Chapter Text
November 2016
Chifuyu swirled his whisky, trying to concentrate on the clinking of the ice cubes against the glass. He hated having an enclosed balcony: while it did help mute the bustling of the city, it also made the smell of the cigarettes hang in the air longer. Removing the ashtray would be a good idea, but he didn’t want to just yet. There was still a half-finished cigarette resting by the side of the tray, as if waiting for someone to take a drag.
Chifuyu looked down at the city and gulped down the rest of his drink. The sting of the hard alcohol didn’t mute the smell of cigarettes or the thoughts in his mind. Peke J meowed from inside his apartment, and Chifuyu checked his watch.
“Never a minute late, are you?” He petted the cat as soon as he made his way inside. Peke J nuzzled his hand—he was an angel when he wanted to be fed.
“Hey, man, what do you do when you miss someone?” Chifuyu asked. He got himself another meow for an answer. “Yeah. C’mon, let’s eat.”
-
Kazutora laid on the bed of his tiny room. He was tired, but he didn’t trust himself to go to sleep yet. He looked around once more, making sure everything was in place, and felt proud of how far he’d come. He didn’t own much, but there was enough to make the place look home-y. He had a few polaroid pictures hanging around that Mitsuya had laughed at: “ What are you? A teenage girl?” he’d said, but Kazutora didn’t really care.
Chifuyu had told him it was fine. Kazutora knew what that 'fine' meant: you missed a lot during your teenage years while you were locked away, so it's alright to live some of those things now . Photographs were memories, after all. And Kazutora chose to listen to him, because Chifuyu was in a lot of his pictures and had helped him so much after prison. Chifuyu had also helped when Kazutora first thought about his non-existent adolescence.
Looking at himself, his friends, and Chifuyu in those photos put a smile on his face. Some of them were funny; some of them were pretty. There was one where Chifuyu was petting Peke J, he wasn’t looking at the camera, but he looked so pretty. Pretty? Yeah, pretty . Kazutora thought Chifuyu was pretty.
His phone buzzed on the nightstand: a text from Chifuyu. Nice coincidence.
I can drive you tomorrow, the text read.
it’s not worth the drive?
Just let me
Okay
A smile still plastered on his face as he drifted to sleep.
-
November 2015
The pleasant November weather didn’t stop Chifuyu from fiddling with the AC of his car. The temperature wasn’t the problem, it was that he couldn’t decide if to stay waiting inside or outside the car.
A part of him didn’t want to be seen, so waiting inside felt like a more fitting option. Then if Kazutora didn't see him, he could just leave, but if he did see him, Chifuyu could convince himself that being here really wasn’t a mistake. Or maybe he should wait with his window open and call out to him from the car. That’d make me look cooler, right?
Chifuyu’s thoughts were racing. His anxiety made him feel childish—this entire situation made him feel childish. He’d told himself long ago that this was what he wanted to do, but now that he was here, he was doubting himself.
The gate opened, and a guard stepped out, followed by the man Chifuyu was waiting for. He had shorter, black hair now, but the same mole under his right eye.
Chifuyu stared: ten years really do change a person. The man’s eyes didn’t mirror the same person—kid, Chifuyu remembered—from all those years ago. It was still Hanemiya Kazutora, not crazy or insane, just vulnerable. All of Chifuyu’s anxiety suddenly left him, and he remembered why he was here in the first place. Hanemiya Kazutora looked lost, and Chifuyu felt a sense of duty take over him.
Maybe I do make the right choices after all , he thought, sighing internally. The guard signalled Kazutora to walk ahead, and Chifuyu realized his window was open and he had to make his choice now. Gotta play it cool now, I guess.
“Long time no see, Kazutora-kun.” Chifuyu allowed himself to sound a little cocky. “Need a ride?”
-
It was hard for Kazutora not to get overwhelmed by the novelties brought into the world by modernity and technology. The car had a touchscreen and Chifuyu played some music just by tapping on it, no cassettes needed. Chifuyu also had to convince him that smartphones were normal, not really something only rich people owned. Kazutora had seen flat screens, sure, but not as big as the one Chifuyu had at home.
Chifuyu’s home was so modern. Minimalist , Chifuyu explained, laughing when Kazutora said it looked like a place out of a sci-fi movie. It wasn’t big, but every surface looked spotless and white, and there wasn’t much decor around. Kazutora had never seen anywhere look so clean. He remained by the door, not even daring to take off his shoes, much less follow Chifuyu inside. He would contaminate it all.
“Come on, Hanemiya. Get inside,” Chifuyu said. He sounded friendly, but there was an edge to his voice. Perhaps it was hate. "You can sit there; I’ll get the shower ready. I assume you don’t have a change of clothes?”
“I don't,” Kazutora said, standing by the sofa, clutching the strap of the backpack he’d brought from prison. There wasn’t much inside: his clothes from ten years ago, which obviously didn’t fit anymore; his earring, which he wanted to try to wear to see if his ear was still pierced; prison deodorant; and a toothbrush.
“I’m gonna leave some clothes in the bathroom,” Chifuyu called from the other room. “Use whatever fits. Are you hungry? I’m gonna get us some takeout—do you like Thai food?”
“I can’t afford it,” Kazutora replied. He wanted to leave. He wanted to leave so badly. The car ride had been awkward, even if he could tell Chifuyu had tried his best to keep the conversation going.
“You’re my guest now.” Chifuyu walked back to him, gesturing for Kazutora to follow. “It's on me. Now come; you smell awful. Let me teach you how the shower works.”
Kazutora allowed himself a few extra moments to let the warm water run down his body. He’d almost forgotten what a warm shower feels like. He sure took them when he was a child, but that was a long time ago and prison wasn’t a place for luxuries like this, to say the least.
He washed himself with the products Chifuyu left for him. The sweet scents filled his nostrils and made his whole body relax. Everything felt smooth and warm. His hair had never felt so soft as when he washed the conditioner off. Damn it, he’d never used conditioner before. Remembering where he was again made him feel overwhelmed, so he finished quickly and dressed himself with a tank top and some sweatpants from the pile of clothes Chifuyu had left for him.
It was already awkward to walk around the tiny apartment looking for Chifuyu, more so considering Kazutora had just used his shower, and was wearing clothes that weren’t his.
God, Kazutora just wanted to flee the place.
His train of thought was interrupted by a black cat meowing by the kitchen door. It was a rather fat cat, and Kazutora noticed that some of its fur was graying: it was probably old. He wanted to pet it—he hadn't seen a cat in so long—but this was Matsuno Chifuyu’s place, and he also wanted to get out of it as fast as possible. He settled for kneeling in front of the cat and staring at it, taking a moment to breathe and ease his mind before finding his things and telling Chifuyu he had to leave.
The sound of keys unlocking the door made him bolt upright.
“Ah, that’s Peke J,” Chifuyu said, looking at Kazutora and taking off his shoes. He was carrying a bag—takeout, Kazutora guessed—and the cat walked towards him as soon as he heard his name being called.
Chifuyu stood in front of Kazutora: he’d probably noticed Kazutora tensing up the second he came in. Kazutora couldn't help but open his mouth to say something: apologize for leaving the bathroom, for walking inside his house, anything really. But Chifuyu spoke first, signalling towards the table. “Food’s here, let’s eat.”
-
Chifuyu never really knew how to feel about Kazutora.
It took him years to think about him without rage pooling in his stomach. He wanted so badly to see Kazutora, to blame him for everything he’d lost. If he was honest, sometimes he even felt angry at Baji for even befriending him. Who on Earth made friends with a freak like Kazutora? Baji should have seen it coming.
But hell, Chifuyu understood Baji. He remembered feeling curious the first time Baji mentioned his friend in juvie, and thinking the guy was probably insane, but Baji had sounded so hopeful when he talked about Kazutora, as if he understood everything there was to him.
Chifuyu had almost felt jealousy. He realized it wasn’t just jealousy when he saw the look in Kazutora’s eyes on Bloody Halloween: the deranged eyes of a killer as he stabbed Baji, and then lost. He remembered the utter despair in Kazutora’s eyes when he said he was gonna stay by Baji after he died. Chifuyu had felt enraged then, thinking that Kazutora shouldn’t have been allowed to feel sorry after what he did. Kazutora didn’t deserve to feel cared for by Baji as Baji bled out because of him. He didn’t deserve Baji’s understanding. He didn’t deserve Baji at all. Period.
However, after years of pondering and now that Chifuyu had Hanemiya Kazutora in front of him— eyes lost, anxious, never meeting his gaze—he wasn’t sure he could even put all the blame on him again.
Mitsuya told him once that he heard Kazutora was going to therapy in prison.
“They get to go to therapy in prison?” Chifuyu asked, he wasn’t curious about it, he was angry. It’s been 8 years, but he still sometimes feels like Kazutora hasn’t got what he deserved.
“Yeah,” Mitsuya finished his drink. “Only those who are close to their release date and have behaved or something like that.”
“And he behaves now?” he scoffed . It was a tasteless joke, he knew and Mitsuya shrugged, smiling.
“You’d not even recognize him if you saw him now.”
It was true. Chifuyu’s therapist told him once, that if he felt like it was right to forgive the guy, that was probably really the right thing to do. To let go of his anger towards Hanemiya Kazutora even felt like something Baji wanted him to do and now that he had not only forgotten him, but also picked him up and brought him here. Maybe he did feel like it was the right thing to do.
Baji said we’d be good friends, but Chifuyu didn’t know what else they have in common aside from their past in Toman and Bloody Halloween. Our friendship to Baji , that was the answer he gave himself a while ago while talking to his therapist and when he realised there was more to it than just doing this because this is what Baji would have wanted.
He was going to try and get Kazutora started, then maybe he wouldn’t have to see the guy sulking as he was now. Was Kazutora shaking as he moved his food around the bowl?
“You don’t like Thai?” Chifuyu asked, munching on his food, concentrating on that instead of his mind racing.
“I— I just have never tried it,” Kazutora’s voice was almost a whisper by the end of the sentence. “I’m sorry. I’m not really hungry”.
Chifuyu gulped on his beer, he disliked the nervousness in the other’s voice. "I don’t believe you, but whatever. Hey, did you learn anythin’ useful in prison?”
“Useful?” Kazutora stared back curious.
“Not like fighting and shit. I mean, did you learn how to work?”
“I worked in a mechanical workshop and cleaning for a while,” Kazutora replied, with a little more confidence. “I can work, yeah”
“Good. So here's what I’m offering you,” Chifuyu began, because this was his plan all along, a part of his own redemption for hating someone for so long. A part of what he wanted to do to honour his late friend as well. That last part was still true, but he also didn’t like the idea of Kazutora never getting a chance to reinsert himself back into society. “It’s not the sort of thing you did in prison, but I need help around the shop and I’m sure you need some money to get started, right?”
Kazutora nodded, the baffled look in his eyes was enough.
“You can stay here as well” that part wasn’t easy to say, he certainly didn’t trust an ex-convict to stay alone in his home which he worked hard to get, but really how much was he gonna stay here alone if Chifuyu kept an eye on him at all times. “Don’t worry about it, think of it as crashing at a friend’s. I’m not that bad of a host. I’ve been told.” he concluded with a smirk before Kazutora could refuse, as Chifuyu was sure he was about to do. Wrong there , they weren't friends, not to Chifuyu's standards, but he thought of himself as an ally to Kazutora so maybe the next step could be friendship. Only time would tell.
Kazutora chuckled, and Chifuyu tried not to let himself be the baffled one now. “I’ve never crashed at a friend’s.”
“Ah well,” Chifuyu tried to play it cool, lifting his beer in the air. “Here’s to your first time, then”.
-
December 2015
Before they became friends. Chifuyu wished Kazutora was more of a stray cat—he’s always been a cat type of guy. Cats are independent and manage themselves well after you take them home. He was being unfair for sure, he didn’t trust Kazutora to make himself at home, although Kazutora clearly didn’t feel at home.
Kazutora was good at his job, he got along just fine with the animals. It took Mana and Luna a few rounds of cleaning the cages to make Kazutora comfortable around the task, he learned fast when it came to work.
At home, however, he was constantly tiptoeing around Chifuyu. Calling him Matsuno-san, refusing Chifuyu’s request to call him just Chifuyu. Never touching anything, making Chifuyu worry if he was going hungry so he wouldn’t have to bother anyone. He even tried putting on some disgusting perfume to hide the smell of tobacco, thinking Chifuyu wouldn't notice he was smoking when he went on walks alone.
On top of everything, he was often overwhelmed when he didn’t understand something that had to do with technology. Learning how to use a laptop to help Chifuyu with inventory at the store was one of the hardest things to teach him. Chifuyu almost wanted to give up on it, but Kazutora got around to learn at his own—mind you, slow— pace.
Finally, Kazutora was fast to learn Peke J’s eating schedule, he brushed his hair daily and watched over the cat as if that was the only thing he was good at. Chifuyu didn’t care.
Chifuyu didn’t care back then because he was too worried over Kazutora impulses. A part of him grew a little obsessed and secretly expected Kazutora to have dark impulses, be mean, to be on edge often, mad, unhinged, crazy, lost in bloodlust as he seemed in Bloody Halloween or when Baji beat the shit of Chifuyu in the Valhalla headquarters. Much to his disappointment, the only impulses Kazutora had were apologizing for things that weren't really his fault, and refusing the help he much needed right now.
Looking back, it took Chifuyu months to make Kazutora understand it was okay to stay with him for as long as he needed. When Mitsuya and Draken heard Kazutora was staying with him, both of them asked to visit, which Chifuyu refused because he had had a hunch to check in with Kazutora first. A few weeks later, Draken gave him a spare bed he still had at home—so that Kazutora could have a proper bed— and even offered to take it to Chifuyu’s and help him set it.
Kazutora refused the bed, refused the help to set it. Only after much convincing from Chifuyu that the room was, in fact, a spare one and not really an office did Kazutora finally agree to the bed. He still refused the help to set it up, which ended up in having to take a day off of work because he could barely stand up from having carried and put the bed together all on his own.
“You're not 15 anymore, of course carrying all that weight on your own was gonna hurt you” Chifuyu pushed a painkiller and a glass of water to his hands. “Take this, idiot.”
“I just-”
“Don’t say you don’t want to bother Kazutora, we’ve been through this,” Chifuyu tried to sound nice, but masking annoyance wasn’t one of his talents. “I told you to make yourself at home and you’ve been here for long enough to know I never used that room.”
Kazutora took the painkiller and then fiddled with his hands, Chifuyu waited standing there, he was sure Kazutora had things to say.
“Why are you letting me stay?” Kazutora’s eyes were glued to his hands, Chifuyu wished he’d look at him instead. “I know you’re just helping me and I don't want to abuse your kindness. I’ve been staying with you for a month now? You’ve given me a job, you’re kind to me and I know you said it’s fine and that you’re doing it for yourself, but why? I think it’s time for me to leave. The only thing I do is learn, watch over Peke J and hope I don’t take too much space. Feels like I’m a burden too big to take just for the sake of an old friend’s wish.”
“Listen,” Chifuyu started with a sigh, trying to not sound annoyed because Kazutora was opening up and he had the heart not to sound naggy “I know I said it was because Baji would’ve wanted it, but also don't think you’re a bad person. To be honest, at first I expected you to be annoying, I expected to hate you, but I don’t. I care about you starting off a good life. I want to be a contribution, a friend to you. I don’t need more reasons or a refund. You don’t have to think about finding a place right now. Trust me when I say it’s okay. Plus, Peke J likes that you’re taking care of him, so you have to stay.”
Kazutora smiled, a sad smile, a little too empty, but it was a start.
Those –stupidity–impulses made Chifuyu upset. He felt like he had to watch over Kazutora as if he was a little puppy or else he’d screw up or hurt himself in the process. He was overcompensating, being almost obsessed with taking care of Peke J and cleaning thoroughly after himself; making his presence around the house unnoticeable. He never let Chifuyu do any of the house work if he could help it. It was okay really, but Chifuyu felt like Kazutora wasn’t comfortable.
“Is there anything you want to do Kazutora?” Chifuyu asked one day during dinner. Kazutora wasn’t very good at cooking yet, so the food was bland and they’d been quiet for a long while. Friendship was a hard thing to build when the other person was constantly apologizing and when you didn’t know how to feel around them.
“I’d like to dye my hair again,” Chifuyu wasn’t expecting Kazutora to actually reply, but he was glad he did. “It's getting longer and I like it, but I thought it would be nice to do something else with it.”.
“I can take you to Akkun”
“I’m not sure of what I want though,” Kazutora started pushing the food around the bowl, he always did that when he was nervous. “I’m not sure I want something done professionally, I could do it on my-”
“It’s okay if you don’t want me to take you somewhere, but no way I’m having you looking all ugly in my store.” Chifuyu pointed at Kazutora with his chopsticks. “I’m doing it for you.”
“You would?” Kazutora asked, eyes and face lit up with an expression Chifuyu had never seen before, he liked that, even if it died down too fast. “It’d be too much work.”
“You don’t know what you want, yet?” Chifuyu shrugged. “I’m sure I can come up with something better than your ugly bleached style from back then”.
“It’s okay, Matsuno-san. I don’t want to trouble you.”
“Oh shut up with that,” Chifuyu couldn’t keep the anger out of his voice. “You have to stop apologizing for shit and thinking it bothers me. Baji used to dye my hair. It felt nice to have someone doing it for me. I only stopped because… he wasn’t around anymore.”
It took Chifuyu a second too late to process his words, Kazutora was staring at his plate. They’ve been living together for a long time, and the mentions of Baji were scarce, still a little too painful and awkward between them. Chifuyu felt a pang of guilt for bringing it up. He was quick to try and come up with something else to say. “Having someone to do it for you, a friend that is, isn’t bothersome. I want to do it for you.”
“Are we friends, Matsuno-san?” Kazutora was taken aback, Chifuyu could tell that much. Fuck, even he was, but friendship with Kazutora wasn’t something he was aversed to.
“We could be if you stop calling me Matsuno-san and let me help you,” Chifuyu smirked, hiding his embarrassment at his previous tone.
“Okay,” Kazutora said and Chifuyu felt like he meant it. “Thanks, Chifuyu.”
-
December 2015
Getting lost while scrolling down on Pinterest was too easy, Kazutora had already gone through hundreds if not thousands of possible hairstyles and was currently scrolling through some outfits that he thought were a little too flamboyant for him to wear. He got used to jeans, sweatpants, tank tops and his second-hand jacket. Fashion changed after a decade, and so did hairstyles. Trends aside, though, he found himself leaning more into what Chifuyu thought would look nice on him as he joined his scrolling.
Blonde bangs would highlight your eyes, Chifuyu suggested and Kazutora stared at him because that felt like a compliment and there was a blush growing in Chifuyu’s face . Don’t look at me like that, I keep up with Hakkai’s career and maybe I have an eye for style. Kazutora hummed in response, after all he did think Chifuyu had an eye for style.
Now, he was sitting at the dining table, Chifuyu had laid out everything necessary there. The products looked elevated compared to what Kazutora remembered using. He tried picking cheaper ones when they were at the store, but Chifuyu brushed it off and told him it was better to play it safe and buy something that’d do less damage to his hair. He had reached to touch Kazutora’s hair and Kazutora flinched—probably too dramatically—and people at the store stared wide-eyed at him, but a reflex learned after years in prison was hard to get rid of.
Chifuyu had smiled and whispered an apology before telling the clerk Kazutora’s hair was soft and healthy, and winning his argument for buying the expensive bleach and toner. It was hard for Kazutora to think there was anything healthy about himself. His thoughts were interrupted by Chifuyu walking into the living room listening to some guy, in English, on his tablet.
“I think we got everything right,” Chifuyu said, setting the tablet on the table and fixing his apron and getting ready to start. “Can I touch your hair?”
Of course , Kazutora wanted to say—almost to tease Chifuyu—but teasing still felt out of place and he understood why Chifuyu asked, so he settled for a quick nod. Everything after felt like he had never dealt with so many feelings before.
He melted under Chifuyu’s touch, muttering soft replies when Chifuyu asked him if he was uncomfortable or tugging his hair too hard. The mix between the comfortable silence, the high-quality products’ scents, Chifuyu’s humming to the song that was playing in the background and something Kazutora couldn’t quite place kept him relaxed.
He could have fallen asleep, but he didn’t want to miss out either. He didn’t want to dwell on his thoughts right now, so he concentrated on Chifuyu’s hands working on his hair.
Chifuyu chuckled softly, Kazutora would have missed it if he wasn’t so focused on every sensation around him.
“Mmh?” Kazutora mumbled, not too loud, afraid to break the spell.
“You can smile,” Chifuyu spoke softly, teasingly, and Kazutora wondered if maybe, and only maybe, he wasn’t the only one feeling so comfortable. “Let me know if it stings, yeah?”
“You can be gentle” he put the emphasis on ‘can’ the same way Chifuyu did.
“I have to make animals trust me,” Chifuyu’s tone was still playful and Kazutora chuckled despite knowing he was being mocked. “Glad it works with you as well, but I meant let me know if the bleach stings your roots”.
Chifuyu asked Kazutora if he could rinse the bleach off before applying toner and Kazutora felt anxious for a little while, thinking he’d been too eager to say yeah. But when Chifuyu insisted on drying Kazutora’s hair after the shower, he thought it was okay to let himself be cared for by Chifuyu.
Honestly, that’s all he’d been doing lately.
“It looks so good, Chifuyu,” he wasn’t really surprised at the result, he trusted it would look more or less good, but it was even better than he expected and seeing himself pulling off a new look was surprising. “Thank you so much”.
“It looks fine, doesn’t it? The bleach actually worked and your hair doesn’t look like dried grass.” Chifuyu moved to stand closer, fixing some of the hair that still looked ruffled after being dried. “Thank me when you have girls drooling at you. Made you more handsome, didn’t I?”
Kazutora laughed, actually laughed and Chifuyu stared through the mirror, standing closer to him. “Too kind”.
“And you’re not aware you’re handsome now?” Chifuyu rolled his eyes with a smirk. “Even when Mana and Luna are about to build a fanclub for you. I’m sure you were popular among women even when you had that mess of a hairstyle.”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Kazutora didn't know if he was more surprised at Mana and Luna or about Chifuyu thinking he’d care about what others thought of him. “I’m not really into women, so I didn’t notice.”
“Uh, good. My hunch was right.” Chifuyu crossed his arms with a growing grin on his face. “You’ve ever gone to a gay bar?”
“I’ve been locked up for half of my life, Chifuyu.”
“Right, you never got to be young and wild and whatever we were supposed to do at 15,” Chifuyu pulled his phone and typed so fast, Kazutora was amazed it wasn’t listed as a talent. “Just wait until Mitsuya hears this. We’re going out.”
Kazutora was about to reply, but Chifuyu’s sudden change of mood ate all his words. “Wait, are you okay with going with us to a gay bar? Would you like that?”
“If it’s with you, I guess it’s fine”.
“I hope this is another thing to mark off your teenager bucket list, then”.
“Are you keeping count?” Kazutora teased, a little awkwardly, but he tried.
“Kind of,” Chifuyu admitted, the hint of a blush creeping on his face. “It’s nice to plan stuff.”
“Thanks Chifuyu,” Kazutora said honestly, because even if Chifuyu’s motives were confusing for him, he hoped Chifuyu also had fun. So he’d keep on doing things as long as Chifuyu was having fun along with him.
-
December 2015
Although the store was well isolated to the outside, some of the animals still were scared during storms. The raindrops splattered hard against the windows and Mana was telling Mitsuya over the phone something about how her hair was gonna get all messed up. Chifuyu knew it was just her putting on some pressure on her brother to pick them up so they didn't have to walk under the rain to the station.
Chifuyu rolled his eyes when Luna yelled "Tell him he can come and have a cup of tea or something with Matsuno-san as well!"
"Tell him I will drive you," Chifuyu added, annoyed.
"Did you hear that?" Mana smiled brightly at Chifuyu, way too fast, perhaps this was her plan all along. "Matsuno-san is a much better senpai than you".
-
Chifuyu didn’t just drop Mana and Luna, he welcomed himself into Mitsuya’s apartment and straight into his studio where he knew he’d find him.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of having the great Matsuno-senpai drive my sisters home?” Mitsuya coated his words in irony while holding a pin in his mouth as he worked some fabric around a mannequin.
“Draken took Kazutora to open a bank account today and they were going out somewhere after, and I'm joining them then.”
“So I’m just a stop on the way?” Mitsuya joked trying to sound offended.
“Yes, you are,” Chifuyu smirked. “Come on, this is Kazutora’s first time going out. I’m taking you with us so you get yourself out of this nasty place.”
Mitsuya tried to get away with staying, but after much insistence from Chifuyu, he finally agreed. Draken messaged them to go meet them at Smiley and Angry’s, and Chifuyu wondered how Draken convinced Kazutora to go out as he kept postponing Mitsuya and Chifuyu’s clubbing invitation.
The twin’s restaurant was loud and it smelled strongly of spices. They found Draken and Kazutora sitting on high chairs at the izakaya’s long table. They were focused looking at Kazutora’s phone.
“How did it go?” Chifuyu said, dropping himself on a chair next to Kazutora.
“Kazutora is finally a civilized person with a proper card and not carrying notes around like an old man” Draken leaned back on his chair, crossing his arms, looking rather proud of himself.
“Cash was still useful in prison,” Kazutora shrugged.
“Welcome to modernity,” Mitsuya added. “And the free world. Now please let’s order, I’m starving.”
The evening was nice. There was much to share and while having some beers. Everyone but Kazutora, who looked alarmed at Chifuyu drinking while knowing he’d be driving. It was okay, one beer wouldn’t hurt him, but Kazutora insisted on driving later and Chifuyu thought everything would be okay so he allowed himself some more drinks.
Time flew by for Chifuyu, he relaxed once he noticed Kazutora didn’t look anxious he’d occasionally steal some glances at Chifuyu but look away fast, usually interrupted by notifications on his phone, which seemed odd, but Chifuyu was going to ask later. Their thighs were touching and Chifuyu found the contact to be grounding as the alcohol took effect, so if Kazutora didn’t attempt to break it, neither would he.
They laughed at Mitsuya and Draken’s bickering over nothing specific. Sometimes Chifuyu would just whisper into Kazutora’s ear to explain if it was something about a specific story. Chifuyu always thought that explaining the joke was boring, but Kazutora smiled and laughed regardless and Chifuyu couldn’t help but drink the sound of it. He liked to see Kazutora look relaxed and happy.
The food was glorious as always. Friends and food felt like home. They stayed until past closing time when the twins joined them to talk before kicking them out at past midnight. Kazutora drove them home and once they were alone in the car, Chifuyu checked in with him that everything was fine, especially after his phone buzzed for the umpteenth time of the night.
“Mmmh” Kazutora was focusing on the road ahead. “Draken showed me this app where I can find rooms to stay in, and I got some replies pretty fast.”
“Oh.” Chifuyu didn’t understand why he was surprised, but he wasn’t about to fight it off Kazutora again.
“I mean, I wanted to check it out with you,” Kazutora added and Chifuyu saw there was red creeping to his cheeks. “I wanted your opinion, but not only on that. There’s so much I need to tell you.”
“The store is closed tomorrow. We can talk about it then” Chifuyu understood, Kazutora didn’t want to discuss this today, and Chifuyu was internally grateful because he was buzzed and not really in the mood to discuss future plans.
Kazutora pulled out at the parking lot and once they were on the elevator to the apartment, he felt Kazutora’s eyes on him.
“Do I have something on my face?”
“Yeah,” Kazutora replied fast, too fast for his own liking and maybe that sounded too rude, and his brain just started running too fast. “I mean, it’s just your hair. It’s a little ruffled and you never have it like that. It must have been the wind or som-”
“Mmh,” Chifuyu stopped him, there wasn’t a mirror on the elevator so he couldn’t check it himself. “Can you fix it?”
Kazutora looked confused, eyes fixed on Chifuyu as he nodded softly, a little embarrassed he was rambling. He often over-explained when he was feeling nervous. Chifuyu already knew. It was kind of adorable, wasn’t it? “Can I touch your hair?”
“Yeah, please.”