Anime: Nanbaka

Requested by: @MepxRoxy

(Y/n)'s POV

"(Y/n), you're here," Seitarou exclaimed.

I simply nodded quietly, grabbing onto his hand as he led me into Building 13. Pulling the scarf over my mouth, I paid no mind to my surroundings as I cast my eyes to the ground.

The walls of the prison had far more history and sentiments attached to its age than the walls of the hospital I had spent my time in. The relief that comforted my body helped me calm down my rapid breathing as I walked through the hallways of the prison.

Seitarou didn't seem the least bit bothered by the fact that criminals roamed the cells in which the prison housed. I walked a little closer to the blue-haired male, ever so gently grasping his sleeve with my other hand.

"Yo Seitarou, who's the cute chick?"

"Uno, you're supposed to be in your cell! What are you doing here?!" Seitarou asked as he handcuffed the male.

"Oi, it's not just me."

I jumped slightly as the man named Uno suddenly placed a hand under my chin and brought his face closer to mine. Seitarou immediately pulled the inmate away, seeming adamant about keeping me away from these prisoners.

"Uno, Rock, Jyugo and Nico, I'm escorting you back to your cell. No funny business," he exclaimed.

"Aww, is Seitarou trying to protect his damsel in distress?" Uno asked teasingly.

"I-I am not!"

"Heh, sure seems like it," added the tall inmate named Rock.

"Eh?! Seitarou has a girlfriend? That's surprising," said Nico.

"I-I'm not his girlfriend."

"Oh, the shy little bird talks. Then tell me why you're blushing," Uno demanded with a slight smirk gracing his face.

The long-haired male signalled to Rock, who picked me up in his strong arms. The four of them poked their tongues out at Seitarou as they kidnapped me and ran past the poor guard with no chance for him to process the situation.

I clung onto Rock for dear life, taking in deep gulps of air as the four of them happily ran along the winding corridors of Nanba Prison. My voice caught in my throat, leaving me unable to announce my discomfort and anxiety.

"Stop!" Seitarou yelled from a distance.

"No can do! Come and rescue her if you can!" Nico replied cheekily.

"First time we've seen a girl in ages. No way are we gonna leave her!" Rock added.

"Isn't that right, Jyugo?" asked Uno.

"Yeah, Seitarou needs to try extra hard to get her back," answered Jyugo.

"Guys, please! Stop! She-"

Hot tears brimmed my eyes, my breathing growing rapid and unstable as the air refused to fill my lungs. Grasping weakly at Rock's shirt, I tugged slightly in hopes of making him slow down.

He noticed my weak state before motioning for the others to stop. However, the others had already halted. An intimidating guard prevented the inmates from moving forward with their little kidnapping.

"Let the girl go," he ordered.

"Damn, it'll be hard to get around this one," Uno commented.

"Number 69, put her down. Seitarou, calm her down."

"Oi, what's happening to her? Is she physically weak?" Jyugo asked.

"She has a respiratory disease so she can't breathe in too much dust or polluted air. Changes in moisture density can also worsen her condition. On top of that, she has a trauma of threatening or over-the-top surprises and excitement. So think twice about your foolish actions before you kidnap people to tease others!" the bald guard reprimanded.

Rock muttered a quiet apology, one of pure sincerity, apparent in his guilt-laced voice as he passed me into Seitarou's arms. Weakly grabbing onto my childhood friend's sleeve, I leaned against his chest as he fetched the medicine from my pocket.

The other guard chucked a bottle of water over. Seitarou carefully lifted the bottle to my lips after putting the pills in my mouth and tilted its contents into my mouth.

I felt drowsiness fighting to overtake my consciousness but my refusal to fall asleep seemed futile. Seitarou reassured me with a kind smile as he moved the hair out of my face.

"Go to sleep," he said.

"But..."

"It's fine."

Seitarou's POV

Sighing in relief once (Y/n) seemed to calm down, I glared at the four inmates Hajime had already apprehended. Standing up with the sleeping girl in my arms, I listened in both silence and surprise as each one of them apologised without a trace of sarcasm in their voices.

"We're sorry, Seitarou. Didn't realise she had such weak health," Uno exclaimed.

"If you're so sorry, then don't ever do that again."

"Is she here to visit you?" asked Nico.

"No, she insists on working here. I tried to dissuade her but she's too stubborn. Once she has her mind set on something, there's no changing it."

"Why does she want to work at a prison? Aren't there better places suited for a cute girl like her?" Uno asked.

"Well, she says that she doesn't want to be apart from me... Her older sister also agreed, so yeah..."

"*smirks* Oh? Are you two dating?"

"We are most definitely not!"

"But she came here for you and you sure seem to care a whole deal about her."

"She's my childhood friend so of course I'd care for her."

"Are you sure that's the only reason?"

"*blush* Why do you have to press so hard into my personal matters?!"

"He's getting flustered. He loves her," Rock concluded.

Hajime kicked their backsides to move them along. I walked slightly behind them, subtly glancing at (Y/n) as she slept soundly in my arms. Perhaps...I did love her...

She was as pure as innocence itself. I didn't want anything tainted like fear or worry to stain her childlike peace in which she had surrounded herself with.

I would protect her from danger, that was the promise I had made to her older sister...and in return...I wanted her to love me. However, I would never know her true feelings until she told me...

"You were just thinking how much you'd like her to love you back, weren't you?" Uno asked.

"N-no, where do you get such absurd ideas from?"

"I can tell from the look on your love-stricken face. And by the looks of it, I think she does love you."

"How are you so sure?"

"I've dated plenty of girls-"

"But is quantity really better than quality in this case?"

"Damn Uno, he got you there," commented Rock.

"Ha, that was a good one," Jyugo added.

"All of you, shut up!" Hajime yelled.

Cracking a small smile, I looked down at (Y/n) only to find her staring back at me. She smiled happily to which I returned with a smile of my own.