Work Text:
“How do you never get hot, Kakucho?”
“Hm?”
“Yeah.” Rindou echoed after a moment, turning his head absentmindedly toward the other boy, “You never complain about it.”
Kakucho tipped his head toward the bright summer sky in thought as the odd group of three trudged down the sidewalk, “Well…” The sound of their shoes scuffing against the pavement and filled the silence while Kakucho continued to reflect upon his thoughts. Finally, he shrugged his shoulders with a nervous smile, turning back to the two brothers, “Dunno, I don’t get cold either if that makes any sense.” He’d inwardly hoped that this would get the brothers off his back about his “temperature troubles”.
“Huh.” Ran hummed in astonishment, taking the back of his hand and brushing away the stray hairs from his face, “So, you ever have popsicles, then?”
Rindou’s eyes lit up at the particular comment, his attention turning toward his older brother, “Yeah, bro! What kind do you like Kakucho?”
Kakucho hesitated at the question, opening his mouth like a fish out of water before closing it once more. His once vibrant eyes seemed to glaze over in a fog of confusion and dismay as he stared off into the distance, “I… Don’t really remember.” A pained smile tugged at his lips as he feigned some semblance of a good mood when he noticed the worried looks of his brothers.
“It’s fine. I’m sorry for bringing that up.” He apologized with a bow of his head.
This didn’t dissuade the brothers in the slightest.
Quickly, Ran glanced to Rindou, and Rindou glanced back to Ran, their faces filled with sheer determination.
“Yeah, we’re fixing that,” Rindou beamed as he pushed his glasses up triumphantly.
“Wait, what?” Kakucho questioned in confusion, “What does that even mean?”
“Come on; I know just the place~” Ran hummed, hooking his arm around Kakucho’s, “We’ve got plenty of time too!”
“Aren’t we supposed to meet with everyone else soon?” Kakucho continued to question, only to be dragged along by the older Haitani brother, “And won’t South kill us if we’re late?”
“A little sweat won’t hurt him,” Rindou assured as he also looped his arm around Kakucho’s, “It’s important business after all.”
“Rindou, it’s important brotherly business.” Ran corrected, only to receive a disgruntled glare, “I’m just being honest here.”
“Where are we even going?” Kakucho asked the two as he took a cursory glance from left to right, “Or am I not allowed to know?”
The long-haired man laughed lightly and nodded his head a bit, “Secret.”
“And this won’t be like the time you took me to the barbershop, right?”
“I won’t let him try to get your hair cut like that one kid with the blue hair again.” Rindou promised, “But we’re not going there.”
Kakucho looked off into the distance, “Good because I’d have to cut his braids off.”
“That’s animal abuse.”
Rindou snickered.
The convenience store was rather chilly when the group entered, and the fan near the entrance didn’t help one bit. The eldest Haitani shivered slightly, followed by the youngest Haitani sneezing softly. The two lifted their hands to their biceps and rubbed, hoping to find some semblance of relief from the chilly setting they’d stumbled into.
“It’s always cold in here this time of year, huh?” Ran finally admitted through clenched teeth.
“Wish it wasn’t like Antarctica, though…” Rindou complained with his arms pulled protectively over his chest, “I don’t get how you don’t get cold, Kakucho.”
“Warm blood?” Kakucho petitioned with a shrug, “But both of you get cold that easily…?” He tipped his head to the side in confusion as he looked at the pathetic display next to himself, “Really?”
The two brothers looked at one another and quickly realized how lame they looked in front of him, “No, no, we’re fine!” Ran attempted with a wave of his hand and a laugh, “Isn’t that right, Rindou!” He swiftly jabbed the blond in the side with his elbow.
Rindou grabbed Ran’s elbow, “Completely, Ran, not cold at all!”
“Ow– Ow– Rindou–”
“It’s refreshing, isn’t it!” Rindou nodded along, eyes closed in complete annoyed delight as he threw his brother’s elbow back to his chest and smiled, “Isn’t. It.”
Kakucho stared on with pursed lips, “Scary…” He muttered under his breath as he watched the two quarrel with one another.
“Do you have to attempt to snap my arm like that every time…” Ran whined while he rubbed the reddish mark, “And they say I’m the extra one.”
Rindou clicked his tongue at the commentary and began walking toward the back of the store, “Let’s get out of here soon. It’s fucking cold.”
The long-haired man shook his head in agreement, following along, “C’mon Kakucho, we’re not picking for you!”
Kakucho watched as the two brothers walked ahead, both now arguing about who looked more uncool in front of him. He bit back a laugh as he too moved forward like he always seemed to. He couldn’t help but find the situation that played out before him somewhat familiar and at the same time, rather bizarre.
While he’d been to several convenience stores in the past, this one had an odd sense of nostalgia to it that brought a sense of comfort and calm to his somewhat overwhelmed senses. He hadn’t realized he’d been glancing at the jampacked shelves for too long when he heard a call from down the aisle.
“Kakucho, it’s over here.”
He whipped his head toward the voice and carefully reminded himself that the man with a hand placed on his hip wasn’t out to get him, “Right.”
The elder Haitani tipped his head to the side, “And weren’t you the one worried about time?”
Kakucho nodded his head slowly and quickly trotted toward Ran, vowing to return to the section sometime soon, “Sorry.”
Ran heaved a heavy and dramatic sigh as they rounded the corner to a freezer section lined with another set of shelves, “What are we gonna do with you?”
The youngest of the group of three shrugged his shoulders, “Rehome me like a dog or something, I guess?”
Rindou looked up the assortment of gummies on the shelf, “Try again fuck ass.” He grumbled, quickly stashing one of the packets underneath his arm, “We aren’t leaving your ass like a dog on the side of the road.”
“Ooh, what kind did you get?” Ran asked as he chose to ignore the conversation, “You better not have gotten pineapple.”
“It’s pineapple,” Rindou replied smugly.
“Fuck you and everything you stand for, Rindou.”
“What’s so bad about pineapple?” Kakucho questioned, only to receive one smug look and another glare.
“It’s shit.”
“Best flavor.”
The two brothers stated simultaneously, the invisible sparks flying between them, “It’s the worst flavor.” Ran defended once more, attempting to snag the package that was nestled between Rindou’s arm, “Put it back and get fruit punch.”
Rindou snorted, “Oh why, because you’re fruity, bro?”
Kakucho sighed, “I can’t disagree there…” This only seemed to escalate the fight as Rindou laughed in Ran’s face.
“See, even Kakucho agrees that you’re a–”
“If I find anything long and spear-like, it’s game over for you.” Ran threatened, the air around him becoming cold as he smirked sinisterly. “Fruit punch, or actual punch? Which will it be, Rindou?”
With a pensive shake of his head, Kakucho looked at the shelves, “Alright, alright…” He said with a slight laugh in his tone, “There’s a solution to this, right?”
“What!” Both brothers yelled a bit too loudly, Kakucho raising a brow in legitimate distaste. The two stared at him, shuffling their feet on the floor as they both came to the stark conclusion that perhaps yelling in a convenience store wasn’t the brightest idea.
“Sorry, Kakucho.” Rindou apologized first, quickly bumping his shoulder into Ran’s, “You too, bro.” He said in a hushed tone.
Ran looked as though he’d eaten a sour candy as he looked to the side. That was until Rindou once again bumped him in the shoulder, harder.
“Sorry, Kakucho!” He gasped dramatically, the sourpuss face fading.
Rindou smirked, “Wow bro, working on your dead fish impression there?”
“Listen–”
“Why don’t we get both?” Kakucho interrupted with a tense smile, likely in hopes that another Haitani related quarrel would not break out in the back of the convenience store that afternoon, “I don’t think I’ve tried either, or at least remember trying them.”
Something seemed to click in both of the brother’s heads at that exact moment, “Oh.”
“Really?” Kakucho sighed, “That wasn’t the first thing that came to mind?”
The Haitani brothers stared at one another and then looked back at Kakucho.
“It’s not my fault he’s an idiot.”
“-brain dead.”
Ran crossed his arms with a pout, “I have a brain, thank you.”
“Up for debate, bro.” Rindou grumbled before nodding toward a cooler with his head, “They’re in there, though, Kakucho.”
“What do you mean up for debate!” Ran complained as Kakucho walked toward the cooler, “I’ll have you know Rindou–”
The blond grinned widely, tossing a packet of gummies toward his chest, “Here, dumb ass.”
“Both of you are so loud…” Rokuhara’s Top Dog grumbled as he peeked into the disorganized ice chest. Two pairs of footsteps soon followed him over, “Is this what you meant?” Kakucho finally asked after a moment as he examined the frozen shelves. Ice pops, popsicles, and ice cream bars laid in various patterns on the white bars, their colors muted by the frosted glass of doors.
Kakucho felt something bubble inside him as he stared, and a smile threatened to tug at his lips as he carefully slid open the glass partition doors. His fingers gingerly wrapped around one of the chilly morsels before surreptitiously yanking it from its icy prison and closing the door. He eyed the colorful package for a moment, flipping it around in his hand.
“Well, let’s split,” Rindou muttered, nodding to the sleeping clerk at the counter.
“We’re paying.” Kakucho clarified without even paying mind to the blond Haitani.
“Tch.”
“Now, Rindou, let’s not be too menacing today.” Ran hummed with a lazy smile, only for a look of utter disdain to be shot his way.
Rindou sighed and shook his head, “Absolutely hysterical coming from you, bro…” He began walking back toward the counter, “Think’in about a career in stand-up?”
Ran clicked his tongue, “I think I saw a broom up front. That’s just as good as a baton if I knew any better…” He grumbled as he began his pursuit, “Come on, Kakucho, let’s make him pay.”
Kakucho watched as the older Haitani plucked another bag of gummy bears off the shelf and proceeded to lob them at Rindou’s head, “Oops!”
Kakucho snorted as the bag completely missed its mark and slapped onto the floor with a smack. Ran sighed in defeat, his plan seemingly foiled.
“No, Ran… you gotta…” Kakucho began, only to have Rindou glare back at the two of them.
“Don’t you dare, you fucking menaces!” The blond warned with a hiss.
Kakucho quietly removed another bag of gummy bears from the shelf, “Or what?” He tested as he tossed the package up and down in his hand. As if in slow motion, the buzzcut-clad boy gradually wound his arm up with a smirk, “Rindou?”
Rindou’s eyes widened, “Shi–”
He said too late.
The gummy bear package slammed into the side of Rindou’s face with a loud snap that echoed through the rest of the convenience store. The younger Haitani recoiled back a few steps, his glasses disheveled and hair a complete mess as he narrowly avoided tripping back into one of the shelves.
Ran beamed toward Kakucho before giving a preemptive thumbs-up, “Oh! Nice pitch!”
Kakucho nodded his head in agreement, “Nice pitch.”
Rindou didn’t think it was nice at all.
“I don’t know why he gave us an attitude?”
Kakucho turned his head back toward Rindou, “Between us having a food fight and you slamming that bell at the counter 20 times even after he woke up…”
The younger Haitani smirked and shoved a gummy bear into his mouth, “Deserbed!”
Ran huffed and shot Rindou an amused glare, “Rindou Haitani.”
“RaN HaItAnI…” Rindou blubbered back sarcastically.
Kakucho tore into the popsicle packaging with his teeth and spat out the plastic, “And you said Ran was menacing, Rindou,” He thought aloud before he shook his head, “Yeah, you’re definitely competing with that one guy from Kantou Manji now I think…”
Ran held his sides and snorted with laughter, “Not Kakucho comparing you to Sanzu?!” He wheezed, tears beginning to stream down his face, “Not the Loyal Mad Dog of all people!”
Rindou stared vacantly at the two of them while his lavender eyes blinked slowly as he attempted to comprehend the situation unfolding in front of himself. As if on cue, he raised a finger and pointed toward his disheveled older brother, “I want a refund on our brother Kakucho. Can we return him?”
Kakucho rolled his eyes and took a bite out of his popsicle, “It’s not my fault you act like a prepubescent 13-year-old.”
Rindou lightly bumped into Kakucho’s shoulder before he jogged ahead of the two, “Let me be your cool big bro more often, then?”
As the popsicle slowly melted on his tongue, Kakucho gazed ahead at the grinning Rindou and the recovering Ran. For waning a moment, time seemed to slow around the three. Rindou’s hair gently caught in the wind, shining brightly as it glimmered against the sun’s rays. The streaks from Ran’s tears similarly shone as he carelessly brushed them away, his grin now stretched wide.
A warm feeling spread through Kakucho’s body as the cold liquid from the popsicle slid down his throat and into his stomach and hugged him from within. He’d forgotten this feeling long ago and forgotten this flavor too.
Nostalgia.
A warm wobbly grin pulled at his lips as hot tears pricked the corners of Kakucho’s eyes.
“Hey, Kakucho?” Ran called from ahead as he took a cursory glance back. “Hey, you okay?”
“Mhm.” Kakucho nodded quickly, “Thanks.”
Ran raised a brow and sighed, “Lyin’s is a bad look on you, y’know!” He teased with a smirk while he strode toward him.
The younger Haitani nodded his head in agreement as he too approached, “Yeah, Kakucho, aren’t you always on us about staying true to ourselves or something?”
Kakucho looked to the side. Butterflies of embarrassment filled his stomach as he quickly attempted to rub away the tears, “I know, I know…” He huffed, “I know…”
Rindou paused in front of Kakucho and eyed him up and down. The youngest Haitani sighed heavily before he raised his fist and swiftly punched Kakucho in the arm. The youngest of the group yelped in surprise, staring up at Rindou in shock.
“Getting soft over a popsicle, that’s a new one…” Rindou started with a nod of his head and a smirk, “See, last time it was curry…”
“I thought you said you wouldn’t bring that up again!” Kakucho grumbled, hastily taking another bite of his very melty popsicle.
“Anything is fair game when you’re a Haitani.” Rindou sighed again with a nod of his head, “Thought you knew what you signed up for here?”
“Yeah, yeah…” Kakucho sighed back, “Whatever.”
“Welcome to the family.” Ran hummed, lacing his arm between Kakucho’s, “We’re a mess.”
Rindou laced his arm through Kakucho’s other arm, “No, bro, you’re THE mess, fuck outta here with that shit.”
Ran gasped, “Rindou Haitani! No swearing around the baby!” He carefully patted Kakucho’s head.
Kakucho sighed and attempted to glare at Ran, “I’m 15?”
“A child.” Both Ran and Rindou replied simultaneously.
“Oh, Come on!!”