Chapter Text
They were outside for nearly another hour. After a while Tanizaki seemed to judge that Tachihara was doing better and wordlessly let go of his hands, but the pair stayed together on the bench despite the space on Tanizaki’s other side. When the sun, already hidden behind white clouds, began to set, the detective’s phone rang, and he answered the call as soon as he saw the contact name on the screen.
“What’s up?” (A pause- Tachihara couldn’t make out what the voice on the other end was saying, but it seemed to be pretty good news from the way Tanizaki became visibly more relaxed) “Alright, thanks! I’ll be back up later.”
He hung up and pocketed his phone, standing up. Tachihara almost tipped over sideways, unaware of how much he’d been leaning on his him. The loss of warmth was disappointing, but Tanizaki looked cheerful and held out a hand before he could question it.
“That was Kunikida. We can head out now, it’s too late for anyone to show up today.”
Tachihara took his hand and pulled himself up off the bench. “Finally!” They were quiet for a second- not the peaceful silence he’d grown accustomed to in the hour they’d stayed next to each other, but one significantly more awkward and empty-feeling. “See you around, then?”
Instead of agreeing and going off his own way, Tanizaki looked confused. “I said I’d get you a hot chocolate, remember?”
“Wait, you were serious about that?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” Without waiting another second Tanizaki set off in the direction of the Armed Detective Agency, leaving a surprised Tachihara to catch up to walk alongside him.
“The place is called Cafe Uzumaki, by the way,” He raised his voice over the sound of wind rushing past them. “We go there pretty often at the agency. The hot chocolate is great.”
“Yeah, I’m sure.” His voice was almost too quiet for the other to hear, but Tachihara didn’t bother with trying to change that. He was almost irritated with Tanizaki for just assuming that he’d be followed (into what was normally enemy territory!) mindlessly. He had been right, of course, but Tachihara saw nothing wrong with being a bit defiant.
“Sorry it took so long, by the way. I would’ve tried to find a spare pair of gloves or a hat or something if I knew how much the cold bothered you.”
The thought of Junichiro Tanizaki digging through drawers and closets to find winter gear for an almost-enemy was a bit absurd, yet fitting. “It’s fine. I would’ve appreciated it if Mori or Hirotsu or someone called me to tell me the mission was over, though.”
“Maybe they assumed I’d just pass on the message?”
Tachihara laughed. “Or Mori is an asshole.”
“That too.”
The silence seemed more comfortable now- the sense of being able to cut through quiet tension had lessened as they neared the lights of Cafe Uzumaki. Just before they’d be visible through the windows, Tachihara spoke again. “Thanks, by the way.”
Tanizaki paused for a second and then grinned at him. “No problem.”
He opened the door to the cafe and the pair was immediately greeted with a rush of warmer air and some soft music. There was only one employee (who looked vaguely familiar, but Tachihara couldn’t put a name to her face) behind the counter, likely due to the sky growing darker as it drew closer to closing time. When the bell over the glass door rang cheerily she glanced up, waving when she saw Tanizaki.
“Hey Junichiro, welcome back.”
“Thanks, Lucy.” Now he remembered- she was the girl that had worked with the Guild before. He hadn’t known that she was still in Yokohama, or that she had taken up a job under the Armed Detective Agency.
“Who’s this?” She nodded towards Tachihara, looking much less welcoming than she had looking at Tanizaki. Apparently she’d recognized him too, even from their limited interactions.
“Michizou Tachihara. He’s a friend.”
She looked skeptical but nodded and motioned towards one of the tables in the cafe. “You two can take the normal booth, or sit wherever. I’ll be over in just a sec.”
Tanizaki led Tachihara to the booth she’d pointed out, and they sat down on either side of the table.
“‘He’s a friend’?” Tachihara nearly laughed aloud at the fearful expression on Tanizaki’s face.
“Sorry! I didn’t know what to say!”
“You seemed awfully casual for someone blanking on what to say.” He almost felt guilty at the panicked reaction. “Relax, Tanizaki. I’m just teasing you.”
(When had he become so comfortable around someone he hardly knew, someone he would’ve called an enemy just a few days ago? And why was he alright with being so comfortable?)
“What did you two want?” His thoughts were interrupted by Lucy, back with a notepad to take their orders.
“It’s fine. Can we get two hot chocolates?” Tanizaki paused for a second. “And one of those pastries with jelly, to go.”
“The ones Ranpo always gets? Sure.” She finished writing down the order and folded the notepad closed. “I’ll be back in a couple minutes.”
Tachihara watched her go, then turned back to Tanizaki. “You didn’t have to order for me, you know. I’m not a little kid.”
He shrugged. “It’s easier that way.”
“You’re like an overbearing mother, Tanizaki, you know that?”
He grinned sheepishly. “It’s been said before.” He hesitated for a second, as if there was something else he wanted to say. “You can just call me Junichiro, by the way. Everyone else does.”
“I’m a part of ‘everyone else’ now?”
“As long as you want to be.”
Maybe he did. “Fine. Call me Michizou, then.”
“Mi-chi-zou.” He sounded out the name like a little kid learning to pronounce big words, as if he just wanted to try out how it felt to say the name out loud. Two could play that game, then.
“Jun-ich-ir-o.” Tachihara understood the appeal of repeating the name to himself now that he’d tried it out; ‘Junichiro’ was the sort of name that rolled right off the tongue, the kind of name you could repeat for hours without getting tired of the sound.
Lucy came back then, holding a small tray with two small cups and a bag. “Here you go, enjoy.” She set the drinks and food on the table as the pair thanked her and left again, disappearing behind the counter.
Tachihara immediately grabbed one of the cups, relishing in the feeling of the warm cup against his still-cold hands. He took a sip. Tanizaki (Junichiro, he reminded himself) was right, it was great. He took another sip and smiled to himself, already wondering how risky it would be to become a regular at this place.
He pushed aside the feeling of pure bliss brought about by the drink and looked back across the table, where Junichiro was watching what must’ve looked like a religious experience.
“Who’d she say the pastry was for?”
“Ranpo. He loves sweets, especially from here, so I figured I’d pick one up to bring back up to him.” He held up the bag, letting Tachihara see the pastry through a plastic window on the front. It had a blob of bright pink jelly in the middle, with white glaze drizzled across it in thin stripes and visible sugar crystals. Tachihara had seen the older detective in meetings, where he seemed to always be snacking on something, and the pastry did look just about perfect for him.
“You detectives must be pretty close, right?”
Junichiro smiled fondly. “Yeah, they’re like a family to me and Naomi. Is it like that with you guys?”
Tachihara shook his head. “Definitely not. The Port Mafia could be a family, just a severely dysfunctional one that bonds over crime.”
“Christmas must be fun.”
“It’s a delight.”
Junichiro laughed lightly, then stopped and pulled his phone out of his jacket pocket. The screen was lit up with a notification, a text from someone who’s name Tachihara couldn’t make out. “Crap, Kunikida’s texting me. I’ve gotta head back up.”
Tachihara nodded, feeling more disappointed than he would’ve expected to be. He started to head towards the door- their organizations were working together at the moment, but meetings on either one’s territory were few and far between; they usually opted to meet on more neutral ground- but was stopped by Junichiro grabbing his wrist.
“You can come upstairs, if you want.” He sounded nervous, more than he had the whole time they’d been out, as if he were a teenager inviting his partner over to meet his parents.
Tachihara shook that comparison from his mind and chuckled dryly. “You’re pushing your luck, Junichiro.”
“Probably, yeah.” Despite the admission neither one made any attempt to move for another second, as if waiting for something unmovable to change suddenly. Junichiro’s phone buzzed in his hand again, shaking the two out of their stupor, and Tachihara gently tugged his wrist away.
“See you around.”
He started towards the door once again. He was halfway outside when Junichiro called, “Hey, Michizou.” He turned back.
“I hope we get paired up again sometime.”
The sentence was simple enough, yet somehow felt like the most significant either of them had said all day. Tachihara simply nodded in agreement, and let the door close behind him.