お誕生日おめでとう~!

[sumarusfinest]

A day planner laid out on Katsuya's kitchen counter has a big red circle over the date.

October first.

The officer wipes his glasses clean with a cloth and removes the apron he'd been wearing until moments ago. Changes back into his suit and tie and resolves that his kitchen will just have to be cleaned when he gets home.

He has gifts for a very special someone to go deliver. He scoops up the cake box and his keys and leaves his apartment for the Nexus. A certain magi's tower in the Nexus, to be exact. He does have the courtesy to text her to let her know he's on his way.

Still feels weird to announce 'I'm here to see Miss Verity Willis' to a wall of solid crystal though. Would it still open if he spoke in Japanese? Experiments for another time.

"Verity?"

Comments

[brave_heart_verity]

At least they have these high points now.

"I will." She'll walk him to the door, holding his hand until the last possible moment. "Remember to take care of yourself."

[sumarusfinest]

The escort is appreciated. It lets him have time for on more hug that he pulls her into gently.

"Ohtanjyoubi omedetou Makoto-chan~"

Maybe that will still become a nickname. It's hard to tell. He likes her real name better.

[brave_heart_verity]

The hug is warmly returned, and the nickname gets a happy giggle from her. She likes it, especially since he explained how special they are in Japan. "Thank you, Katsuya."

Before he goes she stretches up to give him a little kiss, just a soft shy peck on the lips. "Hontōni daisuki."

It's her birthday she will kiss her boyfriend if she wants to.

[sumarusfinest]

He turns utterly crimson. not even because of the kiss. Just..well.

"That...that was perfect." He finally stutters out, a hand already moving up to touch his lips unconsciously.

[brave_heart_verity]

So long as it's a happy blush. That would be good, since it'll match hers.

"Yeah. I've been practicing."

Beat.

"The Japanese! Not the. Not the kissing."

[sumarusfinest]

"Y-yes, I could tell."

Wait.

"The uhm..T-the Japanese." Flushhhhh. "I-i should be going now. To work. In Sumaru, which is...yeah."

[brave_heart_verity]

"The kissing practice will be with you." Because that needs to be made really clear. And also he needs to definitely still be blushing when he gets back to work.

"Will... will you call me tonight? Just to say goodnight?" She knows she can't see him every day, but a few minutes on the phone should be doable?

[sumarusfinest]

"I tell you what. Call me when you're done having dinner, okay? I promise that unless I'm at a crime scene, I"ll set some time aside to hear all about it. I really do hope you have fun."

He nods. Talking to her over the phone is no problem. It will make his empty apartment feel a little less cold.

[brave_heart_verity]

"Okay. I will." She'd like that.

She should probably let him go now.

Adulting sucks.

[brave_heart_verity]

Saturday for lunch. Verity knows what that means, but that didn't stop her from calling Katsuya earlier in the morning. She had a good excuse, though! She had to know the weather report so she could dress appropriately. Early autumn is always a tricky time of year.

He'd said to dress casually and she took him at his word, layering her favorite giant cardigan over a blouse and jean and leaving her hair down. Being early, like she usually is these days, she waits near his portal for a few minutes before sending him a text.

You sure it wouldn't be easier for me to come to your apartment?

[sumarusfinest]

It's a completely valid concern. Fall weather can shift at the drop of a hat after all.

If his portal wasn't quite so conspicuous these days it would almost be easy to miss the officer when he does show up. His hair is fluffy rather than styled, and he's wearing a pair of khaki slacks and a short sleeved dark blue polo shirt.

And normal glasses?

Did Verity stumble into an AU portal of some kind?

"Sorry, I'm here now." The officer apologizes, despite being early for their scheduled meeting time. It's still not early enough to have kept Verity from waiting. "You weren't waiting long, were you?"

[brave_heart_verity]

Give her a minute. She's just.

What happened to her boyfriend?

Is he a Skrull? This is a valid concern in her life.

"Not long. You have new glasses?"

[sumarusfinest]

"Uh...no good?" Katsuya looks rather self conscious at her reaction. He fiddles with the frames slightly and averts his gaze. "Uhm..Y..yes."

He was trying to be casual.

[brave_heart_verity]

"No, I like them." She smiles and reaches up to take his hand away from them. "It's a surprise is all. You look very handsome." That fidgeting hand is better off resting on her waist, right? Because that's where she's putting it, and then she's giving him a hug. He's just going to have to deal with this. "I'm sorry, I'm not good at surprises."

[sumarusfinest]

There's something to be said that Katsuya in casual wear is that much of a surprise. The officer nods a bit and hugs her back.

"Well, I did say casual wear." He gives a nervous chuckle before inclining his head toward his door.

"Ready to go?"

[brave_heart_verity]

"I didn't think that included new glasses. I feel unprepared now." She's in her regular boring glasses. Tragedy. Someday she's going to wear her contacts and really freak him out.

"Mm-hmm." She has to bite her lip to keep from asking where they're going, but she'll manage to restrain herself. For a few minutes.

[sumarusfinest]

"Well I..." Katsuya looks down at his outfit. "It didn't match." He blushes slightly at the admission. That was his reasoning. And verity always looks so well put together. He thought he should try to look less stuffy.

Especially for her birthday.

She wouldn't get a peep out of him if she asked. Other than perhaps.

"Himitsu desu." A smile, and then. "It's a secret."

[brave_heart_verity]

"Well, I like them. And I like your outfit. And mostly, I like you." She likes making him blush, too, but that's for her to know and him to figure out.

She'd say he's the put-together one. Tees and jeans isn't exactly a hard combination to pull off, and it's easy to put things together when half your wardrobe is either black or denim.

"You know I could look that up, right?" But she'd rather hold his hand than fuss with her phone. But if he's not going to tell her, she'll have to bore him with small talk while they go... wherever it is they're going. She's very proud of herself for finally getting a tamagoyaki right. She got one of those special pans and everything. And it means she's figured out the heat settings on the magic stove.

[sumarusfinest]

"Nono, 'himitsu desu' literally means 'it's a secret'. I was translating for you."

Katsuya is content to lead her down winding side roads, back toward the Aoba shopping district they had passed by before on their way to the shrine.

It's less bustling than the downtown areas, but still close enough to be thrumming with life, especially on a Saturday.

"I had thought you might grow tired of my using Japanese, so I've been attempting to translate when I slip up."

[brave_heart_verity]

"Oh." Well, now she feels silly. But this is not going to stop her from trying to learn. "No, I like it. So long as you keep translating until I understand it."

The winding side streets are lovely and she enjoys the walk. There aren't many landmarks for her to recognize, but that means a chance to learn new ones. And she does want to learn her way around. Someday she wants to be able to surprise him by knowing the way.

"I know I won't ever really fit in here, and to be honest, I'm not sure I'd want to, but I am trying to meet you halfway."

[sumarusfinest]

The obligation culture of expected responses and half-lies of tradition can be maddening for people who don't have Verity's powers. Katsuya understands.

"It is difficult for foreigners to adapt to Japanese culture." Katsuya looks annoyed by that. "Even moreso for women. And acceptance is usually hard to come by. Xenophobia is a drawback of my culture." He sighs, shaking his head.

He can't fix it, but he doesn't have to like it.

"I can't blame you for not wanting to. Hopefully visiting isn't too terrible though." Okay Katsuya. You've trained for this. Done the recon. Taken half a bottle of allergy medicine. That have arrived at their destination.

An adorable cat shaped sign beckoning them inside. It's a cat cafe! There are adorable kitties everywhere, and the hostess is quick to get them a table close to the play area where several Scottish fold kittens are batting around their toys.

The food here is adorable and cat shaped. And you get to play with the kitties. And there are health codes and it's clean. And Katsuya's wardrobe change makes sense on another level now. He would never be able to breathe again if he went in here in his normal clothes.

[brave_heart_verity]

"I like visiting. I just. It would get ugly if I lost my temper, and I don't want you to see that." And eventually, she would lose it on someone. It would not be good. "We'll see what happens."

They'll have to see what happens about a lot of things before she's in any position to make any more major life changes.

Their secret destination is... a cat cafe? She smiles at first when she looks around, then realizes and gives him a worried look. "But your allergies. You'll get sick." And she won't enjoy a minute of it if he's going to get sick.

[sumarusfinest]

"They keep this place very clean, and I went by myself already to see if I would be alright with allergy medication."

He gives her an actual thumbs up.

"We can't stay here all day, but I'll be fine. And if I have to admit it, I've wanted to come since this place opened years ago."

[brave_heart_verity]

"Okay. But we're leaving the minute you start feeling sick."

She glances at the table, then over at the kittens, then back to him. "So... why are we sitting here when we could be over there playing?" Priorities. She has them. And there's one particular striped gray kitten she's got her eye on.

[sumarusfinest]

"Yes." Katsuya nods in agreement and then gestures that she should go play with the adorable kittens. He'll order them both a cup of coffee and watch.

They can stay longer if he's not literally putting his face right up to the fluffy little allergen piles.

So cute.