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To say Zanka is nervous, is a major understatement.
It's not like he hasn't faced anything nerve-wracking like this, okay? He's a doctor, for fuck's sake. He has seen so many horrors that horror movies can no longer faze him.
And yet.
"Riyo's gonna love you, you know," Enjin takes a seat next to him, grinning as he towels his hand. "I mean, of course, she won't let you know that, but trust me, you'll definitely fall into the category."
Zanka forces a smile, trying to picture a universe where Enjin's niece is getting along with him.
He can't.
This is not exactly the first time he and Riyo meet, but this is the first time when they meet as the uncle's boyfriend's and the uncle's favorite family member, face to face. Zanka has heard stories about Riyo from Enjin numerous times, at some point, he even got to hear her voice from that time when Riyo called Enjin while he was spending the night with Zanka.
Then, just last week, Riyo video-called Enjin and the man didn't even hesitate to show Zanka to her. Enjin was picking up Zanka from his shift, and Zanka wasn't really aware Enjin was video-calling someone, until he shoved the phone to him and said, "I have my personal doctor here, say hello to Riyo, Doc."
Zanka is not stupid. He'd like to think, he's quite sensitive when someone isn't that much into him and that's the vibe he gets from Riyo. Her response was not enthusiastic and she was quick to redirect the conversation back to Enjin, so naturally that Zanka doubted Enjin noticed it.
The most important thing that haunted him was the way Riyo looked at him.
Even through the tiny screen, Zanka could feel the strong dislike from her stare alone. Enjin does repeatedly tell him that Riyo got that "Mean Girl" face, but Zanka personally thinks, there's a valid reason for her to sport that face.
"What thoughts you have in that gorgeous head of yours?" Enjin breaks into his reverie, by tucking the ash-colored hair that falls on the side of his face.
When he blinks, Enjin is looking at him like he's ready to make Zanka fall for him again. Zanka forces himself to not blush but he can feel his cheek get warmer where Enjin's hand brushes somewhere near earlier.
"Nothing," he makes a mistake, by breaking the stare. The lie is almost too naked with so little attempt to hide it. "I'm just looking forward to meeting her."
Enjin slides his hand, past his tassel, settling himself on the curve of Zanka's face. Zanka can smell the lingering scent of machine oil and metallic grease off him, but those don't bother him. If anything, the scents bring a weird sense of calmness into him.
Zanka inhales deeply. Enjin brushes his thumb over the dangling tassels, still smiling.
"Riyo can be scary sometimes, but trust me, she's a huge softie when it comes to me. Can always count on her to look out for me." Enjin's expression softens, Zanka can't help feeling the warmth spread all over himself too. He likes this side of Enjin, who cares about his family more than anything; who would do everything for them; who won't bother to broadcast his affection towards them, even if he doesn't put it in words, everyone can practically sense his overflowing affection off him.
"Zanka, I—" Enjin stops himself, like he suddenly changes his mind, and is now unsure to voice it out loud. Zanka looks at him, like he tries to decipher the thought. Enjin suddenly looks very nervous, which is funny because Zanka should be the one who's nervous here.
Unfortunately, before he could guess what Zanka is about to tell him, something interrupts them.
Or rather, someone.
"The sign is on, so I assume, I will be welcomed here."
Zanka freezes at the voice. He can feel Enjin's hand on him tense too.
"But I can come back later if you're... busy."
The last word is said with a very specific tone, that Zanka's reflect is swatting Enjin's hand off him.
It's like he's having a spring installed on his ass, with how fast he jumps off the sofa and turns around.
There's standing a red-haired girl, hands crossed over her chest, as she gives what Zanka instantly recognizes as strong cynicism. She looks nothing like Enjin, but somehow she radiates a certain aura that Zanka can feel coming off Enjin too.
"You must be Riyo," Zanka steps forward. "I'm—"
Riyo cuts him off before Zanka can finish his sentence.
"Dr. Sexy."
Zanka blinks, too caught off guard by the answer. Again, someone precedes him from talking and this time, it's Enjin hissing at her.
Seeing Enjin's reaction seems like the trigger that breaks Riyo's cold persona, because soon her laughter echoes in the bike shop they are in.
"It's really nice to finally meet you, Dr. Nijiku," Riyo grins as she salutes her.
Zanka blinks again, unable to form an appropriate response.
This doesn't seem like Riyo that he knows—or at least, the Riyo he thinks he knows.
"This chud here is keeping us apart, can't you believe it? There's a lot we need to catch up, Doc." Riyo takes a seat in the single sofa across them.
"Please, do call me, Zanka," he finally gets the words out. "And it's very nice to meet you, Riyo."
Riyo flashes him another smile, before she looks at Enjin.
"So?"
Enjin frowns. "So... what?"
"I'm your honorable guest, ain't I? Where's the feast?"
The question earns her a snort. She shifts her gaze to Zanka again, once again catching him off guard.
"Zanka, are you sure, you want to end up with a cruel man like him? Doesn't even try to provide me, his favorite niece, some decent lunch and soda. Truly horrible man."
Enjin groans, but Zanka finds himself chuckle, nervousness suddenly drains off him. He doesn't know why he has to be so nervous around someone who he has never had a chance to properly meet. All of his early judgment of Riyo is quickly erased, the moment he meets her.
"Are you inviting Zanka, just to chit-chat? His rare day-off and you drag him to this stinky place you called bike-shop—"
"Hey! Watch it!"
"—are you hungry, Zanka? It's almost lunch time, hm? Don't you get hungry? I mean,I get it, Enjin's a feast for the eye and yadda-yadda, but just wait until you see him drooling—"
"THAT'S IT!"
Enjin rushes in her direction, seemingly having a wordless conversation while he's at it, that Zanka can't quite understand what it's about. Probably trying to have a deal so that Riyo doesn't speak further about the embarrassing side of Enjin.
It ends up with Enjin huffs in defeat. It seems that Riyo wins the silent argument.
"Didn't realize it's almost lunch, how about I get us some food?" Enjin turns to him. "There's a bento shop near here, their karubidon is killer, what do you think, Zanka?"
"You don't have to trouble yourself—"
Riyo interrupts, apparently speaking on Zanka's behalf, without Zanka's knowledge. "He'll have that."
Riyo grins to him. "You'll love it, you can trust me on that." She changes her demeanor again, when she's talking with Enjin. "As for me—"
But Enjin exaggerates his sigh and already moves towards the door, after snatching his jacket.
"You'll get the usual, and that's it," then he gives Zanka the sweetest smile before he walks out of the door. "Be right back, don't miss me."
Riyo is the one to answer.
"Nobody's gonna miss a nuisance like you!"
Enjin merely rolls his eyes before he exits the room. Riyo jumps off the sofa to flip the sign from "We're open!" to "On Lunch Break!" before she returns to her seat.
"So, what's your deal with him?" Riyo doesn't bother with the preamble when she leans back to the recliner. "He's never bringing anyone to meet me. Clearly you're a special case."
Zanka has no idea.
He actually never asks to meet Riyo, it's Enjin himself who's constantly name-dropping Riyo that Zanka feels like he has known Riyo in extension as well. It's Enjin who offers the opportunity whenever it presents: get him to say hello on the phone, directs the camera to him when they're on video call, clearly speaking about him to Riyo even if he isn't even there.
The invitation isn't that well-crafted to be, well, an invitation. It's more like, Enjin's almost sneaky way to get him meet Riyo and Zanka is grateful that Enjin offers it without Zanka has to ask because if he has to very, very honest, he's both intrigued and terrified by Riyo's presence.
This is the very person that Enjin constantly talk, the only family member that Enjin seems to be very attached to. Enjin clearly values her opinions and Zanka, the ambitious person that he is, can't resist himself for wanting to score high in Riyo's book.
"I'm dating him, if that's an acceptable deal for you," Zanka maintains the eye contact. "And, while I don't say it out loud, I've always wanted to see you since Enjin often talks about you. I wasn't aware that I was a special case."
"He dates a lot," Riyo says, tapping her green-manicured nails on the arm rest. "Never works out, never lasts long, until he meets you. I've even bet whether your relationship can outlast my hamster. And my hamster tragically squashed herself to die, last week. Can't believe, he won."
The information gets Zanka to open his mouth, only to clamp it shut.
"Enjin's serious about you," Riyo says after a while. "That's all I can say."
Zanka swallows thickly. He knows, Enjin never plays about their relationship, but he just never thinks about the magnitude of that.
"I'm serious about him too," Zanka responds almost too quietly, dropping his gaze into his own hands. The nervousness still lingers, but it doesn't dominate. "He means a lot to me."
To his surprise, Riyo chuckles.
Zanka looks up to her.
"You get it that this is the part where I threaten to make your life hell if you ever hurt him in any way?"
Zanka can't help smiling at the apparent protectiveness in her voice. "Absolutely."
"It's settled then," Riyo gets off her sofa to stand in front of him, offering her hand as she smiles too. "Because that's not a joke."
Zanka accepts the hand and squeezes lightly only for Riyo to return the gesture with hard squeeze.
It's not like he hasn't faced anything nerve-wracking like this, okay? He's a doctor, for fuck's sake. He has seen so many horrors that horror movies can no longer faze him.
And yet.
"I concur because this is the part where I tell you, what a serious person I am and as medical professional, I never take any life-threatening situation lightly."
Riyo blinks before she bursts into loud laughter. It takes a moment until it recedes to wheeze and she gasps for air.
"Oh, Dr. Nijiku, you and I will get along very, very well."
Zanka hopes, that'll be the outcome too.