millefolium | i hold on when i get love and let go when i give it

[ under all circumstances, reigen has a gift for putting himself back together immaculately. he goes to wash his hands and fix his hair last, and just like that, aside from an extra wrinkle or two in his shirt it really is nothing ever happened.

he’s finishing the rest of his donut from earlier when someone tries the door. it’s still locked, though, so reigen glances up at the knock.

‘reigen-san, kageyama-san,’ serizawa’s voice rings out. ‘are you two in?’

reigen goes to get the door. ] Sorry about that, closing time reflex must’ve kicked in funny since we were here so early.

[ ‘oh, it’s alright. how are you this morning?’ ]

Good. Oh, that reminds me, I got an office key for you! And there are donuts, to celebrate the end of your probationary period. We’ll get lunch too.

[ see? gonna have a nice normal day. serizawa says, very cheerfully, ‘oh, thank you. it’s been really fun, actually. we can talk about it more over lunch, but i’m still very grateful ...’ he reaches for a donut, then looks up at the window. ‘oh! you guys saw it too, huh.’

reigen, chewing: ]

Saw what?

The tree?

[He glances at it, and rubs the back of his neck a bit.]

It would be hard to miss... I'm surprised by the shape the energy from Suzuki and I took.

[Not a lie, but he'll just uh. Pretend like he's more thoughtful and reflective about it and not utterly flattered and excited and completely head-over-heels for Arataka.]

[ ‘oh, no, i can see the tree from my mother’s place. but the flowering is new, right? from the last couple of days. it looks like a painting,’ serizawa says.

reigen is ... very pointedly still chewing in silence.

‘people are going on dates underneath, apparently,’ serizawa continues as he goes over to make tea. ‘seems really romantic. i’m a little jealous.’

REIGEN, STARING STUDIOUSLY INTO THE MIDDLE DISTANCE: ]

... yeah, well. If you wanna date you’re in a good place to put yourself out there.

Mm... is there anyone you like, Serizawa-kun?

[He glances at the tree...]

If I still had a crush on someone like I did when I was younger... I think I would have asked them to go see it with me. And to hold their hand as we walked...

[Looking back at awkward, awkward Seri.]

I think that would be nice. Arataka and I will probably go a few times too...

[ oh no, that’s cute. reigen quirks a smile as he finishes his donut, murmuring a thank-you as serizawa hands him some tea.

‘no one right now,’ serizawa admits. ‘but i’m not really looking, either. truthfully, i’m still surprised everything else in my life is coming together well, so ... ah ... dating or anything like that still seems like a long shot.’ ]

Heh. Makes sense. Though you shouldn’t be that surprised; you were always perfectly capable.

[ ‘i don’t know about that. but still, i appreciate your support!’

yep. nice, totally normal day ahead. ]

Oh! You could always ask your classmates to go see the flowers, too... like cherry blossom viewing, you could make it a picnic. That might be fun?

[He really hoped that Serizawa's anxieties could calm enough for him to get more friends, but Shigeo was determined to follow his promise to be a good friend, himself.]

I could also introduce you two to some of my friends. Any way I can help.

Yeah, sure. If you’re open to us meeting your friends at night school, it could be fun.

[ it’s not the kind of thing reigen would come up with on his own--he’s never the type to go looking for a group. but hey, serizawa’s a good guy, and mob’s been a good friend to him, so. why not.

‘oh ... yeah, that sounds great. i’ll run it by them tonight and see what they think.’ ]

Mmhmm. If they aren't interested, I'll see if Ritsu or some of my friends from college might be interested in meeting up.

[A small sense of pride... he was glad Serizawa was making the huge changes he was making. So different from the man in the tower stairwell!]

Which reminds me... Taka, Tsubomi's last letter said she "intends" to meet you. So get ready for her.

[Said with some amusement - apparently Tsubomi was enough to warrant the heads-up in advance.]

When you say “get ready,” it sounds like it’s gonna be tougher than meeting your brother.

[ eyeing him with suspicion as he drinks his tea--but, ah, it’s hot ]

She's got a strong will... and a scrutinizing eye.

[He smiles.]

But I think you'll get along. She is just... intense.

[ it’s funny--half a year ago ago reigen would’ve faltered at the warning. back then he’d known this was all going to be over eventually; that he was going to tear it down himself in service of his ambition, too quick as always to embrace a solitary life. and like all paper tigers, he would’ve crumpled under scrutiny. ritsu hadn’t been wrong to be suspicious of him--he’d been wrong for mob from the start.

he doesn’t know if he’s changed, not really. still selfish, still ridiculous. the only thing that’s different about him now is that he’s in love. there are worse things to be pared down to. if someone took hedge clippers to all the things about reigen that are thorny and overgrown, underneath they’d find a kind of crappy guy who’s entertaining the thought that he might make someone a good husband. he’s pretty sure he can live with that. ]

Hah! I’m looking forward to it.

[It won't be long - it's around that weekend that Tsubomi said she'd be coming down, so of course Shigeo was planning to meet her. And he was doing his best to look nice, wearing a pleasant button-down and a more refined coat.

He was, of course, elated that Arataka was more than comfortable with rescheduling the day's client to tag along. He could hardly contain his excitement, almost as giddy as a middle schooler.]

I haven't seen her in years... well, we share pictures, but it isn't the same. She's very composed though... this'll be nice.

[ if this had happened earlier in their relationship, reigen probably wouldn’t have handled it in the best way--he’s prone to petty jealousy, and he’s never coveted anyone the way he does mob. but he’s almost fully out of reasons to doubt their situation--there’s a giant hydrangea bush in the middle of the city that mob blushes at sometimes, as a testament to how serious things have gotten--and besides, meeting mob’s other friends has gone well so far.

so he’s relaxed as he accompanies mob to where they’ll be having brunch. his hands are in his pockets, and he’s smiling a little when he looks sideways at mob--mob, who dressed nice for the occasion. what a cutie pie. ]

Yeah, it’ll be fun. If you haven’t seen her in a long time she probably doesn’t actually know you became a giant.

Ah, true... she used to be taller than me, but that might be different, now. Though I know she doesn't look very short either.

[He glances at Reigen, smiling... it would be kind of cute if he was shorter than Tsubomi....]

At least my hair style hasn't changed in a long time, either.

You never thought about it? I guess men tend to settle on that kind of thing fast ... I haven’t changed mine in years either.

[ though at least the way he wears it is easy to tidy up if there’s a special occasion. ]

That time you had the sides gelled back...

[He runs his hand along the side of Reigen's face, brushing that hair back.]

...That was a really handsome look on you.

[ oh no that’s sweet ]

Hah ... well, good thing you like it. I don’t exactly have a ton of other options for the big day.

...I'm probably... going to be crying. With joy, but... I feel a lot.

[His hand lingers on Reigen's face, thumb brushing the temple affectionately.

He idly notices the train stopping, and smiles as he sees a familiar face.]

Tsubomi!

[ reigen isn’t attracted to women--nothing personal, he isn’t attracted to most people--but you’d have to be blind not to see takane tsubomi is a knockout. he smiles as they meet on the platform, friendly, gesturing out in lieu of keeping his hands in his pockets, but he’ll comply with a handshake if she goes for one. ]

Hey, Takane-san. Reigen Arataka, nice to meet you.

[She'll take the offer for the handshake after bowing her head, grip firm but shake comfortably loose - all the confidence with nothing to prove. She also holds her arms out for a hug from Shigeo, which she gets - a simple and short one in greeting.]

It's good to see you, Mob-kun. And it's nice to finally meet you in person instead of through internet clips, Reigen-san.

[She doesn't specify whether she had seen the clips on Reigen's channel or Those clips.......]

[ people who look him up online will find any number of things by now--reigen has had a similar reception from clients too. it’s hard for reigen to look back on the night of the press conference with shame or frustration, though. that night he and mob had--well.

so he huffs with wry amusement and says, ]

Yeah, hopefully not any of the ones they set to K-pop.

[ he nods his head towards the walkway that leads out of the station. ]

C’mon. The lunch place is supposed to be great.

Oh! Yes, Tsubomi, this place has really nice soba options and fresh ingredients. It was the one I wrote about a few months ago.

[She smiles a bit, just shy of a chuckle, amused by Shigeo's practically bubbly expression. He sure softened up since she last saw him.]

Arataka showed me this place, actually... we spent a lot of our money for the first few months eating here, even when we should have saved.

[ reigen huffs, faux-indignant, even as he trails alongside them. ]

It’s easier to get to know somebody when it’s good food, alright?

That's a good policy to have. It definitely helps relax and bond over good food - better than wasting a conversation complaining about a bad meal.

Do you meet clients in places like this, too? Or anywhere outside your office. I imagine a few people are a bit reticent to actually admit they need help.

Exactly. Tone, mood, optics ... you kinda need everything to go right, since getting set up by your parents isn’t exactly what I’d call an easy start.

[ this with more lackadaisical hand gestures. ]

And yeah, there’s no harm in meeting people where they’re comfortable. You’d be right to think there’s a certain type of person who likes to keep it under wraps that they worry about spiritual matters ... they’re the exception more than the norm, though. Especially after that tree popped up here in town.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject