Hi there! So I know this hasn't been updated in a thousand forevers, but that's because I've... drifted away from the style this was first written in. But I love the plot for this, and it's so fun to do, and now that I've actually found a good style and can role with it, I've started to rewrite this. I've had this on Ao3 for a couple of weeks now, and it's gone down great, so I'm putting it here too. If you read the old one, there's a lot of new content in this as well, so even though bits are repeated, stick it out?
Kisumi can't help but break into a smile as soon as he sees Haruka approaching the Candyfloss Café. The door chimes, that little cheery tingle, and Haru approaches the counter, face set into his usual straight stare.
"Kisumi…" he greets with a long suffering sigh. He just won't stop smiling.
"Muffins?" Kisumi asks, beaming, and reaching for Haru's tupperware to take a peak.
He nods, and then begins the wait.
"I swear you only come here for the free tea," Kisumi says, rolling his eyes, even as he hands over the steaming mug.
And, well, yeah, that's kinda the whole fucking point, in this little deal they've got going, but whatever, Kisumi's obviously had a long day. Now he's getting all needy. Haru's long dealt with that sullen little look in his eyes behind his grin, knows when it's just a little bit tired and probably forced. He offers up his own attempt at a smile, and it does something, like it always has, and Kisumi's face softens into his familiar comfortable grin, the spark glinting away in his funny coloured eyes.
"Just let me do a whip-round, and then I'll feed you, kay?"
Haru accepts this silently, and is pleased to note his favourite table, in the corner, up against the window looking out, is free. He takes his seat and goes into his satchel for his sketchbook, and is drawn to shading a scape he'd done on a hike the other week in pencil, rather than picking up with something new.
Kisumi makes his way around his little café, taking used cups, saucers and plates back to the counter so he can take them through to the kitchen in just a moment. The shop's been pretty dead today, which is surprising for the first day of spring break, and so he really doesn't mind that the poor chap hunched over his laptop at the table nearest to the counter is still here after, oh, it must be three hours now?
He smiles as he takes his cold, forgotten mug of mocha. "I'll get you a fresh one, Makoto?" he offers gently.
Makoto, tall, soft brown hair, the kindest green eyes and just… well, all over Kisumi's type, basically, blinks into awareness and sighs, looking disappointedly at his wasted drink.
"Please," he groans, reaching for his wallet.
Kisumi accepts the coins pressed into his palm with a forced thanks. Well there goes his attempt at that good gesture.
"Working awful hard, to say you especially should be making the most of the next couple of weeks," he tries to sound upbeat.
He knows from pervious snippets of conversation that Makoto, Makoto Tachibana, because they're even friends on Facebook now, is a teacher. Fifth graders, if he recalls correctly, he must have been longing for some time off.
"I'm having my brother and sister to stay while our parents take a trip for their anniversary," Makoto says, and despite his tired eyes, he smiles brightly. Kisumi's heart melts.
"Twins, right?" he asks, just to check.
"Mm," Makoto agrees, meeting Kisumi's eye and looking genuinely pleased that Kisumi has apparently paid so much attention to their short conversations over the checkout these last few months. "Ren and Ran… they'll just be going into middle school after the break."
"Ah… what a fun age. Oh, hey, Haru just brought in some blueberry muffins. You liked them last week, right?"
Makoto nods, looking eager. Kisumi's figured this guy has a bit of a sweet tooth, and oh does Haru know how to cater for one of those. Kisumi's never been more thankful for his best friend.
"Uh, who's Haru?" Makoto asks, derailing from a second reach for his wallet.
"Over there," Kisumi points, "I sell his cakes a few times a week. Excellent cook… the only reason I didn't live off cup ramen in university!"
"Oh, wow. Fresh, then?" Makoto smiles and finally opens up the leather pouch, but then sinks into a frown. "Huh, not today. I'm out of change."
Kisumi gives himself a mental pat on the back. "It's on me. I'm sure Haru won't mind," he smiles.
Haruka narrows his eyebrows at the street, listening in. Not by choice, necessarily, it's just he's so used to Kisumi's grand ideas he tunes into his bouncy chatter more as a safety precaution, than anything, so he knows to book up that date here and maaaybe leave that one free, if he doesn't annoy him too much in the meantime.
He sighs internally. This probably isn't a new thing for Kisumi… no, wait, it definitely isn't. He's known him since they were twelve, after all. Always been a flirt… And Haru's always been an unwilling wingman.
He just hope he hurries up with his lunch.
"You're shameless," he accuses by way of greeting the next day, somehow managing to be graceful even as he unceremoniously plonks the plastic box down on the counter.
"It's great to see you too, Haru!" Kisumi smirks at him, leaning down on his elbows so he shrinks to look Haru in the eye. "Who spat in your mackerel this morning?"
Haru narrows his eyes and folds his arms. "Stop giving my food away. You're such a flirt."
"Oh relax. You know I've put your half in your pot anyway. You never did master the art of allure, did you? Even with those pretty eyes," and he flutters his lashes for effect.
Haru flicks his forehead. "Feed me."
"Don't tell me you're jealous, Haru?" Kisumi giggles, following him to his seat with his drink.
"Don't be an idiot."
Easier said than done.
"How were the kids, Makoto?" Kisumi asks as he takes over a fresh vanilla mocha. Such a sweet tooth. He even stirs in his preferred two sugars for him.
"They were great! So energetic though. They're excited about starting school too, which is good."
"Aww, that's awesome. Not so great on my end… my parents just got confirmation they can transfer Hayato. He was being bullied in his old school… and now he's just plain scared."
They share a soft frown, but then something seems to click in Makoto. "Shigino, right?"
Kisumi nods, eyebrow raising in slow motion.
"I have a Hayato Shigino on my roster for the new school year. Looks like he's in my class… any muffins left?"
He feels sort of like a criminal telling him no. "Haru brought carrot cake though… there's just a few slices left. He's a wizard with the fondant."
Makoto is clearly satisfied as he tucks in, and Kisumi sinks into the seat opposite him. They're right by the counter, after all.
"I think I saw Haru at the pool this morning, actually," Makoto muses between bites.
"Oh, yeah, wouldn't surprise me. I swear he's descended from mermaids. Proper little hydrophile," he smirks, fondly.
"He's so fast… and… it might sound odd, but he's just beautiful when he swims…. That's if it was him. Didn't get a good look."
Kisumi thinks this description sounds incredibly familiar and oh… "Speak of the devil," he sings, glancing over his shoulder as the door chimes and Haru steps in, right on cue.
"Don't call me a devil," Haru frowns and accidentally knocks into him. He's one step from just bonking him on the head with the box, but Kisumi grabs it from him before he can put the plan into action.
"Ooh, blueberry! Want one, Makoto?"
Makoto looks down at his plate of carrot cake, just a mouthful left, looking decidedly torn. "I really shouldn't… I've been trying to stay in shape."
"That's why you went swimming," Haru says aloud, remembering this morning, passing him in the lanes.
"So it was you," Makoto says, sounding pleased, and they look each other over, a little longer this time.
Long enough that neither of them notice the little smile Kisumi gives them as he looks between them.
