heleanor | ♠ ＧＯＬＤ ♥ ＧＵＮＳ ♦ ＧＩＲＬＳ ♣

Oh! Sure, okay!
If you want to, I mean!

[Those two messages come right after the other, followed by a pause, though Yamaguchi's still typing according to the screen. This time, his response takes a bit longer, but only because he's double-and triple-checking his appointment book with fingers that don't seem to want to cooperate all of a sudden.]

I'm free every night but Thursday, Sakeguchi-san!

[...Well, he can be, with some creative scheduling.

Yamaguchi doesn't even realize how desperate he probably sounds with that.]

Do people often ask you out without wanting to go out? Of course I do, Yamaguchi-kun!

[Oikawa checks his own schedule, swears and yells out to Iwaizumi to check that, no, he can't move a meeting that's already been rescheduled three times, which only leaves one option.]

Saturday then? I know a cute Italian place we can go to.

['Date?' Is this a date? Is he allowed to date? Yamaguchi obviously can't commit to anything serious, but if Sakeguchi's actually (but why?) interested, Yamaguchi feels bad for leading him on–

And yet, his traitorous fingers are already making the decision for him.]

Saturday's good!

[Or at least, not bad. Saturday nights are busy for Karasuno's front-end business with the bar, and gang operations both, so nobody will probably notice if Yamaguchi takes a few hours off. But, he still feels guiltier about it the longer he thinks. He'll have to tell someone where he's going beforehand; maybe Shimada will give him some advice?]

[Oikawa grins and resists calling out to Iwaizumi to gloat about his date. He's already considering buying Yamaguchi flowers. Though he might object to that they'd probably add some cheer to his no doubt sparse apartment.

But first he needs to pull some strings and get them a table. The restaurant he's thinking of is a discreet and romantic place that needed some help pulling themselves up from a rough season at a time when the banks wouldn't give a loan to a popular business much less one with two tables filled on a Friday night. A loan and a lot of pasta eaten by Seijoh later, there's now a waitlist a month long for bookings and money laundering keeping Oikawa's connection with them strong. Oikawa doesn't go there often himself - he'll pick Japanese or French food over Itallian any day - so it's unlikely the newer staff will recognise or care about his name and the regulars shouldn't know him either.

He makes the call and books their table before getting back to Yamaguchi, just in case he has to do some reminding of why he has a permanent offer of a table there but it all goes smoothly and he has a table for them by the end of the call.]

Table for two booked. I'll see you at eight, if that's okay, Yamaguchi-kun? I can send you directions.

Yeah, that's good! [Ah, that's a relief...Yamaguchi doesn't have a car of his own, and was worried too late that Oikawa might ask him for a ride. Or worse, offer to come pick him up. Yamaguchi may not be well enough known to be a target to other gangs, but he's certainly not foolish enough to hand out his address casually, either.] I'll see you Saturday then, Sakeguchi-san.

[The rest of the week passes quickly enough, and sure enough, on Saturday Yamaguchi finds himself stepping nervously out of a taxi at the restaurant entrance at fifteen minutes to eight. He wonders if he should wait outside for Sakeguchi or if he's already inside. Glancing around Yamaguchi picks up on how the place looks fancy and surprisngly exclusive, which makes him feel a bit better about the dress shirt and formal slacks he's still got on from a lunch-business meeting earlier with Kiyoko and a few of their financial correspondents.

A moment's indecision passes, during which Yamaguchi remembers how nervous he is about this whole thing. To avoid the sick feeling in his stomach he pulls out his phone and starts texting to keep his hands busy.]

Hello, Sakeguchi-san. I'm here a bit early. Should I go on inside to ask the waitstaff for our table? [He hopes he isn't breaking some kind of etiquette rule here; Yamaguchi really is still not used to anything involving a heavy degree of formality.]

Sorry, Yama-chan. I'm going to be a couple of minutes late. If you want to go in, they have a waiting area you can use. I'm sorry, this is a terrible impression to make for a first date.

[He should have known something would make him late - there always is. That's the problem when your business doesn't pay heed to the law. Complications happen. And the complication he currently has no longer breathing but that leaves Oikawa getting ready twenty minutes late.

He's slightly flustered when he arrives and part of it - a small part - is nerves. He hasn't had a legitimate date in... He can't remember having a legitimate date since high school.

He opens the door, looking sheepish because "Sakeguchi" would over turning up ten minutes late for a date he organised and checks around for Yamaguchi]

[Yamaguchi hadn't been sitting down for long when one of the greeters approaches him, kindly asking if he has a reservation. He gives her "Sakeguchi's" name, but after checking the list she tells him there's no one scheduled tonight under that name. Or under his, when he asks. Yamaguchi frowns, wondering if there's been a mistake, and the woman starts reading off the reservation list for him: Sumimoto, Konishi, Miyake, Oikawa...

Shit. Oh, shit. The waitress keeps talking, but Yamaguchi breaks out in cold sweat, no longer listening. What was that last one? Oikawa? As in, Oikawa Tooru? Come to think of it, this restaurant is right at the border of Seijou's territory—it's not an uncommon last name, to be sure, but what if the infamous Grand King is actually here tonight?

Would Yamaguchi even recognize him? Oikawa or any member of Seijou would recognize Yamaguchi, by the tiny Karasuno pin he wears on his jacket that nobody in public would ever recognize. Maybe this was a bad idea. Maybe he should text Sakeguchi an apology and try to leave while he still can–]

[Oikawa spots Yamaguchi talking to one of the waitresses and calls out.]

Yamaguchi-kun!

[Yamaguchi looks good in his suit, but perhaps not entirely comfortable in the restaurant - maybe he should have picked somewhere less formal, at least for their first date. He's come to grips with the fact that he wants to keep this going as long as possible, which means, hopefully, this will be a first rather than an only.

With Yamaguchi a touch distracted Oikawa takes the moment to pull down the waitress' booking sheet and tap the relevant one while saying 'that's me, Sakeguchi' coupled with a wink. She seems to get the message at least.]

Shall we go to our table, Yamaguchi-kun?

[Startled into silence by Sakeguchi's sudden appearance, Yamaguchi doesn't have time to really think at all before the question is presented to him. He blurts out the first answer that comes to mind:] Uhh—right!!

[Crap. Now, he's obligated. Without even pausing to wonder how Sakeguchi could find his name on the list when it definitely hadn't been before, Yamaguchi falls into step behind the other man, stomach churning on the way to their table. Yamaguchi really hopes it is another Oikawa, or he could be in serious trouble tonight.]

[Their waitress shows them to a table in the middle of the dining area, it's a little noisier than the waiting area but nothing major. But the important thing is that everyone in the restaurant has a nice view of their table if they want it and there are three groups of people in various positions behind Yamaguchi's seat. Congratulations: he's a sitting target and can't watch everyone at once.]

I'm so glad we could see each other again so soon, I looked forward to this all week. [Oikawa smiles as he takes his seat and folds his hands on the table.]

[Yamaguchi sits, stiff as cardboard. He's trying to hide how anxious he is right now; it's working about as well as you'd expect.]

Y-Yes! [He's barely listening to Oikawa, too panicked to even contemplate guilt over the fact as his eyes not-so-surreptitiously start glimpsing over his own shoulder to assess the threat. Crap. That is a lot of people. What does he do!? Any one of them could be Oikawa or know Oikawa or know someone that has it in for Karasuno–]

[Well that's... not normal. He expected Yamaguchi to be maybe a little nervous - a date with a cute guy who asked him out with no warning can do that - but this is not a little nervous. He's hard pressed to call this a lot nervous. This is freaking out.]

Yamaguchi-kun, are you okay?

Okay!?

[Yamaguchi half-yelps, startled at hearing his own name so loudly—then abruptly remembers why he's supposed to be here. A...date. With a handsome man he's only seen once in person before.

Yamaguchi really wishes he hadn't just remembered all that, because now he's twice as intimidated.]

S-Sakeguchi-san, I...urgh, I'm s-sorry!!

I'm okay! It's not your fault, I'm kinda feeling nervous all of a sudden about...something else...

Something else?

[Oikawa perks up, trying to look attentive rather than eager. Because as far as he's aware, Yamaguchi's studies are fine, and he's on a date so that answers what's up with his personal life. Which leaves his work for possible sources of nerves. And that's something Oikawa has some interest in.]

What is it? Maybe I can help.

Wha? [ ! ] Definitely not...!!!

[Yamaguchi's answer comes immediately, and it's loud, practically shouting. In fact it's loud enough that a few other nearby tables take notice and glance over their way, prompting Yamaguchi to go even more pale with embarrassment AND terror. He tries unsuccessfully to shrink down in his seat to avoid further notice.]

Sorry! S-Sorry... [He hardly looks at Oikawa at all, refusing to meet his eyes. 'Sakeguchi' definitely can't know, about what (who) is possibly awaiting Yamaguchi here. However slight the risk, it'd be an unacceptable breach of security and danger to both Sakeguchi, a civilian, and Karasuno. Yamaguchi tries to think of a good reason as to why this has to stay an absolutely private matter without telling Sakeguchi anything.

All that comes to mind is how fortunate Yamaguchi really was, last time, to get away from Seijou's spotters with only a fractured wrist and a lost delivery for his trouble. That was over two months ago. He doesn't think Hinata would be close enough to ride in to his rescue this time, if Yamaguchi needed it.]

I-I'm...um...just nervous, about something I heard, right before you entered the restaurant, Sakeguchi-san...

[That confirms it's work related, he tries not to laugh looking at Yamaguchi shrink down into his chair. Sure, he might not be as huge as some of the Karasuno members but he's not a kid, if he hid under the table bits would stick out.]

What could you have heard here to make you nervous? [He sounds puzzled and amused, as anyone would when their date is in the process of freaking out. Well, anyone who gets amused rather than concerned when people freak out, which is probably a fairly short list.

He can't imagine that Yamaguchi's stress is something he needs to worry about, they're in a restaurant he knows well and no one in here would bother him in any way, though god knows what enemies Karasuno's making these days, there could be something that is a legitimate threat to him. But Oikawa doubts it.]

Here?? I never said I heard it here...!! [Wow, lying. He's great at it.]

[Yamaguchi, pls.]

You said you heard it just before I arrived so I just assumed...

Er, that wasn't what I meant? Sorry...it was actually over the phone... [still lying. but, at least the expression on his face now is more smiling than grimacing, albeit in a very 'please believe me' sort of fashion.] It's probably nothing, Sakeguchi-san, so...don't be worried! It's okay.

[Oikawa is a common last name, Yamaguchi thinks to himself firmly, fairly common last name. Nothing to lose his mind over. He can do this! After all, if things go badly he can always call Sugawara or Hinata as a last resort. And Yamaguchi wouldn't necessarily need them anyway, because he can protect himself somewhat better now than he knew before and he certainly didn't come to the restaurant unarmed.]

Are you sure? I don't want to keep you if there's somewhere you have to be or you don't feel up to dinner.

[He admittedly hasn't known Yamaguchi long but Oikawa's always managed to find a train of logic in Yamaguchi's thoughts before. He had every reason to freak out over Oikawa overhearing his first phone conversation after all, so this should be no different. In theory. But he's trying to work out what it was. Yamaguchi could have finished a call before Oikawa got there, he supposes, but he didn't see him put a phone away and he was pretty clear about hearing it before Oikawa arrived. At this rate he's not sure Yamaguchi's heart will make it through the evening.]

...Is it okay with you if I go make a call really fast? [He really just needs to ask if Ukai or Takeda might know anything about this particular restaurant—it's probably nothing, but he'd still not rather do nothing about it just in case.] Sorry, Sakeguchi-san...

It's okay, it's okay! Go make your call, Yamaguchi-kun. I'll be right here when you come back.

[As much as he'd like to follow Yamaguchi and listen in, he's not that stupid and gathering information from Yamaguchi can wait.]

[Yamaguchi doesn't actually need to make a call—he excuses himself to the restroom and switches phones, shooting off a quick text message to Takeda with a request to forward it to Ukai if he can. He waits a minute or so, then heads back to the table.]

Sorry, Sakeguchi-kun. [He's done what he can, now all there is to do is wait and try to keep a low profile while they eat.]

[:D! He's been upgraded from "Sakeguchi-san"! And Yamaguchi looks at least a little less worried than he did before, both of which contribute to Oikawa's smile being actually genuine as Yamaguchi sits down.]

All sorted out, Yamaguchi-kun?

[Yamaguchi doesn't even notice the slip-up on his end, though it would probably just make him blush if he did.]

M-More or less. [Ah, that's the other thing. His own name...that's definitely a bad thing to let anyone hear if this place is actually hosting the Grand King.] Right, um—why don't you just call me Tadashi, Sakeguchi-san? Or, you could use something else. Not a lot of people use my family name...

[Blatant lies. "Tadashi" is just a much more common name, which won't be noticed.]

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