Title: just like any Friday
Rating: G
Fandom: Tokyo Xanadu
Relationship: Takahata Shio/Tokisaka Kou
Wordcount: 804
Short summary: As usual for Friday, after sending the student volunteers off, Kou stays to help cook dinner and more at the orphanage.
“See you tomorrow, Teach. See you later, Shio-san!”
Matsuda Tokio waves to Kou first, then Shio. It amuses Kou every time since he knows this second-year student is a huge admirer of Shio and definitely prioritizes helping out at the orphanage over other Morimiya Community Club activities. And, well, Kou may be biased, but it’s not the worst person to be admiring…
The door closes behind Tokio, leaving just Kou and Shio at the doorway. A moment of silence passes, a rare quiet moment before it is interrupted by shouting from one of the young boys in the play area down the hall. Shio smiles.
“You’re staying for dinner?”
“The rest of the night.” Kou grins as Shio’s smile widens. “And you’re still coming over tomorrow night?”
“Yeah. Tanabe-san will take that night.”
“Great!” Kou claps his hands together. It’s always good to double-check Shio’s schedule because sometimes a last-minute obligation keeps Shio at the orphanage. There’s no point in getting his hopes up only to find himself spending Saturday night alone.
“Don’t worry about dinner.” Shio puts his right hand on Kou’s left shoulder. “I’ll be stopping by the shopping district beforehand, but it shouldn’t take too long.”
Kou nods. “No problem.” Stopping by the shopping district means Shio has been asked to visit the soba shop. It means Shio will come over in the evening instead of the afternoon, but Kou can’t complain about the good food incoming. “Even if I’ve improved my cooking, there’s no way it matches up to the Master’s.”
“I feel that.” Shio smiles sheepishly. “He’s still thinking about me inheriting the shop but…”
“I know.” Kou mimics Shio’s earlier action, putting his right hand on Shio’s shoulder. “It’s hard to choose right?”
Shio bites his lip. “As long as the back and forth isn’t too hard on you…”
“It isn’t.” Kou squeezes Shio’s shoulder in reassurance. How could he be upset about something he knew about coming into this relationship? “I’m attached to both places too. Because they shaped the man I love.”
Shio’s expression relaxes. He puts his left hand on Kou’s neck, guides Kou’s face closer, and places a light kiss on Kou’s mouth. “Thanks, Kou.”
The light peck is not enough. Kou pulls Shio back in for a longer kiss. Maybe it’s unprofessional to be doing this in the front entrance of the orphanage, but no one is around. The student volunteers have left, the orphanage kids are still distracted in their playing. They have this minute still and Kou will take it. Since his boyfriend is a busy and desired man, Kou needs to take the small moments when he can.
Shio is smiling when he breaks the second kiss, the minute of sharing affection now over. “Well, we better get started on dinner. Don’t want the kids or you to be up too late.”
He steps back from Kou and turns around, making his way towards the kitchen. Kou follows. “What are we making tonight?”
“Hamburger.” Shio pauses and faces Kou with a grin. “You like that, right?”
“Yeah, but so do the kids, right?” Kou returns said grin.
“Of course.” Shio laughs. “The best is to make something both you and the kids like.” He musses Kou’s hair gently. “And me too.”
A few moments later they make it to the kitchen. No words need to be said as they get to work. It’s not the first time they’ve made hamburger patties together and it won’t be the last. Not if Kou has anything to say about it. If Kou had a say, there’d be a ring on the left ring finger on Shio’s hand, a simple golden band that showed Shio was tied to him, devoted until the end of time. But this too is complicated, being who they are and where they are…
Still, the orphanage kids know. The orphanage staff know. The students know. The school staff knows. The soba shop knows. The Kokonoe shrine knows. Kou’s parents know.
Besides, the earrings Shio wears are from Kou, and the necklace Kou wears around his neck is from Shio. There are still things the two have…
And if Friday nights Kou stays over at the orphanage, and if Saturday nights Shio stays over at Kou’s apartment… That’s how things are. Making time for each other, even though they don’t live together, as part of their weekly routine.
“Kou? Can you start setting the table?”
“On it.”
It would be nice to live together. It would be nice to share a bed every night, breakfast each morning, and dinner each evening. But even without those things, Kou chose Shio.
He’ll wait, he’ll keep waiting. When the time is right, and they both can be happy with the answer… Until then, it’s best to enjoy this Friday just like any Friday.