Work Text:
Hana looks at the familiar facade of the coffee shop of Yongen-Jaya. Her smile spreads on her lips as she reads the french name. She comes here so often, but it's rare that she visits the discreet coffeeshop for only the coffee.
Hana clings on the two tickets in her hand, nervously. She's… She's finally going to do it. After months of visiting Leblanc, she had found the courage to do it, to ask him out. It's time to stop admiring the cute young barista from afar and do something about her feelings.
Her heartbeat accelerates at the sight of the café, so anxious about her plans. She can do it. Hana is a successful woman, independent, who knows what she wants. She's not that shy high school girl she was. She can do it. She just has to give him those tickets and he'll understand, right? She will finally grant her own wish, getting closer to that barista until…
She blushes before shaking her head. No. It's time she does something about it, or nothing will happen.
Hana puts her trembling hand on the door handle, gulping. She breathes calmly before she pushes the door.
She had no idea she just entered the lion's den.
The soft bell rings, announcing her presence. She was expecting a gentle gaze from the barista, welcoming her as usual, but instead she faces another glance, polar opposite from gentle.
She's not alone. Hana sighs internally, it'll be awkward but she refuses to let it down. She'll do it.
She looks at that man, sitting with his legs crossed on a stool, a chessboard in front of him with a cup of coffee on the side. He had slightly turned his head to look at Hana, piercing red eyes stuck on her as if she doesn't belong here. He looks strangely hostile despite his soft long hazel hair stopping mid-back, his gentle features and freckles. But his expression is stern as he stares at Hana with annoyance.
But she doesn't care, she prefers to look at the barista, who's focused on the chessboard, his chin leaning between his thumb and index, seeming to pout as he analyzes the game. He looks so handsome like this: his long eyelashes fluttering each time he blinks, his curvy lips pressed together, the way he's slouching slightly, everything he does seems gracious, elegant. Hana sighs fondly, smiling at him.
Kurusu Akira, the young barista of Leblanc — when the owner isn't behind the counter — always giving a kind smile, his gestures gracious, his skills irreproachable. Hana can't help but watch him with admiration.
But her reverie is cut short, that other man tsks, clicking his tongue. Hana blinks as she watches him putting his elbow on the counter, leaning on his gloved hand. Curiously, he's not wearing another one on his other hand… Is it a trend Hana isn't aware of?
Now she notices it, Kurusu seems to wear one too on his right hand.
"Are you finally going to play, Kurusu." The annoyed tone of the male voice surprises her. She frowns, scandalized. How dare he talk to him like that? Hana takes a step forward, ready to intervene.
"Let me think, Goro." Kurusu mumbles, tucking on one of his bangs. "I'm trying to see what's the best move here."
That "Goro" snorts, wicked smile on his face. "You'll lose anyway."
Kurusu immediately raises up his head, protesting. "I'm not-!" He stops, looking at Hana. He smiles nervously. Hana's heart fluster to see it. He's really… perfect. "Oh. I didn't notice you." He scratches the back of his neck. "... Sorry." He bows a little as an excuse.
"It's fine," she answers sweetly, ignoring that "Goro" who's staring at her. "I don't want to disturb you."
"No, no…" Kurusu shakes his head. "It's alright. Do I get you the usual?"
She beams immediately, he remembers each time, he pays attention to her. She swallows back her excitement, tilting her head. "Yes. Thank you, Kurusu-san."
Kurusu nods, turning around and taking care of her order, she sits on the other edge of the counter, closer to the TV, watching Kurusu with fascination. He's so used to it but always makes it perfect, giving attention to each of his customers with so much care…
If she can get such a man by her side, Hana would be the luckiest woman on earth.
"Hurry up." That aggressive tone interrupts her again, to her irritation. That "Goro" seems particularly rude with Kurusu. How can he…!
"Be patient, Goro." Kurusu chuckles. He's lucky Kurusu has a merciful soul. "I'll be back to you soon."
Goro grunts, looking away, taking his coffee cup calmly. His demeanor is such a contrast to how he treats Kurusu. Hana shakes her head, disapproving.
"Sugar with it?" Hana jumps when Kurusu talks to her. She smiles, shaking her head.
"No. I'd prefer to enjoy your work entirely without anything hiding its taste." She says softly, smiling gently at Kurusu.
Kurusu blinks, nodding slightly, going back to work. She hears a click of tongue again, getting her attention. Goro is glaring at her furiously. She frowns back, what's his problem?
"Here you go." He carefully puts down the cup in front of her. "Anything with it?" Kurusu asks, politely, his low voice as pleasant as ever. Hana looks at the black coffee, gulping.
She nods, she can't let go of that chance. "Well…" It's the perfect opportunity, he's in front of her, focused on her. She can do it. She inhales, slowly bringing out the tickets from her pocket. "I wanted—"
"Kurusu." She freezes, looking at the barista who moves away, laughing at the one who interrupted her. She immediately glares at Goro, who's huffing in annoyance.
"I'm taking care of customers, Goro. Let me do my work at least." Kurusu crosses his arms, sighing in exasperation. Hana can understand him, always bothered by that… man.
"I'm a customer too. Entertain me." Goro orders without any shame. How can he…?!
Kurusu, instead of being outraged, snorts. He leans on the counter. "How should I entertain you, honey?" ...Did she misheard? She frowns. She probably did, right…?
Goro smirks in return, reaching out to Kurusu slowly. Hana doesn't have the time to react, as she watches him grab Kurusu's collar and pull, making the barista ruin the whole chessboard. "Like that." Goro murmurs before stealing a kiss from Kurusu. The barista's eyes widen before he closes his own eyelids.
Hana crosses Goro's gaze, he seems to be smirking before he closes his eyes, his head tilting slightly to deepen the kiss. Is he doing that against Kurusu's consent?! The barista seems to struggle against him but also… leaning for more? She doesn't know what to believe, stunned.
Hana blushes when she hears a slight moan from Kurusu before he immediately backs down, his hand on his lips, cheeks red. Hana looks at Goro who's still grinning, taking his cup of coffee calmly, like he wasn't just making out with the barista seconds before.
What… What did she even witness?
"Goro !" Kurusu hisses, wiping his lips. "There's customers!"
"Exactly." Hana stares at them in shock, how bashful that "Goro" can be? How could he do that!
Kurusu looks at her, ashamed before he bows deeply. "My apologies for it. I didn't—"
"Stop apologizing for something you didn't do, Kurusu." Goro interrupts him. Hana would be frowning at his impolite behavior if she wasn't still processing what just happened.
They kissed in front of her. Kurusu… and that Goro, is she misunderstanding or does Kurusu isn't single? She's maybe wrong, maybe Kurusu didn't want this, maybe it was…
She just needs to ask.
"I wasn't aware you had… a boyfriend, Kurusu-san." Her heart beats quickly as she tries to calm herself down. Her stomach feels sick, as she watches them reacting to her words. That word tastes sour on her tongue, making her shiver. Does she really have no chance?
But Kurusu doesn't answer her, he seems to look down, still ashamed, almost shy too. Hana would love to think it's because of her.
Instead, Goro answers her, mockingly. "Boyfriend?" He snorts. "Right…" She frowns as he looks away, clearly finding her question ridiculous. "He's my rival." He declares it like it's supposed to make sense to Hana.
Which doesn't, obviously. She blinks, confused. Rival…?
Kurusu sighs, straightening his back. "We're not dating. He's…" He hesitates. "...my antithesis." He bites his lips, whispering something in his breath but Hana can't hear it. It seems to make Goro snorts however, putting his hand in front of his mouth. She winces, his laugh is scary, almost evil too.
Hana closes her eyes, trying to stay composed. They're not dating. So Kurusu is single and she can ask him out. But they kissed. So she can't?
She groans internally, trying to understand what she's supposed to do.
"Look. I'll offer the coffee, alright? As an excuse." He smiles, ignoring Goro's glare. Hana blinks, staring at him, speechless. He seems so sheepish, fidgeting with his single glove.
"Kurusu-san… You don't need to…" She smiles gently, pushing one lock of hair behind her ear, fluttering her eyes slightly. "It's fine." She understands. They're not dating. That "Goro" did such act without Akira's consent. But he is professional, he apologizes to his customers first… It's admirable.
"It's only polite. I'm—"
"Akira." That rough voice makes them stop again. Hana presses her lips, displeased to always end up interrupted by Goro, who doesn't seem to care. "What did I just say?" He gruffs, each word making Hana irritated.
She turns to look at him, she can't let Kurusu's honor be tainted like that by such a man, thinking that place belongs to him and that he can do anything. "He's doing his job. Let him be." She crosses her arms. "Stealing a kiss from him too…" She shakes her head. "That's shameful to force such things on him!"
Silence.
Goro blinks, still leaning on his fist, his expression completely empty. Kurusu also looks at her in surprise, frozen as if her words had stopped time.
It's almost tense. Did she… misinterpreted?
And then Goro chuckles. He simply turns away, not looking at her, finishing his cup of coffee. "Look who's talking." He answers after a long silence, a smile on his face, playing a little with a hair tie before he begins to brush his hair with his hands.
Kurusu goes to the other side of the counter, joining that man, frowning, ready to intervene. "Goro."
"No I won't stay silent, darling. She asked for an explanation, didn't she?" His melodious tone is even more threatening.
She feels stuck on her seat, his burning gaze freezing her entire body. He looks at her, lazily, with boredom, a messy ponytail revealing more of his face.
"Do you think I didn't notice? Your tickets in your pocket." Hana immediately puts her hand over it. He snickers. "Hundreds come into that cafe, thinking like you, believing they can take Akira away from me." He states, his tone feeling like venom, each word pronounced like a long curse he's putting on her. Hana holds the counter harder. "Foolish woman." He smirks, his eyes darkening.
"Goro, there's no need—!" But Goro raises up his hand, stopping Kurusu.
"You don't even know him like I do. You see only his pretty face, his gentle features, his soft voice. And you fantasize, not even thinking he's out of your reach."
Hana opens her mouth, clearing her throat trying to find some way to retort but he continues.
"Each of you stresses him out. He always hates disappointing people after all…" He slowly gets up. "The fact you're breathing the same air as him disgusts me." He winces. "Thinking you can already take him in your arms when you don't even know him. Have you heard how many times he complains about people like you, unable to see how uncomfortable you make him? How many numbers he had to throw away, finally accepting my help to make you understand how he doesn't want you? How many tried to force it, genuinely believing they had a chance?" He cackles. "Foolish. All of you."
Kurusu bites his lips, looking away. He takes Goro's hand, pressing harder. "Goro. She got the message, it's enough."
This time, he stops, holding back Kurusu's hand, his red glare not leaving Hana, who's shivering. Never she hears Kurusu protesting. She looks at her untouched coffee, still unpaid, biting her lips.
"I'm-" She tries to find her words, ashamed. "I thought…"
"Hana-san." Kurusu's gentle voice stops her. He smiles, still holding Goro's hand tightly. "I'm sorry."
Goro clicks his tongue in annoyance but doesn't say anything more.
Hana takes out her tickets, leaving them on the counter with some money. "I give it… for you then." She gets up slowly. "Sorry for disturbing you." She looks down. Hana inhales, walking towards the door, looking at Akira one more time, before she leaves.
Only the tv can be heard in the cafe before Akira sighs.
"You were cruel."
"You call that cruel?" Goro snickers, sitting on his stool. "That poor woman needed a simple reminder that she can't have you." He pulls on Akira's hand, making him yelp as he falls on Goro's lap. He glares at Goro, who's smirking, clearly proud of what he had done.
"She wasn't that bad."
"You told me you were tense each time she came in, because you knew you had to be pleasant despite her unwanted affections." Goro retorts immediately.
Akira pouts, not protesting further. Goro rolls his eyes, caressing his back to soothe him. "Darling…" Akira slowly turns his head, looking at him. "I know you hate rejecting them, but let me do my work if you can't do it."
Akira rolls his eyes. "Saying I'm your rival doesn't help anything, Goro…" He groans on his hands, already expecting another eternal debate on their label.
"Then how am I supposed to call you?" Goro deadpans at him.
"I told you "boyfriend" will be enough." He can see Goro's expression changing to scandalized. Exactly what he expected.
"And lowering our relationship as such? Akira, I can't condone this."
"It's just a label that everyone will understand!" Akira frowns, not understanding what's his problem with it.
"It's pitiful."
"Goro…" Akira sighs heavily. Why is he always like that?
"How can you suggest such a thing?" He tsks. "Akira, you're aware our relationship is—"
"Yes, you told me a thousand times how we're destined to be, to fight against or with each other, the definition of soulmates, how we complete each other in a perfect way and only "rival" would be a proper label. But ." Akira glares at him. "You're not going to say your essay each time." He pouts.
"Why not."
Akira groans in response. Goro is always so stubborn, and Akira hates and loves him for it. "Goro. Please."
"Fine." The ex-detective gruffs, clearly displeased to not call him his "fated thesis" or something as ridiculous. "What would be understandable for the masses and better than "boyfriend" then?"
Akira adjusts his position, smiling sarcastically. "I don't know, "husband" maybe?"
He immediately regrets it when he sees that light in Goro's reddish pupils. "Goro. No. "
"You suggested it."
"It's a joke!!"
"Let me take it seriously then." He beams, clearly pleased with the circumstances.
"Goro!" Akira protests, horrified, trying to get out of Goro's grasp who, of course, holds him tighter.
"What's wrong, love?" He can practically hear the sinister smile in his voice. "Not fond of that idea?"
"We're not going to marry because of a joke." Akira snarks back, protesting. "Let me go-"
The door opens, making them freeze. Their gazes cross the male customer's eyes, who says nothing, speechless. He seems hesitant before opening his mouth. "Is it… open?"
Akira laughs nervously, nodding, getting out of Goro's laps. "Of course, the usual, Katsu-san?"
Goro grunts, immediately noticing how that "customer" looks at Akira to his irritation.
He's definitely going to buy an engagement ring later.