Author note: this story takes place a few days after Denji & Power live in Aki's apartment, after the Eternity Devil and before the Katana Man Arc. Basically when everything was okay. And please read in 3/4 format, it looks better that way. Also minor spoilers, please finish the manga first!
A day off means little difference for Aki, things fleet fast for him and there are many things to do. In this particular Saturday, he thinks of Denji and Power's laundry, cooking for dinner, Himeno's invitation for hanging out, a few paperworks to write, and…
A cellphone ring breaks the silence in his apartment.
"Hello?" He greets the voice on the other side of the phone.
"Hello Aki, are you free today?" Makima's calm voice swims into his ear.
"Yes," Aki answers shortly, "what is it? Do you need help with anything?"
After a few seconds of hum, Makima replies, "No, it's okay, I got a present recently and I think I wouldn't be able to finish them alone, so I sent you one to your place."
As she finishes her sentence, the doorbell rings. Too much of a coincidence, Aki thinks to himself.
"That's really nice, thank you."
Aki can listen to Makima's smiles as she hums, "Enjoy the feast, I believe Denji and Power would be glad too."
"Thank you again," Aki says in a low voice, despite his proclaimed crush for Makima, he couldn't really feel the delight in this present.
Again, Makima hums and waits for Aki to end the call. Always very careful and polite, but intimidating.
"See you later," Aki moves his cellphone and ends the call. He looks at the name for a few second. Makima. A very beautiful lady. The one he's fallen for.
Or is he?
.
.
.
.
Three ringtones can be heard before Denji's voice fills the void.
"What is it?" Denji asks, a muffled noise of the crowd behind him, sounds like he's in the city.
"What time are you coming home?" Aki asks calmly, cannot be bothered for a hello.
"Uhhh, dunno? Power is still grooming Nyako for now. Why you ask—"
"Nyako is bathing!" Power's cheerful noise interrupts Denji. "Bathing! Bathing!"
Aki listens at their little squabble over the phone. Very loud noises. The one's he's weirdly very used to for now.
"Come home at six, Makima sent me quite a lot of beef meat."
"OOOOOH! Meat!" Finally Aki got Denji's full attention, "yeah, yeah, at six! Alright! Be there soon! I want niku—"
Denji's not one to decide what dish Aki will cook today, Aki thinks irritatedly. Denji's voice flew over his head.
"…and do you want us to buy something on the way home?" Denji asks at the end of his sentence.
Aki blinks to himself, completely doesn't expecting Denji to offer things like that.
"Um, yeah, a pack of cigarette, Marlboro."
"Huh, am I allowed to buy it? I'm still sixt—"
"Denji! Nyako is screaming for his life! Nyako hates bathing!" Power screeches.
And with that Aki ends the call hastily. He thinks that's enough conversation.
The silence of his apartment contrasts the deafening noise every time Power and Denji are in the house. Whether Denji is complaining about the boring commercials on TV or Power is destroying machines in the home with her obliviousness of technology.
Nice. Aki will enjoy these minutes of solitude before they arrive home later.
But first, there's another voice he wants to listen.
.
.
.
.
"…uhhh, 'ellooo?" The voice answers with a yawn.
"Hello, are you still sleeping? Have you eaten today?" Aki asks.
"Aki? Awww… you just have to ruin my sweet dream for me, huh?" Himeno's voice slowly recollect consciousness after being awoken from her slumber.
Aki sighs.
"Oh, how I hate that sigh," Himeno replies, "I have eaten this morning, thanks for asking."
"Good," Aki puts his cellphone between his ear and his shoulder, "I'm cooking, if you want I'll give you some leftover later."
"Sure," Himeno pauses as she lits a lighter for her cigarette, "you coming after dinner right?"
"Yeah," Aki puts his call on loudspeaker and put the cellphone on the table. There's a long pause after that.
A few minutes pass by and they don't say anything. Their silence is already enough for the two of them. Sometimes Aki can be heard cutting the cooking ingredients meanwhile Himeno blows smoke on the other side of the phone. Their head filled with thoughts.
"Aki," Himeno finally calls him again.
"Yeah?"
"Thank you,"
Aki knows that gratitude isn't addressed for the dish he's about to cook.
"Yeah," finally he smiles faintly.
"I'll see you later," Himeno replies.
"I'll be there soon."
And with that Aki ends the call with a bit of pang inside his heart. He doesn't know why or how. When he thinks of Himeno, all feelings melt into one undescribable emotion.
He had three phone calls for today.