wildlinks | OPEN POST

[Yu couldn't help but smirk to himself. It was an amazing feat, getting a criminal this big to confess. And moreover, everyone was talking about it. Yu's not sure if that's good or no, but it's alright for now. As long as they accept the truth that the artist was a fraud everything's okay.

He chuckles at the answer and shakes his head. Typical. A show off when his face is not seen- behind phone screen or mask, yet extremely shy and reserved when it's off. And Yu can't help but adore both of those sides. There's just something so endearing about it that it makes Yu's stomach flip every time he sees him.

...is his crush getting worse? He thought it would pass, but apparently, it has decided to stick around. And Yu has no idea what to do about it. For now, he decides to indulge in his crushing feelings.]

K.Akira: Have some free time for me to drop by? I want to try that coffee of yours.

Sure. Don't get addicted to it, though.

[Morgana laughs at Akira. There's a disinterested glance over the not-cat for a few moments, because, really, what does he have to laugh about?

He's flirting with you.

...What?

That's typical guy flirting. You need to learn to read between the lines.

What if it's not?

Someone wants to come over so you can make them coffee? Red flag. Huge red flag.

I don't think it's like that.

Yuh-huh. So can I come downstairs and watch?

Stay up here.

So it IS flirting.

....

This cat is going to be the end of him.]

Is 20:30 ok? The shop closes a half hour before that, so it'll be quiet in here.

Looking forward to it.

[Okay, so maybe this was flirting, after all.]

K.Akira: What if I do? Are you saying you won't make me coffee then?

20:30 is great.

[It's not like his parents are home or anything.

The crowd in Shibuya is insane. The trains are full to the brim so by the time Yu arrives at Yongen, it will definitively be 20:30. Besides, he wants to make a small stop at the sweets shop and get some macaroons. It's nothing luxurious, but they are great. He hasn't met yet a person who didn't like them. He makes sure to take one of every color and fill the box.

After the shop, he spends a lot of time at the train station. Waiting to catch some train. But it's so busy because of the news that he had to miss three. When he finally caught the train it was already 20:00PM. He didn't know how long the ride to Yongen was but just in case there are delays.

When he arrives, he takes his time strolling around, checking out shops. It looks a bit gloomy but it's fine. He asks few people about the cafe and they point him to it. He arrives right on time, 20:30PM, in the minute. Yu's actually really surprised how punctual he is.

When he opens the door and steps in, Yu gets the feeling that he'll love this little cafe the same way he fell in love with Aiya's. It felt homey and welcoming. Especially the dingle of the bell. He closed the door behind him and paused, looking around.]

...Akira-kun?

[He's getting coached by Morgana at the whole thing. How in the world a cat had more game than Akira, he'd never know, but he took the advice of his friend not to text him back, to play it cool and mysterious, because guys liked that. Akira wasn't sure, honestly, but he did so anyway, opting instead to tidy up his bookshelf and throw a cover over the infiltration tools desk. It wasn't like he thought Yu would ever come up to his room, but it gave him something to do, and he should probably hide the fact that he knew how to make explosives and smoke bombs away from his new friend/possible love interest at least for the time being.

Eventually, he makes his way downstairs and starts doing similarly simple tasks. Part of it was to get away from conversation about Yu with Morgana, who seemed to really warm up to the guy ever since he came back with the most heavenly ravioli from his house. Akira would like to think that it had more to do with the fact that Yu was bandaging him up, you know, taking care of him in his time of need rather than thinking with his own stomach, but the jury was still out on that one. Either way, he couldn't say he would be any different in the same position. Their cohesiveness as a group really depended on a lot of intricate self needs that just so happened to posit them together rather than apart. United by a goal, after all.

The appointed time comes, and as he tries to hurry up and dry the last dishes (fails in doing them all), he hears the dinging chime from the doorbell and goes to answer. Complete in apron garb, Yu opens and enters before he even gets a chance to hold the door open for him.]

Who would would it be?

[He smiles and yet, somewhere, he can feel Morgana eavesdropping.]

[Akira in an apron. Yu expected him to wear it but didn't expect him to look cute in it. He shifts his bag on the shoulder and walks over. Since Akira said that the cafe is closed by now, Yu feels free to speak-]

The nurse, checking in on his patient. [Yu laughs softly and offers him the white bag with sweets.] For you for the work well done. [He gives him a knowing look but doesn't say more. There might not be people around, but it's still public place somewhat. And Yu doesn't want to make him trouble with blabbing too much.]

How are you feeling? [He means the cut. When they went for Madarame, Akira probably went through lots of fighting. Hopefully, the wound didn't open or something. It has passed some time since he got it but still.

Also, he's waiting to be seated. The booth looks so comfy after that stuffy train ride.]

[Pretty exhausted, actually. Physically so, at least. Mentally, he was pretty sure that he could stay up all night. Play video games. Watch the sunrise from his window. All sorts of things that both Morgana and Yu would probably not approve very much.]

Oh... for me? Doesn't the patient usually give the nurse sweets after they've healed?

[He takes the box in both hands, looking over what's in there through the cellophane plastic window at the top. They look delicious. Akira suddenly hopes that he's not allergic to almond flour. That's what they're made out of, right? Either way, he has to make sure he doesn't eat all of them and shares with the other teammates.]

Sit anywhere you want. Not that booth though... the seat cushion has a small slit in it.

[Akira places the box on the bar counter.]

You look... [This was painful. This must be equally painful to listen to, especially if you're a cat sitting upstairs, watching intently.] ...good tonight.

[Yu nods and picks out the booth that is closer to the stairs and sits down facing the TV. It's muted but the news is still rolling the case of Madarame, showing his confession over and over again. For some reason, he feels oddly satisfied watching it.]

Oh? Are you actually healed? You didn't come to me to change the bandages so until you do, you're still considered "ill" in my book.

[He's not letting him off the hook just yet. Not until he's completely sure that there's no backlash from the cut and that the wound properly closed up.]

Hmm? [Yu's cheeks flushed faintly, surprised by the sudden compliment. Then he smiles-] Thank you! [He nods at Akira's outfit-] Apron suits you.

[He leans chin on palm of his hand-] So. What about that coffee?

[Yu may look and feel satisfied at Madarame's demise, but nothing can describe the feeling going on in Akira's head over it. He felt it was especially just, considering he walked out of the encounter rather mucked up. He'd have a scar for it, for the rest of his life. It did make him look at least a little badass, but he could've done without it overall.]

I... yes, nurse.

[Akira looks away, back at the counter and all the pour-over systems on it. He takes a breath inward, and even though he's not healed up, it doesn't hurt as much when he takes more air in than he needs. It's a nice adjustment to not have to deal with that pain.]

You like the apron? I wouldn't be able to pull off the barista boy look without it.

[He reminds himself to ask Yu to take a look at the bandage again tonight. It's just... every time that he replaces the bandage, he gets closer to Yu and closer to his crush, and it feels more embarrassing to be shirtless around him.

Truck through it, Akira. - an internal mantra of sorts.

He sets off behind the counter, turning the burner on and grabbing some beans to grind.]

How do you take your coffee?

[Yu watches Akira work around the coffee maker. He really does look like a barista. That air fringe is making Yu restless- he really wants to move it from Akira's glasses and out of the way. Thankfully, he seated himself enough far to resist the awful temptation.]

As I said, it suits you. [He gives him thumbs up-] A true professional.

[The question about how he takes his coffee brought back some very nice memories. Memories of moments he spent with Nanako and Dojima, sipping coffee and watching TV, chatting about all sorts of things. He's not a coffee expert so he has no clue about what kinds of coffee there are and if there's a way to drink them properly.]

I'll leave the choice to you. [He fiddles with the edge of crossword magazine on the table.] I can cook but when it comes to coffee and how you should take it, I'm completely clueless.

[After the beans are chopped down into their smaller pieces (chunkier is better than a fine grind for the type of system he's using), he manages a nod in Yu's direction. A sideways grin sparks up the side of his mouth with the compliment, but his focus is razor sharp. He's careful to place the filter just right- slightly above the rim of the strainer, and begins slowly adding boiling water over the top.

Paying attention to the entire process, he remembers Sojiro's words about aromas and how to tell if the blend you made was bitter or smooth, depending on the notes that fill your nose as the steam comes up from the grounds. It doesn't come off as too bitter- and he's totally taking a stab in the dark here as to what type of coffee drinker Yu is- and doesn't smell like it belongs on the weak side either. One could even say he put a little extra love into making this specific cup, even more than when he was prepping it for a taste test with his coffee mentor.

As it starts to drip properly into the container, he feels relieved that it's going exactly according to plan. He can relax a little now, even as he continues to slowly add the hot water to the percolation.]

Some people say that adding milk or sugar to a coffee ruins the flavor. That a good cup doesn't need either of those things if it's made well, since they're just supposed to cover up the taste of a bad cup. Like... when you go to Starbucks, for example.

[So you're getting it black, Yu. Don't think for a second that he's going to let you dilute this flavor experience. He's made it too attentively for that sort of shenanigans.]

[Watching Akira work was a bliss. Yu never saw how coffee was made in these types of cafes. From the looks of it, there really are multiple types of coffee and Yu was completely blind to it. Well, he doesn't drink coffee often and his family drinks on to go coffee or buys some famous brand from the store. Yu's really looking forward to try this.

The smell of coffee that traveled over was amazing to put it simply. Akira was right- maybe he will get addicted to it and come over every day. He should probably drop by in the day time too and actually buy cup of coffee. What Akira's doing looks rather complex to go unpaid.]

Really? I don't have a habit of drinking coffee but I can see that. Everything that's mass produced drops in quality over time because people want to sell more but not put as much effort or money behind it.

[Black is good. He ain't a sissy. He can handle a cup of good, black coffee.]

[Akira's never really put much thought to something like that, but Yu's pretty spot on about his analysis of the coffee market- isn't that the exact reason Sojiro opened Leblanc to begin with? He prides himself on the quality of the beans, the handmade touch that goes into each cup. And even if he doesn't have a line out the door, Akira is always spoiled by how good this stuff is. It would be a shame if it got suddenly popular overnight.]

I accept tips, by the way.

[Hey, money is hard to come by when you need to constantly fuse personas. But Yu wouldn't know anything about that, right? He laughs into a huff of sound, which comes off far more sarcastically than he intended. With a cup in hand, he starts to pour the black liquid into it, grabbing a napkin to place under it. Leblanc isn't really the high society type of place that enforces its customers to have teaplates under their cups, so, a napkin'll do. He makes his way over to Yu from behind the counter, eyeballing in case he doesn't spill (he'd have to clean it up later anyway if he did), and places it down on the table in front of him.]

I always leave a tip.

[And he's not joking. There's an exception only if the cashier is extremely rude to him for no reason. When Akira puts the cup in front of him, Yu sighs in pure delight. There's something about the scent of coffee that's almost intoxicating. And from the looks of it, Akira knows how to make an extremely good cup.]

Hmm? What about you? It's no fun drinking alone.

[He places both of his hands around the cup and smiles. It really does feel like fond memories of snow, kotatsu and Nanako's laugh. He brings the cup up to his lips and takes a cautious sip- he didn't want to burn himself.

...]

...This is amazing. [Yu stares at the cup in wonder.] I've never tried coffee this good. Ever. [Now, he doesn't care about the heat, he's taking another sip.]

[Please don't actually leave him a tip, Yu. That would be more than embarrassing and mostly would force Akira to go shopping for a souvenir for him because he won't spend it on himself. Sitting down in the booth in front of him, he props his chin up via an elbow on the table, watching him embrace the first few draws of the caffeinated beverage. He's excited... he hasn't gotten the chance to make coffee for his friends yet, so outside of Sojiro, this is his first trial.

And it looks like he's passing. Thank goodness.]

Hm? If I drink this now, I'll be up all night. And I have a certain cat who prefers to use me as his pillow, so he wouldn't like that very much.

[His gaze looks over to Morgana, who is most definitely not being conspicuous at all, perched with judging omnipotence at the top of the stairs, looking over the banister. His attention is snapped to the compliment he receives. The best cup of coffee he's ever had? Hasn't he lived in Tokyo? Surely, he's had better than this sludge that Akira put together.

Still, it warms him up in his heart just like a cup of coffee would, makes him feel more awake- so in essence, basically, he's practically drinking one himself anyway.]

Careful, don't burn your lips.

[They're too attractive.]

[He will and you can't stop him. A tip right underneath that cup. It's bad luck that when you visit a place for the first time and not pay for it.
He follows Akira's gaze to the staircases and spots the cat. Even in this dim light, he can see that black fur glisten, along with those piercing blue eyes. You don't come across these beautifl cats every day.]

Where did you find him? [He smiles.] I bet he was great moral support during your work. [Accent on 'work'.

He takes another sip of the coffee and almost does burn his lips. Because of what Akira said. And he might be blushing a bit at that. And doesn't know what to do or say.

Except nod and speak barely above the whisper-] Thank you. I will be careful.

I don't think we'd have gotten this far without him.

[He knows you're listening, cat. You better appreciate his true feelings toward you.]

I guess it's kind of a long story, but we found Morgana in the Metaverse, when Ryuji and I went in the first time. Since we saw his real form there, our cognition of him changed, so we can understand him talk. He can also transform into a bus.

[No deadpan here, he's being serious. Morgana's ears must be burning by now.]

What's wrong? You look flustered.

Really? How odd.

[Yu quickly shakes his head and smiles-]

Don't get me wrong. I'm just surprised by the coincidence. When I was fighting in the other world, I mentioned you that someone had to let us out. It was Teddie, a bear... of sorts. At first, his bear costume was empty but he still could move, speak and think. It was weird a bit. Then he managed to get a human body after as his persona developed. It wasn't completely human body, x-rays and scans showed nothing, but he did have human form.

[He takes another sip of coffee and suddenly decides that napkin is very interesting thing to play with.]

Well... it doesn't happen every day that someone notices my lips. So yes, I am, a little.

[What a weird story to have to tell- on both of their parts. He can't even begin to imagine Morgana as a bear... who had a human grow inside of him. Morgana is just Morgana. He doesn't know if he's human or not, but he's promised to diligently help him find his truth. But hearing Yu recount his version of events from his interaction with the TV world, it makes him feel that the other must've made similar choices and commitments throughout his journey. And it's nice to know someone who went through the same stuff he's going through.

He doesn't miss him fidgeting with his napkin- which is usually a social clue for nervousness, and the next sentence makes Akira feel a fire burn straight down to his stomach. Oh, shit, he wasn't expecting to be called out on it. He remembers back to the reading he's done on how to be a trickster, how to impress girls, how to hit a home run (wait, that's not going to help him right now)- and none of it is coherently coming to his aid. Maybe if he were a bookworm like Yu, some of it would've been better retained.

Akira sits up, straightens out his posture so that he's not hunched over and idly looking tired. How does he word this?]

It's... not every day that someone has lips like yours.

[Whether he wanted to or no, Yu looks up from the napkin he's fiddling with. Is he reading social cues correctly? These are all flirtatious compliments, right? Yu could feel his stomach drop through the floor. For a moment he could imagine Yosuke going wild and dashing away if Yu said something like this to him. But the thought is gone as fast as it came. He's too preoccupied with staring into Akira's eyes to think about anything else.]

Is that so? [Flirting is made for two, right?] And how are my lips so special?

[Yu leans his chin on entwined fingers of his hands, elbows resting on the table. He feels his cheeks still burning slightly, but he will not give in to them.]

[There's that intense gaze again- the one that goes right through him, like it was born from the insistence of finding the truth to everything in this world. His eyes avert downward slightly- he hasn't grasped being ready for that level of intensity just yet, but he tries, thinking he needs to choose his words incredibly carefully from here on out. He looks up towards Yu. He didn't need a mask to hide behind to be brave, after all.]

Is it just your lips, hm? [Akira pushes the cup of coffee slightly forward, reminding him that it's best when it's still hot.] Well maybe if you do burn them, there's something we can do to make them feel better.

[Akira's grin comes back, that little facial emotion that teeters on the edge between mocking and mysterious.]

[If Yu was uncertain before, then this completely blew any uncertainty out of the window. He can't help with his lips stretch into a wide smile and he lowers his gaze at the coffee. Where did the cute, shy guy from several days ago disappear? Not that he minds this at all, it's just that he didn't expect it. Ah, that well-known feeling of butterflies in his stomach.

He picks up the coffee and continues drinking.]

Well, since you know the methods of making your nurse feel better, then I'll leave it in your hands. [Sip.] I'll leave the well-being of my lips in your capable hands.

[Oh, the cute, shy guy is still there. It's what's making his heart pound a mile a minute, making him doubt himself even as he tries any of this flirting. But he can feel himself becoming a little more gutsy from the experience. Considering the fact that Ryuji and Mishima are always trying to get him to talk to girls, and how poorly he usually struck out when that happened, it's a miracle that he hasn't slipped into a pure state of quiet reverence instead of where he is now.

He can't believe it worked. He really can't. Somewhere, he can hear a snicker off in the distance, and he's sure that he's going to get teased about this tonight, after Yu leaves. What with the heist that they just completed and all, Akira needs to lay off the adrenaline for a little bit. And probably, coffee, too.]

You've taken such good care of me, and all I've done for you is give you a heart attack by sneaking up to your window.

[Akira bites the inside of his cheeks.]

Just hoping that I can return the favor someday.

[It worked because Yu likes him. Really likes him. Hitting on random girls will eventually get one a slap across the face.
He finishes off the coffee, not letting it grow cold at all. That would be a complete waste.]

Well, I did invite you to come back for your stuff. It's my fault I let my guard down.

[The smile that's painted across Yu's face has a tinge of sentimentality. Akira wants to return him a favor. The world made people expect to have to give something in return when someone does something for them. Yu helped him because he wanted to because he needed to and he didn't expect anything in return because he doesn't want anything in return. That's just how he is.

Still, since Akira's insisting on repaying the favor then-]

Well, actually, I do have a favor to ask of you, if it's not a problem.

[He let his guard down. Now that's an understatement. Akira did too, in a way, insofar as much as falling for a person that he knew nothing about, just to find out later that he was, in fact, rather similar in more ways than one. This is the exact sort of activity that could lead to the downfall of the Phantom Thieves in its entirety: not paying attention for the subtle clues that gives a person away when they're looking for more. But Yu... he was so different. He gave Akira the hope to carry on, the feeling that there's an infinite number of routes and choices to make.

And it was Yu that made his heart stir in ways that he never thought could. Here he was, alone and abysmal in terms of how his fate would turn out, and along comes this confident youth who makes him feel some sort of worth, of value, of importance that he can't quite put his finger on. It was the generosity of a stranger that captivated Akira, and his subtle beauty that drew him in. Like a painting at an art exhibit. A championship trophy at an arts museum. He found himself so allured by the possibility of starting something with Yu that he couldn't ignore his heart beating faster when he asks Akira for a favor. And for someone so guarded and shy, it was a world of difference. Like seeing color TV for the first time after years of only grey.]

Sure, what do you need?

[Yu goes back to fiddling with the napkin. All this flirting is making him feel lighter than a cloud. And it won't be the coffee's fault for not sleeping tonight. Now, if didn't just embarrass himself completely with this request it would be a perfect evening. He clears his throat and, for the n-th time, fights back a blush. Only this time the blush of embarrassment.]

...Can you show me the way back to the train station? [He's blushing. Dammit!]

Um, when I arrived at Yongen, it was a bit early, so I had a stroll around because I usually don't come here. Then I asked for the cafe and they showed me the way. But- [Yu scratches back of his head,] in all that wandering, it slipped my mind where the train station is.

So, if it's not a trouble... the last train should be in thirty minutes. [And he's supposed to be known as a resident of Tokyo. The resident of Tokyo gets lost in Tokyo.]

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