Ryuji walked down the sidewalk of the city. Buildings around him towered around him making him feel trapped. It was difficult to even see the mountains that were surely in the distance. Being on this journey with his sister made him find a new appreciation for nature and this city simply felt so far from it. Though there were strips of grass to break up the asphalt they seemed to exist only to meet some sort of quota to say that their city had some nature.
Tsuna and him never really had an affinity for towns like this. Not that the city had any claim to fame like the other tourist destinations they visited, it was just another town. It also wasn't the lack of notoriety, the two loved when they went to no name cities, since it often meant the communities in them were usually really close.
Gatherings of local artists being a staple thing they tried to make time for but they couldn't continue that tradition here. For some reason this city just shy of a million in population count didn't host to many social events, not even a soup kitchen they could work for the night to have something to do.
So Tsuna and Ryuji split up. His sister decided to go shopping for food and he was tasked with getting things like coffee beans and tea bags. If it seems like Tsuna's job is way more important than Ryuji's it's because it is.
He wanted to help her in shopping but everytime she let her brother shop for them he would come back with a horrid selection that Tsuna couldn't even make work. So to make him feel included he was given fifty american dollar allowance to go to a coffeeshop. She had been secretly hoping that maybe the atmosphere would inspire him to write and maybe hold him still till she could get there and make a good selection. Kinda like an adult daycare but that wouldn't be the case today.
Ryuji turned the corner while still staring holes into his phone, spending so much time interpreting the lines on his phone that he didn't think to look up. In his chest he felt a rough blunt sensation hit him back. He looked to see what sent him back and he saw a young man standing in front of him. The young man seemed to be fine, keeping his ground. His phone flying into the air, seeing the sun reflect off the screen and into his eye as it reached its apex made his mind race. This really was going to be it for his phone, resigning his fate knowing his old body couldn't keep up he took security in that even without it he remembered her phone number.
The young man in a dark school uniform calmly readjusted his stance, sighing in indifference. Then one hand went to his head, caressing the injured area and the other cut through the air with a step, grabbed his phone.
Ryuji went to look at the man who just saved his phone but when he did the young man's face was still porcelain. Looking as if nothing had happened. He squatted down, handing Ryuji his phone back. Seeing this blank expression, one that seemed to lack any drive, any desire, did more than exhilarate his imagination.
Ryuji, still on the ground, crawled his way towards him and grabbed his phone then stood up, never breaking eye contact. Grabbing his hand before saying enthusiastically,
"You need to let me treat you to something," Ryuji paused, millions of things seemed to be going on behind his eyes until it formed words, "I was meant to go to a coffee shop, why don't you join me?"
His glance finally pulled away from his face, seeing that on top of the his school uniform rested a name badge that read Fuma Hatigawa. Possibly from a part time job of some sort. Seeing the sky through the reflection of the window, revealing to him that it had been past mid-day far beyond when anybody would be going to work.
While Ryuji was analyzing him, Fuma was doing the same. Ryuji may have had what appeared to be about a foot and a half on him but he was scrawny. It was obvious to Fuma that he had not been taking much stock on his physical health. Without a doubt in his mind that if it came down to it, he could harm him enough to get away.
Though that wasn't a worry for Fuma, a precaution he was sure to think of yes, but not a worry. He couldn't fathom why in the world this man would want to continue this encounter past what benefited him but it appeared as if he didn't have the choice. The path of least resistance was to go along with him. Fuma saw how his eyes already went to his name tag so to put them on even footing he initiated lending out a hand to shake,
"Hello, I am Fuma Hatigawa. And yours?"
Ryuji's already positive expression lit up even brighter, taking Fuma's hand to shake it. Him broadening his voice so it was obvious that he was boasting for dramatic effect,
"I am Ryuji Olfulson, author, lover of very few." Ryuji's teeth grit on each other then clarified, "My wife, I am a lover of my wife." They stared at each other, and he got the first reaction out of Fuma. That being a frown paired with judgemental eyes. Ryuji stumbling, clarified, again, "I'm sorry, I get nervous when meeting new people."
The porcelain face that entranced Ryuji then shifted into a smirk then slowly into a giggle. Fuma covered his mouth with the back of his right hand it didn't last to long but right after he spoke,
"You know fine, you seem entertaining enough to last me an afternoon but if you want my time then you're gonna have to pay for two of whatever you get me. My time isn't valuable or anything but I'd want to get something for my sis if I get home late." He pauses looking away worriedly, "She doesn't like it when I'm out without a good explanation."
Ryuji laughed raising his hand to ruffle Fuma's shaggy hair saying,
"You got it."
…
Ryuji led Fuma to the coffee shop with the highest review that was on his way back home. When they entered the coffee shop they saw the roadside window with its logo plastered on it and in all the places you would want to look through for a view. After they ordered the three meals they sat down next to that window. Fuma scoffing to himself nodding his head to it,
"Why do they do that with the window? It was already hard to see anything worthwhile in this city but that is crazy."
Ryuji tilted his head.
"You mean the logo right?"
Fuma set down his coffee leaning over the table, lazily pointing a finger at Ryuji.
"What else Mr. Ryuji? Doesn't it get to you, like clutter your mind? Cause the reason why it's in the way is by design, it's not an accident. If a sign is where you would want to look anyway then you'll be more likely to look at it. It's some corporate slop."
Ryuji's smile brightened as he drank his coffee which had almost as much syrup as it did coffee. He spoke while laughing to himself,
"Yeah, you're right. The world is slowly becoming more manipulative as I get older. It's interesting for someone of your age to pick that up though. It's silly right?"
Fuma recoiled before asking curiously progressively getting more emotional with each word,
"What do you mean silly? They are manipulating people on a scale probably neither of us can even fathom." Fuma shook his head regaining his porcelain demeanor, then spoke under his breath, "Does that not get to you Mr.Ryuji?"
Ryuji composed himself too, it had seemed that how lightly he took the situation gave him the wrong impression.
"Fuma, I used to care a lot more about things like that but then I thought about what did it do? Like, of course without a doubt in my mind if there is ever a chance to speak or act against whatever this is I will but I wanna be happy, you, should want to be happy. If you worry about things out of your control then you'll never be happy. It's good to worry whenever you can but you need to learn to compartmentalize some of this stuff. Ads are a fact of our reality like air, you can choose to be mad every time you are advertised to or you can look at the barista's behind there." Ryuji motioned towards the people behind the counter, many of them had been around Fuma's age. "Those kids are like you, trying to do what's best for those you care about. Listen, I'll never defend big business but a small local coffee shop who employs students. I'll never blame them for doing what it takes to live."
Fuma nodded to himself, he had been lightly blushing and his pride definitely hurt. He knew it was probably age to separate their nuances of the topic but he wasn't used to being intellectually parried as such. It sucked, but oddly it was nice. He was smiling, though he would never admit the reason, even after rationalizing it perfectly in his brain,
"I guess you have a few fair points here and there."
Ryuji saw his smile as an opportunity to attack. He mocked his very words,
"I guess you have a few fair points here and there you know nothing special."
Fuma's smile didn't brighten nor did it darken; he just nodded looking down.
"I get it, I get it, you got me."
The young man in front of Ryuji looked up from the table and said,
"It was really fun talking to you Ryuji."
Ryuji smirked,
"Ooo dropping the mister?"
Fuma put his feet up on the window seal under their table.
"Yeah I like you enough to refer to you as if you're a person."
Ryuji shook his head softly.
"And what's this was part all about, we're still here."
Fuma sighed looking at Ryuji with pity,
"Ryuji, I told you I had to leave by the time the sun set and we're already thirty minutes past that." Fuma rolled his eyes playfully, "How could I let an air head like you lecture me."
Ryuji put both hands on the table saying,
"Hey I know I may have a hard time with time but that doesn't mean I don't know what I'm talking about with other stuff."
Fuma hopped off the chair that he sat on, flipping his hair across his face. Raising his nose to Ryuji and matched his gaze. Speaking to him in a condescending tone,
"I know I'm not ignorant enough to even think that, but, I do appreciate the attempt to gain back your respect." He put his hands in his pockets and opened the coffee shop door with his feet being far too lazy to take his hands out his pockets. "But I enjoyed the talk, take care Ryuji."
Ryuji waved back saying,
"You too Fuma, you're a good kid."
With that he was off, Ryuji texted Tsuna where he was and got out of his chair. Steam had been coming from the side that Fuma had been sitting on, in confusion he peered over to see it, in fact, this was at the same time someone who was on their way home realized it too. He forgot Kani's food at the cafe.
…
Fuma walked into the Hatigawa household and his little sister Kani was waiting there half asleep, laying her head against the wall. The only thing on her body was Fuma's shirt and her panties. For a moment she didn't even notice him entering until the wind from outside blew his scent to her. Kani's body instinctively leaned in to sniff the air until it hit somewhere in her brain that her brother was finally home.
They locked eyes for a moment, Fuma's expressions being so varied they almost seemed malleable. Right now his expression read as nervous fear and Kani's did the same. First relief, then anger, then sadness until it overloaded her brain and made her fall to Fuma's chest. Muttering into it as she took off his school jacket, him wearing a white tank top underneath,
"Where were you?"
Fuma caressed the top of Kani's head comforting her while he spoke,
"Just went to a coffee shop with a new friend."
He prepared for an explosion but she must have been emotionally tired today. She reached to take off his tank top but he put a hand on hers stopping it saying,
"Thats to much, but good try"
Normally she would be smug and play along with the joke but now she only whimpered into his chest,
"Please big brother. I want to feel safe."
Fuma sighed smiling as she did, taking it off for her. Holding her in a brides carry he brought her to the couch setting her down on it gently. Laying down next to her. The two's bodies moved without thought, embracing each other. He thought about how little it took for her to get to this state, but it didn't matter he loved her. No matter how much she needed him. He spoke,
"I'm sorry Kani."
Kani rubbed her cheek against his chest.
"It's fine, you're here now. Just don't take so long getting home next time."