Chapter 2: Why They Live Together
After what felt like years (which was actually just three minutes or more), Mamori finally stopped crying and Hiruma had to drag her to the bath or else she'd catch a cold. She didn't utter a word of complaint and just followed. The tub was already filled with warm water, which Hiruma was supposed to use. Seeing her state, he knew she needed it much more than him. She almost walked into the tub with clothes and all. Hiruma muttered a curse before removing the pin on her hair and unzipping her dress.
"Rid yourself of those clothes and the fucking heels first!" the Quarterback complained as he closed the door to give her privacy. He went to her room (the guest room beside his which he already labelled as hers since it was where she always slept. She had even left some of her clothes there.) He retrieved sleeping clothes and towels for her; and left it outside the bath.
There was coffee on the table when Mamori finally joined him in the living room. Hiruma had even kindly prepared sugar and milk. (Yep, there's sugar and milk at Hiruma's place since Mamori often drops-by) "Thanks," she muttered as she slowly took a sip of her coffee. He gave her a look that seemed to say, 'what the hell happened?'
Mamori pursed her lips at recalling how cold it was walking in the rain. The raindrops felt like needles against her skin. She sighed. Even without telling him, she knew he would find ways to know anyway. If it's this guy, it's always the best option to let him know before he takes matters in his own hands. She was sure he had already guessed half, if not all of what had happened.
"You know I attended the celebratory party right?" the Manager asked and Hiruma nodded. "I thought I would be able to go back before the curfew. But the party ended a bit late, and it suddenly rained. I didn't bring an umbrella for the first time in a long time since it wasn't in the forecast and it won't fit in my purse anyway. I waited for it to stop, then run to the dorm," she paused to take a sip of her coffee and warm her hands on the cup. "But it was already 18 minutes past curfew. The guard said he can't let me or anyone else in anymore since he just received his last warning, else he'd be in trouble. Probably he will be fired or transferred to another post since more students had been violating the curfew ever since they knew about me."
'She ran to her dorm in pointed four inch stilettos right after the rain. Only to be refused. That guard had some guts. I already warned him.' He fiddled with his guns. That didn't sit well with Hiruma. He had told the guard to let Mamori in. How dare he disobey? Perhaps he should make him an example for the others to see. "Ke ke ke. Interesting. They should start looking for a new job."
"Hiruma-kun don't do anything," Mamori chastised. She knew that fake grin on his face. He was plotting something. "The security guard wasn't at fault. He was only doing his job."
"Like I care," Hiruma cut in.
"Geez. Just don't do anything. He was even kind enough to offer me his seat since the rain started again. And when I still turned to go he offered his coat and an umbrella."
"Then why the hell were you soaked? I didn't see a coat nor an umbrella."
"I didn't get it. I just run off."
"You're an idiot."
"Maybe," she sweat-dropped. "I didn't even think of where I was going. I just . . . ran. I don't know. When I came to, I just suddenly found myself in front of your door," Mamori admitted with a slight laugh. She stopped when she saw him eyeing her seriously.
"Baka (Idiot). I thought you were smarter than that. Why didn't you just call me? I could've a picked you up."
"Eh?!" Pick her up? He would be kind enough to pick her up even though she was late in going home without any relation to football? He was also against her attending the party but she went anyway. "No way," she thought out loud in disbelief.
"What? If you get sick who would do your fucking job?! You think those muscle brains can take your place?"
Mamori blinked and stared at him. Although he didn't say it directly, he was actually worried about her. "Gomen (Sorry)," was all she could say. She somehow felt warm and fuzzy inside but she pouted like she was displeased at what he said.
"And?" Hiruma said and Mamori was puzzled.
"What do you mean 'and?' Hiruma-kun?"
"That was the reason why you ran here in the rain," Hiruma eyed her knowingly. "But that wasn't the reason why you we're sobbing like that," he eyed her and she avoided his gaze. He was right. It wasn't the only reason. There was something else. Something that happened at the party.
Mamori bit her lip. She really can't hide anything from this guy.
"Tch," Hiruma just said and went to the kitchen. He was willing to wait until when she's ready to tell him what happened. When he returned he was holding an all too familiar box. "Here, munch on this and you'll be fine."
The expression on Mamori's eyes instantly changed. It was a box of creampuffs. She hadn't eaten one of those for weeks although she had been craving for it. It was always sold out in stores. "Hiruma-kun! You're the best," she had beamed with a smile and looked at him like she was in love except that she had already grabbed the box and was already opening it.
Hiruma laughed. She was so easy to satisfy. That was the first time she had said that he was the best. (She had always told him he was the worst.) He was glad he bought several boxes earlier when he passed by the newly opened branch of Kariya bakery. He had thought of ignoring the store when he saw the long lines, but he didn't know why he had the feeling he should buy some. He skipped the line and just asked them to deliver it in his place with the offer to pay it twice the usual price. He had heard his sweets-loving Manager muttering to herself that she hadn't been able to eat one in two weeks and she was brooding over it.
Upon tasting it, Mamori knew it was indeed a Kariya creampuff (she had memorized the taste, ingredients, and flavour variations of every creampuff she had ever tasted) "Hiruma-kun, this is a Kariya creampuff. Where did you buy it? It was always sold out," she asked as she wolfed down on her second.
"That's a secret. Ke ke ke."
"Mou Hiruma-kun," she complained. She was already at her third.
"Choose whether to eat or speak."
Mamori blushed. She chose to eat.
"Fine. Enjoy yourself. I'm off to the bath," Hiruma said as he stood up and the manager obediently nodded. "And blow-dry your hair already. How long will you keep that towel on your head?"
It was only when he said it that Mamori realized she hasn't dried her hair yet. It was indeed, still wrapped in a towel.She smiled contentedly to herself as she munched another creampuff. Maybe living with Hiruma wasn't so bad after all.
Hiruma's place is very spacious. It had occupied the top floor of a huge hotel which was just 10 minutes away from Saikyoudai. It was totally unlike his old place when he was still studying at Deimon. His new place comprised of four private rooms (with its own toilet), a bath, a living room, a dining room, a study, a storage room, and of course a weapon silo. He even has his own gym for working out and it has complete equipment. It was very flashy and totally Hiruma Youichi-like. It was more than enough for a family to live in.
Most importantly, it has a wonderful kitchen complete of utensils and cooking necessities. That was what surprised Mamori the most. Hiruma was not the type to waste time on cooking. During high school, he almost always just bought take-out from restaurants or just eat out. Mamori discovered it when she nursed him back to health when he was seriously injured by Gao, so she had made it part of her job to bring him homemade meals. And she had continued bringing his meals even in Saikyoudai.
She was highly impressed (to the point she could say she was in love with it) when she saw his new kitchen for the first time and had wanted to try using all the expensive looking kitchen wares. It was like he had already foreseen that Mamori would often drop by at his place.
"Hey, you didn't set this up did you?"Mamori narrowed her eyes at the Quarterback who just came back after taking a bath and was once again, already typing on his laptop after getting changed.
"Like hell I would." As if he would want to her sob like that.
"But you have already foreseen this didn't you?"
"I was a billion percent sure it might happen." He was smiling. At her. And it was genuine.
Mamori giggled (Ah, how he loved hearing that). "Geez. Just how far into the future have you already calculated, Hiruma-kun?"
'Until when we will finally do 'it'. And as far as when you become my wife and maybe have kids with me and later on grandchildren,' Hiruma said in his mind. He just grinned at her. "You wouldn't want to know that."