Chapter Text
Yuta was relieved the dinner was not at all like he had expected.
As much as Maki wanted to make her parents angry, they both agreed that it would probably only hurt Yuta in the long run. So instead, Maki waited for her parents to take their usual monthly London trip, and invited Yuta to be with just her and her sister Mai.
When he arrived on horseback, the sun was already setting. His clothes would be a bit dirty, sure, but he had hated carriages ever since he lost Rika. It was a fair trade off. Dismounting from the horse, he got his first good look at the Zen’in family home, and it was everything his home was not.
Multi-storied, elegant, and ever expanding, he was shocked that it currently only housed four people. It was mostly brick, with painted white trim around the windows. Yuta’s personal favorite touch was the maze in front of the house, which he had always wanted growing up. Maybe Maki would let him wander around it sometime… he didn’t want to intrude in any way.
He knocked on the door, and a footman came to answer it, and announced Yuta’s arrival. The house was as grand as the outside implied, with beautiful rosewood along every wall. Directly in front of him was the main foyer, with a staircase to the right, and tables and expensive decor in every direction. Yuta’s attention went to a side room, as a tall green haired girl stepped out… and then another one. Maki had mentioned having a sister, he didn’t realize just how alike they would be.
Maki’s dress was elegant, flowing all the way to the floor, in a shade of pale green that complimented her eyes. Her sister’s dress was a similar pale shade but of blue, with her hair cut short in what Yuta assumed was an act of defiance, if even half of what Maki said of her was true.
“Okkotsu, you made it.” Maki said with a slight smile.
“So this is the Okkotsu you have been talking about?” the other girl - Mai, he remembered- said. Maki’s face turned slightly red as she turned back to her sister, then exhaled to compose herself.
“Yes, it is. Come on in, let us go to the drawing room.”
---
Yuta stared across the table at Mai. She had just moved her knight to put him in check again. He was down to just his king, a bishop, and a rook, and was feeling stuck. She still had her queen left, along with both knights and a rook. Maki sat close by, leaning into the chess table.
“You’re a good opponent, Okkotsu.” Mai smugly declared. “But I think that just might be a checkmate.”
“Don’t count him out just yet.” Maki retorted. “Yuta’s about to win easily.”
He felt sweat drip down his neck. Where did Maki get this confidence in him? Mai’s smug smile bore into his soul. He had to get in the way of the knight. He could move his king forward, but that would just put him in check with her rook along the side. A move to the left would put him in the queen’s warpath, so he could only go right. He assumed Mai knew this, but he still took it. She spent a turn adjusting one of her knights, but he was out of check. He positioned his bishop to the far right side. Mai’s best bet was to attack with the queen now, and if she did-
She moved her queen right next to the king, surely thinking she had a checkmate. She even leaned back in her chair… just to see Yuta snatch her queen with his bishop. He gave a weak smile at Mai, who frowned.
“Nice going, Yuta.” Maki said proudly. It was probably an accident, but it was the first time she called him by his first name, and he felt his heart tremble a little. No… he didn’t… no, that wasn’t possible…
“Th-thanks, Maki.” Yuta stuttered out.
Yuta could see Mai raise an eyebrow at this, and he quickly wanted to get the game back on track. Mai moved a knight out of the bishop’s way, but that just put it in Yuta’s sights for his rook. Mai moved her rook to put Yuta back in check, but Yuta put his bishop one square in front of the king. Mai instead chose to move her knight closer, but that just put it in front of his bishop, for an easy take.
Mai was getting visibly angry, puffing out her cheeks and getting up close to the board. She must know that taking his rook would just result in her rook’s end, so she needed a new strategy. She pulled it back a few spaces, which let put the pressure on with his bishop on her king. She annoyingly moved her king one space over… and into Yuta’s rook’s sights. He slid it across the board, and knocked over Mai’s king.
“That was an amazing game, Yuta!” Maki said, standing up to cheer. Even Mai put out her hand for a shake.
“Alright, I like you Okkotsu, that was impressive.” Yuta took her hand, and they shook.
“Th-thank you! Ms. Zen’in!” Yuta said, almost sweating. Mai just laughed at that.
Now that the game was finished, he took a second to look around the room, seeing a wide array of books on the shelf.
“Is this your collection, Maki?” Yuta asked, walking up to the shelf. He had always wanted to be a book collector, but he never had the time or money to achieve his dream.
“Well yes. Do you read Yuta?” Maki asked. Yuta picked the first book he saw, Frankenstein; or The Modern Prometheus, and flipped through it.
“Oh I love reading! When I was bedridden it was all I could do. The more fantastical the better.” He said, before looking down at the book again. “This is actually really good.”
“You can have it.” Maki said. “I’ve read it. It’s good but I think you’ll like it even more. Giving life to the inanimate… it’s a silly idea.”
Yuta took her hands, and smiled at her. No one ever just… gave him things. Not even Gojo really.
“Thank you so much Maki!” He said, before he noticed her blush a little. He had come on too strong, so he released his hands from hers. “Wha-what’s your favorite book, Maki?”
She made her way over to the shelf, before she looked around a bit, and pulled out Persuasion.
“This one. I know you probably haven-”
Yuta reached out to accept the book, and absently had a few lines return to his head.
“You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me that I am not too late, that such precious feelings are gone forever.”
He looked over to see Maki’s face just consumed by shock, while Mai giggled to herself. Yuta felt his face go flush.
“I- uh… sorry, Rika liked when I would memorize passages, so I guess it was just in my head somewhere.”
Maki just smiled weakly.
“It’s no problem, Yuta. It was nice.” Maki said, with a little smile. Mai seemed to notice the awkwardness, and stepped in between them.
“It should be time for dinner, we should head over.” She offered, and Yuta and Maki both followed her.
---
“This soup is amazing!” Yuta exclaimed. He had been cooking for himself ever since Rika passed, and while he found it rewarding, he missed seeing everything the world had to offer.
“Glad you like it.” Maki replied with a smile.
“So…” Yuta started after a minute. “How similar are you two?”
Maki and Mai looked at each other and laughed.
“Identical. Opposites.” Mai said with a shrug. “I’m the nice one.”
“That’s absolutely untrue!” Maki called back, getting a laugh out of both Mai and Yuta.
“Is she always like this?” Yuta said between laughs.
“She’s usually worse!” Mai said, fighting back giggles.
“I detest you both.” Maki grumbled, though her look at Yuta betrayed her words.
Yuta could not remember the last time he felt this comfortable. The only times he was in public after Rika’s death was whenever Gojo would invite him somewhere, usually to his parties. He would usually just go to the porch and sulk. Turns out going to the porch was what saved him in the end. He would happily sit at a table with Maki every night for the rest of his life.
“So is this what nights are-“ Yuta started, before hearing the front doors swing wide open.
“I hope you two haven’t started dinner yet!” A man’s voice called out. Yuta heard two sets of footsteps come through the hallway. He, Maki and Mai were all frozen in their seats, unsure of what to do. He was sure Maki said they’d be away on business…
The doors swung open to reveal her parents. Her father was tall, and surprisingly thin for his deep voice. His long hair was pulled back in a queue, and his eyes bore into Yuta’s soul. Maki’s mother was shorter, but otherwise looked like an older version of the twins Zen’in.
“The cursed boy?” Maki’s father whispered in shock.
Maki stood up and stared her father in the face, all before taking a deep breath.
“Mother, father, this is my friend Yuta Okkotsu. Mai and I thought we would be able to invite him for dinner.”
“Why would you ever think that?” Her mother replied, not meeting Maki’s eyes. Her voice was cold, and shot through Yuta like the wind on a winter’s day. “Why would we ever want him at our table?”
“I didn’t mean to-” Yuta started. He did not want to make Maki’s life any worse than she had made it sound. He started to get up before Mai gave him a dirty look.
“Stay put Yuta.” Maki said, before turning to her parents again. “He’s not going anywhere.”
“You don’t make the rules in this house.” Her father shot back, equally cold.
“I don’t want him going anywhere either.” Mai said, standing up with her sister.
The Zen’ins exchanged a look, silently conversing about their options.
“Maki.” Her father started, still clearly agitated. “We ask you time and time again to show some modicum of interest in the many men who approach you. And yet this is the first one you decide to invite into our home? You know his past, correct?”
“Yes.” Maki said flatly. “And I’ve decided I don’t care. I didn’t invite those other suitors because they weren’t interested in me. They were interested in you. Yuta likes me for me.”
Yuta felt all eyes on him, something Maki clearly didn’t intend.
“Ma-er, Ms. Zen’in is a very nice person, yes.” Yuta stuttered out. He wanted to be more supportive of Maki, but he was in over his head. He had let his fear and apprehension get the best of him. Her parents turned away after his comment as if they had vaguely noticed a fly buzzing around the room.
Suddenly, the room went quiet for Yuta.
“What will you do, if I die before you?”
The voice came from everywhere and nowhere. It was Rika’s—that much he knew. But why was he hearing it?
“Don’t talk like that Rika. We’ll be together forever.”
It was a memory… a conversation they had before she passed away, maybe a year or so. A memory he blocked out. She had been on their couch reading a novel. Her short hair splayed on a pillow, flipping through Sense and Sensibility absently. She was always so beautiful, with a smile hiding her pain. He was busy preparing their lunches.
“I know, but we must prepare for the worst.” She replied. “ So tell me Yuta, what will you do? Please don’t be sad.”
“Of course I’ll be sad, Rika. You’re my whole world.” Yuta replied, bringing over their sandwiches.
“I just mean… don’t mourn me too long, okay? I want you to remarry. I would want you to marry the most amazing girl you could find. If we have kids they’ll need a good mother after all.”
“And if we don’t have kids?” Yuta asked.
“Well then you must still marry a beautiful woman, because your happiness is most important to me. Alright Yuta? Don’t follow after me too soon. Live your life to the fullest.”
“I promise I will Rika.” Yuta replied. “And you’ll do the same.”
He couldn’t just sit idly by. That’s not what Rika would have wanted. He found himself getting up out of his chair, and looking the parents directly in the eye.
“You can’t speak to either of my friends this way.” Yuta said, coldly and confidently. “They invited me here. They aren’t your dolls to control. Maki is kind, and strong, and intelligent. She’s so much more than you give her credit for.” Yuta turned his gaze to Maki. “Maki, I think it’s about time you left here, don’t you think?”
Maki looked back and forth between her parents and him. Then a wicked grin crept up on her face, and she simply nodded, sprinting out of the dining room with Yuta following closely behind.
---
A week later, Mai showed up at Yuta’s door, with trunks in hand.
“Thought I’d bring my big sis’ stuff to you guys.”
Yuta was not prepared at all, his house was a mess, and Maki was out getting food. The pair had settled into domestic life almost immediately, with Maki taking the spare bedroom. She was happy to be away from her family, that much was clear.
“Oh… thank you Mai. How are you doing?” Yuta asked as she dropped the bags in front of his door.
“Oh I’m doing great after I ran away too.” Mai said with a smile. Yuta’s jaw dropped to the floor.
“You- you did? How? When?” Yuta was in full panic mode. What chain reaction had he started?
“A couple days after you two. My friend Momo’s got a huge home, her family said I could live with them for a while. You really changed everything for us Yuta. Gotta thank you for that.”
Mai started to walk away. Yuta had a million questions for her, but none he could wrap his head around before she left. She turned to take another look at him.
“Just take care of my sister, alright?”
“Of course!” Yuta called back, bowing to her. She snickered at that, and returned to her carriage.
---
Yuta couldn’t help but stare at Maki. After a month in his house, she had begun to be part of it. She lived in it, claimed parts of it as her own, and he never wanted her to leave. He had started to teach her how to ride horseback, and she had taken to it. Not a day went by where she wasn’t outside in Yuta’s backyard. But he liked her most right here, on his couch, flicking through her book. Her ponytail cascading over the side, her glasses pushed up as far as they could go. Yuta realized he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, just relaxing.
“Hey Maki? Can we talk?” Yuta asked.
“Sure.” She said, sitting up on the couch. He walked over to her, motioning for her to sit.
“Maki… I… wanted to talk about something.”
“What is it?” She said, with a slight glare. She always looked so intimidating even when she didn’t mean to. He loved that about her.
“I was… thinking about your living arrangements.”
“Do you want me to leave?” Maki said, almost… disappointed. “I’m sorry for overstaying my welcome. I’m sure Mai-”
“No! No, just… the opposite.” Yuta said, hunching down by her. “I… want it to be more permanent.”
“What are you saying Yuta?” Maki asked, suspicion rising in her voice.
Yuta shifted, so he was down on one knee. He wasn’t sure if Maki even noticed, she was staring right in his eyes. Sweat poured down from his brow. Why was this so hard? It was so easy the first time with Rika…
“Maki… I never thought I’d be happy again. I had always intended to live out my days alone here. And then… I saw a beautiful woman on Gojo’s porch, and my life has never been the same.”
“Yuta… what are you saying?” Maki asked breathlessly.
“Marry me Maki.” Yuta said, without missing a beat. “I know I’m a widower with so little money compared to your family, but I do not care. Some call me cursed, and they are right, but if I am cursed, it is because you have bewitched me, body and soul. I never wish to be parted from this day on. Maki, I love you, I will always love you.” He didn’t have a ring. It wasn’t planned ahead of time, he just couldn’t help himself. He couldn’t let another moment go by without knowing Maki’s answer.
“Yuta… I really was worried you would never ask.” Maki replied.
“You… what?”
Before Yuta knew what was happening, Maki leaned down and kissed him. It was soft, and quick, very unlike Maki, which only made it sweeter.
“Of course I will marry you Yuta. For the first time in my life, I actually want to get married. And it’s because it’s you. I would’ve said yes the first day I came here. So let’s not wait any longer, okay?”
“Maki… you made me the happiest man in the world.” Yuta said, tears filling his eyes. Maki took his hand, and pulled him onto the couch. “This may just be the greatest day of my life.”
“Hey now.” Maki replied. “Our lives are just beginning.”