Title: It's You 

BONTEN MEN and how they call you

────────｡ﾟ•┈୨♡୧┈• ｡ﾟ────────

MIKEY: my love

RAN: babygirl/babyboy, baby

RINDOU: babydoll

SANZU: doll, dove

KOKO: pretty girl/pretty boy, baby

KAKUCHO: sweetheart

MOCHI: sunshine

TAKEOMI: baby

────────｡ﾟ•┈୨♡୧┈• ｡ﾟ────────

WHEN Y/N ASK THEM IF THEY COULD SPEAK ENGLISH

MIKEY: *STARES DEEPLY TO YOUR SOUL UNTIL YOU LEAVE*

SANZU: DAI YU MAZAFAKKA!!!

(DIE YOU MOTHERFUCKER!)

KAKUCHO: NO I KENTTO

(NO I CAN’T)

KOKONOI: ^SHOWS OFF HIS BRITISH ACCENT^ starts talking about Britain’s economy.

RAN: DESUPAITO OVU MAI GUTTO RUKKUSU, I KENTO AKUZUARY SUPIKU INGURISHU

(Despite of my good looks, I can’t actually speak English.)

RINDOU: WATTO IZU INGURISHU?

(WHAT IS ENGLISH?)

TAKEOMI: Ignores you.

MOCHI: 死ねカス (Die piece of shit)

Could not agree more

STOP SUPPORTING rUSSIAN CULTURE, there's nothing exciting about it, they killed and tortured millions of people throughout their history, to present themselves as that "great" nation, of course the'll seem like that,when there's no one else left.

CULTURE IS POLITICS

have i been having a hyperfixation on hanma and kisaki for several months? yes, absolutely

do i regret it tho? absolutely not

(okay, maybe i do just a little, because they are assholes, like you can't tell me they are not, but i still like them for some reason (why do i always like villains, antagonists, and just bad guys, i don't like liking them!!!!))

also.......... am i the only one who feels like their voices in japanese dub don't suit them? cause whenever i hear them talking i just start wheezing uncontrollably, like what the heck, why are they so funny?

Shinichiro Sano top 10 moments!

10. Picking up Sanzu from juvie, Sanzu had no one else at this point so I'm sure he was appreciative of this. It's just another example of Shinichiro being a good guy.

9. Stopping the gang war between Wakasa and Benkei, we still have no idea how this happened exactly but whatever Shinichiro did it definitely worked. Not only did he stop a war which probably would've caused a lot of chaos but he's responsible for the close friendship Wakasa and Benkei ended up having.

8. Doing his best to make Emma feel welcome. It seems pretty clear the minute Shinichiro saw Emma he was in big brother mode, smiling and making jokes to try and make her feel better and vowing to make her smile.

7. Giving up his career and dedicating his life to Mikey in the first timeline. Shinichiro literally did everything he could to help Mikey and make his life more comfortable, even if it took it's toll on his own health.

6. Being kind to Inui and spending a lot of time with him. Poor Inui had lost his sister, seemed to have parents who were busy and his only friend was busy with money. He definitely needed someone and Shinichiro seems to have filled that role for him. We don't know a lot about their friendship exactly but it clearly meant a lot to Inui.

5. Wanting to save Mikey so much he commits murder and time leaps to save him. Ok Shinichiro was definitely not justified in the first bit, he shouldn't have done that and even Shinichiro himself acknowledged that. But he does manage to save Mikey and change things for the better, his devotion to Mikey is unmatched.

4. Finding Izana and trying to care for him, it's clear the amount of influence Shinichiro had on Izana's life, the amount of happiness Shin gave him. He really did his best to make Izana happy and care for him.

3. Founding the black dragons, Shinichiro was just out here making the most iconic gang Tokyo has ever seen. They come out of nowhere, establish themselves as the top gang and then just leave. Not even mentioning all the strong gens that follow.

2. Saving Takemichi from the kids and giving him the time leap, it's safe to say without Shinichiro the whole story wouldn't have happened and we never would've gotten our time leaping crybaby hero.

1. Raising Emma and Mikey, Shin was basically a parent to two kids as a teen with the way he was expected to care for his siblings. But we've never seen him complain or falter in caring for his siblings, he clearly did a great job raising the two of them.

Three years ago was Mariupol Theatre.

We still do not know for sure how many people died there. Mainly children and their parents. Something around 600 people? 1000? I dunno. A lot.

Some russian pilot saw word "CHILDREN" written outside and decided it was a perfect place to bomb. Just like they did with maternity hospital. And other places that mainly housed civilians who were unable or unwilling to leave their city (because it was their home, you know)

...

Honestly, I cannot think of something smart to say. I feel kinda numb. I remember that day. I was in Czech. A few days after I saw a memorial outside.

Here it is

I dunno. I just. I cannot forgive. It's not like anybody is asking for forgivness though. Almost every night in Ukraine is a night of terror. And occupied territories do not know peace at all, it seems.

Rindou Haitani headcanons

^°•^°•^°•^°•^°•^°•^°•^°•^°•^°•^°•^°•^

I know this probably everywhere but he's really protective of you. If you two were together during the Toman and Tenjiku drama he'd make sure to keep you close and keep on eye on you. Even when he's fighting with Ran he makes sure to periodically look your way and if he can't see you he'll make sure to end his fight fast so he can find you.

He knows your strong but he still worry's

Would take you anywhere at anytime. You suddenly had a craving for ice cream you better believe he's getting for you

If you are walking with him and some creepy person is coming towards you both he'll grab your hand and puts you behind him and once you pass the person he'll make sure your in front of him safe and sound. But if your with Ran and a situation like that happens he just sandwiches you between himself and Ran.

Before kissing you he pulls you close to him and does the thing where he looks at your eyes then your lips before kissing you

Refuses to be tiny spoon when cuddling regardless if your taller then him he just wants to feel more dominant

Loves it when you play with his hair

The type that can remove his tie with one finger

Loves showing you off

Sometimes gets insecure and thinks you'll leave him for Ran. Cuddle him and reassure him you love him and he'll feel better

Absolutely loves winning you prize's at festivals. No like seriously Ran is squished in the back seat of the car from all the plushes he won for you. He's even so kind as to let you have then on the bed.

He brings you lavender roses whenever he has the chance. You have a vase in the living room for them. He might even deliver them with a little teddy bear to your work with a letter stating how much he loves you.

Has a get away house for you and him whenever you two just want to be alone.

Takes you out to eat every Friday. Mostly because Rindou feels like he's always doing something for Bonten and never home. He wants to make sure you know he loves you.

For valentines Rindou always gets you a bear with the year on it. You have one from every year you've been together.

My grandmother is now almost completely deaf, the constant shelling in Ukraine has taken what’s left of her hearing. She cannot understand me on the phone like she could one month ago.

Her cats hiding are now her only indication that the shelling happening. Unless an explosion makes the building shake.

1,068 days that I’ve prayed for her safety, because she will not abandon her home in Kharkiv.

You should totally make a 2nd part for 'Taiyaki for the Soul' it was so good

Hi there 💙💛

 Thank you for your request.

Due to the popular demand, I decided to give it a go.

Again, I would like to stress out. I’m not good with 2nd parts. If I write something as a one-shot it usually does not turn out good when I add a 2nd part, but I’m a people pleaser, so here it is. 😊 I hope you will enjoy it. 

@ninabellaka, @ajmiila02, @royalmuffinsworld

Attention: Please read PART 1 first!

Title: Taiyaki for the Soul PART 2

Pairing: Manjiro x Reader 

Genre: Fluff |Warning: some angst since I chose Bonten Mikey | Words: 4.8K 

‘Not again,’ you heard your cashier groan loudly all the way from the register into the small back kitchen where you were finishing your daily cleanup.

Drying your hand in the towel, you peeked out from your spot making sure you wouldn’t be seen by the customers who were picking something at the counter nearby. 

Your cashier, a middle-aged woman, you grew to find essential in your line of work since she dealt with your customers so swiftly and well, noticed you and came closer, ‘It happened again. I pick up, and I know they’re there, but once I speak they end the call.’

You offered her a small smile and shrugged your shoulders, ‘Maybe, they wrote the number wrong and didn’t want to waste your time.’

She shook her head not impressed by the idea at all before she returned to the register as the customers already made their choice and wanted to buy some of your snacks. 

You returned to the small kitchen putting the towel away thinking. 

Mikey-kun, was that you?

It had been over a month since the man with short silver hair and empty eyes came into your back kitchen and baked taiyaki with you. And despite trying not to bring your hopes up because he didn’t promise you anything, you couldn’t stop thinking about him. Being a shy baker in Tokyo, there weren’t many if any interesting things happening in your life and although you tried to look at the bright side of this as it was a good thing, you couldn’t seem to settle your mind or your heart. 

Every time, you heard the small shop phone ring, you paused your movements on the dough and held your breath. 

Mikey-kun, is that you?

You couldn’t keep the phone with you as your hands were always covered in flour or some other ingredients, and you wouldn’t want to get it dirty. All you could do was hold your breath and eavesdrop on your cashier as she either spoke with a customer or once again groaned when the call was cut short. 

Of course, your heartbeat speeded up every time, she did groan and you quickly tried to get to the phone yourself just in case, but every time you did you were both left confused as the number was hidden and impossible to dial back. 

‘That’s very bizarre,’ said your cashier, and you agreed with her quietly.

At night, alone inside your bed upstairs, you wondered, if it truly was your mystery tattooed taiyaki-lover. Your fantasy took you to all kinds of scenarios, but again, you were a rather ordinary baker, so everything too out of the ordinary seem like you were trying to be more interesting than you truly were. It should frighten you, and it did because he was still a stranger, but at the same time you could still picture how happy he looked talking to you. And that small fact, that it was you who made him look that way overshadowed any doubts you might have had before.

Sighing, in the present time, you put the towel on the pile for you to carry them upstairs to wash later tonight.

The idea made you scold a bit as it truly underlined just how much of an ordinary person you were. It had to be why you were clinging so much to the idea of Mikey ever coming back. Those few hours with him were the most you felt like you did something outside your comfort zone in… well… ever. Even if it was just doing your favorite activity and talking. He was a stranger, who appeared outside your shop and as bizarre as it was, who you dragged inside and taught how to bake taiyaki all the while talking as if you were on a date close friends.

You swallowed feeling a bit embarrassed and mentally scolding yourself for even thinking that. He was a stranger. An interesting stranger with haunting dark eyes, who would have kissed you if you didn’t stop him. 

A stranger with a story that keeps me up at night.

You waited for your cashier to finish as you always did and then proceed to clean up the front shop and prepare it for another day. It was a routine now. One which you were so used to, you would probably get insomnia if you didn’t end up doing it every day. 

You cleaned up, check all the doors and windows if they were locked, and started to go upstairs when it happened. 

The sound of the phone ringing coming from downstairs was almost as loud as thunder in the silence of your building, and you moved before you could stop yourself, rushing back toward the counter and hitting your ankle against its side in the process. 

You hissed but managed to snatch the phone before it finished and called out breathlessly partly still in shock and partly with hope, ‘M-mikey-kun?!’

You caught your breath feeling like a fool for doing so. The eagerness felt almost pathetic, and still, it could not be helped. Even the off chance, that it might be him was enough to keep you going.

You don’t know if it’s even him. 

He’s a stranger. 

Please, let it be him. 

There was a soft almost breathless chuckle, and your heart skipped a bit, ‘Sounds like you missed me.’

You closed your eyes and took a deep breath a smile pushing against your lips before you could even stop it.

You lied so poorly, ‘Just a little bit.’

He hummed, and you wondered if he could tell, and if he was smiling just a little bit too, and if he was the person who constantly called hoping you would pick up, and if he wanted to come again, and if…

You sighed and covered your closed eyes with your palm feeling your heart speed up as you giggled.

There was a sound, something like a gasp or a deep hoarse inhale, you couldn’t be sure, but in the next moment he spoke, ‘Are you busy today?’

‘No,’ you answered all too quickly and honestly. 

‘Oh, that’s not a very cool response,’ he teased you a bit, but before you could answer, he spoke again almost like he didn’t want you to overthink it or grow upset about it, ‘Can I come over? I…I have a few hours to spare, and I…,’ his voice grew softer and quieter, but still loud enough for you to hear, ‘I want to make taiyaki with you again. Can I?’

You smiled to yourself at how tender the question sounded almost like he was a child asking if he could have another sweet, ‘Yes, Mikey-kun. When will you come?’

‘Thirty minutes,’ he said, and you quickly started to walk to the front, ‘Alright, I will keep the door unlocked for you and turn on the oven again-’

‘DON’T!’ he said all too quickly and sharply almost making you think he was talking to someone else and panic before he spoke again, this time much quieter than before, ‘Don’t unlock it until I’m there.’

You paused waiting if he would continue, and to your surprise, he did only sounding, even more, quieter than before now, ‘It’s dark, and anyone could be on the streets now.’

Your chest expanded with the warmth from feeling touched by his concerns at the same time as it ached because it sounded like he knew what could happen in the dark when anyone could be walking the streets. 

Still, you nodded even if he couldn’t see you and returned to the small kitchen where you wouldn’t be seen to prepare the over and ingredients, ‘It’s alright. Call me when you’re outside, I will go and unlock the door for you then.’

He seemed to relax at your words, ‘I will hold you up to that.’

You did just that. You prepared the red beans pasta as well as other flavors to spice it up and the dough before you took a seat on a stool waiting for Mikey to call your business number again. 

Only once the phone rang, did you rush to the front door. 

Your eyes caught his shadowy figure because of a nearby streetlight, and even before you opened the door, you could tell, he was looking at you through the glass window. 

‘Hi,’ you said as you stepped aside to let him in. 

Only when he stepped inside, and you properly saw him from the light coming from your back kitchen, did you finally realize a part of you almost believed he wasn’t really in the first place? It was easy to understand why. It seemed too bizarre to have happened in the first place. For shy hard to communicate with others, you, to bring someone into your shop and spend hours with them talking like you were good old friends? It was almost unimaginable, but here he was. 

He looked the same as last time. Exactly the same. His clothes were dark, and a bit depressing, and if you didn’t know better, you would assume they were the same ones. Everything from the dark loose pants and black thin sweater to the flip-flops that made him look like he stepped out from his apartment nearby for a smoke.

His face looked the same too. You almost forgot, how he looked. How hauntingly handsome he looked even if there were dark circles under his eyes and this aura around him like he needed to be held or stayed the far away from. People often forgot new faces, but even so, you were certain until the day, you would die, you would forever remember his dark empty eyes that threatened to suck you in and drown you if weren’t too careful. 

Your throat felt dry, and you looked away from his lazy yet intense gaze noticing there was something different about him. 

‘What’s that?’ you asked motioning to the simple white plastic bag that so leisurely hung from his wrist.

It seemed he needed to blink at you before he glanced down as well as if he forgot he had the bag with him and shrugged his shoulders, ‘I figured if you wouldn’t let me pay, the least I could do was bring some goods to cover those we will use.’

Your lips curled into a smile, ‘That’s a very sweet thought,’ you said honestly feeling touched that he would think up something like this, ‘Thank you, Mikey-kun. It was really thoughtful of you.’

He looked at your face again and seemed almost less exhausted now with something close to life radiating from his dark eyes as they kept looking at your face, ‘It’s nothing. You make big deals out of small things, you know?’

‘Not true,’ you said a bit stubbornly and far too quickly, but it seemed to have lightened up his mood some more because he chuckled, ‘Yes, yes, my sister would have the same face you do whenever I teased her of such things.’

You thought someone else might have felt self-aware that he saw something from his sister in you, but the idea made you smile because the way he spoke about her before and now showed that he truly cared for her, ‘It’s only normal to be upset when you’re being teased, Mikey-kun. Let’s get started, alright?’

He followed you to the back already familiar with the surroundings immediately changing into the spare slippers you laid out before and reaching for the spare pink apron, ‘Can you tie it for me?’

You chuckled a bit since he once again looked a bit like a child when he asked it like that, but you still quickly went behind him and tied the apron with a single bow behind him momentarily taking a moment to steal another look at his tattoo.

He glanced at the piece of fabric with a fond face before you brought him to the sink and helped him properly wash his hands noticing how he let you do almost everything for him making it impossible to feel like you were being too pushy. 

‘I like when you do that,’ he said suddenly as if he could read your mind.

Your eyes blinked and looked over at his, ‘What?’

His smile was small and soft, the kind he had before when he was reminiscing about his past, ‘Kenchin always took care of me like this. He would tie my shoes and feed me if I asked him to.’

You rose your eyebrows upon hearing, ‘He sounds like a really good friend and person.’

‘The best,’ he agreed, but then something about his softness stopped, and he looked at you turning that softness into something even sweeter but more intense, ‘Don’t worry, you’re pretty great too. But you need to try harder if you want to be my number one caretaker. You should feed me taiyaki right into my mouth this time,’ he said and opened his mouth pointing a finger inside. 

The teasing got to you, and you laughed embarrassed shoving him weakly, ‘No, thanks, I rather stay second best.’

The amusement behind his dark eyes was evident enough, but it helped when he let out a small chuckle and got to the counter, ‘So, can you remind me a bit? I didn’t really repeat what you taught me at home.’

You giggled but nodded and pointed to what he needed to do next. He caught on easily, but it seemed he really liked when others helped him out because he often asked you to direct his hands and check things for him all the while talking about his childhood, friends, and family again. 

‘Say,’ you said at one point while you were finishing another batch waiting for the first one to finish in the oven, ‘Was it you who kept on calling and hanging up?’

Your heart was in your throat as you asked. You didn’t want to upset the young man who seemed to be even in a better mood than he was last time. Even if your previous encounter was brief in the grand scheme of things, it seemed like he wasn’t like this as often as he should be as he could be, and something about that made you try harder to keep the mood light and casual than you ever did for anyone else. Yet, it shocked you after a while how easy it seemed to have happened. Even if you were essentially still strangers, with the baked goods smell and warmth around you, it was impossible to be anything but in a good and light mood.

And with such a good mood, you probably felt like you could keep it going no matter what you would say or do so you asked. 

You knew it was partly a mistake even before Mikey’s hands visibly paused and a look of absolute emptiness passed his face, but once it did you felt so much worse.

Your hand instinctively reached out and touched his cover by the apron chest so you wouldn’t dirty his dark clothes, ‘I’m sorry.’

His eyes blinked, and it was as if whatever he was thinking a moment was forgotten and his mind cleared up before he looked over at you and then your hand on him. 

Self-aware and embarrassed you pulled it away and started to work again, ‘I just wanted to say. I’m happy, you called,’ you admitted feeling even more embarrassed, but at the same time feeling you wanted to take his mind off whatever crossed it before, ‘I did miss baking taiyaki with you.’

His entire face softened and a small smirk pulled against his lips, ‘Ah, careful, I will think you’re only using me as free help.’

You grinned hoping to chase your humiliation away, ‘Don’t say that, Mikey-kun. I pay you well with delicious taiyaki after all.’

‘Half of which I make,’ he pointed out and stepped closer to your side before you felt his lips whisper far too close to your ear, ‘You should give me something sweeter to keep me working hard for you, you know?’

You covered your ear on instinct as you felt his breath against it feeling your whole face warm up. 

He seemed to take great pleasure from this as he was smiling rather pleased with himself when you glanced at him again as he returned to finish his share of the workload. 

It’s like he’s a different person.

You shook your head trying to calm down before the timer went off again, and you pulled the first batch out of the oven. 

You had to chase Mikey’s hand away so he wouldn’t get burned as he tried to snatch the treat before the two of you then finished the next batch.

‘How come this was the first time you picked up the phone?’

The question caused you to stop working for a second since a moment ago it seemed he didn’t wish to return to the topic. 

‘I work back here, so this lady who works as my cashier usually picks up the phone. My hands are always covered in something,’ you explained finishing the final fish treat and watching the young man’s next to you reactions, waiting.

‘Would you answer if you knew it was me?’ he asked sounding almost shy and his refusal to meet your gaze even if he finished his own last taiyaki assured you that he did in fact feel shy when he asked that.

You smiled a bit to yourself and put the treats on the pan before you went to put it into the oven. Knowing that your face was protected by having his back to him, you could blush freely as you admitted, ‘Maybe if you waited longer in the line, you would have found out.’

You felt your heartbeat was too fast as you were never good with this sort of flirtingif it could even be called that.

You put the batch into the oven and closed it with your back still turned to Mikey waiting until you would feel confident enough to turn around again. You wished you were brave enough to sneak a look and see if you made him flustered as much as he made you. 

But before you could find your inner peace, and not feel so hot and embarrassed, you felt a pair of strong arms move around you. 

You let out a small gasp as you found yourself pressed against a firm body and a pair of arms were hugging you around your neck keeping you close all the while you heard a soft yet needyvoice say, ‘I wanted to hear your voice. I kept on telling myself that I would just hear it, and…be done with this. But when you finally picked up…,’ he sighed and you felt his forehead rest against the back of your head all the while feeling your body was warming up not just from working in your hot back kitchen, ‘I felt so happy when I heard your voice, I wanted to see you. Warm,’ he laughed a bit and you heard his smile even if you couldn’t see it, ‘When I think of you, I feel warm and cozy. You’re like a nice fluffy dream.’

Your eyes closed as you allowed the feeling of being held like this to take over every corner of your body and change it in a way you didn’t think you cared for, but now felt you needed more than anything. It was so long since someone held you and made you feel like this. You felt like you couldn’t breathe in the best way, ‘I was happy to hear your voice too, Mikey.’

All too fast, the arms let you go, and the sudden lack of his touch was almost painful. You understood what he meant about warmth because now despite the hot working oven in your kitchen, you felt chilly out of Mikey’s hold.

When you turned around Mikey was already with his back to you standing in front of the counter and chewing on one of the already cooled-off fish-shaped goods, ‘So good.’

The mood changed, and you felt like you did something wrong, but you didn’t know what. You felt like something shifted between you now, that would cause your sweet and casual mood to be ruined with tension now.

He didn’t say anything else, just kept on eating without looking at you. Not one glance or word, and you couldn’tstand it.

It was too much. You felt like you would start to cry at any moment simply just by looking at his back turn to you. 

I hate this. I hate this. I hate this.

‘I-I’m sorry,’ you whispered, and your voice broke a bit at the end, ‘Whatever it is I’m sorry.’

His hand paused from taking another treat, ‘Don’t…say it like that.’

‘Like what?’

‘Like you’re hurt…because of me,’ he said quickly into the silent back kitchen, and your eyes fell to his hand again noticing how it shook mid-air, ‘I shouldn’t have come.’

Your eyes widened, and your feet moved before you could stop them. 

Fingers dug into his forearm at the same time as he made a step perhaps to simply look at you or to leave, you didn’t know, but your body felt like it couldn’t take the chance. 

Please, don’t leave just yet.

‘Why?’

His face was different than before. Different than that empty, exhausted, and lazy look he usually had. Different than those rare rays of pure joy he showed at times talking about good times from his past. Different than the amusement whenever he teased you. Different than the intensity right before he was about to lean down to your face. Different one than you ever saw.

Broken

His tongue darted out and licked his lip that moved despite no words coming out for a moment, ‘I’ll stain you.’

The only sounds in the kitchen after that were those made by the turned-on oven. 

You blinked your eyes adjusting to their normal size as you stepped closer pressing your side against his. Your body immediately started to warm up, ‘What?’

‘I’ll stain you,’ he said again as if it would explain everything, and somehow it did without revealing anything at all. 

‘You won’t,’ you said strangely calmer than you felt with your heart beating so fast. 

He shook his head and shut his lifeless eyes so tight it must have hurt before he let out a small and weak, ‘Stop.’

‘You won’t.’

‘Stop saying that!’ he snapped now rather harshly and looked at you making you see just how upset he was. Angry. You didn’t know if it was at you or himself, and strangely, you found yourself wishing it was you because you hated the idea, that he would be at himself. 

You held his arm tighter, ‘You won’t.’

‘You don’t know me,’ he broke free with ease and his dark eyes turned into daggers as they cut into your face, ‘You don’t know me! I’m a stranger! I’m…I’m a monster.’

You remained silent, but your face didn’t change. His words were desperate more than angry. He wanted to convince you. He wanted you to understand, you could tell, but it seemed he didn’t understand at all. 

‘You’re not,’ you said and saw how his lips twisted into a nasty-looking grimace before he spoke again, ‘I’m the leader of Bonten.’ 

That for once made you pause at least for a moment.

Your lips parted and a simple ‘Oh,’ fell out.

‘The hell?’ he asked looking at you in disbelief now just as the timer went off again, and you went to pick up the fresh batch from the oven and turn it off.

You gathered your thoughts as you did since this always helped you out before you set the treats aside, ‘I didn’t know you were the leader. But I figured you were a part of it.’

You looked over at Mikey. 

He remained frozen in place with his dark lifeless eyes on you and the rest of his face unreadable, ‘You knew?’ he asked or breathed out quietly, and you nodded curtly, ‘I saw your tattoo the first time we met. It’s all over the news. You should hide it better if you want to stay anonymous,’ your poor attempt at a joke didn’t land on fertile grounds, and you mentally cringed turning partly away to compose yourself. 

Mikey took a step closer to you, and you looked right at him again unafraid only embarrassed a bit by how much you wanted to look at him, ‘Then you know what I do,’ he rose his hands, ‘You know I’ll stain you. I won’t mean to,’ absolute pain shifted across his face before he shook it away with a shake of his head, ‘But I will. My family, my friends …everyone. I’m covered in it, and if I stay too close, you will get dirty too. You…you’re the first person who got me to smile and laugh in forever. You talk to me, and I feel like I’m really here with you. You’re so warm, good…,’ he kept on shaking his head, but his eyes were still on you, ‘clean, I can’t…I won’t have your blood on my hands too.’

You didn’t answer. You couldn’t. So rather hesitantly because you weren’t confident when it came to these things, but you knew right now, Mikey needed you to be, you took hold of his hand. All the while your heart was beating loud enough that in the silence of your back kitchen and empty bakery. He had to be able to hear it as well. His hand was rougher than yours, but not by much. You were a baker after all. You worked with dough all your life. It didn’t feel bad to hold it or that it held you when his fingers interlocked with your own.

‘But I’ll stain you,’ he said so weakly almost like he didn’t believe it anymore. Almost like he just said it because he had to not because he wanted to. Almost as if he wanted you to tell him that he was right and let him go.

I won’t.

You swallowed your saliva and along with it your insecurities for a moment reaching your free hand over to the cooled-down and almost forgotten at this moment batch of taiyaki before picking one up. 

You felt his eyes on you the whole time as you carefully brought it in front of his mouth and with a smile, no matter, how awkward because of what you were doing you said, ‘Open up, Mikey-kun.’

His eyes were desperate, almost pleading as if asking you to reconsider, but you knew you couldn’t, not after he first appeared in your life and baked with you. Not after he took that card and called you.

You looked away for a moment, ‘I think about you at night before I fall asleep. I can’t stop,’ you licked your lips letting out all you felt inside. You were just an ordinary you, a little baker in a small shop on some random street. It wasn’t bad. You preferred it. But maybe every once in a while, you could be someone else, ‘and I don’t want to.’

There was silence for a moment before you felt Mikey’s free hand snatch your wrist. 

Your eyes shifted to his face again only to see him take a large bite out of the fish-shaped treat all the while gazing into your eyes almost like he was accepting your agreement even though you didn’t say anything out loud. 

He kept on holding your wrist all the while eating the taiyaki from your palm until all you had left were crumbs of the sweet fish. 

‘Can I kiss you now?’

‘No,’ you said immediately feeling your face growing hot and almost tearing your arms from Mikey’s hold, but he didn’t let you.

Instead, he blinked confused, ‘Why not?’

You shrugged your shoulders looking away knowing you were acting silly after all of that, but you couldn’t seem to help yourself, ‘I still don’t know you that well.’

‘You know more about me than anyone who does work with me,’ he deadpanned, but you didn’t budge, ‘I don’t even know your full name.’

He watched you for a moment almost making you look at him to see his expression, but before you would you felt him leaning toward you. 

Your heartbeat spiked, and your throat felt dry.

Even if you tried to keep your gaze off his, you could still see the lazy smirk playing across his face when he got too close to yours, ‘Sano Manjiro.’

You wished it didn’t if only to hold your ground a bit longer but hearing him say it brought a smile to your own lips. 

You rose your gaze to his excited and full-of-life eyes, ‘Okay.’

He let go of your hands in favor of taking a hold of your waist right before his face finally reached yours. 

The next day, your cashier asked for the shop phone, but you told her it was fine and kept it by your side. When it rang, even if your fingers were covered in flour or chocolate, you picked it up anyway. Careless, if you left stains on it or not.

Koniec

A.N: Thank you for taking the time to read this. I apologize for the mistakes. I hope you and your loved ones are alright. Have a lovely day. 💙💛

Ran Haitani × reader, sfw, fluff, no mentions of readers appearence, afab reader, mentions of sexual assault from the past (pls don't read if it triggers you or if you have any trauma, it's brief but it's there), soft Ran, protective Ran, (super OOC Ran, but I needed some comfort with him so I don't really care), no mentions of age but Ran and you are of the same age

──────｡ﾟ•┈୨♡୧┈• ｡ﾟ──────

Ran Haitani when you go on date with a guy he doesn't like, and that guy disrespects your personal borders, because it happened to me once and I still have a trauma

- also I need some comfort with Ran because I kinda fell for him because of all soft fluff and comfort headcanons on tumblr

(you and Ran are not dating (yet))

──────｡ﾟ•┈୨♡୧┈• ｡ﾟ──────

when you agreed to go to movies with your friend (who probably had a crush on you), you didn't expect anything necessarily bad to happen

and the movie itself was nice but you couldn't shake off the uncomfortable feeling you got from the guy

he was sweet, and he was a friend and a classmate of one of your friends, so you knew for sure he wasn't a bad guy, and he always made sure to give you attention and learn about your hobbies and things you liked

but you still felt uncomfortable around him for no particular reason

so while you two were watching the movie, your body was filled with anxiety for the whole time

once the movie ended, you both went outside the building

he suggested to walk you home, but you politely refused, saying you needed some stuff to do (when honestly you just wanted to spend some time by yourself to regain control over your body and chase the stiffness in it away)

he proceeded to offer you a goodbye hug, which you also tried to refuse politely, saying that you didn't think you two were close enough for that

(now, you loved hugs, you really did, but only with those you considered close to you. your family, your closest friends, your future s/o (which you didn't have yet). but you've known this guy just for some months (and considering you were sexually assaulted twice and had a phobia of strangers (or not so close friends) touching you, you weren't really fond of the idea of him hugging you, his suggestion giving you anxiety right away)

he didn't accept your refuse, proceeding to hug you and saying that you two "will get there", meaning that you two will become close enough for him to hug you (maybe even without asking as he didn't seem to take your "no" as one)

you knew right away, it wasn't gonna work out

"take your fucking hands away from her"

hearing Ran's voice had your body filled with relaxation

he was your close friend and one of the ones you were not afraid of letting to touch you, so him being here really made you feel safe

"and who may you be?" asked the guy you went to the movies with, finally letting go of you

"her boyfriend" replied Ran firmly and you felt your breath stuck in your lungs, eyes widening in shock

now, Ran's been flirting with you for a while now but you always tried to ignore it, as you've heard a lot of rumors about him and you knew some of them (if not most of them) were true

(like the one about him being a womanizer)

(you never thought he was being serious with you, as come on, it's Ran, he flirts with so many girls all the time)

"her boyfriend?" asked the guy, eyeing Ran cautiously

(now, you knew Ran could be intimidating when he needed it, he was in the gang, after all, and he was a really good fighter at that, but you never realized the extents of that before this time, seeing how the guy you went to movies with seemed to look smaller under Ran's pressuring gaze)

"yes, her boyfriend", he replied firmly once again, sliding his hand to squeeze yours to give you some comfort. "so I suggest you run along before I beated you to death".

the guy seemed uncomfortable but proceeded to collect himself, waving to you and saying goodbye and sharing his hopes you two will see each other again soon (which didn't seem to make Ran happy), taking his leave then

(you knew you won't be coming to any of your friends group's gazerings for a while)

"you okay?" asked Ran calmly after the guy was far enough

"mhm", you confirmed with a small humm. "what are you doing here?"

"thought I'll see for your safety myself".

"you were spying on me?" you asked with a surprised laugh

"hmm... kind of?"

"okay..." you laughed nervously

now, Ran was your close friend (at least you considered him as such) and you trusted him, and he most probably didn't spy on you out of bad means but, as he said, "to make sure you are safe"

(it was cute and you were glad for having such a caring friend)

(but it still was kinda creepy though)

you two walked around the area, just laughing at some funny signs on the buildings, or looking at cute things with Ran making funny remarks or little stories about them

(let's be honest, he always knew how to make you feel better or how to make you laugh, and you've never been bored with him)

as the day was coming closer to its end and the sky was slowly turning dark, you told him you're going to be heading home, as it wasn't totally safe on the streets of city at night

Ran suggested to walk you home which you agreed to gladly

as you got closer and closer to your house, you felt his hand in yours stiffen

"everything's fine?" you asked worryingly

"no", he replied firmly, stopping in front of your house

"what's happened? how can I help you?" you asked, a troubled look on your face

that's when you felt him hugging you from behind, circling his arms around your chest, lowering his head so his jaw was touching the right side of your neck, his two braids tickling your skin there

"I hate seeing you with other guys", he replied, his voice small yet so firm and sure

"I hate seeing you with other guys so can you please give me at least one chance?"

you felt your breath stuck in your lungs as he never said anything like that to any girls he flirted with, but also because he sounded so desperate, it made your heart sank

"Ran..."

"please, just this one time, at least this one, and if you feel uncomfortable, I won't pressure, I promise, just give me a chance. just this one time", he mumbled softly, holding you carefully in his arms

Ran was always soft around you. and flirty. very flirty. but he was flirty with other girls as well so you never took it as anything serious

now he sounded so broken and desperate, yet his voice firm as if he was sure of his words, being completely honest with you and his feelings for the first time you've been around him

"okay", you agreed smiling softly, which he could see from the corner of his eye.

his arms tightened around you, holding you even closer to his warm body as he calmly breathed, smiling gently

you seemed to stay like that for quite a long time as the sky got really dark and stars started filling it around the brightly shining moon

"Ran, I have to go home", you smiled slightly, leaning your head to his

"I don't want to let you go" he mumbled whining

"I'm just going home, we'll meet tomorrow", you laughed softly, smiling slightly

(you were meeting nearly every day, so it wasn't like you'll be gone for long)

"yes, but i don't want to let you go, I wanna stay like this", he pouted

"Ran, we'll meet tomorrow, it won't be that long"

he left out a sad sigh, not wanting to let go of you

"I love you", he said after a short silence. "I really do"

his voice so desperate yet assured, so you couldn't help it when you felt your heart start racing as if it was gonna jump out of your chest

"I can't say "I love you" for now, but i know for sure that I like you"

"hopefully it can change into something more, can't it?"

"it can. and it may"

he smiled softly, finally letting go of you

"I can't wait for that to happen"

you nodded, smiling slightly, and waved him goodbye, promising to see him tomorrow

"I really love you", he whispered watching you go inside your house. "I promise I won't mess my chance up"

under the moon and the starry sky he made this promise to himself, and he never ever reneged on it

──────｡ﾟ•┈୨♡୧┈• ｡ﾟ──────

don't repost on other social medias, don't translate without permission (you can feel free to share the link to this post on other social medias if you want to tho, I'll be very greatful)