Disclaimer: I don't own Gravitation.
Attention.
I take Shuichi to a little place called Cookie's.
It's called Cookie's, but it sells ice cream.
This is because the lady who owns it is named Cookie.
Really!
Kumagoro and I know her very well. You see, before I became shiny-famous, every summer my family would come up here, to Kyoto, and visit some relatives. This is how I first met Tohma, believe it or not.
So, when I would come up here, my cousins and me, we'd always ride our bikes up to this little ice cream store called Cookie's.
Cookie is a little bit pudgy, with curly-swirly short hair and honey-colored eyes. She is one of those kinds of people that everyone just absolutely loves, because she is just so sweet.
She's the grandma everyone wishes they had.
She is even always willing to give out free samples, to make sure you like the flavor you are trying, before you buy a whole cone full of it.
This is very considerate, Kumagoro thinks.
I introduce Cookie to my dear friend Shu-chan, whom she likes so much that she waddles out from behind the counter so she can hug him. Shu-chan looks very surprised, and very happy, as she ruffles his hair, chirping about how cute he is.
I think, sometimes, he just needs some attention.
But then again, don't we all?
Kumagoro, for example, would go crazy without it.
Yes you would, don't lie.
Shu-chan orders a strawberry cone, pink as his hair, topped with hundreds of little chocolate sprinkles. Yummy. I can't choose between mint chocolate chip and Oreo, so I ask Kumagoro what he thinks.
He suggests both.
I like the way you think, Kumagoro.
Shuichi and I happily lick our cones, but Shu-chan is being bombarded with questions from Cookie. I guess she has gotten bored with me. But Shuichi is so cute, surely she can't help it.
She has a lot of free time today, because this place is not very popular on weekdays, when the kids are in school.
Occasionally, business-suit-wearing adults will come in for some ice cream on their lunch breaks. One time I saw a very grumpy and stuffy-looking professional order a bubblegum cone, topped with Gummy Bears.
Kumagoro and I, we chuckle, remembering it.
Oh, I got off-topic again. I'm sorry!
So, on weekends, this place is packed. Jammed. Sweaty, sticky, crowded beyond compare. Especially in the summertime. Kinda like a mosh pit, but with ice cream at the end, instead of a hangover and a sprained ankle.
That only happened once, Kumagoro!
Geez.
Anyway, Shuichi is politely answering all the questions Cookie is firing at him, as he absently twirls himself in the 1950s-American-Diner style chair. Sparkly, and spinny.
Until, that is, Cookie asks, with wiggling eyebrows, "How are things with Yuki-san?"
"Um." Shuichi's eyes glisten, with a tiny sparkle not unlike sadness. "We're doing great," he says to a certain speck on a tile on the floor.
Even though we haven't talked in weeks, I want him to add.
Even though he won't pick up his goddamn phone.
Even though it's like I'm nothing to him anymore.
No, Ryuichi, Kumagoro is saying, don't think like that.
Yuki-san isn't like him. He's not.
"Cookie!" I exclaim, a bit too loudly. Shuichi's head jolts up at the sound of my voice. "I'm sorry, but we really must be going. Sound check! Thanks for the ice cream, na no da!"
"Yeah, thanks," Shuichi says, offering her a tiny smile as he stands up, cone still in hand.
His voice sounds...broken, somehow. Like a jigsaw puzzle, almost complete, almost making a beautiful picture, just missing the last few pieces.
Sigh.
Shu-chan hugs Cookie, and I hug Kumagoro.
"Thank you," Shuichi says, as we walk out the door. I hear a little bell chime behind us. The sun pours down on our faces, and Shuichi looks golden. Radiant. If only he weren't so sad. "For the ice cream, and for...you know...saving me. Again."
I squeeze his shoulder, and give him the brightest smile I can muster.
I wonder if I...am radiant, too.
"That's what Super Duper Ryu-chan is here for!"
He laughs.
I absolutely love it when he laughs.
He licks a chocolate sprinkle off the corner of his lips, and oh...
Shining, here in the sunlight, smiling, at me...
He looks so yummy. Scrum-diddly-umptious.
Even better than Cookie's ice cream, which is, by the way, sensational.
Surely one kiss wouldn't hurt, I mean...
Yuki-san wouldn't even care.
I can't help it.
It happens so fast.
Kumagoro doesn't even have time to stop me.
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A/N: Oh ho ho ho. What will happen now between our favorite main characters whose names rhyme? Hmmm. I dunno. Or do I?
...Wow, I had too much orange soda. -laughs-
Aaaanyways, thanks so very very much as always for your reviews! You guys have no idea how appreciated they are! They really keep me going! I gotta do a shout-out to Tenka-chan, because she's amazing. And to everyone else too! Love love love!
Thanks so much for reading, all! And please review. -bows like the fangirl she is-