Kohaku loved his job as a journalist. Not only did he enjoy writing out every pleasure of life into the blank screen of his laptop, he also enjoyed the experiences in life that he gets from interviewing people.
His favourite quote that he got from one of his experiences was "Every cycle is the same until you decide to break it". It meant trying new things, meeting new people, and breaking out from a cycle in your life to throw yourself into another.
Coincidentally, today, he was at the place where Louis worked.
Blue Amethyst was a well-known salon, famous for their insane makeovers and relaxing spas. The thing that piqued Kohaku's interest was the fact this salon had faced financial crisis two times in the past, and yet is still able to become the most well-known of all Japan.
Kohaku checks himself in one of the mirrors there. They got there early just for the interview, with his manager's persistent pestering.
"It really an honour to be able to get interviewed by a big company like yourselves!" The salon owner, Erin, grins, bowing down so low her forehead would've reached her knees.
"Ah, you flatter us," his manager, Daiichi returns a lopsided smile, scratching his head. "It is an honour that you accepted our interview." When she turns away, Daiichi nudges Kohaku, "you better exaggerated more for this charming lady."
"Get away old man. You just want to flirt," Kohaku rolls his eyes, a coy smile tugging on his lips.
The door opens with a small twinkle, and Louis steps into the salon, dressed in black jeans, a white turtleneck, and his usual blue polka dotted cardigan.
Louis blinks when he sees Kohaku, the smiles and raises his hand in greeting. "Nii-san."
"Louis," Kohaku pushed away Daiichi's face, which was suddenly very close to his. He flat out ignores his narrowed eyes.
"Asahina-kun! Glad you can make it," Erin flashes a cheeky smile, pulling said man by the arm. "Asahina-kun here is going to be answering your questions together with me!"
Kohaku was surprised to hear this, but the feeling was gone as quickly as it came. Louis was so talented , it wasn't a doubt that he'll be chosen to be interviewed as well.
"Are you two ready then? I'm sure Kohaku is," Daiichi smacks his back so hard he almost flew off his chair.
"Old man!" Kohaku splutters, giving the man a look, resulting in Daiichi's throaty laughter. His cheeks heat up, and he looks at the other two.
Erin had a hand over her mouth, her eyes showing amusement. Louis smiles at him, as sweet as the cheesecake Ukyo had added three cups of sugar instead of two once.
His heart thumps, and then melts into a warm mush.
"Well, if you're ready. I'll start then," Kohaku readies his notepad. "Firstly, I want you to tell me more about Blue Amethyst and what motivated you to run it."
Erin was a charming woman. She was humourous, witty, and definitely sweet. Every detail she gave him was short and simple and very easy to write down, hitting the home run on every question.
Kohaku found himself increasingly fatuated with her response. His note pad was full of Blue Amethyst's history, and the best part was that he was still writing.
Louis also did some answering, talking about how he was Erin's first employee and how much he had learnt from her.
Hearing him talk passionately like this made Kohaku smile. He remembered the times where he would use Hikaru and Fuuto as lab rats to test out a new technique or a new product. He silently chuckles as flashes of Hikaru with crazy curls appeared in his mind.
"Focus," Daiichi flicks his cheek, making him huff. "I am focusing!"
"Okay, so... lastly, do you have some words, or a quote maybe, to give to me?"
Erin's eyebrows raised, "I don't have one. I just go with what life offers, but when there's a window of opportunity, I make sure to take it."
Kohaku nods, approval hummed out from his throat. "That's... a line of wisdom right there. Thanks for the interview you two," he flips his notepad shut. "Alright, you're free to go home. Thanks for your time- We're really sorry to bother you on your day offs."
Erin jumps up from her seat and stretches her arms over her head, earning an barely audible pop. She turns to Louis, "Thank you Asahina-kun! You're really my best assistant."
"It's nothing, Erin-chan..."
"I'll treat you to lunch sometimes," Erin smiles, before walking off to the back rooms. "You're free to go. I still have some things to clear up."
Kohaku was sweeping his things back into his bag when Louis taps on his shoulder, and says, "Nii-san, let's go get lunch together."
Kohaku was about to decline- He had some scripts to edit, but then Erin's words plays in his head like a broken record.
"-window of opportunity, I make sure to take it-"
Damn, was she hinting something? Anyways, it made Kohaku rethinks his life choices. Getting lunch together with you brother was harmless, right?
"Ah," he dumbly replies, "okay."
They had lunch in a cute little neko café. Since Ukyo was allergic to any type of animal that causes messes in general, they've never been to these type of cafés before.
A grey tabby with white patches leaps onto Louis' lap, snuggling its head into his stomach. Several cats rubs against Kohaku's legs and he picks a smaller one up, laying it onto his lap as well.
The kitten had fluffy ivory fur, was the perfect size for cuddling, and most importantly, the length of its fur made it look soft and squishy.
Kind of like Louis, no? Even though he lost his baby fat and all, his soft features still remains.
"Ah, I see that Pompom likes you a lot," the waitress smiles at Kohaku, putting their food on the table. Two tall glasses of peach smoothie stood next to the plates. "This is your first time here, isn't it gentlemen? So here's a little welcoming gift." She places a piece of blueberry cheesecake between them, "enjoy your meals!"
Kohaku squishes the kitten in his lap slightly, "so your name is Pompom." To which the kitten mews.
"I like it, it suits him."
Hearing Louis giggle must've been God's way of hinting that Kohaku would die of heart attack. Again, just like the night in their summer house 8 summers ago, this cuteness should be illegal.
The tabby leaps off Louis' lap and walks off, turning back to meow when Louis softly says, "Goodbye."
Heart attack it was, and Kohaku actually had to restrain himself from gripping his chest.
He decides to dig into his food instead. The omurice was good, but Kohaku couldn't help but compare it to Ukyo's. Maybe the fact that Ukyo's omurice had a special sauce that made the rice sticky and more flavourful than normal fried rice.
Pompom curiously peeks up from his lap, setting his tiny paws on the edge of the table.
Kohaku chuckles, "Can cats eat eggs?"
"I don't know," Louis takes a bite of chicken, exhaling a few times to cool it down.
"Can you, boy?"
The kitten mews, his furry little head stretched to look at Kohaku. He smiles, scratching the soft fur there. The kitten mews again, now pawing at his knees to be let down.
"You want to be out down, boy?" Kohaku soothes its ivory fur, gently putting him down like a precious gem. "There you go."
Pompom pads away to the nest of sleeping kittens in the corner of the café.
"Nii-san, don't you feel like you want to adopt them all?"
"Yeah," Kohaku chuckles. Just like how mama adopted you— which is something I hate and is grateful for at the same time. But Kohaku wasn't going to say that out loud.
Louis seemed to stare at him for a while, before gathering some of rice and chicken from his plate and putting it beside Kohaku's half eaten omurice.
Kohaku looks at him questionably.
"Try some," Louis smiles innocently, before taking a piece of Kohaku's tempura. "In return, I'll take this."
"Eh, you're so sly!" Kohaku gasped, shoving the breaded chicken into his mouth. At least this tasted good, he hums.
Louis giggles at his small complaint and continued to eat. They were comfortable for a while, until Louis shifts, and his leg brushes up against Kohaku's in a... weird way.
Were they even that close? Kohaku glanced up at Louis, the other man seemingly clueless about his actions.
Kohaku tries to take a sip of his drink, but the glass was too tall for his lips to reach the straw. He takes the glass into his hands, the aroma of peaches and yogurt made him salivate.
"Good stuff," he moans like he was high on drugs. "Delicious."
Louis hums, "It is, isn't it?" He then picks up the dessert fork and scoops up some cheesecake, holding it to Kohaku's lips. "Here."
Kohaku's eyes widens, and he stares at him dumbly.
"You don't want cheesecake?" asks Louis, who was nudging his elder brother's lips with the dessert fork.
Kohaku clear his throat, before trying to take the fork from Louis' hand.
"No, I want to feed you," Louis shakes his head, stubbornly refusing to give him the fork.
"Louis," Kohaku whines. "Isn't it embarrassing to be fed by your younger brother in public?"
The man smiles, "Not at all."
Kohaku pouts, suddenly chomping down onto the fork and chewing aggressively on the soft dessert.
This seemed to satisfy Louis, who have gone back to eat his chicken katsudon. The cheesecake was sour and soft, with hints of sweetness as he chewed.
Feeding someone... was a romantic gesture, no? Kohaku caught himself before he's gone crazy from thoughts.
No, that was just some brotherly love, he guessed...
This is really very, very frustrating...