STAY. . .

"I get a little bit alone sometimes and I miss you again

I'll be the love of your life inside of your head

When the night is over,

Don't call me up I'm already under."

21 : gracie abrams

— Kind of Little Red Riding Hood au

- - -

"Nene, would you be a dear and deliver this to obā-san?"

Nene hopped next to her mother, a huge grin on her face. She had slipped on her iconic red hood an hour ago — everyone knew that if a girl walks around town with fat ankles and a red hood, it's none other than Yashiro Nene. One could even say. . . it's iconic.

"Is it obā-san's favorite bread, okā-san?" Nene asked her mother as the older Yashiro neatly tied the picnic basket, decorated in pleated red and white. Her mother smiled and laughed lightly.

"Of course! It's the only thing your grandmother requests anyway," she joked, earning a giggle from Nene. "I'm sure she would be delighted to see her favorite granddaughter deliver her favorite food!"

Nene frowned but gently took the picnic basket from her mom anyway. "But, okā-san, I'm her only granddaughter." She isn't the only grandchild, but she is the only girl.

Her mom just shrugged. "Now, Nene, you've heard of those silly rumors everyone in the village is spreading, right?" She refered to the recent topic of the village: the infamous seven mysteries that is said to be appearing near the village. Each rumor was special on its own, all having fatal downsides as punishment if you ever disturb their boundaries.

Nene nodded. "I heard the most famous one is about a man-eating wolf. But those are just rumors, right?" Nene really wished so.

Mama Yashiro nodded. "Yes! But just to stay safe, promise me to turn and run away if there's ever a wolf, okay?"

Nene smiled and nodded. "Okay!"

With a skip in her step, she left the house, on her merry way to her sweet grandmother. Whistling a tune, Yashiro mindlessly strolled around the village a bit, still on the path to her destination, but her eyes were roaming around. But. . .what she heard made her whistle die and her steps to slow.

"Have you heard?"

"It's about the seventh rumor, right? About the wolf."

Yashiro tightened her hold on the picnic basket. Rumors started floating around the whole Kamome village since the week started. There were a lot, but what everyone's been gossiping. . . is the Wolf that's been lurking around the forest — they never go to sleep without going wolf this, wolf that, and it's the main reason why everyone avoided the forest.

Which is also the forest that Yashiro needed to pass by in order to visit her grandmother's house.

Just her luck.

But alas! Yashiro had passed through the forest countless of times and yet she never once saw a wolf with a patch on its cheek. Nope. Never.

So whatever they're talking about — Yashiro is going to prove that it's definitely not real!

- - -

It's definitely real. The rumor is definitely real.

Yashiro had entered the forest about a minute or two ago, and she had already heard the bushes rustle accompanied by heavy footsteps following her. The cream-haired girl gulped down her panicked nerves.

Calm down Nene, she told herself. Wolves smell fear, and even if it doesn't smell your trembling fat ankles (however that works), it will definitely smell your tears!

Yashiro continued in her steps, still shaky, but determined. Doesn't matter if it's a wolf! Yashiro can and will deliver the bread to her grandma. Wolf or not, she can kick it away with her ankles — she does have some leg power—

"Who are you?"

Yashiro shrieked when a sudden figure loomed over her, the voice deep and rough, but the tone was still somehow said child-like. A wolf! Since when did he appear!? Yashiro screamed in her head, eyeing the tall, hairy creature who — strangely enough — had a patch on its cheek, and had human-like eyes and features.

Wait.

"Did you just talk?" Yashiro screeched at the wolf, who — miraculously — still didn't attack her and tear her limbs one by one by ripping it apart with its bare paws, and use its claws to dig through her skin while she can only let out anguished screams—

Boy, that's a sight to imagine.

The wolf grinned, golden eyes glimmering with amusement, its sharp fangs — that are able to cut through Yashiro's skin in one bite — glinting against the harsh daylight. "Yeah," it said. All of a sudden, the wolf leaned closer to Yashiro, sniffing her hair.

Yashiro used her arms as a poor, useless shield. "W-Wait, Mr. Talking Wolf! Don't attack me, please! My ankles taste gross, I promise!" Her whole body was trembling in fear, her mind screaming at her to run away!!! (three exclamation marks necessary) but her feet were planted on the ground.

The wolf scrunched its nose up. "Why would I eat you? I'm smelling food from you, where is it? Smells like homemade bread — do you have those donuts?"

"You— you won't. . .eat me?"

The wolf shook its head. "I prefer the bread than radish."

Yashiro relaxed a bit, despite being massively offended. She might be a radish, but she's high quality radish, thank you very much. "How. . .how are you even able to talk?"

The wolf suddenly shrunk right before her very eyes. Its fur was absorbed in his skin, and his height shortened, flesh started to appear, and the inhuman anatomy was shifted into human limbs — a human boy! Yashiro gaped at the sight. The boy was dressed in black and red with a hat on top of his unruly hair.

He seemed he seemed unfazed by her aghast expression, his eyes focused solely on Yashiro's picnic basket with hunger, yet he stood still — like a puppy patiently waiting for his owner to give him treats. His wide grin that reached his ears just made the comparison even more clear.

"What are you?" Yashiro sputtered out. Each second that passed and Yashiro was convinced that everything is a nightmare and she'll wake up from it soon. . .

But when the boy poked the hand that was holding the picnic basket, Yashiro was forced to face the harsh reality.

"I'm a human that can shape-shift into a wolf," he explained. "This is my boundary, so I should be the one asking questions." His eyes flitted over to Yashiro's frightened face. He chuckled. "But I'll let this one slide. I was cursed, the whole land of Kamome is the only land I can ever step foot onto."

Yashiro frowned. "Oh."

Wolf-boy grinned. "You can call me Hanako! I'm sure you've heard of my rumor plenty of times before."

"Yeah. Your rumor is the most notorious one."

"Notorious. . ?"

Yashiro shook her head. "Well, if you're not going to feast on my ankles, then I guess you won't mind if I just—" Yashiro stepped aside and walked straight where Hanako wasn't blocking her— "walk away. . ."

Hanako flinched and grabbed her wrist. "Hey, wait! Not fair!" When Yashiro turned around, she was surprised to see him pouting. "I'm just really hungry. . . No one has visited me for a while and I'm not allowed to visit your village because there are some guards around."

Yashiro's face softened, her heart squeezing. Oh God, he looks like a small child. Heaving a sigh, she took a piece of bread her mom made (for her grandmother) and gave it to the wolf, whose tail was wagging. "Wait, you can do that?" She was referring to the sudden ears and tail that sprouted from his body.

Hanako munched on the bread, completely ignoring the fact that Yashiro was still holding it. Though, he didn't bite her hand. "Yeah," he said, some crumbs falling from his mouth.

Yashiro rolled her eyes. "Feed yourself, at least."

Hanako used his teeth to "steal" the bread from Yashiro's hands, and inquired, "what are you doing here again? I don't see humans pass by here often."

Yashiro lifted the basket as if to show off a masterpiece, her chest puffed up. "I came here to deliver obā-san her favorite bread!" She faltered a bit. "Which you just took a bit from — but that's okay! I can just tell her that I got hungry and ate some. Obā-san is very sweet."

Hanako tilted his head, his fluffy black ears drooping low. "Will you come here often? I really enjoy your company."

Conflicted, Yashiro responded with: "I don't think a wolf and a human should be friends. I've heard of nasty rumors about you, you know."

"Half of those rumors are not true," Hanako protested. "How about this? I'll grant you a wish if you promise me you'd visit me often. I am able to grant wishes once every full moon — would be a waste if you give that offer up."

Yashiro scowled a bit, because she was clearly being cornered. Just imagining what kind of wish she'll make. . .it makes her heart flutter. "Why do you want me to stay so badly anyway?"

"You're. . .very interesting."

"Is that a compliment?"

Hanako smiled. "Think of it as whatever you want and just stay, please, little red riding hood?"

"Fine. I'll—" Yashiro hesitated before she sat down on the grass— "I'll stay."

It was then Yashiro realized, that she had completely forgotten to deliver the bread to her grandmother. But oh well, it's not everyday a magical wolf asks you to be his friend.

- - -

Requested

Thank you for requesting! 💕😔✌️ I can't seem to tag you again for some reason.

Do I know the plot of the Little Red Riding Hood? Yes. Did I want to make something a bit different? Yes.

Thanks for reading!!! ❤️