Work Text:
BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEE-
Takumi slammed his hand down and chucked his alarm across the room, effectively shutting it up.
He groaned, and checked his phone.
It was 6AM, on a Saturday.
He had been so exhausted yesterday he had mistakenly set his alarm two hours early.
Oh well, at least there was no school, otherwise he most likely would’ve feigned sickness, because he was just not up for it today. He felt like he had been run over with a lawnmower and then jumped by several very large, and very muscular teddy bears.
Heck, maybe he was sick.
He reluctantly got out of bed and stretched.
He noticed he had missed a text message from Karua.
7:16 PM
K: Hii checking in sorry I didnt text u earlier i was sooo swamped at work bro ts pmo
K: cant hang out tmrw bc I promised Hiruko I’d come to her place to work on the group project >-< lets chill on sunday tho we can go get food
6:04 AM
T: Sure thing! they opened a new coffee place recently i’ll go check it out today we can go tomorrow if its any good :)
He didn’t expect a reply, since it was 6AM and there was no way she’d be awake, especially not on a Saturday.
It was early, and he wondered if the coffee place would even be open, but he decided to get ready and head out anyway.
If it wasn’t open he could just hang around the Tokyo complex until it did. He didn’t have anything better to do anyway.
The weather was slightly chilly, which was nothing abnormal, so he was sporting his regular white hoodie and blue and grey jacket, with plain black pants and sneakers.
When he stepped out, he grinned at the silence.
The world around him was empty, minus the occasional early riser jogging past, lost in their own world.
He had forgotten what time it was, the sun was still rising, creeping up on the residents of Tokyo Complex.
Honestly, it was quite nice.
He quickly headed towards the center, and after asking for some quick directions from a security guard, made his way to the coffee shop.
The coffee shop exterior had an interesting vibe, painted green with a black trim, and seemingly two stories.
It had fairy lights strung around the building, and a nice patio, with green rocking chairs.
He could faintly hear classical music coming from the inside.
It didn’t have an interesting name, simply titled “Coffee Shop” written on fancy cursive on a large sign above the entrance.
He walked up, and to his delight, it was open.
The hours were 6:00 - 12:00.
He wondered what sort of coffee shop stays open until midnight, but decided not to question it.
He walked in to see a pale girl with hot pink eyes and hair that seemed to fade between dark blue and light blue, when he realises he recognizes.
“Hey! I’ve seen you in class, you’re Darumi Amemiya!”
She blinks at him, before grinning.
“Heeey, watcha doing in this humble coffee shop so early, red guy? Are you one of those early riser freaks?” She said, staring at him with an intensity that made him want to crawl out of his skin.
“My… uhm… alarm went off too early by accident. But it’s good to see you, I had no idea you worked here!” He explained, quickly plastering on a bright smile.
She giggled, before her smile dropped.
“I got recommended for it by a friend… heh, look at me, thinking being a coffee shop barista would be quick and easy money… the amount of people who’ve screamed at me for messing up their orders…” She trailed off, a shudder going down her spine.
She straightened up, her lips turning up in a smile and her eyes brightening as quickly as they had darkened.
“But I know you wouldn’t be so rude, right? Right? I-I mean… I don’t know you THAT well… but you seem friendly enough… so go ahead and order something, don’t just stand there!”
He quickly stammered out an order, a simple coffee with cream, and a blueberry muffin.
While those were being prepared, he took a moment to check out the cafes’ interior.
It had a hopeful atmosphere, the only noise being the sounds of the coffee machine as Darumi prepared his order, and the classical music playing at a low volume.
It had a spiral staircase in the center of the cafe, leading up to the mysterious second floor.
There were more fairy lights strung around here and there, and lots of fake plants and vines setting the atmosphere.
There were books on the tables by the window, seemingly resting there and waiting for a fateful customer to pick one up and flip through it.
The tables were mahogany, with cushioned chairs.
He also noticed bean bags in some corners, with small side tables nearby, and a few couches.
Overall, he decided, this was a great place.
He wondered why he had not come by sooner, as it had been open for maybe around two months now.
His thoughts were interrupted by Darumi tapping him and handing him his drink and muffin.
“Thanks for your order, Takumi. Honestly, I’m glad you’re in here, I hate having to be alone with…that guy…for too long.
And I’m not even allowed to hide in the backroom, I’m the only worker right now so I have to stay out here,”
She sighed, her mood suddenly turning gloomy.
“I’m sorry to hear that…wait, what guy?”
She pointed, and he slowly turned around.
There, at the far end of the cafe, sitting calmly by one of the windows, was Eito Aotsuki.
He was reading a book.
He couldn’t tell what book it was, as the dust cover seemed to have been taken off.
How had he not seen him before?
He was so still, maybe Takumi had simply mistaken him for another decoration.
His face was turned away from them, seemingly engrossed in his mysterious book.
Frankly, Eito confused him. Every conversation they had left him wondering whether or not he hated Takumi.
He had met a lot of strange people, especially at Last Defense Academy, but none had made an impression on him like Eito had.
Takumi constantly found himself wanting to know more about him, yet at the same time wanting to be far away from him.
There was just something about him that was so unsettling yet at the same time endearing.
He gulped, before slowly turning back to Darumi, who looked equally as nervous.
Her eyes flicked to his, and she stared at him, almost pleadingly.
“The order is for here, right?”
“O-of course. Thanks Darumi, I…I think I’ll go chat with him.”
“Huh? Really? Well, your funeral, I suppose.
Since there's no other customers, I’ll just go back to what I was doing before…reading fanfics on my phone!”
She grinned, opening her phone and beginning to scroll through some heinous titles.
“Ok… I’ll leave you to it.”
He checked his watch. It was 6:40 AM.
He turned, and began to make his way towards Eito.
He stopped directly in front of him, and cleared his throat.
When Eito’s pale blue eyes finally glanced up from his book, and met his, he felt something in his stomach.
Butterflies…? No, he wouldn't get butterflies from a guy like Eito.
“Ah, Takumi! I see you’ve chosen to interrupt my perfectly peaceful morning with your ugly mug! Thanks, I really appreciate it!”
Takumi was taken aback.
He had figured he would be at least a little more civil, since it was early morning, and they weren’t in class.
“U-uh… I saw you sitting over here, and we’re…classmates, so I figured I would join you! What brings you here this early, Eito?”
Eito blinked, before smiling thinly and gesturing for Takumi to take the seat in front of him.
He noticed Eito had no drink.
“Did you not buy anything? You’re just hanging out here? What book is that?”
“Goodness, what's with all the questions, dummy? I am simply exercising my free will by waking up at 5:00AM and reading an 800 page novel at a coffee shop, which I must finish before the clock hits 6:30!”
It’s nothing special, really.”
“Oh… uhm…you know it’s past 6:30 right?”
Eito paused, then checked his watch.
“Oh! I suppose you’re correct, Takumi. Surprising for someone as stupid as you. I suppose I’ve failed my challenge, then.
“What novel is it?”
“I’m not going to tell you.”
Takumi blinked. This conversation was not going how he had thought, though he supposed that was to be expected, since it is Eito after all.
“Okay then. How close did you get to finishing?”
“I reached the halfway mark! Love and peace!”
Eito proclaimed, rather loudly.
Takumi glanced over and noticed Darumi glaring at Eito from her yaoi fanfiction.
“Well, that’s…nice. I guess you got pretty close.”
“Why thank you, sweetheart!”
Takumi’s heart skipped a beat, though he wasn’t quite sure why.
A silence fell between them, though it wasn’t uncomfortable at all.
Eito continued to flip through the pages of his book, while Takumi drank his coffee and ate his muffin.
After a little while, Eito pulled a bookmark out of seemingly thin air and placed it between the pages of his book, before putting it down.
He sat his hands in his lap and straightened up, then proceeded to stare at Takumi with his menacingly blinding blue eyes.
“So, Takumi, how is life going for you? Terrible, I hope!
I heard you failed the science quiz yesterday, it was so easy too! Hahaha!”
Takumi felt his left eye twitch.
“I did, yeah… I guess I was just having an off day.”
“Heh, with your grades, every day is an off day!
It’s alright though, you make up for it with exceedingly good looks! So I’m sure you’ll be able to marry a rich man and swim through life.”
“Uhm, thanks?”
“You’re so welcome!
Anyway, If you need tutoring, just let me know. I get the highest grades in science. Everything else I fail on purpose, because what's even the point in paying attention to stuff you won’t apply in real life?”
“Thanks, Eito, that's kind of nice of you. So then you want to be a scientist after graduation?”
“Huh? Why would I want to be a scientist? To study humans? Frankly, humanity disgusts me, and I hope they all burn and die.”
“You’re a human too, you know.”
“Shut up, idiot.”
“Okay… so why not just study animals, then?”
“Ah, you have a point.”
By that point in the conversation, Takumi had finished his drink and muffin.
As he got up to find a trash can, excusing himself, Eito got up too, displaying his impressive height, and forcing Takumi to look up at him.
“I can direct you to one, dearest Takumi! Just over there! Love and peace~”
Eito jabbed his finger over Takumi’s shoulder, and he turned, looking where Eito had pointed, and sure enough, there was a bin conveniently placed by the exit.
“Ah, thanks. Did you use it earlier?”
“Indeed, as I had ordered a fresh croissant!”
“I see, why didn’t you tell me that earlier when I asked?
“I wasn’t in the mood too.”
While most would find Eito’s antics irritating, Takumi found them to be strangely endearing, almost adorable.
Though he couldn’t find Eito adorable, they were both guys after all.
Eito grabbed his arm without asking and guided him to the bins, for seemingly no good reason, and stared at him as he dumped his trash.
They turned towards the window as people began moving about the square, watching humanity awaken.
“So other than your pathetic attempt at test-taking yesterday, how has class been this week? I see you talking to that girl Nozomi a lot. Are you guys dating or something?”
Takumi flushed, his face turning red.
“H-huh? No of course not, we’re just close friends! Besides, what do you care anyways?”
Eito tilted his head, smiling lightly.
“She’s not worthy of dating you, duh. She doesn’t have the right bone structure.”
What the heck is this guy talking about?
No matter how hard he tried, how many scientists he would have to hire to dissect his brain, Takumi would never, ever understand Eito Aotsuki.
“Eito, you’re…kind of a weirdo.”
“Well, of course. That’s why we get along.”
Since when did they ever get along? Oh well, at least he was being nice.
“Uh…sure, I guess. Thanks for chatting, Eito. You really helped pass the time. The morning is in full swing now.”
“Hm, I suppose it is. Ugh look at these disgusting ants crawling around. I hate humans, they’re so worthless and pathetic.”
“Except me though, right?” Takumi teased.
Eito tore his eyes from the window and stared at Takumi, almost softly.
“Of course, idiot.”
Takumi couldn’t help but smile, and their knuckles brushed together as they stared out the window in an almost intimate manner.
The moment was interrupted by a couple of people bursting the door open and making a beeline for the front register.
Takumi cleared his throat and stepped away, while Eito frowned disapprovingly at the newcomers.
“W-well, I guess I’ll head out now.” Takumi said as a few more people entered the cafe.
“Where are you going?”
“Ah, I’m not exactly sure. I was thinking of home.”
“Well, alright then, I’ll walk you.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Well, I have to make sure my Takumi stays safe from any unwanted humans! Now let’s go!”
Eito grabbed his hand and began to drag Takumi in the direction of his home.
“Uh- wait! I never told you where I live!” Takumi blushed.
Eito ended up dragging him all the way home.
“This must be your humble abode, huh? Pretty ugly if you ask me.”
“Gee, thanks, Eito.”
“You are very welcome. Now then, unless fate lets us meet beforehand, I will see you Monday, Takumi! Love and Peace!”
As Takumi smiled and turned to reply, Eito leaned in and kissed him, softly, on the lips.
Then, he grinned big and wide, before turning and skipping away.
Takumi knew he was bright red as he entered his house.