Chapter Text
As Sakurayashiki Kaoru looks at the blue ocean from high up in the sky, he realises he doesn't really know why exactly he has decided to move to Okinawa. For being someone who always seeks precision and pays attention to all the details, his reasons were all over the place: to his parents he mentioned being tired of Tokyo and needing a change of scenery, to his closest friend he said it's a business opportunity, to his work partners and clients he explained that he's looking for inspiration and new experience. He has lined everything up clean to make it work out perfectly – the house is rented, his things are already moved there, and he has agreed on a calligraphy exhibition project in the art museum in Naha. It's just that he doesn't know why he has set on Okinawa – the furthest away from home – instead of any other place.
Perhaps time will tell.
He closes his eyes. There's still half of the flight left.
-
"So, how's Okinawa?" Ainosuke asks, and Kaoru sighs.
"Don't act as if you've never been here," he says, walking out of the airport and heading straight to the car rental shop which he has already contacted beforehand. "And I haven't seen anything yet."
Ainosuke laughs.
"You sound grumpy. Turbulence during the flight?"
"It was fine," Kaoru says, actually trying to sound a bit happier. "Just tired and not really excited about unpacking," he adds when his voice still ends up with a note of annoyance in it. "How's work?"
"The usual," Ainosuke grunts. "Have to go through piles of documents and find something to support aunt's plans. I'd rather be there, helping you."
Kaoru scoffs.
"You're not missing out on anything," he says. "Let me settle in first. I'm just getting the car now."
"Drive safe," Ainosuke says. "And go out to find some friends, just no one better–"
"I'm hanging up–"
"–than me." Ainosuke laughs. "Alright, until later."
Kaoru puts his phone away and sighs. It'd actually be nice to have his friend around, but at the same time, he feels like some distance will be useful, not only to him but also to Ainosuke. They're alright and besides family, there's no one closer Kaoru has, yet sometimes Ainosuke can be exhausting. He's a bit like Tokyo perhaps – full of everything, drawing everyone's eyes and knowing it. The centre of attention.
Naha seems different, at least based on past trips here and current drive to his new home. It also has everything, but the scale is a lot smaller and the focus is elsewhere. It's less of 'look at me' and more of 'looks at what's around'. And Kaoru looks.
The palm trees are a nice touch, immediately reminding Kaoru that he's in a new place, and the grass seems greener all around, the waters cleaner with waves caressing the sandy beaches in the distance. It's not a long drive, but by the time Kaoru reaches the traditional Japanese house he's rented, his energy is restored and a slight smile of excitement is dancing on his lips.
It's not a big house, but it's a good one. There's a front entrance with a sliding door opening into a little hallway and living room which Kaoru can also use for business purposes in case he needs to meet clients. Also, a side door exists just around the corner; it is closer to the kitchen and the staircase leading to the second floor with two more rooms and a balcony. There's the smell of wood and fresh tatami mats hanging in the air and Kaoru hums, pleased.
By the time he settles in, the sun is already disappearing behind the horizon and Kaoru's stomach reminds him that it's yet to be filled with something warm rather than only rice crackers he’s been snacking on while unpacking. He remembers a good tuna place he's eaten at a few times during the past trips here, but it's quite far away and Kaoru doesn't really feel like going there, so he opens the neighbourhood map on his phone and filters out restaurants and cafes.
There's a coffee shop with sandwiches, a burger joint, tempura place and curry restaurant a few minutes by foot in different directions, but the one that has the highest rating is an Italian place. It's not exactly what Kaoru has been thinking about for dinner, but it picks his interest and it's really close, so promptly he decides to try it.
-
Sia la luce is quite a small restaurant just down the street and behind the corner. The front is decorated with rich green plants, a nice contrast to the creamy walls with two huge windows. Through them, Kaoru can see a few already occupied tables, but when he goes inside, there are available seats at the counter bar, so he heads there.
"Welcome," a pleasant voice greets him and when Kaoru looks up, he's faced with a tall, smiling man in chef's clothes. "Can I help you?"
Kaoru furrows his eyebrows, trying to think of anything that he's seen on the menu outside, but nothing comes to his mind.
"Any recommendations?" he asks, still looking at the man. His hair is slightly messy and of deep green colour, much like the plants in front of the windows, and he seems relaxed and happy like he's actually enjoying working here.
"Any allergies?"
"Not that I know of."
" Penne all' Arrabbiata is my personal favourite from tonight's list. It's a simple dish," he says and seeing Kaoru's blank face adds, "Pasta with spicy tomato sauce. I make it really delicious, though," he laughs.
"As if someone would admit they don't cook it well," Kaoru comments, belatedly realising his rudeness. He blames it on being tired. The man laughs at it though, not bothered.
"If it tastes bad, there is no need to pay for it," he says, then watches Kaoru a bit longer. "In fact, I believe it must be the first visit? The dinner is on me, then."
Kaoru blinks, dumbfounded. What kind of place is it? Why is the chef so friendly?
He's not used to this and getting free service makes him feel a bit odd, but at the same time, he finds himself not able to decline as some sort of delight rises up in his chest.
"Alright," he agrees. "Maybe I'll become a regular afterwards."
-
"You have just moved here, right?"
The restaurant has almost emptied up by the time Kaoru finishes his pasta which was undoubtedly the best one he's eaten in a long time. There's only an elderly couple at the table furthest away, lazily chatting over the dessert, and it seems like the chef has decided to spare his last free minutes for the new customer.
"How did you know?" Kaoru asks, tilting his head to look at the man.
"The word goes around in the neighbourhood," he says with a smile. "Especially when it's a big name who moves here."
Kaoru snorts.
"I'm not a big name," he says.
"Of course not, Sakurayashiki-sensei," the man jokes as if they are friends. "The old ladies were wooed by the words 'calligraphy master' immediately. I'm Nanjo Kojiro, by the way. Pleased to meet you."
"Sakurayashiki Kaoru," Kaoru says, the surname falling awkwardly from his lips after Nanjo's comment. "Likewise. I hope we can get along."
"You don't need to worry about the old ladies, actually. I'm exaggerating a little bit," Nanjo says with a guilty smile. "I saw the new nameplate at the house entrance a while ago and one of the regulars here mentioned seeing who has finally moved in today, that's all. She is a fan of calligraphy, though, thus the sensei part," he explains. "Sorry if that made you feel uncomfortable."
"It's fine," Kaoru says. "No need to apologize. And thank you for the food. It was indeed delicious."
Nanjo Kojiro grins like that's the best thing he's heard the whole day.
"Well, then," he says, "I hope to see you again."
Kaoru gives him a polite smile and slightly bows his head.
Does this count as making his first 'friend' here? He’s not sure yet, but when he leaves Sia la luce , he messages Ainosuke about that. The answer seems to be 'yes'.
-
Kaoru does go to Nanjo's restaurant more than a few times in the following weeks, preferring it to any other place around both for the food and the company. It's nice to go there for dinner as the moment he steps through the door, Nanjo is already bringing a drink to his now regular seat at the counter bar and telling him about that night's special. Kaoru doesn't need to check the menu as whatever Nanjo brings is always good.
It's somehow simple to be drawn to Nanjo, Kaoru thinks as he walks past Sia la luce and sees the man outside, leaning against the fence close to the road and chatting with two women, all of them laughing. He does that a lot with both his clients and people from the neighbourhood, and even though Kaoru has thought he'll be the cocky type, the most he's picked on is self-assurance and pride when it comes to cooking, and a slightly awkward coolness which comes out when Nanjo sometimes flirts with the girls. But mostly, there's kindness and laid-backness that he radiates.
Nanjo notices him and raises his hand to wave.
"How are you doing, Sakurayashiki?" he calls him with a smile. The women politely bow their heads in greeting, too, and Kaoru does the same.
"I'm fine. Have some work to do today," he says, leaving his thoughts be. "How are you?"
"Perfect," Nanjo shows a thumbs-up. "Good luck with your work and see you later then!"
He flashes Kaoru a grin fitting an elementary schooler who has just found a stag beetle in summer. He's definitely the type to do that, Kaoru decides.
-
Nanjo Kojiro is an easy target to spot in the streets. He's tall and well-built, with bronze skin, which Kaoru admits to himself he sometimes really wants to touch and make sure it's as smooth as it looks, and a mop of green bed hair that Kaoru is 99.9 per cent sure is styled to look that way. What Kaoru doesn't expect is seeing him on a skateboard.
"Nanjo?"
"Oh, hey!" Nanjo slows down and pops the skateboard, effortlessly catching it with his hand.
"You skate?" Kaoru asks, even though he has just seen Nanjo do exactly that.
"Yeah," Nanjo chuckles and holds up his skateboard, looking at it fondly. "It's my secret – well, not so much, actually – hobby. It's really fun once you try it."
Kaoru’s eyes travel to the deck with a picture of a fish on it. The design is a mix of different patterns that look like coral riffs, clouds and moons to Kaoru. He wonders if it’s custom made.
"I know," he says. Nanjo’s eyes widen.
"You do?"
Kaoru nods.
"I used to do it back in high school," he explains, remembering late evenings in skating parks with Ainosuke. "I’m not sure why I have stopped."
Nanjo hums, sounding both understanding and a little dejected. He looks at his skateboard again, perhaps wondering why he hasn’t quit it, but it doesn’t take him long to find his reason. He smiles to himself and then nudges Kaoru's arm with his board.
"Wanna try again?"
Kaoru furrows his eyebrows and tries to refuse, afraid to make fun of himself and fall like it’s the first time he stands on it, but Nanjo persuades him to walk to the park nearby and try it there.
“It’ll be fun,” he says, and Kaoru believes him.
-
"I got into skateboarding again," Kaoru says a few days later when he's talking on the phone with Ainosuke. He’s sitting on the threshold between his room and the balcony, resting his legs in the sunlight.
"What?!"
The surprise in his friend's voice brings unexpected joy to Kaoru and he chuckles. He looks up at the vast blue above his head and somehow feels childish. It’s ridiculous, especially because he has never thought of himself to be that way.
"Yeah," he says. "I even bought a board. Ten years and I can still do an ollie just fine, can you believe that?"
"You were good at it," Ainosuke notes and then, there’s a pause before he opens his mouth again. "What made you get back to it, though?"
"I saw Nanjo - the chef from the Italian place, remember? - skating a while ago and he convinced me to try again. In his free time he's lowkey teaching a few kids how to skateboard and seeing them has brought back good memories," Kaoru explains briefly. "It just felt right once I stepped on it myself, you know? Something clicked inside of me when the skateboard moved the way I wanted it to. It made me feel free."
"You seem to be having fun in Okinawa," Ainosuke says with a hum. Kaoru remembers now that Ainosuke was the one who got bored of skateboarding first and afterwards Kaoru himself started leaving his board at home more often and finally never picked it up again. It’s probably still stored somewhere at his parents’ house. He takes a deep breath and slowly lets it all out.
"I guess so," he says, now letting his mind wander to everything that has happened in the last month. The museum project is moving slowly as it's just the very beginning and Kaoru firstly needs to document all the plans and get approvals, but he's enjoying it. Life here is also good. The neighbours are nice but not too nosy, he's spending more and more time with Nanjo and even has picked up an old hobby again. "I sleep better here," he concludes simply, hearing a smile in his voice himself. He's definitely feeling less anxious lately, it seems.
"I'm glad," Ainosuke says, but there's a strange note in his voice. He sighs. "I'm glad, but I do miss you here."
Kaoru nibbles on his lip, unsure how to respond even if he’s expected such a reaction. Ainosuke has never really liked listening about the fun things which he wasn’t a part of. Kaoru clears his throat, doing a quick calculation in his head.
"I'll be coming to Tokyo in three weeks," he says after a moment. "There's an association meeting I need to attend, and I thought I'd stop by? If you’re free."
“I’ll adjust my schedule, don’t worry,” Ainosuke says immediately, sounding excited. “Just send me the details once it’s all planned.”
“Of course.”
“Hey, and Kaoru?”
“Yes?”
“Don’t go down the wrong path there.”
-
"That's so odd, does he have something against skateboarding?" Nanjo asks when Kaoru for some reason tells him about Ainosuke and how he's ended their last call. It has come to this naturally while they were chatting about everyday things, and strangely, Kaoru felt like he could share what's bugging him from inside.
"It's not like we're the bad guys here, huh?" Nanjo goes on, his eyebrows drawn together in confusion. "Or are we?" he asks, a smirk coming to his face. Kaoru rolls his eyes and leans back on his arms. They’re sitting in the skating park while Langa and Reki – two teenagers who Kojiro helps with the skateboarding – are practising some of the tricks, laughing at each other and bumping their fists whenever they succeed.
"He's just dramatic," Kaoru notes. He feels the nostalgia seeping into his chest while he watches the kids and he wonders for a moment if perhaps back during their call Ainosuke has felt like this as well. It's just that sometimes he really is overdramatic.
"Still a pretty shitty thing to say," Nanjo shrugs, leaning back as well. He glances at Kaoru. "From what I've heard overall, you two seem quite different. Wouldn't guess he's your closest friend, you know? No offense, though."
"He can be difficult to deal with, but we somehow stuck together. We have history."
Kaoru's not sure if it's a strangely soft note in his voice or a change of expression on his face, but something catches Nanjo's attention and it seems obvious enough to bring up the question:
"Oh, like… dating?"
It sounds casual and when Kaoru's eyes jump to Nanjo, he doesn't seem surprised at all. There's no scowl on his face, no coldness in his eyes, no judgement.
"No, not really," Kaoru says, still slightly wary of the turn of the topic. Nanjo is nodding along, understandably, and Kaoru wonders when was it that Nanjo had realised that him dating Ainosuke was not out of the picture. "We've never dated," he clears up and it somehow feels good to deny only this part and not the whole possibility of relationships with men.
Nanjo takes a deep breath and leans all the way back until he's lying on the concrete. He closes his eyes to the sun.
"Well, your story has a better ending than mine," he says, and the lopsided smile on his face is impossible to ignore. "I confessed to my closest friend back in high school," his voice gets lower, for once sounding like it's directed to Kaoru only and not the whole world, "and he could never look at me the same."
"What an asshole."
Nanjo cracks one eye open and laughs at Kaoru's frown.
"It's all in the past," he says. "I'm more careful about falling in love now."
Kaoru groans and he lies down next to Nanjo. Through the thin shirt, the hot concrete burns his skin the same way every rejection he’s received throughout the years has burned his chest. Nanjo doesn’t seem bothered by it, but to Kaoru, it’s somewhat comforting to know that he has experienced this feeling as well and that he isn’t scared to voice it out.
He lets out a soft sigh.
"Aren't we all?"