Archive of Our Own ^beta

Kojiro tapped anxiously on the handlebars of his motorcycle. The dirt path had veered off the main road a mile back and now the trees were growing denser. Kojiro should’ve been wondering if he needed to tighten his board’s wheels or perhaps he should’ve been wondering who he could challenge to a race tonight, but instead he was wondering what he could make Miya for dinner.

He’d gone grocery shopping only a few days ago, but it already seemed like they’d run out of snacks and meals. Maybe he could take Miya to his restaurant for dinner. He always had food stocked up there. Was it weird to drag your son out to eat at the restaurant you owned because you never seemed to have enough food at home?

Kojiro frowned to himself. No, that was kind of weird. Most parents probably had this sort of thing all figured out. Maybe he could consult those self help books again if he could just remember where he’d put them.

Kojiro added yet another mental note to his already long list to remember to look for them when he got home.

The sound of a crowd greeted Kojiro as he pulled up to S. He saw people animatedly talking to each other, some looking down at their phones, others hollering at the skaters. Kojiro schooled his features into a wide smile as some of his fans spotted him and waved him over. 

“Hey,” Kojiro greeted the handful of men and women who were smiling up at him with wide eyes and flushed faces. “Everyone doing alright?” 

It still felt strange to have fans. He never imagined he’d do something that garnered people to look up to him, but he wasn’t complaining. 

A few of Kojiro’s fans answered at the same time and he couldn’t decipher what they’d said, so he just smiled and nodded along. 

While he waited for the current race to end, he took up conversation with the woman beside him until her eye caught someone in the crowd and she screeched right in Kojiro’s ear. 

“Cherry Blossom’s here!” she yelled as Kojiro tested to see if he could still hear out of his left ear. 

“What?” another of Kojiro’s fans asked, spinning around to look where the woman was pointing. “Holy shit! It is Cherry! He’s never here this early!” 

Cherry? Kojiro turned around, confused until he saw who they were talking about and froze in place. 

A man with a black mask pulled tight over his mouth and nose walked through the crowd that parted for him like he was some kind of god. He had long pink hair that was tied up in a ponytail and his eyes were narrowed, like he was calculating everything around him. Never in a million years would Kojiro admit it, but the guy kind of looked badass.

He’d heard of Cherry before. They’d never met because Cherry always arrived at S long after Kojiro had gone home, but he’d heard talk of him and seen a few clips of him skating. He was good, even if Kojiro hated to admit it. The guy had skill. And Kojiro had never seen him in person until now. 

Cherry stopped in front of Kojiro and looked him up and down, causing Kojiro to flush under his intense gaze.

“I’ve never seen you here before,” Cherry said. His voice was bored.

“I’m always here at this time,” Kojiro said, proud of himself for keeping his voice even. 

Cherry hummed. He finally met Kojiro’s gaze and Kojiro noted his eyebrows were pulled together. “That explains it. I don’t normally come at this time.” 

“So, you’re Cherry then?” Kojiro asked. He felt awkward under the gaze of all the S goers. He could practically feel them vibrating from excitement as the two of them spoke.

Cherry hummed again, not bothering to answer him. 

Okay, so the guy was an ass. Kojiro frowned. “I’m Joe.”

“I’ve heard of you.” Cherry looked down at Kojiro’s board. Cherry’s own board looked high tech - much fancier than the board Kojiro had gotten from Miya a month ago for his 30th birthday. It wasn’t an amazing board, but it was special to Kojiro because Miya had picked it out. The look Cherry sent it sparked a flicker of anger in Kojiro’s gut. “Think you can beat me?” Cherry asked.

Kojiro stomped his anger down and said coolly, “I don’t see why not.”

“Cocky,” Cherry said, looking back up at Kojiro, humor now in his voice. “That’ll be interesting.” 

Yelling and cheers started up around them as more of the S attendees spotted Cherry and Kojiro talking. 

“Race!” someone called out, generating a chant of “Race, race, race!” that spread through the crowd like wildfire.

“Beat him, Joe!” another voice said, only to be overshadowed by someone screaming, “Make him cry, Cherry!” at the top of their lungs. 

“Well?” Cherry said, looking away from the crowd and back at Kojiro. “Shall we give the people what they want?”

“What they want is me to win,” Kojiro smiled. “And I will gladly give them that.”

Cherry snorted out a laugh and shook his head. “You’re going to eat those words, Joe,” he said, and Kojiro’s S alias coming from Cherry’s mouth did something to his insides he didn’t want to think about. 

The skaters on the track still had a few minutes to go before they reached the finish line. While he waited for them to finish, Kojiro checked his board for anything that could hinder his performance and helped rile up the crowd by claiming he was going to beat Cherry. It was all in good fun and he assumed Cherry would be doing the same thing, but when it was almost time to head to the starting line he saw that Cherry had kept away from his fans and other S fantastics to talk to his skateboard.

Kojiro blinked. Yes, he was seeing that correctly. Cherry was talking to his skateboard. And, surprisingly, it was talking back. 

Kojiro had heard of Cherry’s high tech board and he’d seen it in action from videos, but he’d never seen him use it like this. 

“Don’t tell me you kiss it goodnight,” Kojiro teased as he sidled up next to Cherry on the starting line. 

Cherry shot him a dark look. “Carla and I don’t have that sort of relationship.” 

“Carla?” Kojiro spluttered out. “You named your board after a woman?” 

Cherry’s eyebrows furrowed deeper. “What should I’ve named her after? My left toe?”

“I don’t know! Anything but Carla!”

“Please stop arguing,” the board spoke in a feminine voice, startling Kojiro. “The race is about to begin.”

Cherry turned away from him and stuck his chin up. “Thank you, Carla.”

Kojiro stared at Cherry in bewilderment before shaking his head and focusing on the track in front of him. He wasn’t worried about beating Cherry. Sure, it would definitely be a confidence boost and make Cherry angry, but he wouldn’t be upset if he lost. He’d seen Cherry skate. He had an advantage with his board since it could give him tips while skating, and, not to mention, Cherry was incredibly talented. 

So, no, he didn’t need to win and he wouldn’t go home and sulk, but he wanted to win, just to see the look on Cherry’s face when Kojiro reached the finish line before him.

The first light above them changed from red to green and the alarm rang out.

“Good luck,” Kojiro said, throwing Cherry a quick glance. 

Cherry met his eye and Kojiro knew he was smirking under his mask.

“Save it. You’re going to need all the luck you can get.”

The final light turned green and the alarm blared as they both took off, flying down at the track.

Cherry was immediately in the lead, his pink hair whipping behind him. Kojiro wasn’t worried; just because he started off behind Cherry didn’t mean he was destined to lose. 

When they reached the first corner, Cherry’s board told him how to approach the curve without needing to slow down. Kojiro, on the other hand, didn’t bother to do the math and took the corner as fast as he was able to without tumbling off his board.

Kojiro let out a whoop as he left the corner, only a few inches behind Cherry.

“That was reckless!” Cherry yelled over the wind. He’d turned his head to watch Kojiro take the corner.

Kojiro shot him a sharp grin. “That’s my middle name!”

Cherry rolled his eyes and focused back on the dirt track. 

The rest of the race was mostly the same; Cherry asked his board for tips and followed through, only for Kojiro to barrel right after him. Sometimes Kojiro was in the lead, while other times Cherry was. They were neck and neck, and Kojiro couldn’t remember a time when he’d had this much fun skating with someone. 

When they reached the warehouse, Cherry veered off for a route he must’ve marked in his head before the race had started. Kojiro took another route, one that forced him to do an ollie up onto another track across the warehouse. He glanced down at his opponent and noted he was one story up from Cherry, who’d chosen a path on the second story of the building. Kojiro could just make out the way his eyebrows furrowed in concentration, his long fingers that were splayed out like he could grab the air, the way he held himself on his board that showed the tone muscle of his thighs-

“Shit,” Kojiro cursed, dodging a pipe he hadn’t seen. His board wobbled before he quickly straightened it out. He heard laughter from below and knew Cherry had noticed he’d almost crashed. 

Kojiro ignored him and focused on himself. He could see the finish line and knew Cherry wasn’t too far ahead. He could make it. He knew he could. If he could find a ramp down it would help him speed up and pass Cherry.

Kojiro looked around and saw a thin railing ahead to his left. It was broken and facing down toward the level Cherry was on, creating a downward ramp. It would be risky, but, if Kojiro used the speed he’d gain from gravity on his descent, he could pass Cherry.

He careened off the path and kicked his board up. He hit the railing hard and slid down the makeshift ramp and hit the second level with a loud bang. 

Cherry’s head snapped up and he looked back, only to turn around again as Kojiro sped past him on the narrow walkway. 

Kojiro shot him a wink for good measure.

He heard Cherry growl in annoyance and laughed as he tried to catch up. They were almost at the finish line when Cherry cut in front of him, the back of his board almost catching the front of Kojiro’s. He tried to speed up and cut Cherry off, which only pissed him off more and then they were both yelling at each other until they slammed to a stop, their boards almost mowing down the crowd that’d been waiting for them at the end of the finish line.

Stopping so abruptly, Kojiro was thrown off his board and landed in a heap on the floor with Cherry tumbling down right after him.

Kojiro rubbed his head and groaned at the heavy weight on his chest. He sat up to find Cherry in his lap. 

“What are you doing? Get off!” he yelped, shoving Cherry off his lap. 

Cherry scrambled back and sat down beside Kojiro, placing his hands on the ground behind him to prop himself up. “It’s your fault we crashed!”

“How is it mine? I’m pretty sure you grabbed my jacket back there!”

“I did not!” Cherry poked a finger at him. “I’m pretty sure you grabbed my hair!”

“No, I didn’t!”

“Ugh! Enough!” Cherry threw up his hands and stood up, not bothering to offer Kojiro a hand. “So?” he asked, glancing around as he dusted himself off. “Who won?”

The crowd seemed to grow quiet and a few people glanced awkwardly at each other.

“Um,” a girl spoke up, biting her lip anxiously. “It, uh, it was a tie.”

Cherry blinked dumbly and Kojiro felt his mouth curve up into a smile. 

He stood up and put his hands on his hips, leaning forward and jeering, “What was that about needing luck?”

“Huh.” Cherry turned to him. Though it looked like it pained him to say it, Cherry admitted, “I guess you’re not that bad.”

Kojiro brought a hand to his heart. “Was that a compliment? That felt like a compliment.”

Cherry groaned. “Don’t push it.”

Kojiro’s phone let out a sharp pinging noise and he pulled it out of his pocket. He had a text from Miya. He flipped up his board with his foot and caught it with his hand. “Well this was fun, but I have somewhere I need to be.” He turned around and began to walk back to his motorcycle. He needed to pick Miya up from the skate park and, with a groan, he realized he still didn’t know what to make for dinner.

“What?” Cherry called to his back. “Running off so soon?”

“Mouths to feed!” Kojiro replied, not bothering to look back. He shot off a text to Miya letting him know he was on his way. “More like one mouth, but yeah!” He gave a lazy wave over his shoulder. 

Kojiro heard Cherry huff in annoyance and took that as a goodbye. 

Cherry wasn’t what Kojiro had expected, but he found that he liked him. He was funny and clearly skilled. Maybe they’d meet again. 

Yeah. Kojiro ducked his head and grinned. Yeah, that’d be nice.

🛹   🛹   🛹

“Why did I need to come?” Miya complained for the tenth time.

They were walking down the street toward their local grocery store, a quaint little shop that Kojiro knew the owner of. He’d known the woman for years, ever since he’d walked in there as a teenager looking to see if they were hiring. 

The day was warm and there were people everywhere, making the most of the nice weather. The leaves on the trees were still a vibrant green and, occasionally, a cloud passed over the sun, cooling the top of his head. 

“Because,” Kojiro explained, shading his eyes from the sun, “Every time I come back with groceries you get mad because I didn’t buy what you wanted.” He glanced down at Miya where he walked with his cat hood up and a game console in his hands. How he played while walking was beyond Kojiro. “Now I’m forcing you to come with me so you don’t complain again.” 

They reached the main part of town that held more shops and more people. The crowds were thicker here, and Kojiro nudged Miya. 

“Put your game away, I don’t want you running into someone. Or getting kidnapped because you weren’t paying attention.” 

Miya sighed but put his console away, only to switch it out for a juice box he’d had stored in the pocket of his hoodie.

“Where did- You know what?” Kojiro said, holding his hands up. “I don’t even want to know.” 

The grocery store was on the other side of the town square, and, as Kojiro cut between a crowd, one hand clasped in Miya’s so his tiny body didn’t get snatched up, he caught sight of pink hair and stopped in his tracks.

Miya ran into his back, not expecting Kojiro to stop walking.

“Uh, Dad?”

Kojiro caught another glimpse of pink through the crowd and pushed his way forward, dragging Miya along. They stopped at the front of the crowd, and Kojiro frowned at the site before them.

A large group of people had formed around a man who held a giant brush in his hand. He was kneeling on the ground as he wrote something in black ink. When he was done he stepped back, the crowd clapped, and the man turned to speak to a woman holding a clipboard beside him.

Kojiro figured it must be some sort of calligraphy art show. 

“Why are you staring at him?” Miya asked, chewing on his straw. 

“He looks familiar,” Kojiro said, his eyes roaming the man’s body, trying to figure out where he’d seen him before. Had he seen him on TV or something? “You don’t recognize him?” he asked Miya.

Miya shook his head. “But if you do, let’s go say hi.” 

“Wait, no, no- Miya!” 

Too late. Miya darted toward the middle of the open area, stopping right in front of the pink haired man. 

Kojiro groaned and cursed himself for not raising a child with better manners. He caught up to Miya and grabbed his shoulders before he could dart off again.

Kojiro was still young, but Miya was a force to be reckoned with when he wanted to cause trouble. 

The man was watching them with wary eyes, no doubt confused as to why two people ran over to him and interrupted his show. The woman beside him was frowning down at Miya like he was a creature from another planet and not a thirteen year old with no sense of manners. 

“My dad says he knows you,” Miya stated and then stuck the straw of his juice box back into his mouth and slurped loudly. 

The man frowned and glanced at Kojiro. He saw the moment recognition dawned on the man’s face, but he quickly schooled his expression. 

“I’ve never seen this man in my life,” he lied.

“No, no, I’m pretty sure you have,” Kojiro said, pursing his lips. “I know I’ve seen you somewhere.”

“I can assure you, you have not.”

Kojiro squinted. “I have.”

“Have not.”

“Have.”

“No, you haven’t-”

“Yes, I have!” Kojiro exclaimed, the angry glare sparking his memory. He pointed a finger at the man in triumph and said, “You’re Cherr-”

The man - Cherry - slapped a hand over Kojiro’s mouth so hard he hit his teeth. He gave the crowd a strained smile and dragged Kojiro around the back of the building, waving away the woman he was with. 

Miya followed, drinking his juice and watching their interaction like it was the most boring thing he’d ever witnessed. 

“Will you shut up, you overgrown gorilla!” Cherry hissed. 

“Gorilla?” Kojiro heard Miya quietly mumble to himself in confusion. 

“I only use that name at S! Why do you think I wear a mask? Use a fake name?” Cherry pinched the bridge of his nose, just below the frame of his glasses, with his free hand. “Don’t tell me you’re actually as stupid as you look.”

“Wait, you’re Cherry Blossom?” Miya asked, his drink forgotten. 

Kojiro, ignoring Miya, made an offended noise and licked Cherry’s hand, forcing him to let go. “What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked once he was free.

Cherry let out a disgusted squawk and wiped his hand on his clothes. He shot a dark glare at Kojiro. “Did you just lick me? How old are you?” 

Miya tugged on Cherry’s clothes to get his attention. “You’re Cherry?” he repeated. “Like the legendary S skater?”

Cherry preened at the compliment. “Yes. I am. Why?”

“You’re good,” Miya nodded. He took a long sip of his juice, then added, “But I could beat you.”

Cherry rolled his eyes. “Really?” he gestured to Kojiro. “Even your dad couldn’t beat me.”

Kojiro bristled. “We tied!”

Miya looked up at Kojiro, frowning. “You raced Cherry and didn’t tell me?” 

“There wasn’t much to tell,” Cherry cut in. “He didn’t win.” 

“Neither did you!”

“Obviously! That’s what a tie means, you dimwit!”

Kojiro pouted at the jab. “I thought we were friends.”

“We raced once,” Cherry hissed, holding up one finger, “At a place that could cost me my job because, need I remind you, S is illegal. So, no, we are not friends.” He clenched his jaw and crossed his arms. “Now, did you actually need to speak with me? Because there had better be a reason why you just embarrassed me in front of all those people.” 

“Uh, well, uh.” Kojiro blanked. Without the mask on to cover most of his face, Cherry was kind of attractive when he was mad.

Cherry’s expression hardened. “Right. Well then. I’m going to go back and try to act like some crazed man and his cat child didn’t just jump me.”

“Cat child?” Miya murmured to himself. 

Cherry pointed a finger in Kojiro’s face. “And you are going to leave.” 

“Wait! There was something!” 

Cherry hesitated. “What?”

“Uh…” Kojiro looked down at Miya. “My son! Miya, he, um, he wants calligraphy lessons.” He smiled tightly and put a hand on Miya’s shoulder.

“I don’t give calligraphy lessons.” Cherry looked down at Miya and scrunched up his nose in distaste. “Especially not to children.”

Miya bristled and Kojiro had to grab onto the hood of his jacket to stop him from leaping at the man. “I’m thirteen!” 

Kaoru took a step back. “Your child needs a leash.”

Miya let out a noise that sounded like a cat hissing. 

Kojiro rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand and laughed awkwardly. “Yeah, he had one for awhile when he was younger. You know? Those little backpack leashes?”

Miya turned his anger on Kojiro. “Don’t tell him that!” 

“It worked really well when we went to amusement parks.” 

“I didn’t mean literally.” Cherry looked between the two of them. “That’s…” His anger morphed into confusion. “That’s actually really weird. Who puts a leash on their kid?”

Miya continued to glare at Cherry but pointed at Kojiro. “He does.”

“I have pictures.”

“I don’t want to see pictures.” Cherry threw up his hands, now angry again. “I’m leaving.”

“Wait!” Kojiro said and reached out to wrap his fingers around Cherry’s wrist. “What if I see you in public again. What should I say if I can’t use Cherry?”

Kojiro thought Cherry’s eyes softened slightly when he looked down at where their bodies met, but maybe he was just being hopeful because when he glanced back up he was glaring. Kojiro let go of his arm. 

“I’d rather you not speak to me at all. But…” Cherry sighed. “If you must, my name’s Kaoru.” He hesitated, then added, “And yours?”

“Kojiro.”

“Hmm.” Then Cherry - Kaoru - turned on his heel and left. 

When he was out of sight, Miya bent over and laughed, releasing all the laughter he’d bottled up. “That was so embarrassing for you!” He was laughing so hard he had tears in his eyes.

Kojiro shook his head. “Betrayed by my own kin.” He glanced at the corner of the building Kaoru had disappeared behind and then turned and walked the other way. “Let’s go.”

They had been walking for a minute, Miya making joke’s at Kojiro’s expense and Kojiro giving annoyed huffs in response, when they reached the other side of the street. 

“Uh, Dad?”

“What, Miya?” Kojiro asked, expecting another jab. 

“We still need to go to the grocery store.” Miya paused. “Which is in the other direction.”

Back past Kaoru was left unsaid. 

Kojiro bent his knees and crouched down, putting his face in his hands. He let out a long groan. 

A woman walking down the street gave him a wide berth as she passed.

Miya awkwardly patted Kojiro’s head in a rare show of sympathy. “I think there’s a store in this direction,” Miya said. Kojiro glanced up and Miya pointed ahead of them. “Down that way.”

Kojiro stood up. “Yes, good, we’ll go there.” He ruffled Miya’s hair. “Thanks, Miya.”

“Yeah, I don’t really want to walk past that guy again.” Miya glanced up at Kojiro. “It would be sad to see you lose the last shred of dignity you have.” 

“Remember those cookies I said you could get?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m not letting you get them anymore.”

“Hey!” 

🛹   🛹   🛹

A week later, Kojiro was at his restaurant, having a breakdown in the single bathroom.

Miya 

i dont understand

youre the adult

why are you texting me for help

Kojiro

you know i don’t have any friends

Miya

which isnt my fault

yet im still subjected to this for some reason

Kojiro

how do you know that word

you’re like ten

Miya 

going to pretend like my own father didnt just forget my age

reki’s calling my name im teaching him a trick 

gtg

Kojiro

wait don’t leave me!!!!!

Miya

go face your demons 

and find some friends while youre at it

Kojiro pocketed his phone and sent a silent prayer to whatever god was willing to take pity on him. He left the bathroom and peered around the corner, spotting a familiar head of pink hair sitting at one of the tables.

The restaurant was relatively empty on Tuesdays, so Kojiro only kept two of his staff on - another cook and a waitress to man the bar. 

He now very much regretted that since he would have to be the one to take the man’s order.

The bartender eyed him awkwardly, no doubt wondering why he was hiding like a frightened kid. “You good, boss?” she asked, her hand poised on a bottle of wine.

“Never been better,” he wheezed. He grabbed a menu and made his way over to the table. He cleared his throat and Kaoru looked up. 

“Oh, you have to be kidding me,” Kaoru groaned, and dropped his forehead onto the table. “You work here?” he asked, voice muffled.

Kojiro glanced around. The three other diners were focused on their food. The only person paying attention to Kojiro and Kaoru was the bartender. She glanced at Kaoru’s crumpled state and ducked her head to hide her laugh.

“I, uh, I own the place,” he answered. 

Kaoru groaned again, but lifted his head up to look at Kojiro. He glanced around the restaurant. 

“And where’s your mini-me?”

That startled a laugh out of Kojiro. “Miya? He’s out with his friends.” He handed over the menu to Kaoru and asked, “Any reason you’re at a fancy restaurant all alone?” He feigned a gasp and clutched his heart. “Don’t tell me your date ditched you? Pity.”

Kaoru glared and said, “I’m seeing if this place is good enough for a meeting with a new client.” He gave Kojiro a once over. “I’m starting to think it’s not.” 

“And just when I was about to give you the friend discount.” 

“But we’re not friends.” 

Kojiro huffed. “So no discount for you then.” A woman a few tables over waved a hand to grab his attention and he rapped his knuckles on the table and said, “I’ll leave you alone with the menu for a minute and then I’ll come back to take your order.”

He didn’t wait for Kaoru to respond and headed over to the woman. He took her empty plate and came back a minute later with her check. He waved her off with a smile and knew she’d be back the next week. 

Some people just couldn’t resist his food. Not that he was complaining. 

He headed back over to Kaoru and asked, “Ready to order?”

Kaoru, oddly enough, looked embarrassed. “I actually don’t know what to eat. It all looks good,” he said, eyes still roaming the menu. 

Kojiro smirked. He leaned closer to Kaoru so he could see the menu and felt Kaoru tense when their arms brushed. 

“Well my personal favorite is the Chicken Scarpariello,” Kojiro said, pointing at the name with his finger. “It was one of the first recipes I added to the menu.” He lowered his finger to another meal on the page. “A lot of people enjoy the Mushroom-Sausage Ragù since it goes nicely with wine. But, if you’re picky like Miya, I’d go for the Sun-Dried Tomato and Arugula Pizza.” 

“Wait…” Kaoru squinted at his outfit and Kojiro leaned away, realizing how close they’d gotten. “Do you make the food here?” 

“Well, I don’t cook everyone’s meal. That would be too much on nights when we’re busy. But I’m the head chef and all the recipes are my own.” 

“Huh.” Kaoru actually looked impressed, similar to how he’d looked when he and Kojiro had tied their race at S. Then his expression turned into a smirk. “So you’re not cooking this afternoon?”

Kojiro frowned. “Uh, well not right now. Why?”

“Good. Then I don’t have to worry about you spitting in my food.”

Kojiro laughed. “I could still do that, if I wanted to.” 

“Mm, probably.” He handed the menu back and said, “I’ll take the Chicken Scarpariello.”

“Good choice,” Kojiro replied with a wink. “Anything else?”

Kaoru shook his head. “That’s all, thanks.”

Kojiro eyed Kaoru’s glass of water to make sure he still had enough and then told Kaoru his food would be ready soon before heading back into the kitchen.

The other chef on duty looked up when Kojiro entered.

“I’ll take care of this one,” Kojiro said. “I don’t think there will be any new customers until around five o’clock. You can take your break now if you want.”

“Thanks, boss!” the man hollered and ducked out of the kitchen.

It took Kojiro about twenty to thirty minutes to cook Kaoru’s meal. It might have taken him quicker if this was anyone else, but Kojiro wanted Kaoru to be impressed. He wanted him to bite into the food and think, Holy shit, he’s an amazing cook. And maybe then that would lead to other good thoughts about Kojiro in Kaoru’s head like Kojiro is also very handsome and, wow, is that a six pack! 

When it was done, Kojiro walked back to the table and set the plate down in front of Kaoru. The restaurant was empty now. It was rare for anyone to come in between lunch and dinner on Tuesdays. The bartender had taken her break at the same time the cook had, so it was just Kojiro and Kaoru in the building. 

“Can I get you anything else?”

“No,” Kaoru said, his mouth already watering as he looked down at the food. Kojiro had to hold in a laugh. “This is fine, thanks.”

Kojiro went back into the kitchen and forced himself to take stock of the ingredients they still had and the ingredients the restaurant was running low on. It was either that or peering around the corner and watching Kaoru eat his food- which, no , Kojiro was not going to do that.

When he’d done everything he could do to distract himself, he finally went back to Kaoru’s table and found his plate completely empty. Kojiro blinked. It was. It was spotless. Had he licked the plate?

“Well?” Kojiro asked, startling Kaoru out of the trance he was in, staring down at the plate as if expecting more food to appear. 

“That was…” Kaoru seemed to steel himself. “It was good,” he settled on.

“Just good?” Kojiro prodded.

Kaoru groaned, defeated. “You know it’s amazing, so don’t force me to say it. Give my compliments to the chef.”

“Oh, he already knows.” Kojiro gave a slow smirk. “Because I cooked it myself.”

Kaoru groaned again and looked like he was thinking about stabbing himself with the knife. “Damn. Your wife must love you.”

Kojiro choked on his spit. “Wife?” he managed in a hoarse whisper. Why did Kaoru think he had a wife?

“Oh, uh.” For once, Kaoru seemed embarrassed. “I just guessed you were married since you have a kid. Sorry, I shouldn’t have assumed.”

Kojiro waved his hand. “No, no, it’s fine,” he said, throat still sore. “I’m not married. Or dating anyone,” he added, though he wasn’t sure why he felt the need for Kaoru to know. 

“Right. Well. That’s good.” Kaoru cleared his throat.

An awkward silence descended upon them and Kojiro decided now was the best time to take his plates. He scooped them up and said, “I’ll get you your check,” not bothering to wait for a reply.

The bartender was back and gave Kojiro an amused smile. “You didn’t ask him if he wanted dessert.”

The plates rattled as Kojiro dumped them into the sink and ducked his head, bracing his hands on the counter. “Shit.”

“I can give him the check if-”

Kojiro waved her off. “It’s fine. I don’t mind.”

She gave him a sympathetic smile and went back to her work, acting like she wasn’t going to spy on them as soon as Kojiro went back to Kaoru’s table. He didn’t blame her; he would’ve done the same thing if the roles were reversed. 

After Kojiro had dragged himself back to the table and Kaoru had paid, Kaoru paused at the front door and asked, “Will you be at S tonight?” He looked unsure of himself. 

Kojiro shook his head, something like disappointment unspooling in his gut. “Miya has some school event going on that I need to attend.”

Kaoru seemed to deflate. “Oh. Okay.”

“But,” Kojiro added, before Kaoru could run off, “I’ll probably be there next Saturday. I go as soon as it’s open since I have to make sure I’m not home too late for Miya.”

“Right,” Kaoru said, his hand still on the door handle. “Maybe I’ll see you there?”

Hope fluttered in Kojiro’s chest, stomping down the disappointment. “Yeah. Yeah, maybe.” 

Kaoru gave a terse nod and then left, the door closing behind him. The bell above the door jingled into the quiet of the restaurant. 

“You have issues, man,” the second cook drawled from behind him.

Kojiro turned around to find the bartender next to him, nodding along. They were leaning against the bar and had watched the whole conversation.

“Get back to work!” Kojiro yelled, embarrassed. He could feel his face heating up.

His employees simply laughed at his humiliation, and Kojiro couldn’t do much but cover his red face with his hands. 

The cook was right. Kojiro did have issues. And he’d need to work them out before he genuinely fell for Kaoru and could no longer claw his way out of the hole his heart had dug for him.

🛹   🛹   🛹

Miya slammed another door.

“Miya! No matter how many times you do that, my answer won’t change!” Kojiro called out. He heard Miya before he entered the kitchen, his feet dragging on the floor, his breathing loud and angry.

“It’s not fair!” he yelled.

“I said no,” Kojiro repeated for the hundredth time, raising his voice. He looked up from his laptop to meet Miya’s eyes. “You’re not going to S until you’re at least eighteen years old.” 

“But there are people under eighteen who go there!” Miya argued.

Kojiro shook his head and looked back down at his laptop screen. “Then their parents are irresponsible.”

“Well, Reki and Langa go-”

Kojiro snapped his head up and pointed at Miya, cutting him off. “And if your friends jumped off a bridge does that mean you would jump too?”

Miya tilted his head to the ceiling and groaned. “What is with adults and bridges!” He looked back at Kojiro and added, “And, yes, I would jump off a bridge if it meant I’d get out of this conversation!”

Kojiro put his head in his hands, rubbing his temples. “There is no conversation, Miya. We’re done here.”

Kojiro assumed Miya would storm off to find another door to harass, but instead he was silent for a moment. Then, quietly, he said, “I don’t think it’s fair that you go out and put yourself in dangerous situations and then turn around and I say I can’t do the same.” Kojiro looked up at him. Miya was frowning down at the floor. “What happens to me if you get hurt?”

Kojiro didn’t have a response to that because, well, Miya was right. Kojiro had been protecting Miya from physical harm, but what if Kojiro himself had been injured at S? What would that have done mentally to Miya? 

“Shit,” Kojiro agreed. “Shit, you’re right.”

Miya’s head snapped up. “I am?” He stood up straighter. “I mean, yes. I am.” 

“I was being a hypocrite.” Kojiro ran a hand over his face. It wasn’t fair to leave Miya and go off to S when Miya was probably worrying about him the same way Kojiro would be worrying about Miya if he was going off on his own to S, too. “Alright, fine,” he decided. “I’ll let you go to S on three conditions,” he said pointedly before Miya could get too excited. He held up a finger. “One, you only ever go there with me, two, you don’t tell anyone about S because, remember, S is illegal.” Kojiro held up a third finger. “And, three, you don’t race.”

“Wait what? I can’t race?” Miya asked, mouth falling open.

Kojiro shook his head.

“But that’s the whole point of S!”

Shutting down his laptop, Kojiro stood up from the table. “Take it or leave it, Miya.”

Miya worried his bottom lip in thought. “Does that mean I can come tonight?”

Kojiro glanced at the clock. “If you can get ready in ten minutes.” 

Miya bolted out of the room. 

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Kojiro said to himself, and went to get ready. 

Ten minutes later, Miya was bouncing on the balls of his feet by Kojiro’s motorcycle, a ball of excitement in the shape of a thirteen year old.

“Ready?” Kojiro asked, attaching his and Miya’s skateboards to the bike. Miya wouldn’t need his board, but Kojiro knew Miya would feel weird being at S without it.

Miya nodded vigorously. “Reki and Langa are already there.”

Kojiro crossed his arms. “I still don’t understand how I’ve never seen them at S.”

“Oh, they hide from you,” Miya confessed. “They know you’d be angry if you caught them.”

“Damn right I would be.” Kojiro tapped the motorcycle’s seat. “Now hop on. And, please, put a helmet on this time, Miya.”

When they arrived, the crowd was just as large as it normally was. Kojiro tried and failed to spot a familiar face in the crowd. 

“Where are Reki and Langa?” he asked, looking around. If he was also looking for a certain pink-haired man, Miya didn’t need to know.

Miya shrugged, more interested in S than where his friends might be. He was trying to act cool, but his wide eyes gave him away. He was looking at the place like it was heaven.

“Oh, I see them! There’s Reki and Langa!” Miya exclaimed, pointing at two boys a few feet away. “I texted them I was coming.”

Reki was standing with his board tucked under his arm, talking loudly to Langa who was nodding along, his own board on the ground, propped up against his leg. They wore matching smiles.

“Can I go hang out with them?” Miya asked, ready to bolt.

Kojiro hesitated. He didn’t want Miya to go off on his own, but he also knew he wouldn’t want to be hanging out with his friends while his dad was right there. Kojiro would know; he’d been the same way when he’d been Miya’s age.

“Alright, but stay where I can see you. If you wander off, I’m finding you and immediately dragging you home,” Kojiro warned.

“Thanks, Dad!” Miya said, and was off. He ran over to his friends, yelling their names, and Reki started cheering, throwing his arms up and everything. When Miya reached them, Reki ruffled Miya’s hair. Langa said something to Miya that Kojiro couldn’t hear, but whatever he said had Miya beaming. 

“Is this your first time bringing mini-me?” a voice asked from beside him.

Kojiro turned his head to find Kaoru standing next to him in his S outfit, watching Miya with Reki and Langa. 

“I didn’t want him to come here until he was older but.” Kojiro shrugged. “The kid’s persuasive.”

Kaoru glanced at him from the corner of his eye. “He get that from you?”

Kojiro shook his head and let out a small chuckle. “Probably.”

“So, they’re Miya’s friends?” Kaoru asked, nodding his head in their direction. “How old are they? They seem…”

“Too old?”

“I was going to say too tall.”

Kojiro laughed. “Was that a joke?” He nudged Kaoru’s side with his elbow. “Hey, you’re kinda funny.”

Kaoru didn’t reply, but his eyes crinkled in the corners, like he was smiling under his mask.

“Reki and Langa are both seventeen,” Kojiro answered, looking away from Kaoru before his mind could start to wonder what his real smile might look like. “Miya’s thirteen.”

“Your thirteen year old is friends with two seventeen year olds?” Kaoru raised an eyebrow in judgement. 

Kojiro rubbed the back of his neck. How could he explain what Miya had gone through? How could he explain that his old friends had turned their backs on him as soon as they realized he was better at skating than they were and his talent had frightened them? How could he say that Miya didn’t trust easily? How could he say that Miya befriending Reki and Langa was one of the best things Miya had done? And if he did say all that, would Kaoru still find it weird?

“Miya isn’t great at making friends,” he settled on. “I don’t want to discourage him from hanging out with them. Especially since they share the same hobby.” 

Kaoru shook his head. “Okay, then. Let me rephrase that; your thirteen year old is friends with two seventeen year olds because they share the same hobby ?” 

“Look,” Kojiro started, sighing. “I’ve known Reki and Langa for awhile now. They’re good kids. They see Miya like a little brother.” He looked at Kaoru. Met his eyes. “I trust them.” He broke Kaoru’s gaze and gestured to Miya. “Besides, I would rather him be friends with Reki and Langa than those snotty little brats he used to hang out with.”

Kaoru let out a snort. He got a single word out of his mouth before Miya was running over, Reki and Langa in tow.

Miya looked up at Kojiro with puppy dog eyes and Kojiro knew nothing good was going to come out of his son’s mouth. “Dad, can I race Reki?”

Kojiro felt his eye twitch. “Miya, what did I tell you? There are three rules to follow. Three! That’s not a lot.”

“But it’s not dangerous!” Miya argued. Reki and Langa were awkwardly standing behind him, watching their argument play out. “I race Reki all the time!”

Well. He did have a point. But Kojiro was the adult. What he said should go. 

He was about to put his foot down when Kaoru spoke.

“I think it would be okay to race Reki,” he said.

Kojiro turned to him. “That’s odd,” he said, dangerously quiet. “I don’t remember Miya asking you since, you know, you’re not his father.”

“Kojiro,” Kaoru said in a whisper, and Kojiro felt his anger settle at the way his name rolled off Kaoru’s tongue. “The track isn’t dangerous and he’s racing a friend. He’ll be fine. And you did say it yourself; you trust Miya’s friends.” Kaoru turned to Reki and Langa, leaving Kojiro stunned beside him. “Which one of you is Reki?”

Reki raised his hand like he was in a classroom. He looked sheepish. “Uh, me, Cherry, sir.”

“Will you make sure you two don’t get carried away?”

Reki nodded.

“And you’ll make sure Miya stays safe.”

Again, Reki nodded.

Kaoru turned back to Kojiro. “I don’t see a problem here.”

Kojiro almost cried. That was what he’d been missing. Sure, being a single parent was fine for some people, but it had always been hard for Kojiro. When Miya had been a baby, Kojiro had wanted someone at his side to tell him he was doing a good job, that No, Kojiro, you’re doing everything right, don’t worry too much, he’ll grow up big and strong because you’re a good father. That desire had lessened over the years, after he’d gotten through those first years of having to care for someone other than himself. But there were times, like when things got too difficult or when Miya was upset and wouldn’t speak to him or when he’d go to an event at Miya’s school and see couples pointing to their children and whispering to one another and he would think, Maybe it would be easier if I weren’t doing this alone. 

There was a sudden lump in his throat. Kojiro wanted that. He thought he was over that desire, but seeing Kaoru take over, just for a minute to let Kojiro stop worrying, he realized he still wanted that. 

But because that would never happen, Kojiro looked at Miya and said, “Hey, kid.” 

Miya looked up at him, hope shining in his eyes.

“You better win.”

Miya let out a loud whoop that overshadowed Reki’s offended, “Hey!”

Miya pointed at Kaoru and said, “I like you, Cherry.”

Kaoru cocked his head. “You’re not so bad either, cat child.”

Miya ignored him, already focused on racing Reki. He dragged Reki over to the starting line, Langa following right behind them. The two of them started animatedly talking, gesturing to their boards every now and then. Langa watched the two of them silently, a small smile on his lips. 

Kaoru crossed his arms and asked, “Why were you so against Miya racing Reki?”

“I don’t know,” Kojiro sighed. “I know I’m overprotective of Miya, but can you blame me? It’s only ever just been the two of us.” By the starting line, Miya let out a loud laugh, tossing his head back. Kojiro smiled. “We only have each other.”

“You never thought about trying to date?” 

Kojiro turned to look at Kaoru so quickly he thought he pulled something in his neck.

Kaoru’s face was red above his mask. Kojiro swore the tips of his ears were red too, but it was hard to see in the dim light at S. 

“Sorry, I don’t- I shouldn’t have-”

Kojiro rubbed the back of his neck, glancing away. He was blushing, too. “It’s fine. Really.” He cleared his throat. “But I mean, yeah, there were a few people I liked and went on dates with but. I don’t know. It’s not just me they need to get along with, it’s also Miya. And he’s picky with people.”

Kaoru seemed to hesitate, then blurted, “He seems to like me just fine.” 

Kojiro’s mouth dropped open but before he could reply to that comment, Miya called out. 

“Dad! Dad! The race is about to start!” He was waving Kojiro over to the starting line.

A few of Kojiro’s fans gave him confused looks while others looked on with hearts in their eyes. Kojiro had mentioned a few times in passing that he had a son, but no one had ever seen him until now. His fans were probably having a field day. 

Kojiro gave Miya a thumbs up. “I’ll meet you at the finish line!” he yelled back. 

Miya returned the thumbs up and went back to, what Kojiro could guess based on Reki’s facial expression and the knowledge he had of his own son, shit-talking. 

“Want a ride?” Kojiro asked Kaoru. “I have a motorcycle.”

Kaoru gave him a tired look. “That explains the brain damage you have.” 

“I’m a good driver! I’m safe,” he insisted. Kojiro motioned for Kaoru to follow him to his bike. “I’ve never been in a single accident.” He grabbed the spare helmet and held it out for Kaoru.

“I’d rather walk.”

“Oh, come on.” Kojiro crossed his arms, helmet hanging loosely in his hand, and leaned back against his motorcycle. “You’re gonna walk all the way to the finish line? You’ll miss the race!” 

“Yes, but at least I’ll still be alive,” Kaoru said, his tone teasing. 

Kojiro swung onto the motorcycle seat and tapped the space behind him. “Get on.”

“No.” 

“Get on.”

“No.”

“Get. On.”

“No.”

Kojiro cocked his head. “Please?”

Kaoru threw up his hands. “Fine, Jesus. You’re annoying as fuck.”

Kojiro winked. “And yet you still like me.”

“I’m rethinking that,” Kaoru said, but he sighed and climbed onto the bike. 

Kojiro realized his mistake as soon as he felt Kaoru against his back. Too close, he thought. Fuck, he’s too close. Kaoru’s thighs bracketed Kojiro’s and he swore he saw God when Kaoru shifted closer.

“How do I, um-”

“You can put your arms around my waist,” Kojiro said, praying Koaru couldn’t hear the strain in his voice. 

Kaoru’s hands, almost tentatively, came around Kojiro’s back and wrapped around his front. His hands grazed Kojiro’s stomach and his body shuddered at the touch. 

“Like this?” Kaoru whispered into Kojiro’s ear.

If Kojiro had been standing, his knees would’ve given out. But he wasn’t standing, he was sitting on his motorcycle, the engine on, and at the feel of Kaoru’s breath on his ear, he accidentally pressed down on the gas, the bike speeding off down the dirt road, Kojiro barely dodging the few skaters that were standing away from the main crowd. 

Kaoru let out a very loud scream, right in Kojiro’s ear. His hands tightened around Kojiro until it was almost painful. 

Kojiro straightened the bike out, focused now on the road and not the feel of Kaoru against him.

“You said you were a good driver!” Kaoru yelled over the wind. His face was tucked into Kojiro’s back and Kojiro knew his eyes were probably shut tight.

“Sorry, I just, uh- Yeah, sorry!” he yelled back. He really didn’t want to have to explain why he almost ran someone over. 

After a few more seconds of Kaoru’s face in his shoulder blades and his hands digging crescent moons into his stomach, Kojiro slowed down slightly and said, “Hey, Kaoru. Come on, look up.” 

This section of the road was empty of people and it was dark enough now that a few stars were out. It was a warm night and the wind whipped Kojiro’s hair around. 

“Lift your head up,” he said again when he could still feel Kaoru’s nose in his back. “It’s fun to feel the wind in your hair.” When he still didn’t move, Kojiro added, “It might loosen the stick up your ass.” 

Kojiro felt Kaoru’s body shake with laughter and then the warmth of his face was gone and Kojiro’s back was cold. 

“Oh,” Kaoru said, a little breathlessly. 

Kojiro wanted to turn around and see the expression he was wearing, but he didn’t want to risk almost running them off the dirt road again. 

Kojiro felt Kaoru sigh against him and lean closer to rest his chin on Kojiro’s shoulder. Their helmets got in the way, but he somehow made it work. 

“This is nice.” 

Kojiro hummed in acknowledgment. 

They were silent the rest of the way to the abandoned factory. Kojiro knew they were close when they started to see people waiting around, skateboards in hand. 

Kojiro didn’t want the moment to end but he couldn’t just drive around in circles, so he pulled off to the side and cut the engine. Kaoru got off first and handed his helmet to Kojiro, who hooked it over the handlebar. He followed Kaoru toward the building.

Loud talking and cheers were coming from inside and colorful lights were bouncing around, occasionally shining through a hole in the wall or through a missing part of the roof.

Kojiro frowned at the scene when they entered. Should he have let Miya race? There were so many people watching. What if they were rude to Miya or they ridiculed him or, shit, what if they challenged him to a beef and he agreed. Kojiro would obviously tell him no, but what if he ran off and raced anyway? What if he got hurt? 

Kaoru forcefully jabbed his elbow into his rib, forcing Kojiro to double over in pain. 

“Stop worrying,” Kaoru said. “Your kid’s doing fine.” He pointed up at one of the large screens. They’d been added all around S, so no matter where you were on the course, you could watch the race.

Kojiro glanced up, hand still on his side, to find Miya’s grinning face on one of the screens, his face in high definition. 

“Oh.” 

Kojiro had watched Miya skate hundreds of times before. He’d been the first person Miya had ever raced with.

The first time they’d raced, Miya had been seven years old with a smudge of chocolate on the corner of his mouth that Kojiro had wiped away with his thumb.

Miya had been absently rolling his skateboard with his foot when he’d said, “Race me to the end of the street.”

“What, right now?” Kojiro asked, wiping the chocolate off his thumb and onto his shirt. He’d do the laundry tomorrow. 

The sun had been touching the horizon, and Kojiro had just been about to tell Miya they should head inside for dinner.

“Yeah, right now.” Miya had pointed to a lamppost at the end of the street. “First one to the lamp.” He’d looked up at Kojiro with the sweetest smile and, really, how could he have said no? 

“Alright, kid.” Kojiro lined his own skateboard up. He’d been teaching Miya tricks before Miya had decided he wanted to race. “I won’t go easy on you.” 

Miya’s eyebrows furrowed. “I don’t want you to! I’ll beat you! Fair and square.” 

“Then show me what you’ve got.” 

Kojiro had, obviously, gone easy on Miya. The kid had been seven, and Kojiro hadn’t wanted to crush his ego too badly. 

Miya’s expression when he’d passed the lamppost had been complete and utter happiness and Kojiro hadn’t been able to resist pulling him into a hug and saying, “Miya, that was awesome!” 

Now, Miya wore that exact same expression as he passed the finish line, Reki only a few inches behind him. 

The crowd roared Miya’s name and Kojiro’s heart swelled at the sound. 

Sure, maybe it had been reckless to let his son race at an illegal race course, but if it put that big of a smile on Miya’s face, then who was Kojiro to stop him?

“Miya!” Kojiro yelled, running over to meet him. He was unable to keep the pride out of his voice. 

Miya’s head snapped up and he met Kojiro in the middle. He leapt into his arms and Kojiro spun him around, their laughter loud and bright. 

“That’s my boy!” he said, squeezing Miya close. “I knew my own flesh and blood wouldn’t let me down!”

Miya let out a wild laugh and Kojiro set him back down on his feet. He glanced up and found Kaoru watching the two of them with soft eyes. If Kojiro had to put a name to it, he would’ve said Kaoru almost looked fond. 

Koaru’s arms were crossed as he said to Miya, “You didn’t do too bad.”

Miya pointed a finger at him, his cheeks still flushed from exertion. “I did great and you know it.”

Kaoru rolled his eyes, but there was no malice in the gesture. 

Miya shot Kojiro another smile and ran back to Reki and Langa, grin still wide. Reki, thankfully, seemed to be in good spirits even though he’d lost, and he ruffled Miya’s hair, earning him an offended squawk. 

“He’s a really good skater,” Kaoru admitted, moving closer to Kojiro.

“Don’t let him hear you say that,” Kojiro laughed. “He’d never let you forget it.”

“Exactly why I didn’t say it to his face.”

They were silent for a moment, content to watch the teenagers. Langa touched Reki’s elbow and said something to him that had Reki smiling. 

“So you taught him all that?”

Kojiro startled at Kaoru’s question and then shrugged. “I mean, I taught him a few things, yeah, but, honestly, most of it was just Miya.” He gestured over to Miya. “He taught himself a lot of tricks.” 

“Wow.” 

“I should say I wish he put more effort into his school work and all that,” Kojiro continued, “But honestly I’m really proud of him. He’s good at skating and he likes it so if that’s what he wants to focus on, I don’t really see the harm in it.”

“What about college?” Kaoru asked, now looking at Kojiro. 

He shrugged. “I never went to college like most people do. I went to culinary school and I’m doing fine.” 

Kaoru made a face and gestured to Kojiro’s body. “Not sure if I’d say you’re doing ‘fine’, but I mean-”

“Oh, shut up, asshole,” Kojiro laughed, smacking his arm lightly. 

He looked back at Miya and saw a group of older teens and a few young adults were waving him over, clearly wanting to talk to him about the race. Kojiro’s parental instincts kicked in and he rushed over to Miya before he could talk to any of them. 

“Nope,” he said, guiding Miya away. “Not doing that.” 

Miya spluttered. “But I have fans!”

“Fans are where I draw the line.” 

Miya groaned but didn’t argue. He let Kojiro drag him to his bike, Reki and Langa awkwardly following behind.

Kojiro placed the extra helmet on Miya’s head, giving the top of the helmet two quick taps, and took his board. He pointed at the motorcycle seat and Miya rolled his eyes before getting on.

Kojiro turned to Kaoru. “We’re gonna head out now.” To Reki and Langa, he said, “Do you two need a ride? I don’t mind coming back with my car to take you home.” 

They both shook their heads. “It’s alright, Joe. We came with our boss. But thank you, anyway.”

Kojiro smiled and ruffled Reki’s hair. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” He thought for a second and added, “Actually, don’t do anything I would do.” 

Reki laughed, and he and Langa said goodbye to Miya and Kaoru before walking back into the old warehouse. 

Kojiro attached his and Miya’s boards to his bike and then said to Kaoru, his mouth quirked up, “Well, you know where to find me.” 

“Unfortunately,” Kaoru replied. Kojiro could hear the smile in his voice.

He got on the motorcycle and added, “See you later.”

Kaoru took a step back. “If I see you soon, it’ll be too soon.” 

Kojiro grinned and knew Kaoru was wearing a matching smile under his mask. He knew he’d be seeing Kaoru again soon. 

🛹   🛹   🛹

“Do you like Kaoru?”

The hot pan slipped from Kojiro’s hand at Miya’s question and, without thinking, he went to catch it with his other hand. The one without an oven mitt. He shrieked as his bare hand came into contact with the hot metal and he dropped it a second time, the pan falling onto the kitchen floor with a loud bang. 

Kojiro rushed over to the sink and ran his hand under the cool water, sighing.

The restaurant was deathly quiet and Kojiro glanced up to find Miya, Reki, and Langa watching him, a mixture of humor and concern on their faces.

“Oh, wow,” Reki remarked. 

All three of them were leaning over the bar and had watched the disaster take place. 

“I’ll take that as a yes, then,” Miya said.

Kojiro spluttered. “Do I- Miya- I don’t think- Look, that’s an inappropriate question-”

“You two are worse than Reki and Langa, I swear,” Miya sighed, looking back down at his phone.

Reki and Langa shared a confused look. 

“I don’t get it.”

“I don’t either.”

Miya set down his phone and patted their arms reassuringly. “You’ll understand one day. Maybe.” He made a face. “Hopefully.”

“Now that’s just rude,” Kojiro said. “No one is as, well, you know-” oblivious “-as them.” He gestured to Reki and Langa who shared another confused look to which Langa answered by shrugging. 

Miya laughed. “Sure, keep telling yourself that.”

Turning off the tap, Kojiro went to retrieve the fallen pan and gingerly picked it up with the discarded oven mitt. “And, yes, for your information, I do like Kaoru.” He set it on the counter and looked pointedly at Miya. “As a friend.”

Miya shrugged and that was the end of the conversation because Reki leaned over to show him something on his phone.

Kojiro felt bad lying to Miya. It wasn’t exactly a lie, but it wasn’t the truth either. It’d been over a month since Miya’s race at S and he and Kaoru had hung out a few times since that night. Sometimes they’d meet up at S or Kaoru would visit Kojiro at his restaurant and it was nice. It was good. 

And Kojiro was utterly and completely fucked.

He would've been perfectly fine just being friends with Kaoru, but, no, his traitorous heart just had to go and ruin it for him. So, yes, he had romantic feelings for Kaoru, but that wasn’t by his own volition. He liked Kaoru more than a friend, but he didn’t want to because nothing would come of it and it was pointless to hope when he’d just be breaking his own heart in the process.

The bell above the restaurant door jingled, dragging Kojiro out of his thoughts, and all four of them looked up.

“Hey, Kojir-” Kaoru paused in the doorway. “Oh, uh, and children.”

“Hi, Cherry!” Reki said, and Langa waved.

Kaoru let the door close behind him and joined them at the bar. “Reki, you don’t have to call me that outside of S.”

“Oh, yeah, I know,” Reki grinned, rubbing the back of his neck. “I think it’s a cool name, though.”

“It’s not just you,” Kojiro cut in. “He still calls me Joe.” 

“Alright, suit yourself,” Kaoru said to Reki, smiling. “Just don’t go yelling it around my clients, okay?”

Reki nodded. 

Kaoru turned to the other two teens. “Hello, Langa. Hello, Miya.”

Miya pointed at the open chair on his right. “Sit down.”

“Miya,” Kojiro warned. “Manners. Say hello.”

Miya sighed and plastered on a large smile. “Hello, Kaoru, how was your day? Great, awesome, now sit down.”

Kojiro sighed and buried his head in the tea towel he’d grabbed to dry his hand. “Where did I go wrong?”

Kaoru, now used to Miya’s antics, merely did as he was told. “So why are you three here so late?”

Langa answered. “We were skateboarding for most of the day and got hungry.”

“You’re always hungry,” Reki pointed out.

Langa thought for a moment. “We were extra hungry,” he amended. 

“And you fed them?” Kaoru asked, looking at Kojiro where he stood a few feet away. 

Kaoru’s hair was tied at the end like usual and Kojiro wanted nothing more than to pull the hair tie out.

“Of course. They’re my best customers,” he said, like he wasn’t imagining the feel of Kaoru’s hair between his fingers. 

“We don’t pay for the food,” Langa pointed out, and Reki slapped a hand over his mouth.

“And we’re very grateful, Joe, sir.”

Kojiro laughed and shook his head. He started cleaning out the pan he’d dropped when someone’s phone went off and Reki pulled his out from his pocket. 

He typed something out and said, “My mom wants me to come home now.” 

Kojiro moved closer to the bar, wiping his hands on the towel, and asked, “Do you need a ride?”

Langa stood up quickly, his chair scraping the ground. “I can walk him home.”

Kojiro caught Miya’s eye and they shared a conspiratorial glance. 

“Are you sure, Langa?” Reki asked, like he wasn’t already moving to stand up and gather his belongings. 

They said their goodbyes and when they opened the door, the little bell ringing above their heads, Kojiro called out, “Text Miya when you’re home! I want to know you both got back safe.”

“Okay!” Reki said, giving a thumbs up while Langa said, “Thank you again for the food.” 

When the door closed, Kaoru turned to Kojrio and asked, “Are those two...?”

Kojiro and Miya groaned in unison.

Miya said, without looking up from his phone, “We can’t tell if they’re secretly dating or just really, really dumb.”

Kojiro went back into the kitchen and started gathering new ingredients from the fridge. He caught Kaoru looking at him and answered his questioning glance. “I made you food, but I kind of dropped it.” 

At this, Miya snorted out a laugh. “It was funny.” To Kaoru, he said, “It’s sad you missed it.”

“I’m sure he’ll do it again.”

“Hey!” Kojiro pulled out a clean pan and pointed it at Kaoru through the opening between the kitchen and the bar area. “I made you food and this is the thanks I get?”

“No, you tried to make me food. Tried.”

“Well, now I’m not going to make you anything.” Kojiro set the pan down and crossed his arms.

Kaoru cracked. “Okay, okay, I’m sorry!” He gave Kojiro a smile that looked like it pained him. “Please, make me food?”

“Fine, fine,” Kojiro said, acting like this was a waste of his time when really nothing sounded better than cooking for Kaoru. “You can stay until I close.” He pulled his phone out of his back pocket and glanced down the time. “That should be in about thirty or so minutes. I just need to finish a few things.”

He moved back to the kitchen and began to clean up, wiping down the counter and putting pots and pans away while Kaoru’s food cooked. He could hear Miya and Kaoru talking quietly together. He let their words wash over him while he went about his tasks until, a few minutes before the oven’s timer was about to go off, he heard Miya ask, “So how do you feel about men?”

Kojiro felt his eyes bulge out of his head and he stumbled out of the kitchen. 

Kaoru was sitting beside Miya, his face bright red. 

“You don’t need to answer that,” Kojiro blurted, one arm braced against the doorframe. 

Miya looked between the two of them, smug. 

“Well, I, um.” Kaoru looked at Miya. “Do you mean, like, romantically?”

Miya gave him a bored looked. “I’m thirteen, not stupid. I know what being gay is.” 

Kaoru glanced at Kojiro and then down at his plate. He awkwardly tapped the side of it with his pointer finger. “I mean… Yeah, men are, you know. An option. For me.” 

Miya beamed and started making wild hand gestures at Kojiro that he didn’t follow. Miya realized he couldn’t understand him, so he started frantically pointing at Kaoru’s bent head. 

Kojiro violently shook his head and made the motion of cutting his own neck. 

Kaoru leaned back and Miya quickly yanked his arms away, almost falling out of his chair in the process.

Kaoru looked between the two of them, aware he’d missed something. “What?” 

“That’s, uh…” Kaoru looked at him and Kojiro suddenly lost his train of thought. Miya gave him a thumbs up from behind Kaoru’s back, causing Kojiro to stumble out with, “That’s cool because, uh, I’m bi.” He glanced at Miya again, unsure if he should’ve said that, but Miya gave him two thumbs up, grinning madly.

Kaoru sat up straighter. “Oh? You are?”

“Yeah.” Kojiro rubbed the back of his neck and looked away. “It’s not like, a secret, you know?” 

“Why’d you never mention it?”

“I don’t know. Never came up, I guess. I mean, why’d you never tell me?” 

Kaoru shrugged. “Didn’t think it was relevant.”

Kojiro wanted to grab his shoulders and shake him and scream, That information was very relevant, you dick! How could you keep that to yourself while I was over here thinking I was falling for someone I had no chance with?

Even though he now knew Kaoru liked guys too, that still didn’t change the fact that he might not see Kojiro that way. Just because Kojiro had feelings for him, didn’t mean Kaoru would like him back.

That small flicker of hope in his chest died out and Kojiro didn’t have the strength to relight it. 

“Are you dating anyone?” Miya asked, cutting off Kojiro’s spiraling thoughts. 

Kaoru turned to Miya and Kojiro made a murderous gesture behind his back which Miya happily ignored.

“Uh, no. I’m not.” Kaoru frowned. “Is there a reason for this interrogation?”

“No, no reason,” Miya smiled sweetly. “Just wanted to get to know you better since you’re my dad’s friend now.”

Kaoru looked over his shoulder and Kojiro quickly dropped his hands from their murderous pose. “We’re friends?” he asked.

“I burned my hand earlier because I was making dinner for you!” Kojiro said, holding up his injured hand even though it no longer hurt. 

Kaoru put his chin in his hand and watched Kojiro talk with a small smile on his lips. 

“And you come to my restaurant to hang out and eat after it’s closed and I don’t kick you out.” Kojiro spread his arms out at his sides. “I hope we’re friends or this would be really weird.” 

Kaoru’s smile grew until a laugh bubbled out and he pushed his glasses farther up his nose. “Yeah, alright, I get it, we’re friends.”

Or we could be more, Kojiro’s brain supplied and he imagined shoving his head down the drain and turning on the garbage disposal. 

Getting over Kaoru was going to be exhausting. 

“So…” Kaoru ventured. “About that food you were making-” He was cut off by his stomach growling. 

Miya laughed so hard that this time he actually fell out of his chair.

Kojiro sighed and went to check on the food.

🛹   🛹   🛹

It was another hot day and Kojiro was lounging on the couch, fanning himself with the oven manual he’d been reading. 

Miya groaned from the kitchen. “Dad! You need to buy more cold food,” he called out. “It’s too hot to eat anything but ice cream.”

Kojiro sighed and closed his eyes, sinking deeper into the couch. He’d made a note to go shopping that week, but then one of the ovens at the restaurant had stopped working and he’d devoted most of his time to fixing it. He could’ve bought a new one, but that would’ve cost too much. He’d decided that if he wasn’t able to find the issue then he’d think about buying a new one, but for now this was what he was focusing on. 

Opening his eyes, Kojiro frowned at the ceiling. It shouldn’t be Miya’s job to remind him to go grocery shopping with Kojiro. Kojiro was the parent, that was his job. He hadn’t had time. He was just one person.

“We don’t even have any juice boxes left!” Miya yelled again, and Kojiro threw an arm over his eyes. “I can’t focus on my homework without one!” When Kojiro didn’t respond, Miya peered his head into the living room. “Dad?” 

When Kojiro was seventeen, he’d been informed that he had a son and that the mother, a girl his age he’d only been with a few times, couldn’t take care of him. 

She’d taken the phone from her mother, the woman who’d called Kojiro, and had said, through choked tears, “Kojiro, he’s the sweetest little boy, but I can’t- I don’t know- I was going to go to college.” 

And, well, Kojiro at the time hadn’t been dreaming as big as her and he’d also wanted to see his son, so he’d replied, “Okay. I’ll take care of him.” 

When he’d first laid his eyes on Miya, only two days old at the time, something had clicked in Kojiro’s mind and he’d thought, Oh. This is what I’ve been waiting for.

Before Miya had come along, Kojiro had been going through life without a plan. He’d been living day to day without a care in the world, but then he’d looked at little Miya wrapped up in a light green blanket and he’d thought, He is what I’ve been waiting for. 

His parents had agreed that as soon as he turned eighteen he’d have to leave home, so Kojiro had gathered what little money he could scrape up to pay for a nanny to take care of Miya and then he’d gone to the cheapest culinary school he could find. 

Looking back, he really should’ve thought it over first, but Miya had blinked up at him with these wide, curious eyes, and all rational thought had left his brain. 

Those first few years as a new parent had been a struggle. He’d been so focused on making sure Miya had enough food and diapers and medicine that he’d forgotten to take care of himself. But, eventually, he’d graduated culinary school and, a year or two later, he’d opened his own restaurant. 

Even though it had been hard, Kojiro was forever thankful he’d brought Miya home that day. He didn’t know who he would be if Miya hadn’t come into his life. But, on rare occasions, Kojiro wished he hadn’t had to do it all alone. He often wondered if he’d been a good parent. If he was a good parent. 

Kojiro lowered his arm. “Miya, can I ask you something?” 

Miya awkwardly hovered in the doorway. “Uh, sure?” 

“Was I- Was I enough?” Kojiro fiddled with the pages of the manual. “Did you ever want another parent?”

Miya’s face morphed into confusion. “Why would I want another parent?”

“I don’t know,” Kojiro confessed. “I just- I make mistakes a lot and half the time I don’t know what I’m doing. I can’t help but think it would’ve been easier if-“

“Stop.” Miya said, holding up a hand, and Kojiro shut his mouth. “I think,” Miya said slowly, his eyebrows furrowed in thought, “You did the best you could given the circumstances. And, in my eyes, that was more than enough.” 

Kojiro felt his heart swell with love and he knew he was wearing a goofy smile. 

Miya gave him a disgusted look. “Ugh.” He crossed his arms and looked away. “Don’t get sentimental.”

Kojiro laughed, a little choked up. “You’re such a weird kid,” he said, like it was the greatest thing in the world, which, yeah, it was. 

“You’re the one who raised me,” Miya pointed out. 

Kojiro stood up, tossing the oven manual on the low table, and walked over to wrap Miya in a hug, earning him an offended squawk. “Hell yeah I did. And I did a damn good job.” He kissed the top of Miya’s head and wished he could freeze time and live in that moment forever. He never wanted Miya to grow up, but he knew there would be a day when he would have to let him go. 

Kojiro would’ve hugged Miya forever, would’ve kept him safe in his hold until the end of the world, but after the fifth wack to his arm, he stepped away. He ruffled Miya’s hair for good measure before he could dart off. He knew Miya hated any display of affection, so Kojiro took what he could get. 

Miya grumbled, attempting to flatten his messed up hair, and went back into the kitchen, Kojiro following. He grabbed his keys and wallet off the kitchen table while Miya went back to playing his video game. 

Kojiro nudged him. “Put that away and let’s go get food.”

“What?” Miya paused the game. “Right now?” He pointed at the window. “It’s like a thousand degrees outside!”

Kojiro started putting his shoes on and motioned for Miya to do the same. “This is my only day off this week,” he said as he headed for the front door, hopping on one foot as he tried to get his other shoe on. “So if you want snacks you’ll have to- Kaoru?” Kojiro faltered, opening the door to find Kaoru with his hand raised as if he was about to knock. 

“What do you mean ‘Kaoru’?” Miya asked, ducking his head under Kojiro’s arm. “Oh. Hi.” 

“Hi,” Kaoru replied, looking a little green. 

Kojiro got his shoe on and stood up straighter. “You okay?” he asked, opening the door wider. 

“Yeah, I’m fine. I just, uh…” He looked anywhere but at Kojiro. “Can I speak to Miya? Alone?” he added.

Kojiro frowned and turned to Miya. He shared Kojiro’s confused look and shrugged. 

“Sure,” Kojiro said, turning back to Kaoru. “You two can talk in the kitchen. I’ll just be in the other room.” He left the door open and walked back into the living room. He paced back and forth, trying to hear what Miya and Kaoru were saying but they were speaking too quietly. 

Was Miya in trouble? Had something happened? Why would Kaoru need to speak to Miya, but not Kojiro?

He peered around the doorway, catching sight of them. They both sat at the kitchen table, Kaoru talking in a low whisper while Miya nodded along. He ducked back into the living room before they could notice him lurking. He sat down on the couch, opening the oven manual again to make it look like he hadn’t been eavesdropping. 

After a few more minutes of reading the same sentence over and over again, attempting to actually get something done even though his mind kept wandering back to the conversation in the kitchen, Miya and Kaoru walked into the room. 

Miya had a smug smile where he leaned against the doorframe, and Kaoru almost looked nervous, fidgeting with his hands and not meeting Kojiro’s eyes. 

Kojiro glanced between them, lowering the book. “Everything okay?” 

“Yup,” Miya said. “Everything’s fine, Dad.” His smug smile gave away to a real, genuine smile so whatever the two of them had talked about couldn’t have been too bad. 

“I’ll see you at S tonight, yeah?” Kaoru asked, backing away and gesturing to the front door.

Kojiro glanced at Miya and found him watching the two of them, looking amused and not even trying to hide it. “Yeah, we’ll both be there.” 

Kaoru gave a terse nod and high tailed it out of the house. 

As soon as he heard the door shut, Kojiro turned on Miya. “Okay, what was that about? Kaoru looked like he was about to pass out!”

Miya stifled what Kojiro could guess was a laugh. “You’ll find out soon.” He moved and motioned to the door. “Let’s go! I want ice cream.” 

“Of course now you want to go,” he said to the empty room, Miya already out the door. Kojiro rolled his eyes and followed Miya outside into the hot, cloudless day, wondering what he could use to bribe the information out of him.

🛹   🛹   🛹

A few hours later, when the sun was just below the horizon, Kojiro and Miya pulled up to S. 

People milled around, talking and laughing, most with skateboards in their hands. On the big screen, two women were racing and a large crowd was cheering them on. 

Kojiro and Miya wandered through the crowd until Miya found Reki and Langa. They were standing off to the side, watching the race and occasionally saying something that had the other nodding in agreement. Beside them stood a man wearing face paint who Kojiro recognized as Shadow, another popular skater at S.

When Reki and Langa spotted Kojiro and Miya, they waved them over. 

“Shadow, right?” Kojiro greeted the other man. “Not still hurt about that time I beat you, are you?”

Shadow stuck his chin up. “‘Course not,” he said, even though he clearly was.

“Either of you racing tonight?” Reki asked, something strange in his tone, like he knew something Kojiro didn’t.

Miya didn’t say anything, but Kojiro replied, “No, are you guys?”

Reki, Langa, and Shadow all shook their heads.

Kojiro gestured to the screen above them that showed the race coming to an end, the women now in the home stretch. “How was the race?”

Reki immediately jumped in and began to explain the two women skaters and their techniques. He pointed out where they were strong and where they’d made mistakes and how they could improve. Kojiro had to hand it to the kid. He really knew his stuff. He’d have to ask Reki to tell him what mistakes he normally made when skating and how he could fix them. 

Kojiro was about to ask about it when he heard someone yell his name. 

“Joe!” Kaoru’s voice cut through the noise and conversations petered out. 

Kojiro spun around and watched as Kaoru walked toward him, the crowd parting for him. 

“I challenge you to a beef!” 

The crowd cheered at his words and Kojiro cocked his head, a smirk dancing on his lips.

“You think you can beat me this time?” he said loudly over the cheers. 

Kaoru shrugged. “Either way, I’ll win.”

Kojiro frowned at his cryptic words and glanced down at Miya, who was bouncing on the balls of his feet. Kojiro had never seen him so excited before. “Why are you so happy?”

“Oh, you know,” he replied, waving his hand in the air. “I didn’t get to watch your first race, so now I can watch this one.”

Kojiro stared at him. “Why do I feel like you’re lying?”

“Well?” Kaoru said, before Miya could reply. “What’s your answer?” 

Everyone quieted down, watching with bated breath as Kojiro opened his mouth and said, “I accept.”

The crowd went wild at the idea of a rematch between Joe and Cherry Blossom, and Kojiro laughed along with them. Even Reki and Langa were cheering.

“Yeah! Go, Joe!” Reki whooped.

Kaoru made an offended noise and turned to him. “What about me?”

“I’ll cheer you on, Cherry,” Langa said. 

“I will too!” Shadow added.

Miya nudged Kojiro. “You know who I’ll be rooting for.” 

Kojiro pulled him into a side hug. “Me, I hope.”

“You wish,” he said, but Kojiro knew he was joking. 

The race on the screen finished with the woman riding a bright purple skateboard beating the other woman by a good few feet. 

Kojiro and Kaoru moved over to the starting line and readied their boards. 

“Hey, Kojiro?” Kaoru said quietly, meeting Kojiro’s eyes. 

“Yeah?” 

“If I do something dumb, will you forgive me?”

Kojiro thought for a moment, then said, “Well, if it’s something stupid, I’ll probably be right behind you.” 

Kaoru’s laugh carried them over the starting line as they jumped on their boards and took off.

The shrieks of the crowd faded as they sped down the dirt track, Kaoru in the lead. They were tied for most of the first part of the track, Kojiro and Kaoru trading places at each corner they hit. A girl on the side of the track hooted when Kojiro spun on his board and cut in front of Kaoru, sticking his tongue out at him.

When they reached part of the course that was empty of people, Kaoru called out to him.

Kojiro looked back and noticed Kaoru was slowing down. “Kaoru?” he asked, focused on the distance growing between them.

Kaoru yanked down his mask. His eyes were wide without his glasses and his cheeks were flushed and Kojiro wanted nothing more than to feel his face under his fingertips. 

“I think I’m falling in love with you!” Kaoru yelled, and Kojiro felt the world stop spinning. 

Koaru was falling in love with him? With Kojiro? Had he heard that right? It sounded too good to be true. 

But, looking at Kaoru’s open face, Kojiro started to believe he’d heard him correctly. And, for a heart-stopping second, there was no one else in that moment - just him, Kaoru, and the boards beneath their feet. 

“So, Kojiro, if you’ll have me,” Kaoru continued over the wind, “Will you go out with me?”

Kojiro opened his mouth to answer when suddenly his board hit something and he went flying, landing hard on his stomach. 

Somewhere in the distance he heard someone yell, “Shit!” but he was too focused on the pain shooting up his arm. A board stopped at his side and Kaoru’s face came into view.

“Kojiro? Shit, hey, can you hear me?” 

Kojiro sat up, gripped Kaoru’s clothes with the arm that wasn’t hurting, and dragged him down into a wild kiss. 

Kaoru made a surprised noise against his mouth and then melted into it. Kojiro could feel Kaoru’s lips curling up as he smiled into it, his hands sliding into Kojiro’s hair.

Then Kojiro pushed him away, though it pained him, and yelled, “What is wrong with you? Why would you ask something like that while we’re skating?”

It took a second for Kaoru’s brain to restart and then he was yelling back. “I was scared you’d say no!” His hands were still in Kojiro’s hair, his breath on Kojiro’s face. 

“What makes you think I’d say no?”

Kaoru let go of him to throw up his hands. “Well, I don’t know! I asked Miya and-” Kojiro watched as his words sunk in. “Wait. What? You- What?” 

“You asked Miya?” Kojiro said, confused. Had he hit his head? 

“Well, yeah, you’re his father. I wanted his permission. That’s why I spoke to him earlier today. He told me you’d like a grand gesture-” Kaoru cut himself off and shook his head. “Wait, wait, wait, no, go back to what you were saying. The thing about not saying no.”

Kojiro let out a quiet laugh, just a small puff of air. “I wouldn’t have said no, because I think I’m in love with you, too. Dumbass,” he added softly, unable to keep his feelings out of his voice. 

This time, Kaoru was the one to drag Kojiro into the kiss. He placed his hands on Kojiro’s hips and Kojiro placed his hands around Kaoru’s neck. Kojiro leaned back, allowing Kaoru to move closer.

They were interrupted by a honk and they broke apart to find Shadow leaning out a car window, bringing the car to a stop.

“What the hell happened? Was this part of the plan?”

“Plan? Wait, you all knew Kaoru was going to ask me out?” Kojiro demanded. 

Miya, Reki, and Langa scrambled out of the car. Miya rushed over to Kojiro and fell to his knees and wrapped his arms around Kojiro’s neck. He was shaking and suddenly Kojiro didn’t care that no one had answered his question.

“Hey, hey, Miya, it’s alright. I’m okay.” Kojiro wrapped his uninjured arm around Miya, squeezing him tightly. 

“I saw you fall,” Miya said quietly so only Kojiro could hear. “I was scared. I thought you’d gotten hurt really badly.” 

Kojiro leaned away and looked Miya in the eye. “Hey, look at me. See, I’m in one piece. You can’t get rid of me that-” Kojiro hissed as he leaned on his left arm. 

“Dad?” Miya panicked. 

“Your arm hurt this whole time?” Kaoru snapped. “Why didn’t you say something!” He gestured for Miya to move and he helped Kojiro stand up. “We’re going to the hospital.”

“We are?” Miya looked between them. “Is it- Is it bad?”

Kaoru shook his head and smiled reassuringly. “It’s just his arm which isn’t too bad. Luckily, your dad has a thick skull.” 

Kojiro turned his head to look at Kaoru, their faces inches apart, and narrowed his eyes. “Are you calling me dumb?”

Kaoru’s lips quirked up, and Kojiro was thankful he’d taken his mask off. His face was too pretty to be covered. 

“You and your big brain are going to have to figure that one out on your own.” 

Kaoru helped him toward the car, Miya following closely behind.

“You guys were on camera that whole time,” Langa said, pointing up at one of the S cameras. 

Kaoru’s face turned red and Kojiro choked on a laugh.

Reki looked up at the camera and waved. “Say hi.”

Kojiro ducked his head into Kaoru’s neck. “This is going to haunt me forever.”

“At least there was no audio,” Kaoru whispered back, earning another choked laugh from Kojiro. 

“Promise to never bring up me completely wiping out,” Kojiro said, “And I’ll agree to go on a date with you.”

“You expect me to let that go?” Kaoru rolled his eyes.

“You two are going on a date?” Langa asked, perking up. “Do you need flowers? Because if you do, you can get them from Shadow’s flower shop.” He pointed his thumb over his shoulder to where Shadow was still leaning out the car window.

“Stop telling everyone my business!” he yelled. 

“And you could put in a good word to his manager! He’s in love with her,” Reki added.

Shadow let out a strangled yell and stumbled out of the car, lunging at Reki who dodged out of his grasp and hid behind Langa. 

“Hold on, how do you two know Shadow?” Kaoru asked Langa, his arm warm where it was wrapped around Kojiro’s waist. 

“Reki bought flowers from Shadow’s shop for me on our first date.” 

Kojiro, Miya, and Kaoru all stared at Langa, mouths hanging open in shock.

Langa blinked at their reactions. “Oh, and he also gave us a ride to S.” 

“Back up, you two are dating? And you never told me?” Miya screeched.

Reki put his hands on Langa’s shoulder and peered around him. “We didn’t tell you? I swore we did.” 

“No! You didn’t!” 

“Huh.” Reki gave a sheepish smile. “Sorry, I could’ve sworn we told you.”

“I’m going to kill you!” Miya jumped at Reki, and he yelped, dodging Miya’s hands.

Miya chased Reki around the car, screaming at him as Reki laughed between apologies. 

“Boys!” Kaoru snapped. “Get in the car! We need to go!”

Immediately, Miya and Reki did as they were told.

Kojiro wanted to point out to Kaoru how he sounded like a father when he told them off, but his head was starting to ache. 

Shadow climbed into the driver’s seat and Reki and Langa squeezed to fit in the passenger’s seat. If his arm hadn’t been throbbing and his head wasn’t starting to pulse, Kojiro would’ve pointed out how dangerous that was, but he was too tired to speak. He was also deliriously happy and didn’t want to ruin the mood.

He sat in the middle of the backseat, resting his head on Kaoru’s shoulder, Kaoru’s breath tickling the hair on the top of his head, and Kojiro’s injured arm cradled in his hand. On his other side, Miya leaned up against him, his cheek squished against Kojiro’s upper arm. 

In an hour, he’d be having a cast put on his broken arm and he’d be complaining about missing work while Kaoru yelled at him to quit moving as Miya doodled on his cast with a marker with Reki, Langa, and Shadow barking out suggestions on what to draw. 

And the next day, Kaoru would surprise him with a candlelit dinner at Kojiro’s restaurant and he’d sheepishly admit it was Miya’s idea, after he, Reki, and Langa came out from the kitchen dressed in suits, ready to serve them their food. 

But in that moment, Kojiro didn’t know what was to come. All he knew was that he was surrounded by the people he loved most, and there was nothing in the world he would trade that feeling for.

“So,” Miya spoke up, back to his normal self, “Since your arm’s injured, can I drive the motorcycle?” 

“No!” Kojiro and Kaoru yelled in unison. 

This would be a long car ride.