038 » i know you'll say that i'm assuming things

[kochan]

[when the idea first hits him, he can barely keep his excitement to himself. because it's a good plan, isn't it? he's decided to stop being the phantom thieves' PR manager, and he's trying to be a little less of an obnoxious phanboy, but this is still a good idea, right? after all, kurusu's only human, and everybody deserves to take a day off — even if that day off has to be planned for them.

regardless, one fine saturday evening, when mishima knows they don't have classes the day after, he sends a quick text:]

Hey, are you busy tomorrow?

Comments

[riotgun]

[akira has a solid enough track record with swift replies that it's unusual for him to take a while to respond late in the evenings. it's that time before bed when morgana is typically giving akira his trademark stare that means there will be Consequences if he doesn't sleep within the minute. but this time, akira has been occupied at his desk crafting what they'd decided to call an "eternal lockpick," and morgana has been eyeing akira's latest handiwork with interest, tail swishing in content swirls.

"are you gonna respond to mishima now?" he asks, and akira sets aside the lockpick to pick up his phone and text back.]

I don't have anything planned. What's up?

[kochan]

[for a second, mishima loses all his nerve. because how's he supposed to ask this without it sounding weird?

can you come over? that's just weird. too direct. and what would he have to offer without spoiling the surprise, anyway? playstation games? use of his shitty netbook?

i have some really good intel... no, that'd be lame. because what if akira really needed good intel, and then he was disappointed that mishima didn't actually have any? lying wouldn't help.

mishima types, and types, and types, but finally he just says:]

I wanted to give you something.
I know it's a bit weird, but...
If you have the time, do you want to come over to my house and pick it up?

[riotgun]

[at this point, akira has gone and relocated to his bed, lying on his back as he reads the latest few texts. morgana curls up next to him, warm against his side, tail tucking over akira's leg. "go to sleep or you'll drop your phone on your face again like last time," he insists, but akira makes a noncommittal noise and gives him a pat on the head to distract him as he punches out a reply one-handed.]

Sure, I can come over. What time do you want me?

[kochan]

My parents are out of town, and I don't really sleep, so anytime is fine!

[...mishima regrets sending that as soon as his fingers touch the "send" button. it's not like he's kurusu's girlfriend! what's with this "bae come over, my parents aren't home" shit?! now this sounds weird, and gross, and maybe he should send some kind of follow-up — but what would work? haha jk? no homo?]

[riotgun]

[he glances at morgana, then back at his phone, and types what has been drilled into his head since the day morgana started living with him.]

Sleep is healthy. Make sure you get enough.

[akira can already imagine morgana's customary "mm-mm" of approval, but his friend has already drifted off to sleep. but hmm... what time... maybe sometime when he won't be imposing. if he shows up too early, mishima will probably insist on feeding him too...]

I can come over after lunch. 1300 good with you?

[kochan]

[sleep is for the weak, mishima almost types, then decides against it.]

Yeah! Sounds great.
I'll see you then!

[sighing, infinitely relieved, mishima sets his phone aside, rests his head in his arms, and... promptly falls asleep at his desk. hooray...?]

[riotgun]

[after the next few texts come in, akira reads them and also promptly drifts off, though unlike mishima, at least he won't have neck cramps in the morning from sleeping in bad positions...

in the end, he winds up sleeping in a bit, taking advantage of the day off to snooze through most of the morning, skipping breakfast. having expected this, sojiro doesn't make him breakfast curry like his ordinarily does and instead gives him some for lunch. akira really could get used to this. it's such a pleasant routine, to be actively looked after, even though sojiro grumbles along the way and used to pretend he didn't care.

he makes it to mishima's place right on the dot, clad in jeans and a simple white button-up shirt, and rings the doorbell.]

[kochan]

[there's the briefest of pauses and the sound of hurried footsteps from beyond the door. then the bolt slides open audibly, the lock clicks and turns, and mishima is standing in the doorway, slightly winded — apparently he ran to open the door.]

Oh! Uh... hey, Kurusu. Y-You're here.

[mishima stares dazedly at akira for a moment, then seems to shake his head and steps aside to let him in.]

Sorry. Just doesn't feel all that real, you know? Um, come in. Sorry, it's just your ordinary Tokyo house.

[mishima's house is certainly every bit as average and ordinary as he is, though even that much was to be expected.]

[riotgun]

[akira gives mishima a faintly amused look—quirked lips, slightly arched brow—as he notes mishima's breathlessness.] I could have waited if you were occupied, you know. [chill, friend, no need to rush when it's not even cold outside...]

[a little dryly:] I'm sure most houses in Tokyo are ordinary Tokyo houses.

[still, he offers mishima a small smile before he steps inside and starts slipping off his shoes, setting them neatly alongside the others in the entryway. for once, he doesn't have his bag and he doesn't have other company; morgana has gone off elsewhere.] Thanks for having me.

[a beat.]

Feel real enough yet?

[the light teasing is all joker right now.]

[kochan]

...Well, yeah, now that you've made me feel like an idiot about... three times.

[mishima seems only lightly annoyed, though — not the way he gets sometimes, all kicked-puppy eyes and mournful pout, and he huffs his way deeper inside. there's a small living space where mishima seems to have pushed some things aside in favor of a large chair; the kitchen is beyond that.]

You already had lunch, right? Do you want anything to drink?

[riotgun]

Haha, my bad. [still, even if mishima's a teeny bit annoyed now, it seems akira's light ribbing has at least had the effect of eliminating mishima's earlier nervousness. he'd seemed a little frazzled, before. maybe it's been a long time since he's had a friend over.]

Ah... Maybe some water would be nice. [more to give mishima something to do than because akira actually wants some water—he gets the sense that mishima might prefer being able to give something to a guest.]

How are things? Sleep in at all?

[kochan]

[more like the only time he's had a friend over.]

Huh? Oh, yeah. I think I crashed around 2 and woke up around 5...? And then I went to bed, so... I guess I slept another hour after that.

[...four hours? he's running on four hours?]

I couldn't really sleep...

[because he was nervous about having someone over, no doubt...]

[riotgun]

You couldn't sleep? [oh, jeez, should he be concerned?]

What's on your mind? If you need someone to talk to...

[an open invitation, no pressure. akira knows when to not push, if someone would rather not get into a topic.]

[kochan]

Oh — no, it's nothing to worry about! I promise. I was just kind of, uh, nervous. I haven't had anyone come over in a long time.

[mishima laughs gaily, setting down a glass of water in front of akira. he takes a seat at the living room table, lacing his hands together on top of his thighs.]

Like, uh... you know how peoples' friends come over when they're sick and they've missed school? Yeah... that never happened to me.

[riotgun]

[akira takes a seat as well and reaches out to absentmindedly trace a finger along the side of the glass, nails tapping idly. then, without missing a beat:]

I guess if I ever see your seat empty during class, I know where to go after school.

[he does mean it though. akira knows what it's like to not really have people care, or take the time for small gestures that would brighten up his day even a little bit.]

[kochan]

Oh — no, no, that's not what I meant!

[but at least mishima's laughing. his totally ordinary face scrunches up when he smiles; his totally ordinary nose crinkles a bit as he snickers. eventually, though, he pulls a straight face and sits up a little as he looks at akira.]

Uh... so, about that thing I wanted to give you. Um...

[he seems strangely nervous...]

[riotgun]

[akira smiles with mishima as mishima laughs, and he takes a few sips from his glass of water.] I wasn't kidding, you know. [he wiggles his brows challengingly.] I know where you live.

Mm-hm? What is it?

[tilting his head a bit, akira studies mishima's nervous expression.]

Something wrong?

[kochan]

Uh, well...

[...how does one go about saying this. mishima regards akira with a long stare, and then quite suddenly dives into a full-bodied bow, his hands on his knees and his head parallel with the floor.]

...There isn't actually a physical gift! I'msorrypleaseforgiveme!

[riotgun]

[here, have an utterly flabbergasted akira who's just. staring at mishima.]

Um... Mishima. It's really okay, you don't have to apologize for something like that. [his glass of water is kinda forgotten right now; akira's wondering if he should offer a hand to help mishima back up, or if that'd be the wrong move, or. something.]

I don't expect anything. You don't owe me anything, either.

[he shakes off some of his astonishment enough to go for a sly little look.]

Though...if you wanted me to come over, you didn't need to bribe me. I don't need some kind of special incentive. [and here, he eases up on his little half-smirk, into something a little gentler.] It's incentive enough to spend time with your friends, isn't it?

[kochan]

[somehow, all of this is making mishima flustered in ways that he didn't really know he could even feel. he lifts his head momentarily and then hangs it again.]

Ahhh — no, it's not that either! I mean, I didn't lie to you or ask you to come over for no reason! I mean, I am bribing you, just... not with something tangible!

[feeling as though his apology (sort of) has been accepted (sort of), mishima reassumes a normal posture, pressing his knees together, straight-laced and straight-backed.]

...It's just, I was thinking — even heroes take days off, right? And I know you probably have fun with your other friends, but... Well, athletes have personal trainers and physical therapists and stuff, right? So, um... I was sort of thinking... that, um, I could be like your therapist for the day...

[riotgun]

[akira lets out a laugh at that, a fuller one, something that trails off into breathless chuckles]

Well, if bribery was the plan all along, I'll accept it. Do you really want to spend your only day off as a therapist for the troublesome transfer student though?

[he extends a hand gracefully, shifting in anticipation for pulling mishima up to his feet. mishima's not doing that full-bodied bow anymore, but he's still just sitting there on the floor.] C'mon, off the ground first.

[kochan]

I want to! Promise!

[earnest as a small child who's just been promised a visit to the dinosaur exhibit, mishima hesitates a moment, wipes his hands on his knees again, and then takes akira's hand in his (his palm is mercifully dry), standing. once he stands, he rubs the back of his neck sheepishly.]

I actually had a whole regimen planned out for the day... but we can skip anything you might find uncomfortable.

[riotgun]

[akira only quirks a brow at mishima, leaning an arm on the top of the backrest for the chair he's seated on. now he's very curious.]

Yeah? Let's see this regimen you've planned for me then, Mr. Therapist.

[kochan]

Ah, well...

[seemingly off-put by how easy that all was (you'd think a phantom thief would have tons of other things to do), mishima sheepishly scratches at his cheek for a moment, then finds his nerve again.]

...Alright, this isn't a physical therapy kind of thing, but... your hair. It's getting really long, isn't it? I was thinking, um — if you want to, I could give it a trim?

[knowing full well how that probably sounds, mishima holds his hands up as though he's in a police spotlight.]

Uh, you can trust me! My dad's a hairstylist, so I've picked up some things... I cut my own hair all the time, and it looks fine, right?

[admittedly, mishima's neatly cropped hair is not the most unappealing part of him. that's probably his face.]

[riotgun]

[he blinks a few times in surprise, then reaches up, twisting a lock of hair between two fingers. brushing his bangs out of his eyes has become a bit of a habit recently, and sojiro's complained about how scruffy he's becoming—like some kind of actual stray, even though the closest thing they have to that in their coffee shop household is morgana—so maybe it's for the better that he doesn't have to haul himself to a barber shop and pay for a trim...

still, even if mishima's trimmed his own hair, akira has no idea how good mishima is with a more unruly hair type... well...

guts check?

...lionhearted!!! guess this is happening!

akira slants an unreadable look at mishima, gaze lingering on him for a few moments. then he tilts his head.]

Alright. [simple as that.] I wasn't expecting a hair trim, but it's probably about time I get one. [he casts his gaze about, as if expecting to see one of those large cloths that barbers tie around patrons's necks to keep hair off their clothes.] How do you want me? Should we lay out newspapers on the ground or something...?