❝ don't stop the party ❞ by izanami hifumi [cv: kijima ryuichi]

when I'm with you, my heart melts
party, don't end
is it love? i'd like that

Enjoy Reading!

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Every night, when it closing time, there's always that feeling of anticipation that swam in his stomach. The first time he felt it, he brushed this off as hunger. The second time, he stayed in the toilet for a long time. Neither seemed to be a correct answer. It took him long to realize the cause of this.

Walking home all by himself after work, he took a different route home which was always unusually empty. He took that route in hopes of not only avoiding his fangirls, but─ah, he found you from a few steps away, coming out of the convenience store with the usual bottle of coffee drink and rice balls he often saw you come out with.

His breathing seemed to have stopped, so did his steps, debating himself if he should finally approach you or not.

For the past few days, he always wussed out of even maintaining eye contact with you, but he couldn't help but stare at you in awe, the simple beauty you radiated always made his heart beat faster and his stomach churn.

Why... why was he feeling so nervous and shy even if he was wore his jacket for tonight?

He froze when your eyes met his. He could feel his face heat up as you gave him a friendly smile. You only stood there with a questioning look, and he realized that you were waiting for him to approach you, so he forced himself to move.

"Good evening, sir. We often see each other here," you giggled, and he swore he felt his heart skip a beat he almost panicked outwardly─because internally, he was already panicking,─"does your work usually end this late?"

"A lovely evening for a lovely lady," he gently took hold of your free hand and brought it to his lips, giving a light kiss on your knuckles, making you turn bright red, "it does, and why are you always here this late, cute kitten?"

It took all your courage to give his hand a light squeezd, finding comfort in the new warmth his big hand gave to your small one. His eyes flickered at this, the corner of his lips unconsciously curving upwards.

"I get off work at this hour, too," you lifted your hand holding the plastic bag, "and I buy dinner before heading straight home."

He frowned immediately at this, obviously worried that you've been consuming convenience store food everyday, though the way you flashed that sheepish smile of yours eliminated the negative look on his face.

"That's not so healthy, is it? To be eating convenience store food every night," he sighed dramatically, giving your hand a light squeeze, his other hand tucking the stray hair on your face to your ears.

"I-it's okay. Every now and then I try to get something healthy so it's fine!" you reassured, averting your gaze away from his worried ones, "A-anyway, Izanami-san, you should head home now! You must have been so tired."

He blinked, tilting his head slightly in confusion, "and how did you know my name, kitten?"

"E-eh? Aren't you a part of Matenro?" you mimicked his action unintentionally.

He gave a hearty laugh when the realization dawned to him, "I thought you had known me from somewhere else."─from his job, he meant,─"My fair lady, may I accompany you on your way home? I want to be sure that you'll get home safely."

"I-if you insist," you said, blush painted across your cheeks that he couldn't help but find adorable, "A-ah, my name is [YL/N] [YF/N], Izanami-san."

"Would you allow me to address you by your first name, my lady?" he brought your hand to his lips once more, though not making any contact yet, waiting for your response as he looked at you.

"I-I don't mind," and with that, he pressed his lips at the back of your hand, letting it stick for a second longer before finally letting you retract your hand hesitantly.

"Then may you also refer to me by my name, [YF/N]?" you frantically nodded, trying to hide your flushed face that was triggered by him saying your name, "thank you, my cute kitten. Shall we go?"

"A-ah, right! Let's go, Izafumi-san─ack!" you internally sobbed at your mistake, hiding your face by letting a few locks of your hair fall to your face, which he only gave a laugh at.

"You're really adorable, [YF/N]," he said while mimicking his action previously, tucking the stray locks of your hair behind you ear. His fingers ghosting on your skin elicited another blush on your face. He smiled at this, hoping that he's the only one you'd show that cute expression to.

Regaining your composure, you lead the way for him, though he walked close beside you. He found peace at the comfortable silence between the two of you, at the same time he could feel a craving─craving for more knowledge about you, about your likes and dislikes, your interests, your fears. He wanted to know if your heart also beat fast with him. He wanted to know if you also somehow waited for him every night at the same place.

He wanted to know everything about you, and he'll keep all those to himself.

In turn, he wanted you to know about him, too. The him who hid from women, the him who wore a jacket to face his fears.

Yet he held off his desire. He'll wait for another chance, and he hoped that chance would be given to him tomorrow night again.

Stopping at the building where you apartment was, you gave a shy smile towards him, "thank you, Hifumi-san. You're really kind."

"Why, of course. A beautiful lady like you must be treated well," he sighed, realizing that it was time for the two of you to part, regret lingering in his tone, "it's a shame that our time is short."

"I-it's okay! I'm sure we'll meet under different circumstances next time!" your eyes twinkled, and he smiled at this, "a-and I know this is probably too early for me to say, b-but...!"

You hesitated, biting your lower lip as you contemplated whether or not to proceed, but with his anticipating gaze bore into your nervous ones, you decided to express yourself.

"I-I...!" you gulped, forming a fist with your hand, "Th-the moon is beautiful, isn't it?!" you almost shouted before dashing inside the building, leaving him standing there, confused.

Why was it too early for you to say that when the moon was shining so brightly above them?

Oh.

He clenched on his chest, his heart beating rapidly as be realized what you meant. His face heated up as he looked above to where the moon was, a soft smile on his lips, gaze filled with satisfaction.

"I can die happy." he whispered to himself his response.

Soon, he'll tell you that, but without his jacket on.