Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

the both of them took their time tying up loose ends.

it felt like time flew by so fast and reigen knows he should probably go soon but he couldn’t bring himself to log out yet. 

being apart from mob was hell . he doesn’t want to go back and now that they’re good again it’s annoying having their time cut short all the time. being online is the only way they could spend time together right now. he drums his fingers as the sight of their clock in his peripheral taunts him.

reigen checked the time. reigen regretted checking the time.

he groaned miserably. he’s not allowed to play past 10pm. he gets the computer all to himself because his parents aren’t really tech-savvy. though one of the drawbacks is that it’s in the family office room, where his parents often came by to do their work on the table right beside him or to simply drop by to get their documents. 

his parents already caught him playing too late too many times and the thought makes him sweat. he can’t risk getting grounded. not now of all times. 

reigen’s mood started to drop again, also realizing that with school coming up, he’s going to have less free time from here on.

they only just started talking again, reigen didn’t want to leave.

after informing mob he has to head to bed soon, he sullenly moves to hover his mouse on the quit game option. before he can though, a pop-up message jumpscares him out of it.

shadow100 has proposed to you. would you like to accept?

reigen flushed to his very roots.  

he thought mob forgot about it that one time, after they got distracted and the matter was dropped. but maybe he was waiting for the right time?

reigen was sure he would’ve sulked all the way to his room, but of course mob had to be such a cutie again. he stared fondly at where mob’s character was on their knees for the second time that day, and clicked yes from the options.

when he finally logged out of the game, he had a dopey grin on his face.

it felt like such a testament to their relationship, the final nail to the coffin. they’re dating now.

at least, that’s what he thinks. they never really talked about it and reigen finds himself fretting about it from time to time, wondering if he’s reading too much into it. but they’ve been lowkey flirting right? that can’t just be in his head. 

don’t get him wrong, reigen loves mob in all his quiet, subtle love language. but at the same time, in times like these, he just yearns for the confirmation… reigen doesn’t have enough courage to breach that point himself yet so all this internal conflict just serves to give him both headaches and heartaches.

maybe mob doesn’t think he’s being subtle? was this all just friendly conversation to him?

this would’ve all been easier if he can just. see him in person. maybe if he can read his body language, it would give him more of an idea so he’s not fussing over this like some lovesick idiot. 

he’s been thinking a lot about that time mob mentioned he lives in the same city. it was a blessing he didn’t appreciate until now. imagine if mob was five cities away from him, or worse, a whole ocean apart from him? he can’t swim that far!

and that brings him to his current predicament. nudging and dropping hints on when they should meet without looking desperate. he’s good at this right? it shouldn’t be a problem.

risingspiritstar: i still cant believe we were so close to each other the whole time!!!

risingspiritstar: what are the odds, right shishou?

do you also think about me being so close? just as much as i do about you? reigen wanted to say instead.

shadow100: ah yes that reminds me

shadow100: can i apologize to you properly?

risingspiritstar: you already did, shishou. i forgive you.

shadow100: ah no
shadow100: i meant in person?

oh my god. oh my god. is this it? he can’t believe it was that easy.

okay. be cool, arataka. 

risingspiritstar: you mentioned you worked in an office. where exactly?

risingspiritstar: i go to salt middle school! maybe you live nearby?

risingspiritstar: school’s starting soon but i can make time for you dont worry :D 

shadow100: ah, i didn’t realize

shadow100: it can wait then

no! no that’s not what he meant! 

shadow100: maybe on your next break.

like winter break? but– that’s still months away!

reigen groans, and not for the first time, curses his stupid mouth. no matter how much he reassured him it was okay, mob was resolute. school is important, taka-chan. reigen laments at that; in the universe’s own twisted way, mob’s kindness actually got in the way this time. 

after informing reigen his break time was over, mob goes afk. reigen gets up from his chair and bodily throws himself on the couch right next to him, groaning loudly at the missed opportunity.

he shoves a pillow over his face, staring at the ceiling.

though he’s imagined it way too many times, he’s sure he would be too nervous for an official meetup anyway. somewhere… alone… maybe with mob in casual clothes… 

he kicks his feet against the armrest, squealing into the cushion. he thought it muffled his voice but he must have been making too much noise because his dad knocks on the wall separating this room from the living room.

“ arataka, keep it down! ”

“sorry!”

peeking his eyes over the pillow, he resumes his daydreaming. oh geez. his face feels like it’s gonna combust. yeah i’m probably never going to be ready. he would never live it down if he did something embarrassing in front of mob. 

…ugh, but he wants to see him so bad too. was love this complicated? because this feels kinda shitty. 

although. now that he thinks about it… with him going back to school, that means he has a reason to stay out more.

reigen fantasized about them running into each other multiple times at this point, ever since he knew about it. coffee crashing into a suit, catching each other’s eye in a busy cafe, offering a seat when the train car is full, turning a corner and bumping into each other—

as he said, too many times at this point. reigen presses the heel of his palm against his face, willing himself to calm down. he feels so stupid, getting worked up on his own.

it’s probably not gonna happen anytime soon anyway. 

september finally rolled around. 

the day has finally come. no more pessimism, no more moping, he’s gonna enjoy this semester. carpe diem and all that bullshit.

he rushes to put on his shoes and once they’re on, he yells out a goodbye to his parents and shuts the door soundly behind his back. reigen bounds down the street, where he and katsuya agreed to meet.

reigen slows down once he sees a figure at the end of the road. as he draws near, reigen’s surprised to see a familiar crown of dark brown hair under the shade of an umbrella. he knows he’s seen him around but never got to know his name.

reigen scrutinizes him for a moment. silence stretches on and katsuya starts shuffling his shoes in discomfort until reigen hits a closed fist against his other palm. a-ha!  

“i remember you! i always see you— well mostly your white umbrella anyway, sitting around the stone bench right up the unyielding tree!” 

the unyielding tree was actually a ginkgo tree near the campus' waiting area. kids in school got used to calling it that because throughout the years of typhoons hitting the country, it was the only one still standing. the floods do a number on them and those that surpass them have to suffer through hurricane seasons and wear down bit by bit. 

it's a survivor, despite it being much a much smaller size than the other poplars in the area.

“what are the chances!”

“ah yeah,” katsuya mumbles, voice sheepish. his hand comes up to scratch nervously behind his ear. “i–i think it’s because i just look approachable but… people take that as a sign to um. talk to me a lot.” 

“it’s troubling because even eye contact is usually too much for me so…” his head ducks down, embarrassed. “so i kind of use it as an excuse to block people with it…”

reigen’s jaw drops at the admission, delight swirling in his eyes. now that was something he didn’t expect. 

“that always did strike me as odd, since the tree could have been enough to cover you in its shade but i thought maybe you were just extra sensitive to sunlight or something.” he slaps a hand on his mouth, shoulders shaking with mirth. 

“damn, that’s cold, katsu-chan!”

“s–sorry,”

“no, it’s hilarious! you are definitely justified for that. but maybe try earphones next time!” reigen throws a wink at him. “a lot more discreet.” 

reigen starts to walk ahead, hands behind his head. katsuya hesitantly follows after him. 

“oh,” katsuya blinks. “tha–that’s a good idea actually.”

reigen twists his body around, walking backward. “but don’t you wear it when i’m with you okay! you have to listen to me. best friend privileges.” reigen has to stake his claim. other people might try to befriend katsuya and he would be too polite to say no. reigen will save katsuya from unwanted social interactions and also show them that he was here first. it’s a no brainer deal. 

besides, reigen figures what better way to start the new semester together than affirming their friendship?

katsuya smiles at his comment. “i suppose we are. best friends.” 

“oh wow, you don’t sound too happy katsu-chan. way to break my heart,” reigen clutches at his chest dramatically and katsuya chuckles at him. 

despite this being their first meeting, it was surprisingly easy to fall into a conversation with katsuya. and in no time at all, they were both engaged in deep discussion. the inherent joy of finding a common interest among their peers, one as obscure as the game they play, had them talking the whole time they walked.

"my knight is close to being a templar soon. what do you think is the best skill build for that, rei-san?"

“oooh nice !” reigen congratulates him, clapping at his back. then proceeds to ponder over it.

“i have to say, katsu-chan, i was surprised the time we moved to talk in-game and i saw you were a mercenary.” reigen wonders out loud, finger pointed at his chin. “didn’t take you for the type to choose a class that’s popular for its melee combat.” 

he carries on, taken back to their first in-game. “but it made sense when i helped you that time and you upgraded it to a knight instead of the blade.” knights, with their hulking armor and heavy, two-handed halberds, focused more on their defense rather than their attack. reigen nods in approval. being a part of the class best known for being killing machines didn’t suit katsuya.

although, then again, mob is a blade and that doesn’t suit him either. ritsu must have chosen for him and went with the most popular one. reigen snorts inwardly, that would be typical of him. 

“i could say the same for you, rei-san.” katsuya counters, playfully spinning the handle of his umbrella. “with how much you seemed to love the magician class, i first saw you as a seraph.” 

fuck , that’s right. he never told katsuya. 

if reigen knew his old hobby would be driving a wench in building relationships, he would have never done it. it’s just that he didn’t expect to find people he actually cares about in an mmorpg of all places, where people are conceited as hell and hot headed to boot.

“i thought you’d be the type to really like casting spells instead of just… um, being the support?” katsuya points out delicately. 

reigen gulps at how katsuya is able to read him. because he’s right. he really is too observant for his own good. reigen adjusts his collar, suddenly hot in his uniform. 

should he just come out and say it?

“of course, now i know because you changed it after.” katsuya clarifies, humming as his mind takes him back to their old conversation. “not that you can’t like both! i’m just sharing your line of thought,” 

reigen sighs, fidgeting uneasily. “no… you’re right, katsu-chan.” he slows down his stride and turns to the boy shyly. 

“i didn’t really tell you the full story.” 

as he reveals the full picture bit by bit, reigen carefully watches for any miniscule of reaction on katsuya’s face, for any sign of judgment. 

he finds none. 

he doesn’t know if to feel relieved or dismayed that he can’t read katsuya as well as the other boy can read him. 

"and they're the most desired partners in mmo's so i just…" he trails off, losing confidence. 

he just kept doing it, thrilled to have so many people vying for his aid. at school, he can pretend like he’s everyone’s best friend, act as close to anyone willing to talk to him. but they never stayed for too long.

for so long he thought maybe he was just coming off as too annoying, too uninteresting. not good enough. 

but in the game, people listened to him. for once, people were talking to him. for once, he didn’t feel… lonely.

maybe he did get carried away with all this.

he remembers one time, back when he was playing a different game, he used the public chat to look for party members and said he had the ability to resurrect. seconds later, his inbox flooded with private messages.

he was lying, he couldn't really resurrect. it was the skill he hadn't unlocked yet, but it was funny seeing them fight for his attention anyway.

like playing god. 

but if he says that, well… he would be no better than the arrogant players that he claims to hate.

he braces himself and waits for the inevitable ridicule. 

“that’s so childish, rei-san. i thought you were better than that.”

“it’s weird you’re deceiving people on the internet. surely that’s not all you do in your free time?”

“i regret talking to you. i don’t think we can be friends anymore.” 

instead, what comes out of katsuya’s mouth was—

“that’s quite impressive, rei-san. you really are crafty, and i mean that as a compliment.”

reigen stops walking. he stands there, shell-shocked. 

when he is able to find his voice, it croaks a little. “y–you really think so?” 

it felt like he just dodged a bullet with how much he’s sweating. he didn’t think he could get lucky twice.

katsuya notices him lagging behind and turns back to face him, tilting his head.

“you told me you were targeting uh, weird perverts right? i think that’s quite noble and very much well… like you .” 

“you don’t find it annoying? off-putting?”  

“i see no reason why i should find that off-putting. it’s not like you’re hacking or stealing from newbies right?” reigen nods gingerly. “i’m too much of a coward to do anything on my own. so it’s cool that you’re able to use your strengths to help people, even if it is a little unconventional.” 

reigen breathes out a sigh of relief, god he doesn’t know how he deserved to have them so understanding.

“awww, katsu-chan! you sweet thing, come here and give me a hug!” reigen sweeps his arms out for an inviting embrace, enjoying the resulting heat that spreads across katsuya’s cheeks as he predictably tries to decline.

“w–what are you saying rei-san, that’s so embarrassing…”

“i’m joking, i’m joking.” reigen decides to go easy on him, dropping his arms lest the other boy melts in a puddle. he settles for playfully bumping their shoulders instead. “thank you, katsu-chan, really. i appreciate it.”

“anytime, rei-san. besides, i think you must have endured enough if you met kageyama-san that way. you’re such a mess.” he teases.

“shut the fuck up!” reigen cackles, jesus he can dish out some mean burns. who would have thought? he wipes a tear from his eye, his mirth subsiding. "anyway, what were we talking about? ah, right. i think you’d be better off focusing on maxing out the earth divider skill first. oh wait, are you using a two-handed axe or sword? because that skill requires an axe…” 

they kept chatting animatedly the whole time they walked, until they entered the campus and until they reached each other's classrooms.

they both stood outside one door.

"this is my stop. you?"

"mine too."

they stared at each other, then burst out laughing at the same time. oh man, they’re gonna get in so much trouble if they talk this much in class. 

as they walked toward the back and automatically went to sit together near the open windows, reigen gradually became troubled. wouldn’t it look weird that they’re suddenly close when they didn’t know each other last year?

“katsu-chan,” he stage-whispers to the boy, who is already dutifully pulling out his notebooks. “should i call you katsuya in class?” 

katsuya levels him with a questioning look. “if you want to. why though?”

reigen stares nervously at the students slowly trickling in. “people are gonna pester us about it right? how we met and why we’re friends now.” he turns to katsuya worriedly. “like we were just strangers up until now. they are so gonna butt in our business.”

“hm. i haven’t been really thinking about it at all.” reigen can tell katsuya is trying to be open but doesn’t entirely understand the issue. he shrugs at reigen. “can’t we just tell them the truth?”

“but–but the game is our thing, katsu-chan!” reigen protests, pouting. 

he’s not ashamed of katsuya and how they met but the game was their own little world. it felt so personal he doesn’t want to disclose it with people he’s not even close to. especially to normies who’d only make fun of them.

“okay, okay,” katsuya chortles, attempting to appease him. “then a diversion? truth by omission? you can make up a story, rei-san, i’m sure they’ll believe anything.” 

huh, well he has a point. he guesses he could just do as he always did. lie through his teeth.

reigen was about to reply when just as he thought, someone sidles up next to them with a suspicious frown. “hey reigen, when did you and serizawa get all chummy?”

the two of them glance at each other. despite just freaking out about this to katsuya seconds ago, reigen schools his expression and adopts a character like it’s second nature.

“if i tell you, i might have to kill you.”

“ what? you’re joking right?”

“...yeah, why wouldn’t i be?” 

“don’t be weird dude, i’m just asking.” 

“maybe if you grew five inches taller than me, i’ll tell you.” reigen grins, smooth charm disarming their flabbergasted classmate. “wha– no fair! you have like foreigner genes or something!”

“hmm,” reigen pretends to think it over, then beckons the boy closer. “alright, so we met in this super secret hideout, it was in this creepy part of our neighborhood…” 

the student raises his eyebrows, already hanging on to his every word. but reigen draws back, reclining into his seat. “but i’m not sure if a pipsqueak like you can handle any more information.”

“you asshole, it’s not like you’re that much taller than me!”

all the while katsuya watches the two bicker, reigen with a big smile on his face as he dodges their whining classmate’s questions like a pro. he shakes his head.

this school year already feels a lot more refreshing.

not even a week later, katsuya stands awkwardly at the doorstep leading to reigen’s household, clutching at the strap of his sleeping bag. 

“excuse me for the intrusion...”

“sorry again for the sudden invite, my mother was very insistent.” reigen says apologetically to his right, also toeing off his shoes alongside him. he grabs katsuya’s bag and leads him to his room. 

“a friend?” she repeats in a growing ecstatic tone once he told her as she stopped by the room to give him some snacks. “that’s such good news, arataka! what are you doing then, invite him over!”

“they’re not home yet, but they say to just enjoy ourselves.” reigen says almost shyly, scratching the back of his head. “i guess they’re just that happy i finally have someone i can call a friend.”

he sets their bags by the foot of his door and plops down on his bed. “i’ve never had to bring a friend over too so i’m sorry if i’m a bad host, i don’t really know what to do on sleepovers.”

katsuya sits gingerly beside him. “it’s alright. i don’t really mind stuff like that. what do you want to do?”

reigen turns over, starfish style and contemplates it. “we always play together so i think we can just relax and talk if you want.”

katsuya turns to him. “wow, you don’’t want to play? that’s the first i’ve heard from you.” reigen immediately whacks him with a pillow, laughing. “shut up, alright, i’m trying to be a good host here and pay attention to you and only you, my majesty!” 

he suddenly stands up, invigorated. he can’t disappoint his first guest! “want snacks? juice? say the word and i’ll go get it for you!” 

katsuya shakes his head, smiling. “i’m fine, relax already, rei-san.”

“fine, but if i grab a bite to eat, you better not fish for some.” he harrumphs, sliding over back to his bed. his eyes catch on his phone, and he swipes it, already going for the contacts. 

“hey i can’t believe this never came up, we haven’t even exchanged numbers yet!” why hasn’t he thought of this before? now they can talk anytime! “i never use this phone but now we can text each other! put yours in katsu-chan!” 

catching the phone thrown at him, katsuya diligently puts his number in. “have you asked for kageyama-san’s number yet?”

predictably, reigen’s face colors a beet red. “katsu-chan! i haven’t even met him in person yet! how– how could i– how could i—” 

“we already met, haven’t we? how difficult would it be if you asked him?”

“you know it’s different!”

“i really don’t.” 

“it’s just! it’s just– more difficult, okay!” reigen bursts out. “i get nervous around him because i really really like him and i don’t want to mess it up. what if things change! i feel like asking for his number is too– is too— agh i don’t know! i don’t even know how it will work out if we, you know, meet! i already messed up once, what if i mess up again and he never wants to see or talk to me ever again?”

katsuya simply watched as he rambled and after looking at him a moment longer, he set the phone back on the table and stood up. “may i use your desktop?”

reigen looks at him oddly at the abrupt change. “well… yeah. go ahead.”

katsuya waits patiently as the computer boots up, and when it finally turns on, he clicks immediately to a browser. he turns to reigen. “where did you say he worked again?”

there was silence as reigen’s head buffers at the question. once it clicked , his jaw drops. 

“wha— you can’t just look that up! that’s a complete invasion of privacy!”

“we’re just looking it up. it’s not like you’re ever going there, right?” katsuya’s face remains its innocent look. 

“oh you are evil. evil! i can’t just do that!” reigen yells but katsuya remains steadfast as reigen paces about the room. “i can’t just… do that… but now that you said it, it won’t leave my mind…”

he pauses by katsuya’s side. “wait. why are you even suggesting this?”

“rei-san, i don’t know how this failed to escape you, but you talk about kageyama-san perhaps 80 percent of the time in our conversations.”

man , katsuya can be blunt.

“don’t give me sass! and no i do not!”

“and at this point i’m invested. so, workplace?” katsuya bulldozes past reigen’s incredulity, hands ready and hovering above their keyboard. 

“well—” reigen fumbles. “that’s uh– the thing. i… don’t know?” 

that’s technically a lie. mob hasn’t told him where specifically but his brother made the game, he knows his last name, and all the bits of info mob told him. how hard could that be? with a couple of searches?

no! he’s supposed to be against this!

“what do you mean you don’t know? i thought you guys were close?”

“ yes , we’re close but—” shit should he just say it? mob told him in confidence, though maybe it was just him overthinking it. maybe it’ll be alright? 

katsuya is his friend too. he can’t just not tell him things.

right?

“okay,” reigen finally says, conspiratory, as he sinks into the comfort of his bed. “what i’m going to tell you is top secret, okay? you can’t tell anyone else.”

“who am i going to tell?” katsuya asks honestly. “you are my only friend, rei-san.”

“good point.” reigen nods. “um, i don’t know how else to put it so i’m just gonna come out and say it alright?”

“okay…?”

“promise you won’t freak out?”

“now that you’re stalling, i am getting kind of worried though.” katsuya admits as he watches reigen grab a pillow to hold on to. “is he working at a sketchy place or something? maybe you shouldn’t go after all.”

“ no , no, nothing like that. it’s just… he’s just—”

“rei-san, if he’s working in bad areas, i advise that you—”

“ hisbrothermadethisgame!”

“... huh?”

reigen takes a deep breath. 

“okay, so you know his last name is kageyama right, his full name is kageyama shigeo, the kageyama shigeo, who’s brothers with the kageyama ritsu, who made this game and i know what you’re thinking, who’s that guy he’s never been listed in the official pages which now i realize he did that for a good reason because now we’re going to look him up like a bunch of freaks, like stalking? really? i’ve sunk that low? oh god mob is going to think i’m a—”

“rei-san.”

reigen shuts his mouth, breathing heavily. 

“please calm down. i didn’t realize this would affect you this greatly.” katsuya says, getting up from his seat to sit down beside reigen. “we don’t have to look it up if you don’t want to.”

“i just said his brother made this game! is that not a big deal to you?”

katsuya shrugs. “knowing who the creator is doesn’t really affect me. i play the game ‘cause it’s fun.”

reigen slowly nods. “yeah…” katsuya’s calm-headed demeanor is bringing him back down from his impending panic. “you’re right. it’s not like we’re going there to get his signature or something.”

even if they did end up finding where he works at, it’s not like he’ll be allowed in. he just wants to see mob . doesn’t matter if he’s allowed to check inside, doesn’t matter if he’d get to meet other game masters.

his main priority is mob.

“you’re right, katsu-chan.” reigen repeats, suddenly determined. “it’s to see mob! this is my golden ticket!” 

he suddenly gasps, hands clasped to his cheeks.

“what? what’s wrong?”

“i just realized we’re gossiping ,” he says in between squished cheeks. “man we are nailing this sleepover thing!” he faces toward katsuya with a manic gleam in his eyes. “okay, if we’re doing this, we’re doing this together right?”

“really? i would have thought you would want your first meeting to be just you two?”

fuck he has a point again. but that’s too much pressure! what if he spontaneously combusts? did katsuya even think about that? but at the same time his fantasies—

“i can see you overthinking this, rei-san. you don’t have to meet him okay? we can just look it up for curiosity’s sake if that makes you feel better?”

“this is some reverse psychology at work.” reigen points a finger at katsuya, who’s smile has never once wavered. katsuya shakes his head playfully at reigen’s antics. “whatever helps you sleep at night, rei-san. it was just a suggestion.”

“i know what you’re doing katsu-chan!” reigen accuses. “and it’s working! god, alright, we’re looking it up!”

“i think for this time, the chair is yours, rei-san.” katsuya muses.

“ fuck! ” he finally throws his hands up and sits down by the desktop, fingers already flying over the keyboard. “fine! let’s do this your way, but if it backfires on my face you are so owing me.”

the thought of getting to be with mob in person was tempting. too tempting. so tempting that just two days after they spent their sleepover mapping out mob’s workplace, figuring out his breaks, what time he was likely heading out for the day like it was a goddamn mission—

well. let’s just say it outweighs any fears he might have had. and as the days passed with him doing nothing when he could be doing something , when katsuya grew increasingly smug at his obvious impatience, he has finally had it.

katsuya is right. waiting too long and letting his unease consume him is only making things more difficult. he keeps psyching himself out, so he figured he should just do something about it. rip it off like a bandaid. 

quick and painless right? 

god. he’s done it now.

he’s going to get into so much trouble.

what if they think he’s a delinquent?

fuck, he hasn’t thought that far ahead.

but whatever. he’s here now.

reigen sneaks around the building mob mentioned he worked at. 

fuck he knows he’s being a real creep, and he knows it but it’s done now! clearly he has to be the one to make the first step because mob wouldn’t—

okay, he really needs to calm down. 

from their research, this should be the place and from what mob told him this should be the time for his lunch break. 

it’s until 1pm and he has time but what good does that do? he doesn’t even have a plan! he doesn’t even know where mob’s cubicle would be or if he’ll even be allowed inside but he figures he can just wing it right? 

you know, maybe this isn’t even the place! he’ll just check to make sure this is it. that’s it. a trial of sorts. mob won’t ever know. yeah, he’s just going to take a look, the smallest sneak peak, and then he’ll go back!

“oi.” reigen jumps. “what are you doing there?”

a strict looking man exiting the building approaches him. shit , maybe loitering wasn’t allowed around here. the man takes a moment to look at him, then his eyes drop down and narrow. he suddenly snatches his ID, the lanyard pulling roughly on his neck and yanking him to stand on his tiptoes. “ wha– hey!”

“...arataka. you’re that kid aren't you?

“i’m not supposed to talk to strangers.”

“oh please, save me the innocent front, kid. i know who you are and you know me.” reigen looks confused for a moment, before he looks at the man’s tag pinned on his shirt. kageyama ritsu. 

fuck. he can’t even properly revel at the fact that the fucking game creator is in front of him because the man obviously despised his guts, the deep frown on his face souring his handsomeness. 

is mob that handsome in person too? the grainy picture he sent didn’t really do him justice… growing red at the thought, he shakes it off hoping ritsu didn’t catch on to it.

“why are you so mean? you just met me.”

“i know all about your type, reigen. and i bet you thought the same about my brother, maybe even considered him one of your easy ‘targets’.” ritsu sneers down at him and it stings at reigen’s core.

he was about to open his mouth to defend himself when a stern voice came out of nowhere.

“ritsu. i thought i told you to leave it.”

mob closes in on them, and reigen knows he should have been prepared considering it was still his choice to come here but—

he is god’s strongest soldier and yet god did not prepare him for the sight of mob…

in a black turtleneck. 

his coat hung on one arm too so he could see the full broadness of his shoulders and chest. does he work out? he didn’t expect mob to be the type to work out. catching himself before he does something stupid like drool, reigen robotically inches his gaze away.

this is an exercise in self-restraint. he is not a hormonal teenager.

…is it too late to bolt into the opposite direction and never show his face around here again?

ritsu looked as if he were about to argue, but paused, seeing something in his brother’s face that made him halt in his tracks.

he scowls further, looking back and forth between the two of them while mob stood his ground, not breaking eye contact. when he sighs and shakes his head, mob visibly relaxes.

“fine. i’ll see you at home.” 

ritsu straightens out his dress shirt with a huff. he adjusts the briefcase in his hand, throws one last withering glare at reigen then stalks off without another word.

the two of them watch ritsu walk away and as his figure disappears from their sight, leaving them alone together, reigen now anguishes the consequences of his actions. 

what if mob sends him away? he shrinks on himself, afraid to be turned away just when he came all the way here.

when mob finally turns his all his attention toward him, his earlier expression smoothes out into a delicate one. there’s a genuine smile on his face. 

“taka-chan.” mob breathes and reigen jolts. 

would he be biased if he says that is the most attractive voice he’s ever heard in his life? he might be. he figures it’s maybe less about that and more of the person that voice is attached to…

because mob’s voice is soft-spoken as he expected, a little deep but not overly so and there is that subtle change from how he spoke to ritsu earlier to how he’s addressing reigen now. 

and he can’t help but think it sounds like he’s flirting.

“as i thought,” mob nods. “you’re very pretty in person.” 

…pretty? PRETTY?! he’s never used that word before! that wasn’t what you said before! and it’s unfair that he’s— that he’s saying that now when reigen is dangerously close to making a fool of himself just for one measly compliment. 

his words kept running in his head on repeat. as i thought, you’re very pretty. as i thought, you’re very pretty . as i thought as i thought as i thought —

okay, it’s more like a broken record. but you can’t blame him when it kind of feels like his brain just turned to goo right now. 

he’s just been KO’d. it’s… it’s too effective. 

“you are as lively and cute as your texts.” he tacks on, with a ghost of a smile. as if that wasn’t enough, as if his words aren’t positively destroying reigen right now. as if his casual praise isn’t making him practically hysterical—  

mob thinks his texts are cute. he’s gonna fucking lose it. and that he’s— he’s adorable. even without the help of makeup ! is he swaying? he feels unsteady on his feet. 

reigen starts laughing, loudly and without preamble. “ hahaha, you’re so funny shishou!” his voice is embarrassingly high and he desperately tries to steer the conversation into another direction so he can stop thinking about how much he just wants to jump up and kiss him right then and there. 

“a–and i told you not to call me that anymore! it’s arataka now, shishou. arataka.” 

“but you still call me shishou, don’t you?” mob asks, perplexed. reigen gapes like a fish, not knowing how to respond to that. he tilts his head and reigen is stumped, brain short circuiting. mob looks downright adorable.

“besides,” mob continues, not bothered by the lack of reply. “it’s cute.” 

again with that word! reigen needs to ban that word from him because he might die early because of it. with how mob is… well, he’s saying this with utmost adoration but reigen didn’t think he’d ever expect such stealthy affection from him. a smooth criminal if you will. 

no more compliments from you, mister phantom thief of my heart. 

mob is also being very casual about all this. reigen obviously went out of his way to see him! shouldn’t he bring that up? or even be as nervous as he is? it feels like he’s the only one out of his wit’s end in all of this.

“a–aren’t you going to ask why i’m here?” or how he got here? god, that would be embarrassing, i hope he never asks it.

mob blinks at him. then seems to catch on, as if the thought didn’t even cross his mind. “oh. why are you outside our office? i thought we were going to wait until winter break.” 

i didn’t agree to it! 

reigen hides his hands behind his back, shoe tracing absentmindedly on the pavement. “it’s too far away, shishou…” he mumbles. “you wouldn’t listen to me so i went anyway. are you– are you not happy with me?” 

he didn’t follow what they agreed on after all. he’s going to look like some spoiled, impatient kid. 

“i am happy, taka-chan. i’m happy to see you all the time, it doesn’t matter the time. today is not any different.” mob replies simply.

isn’t it though? it’s different because we’re…  

there was this blanket of calm just surrounding mob, an air of repose, relaxed and level headed. it baffles him. they’re in the same breathing space and it should be a big deal but the fact that he’s not making it into a big deal is…

weirdly reassuring. the whole time he was walking here, his heart thudded against his chest painfully. the weight of expectations dragging him down the more he trudged on.

he observes mob’s serene expression and feels himself beginning to calm down too. it helps him ground himself, that maybe it really isn’t as complicated as he’s making it seem.

adults really are on another level. 

“okay, um…that’s good because,” reigen glances at him meekly. “i’m happy to see you too.” 

it feels like they should hug. they should hug, right? that’s what people do when they meet and greet each other? he can’t be the one to initiate it though. at the rate he’s going, he’s just going to trip and face plant into the concrete because of course he would. 

…but he should at least try right? how did that saying go, nothing ventured, nothing gained ?

before he could give it a shot though, mob hikes his bag higher up his shoulder and it brings reigen's attention to his hands, where it's clad in sleek, leather gloves.

holy shit. he wears gloves. that's… so sexy. why was he unfairly attractive on such a hot day? or maybe it wasn’t hot out and reigen is just abnormally sweating. maybe it’s just him. he’s learning a lot about himself today.

reigen snaps his eyes back to mob's face, feeling like a scandalized victorian at the sight of an ankle with how much those gloves bothered him.

“a–anyway, what brought you out here, shishou? i just thought i’d stop by and take a quick look but i didn’t expect you to come outside at this time too.” please don’t ask how i found out, please don’t ask how i found out, please don’t ask how i found out, just roll with it—

mob thankfully doesn’t notice his attempts of a cover up and instead, is made aware that they are still standing around for seemingly nothing.

“ah,” he says, remembering something. “i was about to–” mob stops himself, thinking for a moment. he looks at reigen. 

“what time do you need to go back?”

puzzled, reigen checks his watch. “in about 45 minutes. why?”

“would you like to have lunch together?” mob asks politely. 

oh shit. oh fuck, here we go. this is your chance, arataka, you can do this.

when mob opens the door for him as they step into a cafe, reigen solemnly wishes for the earth beneath him to open and swallow him up. i can’t do this, i can’t do this, i can’t do this. 

“go ahead and find us a table, taka-chan.” mob makes to head to the counter but stops when he feels a tug at his sleeve. 

“ w–wait! ” mob turns his head to look back at him, inquisitive. reigen worries his lip anxiously. 

reigen’s eyes flicks between the tables and the menu in rapid-fire movement. he quickly takes notes of the price range and mentally goes over his budget for that day.

oh god, this was such a bad idea. he’s already feeling sick to his stomach. there’s no way he’s going to be able to afford any of this but he doesn’t want mob to pay for him either. he’s still earnestly trying to move past his old behavior, the memory of their separation stinging at him.

what if he came off as a gold digger? the thought chills his bones. his gaze falls on the customers, catching glimpses of fancy watches, polished shoes and sleek, shiny accessories glinting under intimate low hanging lights. 

dread prickles at him. he’s severely out of place . 

he blinks, suddenly remembering where he is and shamefully realizes that he’s been stalling for a few minutes now. mob didn’t seem to mind, staying rooted and patiently waiting for what he had to say.

biting the inside of his cheek, reigen finally looks at mob resolutely. “i can pay for my own order myself.” 

he’ll just get the cheapest option here. it might leave a hole in his wallet and he’ll have to get by with scraps the rest of the week, but it’ll be worth it. it’s just lunch, it doesn’t matter what he eats, doesn’t think he can keep it down anyway—

speaking of that, he has to find the bathroom too. his eyes wandered, trying to search for some kind of hallway that could lead to it. the place is spotless, that he almost feels bad that he’s going to be definitely hurling over their toilet sometime soon and dirty their pristine, linoleum floors. 

thinking about it just made it worse and nausea swirls in him. he needs to memorize the restaurant’s layout fast , so he can make an emergency exit any time he can, if he ever needs to just breathe, splash his face or puke his guts out.

not necessarily in that order. 

“why would you need to?” 

mob’s quizzical reply brings reigen’s attention back to him. he swallows, hoping the panic doesn’t show on his face. “you don’t need to keep being generous to me, shishou.” he grouches, letting go of his sleeve. “i don’t actually care about money.”

he’s not a gold digger, he’s not.  “i was doing people a favor!”

“yes, taka i know.” mob softens, already catching on to his worries. he smiles down at him. “i’m doing this because i want to.”

reigen focuses on his words, willing his heartbeat to slow. right…this is mob, so that must be true.  

still, reigen won’t just let this happen without having some control over it.

“fine, but i'm paying next time, okay?”

“next time?”

he sputters. “well! i hate owing people!”

“well, i want you to save your allowance taka.” mob turns away as if to escape the retort that is sure to leave reigen’s lips, and heads toward the queue to stand in line. reigen puts his hands on his hips at the stark dismissal, narrowing his eyes after him. this isn’t over, mob. 

figuring he might as well just do it before they run out of seats, reigen begrudgingly scours for available spots. when he finally manages to find one, he sinks into the surprisingly comfy chair gratefully. 

now seated and head a bit clearer, reigen can feel himself start to calm down. he takes a moment to reconsider where he was. the restaurant looked almost… homey, with its honey hued interior and multitude of plants livening up the atmosphere. 

it didn’t look as intimidating or stifling as he first thought. in fact, the place looked radiating, with open windows that let the natural light in and the easy going jazz tunes pouring out from within finally registering in his ears. 

it would have been a relief if reigen wasn’t mortified at his almost meltdown. it was obvious mob took him here because it had such a comfortable ambience but his nerves got the best of him anyway, his brain focusing on all the wrong things. 

it isn’t long before mob slides into the seat in front of reigen, draping his coat neatly over an empty seat beside him. 

“i chose gyudon for the both of us, if that’s okay. we are a bit on a time limit.” mob says in an apologetic manner. 

it doesn’t escape reigen that mob got the most inexpensive thing on the menu, presumably noticing the younger boy’s earlier conflict. didn’t want to further his burden by ordering something fancy even if he did have the money for it. 

gyudon is also known for being prepared and brought to tables very fast and with a rushed, on the spot decision to have lunch together, mob must not have wanted reigen to come back late.

reigen makes a soft noise of denial, gaze filling with muted devotion. “it’s perfect.” 

mob’s eyes twinkle. he leans back in his seat comfortably and starts pulling black gloves off in a smooth fashion. reigen’s throat runs dry at the sight. 

he folds the garment over his lap and rests his elbows above the table, chin perched atop porcelain skin. mob’s mouth is moving, he must be asking reigen something but his words were swimming through his ears.

reigen’s eyes focused on the long pale line of his fingers, veins disappearing into the dark material of his sleeve. his vision blurs, his mind conjuring inappropriate thoughts.

those same hands moved suddenly, waving in front of his face and he snaps out of a rather sensuous daydream.

“uh… eh ?” reigen licks his lips, sitting up straighter. “sorry, what were you saying?”

“i asked you how your studies are going? are you tired…?” 

mob’s worried expression doused reigen in freezing, ice water. he’s such a pervert. 

reigen shakes his head so fast, his eyeballs feel like they’re rattling off his head. “no! no uh, i–it’s going well, i’m doing well. was just thinking about um…” he needs to get it together. reigen surveys their environment quickly. “the food! yeah, i’m getting hungry.” 

mob doesn’t look like he believes his half-assed excuse. “i think it should be here soon.” 

thankfully as if summoned, a waiter came by shortly and dropped off their order, saving reigen from further prodding. 

reigen goes for the miso soup first and gulps down a large portion. there, if mob asks why he’s red and sweaty, he’s blaming how hot the broth is.

as they dig in, reigen urgently thinks of a few topics they can talk about so mob can forget about his momentary lapse of clarity. they also only have a few minutes together, they should make the most of it today. 

“do you usually eat out, shishou?” reigen inquires, pulling his chopsticks apart. 

“ritsu and i try to come home often enough to eat with our parents.” reigen nods, so that’s why they both came out of the building almost exactly the same time. 

“he’s not going to like it when i come home and say i already ate with you.” mob shakes his head, not sounding too fazed by it.   

reigen though, frowns a bit at the remark, remembering his and ritsu’s earlier dispute.

“so ritsu-san hates me now, huh.” he mutters, dejected at the thought of someone he looks up to resenting him. it wasn’t the meeting he’d hoped for, even if it was something he didn’t think would ever happen. 

whatever . he’s such a jerk anyway, who cares about what he thinks? reigen doesn’t have to keep feeling ashamed about it, not when mob already forgave him.

mob stares at him, a knowing look in his eye. “I’m sure he will come around once he gets to know you more in person, taka-chan. he’s just reasonably suspicious.”

this guy’s not for real. did mob even see how scathing ritsu looked when he recognized reigen? he'd scoff at him if he didn't have a chronic case of butterflies in his stomach.

but he appreciates the sentiment that he's trying to make him feel better. it's not everyday you get your hopes and dreams crushed to dust after all.

“well, he better!” reigen jokes, trying not to sound too dispirited. as he chews on a strip of beef, he notices mob’s lack of response.

reigen examines the man imperceptibly. mob has his gaze averted downward. not meeting his eyes for the first time since their impromptu meeting. 

did i say something wrong? i didn’t offend him with what i said, right? maybe i shouldn’t have complained about his brother right in front of him… 

mob seemed to struggle what to say for a moment and the sight makes reigen’s face crumple. this was it. he ruined it. his stupid fucking mouth hurt mob. he shouldn’t have come here.

and just like that, his stomach lurches, anxiety coming back. he places his chopsticks down, fighting the urge to throw up. 

reigen discreetly tries to school his breathing to abate the queasiness. he’s already humiliated himself enough, he does not want to have mob watch him sprint to the bathroom. 

amidst his turmoil, mob speaks up, strangely timid. “do you... still like him better than me?” 

hearing the words made reigen do a double take. the inherent idea of finding someone better than mob ridiculous and almost offensive that he stops his internal pity party to shoot him an incredulous look. he can’t help the judgment that leaks through his tone when he replies, “wait, you think i like him more than you? ”

mob squirms at the heated look on reigen’s face. “no. maybe. at least i did, but you said that in a really weird way so i feel a little stupid now.” he fiddles with his hands under the table. “it’s just that a lot of people do. i mean, he’s clever and charming—” 

ritsu? charming ? oh man. oh, mob . 

“and so responsible, and handsome—”

well yeah, he’s handsome but only because he looks like mob. 

“and successful and i’m… not. you even thought his name was cool.” 

reigen wants to slam his face on the table. “that’s— no! what? you don’t have to undersell yourself just because you look up to your brother.” 

he cannot say out loud that mob is clever and charming in his own way, that he’s super fucking handsome what are you even talking about and that his name is cool, he’s been fawning over it enough that he’s been practicing saying it for god’s sake!

mob doesn’t look convinced. “even if you think i’m an okay friend,” friend? but aren’t we dating? so we really are just friends? fuck, so i did get ahead of myself. not b-b-boyfriends yet then. dang it. i’m really not sure what we are, i should probably follow his lead for now.

“he did make the game you like so much. wouldn’t you rather hang out with him?” 

reigen blinks at his logic. he would argue that it’s even more difficult to hang out with someone like that, like he can’t really be himself around such an esteemed person. he’d feel too much pressure. he also feels the same pressure with mob but only because he likes him so much that he doesn’t ever want to lose him. 

it will always be different with him. 

“aw shishou, you’re kind of dense,” he chuckles adoringly. it’s almost funny how childish mob can be at times. “idol worship is completely different from friendship. i mean, you didn’t even like it when that was what i felt for you at the beginning. so why be jealous of it?”

mob blushes heavily. he hastily picks up his chopsticks again and shovels rice in his mouth.

a lot of things suddenly make sense to reigen. he’s always thought mob was being a tad too dramatic when he praised ritsu that one time, but he thought his reaction was to be expected, considering he’s the one who made the fucking game . he didn’t know mob’s insecurity ran deeper than petty jealousy. 

“and besides, he lost a lot of points there because he's such an asshole. i guess it really is true when they say never meet your heroes,” reigen gingerly brings a slice of meat into his mouth as he mopes, still bummed. 

he regains his pep soon enough though once his eyes lock on to the fleeting look of hope brightening up mob’s expression. the older man seeming to recover from his own embarrassment.

“except you. i know i went from admiring you… to trying to swindle you… to just lying… to friends but!” reigen leans forward in his seat, wanting mob to pay attention. “shishou, you’re actually even better in person too. i’d pick your company over anyone else’s, okay?” 

wait, this is the perfect moment to say it.  

“sh-shi–shige—” he stammers, his face reddening by the minute. 

“taka-chan, breathe. you don’t have to. shishou is fine.” mob chuckles, almost teasing. his face is so red it could burst. 

hearing mob’s laugh in person made reigen smile like an idiot, relieved to see his mood finally pick up. once they’re both enjoying themselves again, reigen goes to stuff his own mouth so he doesn’t look that whipped.