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Chifuyu didn’t think much of it when he decided to pay Baji’s room a visit. Just a quick check up of the bowls he has always prepared for the stray cats. He is sure that Baji wouldn’t want them to be hungry on Christmas eve and he promised to keep an eye on it while he is on vacation with his mom.
Belly filled with a warm meal, the strawberry shortcake he bought together with his mom and a nice mug of the best hot chocolate to finish, he rumages for the key in his pockets. His mom already went to bed after she fell asleep on the couch during their millionth rewatch of Miracle: Devil Claus’ Love and Magic. It’s their go to Christmas movie since his mom shared that she and his dad used to watch it every Christmas eve together.
Once his fingers get a grip of the key, he opens the door with a soft click and is immediately surprised to find the apartment not only flooded by light but also by the sound of the TV – and a familiar person sitting in front.
To the explosion of a car on the screen, his gaze meets an equally surprised pair of huge golden eyes and for a second, neither of them moves a muscle.
“What the – Kazutora…?” he finally manages to get out and steps inside with a deep frown on his face.
The boy in question changes his bafflement for a guarded expression within a single heartbeat. “Matsuno.” He acknowledges him with a brief nod. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
“That’s what I wanted to ask you?”
Chifuyu enters the living room now. Snuggled up in a blanket, Kazutora slouches on the couch, fingers crumbly with the remnants of potato chips, bag resting in his lap. It’s totally Baji’s favorite brand and he guesses that Kazutora snatched them from the kitchen without permission.
“Watching a movie, obviously.” Kazutora deadpans.
“Thanks, I can see that? But what the hell are you doing here?” Chifuyu takes another step closer to the couch and eyes the intruder with obvious suspicion. “And don’t tell me you didn’t know exactly that Baji is out on vacation with his mom.”
“What are you. A wannabe detective?”
Chifuyu narrows his eyes. “You have five seconds to tell me or I’m going to call Baji.”
This seems to change something. Kazutora’s eyes get huge, before he lands back on an overly casual expression. “Hell, calm down, Matsuno.” He has the audacity to roll his eyes. “It’s not like I’m doing anything forbidden here. I just wanted to be left alone and watch a movie in peace. That’s all.”
“On Christmas eve?”
“Yeah, on Christmas eve, Sherlock Matsuno Holmes.”
Chifuyu ignores the mocking undertone, a new question already on the tip of his tongue. “But – ,“ he starts, but stops midways as a new thought forms in his mind.
He has heard about Kazutora’s family background from Baji. Not in full detail, but enough to realize that he might have just ran away from home to a place that offers more comfort. His mom didn’t sound like a person who’d give any warmth or care about something like Christmas – or anything in general. Chifuyu’s heart clenches when he thinks about what his day probably has looked like so far.
“Did you even have dinner…?” he voices the last thought he lands on, seeing his presence through a different lens now.
“What does it matter to you?” Kazutora dodges coolly. “Besides, you didn’t tell me yet why you are here.”
“I just wanted to check on the stray cats. Baji asked me to take care of them while he’s gone,” Chifuyu explains calmly and doesn’t let him out of his sight.
“I’ll take care of it. So you can go back home.” Kazutora turns his face to the screen again as if he’s done with this conversation, but adds after a short pause, “And don’t tell Baji that I was here today. He’d just be annoying about it.”
Chifuyu suppresses a sigh, but determination carries his voice when he grants, “Fine. Under one condition.”
It brings Kazutora’s attention back to him, who first throws him a confused gaze before he shifts to suspicion. “What do you want.” He sounds guarded as if he’s expecting the worst.
Chifuyu swallows another sigh. Dealing with Kazutora sometimes reminds him of handling an angry stray kitten that hisses and launches at you, when all it really wants is a nice home and people who take care of it. Which is easier said than done.
“You’ll have a second Christmas dinner with me,” Chifuyu insists and lands on a softer expression when he explains, “We have plenty of leftovers and I’m sure my mom doesn’t mind.”
Kazutora pierces him with his gaze, but finally lands on an unimpressed, “Fine,” which he tops with another eye roll as he pretends to be contrite, but Chifuyu clearly notices the brief flicker of yearning or hope in his eyes that is soon smothered underneath his indifferent expression.
“Great, just wait for me here.” A sudden rush of excitement fills him as he rushes back down to his own place, trying to be as quiet as possible when he tiptoes into the kitchen.
Christmas has always been an important holiday to him and if you ask Chifuyu, everyone should have a nice Christmas experience at least once in their lives. Even if Kazutora might not appreciate it and just give him his stupid comments and mockery in exchange, he has to try at least. Besides, it must be terribly lonely for him to be all alone in that flat…
With a soft sigh, Chifuyu shoves these thoughts aside and concentrates on the task at hand. First, he aims for the crispy chicken and fondly remembers the cheerful hum on his mom’s lips as she fried them in a pan – after he rolled them in egg yolk and breading first, of course.
It’s always a team effort, just like the home baked cookies that he adds in another box: christmas trees, stars, snowflakes, bells… they made them about two weeks ago, with Baji’s help and he actually remembers how Kazutora rolled his eyes when Baji proudly offered some at the next Toman meeting. Back then, he declined to eat any of them and Chifuyu was annoyed by his attitude, but now he wonders if he should have asked him to join…?
He can vividly imagine how Kazutora would’ve turned him down with a mocking comment and that insufferable smirk of his, but he is sure that he could actually liked this if he just gave up on his stupid I’m-too-cool-for-everything-attitude for once!
Frustrated, he nearly crushes one of the cookies between his fingers. This guy is still a mystery to him. One day, he’s the most annoying asshole you can imagine, but then, there are these moments that show a completely different Kazutora. One that protects him vividly through a fight and shrugs it aside as coincidence when Chifuyu thanks him for it. One that gets awfully close to him and steals a piece of his lunch, just to tease him about the blush on his cheeks afterwards. One that he finds at Baji’s flat on Christmas eve and picks a fight, but it lacks the usual fire and just presents a certain vulnerability instead…
Chifuyu closes the lid of the cookie box with a softer smile on his lips and turns to the best part now. Hidden further inside the fridge wait the remnants of the strawberry shortcake that he bought with his mom in the nearest combini.
There are two huge pieces left that they’d usually have after lunch tomorrow, so he takes one of the larger pieces and divides it in the middle. If his mom asks, he’ll just tell her that he got up at night to have another taste because it’s just so good this year.
Even in his ears it sounds like a lame excuse, but honestly, he feels like Kazutora could use this more right now than he does.
Carefully, he stacks all of the boxes in his arms and tops it with two bags of the fancy hot chocolate his mom always buys for Christmas. With its especially thick texture and a faint cinnamon note, it tastes like heaven – especially when you put little marshmallows on top. It’s the last ingredient he adds and then, he’s ready to sneak back to Kazutora.
Accompanied by Peke J, who probably hopes for a treat or just seeks attention, he treads through the flat on quiet soles. “Watch my back, buddy. I’ll get you some of your favorite treats in return later,” he promises in a whisper as he reaches the entrance and gives him a conspiratorial wink. Peke J just blinks back at him and watches (and probably judges) as he struggles to open the door with his elbow.
Somehow, he manages to get outside and close the door without waking his mom or dropping the boxes, but he learned his lesson. Once he’s back in front of Baji’s apartment, he uses his right foot to kick against the door.
“Kazutora?” he mumbles in addition, but is met with silence. After a few seconds he tries again, a little harder this time, a frown forming on his forehead. He hasn't left in the meantime, has he…?
Just when he’s about to get rid of the boxes and open the door himself, it’s being pulled back, only enough to leave a tiny gap. A golden eye is watching him through it.
“Hey, it’s me, I’m back,” Chifuyu states the obvious and Kazutora makes room to let him in, but observes him with obvious scepticism.
“Wow, you were serious about this.”
Chifuyu’s frown deepens and he nearly sounds offended when he says, “Of course?”
The movie is still running on the screen, but he notes that Kazutora moved the low dinner table closer to the couch and even put a tablecloth onto it. Chifuyu can’t remember ever having seen a tablecloth inside this house, so he is kind of impressed that the Baji’s own one and, that Kazutora actually knows where they store it. On top, he placed a slim candle that gives the idea of a cozy atmosphere.
It surprises him, but also brings the idea of a wistful smile to his lips. Kazutora would deny it to death if he pointed it out, but to Chifuyu it’s proof enough that he does appreciate it – and even seems a little excited.
Feeling very validated, he heads for the kitchenette and drops the different boxes. Somewhere behind his back he can hear how Kazutora slumps back to the couch with a quiet thud.
“Since this was your idea, I’m not going to help,” he announced, arms crossed firmly in front of his chest.
Chifuyu’s good mood becomes a little crack and makes room for that very familiar feeling of annoyance. “Fine, thanks for nothing.” With a visible eye roll, he stretches to get the plates out of the cabinet above his head. “Most work is done by the microwave anyway.”
“I didn’t ask you for this,” Kazutora points out, which is true, but he really doesn’t get why he’s making it sound like an accusation when all Chifuyu tries to do is be nice here! Like, what’s his fucking problem?
With another deep frown on his face, he turns around to him. “Why is it such a problem for you if I try to be nice to you?”
“I never asked you to be nice to me,” Kazutora shoots back, defiantly.
Chifuyu has to suppress another eye roll. “You’re dodging the question.”
“And you’re fucking annoying.”
Oh for heaven’s sake, can’t they just have a normal conversation for once? Irritated, Chifuyu turns back to the kitchenette and gets back to work, but his movements are erratic and he rather throws the chicken pieces onto the plate instead of placing them down with the care they deserve.
“I don’t get you,” Kazutora suddenly starts to mumble and interrupts his ungentle handling of the food. “You’re unpredictable. And I hate unpredictable people.”
“In which way am I unpredictable?” Chifuy gives him a glance over his shoulder and doesn’t hide his surprise.
“All the fucking time.” Gruffly, Kazutora gestures into the room. “This, for example. Fucking unpredictable.”
Oh. So he’s just unsure how to deal with this…? Yeah. Sounds pretty much like Kazutora.
Chifuyu softens. “Well, you’re unpredictable as well, but do you know what I think?” Kazutora doesn’t look like he does, let alone wants to know, but he isn’t deterred by it. “Deep down, you’re a really nice guy. You’re just very shitty at showing it, but I won’t be fooled by your arrogant attitude.” Chifuyu gives him a determined smile that maaaaaybe also has a little challenging edge to it – but he really means what he says.
“Wow, you saw right through me here, huh. Sherlock Matsuno Holmes strikes again,” Kazutora drawls and seems rather annoyed.
“Oh, shut up.”
Kazutora raises an eyebrow. “Now that was not very nice of you.”
“Because you’re acting like an asshole.”
“Maybe because I am an asshole.” He grins superiorly as if he just proved a point here. “Zero points for Sherlock Matsuno, sorry, your little ‘theory’ about me sucks obviously.”
Chifuyu just releases a deep sigh and turns back to the chicken that waits patiently to be put into the microwave. This is just a waste of time, he thinks as he lifts it inside and sets the timer to five minutes.
“Wow, convincing you was easier than I thought. That’s a win for me I’d say.”
This time, Chifuyu doesn’t even turn around. He can imagine Kazutora’s very smug grin vividly and clarifies, “You convinced me of nothing. Just watch your movie and let me prepare this in peace.”
“Alright, Mr. Nice Guy.”
He clenches his jaw, but keeps working in silence with only the TV running in the background.
It’s not an easy time for him, Chifuyu tries to remind himself, but he still doesn’t get why it always has to be like this. It’s as if Kazutora is picking fights with him on principle, always teasing or challenging or trying to get a reaction out of him. He thought it’s gotten better over time, but lately Kazutora has been especially annoying and doesn’t miss a chance to rile him up – but if someone else dares to try and mock him, he’s acting weirdly protective. It doesn’t make any sense, but maybe today will help a bit to ease the unnecessary tension between them.
Maybe.
When he brings the plates to the table, Kazutora eyes him with a certain suspicion again, but remains silent. He does note, however, how his gaze gets caught at the cake piece.
“That’s for dessert,” Chifuyu informs him amused and earns an eye roll in return.
“What are you, my mom?” he grumbles, but a faint blush appears on his cheeks as if he’s embarrassed about getting caught.
Chifuyu doesn’t comment on it and turns back to get the mugs filled with hot chocolate. It already emits a seductive smell and the marshmallows he sprinkles on top nearly look like huge flakes of snow. Careful to not spill anything, he lifts them into the air and notices briefly how Kazutora puts his chopsticks down onto the table. The tip of the cake is missing. Just a tiny piece that he probably wouldn’t have noticed under different circumstances.
Arms crossed, Kazutora leans back into the cushions and pretends to just wait in annoyance. Like a squirrel stealing a nut and hiding it in its cheeks.
A gentle smile forms on Chifuyu’s lips. “You can start with whatever you want. I was just joking. But you have to promise me that you’ll try the chicken!” he urges him with a grin.
Kazutora just huffs in agreement or irritation, but the red colour on his cheeks turns into an even darker shade.
“What’s that?” he grumbles when Chifuyu shoves one of the mugs into his hands and eyes it with suspicion.
“The best hot chocolate you ever had. With marshmallows,” Chifuyu replies unbothered and raises his mug to him. “Cheers.”
Kazutora’s doubtful glance doesn’t vanish, but he returns the gesture and even takes a small sip – and a second one soon after, notably huger than the first.
Chifuyu bites back a triumphant smile and pretends to focus on the movie instead.
“What are you watching?” Casually, he aims for a piece of the fried chicken, partly because he really can’t resist despite being stuffed until next week, partly because it’s less awkward if they both eat.
“Die Hard, part two.” Kazutora also goes for the chicken now, which he counts as another success.
“On Christmas?”
“It’s a Christmas movie.”
Chifuyu gives him a puzzle look. “Really? I never saw it.”
“Are you for real?” Kazutora stares at him as if he just grew a second pair of arms before he shakes his head like a disappointed parent. “Alright, Matsuno, I can’t leave you like that. We’re gonna watch the first movie right here and now.”
Before he can object or come up with a response, Kazutora is already on his feet. Like a man with a mission, he kneels down in front of the TV and skims through the collection of DVDs underneath.
“Hah, there we go!” Proudly, he raises the movie box into the air. “I can’t believe Baji never showed you. That’s a huge gap in your education Matsuno, but you’re lucky, I take pity on you and help you out here.”
Chifuyu huffs and rolls his eyes a little. “You’re too generous.”
“I know.” Kazutora’s grin is smug, but if he’s honest here,he likes it way better than his defiant attitude from before. Looks more like the Kazutora he usually has to deal with.
With new found excitement, he starts the DVD and slumps back onto the couch, right next to him.
“Alright, get ready to see one of the best movies ever!”
Chifuyu raises an eyebrow, but doesn’t hide his smile. Kazutora’s enthusiasm is kind of contagious and he can’t deny that it does look good on him. That genuine excitement.
“We’ll see about that,” he grants and notices how Kazutora loads his plate with more fried chicken and even stuffs one of the cookies into his mouth. Chifuyu smiles into his mug and takes another huge sip.
It’s remarkable how a single movie can change the atmosphere. Kazutora seems to be in his element and points out details he deems especially cool or tells him to appreciate a certain scene, while Chifuyu makes guesses about the plot and cheers for the main character.
It’s so different from their usual interactions and he realises that they’ve never really spent so much time together before. Just the two of them, without Baji or another member of Toman around.
He can only speak for himself here, but actually, he enjoys it quite a lot. When Kazutora is like this, Chifuyu can totally see the good guy he’s been talking about before. The Kazutora that doesn’t need to hide behind an annoying attitude. The Kazutora that has that certain gleam in his eyes which makes him even more handsome and Chifuyu quickly shoves these thoughts aside before they can go into a direction he absolutely doesn’t want to go right now. Not with Kazutora sitting right next to him.
It’s embarrassing enough that he’s been thinking about his face and how pretty it can look so often lately, he really doesn’t need that now. (It totally started a few weeks ago when he came late to a Toman meeting and caught Kazutora watching how Mikey and Baji fought over a pack of pocky sticks, with Draken getting prepared to intervene any second. His face was soft, the smile on his lips brimming with fondness and warmth, but as soon as Kazutora noticed him, the magic of the moment vanished under a teasing greeting. “Oh. Hey, loser.” He gave him a challenging grin and Chifuyu answered with an annoyed eye roll, but the image from before still stuck to his memory and never really left him. Since then, he’s been looking for more of these ‘soft moments’, like he labeled them in his head. Unconsciously, but they do appear from time to time and sometimes, Chifuyu had to look away, heart beating faster due to the embarrassment of possibly getting caught.).
Cringing a little about himself, he focuses onto the screen again in favor of Kazutora’s face and just enjoys the current atmosphere between them.
"And? What do you think?” Kazutora gives him an expectant look as the ending credits run over the screen. Time really flew by here.
“It’s pretty cool,” Chifuyu says truthfully. “Not your usual Christmas movie, but I let it count.”
“Ha, see? I told you!” Triumphantly, Kazutora grins and seems very satisfied with himself.
It’s kind of – cute. Chifuyu quickly waves that aside as well. “I didn’t say anything against it, but you also still need to give me a review here.” His attempt to change the topic earns him a confused look in return.
Chifuyu nods towards the empty plates in front of them. “The food. Did you like it?”
“Oh.” Kazutora’s eyes grow wide and he sets his gaze down to the table, pushing his knees against his chest before he mumbles, “Yes. It was good. Thanks."
Is it his imagination or is Kazutora suddenly embarrassed…?
“Right answer,” Chifuyu replies with an easy grin and pretends he doesn’t notice. “I would have been mad if you insulted my mom’s cooking.”
Despite the shift in the atmosphere, he still tries to keep up his smile and begins to stack up the dirty dishes, but he can clearly feel Kazutora’s gaze on him.
“There are two other movies,” he suddenly says, tone indifferent as if it doesn’t mean much to him. “In case you’re in for another one.”
Surprised, Chifuyu abandons the plates and turns to him. “It’s pretty late already, don’t you have to go home soon?”
"Nah. I’ll stay here for the night.” Casually, he crosses his arms behind his head and looks into the other direction.
“Won’t your mom notice when you’re gone the whole night?”
“No. She wouldn’t give a shit.” A weird smile begins to show on Kazutora’s lips. It looks empty and tired, like an old man who has resigned to his fate ages ago. “Amazing, isn’t it? I can do whatever the fuck I want. Go to the next combini, get drunk like hell and no one will give a shit or scold me.” His smile twists into a superior grin. Something about it makes his stomach turn. “Well. Except for Baji maybe.”
“Me as well,” Chifuyu tells him without really thinking about it, but knows that he means it. Kazutora frowns deeply, so he clarifies, “I’d scold you as well if you did stupid stuff like that. And give a shit.” Determination carries his words and he doesn’t shy away from Kazutora’s gaze.
“You’re weird, Matsuno,” he states eventually and pretends to be unimpressed, but avoids his gaze.
Chifuyu just rolls his eyes, but there’s no heat in his voice when he says, “Can’t you be nice and don’t act like a dick for once in your life maybe?”
Now, Kazutora throws him a smug grin. “Nah, can’t do that. You’d only fall in love with me.”
Heat crawls into his cheeks and Chifuyu grabs a pillow to throw it straight into his face. “Oh, shut up!”
Kazutora bursts into laughter and easily catches the pillow in the air. It has a really nice sound to it, although it’s at his expense. Then, suddenly, he gets a lot quieter. Turns the pillow in his hands, fingers digging into the soft surface as he mumbles quietly, “But thanks. I owe you.” He gestures vaguely towards the table and keeps his gaze lowered. “For today.”
Chifuyu smiles inwardly, but raises an eyebrow only to land on a challenging grin. "Great. Then I’ll ask for a whole day where you have to be nice to me. I’ll tell you once I decide on a date.”
Kazutora raises an eyebrow to that. “So you want to fall in love with me so badly? Alright, alright, but don’t say I didn’t warn you!” He throws him another smug grin and Chifuyu can’t help but to laugh now.
“You’re such an idiot! Besides, I bet you won’t make it anyway.”
“Challenge accepted.”
They exchange a defiant look, but can’t keep it up for long before more laughter fills the room. This is so unserious and silly and… fun. In a very weird way, but still.
With a slight shake of his head, Chifuyu starts to collect the plates now and brings them to the sink. To his great surprise, Kazutora follows along, armed with the mugs he couldn’t carry in one go.
“Move over. You wanted to take care of the stray cats, didn’t you?” he then mumbles and squeezes himself into the space in front of the sink. “I’ll handle this in the meantime.”
“Uhm, sure?” Taken aback, Chifuyu moves aside, but counts it as a good sign. Seems like they reached some kind of truce here, huh.
The cats don’t need much from him. There’s still plenty of food in the bowls and no stray in sight. As if they know that Baji isn’t home and don’t find any reason to stay longer than for a few bites.
Chifuyu quickly changes the water, adds a bit more dry food and calls it a day. There’s still another stray in this house, after all, and somehow, he doesn’t want to leave it behind yet…
Said ‘stray’ is waiting on the couch once he gets back to the living room. The table is cleared and even his boxes are washed and dried, waiting to be picked up.
Kazutora doesn’t really acknowledge his presence, but nervously drums his fingers onto his crossed arms as if he’s thinking about something to say or do.
Chifuyu isn’t really sure how to handle this either, but decides to just voice a thought that he’s been toying with since they’ve finished the movie.
“Would you mind if I slept here as well tonight?”
It seems to catch him off guard, and honestly, Chifuyu already braces for rejection or a stupid comment when Kazutora raises his eyebrows as if he questions his sanity. “Depends. Are you snorting in your sleep?” The light grin that Kazutora lands on brings a more playful atmosphere that he can easily fit into.
“Rude, and no?” Chifuyu pretends to be offended, but it lacks any heat.
“Then, you’re allowed to,” he grants complacently, but changes for a more indifferent tone right away. “But you don’t have to. I’m fine on my own.”
“Me too.” Chifuyu shrugs as if it’s no big deal. “But I’ve heard there are two other movies and besides – now it’s my turn to show you one of my Christmas movies, isn’t it?” He gives him a challenging grin. “We can watch the other parts of Die Hard another time, I’m really invested now – but I can’t let you get away without seeing a real Christmas movie here.”
Kazutora snorts, but slides a bit to the left to make room for him. “They totally are real Christmas movies, but fine.”
Five minutes later, they are both back on the couch, each with a mug of hot cocoa in their hands. This time, it’s not the fancy stuff, but with the rest of the marshmallows it still fits to be a festive drink.
Chifuyu decided on the one Christmas movie that Baji’s mom owns. It’s a light romance, but with a certain twist that makes it unique in its own way. They watched it last year, together with his mom and the Baji’s.
Kazutora seems a bit sceptical at first and keeps questioning the protagonist’s choices, but his teasing comments are rather playful and deep down Chifuyu thinks that he does enjoy it.
About halfway through the movie, a comfortable silence settles between them. A single side glance is enough to notice that Kazutora actually fell asleep next to him and somehow, Chifuyu can’t help but to smile. (And also stare a little maybe.)
He looks peaceful like this, face all soft and relaxed (and pretty). As if for once, he can let his guard down around him and not fight at any given chance.
Chifuyu’s smile deepens and he grabs a blanket to drape it carefully over his body. Gets caught at his face once again. Suppresses the sudden urge to tug a strand of hair behind his ear and quickly withdraws before his thoughts get all messy and weird again. Besides, he still needs to message his mom and tell her that he’ll stay with the stray cats for tonight…
His gaze, however, is drawn back to Kazutora (and his very pretty face) over and over again and he thinks to himself that next year, he will totally ask him to bake Christmas cookies together with them. Gift him a Christmas sweater with a tiger on it, matching the one with the grumpy cat he got for Baji and the black cat he got for himself. Invite him over to have Christmas dinner with him and his mom and the Baji’s maybe. Show him that he doesn’t have to be alone on Christmas – but most importantly, that someone out there cares about him. That he does.
Whether Kazutora likes it or not.