The Limemine [AnimeXReader]
The Before [Hatz]

"You won't even get past it! You useless boy!"

That was what he often heard from his parents, words that were very stifling when compared to someone who was greater than him and he could not be exceeded.

Y/N, in the back of his house, he trained very hard in using the sword. He continued to swing the sword in his hand, even though the night was so late and sweat soaked all over his body.

The words of his two parents who did not even care about him and only wanted him to be a great person in their expectations. The anger that was always buried in his heart, only made him so upset and increasingly wanted to slash someone with his sword.

Y/N increasingly swung his sword forcefully, his tears piled up in his eye sockets and ready to fall. He was not strong with the pressure of his parents to surpass the man.

The man he had to surpass, the man who was a genius in swordsmanship, the man who was invincible. Hatz, that's the guy's name.

Y/N thrust his sword into the ground and sat down holding his sword tightly. His shoulders trembled with irregular breaths from training since noon. He cried out his irritation while biting his lips.

No, he wasn't upset with the man, even he didn't hate Hatz. But upset because he was so weak, and could not exceed the expectations of his parents, even though he had tried as hard as he could. Upset, that his parents did not even see the slightest effort and appreciated him. Anxious when his parents don't support the one thing he really likes.

He wanted to scream, but his throat felt like something was holding him back and his chest felt so stifling. He cried out his stifled emotions all this time, it was night, no one would hear him and care for him. He just wanted to blow up the pressure in his heart and make him calm down a bit.

Y/N wiped her tears, she must not forget tomorrow. The day he and the man will return to the game, also determines his fate in his family.

What Y/N did not realize, a pair of black beads looked at him gently.

****

Y/N closed his eyes and sighed, he was already in the arena where they were going to fight, and Hatz who stood before him quietly. His entire family and the entire Clan would see them fighting from the high ground that they had prepared, so that no one would interfere with their fight.

The man wore his trademark suit with two swords on his waist which he used to wear, and Hatz began to draw one of his swords. Y/N too, he pulled the sword at his waist and put up his position.

Which makes Y/N frown when he saw the sword pose Hatz look bad, different from the usual without a gap for him to fight. What's wrong with that guy?

This was their official fight, indeed not a fight to the death, only until one of them gave up, and this would determine who was the strongest among them as well as determine the fate of Y/N. Y/N is sure everyone knows who the winner is, but if he loses again, then he will not be recognized by his family. No, not his clan, but his parents won't admit it anymore.

"Alright, we'll start a match that will determine who is strongest." It was the firm voice of the clan chief who would be the jury of their match.

Y/N grasped his sword tightly aimed at Hatz, did a scramble to attack the man, and he sharpened his hearing to hear the gong sound that would be a sign of their fight in the beginning.

DANG!

Hearing that, Y/N further tightened his sword grip and prepared to run, but as he saw, the man did not budge in the slightest and just lowered his head while closing his eyes.

Without a care, Y/N ran at full speed, making sword sounds and their gazes clashed as Hatz held him back, but then Y/N dominated the match, as if the man was not serious about fighting him.

Y/N spun, and without wasting when he saw the huge gap in Hatz's defense, made the man fall down with the tip of the Y/N sword ready to pull out the black-haired man's neck.

"I'm giving up!" Hatz raised both his hands, and their gazes clashed against each other. But the Y/N gaze that Hatz saw was a disappointed look, a sad look.

"Fight over! This fight was won by Y/N!"

"No way! Hatz lost to Y/N?!"

"It's impossible that Y/N beat him!"

"Great Y/N!"

Hearing that, with a hunting breath, Y/N turned and immediately left the arena. He hated it, the man purposely gave in to him.

"Y/N!"

Y/N did not care about the person calling her, she kept walking. He felt so wrong, the confusion between having to be happy or upset fused in his heart.

Damnit damnit!

****

A black-haired man walked over with his black bead that looked at every place he passed by, as if searching for something.

Hatz was so worried about the girl he had fought with earlier. The Y/N disappeared after the fight and looked at him sadly. He also felt guilty towards the girl, succumbing to the fight without exerting all his strength. He knew what would happen to his childhood best friend when he lost the fight with him, plus the night before the fight he saw Y/N training so hard late into the night, so he did not want the girl sad, but it turns out his actions increasingly sad Y/N.

Where's the girl? What will Y/N do when alone. Suddenly he remembered something, making Hatz speechless. Then he quickly turned around and ran, leaving their arena fighting past the houses of the clan members, to enter the forest.

Will the girl be there? Did Y/N not forget where they played first?

Hatz ran fiercely, making the rustling sounds of grass and leaves as it collided with the wind. He stopped his run when soon he would arrive with his goal to catch his breath.

Saying, he heard a soft sweet hum in his ears. The voice he was very familiar with, made himself breathe a little with relief. The voice he had liked so much since long ago, the voice that calmed his heart and involuntarily made him smile.

He walked slowly, and stopped at a large tree with a wooden beam attached to its trunk to become a ladder. The stairs to go to the tree house up there with the voice of the girl being heard.

There, you can see Y/N who is sitting humming while smiling while painting. The girl seemed to enjoy her activities and was so focused. For a very long time Hatz had not seen such a Y/N expression. A face that is so calm in enjoying something, and not in compulsion. He liked her very much, making her subconsciously smile and look at the girl gently.

Until the ranting stopped and Y/N turned towards him. The girl frowned as if she did not like it being here.

"Why are you here?" Y/N kept his painting tools at a nearby table and turned to look at Hatz.

The question made Hatz wake up and palpitate neutralizing his expression.

"I'm sorry, Y/N."

"You don't have to apologize. Go!"

Hatz looked at Y/N's face, and he started walking closer to the girl.

"I told you to go!"

"I like you, Y/N!"

Hearing that remark, Y/N froze with Hatz already standing before her. Then the man knelt down, with a lowered Y/N making their faces face to face.

"I like you ... I know what will happen to you when you lose, and I don't want to see you sad, and you love your parents so much!"

Y/N's hands clenched and their gazes clashed, "But you purposely gave in to me, you seem to be underestimating my abilities, Hatz!"

Hatz clasped Y/N's clenched hand, "I don't underestimate you. I know you're trying so hard, more than anyone. You even practiced late into the night."

"Then why don't you expend all your ability to fight me?!" Y/N's eyes heat up, his chest feels turbulent, making him tighten Hatz's hand grip. He felt disappointed and sad, also confused what to do after this.

Hatz looked at Y/N with regret. "I'm sorry, Y/N ... Without a second thought I did something that hurt you."

Really am. Hatz felt himself so stupid, he thought Y/N would be happy that he would win without having to fight, but it turned out that his guess was wrong. The girl was disappointed in him.

"I just want to be useful to my parents!" Y/N closed her eyes making her tears fall. He lowered his head and clasped Hatz's hand tightly.

"I love them and try to live up to expectations, but they don't even appreciate my efforts!" His shoulders trembled, and Y/N biting his lips held such a stifling feeling in his chest, the grip on his hand loose making him clench his hands.

Then suddenly his head was pulled gently, Hatz hugged himself and rubbed his Y/N hair gently.

"Cry! You don't have to force yourself!"

Hearing that, making Y/N bite his lips even more and drown his face in Hatz's chest, his hands squeezed the shirt around the man's waist.

"I like you ... I like you who's trying so hard." Hatz could feel the wetness in his chest and shaky shoulders in his arms.

"I like you when you really enjoy painting and humming. You just have to do what you love, Y/N. Don't mind whoever made you fall."

Y/N felt his burden lifted as if hearing Hatz's words, his heart felt calm making him stop crying and leaving only a small sob.

Feeling Y/N calm down, Hatz loosened his arms and looked down at her face. Her swollen eyes, red nose, and occasional stuffing out of her lips, still could not stop her crying completely. Y/N is so sweet.

Hatz's hand stretched out onto the girl's cheek and wiped the remaining tears there, making Y/N close off the soft touch of Hatz.

"Thank you, Hatz."

"Y/N?"

Y/N opened her eyes and looked up, making their dark beads stare at each other. Hatz's gentle gaze with a slight smile.

"Let's climb the tower together someday, Y/N. We're gonna be strong and we're gonna stay together."

Hearing that remark, Y/N shook his head slowly and smiled.

"No, Hatz. I will remain here, I will become the protector of our clan until you return to being a great ranker someday. And thanks, for your actions as well, I won't be thrown away by my parents."

"Then shall we part ways when I shall be chosen to be regular to climb the tower?"

Y/N's gaze turned slightly jaded and he re-embraced Hatz's stomach. "Yes, I hope you don't forget me when you climb the tower."

Hatz rubbed the black hair of Y/N. gently, "I hope you're always happy, Y/N. Until I come back and marry you."

"I'll be waiting for you, Hatz!"

****