tayba @taybaaa - Tumblr Blog

Returning home (Reader x Gilbert Blythe)

Requested by: Anon Forever tag: @harleyquinnswifeyfrfr, @sweetheartlizzie07, @floatlosers, @vviolynn, @evilcr0ne, @melsunshine, @ilocuras24

Steam whistled loud from the engines. Boiler room filled with hot air. Piles of coal, scattered around. Gilbert exhaled loud, drawing the back of his hand over his brows.

Feeling the sweat droplets on his skin. Lowering his hands, they were near black as night. Forming a slight chuckle that he just might have smeared it out over his face. There had already been coal dirt from before, a bit more wouldn’t harm.

cececocogirl

⋆ ˚ : ⋆ ˚｡⋆ My roomate’s work.. ⟢

Chapter 1 : the beginning .𖥔 ݁ ˖

⠀☽ ‧₊˚ミ☆ synopsis: Ever since you and Choso became roommates, he's been going out far more often than usual. At first, you didn't think much of it. Everyone needed space sometimes. But lately, he's been coming home at four in the morning with bloodshot eyes, crumpled bills stuffed into his pockets, and a strange scent clinging to his clothes. You tell yourself there's a reasonable explanation. After all, you've known Choso since childhood. He isn't reckless.

He would never start smoking... right?

WARNING : MDNI, plug!choso, roomatechoso, smoking, fem!reader, both of yall are in not so good financial situation, choso and reader are both 18+, stoner!toji, and stoner!sukuna mention. College no curse au, mention of violence, smoking, getting high, killing, blood, burning with blunts, choso is lowk nonchalant, reader got an attitude, mention of car crashing, dead parent, Hints of sub!choso dom!choso ( most of the times but in some cases..)

Pairings: plug!choso x fem!reader

Note from the author: hii guys! This is my first fanfiction ever so please don’t expect some pro level writing.. also I wanted to add that I am not a native English speaker so my words may look mixed up or weird and I would appreciate if you would let me know if there’s any editing I need to make I also would like feedback on this fanfic showcasing my favorite jjk character, Choso Kamo, I hope you enjoy!

Ps: Couldn’t find the artist please help ..also listen to "the Walls" by Chase Atlantic!

You were an A student, always striving for good grades in hopes of building a better future, not just for yourself, but for your family as well.

Growing up on the poorer side of the city wasn't easy. Your parents had always dreamed of giving you a stable life, and your mother, especially, believed that education was your way out.

Even now, you could still picture the day she died.

The image of your father clinging to her coffin, tears streaming down his face, remained carved into your memory. He looked broken. Lost.

From that day on, you made a promise.

You would become successful. You would get both yourself and your father out of this part of the city. And one day, you would achieve your dream of becoming a lawyer.

You excelled in almost every class.

Almost.

Biology was your downfall.

As ridiculous as it sounded, the one subject standing between you and academic perfection was Biology. No matter how many hours you spent studying, the concepts refused to stick.

It drove you insane.

More than once, you found yourself chewing on the end of your pen in frustration, staring at your notes as if they might magically start making sense.

You could have asked questions during class.

The problem was that your pride wouldn't let you.

Not because you cared what most of your classmates thought. Their opinions had never mattered to you.

Except for one.

And unfortunately, he happened to sit only a few rows away.

The student standing at the top of the class wasn't who anyone would have expected.

It was Choso Kamo.

The most nonchalant guy in your year.

He wasn't particularly popular, nor was he a troublemaker. He simply existed on the outskirts of everyone else's lives, keeping to himself and speaking only when necessary.

Everything about him felt like a mystery.

His black hair was tied into two spiky buns, framing a face marked by a black stripe tattoo that stretched across the bridge of his nose and along both cheeks. Dark purple eyeshadow accentuated his espresso-brown eyes, giving him an unusual appearance that should have been intimidating.

Instead, it was strangely captivating.

What made him even more confusing was his attitude toward school.

Most days, Choso barely showed up. And when he did, he was either sleeping through lessons or disappearing halfway through the day to play Monopoly with his chaotic friends, Mahito and Geto, in empty classrooms.

The teachers had long since given up complaining. Somehow, despite his constant absence, he always managed to score average marks in nearly every subject.

Nearly every subject.

Because when it came to Biology, Choso was a completely different person.

He actually paid attention.

He arrived on time, kept his eyes fixed on the board, and answered questions before anyone else could. Even then, he always wore the same bored expression, as though everything being taught was something he had learned years ago.

And honestly?

It was annoying.

No matter how hard you studied, nobody could surpass him.

Especially when the lesson involved blood.

For reasons you couldn't understand, Choso knew far too much about it. Every now and then, he would casually mention some disturbing fact that left the entire classroom unsettled.

Including you.

But more than anything, it made you curious.

And curiosity had a way of becoming obsession.

But failing wasn't an option.

Not when your future depended on your grades.

So after days of arguing with yourself, you finally swallowed your pride and decided to ask Choso for help.

Finding him wasn't difficult.

You already knew exactly where he would be.

Skipping math.

Again.

The sound of laughter echoed from one of the empty classrooms as you pushed the door open.

There he was.

Mahito was sprawled across a desk, dramatically accusing Geto of cheating at Monopoly while Geto defended himself with far more enthusiasm than the game deserved.

And in the middle of it all sat Choso.

Bored.

As usual.

The moment you stepped inside, three pairs of eyes turned toward you. Unlike Mahito and Geto, who remained seated, Choso pushed himself to his feet when you approached.

Your confidence immediately vanished.

You tightened your grip on the wrinkled Biology worksheets in your hands.

"Uh..."

Brilliant start.

For a second, Choso simply stared at you.

Then his gaze dropped to the papers.

Then back to your face.

Something in his expression changed.

The corner of his mouth twitched upward.

Because apparently seeing the top student in his class standing awkwardly in front of him and asking for help was the funniest thing he'd witnessed all week.

"Listen," you began, holding out the worksheet. Clearly embarrassed to be here.

Mahito noticed it too.

"Ooooh," he sang. "Look who's asking Choso for tutoring."

Geto laughed.

You wanted the floor to swallow you whole.

"I don't need tutoring." You shot him a glare.

"I just wanted help with a few.. questions."

Choso took the paper from your hands and glanced over it.

"A few?"

Heat rushed to your face.

Half the worksheet was covered in question marks.

Before you could try and explain yourself Choso simply pulled his phone from his pocket and held it out toward you.

"Put your number in."

You blinked.

That was it?

No teasing?

No questions?

Just his number?

Trying your best to ignore Mahito's increasingly dramatic reactions, you quickly typed your contact information into his phone before handing it back.

Then, before anyone could say anything else, you turned around and left with whatever dignity you had left.

Later that evening, your phone buzzed.

A single message.

"Meet me in the library."

Staring at those four words, you had a strange feeling.

Something was about to change.

And somehow, you knew this was only the beginning.

Helping with homework quickly turned into regular Biology tutoring.

There was only one problem.

Choso was a terrible teacher.

An excellent student?

Absolutely.

A tutor?

Not even close.

His explanations somehow managed to be both painfully detailed and completely unhelpful at the same time.

"You just follow the blood through the vessel."

You stared at the page.

"I don't know where the vessel is." you admit confused.

He frowned.

Then pointed at a diagram.

"The vessel."

"There are seventeen vessels." You pointed out.

"Oh."

After a moment of silence, he pointed at a different one.

"That vessel."

At first, you met in the library.

Then the library became a coffee shop.

The coffee shop eventually became each other’s house.

And before either of you realized it, studying had become an excuse to spend time together.

For once, you were grateful that your father was almost always at work. The idea of having a boy over would have been embarrassing enough on its own.

Fortunately, Choso never seemed to notice.

Or maybe he did.

Tutoring sessions gradually became less productive as time went on.

What started as questions about Biology turned into conversations about everything else.

And that only made you feel confident enough to start teasing him.

"Choso."

"Hm?"

"You're the worst tutor I've ever had."

Choso looked up from the textbook.

"...That's not true."

"It absolutely is."

A small frown appeared on his face.

"My little brother said the same thing."

You blinked.

"You've tutored someone before?"

"Yuji."

"And?"

"He asked me to stop."

The room fell silent.

"He what?"

Choso closed his textbook and let out a sigh.

"He said my explanations made less sense than the teacher's."

You stared at him.

Then burst out laughing.

"It isn't funny."

"It is a little funny."

"It isn't."

"You were fired by your own brother."

A look of genuine disappointment crossed his face.

"I had to hire someone else to help him."

You nearly fell out of your chair.

You asked him about his strange fascination with blood.

He asked why you pushed yourself so hard.

You learned that Choso had nine younger siblings and missed every single one of them.

You learned that he wanted to become a phlebotomist one day.

Most importantly, you learned why.

"I want to get Yuji out of here."

The words had slipped out during one of your late-night study sessions.

Out of this city.

Out of the violence.

Out of the future everyone expected for people born on this side of town.

The conviction in his voice surprised you.

Because it sounded exactly like something you would have said.

For the first time, you realized you weren't the only person dreaming of leaving.

From then on, spending time together became effortless.

You studied together.

Walked home together.

Spent weekends together.

Eventually, you met Yuji.

And somehow, it felt like you'd known him forever.

Before long, pizza nights became a tradition.

The three of you would crowd onto the couch, arguing over movies while Yuji complained whenever Choso picked something boring.

Those nights quickly became some of your favorite memories.

Even if you didn't realize it yet, Choso had already become one of the most important people in your life.

As your friendship grew, so did the teasing.

Choso started taking a liking to it aswell.

Of course he did.

Whenever you got an answer wrong during a Biology quiz, he'd lean over just enough to glance at your paper before quietly muttering the correct answer under his breath.

The smug look on his face afterward was unbearable.

Naturally, you had to get revenge.

Unfortunately for him, you've discovered his greatest weakness.

Flirting.

The realization came one afternoon when you absentmindedly reached over and fixed one of the tiny buns on his head.

"You know," you said, trying not to laugh, "these little sea urchins are kind of cute."

The effect was immediate.

Choso froze.

Completely.

A faint pink color crept across his cheeks.

"...Sea urchins?"

You grinned.

"That's what they look like."

Without another word, he turned back to his notebook and pretended to focus on his work.

The tips of his ears were bright red.

After that, it became a game.

A dangerous game.

Every time you complimented him, sat a little too close, or caught him staring, he would immediately look away.

And every single time, his face turned pink.

For someone who knew everything about blood, Choso was surprisingly bad at hiding where it rushed to.

and you secretly found it cute.

…

Tonight was different.

It wasn't just another study session.

Tomorrow's exam would decide whether the future you'd spent years fighting for was finally within reach.

Books covered every inch of your desk. Open notebooks, highlighted pages, loose sheets of papers, everything blended together beneath the warm yellow glow of your lamp.

Your coffee had long since gone cold.

So had your motivation.

Your eyes burned from hours of studying. Every few minutes, your gaze drifted from your notes to the bed waiting across the room.

Sleep sounded heavenly.

Tempting.

Dangerous.

You couldn't afford sleep.

Not yet.

You needed to pass.

No.

You HAD to.

This wasn't just another exam.

It was your first step toward law school.

Ding.

Your phone lit up.

At this hour?

Your eyes narrowed slightly as you reached for it. No one you knew was awake right now, not unless they were suffering through finals just like you.

Well…

One person was.

Choso.

Your stomach did something strange at the sight of his name.

"Are you still awake?"

You stared at the message for a second longer than necessary before typing back.

"Yeah. I forgot how draining studying can be."

A pause.

Of course, you and Choso hadn’t been talking as much lately. Exam season had a way of swallowing up time, leaving only late nights and unfinished notes.

You’d both agreed it was better this way.

Studying together always turned into something else, distractions, laughter, nothing getting done.

So you studied separately.

At least, that was the plan.

Another notification came through.

"Do you wanna call?"

You blinked.

That was unusual.

Choso didn’t usually ask first.

He would pick up when you called. He would respond when needed.

But he didn’t initiate.

Not like this.

Without thinking too long about it, you pressed call.

It rang once.

Twice.

Then—

“Choso?”

“Hey…”

His voice was low. Tired. Familiar in a way that made your chest tighten for no logical reason.

For a second, you forgot what you were going to say.

“…What’s up?”

“Nothing,” he said after a pause. “I just wanted to hear your voice.”

Your breath caught.

Okay…

That was bold.

“W-Why?” you managed, trying and failing to sound normal. “Don’t tell me you like it or something.” You said jokingly.

A quiet exhale on the other end.

“I wanted to check in on you.”

“Check in on me?”

a pause.

And just like that, the teasing stopped feeling like a game.

Choso sighed

"You shouldn't stress yourself out."

A small laugh escaped you.

"Easy for you to say."

"It isn't."

For a moment, neither of you spoke.

The soft sound of pages turning came through the phone.

Then Choso broke the silence.

"Are you scared?"

You stared at your notes.

The question caught you off guard.

A little.

A lot.

Terrified.

You were terrified.

Tomorrow felt like the first step toward everything you'd ever wanted.

And somehow, that made it feel like one wrong move could ruin your entire future.

"...Yeah."

The answer came out quieter than expected.

On the other end of the call, Choso hummed.

"I'm scared too."

That surprised you.

"You are?"

"Yeah."

A pause.

"Guess we're both nervous."

For some reason, hearing him admit that made the weight on your shoulders feel lighter.

Just a little.

Enough.

The call lasted far longer than either of you intended.

Eventually, your textbooks were forgotten.

Your notes remained unfinished.

And for the first time all night, you weren't thinking about exams.

You were thinking about Choso.

When you finally crawled into bed hours later, his voice still lingered in your mind.

Tomorrow would change everything.

But for now, you closed your eyes knowing one thing for certain.

No matter where life took you after graduation.

You hoped Choso would be there too.

As for Choso…

The call had ended a few minutes ago.

And yet he was still staring at his phone.

Not because he was annoyed.

Because he couldn’t quite settle his thoughts.

He exhaled slowly and leaned back in his chair.

Finals were approaching.

He told himself he was ready.

But the truth was harder to ignore.

He wasn’t just worried about passing.

He was worried about what it meant if he didn’t.

If he failed, what kind of example would that set for his brothers?

Choso had always believed something simple.

If he stayed on the right path, they would have something to follow.

But if he failed…

They would be forced to find their own way in a world that didn’t give many directions.

His thoughts spiraled quietly in the dim light of his room.

Then—

The door opened.

Choso straightened immediately.

“Why are you still awake?” he asked.

Yuji stepped inside, grinning like he didn’t understand the concept of bedtime.

In his hands was a bracelet.

Black.

Simple.

Almost identical to the red one on Yuji’s wrist.

Choso blinked.

“…What is that?”

“I got them yesterday,” Yuji said proudly. “I thought it would cheer you up.”

“Cheer me up?”

“I saw you stressing about finals,” Yuji continued. “But don’t worry, Cho’. I believe in you. You’re gonna pass.”

For a moment, Choso didn’t respond.

His gaze dropped to the bracelet.

Then to Yuji.

He smiled softly

"Thank you, Yuji."

₊˚ ‿︵‿︵୨୧ · · ♡ · · ୨୧‿︵‿︵˚₊

Years had passed.

And yet somehow, nothing between you and Choso felt different.

At least, not at first.

Now you were on the phone with him, arguing again about something that felt far too serious to be decided over a tired voice and late-night silence.

Roommates.

You both had been accepted to the same college.

Different paths, same campus.

It felt like fate.

Or maybe just bad luck, depending on how Choso looked at it.

You, on the other hand, were still planning things carefully. Law school was still the goal—but you weren’t ready yet. Not completely. You wanted more time to prepare, more time to make sure you wouldn’t fail.

And if you were being honest…

The idea of being away from him and Yuji bothered you more than you wanted to admit.

On the other end of the call, Choso was lying on his bed, one arm covering his face, phone pressed against his ear.

He listened quietly as you spoke, your chair faintly creaking as you spun absentmindedly in place.

“I’m telling you, Choso,” you insisted, “if we shared an apartment, we’d save money. And we could walk to campus together.”

A soft chuckle came through the phone.

Tired.

Low.

It made something in your chest pause for a second.

It was already late around ten at night. You couldn’t even pretend to be annoyed by his exhaustion.

“…Why are you laughing?” you asked, raising an eyebrow even though he couldn’t see you.

His voice came through again.

Calm and raspy

And for a second, it made your thoughts completely freeze.

“I’m sorry…”

His voice was quiet on the other end of the line.

“I just think your attempts at sounding convincing are… somewhat adorable.”

There was a brief pause.

You could hear it then, the faint sound of his hand covering his mouth, like he was trying to hide the last word from reaching you too clearly.

Adorable.

It landed differently coming from him.

Not teasing.

Not sarcastic.

Just… honest.

And somehow that made it worse.

You stared at nothing in particular, gripping your phone a little tighter.

Because this was new.

Choso teasing you was normal.

Choso ignoring your teasing was normal.

But Choso initiating it like this, soft, unguarded, almost shy..

That was dangerous.

And you absolutely could not let him know how much it affected you.

You stopped spinning in your chair and tilted the camera upward, letting it face the ceiling.

A few seconds passed.

Then a minute.

Finally, you spoke again.

“D-don’t you think it’s a bit late for teasing?” you muttered, pouting slightly. “You’re just saying that because you don’t want to share an apartment with me…”

You rubbed your feet together nervously while waiting for his answer.

A faint sigh came through the speaker.

Then—

The camera shifted.

Choso’s face appeared.

His hair was down, slightly messy.

Droopy eyes stared into the screen, like he was trying to find you through it.

“Why would you even think I need convincing to share an apartment with you?” he asked quietly.

You immediately pulled your legs up onto the chair, trying unsuccessfully to hide your face from the camera.

“…What about Yuji?” you asked instead.

A small pause.

“He’s not a kid anymore,” Choso said with a faint laugh. “He told me he’s staying on campus. Sharing a dorm with his friend, Megumi. So I don’t have to worry about him.”

"Oh. good for him." You exhaled smiling.

“Anyways… I’m coming over tomorrow,” Choso said. “We can find an apartment near the college then. Alright?”

You shifted, grabbing your phone and letting yourself fall back onto the bed.

The camera tilted with you.

Now he could see you clearly.

Your face lit softly by the glow of your bedside lamp.

You nodded.

“…Alright.”

On the screen, Choso’s expression softened. His eyes were half-lidded, tired in a way that made him look calmer than usual.

A small smile tugged at his lips.

“G’night.” he murmured.

“Good night, Cho…”

The call ended.

Silence filled your room.

For a moment, you just lay there, staring at the ceiling.

Then a smile slowly formed on your lips.

“I’m gonna share an apartment with my best friend…”

You whispered it like it wasn’t fully real yet.

Like saying it out loud might make it disappear.

…

The apartment search started earlier than you expected.

You had told yourself it would be simple, quick visits, a few opinions, then done.

But standing outside the first building, you already felt like something was different.

Choso stood beside you, hands in his pockets, looking up at the structure with his usual unreadable expression.

“…It’s fine,” he said after a moment.

“That’s it? Just ‘fine’?”

He glanced at you.

“It has walls.”

You stared at him.

“That’s your standard now?”

“It’s important.”

You sighed, already regretting bringing him along.

The first apartment was too small.

The second was too expensive.

The third had a weird smell that neither of you commented on, but both of you clearly noticed.

By the time you reached the fourth one, you were EXHAUSTED.

“This is the last one..” you muttered.

Choso hummed quietly beside you.

Inside, the apartment was simple.

Clean.

Two bedrooms.

A small shared living room.

Sunlight filtered through the window in a way that made everything feel softer than it probably was.

You walked slowly through the space.

“This one’s better,” you said, mostly to yourself, looking around.

Choso didn’t answer right away.

Instead, he stood in the middle of the living room, looking around like he was trying to imagine something.

Not the furniture.

Not the walls.

Something else.

“You’re quiet,” you said.

“I’m thinking.”

“About what?”

He paused.

Then, like it was obvious:

“Where you’d put your books.”

Your steps slowed.

“…My books?”

“They’re everywhere when you study,” he added calmly. “You’d need space.”

You blinked at him.

That was not the answer you expected.

And for some reason, it made your chest feel a little warmer than it should have.

The agent started talking again, but you barely heard them.

Choso had already moved toward the window.

“You like it?” you asked.

He looked back at you.

A short pause.

“…Yeah.”

Just that.

Simple.

Certain.

You tried to ignore the small feeling building in your stomach.

“Me too,” you said quietly.

Another pause.

Then:

“…We’ll take it,” you added.

The agent smiled.

“Great choice.”

Choso didn’t react much.

But when you glanced at him, he was still looking at the room.

Like he had already accepted it as something real.

Something shared.

And that thought stayed with you longer than it should have.

…

After successfully moving all your things into the apartment, everything felt… different.

Quieter.

Closer.

And somehow, more natural than you expected.

With college starting soon, you and Choso found yourselves falling into a routine almost immediately.

He started knocking lightly on your door every morning.

Not because he was a morning person.

And definitely not because you were.

Neither of you were.

But someone had to make sure you actually got up.

And apparently, that someone had become him.

Since Yuji was away on campus now, Choso didn’t have anyone to “take care of” anymore.

At least, that’s what he said.

But now that he was living with you…

It felt like that role had quietly shifted without either of you discussing it.

He had started checking on you more.

Naturally.

Casually.

Like it was the most normal thing in the world.

One morning, you opened your door still half-asleep, rubbing your eye.

“What do you want for breakfast?” he asked.

His voice was low.

Rough with sleep.

It caught you off guard in a way you couldn’t quite explain.

And for a second..

You forgot how to answer.

You rubbed your eyes in confusion.

Everything still looked blurry.

He didn’t give you time to fully wake up before answering.

“Fried eggs and bacon it is.”

Your favorite.

That made you pause for a second, even if your brain was still half asleep.

When your vision finally cleared, you stopped in your tracks.

Choso was standing in the kitchen.

His back was turned toward you, the morning light hitting him softly through the window.

He looked… unreal in a quiet way.

Tall. Lean. Focused.

Wearing loose white sweatpants and a black tank top that exposed his shoulders.

The sight made your thoughts lag behind your body.

For a second, you just stood there watching him cook like it was something you weren’t supposed to interrupt.

“Morning,” you mumbled eventually.

Without turning around, he hummed in response.

Like he already knew you were there.

You sat down at the table slowly, still waking up, watching him move around the kitchen with an ease that didn’t feel new anymore.

It already felt like routine.

Like this had always been your life.

After a few minutes, he placed the plate in front of you.

You ate slowly, feeling the heaviness of your eyes while trying to keep the fork in your hand steady.

After you finished, you didn’t even think about it before getting up again.

Wordlessly, you walked behind him and reached for the bathroom drawer.

Two hair ties.

You always kept them there now.

“Stay still” you said softly.

“…I am still.”

“You know what I mean.”

He didn’t argue.

He never did.

Instead, he leaned slightly back into the chair, scrolling through his phone while you started gathering his hair.

The familiar motion of tying it into his spiky buns came naturally now.

Like muscle memory.

As you worked, he occasionally turned his phone slightly toward you.

A TikTok.

A random picture.

Something Yuji had sent him.

You laughed under your breath more than once, carefully parting his hair as you did.

It all felt too easy.

Too natural.

Like neither of you had ever really had to adjust to it.

And maybe that was the dangerous part.

Because it meant you started getting used to him.

Completely.

A thought suddenly crossed your mind.

You still hadn’t told your father much about him.

Not really.

There was never a good time.

And honestly…

You weren’t sure how you would even explain it.

“I’m living with a guy I’ve known since college who cooks for me every morning and lets me do his hair while we laugh at TikToks.”

Yeah.

That wouldn’t go well.

“…I’m going to live in an apartment,” you had said before, keeping it simple.

Your father had just nodded over his journal.

Like always.

Back in the present, your fingers gently tightened the last hair tie.

Choso reached for his phone again.

But then—

A notification appeared.

An email.

The landlord.

Hakari Kinji.

His expression shifted slightly.

Not much.

But enough.

The faint smile he usually wore in moments like this disappeared.

And for the first time that morning…

Something in the air felt different.

Silence.

"what’s wrong Choso?” You said in a quiet but worried tone.

When you finished tying his hair, Choso stood up.

“Don’t worry about it,” he said simply, grabbing his keys. “Just get ready. We leave in twenty.”

Before you could respond, he was already walking toward the door.

“…Weird,” you muttered under your breath.

The door closed behind him.

A second later, you heard him outside—his voice low as he made a phone call.

You stayed still for a moment.

Something about his tone didn’t sit right with you.

But you brushed it off.

You already knew why Choso received persistent calls from the landlord.

Rent.

It had been harder lately, on both of you.

Hakari was… not exactly patient when it came to delays. He usually gave you some time, especially when you explained how difficult it was to find stable work in this part of the city.

But patience wasn’t his strongest trait.

And when money didn’t arrive on time…

He made that very clear.

You had managed to find a part-time job in a café not too far from the apartment, but the hours were limited.

And the pay..

Well.

It wasn’t enough to make anything easy.

And Choso…

He was still searching.

He had gone to multiple job interviews already, and every time you tried to help him prepare, teaching him how to smile, how to ease his expression, how to look less like he was about to scare someone off he would nod like he understood.

And then completely fail to do it anyway.

Apparently, “normal friendliness” didn’t come naturally to him.

The recruiters always ended up glancing away too quickly.

Sometimes it was his piercing stare.

Sometimes it was the strange black stripe across his nose.

Sometimes it was just… him.

Either way, he hadn’t gotten a single offer yet.

You still reassured him.

Told him he’d find something eventually. Something that suited him.

Choso listened quietly, his expression unchanged.

“…I don’t need reassurance,” he said flatly, like the conversation was already over.

And that was the end of it.

Or at least, that’s what he wanted it to be.

You’d usually pass by his room without thinking at first.

But then you’d stop.

Choso was there.

Sitting on the floor, back against the wall.

Unmoving.

His eyes weren’t focused on anything in particular, just distant, heavy, like he was somewhere far away that you couldn’t reach.

It wasn’t the stoic expression he showed the world.

This was different.

And for some reason, it made your chest ache.

The worries of not being able to pay rent on time resurfaced as you headed toward the bathroom.

The hot water would hopefully wash some of that anxiety away.

Outside, Choso stepped into the corridor and answered his phone.

The moment he lifted it to his ear, he nearly pulled it away again.

"LISTEN HERE—"

Hakari's voice exploded through the speaker.

"MY MONEY WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HERE BY TUESDAY!"

Several heads immediately poked out of nearby apartment doors.

Choso closed his eyes.

"...Morning, Hakari."

"DOES IT LOOK LIKE A GOOD MORNING TO ME?"

His yelling echoed through the hallway.

A woman down the corridor quickly retreated back into her apartment.

"Didn't I tell you to get your shit together?" Hakari continued. "Every month it's the same thing with you two!"

"I'm aware."

"ARE YOU?"

"We're trying as hard as we can to pay you on time."

"Tried real hard last month too."

Despite the shouting, Choso remained calm.

"Didn't we pay you eventually?"

A dangerous silence followed.

Then—

"Took your sweet time doing it."

Choso sighed.

There it was.

The real problem.

Hakari wasn't angry because he thought they wouldn't pay.

He was angry because he hated waiting.

A long silence followed.

Then, unexpectedly, Hakari laughed.

Not the mocking kind.

The kind that sounded like he'd just remembered something amusing.

"See, kid, I ain't the type to pity people."

Choso frowned.

"Then why haven't you kicked us out yet?"

"Funny you should ask."

The grin in Hakari's voice widened.

"Do you know why?"

"...Why?"

"Because I see potential in you, Choso."

His brow lifted.

"What?"

Before he could question it further, Hakari continued.

"Let me ask you something."

Choso leaned against the wall.

"If somebody came up to you and said, 'Do one thing for an hour a day and you'll make ten thousand dollars a month,' would you believe them?"

Choso didn't even need to think about it.

"I'd have my doubts."

Hakari chuckled.

"Good."

The response seemed to please him.

"A lot of idiots would've jumped at that."

His voice lowered slightly.

"But people don't chase money as much as they think they do."

Choso stayed silent.

"They chase the feeling."

"The feeling?"

"The heat."

Hakari's tone grew almost thoughtful.

"The rush of risking everything."

"The possibility of winning."

"The possibility of losing."

"There's something addictive hiding underneath all of that."

Something in Choso's expression shifted.

"What are you trying to say?"

Choso's voice had grown colder.

His patience was running thin.

He hadn't stepped into the corridor to discuss philosophy.

He had stepped out to buy more time.

Hakari clicked his tongue.

"I'm saying you're looking at the wrong problem."

"The rent is the problem—"

"No."

For the first time since the call started, Hakari sounded completely serious.

"The problem is that next month you'll be having this exact same conversation."

Silence.

Choso hated that he had a point.

Hakari continued.

"What kind of passion do you have, Choso?"

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Everything."

His voice lowered.

"Do you want to spend the rest of your life scraping together rent money?"

Choso's jaw tightened.

"Or do you actually want out?"

The corridor suddenly felt smaller.

"If you're happy living like this, that's fine."

Hakari shrugged audibly.

"Stay where you are."

"Keep struggling."

"Keep hoping something changes."

A pause.

Then—

"But if you want something better..."

Choso frowned.

"...Then what?"

Hakari laughed quietly.

The sound sent a strange feeling down his spine.

"Now we're finally having the right conversation."

Choso remained silent.

His thumb hovered over the screen.

One press.

That's all it would take to end the conversation.

He had already wasted enough time listening to Hakari ramble about passion, gambling, and changing his life.

Then Hakari spoke again.

"I know some people."

Choso's thumb paused.

"People who can get you a job."

The silence on the line shifted.

Not gone.

Interested.

"A real one," Hakari continued. "Something that'll keep you and your little girlfriend off the hook for a while."

Choso frowned immediately.

"...My what?"

Hakari barked out a laugh.

"You heard me."

"She's not my girlfriend."

"Sure."

The response came far too quickly.

"I called about rent."

"And I'm talking about rent."

For once, Hakari's voice was serious.

"No promises."

"No guarantees."

"But if you've got the guts for it, I can introduce you to people who'll pay a hell of a lot more than some coffee shop ever will."

The corridor fell silent.

For a moment, all Choso could hear was the distant sound of traffic outside.

Then Hakari asked:

"So?"

A pause.

"You think you can handle the heat or not?"

Choso's eyes narrowed.

For the first time since answering the call, genuine irritation slipped into his voice.

"Im not getting involved in shady shit, 'Kari."

A scoff came through the phone.

"I'm serious."

"I told you," Choso continued, "I'll find a job sooner or later."

Hakari groaned, a sign he was irritated.

"There won't be a later."

The casualness in his voice disappeared.

"I want my money next Monday."

A pause.

"Or what?"

"Or I come collect."

Choso's grip tightened around his phone.

"And if I don't have it?"

Hakari laughed.

Not because he found it funny.

Because the answer seemed obvious.

"Then I’ll drag both of y’all asses out myself—"

"You ain't touching her."

The words came out immediately.

Sharp.

Certain.

Hakari was silent for a moment.

Then—

"There he is." He laughed.

Choso frowned.

"What?"

"That's the first time you've sounded interested in this conversation."

"..."

"I'll send you the number."

Choso opened his mouth to refuse.

The call ended before he could.

Then silence

As soon as the call ended, Choso lowered his phone.

Silence.

For the first time all morning, he had a moment to process what had just happened.

The rent.

Hakari's offer.

The deadline.

The number he was about to receive.

A sigh escaped him.

He rubbed the back of his neck and leaned against the wall outside the apartment.

This was bad.

Really bad.

His thoughts immediately drifted toward you.

Without realizing it, he pushed open the door and stepped back inside.

And there you were.

Standing in the living room.

Adjusting your shoes before leaving.

The sunlight spilling through the window caught on the gold buckle around your waist.

A black knit top rested slightly off one shoulder.

White jeans completed the outfit.

Simple.

Effortless.

You looked good.

Beautiful.

The thought arrived before he could stop it.

Choso froze.

His eyes widened slightly.

Then he immediately looked away.

What the hell was that?

His grip tightened around the fabric of his shirt.

A strange feeling settled somewhere in his chest.

One he had been noticing more often lately.

Before he could think about it any longer, he grabbed his black sweatshirt from the couch and pulled it on.

Problem solved.

At least, that's what he told himself.

"Ready?" you asked.

He cleared his throat.

"...Yeah."

The answer came a little faster than usual.

As you and Choso walked side by side, the city seemed quieter than usual.

The morning rush moved around you.

Cars passed.

People talked.

Yet somehow, it all felt distant.

Like the world had slowed down for just a little while.

You were saying something.

Probably a joke.

Because a second later, you laughed.

And Choso found himself smiling too.

His eyes drifted toward you.

The sunlight caught your face for a moment.

And suddenly—

"Do you want to stay in this mess with no hope of ever changing your life?"

His smile disappeared.

Hakari's words echoed through his mind.

His grip tightened around the phone in his pocket.

The weight of it felt heavier now.

His breathing slowed.

His gaze dropped to the pavement.

Then returned to you.

You.

The girl who had somehow become part of every important memory he had.

The girl who listened to his rambling explanations about blood composition without walking away.

The girl who laughed whenever his hair ended up looking ridiculous.

The girl who somehow made even the worst days feel lighter.

His chest tightened.

Before meeting you, Choso had convinced himself that his world began and ended with his brothers.

Then you happened.

And somehow, without him noticing, you had carved out a place beside them.

A place nobody else had ever reached.

His eyes softened.

You and Yuji.

The two people he cared about most.

The two people he wanted to protect.

No matter what.

His fingers curled around the phone.

Maybe Hakari was full of shit.

Maybe the offer was a terrible idea.

Maybe nothing good would come from it.

But—

He owed it to them to at least look.

"...I should see what the job is first."

The thought settled heavily in his mind.

And for the first time since the phone call ended.

He stopped considering hanging up on the opportunity.

If there was even the slightest chance it could help you and Yuji...

Choso had to know.

And that’s exactly what he did.

₊˚ ‿︵‿︵୨୧ · · ♡ · · ୨୧‿︵‿︵˚₊

It was a cold night.

The city outside had long since fallen quiet, leaving only the occasional sound of distant traffic filtering through the apartment.

Before leaving, Choso stopped by your room.

The window had been left slightly open again.

A habit of yours.

Without a word, he walked over and carefully pushed it shut.

The cool breeze disappeared almost instantly.

You stirred beneath the blankets.

A small frown appearing before you instinctively burrowed deeper into the warmth.

Choso glanced down at you.

Then gently pulled the blanket higher over your shoulder.

The movement earned a sleepy sigh from you.

His expression softened.

For a moment, he stayed there.

Watching.

Making sure you were comfortable.

Making sure you were warm.

Then he stepped away.

Quietly closing the door behind him.

The softness in his eyes disappeared as he reached for the front door.

A black hoodie.

His keys.

His phone.

One final breath.

And then he left.

The address led Choso to an empty parking lot.

The place was deserted.

Only a handful of streetlights remained lit, their pale glow reflecting off the ground.

A black Mercedes-Benz sat near the far end of the lot.

Two men in black were waiting beside it.

Like they had been expecting him.

Neither moved as Choso approached.

One leaned casually against the car.

The other remained silent, hands tucked into his pockets.

The closer Choso got, the more obvious it became that they were studying him.

Judging him.

Measuring him.

Choso stopped a few feet away.

Silence settled between them.

A stare-down.

Nobody looked away.

Nobody spoke.

Then—

One of the men smirked.

"Choso, right?"

Choso's fist tightened instinctively.

The moment the stranger reached into his pocket, he subtly shifted his stance.

Ready.

If things went south, he'd at least be able to react.

But instead of a weapon, the man pulled out a blunt wrap.

Choso blinked.

For the first time that night, genuine surprise crossed his face.

The stranger placed it in his palm.

"Ever rolled one of these before?"

Choso lowered his gaze to the wrap.

A familiar feeling settled in his stomach.

So that's what this was.

The job.

The reason Hakari had called.

The reason two strangers were waiting for him in an empty parking lot at night.

His thumb brushed against the paper.

"...Used to."

Toji raised an eyebrow.

"Used to?"

"I think."

Choso studied it for another second.

"Not sure I remember how anymore."

A grin spread across Toji's face.

"Then let's see."

He handed over the rest of the materials before leaning back against the Mercedes.

Arms crossed.

Watching.

Waiting.

Like he already knew how this was going to end.

The silent man watched closely.

At first, his expression gave nothing away.

Then, little by little, his brows began to lift.

He clearly hadn't expected Choso to be this skilled.

Choso's fingers moved carefully, shaping the wrap with practiced precision.

Years had passed since the last time he had done this.

Yet somehow, the motions still came naturally.

"There."

He held it out.

The man took it and inspected it for a moment before nodding.

Toji let out a low whistle.

"Not bad."

The stranger lit it.

For a few seconds, neither man spoke.

Smoke drifted into the cold night air.

Then the stranger laughed.

"You're pretty good at this, Choso."

Choso remained quiet.

A small part of him wondered how they knew his name so casually.

But the answer was obvious.

Hakari.

Of course.

The stranger reached into his pocket and pulled out a small package.

His expression turned serious.

"Work starts now."

The amusement from earlier was gone.

"Find the party host."

He placed the package into Choso's hand.

"Bring back the money."

A pause.

"Understood?"

The weight of the package felt heavier than it should have.

Choso stared at it for a second before slipping it into his pocket.

Smooth.

"And what's the pay?"

Choso's voice remained calm.

There was a brief pause.

Then Toji let out a quiet chuckle. “I like him,” he said, almost approvingly.

The other man tilted his head, studying Choso for a moment before nodding. “He’s got confidence. I respect that.”

“Yeah… he might actually work out.”

₊˚ ‿︵‿︵୨୧ · · ♡ · · ୨୧‿︵‿︵˚₊

Trending Blogs

Last Seen Blogs

tayba