Work Text:
Kojirō is quite certain he did something wrong, he just doesn’t know what, as it often happens when it involves Kaoru.
It all started a couple of days ago during one of their phone calls. After Kaoru had to leave for the other realm to join Okinawa’s Mystical College and Kojirō stayed in the mortal world, their only source of communication was phone calls, videocalls and the occasional funky spells like holograms or Kaoru shouting at Kojirō through a bubbling pot.
They tried to talk at least once a day. It wasn’t easy to be a literal world away from the person that you used to share everything since you were oblivious kids playing in the sandbox and fighting over who got to play with their shared Kamen Rider (originally Kojirō’s but Kaoru quickly took ownership as well).
It was overwhelming, soul crushing at times, to turn around expecting to see the other and then remembering they were so far away. Kojirō still called Kaoru’s name when he looked for someone to taste test his food and Kaoru still waited for Kojirō’s cheering when he got a spell right. Both still hurt when they looked at their skateboards and remembered the magical nights they had.
So they tried. Despite how their lives tried to keep them apart, with Kaoru’s long everlasting classes and extracurriculars, and Kojirō’s full time job and everything he had to do to help at home, they found time for each other. At least they weren’t seven time zones away, yet. It’ll be way harder when Kojirō starts culinary school in September. They might not say it, but they were dreading that moment.
“…and then I casted the sigil and threw fireballs at Hiroshi, that annoying full blood witch.” Kaoru finished the story, while he moved stuff around in his chambers. It was quite late. Kojirō’s window clearly showed the beautiful moon and he wondered if Kaoru’s one was even more beautiful, with all the magic the other realm had to offer.
“That’s awesome.” Kojirō’s eyes shone with wonder. He’d never get tired of Kaoru’s magical world. “Wait. I didn’t know you took fighting classes this semester.” It seemed too advanced for freshmen.
The line went silent for far too long that Kojirō almost thought the connection had broken. It wasn’t until he heard a meowl, probably Carla, and then Kaoru shushed her. Only he knew what she was saying, due to their familiar link. And then to Kojirō. “…I don’t.”
Kojirō let out a long-suffering sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Kaoru!” It frustrated him to no end that he wasn’t there to stop Kaoru from fighting or at least join him in if he needed help (he barely did, the witch was unstoppable, more so when he didn’t have to fight his powers), like he had done a thousand times.
“He deserved it.” He sniffed and Kojirō didn’t need to see him to know he was frowning and crossing his arms.
“Stop getting in trouble, punk! You are going to get suspended.” He chastised.
“Yes, Mother Kojirō.” He deadpanned.
“Four-eyed moron” Behind Kojirō’s irritation was worry and they both knew it. “Besides, who’s going to patch up your wounds if I’m not there? Huh, I bet that Kamata doesn’t kiss them better.” He teased him.
“As If I needed you to do that, dimwit!” He squeaked. Kojirō knew that Kaoru must be blushing at that moment. Cute.
“Ungrateful brat” He spat without any venom.
“Dumbass” Kaoru was always quick to shoot back.
“Nerd“
They continued like that for a while, teasing each other like they’ve always done since they were kids. Because years and worlds away couldn’t change them.
When Kojirō heard Kaoru yawn for the millionth time, he had to intervene. “Go to bed, workaholic nerd.”
“Mind your own business, simpleton.” Before Kojirō could keep on pressuring him, he heard another meowl from Carla and then Kaoru sighed defeated. “Fine” He whined. “Good night, imbecile.”
In spite of himself, Kojirō chuckled. “Night, Ru. Talk to you tomorrow?”
“Sure, same time?”
Kojirō went to check the date and that’s when he remembered. “Actually, can it be later?”
“Why?” Kaoru sounded confused. He was probably going through Kojirō’s schedule, trying to figure out what could keep his friend occupied. He worried it had something to do with his family.
“Do you remember Kazumi-chan? From our last year?” She was one of the most popular girls at their school, who used to hang out with Kojirō on the few occasions when Kaoru wasn’t dragging him to cause mayhem (not that Kojirō would ever complain and sometimes he’d start it himself). She had always been nice to both of them and had a crush on the green haired skater, known to everyone except the skater himself.
“Yeah?” Kaoru dragged the last “a”. Where was this idiot going?
“I’m going to the movie theater with her.” Somehow, Kojirō knew that’s where he fucked up. He just didn’t know why.
“What?” Kaoru asked in a clipped tone.
Kojirō furrowed his brow.“She came to the restaurant the other day and asked me to go to the movies with her.”
“Just the two of you?” There was something strange in Kaoru’s voice, Kojirō couldn’t pinpoint what.
“No. She said she was bringing a friend with her.”
“Oh yeah? Who?” Kaoru asked disbelievingly.
Kojirō frowned again. Why was this important? “I don’t know. She said I didn’t know her and not to worry about it.”
“Idiot , she’s setting you up.”
“For what? To have a good time?” Kazumi-chan just wanted to hang out, what was the problem? Why did Kaoru always get like this every time Kojirō mentioned other people he went out with?
Kaoru sighed heavily. “Just forget it.”
“Kaoru? What’s wrong?”
Kojirō heard another meowl from Carla. “Night, Kojirō.” And then he hung up. What just happened?
Kojirō almost canceled his plans with Kazumi-chan. It didn’t feel right to come knowing Kaoru was upset. He tried calling him again in the morning and sent him a couple of texts, but the brat just ignored him. He would’ve even texted Kamata if he had her number. In the end he decided that if Kaoru was going to be that way, then maybe he should just forget about it and try to have fun. His life didn’t revolve around him!
He arrived at the movie theater right on time. Kazumi-chan was already there, alone. She had dressed up far too well for a friends hang out. She had a yellow summer dress, high heels and make up on. It made him feel underdressed in his ripped jeans, baggy shirt, worn out skating sneakers and jacket.
He felt a little embarrassed and his insecurities kicked in, so as usual he wore his sun shining smile to mask it up.
“Kojirō-kun!” She called in her cute voice that Kaoru had told Kojirō he was sure she made it higher on purpose. She hugged him as a greeting, her head on the same height as his chest.
“Kazumi-chan, where’s your friend?” He looked around to see if someone would approach them, but everyone else seemed to be in their own world. He was oblivious enough not to notice a couple of people checking him out.
“She canceled on me just now.” She lifted her plush glossy red lips up in a pout, although her eyes still glimmered with joy. “Her loss.” She shrugged.
“Oh. Should we reschedule?” She waved him off.
“Nonsense. We are already here.” She hooked her arm with his. “Come on, buy me popcorn?”
Kojirō looked at his weightless wallet, the one that had a sketch of a sun drawn with fancy ink. His shoulders slumped. “Of course.” He couldn’t refuse, his mother had raised a gentleman.
Kazumi-chan got awfully close to him when they finally settled in their seats. “I’ll take that” she said as she snatched Kojirō’s jacket after he took it off. She placed it carefully in her lap and smiled sweetly at him.
“Thanks” He tried to move a little farther away, but she followed him, placing her head on his shoulder. He had a mouth full of golden blonde hair.
Before he could find a nice way to get away, they got interrupted by a voice that he could recognize anywhere. “Excuse me, sorry, move please, I said move!”
It looked like Kazumi-chan recognized it as well, she immediately lifted her head, and her eyes went wide. “Kaoru-kun?”
“K-kaoru? What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be in…Tokyo?” Kojirō almost let it slip that Kaoru was studying in a magical world, until said Witch glared at him and he remembered the lie he had told everyone, that he went to study Computer Sciences at Tokyo University.
“It’s a long weekend.” He shrugged. Unbeknownst to Kojirō, Kiriko was texting Kaoru to ask him why he wasn’t in their classroom to take the midterm for Brooms 101. They weren’t about to tell her that they went against the rules and opened a portal to the mortal world in a jealous fit.
Kojirō looked like he was hoping to catch flies with his mouth, he still couldn’t believe Kaoru was there. He really was ridiculous sometimes. He was in his usual skating clothes: red vans, blue plaid pants with straps,pink crop top, his piercings and his black leather choker, the one that still did something to Kojirō.
Kaoru stared at Kazumi-chan, at first she held her ground, but eventually she sighed defeated, and she moved to sit in the other seat. He smiled triumphantly and went to sit next to Kojirō. It took him no time to be closer to him than Kazumi-chan was, claiming his rightful place.
Meanwhile, Kojirō was oblivious to the girl’s indignation and Kaoru’s dirty looks directed at her, and he kept on watching the movie, unbothered.
In the middle of it, Kojirō’s phone started buzzing. He frowned confused, it was Kazumi-chan.
Kazumi (17:45): Kojirō-kun I miss you :c
Kazumi (17:45): Kaoru-chan took MY seat
Kazumi (17:48): :c
Kojirō thought hard about what to answer, typing and retyping slowly so he wouldn’t bother Kaoru with the movement. He also lowered the brightness of his phone, since the witch had complained about it, that it was disturbing him from the movie and hurting his eyes.
Kojirō (17:50): I’m sorry, Kazumi-chan. Kaoru always sits next to me when we come to the movies.
Unlike him, she wasted no time in answering. Kojirō wondered if she was even interested in the movie.
Kazumi (17:51): You go to the movies? Alone? Since when?
That took Kojirō by surprise. Kaoru and Kojirō always did everything together. They had been joined at the hip since they were toddlers. He failed to see why it was weird for them to go alone.
Kojirō (17:54): …yeah? Since always, he’s my best friend
The next message left him even more confused.
Kazumi (17:54): Kojirō-kun, don’t be so oblivious, he clearly wants something else
“What?” Kojirō murmured. It earned him an annoyed pink witch shushing him.
“Stop texting, imbecile, it’s rude.” They finished their statement with another shove at Kojirō’s shoulder.
“Sorry, your highness”He put his phone away and he heard an annoyed huff a couple of seats from him. Once again, he missed Kaoru’s smirk.
Kazumi-chan kept on trying to call Kojirō’s attention, but she was always somehow stopped by Kaoru, who smiled apologetically every time. He might have even used a couple of spells to stop her. Not that anyone could prove it.
Kaoru had gotten even closer to Kojirō and started rubbing his arms. The other one noticed it and decided to tease him. “Are you cold, wimpy four-eyes?”
“Not all of us are a walking furnace, dimwit.”
Kojirō rolled his eyes and pretended to be annoyed. “Just grab my jacket, princess.” He got punched for the nickname, but the pink witch did as they were told. They snatched the jacket from Kazumi-chan’s lap, sending her a devilish smirk in the process, and then went back to lay on Kojirō’s side. “Better?” Kojirō asked them and smiled fondly at them. Kaoru just nodded and settled better on the oversized jacket.
For a third party it might have looked cute. For the poor girl, who had no idea she was interrupting a couple of oblivious idiots with a love story of more than a decade, finally had enough. “Oh for the love of god, it’s the middle of summer!”
“Kazumi-chan, what’s wrong?” Kojirō asked sincerely.
“You two are impossible!” After that, she stormed away, muttering something about why she still liked men and how her anime husbands would never treat her this way.
“What was that?” He asked, truly confused.
“Women.” Kaoru shrugged and then laid his head on Kojirō’s shoulder and returned his attention to the movie. Kojirō decided to let it go as well, he’d ask her later and apologize if it was necessary.
While they went on their show of denial and stupidity, Kiriko texted Kaoru again. She sent them a picture of her using a glamour to look like the pink witch and told them she had covered for them at the test, told them it was the last time she’d do it and ended it with:
Fuck him already