Chapter Text
Heizou has a problem.
He had loaned his laptop to his roommate Kazuha as Kazuha’s was repaired and now, he was bored. As a private detective/ author for a crime magazine, he required his laptop for work but Kazuha was just too damn adorable that a yes slipped out even before he could catch himself.
“I didn’t get enough caffeine into my system before handling him” He convinced himself as the reason. “I could postpone my work by one day, not a big deal” He rationalized with himself, “Kazuha needs it more than me”
Kazuha was the guy who had answered his offer for a roommate placed in an ad online. He was pursuing his degree in creative writing or something along the lines online while hopping from place to place, taking up odd jobs here and there.
He was quiet enough, for he wouldn’t disturb Heizou’s (sort of) mental peace and stability and kept to himself while being a pleasant company during times they ordered food and had dinner together. He doesn’t talk much about his personal life but seemed to have a positive outlook on life in general.
So, what led Heizou to be frustrated in a glorious Saturday morning?
It was not that Kazuha looked adorable, dark maroon colored scarf around his neck, hair tussled or that he would not be able to catch the live airing of his favorite ongoing detective rom-com, it was the fact that Kazuha would be working on his writing assignment from the coffee shop down the street and the barista there has a crush on Kazuha
“Our home is quiet enough to do his writing assignment” Heizou mumbled “I could have brought him that damn coffee if that’s what he needed”
“Goooorou” His sister waved her hand to his face “I just told you that I need some more money for buying a new journal and you keep drooling at that cutie”
“Not too loud” Gorou hissed
“Damn bro got it so bad he stopped denying” His brother chuckled, his eyes still glued to his smartphone. “Get him a Frappuccino latte or something fancy to drink instead of getting her a journal she uses to write how pretty girls are”
“If Gorou does in fact use money that way, then I don’t mind at all”
“Both of you, please just go upstairs”
“What no” “Boring” The twins chimed in together “Let us stay till bro-in-law leaves”
“Stop it”
“Gorou” His mother called him, handing over a pink tea “Give it to the young, handsome man by the window”
“Oh, okay, Mom”
“Careful, I made it with so much love for my future son-in-law”
“Mom!”
“Hello, here’s your Sakura tea” Gorou placed the tea on his table, next to a laptop (which Gorou noticed was not his- the stickers on them were different and did not match his aesthetic), his neck turned 90 degree away from the man of his dreams.
“But I didn’t order it” Kazuha seemed confused and looked doe-eyed at Gorou and Gorou had to remember how to breathe because he was going to pass out in a couple of minutes if he keeps holding his breath. Kazuha was talking to him. To him! Looking all breathtakingly beautiful.
A guffaw echoed in the café from his father, who was holding onto his mother and laughing in his general direction while his twin siblings looked at him curiously.
“Mom” He whispered harshly under his breath
“Sorry?” Kazuha asked, his face cutely tilted to the right. His maroon scarf wrapped around his neck slipping away, giving way to catch a glimpse of the smooth skin underneath it.
“Sorry?” Gorou repeated after him and then realized what he was doing “Oh, that, my mom, she uh, it was complementary. For being a regular at our shop”
“Don’t you get more regular and richer customers than a random college student struggling between jobs?”
“I never had the chance to go to college. So, my mom feels connected to someone around my age in college and if this Sakura tea could make you feel better and you remember our café with fond memories, then that’s all it takes to make her and frankly us, happy”
Kazuha laughed, his laugh was beautiful, shit, his laugh was beautiful and Gorou doesn’t want to hear that laugh anymore because he’s afraid of getting addicted to the laugh of a random stranger
“I am so grateful to you and your family for treating me with attention whenever I drop by, despite the time I spend here while buying some of the cheapest coffees”
“You’re welcome” The earth could open up underneath Gorou and he would die a happy man. His crush acknowledged him and this was the farthest he had gotten with someone he truly liked. His face was heating up, no doubt reddened at his cheeks.
“And thank you for your smile as well” Kazuha carried on, lifting the Sakura tea to his lips
“Huh?”
“That shy smile you greet me with every time I enter the shop. Thank you for that. It makes my day” Gorou felt his heartbeat in his ears. He was inside a fictional story. He could sense that.
“Please stop” Gorou squatted; his face was hidden from Kazuha using his one arm while the other held onto the table for support. Kazuha laughed, causing the shop to glow infinitely brighter and laid his cold hand over Gorou’s warm one. Loud, very loud cheers erupted from his family at the sight.
“Fuck” Gorou breathed and bravely removed one of his hand covering his face and looked at Kazuha where he was still squatted below.
Up there he sat, Kaedehara Kazuha, 24, part-time college student, part time shop assistant at Thoma’s Handy Services, full time angel without a halo, smiling at him.
“Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Gorou”
“I took a break from college because the classes were too rigid and I was unable to accommodate my own time into it where I wanted to try out other things that captured my interest like sewing. Besides I was always told that I am too much of a free spirit to be tied down by college by my…friend. He was shocked when I started attending college in the first place. Anyways, this set up works the best for me. I can explore the city as much as I need as long as I have my laptop with me and attend classes and pursue my little interests while working with Thoma”
Kazuha realized he was the one who had been talking the entire time till they were at the entrance of his apartment. Gorou was silent all the while but attentive, humming at the right moments and asking polite questions like ‘Is that so?’ but never sharing experiences of his own.
“I am sorry, Gorou. I kept talking and I lost myself”
“It’s okay, Kazuha. I was the one who insisted that I drop you off anyways. I was glad to hear you talk” His voice was sincere, Kazuha could tell and a little sad, if he was reading him right.
“I shall get going then” Kazuha waited for Gorou to either say something or turn and leave but he did neither and stood there, shuffling nervously
“Gorou? Do you need-”
“Can I get your phone number? If you don’t mind of course. I mean I, no, we, no not them, I did not give you tea and offered to walk you home with this ulterior motive, not at all. I just wanted to…uh…”
“Gorou” Kazuha called his name interrupting him. Kazuha smiled at him, remembering a moment from years ago where he too was in the same place as Gorou. Gorou stopped rambling and looked flustered
“Give me your phone, please”