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I should start cooking for you, too. You probably remember I said I've been practicing.

[ At this point, he has tried other things aside from Finnish food for Tuuri's fake movie. Likewise, he has exchanged food with a friend of his so they can learn together. Since he's done, he deposits the plate into the sink and searches for a water bottle or get himself a glass. ]

So how's your food? Now that it's cold from neglect.

[ He slides back into his seat as he takes a sip of his water. ]

[He does, and that sounds really nice. Being cooked for... his smile's becoming more genuine, and he chuckles lightly at the question.]

Please do. I'd love to try them. And... it's fine, thank you. More like lukewarm than cold. Absolutely disgusting, actually, but I made it so I'll eat it.

[you cannot waste food.]

[ He's quiet, merely smiling as he looks at Goro. It continues and it doesn't even seem like Akira is blinking (because he isn't). It's almost an unnerving stare as he props his head on a hand, elbow digging onto the table. ]

You could reheat it.

[ dumbo ]

[................ Excuse him, he'll. Do that. God.]

I'm glad you're seeing the most useless sides of me now, once we're together. I can't imagine it's very charming or reassuring to a potential dater.

I do remember this one time that you were so immersed in talking about your cases that you forgot to eat your pancakes.

[ Are you ready for this, Goro? Sorry. He's going to count down the list. ]

Cold pancakes must have been tasty.

Oh, spare me.

[You'll torture your own boyfriend like this... Terrible.]

I get the same way about studying or reading a good book... I'm no good at taking care of myself, I suppose. Lucky I have you.

I can play mother hen once in a while, but I can't always be there to nag you to eat, all right? I already have trouble getting Yusuke to remember meals exist.

[ But he will go the distance to make Goro food and make sure his boyfriend is well taken care of. ]

Any plans with your actual mother for Thanksgiving?

I'll be fine, I promise. Worry about your roommate.

[Though he appreciates it, really. Because he is bad at remembering to eat when he focuses on something. Goro returns to the table with his reheat food and pushes it around briefly as he hums, thinking of the plans.]

We usually have it with my aunt and uncle, as well as a separate for ourselves, but since I'm planning to do something for Miss Velveteen and Silver this year... I think I'll see if she won't just keep to one this year. [An amused, if slightly strained smile.] It might cut down on some costs too. Any plans with yours?

[ Wow. Two? That’s double the amount of dinners Akira usually attends (obvious), but he’s still smiling... Maybe it’s because of the small bits and pieces he remembers from his dreams, but there’s something comforting about hearing Goro talk about his plans with family and friends. ]

I usually have it with my parents since my dad is guaranteed to be home on holidays. Even though it’s us three, my mom does try her hand at making it slightly Thanksgiving.

[ He looks elsewhere for a second or two. This only reminds him his calls haven’t been going through. He puffs, gently blowing his bangs out of his face momentarily. ]

It sounds like you’re going to be super bloated, though. Will you let me rub your belly?

Certainly not, you weirdo.

[How easily, how warmly, he can call him that these days...]

I was just wondering if... you'd like to join the one with my family. If you weren't too busy or anything. But you're having it with yours, so you likely won't have the time nor space for it...

[So... no? He laughs it off a little, gaze returning to his plate.]

Some other time, maybe. Since your dad'll be guaranteed to be home. I wouldn't want to disturb that.

Excuse me? But you're my boyfriend.

[ He's entitled to giving belly rubs as weird as it sounds, but he's laughing. Of course his strange request would be rejected. Being called a weirdo doesn't feel bad anymore, either. ]

What time? We tend to eat later in the night, so I might be able to make it.

[ For now, he leans forward and gently pushes Goro's plate closer to him. Eat. ]

[Yes, yes, he'll eat. Though he's considering the belly rubs now. That might be nice? Silly feeling but intimate, and what's better than dozing off near Akira anyway...]

Really? [Look, he's perked up. He tries not to be visibly pleased, but it's hard.] If you don't mind coming a little early to help out with dinner, then it's three. You'll make a good impression on them if you bring something too, chouchou.

[Oh god, he gets to casually bring up that he's bringing a plus one to his family.]

[ Why is this how their relationship is like... Considerations of belly rubs when someone is about to die from a food coma. His eyebrows raise as the ends of his lips quirk up—that bright expression is so refreshing. ]

As long as I can get home by eight or so. [ What a late ass dinner, but he knows his mom prefers cooking by herself to pamper her family. They're just three, after all. ] Consider me there.

[ AND: ]

Don't worry. I know to bring a housewarming gift to impress your family.

[ He's going to show up with a bottle of fine high quality champagne and a fruit flower bouquet basket, just wait. ]

[There's nothing more intimate than being by someone's dying side..! Still, what a late dinner... and that housewarming gift will be perfect gj Akira.]

I'm glad. They're really not that hard to please... or so I would say, but two of them are teachers. If they ask about your future, answer seriously.

[and not in a cliche way, like "one with your nephew in it", because that sounds like an incentive towards a food coma.]

[ tyty his parents taught him well. He had to impress his parents' colleagues somehow aside from cello playing. ]

I've had enough practice; don't worry. Should I do something with my hair, too? Maybe dress better...

[ Not that he doesn't dress well, but maybe something more charming? Sophisticated. Not his style, but it is the First Meeting. Impressions just so Goro's family will shower their little boy with praise for having good tastes in friends and boyfriends.

if they knew he was gay ]

[lmao if]

You're fine, I promise, I doubt you could get that hair of yours under control anyway. Though... [A thoughtful look, smile quirking up more on one side.] A blazer, maybe. So you don't feel too dressed down.

You’d be surprised with what I can do, Mister Akechi.

[ He huffs!!! His hair is soft and fortunately not like wire at all. A blazer he can do... Sometimes he wears one this season, but of course Goro only knew him for his work clothes. For now, all of it goes into his list under Thanksgiving preparation. Though crucial, there are other alarming matters that’ll read their ugly head. Just looking at Goro reminds him that, but he stroke his chin with a pseudo-pensive look. ]

Here I was hoping to dip into real sweater weather... It’s been so cold and our house doesn’t have a kotatsu.

Oh, you're going to love my aunt. She has one in her library.

[Goro's smile turns fond, gaze towards distant memories.]

When we moved here, I often spent my winters curled up under it with a book... and fell asleep, of course. It's hard not to. Unless you wanted something else out of those words?

[... Hmmm. This place needs a kotatsu, too...]

You mean I’m going to love her kotatsu.

[ But he’s sure he’ll probablt like her. He never had troubles with adults during this life, very different from what he remembers through these hallucinations. It’s almost strange... The more he thinks about it, the more he wonders if he’s just used to conforming. Akira’s eyes are still bright as Goro continues on with his endearing nostalgia.

His own memories of a kotatsu are different, but he finds no reason to share. After all, he hasn’t had one in years. He holds up an index finger and points to Goro, as if indicating they’re definitely on the same page. There’s so much confidence and earnest in this gesture, accompanied by subdued yet childlike enthusiasm. There’s only one thing this conversation is leading to— ]

Let’s make a pillow fort to fill in the void in our hearts.

[ THAT IS DEFINITELY NOT BUYING A KOTATSU. ]

[Goro stares at him, then gently reaches out to take Akira's hand in both of his--]

If we use Silver and Miss Velveteen's, we can make it a castle.

[THAT IS NOT BUYING A KOTATSU BUT HOLY SHIT DOES HE WANT TO MAKE A PILLOW SOMETHING OR OTHER, HIS EYES ARE SHINING WITH SUCH GENUINE GLEE AT THE THOUGHT.]

[ He holds onto Goro's even though this position across the kitchen table just to show agreement is awkward. It doesn't stop the pillow castle hype that has engulfed him.]

Perfect. I'll leave Elizabeth to you and I'll grab Silver's stuff.

[ Someone stop them. ]

[This is not awkward, this is those relationship goals Ann always talks about. Goro nods and finishes his meal quickly, setting the plate aside on a counter as he heads for Elizabeth's room with Potato at his heels. Belle and Gold will follow Akira.

(neither of them will be any help.)]

[ He'll go ahead and ransack Silver's bed for blankets and pillows. If it's bare, Akira will have to remind himself that he should buy his friend more pillows and cushions just so he can make pillow castles whenever they please.

So all of that is pulled out and brought to the living room, dropped onto the clean carpet floor before he decides to do the world a favor and get Goro's things, too. Belle and Gold are his partners in crime now.

Couch cushions? Those are gone, too. They need a base, after all. ]

[Liz also has a normal amount of pillows and blankets, every single one put to use in their growing castle, but it's... pretty much just a fort with what they have. A large fort. But it's a castle because they say it is?

Anyway. Once it's put together, Goro will be fixing bits and pieces of it to make it look nice/be structurally sound with all of the things they collected. Making a note to himself to buy more pillows for this purpose. That's a worthwhile thing to put money to.

And, of course, because he takes this sort of thing so seriously:]

Do you want to be the ruling prince or a visiting one?

[ Don't talk shit about the pillow castle. It may only be able to fit both of them cozily, but it'll make do with the lack of a kotatsu. It takes some architecture work, some creativity, and the use of the back of the couch (which hey probably rearranged) with the coffee table...

BUT IT'S THEIRS. Akira gently places Goro's pusheen inside before peeking in to check out the space. ]

I'm technically visiting, right?

[ There you have it. ]

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I THOUGHT I REPLIED TO THIS

NOW YOU DID

IT GOT LOST OKAY

#OFFENDED #VICTIMOFHEI #HOWDARE

CALM

NEVER

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