The Sun And the Sea - And Him?
Shintaro/Juri, 690-ish words, G, AU: the 1950s. There's not much of a plot, just ~vibes~. 😄
A tram’s bells ringing startled Shintaro from his slow stream of idle thoughts. The vehicle had stopped, let people out and in, and was now continuing on. By his side Juri glanced up from his comic book - the new science fiction story about an android that looks like a little boy.
"What's that?" Juri asked, one brow raised and a soft smile playing at the corner of his mouth.
Shintaro shook his head. "Nothing,” he murmured. Juri returned to his comic without further questions, stuffing the last bite of his rice ball into his mouth.
It was a fine day in early April, warm enough that it had made sense to spend the lunch break on a bench in a nearby park rather than in a dusty office. Having finished his lunch box, Shintaro had even opened his coat and leaned back against the bench to take in the rays of the sun. Juri was huddled up deep inside his winter coat still, but he was always cold anyway, so one really couldn’t judge the weather by his attire.
Shintaro's eyes wandered to Juri’s hair, glossy with a liberal amount of pomade. The new slicked-back looked good on him.
A screeching sea gull soared through the air high above their heads, instantly yanking Shintaro’s thoughts to the blue sky and turquoise sea with white-crested waves crashing to the shore. Mere seventeen workdays to push through before he’d be in Kanagawa, fishing and perhaps even swimming in the sea. He had booked the hotel in last September. Back then he had felt slightly silly about it, but it was definitely worth it now. Of course hotels were always full during the Golden Week, but the ongoing spring’s amiable weather seemed to have inspired literally everyone into plans of leaving Tokyo for their rare days off.
He was going alone, but it was a two-bed room.
Wonder if Juri would accept an invitation to tag along?
Of course Juri would rather die than swim in the sea, but perhaps Shintaro might at least be able to lure him into a fishing boat? They could always visit an onsen after the fishing trip, for Juri’s sake. Shintaro didn't have anything against warm water either, but Juri would surely love it, even though his skin always turned red like a boiled shrimp whenever he dipped himself into a scalding onsen pool. The redness tended to rise high up his chest and face too, turning his cheeks rosy and lips even redder than usual.
Juri’s lips tended to get visibly chapped in dry winter air, but the warmth of spring always healed them, making them look unbearably delicate - perfect for long, lingering kisses.
How long had Shintaro been so ridiculously aware of Juri’s lips and their kissability? Maybe as long as he had been aware that Juri’s bright laughter made his chest feel light and fluttery, and Juri's soft, gentle smiles sent shivers down his spine, and -
“Your face is red,” Juri said, one brow raised. He had closed the book and was looking at Shintaro expectantly. They should return to the office soon.
“Will you come to the sea with me on the Golden Week?” Shintaro blurted out, startled - again - from his thoughts.
What was wrong with him today? He liked to think himself more alert and present than he currently seemed. He also considered himself smoother with his words. Especially when it was just Juri he was talking to.
Just Juri, whose eyes were the color of prettiest, warmest brown in the bright April sun.
Juri blinked once, twice. He knew about Shintaro’s long-planned trip of course - how could he not when Shintaro had been gushing about it for the whole long winter?
“You want me there?” Juri repeated, like it was somehow surprising. "With you?"
Shintaro thought about sharing a room with Juri. He thought about Juri changing from his straight pants and white collared shirt into a thin yukata. He thought about the blush that spread up Juri’s chest when bathing. He swallowed.
He was being an idiot. Going alone would have been the sensible thing.
“Yes. I want you there.”