Work Text:
In their little skating family, it was easy to equate Reki to Kojiro. Both were sunshine incarnate, with a big smile and an even bigger heart. A winning grin and an infectious spirit that you couldn’t help root for.
Parallel to that, Langa and Kaoru held some similarities of their own. Both kept to themselves more than their counterparts, the cooling moon to the other’s blazing sun. A more reserved but no less burning passion for their art and their loved ones.
And it was perfect. It was sweet how they all fit together into their respective groups, a child falling in line with an adult whose soul so much embodied their own.
But an often overlooked dynamic existed in the form of Kaoru and Reki. Two craftsmen in their own right. Mind always busy, hands busier. Body and mind didn’t know how to rest.
Their mouths didn’t either, if the current conversation was any indication.
“This next one’s my favorite!” Reki proudly proclaimed, flipping over a page in his sketchbook to show Kaoru. The two pored over Reki’s sketchbook as they sat at a bench at the local park. Sure the primary rule of S is don’t talk about S, and Kaoru would be the first one to enforce that. But he saw no problem with it as long as no one saw him in his Cherry Blossom garb. So for now they were simply Kaoru and Reki, not Cherry and Reki (really, Kaoru mused, must Reki use his real name at S? Had he no sense of – well, that was another conversation for another day).
Kaoru studied the design. A little complex, but then, skating always was. Reki’s trademark gears could be seen on the underside of the board, along with other gadgets and gizmos almost as lively and zany as the accompanying wheels. A less trained eye might think that the little decals were strewn about haphazardly, but Kaoru knew that each imprint served a purpose. It was loud and it was colorful and it was practical and it was totally Reki.
And the sketchbook page itself...
The faint pencil lines, the eraser marks, the smudges, it reminded Kaoru so much of his own early days as a designer. His heart gave a small pang. Nostalgia? Hope? Sweet reminiscence of his past and eager anticipation of Reki’s future?
“I like it,” he answered truthfully, in a way that told Reki that a full explanation was to follow. “It’s sophisticated but not overly muddled down with details. That’s what you want in your art, Reki: simplicity and sophistication. That’s what we aim for. We don’t wish to sacrifice efficiency for aesthetics. You, my boy, have mastered both.”
Reki gasped excitedly. His eyes shone in wonder. “Really? You mean it?”
The boy had so much potential.
How endearing it was.
Kaoru felt something like pride for the boy, something like affection. He gave a small, slow nod. “Why would I lie to you? Reki, I’m a wordsmith by profession. My words need to be chosen with care and precision. It’s not becoming to speak with mistruths.”
“Aw, thanks, man! I’m glad you like it. You think I can use it at S?”
Kaoru glanced at their surroundings to make sure that no one could hear them. Reki had asked that question just a little too loudly for his liking. “Just because we’re speaking of this in public does not mean you can go around doing it so carelessly,” he warned. He spoke with caution but not malice, never malice for this wonderful boy who served as almost a reflection of himself. It was like looking in a mirror. A mirror into the past at a boy who, just like himself, dreamed big and worked smart and wanted nothing more than to enhance the sport he loved so dearly.
They just wanted to make their game even better.
“That being said,” Kaoru continued, “if you build it with purpose, taking into account all of the sharp turns and rough terrain and the other obstacles at the race track, I have no doubts that it can be used at S. Actually, let me amend that: if you build it, period, full stop, I have no doubts.”
He watched Reki’s face as Reki realized the compliment. Reki scratched his nose in a way that Kaoru had noticed he did when he felt embarrassed. “That’s so awesome of you to say! I can’t wait to build this, it’s going to be so much fun. Do you want to come with me to the workshop and watch me make it?”
“I would like nothing more.”
Reki clenched his fist in victory as he hopped up from his seat, all ready to sprint home with Kaoru to his little work studio in his garage.
Kaoru set a hand on Reki’s shoulder. “Sit back down. I didn’t mean right now. I would like to see the rest of your designs, please.”
Reki plopped back down into his seat and turned the page over. He stared at the drawing for a few seconds until Kaoru’s voice broke him from his reverie.
“Do go on. I implore you.”
“You’re not in a rush or anything? You don’t have any appointments or sessions or anything soon?”
“Why would I have agreed to meet you if I did?” Kaoru did have an appointment with a client later that day, but he rescheduled it when Reki asked if he could meet. Besides, it was a repeat client so he wouldn’t mind in the slightest. Kaoru had one very important meeting today. “Now, what else do you have?”