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Tomioka is a notoriously secretive man which is why it's so strange that he was invited to his flat to cook with him. But what he did not expect is that this would be over Kocho of all people.
"Basically, she said that one day when she eventually gets married she wishes to marry someone who's well-equipped in the kitchen so she has less to worry about and possibly more help in her clinic. I've never shared my cooking with any of you before, but you-"
With surprise blooming in his eyes reflecting what was going on in his head, he held out his hand to silence the man before him, needing a few moments before he could even begin to start talking with his wide eyes.
"Okay I need to stop your right there, that's... That's a lot of information right there and I need a moment to process it."
.
.
.
"...I knew this was a bad idea, I-" Waving his hands fervently before placing them firmly on the spiky-haired man's shoulders, he forced himself to speak quicker than the man before him.
"Ah no no no! I think it's a sweet idea I just wasn't sure what to think at first!" The response seemed to calm the man down, and he just nodded up at him unable to meet his eyes.
"So you want to become a possible suitor for Kocho then, hm?" Curtly, Giyuu nodded, looking up at him expectantly.
"Well then, that's easy! I'll be an excellent taste tester, what are we making?" With his hands on both his hips, Kyoujurou leaned down with intent interest.
"Tempura shrimp with boiled soba noodles and daikon radish."
"Oh! Fancy! I typically serve mine with shredded carrots instead of daikon radish."
"This is the season they thrive most in."
"Best to take advantage of it!" Tomioka nods at him and so the two get to cooking.
This was... Certainly not what Kyoujurou expected but he can't say he's not pleased regardless, just surprised is all.
He's not sure how to break the news to Tomioka, which is why he decides to put it as bluntly as possible to save any feelings.
"Tomioka I'm afraid to tell you this but-"
"I'm horrible at this, aren't I? I knew it..." As his expression darkened Kyoujurou's eyes widened, twitching briefly. Before his friend could get any sadder he scrambled forward and laid his hands on his shoulders, squeezing them as reassuringly as he could. "No no no! Not at all, in fact, I'd say you're very good at this! A natural even."
"Then... Then why did you put it like that?"
"Well..." With an uneasy expression he looked away but his gaze flickered back onto him. "Well, yes, I could have put it better, but as I was trying to say, is that I'm afraid to tell you, you don't need my help, you're perfectly well equipped to handle this yourself. I feel the only thing you need advice on is the furoshiki's of your choosing."
"What's wrong with them?" Kyoujurou could only stare at the man blankly.
"They are very bland, go for more colorful ones, maybe we can go shopping after this?" The sapphire-eyed man stared at him, eyes glimmering with an array of emotions. "Why not now?"
And they did, going shopping, he found himself being more well acquainted with the man than ever before, they ended up stopping by the Butterfly Clinic as he swiftly swapped out the two furoshiki's with each other and presented them to Kocho. With the pleased expression, the man left with he could tell things went well.
It's years later that Kyoujurou finds the relevance to bring up the event to her. They're at an onsen, one with mixed baths- much to Himejima and Iguro's displeasure- and just the adults. They've rented out a private onsen, it has an inn where their rooms have been situated all thanks to their master in celebration of the organization's recent success, therefore those at the top ranks of it were rewarded.
With the exclusion of Tokito, it was better that way so if someone were to drink upon leaving the onsen he wouldn't be exposed to it by chance. Which is why this whole ordeal surprised him!
With it being mixed baths that meant they were all together, surprisingly enough, Uzui kept his comments to himself but maybe that's because of the fact he had his wives in his company but that wasn't the strangest thing about it. It was the fact Kocho was hanging around them, most of her time in the water had been chatting with them. It was odd...
It wasn't that the two of them talking was odd it was the nature of how they were that was strikingly strange. It looked as if it was meant to be secretive as if they were sharing some kind of salacious gossip, even the other man's wives were joining in. He would have thought that she would have spent time with well... Her boyfriend, he had told him about the two joining relationships so many years ago, and he assumed all was well unless Shinobu was just, losing interest?
Ah... This was supposed to be relaxing these thoughts are not relaxing at all he should leave it be.
But then again, he had seen the man work so hard and stress himself so much just to get in a relationship with her that he just couldn't leave the thought be and...
Kyoujurou against his better judgement ended up pulling her aside later in the night when they were all out of the mixed baths and relaxing on their own time.
"I'd like you to tell you something about Tomioka, Shinobu," With an intent interest in her eyes, she turned towards him, her smile painted with mischief. She was clearly expecting something else but sadly she wasn't going to get that.
"Tomioka had come to me one day or really invited me over to his house on a matter he didn't explain until I was there."
"Oh? Pray tell, what is that matter exactly?"
"It was a matter concerning you," From the look of shock that reflected across her it seemed she'd need more convincing, "Me?" he only nodded.
"Yes, believe me, I was surprised too, I was even more surprised when he told me why he wanted my help."
"Well, now you absolutely have to tell me, c'mon tell me! I really wanna know,"
"Well..." Looking around for dramatic effect, he leaned in closer and she did the same, and low to a whisper said: "He had overheard in a conversation that you had wanted to marry someone who could cook so you'd have less work on his shoulders and he came to me for help to learn and see how he could improve his own cooking." Shinobu let out a gasp as she covered her mouth with the tips of her fingers. "Oh my! He did?!"
Kyoujurou nodded, his smile growing bigger. "But it turns out he didn't even need my help, he was a natural when it came to it, the only thing I helped with was picking out the type of furoshiki to present it to you with. Other than that, it was all his own,"
Shinobu just let out a knowing giggle, hiding her mouth as blush dusted her petite cheeks. "I never knew he was so dedicated,"
With a long languid laugh, the flame-haired man leaned back into his seat, grinning down at her. "It's simply fantastic to watch what love will do to a person." Chuckling once more, Kocho nodded in agreement and the two continued conversing until the night became so late that they could hardly keep their eyes open.
He just hoped he managed to sway her decisions just a little bit.
It was a few months later after the prior incident that Kyoujurou noticed it, well... It was kind of hard not to notice it really.
Uzui was practically radiating with excitement, Kyoujurou wasn't sure why, just like why he wasn't sure why his wives were with him. Together they all glittered with anticipation and eagerness, literally, he's sure they were glittering. Even stranger, Shinobu seemed to have the same aura around her, but there was something in her eyes that told him something else was going on. Was... Was he right about his previous assumption? Was that why he and his wives were here because they were about to get a new partner? But then...
Then... Why did she invite all of them over? That seemed... Harsh, but then again he hadn't seen Tomioka even before he arrived here. Had she already kicked him out, ah, he hoped not.
It seemed his inherent suspicions and worries had been caught as Mitsuri pulled him aside when the others were too busy in conversation to care to notice.
"What's wrong?" She prods, an arm wrapped around his own brows creased in worry. Should he tell her? But she might tell someone else and then it might make things worse. Of course, she'd only ask to confirm it wasn't true and she would have had good intentions in it but he didn't want to spread gossip but he was still concerned.
"Have... Have you seen Tomioka by any chance?" She tilted her head up at her to the side in pure curiosity, staring up at him partly as if he was stupid. He noted the hesitation.
"Yes...? He's in the kitchen preparing a meal with the girls in Mansion helping him. Why... Why do you ask?" The answer sounded more like a question than an answer but Mitsuri continued on. "Do you need something from him? Because if so we-" He shook his head breathing out a sigh of relief. "No no, thank you for the offer I just thought something might have happened."
Now she was even more confused. "What would have happened?"
"Nothing nothing," He waved her off. "don't worry about it, we should go join the others before they noticed us gone, yes?" She nodded up at him and they joined the others right as dinner was about to be served.
Well, he learned he was partly right in his assumptions of something going on between Kocho and Uzui but not in the way he expected at least.
It was here he learned the real reason behind Tengen's and Shinobu's encounter when they were all gathered around having dinner when Shinobu speaks.
"Well before we start eating I do want to make an announcement or a toast of some sort since that was the entire point of having this dinner at my house at least, and the entire point of it being prepared by my radiantly lovely partner as well." Holding up her glass didn't stop her from glancing to the side at her partner with a cheesy smile who simply blushed and looked away but peered at her through half-lidded eyes.
"Well, me and Tomioka," She made an obvious glance at him and he rolled his eyes at it, with a huff but it seemed like there was no real malice behind it. "Or I guess I should now say me and Giyuu Kocho have invited you all here to tell you we are engaged!"
It is at that point through the applause of the two's friends that he learns that maybe assumptions aren't the best thing to resort to, especially considering Uzui was married to three lovely women and anyone who wanted to get married would obviously go to the man with three marriages under his belt.
Nonetheless, Kyoujurou is happy for them regardless.