scanning blue

"Just pretend that phone call didn’t happen, yeah?" His face is still fervid with pink; man that conversation was definitely something meant to be taken in private. Note to self: don’t answer that old man’s calls in public. That damn hippo, making him blush in front of another male like a tomato.

It must be nice, getting phone calls from your sweetheart. Although Aoba thought he was alright with not being romantically involved with anyone at the moment, spending time with someone special is starting to sound pretty appealing. He wasn't really into the mushy, romantic stuff like holding hands while walking but when you thought about it, any activity can turn romantic as long as you were with the right person.

Unfortunately, he can't really imagine anyone he won't mind walking hand in hand with. Well, there was Koujaku but that was back when they were kids. There's no way the older man would enjoy holding hands with him now...

... Wait, why did he remember Koujaku of all people?

Aoba clears his throat in an attempt to distract himself from such random thoughts, his gaze falling on the spider bite.

"I am proudly a lone wolf." Tilting his head upwards as if to show that he was proud of that fact, he motions for Aoba to follow him into the kitchen.  Of course, Aoba had seemed as at home as ever.

Walking into the kitchen, hopefully being followed by Aoba, he speaks up again. This time a bit more serious.

"Please, whatever you do, don’t burn my apartment down. I wouldn’t mind sharing a room with you at your house, but I doubt you’d like that too much." Smiling, he goes about looking in the many cupboards, searching for ingredients.

Taking some noodles down from the top shelf, he places them on the counter and then nods, as if finishing a task. Which he had. Getting all the ingredients out was a chore in itself. Admittedly, he was a bit rusty on how to make it, so he’d have to ask for directions.

Aoba really missed poking fun at Koujaku like this. It was something he eventually grew into doing, a way for him to avoid acting awkward around the older male. The bluenette certainly wasn't this outspoken when they first met and it took a great deal of patience and prodding on Koujaku's part for Aoba's true self to emerge. Now the teasing just comes naturally, their banter keeping the atmosphere light and easy-going.

The bluenette follows Koujaku into his small but functional kitchen, quietly watching as the older man takes out the necessary ingredients. 

"...Me? So you're making your guest cook? That's terrible house manners, don't you think?"

Aoba chuckles before giving Koujaku a slightly worried, sheepish look.

     ”Hello, Aoba-san.” Virus greeted, standing in front of the counter like a loitering customer would. “Why I’m here is actually for quite a special reason. It’s not your birthday or anything, I know that much, but it does pertain to your friend. What’s his name…Koujaku-san?” He hooked his hands together behind his back, hiding his eagerness to spill this information and see just how close to Koujaku Aoba were. Virus had his suspicions about it being romantic given how protective the hairstylist seemed to be around his ‘best friend’ and how frequently they hung out, but nothing would ever be confirmed…until now. It furthered Virus’ selfish agenda nicely.  

As much as Aoba hated himself for doing so, just the mention of his childhood bestfriend's name was enough to catch his full and undivided attention. They have been seeing each other quite a bit in the last few days and the bluenette enjoyed talking to him, reconnecting and piecing together what happened in those years they spent apart. Although the subject might get difficult at times, it was reassuring to know that they were both being as honest and open to the other as much as possible. After all, trust was important in keeping friendships strong- - 

" - - - With a model?"

So much for trust.

"It's the first time I've heard that rumor but... it should make sense. I mean, everyone here pretty much knows his name. But a model, huh? I would have never guessed..."

"Ah, okay then…" she slid into the seat opposite his and gave a small smile, letting out a huge sigh as her muscles loosed upon contact with the soft cushion.  "Phew, I haven’t been able to sit since this morning, so it feels relaxing!"

After a few moments she sat up straight and took up the small knife she brought with her.  "Well, I’m going to cut a donut in half, so are you ready to start sampling?"  Nudging one out from one of the piles she switched it onto an empty smaller plate that she too had brought, and sliced it in half.  She nudged one half to Aoba before she took the other.

"Thanks for the food." she murmured before biting into the donut.  It was sweet, soft, somewhat crispy on the outside, tasted like heavenly strawberry, and…was drippy…?

Aoba begins sampling the wide array of donuts before him, taking great care in biting the jelly-filled ones. If he was alone at home with these things, he would seriously just bite them on one end and and suck the jelly out like some depraved vampire. However, he was in public and with a cute girl to boot. He should act more like his age - calm, cool, collected- - 

"- - !"

Startled by Shiki's gasp, Aoba glances up only to see a bright line of red streaked on her cheek. The sharp knife by her side glinted ominously and the bluenette could not help the sudden surge of panic.

He immediately reaches over, intent on checking the damage when his fingers brush over the wound- - only to realize that it was oddly sticky. And smelled of strawberries.

With a sigh, Aoba wipes Shiki's cheek clean with a napkin before settling back on his seat.

"Glad to hear. But we should still get you checked out, in cas—"

Just then, a Japanese-themed ringtone interrupts him mid sentence, and Yamato’s face reddens at the sound of it. Clearly it was a designated ringtone for a particular person, and he hadn’t anticipated a call today.

"Ah, uh, excuse me…" He fumbles as he pulled out his phone, answering with florid cheeks.

"Right now? Ah, I can’t, I’m a little preoccupied with someone at the moment, but I’ll go to your house around five, how’s that sound?" Yamato pauses, then laughs. "Whatever, you old man. See you later." Another pause… and Yamato’s face drops with mortification. "D-don’t say things like that, you cow! Bye!" He immediately hangs up and stuffs the phone into his pocket.

"Sooo, that seemed like a pretty interesting phone call~ Mind telling me who it was from?"

Of course, Yamato wouldn't tell him and it wasn't like Aoba was expecting him to say anything given that they just met. But it was always fun to tease people about their love lives. People in love tend to say the strangest things or do the silliest expressions. It was really oddly cute.

But wait. That facial expression though. Aoba looked exactly like a hippo. Kagari couldn’t help but burst out in laughter over his facial expression. “What was with that face? Are you trying to intimidating me or are you showing me one of your many animal impressions?” Kagari slapped his knees while rolling around in laughter.

"- -!"

As quickly as it came, the bluenette's anger dissipated at Kagari's apology. Hey, Aoba was no stranger to pulling pranks on people. It was alright as long as no one got seriously hurt and you came clean afterwards.

With a sigh, Aoba's tense posture eases and he gives the other male a small smile.

"Hey, I'll have you know that some people actually find me easy-on-the-eyes.~" Of course, that was not counting his grandmother or his friends.

He then shuts them back into the drawer and stands in front of the dresser, clothed arms crossed upon his chest. He tried to look stern but it soon fades into rather hopeless look.

"You weren’t supposed to see those. They’re a…friends. I swear. Yeah. She, uh…left them? Here? Last night?" Smooth, Koujaku. Smooth. How about you just go ahead and tell Aoba about your reputation as Prava’s easiest man. That’ll surely impress him even more than finding lacy underwear in your drawers.

"Listen, I live alone for a reason. I’m a single male. My apartment is supposed to be messy." Based on whomever had written the book on what men’s apartments should and should not look like. Koujaku thought he was doing pretty good here.

Oh, but that made a terrible mental image, though. Well, okay, not entirely terrible but Aoba doesn't feel comfortable imagining his childhood friend in a pair of- - 

"- - Yeah, sure. Proud to be messy. No wonder you're still single."

The bluenette takes a seat on the edge of Koujaku's bed, already feeling quite at home despite the fact that this was his first time visiting the dark-haired man's place.

"Mm, some late night yakisoba sounds good.~ I can help you cook if you'd like."

Crap, that reminded him. He was in public, and he needed something to disguise himself from his admirers who could easily be watching his ever move. With one swift movement, Yamato flipped the hood of his jacket up, completely concealing his ebony locks and coal-like eyes from view. At a distance, he probably looked like a mugger or a thug, but Yamato would prefer people to avoid him than be devoured by his fangirls (and boys) again.

"Yeah, I can see that. Hey, if it makes you feel better, I'm not going to take your picture and sell them to some shady magazine. I'm not that strapped for cash."

Aoba pauses to look at his hand. The mark was still there but the stinging had - thankfully - stopped.