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It was the cherry blossom season in Japan around 1988. Marty and Jason were walking down the street that went under the pink blossoming trees. The falling petals got stuck in Marty’s curls and it made Jason giggle. There were also lots of concessions stands as well, where you could buy different kinds of foods and snacks and some small items. One snack seller’s stand got Jason’s attention, and he wanted to go buy something from there. Marty wasn’t so keen on it, so he waited a bit further away and looked at the trees instead. The weather was really nice, and people were joyful, gazing at the beautiful view and taking pictures. He also had his camera with him and so he decided to snap a couple of photographs too.
It took Jason a while to get back, though there wasn’t even any line.
“There you are, what took you so long?” Marty had to ask. Jason was grinning with a tiny paper bag of goods in his other hand, and a pack of pockys in the other.
“I tried my Japanese skills, trying a bit of those words you taught me. The seller was amused,” he explained. “He also told me about this game that was invented ‘round the 60’s,” he continued, still grinning.
“Oh, and what might that be then?” Marty asked again. He was rather confused of his friend’s sudden behaviour.
“He said it’s called the pocky game, it’s played with these,” Jason showed Marty the pack of the stick shaped biscuits. “Do you know it?”
“I must admit that I don’t,” Marty sighed, “did he tell you the rules?”
Jason nodded, “mmh, it’s kinda like gay chicken, you know. We need one pocky and two people. Then they both start eating it from the ends. The first one to get in the middle wins, and if your mouth comes off it you lose. But if you end up kissing,” he grinned.
“What?”
“It’s a tie.”
“Right, sound like a fun game then,” Marty smiled. He didn’t show any interest in playing it though.
“And I wanna try it, come on Marty,” Jason whined a bit.
“No way Jason, stop it,” the older man chuckled. He was slightly uncomfortable but amused at the same time.
“Please Marty, it’s not gonna hurt you! Can we try it even once?” Jason kept on trying.
“Alright then, will you shut up if we play?” Marty was giving in.
“I promise I will!” Jason convinced him. Marty had agreed to play the easy and Japanese version of gay chicken with his mate. What could go wrong.
Jason took one pocky out of the box and put it between Marty’s lips. He looked so excited as he placed his mouth on the other end of the biscuit. After that, they began to eat the pocky, and neither of them seemed to slip away. As they got closer to the middle, their lips pressed together, causing Marty blush and back off. That made Jason giggle. “Who knew that you were a chicken!” He laughed.
“I’m not!” Marty protested, still a bit flushed.
“Why did you back off then?” Jason grinned.
“I didn’t, you’re naughty,” Marty claimed and poked Jason’s cheek gently.
“Chicken, Marty is a little chicken,” Jason kept on going and made some silly chicken noises.
“Stop it!” Marty started to laugh. “I’m going to tell your dad that you have been a naughty boy!”
“Hey!” Jason stopped goofing around. “No you won’t, I’ll stop you.”
“I was just kidding, but I’m not a chicken,” Marty smiled at the younger lad who was now pouting, probably jokingly.
“Let’s play again to prove that you’re not,” he suggested. Marty sighed again but nodded in agreement. “This must be the last time, ok?”
“Sure man,” Jason replied and put the pocky between his lips. Marty placed his mouth on the other end and looked at his friend. Then they begun to eat it, again neither of them accidentally slipping off, getting closer to the middle. And then it happened. Their mouths met each other again but this time Marty didn’t jump back. That made Jason feel utterly pleased, and he decided to tease Marty a bit more, turning the contact into a kiss. Marty blushed again but didn’t chicken out. He didn’t want Jason to tease him about it for the rest of the day.
When Jason finally broke the kiss, he looked at his friend, but not so goofily this time. He was smiling kindly. “That’s more like the Marty I know, not a chicken at all.”
“Whatever, should we ask someone to take a picture of us under the cherry trees?” Marty asked and grabbed his camera.
“That would be a nice memory,” Jason smiled, “that elder lady over there looks very kind, let’s ask her!”
They headed over to ask the lady if she wanted to take the picture (well actually Marty had to ask because the lady didn’t speak English) and she agreed. The boys posed under the trees with arms around each other. Cherry blossom season was truly unforgettable this year.