Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

꧁★꧂
This book is a fan fiction of the new movie
"Ultraman: Rising" in which I will write the story for the reader-insert, who will interact with the characters of the movie and also side characters.

➤ If you find mistakes or have feedback, I'm all ears! English is not my first language, so there might be grammatically incorrect spelling. Don't be shy to let me know.

ATTENTION
Please pay attention to the warnings I will write. Overall, this book will contain actions, topics, and language that isn't appropriate and meant for the younger audience.
Also, I do not write smut. There can be hints, but I won't go into further details, simply out of personal preferences.

Let me know if you liked it with kudos and comment. If you have something else to say, I welcome everyone to my comment section. Please be kind and don't spread hate. If you don't like it, don't torture yourself with reading more of what I write.

༻ Enjoy reading ༺

Chapter Text

You walked into the meeting room as two bodyguards opened the winged door in front of you. The room was spacious and presented high quality furniture combined with a modern, yet old fashioned style together. Tall and large windows allowed an excellent view of the busy afternoon life of Tokyo. You and your assistant by your side, Haruka Endo, were greeted by four business men, working for the sports shoe company that invited you for another collaboration you were here for. As a famous runner or better said, as the best elite runner presenting Japan, something like this wasn’t uncommon. Various corporations such as energy drinks, women’s sportswear, water bottles, workout equipment, even model agencies -  those were already done between you, companies & businesses, who saw the shine of fame you bore to increase their sales numbers and gain more fans from you as their customers. 

Well, who wouldn’t want the track star of the season representing them? 

As you sat down at the desk, you subconsciously started fidgeting with your pen under the table, your mind still occupied with the message Kenji told you already weeks before. You half-heartedly listened to the other men blabbering about something, barely paying attention to them, your mind elsewhere.

Every now and then you let out a "hm" or "uh huh", nodding with a smile and letting your eyes hold a spark of non existent interest, to make it seem like you were invested in the discussion, when in reality all you could think about was way more interesting things. 

You knew this was also a part of your job if you can call it that, no matter how boring it might seem. But you also knew how to hold the act up of professionalism to make them go on with their day satisfied, while your only goal is to make it back to your bed whole. From the outside they were met with a young woman, sitting comfortably but confident in the leather chair. The black blazer, tailored with your exact measurements, hid the fit body underneath. Not too much but enough to see, you were in great shape for any run. Neatly done and ready to present. Always. 

But your assistant knew you already better than that and threw you a few looks, indicating to pay more attention to the meeting. 

Let‘s get this over with.

You let your index finger circle around the rounded edges of the glass, that has been provided for you and one for your assistant, until you eventually take a sip from the cool water. It had a hint of lemon paired with mint and the ice cubes floating in the liquid bumped slightly against your lips, leaving an icy feeling. 

Despite you feeling the gaze of your assistant on the side of your face, your thoughts strike a completely different thought. Not giving the words of the man across the table, talking about the comfortable and high tech material of the new shoe the company wants to bring out and have you be the face of it, any attention. 

Instead of minding any of the people in the room, your thoughts twirl around the number one topic everyone was hot about: Ken Sato. 

After two decades living in the states, even you were surprised when he told you, rather less thrilled than you, that he was coming back to japan. You didn’t expect him to suddenly dump his career with the LA Dodgers when remembering how his face lit up whenever he talked about his new stats since joining them. He might have had difficulties living in and sweat together with his team but you didn’t think it was bad enough for him to leave. No, there definitely was something he hid. No one has expected such a move of him at the peak of his career. Which was most definitely the reason why his name was absolutely devouring every line in the news and dominated the media, more than he already had. 

Your eyebrows pull a worried line on your face as you see him visually in front of you. Whenever you would call you could hear his exhaustion out of his voice and his eyes bags were basically screaming for a good night sleep. Alone the way he carries himself this season, it’s his worst season so far. He looked exhausted and not really in his best shape - you let your shoulders slowly drop as you try to wipe the perfectly sculpted face of Kenji out of your mind. 

——

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the meeting came to an end. You let out a small sigh of relief as you stood up from your seat, stretching your back slightly. 

„It was a pleasure to work with you today.“

The oldest looking of the four businessmen bowed, thanking for your time in the name of the company. Followed by the other for three bowing. You and your assistant mirror their gestures and plaster a smile on your face.

„We hope of more great work together“

His smiles made more fine lines creep around his mouth.

As you hear the heavy falling closed behind you after exiting the room, you already know exactly who is staring holes into the back of your head.

„I know what you want to say, Haruka. But save your energy.“ 

You didn’t turn around to look at her but kept walking to the limousine, which was waiting at the back of the building, pressing a few fingers onto your temple. Someone give you a break soon.

From your experience of having her as an assistant in the past, you know Haruka has already rolled her eyes at you and shook her head in disbelief without having to look back. But, nonetheless, you know it‘s her job and she is good at it. 

The long and sleek vehicle was parked at the back side of the building to avoid any unnecessary sighting from fans or paparazzi. The door at the end of the limousine was being held open for your and your assistant to enter. 

You rest your forehead against the tinted windows and exhale briefly as you slowly loosen up the grip of your heels on your feet by using the opposite foot. Haruka was sitting in front of you, busy tapping on her tablet where all your upcoming appointments of today were listed.

Besides you and Haruka in the very least part of the limousine, the driver in the front and three more bodyguards scattered in the front part, one of them sitting a seat away from Haruka, the car way empty. It was a luxurious model and the smell was a mix of the expensive leather interior and maybe some kind of cleaning product to keep it clean. It was pleasant enough not to give you a headache. 

A large screen appears in your view and you see the lines clear: 

„Ken Sato sleeping through the session“, Haruka read the article out loud for you, her head covered behind the tablet.

You sighed. That‘s how it‘s going for weeks. 

„What is he just doing?“, you mumbled. Your eyebrows forming a thinking mimic onto your face. The question was rather directed to yourself than to anyone else. Numerous thoughts float in your head. You know how hard it is for Kenji to get used to his new life back in Japan - as well as his rocky relationship with his father. You doubt that they both spoke to each other since he has returned. Like, really speak. 

Haruka was still about to answer until you speak, she closes her mouth back shut. 

„When do i have a free day?“

Kenji has returned to Japan for a few months now but the only times you have seen him and talked to him, you were separated by a screen. Unfortunately your and his busy schedule didn’t allow you any big free time to catch up with your childhood best friend. While Kenji made a name as a famous baseball player, you ranked yourself up in the charts for being the youngest and the fastest runner on the tracks right now. Yeah, not only Ken Sato has reached a high level in his life.

„With your schedule? There’s not really a free day“, she pushes her thin glass up her nose.

„There is maximum a time frame of an hour between each of your appointments - “

She pauses to scroll through your calendar.

„ - there's another sponsored race coming up soon too. It‘s better to focus on preparing yourself and train for it.“

Your eyes shift away from the passing buildings, meeting Haruka‘s gaze. You stay silent for a moment, grumbling at the unpleasant answer before your eyes spark up with a bit of hope.

„Should be enough for a little meet up. You can arrange one, eh?“

You throw her a little begging smile. But before she could give you any reaction, the vehicle began to shake causing it to stop. Caught off guard everyone holds tight onto what they can grasp. Sudden alarms go off and the bodyguards start to communicate throughout their ear pieces. The bodyguard that sat together with you and Haruka began to unbuckle his seatbelt. His expression was serious. 

„Ma‘am, we have to evacuate. There’s another Kaiju attack not far from us.“ A roar, sounding scarily close to your current position, confirmed just what he said. 

As you step outside the ground begins to shake again making you nearly lose your balance, but a hand on your back helps you stabilize your stance again. 

„We can’t turn back. The traffic is too much, ma‘am. We will escort you by foot.“ Another bodyguard, a bit slankier than the one before, placed his hand on your back. He guided both of you and Haruka towards the direction of his colleagues, prioritizing your safety. You look around and see how more people leave their cars behind to get away, the traffic on the street you were in was nearly dead, making it impossible to drive back. 

..Fuck, exactly when you were in shoes that were not meant for running. 

„Here‘s Inoue, we‘re currently on the rainbow bridge, leading both to a safer-..“,  dimmed you hear one of the bodyguards speak to his earpiece. 

Haruka takes you by your wrist, ditching her attention from her tablet to you. „Come on“

Her grip on your wrist is firm but her voice was filled with worry and fear. She leads you on to run across the bridge, following the bodyguards. If not her, you probably were glued to the place. The screams of terrified citizens surrounded you and you could swear if the adrenaline wouldn’t run through your whole body right now, you would scream louder than them all. Of course this wasn’t the first time a kaiju attack occurred, shit, since you can think these creatures have been terrorizing the whole country. But every attack was a risk of thousands, millions of peoples lives on the plate of life & death. The only reason why the whole country wasn’t a pile of rubble and ash yet was because of its protector:

Ultraman 

He has been protecting the country against the kaiju for decades, what made you admire him since you were a child. But he suddenly was off the radar for months without a trace. In that time the KDF took over the task of protecting the city completely. The Kaiju Defence Forces, you weren’t decently a big fan of them. They might protect the city in some way but unlike Ultraman, they kill. You knew the kaiju have  destroyed many parts of the country over the years and parted families, but killing them was way too big for you. You still had heart for them, having a mother, who specialized herself in kaiju physiology & history, did leave an impact on you. After months being gone, Ultraman appeared again. But noticeably, clumsier and light headed when it comes to fighting Kaiju‘s. You never saw Ultraman‘s color time switch to red and blue this fast before.

Your heart starts beating faster, making you halfway believe it could provide energy enough to keep a plane in the air, as it was racing in your chest. The bridge shakes harder than an earthquake of level 6 causing people to fall, cars to move a few meters and the panic filled screams increase. Including you, you were abruptly pulled away out of Haruka‘s grasp and met the hard concrete. Landing on your knees,  you give yourself a mental note in case you survive this day.

I will switch to flats instead of heels. 

You see the little stones on the ground jump. Confused, you try to get your eyes focused. There again, they began to jump more often now, getting more rapidly. You feel the tiny hairs on your body rise, goosebumps all over you as you hear a familiar voice scream.

..Did that come from me?

You lift your head up and see Haruka‘s scared pair of eyes as she repeats shouting your name. From afar you see it, angry eyes glaring towards your direction, maneuvering straight to the bridge, the cause of this chaos. Its steps were heavy and with each one it took it began to appear even bigger. The snake-like tail dangerously sways from left to right, knocking cars over, damaging the skycaping buildings. A shriek coming from Haruka‘s directions made a shiver run down your spine and your pulse climbed even higher. 

A part of a car got thrown into the car in the middle of the chaos, its snake-like tail lifted it with ease. And it‘s falling right… down to you.

Before your mind could process the situation you were in, your body was already in action. You didn’t know if you were secretly a trained agent or the adrenaline is getting the best of you as you reflexively stemmed yourself with your arms over the railing of the bridge to escape being crushed by the car door. 

For a moment you sighed relieved by the fact of not having ended like a crushed blueberry, but it got flushed away as the burning sensation in your arms began to spread. 

Shit, Shit, Shit 

Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. Frustration creeps its way and panic slowly starts to move up to your chest by the sight down, past your hanging legs. Reckless waves crashing against the pillars of the bridge. Alone the fall would be fatal.. 

A tug on your arms makes you jack your head back up. 

„Jesus, are you okay?“ She tries to have a stable stance to help you get back to the bridge again.

I should‘ve trained my arms more..

„Oh.. yeah, I absolutely love the view from down here“, you scoff sarcastically. You feel a pinch on your arm and let a little "aouch“ out while Haruka shoots you an angry and frustrated look, saying clearly she has no nerves for your jokes right now.

You groan, your arms getting tired with every single more minute you are on the railing. The beast stomps and the whole bridge begins to shake again, loosening the grip between your hands and the metal bar. The nervous sweat makes it even harder for you to hold on. Haruka had great difficulties holding onto you. She lets out a frustrated sigh after sigh. From the corner of her eyes, tears were building. 

„Hold on, hold on, I will get you up here again“

Sounding more like a motivational phrase to herself, she pulls you up until your upper body is finally above ground. Noises from above both of you signalize that the KDF has finally arrived. Electricated nets shot from various helicopters and wrap around the monster's giant body with ease. They hold it down with it, preventing it from stepping closer to the bridge. Its roars are coated with pain and leave an uncomfortable sound in your ears. But it only brings the creature to use its heavy weight to make the ground shake immensely, this time shocking you both and Haruka as you slip down the railing out of her hands.

Freefall..

You can feel the cold bay air blow into your ears as your body falls down the bridge. It twirls around not knowing how to act. The sound of the waves gets louder.

Damn, is this how I end? 

You close your eyes, ready to accept the hard collision between you and the raging water beneath you. 

You fall and fall.. and eventually land.

Yet, it‘s not the cold water that you expected to submerge your body. It's a solid but soft platform that holds you up. The thing that blocked your view open and that‘s when you finally could see him from up close …

Ultraman

His bright eyes shone a blue light down on you. He stood with no problem in the water holding you in his palm. If not for the aching pain in your shoulder pushing you back to reality, you could have sworn you landed in heaven. 

Chapter Text

Sneakers squeaked, lockers clicked shut, and the air was thick with determination. The women's changing room.

Three weeks have passed since you were saved by Japan’s literal hero. The details in your head after your rescue were hazy. The enormous man had walked to the safer, more stable end of the bridge, still cradling you in his hand. He asked if you were hurt or okay, but you couldn't remember if you ever answered his frantic questions. It seemed like he was more worried about you falling than you were. No shit. Of course, he was concerned. He had a whole country to protect. Still, it comforted you to think that the hero you had admired since childhood was so concerned about you.

You sighed. Your delusions were relentless.

With just five days until your next race, your schedule demanded training to stay in shape. Even though it was routine, it still made you uneasy. You jolted as your locker door slammed shut harder than intended. You couldn't pinpoint why you'd been so irritable lately. Just glancing at the guard nearby sparked another wave of annoyance. Kaju attacks had intensified in recent weeks, prompting your management to double your security detail. It was bad enough having them watch your every move, and you couldn't help but suspect they might have installed cameras somewhere. You raised an eyebrow at your own thoughts. They’d be in serious trouble if that were true, but you mostly trusted your management.

The clock on the wall showed you had 25 minutes until your personal training session began. The arrangements for your trainer and the training sessions were at an elite sports center just outside Tokyo, which was accessible only to selected athletes. The security was so game and it could take up months, if not years, just to receive approval. You sometimes resent your parents fussiness about your safety.

You closed your eyes briefly before standing, grabbing your water bottle and towel. The soft breathable foam of your running shoes made you feel like you were walking on clouds as you headed for the door.

Well, that cooperation wasn’t so bad.

The guard opened the door, and you nodded in thanks.

A small breeze carried the scent of the rubber flooring and a citrus note from the air conditioner, masking any unpleasant odors. As you neared the indoor hall, the sounds of squeaking sneakers and muffled huffs grew louder. Through the glass window separating the training hall from the corridor, you could see other athletes practicing badminton, basketball, volleyball, and more. 

Since today was quite warm outside and the halls still feel stuffy despite the air conditioners, you decide to warm up a bit on the tracks outside. 

You weren’t alone, but there were noticeably less people here than usual. A few people were on the track, likely other  participants in the upcoming race you were set to run. 

As you made your way to the stairs leading down to the tracks, you spotted a familiar face jogging towards you.

"Hey, good morning," he greeted with a toothy grin. "I was beginning to think I wouldn't see you at all anymore."

He stopped a few meters in front of you, his right hand resting on his neck as he let out a nervous chuckle. His other hand held a sports bag.

"Don't you think it's a bit late for a good morning?" you said, tilting your head slightly as you descended the stairs. He followed, mumbling something behind you. You turned around to see him glancing at the large electric clock - 11:36 AM. He let out a small "well" and gave you a crooked smile. 

"Wanna workout together?"

"Sorry, Yashi. I have personal training in, uh, 20 minutes." You gave him an apologetic look as you took off your jacket, revealing a black sports bra and matching shorts. While you busied yourself with packing away your jacket and starting your stretches, you missed the momentary flush that spread across Kubayashi's face before he quickly turned away. Despite often training together when you didn't have a personal session, he seemed to have troubles hiding his thoughts.

"Oh, right, your personal training. I forgot about that." He flicked his forehead to emphasize his forgetfulness.

„Mind if I stick around till it‘s time?“

You shake your head and give him a look that clearly says that you know he knows you don't mind in the slightest. 

Kobayashi laughs softly, throws his bag next to yours on the courts and finds a spot next to you to warm up, even though he should already be warmed up from the tennis drills he usually does before you arrive. 

After a while of silence and stretching exercises, he begins: „So tell me, how are you? I've already heard what happened. I mean, the whole media was talking about it. Are you feeling better? I was already worried because I couldn't catch you here somehow the last few weeks.“

You hoped exactly that wouldn’t be brought up millions times whenever you talked to people the last days. 

You pull a little harder on your leg, increasing the tension behind it, and a bitter taste lays on your tongue. "I'm fine, as far as someone can be after being nearly crushed to a pulp."

You avoid his gaze, but you can feel his eyes on you. He doesn't buy your excuse. Sigh number endless leaves your mouth as you sit straight on the ground, facing him this time.

"Fine? Really, fine? I can't imagine being just fine if something like that happened to me." His eyes narrow as they focus on the few bruises on your knee, now showing a plump, yellow-blueish color.

"It's not like kaijus vandalizing the city is something new, Yashi."

"Exactly." His expression becomes much more serious. "Don't get me wrong, I think Ultraman did a great job protecting us, but he's gotten sloppy."

You raise an eyebrow. You know vaguely what he means but you still ask. „Sloppy? What do you mean by that?“

He scoffs sarcastically. "Where was he in those months where we needed him? And now that he‘s back, it‘s like he‘s not even trying. His last few fights have been disasters. More buildings get destroyed than monsters.“ 

You know Kobayashi isn’t wrong about that, but; „It‘s possible he needed a break. Doing something like this for decades must be tiring at some point,“ you say somewhat defending your childhood hero. 

„ Maybe he‘s just trying to find his footing again.“

„His footing? It looks like he‘s stumbling. Remember last week? That kaiju almost flattened half the city because Ultraman couldn’t get his act together. It‘s like he‘s on autopilot.“ He laughs bitterly. „Back but getting his ass kicked. Instead of protecting the city, he's causing even more damage."

"He saved us, didn’t he?. It ended well. The KDF got the kaiju, and Ultraman was there to prevent me from ending up as a less appetizing sushi roll. I mean, here I am, alive because he didn’t snooze." A disagreeing noise escapes from the man in front of you.

"Yeah, but that was way too close. Who knows what could've happened if he came a minute later."

"That's actually not a hard question to answer," you say, pushing yourself up and walking towards the railing, turning your back to him. "I would've been fish food."

"I hope you know it's really not funny." His clothes rustle slightly as he stands up.

"He saved me, and now you get to argue with me about it."

You look over your shoulder and see him now leaning against one of the pillars of the spotlights that make the large field look almost like daylight as soon as it gets dark, his arms crossed over his chest.

It's his turn to sigh, but he doesn’t concede. "It'd still be better if he stopped fooling around. Have you seen his last fights? It looked like a little kid playing with Godzilla on a toy carpet."

You resist the urge to roll your eyes. It irked you hearing him talk down your childhood hero like that, but he wasn't entirely wrong again. "So you'd be a better Ultraman?" Your lips form a teasing smile.

"That's not what I said."

"But that's what it sounds like." You fiddle with the extra hair tie around your wrist.

"Sounds like what?" His voice comes closer to your left ear as he mirrors you, leaning over the railing and watching the other track runners practice their starts. You purse your lips together. "You're jealous of his slim waist, aren't you?"

                            •

                            •             •

                             •             •            •

Bonk!

Deadpanned, Kobayashi had lifted his arm, stopped behind you, and gave you a light hit on the head with the side of his hand. He listens to your whining but paid no further attention as he raises his hand again for another slap.

"Ouch?! What's wrong with you?" you ask, shrieking in the beginning, your voice a mix of annoyance and pouting. You rub the spot he hit, feeling like it’s steaming. "Did no one teach you not to hit women?" You throw him angry stare, which he simply ignores, leaving you with your mouth agape in disbelief.

His head sank, and a sigh of exhaustion, pretending like the conversation with you took up all his energy, escaped him. 

"I was taught that, but it didn’t cover dealing with idiots."

"HEY!" 

"Don't be so loud," Kobayashi muttered, glancing around to see if anyone had noticed.

"Then don't hit me," you retorted, still rubbing the spot on your head where he struck you twice. 

"That was just to bring you back to reality," he explained, his tone a mix of exasperation and concern.

"What does that mean now?" you demanded, narrowing your eyes at him.

He sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. "Don't you have your personal training in a few minutes?" he asked, changing the subject with a tired look on his face.

You look at him to see if he’s serious. "Don't act like you aren’t jealous of his waist and his abs." You poke his right cheek with squinted eyes.

Kobayashi's eyes widened slightly before he chuckled. "Jealous? Please. I’m just saying he needs to step up his game." He then gestures to himself. „Besides I already have amazing assets.“

"Right," you reply smirking. "Because you definitely wouldn't want abs like his."

He rolls his eyes. "I have abs of my own. Take your horny thoughts to someone else."

You burst out laughing. "Oh, sure. Keep telling yourself that."

Kobayashi sighs again, exasperated. He rolls his eyes but smiles. 

You laugh at his reaction, and he continues, "But I’m glad to see you haven’t knocked your sense of humor out. You seem to be doing alright. Better than I thought."

—-

Your training had ended half an hour ago, and now you’re back in the women’s changing room, freshly showered. After three hours, your trainer finally released you, and you suspect this might be the only break you get for a while. Haruka had already sent you a text with today’s and tomorrow’s schedules. Fortunately, today doesn’t look too hectic. You still need to attend a fancy dinner event tonight, but with six hours until it begins, you have some time to relax. 

You could feel the tiredness and soreness slowly catching up to you after the long practice creeping its way into your muscles. 

Feeling knocked out after a few hours of training nearly everyday combined with the different things that plague you, you sat down on the bench in front of your locker, wiping a towel over your face and hair, trying to dry yourself down. The changing room got a bit fuller after you got out of the shower. Around this time most athletes end their training or some just arrive. 

You could admit that the recent event didn’t leave you stone cold. You‘ve been thinking about it much more than you‘d prefer but it has brought back an old memory. A shiver runs down your spine as you recall that night 20 years ago. You can remember how deep your heart sank when Gigantron reappeared  two months earlier from now after all these years. 

Ping. Your phone lights up. Your eyes widen as you read the name popping on your lock screen. 

You quickly unlock your phone and let your thumb roam for the SMS app. 

6 + messages from Kenji. 

You tap on his contact, while reading his texts you roll your eyes with a smile because of his greeting.

[KENJI] 

14.08 PM 

It‘s ur favorite. You probably have training rn, right?

nvm just answer when u can

I have an interview 2nite 

got some free time before that tho

Let‘s meet up. Hit me up here at 4

📍TAP TO SEE LOCATION 📍

 /////SIGN IN OR LOG IN///////

You weren’t surprised by him texting you, you both would text non-stop if sleep and work weren’t a thing. Even better, see each other every day like you used to. 

It was his spontaneous invite to, seemingly, a small café that surprised you. 

This time it‘s not Tonkatsu Tonki, huh? 

You type in a short reply and send it with a gift meme. Millennial behaviour.

A soft smile appeared on your face thinking about your childhood memories, most of them were with Kenji. You can recall Kenji's voice as a kid, him excitedly calling your house phone to ask your nanny to get you on the call. His voice was much higher back then than it is now, happily telling you he and his mom, Emiko, were going to eat at Tonkatsu Tonki. That often would mean his father was busy again. He never went without asking you to join, and he probably wouldn’t have accepted a no anyway. And you never declined, only sometimes pretending not wanting to just to tease him. He‘d whine and call you names, small arguments spark to life until you give yourself, giggling, defeated.  Your parents were friends and partners with Hayao, Kenji‘s father, so they let you go with the compromise that you were accompanied by your nanny. You barely saw your parents sitting together on the dinner table or in general for a long time. And if you did they had their noses deep in documents or on a phone call on their way to work. Anywhere but home or out with their daughter. You never minded having your Nanny around. She was a lovely lady in her mid 60s, who always took care of you. Especially when Kenji moved with his mom to the United States, your bond with her grew thicker. She was almost more a mother to you than your own. That thought makes you bite your inner left cheek. You knew she loved you but you wished she‘d showed that love to you, her daughter, other than dedicating that to her Kaiju research. 

God, how you hate thinking about it all the time. 

You change into different clothes you packed with you,  close your locker and head for the exit. With the time being just a few minutes past 3.30 PM, it wasn’t a rush to get to the spot Kenji picked out. Your chauffeur waits patiently by the car for you, the back door of the vehicle open and ready for you to get in. The air outside is cool and crisp, a refreshing change from the warm and humid changing room.

The chauffeur greets you politely, nodding as you approach and step into the car. Once you're in, he closes the door behind you, sealing you into the secluded space. The windows of the car are heavily tinted, giving you a sense of privacy and solitude from the outside world. As the car starts moving, you feel the soft vibrations of the engine and the gentle rocking of the vehicle as it glides through the city streets. The chauffeur expertly Maneuvers through traffic, while you sit in the comfortable back seat.

You can see cars and buildings passing by through the tinted windows, but nobody outside can clearly see you in return. It‘s like a little bubble of privacy in the hustle and bustle of the city. The drive is mostly silent, except for the low hum of the motor. You lean back against the soft leather seat, feeling a sense of relaxation slowly setting in as you let your thoughts wander.

After 15 minutes, the car finally comes to a stop. You can hear the engine turning off, and a moment later the chauffeur opens the door for you, signaling that you have arrived at your destination. You step out of the car and turn your head to see Haruka sitting in the seat of the car. She looks at you with her ever-professional demeanor and nods a see-you-later.

You give her a small smile in return, knowing how much she keeps your schedule on track and always reminds you of your next appointment. She has probably already noted down this meeting in your agenda and will remind you when you need to leave for your event dinner tonight. With Haruka staying in the car, you take a moment to look around and take in your surroundings. The café that Kenji has suggested as your meeting place is just up ahead, it's sleek and modern exterior blending in with the city skyline. You take a deep breath before starting to walk towards the café. The image of a cat café on your phone screen that popped up when you tapped on the link Kenji sent you. Your eyes had widened in surprise and excitement, not expecting a cat café to be the place you're meeting up at. 

He knew how much you loved cats. 

A small smile tugs at the corner of your lips, thinking about how well Kenji still knows your interests. You love cats and the idea of being able to hang out with them while catching up with him is undeniably appealing. You quickly tuck your phone away, continuing the short walk towards the café. The anticipation to see Kenji and the thought of the cats waiting inside bring a sense of joy and excitement to you as you approach the café door. As you enter the café, you notice your bodyguard standing guard outside, staying close enough to keep an eye on you but also giving you and Kenji some space. The interior of the café is cozy and inviting, filled with comfortable seating options and the playful meows of the resident felines. 

You look around, admiring the cat-themed decorations and the relaxed atmosphere. A few guests are scattered around, sipping coffee and interacting with the kittens that roam the space. The barista in the front welcomes you politely into the café. The calming presence of the cats immediately puts you at ease, and you feel excitement bubble up inside of you at the prospect of seeing Kenji. You take a deep breath to calm your nerves and make your way further into the café, scanning the area for any sign of Kenji. You feel a mixture of eagerness and anticipation as you look forward to seeing your childhood friend again after so long. Suddenly, a familiar voice cut through the chatter and the sound of paws pattering on the café floor, not too loud to catch the attention of other customers. 

"Hey, over here." 

You turn your head towards the source of the voice and spot Kenji sitting at a small table in a cozy corner of the café. He gives you a friendly smile and waves a hand to get your attention. Your heart skips a beat as you hear his voice calling out to you, and your eyes light up with recognition. Kenji is sitting at a small table in the corner, looking as casual and laid-back as ever. He smiles warmly at you and waves his hand to grab your attention. His basecap throws a shadow over his eyes making you question yourself if he really tried to be not recognised or the exact opposite.

A wave of nostalgia washes over you as you see him, the memories of your shared past flashing before your eyes. God, it‘s been so long since you last saw him in person - 4 years to be exact- and the sight of him now feels like a long-lost friend returning home, which is basically the case. Lowkey? Highkey? You might be overreacting because you two just facetime three days ago but it still felt much better this way. 

You make your way over to Kenji's table, your footsteps softened by the plush carpeting under your feet. As you approach, you notice that several cats are curiously approaching and circling around him, probably attracted by his nonchalant charm and gentle demeanor. They seem to cling onto him like magnets, and you can't help but shake your head at him as he seems to brag about how they’ve wrapped around his fingers like his fans. 

As you reach the table, you take a seat across from him. „Didn’t expect you to be here already.“ 

Kenji chuckles at your remark, acknowledging the fact that punctuality has never been his strong suit. 

"Yeah, I know, I know. I'm usually fashionably late, right?" He grins, scratching one of the kittens that's currently rubbing against his arm. The cat purrs blissfully in response, its eyes half-lidded in content.

Several cats linger around him, some of them climbing onto the table and purring softly as they rub their heads against his outstretched hand and legs. You raise an eyebrow at his nonchalant response, knowing full well that his reputation for being tardy isn't just for show. But you can't help but smile at how he seems to embrace the very thing that used to annoy you in the past. Kenji glances at you, his gaze lingering on your face as a soft smile appears on his lips.

"But I guess I was excited to see you, baby girl, so here I am, ahead of schedule for once."

As he speaks, another cat jumps onto the table and starts rubbing its head against his sleeve. He absentmindedly runs his hand down its back, still keeping his eyes locked onto yours. 

His mind is playing him a bad game. 

As you roll your eyes at his affectionate nickname, Kenji grins wider, clearly amused.

"What, don't like being called baby girl no more?"

He teases you, a playful glint in his eye. The cat at your feet meows softly, as if agreeing with Kenji's choice of nickname for you. You sigh, placing your bag next to you and resting your arm on the table. Kenji watches you, enjoying your reaction to his endearment. As you pick up the menu, the cats lounging around the table are unfazed by your movements. 

„Never said I liked it“ 

Kenji raises his hands in mock surrender. The cat on his lap meows in protest as it's jostled by his movement.

"Oh yeah,“ he pauses dramatically, placing his right hand over his heart. „- but old habits die hard, right?"

The cat in his lap meows again, seemingly agreeing with his banter. In response, he gets a glare from you thrown over the menu you had blocked your face halfway with. He chuckles and leans forward to push down the menu card in your hands with his index finger, giving him a better view of you. 

"I swear, I swear. No more 'baby girl' from now on, baby girl.“ Liar. 

Clearly not serious, his gaze fixed on you, challenging you to believe him. He jokingly adds the nickname at the end. You know he won’t. Kenji lets out a small yelp as your foot connects with his shin under the table.

„Did you already order something?“, fully ignoring his suffering. 

Kenji winces as he continues massaging his leg where you kicked him. He shoots you a mock-glare before answering your question.

"Nope. I was waiting for you to arrive before deciding what to get. I mean, I'm sure you have certain... expectations for your preferred drinks and snacks.“ 

He taking a playful jab at your refined tastes. Kenji leans back in his seat, his hand remaining on his knee, although the playful gleam in his eyes is back despite your kick.

"So, what do you feel like having today? Something sweet and indulgent? Or maybe a cup of fancy imported tea to match your  extravagant taste?“ 

His grin widening as he sees the look on your face, knowing he's pushing your buttons just the right amount.

Kenji puts on a comically exaggerated thinking face, his eyebrows furrowed in a serious expression as he pretends to consider your choices. He looks from left to right, as if consulting the imaginary choices before him.

"Let's see... Maybe a slice of chocolate cake or a vanilla latte topped with whipped cream and crushed nuts. Or is that too pedestrian for your refined taste?"

„I‘m allergic to nuts, idiot.“

He’s barely able to keep a straight face as he continues his playful game of teasing you. Despite your initial annoyance, you can‘t help but laugh. Kenji‘s playful tone is infectious. 

Geez, you sometimes can‘t believe this man made you go crazy over him.  

Kenji's playful tone and exaggerated expressions have a contagious effect even on you, and despite your initially annoyed exterior, you can't help but be drawn into the lighthearted banter. He continues to pretend to think as if he's a wine sommelier, tasting and swirling invisible samples in his mind, all while keeping up his comical expression.

"Hmmmm... or maybe you'd prefer something a bit more sophisticated, like a cup of black coffee with a touch of lavender or a drizzle of honey to satisfy your sophisticated taste buds."

His eyes sparkling with mischief. For a split second you could see the little boy in him again. Kenji's eyes light up as he sees you break your own facade and start laughing at him. The sound of your laughter releases a proud feeling in him. He grins wider, glad that he managed to coax a laugh out of you. 

"Hey, I'll have you know, I'm taking this very seriously. Picking the right beverage for a connoisseur like yourself requires a real level of expertise."

He is still holding back his own laugh. 

„Okay okay, you joker.“ 

A server approaching your table takes your order of a simple latte macchiato and a piece of homemade cheesecake that had been displayed in the front.

After the waiter left you focused your attention back to Kenji, who was already looking at you. He had a hard time resisting the urge to brush the few strands of hair that have come loose and are framing your face perfectly, too perfect for his sake, as you spoke to the waiter. His fingers twitched at the idea. He wonders if your hair is still as soft as he remembers it. The urge to reach out and brush your hair back is almost overwhelming, but he manages to resist it, his hands clenching into a fist on the table instead. Instead, his gaze remains fixed on your face, his eyes reflecting a mix of familiarity and hidden emotions. He's clearly enjoying himself, but there's a hint of something else beneath the surface, something he's not quite ready to express yet.

There was a pause by just looking at each other until it got interrupted by the waitress bringing Kenji‘s order out of a homemade mochi donut and a cup of coffee. The interruption breaks the slightly tense atmosphere that had settled, and Kenji turns his attention to the food in front of him. He earns a confused look from you. 

"Ah, perfect timing," he says with a smile, eyeing the donut with relish. He takes a bite out of it, savoring the sweet and slightly chewy texture. After swallowing, he glances at you with a smirk 

"You sure you don't want one? They're pretty damn good", he asks you in between two bites. You shake your head. You can imagine him swallowing boxes of them in a sitting and you still wonder how he doesn’t get sick of them. „No, thanks. Thought you didn’t order anything yet tho.“ Your right eyebrow raises itself.

Kenji finishes his last bite, savoring the taste before replying to you. He takes a moment to wipe his hands and mouth with a tissue after licking the glazing off his fingers. His casual demeanour shows that he's fully comfortable in your presence.

"Oh, I placed my order when you weren't looking. I couldn't resist the temptation of a mochi donut, especially from this place."

He grins, his eyes sparkling with a mischievous glimmer. He leans back in his seat, looking relaxed and carefree as he waits for your response. He glances down at the now empty plate in front of him, a content smile on his face. The donuts were as good as he remembered, and finishing them so quickly only fueled his penchant for sweets. One of the nights, where he‘d sometimes just walk around after transforming back from his Ultra state, led him to find this café. He has been here a few times already — which he wouldn’t admit to you for some reason. First time entering the café automatically made him think of you and he knew he had to take you here. 

He takes a sip from his coffee, his gaze moving back to you. He notices the raised eyebrow and the skepticism in your expression.

"What? I can't have a small snack while waiting for you?“ His eyes held a hint of mock offense at your skepticism.

"You make having a snack sound suspicious," you deadpan with a disapproving look which makes him chuckle a little. „And I arrived 10 minutes before the agreed time.“ 

As Kenji's expression changes slightly, you can sense a shift in his demeanor. His carefree facade gives way to a more serious expression, and his fingers begin to fidget with the coffee mug, turning it around in his hands restlessly. It's as if his mood has taken a turn, the lighthearted banter replaced with a tension that wasn't there a moment ago. He keeps his gaze lowered, avoiding direct eye contact with you as he continues to fiddle with the mug, as if lost in thought.

You knew this side of Kenji too well. 

Another pause in the conversation, the silence between you becoming more pronounced as he seems lost in his own thoughts. It's clear that something is weighing heavily on his mind. Seeing him like this, lost in thought and visibly troubled, triggers a mixture of familiarity and concern within you. You've witnessed this part of him before, the moments when his carefree facade crumbles, and he's faced with something deeper. The sight of him struggling with his thoughts brings back memories, and a sense of knowingness washes over you. It's not the first time you've seen him like this, and instinctively, you know there's more to it than just a fleeting mood swing. You observe him closely, watching his expressions and body language, trying to figure out what's going on in his mind. The tension in the air is palpable, and your heart starts to ache for his unknown struggles. 

You long to reach out, to offer comfort or a word of reassurance. But you know him well enough to know that he needs a moment to sort through his thoughts before he'll be ready to open up to you. Seeing him stirs a faint ache within your chest. You quietly reflect on the semi distance that has grown between you, the lack of frequent in-person contact has left you with concerns about the state of your friendship multiple times over the past years. Fear of losing touch or growing apart crossed your mind, but deep down, you knew that the bond between you two is too strong to let distance fully sever it. Despite the challenges, the knowledge that your friendship persists through the years brings a small sense of comfort and reassurance. You were glad facetime and text messages existed and that your parents allowed somewhat frequent visits to him in the US. 

You continue to watch him closely, your eyes tracing his every movement and expression. The moments of silence pass slowly, but you remain patient, giving him the space he needs to organize his thoughts and find the words to express what's troubling him. It's clear that you want to reach out and comfort him in some way, but you also know that forcing him to talk before he's ready won't lead to anything productive.

The silence stretches on for a few moments, but then suddenly, Kenji breaks it.

“Can I be honest with you for a second?”

He lifts his gaze, his eyes meeting yours, a mix of vulnerability and uneasiness in his expression.

He pauses for a moment, gathering his thoughts before continuing.

"It's just... I've been struggling with something, and it's kind of hard to explain, and I'm not sure how to deal with it. In fact, I‘m actually surprised I didn’t go crazy yet.“ A nervous chuckle escaped him. 

He rubs the back of his neck, looking down at the table. His usual confident demeanor is replaced by a more uncertain and open expression, as if he's finally ready to open up about what's troubling him. He takes a deep breath, steadying himself before glancing up at you again

“And the thing is... I really need to talk to someone about it, but I, I guess it’d be just fair to talk to you about it, right?” He gives you a small crooked smile before that also fades away as he purses his lips together. His voice is a bit quieter now, and there's a hint of vulnerability in his eyes, as if he's not quite used to being this open and honest while you both had much more intimate moments, friendship wise of course. 

He fidgets with the piece of tissue nervously, tracing the pattern on the paper as he continues.

“I’ve been trying to deal with it on my own for weeks, months but it’s just getting harder and harder.”

There’s a pause, and he swallows hard, his throat dry, before he meets your eyes again, his gaze almost pleading. Lord have mercy. 

“Can I… talk to you about it?”