Work Text:
Life has smiled on Yuuji lately, so maybe all the luck will stick for a few more hours. His final exams for university are over, the weather is hitting that sweet spot of hot but not sweat-through-every-layer-of-clothing humid, and he's going to confess to the guy he likes today. It's a great idea. He's been dreaming about it for weeks.
Or since the first time he heard Junpei laugh, a shy half-cough, half-giggle he'd made after Yuuji did a—kind of lackluster—impression of his boss.
Nanami isn't a bad supervisor, not really, and frankly, Yuuji thinks Nanami cares for him a lot as a person, period, but he is serious. Rigid, logical, and a stickler for being professional on the clock. Never waste precious moments of joy on the time you're being paid, Nanami had told him once. Something about not selling your happiness to capitalism, or something. He's not too sure.
Even so, after the first month of giving gentle warnings to him about not chatting Junpei's ear off, Nanami relented. He doesn't comment on it anymore. The cafe is never busy at the hour Junpei prefers to come in, drink coffee, and write articles on his laptop. It's not a problem if Yuuji spends extra time getting to know a loyal customer. Friend. Potential future date partner.
He can take orders and deliver them pretty quick, on the off chance that more people appear, and Junpei never seems to mind their conversations cutting off halfway and picking up a few minutes later. They're practiced at living in this sporadic rhythm now, and if he has to ditch Junpei for longer, Yuuji makes up for it with a free drink refill. Junpei doesn't eat much, unlike him, or unless it's popcorn. Popcorn is different, Junpei had explained, a crucial part of the experience of watching a movie.
Honestly, when Yuuji had started planning the date he's going to ask for, his first thought had been the movies. They've talked about going together, almost have, but their plans have always petered out due to last-minute schedule conflicts or incidents like Yuuji's roommate's dog needing to go to the vet. He knows that time was especially disappointing; he'd had to cancel an hour before they planned to meet.
Yet, he's a little glad now, because as much as he does want to see a movie with Junpei, he'd rather do an activity where they can talk. Where he can hear Junpei speak louder the more he gets invested in a subject, more confident that his opinions won't be shot down. Junpei's voice roughens when he's particularly passionate about stuff, transforming his usual mild, reticent tone into something scratchier and sexy.
Really sexy. Not that he needs any help in that department, as far as Yuuji or his recent dreams are concerned.
Blushing bright red, Yuuji turns his back to the bar-style counter out front of the kitchen, eyes searching for any little task to take his mind off the imagery his brain is fixating on.
"He's gonna tank this," Nobara comments from behind him, accompanied by a long, loud slurp from her frappuccino. Caramel with mocha drizzle starting halfway through, and sprinkles, all for the aesthetic, which Yuuji can respect.
"You will tank this if you don't calm down, Itadori," Megumi states.
Without looking, Yuuji figures he's still waiting for his chai latte, no substitutions, to cool further, because he's crazy and drinks them cold. Not iced, cold. Yuuji doesn't understand it, but he tries not to worry about Megumi's eccentricities either. Or point out where the weird preferences are learned from, despite Megumi preferring spice over the sickly sweet stuff his guardian Gojo consumes. That level of honesty will earn Yuuji one swift box to the ears.
Which he might need if he keeps fantasizing about the future rather than getting straight in his head what he'll say when Junpei arrives. Step one to playing a starring role in those cotton-candy dreams of them together is winning Junpei over with a totally smooth confession.
His friends are right. He needs to focus. Eye on the prize, like when he used to run relays in high school.
Sucking in a huge breath, Yuuji lets the air filter through him and dispel his nervous energy. He exhales. When he's suitably calm, he whirls back around, leaning against the counter in between where Nobara and Megumi sit.
"Noted, but I've got this," Yuuji says. "Thanks for showing up today, by the way."
"Free drinks," his friends chime in unison, Nobara with zest, and Megumi in monotone.
Typical. Yuuji arches an eyebrow at them, but decides not to say anything. He did offer, in exchange for their moral support, but he has a feeling they came for another reason.
"You're gonna just sit here, right?" he asks, eyes darting between the two of them. "No interfering? Besides, I'm only telling Junpei where we're meeting tonight. He's not staying long."
"I don't know why you're playing this weird little game with him," Nobara says. "Coming in early for two seconds and then meeting up later. You could have asked him when he showed up here. He comes by like, daily."
"It's romantic!" Yuuji pouts. This part, both of them absolutely don't get. Left to their own devices, he imagines his friends would be the type to confess via a blunt text message. No finesse, no special planning or flair to the occasion. He shudders to think of doing that with Junpei.
Maybe it'd still work, but only because they really, really like each other. But it would sure set their relationship off on a bad footing.
"Says who?" Megumi chimes in. "A magazine?"
"No, it's probably some movie. You know what they're like. Couldn't pay Yuuji to sit through anything longer than half an hour before, but now—"
"I watched Project Runway with you!" Yuuji interrupts her, with full offense.
It's true that he doesn't like TV shows as much as movies, but that one was cool. He'd liked seeing the clothing designs come together, and sometimes the backstage drama was entertaining. Best of all was the mock fantasy league Nobara and he had made out of the contestant lineup. He'd let her win last season because she was going through some long-distance shit with her girlfriend, but this time around, everything will be different.
"Wow, one whole show. Aren't you cultured, Itadori! Now, which movie is it?" Nobara demands.
"It's not from a movie!" Yuuji exclaims. And he'd really like to say the confession plan isn't copied, but that wouldn't be one-hundred percent true. Scrubbing at the back of his neck, he mumbles, "It's kinda from a couple of them. Bits and pieces, but I'm pretty sure the end result is original."
The twinkling of the door chime catches his attention. Yuuji looks over.
His heart promptly seizes in his chest.
Junpei walks inside the cafe, sans the messenger bag that's usually slung over one of his shoulders. He's dressed casually, nothing out of the ordinary, but the soft smile on his lips jolts Yuuji's pulse back to life, faster than it had been moving a moment ago.
"Hi," he greets Junpei dumbly, fully aware that he sounds, and probably looks, dazed. But that won't stop him from getting the word out.
"Hey, Yuuji. Am I too early?" Junpei's hazel eyes flick between him and his friends at the counter.
A little earlier than he expected, but Yuuji isn't about to complain. Maybe he would have had a reason if Junpei had snuck in to hear Nobara reaming him, but here, now, is fine.
"Nope, you're great, dude."
Oh my god. He needs to delete that word from his vocabulary. Boyfriend, Yuuji tells himself sternly. He wants them to be boyfriends, preferably ones who call each other by name, or something more sentimental than dude. They already use each other's first name most of the time, so why does he have to trip up today?
"He's kinda cute," Nobara murmurs quietly under her breath, but even then, Megumi shushes her. Yuuji doesn't dignify them with a look back.
"So," Junpei begins, gaze once more trailing toward the counter. He hesitates but then continues, "Do I get to know why you asked me to come now? I don't mind. It's just different."
Stamping down the butterflies currently rampaging through his stomach, Yuuji gathers his courage. It's not that hard. All he has to do is tell him a time and place. For now. The challenging part comes later on.
He walks to the break in the counter then crosses over to where Junpei is standing, putting a little distance between them, Nobara, and Megumi. If Yuuji had to bet, his friends are still listening, though, and hanging on every word to throw back at him when it's just the three of them again. He's prepared for the roasting. It's going to be pretty hard for them to diss his efforts when he doesn't feel the slightest bit embarrassed about how he's handling things.
He's not going to tank this.
"Yeah," he says. "I thought we could hang out tonight after my shift."
"Oh," Junpei replies softly, eyes widening. "Um, yeah, we can. I don't have any… plans."
"Great! I thought it'd be better if we kept the cafe stuff short, and just focus on later. Besides, you'll probably get sick of me if you have to listen to me talk any longer than normal," Yuuji quips, laughing a little at his own expense.
Truthfully, he just wants to make sure Junpei won't be too overwhelmed. Junpei definitely falls into the introvert category, and after many years of befriending introverts, Yuuji has learned not to drain their batteries too much. That situation never ends well, or, in Megumi's case, it never ends without violence. He'd rather not ruin their first date with a lapse in judgement that's easily preventable.
"I like hearing you talk, actually," Junpei admits, stirring up the butterflies inside Yuuji for an encore performance. "But whatever you want to do is fine. Do I get to know what we're doing?"
Yuuji grins, and before he can get a reply out, he's cut off.
"Never mind," Junpei laughs. "I can tell it's a surprise."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Normally, you'd just… blurt it out already, whatever you had in mind. All this planning is," Junpei lets out a hum as he considers his phrasing. "It's out of character. Not very Yuuji-ish."
Maybe it shouldn't shock him, but realizing he's a whole page of data catalogued in his crush's memory catches Yuuji off guard. Yuuji-ish. Hopefully whatever information that's been stored away in Junpei's brain about him is positive.
His cheeks heat up with a faint blush. "I guess," Yuuji agrees tentatively. "I figured since it'll be our first real hang outside of here that we could make it special."
"Okay. Then I won't ask what we're doing. Just tell me where and when to meet you."
This part, he can handle.
"8 p.m, at the station by the old courthouse near here. Um, I can look up the name actually, hold on," Yuuji stumbles, sliding a hand into his apron pocket to retrieve his phone.
"I know that one. I'll be there."
When he blinks up at Junpei, his lips are turned up at one edge. Holding back another laugh, if Yuuji has learned anything about him over the past months. Refusing the urge to pout, Yuuji smiles instead.
"I can't wait," he says honestly. Thoughts of tonight will be what buoys him through the rest of work and the rush home to get showered and ready, he can already tell. Thinking about the date won't exactly keep him calm, but he can turn around and channel that excitement into when they're actually together again.
"Me neither." Junpei's smile sticks as he tosses another glance toward the counter. "I'll let you get back to work. See you later, Yuuji."
Then, like a mirage, he's suddenly gone, leaving Yuuji to the slow torture of the rest of his shift.
Behind him, he hears both a loud huff and what sounds like someone leaning back in their chair. When Yuuji turns around, Megumi is smirking at Nobara, the hand not occupied by his latte stretched out toward her.
"Pay up Kugisaki," he orders bluntly. "I told you that Itadori would overcome his nerves."
Yuuji's jaw falls. "Did you guys seriously bet money on me?!"
*
He's ready for this. Tonight's game plan is firmly etched onto his brain cells, and he's not going to screw it up.
Once Junpei arrives, Yuuji will lead him a block east to where they're spending the next few hours. There's a night market Nanami suggested to him as a place with a variety of quality, but student budget-friendly food. They'll find something there for dinner and eat it as they roam around and look at the other vendors. To cap off the night, Yuuji has planned for their route to take them to a park. There's an art display happening this week with thousands of fairy lights adorning the trees. Super romantic.
When the moment is right, he'll tell Junpei how he feels. Ask him if this here, tonight, can be a date for them. If they can go on another date soon.
Beyond those points on the checklist, Yuuji is trying not to expect anything, but if he's being honest, he'd really like to seal everything off with a kiss. He's not sure if that's too much. For all he knows, Junpei isn't someone who does that on the first date. Or, worst case scenario, Junpei won't want this to be a date because Yuuji has misread everything between them.
Grimacing, Yuuji kicks a stray pebble on the sidewalk, watching it careen down into the street.
He doesn't think he has, but you never know. Sometimes, he can be pretty oblivious at picking apart a situation. People have told him lots of times that he's overly optimistic, too.
Not this time, he thinks, sending the wish up to the heavens. Please not this time.
"Were you waiting long?"
Soft footfalls on the concrete grow louder. Yuuji lifts his head from the ground, and without missing a beat, his grimace melts into a smile.
"Nope! Just a few minutes, hi!"
When his date pauses before him, Yuuji's eyes rake over the layered purple graphic tee and white long-sleeved undershirt Junpei is wearing. He freezes once he gets to the pinstripe shorts. They cut off just above Junpei's knees, revealing his slim calves, pale with a thin smattering of dark hair. Yuuji's not sure he's ever seen him wear anything other than jeans, so he feels unprepared for how much bare skin he's witnessing. Heat rises to his cheeks before he wrenches his gaze away.
Now is definitely not the time to let his brain run wild. A neutral compliment is the absolute limit here.
"You look h—" Yuuji begins, biting his tongue before hot can slip out. So not neutral. "Good! You look really good."
Junpei tucks a lock of hair behind his ear, drawing Yuuji's eyes to his face. He's mesmerized to find hints of pink on it. "Thanks, Yuuji. You're handsome, now that I can see you in normal clothes."
A laugh pours out from him before he thinks twice. "Yeah, I guess you've only seen me in my uniform, huh?"
Then, like an anvil dropping onto his head, Yuuji realizes something. Well, not just something. Handsome. Junpei thinks he's handsome. That can't be something two friends say to each other platonically, right? Hot or sexy, maybe, to build up a friend when they're unsure and trying to impress someone, like he's told Nobara a thousand times, and Megumi a few. Honestly, he could have said hot, and played it off as casual, even if he didn't mean it that way. But handsome? That feels like it's on a whole different level.
Blood rushes to Yuuji's face, deepening the blush blooming across it.
Suddenly, he's not so sure he can wait the rest of the night anymore. He needs to know now, for sure, where they stand.
"Hey," he says, taking a step closer, "uh... about tonight—" Junpei's eyes lock onto his, head tilting curiously. "When I asked you to hang out, did you say yes in a friend way, or could this be... maybe... a date?" Yuuji finishes, swallowing against the nervous lump in his throat.
"I never thought it wasn't," Junpei answers. His voice is so steady it makes Yuuji jealous. Is this what he gets for being two years younger?
"Really?" Yuuji scrubs at the back of his neck, a cocktail of relief, giddiness, and chagrin bubbling around inside him. "Because I thought it was totally a surprise. Or I wanted it to be, I guess. I had this whole plan worked out."
This time, it's Junpei who steps forward. He lays a hand on Yuuji's arm, lightly, until it's clear that the grip won't be shaken off. Then Junpei slides his hand down, and laces their fingers together.
"It's the planning that tipped me off," he admits, notes of amusement audible. "I've watched a lot of movies with elaborate confession scenes."
"I thought you didn't like romance movies."
"True," Junpei squeezes his hand, seemingly pleased that Yuuji too hoards a list of facts about him. "But some of them aren't bad."
"Yeah, some of them aren't bad," Yuuji agrees, heart kicking into gear as the gap between them starts to lessen. Their lips connect, Junpei straining up to reach him. He closes his eyes and savors the warmth of the kiss, chases the feeling when Junpei retreats and Yuuji reels him back in for one more quick taste.
Every question that's been on his mind today has been settled, and they haven't even had their date yet. He's amazed.
"What was that?" Yuuji asks, breathless.
Junpei lets out a quiet snort. "I told you," he answers. "I've watched plenty of romance movies for work. Most of them have a moment just like this."
"Sure you're not projecting your own desires?" Yuuji teases, fighting against the floaty feeling in his chest. But he doesn't care what the truth is, not when they have the rest of the night ahead of them, wide open for the sort of things he's been dreaming about over the past weeks.
Junpei rolls his eyes, but it feels playful.
"Why don't you take me on your big, fancy date and find out?"