Archive of Our Own

“Loverboy’s here again,” Kazutora announced as if the customer he was talking about wasn’t just a few feet away from them. 

“Don’t call him that,” Mitsuya chided as he went to prepare his coffee. He glanced at the boy hovering by the counter, who blushed and looked down as soon as their eyes met. 

Mitsuya smiled and turned around to start the espresso machine. 

The boy--Hakkai, who gave his name to Mitsuya unprompted when he first ordered--had been coming to their cafe at least twice a week for a few months now. He always ordered the same thing (caramel latte), always sat at the same table, and always stared--rather unsubtly, though not for lack of trying--at Mitsuya for the remainder of his time at the cafe. 

“For Hakkai,” Mitsuya said, placing the mug on the counter. 

“Thanks!” Hakkai beamed, ears a strawberry red. He had a scar that ran down the side of his mouth, though whatever intimidation it could have caused was immediately offset by the guy’s earnest expression. 

“Still calling his name? We’re not a damn Starbucks,” Kazutora complained, cheek squished against his knuckles. While Mitsuya usually saw the lack of customers during their afternoon shift as a good thing, especially compared to the morning rush that Takemichi, Souya, and Nahoya dealt with, he sometimes wished customers would appear just to shut Kazutora up. 

Not that it was always an effective strategy, since Kazutora had no concept of professionalism. Or hearing distance, for that matter.

“So you’ve said,” Mitsuya replied evenly. Kazutora had snorted when Hakkai had given Mitsuya his name, causing him to blush all the way down to his neck, disappearing under the collar of his shirt. He’d rolled his eyes when Mitsuya had fixed him with an unimpressed look. 

“You wouldn’t last a day there anyway,” Chifuyu muttered, having come back from where he’d been wiping down tables. “All the kids would complain about your shitty customer service skills on some blog and you’d be fired the next day.”

“Hey! I’ll have you know, I was always super popular during our school festival. Everyone wanted to be served by the pretty waiter with cool hair. Our class wouldn’t have won the prize without me. ” 

Mitsuya ignored Kazutora’s bragging--or in this case, since it was Chifuyu, flirting--in favor of checking his phone. He’d gotten a text from his mom about some things she needed from the store and another from Luna asking what time Mitsuya would be home. 

He looked up just in time to meet Hakkai’s eyes across the cafe, where he sat by the window. Like a rubber band snapping, Hakkai immediately looked back down at an open book (the same one he’d sporadically brought for the past few months and seemed no closer to finishing than the first time he showed up with it). 

Mitsuya’s lips quirked, amused. 

“So,” Chifuyu says, drawing out the last vowel, “are you gonna give the guy a break any time soon or are we just gonna watch this slow-burn unfold like a drama that releases episodes twice a week?”

Mitsuya could tell from his expression that Chifuyu himself couldn’t decide which he’d prefer. Still, as much as he tried not to unnecessarily disabuse Chifuyu of his romanticized notions of love, he didn’t want to cause any misunderstandings, either. 

“While I’m pretty flattered by his attention, I don’t think it’ll go anywhere,” Mitsuya admitted. 

“Really?” Chifuyu’s eyebrows furrowed in surprise, glancing quickly at Hakkai before looking back at Mitsuya. “But he’s cute. Like an overgrown puppy. Is that not your type?” 

“I usually like them less…embarrassed,” Mitsuya explained. He was mostly attracted to older guys who were mature and slightly aloof--as evidenced by his childhood crush on Draken and his middle school crush on Haitani Ran. He didn’t want to say that he liked them more put-together--it wasn't like Hakkai seemed sloppy or anything, and he didn’t have an atrocious fashion sense like Takemichi, but Mitsuya could tell from his overall demeanor that he was probably used to relying on others. 

The youngest of the family, if Mitsuya had to guess.

“Pretentious,” Kazutora coughed. Then, he jumped to tend to a customer that just entered, neatly avoiding Mitsuya’s elbow.

“Huh. Well, maybe don’t lead the guy on by calling his name instead of his drink. He might get the wrong impression.” 

Mitsuya frowned. He’d started doing it because he felt bad about Kazutora making fun of him for giving his name. Plus, he was fairly sure that saying his name was the only time Mitsuya could coax a smile out of him--otherwise, he looked away like a thief trying not to get caught shoplifting. 

“It’s not like I’m flirting with him. I’m just being nice,” Mitsuya defended. He wasn’t going to act like an asshole just because he didn’t reciprocate his feelings. Anyway, Hakkai didn’t seem like the type to read into these things. In fact, he seemed more like the type that needed things spelled out to him.

“If you say so.” Chifuyu shrugged, moving to help Kazutora prepare a group order. 

By the door, Hakkai seemed to hesitate before turning to glance back at Mitsuya, bowing his head hurriedly before scurrying out. Mitsuya wondered if Hakkai ever actually looked at Mitsuya long enough to notice that Mitsuya always tried to smile back at him.

Not that it mattered, of course. Mitsuya was just curious about how much harder Hakkai could blush. He’d never seen a person’s skin turn such a deep red practically on command. And all over, too, with how the blush during their first meeting might have spread down even to his chest, hidden by his shirt’s collar. He sometimes wondered if Hakkai might spontaneously combust if Mitsuya were to ever come closer than the width of the counter permitted.

---

Their routine didn’t change despite Chifuyu--and Kazutora, though he was probably more motivated by the prospect of kissing Chifuyu’s ass (his real job, as far as Mitsuya’s concerned) while harassing Mitsuya at the same time than any actual concern for Hakkai’s feelings--soundly reminding him not to lead Hakkai on, which Mitsuya still wasn’t actually doing, no matter how insistent they were on it. And they did insist on it, narrowing their eyes at him whenever Mitsuya would take Hakkai’s order or make his coffee, or even so much as look in the general direction where Hakkai was sitting. 

“I will switch shifts with Nahoya if you don’t stop,” Mitsuya threatened. “You know he’d kill to have the afternoon shift instead of the morning one.” 

Kazutora snorted. “What, and leave your loverboy heartbroken and alone?” 

“Maybe that’s not such a bad idea,” Chifuyu said slowly. “At least then you wouldn’t keep getting his hopes up!” 

Mitsuya shot him a withering glance. Fortunately, Chifuyu still held some degree of respect for him since he faltered and turned towards the sink to wash some cups. 

Kazutora glared. It was the kind of glare that Mitsuya knew would be a middle finger if they weren’t at their workplace. If there were fewer people, Kazutora would probably still risk it anyway. As it was, Kazutora would have to make do with something equally as crazy if not more so. Anticipating it, he tried to grab his arm, but Kazutora was already leaving the counter, rushing toward Hakkai’s seat with a speed that made Hakkai’s eyes widen in fear after looking up, probably wondering if he was gonna stop in time or just bulldoze over him. 

“Hi!”

“Hello,” Hakkai responded warily, though not before glancing back at Mitsuya. Mitsuya tried to give a reassuring smile, but Hakkai’s eyes again slid back to Kazutora too quickly for him to see. 

“We’re testing some new flavors today,” Kazutora continued. “Since you come so often, we thought we’d get your input. What do you think?” 

“Uh,” Hakkai glanced at his mug, still filled halfway, “I guess? If you think I’d be able to help.” 

“Great! I’ll be right back.” 

“What are you doing?” Mitsuya hissed, yanking Kazutora’s arm away from the coffee machine. “There are no new drinks. Also, Hakkai always drinks the sugary crap. He probably can’t handle anything too strong.” 

“Aww, protecting his tastebuds? He’d swoon if he heard you.” Kazutora tugged his arm out of Mitsuya’s hold, their movements causing some customers near the counter to glance up at them and forcing Mitsuya to let go. He poured the espresso shots into small plastic cups, the ones they usually used to give customers water. Mitsuya was about to grab the cups away from Kazutora’s reach, but before he could, more customers entered the cafe, and Chifuyu shouted “Bathroom Break!” before Mitsuya could stop him. 

Mitsuya cursed. He swore that working here was even worse than taking care of his sisters, sometimes. 

By the time Mitsuya finished taking their orders, Kazutora already had the cups in a tray, leaving Mitsuya at the counter to make the three cups of coffee by himself. 

Mitsuya hurriedly made the drinks, distracted by Hakkai, who had taken one of the cups and sipped from it. Even from across the cafe, he could see how Hakkai grimaced at the taste before trying to smile at Kazutora, clearly not wanting to tell him he didn’t like it. Kazutora gestured at the other cups, making Hakkai glance at the other customers in confusion, probably thinking that they were meant to get a survey of everyone’s opinions. 

Mitsuya finished the orders and made his way to Hakkai’s table in the middle of Hakkai’s explanation that he really didn’t know that much about coffee and that it might be better to get someone else’s opinion on the flavor. Kazutora, however, was insisting that Hakkai at least tell him if he thought the drink was good or not. 

Hakkai looked at Mitsuya, panicked. Mitsuya should say something, should have already said something, except Hakkai’s blush was blooming into a much deeper shade of red, darker than when they’d first met, so dark that Mitsuya wondered if Hakkai was actually holding his breath and lacking oxygen. 

“It’s…it’s,” he stuttered. Kazutora shot Mitsuya a look of disbelief, clearly wondering why it was so hard for Hakkai to just lie and tell them it tasted fine to get out of this clearly painful situation. Mitsuya wondered if he inadvertently placed more pressure on Hakkai by coming. 

“It’s good!” He blurted out, his hand flailing out--probably to put the cup back in the tray--and accidentally knocked it all over the table, splashing the edges of the book he still hadn’t finished reading. 

Kazutora burst out laughing. Hakkai blanched before getting the tissues on his tray to wipe it up, but Mitsuya moved forward and grabbed his arm before he could do it. 

“Don’t,” Mitsuya said. He took the book and placed it upside down. Thankfully, it didn’t look unsalvageable--Mitsuya’s own textbooks have seen worse thanks to Luna and Mana’s rowdiness. It was nothing that a quick blowdry couldn’t fix. Then, seeing Hakkai freeze, he cleared his throat and continued, “I’ll get a rag. Did it get on your clothes?” 

Hakkai stared at his lap for a few seconds before shaking his head. His eyes didn’t come back up until Mitsuya let go of his arm and stepped back. He waited for Hakkai to meet his gaze before smiling and turning around to fetch the rag. 

“He’s a bit of a disaster, huh,” Kazutora said like it wasn’t his fault that Hakkai had gotten so flustered in the first place. 

“He’s getting a free drink,” Mitsuya said, his tone brooking no argument, “and you’re paying for it.” 

“That so?” 

“I can help pay for it, too,” Chifuyu offered, but Kazutora waved him off, grinning. “Nah, Baji owes me anyway. I’ll swipe his wallet later.” 

Chifuyu’s eyes widened. “Don’t you dare!”

Mitsuya left them bickering on the counter, returning to Hakkai, who stared at the table as if he could clean it through sheer force of will. The prominent blush he’d sported seemed to have faded. 

“Sorry about your book,” Mitsuya said as he wiped the table. 

“No, it’s my fault for spilling the drink in the first place,” Hakkai said hastily, “It really wasn’t bad or anything! Your coworker told me you worked really hard on it. I really just don’t drink coffee that often, so I can’t…” he gestured vaguely in front of him, “Other people will probably really like it, though!” 

Mitsuya chuckled at Hakkai’s rambling. He really wasn’t a very good liar. His gaze darted to the side much too often. Still, Mitsuya appreciated that Hakkai was trying to protect his feelings about the non-existent new flavor he supposedly worked hard on. 

“You like it sweet, right?” Mitsuya nodded at Hakkai’s empty mug. “I’ll make you something on the house. Consider it payment for having to deal with my co-worker.” 

“No, you don’t have to,” Hakkai said, voice trailing off as Mitsuya left to make his drink. 

Mitsuya quickly fixed him a drink, the sakura special that he figured would suit Hakkai’s tastes. Despite working at a cafe, Mitsuya wasn’t any more well-versed in coffees than he had to be. He preferred cold brew if he had to stave off sleep or a chai latte if he didn’t. He paused for a second before quickly sketching a rough drawing of a dog’s face at the top. Not his best work, but it would do. 

When he returned, Hakkai was fiddling with the book, scanning the pages. 

“You can blowdry the edges more at home to keep the pages from tearing,” Mitsuya said as he placed the mug in front of Hakkai. 

Hakkai nodded. “Thank you,” he said, before his eyes lit up, having seen the latte art. “Did you make this?” 

“Yeah,” Mitsuya said sheepishly. “I can usually do it better, but I didn’t want to make you wait.” 

“It’s so cool!” Hakkai gushed. “You’re an artist!” 

“Hardly.” Mitsuya snorted. “You should see my friend Souya’s drinks, he uses the foam to make animals pop out of the mug.” 

“It’s still really good,” Hakkai insisted, bringing the mug closer to peer at it. Then, he took a sip, eyes widening. “It tastes great, too. You’re amazing!” 

Mitsuya laughed, scratching behind his neck awkwardly. He wasn’t used to such effusive praise. The only one of his friends who made a habit of fawning over others was Takemichi, and Mitsuya generally tried to avoid that in case Mikey got into one of his fits of jealousy and decided to throw a tantrum. 

“I’m glad you like it,” Mitsuya said. Then, because he didn’t want to leave until Hakkai finished his drink, asked him, “So do you like Kawakami?” 

“Who?” Hakkai blinked in confusion. 

Amused, Mitsuya glanced purposefully at the book on the table. 

“Oh, uh…yes?” Hakkai said, the answer rolling off his tongue like a question. 

“Yeah?”

“Or, well,” Hakkai backtracked, “Maybe? Not…not sure yet. I’m a slow reader.” 

“Right,” Mitsuya said, trying desperately to stop the grin from forming on his face. “Maybe you could tell me once you finish.” 

“Okay!” Hakkai said, nodding his head for good measure. “It might take a while, though.” 

“That’s okay,” Mitsuya said. 

“Like..like months! Maybe even years--well, no, not years. That would be dumb. Which I’m not! I, uh, can read. Faster than that...” 

 “I’m sure you can,” Mitsuya said encouragingly. He made a mental note to make sure that Hakkai never met Baji. He’d eat him alive. 

A cellphone rang, making Hakkai jump. He glanced at it before springing into action, gathering his things. “Oh god, I didn’t realize the time, I’m so late.” 

“Sorry for keeping you,” Mitsuya said. 

“Oh no, it’s--I should have checked the time,” Hakkai said, before giving Mitsuya a broad grin that looked startlingly good on his face. “Thank you for the drink. It was so good! I’ll get it again next time.”

Mitsuya nodded, waving him off as Hakkai hurriedly left the cafe, though not before glancing back twice, expression a cross between apologetic and regretful. 

Returning to the counter, he was greeted by Kazutora’s smirk. “I didn’t know we were running a dating service now.” 

Mitsuya rolled his eyes, heading to the sink to wash the mugs. 

“We’re not,” Chifuyu chimed in. “If we were, Mitsuya would have sat down instead of hovering by his table.” 

“Guess he picked up loverboy’s habits. Maybe they’ll start sharing drinks next.” 

“Enough,” Mitsuya said sharply. “You’re both ridiculous. Weren’t you just telling me to stop leading him on?” 

“Oh yeah.” Kazutora snapped his fingers. “Hakkai’s not Mitsuya’s type. Ain’t that right, Chifuyu?” 

“But Mitsuya,” Chifuyu said, stroking his chin, “are you sure?” 

“I’m sure,” Mitsuya answered decisively. Hakkai was cute, objectively, but lots of people were cute. That didn’t mean Mitsuya was attracted to him.

“In denial,” Kazutora coughed. 

---

After the free drink, Hakkai loosened up a bit. He met Mitsuya’s gaze more often, and held it longer, too. He asked Mitsuya questions about how old he was (You’re only a year older than me! You seem a lot older, though--not in a bad way! Just real mature, like an adult.), if he was in school (You’re saving up for an atelier? So you really are an artist!), what kind of clothes he liked to make (I really wanna see your designs, won’t you bring your sketchbook some time?), what his family was like (I have a sister too! She’s older, though. I bet your little sisters are super cute!)...the list went on and on. Hakkai was endlessly curious and seemed to default to praises no matter what Mitsuya’s answers were. Mitsuya was starting to think that rather than having a crush on him, Hakkai just communicated solely through compliments. 

“Are your coworkers a couple?” Hakkai once asked while Mitsuya was wiping some tables near him. 

“No. Why? Do they seem like one?” Mitsuya asked, glancing back at the two. 

“I’m not sure…they’re both pretty, though, so they’d look nice together,” Hakkai explained. 

“You should tell them that. They’re gonna love it.” 

Hakkai nodded, making Mitsuya grin. Another thing he realized was that while Hakkai was fairly timid, he seemed to believe wholeheartedly in whatever Mitsuya said and tended to do as he asked. It was like when Luna and Mana were still young enough not to question everything Mitsuya said “cause you’re a boy, and boys don’t know anything.” 

Sure enough, before Hakkai left, he told Chifuyu that he and Kazutora suited each other because they were both pretty, causing Chifuyu to sputter out some incomprehensible questioning noises and Kazutora to bang his head against the shelf he’d been crouching under to get more milk. 

Mitsuya didn’t bother hiding his laughter as he waved goodbye to Hakkai. 

When Mitsuya finally remembered to bring his sketchbook to the cafe, Kazutora groaned so loud a male customer swayed back in alarm from where he’d been waiting for his drink. Kazutora waved him off as Chifuyu apologized and handed him his drink. 

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Kazutora said. 

“You’re more dramatic than both my sisters combined,” Mitsuya answered. “Are you sure you’re not secretly a 15-year-old girl inside?”

Kazutora leered, looking meaningfully down at his crotch, though thankfully seemed to have the tiniest bit of shame left since he didn’t actually voice his thoughts. Mitsuya supposed that it was a byproduct of spending more time with Chifuyu and less time with Baji thanks to their jobs. 

Small mercies. 

“You never let us see your sketchbooks,” Kazutora pointed out. 

“Well, it might have something to do with the fact that none of you have ever asked to see them,” Mitsuya said dryly. Except for Draken. He’d shown him his designs when they were making the Toman uniforms. Draken had always encouraged him to make clothes. 

He slapped Kazutora’s hand away from his sketchbook, smiling as Hakkai entered the cafe. “Go get Hakkai’s order, I’ll start making it.” 

Once Hakkai was comfortably seated and there was a lull in the flow of customers, Mitsuya grabbed his sketchbook and went over. 

Hakkai gasped when he saw the blue sketchbook under Mitsuya’s arm. “Is that…?” 

Mitsuya shrugged. “You did say you wanted to see it.” 

“I do!” Hakkai said, making grabby hands at the sketchbook. 

“Patience,” Mitsuya chastised, making Hakkai pout. Really, it was no different from dealing with his sisters. Maybe that was why Mitsuya felt so comfortable around Hakkai. 

A comfort that was slightly disturbed as he watched Hakkai flip through his sketchbook. He wasn’t really the type to think too hard about others’ opinions on his designs. He did what he liked and he listened to useful advice when it came, usually from people he respected and admired. 

Still, there was a part of him that anticipated Hakkai’s opinions, regardless of the fact that Hakkai often just showered him with praise no matter what. Or maybe it was because he’d gotten used to Hakkai’s unconditional positive regard that he was anticipating it. 

When the silence went a bit too long for comfort, Mitsuya cleared his throat, making Hakkai’s head snap up from where he was scrutinizing the page. 

“Sorry, sorry.” Hakkai hastily closed the sketchbook and handed it over to Mitsuya. “I got distracted reading the notes…your handwriting is really small and cute!” 

“Plus you’re a slow reader,” Mitsuya reminded him, making Hakkai huff. 

“That, too,” Hakkai conceded, “But seriously, the notes were super detailed. It’s obvious that you put a lot of time and thought into them!” 

“They have to be as detailed as possible so I can consult them when I’m making the clothes,” Mitsuya explained. “Were there any designs you liked?” 

“Well, I don’t know a lot about fashion, but there was a bunch that I liked! I could see myself wearing them, too.” 

Mitsuya tilted his head in consideration. Hakkai had a body type that was easy to design for. He was tall and had good proportions. His face, too, had full features, the angular curves of his jaw and nose balanced by his large, droopy eyes. Even his scar, while unconventional, only served to make his mouth more striking, especially when it was interrupted by a smile.  

“You could probably be a model, if you wanted to,” Mitsuya mused. “You have a good side profile.” It was something Mitsuya had noticed long ago when looking at Hakkai sipping his coffee from the counter. 

Hakkai gasped, eyes sparkling. “I’ve thought the exact same thing about you! Especially when you’re making coffee. Super professional.” 

“Yes, yes,” Mitsuya said dismissively. He’s heard that particular compliment dozens of times by now; Hakkai never got very creative with his compliments. 

“So does this mean you’ll design something for me?” 

The faux-casual tone that belied the anticipation in his eyes made Mitsuya laugh. 

“We’ll see. But don’t expect it to be free. I don’t do favors for the sake of friendship anymore. Friendship doesn’t put food on the table.” 

“Do you mean that?” Hakkai asked suddenly. 

The urgency in his tone made Mitsuya blink. “Well, I guess if you really can’t afford it, I can give you a discount--” 

Hakkai shook his head. “No! I mean…that we’re friends?” He worried his lip. 

Mitsuya had to stop himself from shaking his head in exasperation at the timid question. “Well, I don’t know what your relationships with baristas in other cafes are like, but I definitely don’t show any of our other customers my sketchbook.” 

“I don’t either,” Hakkai quickly denied. “I mean, I don’t go to other cafes. Regularly. My sister likes cafe hopping, and I go with her sometimes, but I definitely like this one the best.” 

“You better,” Mitsuya jokingly threatened. “I don’t break out my latte art skills for just anyone, you know.” 

“I’m honored.” Hakkai beamed, a splash of red dotting his ears. 

---

Their steady routine was interrupted by Mana getting sick. Normally, this wouldn’t be enough for Mitsuya to skip work, since Luna was now in middle school and more than capable of checking on Mana from time to time. Unfortunately, Luna ended up showing symptoms not long after, surprising both Mitsuya and his mom since they hadn’t gotten sick at the same time since Luna entered elementary school. 

The bug they caught stayed longer than usual, too, and between taking care of them and making sure that the two both caught up on their respective homework after they got better, Mitsuya was kept away from the cafe for two and a half weeks. Thankfully, Draken was able to spare Inupi to cover his shifts since business was slow, and while Inupi didn’t particularly like Kazutora, his love for free drinks triumphed. Along with a promise to look at some heels Inupi had recently bought in case it “inspired” Mitsuya to design something that suited them.

When Mitsuya finally returned to the cafe, he was greeted with the (very much unwelcome) sight of Baji leaning on the counter as he talked to Chifuyu. 

“Didn’t the owner get a restraining order on you?” 

“Nah, that geezer was just joking.” 

“Actually, he did get a temporary one that lasted two weeks,” Chifuyu said. 

“Ha? I’ll get his lying ass!” 

Kazutora rolled his eyes. “He wasn’t lying. If he filed a proper one, it would have lasted at least three years.” 

“Anyway, are your sisters better?” 

Mitsuya nodded, smiling at Chifuyu’s concern. “Yeah, they’re back in school now.” 

“Great to hear!” 

An hour into his shift, Mitsuya told Baji to stop hovering by the counter. Who knew how Hakkai would handle some fanged delinquent hogging the counter like some animal pissing on its territory? Of course, Baji didn’t go easily. He attempted to go behind the counter, shouldering through Kazutora’s shoves until Chifuyu finally bribed him with coffee. 

An hour and a half into his shift, Mitsuya wondered where Hakkai was. Did the others tell him that Mitsuya wouldn’t be coming for a while? 

Mitsuya surreptitiously looked at the clock on the wall but was unfortunately caught by Kazutora, who grinned. 

“Missing your loverboy?” 

“Shut up,” Mitsuya said just as Baji glanced up, a feral grin on his lips. “Is this that lanky baldie I met the other day?” 

Mitsuya paused, processing what Baji just said. “How long have you been coming here?” 

Baji shrugged. “A week? You know, Chifuyu’s kept me updated on your flirting. I swear he lives for this shit. Anyway, I figured I’d introduce myself to your future boyfriend while he was there.” 

Mitsuya gritted his teeth, telling himself it wasn’t worth getting into an argument about it. Chifuyu and Kazutora were both convinced he was in denial, and if they believed it, Baji would never be convinced by Mitsuya no matter what he said. 

“And so?” 

“So nothing. He was kinda jumpy but when I mentioned I was your friend he asked me like, a billion questions about you. Kid’s obsessed.” 

“He’s not obsessed!” This defense came not from Mitsuya, but from Chifuyu. “It’s a crush. Everyone acts like that.” 

“He didn’t talk about anything but Mitsuya. I got a total of three questions in and they all circled back to him!”  

“That’s cause you’re Mitsuya’s friend! What else would he talk about?” 

“He defended him last time too,” Kazutora muttered from Mitsuya’s side. “They bickered until closing. Though loverboy didn’t stay that long. He also didn’t come on Tuesday, which is coincidentally the first time he was supposed to come in after Baji talked to him.” 

Mitsuya could feel a headache forming. He decided to let it go. It probably was just a coincidence; it was either that or Hakkai wanted to avoid Baji until he was sure that Mitsuya was there too. Either way, it wasn’t worth the effort to try and ask Baji about the possible ways he could have offended Hakkai. The rest of his shift was busy enough that he was able to shove it to the back of his mind. 

Hakkai didn’t come the next week, either. Two weeks in, Chifuyu offered to get Baji to spill, but Mitsuya said it was fine. 

“You know, if you’d given him your number, this wouldn’t be such an issue,” Kazutora said. Mitsuya stared blankly at him until he went back to work. 

By the third week in, Mitsuya was making excuses for him in his head. Maybe there was a similar family issue, like Yuzuha got sick. Maybe someone in the convenience store he worked part-time at needed to switch shifts, though why anyone would take Hakkai’s night to early dawn shift in exchange for an afternoon one was beyond him. Maybe Hakkai himself had gotten sick and decided to stay away until he was sure it was gone, not wanting to pass it on to Mitsuya. Maybe he got a pimple on his face and didn’t want Mitsuya to see--it was just the right amount of overdramatic and self-conscious to be believable. 

After a full month’s mark, Mitsuya gave up on excuses and just started taking note of things he could tell Hakkai when he returned to the cafe. It was like collecting coins on a sidewalk. There was the time he and the others went bowling at Takemichi’s request, and they ended up beating the other team with Mitsuya’s winning strike. Another time when Pah-chin and Peh-yan mentioned rewatching The Godfather movies, which were Hakkai’s favorite. A flashy customer wearing a godawful neon letterman jacket that Hakkai would love and Mitsuya could never, in good conscience, let him wear. The new toasted white chocolate mocha drink on their menu. A newly released Kawakami book. 

Nearing two months, Mitsuya wondered if figurative pockets could get full. He resolutely ignored the furtive whispers behind his back. He wasn’t going to ask about it. Asking about it would be, in their eyes, the same as admitting they were right and that he did like Hakkai back, but that wasn’t it. Hakkai was Mitsuya’s friend. He missed him like he would miss any other friend who suddenly disappeared without notice. He wondered if he did something wrong, which was what he would do if any of his friends started ignoring him. 

He wondered if he shouldn’t have continued to ignore the way Hakkai sometimes brought out and fidgeted with his phone, obviously working up the courage to ask for Mitsuya’s number. 

---

The next time he saw Hakkai wasn’t at the cafe--not even close. 

Mitsuya stared at Hakkai’s slumped figure sitting on the couch. When he’d gotten a call from Chifuyu to come to his and Baji’s (and Kazutora’s in all but name) apartment, he didn’t really think anything of it. With the trouble the three of them got into, the strained note in Chifuyu’s tone might have been caused by any ridiculous situation that tended to happen when a brain cell was shared and passed between three people. 

“Long time no see,” Hakkai greeted hoarsely. Mitsuya was torn between greeting back--it had been a long time--and asking about the shiner on his face, dark and heavy under the fluorescent light of the apartment. Chifuyu passed by and handed Hakkai an ice bag, which he took with a grateful smile. 

The movement spurred Mitsuya into action, sidling next to Hakkai on the couch and tilting his chin to inspect the bruise. Hakkai stiffened almost imperceptibly before allowing Mitsuya to maneuver him as he liked, obediently turning left and right. 

Thankfully, the swelling didn’t look too bad. There was also no red tint in his eye that could point to damaged blood vessels. Against the dark purple bruising, the long eyelashes under his eye stood out starkly. 

“How do you feel?” 

“I’m good!” Hakkai’s eyes wandered around the room, avoiding Mitsuya’s. He was probably embarrassed by the fussing, but Mitsuya could hardly bring himself to care about it. “I wasn’t hit that hard. Not enough to get a concussion or anything.” 

Mitsuya stared at Hakkai skeptically. He’s experienced and treated enough injuries to know not to take Hakki’s words at face value, so he turned to Chifuyu and Baji. 

“What happened?” From the corner of his eye, he could see Hakkai turn to give the two a pleading look. They glanced at each other before Baji replied. 

“Hakkai came across us while Kazutora and I were fighting. He tried to stop us and I ended up hitting him by accident.” Chifuyu nodded in agreement, adding, “It was just a small misunderstanding. We cleared it up quickly.” 

Beside him, Hakkai slumped, as if his body was releasing an inaudible sigh of relief. Mitsuya wasn’t totally reassured, feeling like there was more to the story, but he knew Chifuyu wouldn’t have let Baji blatantly lie, even if it was on behalf of Hakkai. 

“If you get dizzy or feel like vomiting, you should get checked right away,” Mitsuya said. “And you should ice it for 20 minutes and then leave it for another 20 before doing it again.” 

Hakkai gave a thumbs up. “Got it, Doc,” he said, before adding admiringly, “You even know how to treat injuries, is there anything you can’t do?” 

Mitsuya ignored the compliment in favor of observing the rest of Hakkai’s appearance. Aside from the black eye, he didn’t look any different than the last time he’d seen him at the cafe. He was even wearing the same broad grin he always did, his lone normal eye creasing naturally. Mitsuya didn’t know how to take his nonchalant attitude. He had so many questions he didn’t even know where to start. 

“Why did you get in between them?” Mitsuya regretted the question immediately after it left his mouth, watching Hakkai’s smile vanish from his face like a light going out. Feeling the need to justify the question, he added, “You’re lucky it was Baji and not some other delinquent. They could have seriously hurt you.” 

Hakkai shrugged. “I didn’t really think about it. Also, I did recognize your coworkers before jumping in.” 

The idea that Hakkai had been concerned about his friends warmed Mitsuya, though not enough to stop him from insisting. “Still, you barely know them. You need to be more careful.” 

The admonishment seemed to put Hakkai on the defensive. “I can handle myself. I know I don’t seem like it, but I got into fights at school too. Even though I wasn’t in a gang like you.” 

The revelation came as a surprise to Mitsuya. Sure, Hakkai didn’t look like a weakling, but his personality seemed too laidback and, well, timid for him to draw attention to himself like that. Then again, a lot could change in a few years. 

“I didn’t mean to make it sound like that.” Mitsuya wasn’t trying to be condescending; Hakkai could make his own decisions, he knew that. “Involving yourself in other people’s problems--especially when they don’t ask for it-- rarely ever ends well, that’s all.” 

Instead of quelling him, the words seemed to agitate Hakkai even more. “It’s not good to stand by and watch people get hurt. Even if it’s scary…” Hakkai shuddered. “Doing nothing is even worse. It’s the worst!” 

The volume of Hakkai’s outburst seemed to surprise them both. In fact, Hakkai seemed even more spooked than Mitsuya was, ducking his head down and wringing his hands anxiously before his eyes peered up to scan the room, though Chifuyu and Baji had long disappeared to the bedroom, affording them some privacy. 

Mitsuya frowned, unsure if he should try to comfort Hakkai by putting his hands over his. Hakkai’s behavior reminded him of Kazutora, the way he sometimes acted when thinking or talking about his parents. 

Mitsuya’s eyes widened at the thought but immediately shook the idea away. It wasn’t his place to speculate and it was up to Hakkai to decide whether he wanted to share what was really going on or not. 

“You’re right, it is scary,” Mitsuya affirmed, choosing his next words cautiously. “But it’s what has to be done sometimes, and it’s good that you recognize that.” 

Hakkai nodded his head jerkily, still avoiding Mitsuya’s gaze. Mitsuya took the ice bag that lay forgotten on the table and gently pressed it against the side of Hakkai’s eye. The moment stretched as if it was absorbing all the words and emotions contained in them until there was nothing but an empty vacuum that could be filled with nothing but silence. 

It was Hakkai who broke it, at last, turning to Mitsuya with a smile. “So I did good, right?” 

Mitsuya looked at him with raised eyebrows. 

“That’s what you said, isn’t it? That I did good?” 

Mitsuya snorted. “Well, it would have been better if you actually dodged, what with your supposed years of experience.” 

“Mitsuya,” Hakkai whined. “You’re too stingy. Would it kill you to praise me even a little?” 

“I praise you just the right amount,” Mitsuya said, which was really not much at all. Still, it wasn’t his fault Hakkai was prone to getting big-headed. Mitsuya had to endure weeks of Hakkai randomly switching seats during his visits “so you could see my side profile better!” depending on where Mitsuya was after he brought his sketchbook. If Hakkai hadn’t refrained from moving during the times Mitsuya was actually busy with other customers, he’d have kicked him out. 

“No, you don’t,” Hakkai said adamantly. “In fact, you do it so rarely that I think I deserve a reward now since I did super good. Great, even.” 

“Last I checked, only those who did the best get rewards, though?” 

“That’s not true! You can get rewards for anything these days. Even just for participating. And I definitely did not just participate,” Hakkai said, gesturing to his bruise. 

Figuring Hakkai wasn’t going to give up easily, Mitsuya asked, “What do you want, then?” 

“Well…” Hakkai fidgeted. “You know how you said I’m like your sisters?” 

“Yeah? Why, do you want some candy or chocolate?” Mitsuya teased.  

“No! Be serious, please.” Hakkai tugged impatiently on Mitsuya’s arm to get him to put the ice bag down, looking at Mitsuya in the eye after he did so. “Well, I thought that if I really am like them, then I should get to call you Taka-chan too!” 

Mitsuya paused at the unexpected request then laughed. “Sure, Hakkai. I’ve been calling you by your first name since we met, huh?” 

“That’s right! So it’s only fair that I get to do that too. So it’s a deal, right, Taka-chan?” 

“Okay, but don’t overdo it,” Mitsuya warned. 

“No fair, you can’t take it back even if I do!” 

Mitsuya shook his head, wondering why he even missed this overgrown kid. The lack of proximity must have made Mitsuya forget how annoying Hakkai was. 

When Hakkai told Mitsuya that he had to go, Mitsuya tried to insist that he came with him in case anything happened, but Hakkai assured him that Yuzuha was waiting at a resto-bar not too far away after having eaten with her coworkers and that they were going home together. 

“Everything good?” Chifuyu asked, to which Mitsuya nodded. He watched as Hakkai bowed to them both in thanks before murmuring an apology to Baji, one that he’d also like him to extend to Kazutora. Baji waved him off, telling him he’d already apologized enough times. 

“And you?” Mitsuya returned. It was strange not to see Kazutora in their apartment, though it made sense if Mitsuya’s hunch was correct. Either way, Mitsuya didn’t pursue it any further when Chifuyu gave a reassuring smile. 

It was only when Mitsuya was on the train home that he realized he still hadn’t gotten Hakkai’s number. However, he figured he could ask him the next time Hakkai came to the cafe, since surely he’d be back now that they’d seen each other again and Hakkai had acted completely normal, black eye aside. He had even asked permission to call him Taka-chan, after all. There was no way he’d pass up the chance to call Mitsuya that as often as he could, at least until the novelty wore off. 

---

Mitsuya was proven wrong the next Tuesday when Hakkai didn’t appear at the cafe. He entertained the idea that Hakkai had misjudged his injury and had gotten a concussion after all, but it was unlikely considering how lucid Hakkai was when they were together.  

Two days later, Hakkai strolled into the cafe, a delighted “Taka-chan!” falling from his lips and bouncing around the otherwise empty cafe. Both Chifuyu and Kazutora’s necks snapped up, looking at Hakkai incredulously before going to Mitsuya. He resolutely ignored them as he rang up Hakkai’s order, inquiring after his injury. 

“Oh, it’s practically all better!” Hakkai said, which was true. The black was already fading and turning yellow around the edges and would probably fade in a week. 

Hakkai greeted Chifuyu and Kazutora before going to his regular seat, drink in hand. 

As soon as Mitsuya was within hearing range, Hakkai immediately launched into an animated story about the shopping trip he had with his sister in Harajuku, talking about the interesting clothes he’d seen both in the shops and on the shoppers. He even took some pictures on his phone for him to see, which Mitsuya greatly appreciated. In turn, Mitsuya updated Hakkai on Luna and Mana and told him about some of the things he’d taken note of while Hakkai was away. 

While Mitsuya was glad for the chance to empty his proverbial pockets, the number of things they talked about also reminded him of the reason why they were so full in the first place. 

Finally, unable to help himself, Mitsuya tried to fish for clues that would explain Hakkai’s disappearance. “So you’ve been busy with work, then?” 

“Ah, yeah, they were hiring at the bowling alley I usually go to, and I thought why not?” 

“That’s good,” Mitsuya said. Hakkai loved bowling, so he probably enjoyed working there, at least a bit more than in the convenience store. 

Mystery solved, then. 

“Yeah, it’s super fun,” Hakkai agreed. “I like watching beginners the most. They’re always super awkward, but you can tell they’re still having fun when they’re with their friends.” 

“I’m glad,” Mitsuya said sincerely. It was great that Hakkai could enjoy being at work. Despite pursuing his passion, Mitsuya held no ideals about the kind of work people should be doing. The meaning wasn’t as important as putting food on the table, after all. But it was always helped to be able to work at a place that was comfortable and not an active source of negativity. 

Hakkai left not long after, but not before Mitsuya got his number. Hakkai lit up when he’d asked and told him he’d text first, which he did right away, saying, “Taka-chan it’s me!!!” along with a string of cheering kaomojis. 

“Taka-chan, huh?” Kazutora drawled. 

“Don’t start,” Mitsuya warned.

“Whatever, I get it.” Kazutora rolled his eyes. “You just decided to adopt Hakkai as your third little sister.” 

Chifuyu snickered, though he looked immediately apologetic about it. Mitsuya couldn’t really blame him; just imagining Hakkai in pigtails like Luna’s had him fighting laughter, too. 

Now that they were texting one another, the sporadic visits didn’t seem like a big deal. Hakkai seemed to have his phone on him at all times, and he was also a serial texter, which allowed them to interact similarly to how they’d talk in real life, since Mitsuya’s lack of replies was taken the same way as any pointed remarks he’d have made in real life. It suited Mitsuya well, especially since he wasn’t a fast typer. 

“Who are you talking to?” Luna asked. “You rarely ever check your phone.” 

“Just a friend,” Mitsuya said absent-mindedly as he put the phone away and started plating their dinner. “I’ll bring him by some time. You’d like him.” 

Luna wrinkled her nose. “Someone new? I thought you’d stopped making friends after your gang disbanded.” 

Mitsuya blinked. While it was true that he’d met most of his friends during his Toman days, he didn’t think his social circle was so small for it to be weird to Luna that he’d have a new friend. Though his opportunities to meet new people did dwindle a lot after graduation since the only other social activity he had was the handicraft club. 

“I have some friends outside of the gang,” Mitsuya said, but Luna had already turned away in disinterest. 

“I thought it was a boyfriend,” she grumbled, clearly disappointed. 

Mitsuya sighed. Since she’d had her first crush, Luna found virtually everything uninteresting unless there was some sort of romance involved. She was convinced--and incredibly invested in--some sort of romantic conspiracy that was apparently going on between two high-profile actors, explaining that they were practically declaring their love in public and that it was others’ fault if they didn’t know how to read between the lines. He shuddered to think what would happen if she ever started bonding with Chifuyu.

That night, after sketching some rough designs that were inspired by the latest Chanel collection, he’d checked his phone one last time before heading to bed only to be surprised by the series of messages that Hakkai left. Though the number of messages wasn’t nearly as surprising as what they contained. 

Ummm TAKA-CHAN I NEED HELP (crying kaomoji)

My stupid sister set me up on a date (crying kaomoji) (distressed kaomoji)

I told her it wasn’t possible cause you know how I can’t talk to girls (blushing kaomoji) (sad kaomoji)

But she said it was a guy! (shocked kaomoji) 

Also she said she’ll stop pretending I don’t steal her shampoo if I flaked (distressed kaomoji)

so I need a favor! (bowing kaomoji) Could you help me decide what to wear?? 

It’s ok to say no though, I know you’re super busy! (shy kaomoji) 

It’d just help me be more confident if I knew I was wearing something Taka-chan approved of! (smiling kaomoji with a star) 

So will you help me?? Btw if you don’t say no in two hours I’ll assume it’s a yes (winking kaomoji) 

Mitsuya looked at the time when the last message was sent, then glanced at the clock. It was, in fact, over two hours. Though Hakkai knew that, because Mitsuya always spent at least two hours after dinner working on his designs. 

Fine , he replied. 

TAKA-CHAN!! YOU’RE THE BEST!!! (cheering kaomoji) (cheering kaomoji) (cheering kaomoji) 

And so, with two days left before the date, Mitsuya helped Hakkai choose between the outfits. None were particularly bad individually, but it seemed that, just like with everything else, Hakkai tended to go overboard when trying to pair items together, especially considering the flashy designs he preferred. Mitsuya did his best to impress upon him the importance of moderation and the idea that many times, less is more. 

“You don’t want people to only notice your outfit, since that means it’s obviously distracting them from the rest of your features,” Mitsuya explained. 

“You’re right, Taka-chan, my features don’t deserve to be ignored!” 

In the end, Hakkai paired an oversized distressed knit with pants that were ¾ in length (because your legs are long, Mitsuya explained) and boots. The shirt might have been too much on someone else, but it suited Hakkai’s broad frame well. Hakkai sent him a picture of himself in the outfit using a mirror before his date. 

SUCCESS!! (happy kaomoji) (cheering kaomoji) 

Good luck, Mitsuya replied. He would have liked to see Hakkai’s outfit in person, trying to zoom in on the way the outfit hung on his body. Still, he’d probably see the shirt eventually on one of the days Hakkai went to the cafe, and he’d already seen Hakkai’s pants and boots. He supposed he’d have to make do with that. 

By nine in the evening, Mitsuya became distracted by the fact that Hakkai still hadn’t texted. He had expected him to text as soon as the date was over to tell him about how it went. Hakkai met up with his date during lunch, so it seemed unlikely that they were still together. 

Mitsuya stared blankly at the fabric he’d been tracing his design on, frustrated. He was having a hard time concentrating, which was rare for him. He looked at his phone again, but there were still no new messages. Did Hakkai get so tired that he’d passed out as soon as he got home? 

By the three-hour mark, Mitsuya decided to call it a day and go to sleep despite the fact that he didn’t finish nearly as much as he thought he would. But after half an hour of tossing and turning, he returned to his work table, figuring it would be a better use of his time than trying and failing to fall asleep. 

He ended up finishing all the tasks he’d set for himself by four in the morning, when he’d finally grown tired enough to fall into a fitful sleep. 

The next morning, he asked Hakkai how his date went, to which Hakkai replied: 

TAKA-CHAN!! I’ll tell you at the cafe!! See you!!! (waving kaomoji)

Right then, Mitsuya thought. He guessed it went well if Hakkai wanted to regale the entire date face-to-face. 

Mitsuya was proven right when Hakkai immediately started talking about his date as soon as he reached the counter, explaining who his date was (a friend of Yuzuha’s, so he was a year older), what they did (ate lunch, went bowling, ate dinner, and visited an art installation that Hakkai was convinced Mitsuya needed to see for himself), and how he’d gotten asked on a second date, too. 

Mitsuya made sure to smile the entire time, punctuating Hakkai’s rambles with hums of acknowledgment and short questions (really?) and comments (wow!). 

“Sounds like you had a lot of fun.” 

“Yeah, it was nice,” Hakkai said. “You would have--uh, really liked the art installation, I think. Maybe you can go when you’re free!” 

“Oh yeah?” Mitsuya said, pleased. “Should we go?” 

“Oh, uh,” Hakkai faltered, “I was thinking you could take Luna, cause, you know, she hasn’t seen it, but I have, so the ticket, it’d be a waste…” 

“Okay,” Mitsuya replied slowly, unable to hide his surprise at the blatant rejection, no matter how badly Hakkai tried to cover it up. He should probably take this as a sign that Hakkai had moved on from his crush on him. 

This was a good thing, he thought. Now he didn’t have to reject Hakkai and they could remain friends, which was how he’d seen Hakkai from the start. 

“You let him go on a date?” Kazutora asked once Hakkai had left. Next to him, Chifuyu stayed silent, though his expression was similarly appalled. 

“I didn’t “let him” do anything,” Mitsuya corrected. “Because it isn’t my business who he dates.” 

“This is gonna backfire on you so badly,” Kazutora said flatly. 

“My ship is dying,” Chifuyu moaned from where he was arranging the napkins at the self-service area. He periodically paused to glance morosely at Hakkai’s usual seat before resuming his work. 

Mitsuya wondered why he’d ever agreed to work this particular shift when he could have been with Takemichi and the Kawata twins, instead. Though, imagining the havoc Mikey would wreak and the gossip the twins would spread, he supposed it was just a matter of choosing the lesser evil. 

For his next date, Hakkai invited Mitsuya over to his house since it was easier to just let Mitsuya see what he had in his closet. Mitsuya agreed because it would be much better to see all of Hakkai’s options and he’d get to see how Hakkai looked in person while wearing the outfit, too. 

“...Uhh, Taka-chan?” 

Mitsuya snapped his eyes up from where he’d been scrutinizing the collared shirt he’d placed on Hakkai to his face. The fit was good, but the color didn’t look particularly flattering when he considered Hakkai’s skin tone. 

“What is it?” 

“It’s nothing!” Hakkai laughed nervously. “Taka-chan just looked so serious. Like a real designer! A super handsome one!” 

Mitsuya sighed, urging Hakkai to take off his shirt as he turned around to check their other options, all laid out on Hakkai’s bed. A sudden click broke his concentration, and he turned to scold Hakkai, who had his phone up to his face and was standing shirtless. 

“Hakkai!” Mitsuya scolded. 

“Sorry, sorry!” Hakkai said, raising his hands in surrender like a criminal caught by the police. “Taka-chan’s side profile just looked so great, I couldn’t resist! I wanna make it your contact picture.” 

The movement drew Mitsuya’s attention to his chest before his eyes slipped lower to Hakkai’s toned stomach. He immediately went back to scanning the clothes on Hakkai’s bed. 

“Um, can I take one more?” 

“Ha--” Mitsuya turned to scold Hakkai once more before cutting himself off, staring at Hakkai’s collar bones, which were right in front of his face. He looked up to see Hakkai pouting, eyes wide and round. 

“Please? Just one more?” 

Damn it, Mitsuya cursed as he felt heat start to spread in his cheeks. He grabbed the turtleneck he was eyeing earlier and blindly shoved it in Hakkai’s direction, refusing to turn his head around in case Hakkai noticed his blush. And with how close they were, there was no way he wouldn’t notice it. 

“Stop kidding around and cover yourself up! What’ll you do if you catch a cold?” Mitsuya reprimanded, hoping to distract Hakkai with his rebuke. 

Thankfully, it seemed to have worked, since Hakkai immediately put the turtleneck on, a muffled “Sorry, Taka-chan!” coming from the fabric as Hakkai struggled to pop his head out of the hole, his features straining the stretchy fabric meant for his neck. Hakkai started flailing his arms, whining for Mitsuya to help him before he suffocated.  

“Taka-chan!! I’m stuck please help!” 

Relieved that he was given a moment to collect himself again, Mitsuya decided to indulge his stupid antics instead of scolding him, helping him pull the fabric down slowly, making sure there was enough space to stop the fabric from snagging on anything. 

When Hakkai’s head popped out inches from his, he gave Mitsuya a blinding smile, making Mitsuya step back a little self-consciously, having not realized how close Hakkai’s face would be to his. 

“Taka-chan! Here I am!” He said, like a child who had just successfully performed a disappearing magic trick. 

Mitsuya blinked then chuckled. “There you are.” 

They settled on some black pants and a blue coat with black, white, and orange accents. The coat in particular draped nicely on Hakkai’s shoulders, especially paired with the turtleneck, which emphasized Hakkai’s long neck. 

Hakkai rotated in front of a mirror, then did it again in the opposite direction, the blue coat swirling as he turned. “It looks good!” 

“It does,” Mitsuya agreed. After adding the golden hoop earrings, which matched the buttons on the coat, Mitsuya could say that Hakkai looked like a real model. He felt pride swell inside of him, similar to how he’d felt when he saw his friends in the Toman uniforms he designed, but also different. 

Hakkai caught Mitsuya’s eyes through the mirror. “Like what you see?” 

Yeah, he realized with a muted shock. He did. There was a feeling of satisfaction swirling in his veins, a thick and heady feeling that was threatening to consume him the longer his eyes lingered on the contours of Hakkai’s body wrapped in the clothes he’d picked for him--the slope of his neck, the curve of his collarbones, the indentation of his hips. 

Mitsuya remembered the lecture he’d given Hakkai, about how good outfits didn’t distract people from the model’s features--instead, they were supposed to draw you in, invite you closer, make you want to touch. 

“Taka-chan..?” Hakkai fidgeted self-consciously. 

Mitsuya smiled gently to mask the maelstrom of emotions inside of him. This wasn’t the time, he reminded himself. “Sorry, got lost in thought for a moment.” 

“Eh, Taka-chan can be airheaded, too?” Hakkai asked cheekily. 

They were interrupted by the sound of the front door opening and a girl’s voice calling, “I’m home, Hakkai! You ready for your date?” 

She barged into the room, pausing when she noticed Mitsuya. 

“Can’t you knock?” Hakkai yelped. “What if I was still naked?” 

Yuzuha’s eyes narrowed. “Then we’d have something else we’d need to talk about,” she said pointedly in Mitsuya’s direction. 

“Sorry for the intrusion. I’m Mitsuya Takashi,” he said, figuring that he would be better off not hearing whatever Hakkai might have said in reply. 

“Yuzuha. I’m this kid’s older sister,” she replied. 

“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Mitsuya said to be polite. 

“So have I.” 

Mitsuya paused at the menacing tone emanating from the words she’d just uttered. 

“Okay, I have to go, I’m gonna be late,” Hakkai said, rushing Yuzuha out of his room and motioning for Mitsuya to follow. “Since it’s on the way to Taka-chan’s friend’s house, we’ll walk part of the way together.” 

“Don’t push me,” Yuzuha said, shaking Hakkai’s hold off. “There’s no way you’d be late. It won’t take more than half an hour to get there. Let me see your outfit.” 

Yuzuha looked at it closely, her gaze softening when Hakkai granted her a quick twirl.

“It does look good,” Yuzuha admitted begrudgingly. 

“Taka-chan helped me pick it! He’s a designer!” 

“I wouldn’t call myself a professional just yet,” Mitsuya interjected. 

Yuzuha scowled at him before yanking Hakkai’s head closer and muttering in his ear. Following her cue, Mitsuya politely looked away and pretended he couldn’t hear her, though he could make out some muffled words, such as “why…ask…not…cute.” 

Though Hakkai liked to pretend that they weren’t, Mitsuya knew that he and his sister were very close. Even if Hakkai didn’t explicitly say that he liked Mitsuya, Yuzuha probably had her own suspicions about why Hakkai was always hanging around the same cafe twice a week, even if it wasn’t nearly as regular now. Her thoughts on him were also very clear, given that she was the one that arranged the date Hakkai was going on. While this wasn’t exactly great for Mitsuya, he could sympathize with Yuzuha’s feelings as an older sibling. He doubted he’d like any guy who deliberately feigned ignorance in the face of Luna’s obvious feelings.

“Alright, we’ll be going now,” Hakkai announced, giving Mitsuya an apologetic look. 

“Sorry about her,” Hakkai said as they walked down the street. “I told you before, but she’s really overprotective. It’s not personal.” 

“I understand,” Mitsuya said. “Don’t worry about it. Tell me how your date goes, alright?” 

“Of course!” Hakkai said. “But you’re drinking with your friends tonight, aren’t you? I’ll tell you at the cafe, instead.” 

“No, you can text me whenever. I’ll reply by morning, at least.” 

“Are you sure? Don’t blame me if you start sending embarrassing drunk texts…” 

“I’m not getting drunk, Hakkai. I’d never do that unless I was crashing at someone else’s place, and I have to head home and help Mana prepare for her field trip.” 

“Oh, right! Well..that’s probably a good thing, your ability to type might get even worse when you’re drunk, if that’s possible...it might take Taka-chan the whole evening to send one reply!” 

Hakkai laughed at Mitsuya’s withering look, clearly having become immune to it out of overexposure.

When they reach the street where they have to part, Hakkai grinned and waved with two hands as he walked away, still facing Mitsuya. 

“You’ll hit your head if you don’t look where you’re going, idiot!” 

Hakkai laughed and turned around. Mitsuya felt his finger twitch with an instinctive desire to pull Hakkai back, to grab his coat and not let go. To not let him go, not when he was laughing at something Mitsuya had said while wrapped up in clothes and wearing accessories Mitsuya had chosen for him. 

Mitsuya drew a steadying breath and began his trek to Baji and Chifuyu’s apartment. 

----

All in all, Mitsuya enjoyed meeting and drinking with his friends. While he saw some of them pretty often, it wasn’t easy to have everyone gather in one place, not when everyone had their own lives to attend to. Mitsuya could scarcely believe there was a time when they all saw each other so regularly, at school or during Toman meetings. 

Regardless of these feelings, however, the nights they met and drank could always be neatly separated into two for Mitsuya; the time when he enjoyed talking to them because he missed them, and the time when he no longer missed them and wanted to leave. And now that almost everyone was drunk or on the way there (barring Draken and Takemichi, who couldn’t because of prior commitments, and Chifuyu, out of good conscience), it was definitely reaching the latter. 

Next to Mitsuya, Pah-Chin was already snoring away, while Mikey continued to try--and fail--to climb into Takemichi’s lap, being prevented by Takemichi’s half-hearted shoves and pleading, though his pleading probably only made him more determined to do it. Kazutora was experimenting with the drinks with Baji and Chifuyu as his taste testers. 

“It’s like minty cum!” Baji yelled, which Kazutora apparently found hysterical, while Chifuyu tried to shush them both in embarrassment. 

Mitsuya was just about to help Chifuyu wrangle Baji down from where he was attempting to stand on the couch when he got a text message. 

TAKA-CHAN LOOK THE CAT LOOKS LIKE YOU! 

The picture attached to the message was a gray-silver cat with slit eyebrows. 

Don’t text in front of your date , Mitsuya replied. 

I’m not!! He’s in the bathroom. Anyway he was also texting his brother earlier family doesn’t count (smug kaomoji)

Mitsuya stared at the message and wondered if he should take this as an official rejection. 

“Whuzzat?” The phone was snatched from Mitsuya’s hands by a curious Baji, who stared at it for a moment before he burst out laughing. 

“Look at this shit,” he hollered. “Mitsuya just got bro-zoned!” 

His words get the attention of everyone in the room, even Draken who’d just come back from the bathroom. 

“Someone rejected Mitsuya? Our Pretty Boy Captain Mitsuya?” Mikey asked, hazy eyes sharpening. Mitsuya couldn’t even bring himself to be surprised. 

“Damn, his standards must be something.” Draken whistled. 

“Serves him right!” 

“It was his own damn fault!” 

“Are you okay, Mitsuya-kun?” 

Mitsuya smiled at Takemichi, opting to ignore everyone else. “It’s fine, Takemichi. It’s not how it seems.” At least it wasn’t until tonight. Probably. 

“Not how it seems my ass,” Kazutora grumbled. 

“Guess he really took my words seriously,” Baji said. 

“What words?” Both Mitsuya and Chifuyu turned to stare at Baji, who ruffled his hair sheepishly under their stares. 

“Oh, you know…” Baji trailed off, staring at nothing for a few seconds until Kazutora snapped his fingers in front of him. “Jesus! You looking for a fight? Anyway, it was just a joke.” 

“What was a joke?” Mitsuya asked, suddenly realizing how dry his throat was. 

“Just, yanno,” Baji waved his hand dismissively, “that he wasn’t really your type, or whatever. Which he isn’t!” He added when Chifuyu groaned. 

“How could you say that?” 

“C’mon, Fuyu, he laughed too! How was I supposed to know he was gonna take me so seriously?” 

“Yeah, Chifuyu, it’s not like he knew that no one ever takes this brute seriously,” Kazutora added. 

Mitsuya watched them start tussling once Baji lunged, the glasses in front of them only being saved by Chifuyu’s quick reflexes. 

“So,” Draken said, eyebrows raised, “not your type, huh?” 

“Not really,” Mitsuya said, because it was true. Hakkai was just--so not his type. He was whiny and always kidding around. He was old-fashioned in a naive way, a way that only those who were shielded from the real world ever were. He was emotional and always overdid things. He could never keep his cool even though he was full of pretenses, preoccupied with how he’d look in front of others. 

Why did Mitsuya like him? 

“Then you should be fine with it,” Draken said. “Right?” 

“I dressed him,” Mitsuya blurted out. “For his date. I made him look good and sent him to some--some guy.” Someone that’s not me, he thought, heart sinking to his stomach. It didn’t matter who it was. 

What mattered was that it wasn’t him. 

“I’m not fine with it,” he said. “I’m not fine with this at all.” 

Draken nodded, not looking particularly surprised. “It’s a good thing you’re not the type to just lie down and put up with things you don’t like, huh?” 

Mitsuya stared as he processed Draken’s pointed words. Flashes of when he and Draken first met resurfaced. Don’t hate your circumstances, he’d said. Mitsuya had taken those words to heart because they changed his entire mindset and eventually shaped his view on life. Before that, he couldn’t accept that his family was poor and that nothing was going to change. But that was the whole point. Nothing was going to change, so why hate it? The only thing he could control was himself and what he did with his circumstances. 

But those circumstances weren’t the same as this. It was only two dates. He didn’t have to accept that nothing was going to change. Not yet.

He grinned. “Hell nah.” 

The next morning, he texted Hakkai, asking how his date went and if there was going to be a third. Hakkai replied that it was okay, but his date hadn’t asked him for a third one, and neither had Hakkai, so he wasn’t sure. 

Good enough, Mitsuya supposed. He asked Hakkai if he was free and wanted to meet for coffee, but not at the cafe. 

Is that allowed?? Isn’t that cheating??? (sad emoji) (suspicious emoji)

It’s work, not a relationship , Mitsuya replied. He suggested a nice, out-of-the-way cafe with good souffle pancakes that he’s sure Hakkai would love.

“Taka-chan are you treating me to a meal?” Hakkai immediately asked as he sat down in front of him. 

Mitsuya raised his eyebrow. “Did you not bring any money?” 

“If I said I didn’t, would you pay for me?” 

“Well, they’ll probably let you wash dishes in exchange.” 

“Ehh, Taka-chan would leave me to do the dishes by myself?” 

Mitsuya chuckled at Hakkai’s horrified look. He really couldn’t be left alone. 

“So do you think you might ask that guy out on a third date?” Mitsuya asked as they ate. 

“Uhh, I dunno,” Hakkai answered, a bit evasively, Mitsuya noted. “Maybe.” 

“Do you not like him?” 

“He’s nice,” Hakkai immediately replied. “Just…can I tell you a secret?” 

Mitsuya looked at Hakkai in surprise. He wasn’t about to confess, was he? No, he wouldn’t do it like this. 

“I think he likes my sister,” Hakkai admitted. “He probably just did it as a favor to her.” 

“Are you sure?” Mitsuya asked, concerned. While this was technically a good thing, he didn’t like the idea that someone might be using Hakkai. If Hakkai had ended up really liking him, he’d surely be very hurt right now. 

“Well, I didn’t confirm it or anything, but I can see the signs, a bit. You know my sister’s always been a bit dense about that. Plus she has a really high opinion of me so I think it skews her perception a bit. He probably listened to her talking about me and mistook it for interest. Well, he was interested, just not in me,” Hakkai amended with a small chuckle. 

“Whatever feelings he might have for her doesn’t excuse his actions,” Mitsuya said sharply. 

“I know.” Hakkai shrugged. “But what can you do? It was kinda mutual, anyway.” 

“Mutual?” 

Hakkai froze. “Oh, I just--I meant that I didn’t really like him that much, either, you know,” he stammered. 

Mitsuya observed Hakkai, who was squirming in his seat, closely. If Hakkai had backed off because of Baji’s words, then he was probably trying to move on, as Mitsuya had thought. In that case, he supposed that Hakkai was using that guy, too. Though Hakkai’s intentions were definitely more excusable. 

“Right.” 

Anyway, it worked in his favor, so it was best to just let it go. If Hakkai was right, then the issue was up to that guy and Yuzuha to resolve, anyway. 

“I’m glad,” Mitsuya said, making sure to keep his gaze locked on Hakkai’s, “that you didn’t like him.” 

“Yeah.” Hakkai nodded, apparently not getting the message. 

Mitsuya frowned. “He doesn’t know what he’s missing,” he tried. 

Hakkai grinned. “Aww, Taka-chan, you’re so sweet!” He cooed. “Such a supportive friend.” 

Mitsuya counted to three in his head. He wasn’t used to confessing; guys usually just came up to him, so he’d never thought that hard about what might go into confessing. If they were in a more private setting, he’d have just grabbed Hakkai’s neck and kissed him. But no, Hakkai deserved to hear it. 

“Hakkai,” Mitsuya started, determined. “There’s something I have to tell you.” 

“Uh, okay…?” 

“I’m not really the type to accept circumstances I don’t like if I can change them,” Mitsuya continued. “And our friendship is something I’d like to change. And so--” 

“Wait!” Hakkai’s arm shot out from under the table. “Taka-chan, I think I know what you’re trying to say.” 

Mitsuya stared in alarm at Hakkai’s eyes, which were starting to turn glassy. “I don’t think--” 

“Don’t say it!” He cried. “I don’t want to hear it. I just…” He stared at the empty plate in front of him. Mitsuya could see his eyelashes clumping together. “Even if we aren’t friends, I wish you a happy life, Taka-chan!” He blubbered. 

Jesus Christ. 

“What the hell are you saying, dumbass?” Mitsuya snapped, losing his patience. Where did he even get the idea that Mitsuya was trying to (friend) dump him? “Seriously, what are you thinking?” 

“Don’t hate me,” Hakkai wailed. 

Mitsuya sighed and flagged down the waitress for their check. And a glass of water. 

“Have you calmed down?” Mitsuya asked once they left the cafe. Beside him, Hakkai sniffed but nodded. “Honestly, what am I supposed to do with you?” He only heard the underlying thread of affection in his tone as he said it. 

“Nothing, apparently,” Hakkai said, sullen, apparently not having noticed the slip at all. 

“You can’t seriously think I was trying to tell you I didn’t want to be friends anymore,” Mitsuya said flatly. “Why would you think that?” 

“I dunno, you tell me,” Hakkai sulked. “I’m just--I’m not--” he cut himself off. 

Mitsuya waited patiently. Hakkai was being difficult, but he probably wasn’t being as irrational as Mitsuya thought he was, at least not in his own head. 

“Come on,” Mitsuya coaxed, patting the space on the bench next to him once they arrived at a playground. 

“I don’t get why you’re friends with me at all,” Hakkai said. “I mean, I’m a customer, yeah, it’s not like you can escape from me at the cafe. But we’re not there. And I’m--I--I haven’t even finished reading the Kawakami book.” 

Hakkai’s random confession startled Mitsuya into laughter. “Hakkai, I don’t care about the stupid book.” 

“It’s not stupid,” Hakkai protested. “It’s actually pretty interesting. I just fall asleep too easily every time I try to read it.” 

“Okay,” Mitsuya said, not willing to derail their conversation any more than it already has. “The point is, I wasn’t hanging around you waiting for your opinion on the book. I hang out with you because I like you, Hakkai.” 

Hakkai flushed, as expected. He stared at the empty swings across them with unprecedented intensity. He was probably willing his blush to go down. 

But it wouldn’t, of course, Mitsuya thought, smug. If there was anything he was always sure of, it was his ability to affect Hakkai and make him blush. 

“I like you too, Taka-chan.” Hakkai coughed. “As a friend, of course.” 

“Oh yeah?” Mitsuya said. “That’s pretty awkward, then. Cause I didn’t mean it as a friend.” 

Hakkai whipped his head around to look at Mitsuya, who stared back evenly, a small smile playing on his lips. 

When Hakkai still didn’t say anything, Mitsuya sighed, shoulders slumping exaggeratedly. “Guess it’s a rejection, then.” 

Hakkai jumped up, turning to face Mitsuya. “No! No, Taka-chan, I’m not--Don’t--” He buried his face in his hands, groaning against his palms. Mitsuya could see his blush spilling into the spaces between his fingers. The movement also made him sway forward, bending his knees a little, and really, how could Mitsuya resist? 

He snagged Hakkai by the back of his neck, pulling him down, and used his other hand to tug Hakkai’s own hands away from his face until his own hand was left cradling his cheek and kissed him. 

Hakkai squeaked against his lips, but Mitsuya was insistently pressing against him, refusing to let Hakkai get away until he felt him hesitantly press back. 

“Taka-chan,” Hakkai whimpered before the kiss could get much deeper, making Mitsuya chuckle. He brushed his lips against his and was about to press in again when Hakkai said in a rush, “I really wanna keep kissing you but my thighs, they can’t.” 

Mitsuya looked down, only just realizing that Hakkai was in an awkward squatting position. Both his hands were braced against the bench next to Mitsuya’s thighs, trying to support his weight. Mitsuya laughed and let Hakkai go, watching him stand up in relief, smiling at the lingering warmth in his hands from the heat of Hakkai’s skin. 

“Not the kind of exertion I was expecting,” he joked. 

Mitsuya smirked. “Might not be a bad idea for practice, though.” 

“Taka-chan! Don’t be crass!” 

Mitsuya rolled his eyes. Honestly, Hakkai chose the weirdest times to think he was some sort of Victorian maiden. “Alright, fine. I wouldn’t want to offend my boyfriend’s delicate sensibilities.” 

“Boyfriend?” Hakkai crossed his arms. “You did not ask me to be your boyfriend, Taka-chan.” 

Mitsuya shot him a look. “Why, are you gonna try to reject me again?” 

“No!” He huffed. “I’ll be the one to ask, since you confessed first. Ooooh, I have so many ideas! Can I have Chifuyu’s number?” 

Mitsuya stared in dawning horror. “No.” 

Hakkai shrugged. “Oh well. It’s a good thing Kazutora gave me his! I’ll ask him, instead.” 

Mitsuya reminded himself not to hate his circumstances. Especially when they were his own doing. 

---

Mitsuya knew something was wrong when he came into the cafe two weeks later. He looked around. The cafe was moderately busy, with half the tables seated. Chifuyu was on the counter while Kazutora was making drinks. It all looked normal, but Mitsuya couldn’t shake off the suspicion that something was up. 

The feeling was forgotten the longer he worked his shift. Maybe it was nothing after all. Though he did wonder if Hakkai was running late. When he didn’t come to the cafe during his usual days, he usually texted Mitsuya in advance to say so. 

Near the end of his shift, when the cafe was practically empty, his friends started arriving. Takemichi came in with Mikey, and Draken followed after with Inupi and Koko. The Kawata twins appeared next. Then Baji, with Pah-chin and Peh-yan. They didn’t technically come in as a group--they trickled in rather than swarmed, but the fact that they all arrived within thirty minutes raised alarm bells in his head. 

“Are we going out after this?” Mitsuya asked. Did they schedule something in the group chat? Why didn’t Mitsuya see anything? 

“No, but you are,” Kazutora said, leering. He winced when Chifuyu punched his arm. 

The other customers jumped when Mikey slammed his hand on the table. “Let’s get this over with, I’m starving.” 

“You just ate before we came here,” Takemichi hissed by his side. 

“Whatever,” Mikey said, standing up from his seat and sauntering to Mitsuya with a shit-eating grin on his face. He yanked his jacket open, revealing a white shirt with the letter I. “Read it.” 

Mitsuya stared. “It’s one letter.” 

Mikey snorted. He turned and said, “Line up or else this’ll take forever.” 

One by one, his friends approached with varying degrees of amusement on their faces. Every single one of them was wearing a shirt with a letter. 

“Congratulations!” Takemichi said. L.

“This shit’s so good,” Nahoya said, gleeful. “It’s like high school, if we, yanno, actually went.” I. 

“We did go, remember? You just slept through most of it.” Souya reminded him. K.

“Kill me,” Inupi said. E. 

“This looks hella cheap, but he called in a lot of favors to get us to do this. I’m pretty sure he owes Mikey a lifetime’s worth of snacks. ” Koko said. “Love’s expensive.” Y. 

“For the wedding,” Pah-chin said with a camera in his hand. O. 

“Also for blackmail,” Peh-yan added. U. 

“No one’s ever gonna let you live this down,” Baji said. A.

“Takemichi got Emma in on it,” Draken explained. L.

“I shipped it first,” Chifuyu said. A. 

“You don’t have enough friends,” Kazutora said. “Also, you’re fucking welcome.” TT. 

“Taka-chan!” Hakkai said, having emerged from somewhere. He must have come into the cafe when Mitsuya wasn’t looking, though it was hard to imagine Mitsuya would ever not notice him. E. 

Hakkai vibrated in excitement. “Do you like it? Wait, did you read it? Should they go again?” 

“Aw hell no!”

Mitsuya was at a loss for words. What could he even say? What did Hakkai do to wrangle his delinquent friends into a confession that looked like it was inspired by a high school promposal on Tiktok? 

“Bitch, he’s gonna cry!” 

“Shut up!” Mitsuya snapped, because one, he wasn’t, and two, Hakkai did look kinda teary-eyed, but that was no one’s business but Mitsuya’s. 

“He’s defending his beau!” 

“Get on with it already!” 

Hakkai cleared his throat. “So, um, I like you a lo-latte. Would you do me the honor of being my boyfriend?” 

“You really shouldn’t overdo things,” Mitsuya said because he really didn’t like it. 

Before Hakkai’s face could fall, Mitsuya yanked his dumb shirt down and drew him into a kiss, ignoring the catcalls and jeers from his friends.

It was embarrassing, too much, not subtle at all. The complete opposite of everything he liked. His friends were gonna make fun of him for the rest of his life. 

But he wouldn’t hate it. 

Mitsuya watched as Hakkai went around the cafe to thank his friends. Chifuyu trailed after him, interjecting when it seemed like the teasing was getting out of hand. Hakkai’s cheeks were sporting a healthy flush, but it wasn’t much, really, compared to what Mitsuya’s seen (or caused). Mitsuya figured he could leave it to Chifuyu. 

“You know, I was telling Draken about him when I covered for you,” Inupi said before he left. “Said there was a tall, handsome guy that seemed like Mitsuya’s type.” 

“Really?” Inupi was aware of his crush on Draken and Haitani Ran. Their tastes weren’t too far apart, actually, at least in terms of aesthetics. Which just made his comment even stranger. 

“Yup. Some girls tried to hit on him and he stared through them like they weren’t even there. All refined and shit. And I thought, aren’t you into that?” 

They shared a look, one that communicated how wrong Inupi’s first impression obviously was. 

“Apparently I am.”