Chapter 10: You Want Something to Drink?
Preview: In which Hibari has a visitor.
The final days of summer vacation have arrived with a sluggish heat that makes everyone reluctant to go outside. Gokudera spent the afternoon playing video games at Tenth's house with Tenth and Yamamoto and two fans going to circulate the humid air. Then Reborn-san woke up from his nap and kicked them out, saying Tenth needed to keep up with his tutoring.
Yamamoto followed Gokudera even after they left the house, asking him to come over for dinner. Gokudera said no, of course, but the stupid idiot kept following him anyway, talking about walking him home, which was not happening. Gokudera finally had to walk Yamamoto home just to keep him away. Only the baseball idiot could make up a lose-lose situation like that.
Gokudera strides quickly up the driveway to the house, so eager to get out of the sun that he does not notice someone come up behind him until a shadow falls over him and a deep voice says, "Where do you think you're going?"
Gokudera turns, disguising his surprise with his usual hostility. "Who the hell's asking?" Then he registers exactly who is asking. The guy has the face of an old man and the pompadour of a Disciplinary Committee member. Gokudera remembers seeing him with Hibari.
The guy seems to recognize Gokudera too—not too hard since he's the only foreigner in school. "Oh. It's you."
Yep, definitely recognizes him, which is not good. Gokudera looks around, considering his options. He could walk out, though that would be weird. Guy might think he's a stalker. He can't just go inside 'cause then the guy'll know. He has to stay put, as hard as that is. That would be the most natural response.
Seemingly natural, inwardly very uncomfortable. Gokudera shoves his hands in his pockets and shifts on his feet.
The guy regards Gokudera for a moment. "Are you also here to see the president?"
Gokudera jerks his head in a noncommittal way.
The guy nods, and they walk up to the front door together. The guy stops before the porch and calls out, "President, I have arrived." And bows.
Gokudera looks at him with raised eyebrows, wondering if Hibari trained his goons to do this, or if they picked it up naturally.
A moment later, Hibari slides open the front door. He first looks at Gokudera, who stares hard at Hibari, trying to project his thoughts: Don't say anything, don't say anything, don't say anything…
And Hibari, true to his nature, says nothing. He blinks, looks at the other guy, then back at Gokudera, then at the other guy. "Kusakabe," he says as the other guy straightens up.
Kusakabe glances at Gokudera and says, "I ran into him on the driveway."
Hibari shrugs.
Kusakabe nods, as if Hibari has given some kind of explanation. "I won't be long. If you prefer, I can speak to you out here."
"It's too hot," says Hibari, and he walks back inside, leaving the door open.
Kusakabe follows him in, but pauses and looks over his shoulder at Gokudera. "Are you coming in?"
Gokudera was wondering if they might've forgotten him, or at least decided to ignore him, but apparently not. He makes a face and goes inside too.
Out of habit, he automatically heads for his room, almost passing the living room where Hibari and Kusakabe have sat down. He turns sharply, sliding a little in his socked feet, and walks in. Thankfully Kusakabe does not seem to notice.
Hibari looks at Gokudera with his head slightly tilted, an unspoken question.
"I'll just, uh, wait over there," Gokudera mutters to no one in particular, and walks through the living room to the adjoining dining room and kitchen. He busies himself getting a glass of water, then remembers his manners. "Hey, you want anything?"
No one answers.
"I'm talking to you," Gokudera says louder, looking at Kusakabe.
"What?" Kusakabe says, confused.
"You want something to drink?" Gokudera says impatiently.
"Oh. Uh." Kusakabe looks at Hibari, who is skimming some papers Kusakabe put on the table before him. Kusakabe turns and nods at Gokudera. "All right, yes, thank you."
"Water? Soda? Juice? Tea?" Gokudera shakes his head at the open fridge. "It's like a damn vending machine in here."
"Do you have Pocari?" says Kusakabe.
Gokudera takes one out and holds it up in answer. He grabs a soymilk carton too before closing the fridge. He walks over to hand the Pocari over to Kusakabe, then drops the soymilk in front of Hibari with a smirk. He's seen Hibari drink these before in the house, slurping like a kindergartener, but he's guessing no one else has.
Kusakabe looks at the carton, then raises his eyebrows at Gokudera, who laughs inwardly. Bet the guy never thought "the president" could be so childish.
"His favorite," Kusakabe says, as Hibari unashamedly reaches for the carton and pulls out the straw.
Gokudera scowls and retreats to the kitchen once more. Unable to go anywhere without looking suspicious, he settles at the dining table and plays Snake on his phone. It sounds like Hibari and Kusakabe are talking about finances.
School will be starting again next week. While sitting in class is a pain, it means seeing Tenth every day, so Gokudera is kind of looking forward to it. Walking to school, glaring at the teacher when he picks on Tenth, eating lunch together, making sure Tenth is on his team in PE, walking back from school—it's the small things that make Gokudera content to be a right-hand man.
Kusakabe stands up and bows to Hibari, then picks up his bag and Pocari bottle. "Thank you for the drink," Kusakabe says, looking between Hibari and Gokudera. Neither of them responds. Kusakabe makes his way to the doorway, where he pauses. "Enjoy your… time together," he says.
"What?" says Gokudera, but Kusakabe is gone. Gokudera looks at Hibari. "Weirdo."
Hibari slurps the last of his soymilk.
Endnote: Thank you for 100+ followers!