Chapter Text
A few weeks pass. Seeing Akechi has become fairly routine, as has him spending the night on weekends. It’s a surprisingly welcome change, though it does seem to puzzle his other friends. Nothing malicious, they simply seem confused by the whole development. In truth, Yusuke is too, but he can’t be too bothered to mind when he enjoys the detective’s company so much. For more than the free food he seems to get out of it each time.
Akechi has also roped him into assisting with his food blog. After Yusuke finally spoke up about wondering if he should be repaying the detective, they struck a deal - Yusuke taking over photographing the foods as well as opting to go half and half on two different menu items so Akechi could review several things without wasting. Before long, with a dash of Futaba’s assistance, he’s also helping Akechi update the layout and aesthetics of the website.
Truly a worthwhile group effort.
Tonight, they’re somewhere more upscale again - having been invited off of the blog. Akechi decides to make a whole trip of it, going so far as to get them tickets to go up into the Tokyo Skytree. It feels extravagant, but Yusuke cannot possibly pass up the opportunity.
The restaurant feeds them well - appetizers through meals into dessert - and Yusuke is very pleased. Akechi watches patiently as Yusuke shows the food pictures to the owner, who also asks if Yusuke would be open to doing photography for their marketing. It’s a lovely thought, but he simply can’t accept. Before long, they’re on their way.
“Why did you turn them down?” Akechi asks suddenly as they walk, the entrance to the Skytree just within sight.
“Who?”
“That owner - she really loved your work. You could make a lucrative side job out of it.” Akechi reasons, brows furrowed slightly.
“Perhaps.” Yusuke hums, shrugging. “It doesn’t interest me much, however. I enjoy the collaboration with you in our outings, I do not wish to be the lens of a business. They’re quite different endeavors.” There aren’t really good words to explain the difference, he supposes, but it’s no matter either way. He knows what he likes and wishes to do, and he will stick to that.
“Ah.” Akechi, in a rare occurrence, seems speechless. Contemplative. Yusuke chooses not to push.
Instead, they continue on their way quietly, Yusuke’s eyes widening with awe at the sights. As he wanders, Akechi twines their pinkies together, keeping Yusuke from wandering too far, and from bumping into anything. It’s a nice gesture - grounding.
They approach the actual entrance, but Akechi doesn’t release his pinky from Yusuke’s, simply keeps them linked as they go to will-call, and then they ascend up the elevator. Yusuke finds himself leaning back, eyes gazing up at the lights in the upper part of the elevator. Then, a soft pressure lands against his arm, and when he peeks down, it appears that Akechi has pillowed his head there. He’s exhausted - must be if he’s using Yusuke of all people as a pillow.
Though, he does it fairly often, now that Yusuke thinks about it.
After a moment, he unlinks their pinkies, slotting his fingers between Akechi’s properly, giving his hand a firm, hopefully reassuring squeeze. It’s meant to be a comforting gesture, and judging by the way Akechi returns the movement, he thinks it worked.
They begin at the 350th floor - luckily it isn’t terribly crowded. Akechi hums softly as they step off of the elevator, stifling a yawn. In all likelihood, Yusuke should check in on his companion, but he’s already mesmerized, dragging Akechi with him as he strides towards the window, peering out over the city.
It is breathtaking .
Tokyo spreads out in front of them - lights and buildings and apartments. It’s all so tiny, so insignificant as he gazes across it. His chest feels tight with the way his emotions well there. Somehow, this feels like being at the center of… everything.
When he finally glances down, Akechi’s gaze is fixed on… him? Their eyes meet, and Akechi’s dart away quickly, cheeks flushing.
“There’s nothing to be ashamed of.” Yusuke says, squeezing the hand in his.
“Ah - Yusuke -” His given name is a… change. But hearing it is actually quite nice.
“If anyone understands the allure of the human expression, I do, Akechi-kun.” Yusuke continues, nodding. “I too will be entranced by the expressions of others, no doubt. You may observe me as much as you wish, it will not bother me.”
Akechi’s expression falls. “Of course, Kitagawa-kun.” Yusuke can’t place what the way the other chews at his lips means, but Akechi is a fairly straightforward type. If it’s important, he’ll say something.
Unsure of his misstep, Yusuke squeezes the hand in his once more, before leading Akechi further along the deck to see more of the city. “Have you been here before?”
“A few times.” Akechi admits, albeit quietly. “Though mostly by invitation of the other detectives, or through a TV crew. Never simply for pleasure. So I suppose you can consider this a first.”
“I hope you enjoy it, then.” Yusuke replies.
Akechi simply nods, trailing behind Yusuke thoughtfully. They circuit the entire viewing deck before Yusuke unclasps their hands to take pictures. He bounces between images of the view, to the crowd, and returns time and time again to pictures of the detective. Him against the skyline, him reading one of the informational panels, him glancing at the camera, curious and then exasperated. Him, him, him.
The idea of having a muse has always been strange to him. There was, of course, Takamaki-san, but her charm soon wore off as an endless well of inspiration. He’d really begun to believe the concept was a myth, but being around Akechi makes his creativity simply flow. His professors have been joking about it, that the detective is cropping up in more and more of Yusuke’s work, and has taken over the pages of his sketchbook. Even his camera roll has been bewitched.
Curious. He can’t say he minds it.
He’s taken out of his contemplation by fingers slotting with his again. “There’s another floor - even higher up. Would you like to go observe it?”
Yusuke’s eyes widen, practically sparkling. “Absolutely. Please, show the way.”
His camera roll only fills more through the rest of the night, mostly images of Akechi. They feel in sync, he can’t quite explain it.
On their way out, they stop by another small cafe for a final dessert, and tea for Yusuke and coffee for Akechi, before making their way back to Yusuke’s dorm room, collapsing into bed in a pile and falling right to sleep.