Chapter Text
✈︎
Flight 062: Tokyo (Narita) - Los Angeles
Scheduled Departure: Jan 9 (17:05)
Scheduled Arrival: Jan 9 GMT-8 (9:45)
All of his fellow flight attendants busy welcoming their passengers. Jo smiles, stationed on last five back rows in business class, attending a family of three. They look very happy. The Dad ecstatically telling Jo, it’s their first holiday after a while. Their daughter just graduated from university. The said daughter smiles shyly, sitting on her seat beside her mother. While The Mother offers a gentle smile and soft ‘thank you’ after Jo helps them put their hand carry. It’s 20 minutes to the scheduled take-off. Most of the seats are taken already. Jo dismissing himself with a smile, continues to taking care other passengers nearby.
Business flight duty always his favorite—but this is going to be a long flight ahead. One of his crew mates switching up to his row, it’s a sign for him to walk the aisle towards the front to demonstrate the safety precautions. That standard protocol, today assigned to him. Informing the passengers regarding the life jacket, keep their seatbelt buckled, no smoking during flight—blah, blah, Jo memorized it all perfectly as it has been his third year as a flight attendant.
Asakura Jo is a very handsome and attractive guy. Stood 185 centimeters tall with tamed hair, fair skinned, small face, and a killer smile on his lips. His calm demeanor carries him even more. Everyone has a little crush on him—passengers, fellow cabin crews, pilots, co-pilots, ground staffs—and it’s a well-known fact that, of course you have a crush on Asakura-kun! He’s amazing and lovely! As a flight attendant, Jo almost perfect. Passengers love his helpful but tuned attitude. Even better, he knows how to handle complicated cases (ease the panic during turbulence, insufferable passengers, and more) to the point his crew mates going to take a sigh of relief every time they see ‘Asakura Jo’ in flight roster.
Today is another day for Jo. He’s waiting for the cue to start the demonstration. Five minutes away, when the intercom is cracking. Jo eyes trail towards the cockpit door. He smiles to himself right when the familiar voice echoes through the internal speaker;
“Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen. This is Captain Koga Yudai welcoming you abroad flight number 062 with service to Los Angeles, United States of America.”
It’s Yudai-san, again. It’s their fourth flight together in this month only and Jo feels silly, somehow. Flying with Yudai-san, their charming captain, is always pleasant (and everyone really wants to!). Clicks and clacks of buckled seatbelt echoes through the cabin. Of course, not every passengers pay any attention towards the announcement of their captain. Likewise, all the flight attendants busy with their task. Jo, somehow finds himself smiling as he follows every word his Captain speaks through the speaker.
“Whipped,” Yuma—his fellow flight attendant—walks past him, brushing shoulder to shoulder while whispering to him.
Jo flushes.
Yuma stops, just grinning at him before nudging Jo, “Captain Koga said he needs coffee, Jo.”
“Wh—what?” Jo stutters, the plane still rolling on the apron.
“Just prepare his coffee when we are cruising later. He will love it,” Yuma winks, “get the life jacket.”
Well, Jo pushes away all the question and resuming what he should do; safety demonstration.
✈︎
Flight 062: Tokyo (Narita) - Los Angeles
Cruising Altitude, 40 minutes after take off
Jo is stationed on stand by. While the others busy preparing dinner for their passengers, the lanky flight attendant is ready with a cup of hot coffee. Jo eyed the door to the cockpit, his heart flutters, but swiftly he shakes his head. Clearing his mind and walks towards the door. “Hi, Yudai-san, Fuma-san,” Jo enters the cockpit, “uh—coffee?”
Inside, there are their captain and his first officer. Koga Yudai, side by side with Murata Fuma. Jo knows them for years already. Fuma, their first officer, is a buff, tall guy with a gummy smile. Intimidating first, but as he smiles, the goofiness going to oozes and melts all the rough edges. Not to mention his silly jokes. Jo nods at Fuma while the said first officer already munching on—a piece of Pikachu-shaped bread. Well, it’s Fuma and his weird obsession towards Pokemon.
“Jo? I thought I told Yuma—oh, nevermind.”
Here he is. The Koga Yudai.
Jo needs extra seconds to keep his smile not accidentally getting wider. When his eyes fall on the soft feature of their captain, Jo feels his heart flutters, again. The grip on that cup of coffee suddenly tighten. Jo holds himself steady—thankfully. “Yuma is, uh, asking me to give you this. He is…busy,” and finally, the said cup offered to Yudai.
Yudai smiles. Jo swears he saw Yudai’s eyes twinkling—rivals the stars outside. Oh God. Yudai is pretty. “He should tell me. Sorry, Jo,” Yudai’s voice slightly different from the one echoed on the cabin earlier. In reality, Yudai has a very soft voice. “Thank you,” and for him, Yudai’s voice sounds like…something akin of music. Jo smiles, catching the soft blush blooming on Yudai’s cheeks. Ah, Jo thinks to himself, maybe he feels hot.
(Both of them missed Fuma’s cough and snikcer)
Their fingers brushes each other’s. Yudai stutters while put the coffee on the cup holder beside his seat, “t-thank you. I’ll smack Yuma later. You must be busy, right?”
“Not really. Never too busy for you, Yudai-san,” Jo replies with a smile. “I’ll back to the cabin. Just ask me—if you want to get your meal early, Yudai-san,” his eyes linger more on Yudai, “ah, Fuma-san, you too,” and swiftly, Jo adds Fuma into the conversation.
“Don’t worry, Jo-kun. You can just help Yudai. I am good,” Fuma grins—in mirth—and swats his hand playfully.
Yudai shrieks and slaps Fuma’s head with the clipboard.
✈︎
Flight 062: Tokyo (Narita) - Los Angeles
Cruising Altitude, 120 minutes after take off
“Why don’t you ask him out?”
Yudai glares after checking the altitude indicator. Fuma can’t help but laughing, his captain is too easy to read. “Jo-kun is a hot topic, you know. Everyone has a crush on him,” Fuma continues and secretly enjoying the panicked expression that slipped on Yudai’s face. “C’mon, Capt. You like him for years,” with that Yudai slaps Fuma again, “ouch!”
“Shut up, Fuma-kun,” Yudai hisses, but can not hide the flush scatters on his cheeks.
Yudai pouts, pretending to hold his cool as he’s busying himself (pretending) to checking up all the monitors and indicators. It’s like his first time piloting the plane (they are on autopilot mode right now, look, the sky is very clear outside). It’s giving all the pretentious acts Yudai uses to cover himself. Fuma is amused to watch his best friend slash co-worker lost his cool when he mentions the younger flight attendant.
“What if someone asking Jo-kun out first?” Fuma relentlessly teasing Yudai.
It’s clear Yudai tenses at the scenario.
“What about it,” Yudai mumbles but his head is whirling like the engine outside. “Stop talking silly, Fuu. We are working right now!” That sounds whiny and desperate, actually. Yudai hates the talk about Jo and all the possibilities that the younger man could get romantically involved with someone else. It’s painful for Fuma, seeing both of them dance around each other, gushing with unspoken yearning. Jo is too spineless, and Yudai—don’t even start with him, Yudai just being Yudai. Too prideful, too much thoughts.
“Don’t cry if Jo-kun walking hand in hand with a very pretty lady.”
“...is he bi?” It comes out too fast and clearly, Yudai is worried.
“Or Yuma. We never know,” Fuma just straight up lying, actually.
Yudai head is racing with so many thoughts instantly. Yes, Asakura Jo is everyone’s favorite—but let’s be honest; Koga Yudai is head over heels for him. For years.
Fuma sees Yudai turns his head towards the cockpit door, as if he could see Jo through the sturdy carbon plat. The yearning is strong with this one. Yudai, although always act nonchalant if he talked about Jo, still a whipped loser. Since the first day Asakura Jo appeared on the orientation session for the new recruits, Yudai has been fallen. At first, Yudai denied it as I just have a crush on him, he’s cute. Then it evolved into something astronomically painful to see; Yudai stealing glance towards Jo, and Jo silently staring at Yudai’s back.
The thoughts of Jo dating someone icks Yudai so much. The Captain trying to shake it off his head. For God’s sake, they are co-workers. The sky outside is gradually getting darker and darker. No thick cloud, they are cruising in fairly great weather. The sight ahead is amazing. For the rest of the flight, if the weather continues to be this clear, Yudai and Fuma could just enjoy the night. Save the energy for their landing, or planning another short getaway on their layover until the next schedule. Yet, Yudai bites his lower lip, clearly drowning himself into his head. No turbulence, yet his heart shakes in doubt.
“Should I ask him out?” Yudai blurts, eyes darting towards the door. His voice sounded just above a whisper. Fuma turns his head, amused.
“I’ve been told you for, what, two years?” The first officer sighs. Fuma has been Yudai’s friend since his academy days. Seeing his friend yearns for a handsome soft guy whose grasp of the world kinda painstakingly not good, combined with Yudai’s tendency of ruminating—oh well. “Why don’t you ask him on a date later? We have two days in L.A. before your next flight,” a little push, Fuma raises his eyebrows, “I think it’s a good chance. Maybe you could ask him to go somewhere? Shopping or…anything? Going to the beach?”
Beach with Jo. An idea creeps inside his head, scarily evolving into a want. No, it’s been months he wonders if one day, he could walking hand in hand with his crush. Well, at least maybe a lunch, together.
Again, Yudai pouts after. “I don’t think he likes me that way, Fuu.”
Fuma groans, facepalming himself.
✈︎
Flight 062: Tokyo (Narita) - Los Angeles
Cruising Altitude, 270 minutes after take off
They have served the last dinner on the cabin. Lights have been dimmed, almost all of the passengers out cold into the dreamland. It’s Jo’s turn to get around the cabin, make sure to keep the passengers in check for everything they need during the flight. Jo walks quietly and suddenly, Yuma tows behind. “You don’t have to do the round seriously, you know,” Yuma whispers. “Let’s just chill, they are sleeping already,” the shorter one winks, pushing Jo down the aisle.
“But—”
“Noo, it’s fine. I wanna ask some—things,” Yuma smiles. Somehow, Jo feels shiver runs down his spine.
They reached the crew’s compartment. There are two other crew resting. Curious, Jo asks Yuma first, “do you wanna talk about something, Yuma-kun?”
Yuma giggles, the cat like attendant sits on the vacant bed while Jo standing awkwardly. “Not really,” the answer comes out playfully, “have you asked Yudai out, Jo?”
Jo’s eyes widen, a flush painting his face and neck red. Oh, Yuma really enjoying this scenery.
“W—what?” Jo stutters and trying to not make a fool of himself. His eyes darting back to back, from the other two, and back to Yuma. “I—I don’t. Yudai-san. Uh?” The way Jo stumbles with his words almost send Yuma into laughing fit. Jo is effortlessly funny, but if it’s about their dear captain, Jo is extremely stupid. It’s like everyone knows they into each other except themselves.
Jo is panicking over nothing, actually.
“Aw, okay. There’s a guy from Narita’s ATC. He’s asking me to get to know Yudai—”
“No!”
Yuma startled.
“I mean. Yuma-kun, Yudai-san…he’s busy, right?” Jo talks nonsense now, Yuma humming—annoyingly. “Why you told me about…that guy? And Yudai-san?” Although Jo crumbled earlier, he’s trying his best to back on the track. Looking calm, pretends to offer a confused smile. His heart hammers behind the ribcage, and something unknown feels fiery. Jo, again, trying his best to ignore the burning sensation inside his chest. Oh, he doesn’t want to address anything. If it’s about Yudai and Jo’s big, fat crush on the said captain, Jo just wants to keep it to himself. Really.
The reason? Jo is not sure Yudai even seeing him in more than just another co-worker. He repeats it inside his head over and over.
The thing is, Yuma knows and kind of frustrated because Jo and Yudai are both his friends, and they are the biggest idiots on earth (by Yuma’s standard).
“So, is it okay if I give the ATC guy a go? Give him Yudai’s LINE?”
Jo gapes. His face turns sour.
Yuma, smirks gleefully.
“You know, Jo-kun. Our layover gonna take two to three days. Why don’t you ask Yudai-kun to accompany you somehwere?”
✈︎
Flight 062: Tokyo (Narita) - Los Angeles
Cruising Altitude, 300 minutes after take off
Fuma went out earlier, said he wanted to go to the lavatory. It’s been ten minutes. Yudai usually gonna fuss, pestering Fuma to don’t take too long because he hates being alone in the cockpit. But, again, earlier Fuma told him, don’t worry—I’ve requested someone to take my place for awhile as if Fuma going to take hours. Yudai sighs when the door swings open. “Fuu—I think…oh?” Yudai freezes.
It’s Jo.
“Hi…? Yudai-san? Fuma-san asked me to…bring you…a cup of tea?” There is a paper cup in Jo’s hand, and he’s wearing that soft smile Yudai very fond of. That kind of smile where that thin lips stretched into a small curve, makes Yudai wonder what if he kissed it.
Okay. That’s his cue to stop.
Back to the this confusing situation, Yudai curses Fuma inside his head. Of course Fuma and his mischievous plan. Bet now his friend cackling outside the cockpit. Yudai clears his throat, trying to smile at Jo—and shit, his heart leaps. “Tea? Oh, Fuma must be—mistaken. But of course, thank you! Just put it…there. Fuma’s seat. I believe he actually asked it for himself,” then Jo walks closer, put the paper cup right into Fuma’s cup holder. “Sorry, Jo-kun. Didn’t mean to make you coming back and forth here,” the older one, trying to keep the cool.
“It’s okay, Yudai-san. Thought you’re under the weather…asking for tea instead of coffee. Usually you just asking for coffee,” Jo still smiling, he stands beside Yudai’s seat. “And your face…uh, kind of, red,” Jo softly points it out.
Fuck? Yudai pats his cheeks. He feels the skin getting hot. Though it’s not a lie, he’s dizzy being this close to Jo. Aside of that, Yudai blinks and feels his heart fluttering at the younger’s words. Jo remembers Yudai’s caffeine addiction.
“Yudai-san?”
There is a cold hand on his forehead.
“Are you—okay?”
It’s not like Jo’s face is getting closer, in fact, Jo maintains a normal distance as the younger using his own hand to check on Yudai’s temperature. Yudai feels he’s going to melt. “It’s a little bit…warm,” and Jo’s voice not helping at all. He catches the worried expression—Jo is really worried. Yudai almost feels guilty, because he’s enjoying the cold palm on his skin. His fingers itching to just pull Jo closer. “Are you okay? Should I call Fuma-san to coming back—”
“No! I mean—I am okay. Just a little bit…” Yudai eyes flutter, Jo feels his breath hitched, “...dizzy. Thank you, Jo-kun.” Yet, Jo keeps his hand lingers on Yudai’s head.
Yudai feels warm under his palm. Jo gulps. He wasn’t thinking at all when he reached out to check if his captain had suddenly fallen ill, perhaps with a fever or something. Yet the younger attendant is the one who’s getting caught into reverie; admiring Yudai’s feature up close. It’s not a secret, Koga Yudai is admired by lots of people. He’s charming, bringing a good vibe and energy everywhere he goes. Never lacking at his duty, not bossy, everyone loves Yudai to be around. Plus, Yudai is extremely breathtaking (in Jo’s defense, Yudai even could pass as a model). It’s justified to have a crush on him—again, this is Jo’s defense. A big, fat crush, in Jo’s case.
Jo quietly traces Yudai’s face under his gaze. Pretty. Fluttering lashes, high cheekbones, small lips, small slope of nose—if he’s a lesser man, he would just duck in and kiss Yudai right away.
(But, Jo’s more a coward than keep up his dignity)
“Yudai-san?” He sounds raspy—well, the anxiety skyrockets—when he decides to try, “if you don’t have any plan during our layover, could we…go somewhere, together?”
The aircraft, in fact, gliding smoothly on the sky. But Yudai feels his whole body reverberates and his chest thundering. Oh boy. Before he knew it, Yudai just nods.
That day, Yudai learns that; when Jo smiles, his cheeks almost swallow all of his eyes—and Jo’s smile is climbing higher to be one of his favorite things in the world.