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Yuta wasnt used to having so many people around and talking to him directly. Well technically they werent all talking to him right now, in reality yuta was barely even part of the conversation. The day was nice, a slow breeze drifted through the training grounds as light conversation filled the air. Maki and Toge were always talking about some thing or another about training, or people theyd met, or missions. Panda wasnt around today, doing something or another for Principal yaga. Yuta was sitting in between the two, inumaki silently signing quicker than Yuta has ever seen.
"Youre such a dumbass. Ive never met anyone who could mess up ordering a coffee that bad."
Its not my fault she couldnt understand me. I literally wrote it down for her and she thought i was giving her my number.
Maki laughs, her shoulders shaking slightly at that. The three of them sat under a huge tree, they argued about what kind of tree it was all the time, inumaki was sure it was an apple tree. Apples bloomed during the spring so they would know soon. Yuta liked hearing about when Inumaki told storuies, even with no sound they were full of emotion, or at least yuta thought so. Inumaki then points at Yuta almost accusingly.
Yuta has definitly messed up worse than me. Remember when you tried to order for us and-
"W-Well that wasnt even my fault! Dont tell maki that its embarassing!" Yuta cries, lifting his hands up and shaking his head. Maki rolls her eyes and checks her phone.
"I could only imagine what happened- oh shit its almost 11? I gotta go.. i have.. a thing." Maki stands up and walks away rather hurriedly leaving the two boys confused. They look at eachother and shrug at the same time, causing them both to laugh.
Yuta rarely hears Inumaki laugh outloud, usually you can just tell hes laughing from the way his body shakes and his eyes crinkle slightly. This was different, he let out a small audible laugh that you woudlnt be able to hear unless you were paying attention.
Yuta was always paying attention. He looks over at Inumaki with wide eyes his mouth slightly open. He could see the way inumaki laughed, even with the scarf mask over his face. The cursed energy move from his core up his throat, not enough left his mouth to do anything, but it was there. Inumaki was looking at him now, eyebrows scrunched slightly in worry.
Whats wrong? You look like youve seen a ghost.
Yuta shakes his head, taking his eyes off of inumakis mask. "Ive just.. never heard you laugh like that," Inumaki freezes with his hand stil where it was messing with the grass below them. Yuta sits there, not hes the one fidgeting with the grass. He wasnt staring at Inumaki anymore, maybe it was weird to mention his voice or something.
Yuta assumed him and Toge were close, they hang out every day basically, talk about all sorts of things, but theyve never really talked about his cursed speech. Yuta wasnt surprised at that, its not like he went around casually talking about his childhood or the cursed spirit attatched to him. Maybe toge felt the same way about his cursed speech.
I dont do that often, it makes people… uneasy Toge signs slowly and after hes done one hand goes up to hus mask, pullin it up a bit farther over th ebottom half of his face. It was almost funny thinking of people who would be uneasy around toge. He knew how some of the adults looked at him, and somedays after a mission even Maki or Panda seemed unsettled by Inumaki's presence. Yuta understood to some extent.
Spring was Yutas favorite time of year, less work and more time to actually do teenager things. Though yuta was never fully sure what teenager things actually were. He liked sitting in the field and talking to his friends, or listen to them talk. Inumakis posture seemed to change, leaning back slightly to look at the sky that poked through the leaves of the tree above them.
Have you seen the new Race To Earth movie? Inumaki wasnt looking at Yuta, but could tell Yuta was staring. Yuta had a staring problem, he knew it too, but he just couldnt help but stare sometimes. He argued that he stared at inumaki a lot because he woildnt be able to see what he says unless hes looking.
He realizes Toges waiting for a response, he shakes his head. "I dont think ive been to any movies. I used to watch old chick flicks with.." His voice fades away, his mind going to when he was a kid watching some american show rika loved. inumaki gets the gist, but before Yuta can fully remenice Inumaki is jumping up and yuta can tell hes smiling.
We have to go see it! Ive heard its so good and i love sci-fi.
Yuta is still staring up at him, vaguely watching him describe the trailer before reaching his hand out. His hand slowly goes up to Inumakis, and before he can say anything hes yanked up and theyre making their way out of campus. Yuta was jsut following inumaki blindly, it wasnt a long walk into town, but it took yuta about that long to realize whats going on.
"W-Wait, your taking me to see a movie? I- i dont have any money.. i wouldv-"
Inumaki shakes his head and looks over at yuta as they walk side by side. He starts to sign something but yutas not really focused on that, his hand goes cold for a moment. Were they holding hands the whole time they walked to town? Guess they never let go after inumaki pulled him up from the grass.
Its nothing, i love going to the movies and Toge starts to sign one thing, but switches it to something else quickly. its fun going with someone else. The two boys walk and talk slowly through town, inumaki had brought them out rather sporatically, but if the movie didnt start for a while its not like they couldnt just hang out for a bit.
—
"Two- Two tickets for uhm.."
Race to Earth
"Race to Earth!"
The person at the counter gave the two a look before nodding, inumaki pulls out his wallet and yuta looks down at his shoes, letting inumaki finish the interaction. He was fidgeting with the hem of his shirt when inumaki lightly tugs on his sleeve to lead him to the movie room. He never knew why talking to strangers was hard for him, espesially if he was talking for another person. He knew inumaki needed someone to help him, but it always felt like he was talking over him.
The movie starts and the room goes dark, he can hear a few other people behind him, and can feel inumaki sitting next to him. It wasnt a bad movie, Yuta never really thought something so fantastical could be so logical. Inumaki explained that thats the point of movies like this, that explain something that shouldnt be possibel like it is.
Inumaki huffs out a laugh, and gestures to the screen. Yuta just shrugs but smiles anyways, he didnt really get was so funny. Inumaki signs something reall quickly. Its a reference to a movie, we should watch that one sometime.
Yuta nods and they go back to silently watching, it was a good mix of comedy, action, and drama. Yuta was barely keeping up but by the end he was invested and could feel tears in his eyes.
The movie ended and the lights turned on, yuta pulled his sleeve up and wiped his eyes. Inumaki looks at him with confusion, his eyebrows squished together again.
Were you.. crying? He asks to the now fully composed Yuta. The room was still dark but they made their way out as he shook his head fervently.
"No! Its just… i- I liked the movie okay!" He argues, his voice cracking to betray him, but before he can fully defend himself Inumaki is letting out a rather loud laugh, almost doubling over at yutas words. This makes yuta jump, looking at inumakis glowing energy rise up and bubble out of him slightly, the small bit that does get out of his mouth seems to sprout like flowers. Yuta didnt expect him to laugh this hard at yutas sadness, but maybe it wasnt normal to cry during movies. People around them exiting the cinema look over, it wasnt a very loud laugh realistically, but the cursed energy seemed to amplify his voice. Inumaki looks up at him from his hunched over position with tears in his eyes.
I never expected you to cry over movies yuta. He slowly stands straight up and takes a deep breath, that laugh seemed to affect him slightly, like he was hurt or something. Yuta smiles shyly as they finally make their way out to the street, headed back to the campus.
"I never have, but i guess i dont watch enough movies to say i dont cry."
They look at the sidewalk as they keep talking, inumaki teasing him slightly and bumping their shoulders together at times.
The conversation dies down slowly, already over half way to the campus. This silence isnt like before when yuta would watch maki and toge talk, this was different. A silence with someone, not just near someone, they were being quiet together. Yuta wants to say something, ask another question or do something to ruin it, its to nice to keep for this long, but Inumaki beats him to it, even though techically the two were still being silent, the signs seemed to have noice of their own.
Do you want to come by my dorm and watch another movie? Maybe we could watch Hammer-Height, the movie Race to Earth referenced.
Yuta stares at him, he was glad the quiet was over, but a part of him missed it.
"Id love too, hopefully i wont cry during this one.."