- bbq

@nakamoto yuta Where did you hear that one from?
Blinks at your response to my burn, inspecting my fingers briefly with a gentle shake of my head. It wasn't that bad, I had burned myself on worse while cooking before.
I'm fine, it'll be okay...
Looks back and forth between my hand and you before I place mine into yours so that you can better inspect it.
Maybe if you kiss it better?
I mumble quietly, glancing around to be certain that there were no watchful eyes before I started to lean over the table a little to allow you to bring my hand closer. With my other hand I take the tongs again, nonchalantly resuming the cooking so that the shrimp wouldn't burn on us.

@⋮ fukutomi tsuki alright, alright, maybe not food poisoning but i could get sick, you know.
while watching you handle the food, i lean onto one elbow again, fingers brushing through my sidebangs before i reach out to you as a reflex when you hiss. unfortunately, you're quite far away, and my hand lingers between us while i eye the redness of your fingers from a distance.
are you okay? need to run water over it?

@nakamoto yuta You can't get food poisoning from eating burnt food, you silly. it just won't taste very good
Once the meat finishes cooking, I reach over to move them onto your plate so that they don't burn. And upon hearing you state you like fish, I moved on to the shrimp as the next thing to cook, since that was the closest thing we had for fish in the grill set.
Well, you can have all the chicken from this then, since I am not a big fan of barbequed chicken. I was just craving sausage, but I will pretty much eat anything.
Carefully removes the tinfoil pocket back onto its plate, placing the tongs down just so that I could carefully open it, hissing a bit when I burned my fingers, but my attempt was successful, apparent by the steam that permeated from the foil.

@⋮ fukutomi tsuki our first date and you'd be willing to give me food poisoning already huh?
with my elbow on the table i'm leaning forward a little, watching you bake the meat while i patiently wait for them to finish. my eyes keep going back and forth between the food and your face, eventually rolling the sleeves of my shirt up and over my elbows because of the heat the plate was radiating.
mmh, i like all meat. but i definitely love me some fish. fish and chicken are my favorite, i think.
what about you? sausage? or was that only because you were craving it?

@nakamoto yuta Mhm I guess we are
My response is short due to the staff having come and my starting to want to concentrate on the meats and veggies before us. Picks up a pocket of tinfoil and places it on the grill, knowing that the marinated spinach inside would take a little longer to make compared to strips of beef. As that cooks, I proceed to one of the strip beefs that came with our order, spreading them out flat so that they cook properly.
Good, otherwise I'll make you eat them all.
Looks up at you briefly to give you a teasing smile.
Do you have a favorite? I'll give you more of those ones

@⋮ fukutomi tsuki that's a good thing though. and i can't see you as anything other than a female, so, i guess we're even.
watching the waiters put our stuff on the table, i kind of get distracted from their explanation by watching you listen to it. my eyes are drawn to your concentrated face and how it nods every once in a while to make sure the waiter knows you understand. it creates a small subconscious smile on my lips.
i won't complain.
agrees, hands lifting up 'innocently', before i lean on one.

@nakamoto yuta Snickers a little bit at your response, the corners of my lips turned upwards in amusement.
I should've let it cool a bit more eheh. I got kind of impatient
Your closing the gap between our fingers made me feel giddy, enough so that I nearly push my hand further forward into yours. Instead I merely lift up my pinky to it along yours, the rest of my fingers closing to gently squeeze your fingertips.
Mmm...I mean I tend to dress up around you and other people. I don't think you look very feminine though? Or maybe I just can't see you as anything other than a man...?
Once more my hand retracts from yours when the staff come by to place our order before us. Nods as they tell us which items had to be on the grill for what times, straightening up to pick up the tongs to start grilling the meats. Once the staff walk off I point the tongs at you.
If I burn anything, no complaining okay?

@⋮ fukutomi tsuki without proof i’m not going to agree or deny that statement.
watching your hand in the middle of the table, i decide to reach for it again, but gently; mine resting right in front of yours with our fingertips laced between each other. i look at you with my head tilted, as if silently asking you’re okay after noticing your scrunched face from the hot tea.
true- it is a habit. i’ll try to push it back more often.
you? boyish? i honestly think i look more feminine than you look masculine.

@nakamoto yuta Your response to hold my hand made my heart flutter, disappointed that I felt I had to be a bit secretive about it.
Eeheh, well you got more than me, don't ya?
Your smile causes me to look away as I sip on my tea, my face scrunching as I burn my lips slightly on the hot liquid. As I started to place my cup back down, my hand reached out once again, this time stopping in the middle of the table.
I like your face. You have a habit of letting your hair cover it up.
I look kinda boyish when I don't put in a lot of effort though, but if you still like it then..I'll know for next time

@⋮ fukutomi tsuki ssh let’s not get into that. but sure, sounds like a deal.
dropping my eyes down to your hand, it doesn’t even take me a second to respond. i reach for yours, the pads of my fingers careful over your skin before i envelop it gently.
you mind feel sorry for me when you start to milk me and find out there’s not that much to actually milk.
hastily thanking the waiter for the drinks, my attention is quickly turned toward your way again, a soft smile playing on my features when i see you hiding behind the little cup.
so you like my forehead?
you did? it shows. although i bet you would’ve looked great with less effort too.

@nakamoto yuta Pft, so you wouldn't pay for someone in a more successful group? If we wanna get something after, let me get us that?
Taps my fingers against my cheek as I ask. The more I thought about how much the meal was going to be the more bad about not helping I felt, regardless of our differences in income.
Mhm be careful, I might just milk you dry if given the chance.
My nose scrunches up in amusement, not being serious in the slightest about it. As soon as the waiter was completely gone, I tried to coax my hand into yours, still too nervous to properly ask if I could, but confident enough now to try.
Well, I really like it when you have your hair pulled out of your face like this. It's nice...
My own smile threatened to overtake my features, my eyes darting away, my hand pulling back to my side when we are served water and tea.
Thank you.
Although it seemed like my thanks were directed at the waiter, it was directed at you because of the compliment, something that possibly was apparent by the way I semi-hid behind my tea cup as I lifted it to cool it down.
I put a lot of effort into it today.

@⋮ fukutomi tsuki shakes my head, even my finger wiggles in the air to convince you even though you already seem to have changed your mind.
no no, i’ll pay. if you would’ve been from blackpink or something i would’ve let you pay half, but not like this.
eyes your face and how you cup it, making it look tiny, especially with your bangs and your smile.
so you’re that type, huh? going for the most expensive thing, even if it’s not the best, just because i’m paying. alright, i’ll be more careful with my words next time, then.
i drink tea, water, or soda. or beer with the bros. but i try to tone down on the last two as much as possible.
when the waiter comes along i order what he had decided, giving him a ‘thank you’ in broken english after i’ve verbalized the list and a sweet smile to accompany it. the tilt of my lips doesn’t disappear, especially not when you compliment me like this. it made them even grow wider.
mh, no, you haven’t. thank you. and so do you.

@nakamoto yuta I *guess*, I was still willing to go half and half though
Props my head into my hands, eyes tilting up slightly to watch as you continued to view the menu, nodding in response to taking home any leftovers, knowing that I'd have to have you take them since I will probably forget them in the fridge anyways. I return your smile, my fingers spreading over my cheeks to hide their redness.
Anything? You can't tell me that, what if I decide to order the most expensive thing on the menu? Do you usually drink tea with your meals?
As the waiter comes by, I turn my head to look over the sauces at the table, distracting myself with putting pomzu and sweet soy in my little sauce dish. Once you're done ordering, I reach across the table and gently touch my fingers to yours.
Did I tell you that you look nice today?

@⋮ fukutomi tsuki i know, and that's why i'm paying, right?
hums when you suggest holding off on the sausage, eyes lowering to the menu again.
you're right. unless we ask for a doggybag for whatever we can't finish.
closing the menu again, i move it to the side and throw a smile your way before lifting one of my arms to get the attention of a waiter.
of course, anything you want. I'm going to get one too.

@nakamoto yuta Well-
Poor or not I am still going to question this pricing. You may be joking about being poor but I am not
Scans the menu that was in front of me briefly, nodding at your suggestion.
Mhm let's get the set...but um...maybe hold off for now for extra sausage? Unless you think you can finish it. I like eating but sometimes it's hard to eat a lot.
It didn't help that I had butterflies in my stomach, both nervous and excited to be sat across from you. Although, it made me a bit frustrated that the grill in the table prevented my legs from bumping against yours, wanting to show physical affection in some way that wasn't so shamefully obvious.
Can I get a hot tea too?

@fukutomi tsuki just because i go around acting like i'm poor, doesn't mean i actually am. i can afford a place like this every once in a while.
reassures you with the smallest of smiles, scanning the menu when you mention sausage. i drag my finger over the other dishes just to see if there was sausage in the others as well.
how about we get the mix? get a bit of everything? and get an extra sausage in case there isn't enough?

@nakamoto yuta N-no it doesn't.
You had done it now. Or my trying to bicker had. I was bright as a tomato and I could feel it. My face was hot enough to not even have to touch it for me to know. As a way to distract myself, I look around at the simple decorum of the restaurant, stepping a bit closer to you subconsciously when I felt your hand on my back. It was a nice restaurant but it didn't quite look like it was very affordable. And as soon as I sat down across from you, I made my concerns pretty clear.
It looks really expensive here, so yes maybe we should share something. I don't want you to break bank.
Looks down to view the menu myself, stopping only when I found what I was looking for.
You choose whatever, I don't mind as long as I get to eat the sausage, I am not too picky.

@fukutomi tsuki yeah, but it doesn't have to be only once now, does it?
retorts back rather quickly, my brows raising playfully. the restaurant was quite private and a lot of idols tended to visit this place. you were only able to eat here with a reservation, which immediately reassures those who don't want to be disturbed. also, the windows are blackened on the outside to keep people from lurking.
following close behind you, i rest a hand on the small of your back as i mention my name to the waiter, who leads us toward our spot. the place is rather sober but very neat, almost chic. i take my seat at the table for two and take the menu to start scanning for something interesting.
should we share something?

@nakamoto yuta Uhhuh...
Your response left me starting to fumble for words, my face tinging a bright pink.
Well- That's already been done, hasn't it?
I am not sure what possessed me to respond so boldly, my mouth ran faster than my mind did. Instantly, I felt flustered, keeping my head held down as we made our way to the restaurant, only forgetting about it with your chivalrous gesture.
Why *thank you*.
I hurried through the door, looking back at you as I wasn't sure if a reservation of some sort was made or not.
Mhm, that would be great if you do since multitasking eating and cooking can sometimes lead me to burning things

@fukutomi tsuki the rest is all on me?? if it really was all on me, you would've gotten a different japanese sausage though.
takes a trip down memory lane, chuckling as i remember the joke very clearly. i step out of the car as well and lock it before circling the vehicle to get to your side. i stuff the keys in my backpocket and head toward the front door, holding it open for you and even making a small bow with a 'madam', as if i was a servant and you were the princess.
alright, if you cook, i'll feed you a piece here and there.

@nakamoto yuta Just being a really good senpai to me.
A smile plays at my lips, causing me to purse them to not show the amusement I felt. I don't exactly know why you agreed, if I remembered correctly you merely offered as a joke before, but somehow it became a real thing.
Um...I just remember saying I wanted Japanese sausage, the rest is all on you.
As you started to fully turn off the car, I busied myself with undoing my seat belt and making sure I had everything before opening the door. As I stepped out I was careful to hold my skirt down, in case that it had ridden up on me from my seated position.
It probably was a joke, but it would be nice if you fed me a piece here and there as I cooked the meat?

@fukutomi tsuki true, that could be too. you got me to drive you there, pay for your meal, and feed you, ... how did i agree to this again?
trying to think back how we even got here in the first place, i realize you got to convince me to doing quite a lot, without actually even feeling forced to. would be a huge blunder if you turned out to only want free food, that was for sure.
you've got a point.
i think it was only a joke, but i could feed you a bit if you really want to. i don't know if I'm going to feed you your whole meal, though.
after pulling up the handbrake, i turn off the engine and unbuckle myself; nodding your way.
yup, let's go get that meat.

@nakamoto yuta Y-you uh...certainly got me there...Maybe I am using you to feed me for free? Y-yeah I mean you are my *senpai* anyways, right? Heh.
I mean, real gentlemen don't try all that hard? Right? I think you do a lot of things without thinking much about it
Although the drive was not all that long, I found myself becoming increasingly hungry, which developed a bit of a headache for me. My eyes closed shut, but I continued to talk.
Mhmmm we did agree to that, I forgot you said you'd feed me though. But I dunno if you maybe were just not going to be that hungry or whatever.
My eyes open again when I feel the car come to a complete stop, peering out the window, not exactly sure where we are.
Are we here?:

@fukutomi tsuki would you be here, on a date, out to eat bbq if you didn't like me?
mmh, yeah, you think so? wow, even when not trying. i must be a gentleman from the bottom of my heart, then.
although catching a traffic light here and there, the ride was pretty smooth with not too much traffic, luckily. it was obvious in the way i often let my hand linger on the gear that i was used to driving; which was a natural thing that came with age, after all.
I'm pretty hungry too, yeah. haven't eaten much yet because i knew what i'd be getting later.
didn't we agree that you were going to cook and i was going to feed you?

@nakamoto yuta Hey! Who said I liked you hmm?
My voice was laced with sarcasm, my cheeks tinging a soft pink. It was nothing to get defensive or flustered about, but I couldn't really help it.
Another side? Your gentlemanly side, right? ....I think you're pretty gentlemanly.
Stretches my arms out into front of me, clasping my fingers together before resting my hands on my knees.
Mhm I am really hungry, I had coffee earlier, hoping it'd help a bit but it didn't. Are you hungry? You aren't like expecting me to eat and cook all by myself, right?

@fukutomi tsuki once again the small space of the car is filled with joyous laughter and i shake my head, eyes completely focused on the road and my mirrors.
seems like you like me just fine as a big bully though. but yeah, i do have another side. not sure how much you'll see of it today though.
keeps teasing, checking the gps once you ask how long it'll take to actually get there.
it's not too far. if we don't hit too many traffic lights, we should be there in ten. are you hungry?

@nakamoto yuta Although I was a bit flustered, I couldn't help but laugh at you playing along to my "robbing" you. My eyes are almost glued to you as you start to drive off, with your having to pay attention to the road, I didn't have to fear you suddenly making eye contact with me.
Hmm? You're right, I guess. You have to prove to me that you're more than a big bully.
Plays with my hands as I wonder if I could reach over to try and hold one of yours. When I finally decide against it, my attention turns to the buildings that we pass.
Mm...how long is the drive there anyways?

@fukutomi tsuki your finger gun has me laughing first before i lift both my hands from the wheel and feign a surprised expression.
damn, will you help me look for my money? i'd be even happier than you'd be if we find some.
but as quick as i pull up the act, i let it fall as well, pressing the on button of my car to get the engine starting. i swiftly turn out of my parking spot, my gps already set on the restaurant.
mhm, no problem. have to show you i have a gentleman side too, right?

@nakamoto yuta I definitely would have missed your car if I hadn't told you to put on your hazards, what with the three other black cars that I had passed by. Once I approach it, I peek into the window to confirm it was indeed you before trying the door. Giggles when I realize you left it unlocked for me, whipping the car door open before plopping into the passenger seat with a finger gun pointed at you.
Gimme all your money.
My smile is wide from my joke, but I can't help but suddenly become flushed by how effortlessly good you looked.
Uh-um, thank you for picking me up.

@fukutomi tsuki after receiving your text message, i press the red button in the middle of my car as you requested, having planned on flaring my high beam headlights as soon as you'd round the corner, but this was a good option as well. i keep my car unlocked, allowing you to get in whenever you arrive, and roll up the sleeves of my summery dress shirt, which was neatly tucked into a pair of loose-fitting trousers. it was a comfortable choice, yet still stylish enough; especially with most of my hair tucked back into a small bun.