Title: third time’s the charm
Rating: G
Fandom: Flowers
Relationship: Takasaki Chidori/Yaegaki Erika
Wordcount: 834
Short summary: Chidori has planned for her and Erika to go out to a nice restaurant to celebrate one year of living together. It gets off to a rough start…
“Welcome!”
“A table for…never mind.”
Chidori’s venture in and out of the tiny restaurant takes less than 10 seconds. It is immediately a no-go. Even Erika would be able to tell from the doorway. And after the 30 minutes spent navigating transit to get here…
“Your colleague should have mentioned that this was counter seating only.”
Erika’s words feel like rubbing salt into the wound. Chidori’s already kicking herself for not doing more research ahead of time. It’s supposed to be a fun date night. They’re celebrating one year of living together. Chidori knows how much Erika enjoys food. Chidori is even willing to cheat on her diet for this outing. And she had insisted on doing the planning this time, because she wanted to surprise Erika with something nice. Unfortunately this is looking more like a date night gone wrong.
“I should have asked.” Chidori looks down at her phone in her right hand. She needs to decide on something quickly. This is peak time for people to dine out, 6 PM on a Saturday night, and it’ll only get worse over the next hour or two. “We always go to larger restaurants as a troupe, so…”
It’s a weak excuse. Chidori could also mention how busy the troupe has been lately, but Erika knows about that. Chidori likes to dote on Erika, but when times get busy, Erika is just as good at keeping things together. It’s why Chidori wanted to treat her but…
“What else is on your rec list?” Erika prods, leaning a bit out of her chair to look at Chidori’s phone.
Chidori quickly pulls up her map app, with all the restaurants and their locations marked by stars. “This place.” It’s a sushi bar. “It doesn’t seem too far?”
Erika nods and Chidori gives Erika the phone to hold while preparing to push Erika’s wheelchair forward. She must have an angry expression on her face because people scamper to move out of their way.
5 minutes later they find the place, but the door sign says that it is closed temporarily because the chef is sick. Chidori feels her whole body shaking with…anger? Disappointment? Frustration?
“I can’t believe this!” She wants to scream.
Erika reaches out with her left hand and places it on Chidori’s left arm. It’s enough to make Chidori remember that despite things like this happening, Erika is still here. This is minor compared to so many things they have been through together. Tonight has been disappointing so far but they will get through this.
“Let’s just go somewhere that accepts my wheelchair.”
“Yeah.”
There are other places on this street. Chidori will get them some food, and wherever they go, she will even splurge on dessert. As long as it’s not some fast food place.
Two buildings later there is a café-like place? Erika puts a hand up, signaling for Chidori to stop. Chidori examines the place from the window as best as she can, but its curtains obscure the view of the seating. Well, third time’s the charm?
She opens the door. It’s not a café but a restaurant with European-style décor? Chidori doesn’t even know what type of cuisine they offer here, but Erika does enjoy French and Italian food so this could actually be good. And if they can be seated here…
“Welcome! Ladies, would you like a—”
“Can you accept her wheelchair?” Might as well ask the question right away before Chidori starts thinking their date night has been salvaged.
“Sure, of course. Let me check…” The host excuses himself for a moment. Chidori grips the wheelchair handles tightly. With the dim lighting it is hard to see too far, but it seems like there are booths set up so… She’s still squinting when the host returns. “If you are okay with leaving it at the side, I can carry—”
“I will carry my partner, thanks.” Chidori cuts the man off before he dares to carry Erika. Even if it is supposed to be a service. Chidori doesn’t want someone else, especially if they are not family, friends, or medical professionals, touching her Erika.
The host bows. “Understood.”
And even if everyone they pass on their way to their booth stares at how Chidori carries Erika in her arms, cradled to her chest, well… It doesn’t matter one bit to Chidori. She’s going to be physically strong enough to do this carry until they reach old age.
Finally, with Erika seated across from her, and no need to go anywhere else for a bit… Chidori exhales deeply. Erika is already opening the menu, but Chidori needs a moment to breathe.
“Well, I’m too hungry to complain,” Erika comments as she flips pages casually. “Let’s hope the food is good.”
(Thankfully the food is good. Chidori even orders two desserts. She’ll have to worry about making up for those calories, but the smile Erika gives her is worth everything. Next year they can just come here straight away though…)