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Reki slides to a stop in the middle of the ice. The rink is empty save for him and Langa. He feels a little dizzy every time he turns to look at Langa, his eyes never leave Reki when he skates. Come to think of it, Langa’s eyes never leave him. It makes Reki shiver.
The fact that Langa Hasegawa is even here in Reki’s hometown ice rink is insane to Reki. But, Langa wants to coach him, too? Reki’s afraid he might wake up any morning and it was all just a ridiculously long, detailed dream. Langa’s quieter than he imagined - he lets Reki ramble on and on. Sometimes about ice skating and sometimes about nothing at all. It makes Reki blush to think that Langa pays so much attention to him. Actually cares about what he says and doesn’t just brush him aside when Reki goes on another spiel. It’s strange and Reki feels hot all over.
Reki usually tries to brush it off - Langa is just his idol who’s here to coach him of all people. Reki could think of dozens of other skaters who deserve it more than him - Miya, the youngest in the senior division who is unnaturally good, or Hiromi, Japan’s favorite who has spent years working to get to where he is now. Reki wasn’t sure what he had done to deserve this.
Reki can’t tell if he wants to yell at his sister for secretly recording him skating Langa’s routine from last year’s Grand Prix or if he needs to thank her. Koyomi does have a way of always getting in his business, but this time it turned out ok. Or at least he thinks so. Either way, Langa’s looking at him expectantly and Reki should probably skate over to where his coach is standing at the outer edge of the rink.
The only sound is the glide of Reki’s skates and Reki can see the glimmer in Langa’s eyes - he’s always so enthusiastic, so kind to Reki it makes his heart race. Langa makes him work for it, too, it’s not always easy and often by the end of their training sessions, Reki is slumped in his family’s hot springs half asleep. It’s good though, it’s the kind of exhaustion that makes Reki feel like he really did work hard and is making progress.
Langa smiles and Reki’s heart does a backflip.
“That was really good, Reki!” Langa says and Reki can always tell he’s genuine, not a note of mockery in his voice.
“Thanks!” Reki can’t help but beam back.
“We need to work on your jumps in the second half, but that’s enough for today. Ready to call it a day?” Langa asks, his head tilted just so and Reki wants to jump in his arms.
Reki nods, not trusting himself with words yet. It’s been a little over two months since Langa has shown up in Hasetsu and declared himself Reki’s coach. Reki’s gotten a lot more used to his new normal now. Pretty ocean blue eyes and a soft voice to match. Reki’s getting used to Langa, but there’s moments like these where he goes red and feels like it’s the first time they’re meeting again.
As Reki sits on the bench to take his skates off, he can feel Langa’s eyes on him. He looks up expectantly, but Langa’s looking away back at the ice. Reki’s confused, but doesn’t question it. Langa is peculiar sometimes, but he’s a good coach and turning out to be a good friend, too. Reki doesn’t question it - he doesn’t question a lot of things Langa does, chalks it up to Langa being a genius in skating and nothing more.
“Ok, all set. Let’s head back home,” Reki says.
Oh god, why did he say home? Langa probably, scratch that, definitely does not consider Hasetsu home. Reki blushes furiously, looking anywhere but at Langa.
“Actually, I was wondering if you wanted to try that ramen place tonight? The one you were talking about a few days ago,” Langa asks.
Reki’s head snaps up and Langa’s not looking at him. Is Langa blushing? Reki’s heart feels like it’s stuck in his throat and he doesn’t know what else to say other than, “Yes!”
They’ve never hung out together other than at Yu-Topia Kyan, the ice rink, or outdoor training. Although they haven’t gone out other than that, they’ve spent almost every waking moment together. Reki has to admit they’ve gotten to be friends and the thought of getting ramen with Langa isn’t that terrifying. Except that Reki wants to kiss his idol, his coach. But, he can put those feelings aside. He needs to focus on the Grand Prix - and, for tonight, on ramen.
They walk to the ramen place from the rink and it’s a clear, warm night. The sky is cloudless and the stars are out. Reki thinks Langa must have stars in his eyes, they always shine so bright. He blushes just thinking about it.
Langa is so radiant, on and off the ice. Reki remembers being in the junior division and watching Langa’s performance during his senior debut. He’ll never forget the exact moment when Langa started the number and Reki thought his heart was going to fly out of his chest. He’s been enamoured by Langa ever since. Even now, as they’re crossing the bridge they always do in Hasetsu, Reki’s heart is beating fast.
They walk in comfortable silence and it’s something Reki isn’t used to. He’s been used to filling the lull in conversation, the quiet is where Reki is uneasy, where he feels unsure. But, with Langa it’s nice. It’s a welcome change of pace and Reki enjoys the wind down from training all day.
“Reki?” Langa asks.
Reki doesn’t ever mind hearing Langa speak. It’s usually Reki who’s speaking the most, so he loves when Langa starts the conversation. Langa has a slight accent when he speaks Japanese from growing up in Canada and Reki thinks it’s the cutest thing. He never really noticed it before Langa came to be his coach, but now he catches slight differences in the pronunciation of some words. He wonders if it’s something everyone notices and blushes again.
“Yeah?” Reki looks at Langa, who’s staring out at the ocean.
“Do you want to sit by the shore for a little bit?” Langa replies.
Reki’s hungry, but he doesn’t mind, he’d backflip off the bridge and swim to California if Langa asked him.
“Sure,” Reki’s already following Langa down the steps that lead to the shore.
Langa settles into the sand and pats the spot next to him. Reki drops his bag with all his gear and sits next to Langa. He can’t recall them sitting so close to each other before, why did he have to sit exactly where Langa had indicated? He probably didn’t even mean for Reki to actually sit that close.
Reki’s mind is going a mile a minute when he feels Langa bump his shoulder with his own. Langa doesn’t scoot back again, keeping their one point of connection. It’s just their shoulders, but Reki thinks he might pass out. Something about sitting on the beach at night with Langa is so intimate.
“This is so different than Canada,” Langa muses.
When Reki looks at him, Langa’s staring out at the sea. Even in the dark, Reki can tell Langa’s eyes have that gleam in them. Pretty ocean blue eyes. A strand of hair has fallen into Langa’s face and Reki’s fingers itch to tuck it back into place.
“Isn’t Vancouver near the sea?” Reki asks.
“Yeah, but it’s different here,” Langa pauses, “it’s warmer,”
Reki laughs, “Of course it’s warmer here, you lived in Canada!”
Langa laughs with him and Reki’s heart fills with the knowledge he made Langa laugh. It happens often enough, but each time it still makes Reki feel good. He loves to make Langa laugh.
“Still, there’s something about Hasetsu,” Langa says, idly drawing figures in the sand with his finger.
“Vancouver is literally on the other side of the ocean, Langa,” Reki says playfully.
“Oh! That’s true, I guess. I never thought of it that way,” Langa says, and Reki can tell he’s serious.
Reki laughs, his head thrown back. He can’t believe a whole ocean separated them and now Langa’s sitting next to him on the sand, their shoulders pressed together. It seems so crazy, but this is real. Langa is real and this is not another dream.
“But still!” Langa argues, “I like Hasetsu. It has you.”
“Oh!” Reki blushes again, he can’t seem to stop blushing recently.
Reki won’t fool himself and pretend he doesn’t know why. Langa’s praises and genuine words always catch Reki off guard. He isn’t used to someone being so candid with him, especially someone so sincerely kind.
“I guess I’d like Vancouver because it has you,” Reki says, shaking his foot idly.
“You should visit one day, I’ll show you all the sights and the best places to eat,” Langa replies.
“I’d like that,” Reki says, his voice a pitch quieter, he doesn’t know where this is going and he wants to melt into the sand.
But, that’d mean leaving Langa and he doesn’t think he could ever bring himself to do that. He loves being around Langa, despite the jitters that remain a bit, he’s gotten used to his comfortable presence around him. It’s easy with Langa - he never has to try too hard. Langa never makes him feel stupid or ridiculous. There’s no sense of pity or disinterest. Langa wants to be here and Reki can tell. Reki feels hot all over again.
“But, for now we’re here. So you have to show me the sights and all the best places to eat, yeah?” Langa says and he taps the foot Reki’s been shaking with his own.
Reki nods, “We’ll start with the ramen place tonight. They even have a Friday night special!”
“Perfect,” Langa smiles, “it’s a date then?”
“Oh!” Reki can’t seem to form any coherent thoughts tonight and he wishes he could say something other than ‘oh’ everytime Langa says something sweet.
“I mean, if you want to! We could just go as friends, I just-” Langa starts before Reki cuts him off.
“Yeah, it’s a date,” Reki grins and taps Langa’s foot with his own now.
Reki looks at Langa once more, he’s the one blushing now - his cheeks rosy all the way to the tip of his nose.
“I’m not misreading things?” Langa asks, staring at the sand.
“No,” Reki shakes his head.
Pieces of the puzzle fall into place, little things Langa’s done in the past make sense now to Reki in the split seconds since Langa’s asked him on a date. The glances, the smiles, the lingering touches. Reki’s mind is in overdrive and he wants to shout. Langa likes him! Really, actually likes him! He’s not just some skater that Langa took pity on and decided to make a project. Langa saw something in him and now actually likes him. As a person! Not just a student.
“Langa, I’d really like to go on a date with you,” Reki confirms and he bumps Langa’s shoulder with his own now, mirroring Langa’s own action.
Langa looks at him still blushing, but he’s grinning, the corners of his eyes crinkle. Reki doesn’t think he’s seen a more beautiful person. Langa surrounded by the stars and the sound of the waves - Reki could sit here forever.
But, then his stomach growls and his eyes go wide in embarrassment.
“Maybe time for the ramen then?” Langa laughs.
Reki laughs along with him, “Yeah, it’s a date.”
Langa stands up and extends his hand to pull Reki up with him. He doesn't pull his hand away once Reki is up and Reki doesn’t let go of Langa’s hand either. Now it’s Reki’s turn to go red once again. He can’t believe Langa has such an effect on him - not that he minds. It’s a nice feeling, liking someone. Each day he finds something new about Langa he adores and each day he grows more comfortable around him. It’s a fair trade-off.
They haven't let go as they walk off the beach. Langa’s hands are warm and soft, Reki isn’t looking forward to just letting go just yet. The stars twinkle and Reki makes Langa laugh again. They still hold hands.