Noi x Hanahaki! Reader

Relationship: Crush

Setting: Ava's Apartment

Second Person PoV

(Y/n) - Your name

~~~

Noi was always too afraid to confess to you; You were his first love and you just seemed so... perfect in his eyes. He knew that he was in love with you from the moment he first saw you, but he never dared say a word as long as his superiors were trying to court you. What he didn't know was that his silence was killing you...

The Daemos boy was oblivious, he barely realized anything was wrong and, though he was already hurting from not being able to tell you how he felt, he was brave and kept going without you. But his absence made your ill state worsen drastically. Ava forced you to stay closed up in your room, and even so much as thinking to ask why went right over Noi's head; The two people who did notice, however, were your other two suitors.

"How are you feeling today, (Y/n)?" Rhys' gentle voice asked you. You couldn't seem to force the woods out, your throat was backed up with flowers, so you held back a sad cough and pressed your cheek into his hand. His thumb stroked the skin, soothingly, and he looked back to Asch and Ava. "Their state is worsening at an accelerated rate... Is this supposed to be happening?"

Ava fiddled with her thumbs. "Well... with Hanahaki it really depends on the situation the person is in... Like if they're seeing the one they love everyday, how little they see that person, how often they think about them, stuff like that..." She muttered.

Asch crosses his arms and his dark eyes bored into you. "Who are you in love with, then?"

You looked away, not wanting to talk about it for a number of reasons; Asch and Rhys were already critical enough of Noi as is and talking about it was only causing them pain.

Asch was about to press on, when Ava stopped him. "Just leave them be... they need rest."

The prince appeared to be skeptical, but he looked over your weak form and his eyes softened. "Fine... get some rest..." He and Rhys walked from the room and silence, back to the palace.

Once they've left, Ava turned back to you. "Can I get you anything...?" She didn't realize your condition was as bad as it was; You were practically on your last legs and you refused to let it show. You refused to let go of your emotions and see Noi hurting because of it. That's what your love for him was about...

"C-Can you send Noi in?" You asked, softly.

Ava frowned. "(Y/n)-"

You cut her off before she could warn you. "I want to be with him right now... Please...?"

The human girl sighed. "Okay, okay... fine..." She walked out of your room and sent Noi in from the living room.

Barely a minute later, the ginger-haired Daemos walked into the room. "H-Hi, (Y/n), d-did you ne-" He goes quiet when he sees you weakened state. "Wh-What happened?!"

"I-I'm just a little under the weather..." You whispered, not wanting to cough petals in front of him and cause him anymore worry. "C-Come sit with me..."

Noi, of course, complied and sat down on your bed at your side. You restrained yourself from choking and gasping for air as you inches closer to him and took his hand in yours. He looked at you in slight confusion, but seeing your poor state, he didn't want to stop you; He knew something was wrong and he just wanted you to be okay.

His saddened gaze was a last ditch effort of forcing the truth out of you and a cluster of petals forced themselves out of your throat and fluttered around the two of you. Noi stared at you in horror and quickly pulled you closer. "(Y-Y/n)! What's happening?!"

"I-I, um..." You could say one of two different responses and they fought in your brain. Your head was spinning with conflict and confusion, but as you looked at Noi's broken expression, the answer became obvious.

"B-Because I'm a little sick..." You answered. That part was truthful enough, but what you added was not. "Sometimes when humans are stressed, they get sick and... stuff like this happens. That's why..." You tensed, feeling the splitting pain of guilt rise in your stomach at the mere thought of lying to your love. "Why I wanted you here, b-because you make me happy..."

Noi's eyes softened and he pulled you into a gentle hug, as to not hurt you. "I-I'll do whatever it takes for you, (Y/n)!" He hummed proudly, snuggling into your shoulder. You clung you him back, the tips of your fingers digging into his back and tugging at the fabric of his shirt. He couldn't see your face anymore, but tears welled in your eyes and you held your breath to keep choked sobs from escaping your lips. You were already gone, you knew, but you wanted to savor this last moment with Noi.

~~~

One short week later, Noi was still held up in his bedroom, shivering and shaking with sadness. Tears spilled from his eyes constantly and he clung to the fabric of his bedspread in an attempt to stop his trembling hands. He spoke your name in unstable whisper before breaking again and hugging his knees to hide his reddened face.

It felt like ages that Noi had been working up the courage to express his love for you, but now he never could. It was a week after your death and he still couldn't take the pain. He had been so in love with you and he never got the chance to have you. You were just gone to soon and he felt it was his fault.

All he could do was hold you in his heart. There, you were both together and happy, but on the outside he was not. Still, he proved his love to you, even if you couldn't give him anything in return. That was okay... He didn't need anything but the memory of you and everything you were. He brought your favorite flowers to your grave once a week and sat there to talk to you until he had to return to the apartment. And even though he didn't get to hear your sweet voice or laugh anymore, it was enough...