Arisa Pov

I was holding my phone between my ear and shoulder as I put the last essentials in my suitcase, but the bottle of conditioner dropped from my hand as Mom uttered her next words "Mom! You can't be serious." I said, my eyes basically popping from the socket, my mouth agape.

This is some dumb joke.

"I am very serious, Arisa. So, behave yourself when you come here." mom's firm voice come-that type of tone when she is not going to budge no matter what I say but is it going to stop me from saying? -No. Nope. Never.

"Momm-Come on, I rarely come home, with Shogatsu being one of the rare occasions, and you are inviting him-whyyy?"I whined flopping on my bed.

"Arisa, you are grown-up now, act like one just because of your childish behavior. I can't ask Yoshie to not come." Mother's firm voice comes from the other end of the phone.

"Mom-then just ask Yoshie aunt to come-tell her to leave that devil at home." I said, I also know that Mom can't ask Yoshie aunt to not bring her only son-but that did not stop me from trying.

"Arisa" Her strict voice made me flinch a little "Why did you even hate him?" she questioned with a sigh.

"Because he was adamant on ruining my every project." and my every achievement was compared to his-not like I can tell Mom this.

"What was the last time you met him?" she questioned.

I grew silent, Right, I did meet him quite a time ago.

"12 years ago," I said, sulking with a pout because I also knew, now there was no way that I could convince Mom to not invite him.

"Right, you both are grown up now-you are a lady, so act like one, and I barely believe you will even recognize him." she said leaving no home to argue.

I will not recognize him; I doubt that will ever happen.

"So, you are coming, and you will behave yourself" and that's how Mom ended the call with a last warning, so now I have to go out of my comfort, uncomfort, and every zone to be acquainted with him-just great!

🎍~🎍~🎍~🎍

I descend from the polished stairs of the airport, and the sound of my heels clicking on the floor gets mixed with the commotion at this place, after all, Today is Shogatsu I suppose many people are coming back home. 

I stand at the pathway with my suitcase resting behind me, as my eyes scan the crowd for familiar faces.

Soon my eyes lit up while my lips twitched into a smile seeing him, "ONII-SAN"- I yelled rushing to him with my suitcase bumping into stones behind me.

"Arisa" his lips morphed into a smile while I tackled him in a hug, relaxing in his familiar warmth, He has always been my safe space after all "You are still like a child." he commented hugging me back while ruffling my hair.

"Only for you" I said breaking the hug and handing him my suitcase for which he shot me a playful glare.

Other voices drowned from my mind as we both sat in his car and started talking-well more like me talking and him listening, like he always does.

The car comes to a halt while he opens the door for me, I step outside my eyes taking in the surroundings of my village-the place where I have spent crucial years of my life, a place close to my heart.

"Mother," I said as I saw her coming out of the gates and taking me in a hug, I released a sigh hugging her back amid city chaos in New York- I sometimes forget that just how much I miss home and my family.

"My cherry blossom, look how beautiful you are looking." she uttered breaking the hug and cupping my cheeks her eyes just conveyed that I was not the only one who missed her. 

"Now, go and get dressed." she said patting my cheeks as some maids came escorting me to my room and getting ready.

I take a look at myself in the mirror in my room after finishing dressing up, I smile in satisfaction twirling a little I am clad in a new blue Kimono with a floral pattern while my long black hair is tugged in a bun. 

I descended the stairs onto the main hall that was bustling with people. Our Family is one of the oldest families that established this village and that's why at such important festivals we throw large feasts and almost all the villagers are invited.

However, with power comes responsibility and that's why we have to ensure everything is perfect and decent.

"Oh my god, Mother, tell me what the secret of your young skin is," I said while back hugging her, as I saw her dressed in a beautiful green kimono. 

"Stop flattering me." she said with a chuckle.

I smiled, before kissing her cheek and sneaking off from there, because I can see from my peripheral vision that our relatives were coming and let me tell you that any conversation with them will become a secret organization Interrogation-so, it's better for me to see them at Lunch when there will be more targets for them.

My paths soon cross with Yoshie aunt, "Konnichiwa, Yoshie aunt" I say bowing before she takes me in a hug.

"You have grown so much, Arisu" she said her eyes twinkling as she cups my cheeks, Arisu- a nickname she calls me. 

She has always been my second mother, a person who I trust with my life although not quite her son. My eyes flickered from her face to the hallways behind her searching for that Devil.

"Are you finding Aito, he-"

"Yoshie" Mom waltzed in between Yoshie aunt's words interrupting her, they both shared a hug while I just smiled and walked away from there-let two ladies have their talk-as they say.

I pick up a glass of water from the table, I sipped it as I walk through the lobby toward the Garden, my thoughts all over the places, but I am certainly snapped out of them as I bumped into someone. The glass I was holding tumbled down breaking into pieces.

"Oh my god-I am so sorry." I say my eyes wide as I look at the Glass-Oh god, I have made such a mess.

"No, No I should be sorry-you are not hurt, are you?" A soothing voice come my eyes traveled and fixed on the face of this stranger, my mouth a little agape- Standing in front of me was someone who I did not recognize- long silver hair reaching his back, he was wearing a hakama that highlight his fair complexion - Oh my, he is hot!

"No, No I am okay." I said taking my eyes away from his attractive face.

"That's a relief, don't want to hurt a beauty like you." he replied with relived sigh, my eyes flutter as I sneak a glance at him, was he flirting?

No, that can't be possible-just because he refers to me as a 'beauty' does not mean he is flirting, well even if he is I am not complaining.

To my relief, a maid come to clear the mess as I apologize to her, I didn't want to ruin the workers holiday, but she assured me it was nothing big and she will just throw the glass pieces away, I thanked her before moving out to the gardens.

What I did not notice was that the mysterious attractive stranger was just behind me, "Aito" he said forwarding his hand, my brows shot up as I heard his name. 

"Aito?"

He did not say but his face gave it away that he was thinking- what the hell I am saying- "I just know another Aito, not a pleasant one." I answered shrugging-to be honest I don't think he has come; I have not seen those familiar dark brown hairs till now. 

"Arisa" I say with a smile shaking his hand before he can retract it, he gives a smile back his silver hair loosely falling on his forehead. 

We walk toward the bench between the garden sitting on it, and surprisingly he was very easy to talk to, our conversation flow flawlessly moving from our introduction to where we live, our likes and blah, blah, blah. He lives in New York by the way, and I can't believe it that we live in the same city then again New York is so big I cannot possibly think that I have seen all people who live there.

"Kids! Come we are going to hatsumōde"  Mother said between her chatter with Yoshie aunt, gesturing us all to come with them.

"Let's go pretty lady, shall we?" he said forwarding his hand, I blink at his hand for some moments, He want me to hold his hand?

Common courtesy? Being a Gentleman?

"Yeah" I said slipping my hand in his whatever the reason might be that he offers escorting me-but I am not complaining, it's not every day you got to talk and hold hand of such a person.

We silently walk toward others. 

Soon we were at the temple where we give our prayers every year, I clasp my hand bowing down chanting the prayers.

Soon we all young adults and kids were done praying, leaving only some adults. Me and Aito find a small scheduled stop away from the hustle-bustle of the temple. 

"Don't you think this is discrimination?" he mutter pouting, leaning on the wall.

I followed his line of vision to see that he was looking toward the kids who was receiving otoshidama from adults "What is... discrimination in that?"

"All those kids are getting otoshidama but not us."  he said sulking.

"Aren't we like in our twenties?" I said raising my eyebrows.

"Still"

"Childish" I muttered under my breath with a smile.

He shot me a glare to which I raise my hands in mock surrender making him shake his head.

🎍~🎍~🎍~🎍

"Mother where is osechi ryōri" I say while munching my mochi, hmm it tastes delicious.

"First, finish that Arisa, then ask for it." Mom says in a firm tone, before leaving to attend other guests.

"That is your favorite, I assume?" he asks taking a sip of his drink.

"Yeah" I said with a pout, "It is heartlessness to keep me far from osechi ryōri."

"Now who is being childish?" he asks raising his eyebrow, as I shot him a glare.

"Haven't you heart everything is fair in love and food" I replied back, twirling toshikoshi soba under the fork.

He gave me an amused glance, before resuming to eat his food.

I did not notice when time passed and I found me and Aito standing at the garden pathway watching the sunset, the whole sky was filled with hues of red and yellow basking even the clouds in their glow. 

I glance at him sideways-his silver hair that were softly blowing with wind, while he stands there with his arms folded across his chest making his taut muscles even more visible-he is attractive truly, inside and out as far as I have known him.

I awkwardly clear my throat turning toward him, "IwaswonderingcanIhaveyourphonenumber"-I said in a single breath and cringe at my tone, did he even understand what I said in this supersonic speed- I look toward him to see his face basked with confusion-yep, he did not understand.

"I was wondering can I have your phone number?" I repeat looking anywhere but at him, twirling a stand of my obsidian-like hair between my fingers.

"Oh sure" he said, making me internally squeal, as soon as the words left his mouth, I forward my phone toward him with a smile.

He takes it in his hand, type his number and hand me back while I admire his face.

"Aito, I need a little help, come for a second" A familiar voice come as I glance toward the lobby door to see Aunt Yoshie standing there, looking toward Aito.

"Yes Mom" he replied walking toward Aunt Yoshie.

My mouth falls open as I look toward both of them before looking at the new contact's name-Aito Amano.

This all mean that-

"Meet you in a few minutes, Arisa." he replied, halfway through the door, a smirk tugging at his lips, before he disappeared from the door leaving only the sound of his footsteps descending the staircase and the minty smell of his cologne in the air.

My hand found my hairs as I gently tugged them back at their place, you mean the person who I have spent the whole day talking and admiring is Aito as in AITO AMANO.

Hi Angels :D 💞

I have written this one-shot for the contest held by WattpadAsianFiction and  AmbassadorsJP . 

Prompt - 1: You finally agree to return home for your family's New Year (Shogatsu) celebration, but with the condition, that you would push yourself out of your comfort zone, even if it means being close to a person you thought you once hated.

Participation sticker - 

Arisa Mori - Female lead

Aito Amano -Male lead 

Word count - 2041 (excluding Author note) 

Sayonara ⭐❤️

 - A/n