A KanaTyy Collaboration XD
KawaBoru Week: Day Six
Prompt: Food "Let's eat"
Surfing was the only thing that had meant anything to Kawaki in so long that doing anything else felt strange. Somehow, meeting Boruto had begun to change that for him. He wasn't like Kawaki's other friends, and even though he still spent all the free time he had on the beach—surfing or not—Kawaki never strayed from his cave, or the areas where he had the most solitude, save for the blond who'd barged into his life, pulling up a chair and taking a seat. It was obvious he wouldn't be going anywhere anytime soon, and Kawaki actually didn't mind.
It was hard to believe, but there was something about Boruto that affected Kawaki in ways nothing or nobody else did. He had Kawaki walking him home despite it being way out of his way. Boruto was small for his age, and not weak, but far too trusting. Kawaki couldn't help but worry about him and feel some semblance of responsibility for the blond. They were sharing lunch more often than not on the beach, and when Boruto wasn't wiping out trying to learn how to surf alongside Kawaki, he was watching from the sand, waving and shouting with his usual over-enthusiastic tendencies.
After a year of budding friendship, nothing surprised Kawaki with Boruto anymore. One day, Kawaki ended up dressed in a traditional kimono gifted to him by none other than Boruto, tugged along the beach with the blond clinging to his sleeve. There was a festival being held on the beach in celebration of spring, and Boruto had all but begged Kawaki to go with him. He always made it next to impossible to deny him anything with his pleading blue eyes.
"Slow down, Boruto," Kawaki told him chidingly, brows creased in muted frustration from having his sleeve pulled.
Boruto didn't let go. Of course he didn't. "We gotta hurry if we want to visit all the stands!"
The festival covered a broader range of the beach than Kawaki had expected it to. There were stalls set up for various activities and foods, tables and benches set up for people to sit and eat or relax. There were games with prizes to be won and music being played by a local band Kawaki had never heard before.
Boruto's excitement was nearly contagious. He was grinning from ear to ear with each step and still rushing Kawaki along, going on about all the things he wanted to do—which was everything.
"You really want to visit all of the stands?" Kawaki huffed, but he wasn't upset. Boruto had a way of making Kawaki want to do anything that made him happy.
"Of course! We have to experience everything," He said matter-of-factly. "Then for next year's festival we'll know what our favorite things are and—-and we'll be festival pros."
Kawaki half rolled his eyes but his amusement was evident in them, and in the way his lips twitched with the need to smile. "We might not even be here next year, yet you're thinking about a festival… what if I don't like the festival?"
The blond frowned and clenched the raven's sleeve in his fist. "But . . . but . . ."
Kawaki's heart clenched at the way his face fell and he had his hand patting the top of Boruto's head before he could stop himself. "Don't pout, I was only teasing you." He caved too easily.
Cheeks puffing out, Boruto huffed at him but it wasn't long before he was smiling again. "We're going to have so much fun you'll be begging me to bring you next year."
"Not a chance," Kawaki grumbled. "I would never."
"We'll see about that," Boruto grinned cheekily before tugging him to the nearest meat stand.
After participating in so many activities and being out in the sun for so long, Kawaki had worked up an appetite. There was a stall with taiyaki that Kawaki had been eyeing since they'd passed it the first time. It was his turn to drag Boruto by his kimono sleeve.
"You forced me into this, now buy my taiyaki," he said, unwilling to take no for an answer.
"Okay," the blond agreed easily, smile still beaming on his face.
He shouldn't have been surprised that Boruto wouldn't argue. The blond looked completely pleased with himself, and a smile quirked Kawaki's lips as they approached the stall.
"Never been to a festival before but food's the best part, right?" He looked down to Boruto, grey eyes soft.
"Oh yes, definitely." Boruto nodded enthusiastically. "But the prizes are a close second, you can get so much stuff here, it's crazy! You'll see, I'll win you something, promise."
"I don't need anything," Kawaki told him quickly, but knew there was no changing his mind once it was made. "If you do that, then I'll win you something too."
Blue eyes gleaming in excitement, Boruto took him up on his offer. "Deal!"
Kawaki's features softened, and he found it difficult to tear his eyes away from the blond as they reached the taiyaki stand. They both ordered and then moved to a nearby bench to sit together and eat. After his first bite, Kawaki groaned in satisfaction. He loved taiyaki so much but very rarely got to eat it.
"This is so good… food is definitely the best part." He turned his head to smile at Boruto, laughing when he spotted the corner of his mouth smeared with chocolate.
"We're going to be miserable tomorrow," Boruto said in between bites and giggles. "I can't wait. I mean, it's gonna suck, but it's all a point of the fun you know?"
"You're wearing me out. No way I'm making it home. Guess I'll just crash at your place and sleep all day tomorrow." Kawaki shrugged his shoulders. He'd been invited enough not to worry about inviting himself these days.
Boruto was more than happy to have him over, wishing he could stay so they could do things together all the time. "Sounds good. Hey, we haven't done the ring toss yet now that I think about it. It's one of the classics, let's try it after we finish these." He suggested.
"Alright," Kawaki nodded once and took another bite, humming in satisfaction as the chocolatey taste assaulted him yet again. Food really was the best.
The ring toss consisted of a small, round platform littered with small fishbowls with extended rims. Inside each of them was a lively goldfish, swimming about the small space with nowhere else to go. The rings were barely big enough to fit over the rim, almost a perfect fit, really. Boruto paid for a turn and Kawaki stood next to him, watching him shift on his feet excitedly as he accepted his three rings. Boruto lost the first round, and paid for another, refusing Kawaki's offer to pay for his next turn.
He was ridiculously deep in concentration as he lined up his toss, only one eye open, tongue peeking out of the side of his mouth as he focused. This time, he succeeded, but only on the third try. It awarded him one of the goldfish, which was offered to him in a small plastic bag.
"Tada!"
Kawaki almost frowned, but Boruto was too happy for him to be upset. "Now you have to buy a bowl for it and food and do you even know how to take care of one of those?" He eyed the bag cupped in Boruto's hands carefully. "We should go and get him out of there…"
"I'm giving him to you, silly, but I'm more than happy to help you take care of him. Or her." Boruto chuckled and held the bag up to his face, blue eyes watching the little fish swim around. "So cute."
Kawaki hadn't expected that. He blinked at the bag, and at Boruto. "Really?" He'd never had a fish before, but they were cute and he was admittingly excited. "I mean… thank you. Would you be upset if we kept him at your place? I mean, I'll come to check on him every day and feed him…"
"Of course I can keep him for you!" Boruto beamed and easily welcomed the excuse for Kawaki to come over daily. This was the best day ever. "What should we name the little guy? Or girl. How can you tell with fish?" He frowned and furrowed his brow as he stared at the goldfish again in an attempt to figure it out.
"I dunno… I feel like he's a boy though. I've never named a fish before, but what about 'Taiyaki'."
Boruto giggled, thinking it was precious. "Perfect, little Taiyaki."
Kawaki smiled then, a genuine and bright smile that lit his eyes. "Let's get going then, so we can take care of him… the festival food is great, but I have a feeling your mom will have dinner waiting on us…"
"And we totally spoiled it with snacks and sweets." Boruto laughed. "We gotta get a bowl and food before we go though."
"Yes, for sure. Taiyaki comes first." Kawaki nodded, in complete agreement. "There's a pet shop on the boardwalk we can go to, I'm sure they'll have everything we need."
"Nice." Boruto carefully held Taiyaki against his chest as they walked together, leaving the festival behind.
It was thanks to Boruto—not for the first time—that Kawaki felt happiness swelling within his chest. Boruto, a friend who he cherished, a boy he wished to protect, was constantly brewing a storm of emotions in Kawaki that he was so unused to. Yet, Kawaki wouldn't change that for anything in the world.
The two of them went on their way, stopping by the pet shop where they bought a small aquarium for Taiyaki, along with various things to decorate it and make it homey for him, and a container of food as well. They were both giddy once they made it to Boruto's home, proceeding to carefully set up the aquarium in Boruto's room. It seemed that Taiyaki was as pleased with his new home as Kawaki and Boruto were with having him.
"Thank you," Kawaki said to Boruto, wanting to share his gratitude yet again. He looked away from the aquarium to his friend's smiling face, blue eyes so warm and glinting with elation. "I promise to do my best for him."
"I know you will, Kawaki," Boruto said softly and bumped their shoulders together playfully. "You always put your all into everything you do . . . when you feel like doing things." He teased.
"Mm. Well, now that Taiyaki's settled… let's go see about dinner." Kawaki nudged him with his arm and then turned on his heel to lead the way.
Hearing Boruto suddenly gasp made him stop in his tracks and he turned to see what the fuss was about. "I just remembered! You didn't get me a gift," the blond pointed out. "We had a deal, mister."
Kawaki blanched, it having completely slipped his mind. He felt his face pale and dropped his eyes in shame. "I-I'm sorry… I got so distracted with Taiyaki… I'll make it up to you. Tomorrow… we can go exploring—if you want."
"Score!" Boruto cheered and threw himself at the raven, hugging him tightly. "I know the perfect place!"
Despite feeling his face heat up at the sudden embrace, Kawaki didn't pull away. He hesitated, but after a few seconds wrapped his arms around Boruto in return, relaxing into the hug. "Don't you always," he said, chuckling in amusement. "Tomorrow," he reminded and added. "For now, let's eat."