"Just make yourself at home. Dinner will be ready soon," Kariya said as he led Lancelot through the main foyer of his small house.
"Yes sir," Lancelot said.
"Please don't call me that. We're not practicing."
"Alright… K-Kariya," he agreed hesitantly and Kariya gave him a smile.
"That wasn't so hard, was it?"
"I guess not." Lancelot took a seat at the bar counter in Kariya's kitchen. He couldn't believe he was actually here, in Kariya's kitchen. He thought he accidentally scared the other away from him at the holiday party and when Kariya sought him out after he finally left the bathroom he thought Kariya was going to resign as his coach. He really did not expect Kariya to stutter out an apology to him for running and invite him to dinner to make up for his actions. Lancelot had told Kariya he was free for the entire break to which Kariya exclaimed: "Even on New Year's?" like it was some big deal. After that Kariya basically forced Lancelot to promise to come over on New Year's Eve. "Sakura's going out to hang out with friends so I'd be alone anyway."
So here Lancelot was, watching Kariya cook dinner and chatting idly.
"You don't have to be so formal, please," Kariya said as he started to plate food.
"But… you're my coach…"
"Not right now. We're only a year apart in age, so we're just a couple of friends hanging out," Kariya said, as he handed Lancelot an intricate looking bowl of Ramen noodles and sitting across from Lancelot.
"How do… How do you know my age?" Lancelot was pretty sure he never old Kariya how old he was.
"Oh well…" Kariya instantly blushed bright red. Cute. "You remember that day you were… watching me at the front desk before I was your coach?"
Lancelot nodded even though he didn't know when Kariya was referring to. He watched the elder a lot… even that was an understatement.
"Well you looked kinda familiar so I looked you up in the studio database."
"I looked familiar?" Lancelot knew they had met once before (that's what had started Lance's infatuation) but that had been four years ago and he was pretty sure the other didn't even remember.
"Yeah… but I don't really remember where from…" Lance wasn't surprised. He had looked totally different four years ago.
"Maybe at a dance competition…" Lancelot said, though he knew exactly where they had first met.
Kariya thought about it for a second before shouting:
"I got it! You were the contemporary dancer for the junior division my last year!"
"Y-yeah…" Lancelot couldn't believe he remembered. It made him so happy.
"I watched your performance at regionals. You were crazy talented… well… you still are."
"Yeah, you told me that day…"
"Oh yeah! Wow, you look so different." Lance had short hair then… and he was really short. He was a really late bloomer.
"I know…"
"It's not a bad thing, though. You're just… really tall."
"Maybe you're just short."
"Bit of both perhaps."
"Fair enough."
The two finished their dinners and migrated to Kariya's living room.
"Hey, you want anything to drink?" Kariya shouted from the kitchen.
"No, I'm good."
"Suit yourself." He poured himself a glass of wine for his nerves. He really didn't understand why he was so nervous around Lancelot all the time. He walked into the living room and settled in on the couch next to Lancelot. Not too close though.
"It's snowing like crazy outside," Kariya commented idly as he switched on the TV to watch whatever specials were playing.
"Really?"
"Yeah it's really bad… I dunno if you should drive home in it…"
"I didn't drive."
"Well then you shouldn't walk home either."
"What are you suggesting?"
"I dunno… You've got your dance bag with you so you could just stay."
"You're such a dad."
"Well I technically am one so ha."
"Fine, I'll stay if it stops you from worrying." Lancelot gave a small smile.
"I wasn't worrying…" Kariya took a long drink to hide his embarrassment.
"Sure."
They continued chatting and laughing at all the drunken people and celebrities on the TV. As the night went on, Kariya found himself dozing on Lancelot's shoulder with the younger's arm slung around his shoulders.
"This is the latest I've stayed up in a while…" Kariya yawned. He only had a few minutes to go; though, then he could go to sleep.
"You're so old," Lancelot laughed. Kariya pouted.
"I'm only a year older than you," he whined.
"Your point?"
"You're mean."
"Right." Kariya began to nod off again but what felt like only a few seconds later Lance was gently poking him awake.
"Hey, it's midnight."
"Wooo! I can go to sleep." Kariya laughed, looking up at Lancelot. Wow, was he close. Kariya's smiled faded slowly as they silently stared at each other. Lancelot was really hoping Kariya wouldn't run from him this time… What felt like an eternity, only took a few seconds for both of them to meet each other in the middle. Kariya's lips felt so soft against his own and Lancelot was far too gone to even care what this might do to the two of them. All he cared about was that he was kissing his idol and he was kissing back.
They reluctantly pulled away after a minute.
"Happy New Year," Kariya mumbled.
"Hey Kariya," Lance said, the two of them were still very close; Lance's arms around Kariya's waist and Kariya's around his neck.
"Yes?"
"Go out with me."
Kariya didn't even respond; instead he just kissed Lancelot again. That was enough of an answer for him.
"Your dad throws crazy expensive parties. I felt so out of place," Cú said as he and Dee walked down the street towards Cú's apartment.
"Aw don't be that way, you look fantastic," Diarmuid said. Cú wanted to roll his eyes at the obvious flirting but Dee always sounded so sincere that it made him blush instead.
"Thanks… I dunno how you deal with all those businessmen all the time. You make it look so easy."
"Well I've had my entire life to practice."
"Fair point."
"I'm just glad I had a friend there."
"Those guys aren't your friends? You talked to them so comfortably and stuff…"
"I'm going to be their boss when my dad retires."
"True…" They were at Cú's apartment building now. And it was snowing really hard.
"I'll be fine," Dee turned and gave him a bright smile.
"You could hang out here for a little until it calms down…"
Diarmuid laughed, took a step closer to Cú and leaned in closer.
"It's cute that you're worried but I think I can handle it." Dee leaned in further and kissed Cú's cheek. "Happy New Year," he whispered before walking away.
Cú's face felt on fire even in the freezing new January air and it was even worse when he was inside in his warm apartment. How long was Dee planning on confusing the fuck out of him?
Arturia buzzed in for apartment number 312 and waited a second.
"Didn't I give you a key?" She heard Kojiro's muffled voice as through the crappy intercom.
"No, you said you were but then you fell asleep and I had to go," Arturia laughed and Kojiro sighed.
"Alright well I'll give you one today."
"Sounds good but are you going to let me in? It's cold."
"Oh yeah," she heard a louder buzz and the entrance door clicked open.
"Thanks." She walked into the building with an eye roll. She really enjoyed Kojiro's company but sometimes he could be a bit scatter brained.
Ever since that night with her mom, she'd been spending a lot of time at Kojiro's apartment. Even when her parents left again and she had explained the full situation to her parents, Kojiro continued to invite her to hang out. She would've just ended up spending her time alone anyway so she always agreed.
She walked up the stairs and knocked on the familiar door. A few seconds later, Kojiro was opening the door for her… except the male wasn't entirely decent.
"Good morning, Arturia," Kojiro smiled but Arturia closed her eyes tight.
"K-Kojiro."
"Yes?"
"Two things."
"Go for it."
"One: It's two o'clock in the afternoon."
"Really? Well I just got up and took a shower… huh maybe I shouldn't sleep so late."
"Okay and two: Why aren't you wearing a shirt?"
"Oh. Yeah, I have one on it's just not buttoned yet. You knocked while I was finishing… Is that why your face is red?" Kojiro laughed.
"Well yes. I don't get wished good morning by a shirtless man at two o'clock in the afternoon very often."
"But it's not like this is the first time you've seen a guy shirtless. Cú and Gilgamesh go without all the time during group practice."
"Yeah but this is different, may I please come in?"
"Fine," Kojiro laughed again before moving out of the way. Arturia rushed in and made herself comfortable on Kojiro's couch. She was calm now but when Kojiro sat next to her still with his shirt undone her embarrassment came back.
"Can you please fix your shirt?"
"Nope."
"Why not?"
"Not until you tell me why me being shirtless is different than Ci and Gil."
"You've got to be kidding me."
