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“I asked him on a date!” Kaminari says, proud. He sighs as he sits down beside Sero. “But he didn’t seem… I don’t know. He just seemed to be not… that enthusiastic?”
Sero scratches the back of his neck. “He said yes?”
“Well, yeah!”
“And… you do know he’s a vampire right? Like, that’s not going to put you off to dating him?”
Kaminari gives Sero a look. “Do I look like someone who cares about superficial things?”
“Yes.”
“Huh?! What’s that mean?”
“Well, last year, you liked Kyouka because she ‘looks like a manic pixie dream girl’.” Sero says.
“I -- I liked her because she was cool -- “
“ -- and then , after she rejected you, you sang ‘mr brightside’ non-stop at our university open mics until she had to have a deep conversation with you about how you were a great guy, really, but she had a girlfriend and it wasn’t you, it was her.”
“I…”
“And you like Shinsou because he’s the mysterious guy in our Intro to Wolf Culture class, who also happens to be a vampire.”
“That doesn't mean I care about the superficial things. I'm drawn to people who intrigue me.”
“So, lesbians and vampires.”
Kaminari presses his lips into a thin line. “Sero, you’re missing the bigger issue here.”
“Oh, yeah.” Sero leans forward a bit. “What’s up, bro?”
“So I asked him out to dinner and he said yes but he gave me this weird look when I told him where I was taking him.”
“Dinner? Vampires drink blood, bro.”
“That’s a myth! They can also eat human food too; I learned about that in my vampire education class freshman year. Sometimes they really like to eat the food they used to enjoy as a human.”
“Okay. So where were you taking him?”
“Olive Garden.”
There’s a pause. Sero blinks, and Kaminari is so positive it will be a great date. He loves the soup, salad, and breadsticks. They’re so, so good. Especially because he can order as much as he wants! Plus it’s classier than his usual hangouts, like Burger King or McDonalds or Sonic. He can also afford it, assuming Shinsou doesn’t order something really expensive.
After a while has passed, and Sero has still said nothing, Kaminari continues.
“I was just worried maybe he only said yes to be polite, what if he actually doesn’t want to date me or thinks it’s weird I even asked. Kirishima has been teaching me how to shoot my shot lately instead of just pining and what if it’s not meant to be? I want to meet my soulmate, Sero.”
“Uh… Olive Garden serves a lot of… italian food...”
Kaminari blinks. “Yeah?”
Sero gives him a level look. “And Shinsou is a… vampire.”
“Yeah…” Kaminari says.
Sero waits for a response that never comes. Eventually, he sighs. “Kaminari, have you considered… taking him somewhere else for a date?”
“But Olive Garden is my favorite! Besides, what else would I do, take him to Sonic? Or Subway?”
“Maybe ask him for his opinion…?”
“But then what if he doesn’t even give me a chance after because I’m not smooth enough! I think I just really need to do a good job putting the moves on this date. Or it’ll never happen.”
“Uh.” Sero seems to think, then he laughs a bit, and shrugs his shoulders. “You know what? Sure. Impress him so much he asks you out on another date.”
___
Kaminari is meeting Shinsou at the restaurant. Kaminari was so excited that he made a reservation for two people. He didn’t know if it would be busy and the last thing he wanted to do was make Shinsou wait around for a date he had seemed semi-reluctant to go on in the first place!
Good news for Kaminari, though, is that it appears to be slow. When he walks into the door he smiles at the hostess, who he recognizes. Not only from his frequenting the establishment, but she’s also in his physics class. Uraraka is part-wolf and when she smiles at Kaminari he can see her pointed teeth.
“Hi, Denki! Is it just you today?”
“No! Actually the reservation under Kaminari is me. Two people. I’m meeting my date here!”
“Oh, a date? Do I know them?”
“Yeah! It’s Shinsou. He goes to our school and he got into that big fight with Deku, remember?”
“Shins…” Uraraka furrows her brows. She seems to go through a lot of questions and second-guess asking them before settling on, “Isn’t he a vampire?”
“Hey! I’m not vamp-phobic!”
“That’s not what I…” Uraraka looks at the board listing their specials. Amongst a variety of pastas is a new garlic-based cream sauce. “Is he going to like this restaurant? It’s -- “
“Hello.”
Kaminari turns around to look at Shinsou, who’s just entered the building. He’s pale, with heavy bags under his eyes and red-rimmed eyes. His hair is sticking up every which way but in less of a bed-head sort of way and in more of a stylishly-combed-up sort of way. He’s wearing a nice shirt and pants. Not too dolled up, but he definitely looks good. Kaminari feels a bit flustered in his pikachu tee shirt and jeans.
“Hey! Hey man, nice of you to make it.” Kaminari says, walking over to his side. Shinsou looks at the specials sheet from the doorway, then at the host stand, then finally at Uraraka. They seem to have a silent conversation with their eyes, and it only makes Kaminari jealous when Shinsou’s face breaks into a smirk and Uraraka giggles. Kaminari has always liked Uraraka but is she really trying to hit on his date right now?!
“Table for two! Let’s go!” Kaminari says, pointedly grabbing Shinsou’s hand as he waits to be led to a seat. Shinsou is tugged, but does not enter the threshold.
“Kaminari,” Shinsou says, sounding slightly irked. Kaminari pauses and looks at him. “I’m a vampire.”
“Oh. Oh! Please come in!” Kaminari’s cheeks warm as Shinsou is finally able to step inside. Kaminari wonders how annoyed Shinsou must be at him. When he looks over at Shinsou, though, there’s something entertained in the look he’s giving him. It’s enough to make Kaminari flush, as Uraraka gathers the menus and begins to lead them into the restaurant.
The layout is large; there’s five rooms, and they’re taken around the corner to the second room. There’s an older couple about three booths to the left of them. Kaminari slides into his side of the booth and Shinsou takes the other. Immediately, Uraraka places a set of silverware in front of Kaminari nearly wrapped in an orange cloth, and some golden silverware wrapped in a blue cloth, in front of Shinsou.
Once they’re left alone, Kaminari stares at the blue cloth. “Does it bother you that you can’t really handle silver?”
Shinsou looks away from his menu and examines the cloth for the first time. “I mean. I could if I chose to. Unless the silverware is made of pure silver. I’d just get a rash on my hands.”
“Oh.”
“Most restaurants do this to be polite. Also, they don’t want customers to think they’re not using real silver.”
“That’s sneaky!”
“Yes, very.” Shinsou says, quirking an eyebrow at Kaminari.
Silence follows them, and Kaminari looks over the menu. The lunch options are all tempting, but he knows he’s getting soup, salad, and breadsticks! He looks over at Shinsou.
“You can get whatever you want, it’s my treat. I invited you out.” He says. Shinsou hums in acknowledgement, just as a server bounces over to greet them. He’s familiar, and has back blonde hair and a near button-down shirt and apron. His name tag says ‘Aoyama’ and Kaminari had a class with him once, he thinks.
“ Bonjour ! Welcome to Olive Garden! I will be taking care of you today!” He says. “Would you like to try a sample of wine?”
“Isn’t bonjour french?” Shinsou asks. “I thought this place was Italian?”
“Oh,
oui monsieur
, you are correct! But I myself am French!” Aoyama says, brightly. Kaminari nods, enthusiastic. “As I was saying I have a bottle of
pinot noir
we are offering samples of!”
Kaminari is about to accept the sample when Shinsou reaches over the table and rests a cool hand on top of Kaminari’s, lowering it before he can speak. Kaminari is too distracted by Shinsou’s hand resting on his to respond.
“Neither of us are of age, actually.” Shinsou says.
“Oh! Not a problem!” Aoyama puts the bottle down and opens his notebook. “Can I get you gentlemen something else to drink?”
Kaminari orders a peach tea and Shinsou orders water with lemon. Aoyama bounces off to get their drinks and Kaminari looks over at him. He decides to be brave and twists his hand. The result is Kaminari’s fingers slipping between Shinsou’s. His hands are still cool to the touch and Kaminari wonders if his own are warm. He gives Shinsou a bright smile.
“Thanks for coming out with me.”
“I don’t know many people at university, so I was surprised.” Shinsou is watching their hands, and he hasn’t pulled away yet. “Most people don’t approach vampires.”
“What?! That’s bullshit man! Vampires are so cool! Well, I think so anyway.” Kaminari shakes his head. “This world is filled with so many other things than humans and people still act like dickheads! It’s unreal.”
Shinsou snorts. “Yeah. Being born a vampire is different than turning into one. People avoid me because I have the power to turn people, if I chose to use it.”
Kaminari falls silent; he can tell the admission broches on a sensitive subject for Shinsou. Kaminari knows the differences between born-vampires and turned-vampires, but he didn’t know Shinsou was a born one. Instead of scaring him, though, that knowledge is fascinating to him.
“So you can turn people into vampires? Sick! Have you done it before?!”
Kaminari must be too enthusiastic; Shinsou pulls away, drawing his hand back into himself. He gives Kaminari a peculiar look. “No.”
“Why not?”
“Uhm.” Shinsou coughs. Kaminari can see Aoyama rounding the corner with their drinks. He looks back at Shinsou. “Because it’s unethical?”
Kaminari nods to that, unable to respond because Aoyama is looking to grab their orders. Kaminari places his order (chicken and gnocchi soup, salad, and breadsticks). When it’s Shinsou’s turn, Kaminari notices that the other is pointing to the steaks on special. Kaminari feels sweat gathering at the back of his neck.
“I have a question. Is this prepared with garlic?”
“I believe the butter on top provides the garlic flavor, monsieur .”
“Can I get this cooked without the butter? Served rare, please.” Shinsou says. “Can the salad have the croutons and dressing on the side?”
“Ah yes of course!” Aoyama says. Kaminari swallows and laughs a little.
“S -- steak fan?”
“Well, yes. Being a vampire I tend to prefer my meat underdone and bloody.”
“Oh! I thought vampires could eat a fairly normal diet…”
“Humans turned vampires, yeah. I suppose I could eat anything I wanted. In terms of flavor, rare food tastes the best.” Shinsou quirks a brow over at Kaminari. “You really didn’t know I was a born-vampire?”
“No?” Kaminari scratches his arms nervously. “How am I supposed to know that, man?!”
“The eyes.” Shinsou points to his eyes, and Kaminari follows his gaze to them. They’re a mesmerizing shade of purple. Like lilacs, Kaminari thinks. He stares at them for probably longer than Shinsou intended him to; after a minute Shinsou smirks. “The purple there is a dead giveaway.”
“They’re pretty.” Kaminari says, and Shinsou didn’t expect it, clearly, because his cheeks flush and he looks away, hiding his mouth in the collar of his shirt. It’s adorable. Kaminari grins.
Around then, Aoyama returns with a tray that he sets beside their table. He dishes out two plates for them, and then sets the salad between them. Salad dressing and croutons are placed in small ramekins beside their plates. Shinsou pointedly pushes them both towards Kaminari, denies cheese for his salad, and slowly starts to nibble on a tomato.
“Do you want any dressing?” Kaminari asks, and Shinsou stares at him.
“I’m a vampire.”
“And?”
“I can’t eat that.”
“You can eat anything you want to, this is 2020, and vampires have the same rights as -- “
“No, no. Not because of that.” Shinsou smirks. “I can’t eat garlic. Both of those have garlic.”
Kaminari is stupid. He is a stupid idiot and he can’t believe Sero didn’t demand that he change the date location before they got into the situation. Almost all of the dishes here are things Shinsou can’t eat. The garlic in the dressing, croutons, the garlic on the seasoning…
Kaminari groans. “I’m an idiot.”
Shinsou snorts. “Yeah, kind of.”
“I’m sorry, man. I just wanted to take you to a place I liked. I mean, it’s classier than asking you to McDonalds. Or I thought it would be, anyway.”
Kaminari pokes at his salad and notices the breadsticks -- the holy grail of Olive Garden -- are untouched by Shinsou. “And you can’t even eat the breadsticks?!”
“You are correct, I can’t.” Shinsou shrugs. “It doesn’t bother me.”
“But the breadsticks are so good !” Kaminari complains, grabbing one and, as though demonstrating, ripping it apart with his teeth. “Yah missin’ s’much ns’ my fahult”
Shinsou raises both eyebrows this time. “I only understood about half of that.”
“Sorry,” Kaminari takes a sip of his tea, washing the last bits of the breadsticks from his mouth. “I should’ve thought more about cool vampire dates.”
“What’s a cool vampire date?” Shinsou asks.
“Well, stuff that vampires like to do. Like, night dates. Like classical music shows. Coffins? Going to museums?”
Shinsou snorts. “That’s extremely judgemental.”
“What?! I didn’t mean to be!”
“It’s fine.” Shinsou waves his concern off. “Not all vampires like the same things, you know.”
“Well what do you like?” Kaminari asks. “If you’re not like other vampires.”
Shinsou takes another bite of the salad. Kaminari notices that he seems to favor the tomatoes, so when he scoops his own plate he purposefully leaves them in the bowl for Shinsou.
“I do like most of those things.”
“But you said I was being judgmental.”
“You were, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true for me.”
Kaminari isn’t sure if Shinsou is just teasing him or not, but he can only hope he is. He doesn’t seem malicious.
“I like cats.” Shinsou says, after a silence. “I spend most of my time at the animal shelter in town.”
The animal shelter in town, if it is the one Kaminari is thinking of, is run-down and slow in terms of business. There is a lot of debate these days about whether or not animal shelters as they used to be are ‘ethical’, as werewolves and warlocks and humanoid-creatures begin to come out of the woodworks.
Kaminari stabs a bit of lettuce with vigor. “What kind of animals are there?”
“Mostly cats.” Shinsou replies. “The wolf shelters take most of the dogs.”
Aoyama comes back to the table, this time with their food prepared. He sets the soup in front of Kaminari and then a steak that is oozing blood in front of Shinsou. It looks too rare for Kaminari’s tastes but Shinsou doesn’t seem to have any complaints.
“Is there anything else I can get for you?” Aoyama asks.
“No, thanks!” Kaminari says, taking a generous bite of his soup only to frantically open his mouth and fan it a second later. “Hothothothothothothot--”
When Kaminari finally stops flailing about he looks over at Shinsou, who is giving him a shiteating grin. Kaminari flushes and stuffs a breadstick into his mouth to try to make his mouth feel better. It only slightly works.
“Stahp lafghfin a’me, bro.” He mutters. “Sjus’ really gud fud.”
“This isn’t what I expected when you asked me on a date.” Shinsou says, as he sticks a thinly sliced piece of steak in his mouth. It’s practically oozing, and Kaminari notices how Shinsou’s eyes light up at the taste. Aha! Just because he took his vampire date to Olive Garden does not mean he’s a bad date planner. He’s so suave.
“It’s better than you expected?” Kaminari says, with a grin.
Shinsou quirks a brow. “Actually it’s kind of a disaster.”
“Hah?! How is this a disaster?!”
Shinsou gestures around them. “Do you go on many dates?”
“Uhhh... I ask a lot of people out.”
Shinsou gives him a deadpan stare. “You probably shouldn’t tell that to someone you’re taking on a date.”
“What?! I’m just answering the question! I’m sorry I just -- I just like to -- “
“To play the field?” Shinsou supplies.
“No! I like to get to know people, and if people intrigue me, I ask them on a date. Like what’s the harm even if they say no? Then I shooted my shot and then if they say -- “
“Shot.”
“Huh?”
“You shot your shot. Shooted isn’t a word.”
“Well, you get the idea. I’m not an English major or something.” Kaminari half-mumbles. “Anyway. I like to get to know people and if it goes somewhere that’s really cool, but in the end if I never say anything, I’ll just regret it, you know?”
“Mm.” Shinsou licks his lips. Kaminari sees a flash of fang as he does so and he wonders what it feels like to be on the receiving end of a vampire’s bite.
“I like to do things first, then think about the results later.” Kaminari says, grinning. “And if I actually get a boyfriend out of this that would be amazing, you know?”
Shinsou, who was about to bring his steak up to his mouth again, pauses. “A boyfriend out of this?”
“Uhhh…” Kaminari laughs a little nervously. “Was that too forward or weird or something?”
Shinsou chews on the steak, just staring at Kaminari. After he’s swallowed, he speaks up again.“You’re not very shy, are you?”
“Nope! I don’t need to be!” Kaminari says. “Like I said, Shinsou. I live my life without regrets and then I deal with whatever happens later.”
Shinsou shakes his head. “You’re different than I am.”
“Maybe that’s why I’m into you,” Kaminari says, leaning his elbow on the table and his chin in his palm. He catches Shinsou’s eyes again. He’s met other vampires before, but he doesn’t think he’s seen any with eyes quite that lilac. “It makes me want to know more about you.”
They’re staring at each other, until Aoyama returns and asks how everything is. After they give a positive response, the two go back to eating in relative silence. Kaminari watches as Shinsou takes some of the salad he still has left and chops his steak into pieces, combining them to make a salad-based meal.
“So, have you ever sucked on a human’s blood before?” Kaminari asks, as they’re both finished with their meals. Shinsou’s eyes fixate on him with a heated glare.
“Did you really just ask me that?”
“Uhm, I thought it was small talk?” Kaminari scratches his neck. Things were going so well, then he had to open hsi big mouth. Again.
“It’s against the law for us to feed on humans.”
“Without consent,” Kaminari interrupts and Shinsou folds his arms across his chest. Kaminari laughs but it’s not really a laugh as much as it is an attempt to ease the atmosphere. “I read about it in my class last year. If a human gives you permission you can drink their blood but you can only take, like uh…”
“No more than a quart in one sitting.” Shinsou finishes. “It’s a very strict rule.”
“Right! But it’s not totally illegal.”
“I have not.” Shinsou says. “And I would never ask anyone, either. Taking blood from a human who is still alive is…”
“Like a drug?” Kaminari asks. Shinsou rolls his eyes.
“That’s the most generic comparison I have ever heard. But I suppose there’s some truth. It’s… addictive. It can be difficult to stop before you drain a quart. That’s why I mostly use pre-packaged blood.”
“Oh.” Kaminari wonders if it’s a sexual thing, sucking blood from a human like they make it sound in all the raunchy romance novels his mom pretends not to own, but he figures Shinsou wouldn’t know (or want) the answer to that.
Aoyama returns with the check and immediately Kaminari takes it. He can’t help but wince a little when he sees the steak was 18 dollars, but fortunately, it’s not an awful total. He goes through his wallet and is sure to leave enough to cover both the bill and the tip. He’s about to close the book when a little paper slips out, and he examines the note. He grins and shows it to Shinsou.
“Hey! Never stop twinkling, Shinsou!”
“I wasn’t aware I ever started.” Shinsou deadpans. Kaminari laughs and keeps the note in his wallet.
Shinsou is first to get up and Kaminari follows him, putting his wallet and phone into his pocket. He walks beside Shinsou as they exit the building. Uraraka is still there and wishes them a good night. When Shinsou walks a bit ahead of him, kaminari whirls his head around and gives her a double thumbs up pose. He’s grinning and so distracted that he miscalculates his steps and knocks his head on the door on he way out.
Shinsou turns around just as Kaminari is rubbing his head. “Did you really knock your head on the door walking backwards?”
“Uh… yeah?”
Shinsou snorts. They’re standing at the Olive Garden entrance, and there’s a nice breeze wafting by. It’s a beautiful summer afternoon. Shinsou doesn’t seem bothered by the sun overhead, but Kaminari knows that he can’t stay out in the light for long. That’s why it’s a bit odd that Shinsou hasn’t left for his car yet.
“Hey. Are you going to give me your number or not?” Shinsou finally says. “The sun is giving me a headache.”
“Huh?! Oh!” Kaminari grabs his phone from his pocket and pulls open his contacts. He reads out his number to Shinsou, and once he’s done, he receives a text from an unknown number that he saves as Shinsou’s. His heart skips a beat even though the message only says ‘hey’.
Kaminari gives Shinsou a grin after he saves the number and pockets his phone. “So, uh. Was this a good date?”
Shinsou relocates to the small spot of shade by the benches. “I didn’t think it was going to be one.”
“Ah, crap. Sorry. I’m kind of an idiot. Sero even tried to talk me into changing my mind but I was so determined to take you to my favorite place…”
“I’ll show you what a cool vampire date is next time.” Shinsou says. Kaminari hears ‘next time’ and his entire face lights up. He’s bouncing on his heels.
“Next time?! Aw shit bro, that’s awesome! I can’t wait! I could kiss you right now!”
“Please don’t, I just watched you deepthroat at least four garlic-smothered breadsticks.”
“Oh crap! Sorry!” Kaminari blinks. “If I downed a glass of water do you think it’d be okay…?”
“Absolutely not. Save it for later.” Shinsou says. He gives Kaminari one last half-smirk before he stalks off towards the parking lot. Kaminari watches him go, and on his way to his car, he hastily sends a text to Sero.
[Denki Kaminari: 3:45 PM] You were wrong. That was the best date ever. Shinsou is SWOONING over ME and asked out on another date! How’s being wrong feel? I wouldn’t know.
[Hanata Sero: 3:47 PM] I don’t buy it
[Denki Kaminari: 3:47 PM] I’ll prove it. I’m on my way back to the dorm right now and I’ll show you his number. WHICH I HAVE NOW.
[Hanata Sero: 3:47 PM] Yeah okay. Just promise me you won’t be so embarrassed by him dumping you that you skip class tomorrow?
Kaminari grins to himself. He can’t wait for Sero to eat his words. It might be hard to concentrate in Intro to Wolf Culture, but he thinks it’ll be worth it.