heleanor | ♠ ＧＯＬＤ ♥ ＧＵＮＳ ♦ ＧＩＲＬＳ ♣

[Well, he doesn't seem to be freaking out about Oikawa overhearing his conversation any more?]

That I wanted you to show me around?

[Yamaguchi seems to calm a bit at that. Maybe he did only imagine it?? Hard to believe that's something his own mind would come up with, but he'll be the first to admit he hasn't slept nearly enough recently.]

R-Right...ah... [where was he going with that train of thought again? He...ought to find someone in the law building to send this guy along to, probably...]

Oh, but if you find someone else they won't be nearly as cute, will they?

[He doesn't know whether it would count towards the number of people he's killed if Yamaguchi dies of embarrassment.]

[It would. IT WOULD COUNT.]

?? Wha–? [Yamaguchi's face is heating up, and not in a pleasant way, even though this stranger is admittedly friendly and kind of handsome himself. Yamaguchi's almost sure this has to be some kind of misunderstanding, or else a weird and unwelcome prank at his expense. Or, worse, knowing his line of work. He knows that he isn't cute at all, not remotely, so why is this guy saying so with a straight face unless he's trying to get something out of him?]

Wh...What's with you? [Er. Wait. That came out wrong–] ...I-I mean—WHO are you?

Sakeguchi Tadao! Pleased to meet you, Yamaguchi-kun.

[He pauses, smiles. It's okay, kid. He's not going to hurt you unless you really fuck up.]

Undergrad, by the way - You asked before?

Ah, got it! So am I. [There's still an uncertain feeling hovering in the pit of his stomach, but Yamaguchi's happy enough for the excuse to keep the conversation moving forward. At the very least, it means he can get this over with more quickly so he won't have to worry anymore about whether Sakeguchi really is just an odd stranger passing through.] Let's head over to the Hoshino Building, Sakeguchi-san! That's where most of the professor's offices are; a lot of students hang out there if they're waiting for a meeting...one of them will definitely be able to show you the campus and explain everything.

[A disappointment, but Iwaizumi would be pleased if his expedition is cut short.]

You're completely sure you can't?

[He perks up and fishes his phone out of his pocket.]

At least let me get your number, that way I can make up for bothering you like this some time. [Unsubtle, perhaps but "Sakeguchi" could just be that kind of guy.]

Well I could, but you'll have to wait until... [he trails of, blinking uncomprehendingly for a moment.] My number?

Oh! Wait, that's, I mean, you really don't have to make anything up to me, Sakeguchi-san... [maybe he is just some confused guy trying to be nice]

[Oikawa feigns embarrassment, scratching the side of his face and smiling awkwardly.]

That wasn't really the reason I wanted your number, Yamaguchi-kun. You don't do this often, do you?

!!?

[Is he—no. No way. People don't...don't ask that sort of thing, not to Yamaguchi—it happens to other people. It happens to Tsukishima.]

What...um...what do you mean, Sakeguchi-san! D-Do what?

[Oikawa's starting to feel a little bad. This is beyond easy and he could have gotten someone else to do it later down the track when he needed to strike a blow to Karasuno. Now his options are keep his farce up, which will unravel when Yamaguchi works out that Oikawa isn't a law student, or try and work things so Yamaguchi doesn't want to see him again which he's reluctant to do when he's having this much fun.]

Give cute boys your number so they can call you for dinner.

Buh!? [CODE RED WE WEREN'T PREPARED FOR THIS Yamaguchi's never even had the nerve to ask a cute girl for her number in his whole life; the last thing he ever expected was for some handsome-looking guy to come up to him and ask for his. What with his being taken in by the Karasuno family (and semi-permanent hang-ups on Tsukishima and now Yachi), he was starting to think he'd most likely end up a bachelor forever.

Yamaguchi's face goes heated and flushes splotchy red down his neck in record time. So you can enjoy his wordless flailing and incomprehensible noises at your own discretion, until he remembers how to properly form words, Oikawa.]

[That's adorable. It looks like Oikawa's brought about an allergic reaction in Yamaguchi by asking for his number. He looks at Yamaguchi with concern and then slowly so Yamaguchi doesn't faint, explode or run away, reaches up to place his hand on Yamaguchi's forehead.]

Yamaguchi-kun are you feeling okay?

[Yamaguchi shivers at the unexpected touch, movement rippling down his back and spreading all the way to his arms and legs. There's no way that Oikawa wouldn't be able to feel it. Immediately after that, Yamaguchi's body abruptly stiffens, like he's going to pull back and away from him—but, he doesn't. There's obviously no fever, but the skin beneath Oikawa's palm should be very warm, now, indeed.]

Sorry! S-Sorry, I'm fine...!

[Or, make that embarrassed, intimidated, anxious, frankly a little scared and...hopeful? Yep, hopeful. And it's such an out-of-place feeling that Yamaguchi nearly doesn't recognize it, through all the negative knee-jerk emotions underneath he feels at being caught like this when he wasn't expecting it. But...is this guy actually asking him out, out of the blue, without knowing Yamaguchi at all? Just because he wanted to? That's never happened to him before; he didn't think at any point it ever would.]

[Oikawa places his free hand on his own forehead to compare their temperatures.]

Are you sure? You're awfully warm.

[Which is true enough. For all he knows, Yamaguchi might legitimately be unwell. Really, he's just showing he's a kind and considerate person concerned for Yamaguchi's health.

It's nice to be out and not have to keep up his intimidation tactics and vague threats for once, like a tiny vacation where he acts like a decent human being.]

N-No, my skin just...does that? It's...er...no big deal!

[Yamaguchi's mind is yelling for him to pull away, to come up with SOME excuse to get the hell out before he somehow embarrasses himself further in this situation. And yet, despite that, he feels frozen in place. Like he's been prevented from moving somehow by the touch of Sakeguchi's hand on his head.]

Um, that's probably really weird! I'm sorry, I'm... [He doesn't know how to possibly explain how stupid he's acting right now without sounding utterly pathetic. Or worse, without giving Sakeguchi the impression this behavior is his fault instead of Yamaguchi's, for not knowing how to deal with an occurance like this. Just how inept is he!?]

Just take care of yourself, Yamaguchi-kun. [Oikawa finally jerks his hand back off Yamaguchi's forehead and tucks it sheepishly into his pocket like he wasn't completely aware that touching Yamaguchi when they've only just met might be considered inappropriate.

His hand still feels warm from Yamaguchi's skin.]

I should probably be the one apologising for being weird. Approaching you out of the blue like this when you're not even interested. [He laughs and shrugs his shoulders.] But I thought I'd try, just in case.

[Yamaguchi gapes, trying his hardest to catch up to the words happening in real time even as he perceives them in a strange kind of embarrassment-induced slow motion.

Oh. Hold on. Not interested? That's not right, he thinks numbly, forcing his brain to work despite all the blood diverted to his extremely red face. That can't be right at all. Sakeguchi thinks Yamaguchi's the one that wouldn't be–?]

W-Wait! Sakeguchi-san!! [Unthinkingly, Yamaguchi suddenly reaches forward on some unknown impulse and grabs Oikawa by the wrist before he can leave. The younger man looks nervous and faintly desperate.]

You'd really like to have my phone number!!?

[Oikawa jerks back away from Yamaguchi's touch on instinct but manages to stop himself before pulling out of his grip entirely. Hopefully Yamaguchi didn't notice, or just thinks Oikawa must have more problems with other people touching him than touching other people. Which is basically the case. He has exactly one person he doesn't mind touching him no matter the circumstances and it's not Yamaguchi.

He smiles, maybe a little shakily.]

Why else would I ask for it, Yamaguchi-kun?

[Yamaguchi blinks, a hurt look flashing across his face for a very brief moment before his expression shifts, to a mix of concern and apprehension.

He lets go of Oikawa's wrist, and as he does Yamaguchi's body language seems to deflate visibly from how wound up he'd been not ten seconds ago. What if he read him wrong? he worries. What if Sakeguchi didn't mean it like that...or didn't mean it at all? Sakeguchi's playing it off now, but he definitely flinched when Yamaguchi grabbed his hand.

What little confidence Yamaguchi mustered up a minute ago seems to evaporate quickly at his perceived failure.]

I...sorry. I should let you go, I'll bet you...have stuff to do on your own tonight...

[Shit, that cost him. Yamaguchi looks like Oikawa slapped him. He kicks himself for not keeping his reactions under control. He could have avoided this so easily.]

I really would like your number, Yamaguchi-kun. I know lots of good places to eat. [Most of them are under the thumb of Aoba Johsai but they are semi-legitimate businesses as well.] But if you don't want to then I understand.

...?

Okaaaay...

[Yamaguchi hesitates, trying to formulate his concerns into something coherent before he blurts out anything stupid. He swallows dryly and then speaks.]

Sakeguchi-san...um...is something the matter? [He's more than a little nervous to hear the answer; it was such a change from how light the other man's attitude had been for the entire meeting before that. Maybe Yamaguchi was reading him wrong, reading the whole situation wrong, and Sakeguchi was just being friendly the whole time? And when he'd seen how flustered Yamaguchi got, from a simple thing like having his forehead touched...]

[He rubs the back of his neck awkwardly and then tucks his hands back into his pockets, trying to come up with something to say. He'd just blow it off but Yamaguchi isn't stupid or Karasuno wouldn't have anything to do with him. In the end, he opts for something like the truth.]

I'm not great with people touching me. Sorry, Yamaguchi-kun.

[It sounds like the worst kind of excuse and Oikawa knows it. The truth always comes out like a lie when he says it which is just one of the many reasons he doesn't tell it often.]

Huh? But–

[Yamaguchi's eyes widen a bit, and he quickly flushes again in horror and bows hastily to Oikawa in apology with a clumsy attempt at actual formality. Oh, dear. That's what it was??]

I'm sorry! I thought–s-since you'd touched my forehead earlier, to see if there was a fever...I didn't realize at all! S-Sorry, Sakeguchi-san! [He's really more embarrassed than repentant, but still, it's not exactly becoming like this for a would-be gangster to fall over himself to apologize...]

[Oikawa forces a laugh and shrugs.] Please don't worry about it, Yamaguchi-kun. How could you have known? I didn't exactly include it with my introduction.

[How is such a good guy in their business? ... It occurs to him that maybe it's an act. If it is, he's a better actor than Oikawa has ever seen.]

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