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Kuina fidgeted in the uncomfortable seat as she waited for the hand on the clock to hit twelve.
The waiting room was almost empty aside from her, just the receptionist at their desk typing away at their keyboard and a woman sat neatly on a chair on the far side of the space, one leg crossed over the other- the next appointment, Kuina assumed. She let her gaze linger on her for a moment, on her dark hair cut into a sleek bob and sharp cheekbones. She looked, in her opinion, more like she belonged on the cover of a glossy fashion magazine than in a therapist's waiting room. Then again, all sorts of people needed therapy. Maybe she was a model when she wasn't here. It would certainly explain the nagging feeling of familiarity she felt tugging at the edge of her brain every time she looked at the woman's face.
The woman looked up, dark eyes meeting hers and widening ever so slightly. Quickly Kuina looked away, heat rushing to her cheeks, a combination of embarrassment at getting caught and the intensity of the woman's gaze. She could feel her eyes still locked on her from across the room. Uncertainly she glanced back, finding an unreadable expression on her face. Kuina offered her an awkward little smile, painfully aware that her cheeks were still a distinct shade of red.
"Sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to stare. Just bored. Waiting for my roommate- you know."
Something flickered across the woman's face, too quick and subtle for Kuina to read it. She nodded. "Right."
"I promise I'm not a weirdo. Just- I thought you looked familiar?" She shook her head. "Sorry. Probably just my imagination."
Before the woman could respond, the door to the therapist's office opened. Kuina stifled a pang of disappointment as the woman looked away, returning her attention to her phone. Instead, she plastered on a smile, sitting up a little as Chishiya stepped out.
He looked as he usually did- largely unbothered by whatever was going on around him and, for that matter, the rest of the human race- but she knew better. After living together for three years, she knew his tells like the back of her hand; the almost imperceptible tension in his jaw, the hands pushed slightly too deep into his pockets- the little signs that he wasn't quite as relaxed as he would want the world to think.
"Hey." She stood, giving him a cheerful wave. "All done?"
He blinked. "You're still here."
"Yep."
"Your appointment finished ages ago."
"Yeah, but yours only just finished now, didn't it?"
He frowned. "No one told you that you had to wait for me. You could have just gone home."
She grinned, playfully looping an arm through his. Chishiya scowled but, as usual, didn't actually make any move to pull away. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the woman watching them. Her lips pulled up into a small smile and something Kuina couldn't quite read flitted across her face, almost wistful. She shook it off, not wanting to be caught staring again, and turned her attention back to Chishiya, doing her best to ignore the odd draw of the stranger in the corner.
"Course I waited. This was a big deal. What kind of bestie would I be if I just abandoned you after something like that?"
He huffed as they headed for the door. "It was just therapy, Kuina. No need to make a whole song and dance about it. You've been going for ages."
"Yeah but you haven't and I know that agreeing to give it a try was a big thing for you." She paused, subtly casting one last lingering look back at the woman. She was still watching then as they left. "Unless it wasn't, of course. In which case you won't be needing to go to that cafe you like as my treat and we can just head home for- I believe- your turn to cook. Up to you."
He shot her a sideways look. "Are you blackmailing me into talking about my emotions?"
"Nope," she said cheerfully. "I'm gently persuading you to acknowledge that you did something worth celebrating today and reminding you that I'm proud of you."
"Feels more like you're patronising me."
"And that feels like something you should probably discuss in your next session."
He glared. "You can't use that every time I say something you disagree with."
"I only said it once!"
"Hmmm. For now."
"Come on, Shiya. You know me. Would I ever do such a thing?"
"Yes."
She gasped in mock offence, pleased with the smile that flickered on his lips in response; she'd gotten pretty good at reading him over the years and by Chishiya's standards, that was pretty much the equivalent of raucous laughter.
"I waited for you so I could take you for a treat and this is what I get in return?"
He snorted in amusement. "It didn't exactly look like you were suffering in there."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing." He gave her a far too innocent smile. "Just that I couldn't help but notice your face was an interesting colour when I walked out and that you seemed a little preoccupied with a certain someone in the room with you."
Silently, Kuina cursed the fact that she had chosen quite possibly the most observant man in Japan to be her best friend.
"It wasn't like that."
"No?"
"No. I don't know what you're talking about."
He raised an eyebrow. "So you didn't notice the woman in the corner? Dark hair. Tall. Pretty, if you like that sort of thing."
"'That sort of thing' being breathtakingly gorgeous women?"
He shrugged. "Your words, not mine. She was looking at you too, by the way."
Kuina slumped, defeated. "Yeah, because she caught me staring like a weirdo."
"Hmmm." He pulled her to a stop, carefully extracting his arm from her grip. "Wait here. I'll be back."
She frowned as he took a step back towards the therapist's office. "What? Why? What are you-"
"I forgot something."
"Oh. I can come with you, if you want."
"No need," he cut her off. "It won't take long. I'll be faster without you."
For a moment she considered arguing but decided against it. It wasn't unusual for Chishiya to be unnecessarily cryptic about mundane things. More than likely he had just left his phone behind or something.
She shrugged. "Alright. I'll be here."
He nodded and turned on his heel, disappearing back into the building they had just exited. True to his word, he was back less than two minutes later, hands in his pockets and offering no further clarification or explanation as to what had been so urgent. She didn't probe- if he wanted to tell her, he would.
"So," she asked as they fell into step beside one another again. "How was it? Your first try at therapy."
"Fine."
"That's it?"
He considered. "He was easy to talk to, I guess. He was kind of..."
He trailed off, looking thoughtful.
"He was what?" she prompted.
"He just had a way about him. Made you feel like you'd known him for ages, like you could tell him things that you hadn't told anyone else. I suppose it's probably a trick of the trade for therapists- learn to make yourself feel familiar and safe so people open up to you."
"That's good though," she said encouragingly. "That means he can help you."
"Sure."
"I'm serious! Therapy's been great for me. I doubt I'd have half as much of a relationship with my dad as I do now without it."
"He's a therapist, not a wizard," he said dryly. "I highly doubt I'll suddenly be developing a close relationship with my parents any time soon."
"Well, it doesn't have to be that, obviously. Therapy's for lots of things. Whatever you need help with. Like, what did you talk about today? If you want to tell me, of course. You don't have to."
He shrugged. "Nothing much. We talked about life. What makes it worth living."
"Oh yeah. I did that one with him."
He cast a curious glance her way. "What did you say?"
"Training kids in the dojo. How about you?"
"Nothing."
Kuina stopped walking abruptly, unhooking her arm from his so she could pull him round to face her, brow furrowed in concern. "Nothing?"
"Not like that."
Her frown deepened. "Then like what?"
"I mean, I don't know."
"You don't know what makes your life worth living?"
"It's a big question. It doesn't mean that life isn't good, just that I can't pick out one specific thing." He paused, taking in her expression, and sighed. "You can stop looking so worried. I'm not... This isn't like back then. I'm fine."
She remembered those weeks all too well, the awful time before he had quit his old job and found the position he had now where he didn't have to compromise his morals on a daily basis. It had taken him a long time and no small amount of support from her to pull himself back out of the place he had fallen into. Even if it was nothing, she had absolutely no intentions of ignoring even the faintest possibility of a warning sign.
"You're sure?"
He gave her a small smile. "Positive."
"And you'd tell me if you weren't?"
"No point in hiding it. You'd know anyway. You've gotten annoyingly good at knowing what I'm thinking."
She regarded him for a moment longer before she relaxed, reclaiming his arm as they resumed walking. "Okay. Just checking."
"I know."
"I am a bit hurt though."
He arched an eyebrow, glancing across at her. "Oh?"
"Yeah. You really couldn't think of a single specific thing that makes life worth living. Nothing like, I don't know, your wonderful roommate slash best friend who not only puts up with your bullshit on a daily basis but who is also, as we speak, taking you out for dessert?"
"Ah. I see your point." He smirked. "I'll make sure to amend my answer next time. I do love desserts."
She elbowed him in the ribs, a little harder than intended, and he hissed.
She snorted. "Drama queen."
Chishiya's eyes narrowed. "You realise that was technically assault?"
"You realise that you're technically ridiculous?"
"You're also a hypocrite, by the way. You didn't say me either. Apparently I rank below the random children you teach to throw each other across the floor."
"You know full well that that's not how it works."
"Yes, but it's funnier to pretend that I don't."
He quickly sidestepped, dodging another well-aimed elbow.
Kuina rolled her eyes. "You're such an arsehole."
"And yet you chose to keep on living with me anyway, even after the meteor damage to your apartment was fixed."
She shrugged. "I'd already settled in. Besides, we both know I couldn't have moved out back then. I was still domesticating you."
"You say that like I hadn't managed perfectly well on my own for years before I met you."
She fixed him with a look. "You thought coffee and a packet of biscuits was an acceptable lunch on a twelve hour shift."
"I still fail to see why it isn't."
She shook her head, dreadlocks swaying. "How you're qualified to comment on other people's health I will never understand."
"You know, you have a lot to say about me for someone who lives in my spare room."
She rolled her eyes. "I've been there for three years, Shiya. I'm pretty sure that it's just my room now."
He waved a hand dismissively. "Details."
"It's not exactly a spare room if someone permanently lives in it, is it?"
"Oh look," he said, changing the subject the the subtlety of a speeding train. "We're here."
He wasn't subtle but he was correct. They had come to a stop outside a small cafe, the exterior painted a pretty shade of pastel blue and the window filled with decadent looking pastries.
Kuina grinned, leading the way through the door. "Come on then. You go and find a table and I'll order."
He frowned. "Are you not going to ask what I want?"
"Like you don't always get the exact same thing."
He huffed indignantly. "I could get something different."
"Yeah, but we both know you won't. You always get the strawberry one."
"It's the principle. I could."
She folded her arms with a tolerant sigh, raising an expectant eyebrow. "Go on then. What do you want?"
"An americano." He paused. "And the strawberry one."
She rolled her eyes. "Ridiculous. Fine. I'll be back."
By the time she returned, tray laden with a matcha and brownie for herself and a black coffee and a strawberry and cream filled monstrosity for him, Chishiya had claimed a table in the window and was fiddling with something she couldn't quite make out.
She raised an eyebrow as she slid into the seat opposite him. "What's that?"
His lips twitched up, eyes glinting playfully. "A present."
"For me?"
"No, for the waitress."
She reached for his pastry. "I can take this back, you know."
With surprising speed for someone who typically viewed anything above a gentle stroll as too much effort he lunged forwards, grabbing the plate before she could and whisking it safely away to his side of the table.
"Now you can't."
She couldn't help but laugh as he held the plate close, defensively cradled against his chest. "Once again, ridiculous."
"Call it what you like. I have what I wanted." He cast her a suspicious glance before he carefully placed the plate back on the table, as far from her as was physically possible in the limited space. He held out the object he had been toying with. "Here."
She took the small scrap of paper, unfolding it to find a hastily scrawled line of numbers.
"It's her number," he clarified, seeing her confused expression. "You're welcome."
"Her-?"
"Your mystery woman in the waiting room. For what it's worth, she seemed very pleased when I asked."
Her eyes widened slightly, a smile slowly growing on her lips. "You went back and asked for her number for me?"
He shrugged. "It seemed to be a choice between that and watching you pine for the rest of the day. With that in mind, I-"
He broke off with a surprised grunt as she suddenly leaned across the table to pull him into a hug. He squirmed, trying to free himself.
"Stop that."
In response she just squeezed him tighter. "Shut up and let me hug you."
Chishiya huffed irritably but nonetheless she felt him relax into the embrace, his hand briefly brushing against her back. This time when he pulled away she let him go, dropping back into her seat and pulling her brownie towards her.
"You know," she said thoughtfully, deftly impaling a piece of the cake on her fork. "You try to hide it but, deep down, you're a total softie."
He glared. "Take that back."
She grinned. "You're a secret sweetheart."
"I swear, I will throw you out of the apartment."
"Sure you will."
He scowled, stabbing his fork into his pastry with a little more force than strictly needed. "I thought this was supposed to be your treat. Mocking me seems to go against that concept."
"It's not an insult, Shiya. Don't worry, I'm not going to tell anyone. You can keep your cool, mysterious image. I'll take the fact that you secretly like to cuddle during movie nights to the grave."
"You'd better," he grumbled. His expression softened slightly. "Besides, you're the one who likes that. I'm just humouring you."
"Uh huh. Of course." She looked again at the phone number in her hand. "Seriously, thanks. You didn't have to do that."
He shrugged. "And you didn't have to wait for me. Now we're even." He paused, taking a bite of his pastry. "She's called Ann, by the way."
"Ann," she repeated softly, finger lightly tracing the scribbled digits. Something tugged once again at the edge of her thoughts, dissipating as soon as she tried to focus on it. "Right."
"Oh no. Absolutely not." Chishiya reached out, plucking the paper from her hands. She made a small noise of protest but he ignored it, stuffing it back in his pocket. "Once again, this is supposed to be a treat. I am not being rewarded for my efforts today by watching you pine for a virtual stranger for however long we're here, regardless of how hot she allegedly is."
"Very. Very hot."
"Either way, this-" He patted his pocket. "Will be returned to you upon our departure and no sooner."
She sighed. "Fine."
He nodded, satisfied. "Good."
"I really am proud of you, you know," she said. "Really. You wouldn't have done this when we first met. I know you don't want to make a thing of it but I just want you to know that."
He looked away, clearly uncomfortable. "Like I said, it's not that big of a deal."
"I know. But still."
His eyes flicked up to meet hers, a rare flash of something soft in them. A corner of his mouth twitched up, the slightest hint of a smile. "Thanks."
She smiled back. "Alright. I'm done. Go ahead and eat your cake before the cream melts."
"You mean, 'hurry up and eat so we can go home and I can text the new love of my life'?"
"Maybe."
He snorted, spearing a strawberry on his fork. "I see I have been replaced already."
"No chance." Kuina grinned. "You're far too much of a weirdo to be replaced that easily. It's like living with a feral cat."
"I thought you claimed to have domesticated me."
"Last week I literally found you sat on the couch in the dark at 2am eating tuna direct from the can."
"It was a long shift," he said defensively. "I was hungry. And, given that it was two in the morning and I had been on my feet for over fourteen hours, I may have accidentally overlooked the instant ramen that was also in the cupboard in favour of the tuna."
She giggled. "I'll have to warn Ann when she stays over. Just in case she goes to the bathroom in the night and finds you hiding in the dark like a little gremlin."
His eyebrows shot up. "Wow. You only got her number five minutes ago and she's already staying over."
"Shut up. Some of us are romantics."
"So that's what we're calling it?"
"Again, shut up. But yeah. I guess technically we just met like half an hour ago but I don't know... I just have a good feeling about it." She winked playfully. "Don't worry. You won't be getting rid of me that easily. I'll still be living with you for a good while yet."
He smirked. "If you insist, I suppose I can put up with you for a little longer.."
For a moment he was quiet as he took another bite of his pastry, his expression thoughtful. Eventually he continued, his voice a little softer.
"I asked him too. The therapist. What he thinks makes life worth living."
She snorted. "Trust you to try to therapise your therapist. What did he say?"
"He said it was the little things for him. For instance, today it was about choosing names for his child." He paused, absently stirring his coffee. "I like that, I think. That life doesn't have to have one big purpose. That maybe today it's just about this." He gestured to the table between them.
Kuina nodded slowly, a smile spreading on her face as she met her best friend's gaze. "Yeah. I think I like that too."
"Yeah," Chishiya echoed, a small smile of his own playing on his lips. "Maybe it's just this."