It's a whole new world, but makes sense. Food being another kind of community. Kita listens carefully. Making a note to ask for a few of those blogs later.
"Has your class started plannin' the 3rd-year-trip? You could suggest it."
"Oh, that's a good idea," Osamu says. "I hadn't thought of it. Though I dunno if people are gonna wanna use this trip to go someplace they can already get to just by train, you know? Don't most people wanna go to Okinawa or Hokkaido or some other exotic place?"
He gestures for them to turn off the main road with the station and to a sloping side street, going uphill against a residential backdrop.
"It's just around that corner," he says, pointing. "I think I see a line?"
"People go places they have a reason to go to. Excitement, knowledge, food, it's all gonna pull in different ways. You're persuasive. Wouldn't be surprised if you got your way."
He tucks himself into the aforementioned line. Looking around for a menu.
Again, Osamu feels a little flustered at how casually Kita's dropping these compliments on him. Though to Kita they're probably just observations, it still means a lot to him to know how Kita sees him. Is being persuasive a compliment? Osamu thinks it is, in this case.
"Maybe. There's good food everywhere, though, so it's not like I'm gonna complain wherever we end up."
With that, he gets behind Kita in line and begins the wait. Anticipation is building inside of him to an all-time high, so it takes him a moment to see that Kita is looking around intently.
"Oh!" Osamu digs his phone out of his pocket and taps onto a different browser page. "I think they only have the physical sign on the front of the store, which is around the corner. But I've got it digitally right here."
The menu has a lot of staples of conveniences stores or izakayas; rice balls, karaage, yakitori, gyoza. But alongside the typical foods are interesting and unique flavors, including specialty fillings and sauces.
"Pretty much everythin' gets rave reviews, so pick whatever sounds good to you. I might ask whoever's at the counter to pick for me."
Osamu meant to hand the phone over to Kita, but having his hand held instead so that Kita can lean in and look at the screen?? It may as well be something out of a daydream, and Osamu is not going to burst his own bubble. If anything, he steps a little closer to Kita.
"That sounds like it could be good. Earthy and warm, and kind of Indian inspired?" He muses. "Good for the cold winter, to make you feel like you're not freezin' your, uh, hands off."
Was he totally about to say 'nuts'? You can't prove a thing.
The line looks long, but it moves quickly. Osamu fidgets like an eager child, trying to contain himself, the closer they get to the counter.
"Freezin' those off would suck," Kita agrees. Deadpan.
He releases the phone. Notes Osamu's shifting. Same as before a game, when it's time to charge in. The energy's nearly an audible thing. Wired up by crowds, excitement, the need to go.
Kita wasn't sure he'd feel this again. At least, not while they were still both on the same team. He grins.
Speaking of hands no longer being kept warm, Osamu misses Kita's touch just as soon as it's gone. But he can't really come up with an excuse to keep holding his hand, either, so he says nothing and shoves his phone back into his pocket.
"Me?" He repeats, lacking self-awareness. "Do I look excited? I mean, I seriously am. There's lots of good food in Tokyo, but this is the place I wanted to try the most. And you're here too, so it's gonna be extra good."
"Thanks. And I can always tell when you're excited. You hunch forward, keep movin' your shoulders."
Kita leans his weight onto the balls of his feet. Shifting as if about to take off. Maybe Osamu won't recognize it in himself, but he's seen it. Countless times. Atsumu does the same thing.
Osamu very nearly cringes when he sees Kita mimic his posture, not because it's inherently disturbing, but because he immediately recognizes it as Atsumu's own excited fidgeting and hates to think that he's got an identical habit. He's made peace with the fact that he and Atsumu are identical twins, it has been 17 years after all, but some similarities are much less embarrassing than others, and this one is pretty bad.
Quickly, he makes himself stand up straighter and spreads his feet a bit further apart, flat on the ground.
"Geez," he mutters. "So I'm like a little kid when it comes to bein' obvious, huh?"
"Yeah," Kita agrees. "But I never had to worry about ya, seein' that."
He doesn't mean it as a bad thing. After all, he makes a point to study body language. It so often tells the truth, when words tell another. Things he has to know as a Captain.
Or a former one.
The restaurant comes into view. Along with the hypnotic smell of frying bread. Spices familiar and not.
"I'm pretty sure no guy wants to be told he's easy to read," Osamu mumbles, feeling embarrassed still. Even though he logically knows there's no reason for it, he just wishes Kita could always see him being cool. Not an over-eager doofus.
"But I guess if it's you it's okay... Nothin' gets by you at all, huh Kita-san."
They turn the corner and can see the front of the restaurant. Already Osamu is leaning in again, his body language betraying him once more. "Oh man, it smells so good. Can barely remember what I had for lunch today, I'm so hungry."
Osamu looks like a little boy on Christmas morning, drinking in every detail of the tiny shopfront; from the weather worn, hand painted menu boards to the clearly loved cookware, the quick hands of the experienced chefs to the food being served up by cheerful cashiers, he's soaking it all into his memory. He never wants to forget this experience. Having Kita beside him only makes it better.
It's quite a thing. Getting to be with someone at a place like this, one they love. Even before setting a foot inside. It's the sort of feeling that spreads. Settles warm in the center of your chest.
Osamu considers this. For him? It wouldn't even be close to enough, given his voracious appetite. But Kita's not a big eater. Still, just some grilled chicken... is that even a meal?
"Isn't a balanced meal supposed to have some carbs too?" Osamu responds, tapping his chin. "How about you add some onigiri or something?"
"Excuse me, but the black rice onigiri's really good," pipes up the person at the register. Clearly used to these sorts of discussions. "Especially with mango filling!"
Kita considers.
"All right. I'll have that with the yakitori, an' green tea. Osamu?"
Osamu smiles at the salesperson, who swooped right in with a great recommendation - it all sounds delicious.
"I'll try the yuzu-chili karaage, mentaiko cream noodles, and one of whatever your favorite onigiri is. Oh, and a Calpis."
His smile might almost seem flirtatious, but that's just a side effect of his excitement at being here. And then he reaches into his wallet and puts down enough cash to cover both his and Kita's meals, without hesitation. His body language is firm, too, not giving Kita room to get too close to where he's paying. Not without pushing him out of the way.
Osamu has been planning this, since before he managed to work up the nerve to ask Kita to come with him. It doesn't have to mean anything more than a kouhai treating their senpai, or a friend treating a friend, not when Osamu isn't ready to share his bigger feelings. But it does feel good to put down the bill and take responsibility.
"You're welcome, Kita-san. It's only fair that I treat ya after I dragged you out all this way."
Their food comes out on several paper trays right then, and it takes a moment for each boy to sort out what's his. Osamu spots a bench that's becoming free as a pair of girls gather their things, and he swoops down on it quickly to claim it.
"Figured you'd be too polite to eat and walk at the same time."
It's another thing that speaks of attention. Like making sure Coach knew where they were going, arranging the train route. Osamu's been doing that a lot, come to think of it. All the way back to telling the First Years off for their water fight. Assuming responsibilities.
He is also right about not wanting to walk and eat.
Hm.
With a "Thanks for the food," Kita centers himself. Ready to try the mysteries ahead.
To be fair, Osamu knows that plenty of Japanese people, mostly adults, take issue to people eating while walking. And Kita may only be a year older than him, but he definitely has the habits of a much older man.
They get situated, and Osamu looks down at the spread on his lap, not even sure where to begin. Though he does, of course, take his phone out to snap a quick picture while he deliberates.
"Mind if I photograph yours?" He asks Kita. "It's cool if it's not okay."
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2023-01-20 04:47 pm (UTC)"Has your class started plannin' the 3rd-year-trip? You could suggest it."
no subject
Date: 2023-01-20 06:02 pm (UTC)He gestures for them to turn off the main road with the station and to a sloping side street, going uphill against a residential backdrop.
"It's just around that corner," he says, pointing. "I think I see a line?"
no subject
Date: 2023-01-21 12:49 pm (UTC)"People go places they have a reason to go to. Excitement, knowledge, food, it's all gonna pull in different ways. You're persuasive. Wouldn't be surprised if you got your way."
He tucks himself into the aforementioned line. Looking around for a menu.
no subject
Date: 2023-01-21 06:35 pm (UTC)"Maybe. There's good food everywhere, though, so it's not like I'm gonna complain wherever we end up."
With that, he gets behind Kita in line and begins the wait. Anticipation is building inside of him to an all-time high, so it takes him a moment to see that Kita is looking around intently.
"Uh, Kita-san, what're you lookin' for?"
no subject
Date: 2023-01-21 10:39 pm (UTC)"Don't wanna hold up other customers."
no subject
Date: 2023-01-22 02:20 am (UTC)The menu has a lot of staples of conveniences stores or izakayas; rice balls, karaage, yakitori, gyoza. But alongside the typical foods are interesting and unique flavors, including specialty fillings and sauces.
"Pretty much everythin' gets rave reviews, so pick whatever sounds good to you. I might ask whoever's at the counter to pick for me."
no subject
Date: 2023-01-22 03:29 pm (UTC)"Cinnamon and cashews on yakitori? For real?"
He keeps reading as they shuffle forward. It's not that the flavors sound bad, he trusts the expert here. It's simply so many options! Who knew?
no subject
Date: 2023-01-23 03:12 am (UTC)"That sounds like it could be good. Earthy and warm, and kind of Indian inspired?" He muses. "Good for the cold winter, to make you feel like you're not freezin' your, uh, hands off."
Was he totally about to say 'nuts'? You can't prove a thing.
The line looks long, but it moves quickly. Osamu fidgets like an eager child, trying to contain himself, the closer they get to the counter.
no subject
Date: 2023-01-23 11:36 pm (UTC)He releases the phone. Notes Osamu's shifting. Same as before a game, when it's time to charge in. The energy's nearly an audible thing. Wired up by crowds, excitement, the need to go.
Kita wasn't sure he'd feel this again. At least, not while they were still both on the same team. He grins.
"Ya know, it's nice to see ya excited."
no subject
Date: 2023-01-24 03:25 am (UTC)Speaking of hands no longer being kept warm, Osamu misses Kita's touch just as soon as it's gone. But he can't really come up with an excuse to keep holding his hand, either, so he says nothing and shoves his phone back into his pocket.
"Me?" He repeats, lacking self-awareness. "Do I look excited? I mean, I seriously am. There's lots of good food in Tokyo, but this is the place I wanted to try the most. And you're here too, so it's gonna be extra good."
no subject
Date: 2023-01-24 11:25 am (UTC)Kita leans his weight onto the balls of his feet. Shifting as if about to take off. Maybe Osamu won't recognize it in himself, but he's seen it. Countless times. Atsumu does the same thing.
"Like that."
Then Kita straightens up. Back to himself.
no subject
Date: 2023-01-25 01:00 am (UTC)Quickly, he makes himself stand up straighter and spreads his feet a bit further apart, flat on the ground.
"Geez," he mutters. "So I'm like a little kid when it comes to bein' obvious, huh?"
no subject
Date: 2023-01-25 01:15 am (UTC)He doesn't mean it as a bad thing. After all, he makes a point to study body language. It so often tells the truth, when words tell another. Things he has to know as a Captain.
Or a former one.
The restaurant comes into view. Along with the hypnotic smell of frying bread. Spices familiar and not.
no subject
Date: 2023-01-25 03:06 am (UTC)"But I guess if it's you it's okay... Nothin' gets by you at all, huh Kita-san."
They turn the corner and can see the front of the restaurant. Already Osamu is leaning in again, his body language betraying him once more. "Oh man, it smells so good. Can barely remember what I had for lunch today, I'm so hungry."
no subject
Date: 2023-01-25 12:39 pm (UTC)So he settles for, "Not much."
The smell has hooks. Dragging them both up to the open booth, barely more than a stove and a counter. Osamu's right. Lunch was a long time ago.
no subject
Date: 2023-01-25 11:58 pm (UTC)"Have you picked what you want to try yet?"
no subject
Date: 2023-01-26 01:33 am (UTC)"The Cinnamon Yakitori. Think that'll be enough?"
no subject
Date: 2023-01-26 06:45 pm (UTC)"Isn't a balanced meal supposed to have some carbs too?" Osamu responds, tapping his chin. "How about you add some onigiri or something?"
no subject
Date: 2023-01-27 12:28 am (UTC)Kita considers.
"All right. I'll have that with the yakitori, an' green tea. Osamu?"
no subject
Date: 2023-01-27 02:39 am (UTC)"I'll try the yuzu-chili karaage, mentaiko cream noodles, and one of whatever your favorite onigiri is. Oh, and a Calpis."
His smile might almost seem flirtatious, but that's just a side effect of his excitement at being here. And then he reaches into his wallet and puts down enough cash to cover both his and Kita's meals, without hesitation. His body language is firm, too, not giving Kita room to get too close to where he's paying. Not without pushing him out of the way.
I WISH THIS RESTAURANT EXISTED
Date: 2023-01-27 01:58 pm (UTC)A deliberate block. Osamu's been planning this.
So, once the orders are in, Kita inclines his head. Accepts the favor. It's a breach of the typical, but then - What's typical, right now?
"Well, I didn't read that! Thank you."
GET ON IT OSAMU
Date: 2023-01-28 02:59 am (UTC)"You're welcome, Kita-san. It's only fair that I treat ya after I dragged you out all this way."
Their food comes out on several paper trays right then, and it takes a moment for each boy to sort out what's his. Osamu spots a bench that's becoming free as a pair of girls gather their things, and he swoops down on it quickly to claim it.
"Figured you'd be too polite to eat and walk at the same time."
no subject
Date: 2023-01-28 11:36 pm (UTC)He is also right about not wanting to walk and eat.
Hm.
With a "Thanks for the food," Kita centers himself. Ready to try the mysteries ahead.
no subject
Date: 2023-01-29 03:25 am (UTC)They get situated, and Osamu looks down at the spread on his lap, not even sure where to begin. Though he does, of course, take his phone out to snap a quick picture while he deliberates.
"Mind if I photograph yours?" He asks Kita. "It's cool if it's not okay."
no subject
Date: 2023-01-29 04:53 pm (UTC)He holds up the yakitori, expression neutral. Unsure of what Osamu has in mind.
A few flakes of snow drift down. Enough to catch the restaurant's gold light, turn the background sparkling.
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