Oh, those ones are great! You need to read The Enigma of Amigara Fault, though... it's so weird, like just aggressively weird, and still manages to scare the crap out of me.
[Suga also loves goofy comedies and spy thrillers and even a few soppy romances, but somehow the conversation has swung toward the craziest stuff in his favorites list and he's endlessly amused by Tsukishima's reactions to them.]
I'd skip No Longer Human, though. It's beautiful, don't get me wrong, but if you know anything about the original story - bleak doesn't begin to cover it. You don't need to be inviting that into your brain.
[Suga sets his hot chocolate down on a shorter shelf and accepts the books from Tsukishima's hands with all the solemnity of a junior high student accepting cram school textbooks for their entrance exams. This is very serious business! Some printings of Flesh Colored Horror go for thousands of dollars, and even the most recent are disappearing into collections so fast that -]
Oh my god.
[The cover's not one Suga has ever seen before, so he almost sets it aside without noticing the title. Ito covers tend to be rather busy, after all, as does all of Ito's cramped, claustrophobic art when it's rendered in full colour.
But this is it. Second-to-last printing, with an alternate cover.]
Oh my god. [He looks up at Tsukishima like he's just come face to face with Ito himself.] Oh my god!! You're magic, Tsukishima-kun!!
[Don't hug him don't hug him don't hug him. Just keep both hands on the book. This is such a glorious moment, too glorious to ruin with a random attack of unwanted affection.]
[Of all the things that could possibly cheer him up after hitting such a profound low, Suga would never have expected any of this. It really does feel like Tsukishima cast some kind of magic day-improving spell.]
Maybe if all the bookstores in Japan have been hiding their copies on the top shelves, and I'm suing for discrimination if that's true! Where's the shop owner, I need to see if they'll hold this...
[With one more big, blinding smile of his own, Suga rushes over to the barista who made their drinks earlier to explain his situation and plead for a 24-hour hold.]
[The barista/ sole employee in the shop has no problem with the request. Wraps the book in paper, with Sugawara's name. Can't have other horror fans stumble in and try to outbid him! First come, first served.
As for Tsukishima, he decides he does not need a 3rd copy of Jurassic Park. He does grab a copy of Venus in the Blind Spot - The collection with "Amigara Fault."]
Ha! You'll be fine... if you're not a big fan of hiking, anyway.
[If there's ever going to be a time when Tsukishima might feel okay leaving Sugawara to the rest of his night, it'll probably be now - or at least once they're all done at the store. The excitement of his find has buoyed him up and even given him something to look forward to tomorrow, and that's much more than he thought he'd have when he texted Tsukishima in desperation.]
This place is great. I'll definitely be back more than once.
[He smirks. That feels okay. Joking. Things are stable enough for now.]
You should.
[Tsukki's doesn't even mind letting his Senior into this. One of the few sanctuaries free of noisy teammates. Bemused, he pays for the manga. Hands the Sugawara the forgotten hot chocolate.
[They leave the store together, Sugawara once again cradling his hot chocolate in both hands, and there's a palpable moment of hesitation when they both seem to wonder what next?
Sugawara's never been so at a loss for how to show his appreciation. Whether it's through punches and karate chops or shoulder squeezes and hugs, he says so much with physical contact and that's constantly hamstringing him with Tsukishima. Words will embarrass his kouhai, physical affection will irritate him - what can he do?
Well. There is one thing. He associates it more with female friends who want to show intense gratitude without suggesting any romantic intent, but does that necessarily have to stop him?]
I'm gonna head home now. I'll text you tomorrow.
[And then, moving swiftly enough that Tsukishima won't have time to dodge, Sugawara takes a step closer and stretches up onto his tiptoes to give Tsukishima a light, quick peck on the cheek.]
Thanks again, Tsukishima-kun. [With that, he turns away to start the walk home.]
[Tsukki exhales. Watches orange leaves flick overhead. He likes this time of year. When seasons are sliding together. Caught up in that, he's unprepared for the sudden kiss, there and gone.]
Ah - ?!
[Sugawara's down the block before Tsukki comes back online. He touches his cheek.]
Huh.
[With that, he jams on the headphones. Scrolls through a playlist. Not that. Not that. No, no, no.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
I love Junji Ito and also CANNOT have those books in my house XP
Date: 2024-05-06 12:26 am (UTC)[The bookstore does its best, but a lot of the titles end up jumbled. Tsukki scans the higher shelves.]
I've read him. Hellstar Remina and Spiral.
Pretty messed up.
[That's not condemnation in Tsukki's voice. That is him impressed.]
tbh the images alone give me nightmares so i won't go near him lmao, but fandom osmosis is powerful
Date: 2024-05-06 12:34 am (UTC)[Suga also loves goofy comedies and spy thrillers and even a few soppy romances, but somehow the conversation has swung toward the craziest stuff in his favorites list and he's endlessly amused by Tsukishima's reactions to them.]
I'd skip No Longer Human, though. It's beautiful, don't get me wrong, but if you know anything about the original story - bleak doesn't begin to cover it. You don't need to be inviting that into your brain.
Reminder to self - Do NOT search "Amigara Fault" before bed XP
Date: 2024-05-06 11:49 am (UTC)Got it.
[There's a few more Ito books lurking. Tsukki hands them to Sugawara.]
That's all from the top. Is it in there?
drr drr drr~
Date: 2024-05-06 01:32 pm (UTC)Oh my god.
[The cover's not one Suga has ever seen before, so he almost sets it aside without noticing the title. Ito covers tend to be rather busy, after all, as does all of Ito's cramped, claustrophobic art when it's rendered in full colour.
But this is it. Second-to-last printing, with an alternate cover.]
Oh my god. [He looks up at Tsukishima like he's just come face to face with Ito himself.] Oh my god!! You're magic, Tsukishima-kun!!
[Don't hug him don't hug him don't hug him. Just keep both hands on the book. This is such a glorious moment, too glorious to ruin with a random attack of unwanted affection.]
no subject
Date: 2024-05-06 07:24 pm (UTC)Someone brave might call it a smile.]
Now you're exaggerating. I'm just taller than you.
[Though there's a flicker of pride. Knowing it was him, handing Sugawara that book. Something worth searching out.]
no subject
Date: 2024-05-06 07:30 pm (UTC)Maybe if all the bookstores in Japan have been hiding their copies on the top shelves, and I'm suing for discrimination if that's true! Where's the shop owner, I need to see if they'll hold this...
[With one more big, blinding smile of his own, Suga rushes over to the barista who made their drinks earlier to explain his situation and plead for a 24-hour hold.]
no subject
Date: 2024-05-06 08:56 pm (UTC)As for Tsukishima, he decides he does not need a 3rd copy of Jurassic Park. He does grab a copy of Venus in the Blind Spot - The collection with "Amigara Fault."]
If I can't sleep I'm blaming you, Senpai.
no subject
Date: 2024-05-06 09:02 pm (UTC)[If there's ever going to be a time when Tsukishima might feel okay leaving Sugawara to the rest of his night, it'll probably be now - or at least once they're all done at the store. The excitement of his find has buoyed him up and even given him something to look forward to tomorrow, and that's much more than he thought he'd have when he texted Tsukishima in desperation.]
This place is great. I'll definitely be back more than once.
no subject
Date: 2024-05-07 01:00 am (UTC)[He smirks. That feels okay. Joking. Things are stable enough for now.]
You should.
[Tsukki's doesn't even mind letting his Senior into this. One of the few sanctuaries free of noisy teammates. Bemused, he pays for the manga. Hands the Sugawara the forgotten hot chocolate.
Only so it won't get knocked over.]
no subject
Date: 2024-05-07 01:11 am (UTC)Sugawara's never been so at a loss for how to show his appreciation. Whether it's through punches and karate chops or shoulder squeezes and hugs, he says so much with physical contact and that's constantly hamstringing him with Tsukishima. Words will embarrass his kouhai, physical affection will irritate him - what can he do?
Well. There is one thing. He associates it more with female friends who want to show intense gratitude without suggesting any romantic intent, but does that necessarily have to stop him?]
I'm gonna head home now. I'll text you tomorrow.
[And then, moving swiftly enough that Tsukishima won't have time to dodge, Sugawara takes a step closer and stretches up onto his tiptoes to give Tsukishima a light, quick peck on the cheek.]
Thanks again, Tsukishima-kun. [With that, he turns away to start the walk home.]
no subject
Date: 2024-05-07 10:07 pm (UTC)Ah - ?!
[Sugawara's down the block before Tsukki comes back online. He touches his cheek.]
Huh.
[With that, he jams on the headphones. Scrolls through a playlist. Not that. Not that. No, no, no.
Finally he hits "Random," and turns away.]