bonercity | 《 texts from edo. 》

[ And because that is just way overreacting and it makes Gintoki's face turn red, he plants a foot in Katsura's backside to push him ahead. ]

You gonna be annoying all night?!

I'm not annoying, I'm Katsura!

[ is what he gets out before he's kicked along. Ah. Regular Gintoki is back. ]

[ Sooo how long a walk is it gonna be? ]

[ Walk? Puh-lease. They're going on a romantic road trip on his awesome brand new (barely holding together) scooter. He's definitely never let Katsura hitch a ride on it. Gas is expensive! So he's hardly even used it, so far.

But he owns it, and it's awesome. So because this is a special night, they're using it.

He holds out the spare helmet towards Katsura. ]

[ There's definitely a certain bad boy charm about someone who doesn't dress up for a date and drives a scooter. It's like the pinnacle of virility! Katsura is feeling a little tingly with excitement and graciously accepts the helmet, although he does glance inside it suspiciously before putting it on. Please don't be greasy -- ]

Thank you. Now I will be sufficiently protected from blunt head trauma.

[ Is what he says as he climbs on the thing behind Gintoki, as if somehow expecting him to kill them. ]

[ Excuse you? He takes care of his helmet and scooter.

He leaves his helmet on rather loosely, and huffs at the comment. ]

There ain't gotta be any blunt head trauma on my watch.

[ Dad just wouldn't let him own this without having a couple of helmets for him and whoever he might end up bringing along on it.

Off they go, then. It's quite a ride, because they grew up on the outskirts of the city and that's the general direction they're heading. ]

[ WELL, GOOD TO KNOW. He wouldn't want to deal with an oily wig later. ]

Ah, I suppose you're usually the one inflicting it.

[ Said in perfectly casual tone while he gently slips his arms around Gintoki's middle to hold on. He'll probably squee every time Gintoki speeds up beyond 40km/h, however he seems to quiet down a little when he realizes that the scenery looks familiar, and rests his chin on Gintoki's shoulder. There's quite a bit of nostalgia, okay. They're gonna pass the sandbox they first met at and everything. Actually, Katsura's getting emotional and Gintoki can probably feel it radiating off of him at this point. ]

[ Why is Katsura so cute? Emotions are gross and Gintoki's probably going to get very embarrassed about it, but the arms around him and Katsura's head on his shoulder makes him really ... warm inside.

His favourite place has always been by the river, so they pass their old school and houses to where the road only fits one car. The sun set quite a while ago, but the moonlight is quite bright so they shouldn't have any problem walking. Especially not because they've walked that very path countless times.

He parks the scooter at the very edge of the road, and waits for Katsura to let go so he can get off. ]

[ It's a gift. ]

[ Wait, how long was that ride? If they left between 7 and 8 and it's not winter, shouldn't it still be bright outside?.. ]

[ Anyway, Katsura watches all those passing memories with a growing smile and eventually a sniffle, and he's pretty much a mess by the time they stop. Actually, he doesn't even think of letting Gintoki go at first, just squeezing him and pressing face into his back in some kind of weird sobbing and joy mix, but he'll eventually let him go and clamber off himself. ]

[ Ah... the riverside. So many young days spent here. ]

[ In Japan it gets dark at like 6 PM all year round, baby. Instead it just gets bright at like 4 AM.

Stop wetting his shirt with tears, god, you're embarrassing. Gintoki is about ready to tell Katsura off for it, when he's finally freed and he can get off the bike. He straightens his shirt a bit and puts his helmet on the seat of the scooter before he plucks the one off Katsura's head. ]

Come on.

[ He's got a spot set up further by the river. He's actually really proud of it.

After a moment's hesitation, he grabs Katsura's hand before he starts down the trodden path.

(You do know they're still young, Zura.) ]

[ OH OKAY ALRIGHT THEN. ]

[ NEVERRR don't you love him for who he is? Huh? That includes wetting your shirt with tears so take it. Katsura smiles lovingly at Gintoki as he takes his helmet off for him - how caring! - and follows him. ]

[ There's a small, disgusting sound of utter joy when he takes his hand. They've walked this little path so many times, it's almost as if he remembers every step. Almost as if they were tiny again, running up and down the riverside. Almost as if this was that first time when they held hands -- ]

[ (SHH HE'S HAVING A MOMENT) ]

[ IT SEEMS MOMENTS ARE ALL HE'S HAVING TODAY. (That's okay, Gintoki keeps having them too.)

It doesn't take very long before they reach the riverside, and Gintoki's set up a blanket with lit candles and a picnic basket. He may have ended up getting Shouyou to help. So he may have said he's going to ask Katsura out because Shouyou wouldn't stop prodding him.

So it's getting pretty official.

Gintoki stops by the blanket, and quietly clears his throat. ]

So, uh. Have a seat. I guess.

[ WELL, GINTOKI IS TAKING HIM OUT ON AN ACTUAL DATE AND BEING BASICALLY A PRINCE ON A WHITE MOPED. WHAT CAN A GIRL'S HEART DO? ]

[ Katsura gasps, hands over his heart, because this is actually surpassing his wildest dreams (look, he tried to be a realist when it came to Gintoki, and even when his wildest dreams included both of them being drag queens in a space opera, the only candles he'd ever gotten were the ones that kept the mosquitos away). He turns to give him a quick kiss on the cheek before flopping down to sit on the blanket in excitement. ]

I... I don't know what to say.

[ There's a tremble of happiness in his voice. Oh no, it looks like moments haven't stopped yet. ]

[ A kiss on the cheek A KISS ON THE CHEEK mayday mayday he's about to explode from embarrassment and and-- Whatever the other thing is. ]

Aa? It's no big deal. Don't make it one.

[ FEELING VERY SHY AND SELF-CONSCIOUS SUDDENLY shhh.

He'll just. Sit. And pull the basket to him to unpack tea and - you guessed it - onigiri. ]

[ it's LUUUUURVE ]

[ teenagers are so cute tho. ]

Of course it's a big deal! Our last date was in the subway! You -- [ SNIFF ] You've grown so much, Gintoki. You've truly become a man...

[ He practically wibbles when he sees the onigiri, but it shifts into a wide, happy smile instead. ]

You remembered.

[ Those little riceballs were the beginning of everything. How they've met, really, back in some sandbox or kindergarten yard, when Gintoki had forgotten his lunch and Katsura came up to be his knight in shining armor and feed him his own bento. ]

[ Well, mostly because most other kids didn't want to be his friends so he thought he'd try with the new guy, but hey! As long as it worked. ]

Of course I remembered.

[ Katsura was his very first friend. The first to approach him without caution or weird looks. The first to not whisper about him when his back was turned. He'll never forget that day.

He hands Katsura an onigiri, and huffs, flustered. ]

I said stop making it a big deal.

[ NONE OF THIS IS A BIG DEAL. HE'S GOING TO FREAK OUT. ]

[ Yes, well, even in this day and age white hair wasn't exactly a common thing, as it turns out. And kids in particular could be cruel. ]

[ Katsura takes it, smiles at him infuriatingly however doesn't insist further and takes a bite. It's pretty good. Gintoki knew his way around the kitchen. ]

Did you make it yourself?

Well ... Dad helped. I told him that I was, uh ... About this.

[ CLEARS THROAT. He's just going to start shoving onigiri in his mouth so he gets away from talking for a bit. ]

[ Katsura almost chokes on his riceball, then looks up at Gintoki with teary eyes. Whether he's emotional again or if he's really desperate for oxygen is anyone's guess. Probably that second thing. ]

You asked your dad to help?

[ IT'S OFFICIAL IT'S OFFICIAL IT'S OFFICIAL ]

[ NOPE, NOT TALKING. TOO BUSY CHEWING ONIGIRI.

He'll nod though.

Yes, it's official, damn it. That's what he's been trying to say. ]

[ OMG OMG OMG. ]

I love you too, Gintoki.

[ pls don't choke ]

[ HOW CAN HE NOT CHOKE WHEN YOU SUDDENLY THROW THAT AT HIM?

Definitely choking on this one piece of rice. And coughing a lot. ]

[ oh haha whoops :'D ]

[ Katsura's going to bump him on the back several times to help with the coughing. ]

Don't you die on me!

[ And the rice comes out flying!

He slumps over his knees as soon as it's out, still coughing but not quite as badly, and wipes his eyes with his sleeve. ]

T-take it easy, I haven't even gotten to "will you go out with me" yet!

[ H-how romantic!.. ]

Exactly! Don't let it end like this!!

It'd be your fault if it did!

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