Chapter 14 - Between Us

"Huh....so It's Sui-chan..."

From a distance, a girl blended with another visitors, her gaze locked onto Y/N and Suisei. She watched them quietly, her eyes narrowing, though a small smile played on her lips, hiding her sorrow.

Her gaze flickered to the morning sky, then to the ground. "I never had a chance in the first place, huh?" Her face unreadable, she leaves the park, all along erasing her pictures with him. Not a lot, but something she treasured so much.

"Let's grab breakfast!" Suisei said excitedly, standing up from the bench. "I'm hungry, seriously..."

"Sure, I'll treat you then," Y/N replied, meeting her eyes. "I could eat another breakfast too."

"I would eat yours!" She smiled before letting out a small chuckle. "If only I could know that you're eating breakfast before, I would do the same so we can both have a second breakfast!"

He laughed, the sound blending with the soft breeze that rustled the trees above. It's natural and easy.

"What are we, a hobbit?"

She giggled, covering her mouth. "Maybe we are! Honestly, I'd be fine with third and fourth breakfast!"

"You're going to gain a lot of weight then." He replied, watching her giggling beside him.

"Well then I'm going to transfer all of it to you!" She said, bumping her shoulder lightly to his as they walk side by side, leaving the park.

The street outside was a little livelier from before, shops opening up, bicycles weaving through the street, the city slowly returning to its usual pace. Suisei walk closely beside him, her hand grazing against his every now and then.

He glanced to her, catching the sunlight reflecting on her blue hair, her cardigan sleeves pulled over her hands, she hummed quietly to herself.

It felt normal, easy and somehow nostalgic. For him it's like traveling back in time, walking home together with her after school ended.

"I never think Tokyo can be this quiet." Y/N speaks.

"You think so? Maybe it's just the world that wanted to take a breath for once." She replied, tugging his sleeves as they reached the crosswalk. "Sounds weird, but the world never stopped moving right?"

"I think if the world stopped moving, all of us would be dead." He replied, gazing to the street light.

Suisei let out a long sigh, "Break the ice, c'mon! You're always so serious!" She nudged his arm with her elbow.

Y/N chuckled seeing her reaction, the way she still offended by him when he's serious, she didn't change at all. "You're the first one to be serious," He giggled. "Talking about the world wanted to take a breath for once!"

"Something wrong with that, Mister?" Suisei pouted. "I want to show you that I'm not the childish Sui-chan you know anymore! I AM COOL now!"

He gazed to her, meeting her deep blue eyes once again, his eyes flickered to her puffed chest before letting out another chuckle. "Sure, sure, you're still cute either way." He said, at the same time reaching her head, patting it lightly.

Her cheeks flushed at his sudden words, but she didn't swat his hand away, instead she leaned in closer towards his touch, like a cat pretending not to like affection.

"You can't just do that..." She speaks, her voice low almost like a whisper.

"What's that? I can't hear you." He replied, giggling at her reactions.

"Gosh, I hate youu."

Four months passed...

"What?!" Suisei said, surprise written all over her face. "Y/N-kun are my new manager?"

In Yagoo's office, after discussing Suisei's project, Yagoo tell her about the news of her manager. Though it might be still early for her after what happened last time with Takehiru, Yagoo had his own plan.

"Yes, I've been thinking of this for a really long time, doing research of his background here and then." He paused, "I'm positive, there wouldn't be the second season of what happened last time."

"This might be a really bold move of me, but I hope you would give me the chance." Yagoo said as he bowed his head.

Suisei rushed to him, telling Yagoo to lift his head. "I understand, I would do my best as usual."

"Thank you, Suisei-san."

With that she leaves the CEO's office, all while the thoughts of him rushed inside her head. "I'm afraid I can't focus doing my work with him around..." She sighed, "I already can imagine of how he's going to tease me while I'm streaming..."

"Someone must be thinking of me." A familiar voice talked.

Suisei turn her head towards the source, finding it was Y/N. She walks towards him, a smile tugging at her lips. "You're going to be happy, really happy after hearing this."

"Hearing what? Are you finally going to teach me how to cook curry?" His voice excited as he looks towards her eyes.

"Not that, Dummy." She replied, letting out a long sigh. "It's about our job, you're going to become my new manager."

Y/N smiled, despite him already knowing it for a long time, joy cannot escape from him as he heard the news from her. He looks into her eyes, of what once so far now so close just a few inches away.

"No way! Are you joking right now? Cause it's not funny." He said as the two began walking outside of the Headquarters.

She shot him a glare before hitting his side with her elbow, "It's cancelled. I won't teach you how to cook Curry anymore."

He giggled seeing her reactions, "Aww, c'mon, I'm sorry Chef! Won't happen again!"

"I accept your apology!"

They exited the building together, stepping into the late afternoon sunlight. The city buzzed around them, distant chatters, people walking all over the city, cars and bikes passing around. But between them, there was a comfortable silence.

"So, Manager-kun," Suisei teased, grabbing Y/N's hand. "What's your first command for your super cute and cool Idol?"

He rubbed his chin dramatically, pretending to think. "First one is...You're going to teach me how to cook! Just like the old days!"

Suisei laughed seeing his acts, she then replied by gasping while placing her hand on her chest. "But, you still have our cook book!"

"I want the new update." He replied, tightening his grip on her hand. "I'm sure your cooking is getting better after all these years."

Suisei smiled, locking her eyes with his. "I learn a lot, especially from Choco-sensei, so I can surprise you one day..." Her gaze flickered to the ground before looking into his eyes again. "Maybe it's tonight that I will give you a surprise!"

"I'll wait for it then." He smiled back, intertwining their hand, finger locking it.

"But first, we're going to do some shopping first!"

The two make their way to the shop, buying ingredients needed to make a curry. Suisei wandered around the shop, while Y/N walk behind her carrying the basket at the same time watching her humming to herself.

Onions, Carrots, Potatoes, Curry Roux and Chicken Breast. "Watch me as I'm about to cook you a very delicious meal even Gordon Ramsay himself would finish the whole meal under two minutes!" She said as she put flour and panko breadcrumbs.

"You sure are very confident, huh?" He replied.

"Well, I'm going to surprise you after all." She leaned her head sideways, smiling at him, that somehow filled his heart.

Later that night, back at Y/N's apartment, the kitchen was filled with the clatter of pots and pans and the sound of knife hitting the chopping board.

"Hey! Pass me the potatoes!" She said as she finished tying her apron, the strings fluttering behind her.

"Yes, Chef!" Y/N teased, tossing the potato, a little too high.

"Wha—" She caught it awkwardly against her chest, glaring at him playfully. "Seems like someone trying to sabotage me."

"I'm just testing your reflexes!" He grinned, leaning against the counter, watching her dicing the potatoes effortlessly moving with grace.

There is something mesmerizing about seeing her here, in this quiet and warm scene. Her in an apron, her hair tied messily into a ponytail, her cheeks white from the flour she played with him. It reminds him, of her coming over to his house that day, he's sick and he cook him a meal.

"You're staring." She said, not looking up from cutting the carrots now, but a small and warm smile can be seen formed in her lips.

"I can't take my eyes from you with an apron." He replied, walking closer to her.

She stopped her movements for a second, her cheeks flushed red, but she continued chopping the carrots. "You better be careful, Manager-kun..." She speaks, her voice low yet teasing.

"I certainly will not." He chuckled.

The time passed slowly with them cooking curry together, Suisei teaching him how to cook it at the same time telling him to write it on their high school cook book filled with Suisei's recipes followed with pictures of them cooking together. The two laughed at the pictures, remembering the simple days.

Of what, an empty apartment with dusted kitchen used for nothing except cooking instant noodles or boiling a water, now filled with so much warm and affection. The dull and gloomy apartment, slowly regaining its colour. His grey world once again painted full of colours by her.

After minutes of Y/N messing around in the kitchen, while Suisei cooking the curry, it's finally done. The smells filled his entire apartment, immediately making his stomach growl.

"Hungry already?" Suisei said at the same time taking off her apron. "Wait in the table, I'll bring it to you."

Y/N nodded and walk towards the living room, sitting under a kotetsu watching the TV. While Suisei turning off the stove and began plating the Curry Katsu she made for him. The chocolate curry a contrast from the white rice that lay a shallow fried chicken on top of it.

With a warm smile tugging at her lips, Suisei bring both of the plates to the kotetsu in the living room. "Meals ready!" She said as she placed the plate.

"It looks like something from a restaurant." He said as he looked into the curry, his eyes glued to it.

"Let's dig in, shall we?"

Accompanied by the TV Program, Suisei and Y/N enjoyed the curry she made, each bite not only filling his empty stomach but his heart too, the meal she poured so much love into it.

"What is this..." He said as he takes the last bite. "I never in my life had a meal this good, words are unable to describe it."

"You're overreacting, Y/N-kun." She giggled, a smile tugging in her lips. "But, I'm glad you like it."

Both of them didn't speak, there's no need to. She leaned her head to his shoulder, holding his hand as if he would gone if she let go. "Can we stay like this...for a little longer?"

He nodded, without her even looking, she could understand. Her grip on his hand tighten, as her breath matched with his.

"You know, I'm happy today." She speaks, her voice gentle. "Like, really happy."

"I can say the same, I never thought, we would write another recipe on that book." He replied, wrapping her shoulder with his hand.

"Sui-chan, do you still remember of what you said to me that day? That the world stopped moving, did you still remember it?" Y/N asked.

"What about it?" She replied.

"I wish not only the world, but time itself stopped moving now..." He paused, glancing at her. "Just so this moment would last forever."

"You make it sound like one of us would be gone..." She replied. "Like there would be a whole another season of you disappearing again."

"I wouldn't do that again, though." He speaks, tightening the grip on her soft and gentle hand. "I'm not wasting another seven years without you."

She smiled, a warm smile that lit up his entire world. One that sparks life again inside of him, filling him with hope once again. "I don't want to lose you for another seven years either."

He pulled her closer, leaning his head sideways so it met hers. "I love you."

Her cheeks flushed red, she closed her eyes, her voice gentle and warm as she speaks, "I love you too..."

"And there wouldn't be more distance between us."

*****

With this, "Between Us" the sequel from "Only You" are finished. Thank you for all the support you gave, thank you for reading this untill the end. Thank you for everything!