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You woke up slow, like someone had pressed the world’s dimmer switch and was easing your brain back into reality. At first, all you noticed was warmth. A soft blanket. A faint smell of incense from somewhere in the mansion. Your muscles sunk shamelessly deeper into the mattress, refusing to move.
Then you heard breathing.A bit too close.Your eyes cracked open and Yoriichi’s face was right there.
Not across the room. Not by your door.
Right. There.
Close enough for you to count the tiny freckles across his cheekbone. Close enough to feel the warmth of his breath brushing your skin. Close enough for your soul to pack its imaginary bags and leave your body.
You jerked a little, fully waking up. He didn’t flinch. He just blinked once, like this was perfectly normal and not borderline heart-attack material.
You swallowed. "…Bro. Why are you sitting like a jumpscare?"
He cleared his throat so quietly you almost missed it. A tiny shift of his shoulders. A small breath. If you didn’t know him, you wouldn’t catch anything. But you did. You saw the faintest hint of embarrassment, which made your chest tighten in a way you’d never admit out loud.
"I didn’t mean to startle you," he said, voice low and gentle, each word sinking into the air between you. "You were asleep. I stayed to… make sure you were alright."
Your eyes narrowed, still squinting at him from under the blanket. "Yeah but like… why is your face two centimeters from my soul???? Were you checking if I was breathing or something?"
His lips pressed together for half a second, like he was fighting the smallest smile. "You seemed cold. I thought about covering you properly."
"So you watched me sleep?"
"Only a little."
You dragged the blanket over half your face. "You’re saying that like it makes it better."
Yoriichi didn’t move away. At all. He just kept watching you, eyes soft enough to make your insides flip weirdly. He wasn’t staring like a creep. He was staring like someone who forgot how to look at anything else.
His gaze dropped briefly to your lips before rising back to your eyes.
And oh boy,Your brain definitely noticed that.
You cleared your throat, trying to sit up without looking like you were running from your own hormones. "Okay. Morning. Hi. Whatever. You couldn’t have waited by the door?"
He shook his head. "You looked vulnerable."
You froze. "Why would you say it like that?"
His eyes didn’t waver. "Because it’s true."
Your heart did a full gymnastics routine in your ribcage.
You sat up, blanket still around your shoulders like a cape. Yoriichi followed your movement with his eyes, careful and calm. His knee brushed yours as he shifted back a little, but not enough to actually give you space. It felt intentional. Or maybe he just couldn’t help himself. You weren’t sure which option was more dangerous.
"So" you said, trying not to sound nervous, "how long were you sitting there?"
He thought for a moment. "Since before sunrise."
"WHAT??? "
He blinked again, confused at your reaction. "You were asleep. Time passed quickly."
"That doesn’t make it better!" You covered your face with your hands. "Do you do this often? Like, is this a thing?"
"No," he said simply. "Just with you."
Your soul left your body again.
"Yoriichi…" you muttered from behind your hands. "You can’t just say stuff like that first thing in the morning."
"Why not?"
"Because it makes me feel things, you absolute red-flagged cinnamon roll."
He tilted his head slightly at the unfamiliar term but didn’t comment. His warm gaze stayed on you, steady as ever.
You peeked at him through your fingers. "So you really just… sat there? Watching me breathe?"
His voice lowered a little, almost like he was confessing something without meaning to. "I wanted to see if you looked peaceful."
"And did I?"
His eyes softened even more. "Very."
You were going to die before noon.
A long, quiet moment settled between you, not uncomfortable at all. He didn't look away. You didn’t either. Sunlight crept through the window, catching the red in his hair and turning it into something warm and soft. His presence filled the room in a way that made it hard to remember you’d been annoyed five minutes ago.
You lowered your hands and sighed. "You could have at least woken me up in a normal way, you know."
"I tried" he said. "You mumbled something about… chicken nuggets and ..femboys..?"
You went silent.
"I thought it best to let you rest."
You groaned, dragging the blanket over your head. "I hate myself."
He chuckled. A small, rare, heartbreakingly warm sound. You peeked out again just in time to see the faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"Stop being cute" you muttered.
His head tilted. "I’m not trying to be."
You forced yourself to sit fully upright, the blanket pooling around your waist. Yoriichi shifted closer again without thinking about it. His hand reached toward you, fingers brushing your hair back gently, careful not to startle you.
But you still froze.
His touch was featherlight. Deliberate. So warm you could feel it in your stomach.
"You slept deeply," he said softly. "Your expression kept changing. You must have been dreaming."
"Was I smiling?"
"A little."
You narrowed your eyes. "Now you’re lying."
"I don’t lie" he replied simply.
You wanted to argue, but the way he said it left no room for doubt.
Your gaze drifted down. His hand was still lingering near your cheek, not touching you anymore but close enough to feel the warmth.
You swallowed. "You know you’re staring, right?"
"I know."
"…And you're not gonna stop?"
He shook his head once, slow.
Your breath caught.
The silence that followed wasn’t awkward. It was the kind that wrapped around you, warm and full and too intimate for your own good. You could hear your heartbeat. You were pretty sure he could too.
After a bit, he cleared your throat again, trying to act normal. "So um… did Douma annoy you a lot last night?"
"Yeah he was being annoying as hell."
"Did he hurt you?"
"No."
He didn’t look convinced.
"I would know" he said quietly, "if he had."
The atmosphere dipped into something heavier for a second...protective..?It sent a different kind of shiver through you.
You nudged his shoulder lightly to break the tension. "Relax, samurai boy. I’m fine."
He let the slight pressure push him back just a little. Not offended. Just… letting you touch him.
You leaned back against the pillow behind you, stretching your arms. "Man… sleeping in a demon mansion is actually comfortable. I didn’t expect that."
He watched you stretch, eyes briefly trailing up and down, then flicking away like he hadn’t meant to look. His ears tinted the faintest shade of pink.
"You looked content…" he murmured.
"Stop staring."
"I can’t help it."
"Yoriichi…"
His eyes met yours again, warm and calm. "I like seeing you at peace."
Your chest tightened. "Dude… you’re gonna kill me."
"I’d never hurt you."
"That’s not what I meant."
He blinked slowly. "What did you mean?"
You grabbed your pillow and hugged it to your chest to hide your face. "Nothing. Forget it."
He leaned a little closer, voice soft. "You don’t need to hide from me."
You peeked over the pillow. "I’m not hiding. I’m… selectively avoiding eye contact."
He smiled again. Slight but real. "You’re adorable."
"I will literally shove you off this bed."
He didn’t move away. In fact, he moved closer, sitting fully beside you now. His shoulder brushed yours.
"Try" he whispered.
You choked on air. "I..-do you want hands thrown?"
A faint sparkle hit his eyes. "If you wish."
He didn’t touch you, but the closeness alone felt like being pulled toward him by something magnetic.
You finally dropped the pillow to your lap. "Were you really just… sitting here the whole time?"
"Yes."
"Watching me breathe?"
"Yes."
"And that wasn’t creepy to you?"
He shook his head. "It felt natural."
Your mouth went dry. "Natural how?"
"I wanted to stay near you."
"Why?"
He hesitated, his lashes lowering for a moment. When he looked at you again, the softness in his eyes could have melted stone.
"Because your presence calms me."
Your heartbeat forgot how to function.
He didn’t expect a response. He didn’t push. He just stayed there beside you, letting the silence breathe between you. And somehow that made it even sweeter.
After a few long moments, he spoke again, quieter this time. "You seemed… safe here. I wanted to see you wake up at least once without fear."
Your chest felt tight in the best way possible. "…You’re too gentle for this world, you know that?"
"I don’t feel gentle," he murmured.
"Yeah well… you are. At least to me."
His eyes softened again. Something unreadable passed through them. Something deep. Old. Warm enough to pull you in.
He raised a hand like he wanted to touch your face again, then paused, giving you space to pull back.
You didn’t.
His fingers touched your cheek, light like he was tracing something invisible. You leaned into it before you could stop yourself.
He breathed in, quiet and slow, like he’d been waiting for that tiny moment for longer than he’d admit.
"Yoriichi…?" you whispered.
His thumb brushed your skin gently. "Yes?"
Your voice dropped without you meaning to. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
His answer came soft, honest, and devastating.
"Because you’re the first thing I wanted to see today."
Your whole body went warm, heat curling in your stomach like a slow burn. You couldn’t look away from him now if you tried.
Yoriichi’s face was close again. Too close. His eyes held something heavy and unspoken. Something that made time slow down around you.
He didn’t move when the knock came, didn’t even blink. His face stayed close to yours for one last suspended second, like he didn’t want the moment to end.
You swallowed hard and looked toward the door. "Come in."
The sliding door opened, and a young woman stepped in, arms wobbling under a tray stacked with breakfast. She froze as soon as she saw you sitting up with your hair messy, blanket wrapped around you, cheeks still warm from… everything.
"G-good morning!!" she squeaked, bowing too fast. The cups rattled dangerously on the tray.
You straightened, clearing your throat. "Morning."
She walked in stiffly, trying to keep her eyes anywhere but on your bed. "I-I brought food for you… I wasn’t sure if you were awake yet…"
You glanced at Yoriichi.
He was already gone.
Just vanished..?Not even a breeze left behind. Like he’d never been there in the first place.
Of course he disappeared. He always did when other people entered. No one but you could see him, touch him, talk to him. To everyone else, he was nothing but empty space.
You let out a quiet sigh. "You can set it there. Thanks."
She nodded quickly and placed the tray near your bedside table. Her eyes kept darting around the room, and it didn’t take long for you to catch why. She was acting nervous. More than nervous, actually.
Her gaze flicked toward the empty space right beside you. She stared. Then blinked. Then stared again.
You froze for half a heartbeat.
She couldn’t see him… right???
Maybe she just thought the air felt weird.
"Is..everything alright?" you asked.
She startled. "O-oh! Yes! Sorry. I just felt..ummm.."She looked at the spot again, confused. "A...chill? I don’t know. It’s strange."
You snapped your gaze to the empty air at your side.
Yoriichi reappeared.
Not fully just his silhouette. Light outlining his form like sunlight caught in steam. Barely there quiet as always. Watching you, not the girl.
You gripped the blanket tighter, fighting the urge to react.
The woman shivered again. "Sorry, I didn’t sleep well, maybe I’m imagining things. Anyway! Enjoy your breakfast!" She bowed, almost tripping over her own feet as she rushed back toward the door.
The door slid shut behind her.
The instant it clicked, Yoriichi solidified again, sitting exactly where he’d been before, his expression calm like he hadn’t just ghosted out of existence mid-conversation.
You stared at him. "Bro, you scared her."
He looked confused. "I didn’t do anything."
"Yeah but you literally materialized beside me like some paranormal documentary moment."
"I only returned when she stopped looking." His voice softened. "I didn’t want to interrupt."
You paused. "You mean our moment?"
He held your gaze, quiet and steady. "Yes."
Your cheeks heated again.
He glanced at the tray, then at you. "You should eat."
"You’re changing the subject."
"It’s important."
"Uh-huh. Totally not avoiding the fact you were two inches from kissing me."
He blinked once. "Was I?"
"Yoriichi-!"
He leaned just a little closer again, voice soft. "I only moved because you did."
Your breath hitched. "Okay, stop being smooth. I just woke up. I can’t handle this at 7AM."
He looked at you like you were the only living thing in the room. "I wasn’t trying to be smooth."
"That makes it worse."
A small silence passed before he added gently, "Eat before it gets cold."
You picked up the tray, flustered. "Fine. But you’re sitting way too close."
"I’ll move," he said.
He didn’t move.
"Yoriichi."
He tilted his head slightly. "Yes?"
"That’s not moving."
"I know."
You pressed your hands to your face. "Why are you like this."
"Because-"
Yoriichi’s mouth barely opened before another voice sliced through the room like a cold blade.
"You're awake? Good. Get up. Douma-sama wants to see you."
Another woman stood in the doorway, her eyes sharp and unfriendly. She didn’t bother stepping in. She just glared at you like you personally ruined her morning.
You blinked, caught between the lingering warmth of Yoriichi’s gaze and the sudden slap of reality.
Beside you, Yoriichi straightened. He didn’t breathe, didn’t move the air, didn’t shift the blankets. He simply existed, quiet and steady, watching the newcomer like she wasn’t even speaking to him.
You sat up slowly. "Why does he want to see me at this hour?"
"He didn’t tell me to ask questions," she shot back. "He told me to bring you. So get ready."
Her tone had that bitter edge that said she’d love nothing more than for you to trip on the way out.
You opened your mouth to snap back, but Yoriichi’s fingers brushed your sleeve.
His voice lowered to something only you could hear. "Be careful."
Your breath stalled. His eyes held yours for a long, steady heartbeat. There was warmth in them again, soft and aching, like he wished he could do more than whisper warnings you didn’t fully understand.
The lady scoffed. "Talking to yourself now?"
You rolled your eyes. "Yeah. It’s called thinking!!!Try it sometime."
Her jaw tightened. She stepped aside, waiting for you to get up.
You swung your legs off the bed, feeling Yoriichi’s gaze follow every move even though no one else could see him. His expression stayed calm, but there was a faint crease between his brows. Concern. Real, deep concern.
As you stood, he moved closer. You could feel the chill of his presence brushing your cheek, close enough that if he had warmth, you’d be drowning in it.
His voice dipped low again. "If something feels wrong, call for me."
You swallowed, your heart doing that annoying skip thing. "You make it sound like he’s planning to kill me."
Yoriichi didn’t smile. Not this time. His eyes darkened with something old and dangerous. "I don’t trust him."
The lady’s patience snapped. "Are you coming or not?"
You tore your gaze away from the ghost hovering inches from you. "Yeah, yeah. Keep your hair on, witch"
She huffed and turned on her heel.
"Ugh. What does this fuckass rainbow eyed hoe want from me now…" you muttered while dragging your feet behind the lady. She stomped ahead like she owned the whole building, and you were stuck tailing her like a pissed off duck.
She stopped without warning.
You walked straight into her back.
Your forehead smacked her shoulder blade with a dull thud. "Ouh…"
She whipped her head around, glaring like you’d just stabbed her cat. "Try anything and you’re dead meat, got that? He’s min-"
The door slid open before she could finish.
"Oh Y/n-chan! Come in!!" Douma’s voice chimed, bright and sugary, too cheerful for this early in the day. He stepped aside with that lazy, playful grin, eyes sparkling like he’d been waiting specifically for you.
The woman snapped her mouth shut instantly and bowed hard, terrified to even breathe wrong in front of him.
You didn’t even bow.
You just walked past her like she didn’t exist, shoulders squared, eyes locked on Douma’s stupidly pretty face.
His expression lit up even more when your gaze met his. He leaned forward slightly, like you were his favorite new toy arriving right on time.
"Y/N-chan," he said, almost sing-song. "You look adorable when you’re annoyed."
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