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“I’m Teru Minamoto.” The words are accompanied by a wink and close-mouthed grin that’s still somehow too bright. Akane does his best to keep the disgust from his face but he doesn’t think he’s doing a very good job of it if Aoi’s amused smile is anything to go by.
From next to him, a voice chimes up, “I’m Nene Yashiro! Your date for today.”
Akane and Aoi going to different high schools didn’t hinder their friendship at all. They still frequently text and call, and more often than not Aoi spends the weekends at Akane’s playing video games and absolutely demolishing the redhead. It’s during one of those weekends that the topic comes up.
“He’s nice, responsible, and a great guy. It almost feels like people expect us to be together but he’s a bit too…energetic for my tastes.”
Akane hums as he listens to Aoi ranting, reaching over to pluck a sour gummy from the bag in her hands. “One of my friends is like that, a bit. Her name is Nene - some people seem to think we’re together but she’s more like a sister to me. She’s great, though, don’t get me wrong. Big sweet tooth.”
Aoi nods in understanding, “Teru too!”
It’s not unusual that they exchange stories about the students at their respective schools, but something about this particularly gives Aoi a glint in her eye.
“Akane. I have a great idea.”
The idea in question was setting up their two friends by meeting up at an arcade together - Aoi bringing Teru along and Akane bringing Nene.
It would almost be a double date, but after one very awkward kiss between a much younger Aoi and Akane they’d decided they were better off as friends and never again entertained the notion of something romantic between them.
For the most part though, Nene and Teru seemed to hit it off.
After exchanging greetings with Aoi and Akane respectively, they bonded over ordering the most over-the-top sugary menu item and as Nene showed off pictures of her hamsters Teru oohed and ahhed appropriately, eyes glimmering at the fuzzy creatures.
Akane and Aoi let them hit it off as they sip on their respective drinks (with a much lower sugar content). The conversation flows easily between them when Akane suddenly has the distinct feeling of being watched. Aoi is distracted by a notification on her phone so Akane looks around just in time to see Teru’s head ducking back down to smile at Nene.
What a weirdo.
Eventually the four of them move onto the game floor where Nene enthusiastically drags Teru around and explains the game mechanics. Well, the dragging seems to be equal because any machine that’s loud and shiny seems to get Teru’s attention and he pulls Nene along, asking how it works.
The matchmakers follow them around and while Aoi will join a game every once in a while Akane refuses to be the fourth player in team games. He bristles when Teru tries to heckle him because the whole point of this was for him to hang out with Nene and he’s about to say some choice words to the blonde when Nene tugs at his sleeve.
“You promised me one game, remember?” she chides. “C’mon, we’ll do a claw machine! They’re pretty empty right now.”
As she practically drags him across the arcade, Teru lingers behind just a moment, watching the back of Akane’s head with a contemplative look that doesn’t quite match the smile still pasted on his face.
Aoi notices.
“Don’t read too much into him,” she says lightly, sidling up beside Teru. “He’s just like that.”
“Like what?”
“Prickly.”
“Mm.” Teru turns to the game closest to them and inserts a few coins, handing Aoi one of the controls once it’s booted up. “Let’s see how you fare up against zombies.”
“C’mon, help me pick one!” Nene says, skipping a step ahead and pointing to the colorful plush machines lining the back wall.
Akane follows with a lazy stroll, hands in his pockets. “You know these things are rigged, right?”
“Rigged against cowards,” she replies cheerfully.
He chuckles but glances over his shoulder at where he can barely make out Aoi and Teru. “So... what do you think of him?”
Nene lifts an eyebrow. “Teru?”
“Mm-hm. Be honest.”
She hums, eyes scanning the claw machine like it might help her answer. “He’s...nice. Surprisingly nice, actually. Polite. Pretty. Like, very pretty. Handsome if you will. Like a real life Prince Charmi-”
“ Okay! That’s enough of that,” Akane interrupts, placing a hand over her mouth.
“But,” Nene continues, pushing him off, “he kind of feels like someone you admire from afar, not date. You know?”
Akane nods. “Yeah. Too polished.”
“And soo dreamy,” she says laughing when Akane groans.
There’s a brief pause as she fiddles with the joystick before she side-eyes him. “What about you? You haven’t said more than two words to him.”
“I’ve said four,” he mutters. My name is Akane. His name totally counted as a word. “And I didn’t come here to date him.”
“Well, we just established he’s not really my type.” She nudges his arm. “But maybe you could at least try getting to know him. He’s not that bad.”
Akane scoffs, but the corner of his mouth twitches. “I’ll consider it.”
“Aaaand if you’re hanging out with him, I can get to know Aoi better.” Nene’s voice gets higher towards the end as if asking a question and she’s quick to tag on, “Plus, I’ll owe you one?”
Akane is so startled he completely miscalculates and watches as the claw comes down nowhere near a plush before turning to Nene and contemplating for a few seconds.
“I can work with that.”
He sticks his hand out and Nene is quick to shake on it.
Aoi sits down on one of the Mario Kart seats, not making a move to put in coins and instead tapping her phone screen. Teru takes the seat next to her and absently moves the steering wheel as the game’s menu screen stares back at him. His gaze flickers over to where Nene and Akane are laughing at a claw machine.
He hums. “You and Nene seem to be getting along.”
It was true. During the few games Aoi had joined them in, she was quick to sit next to the girl who enthusiastically explained game mechanics as Aoi nodded along and pointedly avoided Teru’s knowing look.
Aoi glances up. “What, jealous?”
He laughs. “Not at all. Just... observing.”
She narrows her eyes. “Observing what?”
The two had just played a few rounds of one of those zombie apocalypse games and Teru shudders at the memory of Aoi with a gun in her hand. She beat him by quite a lot - and he hadn’t even been going easy on her! Okay, new plan, he thinks.
“You and Nene seem to have more chemistry than she and I do,” he says easily, like he’s commenting on the weather. “I thought this was supposed to be my date.”
Aoi stares at him, unsure if he’s joking. “It is your date.”
He shrugs. “Sure. Technically.”
A pause.
“I mean,” he continues, “I could always go hang out with Akane instead. Give you two some space.”
Aoi rolls her eyes. “You’re not supposed to say that out loud.”
“Why not? I like being helpful.”
“You’re being annoying.”
He smiles. “And yet you haven’t told me no.”
She opens her mouth, then shuts it again. He’s infuriating and it has Aoi wondering why they were friends in the first place. And also, somehow, he was right.
“You really don’t mind?” she asks, quieter this time.
He shrugs again, casual. “Nene’s cute, yeah. But she lights up more around you. And Akane... well. Let’s just say I’m curious.”
Aoi snorts. “Curious?”
“Strictly observational,” he says with mock innocence. “For science.”
“Right.”
He pushes off the seat and flashes her a grin. “You can thank me later.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
“Debatable.”
They both glance back toward Nene and Akane—still at the claw machine, still laughing.
Aoi exhales, muttering, “This is so not how this was supposed to go.”
Teru smirks. “Isn’t it great?”
They reconvene, Akane and Nene giggling over the prizes they’d gotten from one of the machines. Aoi and Teru walk up a moment later, mid-conversation—Teru’s laughing at something Aoi just said, but his eyes flicker to Akane the moment he steps into the group.
“Did you guys get anything good?” Aoi asks, peering at the small pile of trinkets in Nene’s arms.
“Yup! Look at these,” Nene says proudly, holding up some keychains of…monsters? “Which one do you want, Aoi?”
“At least try to be subtle,” Akane mutters.
“What did you say Akane? Nothing? That’s what I thought,” Nene replies sweetly.
“Oh!” Aoi perks up. “We should take a group photo before we leave.”
Nene claps her hands. “Yes! That old-fashioned sticker booth looks cute.”
As they squeeze into the booth, there’s a moment of shuffling—who sits where, who stands behind whom—and somehow it’s not Teru next to Nene or Aoi next to Akane.
No one says anything about it.
The flash goes off just as Teru’s hand brushes Akane’s.
After the photo strips are distributed Nene grabs onto Aoi’s arm and drags her off to some idol game which is how Akane ends up in side-by-side seats with Teru Minamoto.
Neon lights reflect off their faces and Teru’s hyper-focused, tongue poking slightly out in concentration; Akane’s driving with one hand like he’s bored, which only makes Teru more competitive.
“Are you even trying?” Teru accuses when Akane overtakes him for the third time.
“Trying not to embarrass you, yeah.”
Teru groans when Akane wins by a landslide. “I take back everything nice I ever said about you.”
“You said nice things about me?” Akane deadpans. “Gross.”
Teru turns to glare—but there’s a flush creeping up his neck, and Akane’s smirk slips into something softer. Just for a second.
They wander off in search of another game, shoulders brushing in the crowd. Neither mentions it.
“Wanna try DDR?” Teru asks, already stepping onto the pad. “Unless you’re scared to be shown up.”
Akane snorts. “You would have to pay me before I get on that thing.”
There’s some shuffling as Teru digs into his pockets before holding out a fistful of tickets. “I’ve got 17 tickets, take it or leave it.”
It’s not a remotely good offer - it’s not even enough for two pieces of candy - and yet none of that explains why Akane snatches up the tickets and neatly folds them into his pocket before stepping onto the platform.
“What song?”
They’re terrible, but they’re laughing. Loud, unguarded laughter that they try to stifle halfway through, only to catch each other’s eyes and break again. Teru’s hair sticks to his forehead. Akane’s cheeks are flushed. It’s hard to tell if the red dusting both of their cheeks’ is from the physical exertion or something else.
They pause near the basketball hoops, catching their breath. Akane spots Aoi and Nene across the room—heads close, sharing a milkshake at the snack bar, Aoi leaning in to point something out on Nene’s phone. They’re both smiling.
Akane nudges Teru with his elbow. “Looks like your date’s got a new favorite.”
Teru hums, glancing over. “Yeah,” he says, then adds with a smirk, “guess that means I’m yours now.”
Akane rolls his eyes, “Your pickup lines need more work.”
Teru’s eyes sparkle as he tilts his head. “Who said I was hitting on you?”
It’s a little mean, but it’s worth it as Teru watches Akane splutter, red creeping up his ears. Before he can get anything coherent out, Teru grabs his hand and intertwines their fingers.
“Let’s finish up these coins.”
They play a few more rounds of skee-ball, trading playful jabs and mock-scoring each other’s technique. Akane’s about to hand over his last token when Teru stops him with an almost shy grin. “For next time.”
Akane blinks, caught off-guard by the sudden lack of confidence.
“Yeah,” he replies. “I’ll hold you to that.”
Teru beams at him, like Akane just handed him the high score.
They don’t really talk about what that means as they walk out hand in hand. Aoi and Nene catch up to them and Aoi triumphantly holds up her own hand tangled with Nene’s.
It may not have been the intended outcome of the evening but it’s still a good one.