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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.]

[Oikawa blinks - back to "Sakeguchi-san" already and asking for him to use his first name at the same time? Is he nervous about his name?]

If you want me to? But ah, if I do, you should call me- [he hesitates, momentarily forgetting which name he used when introducing himself] - Tadao, too.

?? Really?

[Okay, it does sound like a pretty weird request coming out of someone else's mouth. But Yamaguchi did set himself up for that.]

...Okay!

[Really? That's all?]

Have you spent some time overseas, Tadashi?

[That's obviously not the reason Yamaguchi wants him to call him by his given name but it's probably the conclusion someone else would make.]

'Overseas?'

[It takes him a moment to get it, then he lets out a startled laugh and shakes his head.]

...Oh! No, not at all...I've hardly ever left Miyagi before, even. [Even driving out to other cities occasionally for work business is totally foreign to him.]

Really? [That doesn't surprise Oikawa but he puts on his best impression of it anyway.]

Miyagi is a nice place. [Apart from being crawling with gang activity.]

I grew up here as well, though I suppose it must have been a little further away from you if I didn't notice you already.

You did? [Yamaguchi's surprise, at least, is genuine.] ....Sorry! You just seem so...

[Worldly? Seasoned? Something like that, Yamaguchi supposes.]

I didn't stay here! I've moved around a bit. [He'll come up with where later if he has to - but he did say he started studying somewhere else which means Sakeguchi moved away from Miyagi at some point.]

But it's always felt like home.

[That part is true, he has his family here after all.]

Ah, that makes sense...I guess that I feel the same way.

[He never had many thoughts of going off somewhere like Tokyo to college, but he'd been afraid that it would be painful. living so near the same prefecture after his parents' deaths—but it's fine, now, since Yamaguchi has had Karasuno and his new apartment.] It really is a good place to live.

It is!

[Their waitress picks that moment to return and Oikawa realises he hasn't even thought about the menu. As if he's going to have something other than cabonara and whatever wine they feel like matching to it today.]

Have you thought about what you're going to have, Tadashi? All the food here is wonderful.

[Yamaguchi laughs awkwardly, and glances away from Oikawa and the waitress with an embarrassed look.]

I haven't, sorry! I'm actually not familiar with many Italian dishes, Sak...T-Tadao!!

[He knew he'd forgotten something. Now he gets to look like an idiot in front of his...date? Yamaguchi forgot how intimidated he was even without worrying about being spotted by a rival gang.]

[His date - really Yamaguchi should have realised this is in no way a platonic meeting by now - thinks it's fairly cute that he's forgotten that food gets eaten at restaurants.]

Do you like fish? I'm sure the special is special. [Bad joke but what can you do.

Their waitress smiles and outlines the dish, a fish fillet with tomatoes, anchovies, clams and mussels steamed in foil with a side of potatoes and asparagus. It almost makes Oikawa want to change his own order. Almost.]

[But he still has a hard time believing anyone would request a date with him, despite all evidence Sakeguchi has shown to the contrary.

He listens to the dish as she lists it out, completely sold by the time the waitress reaches 'potatoes.']

Sounds great! ...I-I mean, yeah, I'm going to order the special... [He doesn't think to order any drinks; he's still underage by another month or so and rarely thinks of that anyway outside of Karasuno's front-end business (where Hinata takes full advantage of being known by name to the bartending staff).]

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