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Settling into the routine had been hard, uncomfortable and strange and different and hopelessly without him. The Donbrothers welcomed him as much as either of the other Noto he had fought alongside before, and yet he felt left adrift in the storm of changes. Jirou had been entrusted with leadership of the group, and in a sense Momoi had even entrusted their rivalry to this new generation. It was quick to prove however, for both of them that a unique friendship fit them better than trying to replace or look away from what had been. They both felt the loss of the red ranger and everything that led them to that point, and they were able to find unexpected solace in one another. The other Donbrothers spoke to him comfortably enough, including him in their arguments and games within Café Donbura when they were between daily lives and fighting. Even seeking him out for advice from time to time due to his calm demeanor and genuine enjoyment of helping others, though of course what they did with it was out of his hands. It wasn’t stiff, but it wasn’t quite right either. He told himself he just needed to get used to it, to find himself a rhythm like the others had and it would click into place eventually surely.
Finding at least a sense of pace and what to do with himself most days was a bit easier, spending his days either traveling the town itself to get to know its residents a bit more first hand then from afar or spending afternoons simply people watching in the Café. He left himself open to the whims of others around him more often than not, whether that be getting dragged into some mess or other by one of his comrades or stepping in for the local patrons around him. He was a bit directionless now as far as personal investment, for though he had a role and a job to fulfill as a Donbrother in his own right now, it wasn’t what he pursued as passion, nor were those around him whom he wished to seek out. In the evenings, he had taken to picking up those late night shifts at his ( their ) favored oden cart, already quite familiar with the owner as well as the recipe for his now favorite food and so he was quick on the uptake for what was needed. It was pleasant work, surrounded by the scent of delicious warm food and often getting many a tale from weary humans stopping after their work day and enlightening him further on the world he has watched but not taken to really seeing until more recently.
The warmth of the bubbling broth from where the various ingredients gently cooked in front of him, the gentle orange glow of the lantern lights strung up around the cart itself, the peaceful location just out of heavy traffic and the city lights to give way to the moon and all her phases; it was a pleasant place to spend his nights he thought, more sweet than bitter even with the yearning and nostalgia it filled him with. At least here, it was tinged warm and not simply an ache on a heart he only freshly decided he had. Besides, it was equally a place of meetings and reconvening and not just old partings.
Some afternoons he would come take over shift early, content to clean the cart and all its cookware as something to do with his hands, and in those days he’d often be greeted by the signs of Sononi and her chosen one, Tsubasa, on the run as always. He would shake his head in fond exasperation as he caught sight of them, sometimes just catching the end of coattails around the turn of the street and other times they would stop at his cart to catch their breaths around foolish smiles and he would offer them something to drink. And if they had the chance and time, he would often invite them back for the evenings when the streets were quiet and they could truly rest and enjoy a good meal.
The nights they did take up that offer were always pleasant if not a bit awkward. He had never really spoken to Tsubasa Inuzuka, combat not often pitting them directly together and even outside it, he had been the last of the Donbrothers from his understanding to really integrate into their group in their everyday lives. He knew a lot about him in the way one would recite facts from a book, but as people they were simply linked by another than to each other. Sononi herself looked happy, content in truth, and that fact made Sonoi smile despite himself. She had fought the hardest to even figure out what it was she desired out of life, what she felt and was as a person and who she wanted to share it with. She would always be a Noto, a part of their trio for so long and having come into her own alongside them despite everything. They threw away everything together, so to see that it had paid off for her at last even with her life lost and returned along the way was a relief admittedly.
She would shoot barbs between bites of food with Sonoi, tongue sharp as ever with a playful hint to it now and Sonoi was happy to fall into step, some little routine of faux judgment and skirting the lines between what was jest and what was just beyond reach as something truly painful. It was an easy dance for them though, and at the end of the day he would wave them off without asking for any money, simply taking it from his own pay every time and glad they would not go hungry for another day. Sonoi preferred the crunch of slightly underdone daikon, a crisp sound as she took small bites while Tsubasa was content to eat an even amount of anything really as long as it met his standards, and as he had never denied the offer of food every night they snuck their way over, Sonoi took it as compliment enough.
His most frequent familiar face he found at his cart though was Sonoza by far, something he didn't quite expect given how removed Sonoza had been from the concept of food for enjoyment at all and how seriously he took his tasks whether it be at his job as Haruka Kitou’s editor or in combat. Jirou would more often than not invite Sonoi to his humble home and be the one to cook for the other, a quiet but welcome affair he had found. The remaining three from the main 5 of the Donbrothers were the least comfortable around him, and unless for group excursions or awkwardly hidden accident, they would often avoid him when not in the familiar haunts of the group. And that was fine, he had no dislike nor particular interest in them himself and they worked together well enough as things were. No, it was always Sonoza who made his way to this little oden cart down the street, through the overpass, and just askance the train tracks that ran through this part of town.
Sonoi felt a bit remiss as he came to learn Sonoza was much chattier than he had dared pay attention to in all those years in their homeworld. True he had been the loudest of them inarguably, but he hadn't often taken to just how much Sonoza had to say it felt as he spoke with him most nights now alone at some ungodly hour with bubbling broth and an array of winter foods cooking between them. Sonoza always seemed so busy nowadays, keeping involved from putting pencil to paper all the way to publishing deals and public events for all of the mangaka’s work he oversaw. And yet, he’d spend hours simply sitting and talking at Sonoi if not to him about something or other, even if it was the same topic days in a row he came off just as passionate with new things to say. Sometimes it was Haruka’s current projects, other times it was works he had found elsewhere to explore as he consumed more of the world’s art through manga and its various adaptions. And sometimes it was just to ask the most benign questions that even a teen magazine would find dull and yet the fierce amber gaze across the counter encouraged Sonoi to answer as their interest was as deep and true as anything else that came past his lips.
It baffled the blue clad man admittedly, and though he certainly enjoyed the enthusiastic and consistent company, he couldn't quite pinpoint what brought Sonoza to him night after night. Sonoza had never been so driven to seek him out before when it was just them, preferring their trio’s company, but for the sake of familiarity more than anything it felt like. And he had found himself quite comfortable in reaching out to the other Donbrothers by now and even strangers; even without Haruka present he spent many of his days picking up shifts at the Café and he seemed to enjoy the work itself as well as the conversations that followed. His smile when he was serving patrons there seemed genuine enough, almost proud even.
He was always busy, some interest or job in his docket and yet he came here. Sonoi even on occasion fretted to himself that Sonoza was pushing things, that he wasn’t getting the rest he needed even with his inhuman body and its different limits, but Sonoza had never lied to him before and always assured him in his own way that wasn’t the case. And it wasn't the food itself either, no; Sonoza had never quite gotten the passion for food that Sonoi had and Sononi was learning, either lacking a strong palette to enjoy it with or truly being a man of no preference for what went into his body as long as it was presentable. Aside from seeming to lean towards strong flavors, nothing was particularly a draw for him, oden included surely. So why then, what drew him to Sonoi’s company so much?
“That’s a stupid question.”
“Is it really?”
Sonoza grumbled not too quietly as he crossed his arms, rolling his eyes as if to further sell his annoyance and exasperation.
“You’re lonely, I have the time, and we’re friends. Why wouldn’t I spend time with you?”
Sonoi spluttered, torn between indignance and feeling out the kindness said with such a gruff voice. He settled on petulance, crossing his own arms and looking away from the brown clad man across from him.
“I am not lonely, Sonoza.”
“You’re not the only one to lie to me with those words lately, and yes you are. I spent long enough watching other people to know what it looks like. If you aren’t avoiding people you’re off with that Momotani Jirou, and if you’re neither place then you’re here.”
“Sonoza, I work here.”
“Nobody is making you; you picked to work here specifically, all the way out here late at night by yourself. You’re smart and you’re better than a human, you could have worked anywhere anytime of day in town but you don't.”
“Tch.” He couldn't deny any of it, having been caught and laid out by the other man. frustration left him silent and his fists curled tight into his apron he wore over a shock of silk and feathers.
“His route at the new place he works doesn't take him out here like it did before, I've caught you tracking his routes sometimes.”
“What are you implying?”
“I'm not implying anything, I'm saying I watched you do it. You care about him.”
“I- of course I, we all did, they did, he’s Momoi Tarou, we-”
“He’s your person. I told you, I'm not blind just because you’re dishonest. You learned all those emotions and grew attached to this world, you got attached to humans and betrayed our entire world and you can’t even say it out loud can you?”
“Sonoza, that’s enough. Don’t speak to me like you’re Sononi, you’re not anywhere near sharp enough for it.”
Sonoza slapped his hands on his thigh, not wanting to damage or disturb the small cart he sat at. “Then either say it or let me say it to you! Maybe hearing it out loud or seeing it in front of you will make you more honest.”
“I do NOT need a display from you to remind myself that the entire reason I'm here right now doesn't even know my face anymore! You think I don't know? You think I am not reminded every day that I can no longer share my days with him?!”
Sonoi’s words had been an outright snarl, his intense blue eyes whirling to bore into Sonoza’s own copper and his frame shook with pent up emotion snaking past him just now with his outburst. As he panted for air after he was done, all Sonoza offered was a neutral expression staring right on back, not phased in the slightest.
“What? What else do you want me to say Sonoza? What else do you want to pry from me tonight?”
Sonoi heard more than saw the clinking of coins against the wooden counter of the cart, Sonoza leaning in a bit closer now and letting his gaze slide down to the various items still cooking in dashi based broth.
“Two eggs, fried tofu, and konnyaku.”
Sonoi’s features scrunched up, confusion written all over as he tried to parse what those had to do with anything.
“W-What?”
“My order, this is an oden cart and your cooking is good. So give me those to start with, I'm hungry and I want to eat while we talk.”
“That’s it?”
“I said just to start.”
Sonoi groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. “No! I meant-...you’re just moving on then? After all that?”
“Well, you answered your own question. And I still plan on sticking around, so I thought I'd order since I'm here.”
“Answered my own…”
Sonoi mumbled the last words aloud a few times to himself, trying to piece together the intended sentiment as he carefully set out a bowl and scooped the order from the man into it with practiced ease.
“You asked me why I come by all the time, that’s why. You don’t have your person like Sononi does, and I don't have a person like that, so I thought I'd spend my time with you.”
“Haruka?”
“She’s a good kid, but don’t say dumb things like she’s the same as that dog guy or Tarou to you both.”
Sonoi hummed softly, nodding a couple times. "Fair Enough."
“I don’t need a person though, but you do. I can’t be your person, I don't think, I'm not him. But we’re still friends, and I've always been comfortable in your company. I wouldn't have stayed with you all this time if I didn't. You’re a weird guy sometimes and you get angry at the most random things, but you’re also smart and I think people would call you kind if they knew you enough.”
“Kind, hm? Do you consider me to be so?”
“Mmm,” he tilted his head a bit too far to the side to come off natural and too quick to be comfortable. His expression was one of almost childishly exaggerated thinking as he looked upwards and pouted his lips for a few moments.
“I guess so, but I think just calling you Sonoi is good.”
“Just Sonoi…”
“You act and think like Sonoi because you are, listing out what makes you ‘you’ takes too long. That’s why people have names to begin with, right? Sums all that up.”
“In that case,” Sonoi pulled out another smaller bowl and gently took an egg from the broth to the bowl. “Just Sonoi supposes that Just Sonoza does make welcome company then, since we’re friends.”
He popped the egg into his mouth, a small smile on his closed lips while Sonoza gave him a scrutinizing look.
“I mentioned you’re a weird guy sometimes, yeah?”
Sonoi chuckled softly, swallowing his food after a few moments more. “So you’ve said.”
“Good. I also said we’re friends, right?”
His tone was softer, something a bit warmer now. “So you’ve said.”
Sonoza offered a wide toothy grin before popping a piece of tofu into his mouth. Not quite finishing chewing first, he tucked what was in his mouth to his cheeks before giving out a slightly muffled,
“Good.”
Sonoi leaned forward a bit against the cart, a smile still in place as he let his gaze flick up to the moon above and behind his companion for the night. It was a half moon, and perhaps that was fitting for tonight as he served food once more to a strange man who laughed and cried because he saw others do so first and who had more words than all of humanity most likely on the smallest details of whatever interest struck him as of late. No, this was not his “person”, but a friend…well, that was something beautiful in its own right, wasn't it?