Work Text:
"...What's with those eyes?"
His irritated glare snapped me out from my trance, and I stuttered out my recovery. "A-ah, it's just that this is the first time I see you in these kind of clothes. It suits you."
"I can't wear casuals to office, can I? Let's go," He replied, as cold as ever, before turning his back on me. I ran a bit, catching up to his side. To think of it, it's pretty miraculous that I got him to agree to go out on a date with me. (Though I precisely phrased it as just hanging out when I asked him out, but it wont hurt to think that it's a date, right?)
"Do you have anywhere in particular that you'd like to check out?"
"Not really, I'm fine with wherever Mikazuki-san would like to go."
"Just Mikazuki is fine. No need for formalities outside work."
"Um, I'm fine with anywhere, basically."
I looked to my side, hoping to take a peek on his expression, but he kept his face hidden with his hoodie well.
"I was thinking of seeing a movie, but it's a shame to stay inside in such nice weather don't you think?" I suggested quickly, but the reply didn't come as quick.
Probably we have walked past an entire block before he opened his mouth and murmured quietly, "It's still rather hot outside, and I'm not too fond of movies so..."
There was a lengthy pause. I think he wants me to suggest some place, but impatient as I am, I managed to stay quiet.
"Would Mikazuki-san-- uh, are you fine with going to the aquarium?"
How he corrected himself caught me busy smiling, that if he hadn't stared at me with those expectant eyes, the question he threw would've slipped off unanswered.
"Oh, I'm perfectly fine with it!", I answered, and before continuing with a much more mellow tone, "As long as it makes you happy, I'm fine with it."
Hand tugging down the worn white hoodie--hiding his already-hidden face, he replied quickly, "I-I see."
He picked up his walking pace a little, and I followed his bold steps with ease.
"Honestly, I never thought that you're the type who like fishes."
"Well... When I was small, my brothers took me to an aquarium. And you could say that it stunned me. How blue everything was, and how free the fishes looked," he explained slowly. "But well, it was a childish thought made by a grade schooler. I guess I don't even like aquariums that much. I just suggested the place because it seems like a common place to go for a da-- wait, nevermind."
"Ah is that so? I took my little brothers to an aquarium when they were kids, they didn't really enjoyed it. I think they'd rather see fishes on their plate, hahaha. Oh, but they liked the dolphins though. Do you like them? Dolphins, I mean."
"I prefer killer whales, I think. Although I've never actually seen one."
"Do you know that killer whales are actually dolphins?"
"...Really?"
His pair of turquoises gleamed with genuine interest, as he actually looked at me for the first time today.
"Yeah, their scientific name is Orca, and they're actually classified as dolphins." Thank you, brain, for remembering these information at the right time. "Killer whale is kind of a nickname--quite a misleading one, eh?"
"...Yeah, but they don't look like dolphins at all. I mean, even though pandas are different, they still look like bears--don't laugh."
"I'm sorry, but that was a really cute comparison." Added with the innocent excited look he's making, I can't help to not giggle out of cuteness.
"But doesn't that make sense? They're both black and white, and cute!--"
He realized how enthusiastic himself sounded halfway, and got all flustered. I had to fight the urge to snuggle the surprisingly adorable boy, whose whole face buried in his palms, whose tomato-red ear peeks out from his blond hair.
“It do make sense, though. So, it’s safe to assume you like pandas too?”
“No--”
“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, you know?”
“No. Please just drop the topic.”
How cute. I felt like pursuing the matter a bit more, just to tease him, but I’m nice enough to drop it off.
We took the turn on the next corner, and our footsteps halted. An aluminium stand was placed in front of the locked entrance gate. ‘We are temporarily closed for a major renovation. We are sorry for the inconvenience’ is written on it in big printed letters.
“...That’s too bad,” I murmured as my gaze travels to Yamanbagiri beside me, who appears to be sulking a little bit.
“...It can’t be helped, I guess,” he replied, with a trace of disappointment audible in his tone. “We should’ve checked beforehand.”
He turned around and walked away, and I followed as I rack my brain, trying to find a good suggestion so I don’t have to let him down.
And one did came.
“Well, we can go see a movie instead. We should still catch the 11:00 show if we hurry--”
“Follow me!”
Having his hand suddenly grabbed and pulled by mine, the blonde shouts his protest reflexively, but I paid no heed and kept on tugging him along past the crowded alleys. Not having any other choice, he gave him and followed me silently at every corners and turns.
I was so sure that he’ll pull his arm back when my pace drops down and my grip on his palm loosened, but apparently his sea-colored eyes are too busy observing the alley dyed in similar colors. Walls decorated with drawings of various sea creatures are all over our right and left, and life sea creatures swims happily in the aquariums--big and small--in the glass display.
“And we’re at…?”
“Pet fishes and aquariums district,” I answered proudly, “We can see fishes here too! But no orca or big sharks or anything, though.”
“Are you for real…?” Palm on his forehead, he sighed in disbelief, “You took the word ‘aquarium’ too literally.”
“Well, isn’t this fine too?” I grinned before pulling his hand once more, “Let’s go check it out.”
“...You’re truly an idiot, you know?”
I threw my glance to the much younger boy behind me, and my eyes widened in surprise. His one free hand covered his mouth, but I could see the corner of his lips curved up and a faint dimple showing itself on his left cheek, altogether with his pair of turquoises twinkling behind the smile his eyelids are forming. It’s very faint, but my ears could pick up the sound of his laugh--a sheepish giggle if I were to be precise.
I think, during that short few seconds, my world stopped moving.
And while I was too busy being dumbfound, the shorter blond have walked ahead and reversed our roles as he tugs my hand softly, urging me to step forward.
“What are you waiting for, let’s go.”
---
(Yamanbagiri’s POV)
When I arrived to work, the newly-installed aquarium’s already sitting at where the worn out imitation hydrangea vase was usually at, and the fishes lot--over a dozen--seems to have gotten use to their new home. He picked the fishes out on a childlike impulse--This looks cool! This one is pretty! This one has the same color as your hair!--that if I hadn’t stopped him, he’d end up buying out the whole store (and he should be thankful that I did, taking account to how surprised he was looking at the finalized bill at the cashier). It’s all good though, as it’s quite nice and fresh addition to the normally dull office. The others seems to like it too as there’s barely a soul who’s seated in front of their desk, all surrounding the rectangular tank.
As I don’t feel like giving the fishies more warm welcome, I greeted the crowd casually and head right to my desk.
“Oh right, Yamanbagiri,” Kashuu--my co-worker who sits behind me--called. “Check your drawer. Mikazuki-san said that he left something there.”
“...Ok, thanks.”
Not wanting my curiosity to pile up, I picked up my pace a little. I took off my bag and placed it on top of the table and checked my drawer right away. The normally empty drawer, is stuffed with a ball-sized black and white plush toy. A Killer Whale.
...That idiot takes my words a bit too seriously.
And to stuff something like this in a drawer, what was he thinking. I carefully lifted the doll--which is clearly too big cramped in such tiny space, and a piece of paper fell off. Still having the doll held closely in one hand, I crouched down to take the folded fancy paper.
“What’s this…?”
I noticed that the blue note paper has pictures of fishes on it upon opening it. Seriously. That aside, I decided to focus on the messy but surprisingly nice handwriting:
“I checked the website and the grand reopening of the aquarium is in three weeks. Would you like to check it out?”
What an idiot. But I’m probably much more of a fool for smiling over something like this.
I placed the note and the plush toy next to my bag and left my table, headed right to the separate room on the side. I knocked on the door lightly, before opening it when the almost instantaneous ‘come in’ welcomed me. Mikazuki sat there, eyes looking at me with a bit of curiosity behind those reading glasses. “Ah Yamanbagiri, can I help you?”
I had wanted to call him an idiot, but once faced with the person, all I wanted to do is to scream nevermind it’s nothing and run away. Swallowing every bit of confidence I can find, I force my mouth to speak;
.
“T-Three weeks is still a long way to go so… I was wondering if we could go to somewhere Mikazuki-san-- somewhere you’d like to go first next week?”