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“Great shit today, man!” calls out Akito Shinonome, jogging over to his partner. Toya Aoyagi smiles as he catches the ginger’s words.
“You too, Akito,” he replies, knocking his fist against Akito’s.
Their relationship could be considered strange from an outsider’s point of view. The pair have been dating for months, yet Akito still insists upon calling Toya “bro,” “man,” “dude,” and the like. Toya occasionally calls Akito “partner,” or very rarely “dear,” but tends to stick to his first name. They make it work, though.
Toya always laughs remembering one of the first conversations they had as a couple. Akito, Toya asked, why are you calling me “bro”? Aren't we dating?
Akito put a hand to the back of his neck and looked to the side, red-faced. Sorry, man, he replied, it's kinda embarrassing, all that “darling” shit.
He smiles fondly remembering Akito's face, gently reassuring the boy that no, it was alright, he didn't mind being called “man.” And he still doesn't.
Akito playfully wrestles Toya down, grinning as he rustles the boy's hair. Toya laughs, pretending to resist - realistically he wouldn't escape for the world.
“Gotcha somethin’, partner,” Akito says, sliding his arm around Toya’s shoulder as he awkwardly fishes around in his too-full pocket for his wallet. He pulls out a gift card to a new cafe, handing it to Toya. “‘s enough for a good few drinks. Put a few hours of overtime in for it.”
“Akito…” Toya replies as the card is pressed into his palm, “you didn't have to.”
“But I wanted to,” Akito replies, grinning. “Don't feel weird about it. Wanna go now? They open ‘til eleven, so we got plenty of time.”
Toya nods with a soft smile, relieved at the idea he can pay Akito back. “Yes, let's.”
The pair stroll along Vivid Street, Akito slotting his hand neatly into Toya’s as their fingers intertwine. Barely any words are exchanged - “Which cafe is it?” Toya asks and Akito tells him. Toya hums to himself - Akito grins.
“Fragile? Really?” he asks with a smirk, Toya simply nods. “Y'know, I think that's the best song we've covered.”
Akito joins him, quietly humming the harmony as they walk, birds chirping loudly as the sun begins to sink into the horizon.
“‘s this one here. C’mon,” Akito says, gently tugging Toya’s arm and pulling him towards a fancy cafe. “Heard good things about the coffee here.”
Toya nods again, taking in the sensation of a new cafe. A comfortable environment - warm lighting, much like the artificial sunset coating the furniture at Ken’s place. Akito drags him over to a booth, sits him down and grabs a menu.
“There's a ton of bitter shit here, ‘n’ some sweeter options…” he muses, watching Toya scan the menu. His finger stops on something - black coffee.
“Shocker,” Akito says with a grin, “I'll go order.” He returns to the table a few moments later, caffe latte in one hand and bitter coffee in the other, a small plate with a dark chocolate cookie precariously balanced between the cups.
“‘S for you. Here,” he says, putting the coffee and cookie in front of Toya before sitting opposite the boy, leaning back in his chair and resting one leg on the couch.
“You look comfortable, Akito,” Toya observes, and he does - Akito fits in anywhere with ease. He's always admired that about his partner, that he can make space for himself effortlessly. Another benefit of being with Akito, he thinks, is that it isn't as hard to carve out spaces for himself anymore. He's learned to ask for things he needs. He's even demanded his father stop critiquing him once, which worked for almost a week - Akito was beaming when Toya told him about it, that's my partner!, he grinned as he slung his arm over Toya’s shoulder.
Akito simply nods, taking a sip of his coffee. The foam collects itself on his upper lip, Toya notes as he stares.
“Somethin’ on my face? Or can you not get enough of me?” Akito laughs, vaguely gesturing to himself as he puts his cup down.
“Got some coffee on you,” Toya replies matter-of-factly.
Akito mouths an oh and sticks out his tongue, licking it off. Despite the amount of times they've kissed by this point, Toya's still not used to those lips - he's still learning to accept them. Loving Akito (and himself by extension) is his biggest act of rebellion so far.
“Eat your cookie, partner,” Akito says, gesturing to his untouched plate before taking a swig of his drink.
Toya snaps out of his stupor, picking it up and snapping off a chunk. The dark chocolate melts on his tongue, just the right amount of sweet to be tolerable. He washes off the texture with a sip of coffee as he lets out a contented sigh.
Akito chats to him between sips of coffee, earning short responses and gentle laughs.
“How does this gift card work, Akito?” Toya asks abruptly.
“Whaddya mean?” he replies, eyebrow raised. Toya pulls the card from his pocket, twirling it between his slender fingers.
“Should I bring it to the counter?”
Akito laughs - Toya’s not sure why, he hasn't said anything funny. “‘Course not, dude. You pay before you eat.”
“What?! Why didn't you-”
“It's your birthday, Toya, ‘course you're not payin’. Finish up, yeah?” Akito says with a grin, ignoring Toya’s forced pout.
“I would've liked to pay… it's my turn, Akito.”
“Birthdays don't count. C’mon, hurry up, princess. Got somethin’ else for ya,” Akito says with a mischievous smirk.
“Something else?” Toya asks, cocking his head, “what is it?”
“Ah ah ah, not tellin’.”
Toya frowns, but Akito is unmoved. “C'mon… you'll love it, promise.”
He eventually nods, finishing his “meal” (food? Drink? Whatever it was) and following Akito to the door. Toya fails to ignore how Akito’s hoodie leaves his midriff exposed when he stretches, and Akito doesn't refrain from commenting.
“Like whatcha see?” Akito smirks. There's no use in protesting, Toya's learned, so he simply nods and prays his face isn't as red as it feels.
Akito grabs his partner’s hand, letting their fingers intertwine again as they walk to the park. They walk a little bit deeper into the wooded area than normal, Toya notices, and Akito finally lets go and sits on the bench.
“So,” Akito starts, “I was thinkin’.”
“About what?” Toya replies with a thoughtful expression.
“I'm always the one on your lap when we're kissin’, right?” he says with a smirk, resting one arm on the back of the bench.
“Because you're shorter than me, yes,” Toya says with a grin of his own. Akito covers his mouth and coughs as he scowls into his palm.
“Ha ha, real funny. After I go out of my way to do somethin’ special for you, eh?” he says with a sour expression - Toya knows he doesn't mean it, though.
“I'm listening, Akito. Go on.” The moonlight pours through the trees, leaving Toya illuminated in a fractured spotlight, his grey eyes almost periwinkle as they sparkle with excitement - he doesn't show it on his face.
“Sit down, Toya.”
He pats his lap with his free hand. Toya’s eyes widen.
“Out here?” he asks, somewhat nervous.
“‘S okay, we're out in the sticks. Nobody’s gonna bother us, ‘kay? Just you ‘n’ me ‘n’ the moon,” he says, gesturing to the moonlight illuminating Toya’s frame.
Toya ponders it for a moment, before taking a step forward and resting his weight on the ginger’s lap.
“Wasn't so hard, was it?” Akito asks, lifting his hand from the bench and running it through Toya’s wind-blown hair.
“Hi,” Toya laughs as his face gets closer to Akito's.
“Hey,” Akito replies as he rests his forehead against Toya's. “Happy birthday, partner.”
Before Toya has the chance to reply, Akito's already pulled him into a gentle kiss - not asking for too much. I'm here, he says, thank you, Toya replies. He doesn't flinch when Akito pokes his tongue awkwardly against his bottom lip, simply letting the boy take charge.
Toya's always found it easier to go along with whatever's happening. That changed, however, when he got dragged into singing with Akito after that fateful fight with his father. He forgets about everything when the faint taste of latte and pancakes and (what once was) Ena’s cheesecake permeates inside of his mouth.
Kissing Akito, Toya realises, is a lot like stepping out of his comfort zone - it was scary at first. It was foreign, it tasted strange, it felt weird. He shuddered to remember the first time they'd kissed like this, because it was so strange to him that he'd gagged. No matter how many times he'd apologised, he never forgot that terribly awkward encounter.
How times have changed, he thinks. The flavors of Akito’s sweet palette contrasting with his comforting dark and bitter tastes make sense now, he thinks. They mix together in moments like this, dark and bitter on light and sweet - they're milk chocolate, he notes.
Today's kiss is different, though. Toya treads the unknown as he sits on Akito’s lap, awkwardly craning his neck downwards to kiss his partner properly. He rests his hands on Akito’s shoulders as the ginger runs his hands through Toya’s hair, almost humming as they kiss. Akito’s leg bounces as it normally does when he's excited, jittering Toya, who's trying to ignore the sensation.
He pulls back after another moment, resting his forehead against Akito’s with a thoughtful smile. “Somethin’ wrong, partner?” Akito asks.
“No,” Toya replies. “It's just new. And you're bouncing me,” he adds.
Akito’s eyes widen as he runs his hand through his hair with a crooked grin. “That's my bad, man. Got excited you agreed, y'know?”
“I do, Akito. Don't worry,” Toya replies as he presses a kiss to Akito’s nose. “I'll get used to it.”
“That's good,” Akito muses. He brushes a strand of Toya’s hair behind his ear, planting a gentle kiss on his beauty spot.
“Thank you, Akito,” Toya says after a moment of silence.
“What for?” Akito replies as he plays with Toya’s hair. “The gift card?”
“You know what I mean…” he says with a soft smile.
“Yeah, yeah.” Akito stares into Toya’s eyes, watching as the moonlight lights up flecks of blue in his irises.
They remain there on the bench for another moment before Toya breaks the silence again. “Akito?”
“Mm?” he replies, not looking away from the boy’s eyes.
Toya remains silent for a beat. “Can we swap positions?”
His face lights up like a child offered a lifetime’s supply of their favorite candy. “Hell yeah. Move over, dude,” he says as he gently shoves Toya off of him, eagerly hopping off of the bench.
Toya smiles to himself as he takes a seat where Akito just was. He smiles at Akito when he takes his usual seat on Toya’s lap and cups his face.
I wonder how I was lucky enough to find you, Akito, Toya thinks to himself as his lips are firmly pressed against Akito’s. The question remains unasked, though, as he lets the familiar sweetness take him over once more.