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."
Osamu had meant to take a picture of Kita's dinner, which could have simply been done with it in his lap or hands, but then Kita lifts the skewered chicken up by his face. Osamu momentarily freezes, trying to make sense of the gesture and also not to think about how cute Kita's misunderstanding is. He could very well explain himself, but he decides to spare Kita some embarrassment, and to be selfish, and he takes the photo of Kita's face instead.
"Perfect," he comments, more about Kita than the picture, before he puts his phone away. "Let's eat before it gets cold."
And then he picks up a piece of karaage and pops it into his mouth.
Some people would demand to see the picture. But if Osamu's satisfied, so is Kita. No reason to delay any more.
He takes a bite of the chicken. Eyes widening as the cinnamon and cashews do exactly what Osamu described. Warming against the winter chill. A tiny noise of satisfaction escapes. Something between a sigh and a groan.
Osamu's so absorbed in the taste filling his mouth, the way the citrus and spice sting his tongue and the fatty chicken soothes the burn, that he almost misses the little noise of delight that Kita makes. But he doesn't miss it, and looks up at his upperclassman with awe. That noise was so cute, and simultaneously so hot. Distracting Osamu from a meal is no easy feat, but Kita is so incredibly worth it.
"D'ya like it?" He asks with his mouth full, having fewer reservations about it. "'S it good?"
Osamu heeds Kita's advice, though he doesn't quite realize he's being admonished, and chews through the delicious, tangy chicken, swallowing it down with gusto. "It's incredible, Kita-san. Even though there's the thick glaze, the skin on the chicken's still crispy and the inside's perfectly juicy. You've gotta try one, especially if you like spice."
He holds out the little paper tray with a small heap of fried chicken, and gestures for Kita to take one. He can just stab it with his skewer, or something.
Osamu is much less hesitant to trade plates with Kita, likely because he's been trading and splitting things with Atsumu all his life. When he's offered some of the yakitori, he plucks a piece off of the skewer and pops it into his mouth. The contrast between this chicken and the yuzu-chili one is immediate, as this is warm and sweet in its flavor profile, but the taste is just as immaculate. Osamu moans happily, though this time he manages to swallow before he speaks.
"Oh god, that's so good." He says, voice full of awe and glee. "Comin' here was the best idea. I love when the internet's right."
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timeasmymeasure
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.
no subject
Date: 2023-01-30 01:36 am (UTC)"Perfect," he comments, more about Kita than the picture, before he puts his phone away. "Let's eat before it gets cold."
And then he picks up a piece of karaage and pops it into his mouth.
no subject
Date: 2023-02-02 05:43 pm (UTC)He takes a bite of the chicken. Eyes widening as the cinnamon and cashews do exactly what Osamu described. Warming against the winter chill. A tiny noise of satisfaction escapes. Something between a sigh and a groan.
Kita would never talk while chewing, of course.
no subject
Date: 2023-02-05 02:13 am (UTC)"D'ya like it?" He asks with his mouth full, having fewer reservations about it. "'S it good?"
no subject
Date: 2023-02-05 11:43 am (UTC)Kita's so absorbed that's barely a scolding. By his standards. Taking another bite, he waits for Osamu's review.
no subject
Date: 2023-02-06 02:47 am (UTC)He holds out the little paper tray with a small heap of fried chicken, and gestures for Kita to take one. He can just stab it with his skewer, or something.
no subject
Date: 2023-02-07 01:11 am (UTC)So Kita tries what's offered. Eyes going wide.
"Wow. Here. You gotta try some of the yakitori."
no subject
Date: 2023-02-07 02:24 am (UTC)"Oh god, that's so good." He says, voice full of awe and glee. "Comin' here was the best idea. I love when the internet's right."
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