"Irrashaimase! Ah, hello again, Fuji-kun! How are you today?"
Fuji's response was unheard under the sound of a heavy bag of rice hitting the floor, but at his father's cheerful greeting he stood and wiped his brow, a smile on his face as he strode into the shop.
"Takashi is in the back, I'll go-"
"I'm here, dad," Taka interjected as he pushed aside the curtain from the kitchen. The elder Kawamura gave his son's shoulder a squeeze as he went to the back of the restaurant to finish bringing in the supplies. "Afternoon, Fuji. How are you?" A small frown replaced Fuji's ever present smile.
"I'm fine, but I thought I had said yesterday that it was okay to call me by my first name…?" Taka averted his eyes, busying himself by rearranging the supplies on the counter, feeling slightly upset that he had upset Fu-, or rather, Shuusuke, he supposed. Focused as he was on the counter, he missed it when Fuji's smile returned.
"Anyway, I only wanted to give you something. I start cram school today, so I won't be able to stay long, but, well, here." Taka lifted his eyes in time to see a small, elegantly wrapped present settle on the counter. His eyes widened as he realized that today was Valentine's Day, and that Fuji probably wanted to share the phenomenal amount of chocolates the girls at his new school had undoubtedly given him. At least that's what Taka thought until he saw his name clearly written on the tag. He looked up, but Fuji was already at the door.
"Wait!" Fuji paused in putting on his shoes as Taka vaulted over the counter and walked towards him. Taka held the gift delicately in one hand, the other coming up to scratch the back of his head as he contemplated the tatami mats covering the floor. "Ano… Thank you." Taka's hand fell to his side, and his eyes rose to meet Fuji's. "Shuusuke." Light brown met blue as Shuusuke's smile broadened.
"I should be done in a couple hours. It's only the first day. I could come back afterwards." Shuusuke's suggestion caused a matching expression in Taka, as well as a faint blush, and his eyes dipped down before once again getting caught in the aqua depths of his former teammate's eyes.
"Un. I'll ask my old man if I can go a little early today. We can get some dinner, if that's okay."
"Ah. Jya, ittekimasu." Taka watched Shuusuke leave, then started walking the long way back around the counter, staring at the small box in his hand. Suddenly so many things made so much more sense, and a little something fell into place in Kawamura Takashi's world.