"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."
Not the food. It's incredible, of course. But the look on Osamu's face beats anything else. Something curls in Kita's stomach. Very close to pride. He gets to be here, part of this, and not many people can say the same. In fact - Only him.
Osamu snort-laughs. "Definitely better than getting our asses kicked by a team no one's heard of," he agrees. "Honestly, even if we'd won? I still might like this more."
Being with Kita, eating delicious food, getting a first hand experience of something so different? Osamu's won plenty of games before, but he's never had anything like this. This is different, and special.
"Oh yeah, there's more." He agrees with a grin. "Wanna pivot?"
It boggles Osamu's mind a little to hear Kita speak so casually, what some might even call crass. Enough to distract him from his food, and that's quite the feat all things considered.
"We lost," he remarks bluntly, pausing in the middle of unfurling the plastic from around his onigiri. The rice is super fluffy and warm; he eats a stray grain off of his thumb. "That's all that matters."
Osamu purses his lips. "That's not what I meant. I didn't mean it's what matters as like, the reason we play volleyball. I meant it like, you only get to keep goin' if you win. And we didn't. So it's basically an ass kickin' that way."
The bitterness of the subject matter is slightly ruining the good vibe of the meal, until Osamu bites into his own onigiri and oh, it's so good his bad mood is immediately erased.
"Winnin' would be great," Kita agrees. Wiping his mouth. "But I ain't tradin' with Karasuno. Not a single second. My team threw themselves to the limit, monsters against monsters. And I got to be there. Standin' with you. That sort of feelin' is special. If it only comes once in my life, that would be okay.
"So. I just can't let our match get insulted like that."
Kita takes a breath. Realizes how much space he's just monopolized.
The way that Kita talks about them, his teammates, makes Osamu's chest feel so tight. Not a bad kind of tightness, but an overwhelming rush of emotion all the same.
"I wasn't ready for it to be the last time," he confesses, speaking past a lump in his throat that has nothing to do with the food. "I wanna keep playin' with you, Kita-san. I don't know how we're gonna be a team without you."
Oh, the frustration, the want. Hadn't Kita felt the exact same thing, walking down the stairs? Stopping the Twins' apology?
"I did too," he admits.
"I wanted to keep playin'. But my turn's done. It wouldn't be fair, fallin' apart because one person's gone. I want the next Captain to take ya even further. Whoever it is. That would make me really happy."
Because it would mean Kita did his last job correctly. Building Inarizaki stronger than ever.
Osamu wants to argue. They didn't lose just one person, but all of their third years. One game, one come-out-of-nowhere team, and suddenly Inarizaki's losing more than just incredible players; they're losing the foundation of their team, the upperclassmen who kept them focused and sane and who taught them reliability and strength.
But Kita matters more to Osamu. It would be a lie to say this isn't about losing him, specifically.
"We won't let you down," he promises, deadly serious. "We'll be the team you deserve."
Kita meant it. Every day, every word, he was proud to be Captain. Through the endless mopping and peace-keeping and and diving to cover for missed plays - he would do it all again. But he can't.
"I know. You monsters will have to keep yourselves accountable."
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timeasmymeasure
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?"
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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.
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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."
no subject
Date: 2023-02-08 12:03 am (UTC)Not the food. It's incredible, of course. But the look on Osamu's face beats anything else. Something curls in Kita's stomach. Very close to pride. He gets to be here, part of this, and not many people can say the same. In fact - Only him.
Lucky, lucky him.
"Oh, the onigiri!"
no subject
Date: 2023-02-08 12:45 am (UTC)Being with Kita, eating delicious food, getting a first hand experience of something so different? Osamu's won plenty of games before, but he's never had anything like this. This is different, and special.
"Oh yeah, there's more." He agrees with a grin. "Wanna pivot?"
no subject
Date: 2023-02-08 01:43 am (UTC)"It wasn't an ass-kickin'," he remarks. Sipping green tea. With all the new flavors, even this turns novel. Bitter-bright against the spice.
no subject
Date: 2023-02-09 01:30 am (UTC)"We lost," he remarks bluntly, pausing in the middle of unfurling the plastic from around his onigiri. The rice is super fluffy and warm; he eats a stray grain off of his thumb. "That's all that matters."
no subject
Date: 2023-02-09 11:46 pm (UTC)"Only one team goes all the way. That's the deal. Even a little kid understands. If that's all that matters, we'd never even step on the court."
He bites into the onigiri.
no subject
Date: 2023-02-10 02:17 am (UTC)The bitterness of the subject matter is slightly ruining the good vibe of the meal, until Osamu bites into his own onigiri and oh, it's so good his bad mood is immediately erased.
no subject
Date: 2023-02-10 12:52 pm (UTC)"Winnin' would be great," Kita agrees. Wiping his mouth. "But I ain't tradin' with Karasuno. Not a single second. My team threw themselves to the limit, monsters against monsters. And I got to be there. Standin' with you. That sort of feelin' is special. If it only comes once in my life, that would be okay.
"So. I just can't let our match get insulted like that."
Kita takes a breath. Realizes how much space he's just monopolized.
"Sorry for goin' on."
no subject
Date: 2023-02-11 01:49 am (UTC)"I wasn't ready for it to be the last time," he confesses, speaking past a lump in his throat that has nothing to do with the food. "I wanna keep playin' with you, Kita-san. I don't know how we're gonna be a team without you."
no subject
Date: 2023-02-12 10:08 pm (UTC)"I did too," he admits.
"I wanted to keep playin'. But my turn's done. It wouldn't be fair, fallin' apart because one person's gone. I want the next Captain to take ya even further. Whoever it is. That would make me really happy."
Because it would mean Kita did his last job correctly. Building Inarizaki stronger than ever.
no subject
Date: 2023-02-12 11:49 pm (UTC)But Kita matters more to Osamu. It would be a lie to say this isn't about losing him, specifically.
"We won't let you down," he promises, deadly serious. "We'll be the team you deserve."
no subject
Date: 2023-02-13 12:58 am (UTC)Kita meant it. Every day, every word, he was proud to be Captain. Through the endless mopping and peace-keeping and and diving to cover for missed plays - he would do it all again. But he can't.
"I know. You monsters will have to keep yourselves accountable."
He holds out his hand to Osamu.
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