#ch. nao serizawa

[foraltruism]

@kisumshi: Like every year, it's always hard to top the gift Nao got him for his birthday. Nao's gifts were always more thoughtful, with heart behind it. Natsuya's tended to gravitate towards experience or practicality more. After a breakfast of American style pancakes cooked by yours truly, Natsuya offers Nao an envelope and a small box. "Happy birthday." Inside the envelope were two tickets to an aquarium date and inside the box was a sleek, black band, with something that looks like a small buzzer attached to it. Sheepishly, Natsuya shows his own wrist where resides an identical band along with the bracelet Nao had gotten him. "It has a vibration setting on it, every time one of us thinks about the other, it'll vibrate, so we can always be connected, even if we're far away."

Happy Birthday Nao!

With only a week separating their birthdays, it was a little special when they'd gift each other things on their birthdays. Call it a bit of a competition as well, but Nao rather liked seeing just how Natsuya would plan to gift him something that might could beat him out. If anything, the amusing collection of odd stuffed animals he kept by his desk meant a lot to him, but this year it seems to be a little different.

After all they (meaning Natsuya) finally acknowledged their long time feelings for each other. Nao picked something practical, a reminder, a memento that even though he can't be in the waters with him anymore, he's still there with him no matter where in the world he chose to be and will always wait for him.

That's to say, he didn't expect this sort of gift from his lover.

The aquarium tickets were very nice, however it was the bracelet that threatened to snatch his heart away. Nao sat unmoving for a moment, before laughing sheepishly at his being shy; however he couldn't help his own growing blush, unbothered by it while he puts Natsuya's gift over his matching bracelet. His finger circles over the buzzer giving it a tap and hearing Natsuya's wrist buzz.

"This is... thank you Natsuya. I hope you won't be bothered by how many times a day I'll tap this."

Cause boy, does Nao miss him a lot when he's not home. Gracefully, He leans over the small table to lay a gentle peck on the other's cheek.

"They're lovely gifts. Thank you."

[foraltruism]

Leave it to alcohol to either give Natsuya a ton of courage and spirit, or knock him out cold. At least this time he wouldn't have to help him back to his apartment or call his precious little brother to pick him up too, or so he hopes. Right now he couldn't quite imagine going home, not when he's giving Natsuya a gentle smile, one that screams 'finally,' as if he was waiting for him to make a real move on him.

He doesn't feel like he needs to hide himself or hold himself back if Natsuya isn't anymore, even if he was currently shouting in his face about being serious. It makes his gentle smile widen more.

"Is that so...?"

He murmurs teasingly, brushing a strand of hair behind his ear, matching Natsuya awkwardly rubbing his neck and hair. How many times had he wished he could openly do so instead of when he'd catch the other sleeping? Perhaps that day will be soon, he thinks to himself stepping closer.

"Give me a time and date. Are you picking me up, or will I be meeting you?"

That's definitely a yes.

That Nao…Calling him out like that! A blush rises to colour the apples of his cheeks in bright crimson, gaze averting to the side because, even after all this time being best friends, Natsuya’s heart still beats ten to the dozen against his ribcage, even though Nao seemed…Open to the idea of a real date?

“‘Kinda, I needed the Dutch courage in all honesty.”

A sheepish smile crosses his countenance then, referring to the several bottles of beers he’d downed – Just enough to muster said courage, but not enough to reduce him into a babbling mess and ruin the entire thing.

“Of course I’m taking you somewhere fancy, I’m serious about this Nao!”

Natsuya almost shouts his response directly at Nao’s face, as if the increased volume would somehow empathize his genuine desire and investment in taking his friend out on a real date…Finally, after years of suppressing his feelings and pretending even to himself that he wasn’t desperately pining after the other.

“So…” Sliding a hand round the back of his head, fingers awkwardly thread through thick brown tendrils.

“Is that a yes?”

[foraltruism]

@kisumshi asked: ❛  can we do this again? but maybe this time as an actual date.  ❜ NatsuNao uwu

For as long as Nao had known Natsuya, he could count on one hand the amount of times his long time best friend (read: crush) had actually managed to baffle him to the point of silence. He knows himself he hadn't made it know just how much he was in love with the other, not wanting to tie him down to being in Tokyo with him while their careers took them in separate directions.

But for Natsuya to suggest taking him on a date for real instead of meeting up usually at a bar together to eat fancy steak and have a beer, wasn't something he'd ever thought would happen some time soon. He pushes up his glasses slightly to hide the faint blush dusting his cheeks.

"So, the usual? Or do you plan on taking me to somewhere much fancier than this?"

Nao answers, softly.

"Was this a practice run for you or something Natsuya? I knew you to have been shy in middle school, but not still today."

[foraltruism]

"You are so beautiful." NatsuNao

Nao pauses from sipping on his drink, letting a small smile crawl on his lips, along with a faint blush. He can't help but feel a certain warmth bloom in his chest hearing this come from Natsuya.

"What a charmer you are. You're quite handsome yourself, you know?"

[foraltruism]

@kisumshi: Goodbye NatsuNao

[ 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐛𝐲𝐞 ] : receiver kisses sender who won't be back for a long time.

Nao rolls over in his bed just in time to see Natsuya emerge from his bathroom looking quite refreshed for someone who's only had 3 hours of sleep. Mocha brown eyes meet his own, a soft 'hey' escaping him as he sat at the edge of the bed and tells him he has to leave in a few minutes. Nao sits up, murmuring he knows, however Natsuya doesn't look quite ready to leave.

Tugging on his shirt, Nao pulls Natsuya in for a kiss. A hand cups the side of his face and they stay like so for a while until Natsuya pulls away. Nao smiles gently.

"Let me know when you're at the airport and when you land."

He asks, a request that's always granted if asked or not anyways, as the other agrees. As soon as he had his backpack on, he was given another peck and out the door. Not even a minute passed by when he feels something on his wrist vibrate.

Nao cant help but chuckle quietly and tap the bracelet in kind.

[foraltruism]

@kisumshi asked: i thought you were with someone else. NatsuNao

"Jealous are we?"

Nao laughs quietly to Natsuya pouting. When he said he was busy with someone, he didn't think the other would display such a visceral reaction to leaving out whom he was busy with. Beside them, the younger of the three sighs crossing his arms, but a slight smirk was evident on his face.

"I told you he'd come running to find where you were, Nao-senpai,"

Ikuya quips looking up at his older brother. Nao chuckles quietly, moving his hand over to grab Natsuya's and rub small soothing patters across his hand.

"You were. Don't worry, Natsuya, Ikuya was just asking me some swimming theory questions about IM, and how to improve on his backstrokes. But since we're together, why not grab something to eat?"

[foraltruism]

@kisumshi inquired- ❛  you won't stop this until i say 'yes', will you?  ❜ Natsuya to Nao

"Of course I won't"

Nao says rather matter-of- factly and taking a drink of his water. For now he was done drinking even though Natsuya insisted on having another beer himself, and whatever little game they happened to be playing now was far too amusing with him sober and his companion slowly getting more drunk. Although he had a feeling he'd probably need to top off the others beer before he gets too sloshed and he'd have to carry him away from the party.

"You're the one who started it after all, Natsu-kun. I thought you liked a challenge after all."