You shivered as you walked through the streets of Kyoto. You weren't anticipating to walk right into someone in your hurry to get home. Unfortunately, you knocked him right over.

"Ah! Sorry, let me get that for y-" your eyes met with a... walking stick? No, it was a mobility cane. Then...

He was fumbling around, trying to feel for where his cane was. You took it and gave it to him after helping him up. "I'm so sorry! I wasn't looking where I was going."

He mumbled an "it's fine," but your guilt was too much for you.

"Where are you heading? I'll help you get there, it's getting dark and something might happen to you." You insisted.

As he considered it, you had time to look at him better. His bright red hair was messy, and his skin was pale. He wore blue jeans and a dark coloured jacket. You couldn't tell which direction he was looking, but his eyes were pale orange.

"What street is this?" He finally asked.

"Ah, we're at Hanami, by house numbe-"

"No good," he interrupted.

"Excuse me?"

"I must've taken a wrong turn, I don't leave my house much."

He looked off in a seemingly random direction again, upwards. "I think I'll have to take your offer. Please help me get to Arashiyama."

And that's how it all began, you were just trying to help a blind person.

"Ichigo Satou?"

You only realised you never got his name when he got called to go in, but you waited patiently for him to finish whatever he had to do in the hospital.

You stood up when he was about to walk past you. "I never gave you my name, I'm y/n l/n."

He, once again, didn't look at you. "Ichigo Satou," and turned away to leave.

"Wait!" You grabbed his wrist, "let me treat you to a coffee, to apologise for running into you."

He didn't take as long to answer, and you led him to a cafe you often visited.

"What do you want to drink?" You asked politely, then almost slapped yourself, because he couldn't exactly read what was on the menu.

"I'm not that thirsty to be honest," he said flatly. Nevertheless, you ordered yourself and him strawberry cake and coffee. He ate the cake and drank the coffee, and smiled at you.

"Here," he passed you his unlocked phone, "I'd like to talk to you again." You happily typed in your number, though doubted he would call you any time soon.

"How do you use your phone? I mean since..." you asked, but then thought it might come off as rude, but Ichigo seemed fine with the question.

"Well, you have this setting that tells you what buttons you press, see," he demonstrated, opening the phone app again.

"Oh! But it's so quiet, how do you hear it?"

"When you don't have sight your other senses are heightened, I have really good hearing."

You never really thought about how it would be like to be blind before, all you knew was that it must be very difficult, or at least a completely different world from what you were used to.

"Hey, it's a bit vague but, can you see at all? Or what can you see? As in what-"

"I have CVI blindness, it makes colours go... everywhere."

You looked at him blankly, which he seemed to sense. "I've started rehabilitation again, they put you in a dark room, then flash lights in various shapes, so that your brain gets used to identifying shapes rather than... ink splatters."

"Ah, I think I get it now," you said. "Is it difficult? I mean, how was school for you?"

"I was home schooled. I've been like this for all my life, so it's all I know."

It made you a bit sad to hear that, but it must've been worse for poor Ichigo. "Have you ever thought of getting a guide dog? Maybe it would make things easier?"

The tension seemed to increase drastically. "I don't need a guide dog." He said, his voice cold.

"Ah, I see, then do you have anyone to help you get around?" You asked, trying to change the subject from guide dogs.

"No, I live by myself. I work from home and I do all of my shopping online." He replied, seemingly a bit relieved that you didn't persist about a dog.

"Ah! What do you do for a living?"

"I write books. I know what you're thinking, how do I write if I can't see? When I type the letters get read out. It's amazing what technology can do these days." He pulled a wallet from his pocket and opened it, but you reached over to close it.

"My treat, remember?" You smiled at him, taking out your own wallet and leaving the money on the table.

You helped Ichigo to get back home, since he wasn't familiar with being outside. "So, how old are you miss l/n?" He asked, making polite conversation while you led him.

"I've just turned 22, you don't have to call me by my last name." He nodded.

"I'm 23 in two months," he spoke softly, unlike before, probably understanding now that you had no ill intentions.

"So we're pretty much the same age! Do you have your own place or are you renting?" You asked.

"I have my own place, I inherited it from my parents." He seemed to smile a bit, but at the time you found it cute.

"You're so lucky... trying to keep up with rent is a nightmare! I have a part time job at a fast food shop, and I'm getting paid pretty well from my apprenticeship, but I only get a few yen left over at the end of the month... haa..." you only realised now how little profit you were making.

"You're so independent, y/n, I just got lucky..." he said, though his smile suggested he was lying.

"Ah, this is where I'll have to leave you then." You slowed your pace, indicating to Ichigo that he was home.

He smiled in your direction, and instead tugged you. "It's dark, stay." He held onto your wrist as he felt for the lock.

You were suddenly nervous. "Err... it's fine, I know my way home well enough-"

But he wasn't listening, and pulled you in with him. "I won't do anything." He said.

"This is the kitchen," he led you around his small house, only one floor. "Bathroom, then this way is my room, and next to it is a spare room that you can stay in."

It was extremely strange. This guy was basically a stranger, but you felt scared to refuse his offer, there was just something completely off about his vibe when you tried to say goodbye.

"Y/n? Are you ok? Here, I'll get you some comfier clothes for you to sleep in."

And you didn't say no.