comments really mean a lot 3

Comments fuel me 3