Chapter Text
Most people had a particular souvenir they liked to collect and souvenir shops across the world had a secret pact to always have in stock. Shot glasses, decorative plates, stickers, magnets, photographs, useless knick knacks... Having grown up in Los Angeles, David Shield had seen it all.
For Yagi Toshinori, it was postcards- though in typical Toshinori fashion, not for himself.
“I don't know why you don't just write letters.” He mused, watching Toshinori peruse through the postcard selection of yet another souvenir shop. “Postcards aren't meant for all the writing you like to do.”
“It's the
pictures
, Dave!” Toshinori insisted, finally picking out a postcard and waving it in David's face with enthusiasm. “It's like that saying! Even if I used thousands of words, nothing could properly capture the beauty of America and its people the way pictures do.”
David smiled fondly in a way only Toshinori could make him do. “Very poetic. I might have even believed you if I didn't know you write a full length letter on every postcard anyway.”
“Details.” Toshinori dismissed, smiling proudly at the image of the Hollywood sign he had selected. “It's like two in one!”
“Hey, have you considered taking pictures yourself?” He followed Toshinori to the register. “You jump higher than anyone I've ever met- I bet you could get some amazing shots. Then you could develop them and send your pictures in your letters back to Japan.”
“Oh, I couldn't.” Toshinori denied, ever humble. “I don't know the first thing about photography. And even if I did, I'd end up breaking any camera I took with me the second I got into a fight.”
“We're college students Toshi, just take a class!” David reminded with an amused eyeroll. “Also, did you forget who you're talking to? I accept your challenge. I'll develop a camera even you couldn't break.”
Toshinori frowned, turning to David even as he slid the postcard forward. “That's really not-”
“Postcards are on sale.” The cashier interrupted, eyes flicking up briefly from their phone. “Buy one get two free. Knock yourself out, big guy.”
The grin Toshinori responded with was positively blinding. “Really?!” He turned to David, pushing him right back to the postcard display. “Perfect! Dave, help me pick out two more! But with different pictures of Los Angeles, I want to show as much of my new home as possible!”
David smiled, indulging Toshinori by pointing out a card with the Hollywood Boulevard Walk. He wasn't surprised in the slightest when Toshinori picked out another with a picture of Disneyland. They really needed to actually visit those places.
He couldn't wait to show Toshinori what L.A.- and the US as a whole- had to offer.