Growing up independent hadn't been easy, and it hadn't been fun. Akiyama Kaede learned to be tough, resourceful, cunning, and suspicious of everyone she came into contact with.
But since he met Tokita Ohma had made things easier. He would always make sure she were well fed, even if it meant he had to pass up food for the time being. Even now, as she were both have a mutual understanding, Ohma would always walk her from work.
He just wanted to make sure she's home safely, even if the commute was entirely silent. He sometimes reminded her of a guard dog rather than a thinking, perceiving human being, but that didn't make her love him any less. Nonetheless, Kaede preferred this guard dog over any other human she'd ever met. On this particular night, Kaede waited, with thinning patience, for Ohma to pick her up from work.
The two of them usually made the nightly journey to her apartment around six thirty in the evening, and it was not seven in the evening and Ohma still had not shown up. Calling him was useless because he absolutely hated cell phones and didn't even carry around the one that kaede had gotten for him.
With an indignant huff, kaede decided to throw her patience away and make her way home by herself. It had been more than a year since ohma decided that he make an effort on kaede, and Ohma had been there to walk her home every single night thus far. Akiyama Kaede hate to admit it, but it was a little lonely without having him by her side. After just a couple of minutes walking, kaede arrived at the crosswalk that led to her street, and spotted a yakiniku joint she never seen before--most likely because she always been distracted by Ohma.
Kaede pulled out her phone to quickly type out a message letting Ohma know of the newly noticed yakiniku joint. Kaede were so engrossed in her effort to compose a nice message for Ohma that she didn't hear the stranger's warning.
The next thing she knew, she were being yanked backwards by a strong arm and a motorbike was crashing into the crosswalk beacon. Her eyes widened as she became aware of the fact that she could have gotten killed by the wild motorbike.
The owner of the bike came running up behind the scene of the crash, yelling in anguish at his damaged property. Kaede turned around to thank her savior and were met with displeased, brown eyes. "So you'll only show up when I'm about to die, huh?" Kaede accused, pushing against Ohma in an attempt to free herself from his grip. "Don't be stupid, you could have gotten hurt." Ohma held her close and his voice was low. Kaede paused, sensing the sincerity in his voice before continuing her efforts. "Just let me go. I would've been okay." She lied. Ohma's eyes flitted to the scene of the accident then focused back on her before releasing his grip on her waist and shoving his hands deep into his pockets. Kaede shrugged playfully before continuing on her way home, crossing the street as if nothing had ever happened with Ohma following right behind her. Once the two of them were in the secluded security of her street, Ohma spoke up. "I might not always be around to protect you, Akiyama Kaede ." "I think saving me from a crazy motorbike accident is more than enough." She joked, lightly bumping his shoulder with her. Ohma stopped in his tracks and turned to her, tilting his chin down so he could look at her properly. "No, I mean...I want to take care of you." Ohma mumbled, his gaze quickly averting to anything else as his fingers worked at his scalp as he became aware of what he just said. "You already do...you're the one person I can count on, Ohma. Besides tonight.
I got tired of waiting for you." She raised her eyebrow at the blushing mess of a man before her. Kaede wondered if that was Ohma's attempt at telling her that she were important to him or that he appreciated her. He didn't say things like this often so, naturally, kaede wanted to make him work for it. "Anyway, what kept you? Practice?" She questioned, trying to keep her amusement from showing on her face. A blank stare and silence ensued, signaling that Ohma was growing annoyed with her antics. "You have to tell me. I almost died because you weren't there on time." "Actually, I was there. Right on time." Ohma retorted. The two of them continued on the journey to her apartment, only a few paces away from the entrance of the building. "Just answer the question, Ohma kun." Ohma winced at the nickname that he absolutely despised and sighed. You'll figure it out soon. You're a smart girl...but prissy." Ohma watched kaede unlock her front door. "Was that a joke?" kaede scoffed playfully, shoving open the door to her apartment.
Distracted by Ohma's poor attempt at a joke, kaede did not immediately notice the single lit candle between two plates of food sitting on her kitchen table. Kaede jumped in surprise. "What the ?" She turned to Ohma. "Did you do this?" Ohma nodded. Kaede dropped her bag onto the kitchen counter and proceeded to inspect the kitchen. "Well, at least the kitchen isn't completely trashed. What's going on?" "I made us dinner." "I can see that. Why?" kaede put her hands on her hips and watched Ohma warily as he crossed her small kitchen to reach her. "I wish I'd never met you." Ohma said softly, holding her chin between his thumb and index finger to tilt her eyes up to meet his. "Ohma kun, what—" "The way you make me feel...feels wrong. I feel like I shouldn't care this much about someone else." Ohma's eyes never strayed and she were physically unable to breathe. The only plausible response would be to kiss the man who was trying to confess his feelings for you. So she pushed herself onto her toes and brushed her lips against his. kaede assumed her response was well received when Ohma softened into the kiss. Once the two of them pulled away, there was a small hint of a smile on Ohma's lips and a fiery blush creeping up her neck. Kaede couldn't stand to let Ohma see her blush so she turned away from him and approached the kitchen table. "If your food is anything like your confession, we're going to have a problem." Kaede joked, sliding into the chair and picking up a fork. Ohma quickly picked up her plate, promptly doing the same with his. "I'd rather go to that yakiniku joint."