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Eyes getting tired from reading, Minegishi closed their book and set it aside by the nightstand. They averted their eyes to the near distance in the room.
The plants hanging from across the room responded to their gaze. Dust floating was visible through the afternoon sunlight seeping through the window, the lot of it falling over the bookshelf below the plants.
Minegishi could only adore the visually appealing arrangement of their room, and this includes Shimazaki’s flaked leather suitcase, set in the corner of the room, contrasting everything else.
It’s been a year since they let back Shimazaki to their life after Claw. Just a few months ago they’ve made him more than just a freeloader on their couch, letting him the person whom they find comfort in at cold nights, cradled in the warmth of his arms.
Yet Shimazaki still kept his things within that suitcase.
Minegishi didn’t bother to ask him why, of course they didn’t want to force him to suddenly feel at home. Perhaps it took some time, but Shimazaki got a thick skin ever since Claw up until now, so if anything, it always seemed like he felt at home more than they are.
Still, they never thought about bringing it up even if it did not make sense to them.
Though one thing Minegishi always notice is this tiny detail on his suitcase, and that is a bunch of shark stickers plastered all over it. Just like the suitcase itself, the stickers are all tattered.
Just how old is that thing?
Only a few seconds later, Shimazaki teleported to the room, Minegishi feeling an instant surge of energy coming from the esper.
The timing makes them wonder if he can read minds as well.
“Where have you been?”
“Well,” Shimazaki sighed, removing his leather jacket, having it thrown on the bed. “Co-worker called in sick and had to take over his place.”
“You’re home incredibly early though.”
“Yeah, clocked out early.” He said, now taking off his shirt and ripped jeans, hanging them over the handle of his suitcase, leaving him wearing boxers only. “Just thought about making it up for you since you woke up without me this morning. It’s the weekends after all.” He gave them a subtle smile at one edge of his lips and proceeded to take clothes from the suitcase.
Minegishi can’t tell whether they’re flustered at the remark or at his toned, almost naked body. The chlorokinetic shrugged it off, quickly thinking of something else to talk about.
Accidentally, they’ve pulled out the thoughts that they were just having earlier, lingering on their mind. “That suitcase…”
Shimazaki, not hearing what they just said, continued to change his clothes into something more comfortable. “What?”
“Your suitcase.” Minegishi spoke more firmly. “Do you like sharks?”
Still crouching over the suitcase, it took a few moments for Shimazaki to process Minegishi’s question.
He stared at them confused. “How did you think I liked them?”
“It’s all over your suitcase.”
The blind esper took a moment to take a feel at the front of his suitcase, only now realizing that the rough and folded paper texture were actually stickers. “So these are sharks?”
“Oh, uh. Right.” Minegishi realized a stupid mistake. The lilac scratched their head. “Listen, I know you’re blind but I just thought you knew somehow...”
“No, it’s okay.” Shimazaki smiled. “I’m just a little surprised because I don’t remember talking about sharks with you, so I was surprised.”
“So you do like sharks?”
“Yes, also…” Shimazaki turned back to his suitcase, now rummaging for something else. He didn’t speak again until he brought out something. “Here.”
It’s a tiny shark plushie.
Finally zipping his suitcase he threw the toy over Minegishi, having them catch it by reflex.
The plushie looked rather ragged and dirty. It misses an eye as well. They can tell that this one too is pretty old as well.
Minegishi moved and gave space to Shimazaki as he neared to the bed, now sitting beside them.
“That suitcase.” Shimazaki said as he pointed his chin over the corner of the room where it was placed. “That belonged to my mother.”
An inaudible “Oh” came out from Minegishi’s mouth.
“And this,” Shimazaki now taking the shark plushie from Minegishi’s hands. “Also belonged to her, but was given to me as a child.”
“So… your mother loved sharks?”
“Very much. I guess you can say she passed it on to me.” He laughed. “She always talked to me about them when I was a child. At first I didn’t understood, but I kept listening to her anyway. We would spend our Friday nights watching shark documentaries, and eventually I acknowledged them.”
Shimazaki started to run his hands over the stuffed toy. “She used this little guy here to help me tell what they looked like. This sharp-shaped fabric that sticks out is the teeth… Then… Oh, this one’s the fin on their backs, she tells me that this is their most distinguishable part,” Shimazaki smiled. “The lines over here are the gills.. and this one’s the tail…”
It was a side they never expected to see from the other.
Minegishi was speechless, watching Shimazaki become enthusiastic talking about his favorite animal all of a sudden. His voice sounded so innocent it’s almost impossible to compare that this, is the Shimazaki they’re talking to a while ago, who was just teasing them almost naked.
“You know, I’ve always wanted to see how big some sharks can be. Whenever I hear about the documentaries, I can never tell if they’re really true or they’re just exaggerating.”
Minegishi tilted their head and raised a nonexistent brow. “Haven’t you went to an oceanarium before?”
“What’s that? They got a bunch of fish in there?”
“Yeah, something like that.” They giggled. “I’m surprised you’ve never heard of one.”
“Never got a chance I guess.” He sighed.
Minegishi assumed that might’ve brought up a not-so nice thought. “You think it might be a nice idea to have both of you to go to one now?”
“If she was still around, yeah.”
Crap. How many times do they have to mess up? “I’m… so sorry.”
“It’s fine.” He kept Minegishi reassured nevertheless, resting his head on their shoulder as he fiddled with the shark plushie on his hand.
And silence ensued.
Minegishi knew Shimazaki enough. You can give him whatever shit for anything, but pity is something he absolutely do not want from anyone.
But they would be lying if it didn’t give them a tight feeling in their stomach. They want to do something about it somehow.
Breaking the momentary silence between the two of them, Minegishi gave yet another question. “Say, do you feel like going out?”
Shimazaki snickered, still his head on their shoulder. “You’re feeling sorry for me now?”
“I was feeling like taking you out for dinner.” Minegishi shuffled, pulling over the sheets, gesturing to go to sleep. “I guess it’s not happening then.”
“Hey, don’t guilt trip me like that.” Shimazaki pouted. “I’m joking! Get us free food now, please?”
“You’re ridiculous.” Minegishi shoved a pillow on his stupid face and got out of bed. “Go change again. I’m taking us somewhere.”
—
Minegishi never specified where they were going and only asked Shimazaki if he could teleport them both to the neighboring city.
It surprised him to an extent, since he always knew Minegishi wasn’t the biggest fan of teleporting. He figured that they might be in a hurry, knowing how it’s almost night time already.
Having his hand held by Minegishi, they strode to their destination.
When they had arrived, noise took over his ears.
His sensed a lot of people, most of them being children too. There wasn’t a commotion, but from the energy he senses, people are somehow excited. How is this place still lively at night?
“Where are we? I thought you’re taking us to dinner.”
“That comes later.” Minegishi smiled at him, and felt their soothing aura. “We’re at an oceanarium.”
He wasn’t given much time to ask, for Minegishi already led them onwards and paid for entrance fees for the both of them. As they entered inside, Minegishi stopped being in front of him and walked by his side, snaking their arm around his.
“What’s this, all of a sudden?” Shimazaki asked.
“I’ve been brainstorming of a good place for us to have a date on.”
“You definitely didn’t.”
“Right.” Minegishi chuckled. “But it’s been awhile since I took you out on a date. You’re always the one to initiate. I just thought you might enjoy this.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“I’ll show you.” Minegishi looked around searching for something. “Over here, let’s go.”
Shimazaki relied on Minegishi, both of them walking towards somewhere until they slowed down, finally stopping. Minegishi released themselves from his arm and went behind him.
Shimazaki noticed the few steps they’re taking at a time. “Are we falling in line?”
“Yep.” Minegishi made a short remark, but the sound of excitement was there. “I think you might really love this one.”
As they moved closer, Shimazaki began to recognize the smell of water, eventually hearing someone speaking on lapel, assuming they’re the caretaker in charge of guiding people inside.
“If you wish to pet these sea animals, please wait until they approach near you. Be sure to avoid the stingray’s tail, and the shark’s mouth, and only focus on petting their backs.”
“Wait—you can pet sharks?” He turned to Minegishi, astonished.
Minegishi saw an amazed, eyes-opened look on his face, it was almost comical it’s too hard not to smile. “You didn’t know about that?”
“I didn’t—!?” Shimazaki gasped and was yet again taken by surprise when Minegishi suddenly took his hand, chilled by the sudden contact with cold water. He didn’t even notice they’re actually beside an open glass tank now. He felt something slippery under his palm.
“W-what is this I’m feeling right now?”
“It’s a stingray.”
He loosed his tense and took a moment to describe it. “It’s… smooth. Slippery. Feels nice.”
“Yeah. We’re gonna have to wait till a shark swims over.” Minegishi says, raising his hand from the water as soon as the stingray swam away. Both of them now leaning over the glass.
“Did they say what type of shark it is?”
Minegishi tried to read the descriptions by the tank. “It says they’re lemon sharks.”
“Lemon sharks... I’ve learned they’re rather average in size...”
“Yeah, they definitely are.”
They both didn’t speak afterwards, now seeming to focus on the water. Shimazaki felt Minegishi’s aura spiking from excitement every once in a while, and since their aura is intertwined with his, he would feel it too.
It’s almost like Minegishi wanted to let him know how the anticipation felt like.
It went on like that for a moment that almost felt like forever, until a change of current occured in their aura that almost made Shimazaki too shook.
“Oh—!”
Minegishi once again took Shimazaki’s hand into the water.
This one felt different. When his hand first rubbed on the surface, it felt smooth, but when rubbed on an opposite direction, it felt a little like sandpaper. Not only that, but as Minegishi led his hand towards the first direction, he felt a tall, thin edge by the middle.
He spoke with bated breath. “Is this... what I think it is?”
“Absolutely.”
His heart started beating.
It took time for his mind to process that he is being in contact with a shark for the first time in his lifetime, that he is really learning how they feel like, that he is actually holding a real one live, and not just the stuffed toy he always owned. He never even wished for this, he just adored the kind of creatures they were, but it is happening anyway.
Part of him wanted to start expressing his excitement like he was back to his youth, but the way he is also feeling his lover’s hand gently squeezing atop his while all of this is happening, having them share the same enthusiasm as he does, made it feel like he is experiencing something more than just being excited.
He simply hopes Minegishi doesn’t notice his face heating up.
Trying to keep his composure he focused on the shark, allowing himself to pet it a few more times until it swam away as well.
Finally having his hand off the water and released from Minegishi’s grip, Shimazaki was finally able to exhale from the euphoria that was holding his breath back. It was fleeting, but it felt like a long time.
Minegishi handed over a towel, letting his hands dry. “You seem to be enjoying now, don’t you?” They teased.
He did. But when in a state of being overwhelmed, there wasn’t a lot he can say. “Yes… I really do.”
“There’s another one I think you should check out.”
They exited the area and walked side by side. Shimazaki let himself at ease within Minegishi’s hand which is holding his.
This time, they took their time walking around the oceanarium. In every area they passed by, Shimazaki sensed life, overflowing. It was way different from an area congested with people. The place felt like life was just a cool breeze of wind. And it felt nice.
Shimazaki noticed Minegishi stopped walking, and so he did as well. “What’s up?”
“Your mind’s eye.” He felt them turn their head at him. “Do you think you can use it now?”
Mind’s eye. The last time he used this is when he had to fight a bunch of espers during Claw’s world domination. It was a ‘last resort’ kind of power. Ever since after that event, he tried not to use it anymore, and settled with movement prediction and teleportation only.
Why are they asking about it now?
“I don’t know what’s the point of using my mind’s eye.”
He then hears a soft voice coming from the other. “Like I said. I’ll show you.”
Trusting Minegishi, he opened his eyes, with his sight opened as well—mind’s eye working for once after a few years of being neglected.
He tilted his head up, and moving outlines and nerve connections was laid before his eyes, overwhelming him once more.
In the huge tank they are in front of are shapes of sharks, and they are exactly the same as he visualized, and just as large as he expected.
“What sharks are they?”
“Bull, tiger and hammerhead sharks.” Minegishi stated.
“Hammerhead? That’s the one that looks like a T, right?”
“Yep. Have you noticed one?”
Finally forgetting about worrying how he’s casually using his powers, Shimazaki focused back on the tank. He looked for shapes that aren't the ones he was used to seeing. When he found one with the T-shaped head that went by, he wasn’t able to help himself and almost shouted, “Found it!”
It caused him to hear an outburst of laughter coming from Minegishi. Their voice sounding like music to his ears.
Shimazaki ended up laughing with them too.
—
Even after going home from dinner, Minegishi didn’t notice the time until they got out of the shower.
It was ten in the evening.
Shimazaki was already laying on bed, not sure if he is still awake.
Minegishi decides to surprise him.
“Shimazaki!”
They had his attention immediately and threw a giant pillow towards him, completely dumbfounded as he caught it.
“What the fuck—“
“Your reflexes and movement prediction still works well huh.”
“Just because I’ve been out of it you’re now underestimating me?”
Minegishi snickered and laid down beside him. “Feel it.”
The blind man looked at them confused for a second before he brought his attention back to the pillow between them, running his hands over it assuming there are details he missed.
Shimazaki found himself smiling in surprise. “You’re kidding.”
“What? I think you deserve something new. I got it from the souvenir shop but didn’t tell you until now.”
“You’re treating me like a child too much!”
“And you like it.”
Shimazaki hugged the shark stuffed toy tight and if Minegishi is seeing things correctly, they can absolutely see the tip of his ear going red.
“You’re cute. I want to see that more.”
“Shut up.” He buries his face even more. “That’s my line.”
“Not today.” Minegishi proceeded to hug him, having the pillow in between of them.
The AC and their breathing was all that’s heard in a few minutes, almost thinking the other might be asleep already, until they felt his voice through the pillow
“I would like to ask you something again.”
“What was it?”
“Did you feel sorry for me?”
For the first few seconds all they heard from the other was silence, and later on Minegishi’s hug felt a little tighter.
“I’d be lying if I didn’t.” Minegishi spoke, biting their lips. “But as we went on today I realized that wasn’t what I was feeling.”
“Then what is?”
“I wanted to see you happy.”
“What do you mean?” Confused, Shimazaki looked at them over the pillow, eyebrows furrowed. “I’m happy when I’m with you.”
“T-that’s besides the point!” He felt their aura spiking from being flustered a little, feeling a few seconds of self-satisfaction until they started speaking again. “It’s just that… The last time I saw you had fun was back in Claw. I believe that isn’t the best of you, right?”
Right. He didn’t want to remember that.
“I thought about whether it’s possible to see you have fun again somehow. And I did, but I didn’t expect it would bring out joy from you too... That was something I haven’t witnessed before.”
“Neither did I.” It was finally Shimazaki’s turn to speak. “It kind of felt fucked up whenever I thought about how Claw must’ve been the last time I’ll ever feel alive.”
He also never thought how sentimental he is right now until the next words came out from his mouth, and how his aura has been involuntarily wrapping around Minegishi’s.
“But you showed me otherwise. So thank you.”
Minegishi wondered a lot of things about Shimazaki, but whether or not they know something more about him, they didn’t mind. Both of them have once been terrible people anyway, and now that they’re trying to change, they can at least trust Shimazaki on that sense.
Who knew asking about his old suitcase would lead to this? If this was the Shimazaki they knew in Claw, he would rather be cocky and kid his way out of it as a way of closing himself off.
But to think that Shimazaki would be this eager to talk all about his past and interest, to see him in joy without having to hide it, and for him to be genuine with no excuses...
He has definitely changed, and they can tell that Shimazaki trusts them just as much too.
Minegishi responds to his aura and began to meld together.
Gently, they shoved the pillow down until they can see his face, sliding his hair up, leaving a kiss on his forehead.
“Of course. I love you.”
“You’re being cheesy.”
Minegishi gets annoyed, now fondly flicking his forehead. “Stop ruining the moment, I’m not the one who just talked about their backstory about their favorite animal to me.”
“Says the one who took me to a date just to show me my favorite animal.”
“Just say it back.”
Shimazaki laughs as he cupped their cheek with his free hand, running a thumb over it before he leans closer, giving back the kiss but now on their lips.
“I love you too.”