The amount of anime and manga Kiku has read and seen is beyond measurable. It's about all he does in his spare time, looking and trying to discover new undiscovered artists with talent to show. He's seen all the tropes down a million times over and yet they still make him smile. Every cliché that is written down and illustrated for all to see is axing to him as the first time he saw it.
He's rather prideful of his people for coming up with such ideas. He can feel their creativity when he draws too. It's their work that he feels when he does so. It's their moments of inspiration that line his home walls with artwork. Even the silly pieces that are thrown together and just random spurs of creativity, he loves them all.
He smiles to himself, looking down at the manga book in his lap while the meeting prattles on around him. He pays attention every so often, just enough to know what is going and maybe make a note or two, but then goes right back to reading. It's one of the newest issues to a series that used to just be a silly little web comic, now blown into a full on anime series and manga to be collected. He's very proud of them for working so hard.
He jumps when an arm is slung over his shoulder. He peeks cautiously at Kuro beside him with his legs thrown onto the desk top. He's not being as obnoxious and interruptive to this meeting as he usually is. Also not bothering Kiku to pay attention to him instead which is partially a miracle on it's own. It's very typical for Kuro to try and start a fight or poke at Kiku to get him to pout in annoyance.
The arm over his shoulder isn't one trying to distract him though. It's there casually and resting with no other intention. Kiku narrows his eyes quickly then Kuro looks up to him and winks before turning his head back down to his lap. He is reading as well but definitely not the kind of thing Kiku would have the courage to read in public or at all for that matter. He'd be scandalized to own such a thing even if it is one of his people that created it.
Kiku returns to his book. He'll finish it soon enough and the meeting will still have a good hour or so to go. So he'll read it again to pass the time in a more fun way. He should be paying attention but, maybe even a bit self centered of him to think so, he can afford a day of not paying attention since he does so consistently most other days. One day shall not hurt him or his country and the meeting will continue on fine without him saying anything anyway. More will get done if Kuro is side tracked as well.
His mind is so absorbed in the picture in front of him, taking in the details of just one page in awe of the style, that he barely notices most every one else leaving the meeting hall for their regular scheduled break for the day. He only snaps out of his focused daze when Kuro removes his arm from over his shoulder. He blinks comically at his counterpart when they smirk down at him, teasingly as if he knows Kiku hadn't been listening to the meeting at all, and slips out the meeting rom wiht his hands thrown in his pockets. Two seconds later Kiku hears the tell-tale sound of firecrackers going off followed by a loud cackle to know exactly what Kuro had hidden in his pockets.
He holds his manga tight to his chest as he finally leaves too. He's halfway done with his volume and his heart feels a little heavy and being so close to finished. He smiles to himself though, knowing how hard his people work for such achievements. It's enough to make his soul feel lighter.
Carefully to not spill on his book he eats in one of the provided break rooms scatter throughout the meeting building. He brought his food unlike few others. It saves him more in the long run. Saves him money of going out as well as saves him the hassle of actually leaving the meeting room to find some place to eat. It's quieter this way and he can sit in soft peace for a while longer.
He shuffles back to the meeting room once his food is gone, face buried in his book as a very intense scene is coming up. He can feel it and he wants to take in every detail possible. That objective becomes hard to do when his book is ripped out of his hands unexpectedly.
"Kuro!" He tries to sound demanding but his words come out more squeaky than he means. Kuro snickers and flips a few pages of Kiku's back, judging the artwork himself Kiku reaches for it but Kuro holds it out of his way.
"What's this about huh?" Kuro asks, smirking at him quickly then going back to flipping the pages. He dodges Kiku's hands easily enough, turning his back to him when he tries once more to reach for his book. Kiku huffs.
"You can read it when I'm done," He says putting as much chiding tone as he can manage. Kuro laughs at him and holds the book over his head teasingly as Kiku vaguely jumps for it back. It's a strange little dance and Kiku is barely thankful there is no one around to see them do this. It would be embarrassing.
"Kuro please give it back," Kiku balances on his tip toes, fingers out stretched for his book, with one hand gripping at Kuro's arm to try and drag it down so he can actually reach. Kuro snickers at him and takes a step back only for his feet to get caught over themselves. Kuro barely has time to swear as he tumbles to the ground and since Kiku had practically been leaning on him for support he goes down too. His mind isn't quick enough to catch himself as he falls right into Kuro, accidentally pushing them right together and their lips lock in the process.
Kiku snaps his head up once he realizes what just happened. Kuro blinks up at him in shock as well. At the same time Kiku's face flushes scarlet a wicked smirk makes it's way to Kuro's. He snickers and pushes up finding the perfect moment to kiss Kiku again. Kiku squeaks and grabs his book from it's spot on the floor to bap Kuro with it a few times. Kuro just laughs at him.
He clambers off his counterpart still blushing, making his way back to his meeting seat with a huff. He turns bluntly away from Kuro when he seats beside him. He ignores Kuro's cooing for him to lighten up and that it was an accident. Kiku knows that but it doesn't make what happened any less embarrassing. It would be so much worse if multiple people saw them actually stumble in such a way.
He remains pouty for the rest of the meeting, keeping a tight hold on his book just in case Kuro gets any other ideas. In reality though Kuro doesn't need to steal his things to have ideas. Kiku hides his face in his book after Kuro leans over to kiss his cheek sweetly in a sort of apologetic way. He sort of forgives him, shifting in his seat to sit properly. He sighs in acceptance to his fate when Kuro leans his head on his shoulder, reading the last of the book with him, then the whole thing as Kiku starts it over to finish out the meeting.
Kiku forgets sometimes how much accidental influence he has on his people. Every so often he will do something and for a while it will be a craze in his country. It's not on purpose and sometimes it creates fun activities. The small fads never really last long. His face is screwed up in recognition as the third book he picks off the shelf also has a scene where the main character has an accidental falling kiss with their crush, only for said crush to kiss their cheek later to allude to more feelings.
He huffs to himself and puts that one in his pile too. It's not fair to be reminded of that moment but his people make it beautifully done. He has a small sinking feeling in his chest that this cliché might stick around for a while. He picks up another and his eyes widen at the near picture perfect replica of his moment with Kuro. He hides his face in the pages, vowing never to show it Kuro should he face teasing for the rest of his long life.
AN: For DiamondMariasisters. Hope you like it~
Art Credit: Ask-lustkuro on tumblr