Chapter Text
Takeru finally reached his dad's office in one piece. He slipped a few times but managed to just get there in time. He waited at the lounge. Repeating the events in his head until he was finally interrupted by his dad looking at him quizzically.
"You look rough, buddy."
Takeru blushes slightly and scoffs. "Gee, thanks, Dad. No welcome home hug for your youngest?" He then offers teasingly.
Hiroaki Ishida grunts relenting, then spreads his arms, "Come on here then."
The blonde grins widely as he lunges at him. "Aww, I didn't know you were so soft-hearted, father."
"Not a word to your brother about this." He adds grumpily. Then he proceeds to squeeze his son and takes a good look at him. "You've grown, Takeru."
Takeru smiles at him and asks, "Have I?"
In all honesty, Takeru doesn’t exactly know why he asked that of his father. He knows he was only referring to his physical appearance and not his current character. Leave it to the writer to overthink the things that didn’t exactly need thinking. Not that he’s overthinking every aspect of his life ever since he arrived in Japan, but something has got him seriously pondering over his romantic pursuits over the years.
And surprise, surprise, who entered his mind immediately?
The pretty burgundy hair.
“Pretty.”
“Who’s pretty, son? I think I’ve lost you there.” His dad pulls him back from reality. Now having a half smirk on his face.
He pulls away lightly, chuckling awkwardly at the older man. Still looking at him, trying his best to not seem like he’s hiding something.
Shit.
Before he quickly responds with a really convincing lie. Hiroaki proceeds to keep talking.
“I must say, it hasn’t been a day but it seems someone caught your eye. Right?” He gives his son a knowing look. Whose perception is just sharper than anyone he’s ever known.
Okay, let’s go for another approach then. The fedora-hat young adult clears his throat and sighs dramatically. “Okay, Dad, you got me! You should’ve seen them, no sane person would forget about them!” Yes, there was no way anyone could forget about that man. “Could you blame me, an artist to fawn over such a beauty?” He clutches his hat near his chest with his eyes closed to complete the passionate speech.
Hiroaki’s eye twitches with his youngest’s dramatics.
He pinches the bridge of his nose and holds one hand up in an attempt to keep the latter from saying more.
“Enough. I got it.” He sighs, “You sure are creative, kid.”
Takeru grins triumphantly. “I did learn from the best.”
“Oh, me?”
“It’s mom.”
“Fair.” He nods defeatedly.
Takeru earns a soft smile from his father. The latter’s eyes speak with mixed emotions at the mention of his ex-wife. There is sadness, and fondness shining through them. Having to bring up each other has become better over the years, but it doesn’t make it less hard to acknowledge each time. However, blondie knows better than to keep talking about his mother when he and his father just met after almost a decade of being away from him.
So he starts, as lightheartedly as possible.
“I think you need to start showing me around, no?”
The brown-haired man blinks at him, his mouth slightly agape with the suggestion.
“Uh, yes, of course! Come follow me then.”
Blondie hums in satisfaction. He’s genuinely excited to look around the office. For a budding writer like him, this is the closest he can get to seeing professionals up close. “Hmm, I wonder what I’d be seeing. I think I need to polish up my knowledge of Japanese literary pieces. What do you think, dad?”
“Well, we mostly do news and articles. The creative pieces are in a smaller corner of the pages.”
“Sounds pretty good enough to me!” He replies to Hiroaki enthusiastically.
He touches his son’s shoulder and has him face his way, “Tell you what, remind me to bring you to the local library after your first day at University.”
That warms his heart right there. He always knew his dad had a soft spot for him, but having to taste getting spoiled by his father meant a lot to him. The latter always comes off as serious and at times awkward, but one thing is certain, is that he deeply cares for his family. Regardless of where they are as a family at the moment.
“That..sounds amazing, Dad.” A sheepish smile plasters his face. “Though, aren’t you busy with work?”
He didn’t mean to shy away from his father’s offer. Takeru may have grown pretty mischievous, but he’s not the type to play around people’s jobs. His dad’s especially. The moment he saw him again, he noticed the creases in his eyes, and how much work he’s been doing. He would rather go see the library alone than drag his exhausted father along.
“Son, I could do this much for you.”
Takeru can feel himself get embarrassed more so he jabs at his father playfully again, “You really are a softie!”
Hiroaki decides to ruffle his youngest’s hair to get back at him for that. “How’s that, you little rascal?”
“Okay, okay! I give!” The latter responds while chuckling.
They proceed to walk to more corridors and a few rooms when suddenly, the older man stops in his tracks and asks, “Have you eaten yet, by the way?” Takeru sweats a bit and it has taken him a solid minute to say, “Yes, I have.” He starts on his heels until his dad speaks again. “Oh, is that where you found the so-called-beauty?”
I need to calm down.
Despite his heart racing over the sudden reminder of the bright-eyed cook, he says to the latter, “Why, Mr. Hiroaki Ishida, are you teasing me?”
“Now, kid, just answer the question.” He shakes his head with his arms crossed.
“Yes, father, I ate. And yes, that’s where I met them.”
His dad chuckles at his sudden resignation, “Okay, then last question.”
“Alright? Hit me.”
“Oh, this is important, son.”
Takeru tilts his head at him in confusion.
“Did you ask for their name?”
Oh no. Good going, Takeru! Looks like you won’t be seeing him again!
“No…I didn’t.”
“Consider yourself lucky, that this town isn’t as big as you might’ve thought it is.”
The fedora hat you ng adult sighed in relief. “Guess, you won’t be joining me for ramen next time then.” He retorts at his poor father.
Takeru finds himself walking ahead of him, trying really hard not to laugh, and can funnily sense his dad perk up at the mention of food. Despite saying that, he’s now sure of which company to bring when he catches the burgundy hair around again.
Daisuke is used to foreigners hanging around his cart on an almost daily basis. Yet, he finds himself still snickering over his encounter with the French boy from earlier. He may not know what that all was about, but he sure did enjoy the company of the latter a lot. Maybe, it’s not often he finds himself getting along wholeheartedly with a foreign guy his age. Him having Japanese blood might’ve made it easier too.
Though on top of still thinking about him, he honestly thinks that the blue-eyed boy is..
Beautiful.
“Beautiful weather today, huh, Daisuke?” His regular American customer says to him, as he munches away at his food.
“Uh, yeah! Beautiful!” He proceeds to keep wiping the plate he’s been wiping for at least an hour now.
“That bowl of yours will be as bright as a diamond once you’re done with it, kid!”
The young cook, now flustered, slowly sets the bowl aside and sighs. Just how long was I thinking about that guy? He can’t afford to get too distracted if he always wants to serve the best meals.
“What’s keeping your head up in the clouds?”
Daisuke tries to play it cool and responds. “I’m just relishing on my next menu for the coming season.” He prays that his tone is as convincing as he’s making it to be. He won’t deny he’s had crushes on a few women, and men growing up, but something nudges at him that with this one, he might just have a chance. Call him delusional, but who’s to take away that little wishful thinking away from him? If there is one, it would be the fedora hat guy himself. Though he hoped that wouldn’t be the end of his growing interest in-
Wait. I don't know his name.
“Ahh! His name!” He slams his hands abruptly which startled his customer.
“Boy, what’s the big idea?” He asks in shock.
“Oh no, did you get spilled on anywhere? Hurt?” He hurries to his side trying to check on the older man.
Thankfully, the man only laughs it off. “I’m an officer, getting spilled on is the least of my worries. I guess it only proves my suspicions from earlier true.” He smirks at Daisuke, teasingly.
“So, who’s the lucky girl?” He pats the chef’s arm firmly.
“Guy.”
Then, the burgundy-head suddenly had an idea. So he slowly leans a little close and says, “Well, if you promise to bring in more of your pals next time, then you’ll hear about this lucky person.”
The latter whistles, impressed. “You sure don’t pass up on a business opportunity, huh?”
“Damn right, I don’t!” He exclaims loudly. He and his customer now laughing like idiots together.
The day has ended and the blossoming pair have one singular thought. Daisuke and Takeru will have to get themselves into another wordplay. And hopefully, they manage to get their names this time.