[Touya Akira is not unaware of his own aesthetic appeal; he's rejected a few girls from his class during this past school year, completely disinterested in the romantic endeavors now permeating high school, and it's not like he's never been complimented by people with a kind thing to say. He doesn't blush or fawn when Shindou calls him beautiful tonight: he looks straight at Shindou, straight into him, his eyes strong and clear. Those eyes narrow just so, in discernment, and his head leans into a quizzical tilt. He's making the same expression he did when Shindou first exclaimed over his kimono. What's this? he's asking. What are you getting at? He goes so far to bring one hand to his chin in thought, his thumb resting at his bottom lip, gaze casting toward the side as he catalogs ideas. Then he says,] It's the New Year, [like this is an all-encompassing explanation.] I do this every year. [Not all men wear their kimono on New Year's Eve, or during their first shrine visit of the year, but Shindou seems so taken by it... Akira considers Shindou for another long moment, and then he scoots up close to the low coffee table.
He leans down, until his head settles near an odd little statue set up atop the table. It's an ugly thing, probably weathered bronze, old by the looks of it: a small man, very round, very joyful, with a carp strapped to his back. The carp is ridiculously large in proportion to the man, and it's grotesque, seeming to writhe even in its metal cast. Its face is fearsome, odd when seen so close to the round man's giddy smile. Akira had texted a picture of his hand holding this statue to Shindou shortly after Shindou sent those pictures of his hair being tended. I didn't know we even had this, he wrote. He'd found it in a closet while retrieving bedding for the extra futon. I'll make sure it's out to greet you tonight. Sure enough, Akira peers up at Shindou from right next to it, his face serious. He doesn't say anything while he stares—his face too serious—and simply straightens his back after a few more seconds. His hands settle into his lap.]
It'll be fun, [he says decisively, as if this is confirmed by the fat statue, the hideous carp, and its greeting to Shindou here.] After tomorrow... we'll have those matches. So, in that case, [so, so,] then, I'm glad we have tonight. [His hands aren't resting in his lap anymore. They're twisting. He looks at their color when pressed against the dark swath of his kimono, and then he takes a breath and says,] This one... this kimono I'm wearing tonight, it's my first time. It was given to me when I started high school earlier this year, and... I was saving it for a special occasion. But I do this every year. Different ones, sometimes, whatever color I decide on... [And he swallows, and he opens his mouth like he's going to say another thing, but it stalls when Shindou's phone starts up its buzzing all over again. Akira looks curious, then suspicious, then a little stormy.]
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He leans down, until his head settles near an odd little statue set up atop the table. It's an ugly thing, probably weathered bronze, old by the looks of it: a small man, very round, very joyful, with a carp strapped to his back. The carp is ridiculously large in proportion to the man, and it's grotesque, seeming to writhe even in its metal cast. Its face is fearsome, odd when seen so close to the round man's giddy smile. Akira had texted a picture of his hand holding this statue to Shindou shortly after Shindou sent those pictures of his hair being tended. I didn't know we even had this, he wrote. He'd found it in a closet while retrieving bedding for the extra futon. I'll make sure it's out to greet you tonight. Sure enough, Akira peers up at Shindou from right next to it, his face serious. He doesn't say anything while he stares—his face too serious—and simply straightens his back after a few more seconds. His hands settle into his lap.]
It'll be fun, [he says decisively, as if this is confirmed by the fat statue, the hideous carp, and its greeting to Shindou here.] After tomorrow... we'll have those matches. So, in that case, [so, so,] then, I'm glad we have tonight. [His hands aren't resting in his lap anymore. They're twisting. He looks at their color when pressed against the dark swath of his kimono, and then he takes a breath and says,] This one... this kimono I'm wearing tonight, it's my first time. It was given to me when I started high school earlier this year, and... I was saving it for a special occasion. But I do this every year. Different ones, sometimes, whatever color I decide on... [And he swallows, and he opens his mouth like he's going to say another thing, but it stalls when Shindou's phone starts up its buzzing all over again. Akira looks curious, then suspicious, then a little stormy.]
Are you expecting someone?