[Hikaru isn't getting at anything in particular. He's just saying Touya looks beautiful tonight, with that shade of blue cast against his pale skin and his dark hair, like he's all wrapped up in the ocean. It's making Hikaru wish he had a kimono to match him, in yellow or maybe gold, or blue and gold, or something like that. So Hikaru doesn't avert his eyes for telling the truth, but he's feeling kind of imprudent, kind of out of step, after having said it. Maybe Touya has no interest in hearing praise that has nothing to do with Go. His appearance isn't where he puts the majority of his time and energy. Hikaru, meanwhile, went out of his way to look as put-together as possible for tonight. He would've rented a kimono without fail if he had known about this end-of-the-year tradition. Now it seems obvious, in hindsight.]
Every year... [He's missed a few years already, in other words, and he thinks he should try to be there for a few years to come, at least. He smiles quietly around the rim of his teacup when Touya leans down beside the weird-looking statue, his beauty a poor match for the slimy, angry carp. That stare could peel paint from the walls for how serious and withering it is, which only makes it funnier in juxtaposition.] Idiot, [he murmurs, amused, and more endeared the longer he looks at the two of them.] That creepy little thing looks like it belongs in a museum. Like it's a thousand years old.
[A thousand years old, huh?
Hikaru exhales and sets down the teacup, listening to Touya explain his history with kimonos, listening and listening and not thinking about anything but the smooth texture of Touya's voice and what he'd look like in different colors. Really trying not to think about anything but Touya. It takes him a second or two to realize Touya is asking him a question.] What? No, I'm not... [Unconsciously, he lifts a hand to tousle his own hair, which is very soft to the touch, back to its normal volume and shine.] Ahh, sorry, that's probably one of my stupid cousins wondering where I am. [Then he unzips his backpack and reaches into it, searching around for his noisy phone.] Every year, what happens is me and my parents, and my aunts and uncles, and all of my cousins, we'll go to my grandparents' house to ride out the New Year. The adults just use it as an excuse to get drunk as hell, while the rest of us go into the backyard and play hacky sack until we get bored. [He locates the phone at last, and he powers it off without checking his messages. His fingers end up brushing against the modest-sized box he has tucked away in there.]
Basically, I'm not missing out on anything by not being there. I'd rather be over here. [With you.
He carefully pulls out the box--it's a clean white, faintly patterned with silvery bells--and sets it on the coffee table in between him and Touya.]
Did you want to open this now or later?
[A gift for New Year's. Nothing too special. For Hikaru, there's a lot of untapped pleasure to be had in buying things for Touya and getting to see him wear those things in the days that follow.]
no subject
Every year... [He's missed a few years already, in other words, and he thinks he should try to be there for a few years to come, at least. He smiles quietly around the rim of his teacup when Touya leans down beside the weird-looking statue, his beauty a poor match for the slimy, angry carp. That stare could peel paint from the walls for how serious and withering it is, which only makes it funnier in juxtaposition.] Idiot, [he murmurs, amused, and more endeared the longer he looks at the two of them.] That creepy little thing looks like it belongs in a museum. Like it's a thousand years old.
[A thousand years old, huh?
Hikaru exhales and sets down the teacup, listening to Touya explain his history with kimonos, listening and listening and not thinking about anything but the smooth texture of Touya's voice and what he'd look like in different colors. Really trying not to think about anything but Touya. It takes him a second or two to realize Touya is asking him a question.] What? No, I'm not... [Unconsciously, he lifts a hand to tousle his own hair, which is very soft to the touch, back to its normal volume and shine.] Ahh, sorry, that's probably one of my stupid cousins wondering where I am. [Then he unzips his backpack and reaches into it, searching around for his noisy phone.] Every year, what happens is me and my parents, and my aunts and uncles, and all of my cousins, we'll go to my grandparents' house to ride out the New Year. The adults just use it as an excuse to get drunk as hell, while the rest of us go into the backyard and play hacky sack until we get bored. [He locates the phone at last, and he powers it off without checking his messages. His fingers end up brushing against the modest-sized box he has tucked away in there.]
Basically, I'm not missing out on anything by not being there. I'd rather be over here. [With you.
He carefully pulls out the box--it's a clean white, faintly patterned with silvery bells--and sets it on the coffee table in between him and Touya.]
Did you want to open this now or later?
[A gift for New Year's. Nothing too special. For Hikaru, there's a lot of untapped pleasure to be had in buying things for Touya and getting to see him wear those things in the days that follow.]