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Serizawa checks his phone nervously: 11:02 am, which means Reigen is two minutes late. He tries not to think too much about it; maybe his train was late, or he forgot something and had to go get it back, or he decided not to come in the end-
« Hey, Serizawa! »
Thankfully, before the psychic’s brain can go overboard and drown him with anxiety, Reigen is running towards him- well, he’s not really running, given that he’s wearing a kimono and his leg movements are pretty restricted. When his boss finally arrives next to him, out of breath, Serizawa can fully admire the beautiful garnments Reigen’s wearing: his kimono, of a bright blue shade, has a traditional pattern on it, representing small fans. Arataka’s also wearing a deep blue haori, which compliments perfectly the kimono underneath it. His outfit is complete with a beige hat.
It’s Serizawa’s turn to be breathless.
« Sorry I’m late! » Reigen apologizes, oblivious to the way Katsuya is watching him intently. « The combini was out of onigiri, so I had to buy some elsewhere and then I missed my train, so I had to take another one! »
« Ah, don’t worry about it. » Serizawa manages to say. « Can I help you carry something? »
Reigen has a heavy-looking shoulder bag on his right shoulder, and he’s carrying another bag in his right hand and an cooler in his left hand; meanwhile, Serizawa only has a small pouch with his wallet, his phone and his keys. He feels guilty, but Arataka’s the one who said he’d bring everything necessary.
« No, don’t worry about it. » Reigen says with a tense smile.
But Katsuya sees through his facade and timidly takes the cooler out of his hand, noticing the beads of sweat rolling on the side of Reigen’s neck as he lets his employee relieve him of the heavy weight. Arataka seizes the occasion to take a proper look at Serizawa; it’s the first time he’s seen him in anything other than a suit. Katsuya’s also wearing a kimono, albeit the shape of his is a bit different. The fabric shimmers under the sunlight; it’s a green gradient, going from lime to emerald, with delicate white waves drawn on top. Unlike him, Serizawa’s not wearing a haori; but Reigen’s noticed Serizawa doesn’t get cold easily, perhaps a consequence of the intense psychic energy his body is housing.
« You went all out, huh? » Arataka can’t help but grin, a genuine smile this time.
« Ah ! Um- »
« It suits you. » Reigen compliments with a pat on Serizawa’s shoulder. « Come on, let’s go before all the good spots are taken. »
Serizawa tries to ignore the way Reigen’s praise makes his heart flutter and obediently follows his boss. He doesn’t know this part of town well; even though recently he’s done his best to go out and explore new places, he hasn’t really been around here a lot.
It turns out the park is not even three minutes away from the station; Reigen hasn’t even had the time to finish telling Serizawa about how Mob’s first day of his last year of middle school went. They pass the park’s gates, and the sight takes Katsuya’s breath away.
It’s been over fifteen years since Serizawa has last celebrated hanami. He was only fifteen back then, and had gone to the park near his house with his mother. It’s something he has always looked forward to, and it was one of the things he had missed the most when he had locked himself up in his room. When on a quiet March afternoon at Spirits and Such he had casually mentionned he loves watching the cherry blossom trees, Reigen had immediately suggested to celebrate hanami together; Serizawa had happily accepted. Hanami is a very special event for him, and he’s glad to have someone dear to his heart to go view the sakura trees with him.
Furthermore, Reigen has had another idea: to go to the park wearing kimonos. Nowadays, most people do hanami in regular clothes, but Serizawa remembers his mother always wearing a beautiful kimono with a floral pattern, and he also remembers mentioning it to Reigen.
Although the park and the scenery are different from the ones in his youth, the cherry blossoms are as beautiful as Serizawa remembers. Pink petals flutter around, falling from countless trees whose branches are covered with blossoming flowers. The sky is a clear blue, with only a few clouds, allowing the trees to stand out against the vast azure body. People are seated all over the park’s lush lawns, families and couples alike. The place is starting to get crowded, and Katsuya is glad Reigen has suggested to go early.
« Come on, let’s find a nice spot. » Arataka suggests, gently bringing Serizawa back to Earth.
The pair doesn’t have to look very far to find a place they can use; there’s a free patch of grass just under a tree. Some petals are lying on the ground, and with a childlike curiosity, Serizawa picks one up. He doesn’t notice the tender gaze Reigen is looking at him with.
« Do you want some tea? »
« Yes, please! »
Arataka opens the cooler, takes two bottles from it and hands one to Serizawa. Katsuya takes it and thanks his boss with a smile.
Reigen is a dreadful cook, so he’s brought enough store-bought food to make up for it. There’s some left, but not much; him and Serizawa have been sitting on the grass for over three hours and slowly eating their way through everything.
Reigen is usually very talkative, but the serenity of the scenery seems to stop him from speaking as much as usual. That, and he’s been too busy looking at Serizawa.
There’s something fascinatingly beautiful about the wonder in Katsuya’s eyes as he looks at the cherry blossom trees surrounding them. Serizawa has been working for him for several months, and Reigen has seen him display an increasing range of emotions, but never such pure calm tinted with happiness.
He doesn’t know what takes over him, but Reigen’s hand slides from the blanket they’re installed on to rest on Katsuya’s hand. Serizawa flinches, not in dread but in surprise; his questionning eyes leave the pastel flowers to meet Arataka’s eyes. And it’s as if he’s seeing someone different: not the cocky man claiming to be the 21st century’s greatest medium, but the person that transpires when he’s speaking on the phone with Shigeo, or petting a dog, or congratulating Serizawa on passing an exam. And for the first time, Katsuya sees that beautiful person in its entirety, oh so vulnerable and lovable.
Serizawa tries to speak, but no words leave his quivering lips. For once, Reigen is entirely silent too, his thumb slowly starting to stroke the back of Serizawa’s hand in delicate circles. It’s as if the other people are gone entirely from the park; there’s only Katsuya, Arataka, their hands and the trees surrounding them, petals fluttering around.
Reigen leans forward, almost in slow motion. Serizawa’s never kissed anyone, but he’s seen his fair share of dramas and cheesy romance anime, and can understand the sign Reigen is sending him. A part of him aches and wonders if it’s just him misreading the situation; but before he can overthink and doubt himself, his body moves on its own, moving forwards to meet Reigen.
Their lips brush against each other, Reigen’s slightly chappy ones against Serizawa’s soft mouth.
Arataka closes his eyes, enjoying the way his own cheeks are set ablaze ; he’s had boyfriends and girlfriends before, but he’s never kissed them with the seriousness and the sheer love he conveys in the kiss he’s giving Katsuya. He’s not even using his tongue; just letting his lips linger against Serizawa’s, his hand resting on top of Serizawa’s and clinging on to it as if his life depends on it.
Katsuya keeps his eyes open, taking in every feature of Reigen’s face. He’s never been so close to him before, and the intimacy allows him to register details he’s never noticed: how long Arataka’s lashes are, the little blemishes just under his eyes, the tiny beauty mark at the corner of his mouth. Serizawa’s afraid he’ll forget how to breathe, because his heart is thumping so loud against his ribcage that it drowns out the erratic rhythm of his own breathing. Katsuya feels so blissful, so completely at peace and at home with Arataka’s hand on his and Arataka’s lips on his and Arataka so close to his chest and the faint hint of smoke and green tea and rice on Arataka’s mouth that he could die and not care because he doesn’t think he could reach that perfect state of happiness ever again.
After a moment that seems like both a second and a lifetime, their lips part, and Reigen’s eyes flutter open. A few tears have pooled under his eyelids, and one of them rolls down his cheek- he raises his finger to wipe it away, embarassed, but Katsuya does it for him and lets his hand linger on Arataka’s cheek. Reigen leans into the touch, his eyes never leaving Serizawa’s face, and all around them cherry blossom petals continue to rain, surrounding the two of them in their fleeting embrace.