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The afternoon was settling over Tokyo with that orange hue that made everything seem calmer than it really was. But calm and Sanosuke Sagara never went hand in hand.
“Hey, Saitou!” he shouted, crossing the street without looking much. “What a coincidence running into you here.”
Saitou Hajime didn’t even stop, nor did he react to the annoyed gestures of the people walking beside him. He moved with his usual steady pace, hands tucked into his uniform, eyes forward as if Sanosuke were nothing more than background noise.
“It’s not a coincidence,” he replied dryly without turning to look at him. “You’re being annoying within a three-block radius.”
Sanosuke grinned, as if that was exactly what he’d expected.
“That’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about, friend. I’m hungry,” he said, patting his stomach.
“That’s your problem.”
Sanosuke frowned.
“Yeah, but it’s also yours,” he shot back, moving closer to his side. Very close. “Because if I’m hungry, I get unbearable. And if I get unbearable… well, you’re seeing it already.”
Sanosuke flashed a toothy smile.
Saitou barely sighed, almost imperceptibly.
“You already were.”
Sanosuke let out a laugh. Again, people turned to look at them.
“Come on, don’t act tough with me. Let’s go to the Akabeko. You’re paying.”
Saitou finally stopped, and Sanosuke nearly ran into him. Slowly, he turned his head toward him, that cold gaze seeming to pierce through anyone.
“And why would I do that?”
Sanosuke crossed his arms, confident.
“Because you know I won’t stop following you until you do.”
Silence.
The wind lightly stirred their hair. A couple of pedestrians passed between them, ignoring the tension.
“Then I’ll ignore you,” Saitou said, resuming his walk.
Two steps.
“Hey!” Sanosuke caught up to his side again. “Don’t you ever get tired of playing hard to get? You always end up giving in anyway.”
Saitou grunted.
“That’s your illusion.”
“Uh-huh. Like that time with the sake.”
“That was an exception.”
“And the dango.”
“Another exception.”
“And the—”
“If you keep talking,” Saitou interrupted, stopping again, “not only will you not eat, I’ll seriously consider arresting you for disturbing the peace.”
Sanosuke raised an eyebrow.
“Arrest me for being hungry? That’s pretty low, even for you, Saitou.”
Saitou looked at him for a few seconds… then looked away.
“Five minutes.”
Sanosuke blinked, confused.
“What?”
“You have five minutes of silence. If you manage that… we’ll go to the Akabeko.”
Sanosuke stared at him in disbelief… then broke into a wide grin.
“Deal.”
They walked.
One minute.
Two.
Sanosuke pressed his lips together, visibly struggling with himself. Saitou, for his part, kept an expressionless face… though a faint curve at the corner of his mouth threatened to appear.
Three minutes.
Sanosuke was already sweating.
Four.
A child stumbled nearby. Sanosuke almost spoke.
He held back.
Five.
Saitou stopped.
“Time.”
Sanosuke burst out:
“See?! I knew you’d agree!”
Saitou looked at him, impassive.
“I didn’t say I’d treat you.”
Sanosuke’s smile froze.
“What?”
“I said we’d go.”
“…You’re a bastard.”
Saitou turned and began walking toward the Akabeko.
“Hurry up,” he said. “Before I change my mind.”
Sanosuke scoffed, but followed anyway.
Minutes later, already seated, a steaming plate appeared in front of him.
“…So you did pay after all,” he muttered, surprised.
Saitou took a sip of tea.
“Don’t get things twisted.”
“Then what?”
“It’s easier to keep you quiet with food.”
Sanosuke looked at him for a few seconds… then smiled, satisfied.
“Sure. Whatever you say, wolf.”
Saitou didn’t respond.
But this time, he didn’t deny it.