THINGS GET GOING FROM HERE

Please enjoy everyone! Thank you for continuing to read this far even though the chapters are short and shocking!

I have replied to all the reviews at the end of the chapter uwu

EDIT: Since I first posted this chapter it has been updated. I'm going to continue to do this for all the chapters as I upload them, and in the fresh updates I will notify you.

Chapter 4

Maybe it was then that their relationship started to change.

One Wednesday, a few weeks later, she was closing up the shop. She had just managed to close the shutter when there was a sound behind her. When she turned around she found herself nose to nose with Mikoto, who was almost bent double trying to meet her eyes.

When she yelped in surprise and stumbled back, he scowled.

"Are you scared of me?"

The question, to him, completely made sense. Not only was he tall, thuggish looking and, well, a thug, he had been mulling on it for weeks. All he had done was touch her hand, with the best of intentions (having forgotten himself) and she was reduced to a red, trembling mess. The only sensible answer was that she was scared of him.

The question, to her, was stupid. Why would she be scared of him? She had approached him first and, besides, he had been nothing but nice to her since they met. He kept her company and helped her shut the shutters of the shop sometimes, even if he was an ass about it. What reason would she have to be scared of him?

"What?" Maya asked, confused. He advanced on her, still at her eye level, and her back touched the metal shutter.

"You heard me."

She paused, trying to work out if he was serious or not. Deciding he was, she immediately denied it.

"O-of course not." Maya tried to smile, but his close proximity was making her heart race and it came out as a grimace; not the most positive outcome considering the situation. She could see the conflict in his amber eyes and her heart constricted. Did he not believe her? More forcefully, this time, she spoke. "Of course I'm not afraid of you."

Mikoto came even closer, his nose grazing hers, his eyes staring right into hers. For a moment she entertained the wild thought that he was going to kiss her, but then he stood up and drew back. When she looked in his eyes, she almost believed that there was more distance between them than there had been since she had approached him.

"You should be." He said, and walked away.

author12306: Thank you! I'm really glad you like Maya and my story! Oops I'm so sorry about that! I'll read over it and edit them out; thank you for pointing it out to me!

dirablo: I'm really glad you like the story! It was my intention to make it quite quick paced; think of it more as a drabble set than an actual story with carefully plotted chapters etcetera, so things are a little more disconnected and purposely quick. To be honest, it'll probably look better/more like I want it to once it's completed and you can read it all the way through without a break. About Mikoto; could you point out where you thought he was OOC? Because it's my first time ever writing something romantic-y for him and when I wrote this it had been a while since I wrote him at all or saw the anime, so I would be really grateful for your opinion! Thank you and I hope this chapter is better!