Title: story time
Rating: G
Fandom: Tokyo Xanadu
Relationship: Hiiragi Asuka/Kurashiki Shiori
Wordcount: 610
Short summary: When Shiori arrived at the café, she found Kou in the middle of telling Asuka a story… Of course that couldn’t be left just at that.
It was normal for the three of them to meet up at this café on Fridays for a little relaxation and refreshment. It was less normal for Shiori to be the last of the three to show up, but she had stayed in the classroom after the discussion section to discuss her upcoming assignment with the teaching assistant. She had let the two know she would be late, but for them to not notice her arrival…
“And then?”
“I brushed her hair and said she was pretty once more- Shiori?”
Whatever Kou was retelling ended up cut short as he and Asuka noticed Shiori’s arrival. Kou took his bag off the chair saved for Shiori while Asuka moved a small plate of cookies and a glass of water in front of where Shiori would sit.
Shiori felt some of the weight of the week slide off her upon sitting down. Oh, and were these strawberry-flavored? Anyway, she probably could take tomorrow off from homework and do something fun with Asuka, maybe go shopping together, but first she wanted to know what those two had been talking about.
“What were you saying to Asuka, Kou-chan?” Shiori’s curiosity only grew when Asuka smiled but Kou rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
“Oh, I was just asking Tokisaka about you as a child.” Asuka chuckled. “He’s a pretty bad storyteller but I’m positive you were very cute.”
“Kou-chan.” Shiori glared over at Kou. Wasn’t there an unspoken agreement that you didn’t share your best friend’s secrets so easily?
“Hey, you two talk about me when I’m not around. It’s only fair.” Kou straightened his posture and crossed his arms in front of his chest. “And I definitely did not say anything embarrassing.”
Asuka smiled. “It makes me wish I could have met you as a kid.”
“And steal my best friend?” Kou’s glare moved over to Asuka.
“No, maybe I would have wanted to return to the city sooner. Or stayed.”
“Asuka…” Asuka’s frank response had inadvertently dampened the jovial atmosphere. Shiori reached out with her left hand to hold onto Asuka’s right, squeezing it tightly. There wasn’t really anything to say; the disaster forever changed their lives. And as someone who should have died under normal circumstances…
“Sorry for that.” Asuka offered a sheepish smile as she squeezed Shiori’s hand back. “Anyway, Shiori, Tokisaka definitely didn’t say anything bad. Rather, he comes off as rather…”
Kou coughed before Asuka could complete her sentence. Shiori giggled as she thought of a few words that could fit. It was better not to say them out loud, though.
“How were you as a kid, Asuka?” She decided to change the subject.
“If you want a more honest assessment, you should ask Nakaoka.” Asuka shrugged. “I think I wasn’t too different, though. I’m guessing none of us have changed that much.”
A moment of silence passed as both Shiori and Kou contemplated Asuka’s supposition. Shiori looked over at Kou. It seemed they were in agreement.
“How about when you were in America?” Kou asked Shiori’s follow-up. “It must have been hard to adjust.”
“Well, I suppose there were some stories…” Asuka trailed off and sighed. “Don’t look at me like that. I’ll do my story time properly.”
She turned to look at Shiori directly and smiled. “And future teacher Kurashiki Shiori can help me improve my storytelling, right?”
Shiori was surprised by Asuka’s sudden praise entwined with that request. “Yes?”
Asuka chuckled while Kou mumbled something Shiori couldn’t quite make out. But then his gaze fixed squarely on Asuka, so Shiori turned her attention back onto Asuka as well.
“Well, I guess at the start…”