Faces
Kaede Rukawa has many faces. Perhaps even more so than people will ever give him credit for.
Aside from the no-nonsense 'get out of my way or you die' glares everybody seems to get from the guy on the court (not excluding Akira), Kaede also has that face he does whenever they meet at the train station: flat, seemingly uninterested; bored eyes fixed at a random spot on Akira's neck
He has a different face for when they lounge and eat at Akira's favorite ramen place: still uninterested, with just the subtlest hints of appreciation for the food; narrowed eyes barely straying from his steaming bowl.
"How's practice today?" he asks, hoping to break a little ice.
"Same old," is the usual, curt reply.
"Hanamichi still giving you a hard time?"
"Hn," Kaede snorts, the derisive sound etching a crease on his brows. This time, however, it only takes Shohoku's famed Ice Prince a single breath and the briefest sideway glance to remember to ask, "How about you?"
This bit of improvement in his usually catatonic date's conversation skills is enough to put Akira in high spirits. "Oh, you know, same old!" He shrugs, echoing Kaede's words with overdone enthusiasm.
His date's face crumples into a frown, eyes fixing on that spot in Akira's neck again, lips twitching and un-twitching in a reluctant pout. The way they always do when he knows he's being teased, but would still like to take a moment to make sure. "Idiot..."
Akira chuckles heartily, drawing a handful of curious eyes to their corner. He steps it up just a little bit when Kaede starts practically wilting in his seat. "Your ears are turning red," he teases some more, taking a bit too much pride in it; committing every part of Kaede Rukawa's squirming, blushing image to memory.
"You'll miss the train," the younger guy grumbles, shy eyes now completely downcast; surprisingly steady hands fumbling for his duffel bag.
Akira pays for the food and follows his flustered date out.
"Meet you here again tomorrow?" he says, fluttering his eyes playfully, hopefully.
"Hn," Kaede simply grunts, gearing up his bike.
The next day, he will have mustered enough confidence to home in on a random spot on Akira's chin.