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It is Narumi’s day off, a rare weekend break as a member of the Defense Force and recently-promoted Captain of the First Division, and he's currently waiting in front of the aquarium which just recently opened.
Today is a date with Hoshina Soushirou - recently acquired boyfriend (?) after an impromptu confession Narumi threw at him during one of their sparring matches. The shock is still there, lingering whenever he remembers how Hoshina had reacted; a surprised look that is adorable on his usually playful face before he laughed, a delighted sound that caused his cheeks to turn red as he replied in equal fervertion that yes, he would go out with him.
Are they boyfriends now? Are they going out? Does going out equals to becoming partners??? Narumi doesn't know and he'll shove his own foot into his mouth before he admits that he knows exactly nothing about dating; zero, na-da, unless counting what he had witnessed from his previous schoolmates or fellow orphans.
Which is why he's up and early, dressed as good as he can but not too good because he isn't impressing anyone, especially not a certain bowlcut. Only a comfortable cream-coloured hoodie layered under a sweatshirt to stave off the autumn chill and a pair of black jeans. His hair is slicked back, mused by his nervous fingers running through his hair multiple times. He keeps his pager with him just in case because a kaiju attack may occur anytime and anywhere, but he had berated Hasegawa to not contact him unless necessary. The division can survive a day without him.
He looks at his watch, finding it to be close to their meeting time. Narumi sighs, running a hand through his hair again and tapping his foot on the ground. His skin feels clammy already and he has never been this nervous before, not even when subjugating a kaiju.
“Narumi-san?”
He looks up, noticing Hoshina and immediately feels like he's been hit by a scale-7 honju.
Dressed in a black turtleneck sweater and a cream-coloured coat reaching his knees, Hoshina looks stunning like the devilish beauty he is. He smiles, toothy fangs peeking out. “Yer here early.”
Narumi picks up his jaw that just hit the floor, his teeth clicking when he shuts his mouth. He tries to act nonchalant, but his eyes roaming all over Hoshina’s body might as well be giving him out.
“And you're here early too.”
“I thought I would wait for ya, but it looks like yer well prepared for our date, hum?”
“It's not like that!”
“Isn't it?” Hoshina fakes a hurtful tone. Narumi instantly panics despite knowing that Hoshina truly doesn't mean it.
“Dammit. It's like that. It's like that, okay?”
Hoshina smiles once again, all mischievous and satisfied as hurt disappears from his gesture. He says. “Let's go, shall we?”
They join the queue to enter, a long one considering it’s the weekend. There are many couples like them too, evident by the matching colours of their outfit or their close proximity to each other. After Narumi scans their tickets, they enter a dark passage lit up by soft floor lights, their shoulders brushing as they wait for their turn to go in.
“Why an aquarium?” Hoshina asks all of a sudden, head tilted and their fingers brushing.
He can't exactly say it's because he has never been to one. Firstly, because despite the fact being true, it’s not the real reason he chooses an aquarium as their dating spot and second, he doesn’t want to kill the mood or Hoshina’s eagerness at wanting to know by reminding him that he doesn’t have a normal childhood.
“I thought you’d like it.” He answers, adding as Hoshina remains silent. “And it’s safe.”
“Never peg you to play safe.”
Provoking Hoshina at it again, but Narumi has never been actually offended by his sharp remarks, he is after all quite blunt himself. “I’ve never been on a date before, don’t judge me, sheesh.”
Hoshina is quiet, so Narumi takes it as the end of their conversation. However, as they reach the opening where he can catch glimpses of dark blue water, Hoshina says almost casually.
“I’ve never been on a date before too.”
Stunned, Narumi stops in his tracks as Hoshina walks forward, leaving him with his no doubt flustered face. He wonders if he had heard that right. That can’t be real - right?
He rushes forward, the question ready on his tongue, but all words left him when he walks into the exhibition. He’s surrounded by water, shimmering as a whole in various blues as colourful fishes dart around, swimming peacefully as onlookers look at them, Narumi among them as he can’t help but stare at them.
Hoshina’s standing far away from the crowd, enraptured by the display in front of him before Narumi approaches. “That looks like ya.” He grins out with a pointed finger.
A black-white striped fish swims leisurely, its fins and tail wiggling around some seaweed. Narumi doesn’t like the comparison that he’s a fish.
“Why can’t you pick something cooler? Like a shark or something?”
“We haven’t reached that part yet and Narumi-san, yer not cool.”
“YOU TAKE THAT BACK -”
He stops short when a finger is pressed to his lips, his eyes widening at the pressure of the calloused finger. Hoshina shushes him. “Quiet. We’re in an aquarium.”
He removes his finger and even so, Narumi can still feel the lingering touch of it, his heart beating fast as Hoshina gives him an all-knowing grin before turning around.
NEVER BEEN ON A DATE HIS ASS -
Wanting to retaliate, Narumi decides to reach out for his hand, pressing their palms and intertwining their fingers together. Hoshina’s shoulders jolt a tiny bit and as the dim light hits him, Narumi can make out the telltale sign of a blush on his pale chubby cheeks before it’s gone once again.
He feels very nervous all of a sudden, his hand clammy and his throat dry. They walk together in awkward silence, Narumi trying to distract himself from the smaller hand he’s holding, the fingers that are shorter than his own and the many callouses to match his. They stop in front of a display of sea crabs, stubby legs crawling on dusty sand as they move around.
“I’ve been to an aquarium before.” Hoshina says. “I called it a fish zoo back then.”
Narumi lets out an amused huff. “Fish zoo?”
“Aquarium sounds stupid. Fish zoo is better.”
“Are you sure about that? Fish zoo means fish only. We’re looking at crabs right now.”
“Crabs are fish food.” Hoshina retaliates. “They’re a part of the fish zoo!”
“It’s the other way around, Hoshina. Fishes are crab food.”
A bit of silence before he says, surprise colouring his tone. “Ya called me by my name.”
Narumi bites his lower lip, wanting to shield his face away from Hoshina’s inquisitive stare. “On accident, won’t happen again.”
Hoshina squeezes his hand. “Don’t. I … like it.”
Narumi sucks in a sharp breath, his heart beating very loudly, rattling his ribcage. “Okay then, Hoshina.”
“Ya can still call me by your ugly nicknames by the way, Narumi-kun.”
Kun.
Kun.
Kun.
Narumi wishes to find a cliff and jump off of it. He can’t handle this anymore. Aren’t they progressing too fast?! Next thing he knows he’ll be kissing Hoshina -
He snaps out of it when they begin moving once again. As they look at the various other exhibitions; seahorses that look funnier than what he had seen through textbooks, jellyfish that float up and down in an entrancing way and many more that reminds him of just how vast the ocean is and how much he doesn’t want to end up there - he can’t help but look at Hoshina’s lips.
Have they always been this shiny? He thinks it’s chapstick and he can’t help but wonder if it’ll taste as sweet as it looks. Those inviting lips are always curved up in a grin, indented smally at the edges from where his fangs always dig in, flashing white against soft pink. Distracting. Utterly distracting.
Hoshina's lips move, forming his name. “Narumi-kun.” Narumi can't help but wonder too how they will look like when voicing out his given name.
He looks up, meeting Hoshina's eyes, glinting dark red slits that are usually hidden. “Yeah, Hoshina?”
They’re twinkling and if Narumi dares to say it, fond. He has heard of the wild rumours going around the base, unavoidable when he knows how heated news about the 3rd Division is perceived by his division members. One of them being that Vice-Captain Hoshina only opens his eyes when he looks at what he loves the most, that being mont blancs. It’s ridiculous, and this implication of Hoshina revealing his eyes as he gazes at him makes Narumi’s heart do stupid things.
“What’s yer favourite?”
The jellyfish glow, soft and mellow. He has only seen them in pictures, never before like this in a cold aquarium with Hoshina’s warm hand in his. It’s fascinating, slight awe cruising through him as he stares at the swarm of jellyfish swimming up and down, tentacles swaying in the aqua water and heads bobbing.
“That one.”
He points at one of the further exhibitions of jellyfish, this one a smaller enclosure than most. It features frilly tentacles, but what catches his attention is the purplish streaks running through its pinkish umbrella-shaped head, a combination of colours that is pleasant to his eyes.
Narumi watches as it bobs upwards while Hoshina reads the plague below it. Its bell pulses, helping it to move in the water.
“It looks a bit like me.”
Narumi scoffs. “Ugly like you, you mean?”
Its head is bowl-cut shaped. Narumi thinks if he puts the jellyfish side-by-side with Hoshina’s head, he won’t be able to tell them apart.
Hoshina says, bitter. “That’s mean of ya, Narumi-kun. Is that how ya treat yer date?”
The honest remark pulls him out of his contemplative mood, instant bewilderment replacing it. “You can’t be serious. I call you ugly all the time.”
“Anyone would feel bad if their date calls them ugly.” Hoshina explains in an annoyed tone, petulant as he turns his head away from him. He has always been a bit petulant whenever bickering or sparring with him, but there is always a layer of professionalism or maturity shielding his actions, an effect of his position no doubt. Never has Narumi been subjected to such direct unfiltered childishness.
It’s a new side of Hoshina that Narumi unfortunately wants to entertain.
“You’re not ugly.” He says, looking out for any reaction. Hoshina’s quiet in the way where he’s listening, so Narumi continues, carefully choosing his words. “You’re the opposite.”
You’re pretty. He wants to say, but his tongue prickles so he swallows those words. Hoshina may not know but he understands as he leans back a bit, pressing his shoulder to Narumi’s chest. He tilts his head, grinning victoriously. Narumi can’t afford to be annoyed with that. “Ain’t that bad to treat yer date better, right?”
Narumi chooses not to answer this time. Hoshina moves away and they continue walking hand-in-hand. They look at the sharks, impressive with their snouts and sharp jaws, to which Narumi mimes his hand to snap at Hoshina, causing him to laugh and try to bat away his persistent hand-snapper with a stop it, Narumi-kun.
“Look, Narumi-kun. It's a catfish. A catfish.” Hoshina giggles and Narumi thinks he may need to call an ambulance for his heart.
After that it’s time for the afternoon dolphin show.
They’re out in the open, having to sit under a roof to avoid the afternoon sun. The light is supposed to be blinding after being so long in a dark area, but with the help of his eyes, he has no trouble adjusting to the brightness. Hoshina however is not as he clings to his arm as they find their seats. Narumi peeks at Hoshina when they’ve settled down, seeing his frown turning to excitement as he focuses on the pool in front of them. The crowd fills the other seats around them, and Narumi’s interrupted by his Hoshina-watching session when he hears someone calling him out.
“Vice-Captain Hoshina?”
It’s a teenage girl sitting beside him. Her loud voice has some people zeroing onto them and the sudden attention on them instantly has Narumi scowling, irritated and pissed.
He stays quiet as Hoshina talks to her. “Ya, that’s me.”
She gasps, having more people turning their heads to see if there’s a commotion going on. “I’m such a big fan of yours!”
Hoshina chuckles. Narumi absolutely hates that he’s acting so carefree.
“Can I take a picture with you? It’s just - I admire you so much, this is the best day of my life!”
The irritation simmering under his skin is boiling now, scalding his insides. Narumi breathes in and out, chanting to himself that he must not act out in public. He needs no further attention on him and Hoshina.
“Just one, ‘kay?”
She squeals, whipping out her phone and wasting no time to aim for an angle. Narumi just closes his eyes, crossing his arms as he tells himself it’ll end soon, trying to ignore his ruined mood. He’s not unfamiliar with serving the citizens in this kind of way and he knows Hoshina is infamous among them as someone who treats them well, so he will tolerate this up to a certain degree.
“Tho can we have Captain Narumi in it too?”
Narumi’s posture straightens, his head snapping to look at Hoshina who threw that out very casually. The girl looks confused before her eyes wander behind him, and the confusion vanishes as her eyes widen in shock.
“Captain Narumi!”
Hoshina leans forward, obscuring Narumi’s sight of her face. “Can we have him in the photo too?”
“Of - Of course!”
Narumi stares at him as if he’s grown a second head. Hoshina throws him a smile in response before focusing on the phone. Narumi doesn’t even try to smile, but as he sees her fingers beginning to press on the shutter button, Hoshina holds his hand out of nowhere.
CLICK.
She says. “Thank you so much - “ Then she looks at the picture and her eyes widen again before looking at them, zeroing onto their joined hands. “Oh, am I interrupting something?”
Yes. Yes, you are. Narumi thinks, but doesn’t say it as the guilt in her tone is very apparent. Hoshina replies in his stead.
“We’re on a date.”
She looks like she has her head exploding for the third time today, which Narumi can relate to as he’s also surprised at the public exclamation from Hoshina. “Wow. Congratulations!” Her face lights up, happy for them and it gives Narumi a warm sort of fuzzy feeling in his chest. “Is it alright for me to post this? If you don’t want me to, then I understand.”
“I don’t mind. What about ya, Narumi-kun?” Hoshina asks, turning to him and not seeing the girl voicing out Narumi-kun with bulging eyes.
“I don’t mind too.” He says directly to her, still recovering from the shock that Hoshina had gone public on them. He had faced numerous public or memorable events, but this is the first time someone has managed to render him speechless.
“Ya heard him.”
She shakes her head, eyes blinking and sanity recovered. She cradles her phone to her chest. “Thank you! I’m so sorry for interrupting you two! I hope you enjoy your date!”
Hoshina waves her off and she returns to her seat, giggling with her friends and stealing harmless curious looks at them. The show’s starting, so everyone is focusing on it, no more unnecessary attention on them.
Narumi takes it as an opportunity to lean down and whisper into Hoshina’s ear. “Seriously, Hoshina?”
A slight shiver goes through his body. Interesting. Narumi catalogues it for later.
“What do ya mean seriously? Also, the show’s starting.”
Indeed, it is. The dolphin is admittingly adorable, sleek grey in colour and catching a ball in its mouth to the oohs and aahs of the crowd, but there is a far more interesting sight sitting beside Narumi right now.
“Come on, now. You’re not the type to go public like this.”
Hoshina has been a private person as far as Narumi knows. He doesn’t keep a low profile, occasionally posting his doings on social media and socialising outside of his circle, but he values his privacy and doesn’t share what’s more than necessary.
The dolphin makes a squeaky sound, swimming around in a loop as it prepares to jump through a bright yellow hoop that is raised above the water.
Hoshina answers. “I just want to let people know.”
The dolphin jumps through the hoop, not that Narumi knows. He only knows because of the smattering applause the crowd is giving out while his eyes are fixated on Hoshina.
“You want to let people know?” He parrots out.
“Is it wrong?”
“No, it’s just that, I mean, we’re on our first date?”
“And there is more to come. So, there’s nothing wrong if I want to let people know now.”
When Narumi signs up to get to know Hoshina better, he really isn’t expecting for Hoshina to be a hopeless romantic. He hasn’t even suggested another date. Yet.
He’s getting information overload right now, which he had thought to be impossible in a normal setting outside of fighting a particularly nasty kaiju. Of course it’s Hoshina because who else has managed to constantly surprise him like this? He has always been a surprise ever since the beginning of Narumi catching stray rumours of an officer using swords in this age of gunnery.
“Your faith in me is incredible.”
“If yer leading me on, I’ll dice ya into pieces and make ya into a hotpot.”
“Is that how you treat your boyfriend now?”
“Since when did I say yer my boyfriend?”
“Now you’re the one leading me on.”
The corners of his mouth twitching, Hoshina refuses to smile, maintaining a pensive line but his eyes are the opposite, crinkling in delight and mischief and the beauties of the universe. Narumi stares, encaptured by the gorgeous expression.
The crowd applauds again, but really, who cares about some random dolphin performing tricks when Narumi leans into Hoshina’s lovely face?