Chapter Text
Kakyoin tilts his head with confusion. Is he feeling better now? Did the fever and colds gone out? If so, that was too fast. Maybe because he was just adjusting from the cold. He just needed treatment and he'll be fine from now on. Now that he thinks about it, they are going outside to eat lunch so he has to wear something warm. "Are you feeling better?" He managed to ask.
"Yeah. The medicine worked." Jotaro responds, as he opens the door.
"Um..Wait for me downstairs,"
Nodded the black haired, as he heads downstairs and stands near the main door. The house looks like just an ordinary simple one anyone could ever imagine. It's neat, warm and nice. He decides to look at the picture frames that was placed on the walls. He scans at each one of Kakyoin's family pictures. Most of them was him smiling, but there isn't any pictures of his teenage years. He doesn't want to bother about it too much, so he leans on the wall and crossed his arms, as he heard footsteps that are going down.
Then at that moment, he lifts his head up and sees the sight of Kakyoin walking downstairs. It reminded him off something. Something nostalgic. But now, he's wearing warm clothing. A dark green wool long coat, beige knitted turtleneck sweater, black slacks and a white muffler. His eyes followed him, no facial expressions were shown but just a nostalgia feeling.
Kakyoin stops 3 steps just before he's going to step on the main floor, as he stared at Jotaro for a brief second but just gives it a smile. "What?"
Jotaro moves forward and shook his head. "Nothing. Let's go?"
Kakyoin took a second to process the whole moment but ignores it instead, and nods. The two heads outside. The red haired locks the door behind them as they continued walking to the small residential street in cold weather. The sun was covered with clouds which causes the whole sky to be a bit gloomy.
Both of them were waiting for anything to talk about, but it just covered up with even more silence except their shoes tapping on the ground.
Kakyoin tries to catch up to Jotaro, and glances his eyes at him in every minute. He anxiously thought that it would be better if Jotaro should start a conversation or he has to take some courage and man up as well.
"U-um.." Kakyoin stutters.
The taller man turns his head a little to the smaller man beside him. "Hm?"
Kakyoin's face turns to a slight pink and looks down to his shoes "Y-your outfit fits the weather. It's n-nice.." God damn it. What the hell was that!
Jotaro scans his own outfit and and glances back to the red head as he pulls his hat down. "Thank you. I think yours fits nicely as well" he turns away.
Without both of them realizing, they are turning their heads away, being flustered. With just 10 minutes of walking, they have arrived to a ramen stand with no other people but just two of the staffs that works in the stand. It's small, but good for anyone.
The two scans the menu that can be seen from a few distance as the staffs waves at them to welcome the two men.
"Come and sit, you two! It's freezing, so might as well have something warm!" The older guy greeted.
Kakyoin flinches at the hyper tone of the staff, as he looks at Jotaro. "I like it here," he said, poking the other's arm.
The two takes a seat with only 4 tall chairs. They occupied two and takes a look at the menu once again.
"So, what can I get you two?" The older man awaits for their response, as Kakyoin turns to look at him.
"Can I have the pork ramen and tea please?" He orders.
"Sure, sure, and how about you sir?"
Jotaro hums and relaxes his back. "I'll have the same as well"
The older guy taps the table and smiles at them "Alright, two pork ramen!" He turns his back and prepares the ingredients he needs.
Two of the staffs are somehow aged. An old lady prepares the dishes and stuffs they need on the wooden counter-table. "Are you two friends?" She asks while preparing the plates and glasses.
The two looks at each other then turns to the old lady. Kakyoin smiles and chuckles "Yes, we are."
The older lady made a small laugh as she finished her preparations "We often get a group of friends eating here." She hesitates "But it's nice to see you handsome men coming to our stand. It's quite new" she added.
"I just live nearby, but I don't remember this stand here before" Kakyoin spoke.
"Well, we just had this last year. Thought it would be a good thing for our retirement" The older lady giggles.
They must be married and retired. How heartwarming. Kakyoin thought to himself. Jotaro stayed silent, not knowing how to keep this conversation but just observes everything.
"That's amazing, this is actually a nice idea, um.." Kakyoin paused.
The older lady looks at them and thought of something as he clicked and lets out a small giggle "Ah! How rude of me. Just call me Yua, and this is my husband Hito. Nice to meet you!" she bows as a greeting.
"Noriaki. And this is my friend, Jotaro. Nice to meet you too, Mrs. Yua and Mr. Hito" the red haired smiled. Both of them bows as a sign of respect, as they turn up.
"Oh my how lovely names you two have" she clapped her hands, as two bowls were set at the counter.
"Two pork ramen!" Hito exclaimed from behind the door. He emerges from the corridor and takes a deep breath.
Kakyoin and Jotaro took a glimpse of the two pork ramen being served, such a classic and common dish but it smells and looks delicious. They both observed its homey like style and reminds them of warmth. Kakyoin's gaze softened, as Jotaro turns his eyes to witness his face. For the taller man, it's fascinating.
The warm orange light from the stand reflects its beauty that he is seeing. He then turns to realize the older woman infront of him as he immediately turns away, flustered.
"Now, you two should eat before it gets cold!" Yua watches them break their chopsticks and say their greetings. Itadakimasu!
They quickly digged in and went speechless as they just focus on what they are having. Yua prepares warm tea for them and a glass of water for each. She appreciates of seeing the two enjoying their meals, it feels like they're children who are desperate for something delicious from mom. It made her smile.
As minutes passed by, from all the conversations, they managed to be friends with the older staffs. With some finishing moments, they have to leave.
"The food was great, thank you so much Mr. Hito" Kakyoin bows and smiles at them.
"I'm glad you like it, my boy. It's Yua's, recipe so it's delicious" Hito smirks at the smaller woman beside him.
Jotaro pulls down his hat "Thank you," he greeted, as the two waves their hands and started to walk away.
"Take care you two! Come back anytime!" Yua waves her hand. With their sight being a bit far away, she sighs and giggles. "Young people these days."
~
"I'm so full, that ramen was so good! We should go back someday! And the owners were so nice" Kakyoin stretches his arms as he chuckles his way through.
Jotaro hums and nods "It really was a great meal". He starts to remember the sight he saw, he didn't knew what he was thinking. Just plain sight of the man beside him, that's it.
He felt his legs grow colder in each steps, he tries to ignore it but he can still feel like they're about to stop. Kakyoin was busy looking at the stores as people were starting to crowd the area. He suspected that it's going home hours. A bright purple and blue shade of light caught the attention of the red head, realizing that they just have come across an arcade. He paused and his eyes widens at how he comes to realize that he was longing to go to one ever since.
He curls his hands, which Jotaro noticed as he went inside, taking the red head with him.
"Jotaro?" Asked Kakyoin.
"Let's go here" Jotaro insists.
The red haired looks at his back view, as he realized that they are holding each other's hand. His face is in shades of red, to how larger Jotaro's hand was and knowing that he's walking behind him.
As they got in, Jotaro paid to get some arcade coins, still holding the hand of the other. As soon as he gets the coins needed for today, he walks to a claw machine and paused for a second upon realizing to what he's holding to his hand.
He snaps to reality and felt ashamed to what he just did. He shakingly handed the coins to Kakyoin, while looking away. "H-here."
Kakyoin still feels confused, but rather laughs it out to how he reacted in a way. He thought it was rather adorable.
"I guess i'll get the catch this time," he said.
He takes the coins and inserts one to a claw machine. It's just plushies, and nothing else. He spots a rather interesting figure that he now plans to catch. A dolphin plushie.
With almost three attempts, he still couldn't get one. He decides to feel bad about it. "I'm sorry, Jotaro. I guess I'm very bad at claw machines" he looks down as he plays with his fingers.
Jotaro raised an eyebrow as his mouth curls into a smile. He pats the smaller male's shoulder and gives another coin. "Try it this time," He takes him to the claw machine.
Kakyoin looks at the taller man in a confused way. "But Jotaro, we'll lose our coins!" He insisted.
The black haired sighs and inserts the coin himself, as Kakyoin reacted in a way that he thought it was expected for a once delinquent. "Seriously, Jotaro..All this for just a plushie!"
"Whoops, my fingers slipped." Jotaro now stands straight and crossed his arms, looking down at Kakyoin.
Kakyoin on the other hand, sighs and didn't have any choice but to do it all again. As he starts to align the claw to where the dolphin plushie. He pressed the button which causes the claw to descend. He then sees a faint purple hand figure that supported the plushie from the bottom so it doesn't fall out and making it look like as if the claw really got the plushie.
It was Star Platinum.
Kakyoin gasped and quickly turns around to look at Jotaro, looking so much dominant. As he playfully punches his arm. "You..!"
The taller man chuckles "Don't spoil it, or you'll get caught."
"Me..? You're the one who—!" Kakyoin chuckles but was hushed by a larger hand that is covered and mumbling noises can be heard.
Jotaro's eyes squinted as he grins with a soft laughter. And right there, at that moment, Kakyoin paused and looks at his sight once again. The purple, blue, red, and many color variants that reflected the whole room with its cold atmosphere. That was then he comes to realize what he had been feeling all these times. All this time..
"I told you, you're fine unless you're caught." He puts down his hand.
Kakyoin still locks his gaze to the taller male, his surroundings began to grow quiet.
His smile..
Has always brought me a nostalgia feeling.
"Take me back" Kakyoin said, out of the blue. He felt something, and then comes to realize what it was. He sees flashbacks of memories that he barely remembers. It was as if a whole cut scene just appeared to his mind. He felt scared, wondering what it is.
Jotaro was supposed to be on his way to the car racing but paused to what he just heard from Kakyoin.
"What?" He turns his back, to see a strange look from the other.
"I...I don't know what I just said."
"You said take me back. Do you want to go home?"
"N-no. T-that's not what I—"
"I'm sorry. Did I upset you?"
"No!" He exclaimed, the other few people nearby glances to them, as they just ignored the moment in a few seconds.
A few deep breaths can be heard from the red haired, looking down to the his shoes again. Breathing and breathing harder.
Jotaro gently placed his hand on the Kakyoin's shoulder but was flinched by the red head. He immediately backs off, analyzing on what's going on out of a sudden. He didn't think that he got upset because he used his stand to cheat a claw machine, right? At least it was what he thought the problem was.
Kakyoin then takes a step backward, as even more steps came and he rushed to the exit, running as fast as he can.
Jotaro stands there, confused on what's happening. He can't just let him run off like that on his own. He instinctively rushed to catch up to him. In a place not too far away from the downtown city, it's supposed to be easy to find him again.
He starts to survey around the area, it wasn't the one they walked before. But somewhere way before that. The streets is really familiar and he knows what it is.
He then takes a turn where he sees Kakyoin running to a road that leads up to the hill.
"Kakyoin! Wait!" He calls out.
Jotaro huffs. His breath clouded from the cold air and wind. He then and takes another turn to which he finds the other again. The red head runs slow this time, might be tired from it. "There's no way.." he thought to himself. "This hill is.."
Kakyoin then huffs deeply and tripped on a pavement as he falls down and clutches himself. It took some time to get up, as a call of his name can be heard from a distance. Larger footsteps then comes to him.
"Kakyoin!"
But rather, he just breathes in slowly to relax himself, his mind felt lost. He doesn't know what he's thinking now. But suddenly, a larger embrace warmed up his back. "Here, let me help you—"
"N-no..I'm fine." He grabbed the larger arms and managed to at least sit down on his knees. He looks down, again. A crappy useless me once again looking down at nothing. He thought to himself.
He can feel warm tears that turns cold blurs his eyesight as a pour of tears starts to drop on his thighs.
Jotaro frowns and placed an arm to embrace him. He is still trying to analyze what he was thinking. But then, a flow of wind came from the side as he turn to look around, it was the massive stairs that he once took steps on way back before.
The shinto with stairs
"Kakyoin.." Jotaro's voice softened.
"This place is.." he added.
Kakyoin keeps in wiping his tears, still looking down on his thighs. He's sobbing his way out, and coughs out. "My body...started moving.." he mumbles.
"T-tell me, Jotaro...did we return?" He stutters, as his eyes were in shades of pink, everything was just a broken piece of him. A sight that Jotaro would never want to see.
Jotaro felt speechless. So he found out.
Kakyoin swallows and removes Jotaro's arms. "Why didn't you tell me?!" He exclaimed. His voice is shaking, the pain he is feeling is something Jotaro couldn't take as well.
The air grows colder. A falling gentle snow starts to appear descending. Kakyoin hiccups, as he tries to wipe every tear. It just keeps on falling.
"I remember....I saw it. I saw us. So why." Kakyoin hesitates. He paused and curles his hands as he faced Jotaro.
"Why do I keep seeing things, Jotaro..?" He added more. His body starts to heat up. He isn't certain if it was frustration or guilt.
Jotaro's eyes can already be read as broken. He frowns and looks down "Listen.."
Kakyoin inhales once more as he swallows. "All this time I looked like I was a fool.."
The black haired takes up all the blame. He accepts it. It was foolish of him to hide these from someone who seeks more to know of. It was selfish. "I'm sorry.." he mumbles.
The red haired slowly turns his eyes to him, looking like he just ran out of tears but it just keeps coming out. "Jotaro..." His voice trembles, another imagination came to him to how he just left this man for a decade. "I'm sorry that I left you.." he begins to sob again.
Another brief silence passes them. It was just sobs and coughs coming from the red head.
"Because of me..you..were alone" His voice trembles.
"Because of me..I caused trouble and worries."
"Even after all these years..because of me..you still stayed.." A soft warm smile appears from Kakyoin.
Jotaro took a moment to realize that he's smiling, but it looked broken. Both of them already. He looks back through the time that all he wanted was to see him smile once again before him. Only that, is enough.
"Jotaro I—"
A faint silence, Kakyoin could hear his own heartbeat beating fast. All he can see is the beautiful shutted eyes of Jotaro, as his lips were pressed together to his. It felt warm and soft. It took him to realized his breathing had stop from the shock and he has to breathe. The soft texture of Jotaro's lips felt nostalgic, as if he already had these before.
His eyes softened and cups Jotaro's cheeks, as he shuts his eyes and kisses him back. He runs his fingers through the black hair of the other and down to his back as they ignored the cold but just focused on what is warm instead. Jotaro slowly moves away and easily turns his eyes to meet a dazzling shade of lavender pupils that he thought he'd never see again 10 years ago.
Kakyoin curls his mouth into a smile as he stayed close to the other's face. "I didn't get to finish what I said"
Jotaro chuckles and placed his forehead to the other. He got too excited that he started moving on his own. He thinks that he doesn't regret to what he had just done. He needed it, they both needed it.
"Say it again" he whispers
Kakyoin caress Jotaro's cheeks, then leans on his shoulder as he reached near to the other's ear "I love you," he said in a soft tone as he plants a soft kiss on the other's cheek.
Jotaro couldn't believe to what he just heard. Time flowed like a swaying sound of memories that was once recalled, nostalgia. He ignored the fact that the wind has gotten colder, and how he just felt sick this morning. His mouth curls into a soft smile and locked his eyes to a lavender toned pupils.
"I love you too"
.
.
.