heleanor | ♠ ＧＯＬＤ ♥ ＧＵＮＳ ♦ ＧＩＲＬＳ ♣

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).]

Perfect. [Oikawa orders his cabonara, not nearly as flashy as Yamaguchi's food will inevitably be but Oikawa likes to be safe with his food and he enjoys cabonara.]

Do you drink, Tadashi? [It feels strange to call Yamaguchi that when he doesn't know something as simple as his opinion on alcohol. He doesn't want to order a bottle of wine rather than just a glass and discover that he'll be the only one drinking it.]

Er, I don't...sorry, Tadao!! [Arghh, this is embarrassing...]

I'm still nineteen until November. ...But, I don't want you to feel uncomfortable, while you're here...! So please order what you want!

Don't be silly, Yama-chan. Why would I be uncomfortable on a date with someone as cute as you?

[He orders half a glass of the suggested wine, still smiling a little that Yamaguchi would even care. He honestly didn't consider Yamaguchi might have a problem drinking when underage. He hasn't given that a thought since he was seventeen.]

But do you want something else? They have plenty of juice mixes and things.

[It's not so much that Yamaguchi has a problem with it, as it's illegal. And he doesn't have a fake ID with his real name on it, for weird and unforeseen situations like this–

whoa whoa waitaminute, what was that first part again???]

You—Sake–...I mean, T-Tadao-san...!?

[NO ONE...THINKS...YAMAGUCHI IS CUTE OR THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DID HE JUST MISHEAR THAT]

[Ah right, legality. He forgets about that. It's not like any of the waitstaff would check his ID.]

Tadashi?

[So that would be a "no" to the juice?]

Y-You...umm... [...]

Jah...er...juice, yeah, that's great! That's what I'll have!!

[He wants to ask for 100% clarification on what kind of 'date' all evidence points toward this being. But, Yamaguchi hasn't got the guts.]

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