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It wasn't often S was cancelled, but tonight it seemed like the right night for it. The rain hadn't stopped for hours, coming down heavy and without mercy, even the best shouldn't be skating in this. Kojiro had been more than happy to accept the night away from S, at least. Even if he didn't technically have to show it still felt like an obligation for some reason. Especially after Adam had been accepted back into the group, S had gotten slightly more intense for the older members. Adam still wanted to challenge everyone he thought was interesting to a beef, despite his revelation. And after what happened to Cherry the last time Adam challenged him, Kojiro felt even more obligated to go. Sure, Cherry hadn't been challenged again after the visit to the hospital, in fact Adam seemed perfectly content with his beefs against Langa and Reki for now, to the point that Joe and Cherry were partially ignored, but..
Kojiro sighed, shaking the thoughts from his head like the rain from his hair. It didn't matter right now, S was canceled for the next two nights in expectation for this downpour. It would be a good time to relax, take his mind off S for awhile. Things would be fine, and even if they didn't turn out fine Kojiro did pride himself in being able to roll with the punches.
He hummed, glancing up at the pouring sky while adjusting the bags around his arms. One long walk to the store, one long walk back. But it would be worth it. He was planning on trying to make a new dish tonight as a treat to himself, though he always had a habit of making excess, so he'd probably have left overs for a few days as well. If he liked it enough, he could introduce it to the menu at the restaurant at least. It was Italian after all.
Whatever thoughts that ran through his head were completely cut off when he heard the sound of a rolling skate nearby. They always had a distinct sound, even the quiet ones. Who would be skating in this rain?
Of course Kojiro's curiosity got the better of him, and he set his bags down carefully by the gate of the skate park, then moved to look past the wall blocking his vision of the park. He froze in his tracks as soon as he saw that recognizable pink hair tied up into a high pony tail, the mask covering half the other man's face, and of course he recognized the smooth voice as he came closer. Telling Carla to calculate something. Kojiro didn't really care right now. Because despite his surprise, he noticed next to instantly how drenched Cherry was from the rain. His hair, however tight the ponytail was, dripped around his face and down his back, the white of Cherry's clothing was turning gray from the water, even Carla was soaked. A good thing the skate was waterproof.
"Cherry?" He called once the pink haired man had already stopped Carla, no doubt preparing to go into the next thing he was planning on practicing. He had this look in his eye when he practiced, the few times Kojiro got to see it. His usual seemingly cold calculation, but also some sort of expectation in his eye.
The pink haired man froze, looking just as surprised as Kojiro felt when they locked eyes. Then the surprise turned to something border lining annoyance from Cherry. "What are you doing here?" He asked, giving a look before stepping onto Carla again, kicking off then making his way up a ramp flawlessly. Apparently Kojiro's presence wasn't going to stop the man from what he was doing. Kojiro was sure the movement was supposed to be a distraction from the way Cherry shivered for just a moment. Tensed as if fighting off an oncoming chill. Probably was.
"I could ask you the same," Kojiro chuckled to hide the rising worry. "A little wet to be riding, don't you think?"
Cherry shrugged, riding down the same ramp, then around the hole in the middle of the park. Non serious moves while he carried on a conversation. Moving still. "I equipped Carla with wheels that will help with grip. I'm no idiot." Cherry then gave an amused smile, adding in a teasing tone "Unlike you."
Usually, Kojiro would jump on the instigation to argue as they usually did. Not now. He noticed another slight shiver, then frowned. "How long have you been out here?" When he only got a shrug, he sighed, then spoke up louder. "Carla, how long as Kaoru been riding?"
There was a slight ding, then the electronic answer: "Kaoru has been practicing for Four Hours and Fifty Three Minutes." Kojiro raised a brow, hearing a slight huff from Cherry.
"The rain's been coming down since four." He pointed out, managing to meet Cherry's eye despite having not moved himself. "You've been in the rain this entire time?"
For a moment, Kojiro didn't think Cherry would answer, the pink haired man was quiet, looking at the path he was skating in the way that Kojiro read as Finding Out What Trick To Do Next. He jolted slightly when Cherry finally sighed. "We've had beefs in rain like this before, it's no issue."
"It becomes an issue when you're shivering like a hairless cat." Kojiro retorted, crossing his arms. There was a look he recognized. A slight glare from Cherry. Kojiro pushed on. "You'll get sick if you stay out here much longer."
Cherry's glare seemed to come back full force. "I will be fine," He insisted, then opened his mouth to say something else, but a powerful shiver struck through the pink haired man, and he faltered on the board, stopping firmly despite the wet concrete beneath him, then giving a look when the 'C' on the skateboard suddenly began glowing bright red.
"The storm is expected to worsen in five minutes. Going indoors is ideal." Carla reported, as she sometimes did when there were sudden weather updates while skating. It was a recent feature added after a flash storm nearly drowned two mid-level skaters during a beef. The rain was already coming down harder, and it looked like Cherry was going to freeze to death already.
So, without thinking, Kojiro sighed then stepped forward. Not giving any warning, only grabbing Cherry like a sack of potatoes, and slinging the pink haired man over Kojiro's own shoulder.
"What are you doing?!" Cherry demanded, squirming and banging a hand against Kojiro's back in clear unease as soon as Kojiro reached down to pick up Carla next, but the squirming only made Kojiro laugh.
"If you aren't going to take care of your health and go inside when you should, then I'll make sure you do. Come on, my place is just down the road." He handed Carla off to Cherry for him to hold, then grabbed his bags and headed to his place. Cherry settled with a grumble of being able to walk, but he didn't try to escape Kojiro's grip. There were a few times this had happened before, every time Cherry tried to get down his plans would be thwarted anyway.
"So this is why you were in the rain yourself?" Kaoru- Now that Skating Time was done, the Cherry persona Kaoru kept faded to normal names. Kojiro had gotten good at seeing when the attitude shifted. He himself had a 'shift' between Joe and Kojiro, though no one could tell them the difference between himself and his 'alter ego' at S- eyed the bags Kojiro was carrying in his free hand with little more than bored curiosity. Carla's wheels were pressed very firmly against Kojiro's back, Kojiro could feel every groove each wheel had for grip, and by the placement of Kaoru's hands it was clear this action was very much on purpose. It didn't feel bad at least. Like a massage. Not that Kojiro would speak this thought, else Kaoru stop.
So, Kojiro pretended to ignore the wheels against his back, acting like the feeling was lost through the fabric of the jacket he was wearing. "Yep. Wanted to try a new dish. If you want I can share some with you while you warm up?"
As if on cue, another shiver wracked Kaoru's body, this time Kojiro could feel the way Kaoru shook, hear the hiss as Kaoru rode out the cold. "I wouldn't mind." Koaru responded, tone forced slightly. Ignoring how cold he was.
They'd have to talk about that later.
Once inside, Kojiro threw a towel over Kaoru's shoulders, hearing the other man huff and give a look as Kojiro himself dried off. Turning up a portable space heater in the corner of the house, then positioning it so the heat would be pointed at Kaoru and his chosen seat at the table, Kojiro hummed lightly to himself then asked "So why are you out practicing in the rain anyway?" He got to preparing the ingredients and pulling out the recipe he would be following while Kaoru shrugged, then answered though with some hesitance.
"I don't know exactly why, probably a need to get out after having to copy an entire Alma Mater in Calligraphy. Extremely tiny text, fifteen verses."
Kojiro whistled slightly at the number. "Who needs fifteen verses for anything?"
"Exactly."
"Well," Kojiro gave a quiet laugh, starting the stove. He had purchased the meat and vegetables pre-cut so he could get right to the fun part. "I'm glad your hand hasn't fallen off then."
That earned a dry look from the pink haired man, but Kojiro didn't think too much of it, turning back to his stove. "There is one other reason," Kaoru speaking once again caught Kojiro by surprise, but he didn't look back as Kaoru continued. "I've been thinking about Adam," Kojiro hummed, to show he was still listening, and Kaoru continued. "Specifically the beef between Adam and Reki. And the mud." That got a small laugh from Kaoru, a tiny noise that drew a smile onto Kojiro's face. It was nothing compared to the laugh Cherry had made directly following the fall, but any time Kaoru so much as smiled, Kojiro found himself smiling too.
"And?" Kojiro prompted lightly while adding the ingredients.
"And I want to become more proficient in the rain. In case a situation like that were to arise during a beef of my own."
Kojiro snorted slightly, then with a 'babying' tone he asked "Awe, Kaoru afraid of falling in the mud?"
"Ha, and I'm sure an ape like you would love to roll around in it?" And just like that, the fire was lit and the argument that followed was perfection.
Neither side ever 'won' an argument per say, either side usually just got tired of it after a few minutes, and it would follow by silence, with either side making comments about said argument until another conversation started like normal. Honestly it started as a real thing when they were younger, constantly at each other's necks like wolves in a cat fight, but as they got older it was... well it wasn't always fun, but it was something. Their current squabble settled during dinner, only for another one to start when Kaoru answered with a very obvious lie about the dish as soon as Kojiro asked what he thought. Kojiro knew the food was good, so he never took it seriously when Kaoru said it was his worst dish yet. Still, bait for another clash was not easily missed.
After dinner, Kaoru thanked him as if the squabbles hadn't happened, forfeiting the towel he had been wearing over his shoulders since first arriving now, then making his way over to where Carla was charging by the wall. However, Kojiro stopped him just before he could go out the door. "Hold on. You're not planning on going out in the rain again are you?" He asked, watching closely as Kaoru tied his hair back up in the high ponytail he always had as Cherry. Going for a ride in the rain. Again
"How else am I supposed to get home?" Came the short response.
"You're still soaked."
For a moment Kaoru froze, looking down at his still very much drenched clothes, before sighing. "Yes, it looks like it. But I ask again, how else am I supposed to get home but through the rain?"
Kojiro hesitated with his answer, because though he did have an answer he wasn't sure how open Kaoru was to the idea, but... "You could stay here tonight. Bed's big enough for two."
Again, Kaoru froze. Kojiro could see the gears turning in the pink haired man's head as he thought about it. Weighing every option, deciding. Then.. "If you don't mind me staying." That... wasn't a no.
Encouraged, Kojiro's smile widened, and he took Carla gently from Kaoru's hands, plugging the machine back in then making his way to the bedroom. "Well, I guess you're staying then. No way you're sleeping with me in that though." He dug through his drawers until he found the smallest set of clothes he had, then handed them to Kaoru. Kaoru looked like he was going to comment on the 'sleeping with me' part but the clothes made the pink haired man choke. Kojiro capitalized on the situation with a smirk. "Bathroom's down the hall. Don't take too long."
By the time Kaoru came back, Kojiro was already laying down, with only the bedroom light remaining on. Kojiro looked up just in time to see the face Kaoru made as soon as he entered the bedroom. "What is it?" He prompted with a smirk. Already knowing what the issue would be.
"Why have you forced me to change when you sleep naked?" Bingo. The tone was challenging, bot Kojiro saw through it. Definitely did not notice the way The pink haired man's face matched his hair currently.
"I'm not naked," Kojiro deflected easily, lifting the blanket he was under to show his pair of fuzzy night pants. Usually he did sleep in his underwear and with no blanket, but for Kaoru's sake he decided not to do the usual tonight. "Just shirtless. Anyway, come here."
He received very little protest as he dragged Kaoru down onto the futon with him.