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“Are you really taking me to the Shinagawa Aquarium? Is this a prank?” the brunette man in front of him asked, once they ended up on the train platform. Due to it being rush hours, a sea of people passed them, as Akira headed towards the elevator available at the platform.
It was his idea. A nostalgic trip to a place he hadn’t visited in three years.
Akira might have asked his friends for suggestions, but after he received ‘go to every Triple Seven, since when you divide twenty one by three you get seven’ from Ryuji or ‘dress up for as Featherman characters and stroll in Akihabara’ from Futaba, he deemed their advice unhelpful. The rest focused too much on presenting the romantic aspect…
Which Akira didn't want to be too obvious with his intentions. Of course, he had been building up his courage for the past few months, but it wasn’t about him. If he could exit the aquarium with his relationship status changed, he would be over the moon. But if not, he wanted Goro to have as much fun as possible.
“I would never pull a prank on you. Especially on your twentieth one birthday” Akira replied “I just thought of it as a cool place.”
He heard Goro groan, as the elevator's door opened.
“Watching fish is your idea of fun?”
“You took me here once. So it’s ‘Goro Akechi verified’ ” the raven pointed out “besides it will be more peaceful.”
“I did, didn't I? It's on me then…” Goro hummed to himself. Akira winced, knowing what he had to say further. The usual, whenever he took his rival out somewhere. Just like Goro’s therapist suggested.
“I checked everything beforehand. They have accessibility services for dis-”
“Great. We can go no problem then.” and Goro dismissed him immediately. So it was this kind of day, where they probably wouldn't talk about the technicalities of their trip. That happened. Sometimes.
So Akira, surpassing his earlier grimace, readjusted his hold on the wheelchair.
“How was your day, by the way?” he inquired, to change the topic, as he pushed the buttons on the panel “any difficult topics?”
Goro probably did fine. Excellent. Just like everyday, when he was in class.
The question was… stupid, then. But Akira felt lightheaded in his realization of a well-prepared plan. There was no room for toying with the idea of them together. Suddenly it was June and he couldn’t just dwell on what to say. He’d have to say it. Somehow. Ha-
“I managed to sit through all of the online lectures.” the brunette man confirmed that fact.
Therefore he could anticipate the self-deliberating joke. It was on Akira, only.
“Cool” he nodded, seeing how Goro's eyes followed his face in the elevator's mirror “I, for example, had to take meat to the doctor to get it cured .”
He repeated the dry joke the lecturer once told them. Well, not once. Every time they cured the meat he had to hear it. And goddamn if he wouldn't carry the legacy.
“It was so unfunny it hurt.” Goro noted, huffing.
“Unfortunately, I wasn't meant to be a comedian. Only a barista that studies culinary arts. Part time.” Akira sighed theatrically.
“I am always fucking funny” Goro added, more lax. He had this mean and honest sneer that Akira always appreciated “have you heard how often Yoshizawa laughs at my jokes? If it were up to her to decide, I would be the best comedian in Tokyo.”
“The fact that Sumrie enjoys so much dark humor is the weirdest plot twist in my life.”
“I would call it character development. Natural progression from spending too much time with me.” Goro added nonchalantly.
“You just got her on the dark side.” Akira laughed.
“I wonder what she will get for me” Goro suddenly said “last year, she gave me a sweater vest with a Loki’s color theme.”
Which Goro wore constantly, Akira noted. From how often he found it in the laundry. This year? Sumire didn’t disclose it with him. Especially - because he asked everyone to come to their flat in the evening for a small birthday party.
The afternoon was for him and Goro only.
“Do you expect anything special?” Akira asked, intrigued. Maybe to add something to his plan, spontaneously.
“Your antics, maybe a gift from Takamaki and Kitagawa as well. They are… more probable to celebrate this occasion.” which was so fucking untrue. Everyone would at least wish him the best.
For example, Akira wasn't the one who planned the last year fiasco of a birthday party for Goro - it was Sumire and Makoto who mixed up the time when Goro's classes ended and threw him a surprise party when he was still in the middle of lectures. Scaring him completely.
“You don't seem to be very enthusiastic about it…” Akira noted.
“I don't expect anything from anyone. Not to disappoint myself.” the brunette man revealed. His eyes darted once again to Akira’s reflection.
“Do you want to talk about it?” the man prompted. Knowing that Goro was going to drop another fun fact about his past. The usual, random way. Because some things don’t change.
“Once, when it was my sixth birthday, my delusional mind was so set on a plastic gun that was way too expensive for my mother. I pestered her for weeks only to get… just a piece of cake. Only a piece of cake” the brunette explained, a little too flatly “of course, I have never told her I was ungrateful. I would never . But I did cry that night, while she was asleep because I had been imagining it so much.”
Akira knew what toy he was talking about. He gave it to Goro last year, after all. It stood proudly in Goro's apartment, just above his desk.
He also once bawled in front of a shop that sold a familiar toy gun. But he never admitted that to anyone.
The elevator’s door opened.
“You were six, you weren't delusional. You were a child” Akira commented, maybe a little too harshly “don’t… blame yourself…”
“Maybe you're right” Goro hummed affirmatively “I can push it, if you feel tired after your classes.”
“No, today let me spoil you so much you will definitely get tired of me” the raven stated “you won't even need to move a finger.”
He expected the brunette to deflect with another harsher quip.
“Alright. Show me some good time, then.” but Goro peered over his shoulder.
Akira felt his heart miss a beat when he saw that coy smirk. Always the same - dazzling, even after three years.
*****
When Akira was buying them their tickets, Goro just watched him, with something discontented. The raven could see how he clenched his fingers on the push ring, waiting for him to finish up. The leaflet on his lap remained unread. Probably.
“Oh, would you like to have a wheelchair? We can rent one.” the cashier suggested, when Akira showed Goro's certificate.
“No, we have one.”
“I see” the woman nodded, not losing her polite smile “remember, all the staff are here to help you. Hope you have fun at the aquarium! The dolphin show is a must.”
“We’ll keep that in mind.” Akira smiled politely and took the tickets.
To return to impatient Goro.
“Are you done?” his… soon-not-to-be rival asked, when the raven got back to him “there weren't any issues with the documents, right? You took quite some time there.”
“Nah, just formalities” and so, Akira stood behind him, packing everything in his bag “have you read the pamphlet?”
“Briefly” Goro confirmed and took hold of the paper “what… did the cashier say, when she saw the certificate?”
“They have wheelchairs to rent out.” Akira replied laconically.
“I would never give up mine.” the brunette remarked.
“Of course. That's why I didn't take it” Akira nodded “they also offer help with mobility. You just need to ask the staff.”
“You offered to be my chauffeur, live up to my expectations and don't throw more work at overworked staff.” the brunette man challenged.
“Why of course, I would never disappoint the ex-Detective Prince and his sudden altruistic motifs.” the man grinned.
“Fuck off.” he got an eye-roll in return.
Akira was very used to pushing Goro's wheelchair. Considering he was the one of few who would offer it and Goro would actually agree to let him. Other people - god forbid one of Akira's friends (mostly Ryuji), would receive a mouthful of how the brunette could do everything by himself.
So he would never trust anyone else to push it - especially a random worker at the aquarium. Probably coddling the brunette man to the point of accidental condescendence.
“Do you have any wishes on where to go?” he asked.
“I don't want to see the dolphins.” Goro declared laconically.
“But they are famous for it…” Akira replied, flabbergasted. His eyebrows shot up, as this was one of the things he vaguely planned to see. Maybe to use the excuse of being in the crowd to shield Goro from splashes, like a true gentleman-
“Exactly. That would mean a lot of people will be there.”
Ah. Of course. People. People who would stare at Goro. Even if he hid his most prominent scars underneath a layer of makeup, it was never enough. In his eyes.
To Akira, him being the sappiest bastard there was, every scar that Goro had meant so much. That he survived, that he was still being an ass whenever Akira lost a chess game and he never found them hideous.
“Okay…” Akira noted “no dolphins then.”
“Thanks” Goro nodded nonchalantly as he leaned his back on the chair, comfortably “we can start with medusas, they can be entertaining.”
*****
Goro was oddly quiet the whole time. Which Akira did not know how to interpret it. He wasn't angry - Akira knew all the signs of Goro's anger. His fist clenching, as he presses them again his thighs and a glare that everyone fears. Well, Akira fears it, sometimes. And it wasn't there.
The brunette seemed to be melancholic at the moment. That was the best thing Akira could come up with to describe the vacant gaze resting on Goro's face. It was something uncommon on his face, usually hidden for moments when he was alone with people he ‘tolerated’. Not in public. Almost never in public.
In public Goro put on the most ever-resting bitch face he could.
“It's… nice, isn't it?”
“Mhm, yes” his rival did not even look up “seahorses are next. What was your misconception about them before you learnt they weren't real horses in the sea?”
“Huh? That's quite specific.” Akira prompted Goro to explain further.
“I always imagined them as horses from fairytales. You know, made of seafoam, that could float on water, as they ran untamed on the water surface like through a field.” the brunette explained “that is, until I actually learnt how to read and found out they are just oddly shaped fish.”
Akira didn’t know what to say.
“Well, I just had this small encyclopedia about the sea where they drew a cartoon depiction of seahorse giving birth” he scratched his neck, surprised by the metaphorical description “males shot them from the stomach. Like a mechanical gun.”
“How… interesting.”
When they stopped by said creatures, the brunette asked him to linger there for longer. Goro got closer to the plate with everything you could learn about them and read it meticulously. Maybe searching for a confrontation with Akira's anecdote.
The blue light reflected on his attentive face, as the maroon of his eyes darkened from the hue. It traced his cheekbones and lips, as he scrutinized the tank. Looking like he belonged in the water, being a mermaid that escaped from a tank. Maybe being made from the magical seafoam as well.
Akira took his opportunity. Definitely hiding that awful and cheesy pick up line for later.
“Hey, Goro” he began, once he was sure only the two of them were watching the seahorses. The rest of the guests began to move towards the dolphin show - which, as was established earlier - Goro had no interest in attending “can I take a picture of you?”
“Why?” the brunette glanced up at him, losing his thoughtful frown.
“The lighting on your face is pretty.” he didn't even lie. It was stunning. And he didn't mind keeping a picture in his phone. Just like the scare amount of photographs he had of his rival. The least of all of his friends.
“Is it?” the brunette man raised his eyebrow.
“Yeah. I think my inner Yusuke is speaking” Akira chuckled nervously “it… reflects nicely on your eyes.”
Goro then blinked, raising his hand to touch his face.
“The scar as well?” he asked bluntly. His fingers traced the painted skin, where the foundation covered a scar that cut through Goro's entire face.
“It’s… not that visible.”
It was, a little, due to how the translucent and mystical lights formed on the brunette's face.
“Your hesitation is telling.”
“I didn't mean that way” Akira defended “your face just looks so nice right now.”
And pretty, and beautiful and-
“It is there, no matter what you say” the other deadpanned “it will be in the picture as well.”
God, Akira wanted to say so many compliments.
“Well, you did put a layer of foundation so it might get overexposed in my shitty phone’s camera-” but only that got out. Akira immediately bit his tongue. Fuck.
“Is it that visible?” Goro's eyes widened.
“The makeup? Yes, it is.” the raven haired man answered with a painful grimace.
Goro shot him a disapproving look and sighed.
“I didn't mean it to come off like this as well. Shit, I just…” the raven hesitated “...the lighting looks very nice and I think it will turn out great. You will, I mean.”
“Alright, just take it.” Goro then got closer to the tank. Gripping his roughened fingers on the wheels.
Akira knew exactly what he did - obscuring the scar in the shadow, as he posed against the fishes. He also did everything not to move his face muscles, as to not show off anything. Not even when a few seahorses surrounded his form in the background.
Akira wanted to berate himself - especially for how he stumbled through the conversation. Feeling like a hopeless and stupid sixteen year old again.
*****
Akira remembered that spot where they stood. Exactly remembered it.
Goro clinging to his nerdy-ass attaché case that disappeared somewhere after he got resurrected - the second time. Akira, being there for the first time, attentively listening to everything his companion was saying - even if the latter just read about it the previous day. Them just… spending time, even if trying to secretly get as much info on eachother.
Akira secretly loved going out with Goro then. Because Goro didn't expect him to solve any of life changing problems. His… ‘character journey’, as the brunette would call it, didn't consist of Akira helping him out. He had done it almost all by himself.
It was a change, catching a five from being constantly looked up to or relied on. They just spent time hanging around cool places in Tokyo.
“Is something wrong with the tuna?” Goro suddenly asked.
It was also when Ohya decided to butt in their… unofficial date here. Well, for Akira it felt like a very unofficial date. One that got cut short, because once Ohya gave a hint of his actions, Goro turned into a full Detective Prince mode, questioning everything and alluding to Phantom Thieves along the way.
“No, nothing.”
The brunette then flashed him an incredulous look, peering over his shoulder.
“You seem down. Has the tuna really offended you so much?” he noted sarcastically.
“We met Ohya here three years ago.” he answered.
“Who?” Goro quirked his eyebrow, perplexed.
“The journalist I know. We ran into her a few times in Crossroads.”
“Ah, the drunk woman who showed inappropriate interest in you.” the brunette noted nonchalantly.
“She did?” Akira questioned, stunned. Never thinking about the journalist that way.
He always assumed that Ohya had a weird way of expressing herself, especially due to being drunk for most of the year. She was overly ‘nice’ to Lala-chan as well.
“You can't be that oblivious…” Goro sneered “everyone was showing interest in you.”
Well, fuck him then, Mr. Oblivious was in front of Akira. But he didn't call him out. He just put his hands on his hips.
“What makes you say that?” he asked.
“Almost all of the women you met during your first year in Tokyo were ready to… court you” Goro explained, losing his earlier teasing tone “I am pretty sure some guys too…”
“How do you know that?”
“I observed your every action, right? Constantly keeping tabs on you and your team” the ex-detective clarified. He then propped his head on his hand, putting the elbow on the armrest “speaking of your team - it's a wonder how you could swoon so many people at once.”
The raven wasn't sure if it was sarcastic or not, so he played along.
“Oh, well, I am charming” Akira argued “I steal hearts all the time.”
“My ass” Goro sneered, signaling with his hand that he wanted Akira to move him away from the fish tank “your charm comes from you being a dumbass...”
“Do you find me charming, Goro? You constantly call me that.” Akira chuckled, as he grabbed the hold of the wheelchair handles.
And hoping the brunette wouldn't notice his blush.
“I tolerate your lack of it” the brunette man retorted without missing a beat. Akira could see the small amused grin in the reflection on the tank “it was shocking you didn't end up with any of your dear syncopaths.”
“I… didn't really see them this way. Truth be told, none of my friends were on my radar.” Akira mused, as he took his rival to another exhibition.
“Oh…” Goro noted, seemingly surprised “...none of them?”
“Yeah, none of them.” Akira nodded.
“Not even your teammates?”
“I guess…”
Could he consider Goro a teammate? Goro didn't consider himself as one, as he usually boasted. That he was stuck in the alliance they formed in Maruki's reality. So he clearly didn't want to be associated. Even if he was forced to.
“Good to know.” he heard a mutter.
Goro then changed his position, even if only slightly, by leaning a little forward and holding his chin. Akira could guess he did the thing when he nibbled his teeth on one finger, while he was thinking. So the raven leaned forward to check, playing it off as watching the fish.
Goro's eyes were set on another information plate, trying very hard to avoid Akira's perplexed stare.
*****
“Why did you take me here?” Goro asked, once they ended up in the restaurant.
After the waiter took their orders, they could just sit there and wait for the main course. While enjoying the ice-cream with dolphin shaped cookies Akira ordered as an ‘appetizer’ (mainly because the waiter suggested it - due to the long waiting period for any meal that day. Since it was a busy afternoon on a sunny day).
Well, Akira was enjoying it. Goro, once again, was frowning. Bugged by something, as he stirred the vanilla ice-cream. This time sunlight lit his face up through the big windows, bringing out the furrowed eyebrows and a small pout. Focusing the warmth on his hidden scar - splitting through his right eye, a burn and a cut that was this close from costing Goro his eyeball. It used to cover more of his face, but with proper treatment and time passing, it was more of a zig-zaggy line.
“We had been to Jazz Jin so many times it wouldn't feel that special” Akira replied, after thinking about it briefly “besides, we can go there later. I am sure Muhen-san will make special drinks for your birthday alone.”
“Why exactly would you take me here ? There must be an exact reason, don't use Jazz Jin to deflect.” the brunette asked again, as he put his elbows on the table. This time, his tone insisted on a different answer.
The raven stopped midway picking up another bite of ice-cream and took the plunge.
“Well, I just wanted to recreate the first time I realized that I felt attracted to you.” he said.
Akira watched as Goro's hand almost dropped the glass of water he got. But to save his drink, the brunette man swiftly put it away.
His lips pressed tightly together.
“And now… do you still feel the same? After the… recreation?” Goro muttered, lacking his earlier irritation or teasing. Sudden solemnity took over his face as his forehead creased.
Akira took the chance, again. He might have been hopeless when it came to his words, but not that badly .
“I never stopped feeling it.”
He expected a lot from Goro - a bereting for such a weak love confession, maybe a scoff. In the best case - a very angry kiss that they probably should have had in Maruki's reality. The last , God, there wasn't a day when he didn't sulk at the fact he could kiss his rival back there. Showing how much he cared, before Goro disappeared from his life for half a year.
However, Akira did not anticipate the tears that just poured down Goro's cheeks. Sliding on his freckled skin. The salty water went down the scar on his cheek, grazing the rougher tissue, as the raven stared at him with shock.
“You bastard.” he choked on his breath, trembling.
The brunette man instantly hid his face in his forearms, too ashamed for Akira to see him like this.
“Oh shit.”
Alarmed, the raven got up from his chair and squatted next to his rival. His hand traced Goro's arm, as didn't know what the fuck should he do.
“I didn't want to upset you” he began so fucking intelligently , he wanted to yell at himself “nevermind what I said now. We can… forget about it...”
“You are serious, aren't you?” Goro mumbled, stopping him. Yet he didn't look up “why…?”
“I don't know. I can't really control it” Akira stated “I couldn't for the past three years.”
“Three years…” the brunette echoed with a hiccup “are you kidding me?”
“Is this that hard to believe?” Akira questioned, as he offered a tissue from his pocket.
He could see how the thoroughly applied makeup began to wash away, as Goro not only wiped it off on his shirt, but also with the given cloth. The pink and irritated tissue of his scar emerged from behind the foundation.
“Yes, it is” Goro continued, hushed. Another involuntary shock shook his body, as he still cried. Therefore Akira was surprised he understood what he said next “is this your idea of a cruel joke? You take me to the place that I strongly associate with me having some kind of upperhand over you. When I used to be your full equal. Only for you reliving it in your idea of it, writing over the memory with a sappy celebration of my birthday and some weird backhanded comments. And then you say something that sounds like a love confession, after-”
“No, I… I never had that in mind” Akira felt his insides twist “...I just wanted to spend time with you in a meaningful place. For us.”
His hand still caressed Goro's forearm, hoping to comfort him.
“You aren't unequal to me. I told you so many times.” Akira insisted softly.
“Akira…”
“And fuck, all the backhanded comments were me being an idiot. I just really planned everything only to be too stressed out.” he still went on “if I could, I would scream the praise for you to all the other guests.”
Finally, Goro looked at him - with a scowl.
“Stop…”
“Stop with what?”
“With these words.” Goro clarified and cleared his throat. His voice got so small, the raven felt even worse.
“You really don't believe me…” Akira deflated.
“No, it doesn't feel real.” the other rasped.
“Why? Why doesn't it? I wanted to celebrate your birthday and finally tell you how I feel.”
“Pardon me, I don't see why you would want a paraplegic cripple” the brunette hissed through his teeth “especially the one who was such a piece of shit.”
Especially to you, he didn't say. Yet the raven picked that up. He put more pressure in his hold.
“When I learnt that you survived it felt as if I awoke Arsené again” Akira declared firmly. Enough so Goro could hear it clearly. And couldn't shoot it down. Not until Akira was done with spewing his feelings “fuck, you can ask Morgana how I just dropped everything in my hometown to come see you.”
“But I am not the same as before.”
“Really? You were just as angry and bastard back then as now” Akira smiled weakly, as he took Goro's hand in his “I don't see any difference.”
He petted Goro's hand with his thumb.
“Idiot” the other hummed quietly and began to play with Akira's palm. The raven let him, by spreading his fingers “you know what I mean.”
“Yet it didn't change anything in my eyes. You are still the strongest person I know” Akira reached his other hand towards the brunette's face, caressing his cheek and lightly touching the scar. Forcing Goro to look up “I look at you everyday and think that I wouldn't even last a day. Yet you just do it. Because you are so strong you can take anything with ease.”
The scar was rough underneath his fingertips, no matter how much cosmetics Goro would use. And Akira had… some inner enjoyment from being allowed to see it and touch it without Goro recoiling. He traced it tenderly.
“Goro, fuck, nothing brings me more joy than being with you. You can self-deliberate it all you want, but you can't change the fact that I wake up every day wanting to see you. Just you” Akira continued with more strangled voice “there hasn't been a day since our TV encounter when I wouldn't think about you “
“That's obsessive.”
“Then call me that, I guess” Akira chuckled nervously, as his voice just gave up, cracking. Unwanted but very foreseen tears gathered in his eyes as well “I sometimes can't believe that you are here. Still with me. And that we can find all the new ways where I can kick your ass only for you to double the effort next time. Because you always do that.”
If anyone was watching their exchange, goddamn they should be touched. Because Akira was on the verge of crying.
“And your friends…?” came a small question.
“I can't let a group of people control my life choices” he replied sincerely and fiercely. He expected Goro to ask that “trust me, I love them. But I have no idea if they will be in my life next year - people move on with their lives all the time. So I can't just make every decision to appease a group of a dozen people.”
“Even Sakura and Okumura? They might have some objections for me to be close to you.”
“Futaba and Haru would be fine with it. After some time, but they would. Believe me or not they aren't a pair of sadists that want to see you suffer. None of our friends want that” Akira continued, as he got closer to Goro, rambling at this point “it’s been three years, so much has changed in our lives. I know you take your state as a punishment-”
“It feels like it. All the time.” his rival whispered, stopping him right there.
“Then let's make sure it isn't. Together.”
He held Goro's cheek, noting that the other man just leaned in, resting his head on his palm. The brunette then also reached for the raven's face to wipe the tears with his rough hand, repeating his efforts.
“Goro, I don't care what the world has to say. We… both had done things this world cannot comprehend anyways” he concluded, crying. Finally sobbing, letting it all out. The many emotions he bottled up before just escaped “I just care if you would be interested in taking me as your partner. Boyfriend. Lover. Uh… any other synonym that I don't remember.”
He stared in Goro's puffy and red eyes.
“I don't have any arguments anymore…” he admitted honestly “...Akira, you are a huge imbecile.”
“Mhm.” the raven wasn't even insulted. He still wiped the tears off Goro's face. Silently waiting for what the brunette man had to say next.
“But it happens I share your sentiment. I just never thought you would like me back. Especially after…” Goro hesitated and looked down at his lap. Akira felt his soul leave his body “...after what I turned out to be and what I became. I fully expected you to leave me be, once your conscience would be satisfied with me not being dead.”
“I would never.”
“I have noticed. Nobody, not even Sae, visited me so goddamn often” the brunette man chuckled lightly. Akira was glad that his tears stopped “although I expected you to be with someone already. Even back then.”
“Like who?” the raven couldn't believe it. He always felt like he was the most oblivious person in the world.
“Sumire?”
“What? With Sumire?” Akira actually snorted, as he sobbed too “she's too busy with learning lore about Featherman so she can impress Futaba.”
“Yes, I know. Don't laugh at it-” Goro cut himself off and sighed “...I just didn't see why you would even want me that way, while so many people would jump at the opportunity to be with you. From the journalist to any of your teammates.”
“I would never take anybody else, because none of my friends make me feel alive when I look at them.”
Goro had this troubled grimace on his face, completely not matching the seriousness of Akira's expression.
“I don't think I just ‘like you’.” Akira added quietly. Whispered it. So that nobody in that marine themed restaurant could hear their big moment.
He felt so light when he spoke it. Finally out loud and, luckily, directly to Goro's ears.
“That's a very strong word you omitted” the other noted, visibly and nervously swallowing his saliva “I don't think I can say it back yet.”
“I can wait then. I waited three years, I can wait more” Akira nodded with an understanding smile “I don't even need to hear it, if I could just… spend more time with you. Be by your side.”
Which was a funny request, considering Akira almost lived with Goro anyways - partially renting out the couch, because the flat was closer to his college.
But Akira wanted more, sometimes . He wanted to greet Goro's sleeping face in the morning, he wanted to cook him breakfast everyday, not a few days a week. He wanted them to rant about their issues at university or work, as they eat a takeout, because they also had a date in the late afternoon. He wanted for Goro to show him where he made errors while filing taxes, because he once again made mistake in his last name, because nowadays it was two-part-
“You would be content with that?” Goro questioned, taking Akira back to reality.
“Yes.”
“Even if… it will be hard?” the brunette still queried “you already know how difficult it can be - with pain and physiotherapy, if we were to be together it would…”
“We will start with small steps” Akira interrupted him, as he nodded “although with what Ann constantly tells me, it wouldn't change a lot. We already act like a married couple.”
“Huh?”
“Her words, not mine” Akira added and cradled Goro's hand in his. He felt how the other grabbed it as well, holding it “I… feel like a true dumbass for noticing how you felt sooner. It would save me so much of our time.
“I don't think I would have been ready after waking up from a coma. Nor a year after” the other man replied sincerely “I think… that now is perfect. To start.”
“Right” the raven nodded “can I take a picture?”
“Why?” Goro asked, surprised.
“To commemorate the beginning of our relationship, of course.” the raven grinned.
“I don't see why not, then…” the brunette man hummed “... let's do that.”
So Akira pulled out his phone - making sure that their desserts as their faces were in the picture. Cropping it perfectly, so it could match how magical the raven felt. Catch how he felt. The brunette actually smiled for the camera, almost mimicking the grin Akira had. For the first time since ages, it wasn't a mean smirk that did not pull on face muscles too much - in fear of the scars being too noticeable.
And the sunlight lit up both of their faces.
“Hey, Goro?”
His boyfriend looked at him, turning his head towards Akira.
In perfect time for both the camera taking the picture and Akira kissing his lips.