As soon as he parked hiis bike at the beach, she opened her phone up for the millionth time to check her hair, "seriously! the braids you did are so clean even with the wind blowing not a strand is out of place!" she praised
"your… ex couldn't do these things?" he obviously didn't see braiding hair as particularly jaw-dropping the way she did. "No he could, but youre just as good."
"Howd you meet? You try and steal his sister too?"
Well, she didn't expect him to ask that question…
"Haha Gojo was an only child, i saw him in the sewing room one day and begged him to be my seamstress." He makes a sound that sounded like disgust, "So hes just another weirdo like you…" he said with a hint of mocking in it. She nodded merrily, not even denying how weird he was. She explained how they entered cosplay competitions and went to events together, how they met the juju and her sister through social media soon after, and decided to collaborate on group cosplays. "l I guess I fell in love with him somewhere in between." she finished standing up, shoes in hand, walking out to the shoreline with him following.
"How touching, so it's losers you're attracted to, now everything makes sense." Marin thought for a second. As usual, his self-deprecating humor was such that it was difficult to decipher if he truly meant it or was joking, but considering his reaction in the woods she decided to respond seriously, "you're not a loser, gyutaro." He whipped his head around eyes wide staring at her face to gauge if she was serious or not too. At this point she might as well give up on not feeling sorry–she couldn't help it. His reaction was just so… fragile. Not liking the pressure, she walked further into the waves and changed the subject "What about you? Do you have any tragic love story of some girl who got away?"
It took him a moment–several actually– but his face returned back to normal and he responded quietly and reservedly, as if he was struggling to keep the tough guy act going, "Psh, not a romantic like you" he jested as the waves washed over his feet.
"Haha that's one thing I love about you, wakana never was good at being honest like that, especially if he knew it might hurt the other person's feelings, really he was too kind at times, and a dork! He also wasn't as cool as you," He froze awkwardly, honestly looked like he cringed before looking at her, "you really mean that, huh?"
"Oh, Totally. He was such a nervous wreck."
"Not what i meant." He spoke almost sheepish, his gaze more interested in the sand between his feet, than her. What's up with him? Why is he acting depressed for? Maybe there was a girl he liked in the past he doesnt wanna talk about? She noticed he became listless when she asked. Either way, she had to lighten the mood.
"Not to sayy that he wasn't honest…" she shoved him hard into he waves so he had to catch his balance, "but he certainly wasn't blunt like you. If I said something he didnt like, he'd never call me stupid."
That seemed to do the trick, "psh, his mistake! Everything you say is stupid." He laughs high and wild wading further into the waves.
"Honestly I'm surprised you're actually pleasant to be around."it was true she was worried she'd have to carry all the conversations. Never did she expect him to meet her halfway. "even though you lie a lot, I see now you do try to be honest. I'd appreciate if you stayed honest with me, even if it did hurt my feelings,ok?"
"wasnt part of our deal, you said you wanted me to be nice, didnt you? I can't be nice and honest at the same time, princess– so selfish, thinking you can have it all" She chose to ignore that obvious trap, Instead focusing on their next endeavor,
"OK ok, let's clean our feet and head over… she pointed to some rather large roller coasters in the distance before grabbing his hand yanking him to the sidewalk.
"Never been," he said, wiping the sand off his feet.
"What, really? never beento a theme park?"she asks while sitting down next to him to clean and off her own toes, "Geez, Is my Mike not on?! Are you fucking deaf?!"
"Oh shut it, grinch! just for that i'm taking you on a roller coaster first." He runs a hand through his hair, "guess I'll drop this off then" at first she thought he meant the knife he always carried in his pocket but then he reached into the front of his waistline to pull a concealed firearm. "Holy fuck! what? You had that on you the entire time!?"
"Gotta learn from past mistakes," he smirks, tapping his shoulder where the bullets were, "Wait here" he says walking off in the direction of the parking lot. "Holy shit, this guy!"" she fumes as she scrolls through her phone messages.
—-
Once inside she dragged him in line to ride a massive hybrid coaster called stairway to hades. It was at least 200 ft high and had an almost vertical first drop. She watched as he strained his neck to see where the ride crests, listening to the screams of the riders as they drop.
"Does it scare you? We can always skip it if it's too much, fraidy cat." She grins hands on her hips. "That's not even deserving of an answer." he saidFollowed by a look that matched his huffed again crossing her arms, frustrated that didnt rattle him in the slightest.
Death defying stunts don't rattle him but being touched does, go figure.
They queue for the next ride She taps her foot excited they get to ride in front as the cart rolls up and the riders exit. Once seated Marin listened to the clanking of the pulley as it ascended the massive hill and got more and more nervous. she was never a fan of the ascent. they we a little over halfway up when She looked at gyutaro.
"Dont worry, this clanking sound is normal for these kinds of rides," he gave a hum of approval, far more interested in the view from up high than the sounds. "here take my hand," now he took his eyes off the view, grinning ear to ear, "why? you afraid? Gonna cling to me again?" Not wanting to concedeShe grabbed his hand forcefully.
"Im not scared at all! But if i was, im gonna show you a trick to help with fear." She interlocked her fingers with his, this way if either of us flies out we got eachother she smiled. As the cart crested over the hil about to drop Shetold him to throw his hands up. Finally the clanking stopped as the coaster came barrelling down, she screamed howling like an animal with joy. She could hear him laughing beside her enjoying every second of the ride came to an end, Marin wondered what else gyutaro and daki hadn't done. Flown on a plane? Jet Skied? Birthday parties? She wasn't sure what joys their hard lives afforded them over the years, but if today was any indication she may need she could organize "dates" in the future.
After the coaster they rode a few more thrill rides. Gyutaro Liked them but said they werent better than the first one so they went a second time on the coaster Before hitting the arcade.
"Damn I really thought I had you that time," she yelled frustrated after losing the zombie rail shooter. Man seriously? Why are you so good? Are you sure you haven't played these games before?" Seems Gyutaro shabana was not only good with real guns but video game ones too, much to her dismay. She had to beat him in atleast one competition before the day was over.
"oh, seems you're real popular."she said as his phone notification went off again, in fact it had been going off quite a bit for a guy with no friends. "more like notorious." he wasnt smiling, probably another mess he needs to fix, hopefully he won't cut the date short…
She gasped at her own thoughts, damn! Even im beginning to see this as a date, she smacked her cheeks again trying to empty the thoughts.
"onto the next one!" she said grabbing his hand before he finished scrolling through.
"Knife throwing? you really wanna challenge me at knife throwing? You've been getting your ass kicked all day" he grinned, folding his arms over his head.
She wagged her finger at him, "im not dumb, im not about to get bodied by you." He laughed at that his crooked teeth on ull display, "Oh so youre not competing, wise choice!"
"I'm not competing against you, didn't say I wasn't competing." She points to the rack of stuffed animals on the wall, "I win one if i hit all the targets."
"princess do you even know how to throw!?
"That's what you're here for?" She raised her shoulders in the most exaggerated shrug ever. He rolled his eyes, making the 'come on' gesture with his hands to pay the vendor. When she dug through her wallet he put a hand over her. "Don't worry about it." He pulled out a 20 maing her eyes sparkle,"Really?!"
"dunno why you're so happy it's your money" Her face drops immediately much to his amusement.
"look. I'm only gonna teach you this once." he says walking right up next to her in the cage. She nods. "Remember i dont do questions–"
"–Yes questions are for the end" she finishes. The next few minutes are spent with Gyutaro explaining in short, sharp directions how to throw. For the apparent gruffness his touch is surprisingly gentle, just like that time he took her measurements and again when he braided her hair… and again when he comforted her while she cried on his shoulder…
Marin blushed… now that she thought about it, he was a surprisingly compassionate when he chose to be. She'd even argue based on his own admission about reading people, that he was an empath in his own right, sure he might not know how to act all the time but he certainly was good at understanding the needs of people. "So that's why…"
He stopped when she accidentally spoke to herself, she waved him off swearing she was paying attention to him as he squinted his eyes wonderin if brain took off during his painstaking explanations
So that's why he always responds to small talk with 'what do you want'. She always thought he said it to be rude but maybe it was his way of asking people how he could help… albeit in his blunt aggressive type of way.
"Now, show me your stance again." He says poking her finger into place on the side of the knife
"Like this?"
"Not bad. You'd think it'd be harder for you."He makes a huff of mock irritation. "Now show me how you'd throw it."
.She raises her arms, in a practice throw. "Am i james bond yet?"It felt deeply out of place …but also cool she was positively gushing with excitement
It takes a few seconds for Gyutaro to move as he assesses her up and down before taking his place behind her lowering his head so he's eye level his face right beside hers. Putting his hands gently on her shoulders before his long, lean arms reach around taking her right hand "Let go." This close she felt his breath on her neck and the faint scent of body wash and cigarettes but also faint traces of Daki's coco chanel perfume.
"Hold it lower," he directs, firmly pressing the knife between her thumb and pointer his palms firey hot like when She held them in the van.
"Remember dont flick it …see that exit sign behind the cage? Focus on that when you throw the knife and when your arm gets here" he motioned her arm in a swinging gesture his hand and arm over hers "…..just let go." and he takes a step back.
she turns her head back to look at him, and stops and stares. In another rare moment, his expression is completely open and unguarded. Finger to his bottom lip he looked her up and down with a smile on his face like he was actually proud of the way she turned out. She felt weird, she felt... embarrassed. No- self conscious for some reason. Her stomach churned and her body felt like a furnace. Oh, my God what's happening?!
Maybe its because of his professionalism, or what sanemi said about him adjusting his behavior to match hers or the fact she hasnt had fun like this with a guy in forever. But...
As she looked back at him standing outside the cage still giving instructions saying theyre not leaving until she hits all target she almost saw stars
Oh, crap! Was he talking the entire time?!
the world seemed to collapse in on itself, Suddenly she couldn't breathe, panic began flooding her chest as her stomach continued to twist. She drops the knife and runs out the cage, to a trash bin and vomits.
—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-
"That's what you get for eating all that shit before riding those rides. Reeeal smart, porky pig."
Shut up! She says, knowing it was definitely not the food or the rides that made her sick.
"So what's next?" he asks, as they walk side by side him lugging the ginormous bear backpack she won from the rack.
But marin was quiet, "Hey weirdo, Quit zoning out1 where are we going next?" He motions in front of her; face peering into hers. she practically jumps out of her skin clutching her chest as if having a heart attack.
"Sh-shopping" she said quietly. "What's with you now?" He lifted his eyebrows in genuine confusion. "N-nothing" she replies quickly and walks in front of him.
They reached a womens lingerie and sleepwear store when she turns, "you dont have to come in if you don't want?" she said with an odd look on her face.
"Really, this is why you were spacing out? I'm not a fucking teenager you know, my balls didn't drop yesterday, I can handle your little shopping spree," he sounded genuinely offended. Her face burned again "I didn't say that at all! Fine, come in if you want! I don't care."
She stormed in, as he smiled behind her enjoying making her fume. she made a bee line for the garter belt and matching panty rack scanning for the designs, him trotting behind her.
"It's for a cosplay I'm working on" she said, "I … just didn't want you making fun of me for being a nerd." She lied, hoping he wouldnt notice. she entered the changing booth to try them on. "Hey what do you think?" She popped her head out the booth holding the curtain around her body with one leg out.
"About–?" He stares at her leg confused, "you asking me if I like them? How the fuck would I know?"
"well you handle this with far more maturity than gojo ever did, he wouldve blubbered like a baby about it not being appropriate. I'm torn between the 2 of these I'd appreciate your input." "fine move" he says bulldozing his way into the booth. Marin was so shocked her brain froze "what i didn't say come in here you know!"
"Well I can't get a good look with the curtain in the way. Besides not like youre shy about anything." She wanted to yell at him for invading her space but realized she couldn't bring herself to do it, "fine perv" she mumbled arms crossed and lips pursed,It wasnt like she was naked. In fact hes seen her in less, but watching his eyes scanning over her made her feel a bit too seen. Suddenly she had to say something if nothing else to quell the pounding in her chest at his eyes."I-I'm thinking these floral stockings are better. The diamond stockings are kinda… uh… you paying attention? He seemed distracted; downright irritated as he stared at his phone vibrating in his hand again.
"Is it your sister?"
"Look The flower one is fine." he said dismissing her question, "If that's all you need Im stepping out to get this"He held up his phone still ringing in his hands.
"is it another guy you've been hired to kidnap?"
"Funny" he sighed steppping out the booth and out the store. she wretched him pace back and forth yelling on his cell phone outside as she paid for her she went to check on him. He Hung up abruptly cutting off the caller midway on the other end.
"that's rude," she cooed from behind. he didnt say anything a serious look on his face "what do you say to matching tees?" She laughed– until he gave her a resounding 'no' that is.
"what do you think this is a date?" he asked, She pouted, her entire demeanor dropping, eyeing him. "NO!" he said again, this time more stern knowing where this was going.
But of course they ended up wearing matching pairs of black Adidas joggers; On the shin, his had a grumpy old male cat print, hers a pretty happy female cat. Fitting. Though it was a pain in the ass he eventually agreed if only to shut her up.
After shopping, she told him about sanemi's friend who worked at a food truck nearby "Such a fatass." he sneered when she mentioned eating again. She sneezed 'asshole' into her forearm before asking him if he said something. His face struggled so hard not to laugh which made her laugh alongside him before she got flustered again and had to look away.
"Sanemi says Iguro and mitsuri are exactly like you and me, so you should feel right at home talking to him. Remember don't be a fucking butt" she nagged but he only scowled in response as she dragged him byt he hand again
—-
"WAAAAAAAAA! SO CUTE! Mitsuri, your hair is so beautiful! Reminds me of strawberries!"
"No stop! you're the cutest!" both girls jumped up and down holding eachothers hands as gyutaro and mitsuri's husband iguro stood back with looks of mild disgust.
"Iguro! Isn't she cute as a button?" mitsuri pointed, "Yes, very cute." He replied robotically.
Iguro was a strange guy too. Marin definitely got the same vibe off him as she did Gyutaro. He was Quiet, short, and skinny, but although his physique was much different, he was very sharp tongued. So sharp in fact she wondered if he and Gyutaro wrote each other's scripts. Iguro also got incurably jealous whenever men would hit on or even look at Mitsuri. He was downright hostile in fact… Oh Sanemi was definitely right…
"Iguro! We're gonna head to the beach real quick to talk!" Mitsuri waved, he waved back silently, as they ran out giggling. She prayed the two guys they left behind could bond a bit.
"O.m.g. mitsuri! I cant believe you and your husband have known sunny all this time and im just now finding out!" She places her bear backpack to the side of the bench they sat at as She comes with a container of sakura mochi they dig into
"Haha i know right!?" The portions were massive! Marin thought she ate a lot but Mitsuri was a completely different level, she absolutely loved her! It was love at first sight.
"Mmmm, these sakura mochi are sooo delicious! I wish gyu could make these" she gleams taking in the sweet, sticky taste, "ah but he has gotten a lot better at cooking, though"
"I like how tall he is! Im sure hes a sweetheart," that made marin almost choke, "wha-what?! no not at all, hes as cute and cuddly as a cactus!" she hand waves with a sour face,
"oh, i thought you two were dating?" Mitsuri looked as if she'd die of embarrassment, "im so sorry!" She smacks herself, but marin puts her hands up,
"No, no its ok, I get why you'd think that, but no, we're not. My boyfriend died several years ago and… well yesterday was…" she didnt know what to say she didnt want to bring the mood down as the bile in her throat came up again, "ahem, its been very hard, but he keeps me company though." But Mitsuri puts her elbow on the table and leans her cheek into her palm, "uh, is that really ok?" She asks, "what do you mean?"
"I mean… if youre just lonely, marin Why not ask one of your friends to come with you to the beach instead?" She perks up an idea springing into her head "I know! you can ask me now since im here all the time!" Marin froze.
why dont i ask one of my friends instead? She looks to the ground, "Mitsuri, Is what i'm doing selfish?" The red haired girl panicked, "oh! N-n-no! No! Haha i didnt mean to say–"
"But you asked if i was lonely, implying i'm using him"
"Uh- well '' she grimaced uncomfortably, "well, if you like him then i think it's fine" she said finally, making marin look up stuttering, "l-like him? You mean… like, love-like?!"mitsuri clasped her hands together, " exactly!" MArin flushed beet red she thought she was about to have a seizure on the bench.
"Think about it, you're on this date and you've said hes been nice to you, why not give it a real shot! Just keep it to yourself if it doesn't work out! But if it does you can ask him out again and– OH! Then we can go on double dates!" Mitsuri shook her face in excitement like she could envision a reality where she and gyutaro were actually a couple.
Marin gave a most uncomfortable laugh, "yeahh.. yes of course, i wanna see you again. But… Can I ask you something else, mitsuri?" Marin tried to find the words, "before you… dated, did you know if you liked iguro?"
"Not really," she laughed without a care in the world, marin face faulted, "iguro was in love with me wayyyyy before I knew I liked him. I actually thought he didn like me at first." Marin blinked at that, definitely understanding that feeling if nothing else.
"Why'd you think that?"
"Iguro values control, He only ever talks when he's angry or feels like he has to control a situation so it doesnt get out of control, and as you heard, he can be pretty scary when he's mad, its hard to know someone likes you when they're like that." marin nodded, it all sounding too familiar to her, "but the real iguro is happiest when he has nothing to say at all." Now she had to ask mitsuri to explain that one.
"I mean when he's just sitting quietl taking everything in– his face and body visibly soften, and he's at true peace"
"So…it isnt because hes not enjoying himself but because he is?" Marin immediately thought back to her party when Mitsuri said that.
"Yup yup! Thats exactly what i'm saying!" Mitsuri put a finger to her mouth in thought before adding another fact, "Iguro always acts aloof and cool-headed around me whenever I complain about a problem, i always got the impression he didnt care… but then i'd find out he'd go handle it behind the scenes."
Ok now Marin had to stop herthere, waving her hands furiously "Woah! woah! woah!" ok thats freaky….. thats real freaky!" she whipped her head back at the couple's food truck where he and Iguro were talking inside before whipping her face back to mitsuri and whispering to her with a cupped hand over her mouth, "theres no way he like-likes me, right?"
"who gyu?" Mitsuri asks turning to the food truck thinking about it "well, if you ask me i think–"
"No no no!" Marin waves her hands again, stopping her from saying whatever she was about to say…"nope! I dont need to know, i don't!" Her heart was pounding a million miles a second.
Thankfully her husband came out the truck in time to save her "Mitsuri!" hecalls with gyutaro in toe, "We need to get back to work, say bye to your friend."
"Kayyyy!" She waves back, then clasps marins hands again, "marin lets hang out again soon, ok?"
"Y-yeah of course! Ill keep in touch."
—-—-—-—-—-—-
As the heat of the sun slowly made way to the briskness of late afternoon. Gyutaro's voice be heard groaning loudly as marin tries to shovel food in his mouth.
"Ngh, Pushy as ever aren't we?" he whines covering his face, angrily.
"Dude you're already way too skinny you need to consume more calories!" but he would not relent, "Eat it! The quicker you eat it the quicker we can go back," she puts one hand on his shoulder forcing him back to the grass they were sitting on as she shared her portion of food Mitsuri and Iguro made to take home.
Now he had a choice to make, either fall covering his face– or – he prevents himself from falling by leaving his mouth uncovered to brace himself. He decided to let go of his face as she shoves the food into his mouth, "gotcha!"
But he instinctively grabbed her waist to prevent from falling back, making he yelp like a puppy– loudly! Loud enough to make people stare. "you dont have to grab me so hard not like youre falling off a cliff!" She yells at him turning away quickly, her face beet red for the millionth time. She sat there awkwardly for a while why wasnt he saying anything?
turning back around she asked if was ok, but saw he was reading more texts on his phone with the most aggravated look on his face. He then closes his phone with a sigh, "Dont worry about it" but the face she gave told him very clearly 'im worried about it.' He sighed deeply again as if frustrated he had to expend more energy but he complies with her silent demand.
"fine. You haven't seen anything … strange lately right? Nobody has talked to you? no strange cars..? Graffitti? Death threats? Anything?" Immediately she got nervous, "whats this about?" she asked twirling her expression was fairly placid as if he knew she'd react this way, "Don't hurt yourself. If you see anything weird tell me so i can protect you." she didnt know what "weird" meant but hearing him say he'd take care of it did give comfort. "let's head back" she says, heading to the park almost made it too but then some drunk idiots passing by made the biggest mistake of their lives catcalling her, "damn gurrrl,you fine, where you off to?"
"Shut the fuck up!" It was unusually aggressive even for her. But she was in no mood.
"fuck you too bitch!" he snaps turning back to his partner drink in hand. That's when gyutaro straight-up boots the drink from his hand It soars an impressive distance shattering somewhere in the parking lot out of sight before taking his knife out again at the inevitable fight that was about to ensue.
Both the drunk and his buddy scramble to their feet cursing, fists raised– but hesitate. probably baffled by her massive bear backpack gyutaro still carried on his back. But he ultimately takes a swing only to get flipped with ease; knee to his neck; arm held in a submission hold.
"Gyutaro, stop! Let's just go home!" Gyu cackles wickedly as he lifts his knee off the man's neck and strolls back to his parked motorcycle. The other guy had already backed away hands up when he saw the knife pulled. "Hurry up, princess or find another ride!" He calls, already zipping up his jacket the stuffed bear neatly seated on his lap. She gives the guy an almost-apologetic look before climbing behind him reaching around his waist to hold the bear in place as they drive off.