Archive of Our Own

Asa hated her new class mate with every bone in her body.

The way he'd allow people to use him as a seat for less then ten yen. How he'd goof off and interrupt the teacher during lessons. He never knew how to wear his school uniform right, either, which was her biggest pet peeve.

She scribbled in her note book, doodling random things while the teacher called for study time. Her brain had found it impossible at the moment with the boy leaned back in his seat, snoring very obnoxiously.

She screwed her eyes shut with annoyance. Just who the fuck did he think he was? Actually, why the hell was he in her class?

Sighing, she reached over and flicked his nose, earning a small gasp from the boy who sprung up suddenly. He rubbed his eyes, yawning before looking over at the girl.

"What the hell?!" He whisper-yelled.

"Sorry, you were snoring and I couldnt concentrate on my studying, something you should also be doing." She replied, rolling her eyes, looking back down to her book.

He scoffed, picking up his own book before staring at it for a few moments with a confused look. Asa took notice of it, raising an eyebrow.

"Its not that hard, Denji." She said.

He squinted at the book one more time before his face flushed red. He leaned over and whispered quiet enough so that no body else heard. "I... I can't read all that good."

Asa's eyebrows dripped, staring at the boy who looked very embarrassed. "Are you dyslexic?"

Denji blinked, looking even more confused. "What does that mean?"

Asa sighed, face palming. "It means the words and shit get all jumbled in your brain."

"No, I'm not dyslexic. No one's ever tought me how to read, asshole." Denji responded, looking back down at his book trying to read out the words but ultimately failing.

Asa was speechless. This boy was Seventeen years old and never knew how to read? Seriously, how the hell was he able to get into school? She got a sudden pang in her chest, she felt bad for the poor boy. "Do... you need help?"

Denji paused for a moment, still trying to read himself but soon gave up. "Maybe... if you don't mind to help me?" He offered a cooked awkward smile, showing off his sharp teeth that resembled one's of a shark. She always wondered why they were like that, he was a human wasn't he? She wondered how sharp they were too.

His eyes were a dark amber brown, when the sun hit them in just the right angle, they looked almost red. Even though he was as skinny as a wooden board, his cheeks still held quite a bit of chub that puffed up whenever he did flash even the slightest smile.

Cute.

Asa quickly found herself appalled by the sudden thought that flew through her head. She didn't like him whatsoever, she's watched him sell cigarettes that he picked up from the ground, roll the tobacco up in a new paper, say that they were American cigarettes, and scam the poor homeless people of their money. He was a complete and utter... scumbag.

But... she just couldn't get over that damn smile of his. To others, it creeped them out, but for her... she thought it was quite cute.

Once again, she cringed at the thought of Denji and cute being used in the same sentence. He was absolutely repulsive to her.

At least that's what she thought.

"No, I don't mind. Are you free after school today?" She asked, trying to clear her mind of all the thoughts plaguing her mind.

"Yeah... why?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

Asa had a new feeling of sympathy for this boy. If nobody was around to teach him how to read or at least send him to school than maybe he didn't have anybody at all. So, as much as she hated the idea, she still decided to pop the question.

"Want to go over to my apartment and I can help you there? We can walk there after school?"

Danji nodded slowly, looking a bit hesitant. "Is... is it okay if my... little sister tags along? She's only eight years old and I kinda don't want to leave her home alone, you know?"

Little sister? Since when did he have a younger sibling? Asa shrugged. "I mean, I guess. As long as she's cool with it."

Denji nodded, flashing that odd smile once again that made Asa's heart flutter and stomach flip. "Of course, we have to stop by the elementary school first to collect her, if that's okay."

"Of course, sounds great." Asa responded, giving him a quick flash of a smile too. She felt her cheeks heat up and tint red the longer she looked at the boy. Embarrassment, maybe? From being rude to him or was it something else that made her whole body warm and hands suddenly clamy?

She paid no mind to it. There's no way in hell Asa Mitaka was getting flustered over Denji Hayakawa. No way. She was only going to help him study and after that, She was done with him. She'd never have to speak to him again after that.

...

The rest of the school day went by slowly, hearing the school bell ding at exactly three o'clock was such a good sound to her. She flung her bag around her shoudlers and darted for the door, Denji following shortly behind.

"So, we pick up your sister then head for my place, right?" Asa asked, turning towards the boy who had been lost in thought.

He blinked towards her and smiled. "Yep, that's the plan. We might have to stop by the store, she gets hungry after school."

"I have food at my apartment, she can have whatever she wants." Asa said, pushing open the school doors and feeling the chilly December air smack her face and whole body. She let out a quick shiver before her body grew used to the cold. Her old coat wasn't thick enough for this weather but it'll have to do. Denji was wrapped in a blue scarf along with a thin jacket over his school uniform.

Asa's exposed legs prickled with goosebumps as the wind knocked into her over and over, sending more shivers to run down her spine. Before long, her teeth were chattering.

Denji raised an eyebrow towards her, watching her wrap her arms around her middle. Sighing, he removed his scarf and tapped her shoudler. She turned to face him while he held up his scarf. "Here, take this."

Asa blinked, not knowing exactly how to react from this sudden kind gesture from this boy. After a minute of silence and Asa making no moves to take the scarf, Denji took the liberty of swinging it over her head and wrapping her up in the warm cloth.

"There, nice and warm, right? My... brother gave me that scarf and I've used it every cold day since." Denji said, a small smile still apparent on his lips but this time it wasn't so joyus.

"Wait, you have a brother too?" She asked, raising an eyebrow as the shivering started to subside.

"Kind of. He was a friend of mine. We lived together for a little while and he just sort of... become and older brother to me." Denji said, looking down at his feet as they continued their walk to the elementary school.

Asa thought on his description of the man who he called an older brother. She didn't quite understand why he said 'was'. Was there a falling out between the two?

"Nayuta!" Danji called out, snapping the girl out of her over active thinking. They were now stood in the middle of a school yard where several children poured out of the school building, talking and laughing with their friends while walking to their parents or school bus. A young girl with raven black hair covoring more than half of her face walked their way. She held her bento box in both hands as she stepped closer and closer to the two teens.

She flashed a quick smile up at Denji before grabbing onto his hand. "Denji, who's this?"

"This is Asa. We're going over to her apartment today." Denji responded, wrapping his obviously larger hand around the girls smaller hand.

The girl paused, looking up to Asa before turning her attention back to Denji. Loudly, without skipping a beat, she asked;

"Is she your girlfriend?"

Denji's eyes went wide and his face flushed a deep red. "No! No, she's my... study partner?"

Asa was left in complete shock by the girls question as Denji looked over to her for help. Her own face had turned red as she looked down to the girl and shook her head. "I'm NOT his girlfriend... Nayuta? I-I'm helping him study this afternoon."

Nayuta paused, squinting her eyes slightly. "I don't believe you."

Asa's eyebrows dipped quickly at the accusation, looking back over to Denji who tried to hide his embarrassment by covoring his face with his free hand. "Okay, Nayuta, that's enough."

There was a long pause between the three of them as they trailed down the side walk, snow had started to fall slowly, almost like a snow globe. Denji's teeth had started to chatter as he tried his best to ignore it.

"I punched someone today." Nayuta said suddenly, smiling as sweetly as ever up to her older brother.

Denji chuckled. "Did they deserve it?"

Nayuta nodded. "Yep. They called you a loser."

He offered the girl a high five. "Good job. I think that bravery deserves an ice cream cone."

Asa's jaw went slack as her eyes blew wide open. "Are you kidding me? Rewarding that type of behavior?"

Denji shrugged his shoudlers. "Hey, I told her that if any body talks shit about her or her family, they get their lights knocked out." He flashed a smile at Asa, making her mouth shut almost immediately. "Plus, I have just enough money for you to get one as well."

"I can pay for my own food, thank you." Asa said, her voice clam but snippy.

"Too late, I'm buying you ice cream." He said, turning into the nearest ice cream shop with a friendly looking man behind the counter. Asa blinked, staring in disbelief.

The ice cream shop was quite small on the inside. The walls were painted a baby blue color with several tables painted pink. The floors had white tile and the counter was pink as well. It smelled of artificial strawberry with a hint of body odor.

"Gross" Asa thought.

The little girl attached to him by the hand looked down at every flavor on display. Rocky road, birthday cake, strawberry, chocolate, and mint all call her attention as Asa hesitantly looks as well.

"Okay, Nayuta. How many times did you pinch that kid?"

"Twice." She responded, still staring intently at the ice cream display.

"What flavor?"

"Birthday cake."

"Two skoops of Birthday cake for her and..." Denji turned to Asa with a questioning gaze. "What flavor do you want?"

"...Vanilla."

Denji paused again, giving her a deadpan stare. "Vanilla?... seriously?" He sighed, turning towards the man and requesting two skoops of strawberry.

Denji handed her the cone which she just stared down at. Her face twisted into a scowl as she hesitantly held her tounge out. She licked the it and had found it... very delicious. All her life she's stuck with vanilla, never trying another flavor until that moment.

Her eyes widened as she went in for another lick.

Denji smirked, looking down to Nayuta who was off in another universe.

Asa didn't notice the expression she made while enjoying the ice cream. A small smile had spread her lips, small dimples indented the sides of her chubby cheeks. She's always hated the damn things, her parents and cousins used to tease her for them so she's learned to hide her smile behind her hands.

But, she hadn't noticed that she was smiling freely with no shield.

Denji couldn't look away, the redness of her cheeks and nose from the cold weather along with the small indents on the sides of her cheeks just... had his eyes focused really hard on her face.

She was... cute.

Asa then looked over to him, noticing his very obvious stare.

"What?" She asked, her smile still not fading.

Denji's face burned scarlet due to the embarrassment of being caught. He shrugged his shoudlers, turning his gaze the opposite direction of her. "Nothing... I just haven't seen you smile before."

Asa felt her face burn as well. After that whole time, she still didn't realize she was smiling until Denji had pointed it out. "Uh- what?"

"Your smiles cute, okay?" He responded, pulling out a chair at the nearest table. "We should probably eat inside so we don't freeze to death."

Asa blinked, shock wrecked her brain and made her freeze in place. Cute? He thought her smile was cute? Not weird or funny looking, he thought it was cute?

The comment made her stomach flip and heart to flutter.

"Come on Asa, set your standards higher than some street punk." She told herself as she sat down opposite from Denji and Nayuta's chairs. "He just called your smile cute, it wasn't like some big romantic gesture."

Denji and Nayuta had started a conversation, one that Asa hadn't been paying any attention to. The girl spoke softly, her speech no higher than a whisper. Denji smiled at her, his eyes wide with fake amazement from whatever story she was telling about her eight year old social life.

"Wow Nayuta, have they held hands yet?" He asked, raising a brow.

"They've done more than just hold hands... they kissed each other! On the cheeks!" Nayuta said, rolling her eyes dramatically as she crossed her arms. "Crazy, isn't it?"

Denji left out a puff of air, dramatically rolling his eyes like Nayuta had. "Wow... do they not realize that cooties are a very serious thing?"

"I guess not, but everyone's staying away from them because of that." Nayuta responded, taking a bite of her ice cream.

Asa sat back and listened, laughing slightly at the cooties part. She remembered being so scared of cooties when she was younger that she hadn't talked to a boy until fifth grade. Now, she was able to talk to them with ease and no fear.

Nayuta dead panned. "Cooties are not a laughing matter, Asa."

Asa tried to let her laughter drop, but the moment she met Denji's eyes while he was using every fiber of his being to hold back his own laughter, she couldn't take it anymore.

The two teens burst out in a fit of laughter, holding onto their stomachs with one arm while the other covored their mouth to try and keep down the noise.

Nayuta looked at them both bewildered. "You guys are just like them, you know? Cooties ridden trash!"

Denji had started to tear up with how hard he was laughing. "W-hat do you mean? I don't have cooties and neither does she?"

Asa jokingly raised a brow. "I will have you know, Nayuta, I have been tested for cooties and came back completely clean. Denji on the other hand... I don't know."

Denji shrugged his shoudlers. "Well... I guess I am infested with cooties! I've kissed two girls... On the lips!"

Nayuta pulled a disgusted expression, scooting away from Denji as she could. "Gross!"

Asa reached out her hand. "Hurry, before you get infected too!"

Before Nayuta could grab onto Asa's hand, Denji already had his fingers wrapped around hers, stroking his thumb softly over her knuckles. He had a sly smirk pulling at the corner of his lips, lifting his eyebrows slightly. He had leaned over the table, bringing his face closer to hers. "Too late, Asa. It seems I've given you cooties."

From how close Denji had been, Asa was finally able to get a better look at his face. A light dusting of freckles had littered his cheeks. They were faded and almost completely gone. No body would've been able to see them unless they were this close. His lips were surprisingly not chapped, but in fact quite soft looking and a pretty color of light pink. His eyes, one's that resembled amber had danced in the fluorescent lighting like fire. His hair looked soft... so very soft that it took her every ounce of strength in her body not to reach out and run her fingers through it. That damn smile filled with shark-like teeth had her heart beat speeding.

Her cheeks got warm as she realized.

Denji was the first boy she's ever held hands with. Even if it were only for the joke, he was still the first guy to hold her hand.

It made her whole body suddenly feel very warm.

So, still playing the joke, she pushed him away. "No! I have cooties now, thanks a lot, Denji!" She laughed nervously, screwing her eyes shut and turning the other direction to hide the embarrassing blush that spread over her nose and ears.

"Ha, now all that's left to infect is Nayuta..." Denji said, pulling away from Asa as his eyes trailed to Nayuta.

She held up a spoon as a weapon. "Don't you dare freaking touch me!"

Asa and Denji's laughs could be heard from the other customers in the shop, all giving them side glances of annoyance or smiling happily towards them.

Nayuta got up from her chair and moved to a different table close to them.

Denji and Asa's laughter died down and they were left to eat their melting ice cream. Denji kept a small conversation going, talking about how Nayuta never got along with anyone as quickly as she did with Asa.

Asa dipped her eyebrows, giving a confused look. "What do you mean?"

"Well, Nayuta isn't the most sociable kid out there. She'd rather keep to herself. Once, she didn't talk for a whole two days all because she didn't want to. I respected her decision and let her talk whenever she wanted to." Denji shrugged, watching the little girl who glared at the two.

Asa nodded slowly, looking out the big glass windows and seeing the snow pile up along the roads and sidewalks. Denji noticed as well, taking another glance over to Nayuta and seeing her chew on her ice cream cone. Asa had nearly finished her own ice cream but not a single bite had been taken out of the cone.

"We should probably start heading out soon after you finish your ice cream. The snows getting pretty bad." He said, but Asa still seemed to be fixated on the snow.

"I'm done, I finished it a minute ago." She replied. Denji frowned, pointing his gaze towards the uneaten cone.

"I don't like the cones, they taste kinda funny to me. I just like eating out of them." Asa said, half frowinging, half smiling. "Thats why I didn't want you to buy it for me. Didn't want to waist your money."

Denji paused before he smiled. "Well then I'll eat it." He quickly snatched up the cone and took a large bite out of it. "I love waffle cones, anyway."

Asa stared at him for a moment before letting out a soft chuckle. "You're weird."

"I'm weird? You don't like waffle cones!" Denji said, chuckling too.

Nayuta had thrown away her dirty napkins, slipping on her gloves as she reached for Denji's hand. "I'm ready to go, Den-Den."

Denji swollwed the rest of the cone, standing up from his chair, Asa mirrored his action, grabbing the scarf that she had taken off once they got into the shop.

She handed it back to Denji. "You might need this more then I do."

Danji shook his head. "No, I'll be fine. Besides, the cold doesn't really affect me that much."

Asa tried to fight it more but ultimately ended up with the scarf wrapped around her neck once again as they walked through the snowy sidewalk. She stood on the other side of Nayuta with her hands at her side. Their breaths came out in clouds in front of their faces as neither of them spoke. Nayuta watched the snow fall all around her, a small smile apparent on her lips.

Hesitantly, she grabbed onto Asa's hand too, connecting the three of them together. Asa quickly turned her head down, her eyes blown wide. Nayuta pretended like she didn't do anything, keeping her head down as they walked.

Asa wanted to pull her hand out of her grip but found that... she couldn't, so she didn't.

In her heart, Nayuta felt as if everything was complete with both her hands latched onto Denji and Asa's.

A family.

Nayuta felt as if they were a family, even tough she had just met the girl holding onto her hand.

Denji, of course, hadn't noticed that Nayuta was holding Asa's hand. The whole walk back to her apartment he never noticed it until they were standing in front of her locked door as he noticed Nayuta dropped her hand right as Asa reached into her pocket.

He felt his cheeks heat up with embarrassment once again once Asa swung the door open.

It was a nice apartment, suitable for one person with just enough room for guests. A single pair of shoes sat in the doorway as Asa stepped out of her outside shoes and into those ones. She hung her back pack on a hook that was bolted to the wall along with her coat.

She disappeared into her room while Denji and Nayuta stood in the middle of the living room. He looked around and found that the walls had been painted gray with not many decorations up. A few family pictures were hung up. A picture of an older woman who shared the same face and hair as Asa stared back at him. A few wrinkles settled around her eyes and cheeks as a smile pulled her lips. A young girl smiled brightly too. Her hair was short, cut up to her shoulders along with a playful look in her eyes. It didn't take Denji long to figure out that the picture was of Asa and her mother.

Another picture of a man was placed right beside the other one. He wore the same dimples on his cheeks as Asa, black graying hair was slicked back in gel with the same gray-blue eyes that Asa had.

Her father, he looked like a kind man.

Denii couldn't wait to meet them.

Asa stood in the doorway, her school uniform now replaced with a crew neck sweater and sleeping shorts. Her arms were crossed over her chest as she admired Denji observing the pictures.

Denii noticed her through the corner of his eyes, turning his head. "Are your parents here?"

Asa paused, looking down. "Their dead."

Denii's soft smile had been replaced with a shocked look. "I-Im sorry."

Asa shrugged, stepping next to him and looking at the pictures as well. "Don't be. It wasn't your flaut."

They sat quietly for a few moments, he glanced at her a few times. Her hair was out of its long, loose pig tales and was draped over her shoudlers. She was so beautiful.

"They look like they were really kind people." Denji said, feeling a bit envious for that, but a smile still pulled his lips.

Asa turned her head towards him, smiling softly as well. "Yeah... they were."

Nayuta was sat on the floor, a manga in her hands.

"What about your parents?" Asa asked, her voice soft againt his ears.

Denji shrugged. "Mom died when I was four, dad hung himself when I was twelve. It was just me for a very long time. Then i met that one friend... I lost him too. Nayuta... I had to adopt her."

Asa's eyebrows dipped. So they weren't biological siblings? He adopted her? She frowned, her hand grazed his. "I'm sorry."

Denji took the chance and wrapped his fingers around hers. "We've been through some shit, haven't we?"

Asa's smile returned. They understood each other's pain. She nodded, squeezing his hand. She could get used to the feeling. "Yeah, we have."

"Cooties!" Nayuta yelled from the floor. She pointed at the two with a disgusted stare.

Denji unwinded their fingers and threw his hands up in defense. "Man, fuck you!"

"Fuck you!" Nayuta yelled back, crossing her arms.

Asa's eyes went wide with the vulgar language from the young girl. Denji laughed, leaving Asa where she stood and ruffled up the small girl's hair. "You little shit, watch your language around others."

Nayuta tilted her head to the side and seemed to be considering Denji's demand before responding with;

"Nah, I don't think I will."

Denji rolled his eyes, looking back to Asa who held back a few of her laughs.

The more she spent time with him, the less he seemed like a bad person. He was fun, caring and all around kind. His charming smile and fluffy blond hair wasn't helping either. Asa couldn't fight it anymore.

She didn't hate Denji anymore.

She liked him... liked him very much.

Her cheeks tented red for the umpteenth time that night with the new realization.

It only took this man a few hours to get her to like him. He was like a deadly spell, so enchanting. He was able to pull her in like the earths gravitational pull to moon.

Asa had completely forgot why she invited him over to her house.

Denji sat on the opposite side of the table as Nayuta, listening to her ramble on and on about the manga she was reading, Neon Genesis Evangelion.

After Asa was able to shake herself from her thoughts, she sat beside Denji on the mat, her bare knee grazing his thigh. Denji looked over to her, his cheeks suddenly red.

She hoped that he didn't feel it, but to her misfortune, he did. "Sorry." She quickly responded, avoiding all eye contact with the boy.

"So, why am I here again?"

Asa blinked. "I... don't remember?"

"Hmm... neither do I." He responded, sitting back on his hands as he stretched his legs out under the table.

All three of them went silent, Nayuta too focused in her book to notice any type of tension between the two teens.

"Umm... we can play cards if you want to?" Asa asked, suddenly feeling a little nervous. Sure, he had his little sister with him but... she brought a boy back to her apartment. Anything could happen.

Her stomach turned and twisted.

Denji's eyes lit up. "What game?"

"Bullshit." Asa responded, her hands suddenly getting clamy.

Denji smirked competitively. "You're on."

For the next three hours, they played cards, completely forgetting about the snow. Once Denji had checked the time and felt as if Nayuta and he should leave, he looked out the window to find several feet piled up on the ground below them.

"Shit..." he said with a sigh. "Theres a shit tone of snow out there."

Asa peaked over his shoudler, her eyes widening with the same shock as him. "Fuck... you're not going to walk in that, are you?"

Denji paused, shaking his head. "I mean... how else will we get home?"

Asa shook her head as well. "No you're not."

"Asa, the busses aren't running and I wouldn't have any money to pay for the fee anyway. We're going to have to walk." Denji replied, looking over to Nayuta who yawned and rubbed her tired eyes.

"You... you guys can stay here for the night. I don't mind." She said hesitantly, avoiding his gase.

Denji looked down to Nayuta who had put her book face down in the table to listen to the conversation. "What do you say, Nayuta? Stay here for the night?"

She nodded her head quickly, smiling widely. "Sleep over!"

Denji sighed, placing his hands on his hips. "Fine, we'll stay."

Both Asa and Nayuta cheered to each other, making Denji's heart swell. They reminded him of somebody he used to know. How him and that person would cause all sorts of trouble all at the expense of the third parties benefit. He hasn't said their names since their lives were ripped away from his hands and he hasn't said it outloud either but...

He really missed Aki and Power.

"What about clothes to sleep in?" Denji asked, raising an eyebrow.

Asa's eyes lit up for a split second before she smiled. "Oh, I have clothes for you guys. Wait right here."

She disappeared behind the sliding door leading to her bedroom. Denji sighed as he leaned against the wall.

Usually, he was able to push the memory's of his passed on friends to the back of his mind but tonight, he was missing them a little too much. The guilt he felt was getting to overwhelming, causing him to rake his fingers through his hair over and over. Nayuta thankfully hadn't noticed, once again too focused in her manga.

He felt his fingers tremble and shake. He couldn't breakdown here, not at Asa's apartment. He took in a few deep breaths, calming down his racing heart.

"Fuck you, Makima." Was all he could think, over and over as he felt as if his brain was going to over heat.

He closed his eyes and counted to three.

One.

Two.

Three.

Breath in.

Aki.

Power.

Reze.

Breath in.

"Just fucking breath, Denji." He said to himself, feeling his hands snake up to his mouth where he chewed at his finger nails.

"Don't chew on your finger nails, it's a bad habit." Aki's voice rang through his head.

He closed his eyes and counted to ten.

"I'm back!" Asa's voice called out in front of him. She had a neatly folded pile of clothes in her arms, handing a few smaller items to Nayuta. "These might be a little too big for you but you can pull the pants a little tighter."

Asa sighed, stepping over to Denji next. He was able to control himself before he completely spiraled right as she swiped her bangs out of her face. "And for you. The shorts may be a little too tight and short but their the biggest I had in my drawer."

Her smile was what got him to fully calm down. It didn't look anything like Reze or Makima's smile. It was Asa's smile.

She was Asa. The girl of the present, not a girl of the past.

He found comfort in her smile, in her eyes. The type of comfort where he just wanted to wrap his arms around her and hug her tight and let her know how much she meant to him in that moment. He was able to control that urge. He took the clothes in his own hands, grazing her fingers in the process. He noticed the light pink dusting along her nose and above her cheeks.

Wait a minute- Why did she just blush?

Did she like him too?

"Well, are you going to go try them on now?" Asa asked, pointing towards the clothes.

Denji nodded. "Oh yeah, be right back."

Asa took him to her room where he looked around. A small desk sat in the corner with an overhead light turned on. Christmas tree lights hung around the room, lighting it up in multiple different colors. Papers were scattered everywhere along with text books and pencils. Other than that, the whole room was kept nice and clean. Two posters were hug up, one of some movie and an American band.

"Radiohead?" He asked himself, raising a brow. He threw the given clothes on her bed as he started stripping from his school uniform.

He heard the sliding door suddenly open just as he slipped his school jacket and under shirt off. Asa stood in the door way, her head turned down.

"Oh yeah, I forgot-" She started but as she lifted her head, she stopped talking all together. Her face grew bright red as soon as her gaze landed on Denji's slender yet fit form. Her mouth fell open as her eyes trialed up from the waist band of his pants and v-line to his stomach then chest. She noticed the cord dangling down from the middle of his sternum, she wanted to ask but this situation was already too awkward to ask any questions about his body.

"I am so very sorry, I-I completely forgot to knock and-" She said, quickly turning her face away but Denji laughed.

"Its okay, not like I have boobs or something to hide. Just glad I hadn't taken my pants off yet, though." He said, reaching over and grabbing the shirt Asa had leant him.

"Uh- yeah, I guess." Asa laughed nervously. She used every fiber of her being to try and keep her eyes on his face, but her eyes started trailing down from his eyes, to his nose, to his lips, to his chin, to his neck... then to his shoudlers.

"Fuck, he's hot." Asa thought, swollowing a lump in her throat. She watched as he slipped on her shirt, his fluffy hair poking out of the neck hole then his face, which she had started to adore completely. He slipped his arms through the arm holes and found that the short sleeve tee was kinda tight around his biceps. "And quite muscular."

"What'd you need?" Denji asked, lifting his eyebrows. The shirt fit him tight enough that his pectorals showed through the thin fabric. She was going to have to give him her baggiest shirt or else she simply wouldn't be able to survive through the night.

"Umm- I was gonna say we're having yakisoba tonight... and umm- I was going to find you a different shirt cause that's one of the smallest shirts I own." Asa said, finding that she simply couldn't look at this man anymore.

"Sweet! But uh- the shirts fine. You don't have to find me another one." Denji replied, grabbing the shorts. "I'll see ya out there."

Asa stiffly nodded, quickly stepping out of the room and closing the door behind her. She rested agaisnt the wall and let out a sigh. This boy- no- this man was going to be the death of her.

Nayuta had just stepping out of the bathroom, the clothes she was given looked like they were swollowing her whole. She stared at her for a moment, making Asa feel a little uneasy before Nayuta smiled.

Asa sighed, smiling too. "Your bothers going to kill me Nayuta." She said, ruffling up the hair on top of the little girls head as she walked passed her.

Nayuta just dipped her eyebrows, not knowing exactly what the older girl meant.

Denji stepped out of Asa's room, wearing the tight shorts and shirt with pride. Asa found her heart was on the verge of exploding. The shorts had stopped less than half way on his thighs, exposing even more of his muscles. Thank God the pants weren't tight enough on the groin area, then she'd definitely have to find him a different pair.

"Alright! Let's make some yakisoba!" Denji said cheerfully. He wore an innocent smile, while pumping his fists in the air. Asa felt as if he were doing this on purpose, teasing her or something. Whatever he was doing to her was cruel, so damn cruel.

She pushed whatever thoughts about him that she was having to the back of her head. He's her guest, She shouldn't be drooling over him.

So, she pushed off of the floor, nearly jogging to the kitchen. She grabbed each package of instant yakisoba she had in her cabinets, lifting the plastic covoring on all three bowls. She flicked on the stove burner, putting a kettle of water over the open flame.

"Okay, now we wait for the water to boil." Asa said, keeping her head down. "We should be ready to eat in five minutes."

Denji pumped his hands in the air again, bending down slightly to give Nayuta a double high five.

Asa laughed lightly, taking an old casset player out of another cabinet. Throwing in an old tape and pressing play, Denji perked up as the first song started playing.

"I think I've heard this song before." He said. "My- my mom used to listen to it a lot."

"Your mom liked The Smiths?" Asa said, raising an eyebrow. "My dad said not a lot of people here listened to them since well... all of their songs are in English."

Denji shook his head. "I think my mom was fluent in English. The only songs she'd listen to were in English."

Asa smiled bitter sweetly. "My dad visited America a few times for business trips. He liked to learn about the culture and their daily lives. He mostly fell in love with the music. He wanted to live there for the rest of his life but... fate had other plans for him."

Denii reached his arm across the kitchen island where they rested agaisnt and grabbed her hand. He rubbed small comforting circles around the top of her palm. "Have you been to America before? With your dad?"

Asa shook her head, wrapping her fingers around his and squeezed. "Nope, but it's my dream."

"Good thing we share a dream. Let's go together... after high school. I'll get a job, work my ass off and save up every yen I make for us to go." Denji responded, meeting her eye. "Just you and me... if you want that."

Asa found herself frozen, his words making her mind blank completely. He wanted... to do all of that, just for her? He'd work that hard for her? She was nearly brought to tears. Asa smiled brightly. "I'd... I'd love that."

Denji had no desire to travel to America. He's always liked living in Japan, but if that's what Asa wanted, than he had no problem in trying to make it happen. He liked seeing her happy.

"Good. I'll put in a few applications when the snow melts."

Asa nodded. "I'll put in some too."

She then turned around, dropping his hand as she checked on the water. It was at the perfect boiling point when she took it off the burner and poured it into the bowls of dried noodles. She sprinkled the flavor packets on Nayuta and Her's, Denji as well.

All together, they stood around the island, eating their noodles.

Nayuta didn't talk, she kept her eyes on Denji and Asa laughing and joking together. Every now and then, Denji would purposely bump into her arm, in which she'd mirror his action and bump into his arm.

Nayuta hasn't seen him this happy in a very long time, so she chose not to say anything about cooties everytime they touched.

Once they finished their noodles and threw their utensils in the kitchen sink, Nayuta was laid out on the floor mats, her eyes nearly closed. Asa and Denji played a game of go fish quietly, sharing a pair of ear buds through a Walkman.

"Five..." Denji said hesitantly.

Asa paused before smirking. "Go fish"

"Fuck." Denji whispered. "Looks like you win."

Asa laughed smugly, stacking the cards up and shoving them back into the box. Denji stood up from the floor, eyeing Nayuta who was fast asleep and snoring. He laughed, seeing her limbs all spread out and bent in nearly impossible positions.

Asa had a blanket in her arms, throwing it over Nayuta who almost instantly snuggled up with it.

"So uhm... where am I sleeping?" Denji asked, after moments of silence between them. Asa chewed on her lip, thinking of another place he could sleep. She didn't have her guest room set up nor did she have another futon or a sleeping bag for him. She didn't have any extra blankets either, all she had was her futon and her blanket and the only extra blanket she did have was wrapped around Nayuta like a cocoon.

"You can take my bed, I'll sleep on the floor." Asa said, lifting an eyebrow.

"Nope, you're not sleeping on the floor." Denji argued. "I'll sleep on the floor."

Asa shook her head. "No, you're the guest. Just take my bed."

Denji still refused. They argued back and fourth for a couple of moments before falling quiet. An idea popped into both of their heads at the same time, their faces heating up in unison.

Both had been too embarrassed to say it out loud in fear of making the other uncomfortable... until Denji said it slowly, his voice low and mumbled.

"How about... we... just share it?"

Asa's face burned even more, hearing her own thought said a loud. She chewed on her lip, quickly avoiding Denji's eyes. "Sure... you better not be a blanket hog."

Denii chuckled, whatever nervousness and shyness he felt before washed from his shoulders. "Nope, not at all. If anyone's the blanket hog, it's Nayuta."

Asa laughed, taking another look at the girl snuggled up in the blanket. "Yeah... I guess you're right."

Not even a couple of minutes later, Asa and Denji were laid on her twin sized mattress, facing the opposite direction of each other.

Denji was smashed against the wall while Asa was nearly hanging off the side. A large gap stood between them, neither dared to move an inch within the invisible barrier.

Asa had closed her eyes, anticipating sleep to over take her but it never came. She was too nervous. She's read multiple books about the two main protagonists who've had to share beds and they ended up tangled in each other's limbs once they woke in the morning. What if that happened to them?

Asa's thoughts were interrupted with a soft groan from beside her. She turned her head over her shoulder to see Denji fast asleep, laying on his back. His mouth had gone slack, air interning and exiting his mouth slowly with a pause between each breath. His eyelashes casted a shadow along his pale cheeks due to the Christmas tree lights still plugged into the wall. His eyebrows dipped deeply.

"I wonder what he's dreaming about?" Asa thought, turning on the side that faced him. A selfish thought ran across her mind, hoping that maybe he was dreaming about her.

Another soft groan escaped the sleeping boy, his arm snaked over his thin torso and grabbed onto his shirt. "Mhm...- Asa-"

Excitement bubbled in her chest. So he was dreaming about her? But, soon, her excitement washed away once his breathing got quicker and more urgent. He let out a quick breath of air before turning his head towards her.

Asa didn't realize how close they had been to eachother until she could feel his warm breath dance against the skin of her nose and cheeks.

She almost scooted back before she felt a strong arm wrap around her waist and pull her closer.

Her eyes widened. Just like the books!

His head rested against her chest and she was sure her racing heart beat would wake him up... but after a couple minutes of him still clinging onto her tight and his chest raising and falling quickly, she knew he was still caught up in a dream... or nightmare.

Her hand found the back of his head, fingers burried in his blond hair. It was so... soft.

Asa had forgotten what it felt like being held by another person, to be wrapped in arms that weren't her own. The warmth and tenderness nearly lulled her to sleep, her eyes feeling way too heavy to be held open.

She probably should have pushed him off of her, reject the sleeping boys arms that so desperately clung to her body, but she didn't.

She thought of herself as selfish for not doing so, but God did it feel just so right.

She could allow herself just these few moments of selfishness.

Her eyes drifted shut, feeling Denji's body twitch and jerk under her own weight. She nearly fell asleep, that was until Denji's groans had become more louder and his jerks became more violent.

"Get 'way-" He mumbled. "I'll hur' you."

Asa opened her eyes, finding Denji's face covered in a mix of sweat and tears.

"Denji?" She asked, her voice soft with her half asleep state. "Denji, you're having a nightmare, wake up."

She poked his cheeks, but he still didn't bother. Asa sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Denji had started to thrash around, his groans turning into full out sobs.

Asa watched, not knowing exactly what to do. She threw her legs around his waist and grabbed his wrists, pinning them above his head. "Denji, wake up!" She shouted, making his eyes snap open.

A gasp left his lips as he stared back up at her with wide eyes. "A-Asa?"

"Denji..." She replied with a pause.

They were quiet for a moment, frozen in the same position. Her grip on his wrists had loosened as her worried expression softened as well.

"Asa." Denji said with a sigh of relief. He wrapped his arms around her torso in a tight hug, nussiling his nose in the crook of her neck. She flet him grip onto the back of her shirt so tight that she was sure his nuckled were pure white. His whole body was still trembling as he still tried to catch his breath.

Asa hugged him back, feeling his wet tears smear agasint her skin and soak into her shirt. He didn't dare let out not another sob, squeak, or cry of fear in front of her.

She stroked his hair as neither of them could come up with words to say for minutes after Denji sprung back to life.

"I'm sorry, Asa." He said, his voice weak. "I-I didn't mean to wake you up. I'm really sorry."

Asa lightly shook her head. "Its okay... I have nightmares too. I wasn't asleep anyway."

Hesitantly, Asa ran her fingers smoothly over his jaw, in which he melted into the gentle touch. With his cheeks swollen and eyebags red, he had no fear closing his eyes with her arms wrapped around him.

Denji hasn't ever been held like this since his mother's passing, almost thirteen years ago. The only human touch he had felt was violent, implanting hurt, pain, fear and distrust into his young mind.

He only cried more once he awoke in Asa's arms where she looked at him with such concern for his wellbeing that no one's ever showed for him.

He thought of it as a sacred treasure, something that his mind took and held onto tight, never wanting to let go.

That's when Denji knew that he was in love with Asa. She wasn't just some crush, another woman who he'd only chased after because she spoke in a sweet voice and made so many broken and and venomous promises.

She was Asa. She hadn't asked him to do something for her own personal gain. She hadn't hurt him. She wanted to comfort him in a time of hurt that she hadn't caused.

He loved her... because she was the first woman to hold him without malicious intent.

And this touch... was such a beautiful thing to him.

Asa rested her head against his. "Its okay. I'm not mad."

Denji let out a sigh of relief once again, absolutely relishing in the feel of her long, thin fingers. His breathing evened out as he still held her tight. She released from the hug, sitting up, still sitting on top of the bottom of his belly. "Do you want me to make you tea?"

Denji quickly shook his head. "No-... I want to stay like this... for a little bit, it that's okay?"

Asa took in a breath, smiling sweetly. "Of course."

Her hair was a mess, her forehead was prikled in sweat with a few strands of her hair stuck to her face. Hesitantly, he took his shaking fingers and swiped the hair behind her ear. He observed her face carefully, noticing that heavy bags hung under her gray-blue eyes.

All that clouded his mind was her. Not the nightmare or the scary truth it held. Her. The girl right in front of him, his lips only a few inches away from hers.

Her eyes pulled him in like a storm, the gray resembling the sun hidden away from the clouds. How he liked the sound of rain, its gentle and calming thud's pounding on the roof. How it was able to lull him asleep no matter how violent it got. Before, that's all he had. Was the rain.

Now, her voice held the same gentleness as the rain.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" She asked, the heat from her breath dancing across his nose and making him shiver.

His hand held onto her cheek, stroking it softly. He paused, scared to ask the question until he felt the weight of her head melt into his plam. Finally, he gained the right amount of courage.

"Can you kiss me?"

"I thought you'd never ask." She replied before closing the very small gap between them. Once her tounge slipped through his lips, he feared she might take his tongue with her once they pulled apart.

But he hadn't felt her teeth clamp down on it, instead her tongue danced against his. Warm and smooth, he tried to see if puke had filled his mouth but it hadn't. Just their shared saliva dripping from his bottom lip.

The perfect kiss in which he's spent so long trying to find.

Her eyelashes tickled the skin on his cheek, he wanted to laugh and cheer, thank the god he didn't even believe in, but he absolutely refused to let this kiss end until she had to pull back for air.

And when she did, he felt his heart stop.

With the tip of his tounge, he licked his teeth, just to make sure it was there. He swallowed to make sure there was no vomit. There wasn't, much to his relief.

Only a small saliva trail kept their lips connected.

She leaned in once again, and he braced himself, keeping his eyes half lidded once her lips met his again, only in a small peck.

"Looks like I have cooties for sure now." She said through a half chuckle.

Denji blinked away a stray tear of joy, keeping her head between the soft hold of his hands. "Oh yeah... for sure."

A wide smile spread their mouths as they rested their foreheads against each other.

Safe.

For once in his life, Denji felt safe.

And since her mother's death.

Asa felt wanted.

Asa felt loved.