MY BONTEN MEN RANDOM HEADCANONS

Welcome to the fandom. We're glad that another mortal decided to join this fandom. WE HAVE THE SAME FAV CHARACTER HURAH!! you cleary have a VERY great taste. Also, you mentioned that you write fanfictions(♡_♡) what is your user?? I'm in NEED of new lookism fanfiction.

ENJOY YOUR STAYYY HURAAAAHH!!!!

OMG IM SORRY I'VE JUST SEEN THIS

tho i still dunno how tumblr works so im not sure if you'll see this, and thanks to your next ask i figured u've already found my fanfiction acc. tho i have to say, i haven't posted anything on lookism there yet, but im working on a project of mine which is a big collection of mini lookism fanfictions (with different ships obviously) based on soulmate trope, so if you've interested in smth like that, you can look forward to it!!

anyways, sorry for replying so late, im rarely on tumblr these days 🥲🥲

my life's literally been kind of a rollercoaster (and it continues. it has its ups and downs. ups are cool. downs not so, but im figuring it out (hopefully))

i was diagnosed as autistic recently, yay, at least that explains hella lot stuff about me

i started stanning ateez (the order is wrong. i got diagnosed as autistic like half a year after I started stanning ateez lol)

then i caught some trigger back in october (unrelated to ateez, just being shit at socializing for several days in a row, and some autistic shit too), and when i finally got out of that, i caught another trigger (haha, very funny. my life's a joke)

i also got into esoterics, so im kind of learning to navigate through those things with my head high as if only good things are happening to me (lol, i mean, maybe if i lie to myself enough, it will actually be like that)

i couldn't write anything for quite a while. my writing block sucked, and then i picked up writing again when i started stanning ateez, but it's going slow.

as i said, it was a fucking rollercoaster of a year, pls don't mind thia rumble, i remembered i had this acc bc i was reading atla fanfic and opened a link to one art that was mentioned there or smth, yeah, it's just a 4am ramble, don't mind me lol

k. so. some edits with miyamura from horimiya randomly popped up in my youtube shorts, and i remembered my times of reading horimiya, finding miyamura cute but hot at the same time (i was 15, okay??) and i just randomly thought abt this one idea

PLEASE TELL ME IF YOU'D BE INTERESTED IN READING SMTH LIKE THIS!!!

so. reader once stumbles into a bakery of miyamura's family (i actually don't remember if miyamura's family had a bakery/cafe in canon, i read that like 6 (or more) years ago, but various fanfictions and little stories here on tumblr keep mentioning it, so i thought why not.) and just keeps staring at miyamura and then goes smth like "are u a cake? cause i want a piece of that" or some other weird pick up line. and then they realize what they said, miyamura realizes too, and they just stare at each other blushing super hard. and reader then apologies for being weird and tells miyamura they found him looking really sweet and cool and the same time, kinda like a bad boy outside, good boy inside all that stuff

so they end up getting some stuff, and they love it, and they keep coming back and eventually even start working at that bakery too

so reader has a huge crush on miyamura, but also is very self-conscious, doesn't think themselves worthy etc

but at the same time they have some kinda cute little bonding moments with miyamura

reader studies at a different school, so they actually don't see miyamura outside their hours in coffee shop, but they kinda become close friends

they help him with homework, they bake tasty things together, feed stray animals (reader even took some of really injured once to vet and then to their home where they live still and miyamura visits quite often)

so like he doesn't feel shy with reader as they've already spent some time together

but. then the canonical events start happening and miyamura starts feeling confused.

like he likes Hori-san, she is pretty, caring, hard-working and kind, but reader is just the same and he doesn't understand what type of affection he feels towards Hori and reader

so one is obviously romantic, and the other one friendly/platonic

but being friends with reader for so long, miyamura thinks he likes Hori romantically, and they start going out and all that stuff

reader stops working at a cafe and kinda avoid miyamura at all costs at all times, because they hurt. like, they respond to their messages with smth like "sorry, i don't feel good" or "sorry, got ill", or smth else amd always wishes him to have a good time with Hori

so the reader isn't like popular at all, they are just a grey mouse, so they think they are no match for Hori-san and try to feel happy for their friend (love) but they obviously are hurting.

so they try to kind of run away. they turn off their phone for a while and ask their parents to go to their grandparents in the village somewhere (I'll do my research, just not now lol)

their parents don't like the idea, plus you can get in trouble for skipping school, but they find some way to do that, because they knew reader really liked miyamura and they didn't like seeing their kid hurting.

so once the reader stops responding, miyamura starts to worry and he also kinda realizes that his feeling for Hori were platonic, because he misses reader not just as a friend

so the clothest weekend he goes to reader's grandparents and confesses, explaining that all that was new for him. having friends (reader had their friend group at their school, but they still were Introverted and felt better with miyamura than in the big group of people; but miyamura before canon didn'thave any friends except reader), first love, and they were confused, but they finally understand what their bond with reader means to him

reader confesses liking (loving? having a crush on him?) since they saw him for the first time (also they've seen miyamura in his school attire and think he looks cute)

but well. they finally confess to each other, bla-bla-bla, happy ending for miyamura and reader (maybe I'll be able to think of a happy ending for Hori as well (not necessarily giving her a bf/gf tho)

but well, yeah, happy ending for everyone

//oof. that's it... it got kinda long, thanks if you stayed till here lol

Title: It's You 

Pairing: Manjiro x Reader

Summary: You're saved from bullying by Mikey one day, and you can't shake the feeling as if you know him from another life (timeline) | Genre: Angst with a happy ending = hurt/comfort | Warning: Bullying, uncomfortable situations | Words: 4.6K

It was happening again. 

Your stomach twisted in the worst way imaginable, and you felt like throwing up a bit in your mouth. It was so cruel and so confusing. 

They’re talking about me. They’re laughing at me.

You weren’t certain what brought it, but over the course of the last couple of weeks, you could hear your classmates whispering among themselves and snickering all the while looking at your back. 

You didn’t turn around to face them, but you could still picture them and their cruel smiles. You didn’t understand. Did you do something wrong? Why, would they act this way all of the sudden? 

You came to live in Tokyo a couple of months ago, and at first, the kids in your class seemed nice enough. Some asked you to eat lunch with them and even spoke about walking home together or plans for the weekends, so what caused the shift? 

The only thing, you could think of was that boy, the one who seemed to laugh the most at you. He seemed the nicest of them at the beginning, he waited for you in front of the school to walk to class with you and then even walked home with you. He asked you about your life before you moved, your interests, pets, family, and friends. He seemed to genuinely want to get to know you, but then, one day while walking to school, he asked if you would kiss him. You were confused. You didn’t really think about kissing him since you were certain, you only viewed him as a friend for now. Maybe after a while, you would genuinely like to go on a few dates with him and even kiss him afterward if the dates would turn out well, and you would feel like doing so, but you were definitely not ready to do so that day and not so out of the blue. 

Did he like you? Was he just embarrassed and messed up asking you out?

Also, you couldn’t help but think, It’s not him.

‘I’m sorry,’ you said and bowed a bit, ‘You’re a dear friend to me, but I don’t feel that way yet,’ you said feeling guilty about it before you tried to put on a smile, ‘Maybe when we know each other for a little long-’

‘You might as well do it, though,’ he suddenly said, and the smile, you thought was so sincere and friendly a while ago seemed twisted and wrong now, ‘I will tell everyone you did it anyway.’

Your own smile immediately fell as his words sunk in. Did he really just say what you thought you heard, and did he really mean it? 

He remained to wait for your answer, but you were too startled to give one, and you simply ran away without a single word. You never felt so scared and uncomfortable in your life. 

At home, you spent hours before finally falling asleep dreading the next morning which mercilessly came all too quickly. You thought about telling your family, but you didn’t really know what to say or how to explain it. You felt like your stomach was carrying rocks that were so heavy they were pushing all the food and water back into your throat as if you were supposed to throw up. 

You felt sick.

Your classmate didn’t wait for you that morning, and throughout most of the day, nothing much happened as you both seemed to be ignoring one another almost making you believe it could have been forgotten altogether. 

Then the next day came, and slowly you noticed your classmates and kids outside of your class whispering and looking at you. It was nerve-wracking. You tried to ask what was going on, but they seemed to put on smiles and act all confused like they didn’t know what you mean. Could it be all in your head? But why did they stop calling you out to eat lunch with them? Why did they stop talking to you during breaks? Why did it seem that the only time someone looked at you was at your back right before they would snicker or snort at something that was said among themselves? 

You thought about going to your classmate and demanding what he said about you, but you felt even more like throwing up at the thought of ever talking to him again. What did he say? Was it bad? 

Worse than their laughter and secret gossiping were those looks. 

Not those mocking cruel ones, even if those were bad in their own way, but those that seemed to sometimes follow you on your way home. You didn’t know why, but at times you would notice a boy or a group of them looking at you or following you leaving you to feel incredibly uneasy. Like they wanted to approach you. Like they wanted something from you causing panic and alarm to kick in and force you to speed up or look for an area with more people around.

It was hard to sleep when you noticed those looks. You felt like crying or running every time you caught their uncomfortable almost sickly gazes.

From an early age, you found groups of men to be scary for some reason even those you knew well always trying to be with someone and not alone around them.

You found out the next day, that knowing was worse than anything your innocent mind could imagine.

‘Everyone knows she does lewd stuff with older guys.’

‘I heard she tried to sell herself for seven-thousand yen.’

‘She even kissed a bunch of girls in her old school.’

Your stomach sank and tears rushed into your eyes as you felt a tremble take hold of your body. You wanted to believe they weren’t talking about you. How could they be talking about you when none of those disgusting things were true? But they said your name, and they seemed to be so sure about their words. So cruel with their laughter spreading those rumors as if they were facts as if they were true. 

You wouldn’t have heard it, but you forgot your pencil case in your shoe locker and had to return to it.

You were crying before you even knew what was happening, and your shaky legs still dressed in your school shoes let you out of the school before you could even focus on what you were doing. 

You just walked away from the building. Away from those nasty words. Away from those horrible gazes and mockery. 

How…? How could someone be so cruel and make up such lies? 

Your legs gave up somewhere outside the school, and out of the view of anyone else, you simply sank into the sidewalk and started to cry as hard as you could regardless of if someone heard you or not. You felt horribly dirty by their lies. It didn’t matter if they were just their malice and hurtful words, they left you to feel unclean, and you wished for nothing else than just to go home and tell your parents what happened, but how could you? What if they believed those words? If all your classmates and others were saying them, what if everyone else believed them too? 

It felt like ages had passed, and you cried so hard you didn’t even notice someone stopped in front of you until you felt someone touch the top of your head, ‘Oi, what happened to you?’

You blinked your eyes open, but the tears made it impossible to see clearly who was talking to you. All you could make out were two blond figures in black.

‘Isn’t that the new girl?’ asked one of the voices to which the first one replied with a little uh-huh sound, ‘It is? I thought she was cute.’

You started to cry harder for some reason. 

‘Always the charmer,’ commented the second one who sounded grumpier while the first one let out something like an offended puff of air before you felt the same hand from before gently pat the top of your head again. 

Huh?

‘Come on, stop that wailing, when my sister wails like this it’s because of another one of her K-pop idols is leaving the band for a solo career,’ said the first voice still patting you, ‘Maybe you should get Emma, Kenchin. This is more her territory.’

‘Emma isn’t going to skip school,’ replied the second voice, and you recognized the name Emma since it was such an unusual one for a Japanese girl as the name of a girl from another class.

‘She would if you asked her,’ said the voice of the person who was patting her before letting out a small chuckle, ‘Now, now, no more of that. Women are weak and all but crying in front of the school never solved anything, right Kenchin?’

‘I’m sure she would have stopped sooner if you didn’t talk nonsense to her.’

‘Don’t be mean. You don’t have a cute little sister, but this is what good brothers do.’

It still took you a while, but strangely, hearing those two talk to each other all the while feeling someone pat your head like you were a puppy did help your sobs and tears ease enough to brush them with your sleeves and look at the two boys properly. 

It was actually nice to be caressed like that. 

‘Oh, she stopped,’ commented the tall blond one, you knew only as Ryuguji Ken before your eyes shifted to the other blond who turned out to be Sano Manjiro who continued to pat you a bit longer. 

‘H-hello,’ you said weakly brushing your eyes some more trying to appear more presentable for some reason. 

All the while watching as Sano offered you a calm lazy smile just as he did the one and only time, you actually came face to face with him while running to class. 

‘Good morning,’ you found yourself saying for some reason when you were faced with the handsome blond boy with the darkest eyes as you almost crashed into him. 

The moment he looked at you, something shifted across his face if only for a moment making him look very serious before he regained his bored persona again and offered you a lazy grin, ‘You still have plenty of time before class. Don’t stress about it too much, yeah?’ 

Without waiting for a reply, he simply left causing you to momentarily forget about class altogether and simply watch him walk away with this unshakable feeling of a deja vu.

Right now, you could feel this sensation right under your skin, but it was very weak as you were still too caught up on what happened to you in school.

You didn’t know the boys all that well since from the two months you were in school, they spend maybe half or less in classes. You knew there were rumors they were a part of some gang, Sano was the leader of, but for all, you knew it might have been just something people said like those things they said about you. 

You hiccupped as you felt like crying again only to be harshly snapped at, ‘No! Stop that! You just finished doing that, if you cry more everyone is going to think you’re a pathetic crybaby!’ It might have been scary to be told such things if Sano didn’t appear looking more like a little child than a powerful gang leader when he said it. 

You swallowed down the bump once again forming inside your throat and nodded knowing he meant well even if his attitude wasn’t the best, ‘S-sorry.’ 

He did approach you and made you feel better even if he didn’t have to.

He seemed satisfied with this result as he grinned at you and then his friend, ‘See, Kenchin. I told you I knew what I was doing. Well, that’s that. Later.’

‘W-wait a moment please,’ you said immediately shocked that you had, but it seemed it was too late because both of the boys turned and looked back at you. It was bizarre, but since the last couple of weeks, they seemed to be the first ones who spoke to you somewhat ordinarily and not like they were hiding nasty rumors from you or like they were faking niceness. Not to mention, you couldn’t shake the feeling around Sano for some reason wishing to see him for just a bit longer.

‘Yes?’ asked the taller one since the shorter one already looked like he was a bit bored with you, ‘People sometimes said mean things about you behind your backs.’

You looked away wondering if that meant you too since you heard those things and never stood up for them. It suddenly made you feel bad, ‘H-how do you deal with it?’

‘We kick their ass,’ said Sano causing your head to drop and shoulders to slump. Given what you heard you shouldn’t be so surprised, ‘Right, never mind. Thank you and sorry for keeping you.’

You remained sitting on the sidewalk. You already missed the first period and had no idea what you would tell your parents or homeroom teacher. You also couldn’t imagine yourself entering the school again knowing all those horrible things they said about you.

What am I going to do now?

‘Hey, Mikey, you’re coming or what?’ you heard Ryuguji asked realized they didn’t leave, and Sano was still looking down at you.

You couldn’t really describe this look, but it was different, not just from those you had gotten since the rumors must have started, but also different from any other look you ever received from anyone. You wondered what was going through his mind, and if he also felt a bit strange around you which was the reason why he stopped and went to comfort you in the first place. 

‘Sure,’ said Sano suddenly breaking your train of thought, and then suddenly pulled down his black jacket the one he seemed to also wear in class regardless of what was the assigned uniform. 

You blinked confused, and you could see his friend didn’t understand what he was doing either before you felt the heavy material of the jacket fall over your shoulders.

It was quite heavier than the material of your school uniform even if it didn’t properly fit your body type, but it was surprisingly warm and-

This smells so familiar. What is that?

It was hardly cold outside, but for some reason, the moment to fabric touched your body, you felt infinite times warmer not even realizing you were cold in the first place all the while wondering what was the wonderful smell that entered your senses. 

‘No one will dare say anything to you if you wear this. I will come to find you at the end of the day to get it back,’ said Sano and offered you another lazy-looking grin, ‘Don’t lose it, or I will kick your ass, girl or not, got it?’

You could only nod feeling almost intoxicated by the scent, gesture, and the feeling of déjà vu it all seemed to cause you.

You barely got out a thank you before the short blond started to run leaving you behind. 

You shared a bit look with Ryuguji who waved and nodded at you before he followed his friend leaving you sitting on the sidewalk with a heavy jacket on top of your shoulders. 

You returned to the school for the second class, and as Sano predicted no one dared to say anything to you. You could see they were still staring probably more than ever but instead of nasty or mocking looks they now seemed properly scared shutting up the moment you met their eyes and swiftly looking away. 

It might as well be a magical jacket because at least for today it gave you the power to be left alone in peace. It seemed priceless. 

Every once in a while, you found yourself pushing a hand into a pocket or brushing the material as if to chase some sort of memory you didn’t have. 

Could it be Sano and I met before? You wondered curiously. You weren’t in Tokyo that long and saw him in passing just two times actually exchanging some words, but it almost felt like you knew him longer.  

It got a bit into your head and made you busy and distracted enough to forget about your previous worried. Not to mention feel properly safe for the first time in what felt like forever.

When Sano and Ryuguji showed up at the end of the class, you couldn’t help but bow to them in gratitude, ‘Thank you so much. You really helped me out more than you know.’

Just as you were planning to straighten up, you felt Sano snatch the side of your uniform and pull you up to look at him. You would have been afraid given his reputation and everything that happened to you so far, but surprisingly such a feeling never came as you met his face taking it in.

His face carried a lazy-looking smile, and although his eyes were the darkest you ever saw they carried a strange light or hope inside them that stole your breath away for some reason and left this strange feeling in the back of your mind. 

This was the first time you properly saw him up close without tears, and you couldn’t help but think he wasn’t just kind in his own harsh way, but also very handsome. 

‘So pretty,’ he said soundly very pleased, and grinned, ‘No more crying, alright?’

You felt your face grow hot over him smiling at you like and calling you pretty all the while your heart pounded all too loud and fast, ‘I’ll try.’ 

He laughed upon hearing that seemingly delighted which caused you to feel a wave of fondness for this strange boy wash over you, ‘Okay, do your best. I really rather see you smiling and happy. It feels better when I see you like that instead of sad and crying,’ he confessed, and your mouth opened and closed as your mind tried to come up with something to say because the way he spoke it sounded just all too real, and you couldn’t help but wonder why and what it all meant, and if he felt it too.

 But before you could embarrass yourself or get some answers, you heard a commotion coming from behind and found Ryuguji kicking your classmate who ended up on the ground bowing in front of you with his whole body, ‘I asked around,’ said the tall blond, ‘Everyone said this guy started the rumors.’

It wasn’t a surprise. You figured as much as he was the boy who asked you to kiss him not so long ago. 

‘Please, I’m sorry. I didn’t know she was with Toman. I swear!’ begged the boy still not the ground not daring to stand up. 

Ryuguji stepped on his back while Sano went to squat down in front of him, ‘So if she was any other girl, it would have been alright? I have a little sister, you know? If someone was to say shit about her like that, I would personally kill every and each one of them.’

‘Please,’ begged the boy now crying still not daring to raise his head.

You noticed a lot of people from your school gathered around now watching the scene with worry and fascination while the boy carried on his pleas and wailing, ‘I’m sorry. I swear I’ll never do this again! I swear! I’m sorry I started the rumors. I’m sorry I tried to force her to kiss me!’

Silence fell over the scene as no one said anything for a while after those words.

‘You tried to force her to kiss you?’ asked Sano finally, but you almost wished he didn’t because he sounded incredibly cold right before he reached out and snatched the guy’s hair pulling his head up.

That was when it happens. 

Somewhere in the back of your mind, you couldn’t help but hear Sano’s voice as if he spoke right now. 

Nothing scares me more than when the impulse takes over. Especially when you’re around, y/n-chan, his voice as clear as day asked, and your heart skipped a beat at how familiar and intimate it sounded as if he knew you. As if you were friends. As if you were close. 

A cold chill ran down your body and before you could stop yourself and rethink your palms reached out and found a place on Sano’s shoulders, ‘He’s not worth it, Mikey-kun.’

You didn’t know why you called him that. You heard his friend call him that, but it wasn’t like you were friends despite his kindness. You also didn’t know why it felt so natural to call him that.

The death grip on your classmate’s hair loses, but you barely noticed as the moment the blond, you were holding onto, slightly turn his head to you, you saw the light return into his dark eyes. 

You held your breath as a small smile appeared once again across his handsome face extinguishing the feeling of darkness and cold that came over you, ‘I don’t want you to get in trouble because of me.’

‘You’re still too forgiving and sweet for your own good, huh?’ he asked his dark eyes sparkling with a sudden fondness that felt like you didn’t deserve it for some reason, ‘I’m glad.’

Mikey let go of the boy who started to cry harder on the ground and stood up as you let go of his body so he could properly face you, ‘Let’s get you home. I don’t think anyone will give you a hard time anymore, but if they do, tell me, alright?’

Once again, you felt as if this wasn’t the first time, he said this to you, and you couldn’t help but ask, ‘Have we met before?’

He looked at you again as the taller blond pulled your classmate from the ground, but you were still too focused on the blond boy in front of you to pay attention to all that. It was as if nothing else matter than to look at his face and see him so calm and content.

‘So you noticed too, huh?’ he asked something flashing behind his dark eyes, ‘It’s just this feeling like you’re someone important to me even if I don’t really know you. Maybe it’s love,’ he chuckled looking really happy as your heart continued to beat faster and louder again. 

Love, you thought wondering how bizarre to hear someone so young as him speak so lightly about it.

‘ Or maybe it’s fate,’ he shrugged his shoulders easing up the tension, but only slightly, ‘It doesn’t really matter though. Let’s just take you home and see what happens, yeah?’

You blinked at his nonchalant behavior, but you couldn’t really argue with him. You couldn’t explain the familiarity between you too, and it didn’t seem like that was much to do about it anyway.

For now, you accepted his offer to take you home with Draken, and Mikey’s younger sister, Emma trying to convince yourself that it was not a big deal. 

But when your hands slipped around his middle to hold onto him during the ride, you couldn’t help but smile as a wave of joy filled your insides. Something which Mikey had to share with you because you noticed he was smiling with a certain sweetness; you didn’t before. 

I wonder if we did this before. In a past life or something.

Whether you believed in such things or not, you couldn’t help but admit you felt very much connected to the blond boy as he took you home and promised to come to get you tomorrow morning as well. 

‘You don’t have to,’ you tried to argue since you were certain, he didn’t often come to school, and even if you didn’t approve, you felt you might have already bothered him enough for today, but he just offered you a lazy shrugged and told you to be ready at a certain time, ‘I promise to come for you. Do you believe me?’ the way he asked, you couldn’t shake a feeling he already asked this of you once. You couldn’t tell what happened with that promise back then, but at least for now you felt you could offer him another smile and nod, ‘I believe you, Mikey-kun.’

The light inside his dark eyes made them exceptionally warm as he reached for your hand, and you without a single doubt met him halfway so he could take it all the while oblivious that Draken and Emma were watching you from his bike not too far away while sharing confused looks. 

His hand was rough and strong, but all you felt was warmth and safety as his thumb brushed against your knuckles, ‘Promise me, I’ll see you tomorrow,’ he said looking into your eyes and even if he didn’t say anything else, you could feel it was important so once again you nodded, ‘I promise you’ll see me tomorrow, Mikey-kun. I’ll be waiting right here.’

You squeezed his hand before he finally let you go and left, and just like last time, you watched him go, but instead of sadness or longing, you only felt anticipation and excitement that you would see him tomorrow again. 

You went into your home and about your day, and the next day, you dutifully took your place right where you parted with the blond boy, whose connection to you still couldn’t figure out, but at the same time didn’t mind all that much. 

When Mikey parked by, both of you greeted each other with overly happy smiles before you took your place behind him once again feeling like it was the place you should have been all along, ‘Let’s do this ever day,’ he said as he put his hands over yours that were around him, ‘Let me pick you from and to school every day. Promise me?’

‘I promise,’ you breathed against his cheek all too eagerly as you couldn’t even imagine ever refusing this to him when it made you feel so good inside.

You could see he was grinning the whole ride looking just as happy as you felt.

Mikey and Draken didn’t go to school that day either. They just dropped you and Emma off watching you get inside while you couldn’t shake the warm and content feeling of knowing he would come to pick you up after school too. 

It feels right. It feels like it’s him, you thought fondly knowing it was true deep in your gut, heart and mind. You just knew. It was him. Whoever, he was and expected him to be it was him, Sano ‘Mikey’ Manjiro.

In school, you avoided the people who made fun of you and they did the same for you fearful of retaliation from the Toman as Emma, who you decided to befriend and spend more time with, explained to you.

‘Hey, did you fall in love with my brother? You two act like you’re dating and look so happy all the time,’ said the blond girl, and even if you shouldn’t have you couldn’t help but smile a bit before admitting without much embarrassment or doubt, ‘You know, I don’t think so. I think I’ve already loved him before,’ you giggled at how silly it sounded still feeling the comforting warm inside, ‘I just hadn’t met him until now.’

Emma gave you an odd look, and for a moment you simply thought you were weird before she grimaced and chuckled, ‘Mikey told me the exact same thing. I guess that means you’re meant to be, huh?’

Yeah, I guess it does.

Koniec 

A.N: Thank you for taking the time to read this. It was a bit of a self-request that I was working on for a while. English is not my first language, so I apologize if this was confusing or there were many errors and mistakes. I hope you liked it. Have a nice day and stay safe 😊

On this day, 10 years ago, russian occupation forces, namely the "Oplot" brigade, in an act of terrorism, fired a Grad missile at a Ukrainian checkpoint near Volnovakha when there was a passenger bus. Twelve Ukrainian civilians were killed, and 18 were injured. Russia never admitted guilt or paid for the crimes, the consequences and continuation of which we see today.

This story is more personal for me because I was on that same bus earlier that day, heading from Donetsk city to Volnovakha. If, for some reason, I’d decided to return that day, I could have been one of the victims.

I had to pass by the remnants of the bus a few days later, which was horrifying. Subconsciously, I was expecting this to happen again, only this time to the bus I was in. It didn’t, and I’m still here. Although drones flying above my roof remind me every day that it could be any of us, any time, as long as russia exists.

It wasn’t even the only terrorist act by Russia that felt too close to me. But I’ve talked about this before.

Anyhow, later they completely isolated the russian-controlled (annexed) part of the Donetsk oblast from the rest of Ukraine, banning public transport (like these buses) at first and then essentially banning even smaller private mini-buses, allowing only cars through the checkpoints (to profit from bribes). Then, when covid happened, they banned all civilian movement through the checkpoints, allowing it only with special passes that were impossible to get. So Ukrainians, born and raised in Ukraine, to travel from one Ukrainian (illegally occupied by Russia) city to another, would have to go through russia... if they could.

The world didn't care then - when they were killing us, separating families, isolating us, re-educating, forcing us to get russian citizenships, etc. Now, ten years later, they’re doing the same things on a much bigger scale. If Ukraine falls, they will move forward. They will never stop.

❌ Incorrect Tokyo Manji~ ❌

Takemichi seeing Baji running for his life like a maniac:

Takemichi: Hey! What's going on?

Baji catching breath: Okay, okay. It's worth it. I tell you 'cause is too good. Not sharing it will be a crime. Listen.

Takemichi: o... o...kay?

Baji getting closer to Take: Look, Draken's real name is... Ken, right?

Takemichi: Yeah it is.

Baji: Just like.. the doll.

Takemichi: What?

Baji: Yeah, yeah. And why, you ask?

Takemichi: I'm really lost right now...

Baji: So, he is Ken. And he goes around another person. Who is also blond, long hair, has great charisma and big personality, nice clothes, gigantic house, lot of big dreams... You follow?

Takemichi: Oh... MY GOD.

Baji: And... the icing on the cake. Has an english name.

Takemichi: You can't be serious.

Baji: I know... They're gonna kill me in seconds.

Takemichi: KEN AND BARBIE! BAJI, KEN AND BARBIE!

Baji: Yeah, I'm going to die.

Takemichi: Oh my god you're gonna die!

Baji: I KNOW!

If only life was always so simple.

Because I'm a simp with a soft heart and @purarupu 's talent has no limits, please have another absolute heartwarming piece of Izzy and Boss! 🥹 Thank you for your hardwork on such a gorgeous piece! (click for better res)

Patting myself on the back for another chapter done, do check Swallow the Sun out!

‎

Red Dragonflies Masterlist | Commissioned Art List

hi hehe can I request a shy reader that owns a bakery and mikey walks in one day soaking wet from the rain, so the reader fussed over him before offering sweets :0? - 🔆

A.N: Hi there!

Thank you for the request.💙💛

I hope this was something that you had in mind, and that you will like this. Enjoy 💙💛

Update: Now PART 2

Title: Taiyaki for the Soul

Pairing: Manjiro x Reader 

Genre: Fluff |Warning: some angst since I chose Bonten Mikey | Words: 4.5K

The weather wasn’t getting better, so your decision, to let your cashier home early seemed like the right call. You would hate it if the poor older woman had to walk to her bus in such horrific conditions. It was the type of weather no one should be left outside and given the lack of customers inside your small bakery and on the street behind the large windows, it seemed most of the people really took that advice. 

You played with the business card near the register for the last half hour arranging them across the small plate they were usually placed for customers to see and pick them up if they felt like it.

It was overall a boring day due to the rain, and it seemed like you even might end up closing early and going home yourself when your eyes caught some sort of movement outside in the darkness and nonstop downpour.

A person outside in this weather?

You walked from the other side of the counter closer to the large windows and peeked outside. It was still hard to see a lot, but even so, after a while, your eyes could make out the shadowy figure standing outside your bakery. 

This caused you to gasp a bit alarmed. It was raining and the wind was horrific, and yet this person was just standing there without an umbrella or raincoat or anything really. 

They could be homeless.

The idea that anyone would be forced to spend their evening outside in such conditions didn’t sit right with you, but what could you do about it? In general, you were not good at interacting with people. You preferred to bake alone in the comfort of your kitchen and have your cashier deal with customers. You were better with people you knew for a longer time, but even so, it often felt like too much to even speak out loud when asked let alone when you needed to ask something.

But the weather is really bad, and they’re just standing there.

You tried to rationalize that they had to see the lights coming from your bakery so if they felt like coming in they would have, but…

Don’t we all sometimes want things, but are too afraid to reach for them ourselves? 

With that in mind and before your doubts could get the best of you, you opened the door and called out through the sounds of the wind, ‘Excuse me!’

The person stood not far from you and the door to the bakery with their back turned to you, so you tried again, this time a bit louder, ‘Excuse me! Would you like to come inside, please?!’ 

You couldn’t help, but feel silly that you were yelling on the street like this. You weren’t used to yelling at all. You tried to avoid it as much as you could, but given the loud sounds of the wind and rain, it couldn’t be helped. 

The person didn’t turn around, but they might have just not heard you. 

You rushed back inside and snatched something to throw across your head and shoulders and put on outside shoes before you opened the door again partly shocked that the person was still there. 

You stepped outside and touched that person’s arm not wanting to startle them in case they didn’t hear you.

They flinched anyway, and when they turned around, you were shocked to find such empty eyes looking back at you. You couldn’t explain how they looked if you tried, but there was something profoundly empty almost dead about them that caused an instant chill to rush toward your heart making you feel sad just by looking at them. 

How can anyone still alive have such dead eyes?

You feared to think about what had to happen to them.

The person, who you now could see was a young man with white hair, was staring at you blinked releasing you from the intense lifeless imprisonment of his gaze and caused you to stutter, ‘Uh-you-if…w-w-would you…,’ the rest came out too rushed, ‘like-to-come-inside?’ 

You felt cringed over how pathetic you sounded cursing yourself for it a bit.

The man didn’t say anything. He just carried on staring at you with his dark empty eyes causing you to feel even more nervous and like an idiot, since it must have looked odd that out of the blue someone asked him to come inside, ‘It’s really…cold and uh, this weather will make you sick. So if you want you could come inside with me.’

The dark eyes blinked again, and the man looked up behind you at your bakery probably trying to piece together what was it that you wanted from him.

You bit your lip imagining this going better inside your mind and cursing yourself for making this so hard and weird, ‘Please?’

The dark eyes snapped back at you, and even if they stayed lifeless the rest of his face appeared confused more than anything, but to your absolute surprise and delight, the man gave out a single and curt nod which got you to immediately let out a sigh of relief and quickly turn around motioning for him to follow. 

Once inside you quickly put down your coat and changed your shoes into a pair of slippers for when you were behind the counter and kitchen, ‘Wait here, please. I’ll find you some towel.’

You snatched a couple of dry and warm from the oven towels and rushed back to the man who now seemed to have taken a seat at one of the stools meant for customers who were waiting for their orders.

‘Here,’ you managed to get out a bit too squeakily since now all too aware this man was in your bakery, your shyness started to kick in all over, ‘Uh, you need to dry yourself…so you don’t get cold, you know?’ You asked at the same time shaking your head and avoiding their gaze a bit.

‘Thanks,’ he said shortly and simply back. 

He took the towel from your hands almost lazily or less than lazily like it was almost pointless and started to dry his hair which now you could see wasn’t blond or white, but silver. 

You didn’t question the odd choice. You saw many customers from tourists to regulars, so you were not unfamiliar with varieties of hairstyles and clothing. Despite the exhaustion or even more depression and complete dejection of life that was coming off of him in waves now, you couldn’t help but notice he was rather attractive. The hair color suited him just fine.

Apart from his hair, he seemed to be dressed in simple black pants and a shirt with long sleeves. The most bizarre thing about him was the flip-flops attached to his feet. If you didn’t think it was unimaginable, you would think, this man simply put on something for a nice evening stroll. But how could that be when the weather was so profoundly terrible? 

But his eyes look so…dead…

‘Is there a problem?’ asked the man suddenly breaking your train of thoughts as you realized that you had spaced out with your own eyes at him, and he must have realized it. 

Almost immediately, the cold was the last thing on your mind as your whole face felt warm from the shame and embarrassment, and you bowed a bit, ‘No, sorry!’

You quickly turned around, ‘It’s really cold outside. You shouldn’t just go out dressed like that or at all in such weather, you know? I…I’ll turn on the heat and make you some tea. Herbal?’

You didn’t really give him time to finish and rushed behind the counter busing yourself there for a bit all the while stealing glances at the man as he finished drying himself and set the towels over the chairs. 

He wasn’t all that tall, and although he was built a bit better, you could see he looked like he hadn’t had a decent sleep and meal in a while which made your heart clench again for some reason, ‘Here’s your tea.’

He came closer to the counter and reached for the cup at the same time as you were about to give it to him causing your fingers to brush and some static to pass over your skin, ‘SORRY!’

You quickly let go and turned around to cover your face with your palm feeling more than a bit self-aware. You weren’t used to people. It was always a bit of a challenge to connect with them, which was why the form of your cashier, a middle-aged woman, who seemed could talk with anyone was a gift from heaven. You preferred to bake in the back kitchen and prepare the treats rather than serve them. Hearing her repeat the praises from the customer or describe the looks of gratitude on their faces was enough to fill your aching-to-please-others heart with content. 

But you couldn’t really stay quiet and mind your own business when you were the one who invited this man to come over.

Not to mention, he looks so broken.

Luckily, by the time, you got the hold of yourself, the man was slowly drinking the tea and warming his hands against the cup all the while looking at you, but you tried to accept small victories for now. 

You shifted your gaze and tried to ask politely to ease the mood. You were alone and strangers, so you weren’t at your best, but you still felt like you should try because of how sad this man looked.

He looked young…no young person should look so sad…

 ‘W-Would you like something? Anything, you like…uh. It’s on the house,’ you finally got out looking at him hopefully with a smile polite smile playing across your face hoping it was friendly enough to make him feel more comfortable. 

The man looked like he might have stepped outside for a smoke, so you figured he wouldn’t have any money, phone, or even his house key on him. He almost seemed like he appeared in front of your bakery out of the thin air. 

His dark eyes finally shifted from your face and glanced over the glass to see the treats and baked goods which you had prepared for today. 

His lips stayed pressed into a thin line for a while before finally, he asked his voice a bit hoarse, but something close to hope flashed behind his dark eyes, ‘Say, do you have any taiyaki?’

Your heart sank a bit as you heard him ask that of all things, ‘No, it’s not very popular among the customers, so I don’t make that.’

He nodded as if he almost expected such an answer, and you felt something inside you riot a bit against the idea that out of all the deserts and snacks you had around, he wanted one which was so laughably easy to make and simple, and yet you did not currently have. One, that might potentially bring him something close to joy or a spark of happiness behind his eyes. Such an idea, for someone who wanted to please people, like you, left you feeling absolutely disgusting on the inside with yourself.

‘But,’ you spoke and looked at your hands as it was a bit hard to have his absolute attention on you, ‘if you’re not in a hurry. I can make you some,’ you said with a low voice hoping it didn’t come off as too pushy because you would hate if he assumed you were trying anything on him.

‘You don’t have to-’

‘But I want to!’ you said and looked away feeling a bit embarrassed at how eager you sounded. You didn’t know this man, and you didn’t owe him anything, but he looked so sad and empty, you couldn’t help yourself but want to give him something.

You forced your eyes back at him, ‘So what do you say?’

His dark eyes remained the same, but there was clear curiosity coming from the rest of him as he put his elbow at the counter and pressed his cheek against his knuckles to look at you, ‘Why?’

What a horribly loaded question…

You looked down again and ironed your clothes with your palms a bit in a nervous way, ‘I like making snacks and baked goods for others,’ you admitted, ‘It makes me feel good to know they enjoyed them, and I fed them well? So…if you want taiyaki, I don’t mind making you some. I…I would really like to make you some.’

When you looked back up, he was still looking at you, but even if his gaze was intense and his dark eyes seemed so empty, you couldn’t help but think there was something alluring about someone like him looking at someone like you like this. You didn’t think anyone ever looked at you with such interest.

‘Alright, make me some then. Feed me,’ he said and opened his mouth for good measures causing your heartbeat to speed up and your face to grow warm again before you turned your back and quickly.

‘Right…so, uh…I’ll go and make you some now,’ you started to make your way to the back, where your small kitchen was, only to catch movement behind you and find the man now standing behind the counter with you.

Did he really just jump over it like that?

He paused and blinked at you probably noticing your shocked face, ‘Am I not going with you?’

You weren’t planning on asking him to join you in the kitchen, ‘It’s not in order with the health department rules,’ you admitted, but once you saw his face almost drop into more despair than it was already in, you quickly made up your mind, ‘Uh, but, please, join me.’

You found him a pair of slippers and an apron, ‘So you don’t drag mud or dirty your clothes.’

He put the shoes on himself, but then he waited while holding onto the apron which made you blink and walk closer to him, ‘Here, let me.’

He let you walk around him and tie a small bow in the back. Your eyes briefly catching the tattoo on the back of his neck as you did.

That symbol...

‘Do I look like a baker now?’ he asked, and there was almost a hint of amusement in his voice, which made you smile even if just a bit, ‘Not yet.’

You helped him wash his hands properly and prepared the ingredients, ‘Can I ask for your name? It feels strange, to bake with you and not know.’

‘Mikey.’

He didn’t offer you more, so you accepted it and offered him a smile as you introduced yourself. It could have been awkward, you were still strangers, but oddly, it didn’t feel so after you started directing Mikey on what to do or moving your hands over his to help him. 

At first you hesitated to touch him, but he seemed so casual about it, you managed to find your footing.

You told him a bit about yourself mostly to try and fill the silence while you work. You tended to hum when you baked, so this wasn’t all that different. It surprised you, how easy it seemed to talk to him, and even more so when he admitted, ‘I used to eat taiyaki all the time when I was younger. My buddy Kenchin was always out of money because of me.’

‘That’s not very nice,’ you teased, but he was quick to pout, ‘Don’t say it like that. If he really minded, he wouldn’t have left me. Kenchin is no pushover.’ 

You chuckled, and you took it with great relief when you found him easing up a bit. He seemed casual before too, but there was tension in his whole body that couldn’t be explained and contradicted by the laziness of his persona. However, now he seemed to properly let his hair down so to speak, and before you knew it he told you about why he loved taiyaki so much, ‘It’s like a distant memory. My brother’s warm hand holding mine as we walk through the festival stopping at booths and eating taiyaki.’

Mikey looked most alive you saw him since you met him when he spoke about his childhood, siblings, and friends. You watched him closely, and whenever you saw a shadow of something haunting appear behind his eyes, you purposely asked another question or shared something from your own childhood to bring him back to the light.

You managed to prepare the fish-shaped goods in an hour and a half. Maybe you would manage faster on your own, but it was nice to have company, and even if for a bit, you would have sworn that Mikey’s eyes lightened up when you praised his work and called his taiyaki better because he put more love and effort into them. 

The more time you spend together in the small kitchen in the back, the more the depressed-looking man seemed to almost relax and radiate with life.

‘Delicious,’ moaned Mikey and closed his eyes and looking properly blissful making you wonder how long it had been since he felt this content about something in his life.

‘See, you can make yourself some at home too,’ you assured him taking a taste of one yourself. They turned out really well.

He shook his head almost instantly, ‘It wouldn’t be as good,’ his dark eyes looked you over, ‘It wouldn’t be as fun as it was with you.’

He smiled so openly and almost happily, you thought there never was a more beautiful person in the world. It made your chest feel warm, and a smile settle against your lips to be in his presence and to see him like this and know some of it was your doing. 

You settled for just one chuckling as Mikey ate one after another clearly enjoying the snack and looking almost like a child.

After a while, you heard some buzzing, and you were surprised when Mikey pulled out a phone from his pants as you assumed, he didn’t have anything on him.

His alive and content face darkened as his eyes scanned through the phone screen, and you wondered if it was the work, he mentioned that he didn’t like so much at one point. 

‘I need to leave soon,’ he said and put the phone away looking upset rather than empty. 

You nodded and tried to ease his mood, ‘That’s alright, I can pack the rest of the taiyki for you.’

‘How much?’

‘I told you it’s on the house,’ you argued feeling awkward that you had to say it again, but Mikey shook his head, ‘No, it’s too much. How much is it?’

‘No,’ you argued back although it was weak since you were never good or comfortable with arguing with people, ‘I…can’t take your money. You helped me make them, and you looked…happy. I don’t want to ruin it,’ you smiled at him honestly feeling the warmth inside your chest over the experience and his presence, ‘It was nice baking with you and seeing you enjoy it too.’

You watched the hard look on his face soften so profoundly, it was almost like they were two different people altogether.

‘I liked baking with you,’ he admitted and looked away almost unsure of himself or self-aware, ‘and talking. Today was the first time, I didn’t think about my past in a bad way. I missed thinking about my childhood bathed in sunshine colors instead of the grey ones.’

Your heart ached at his words, and you almost felt tears rushing toward your eyes before you chased them away by turning your back to him, ‘I’m happy to hear that. I feel like I want…I want to make you talk about your childhoods, and be happy…glad that you got to experience those good parts, and not feel guilty about them.’

There was silence after you said those words that made you almost regret them until you heard his soft and broken, ‘You don’t know me. How could you…want good things for me when you don’t know…’

He didn’t finish, so you decided to speak again, ‘Sometimes…you don’t need to know everything about a person. Sometimes it’s enough to know they’re sad and hurting. It’s enough to want to make them feel better.’

There was once again silence after that making you question whether you made things awkward or if he was simply going over your words. You were honest. You didn’t know Mikey and everything who he was, but when he spoke about his childhood, siblings, and friends, you felt like he came alive. As if it was so long since he talked to anyone about these things, he might have forgotten there were good things about his past too.

When you turned around, you found him unexpectable close forcing you to move back until your back hit the counter behind you. 

He caged you by stepping even closer to you almost touching all the while looking at your face before his dark eyes moved to your lips. 

It was a feeling more than a comprehensive thought about what was about to happen, but it was enough to jump-start your heart to the extreme.

Panic kicked in before you could stop it from taking over, and before you could stop yourself, you loudly gasped, ‘Don’t,’ right before Mikey moved his face closer to yours. 

He paused and leaned away looking genuinely shocked before his eyes darted away from your face, and it seemed he wanted to move away too, ‘I’m sorry. I thought…I must have misjudged this.’

It was the closest to shame, you saw the young man get through the whole evening. 

You looked away as well and gathering all the courage, you could find, you reached out and took hold of his arm chasing the feeling of connection and happiness from before to settle your thoughts and feelings that blossomed inside. 

Your voice was soft again as you barely managed to get those words out of your mouth with how embarrassed you felt, ‘Uh, you didn’t misjudge anything.’

The moment, Mikey moved closer, your palms shot up and covered his mouth before he would be able to reach your face.

He looked confused, and you didn’t blame him. It would have sounded confusing to you as well if someone else was retelling this story to you, but it couldn’t be helped. 

You shut your eyes closed trying to gather your thoughts and push them above your feelings, ‘I-I don’t allow people to kiss me…unless I know them well.’

You didn’t open your eyes fearing, he might find your reasoning silly, but your mouth seemed to get the best of your and carried on, ‘I…I don’t know you very well yet…so please don’t…don’t take advantage of the fact that I…that…I like you so far.’

You felt hot breath against your palms which caused your eyes to open and then to freeze in place.

Mikey’s dark eyes were on you, but for the first time their emptiness didn’t bother you as you grew familiar with it, and in contrast with his surprised face, it seemed almost bearable. Familiar. Welcoming even.

‘Don’t…do that,’ you whispered feeling your cheeks were on fire again referring to what you assumed he was planning to do each time he leaned closer to your face, ‘Unless you plan to come back here again, and…and tell me more about yourself. Alright?’

It sounded ridiculous in your own ears to demand something like that. It felt like you had no right, but at the same time, it felt like you owe it to yourself, to demand at least that much for yourself.

‘You’re a bit strange,’ said Mikey shocking you and forcing your palms to fall to your sides as you felt embarrassed now. But just as quickly as he caused you to feel such a way, you watched and heard as he chuckled out loud almost joyfully, ‘But very kind and sweet.’

He reached behind you and took another fish-shaped treat before he took a bite with a small smile pressed across his face as he chewed, ‘Just like your goods.’

His free hand reached out and patted your head a bit, ‘Don’t change, no matter what, okay? It feels too good to know that people like you exist in the same world as someone like me.’

You didn’t hear such things often, so it brought a smile to your own face. Most people suggested you try and be less shy, or less naïve and trusting often viewing all that as a flaw. You didn’t blame them for their views, but it felt good to for once hear it wasn’t a bad thing to be the way you were. 

He stepped away from you and allowed you to pack the rest of the taiyaki in peace which helped to calm your rapidly beating heart and mind that only now seemed to properly realize, you almost let him kiss you.

He already stepped out of the kitchen by the time, you were finished, and you couldn’t help but wonder if your choice really was a good one. You stood by it. You didn’t know Mikey well enough yet to be that intimate with you no matter how attracted you felt toward him. You were just too you to allow yourself to be that carefree about such things. But at the same time, you felt a stab of worry that this might be the last time, you would see the young man with silver hair and if that was the case, shouldn’t you want to have something to remember him by? 

You handed the plastic container over to him, and he easily placed it under his elbow as he switched from your slippers to his flip flops, ‘Thanks for today.’

You smiled at him wishing you knew something better to say if this really was the final time you would see him. 

‘M-Mikey-kun,’ you started when he opened the door into the darkness outside. It seemed it stopped the rain if nothing else.

Your voice broke a bit at the end, ‘Come again.’

He paused and offered you a final smile that almost reached his eyes before he stepped out into the dark as if he was never inside your shop to begin with. 

Almost immediately, you felt a sense of coldness enter your body, but you couldn’t bring yourself to follow him outside sensing that if he wanted to come to see you again, he would. 

There was no promise, but there also was no final goodbye.

You spent the rest of your opening hours cleaning up erasing almost all the evidence that Mikey was there at all. 

Once you returned to the register you noticed something was off. It was almost unnoticeable at all, but you did notice that from the small plate near the register where you kept your business cards, the same card, you were playing with earlier, there was one missing.

This brought the familiar tender warmth to return to your chest as you silently let out a small prayer into the universe. 

Mikey-kun, call me, the next time, you’re alone and feel like baking taiyaki together.

Koniec

A.N: thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope you and your loved ones are well. English is not my first language, so I apologize if things were unclear, or if there were unnecessary mistakes. Have a lovely day :)

*slaps roof of car* this bad boy can fit so many tokyo rev memes in it you don’t even know