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makoto's eyes flick down to the phone on the other side of the table as it buzzes then back up to izumi. the model looks annoyed, brows pinched and eyes narrowed as he looks at the screen, but he picks up the phone anyway.
"what do you want? you're interrupting my yuukun time."
a grimace finds its way to makoto's face without him realizing it. izumi doesn't seem to notice it as a tinny sena! makes its way across the table. that at least explains why izumi picked up the phone rather than just declining the call.
izumi rolls his eyes. the annoyed look shifts to something a bit softer, a bit concerned. "you are okay, right?" he asks, voice far less harsh than it had been. "wait, what time is it there anyway?
makoto looks at his own phone. it's not long after two in the afternoon, which means it's just past three in the morning back in japan.
leo must relay the same thing as izumi clicks his tongue. "leo-kun, go to sleep." there's something about the way he says it that seems to oddly fond despite the very apparent exasperation in his tone. just how many times have they had a conversation like this?
"i don't care if you're composing right now or you have some idea you have to get out. you should—" izumi sighs, pausing as leo must cut in. makoto watches as izumi's free hand finds the mug he'd been drinking from, thumb idly rubbing against the handle. "fine, i'll listen to it as long as you promise to sleep after, okay?"
as much as makoto feels like he shouldn't be here overhearing this conversation, there's something amusing about it. a long time ago now, he'd been the sole recipient of izumi's attention and he'd enjoyed it for some time; izumi had looked out for him and cared for him when no one else seemed to be there to do so. they were just kids then, and plenty had happened since those days, but makoto can say with certainty that he's glad izumi has someone — or maybe he should say a few someones — to care about who cares about him in return.
across the table, izumi shifts back in his chair, glancing over at him. makoto can hear leo's laugh through the phone's speaker, though the rest of whatever he's saying is inaudible. however, leo says something that makes izumi's cheeks go pink as he huffs out, "whatever," while looking out the window.
makoto opts for scrolling through social media and messages he's missed in the trickstar group chat as izumi is preoccupied by listening to whatever leo wanted to show him. there's something about this moment that's comfortable in a way he can't quite put into words. it's just the two of them being able to spend time together without izumi being overbearing, but then again, he'd been better about that.
as much as leo makes him uneasy, makoto wonders if he should thank him anyway. it'd only be fair as leo thanked him all those months ago now.
"mm, it sounds good, but that part in the middle is weird. the rhythm in the harmony, i mean. it might sound different if i listen to that part again since i haven't heard it before. and no, leo-kun, that doesn't mean you can play it again."
the noise in the cafe grows as another group of people walk in. makoto wonders if they'll have to leave soon. it's unlikely they'll be recognized, but the crowd makes him a bit uneasy. either way, they'll have to head out within the half hour to meet up with mao and ritsu as agreed upon.
"you can work on it after you've slept," izumi says, sounding like he's had to argue this far too many times. he sighs. "how about this, after you sleep, you can call me again and i'll listen to you work on it."
makoto glances up to see a soft little smile on izumi's face and an equally fond look in his eyes. he doubts izumi realizes what his expression looks like right now. if he did, makoto doesn't think izumi would show it so easily in public. now, he doesn't know what all of the mess between izumi and leo was nor what happened when leo disappeared and izumi turned his attention to makoto as a stand-in, but he thinks he might understand at least a little bit now.
"good. i'll talk to you later then?" izumi looks over at the growing line at the counter. "goodnight, leo-kun."
makoto watches in mild interest as izumi presses his lips together in a line, hesitating if only for a few seconds. "love you," he murmurs, quiet enough that makoto barely hears him even over the table.
it doesn't take long for the pink on izumi's cheeks to return. "whatever," he says once again, quieter this time before adding on a more insistent repeat of, "goodnight, leo-kun." he sets his phone down a few seconds later, shaking his head slightly before looking back at makoto once more.
"sorry about that, yuukun. i don't think that idiot's ever slept like a normal person," izumi states, attempting to slip back into his indifferent state. still, having been witness to that entire phone call, makoto knows there's something more there, but he knows better than to ask.
"i'm glad you're happy, izumi-san," makoto says instead, a genuine smile pulling at his lips.
izumi bristles slightly, picking up his mug and holding it up to his mouth. "i don't know what you're talking about," he replies, looking pointedly out the window.
makoto can't help but laugh.