SALVATORE || Sano Manjiro X Fem! Reader

*+*CHAPTER 13 || HEARTBEATS*

Her hands stopped short, one palm directly placed on the left side of his chest. "Your heart beating." Her gaze meets his, brows upturned in a way that shows all of the fondness she holds for him, a man who's undeserving of the love she gives him and yet, and yet despite that, despite her knowing how much of a horrible person he actually is, she still looks at him with all the adoration a person can give.

Manjiro wonders what it is exactly Y/n sees in him.

A brief comforting silence came between the two in which all they can do is stare at each other before Manjiro snorts out a laugh. "You're such a sap." He says with a grin whilst circling his arms around her waist to tug her back down and flush against him, burying his nose into her hair.

A giggle accompanied by a nod and Y/n hides her face away in the crook of his neck, nipping at the fair skin when her husband places a kiss to the sides of her face.

----

Hanagaki Takemichi inhales a deep breath, pumping his fist to assure himself, determination swirling in his eyes as he stares intensely at the pretty flower shop in front of him.

It's been a few days since the wedding incident happened and Takemichi spent them trying to hype himself up against someone he's completely unsure about. As much as he wanted to talk to her sooner, he wanted to get tidbits of information with the ones he is familiar with, attempting to grasp into the idea of her being his friend.

During that time, he got some of the basics of her persona, having owned a successful flower shop as well as having a child of her own (a child whose father is still unknown to everyone) and if Takemichi's being honest he's looking forward to meeting her, an eager thrumming settling in his bones. He just hopes he doesn't act out of proportion and became the target of Y/n's suspicion.

Drawing another breath, he pushes the door open. Instantly, the eyes of the employees turn to him and he feels the nervous beatings his heart gives at the attention. He meets the eyes of a young woman who smiles when they make eye contact before pointing him over to a direction, like an invitation of sorts and then returning to her work.

Takemichi gulps before proceeding to stiffly walk towards the area he was appointed to, nearing the place, he see a name template plastered into the top of a door, a name he now can say he's somewhat familiar with written in a cursive font.

He hears muffled voices engaged in active conversation and he knocks gently, abruptly stopping them. A 'come in!' reaches his ears and he briefly recognizes it as Y/n's despite only hearing it say a few sentences.

Twisting the door open, he gives an awkward smile to Y/n, who gives him an excited wave before turning his gaze towards the other occupant.

Kazutora gives him an acknowledged nod along with a muffled 'Hi, Takemichy' as he continues to stuff his mouth with what Takemichi can only assume is his lunch.

"Hey, Kazutora-kun, Y/n-chan." He nods, and then pausing when he hears soft babblings, only now noticing the baby seated on her high chair in between them. A soft laugh leaves his chest, practically melting in his place by the doorway. "And Hi Sachiko."

At the sound of her name, she looks up at him with wide doe eyes, an excited squeal erupting from her tiny self when she recognizes him.

Takemichi steps inside before taking a seat next to Y/n, a good distance away but not enough to raise eyebrows at his avoidance.

"So, what brings you here? Your break should have been over an hour ago." She addressed him, a tiny coo leaving her lips when she continues to feed Sachiko her mushy baby food.

"I- um, I took a day off today." That catches her attention as well as Kazutoras who tried to distract himself with watching the show currently playing on the medium sized Tv in her office that is filled with everything that you might see in an average Japanese apartment.

"Hm? Why, did something happen?" Y/n furrows her brows at him, giving him a quick once over to catch anything that might have been off.

Takemichi shakes his head in disagreement, not wanting to worry her. "I had a few errands that I had to run and I wanted to talk to you afterwards," He sneaks a glance at Kazutora, who's eyeing him curiously. "Alone."

The bicolored male gives him a playful glare and Takemichi had to retrain himself from tensing up, remembering a moment when that stare wasn't as friendly. "Oh, c'mon, Takemichi, you're seriously not trying to have Y/n all to yourself now, are you?"

The blue eyed man smiles shakily, opening his mouth to answer before he's interrupted by the female next to him who chuckled at the teasing jab.

"We can always call, you know that right? Does Hina know you're here?" Y/n says, wiping away the residue that stuck to her baby girls chin. He nods at her second question.

"I thought it would be better to discuss it in person."

She perks up at that, an expression he can't quite name overcoming her face before disappearing just as quickly as it appeared, leaving him with a curious tilt to his head and a question on the tip of his tongue.

Y/n gives him a smile, nodding in understanding. "Ok," She turns her attention to the tatted male. "'Tora, if you don't mind." She says as she stands up to straightened up her clothes.

The addresses male shakes his head. "Not at all." Standing and taking over her previous seat. "Chifuyus coming over in a bit, anyways. I'll tell him you'll be back."

"Thank you." Bending down, she places a kiss to her baby's cheek, a muttered: 'I'll be back, 'Sachi.' and she gestures for Takemichi to stand.

Takemichi follows after albeit a little confused. His friend catches sight of his expression before proceeding to tell him where they're going.

"Let's talk on the way to the convenient store, I need to buy some things anyways." Opening the door, they give a final goodbye to the male already cooing at the baby.

Kazutora waves them off. "Be back soon."