Chapter Text
It was a bright and sunny day on Watatsumi Island, the perfect weather for a mid-afternoon nap. That was what Gorou initially thought when he laid down on a large warm rock near the ocean, basking in the sunlight. It was supposed to be short and peaceful. A nice respite that would calm his mind before he returned to his duties. But, of course, just like all the other times he had attempted to get some rest, his thoughts were far from what one would consider perfectly reasonable.
Because, frankly, Gorou had no idea how it came to this.
At first, it was Kazuha, and that Gorou could understand. They had made a very close bond with each other despite the short time they were together, which was when he mistakenly thought he was the closest friend he’d ever had. When Kazuha left, Gorou had spent a full week mulling over his departure. It wasn’t until the most recent battle at Nazuchi Beach when Gorou realized his feelings. The immediate joy he had felt from seeing him again was so great that he could even feel his tail wagging behind him. And, of course, the celebratory meal they had shared once the Vision Hunt Decree was abolished didn’t help his steadily increasing love for the wanderer.
What Gorou couldn’t understand was how he fell in love with Heizou. He was a Tenryou Commission detective, and that he already knew long before he saw him face-to-face. The moment he noticed him in front of the shrine for the first time, Gorou couldn’t help but become attracted to him. Kazuha’s affection might’ve been slow and steady, but Heizou’s was immediate. He didn’t know what it was that pulled him in, but he was certainly infatuated, and that he was ashamed of. He only began to trust him after Heizou promised not to tell the Tenryou Commission about the… traded goods incident. And his suspicion was almost completely gone after the detective went out of his way to help him with some small tasks around the island during the final days of his visit. He was supposed to stay for a few more months, but the trade bill had passed earlier than expected, meaning he had no other reason to stay.
After Heizou left, Gorou still couldn’t get a hold of why he fell in love with these men, and how he was possibly going to get over them. After all, there was no way Gorou could have either one as a partner. His occupation as a general ensured that. Besides, he didn’t even know if they liked him back, and even if they did… he didn’t want to leave either of them out. It was selfish, and Gorou knew that. But… he couldn’t stand the idea of being with one and not the other. He would rather have neither if he couldn’t have both.
Gorou groaned. Why did love have to be so complicated!? It didn’t help that he wasn’t the most informed on the topic, so he had no idea how to go about his feelings. Was it even possible to have three people in a relationship?
As he lay there in the sun, he realized that his initially relaxing nap had, yet again, turned into a confusing mess of questions with no answers. He needed to get up before the pain in his chest became unbearable.
With his nap cut short, Gorou tried to find something else to do in his spare time that, hopefully, didn’t remind him of either Kazuha or Heizou. He’d already done enough thinking about them this past week.
“General, is that you?”
Gorou turned his head to spot none other than Toshio, a captain of one of the resistance squads, heading his way. On the outside, he wasn’t very striking. Gorou bet that if he was put in a crowd, it would take him forever to fish him out because of how plain he looked. But on the inside, he was a dependable, skilled, and courageous captain. People in the army often ranked him in the top 5 most capable leaders of the Resistance, along with Gorou himself, Her Excellency, and the Traveller, of course.
“It is you! Oh, but, this must be your break, isn’t it?” he asked sheepishly. “Sorry for disturbing you. I’ll let you get back to whatever you were doing.”
“N-no, it’s okay!” Gorou stuttered out. “You can talk to me. I just finished taking a nap and my break’s not over yet, so I have some free time.” Truth was, he actually hadn’t gotten a wink of sleep, but there was no way he would say that. If any of the soldiers, captain or not, found out about his relationship problems, he might just resign entirely. Besides, talking with him was a much better option than finding something else to do and ending up back where he started.
“Oh, that’s great!” the captain replied, before his normally cheerful disposition twisted into one of worry. “I actually wanted to talk to you about something… not related to the army. Is that alright?”
Gorou smiled. He was happy that his subordinates trusted him enough for them to tell him their problems. “Of course! You can tell me whatever you like. I’m all ears!”
Toshio laughed. “Thanks. I really appreciate it.” Silently, he walked forward and sat himself down on the rock that Gorou had just been lying on. With a sigh, he looked up, seeming to watch the clouds slowly drift by.
Gorou, unsure of what to do, simply sat himself next to him with no further questions. After a long moment of silence, Toshio said, “My parents wrote me a letter the other day. Apparently, they got a divorce.”
Gorou’s tail dropped down. “Oh.”
Toshio chuckled. “It’s okay, I… kinda expected it.” He sighed. “They used to really love each other when they were young. I guess it was the kind of situation where they just… weren’t ready to start a family. Once I was born, it was like I was the only thing keeping them together. The older I grew, the more I began to notice just how unhappy they were when they were in the same room. It was sorta like… the burdens of life had finally caught up to them, but they just couldn’t rely on each other for help.”
Gorou was silent as he listened. This was one of those personal problems that he failed to completely understand, not just because of his inexperience with romance, but also because he didn’t have a strong tie to his family. Sure, he had siblings and warm, loving parents, but the memories he had of them during his early years greatly contrasted those he had shared with his subordinates once he joined the Resistance. He still kept in touch with them, of course, but it was nothing compared to how much other soldiers missed their significant others, parents, and even children.
Gorou tried to put himself in Toshio’s shoes. If his parents divorced, how would he feel?
…Well, realistically, he’d probably contact his family members and try to offer them support, if they needed any. His parents divorcing would be a shame, but it was nothing Gorou couldn’t handle. He wasn’t that close to them, anyways.
…What if he was the one getting divorced in that situation?
Frankly, he had no idea where that thought came from, but he found himself pondering over it nonetheless.
If Heizou and Kazuha came into his life, would he really be able to handle them both? Could he have a healthy, lifelong relationship with a couple people who couldn’t even stay in one place for a day? Perhaps these were just silly little crushes. Maybe he should just find another partner better suited for himself.
Okay, Gorou, focus. Toshio was talking.
“It got even worse when I left to join the Resistance,” Toshio continued. “I can’t even imagine how bad it must’ve gotten, but they held on for a few more years before finally signing the papers.” He finally looked back at Gorou, a sad smile on his face. “I guess it’s not really a bad thing. Now they can finally focus on themselves and get on the right track… That’s all I ever wanted for them.”
They sat in silence a little longer, as Gorou tried to find the right words to say.
“I’m really sorry you had to live like that. I can’t imagine just how much pain you went through, watching your parents slowly drift apart.”
Toshio’s grin only grew wider. “Really, it’s fine. I’m not looking for any advice, really, just for someone to listen.”
“O-oh, I see,” Gorou spoke nervously, still unsure of what to do.
“So… yeah! Thanks for listening. I haven’t told anyone about that yet, so… keep it a secret for me, will you?”
Gorou straightened up. “Of course I will! You have my word!”
Toshio laughed. “Thanks. Again.”
They sat in silence for a few more minutes, watching the waves go in and out.
Gorou’s tail was curled up around him, whether it be from instinct or a sense of comfort, he had no idea. His thoughts weren’t much better, either. The recent conversation did little to lessen Gorou’s troubles. Feelings of worry, confusion, and frustration settled in his chest, the latter from him being unable to take Toshio’s experience seriously. He couldn’t help but think about Kazuha and Heizou yet again. Gorou sighed. He could only hope these feelings were temporary.
Toshio stood up and stretched, a big smile on his face. “Well, that’s that! I have some unfinished work to do, so I’m just gonna go and get back to that. Enjoy your break, General!”
“O-oh, you too, Captain!” Gorou replied, as Toshio made his way out from the beach.
Gorou quickly turned his gaze to the sand, his fists tightly clenching the cloth of his pants. He should—no, NEEDED TO do something about his feelings, preferably sooner rather than later. He couldn’t keep getting distracted, especially when his soldiers trusted him to keep them in check. But there were only two people he could confide in in these kinds of situations. One was out of the question— there was no telling where the Traveller could be at this hour, much less how he would get ahold of them. In this case, it would have to be…
Her Excellency.
— —— —
Gorou stood in front of Her Excellency’s office entrance with his ears and tail drooping out of anxiety. He had no idea how he was going to explain this to her, but he came this far, so he couldn’t back out now.
With his heart beating out of his chest, Gorou raised a fist and knocked gently on the door.
“Your Excellency, it’s me, General Gorou. May I come in?”
Well, at least he didn’t stutter.
He heard the sound of a chair moving, a book closing, and a few seconds of shuffling before she answered. “Come in.”
Gorou took a deep breath and opened the door. There, sitting at her desk, was none other than Her Excellency, Sangonomiya Kokomi. She was smiling, genuinely, this time, which must have meant that she wasn’t so overloaded with work today.
“Here, General. Have a seat.”
She gestured in front of the desk to the chair facing her. With little hesitation, Gorou closed the door and sat down, hoping that his anxiety wasn’t showing through his ears.
“What did you want to talk about today, General?” she asked kindly, her hands folded on top of the desk.
His chest tightened just when he was about to speak, making him shut his mouth. He cleared his throat. “…Sorry, Your Excellency.”
Kokomi’s smile faded. “You’re not normally so hesitant to speak, General. Is something wrong?”
Gorou could feel his cheeks heating up. Well, this was embarrassing. And he was doing so well, too!
“Uh, w-well…” He sighed in frustration. “Ugh, where do I begin..?”
Kokomi’s smile returned. “It’s okay, General. Take all the time you need.”
Another sigh escaped Gorou’s lips. Looking down, he thought long and hard about what he was going to say next. He needed to be direct, but not so direct that it revealed his embarrassing secret. Maybe he should pretend that his problem was really someone else’s. Her Excellency did know about how much his subordinates relied on him for their personal problems, so that might do the trick.
Gorou took a deep breath in. “Your Excellency, I am searching for advice about romance. M-more specifically, young love. You see, recently, some soldiers have come to me for help concerning relationship problems, and, as I am not well versed in that topic, decided to come to you for assistance.”
Kokomi blinked, before forcing down a giggle.
Gorou’s cheeks flared in embarrassment. “Y-your Excellency! This is no laughing matter!”
Now she was actually laughing. She paused to catch her breath. “S-sorry General, it’s just, I actually thought it was something really serious!” She laughed again.
“I-it is serious!” Gorou insisted. “It’s—u-uh, they’ve been bugging me for the past month already and still haven’t backed down!”
Kokomi snorted, a sound Gorou had never once thought could escape Her Excellency’s throat. “T-the past month!?”
Gorou whined, wanting to just die right then and there. He had the urge to curl up into a ball, but there was no way he would do that in front of Her Excellency.
After a few more minutes of laughing, Kokomi finally got herself together, wiping tears from her eyes. “I can’t believe it, my favorite General’s finally in love!”
Now Gorou was the one who was caught off-guard. “W-WHAT!? How did you know?!”
Kokomi giggled. “Well, I’m not buying the whole soldier thing. Firstly, most of your subordinates already know about your lack of knowledge when it comes to romance, so there’s no reason to ask you for help. Secondly, if the same soldiers have been harassing you for as long as a month, I would have definitely heard about it somehow. It also doesn’t make sense for them to keep bugging the best general in the Resistance repeatedly about unimportant matters. And thirdly, to hear that you’ve come to ME for advice just tells me that your problem grew so big that you had nobody else to rely on but the only person that’s above you in terms of power. Besides, what could be romantically troubling you more than a little crush? Makes sense, doesn’t it?”
Gorou slumped. He can’t believe she saw through that entire lie. “…Yes. I apologize for coming to you on such an unimportant matter, Your Excellency. I hope you can forgive me.”
Kokomi sighed. “General, I never said it wasn’t important. It might not be life-threatening, but love is certainly not something to overlook. There is no need for you to apologize.”
Gorou was still unsure about that, but he accepted it anyways. “Alright.”
“Now,” Kokomi began, thinking for a moment, “I do not have much experience with love, as I have not ever been in a relationship, but I will try to help you the best I can. Could you explain the situation in more detail?”
Gorou’s face turned redder. This was going to be humiliating. “Well, uh, there’s these two people. Kaedehara Kazuha and… Shikanoin Heizou.”
“Ah, yes. One of our trusted allies and the Tenryou Commision detective. What about them?” She asked.
“Ugh, don’t remind me…” If Gorou heard “Tenryou Commision” and “Heizou” in the same sentence again, he might just combust. He still couldn’t stand the fact that he fell for someone who, in Gorou’s perspective, was part of enemy lines. “But… well… I guess I kinda… fell in love… with both of them,” he confessed, sinking down into his collar.
“And… this all started a month ago?”
Gorou blinked. Her Excellency was certainly taking this better than he expected. “Well, that was when I started liking Heizou. Kazuha was… well, during his time in the Resistance.”
Kokomi pursed her lips. “And you’re still in love with both of them now?”
Gorou nodded.
“And you don’t know which one to pursue,” she said, more of a statement rather than a question.
“N-no, it’s not that… The problem is, I want to choose both of them.”
Kokomi blinked. “You mean… you want to be in a relationship with both of them? At the same time?” she asked quizzically.
“Yeah,” Gorou answered, his gaze turning to the floor. “I-I know, it sounds weird and it probably can’t happen anyways, so I should just forget about these feelings and move on, r-right?”
Kokomi frowned. “Hold on. I never said it couldn’t happen, either.”
Gorou glanced up.
“Sure, it might be rare, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. I don’t see anything wrong with having two significant others.” Gorou’s eyes widened. Was it really okay? “As long as it’s consensual, of course,” Kokomi added.
Right. He still didn’t know if Kazuha and Heizou would even agree to a relationship like that, let alone return his feelings.
“But don’t give up now, General.” Kokomi encouraged. “In a battle, you must never stop fighting until either the enemy retreats, or your forces can’t take another hit. And the way I see it…” She reached under her desk to pull out a piece of paper and pen. “You’re definitely capable of infiltrating enemy lines. Remember, I’m on your side as well. Don’t be afraid to use my power to your advantage.”
Gorou was certainly encouraged by Her Excellency’s words, but… “Maybe you should’ve worded that a little differently, Your Excellency. I don’t like the thought of… using you,” he said nervously.
Kokomi giggled. “Well, you get the point.” She picked up the pen. “What I meant was to confess your feelings to them directly. There’s no backing out of a battle.”
“WH-WHAT!?” Gorou exclaimed, for the second time that day. “Y-you mean, in person!?”
Kokomi nodded.
Gorou almost let out a whine, but had to stop himself for the sake of Her Excellency. He was already taking up so much of her valuable time, the least he could do was to go with what she was suggesting. After all, nothing he thought up to combat his feelings ever worked before.
He finally relented. “…How do I contact them?”
Kokomi scribbled a few words on the paper. “I have some connections on Narukami Island. Hopefully they’ll be able to find them both and invite them over to Watatsumi. I’ll also set up a date for you three in the meantime.”
Now Gorou felt even worse. “It’s okay, Your Excellency. I-I can manage planning a date myself,” is what he said, but he truly doubted he could do something like that.
“Don’t be silly,” she insisted, “I can’t trust someone with no clue about romance to set up a date!” Gorou felt injured, despite her truthful words. “Don’t worry too much about my workload, General. I can certainly handle something as simple as this.”
Gorou was about to ask if she was sure, but realized that that sounded like an insult. Instead, he sighed and replied, “Yes, Your Excellency.”
“Great!” She exclaimed. “I’ll let you know when they’re coming and inform you about the date details in due time. For now, you’re free to return to your duties.”
“Yes, Your Excellency,” Gorou repeated, before pushing his chair back and making his way to the door.
“Oh, and, Gorou?”
Said General perked up at his name, before turning his head around to face her.
“Remember, you can always rely on me if you have any troubles. I can’t promise I’ll have what it takes to mend them, but I will certainly try my best.”
For a second, Gorou could feel his worries disappear from his chest. A smile broke out on his face.
“Thank you, Your Excellency.”
— —— —
Gorou might’ve been fine then, but today he certainly wasn’t.
Kazuha and Heizou were supposed to visit, which meant the date was set up and was about to start soon. The plan was that the three of them would have a small portion of Watatsumi Island to themselves (even the samurai wouldn’t be present, probably because Her Excellency knew the three of them were capable of defending themselves, not to mention she promised to keep this date as much of a secret as possible) and have dinner together watching the sunset. Once the meal was done, Gorou was supposed to confess his feelings and hear what their responses were. After that, the date would end, Kazuha and Heizou would go back to Narukami Island, and Gorou would relay all that happened back to Her Excellency before finding out what his next actions would be.
Gorou sighed. It all sounded so simple, and really, it was. Everything was already set up for him, so all he needed to do was tell them how he felt. But that was easier said than done.
It was frustrating because Heizou and Kazuha were both really accepting and forgiving people. He didn’t have to be afraid of them being disgusted with him once they hear his confession. If anything, he was frustrated with himself. He had nothing to worry about and yet he was still nervous. He didn’t understand why he just couldn’t get himself together.
It had been three days. Three days. He’d already memorized what to say and he still felt unprepared.
At times like this he would never even think of talking to the Shogun, but…
Oh Archons, why did love have to be so hard!?
He was so close to calling the whole thing off, but what if Heizou and Kazuha were on their way right now? They were going to waste an entire half-day travelling here just to find out everything was cancelled. He couldn’t do that to them! Especially since he… liked them both.
Gorou curled himself up on the hammock (Her Excellency’s idea) as he mulled over this evening’s plans. He really needed to clear his head and make himself look a little more presentable than he already was.
He sat himself up and glanced down at his outfit. He wasn’t used to wearing such formal wear. He was normally in his battle or climbing gear all the time so the change of outfit made him a little bit uncomfortable. Of course, Her Excellency took some liberties and made the blue yukata a little looser so it wasn’t so restricting, but did he really look good in this? Was it even worth it?
Gorou sighed and stood up, flattening the wrinkles on his outfit. He would just have to deal with it. Who knows, maybe Heizou and Kazuha actually liked this stuff.
A sudden gust of wind blew, messing up the once-tidy blanket lying on the ground. Gorou gasped before quickly putting it back in its rightful position. With a frown, he sat himself down on one of the corners, curling his tail around himself.
He was way too nervous for comfort, but he had no other choice but to stay put until Kazuha and Heizou came. It was too bad he didn’t have anything to distract himself with.
He leaned over and peered into the ocean water, gazing at his reflection. He had done his best to make his hair, including his tail, look as tidy as possible, just for the occasion. He didn’t want to let any of this go to waste.
“Good evening, General Gorou.”
“Long time no see, General!”
Oh archons, they were here.
Gorou turned around and was about to greet them back, until his breath suddenly disappeared.
Kazuha was actually wearing his haori properly over his yukata, different from his usual mismatched attire. The full pattern of the maple leaves trailing down the cloth was a sight to behold. His hair, instead of his usual messy side ponytail, was neatly tied at the back with a few loose strands to complete the look. Kazuha might have dressed formally for the occasion, but he was still a wanderer through and through.
Similarly, Heizou had also fixed himself up. His hairstyle was relatively the same, with the rope he usually wore around his head tied neatly into a bow at the back. What was really striking was the kimono he was wearing. The silk was a pure white, and a red and maroon pattern of dendrobiums and petals paralleled Kazuha’s maple leaves. It was almost as if they planned for their outfits to match.
Kazuha chuckled, his laugh as delicate as leaves on the wind. “I think he’s lost for words.”
Gorou gulped and tried to speak again, but no sound came out of his throat.
“Heh. Well, I wouldn’t blame him,” Heizou added, his voice as smooth as silk.
He looked Gorou’s outfit up and down as the latter fidgeted. If they were sakura blooms, then he was nothing more than a naku weed. Maybe he should’ve picked a more stylish yukata for the occasion.
The corners of Heizou’s lips turned up ever so slightly. “It’s simple. I think it suits you well.”
Gorou could feel his cheeks heating up. “Th…thanks,” he finally mustered out, despite his terrible delivery.
“Aw, he’s nervous!” Heizou cooed, which only made Gorou’s embarrassment even worse.
“It’s alright,” Kazuha said, sitting down next to him. “There’s nothing to be ashamed of. I think it looks beautiful on you.” He stroked his knuckle against the soft fabric, making Gorou’s breath hitch.
“So,” Heizou began, sitting himself down rather inelegantly on the blanket. “What’s the plan, General?”
Gorou stuttered. “O-oh, you don’t have to be so formal! You can just call me Gorou for today,” he insisted.
Heizou hummed. “Alright, Gorou.” The way he emphasized his name sent shivers down his spine. “What’s the plan?”
“U-uh, well…” Gorou gulped. Why couldn’t he get himself together!? He was just as nervous as he was in front of Her Excellency, if not more!
Kazuha hummed in concern. “Is everything alright, Gorou? Your ears are turned down.”
Archons, his ears, his EARS.
“I-I’m fine, really!” Gorou sighed before grabbing the basket in the middle of the blanket, covered by a small cloth. He had forgotten to ask Her Excellency what kind of food she prepared for them.
Kazuha and Heizou peered over Gorou’s shoulders. “I don’t know how much Her Excellency told you, b-but you two were invited here to have dinner with me for the evening.”
“Oh? What’s the occasion?” Kazuha asked.
Gorou prepared an answer to that question beforehand. “I, along with Her Excellency, wanted to thank you two for your support and contributions to Watatsumi Island, which is why we prepared this for you.”
He lifted off the cloth to reveal an array of sashimi and sushi, along with a small pot in the middle surrounded by various bowls of sauces and condiments. Gorou’s ears perked up. It not only looked appetizing, but smelled appetizing as well. Her Excellency had surprised him yet again.
“The plating is beautiful,” Kazuha remarked, a small smile on his face.
Heizou looked shocked as well. “Didn’t expect to have sushi for an outdoor dinner, but it looks delicious.”
Gorou smiled. He might have been nervous just a few moments ago, but he didn’t get to have such a high-quality meal often. He should really thank the person who made this.
It was then that he heard a small chuckle of laughter coming from either side of him. Gorou raised an eyebrow. “What’s so funny?”
“Oh, it’s nothing~” Heizou brushed off, moving to take the tray out of the basket.
Gorou narrowed his eyes before glancing to his other side. “Kazuha?”
Said wanderer had a hand to his mouth, stifling his next laugh. “It’s really nothing, Gorou. How about we start enjoying this carefully prepared meal, just for us?”
Gorou frowned. “…Okay.” He would have to ask about that later.
When Heizou lifted up the tray, Gorou spotted some dishes, napkins, and utensils hiding underneath. Her Excellency really had thought of everything.
“Say,” Heizou began, setting the tray down between the three of them, “if you and Her Excellency prepared this for us, why isn’t she here? I’d think that, if the leader of Watatsumi Island really went out of her way to do this, she would’ve done her best to attend, right?”
Gorou also knew how to answer that question. “She tried, she really did, but at the very last moment she was struck with another workload of stuff to do.” He sighed. “I guess this is a good time to say she apologizes for not being able to attend, and hopes that we all have a nice meal.”
“Oh, that’s too bad,” Kazuha said, taking the bowls from the basket and dividing them between the three. “I’m sure that if Her Excellency were to join, it would make this meal quite a lively one.”
Gorou’s chest tightened. Perhaps Kazuha wasn’t getting the message. Maybe that was because he didn’t return his feelings.
“I’m calling the rolls with tempura in them!” Heizou called out enthusiastically, taking a pair of chopsticks and putting three of them on his plate.
Kazuha was amused. “Oh. Well, in that case, I will take my share of sashimi as well.”
Gorou’s disappointed thoughts suddenly disappeared. “H-hey! Leave some for me!” he shouted indignantly.
Despite his retorts, Gorou started himself off with a bowl of miso soup, piping hot. It turned out that the pot in the middle of the tray housed a fair amount of it, just enough for the three of them to share. When he drank a spoonful, he could feel the liquid travel smoothly down his throat and fill his stomach with warmth. The flavour was just right, not so much that it overwhelmed him, but enough for him to savour for a moment before he took another gulp. It was one of the best soups he’d had in a very long time.
“This sashimi is very professionally prepared,” Kazuha remarked, soaking another piece in soy sauce. “It’s fresh, and the flavour is strong. It’s not that chewy, either. Just how I like it.”
“Yeah, I can tell that whoever made this put a lot of effort into every single part of it,” Heizou said. “You can taste each individual grain of rice in one roll, not to mention the balance of flavour among the other ingredients inside. And despite that, it’s not so delicate that it falls apart.” He looked up. “Gorou, do you know who made this for us?”
“Hm?” Gorou, who was previously relishing in the taste of the miso soup, missed what Heizou had just asked.
Heizou, seeing his face, let out a chuckle. “Gorou, you have a little something…” He pointed to his upper lip.
“O-oh!” Gorou quickly got a napkin and wiped his mouth, only for Heizou to click his tongue.
“Nope, still there.”
Before Gorou could wipe his mouth again, the sound of Kazuha setting his plate down stopped him in his tracks. “Here, allow me.”
Gorou froze as Kazuha took his napkin from his hands and got way too close for comfort. A calming smell came over him suddenly, which made Gorou realize that Kazuha had put on some kind of cologne. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t noticed it sooner.
“Don’t move,” he muttered softly.
Gorou did as he was told. Well, it’s not like he could do otherwise, his mind was blank and could only process whatever Kazuha was doing. He could feel his heart pounding in his ears as the other’s scarlet red eyes filled his vision, and the calloused skin of his hand lightly brushed against his cheek. He could feel the soft cloth of the napkin wipe his upper lip before Kazuha moved away with a smile.
“There. It’s gone.”
Gorou took in a gasp of breath. Did he stop breathing? His cheeks were warm. What just happened?
Heizou chuckled. “Quite the charmer now, aren’t you, Kazuha?”
The wanderer only grinned wider in response. “I’m not sure what you mean by that, Heizou. I’m just doing what I always do.”
Okay, they have to be doing this on purpose.
Gorou tried taking deep breaths to calm his racing heartbeat. This was fine. That was completely platonic. Yup, just what best friends and past comrades would do!
He picked up his miso soup and drank another spoonful to distract himself from what just happened.
“Hm? Not even a ‘thank you,’ General?” Heizou teased.
“Alright, Heizou, give him some time,” Kazuha responded, way too relaxed for what he just did.
Once Gorou finished his bowl, he uttered a small ‘thanks.’ His cheeks were still warm, but not as hot as before.
“You’re very welcome,” Kazuha kindly responded, with a warm smile to accompany it.
Gorou had to avert his gaze, lest he become entranced in those scarlet red eyes again. Heizou must have noticed, since he heard him stifle another laugh.
After that, their dinner continued much more normally than how it started, with some breaks of conversation in-between. Nothing as jarring as Kazuha’s previous actions had happened again, to Gorou’s relief, but it didn’t help that sunset was near approaching, and he would have to confess his feelings soon.
“I’m curious. Why would you pick Mondstadt as your next destination? Why not somewhere like Sumeru or Natlan?” Heizou asked, bringing Gorou back to reality. Most of the food was already eaten and the soup was running dry. Only a few rolls of sushi were left on the tray.
“Well,” Kazuha began, picking up another roll, “although I am a wanderer and used to harsh weather conditions, heat is not something I deal with very well. I also have a few people in Mondstadt I would like to visit, whom I originally met during the Irodori Festival. It would be nice to catch up with them sometime, and perhaps appreciate all that the land of Mondstadt has to offer,” he explained.
“Ah, the Irodori Festival!” Heizou exclaimed, suddenly full of energy. “Now that you mention it, I do remember seeing a painting there that looked suspiciously similar to a wandering samurai I know. And he was all tied up too…” His voice grew quiet, as if he was trying to suggest something.
To Gorou’s surprise, Kazuha’s cheeks turned pink. “Oh… So you saw that.”
Heizou scoffed. “Well, how could I not? It was basically the centrepiece of the entire festival anyways, being put on display like that. I’m surprised you even agreed to model with your hands tied.” He smirked playfully. “Let me guess. With the vision hunt decree abolished and no other way to turn yourself in, you just decided to model like a criminal instead. I didn’t know you were into that kinda stuff, Kazuha.”
Said wanderer cleared his throat as Gorou flushed. He wasn’t sure what he was supposed to say, but he was certainly feeling the secondhand embarrassment.
“How about we change the topic to something a little more fitting for tonight’s meal?” Kazuha suggested, though surprisingly, he didn’t look too unhappy with Heizou’s claim. Then, he lowered his voice down to a whisper. “There are some people here who haven’t had any experience in that field, after all.”
Heizou’s eyebrows raised, seeming as if he got the message. Gorou just felt confused. What did Kazuha mean by that?
“Alright then!” Heizou exclaimed, before stretching his arms over his head. “Ugh, I’m stuffed! But that was a good meal. Anyone want the last piece?”
“I-I’ll take it!” Gorou called out, more as a way to keep himself in the conversation, if anything. “Unless… Kazuha, did you want it?”
He shook his head. “It’s all yours.”
Gorou smiled before taking the final roll, dipping it in soy sauce, and popping it into his mouth. He might’ve taken it to not be left out, but the sushi still tasted delicious nonetheless.
He heard another laugh and immediately glared in its direction. “Okay, what are you guys laughing at!?” He shouted, losing his patience. “You’ve been doing this ever since you got here!”
Heizou, the one who let out the recent chuckle, responded first. “Alright, alright, we’ll tell you.” He glanced toward Kazuha and tilted his head toward Gorou, as if he wanted him to explain first.
With an exasperated sigh, Kazuha turned his head toward Gorou. “It’s your tail,” he explained simply.
“H-huh?”
Gorou looked behind him to see his tail wagging back and forth, seemingly having a mind of its own. His eyes widened before he immediately shoved it into the blanket, his cheeks heating up. “D-don’t look at it!” He shouted indignantly. How much had it been wagging before he noticed?
“Well, it’s a bit too late for that, now, isn’t it?” Heizou teased, as Gorou festered in his embarrassment.
“I apologize if it made you feel uncomfortable,” Kazuha spoke, opposite of Heizou’s amusement.
“Uh… N-no, it’s fine,” Gorou squeaked out, trying to stop his tail from moving, to little avail. “It’s just, I wish you would’ve told me sooner…”
Heizou raised an eyebrow. “Why? I don’t see anything wrong with it. You’re just excited, that’s all. Besides, I think it’s cute.”
Gorou ignored that last statement, although it made his cheeks even warmer than before. “Well… Ugh, I don’t know. It’s just… sometimes, I forget it’s there. So when other people point it out, it makes me feel a bit embarrassed.”
Kazuha smiled sympathetically. “Well, you don’t have to hide it in front of us. It’s a part of you, after all, so you should feel no shame in being excited. To truly appreciate the things you love, you must also allow yourself to feel the emotions that come with it.”
Gorou felt conflicted, even though Kazuha and Heizou were right. Although he was proud of his canine features, the way his subordinates often made remarks about them really made him insecure. Sure, it’s not like they were meaning to be rude, but there were always some rumours that got a little out of hand. For example, there was that one ear rubbing rumour that made almost everyone try to reach for his ears at a chance of good luck. At the time, he hated how his ears were so sensitive, and sometimes he even wished he didn’t have any canine features in the first place. But he knew that was silly. These features were what made Gorou… Gorou. If they were gone, a part of him would probably be missing.
“Kazuha’s right, you know,” Heizou spoke up, making Gorou lift his gaze. “Okay, so you have ears and a tail, big deal. If other people point it out, it’s their problem, not yours. It’s not like you can control it anyways, so what’s the point in what they say?”
Gorou took his hands off his tail and let it move back to its upright position. He was still blushing, but it wasn’t because of embarrassment. Rather, he was happy that Heizou and Kazuha didn’t have any ill feelings toward his mannerisms. If they really thought it was cute, then, well… he might just do it more often.
“Thanks,” Gorou finally said, with a small smile on his face. “I guess it’s just hard to not be self conscious when everyone seems to pay attention to you all the time,” he admitted.
“Just try not to mind them too much, and set boundaries where they are needed,” Kazuha advised. “You might not be able to stop them completely, but letting them know how you feel can certainly make a difference.”
Gorou’s smile grew wider. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Well, won’t you look at that.”
Gorou turned his head toward Heizou, who was currently looking off toward the ocean. He followed his gaze to see the sun in the distance, just about to set below the horizon.
“It’s almost sundown,” he spoke, an unfamiliar expression of calm on his face.
“How about we go find a better place to see the view?” Kazuha suggested, hinting at the hammock behind them.
In minutes, the three of them were sitting on it, with Gorou in the middle, Kazuha to his left, and Heizou to his right. He was surprised it didn’t flip them over, or worse, rip in half. It was sturdy enough to hold the three of them but big enough for them to not feel uncomfortable.
The three of them were strangely silent watching the sunset. Gorou wasn’t sure if he should say something. He didn’t want to break the moment. That was, until he remembered he had to confess his feelings.
Immediately, his body tensed and he could hear his heart racing in his ears. He had almost forgotten about the confession. How could he!? It was the only thing on his mind before Kazuha and Heizou arrived!
Of course, the other two, being as perceptive as they were, noticed immediately when Gorou tensed up.
Kazuha was the first to speak. “Gorou? Is everything okay?” Said General couldn’t find the words to say, or even where he should begin. “You were like this earlier when we arrived.”
“Yes, this isn’t like you,” Heizou added, looking concerned. “You can tell us what’s wrong, if it’ll make you feel better. But of course, you don’t have to force yourself.”
Gorou gulped. Now he’d done it. Instead of staying calm and waiting for the right moment, he just had to make his anxiety obvious and rush the entire thing. Should he lie? Buy for more time so he could get himself together? He didn’t know what to do!
“Hey.”
Gorou turned to his right to see Heizou, a frown on his expression. “I know that all this was supposed to be something special for us, and you did well. The food was delicious and the view is beautiful, not to mention this is my favourite place in Inazuma, so, points for that.” That earned a small smile from the General. “So you don’t have to be worried about how we feel. The fact that you invited us two just for this already speaks volumes.”
What Heizou said was certainly reassuring, but it didn’t exactly help with Gorou’s current problem. In fact, he was surprised he hadn’t found out about his feelings towards them. Wasn’t he supposed to be the best detective in the Tenryou Commission?
“Exactly.”
Gorou felt rough skin slide gently into his left hand, making him flinch. He turned to his left only to see Kazuha, his signature gentle expression on his face. “Sorry, did I scare you?”
Gorou stuttered. “N-no, you just surprised me, is all…” His cheeks were heating up again. Kazuha’s hand was warm.
“That’s good.” His thumb stroked the back of his hand
slowly, making Gorou’s heart skip a beat. “What I was going to say was… I really appreciate what you prepared for us, Gorou. Her Excellency included. Although I will still wander, Inazuma will always be my home, and you will always have a special place in my heart.”
He was really warm… and really close. Gorou had to hold back the urge to lean into him and beg him to speak some more.
Kazuha’s gaze averted to look over Gorou’s shoulder. “And of course, Heizou, the boat ride we shared together on our way here was certainly a lively one. Well, as much as it can be without Gorou.”
Heizou laughed. “You don’t have to bring that up, I get the message. You can thank Gorou and Her Excellency all you like, you don’t have to give me any credit.”
Kazuha’s eyes widened. “Oh, but, shouldn’t I? This dinner would not be the same without you here. Your presence is here, not just to raise our spirits, but for us to truly appreciate all you have to offer. So, of course, I should take the time to thank you for accepting the invitation.”
Heizou blinked before a smile broke out on his face. “You have a way with words, Kazuha.”
“Oh, it’s nothing new,” he responded humbly.
Kazuha turned back to Gorou, whom, after breaking out from his trance, had started to wonder if Kazuha and Heizou had developed feelings for each other on the way here (to which he answered, no, of course not, because why in the world would a detective want to be in a relationship with a past criminal?)
“In summary,” Kazuha continued, taking Gorou out of his thoughts, “this will surely be a day that will forever stay in my memory.”
After that, Kazuha turned toward the sunset and said nothing more, though the hand that was still clutched in his seemed to speak other words.
Gorou took a glance at Heizou, who was also silent, but he could’ve sworn that he was sitting a little farther away than he was earlier. He felt a little disappointed. He must’ve gotten the wrong message and thought that he and Kazuha were a thing. His right side felt cold without his body to warm it.
He looked up.
…
The sunset really was beautiful.
…
…Well, it seemed that the stage was already set for him, now, wasn’t it?
Gorou tightened his hand around Kazuha’s, who in turn, squeezed back. He took one final glance at Heizou, sitting all by his lonesome, before he took a breath.
“I have something to tell you two.”
Kazuha turned his head the slightest bit, while Heizou just smiled and said, “Go ahead.”
Here he goes.
He opened his mouth…
…
But nothing came out.
He closed it.
…
The silence was deafening.
It was then that both Heizou and Kazuha turned their heads. They didn’t look confused, but Gorou could tell that they were.
He opened his mouth to speak again. He knew what he was going to say. He prepared this. This was the perfect moment. All he needed to do was speak.
…
He couldn’t do it.
Gorou gulped, fear sinking into his chest. He was never this afraid in the war. Not even while he was in a tough spot climbing a cliff. No, this was pure, festering anxiety that settled in him, one of the worst feelings he’d ever felt in his life.
“Gorou?”
He couldn’t tell who said that. All he needed to focus on was speaking his mind.
He opened his mouth.
…
…Only to take in another breath. Why couldn’t he do it? Why couldn’t he just tell them? It didn’t have to be all fancy and full of words, all he had to say was “I love both of you” and let the silence speak for itself! Just… say something…
…Anything.
He opened his mouth.
…
Why did he think he was ready for this?
A sob wracked his body, catching the attention of the men on either side of him.
He was crying.
Why was he crying?
Sure enough, warm tears were rolling down his cheeks, and the more he tried to speak, the more he could only gasp for air instead.
It was too soon. Too early. He wasn’t ready for this, he really wasn’t ready.
He sniffled.
He needed to come up with a lie. Something sad to buy him time. Something that could convince them that this really wasn’t a failed confession.
His mind was blank.
How could he be so stupid?
Gorou let go of Kazuha’s hand to cover his mouth, as if the barrier could ever stop them from hearing his sniffles and sobs.
“Hey,” someone said, probably to his right. A hand was placed on his back. “Hey, it’s alright.”
“Gorou…” the other said, to his left.
He just wanted to curl up and die.
A bandaged hand gently took his wrists and pulled his hands away from his mouth, revealing his sorry expression.
“Just breathe, okay?” one of them said, and the hand on his back started moving around in circles.
His left side grew warmer, and Gorou slowly realized that someone was hugging him, with the top of his head nestled in the crook of the initiator’s neck.
Gorou sniffled again and tried to breathe, but it only turned into another sob, with more tears blinding his vision. He couldn’t see the sunset anymore.
Only two words appeared in his mind. It was all his courage would allow him to say.
He sniffed.
“…I’m… sorry…”
He felt rough skin on his right cheek, pulling him closer to the warmth on his left.
“…I’m… really, really… s-sorry….”
He heard something shift to his right, and suddenly the cold he had felt just a few moments earlier was replaced with more warmth, now enclosing him on all sides.
Then, he broke.
He didn’t know how long he cried for, or even what Heizou and Kazuha were doing at the time. All he knew was that he was sorry.
He was sorry to the Archons, for disappointing them when he even asked for their help.
He was sorry to Her Excellency, who had used up her precious time and energy into planning this date.
He was sorry to himself, because he had tried his best to get himself together but failed miserably in the end.
He was sorry to Heizou and Kazuha, who had to witness one of the most vulnerable and disappointing moments in the Watatsumi Island’s general’s life.
…And for their outfits, which… probably got a little dirty because of him.
— —— —
When Gorou woke up, it was dark.
He groaned and leaned into the warmth on his left, burying himself into the soft cloth. He felt a rough hand brush the hair away from his face before settling on his shoulder, rubbing it softly. His right side felt eerily cold. He didn’t like it.
After a moment, he turned his head up to see Kazuha looking off in the distance. His eyes glanced down to meet his gaze, a warm smile on his features. It was comforting, knowing that Kazuha was with him the entire time.
But where was Heizou?
Gorou sat up tiredly, groaning as he rubbed his eyes. The hand on his shoulder fell to his side. He blinked, looking out toward the ocean to see Heizou standing near the water, seeming to hold something in his hand. The blanket was folded up and the dishes were put away, showing that the dinner was now officially over. The date probably was, too, with how awful Gorou’s attempted confession was.
…He didn’t want to think about that.
“Are you feeling better?” Kazuha’s gentle voice asked.
Gorou nodded. He didn’t want to speak. He might just embarrass himself again.
He looked up to see Heizou was facing him, his silhouette barely visible in the dark. He made his way toward the couple, tucking the object he was holding into his sleeve. Gorou looked back down as Heizou sat next to him again with a sigh. Not touching, but… next to him.
“Are you okay?”
Gorou just nodded again. He really wanted him to move closer.
Nobody spoke after that. Gorou found himself staring up at the stars, twinkling brightly in the dark sky. The sight calmed him a little more, though it didn’t stop the intrusive thoughts echoing in his mind.
“Gorou?” Kazuha whispered, breaking the silence.
Said General responded with a hum.
“You don’t have to tell us right away, alright?” he said, his hand rubbing the side of Gorou’s forearm gently.
Gorou didn’t respond.
Kazuha exhaled. “…If I’m understanding this correctly, this dinner was prepared so that you could tell us something important.”
Gorou nodded.
“You must have felt a lot of pressure, considering you only had this evening to tell us. But it’s alright. Don’t feel like you need to say it right now. You can always do it another time.”
“Or… if you want,” Heizou spoke up, “we could stay here another day.”
That got Gorou’s attention.
“No!” he impulsively shouted, before realizing that his voice was a little too hoarse for his own liking. He cleared his throat. “I-I mean… I don’t know if Kazuha has any plans, but Heizou, you have a job!”
Heizou scoffed. “Are you kidding? You’re worried about my profession? I’m the best detective in the Tenryou Commission who purposefully treated his trip to Watatsumi Island as a vacation. And for a couple months, no less.”
Gorou shrunk. Maybe he just should’ve kept his mouth shut. But… he really didn’t want them to stay longer. That would mean he would have to confess his feelings for the duration they were here, and… he didn’t want to deal with that stress. It’ll take him longer than a few days to get over this.
Heizou sighed. “If you really don’t want us to stay, then… we don’t have to. You could always just contact us another time.”
But that also didn’t feel good. What were the chances that Kazuha would be in Inazuma at the time? Would Heizou be working on a case? And how long would it take for Gorou to actually get a hold of himself?
…Well, it was better than rushing it.
“…Okay. I’ll do that,” he muttered.
He didn’t know when he would invite them back. Probably when he was actually ready to confess his feelings.
“It’s alright,” Kazuha repeated. “We can wait.”
Gorou doubted they could.
They stayed like that for a while, watching the stars. Nothing was said after that, but Gorou assumed Heizou and Kazuha thought this was fine, or maybe just a little better than it was before. To Gorou, it wasn’t. He even considered not confessing for a bit, before concluding it probably wasn’t possible. If these feelings were able to bother him for a month, then they could probably bother him for a lot longer if he didn’t do something about it. And since this failed, then… Well, he had to decide on something before long.
It was silent when Heizou let out a big yawn, which, to Gorou, sounded way too adorable for his own good. “Ugh, I’m tired. You think it’s time we head back?”
Kazuha shifted, removing his hand from Gorou’s side. “Sure. But only if Gorou’s fine with it, of course.”
Gorou sighed. “I’m fine. Really. And besides, I don’t want to make you stay any longer than you’re supposed to.”
Gorou could tell Heizou had something to say to that, but he kept it to himself. “Alright, then. Let’s head back.”
The walk back to the docks was also uneventful. There was nothing anyone wanted to discuss, so everyone just stayed silent. Her Excellency had requested for somebody to clean their dining area up, so there was no need to bring anything with them, luckily. In the meantime, Gorou just thought about what he should do after this. It was already fairly late, and he needed to wake up early tomorrow, so getting a good night’s sleep was out of the question. He would just have to do his best to get in bed as quick as possible. Then, once he woke up, he’d just have to survive the rest of the day. He could manage that. Maybe.
He was probably just thinking this to distract himself from the fact that this date had ended horribly.
As they neared the docks, Gorou could feel his heart sink. They were really leaving now, huh? Even though he had insisted for them to go, a small part of him wanted them to stay.
The sailor manning the boat gave them a wave before he began preparing the vessel for departure. Gorou stopped walking once his feet stepped on wood, and let Heizou and Kazuha go on ahead. Something inside him wished the planks below him would break, and he could just sink down to the bottom of the ocean peacefully. Maybe that could actually happen, considering how heavy his heart felt.
Heizou, who was planning to board the boat first, hesitated before he could take a step in. He turned his head to see Gorou at the edge of the docks, his tail down and deflated mood showing. Heizou sighed, catching Gorou’s attention, before walking back towards him.
The General looked up at that. Couldn’t he say his goodbye from the boat?
He stopped in front of him before (and this was a surprise to Gorou) looking conflicted, as if he didn’t know what to do next. Heizou was never conflicted. Well, at least, not outwardly. He sighed again before saying, “Thanks for inviting us. It was fun.” He smiled.
Kazuha stopped behind him shortly after, with his own signature smile on his face. “I was thinking, if we had the time, to invite Gorou over to Narukami Island in the future as return for inviting us. How does that sound?”
Gorou couldn’t say. Who knows whether he’d have the courage to accept that invitation, if the time came?
Despite his doubts, he just responded with a nod.
Heizou’s smile disappeared. “Hey, cheer up. Just because you didn’t get to say what you wanted to say means this was a bad date.” Gorou almost choked, before remembering that platonic dates existed. “Think of all the other fun things that happened today.” Then, he leaned in close to whisper in Gorou’s ear.
“Like Kazuha moving in to wipe that soup off your mouth. Wasn’t that romantic?“
Gorou’s breath hitched as his mind went completely blank. It didn’t help that his ears were so sensitive that he could feel Heizou’s warm breath with each word. And paired with the image of Kazuha’s scarlet red eyes and the sound of that silky smooth voice? It did nothing to slow the beating of his heart.
He wanted him to do that again.
Kazuha cleared his throat. “I think you might be forgetting that I can hear your voice loud and clear.”
Heizou moved away and turned his head with a devilish smile. “What? You knew what you were doing the moment you volunteered. Nobody has to lean in that close to wipe somebody else’s mouth.”
Kazuha sighed, but he didn’t deny that statement.
Heizou’s grin only grew wider before turning back to Gorou. “Besides, looks like our General isn’t frowning anymore now, is he?”
That’s true, Gorou wasn’t feeling as bad. But now he was stuck thinking about how handsome and charming these two men in front of him were.
…Not that it was a bad thing.
Heizou’s mischievous expression became softer. “Well, looks like this is goodbye.”
Gorou frowned again. They couldn’t leave him like this!
Kazuha, apparently, felt the same. Because why else would he be standing in front of him right now, almost as close as he was when he-
Oh wait, he was moving even closer.
Gorou shut his eyes, cheeks flaring as Kazuha’s cologne washed over him once more. He didn’t know what Kazuha was doing, but whatever it was, he wasn’t ready.
He felt something rest on his shoulder and strong arms wrap around his back.
Oh. He was just hugging him.
But he wasn’t just hugging him. Kaedehara Kazuha, man of many words, parrier of the Musou no Hitotachi, charmer of men and women alike, was blessing him. Blessing him with an embrace, because he meant more to him than just some General in the Resistance.
Gorou’s tail was probably wagging behind him but he didn’t care. All he could do was bury his face into Kazuha’s haori, wrap his arms around his back, and soak up all the affection he could before this moment ended.
He raised his head. “…I’m going to miss you.” He muttered. Kazuha tightened his embrace at those words.
Heizou must have heard, because he looked away from the hugging couple as he said it.
…Now that he thinks of it, he and Heizou didn’t have much physical interaction during the date, did they?
Gorou didn’t want to stop hugging Kazuha, but he didn’t want to leave Heizou hanging even more. He quietly let go of the wanderer before quickly giving him an apology. Once Kazuha let go, Gorou immediately made his way over to Heizou.
The detective looked stunned, as if he didn’t expect this to happen. Gorou, face still flushed, fiddled nervously on the spot before asking, “C-Can I hug you?”
Heizou blinked, before a chuckle escaped from his lips. “Sure.” He lifted his arms to his sides.
Gorou, way too excited for his own good, crashed into his arms, making the detective grunt from the force. Unlike Kazuha, he immediately wrapped his arms around the other tightly and enthusiastically buried his face into the crook of his neck. When he breathed in, he could smell something floral. Heizou must have put on some cologne as well.
However, the detective did not reciprocate as quickly as Gorou would’ve liked. His shoulder was light, with no weight at all, and the arms that slipped around his waist were unsure and loose, with no strength to accompany them.
Gorou’s excitement wavered. Perhaps he took this the wrong way. Maybe Heizou wasn’t actually interested in a relationship at all.
Gorou loosened his arms.
“I’m… going to miss you too.” Gorou muttered, less heartfelt than he would have hoped.
Heizou exhaled at that, but made no move to tighten his hold.
After a moment, Gorou let go, and Heizou’s arms fell limply by his sides. When he moved back, he tried to give Heizou a smile, but he knew that the other could tell it wasn’t fully genuine.
A clearing of the throat broke the awkward tension.
Gorou looked past Heizou to spot the sailor, not-so-patiently waiting for the invitees to get on the boat.
Gorou nervously laughed. “…Sorry.”
Getting the message, Heizou and Kazuha made their way to the boat, but not before giving Gorou one last parting gift: for Heizou, his signature wink, and for Kazuha, his signature smile. Surprisingly, Gorou wasn’t as sad as he thought he would be, seeing them go. If Heizou hadn’t made the move to say goodbye to him like that, then maybe things would’ve been different.
Once they had boarded, the sailor untied the rope connected to the dock and immediately they set sail, the more modern design of the boat allowing the vessel to depart quicker than Gorou expected. In a panic, he rushed to the edge of the dock, taking notice of Kazuha and Heizou’s waving arms.
“Bye! H-have a safe trip back! I’ll see you, uh… s-sometime!” he shouted, tripping over his words.
From afar, he could hear Heizou’s amused chuckle and Kazuha’s light laughter, disappearing with the wind. He couldn’t fathom why they had to be blessed with the most beautiful voices in all of Teyvat.
He stayed standing there on the edge of the dock until the darkness swallowed them up, and their voices could no longer be heard. After that, he took a moment to reminisce about what they had done that day before running quickly (well, as fast as he could run in a yukata) back to his home so he could get a good night’s sleep.
If there was something commendable he did today, then it was successfully confirming that he was down bad for these two men. The confession could wait until later.
Not anytime soon, but… later.
— —— —
BONUS:
A little doodle of Gorou’s breakdown because I can.
