Iori squints at the coffee shop, trying to get a better view of the person through the window. It's not her… is it? He slows down as he approaches the door and realizes that it is her. She's talking to Kyo while he prepares a drink– presumably hers. Kyo looks bright and animated as he makes large gestures. Iori's gaze lingers on him just a bit too long as he enters.
"Hey Yagami," Kyo greets him, "looking sleep deprived as usual, I see."
"Yagami…?" The woman at the counter turns to him. Her eyes widen as she recognizes Iori.
"Hi, Chizuru," Iori mumbles, feeling a bit embarrassed. He knows that she's going to comment on his lack of sleep.
"Iori! When was the last time I saw you? It's been a few months, right?" Chizuru's face lights up as she talks to him.
"Yeah… I've been busy. How's your sister doing?"
"Maki's fine. She's still running the shrine. I visit her as much as I can, but… I've been thinking about switching to working remotely. I don't like being too far from her."
Iori nods in understanding. He remembers that Chizuru and Maki were inseparable as children. He also remembers that they tortured him whenever their parents went to those boring dinner parties.
"Kagura-san," Kyo slides a tray with a cup of coffee and a sandwich on it across the counter. "Here you are."
"Thank you, Kyo."
"What do you want, asshole?" Kyo turns to him. Chizuru's eyebrows shoot up.
"Large iced caramel latte with agave, soy milk, five pumps of–"
"No!" Kyo yells, though there's a smile on his face. Iori is smiling as well. "You're getting a flat white today, I'm not doing that bullshit again."
"Make it sweet," Iori says. Chizuru looks extremely confused.
"Iori, I didn't know that you frequented this cafe," she says, looking between the two of them.
"He's one of our regulars," Kyo tells her.
"I guess. I usually come here to work or read."
"I see." Chizuru nods. "I usually stop by in the mornings. Probably why we haven't seen each other here. I'll pay for his drink, Kyo."
Iori tries to refuse, but Chizuru pinches his cheek and threatens to tell embarrassing stories from their youth, so he keeps his mouth shut. Chizuru sits down with him. The first thing she does is berate him for his lack of communication over the last few months, though she sympathizes with his depression.
Chizuru pokes his face several more times, causing Iori to fuss and smack her hands away. She's always been a little too touchy for his liking (but he knows she does it on purpose).
"Who's that cute girl with Yagami? I feel like I've seen her before," Benimaru pops up next to Kyo. Kyo shrieks and jumps, drawing the attention of several people (including Iori, who laughs at him).
"Kagura, she's one of our regulars," Kyo mumbles once he's regained his composure. "I didn't realize she was friends with Yagami." Kyo frowns slightly.
"She is gorgeous," Kyo can practically see the hearts in Benimaru's eyes. "They're acting awfully familiar with each other, don't you think? She's not his girlfriend or something, is she? Maybe an ex?" The brunette nearly chokes on his own saliva.
"H-how the hell should I know? Go ask her yourself," with that, Kyo turns and starts cleaning the espresso machine. Who cares if Yagami and Kagura are dating? Or if they were dating? Definitely not him.
…maybe he cares a little bit.
Kyo spends the better part of his shift sulking and being moody. Every time he glances over at Chizuru and Iori, the urge to scream gets stronger. Especially when he notices Iori's soft smiles, or the way Chizuru sets her hand on his– sure, Iori doesn't look happy with the contact, but he allows it.
And then Kyo wonders why he's so upset. It's not as if Iori belongs to him. Hell, he doesn't even know if the redhead swings that way.
Kyo pouts slightly as he continues sweeping the floor. He glances at Iori and Chizuru, the latter smacking Iori's hand lightly as she says something to him. Then she looks at Kyo, and back to Iori with a grin. Kyo's eyebrows draw together in confusion. He (not so) subtly starts sweeping in their direction.
"What are you afraid of? You'll never know unless you try," Chizuru says. Iori huffs and looks away from her.
"I don't want to talk about this."
"But you like him!" Chizuru exclaims. Iori looks at Kyo– the brunette has his back to them– and then shushes Chizuru. He can't tell whether Kyo can hear them or not.
"He's right there," Iori hisses, "Keep your voice down!"
"Do you want me to ask him for you?"
"What– no! Absolutely not! What are you, my mom?"
Kyo is confused. He has an idea of what they're talking about. But he could be wrong. But that doesn't stop him from getting his hopes up.
Chizuru chuckles at Iori's sour expression.
"I'll admit that your taste is a bit strange," she says, "but you've got nothing to lose. What's the worst that'll happen?"
"He ends up being straight and beats the shit out of me for being a f–"
Kyo's feet conveniently choose that moment to trip over a chair. He falls flat on his ass. Kyo breathes in deeply and lets it out, preparing for Iori to laugh his ass off–
"You okay?" A hand is in front of him. Iori's hand. Kyo stares at it for a moment before slipping his own into it and allowing the redhead to pull him up. Iori is surprisingly strong. Kyo swallows thickly.
"Um, yeah," he mumbles, "I'm all right. Thanks."
Iori stares at him for a moment. And Kyo stares back. He takes in Iori's face and all of his features, because he's never had the opportunity to look at him like this. Notes that his eyes are a strange reddish-brown. His eyebrows are neat– he must get them done often. And… is he wearing makeup? Eyeliner and a lip gloss that makes his lips look soft and shiny–
Chizuru clears her throat. Looks up at both of them with mischievous eyes as she sips her coffee.
"I should get back to work!" Kyo yells, before practically running away.
What the hell was that?
Kyo hides in the back and shoves Benimaru out to manage the front. He stays there for the rest of his shift.
"Ask him out or else I'll get my sister involved in this."
Iori slams a hand down on the table, uncaring of the other patrons.
"You wouldn't dare!"