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[koboreta]

"Hello, this is Sougo Ousaka. Please leave a message
and I'll get back to you as soon as I can."

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Emerges from the depths.

[koboreta]

[In all too many ways, Ryuu not being used to the cold fits his personality. Like the Okinawan sun, he's nothing but warmth and brightness... even his smile seems to take the edge off of the chill in the air. Of course anyone would want to stick close to him in the cold! Even someone like Tenn, though that thought is awfully charming on its own...

But before Sougo can get too lost in his thoughts, the hot chocolates are finished, and he gladly follows Ryuu to the sidewalk.]

Cheers.

[Bringing their paper cups together doesn't make the same clink sound that their call of "cheers!" usually accompanies, but Sougo lifts his cup to his lips all the same, taking a modest sip before breaking out into a smile. ]

It's wonderful. No wonder this place is popular. [Are other people ordering spicy hot chocolate? Probably not, but the spice curbs the sweetness and melds with it beautifully, so Sougo couldn't be more pleased.] How is yours, Tsunashi-san? You have to try this when you get a chance.

welcomes into my arms

[gunshow]

[ while the ring of glasses coming together as a sign of excitement and camaraderie has a special place in his heart, the motion of a cheers itself also lifts his spirits. taking a handsome sip of his own drink, he lights up with a similarly impressed smile. funny, how life turns out. he wouldn't have considered himself as someone with a broad palate before he'd had the chance to try so many unique kind of foods and drinks. ]

You're right, it's really great! It's a little... [ he hums ] "toasty", I think is what I'd describe it as. Not too sweet at all!

[ he can only assume sougo's is toasty in a whole different kind of way, but only one way to know for sure! ]

Here, let's swap.

[ he holds out his cup, minding his hands so there's no chance of dropping it. ]

And after this, we can look for a place to sit.

♡

[koboreta]

"Toasty?" Even the sound of it suits this sort of weather.

[It's funny, really, how something as simple as watching Ryuu light up so beautifully is enough to make the warmth in Sougo's hands spread up through his cheeks. Sharing drinks may not be completely unfamiliar territory - it's come with their drinking outings over time (alongside the many, many silent meltdowns in Sougo's head that he's finally learned to move past, for the most part), but there's still something so carefree and intimate about it that he feels a swell of gratefulness rise up as they trade drinks.

Naturally, he isn't about to take the first sip. But Ryuu probably knows that by now, so waiting isn't quite so awkward. And it's well worth it, at that - the equally modest sip he takes is much more pleasant than he expected, and it likely shows on his face as he naturally warms into a delighted smile.]

It's just as delicious as you make it sound.

[But he doesn't want to hold onto it for too long, and carefully offers the cup back with a sturdy hand and a mild laugh beneath his breath. There may not be any open seats near the hot chocolate stand, but there's no questioning that they'll find somewhere nice to enjoy their drinks without much trouble.]

You're right, though - it really is toasty, like sitting by the fireside. It's a perfect winter drink.

[gunshow]

[ while usually polite, ryuu's far from shy in friendly circumstances like these, promptly getting his sip in so he can hand sougo's drink back to him. his expression smooths out at the fiery taste, and even as the cocoas return to their rightful owners, he's dutifully thinking it through. ]

Mine might taste more traditional, but yours is pretty unique too! I'm glad it turned out to be delicious after all.

[ and that his choice hadn't lead this outing astray. it would be awkward if he'd chosen badly, after all... so that's one worry to put aside. with that in mind, ryuu uses his height advantage to find them a way through the throngs of people so they're not left standing and drinking. it's a bit of a squeeze here and there, but eventually he leads them out onto a walkway that branches away from the main square, where things are a little quieter, but no less illuminated. eventually, benches come into view, lining the well-kempt path around the square. it's far from empty, with prismal groups chatting and taking pictures by saturated neon light, but much more tame in comparison to the vendor stalls.

pointing to a free spot with his cup-holding hand, he leans aside. ]

- ah, there. How does that look? Nice, right?

[koboreta]

I'd be surprised if it wasn't, since it seems to be so popular.

[Being tall truly does have its advantages. Not that Sougo is particularly short - average height isn't so bad, but he's slight, and has a tendency to be too lenient with crowds in general. Waiting patiently for others and trailing behind large groups of people at a slower pace is just fine, as long as there's no immediate rush to get anywhere. But it can certainly be frustrating, so it really is amazing that Ryuu manages to lead them through the crowd so quickly.

And what a lovely place, too! The lights somehow seem much more dazzling with fewer people around.]

That's perfect.

[Just enough space for two people! Sougo still doesn't let go of Ryuu's hand as they make their way over to take a seat, not at all minding that they probably look an awful lot like a couple. Thinking too much on it would send his mind into overdrive, so he only takes a sip of his drink instead, grinning as he pulls back from it.]

Even with the chill in the air, I could stay out here for hours. It's beautiful, isn't it?