Work Text:
No new restaurants had popped up recently so Saiki had no exuse to go there after school.
Despite Nendos insistence on going to a ramen place for the third times this week, they decided to go do what Kaidou wanted this time.
As they walk down the busy post workday street Saiki wonders if its too late to say hes sick so he doenst have to go to karaoke or whatever new hobby Kaidou has found for this month.
"I found this new card game!" Kaidou says on the way, explaining their newest activity. He had a certain happy air aboit his newest hobbies recently. He seemed more exited for each new way to waste the groups time.
Not that its a waste of saikis time to get sweets Kaidou pays for after.
Thats the real positive of Kaidou choosing where they go after school, although saiki would still prefer going home alone.
-
They sat down on a park bench as Kaidou pulled out the new deck of cards he made Nendo buy to play his new favorite game.
"-And see if you gain an extra point." He points to nendos card "you get to doscard the deck and get all new ones!" Hes so exited. Its like a puppy with a new toy.
Saiki wonders if how'd he react if he was bought a card game instead of giving it to someone.
"So thats how you advance the game. Got that?" He looks up at them and sees Nendos usual look of undertanding, which is to say, none. Kaidou looks almsot crushed before he remebers theres another person he can hope understood, he turns to Kusuo to see his reaction.
Honestly he wasn't listening at all, but sweets are harder to get when the person paying for them is upset so he decided to choose a facial expression that-
"Its okay. I guess it wasnt as fun as I thought." Oh. He responded too late. Now the only real way to recover would be...
"Its not that." Saiki said, or so they thought he said, tactfully. "I was just wondering if you could explain the boses again?" He panicked.
Saiki doesn't panic, he doesn't.
"Oh- um sure!" And Kaidou goes off explaining again, as if Kusuo coulnt look in to his mind and read the rules in case he forgot one.
He likley wouldnt admit to listening to Kaidos voice explain the game rules and not paying attention again. He likley also wouldn't admit to liking spending time with his friends today. Theyre not as annoying as they used to be.
-
Saiki happily eats some coffe jelly as Nendo ruins another game by ignoring , or maybe forgetting, the rules.
Saiki smiles at the display, even if he pretends its at the jelly.
"Partner would just let me play how i want." Nendo explaims as Kaidou gets frustrated again.
"Thats because Saikis too nice for you." Kaidou huffs as he gives up trying to explain the card game.
Its weird. He's seen many emotions in many peoples minds. But he hasnt seen this type of peace of just hanging out and doing nothing of note. No grand adventure, no productive work.
Maybe its not weird. Maybe its nice. Maybe its nice the way that Nendo pulls them all in to a hug. Its nice the way they both subtely give him a piece of their sweets.
Its nice how he pays them back by making the customers more sparse in the cafe (suggesting something in somones mind is quite effective).
He didnt notice that their presence became nice.
He doesnt mind his days becaoming easier. Why would he?
