Reckless (Hajime Saito)

I'd lost count of how many times he'd jumped in at just the right time to save my life. My habit of jumping into things and protecting people who couldn't defend themselves almost always threw me into some sort of trouble.


"Saito-sama!" I'd shout out excitedly whenever he rescued me.


Afterward, he'd scold me for such a careless act. "You shouldn't be so reckless, Makoto." But every time, he'd still give me a small smile and pat me on the head.


"Saito-sama..." He was always there when I needed someone, even when he had specifically told me not to interfere and I disobeyed. "I wish there was some way to repay him for all those times he came to my side when the fight was too much for me to handle on my own."


"You've taught me everything I know about how to use a sword," I said out loud, though no one was around to hear. For a long time now, he had been training me almost every day. I'd push myself harder and harder until I dropped, all for him. "Even Okita-san was impressed with how much I'd learned when I stood up to him awhile back. I may not be strong enough or even good enough to match his skill yet, but I'm sure that someday I will."


"I'll do it for you, Saito-sama. I know I only cause trouble for you, but I want to make you proud of me." Looking up at the night sky, I suddenly felt very mature. It was a funny feeling, but I liked it. "Even if you may never return my love for you, I'll do everything I can to make you proud." I stood up and brushed myself off.


"No more reckless little Makoto," I told the nothingness around me, throwing my fist up in the air. "It's time for me to start acting like a true warrior and make Saito-sama proud to call me his student."


"You don't have to go that far to make me proud of you."


Upon hearing his voice, I instantly spun around, my face red from embarrassment and surprise. "Saito-sama!" Having been too busy with my little speech, I hadn't even noticed him approaching. "You didn't... you didn't hear any of that... did you?"


His response was calm and seemingly emotionless, as he always seemed to be. "Even if I didn't hear, the look on your face gives it away."


"O-oh..." Embarrassed that the man I idolized had heard me speaking like that, I quickly turned my back to him. Even with as brave as I was, I was too scared to say those things to Saito-sama and couldn't bring myself to look at him after knowing he'd heard everything.


"Makoto," Saito said, his voice suddenly a lot closer than it had been a second ago. He grabbed my arm, spinning me to face him. As he spoke again, his voice dropped to a whisper. "I've always been proud of you."


I didn't know what to say to that. Actually, I doubted I could even speak if I had known what to say. But that didn't matter when I was suddenly pulled into his arms and the distance between us was closed.


Saito was never an emotional one, nor was he the type to ever act on impulse. But in this moment, this kiss that we shared, he was exactly as I usually was. I was the reckless; he was the cautious. But for just a moment, our roles had reversed. And I was loving it.


"That's a reckless move Saito-sama..." I said once we parted, my voice barely a whisper.


"Let me be the reckless one," he whispered, sending chills throughout my body. "Just this once..." With those last words, the gap was closed again. Here in his embrace and lost in his kiss, I was the happiest person in the world.

Comment