Ai and Masato going out on a brunch date
Truly a rarepair that deserves some softness, I hope you like it!
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“Mikaze-sempai, I’m sorry that I’m late. Have you been waiting long?” Masato asked, sliding into the seat opposite Ai’s. The morning’s work had gone on longer than he had expected, so he ended up running ten minutes late for their lunch appointment. He didn’t get a chance to send Ai a text message, wondering if the senior (who was very particular about punctuality, according to Syo) was mad.
Furthermore, the cafe in particular was hard to find, with only Ai’s directions to go on. It was tucked away in a corner of a side road, a little rustic shop that was reminiscent of those in Europe.
Said man only turned to him, face blank. It was hard to tell what was on his mind. Was he mad? “No, it’s fine. I’ve been catching up on my reading,” he said, tucking the Kindle back into his bag. He was dressed casual in a large navy coat complemented by a pale lavender scarf, the one that Masato had knitted for his birthday. His bright hair was mostly hidden under a beanie, probably to avoid the fans from recognising him on the streets. “I’ve already ordered something for us to share, and one of it is especially interesting. Do you want any drinks?”
Masato looked up from the colourful menu. “A pot of tea sounds nice.”
The waitress returned to their table with a tray of sandwiches. “Reiji said they were good,” Ai said offhandedly, peering down at the sandwiches. He almost looked like he was disappointed by how ordinary they were.
Masato couldn’t help but to chuckle. “There’s some things that you can’t judge by the cover alone,” he said, gesturing for Ai to take one. “Maybe the taste will change your mind.”
Ai complied, nibbling at the bread. He blinked, then took another bite. Masato watched as he practically finished the sandwich in three bites, taking one for himself. It was good, with how the flavours melded together. The crunch of the lettuce was satisfying, the juiciness of the tomatoes leaving a sweet taste on his tongue. Masato wondered if he could find the recipes for these sandwiches, only because Ai seemed to like it a lot. Rarely did Masato see Ai eat with such vigour.
But he hadn’t expected Ai’s eyes to light up entirely when it came to the dessert. When he had said it was interesting, he hadn’t expected it to be a completely round, clear ball of…something, laying in a plate of syrup and powder. “What is it, exactly?” Masato asked. He had the compulsion to poke it with his spoon, but he was afraid to disturb its current shape.
“A raindrop cake,” Ai said, as if it explained anything. He took a picture of it with his phone, then scooped up some of it up and held the spoon out to Masato, waiting.
At first, Masato didn’t understand what he wanted until Ai shook the spoon gently, the jelly wobbling on the curved surface. “No,” Masato said, face burning. To be fed with a spoon by his senior was no less than embarrassing, not to mention that Ai looked earnest in his endevour.
“Masato,” he said in that soft, sweet voice of his. “Try it. If it helps, you can close your eyes.”
Heeding his advice, Masato leaned forward, eyes squeezed shut. It felt so awkward after a few seconds. Masato wondered what Ai was doing until something soft touched his lips, something that wasn’t a spoon. His eyes snapped open to see Ai already pulling back, a rare smile on his face. Masato was at a loss for words, his thoughts jumbling up as his face burned.
“I couldn’t help it,” Ai said, licking his lips. “You taste much sweeter, in my opinion.”
