Shower

Friday came and went. So did Saturday, only with fewer messages from Sakuya, since his schedule was packed with live streams, photoshoots and other activities. Kana actually caught a glimpse of the livestream, watching Sakuya laugh and joke for a while, but she couldn’t stomach him interacting with Haruki for too long and closed the stream when customers entered the cafe.

She put the whole thing out of her mind as best she could and concentrated on another baking experiment. If it wasn’t edible, at least the shop would smell nice while it was in the oven. Friday evenings were sometimes busy, since there were always some people who enjoyed the quiet more than a drink with colleagues at a loud restaurant. Today, however, it wasn’t. The alleyway lay in relative silence, only the occasional visitor to the nearby okonomiyaki restaurant walking by.

Kana was just thinking about closing early when her phone rang. It was Sakuya.

“Good evening,” Kana said. “To what do I owe the honour?”

“Kana-chan! I’m winding down before dinner. Just wanted to hear your voice”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, just stepped out of the shower. Care for a picture?”

“Yes.”

“Thought you’d say tha… wait. Did you say yes?”

“Yes.”

“Uhhh…”

“What? Flirting shamelessly and then folding the instant you get a bite?”

“Just a moment.”

“You’re not actually…”

18:22 [Sakuya] Attached: Img96632.jpg (selfie of sakuya with wet hair, naked shoulders visible)

“Kana-chan?”

“A second. I’m processing.”

Sakuya burst out in laughter, the warm tones spilling out of the speaker making Kana want to hold him while he laughed and be swept up in it. It had been so long since she had shared this kind of feeling with anyone. This was different from a friend. It was warm, but also… hungry. That she could ever feel like this again was still surprising.

“And?”

“Whoever gave you the cute concept should be fired. I think you’d do better with something… sexy.”

“Who knows? Five years is a long time. There aren’t many groups who vary wildly, but concepts can change depending on the album. What was your concept?”

Kana hesitated for a moment, leaning against the counter.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

“That’s not it. I just thought you’d looked me up by now? There’s still videos of me online.”

“I’d rather hear it from you. I know they’re public, but it feels like a breach of privacy.”

“That’s kind of you, but it’s okay. My concept was actually very simple: Bubbly, happy, colourful. My costumes were inspired by decora lolita fashion.”

“That’s the last thing I would’ve expected…”

“Right? But I enjoyed it. It felt like the clothes helped me to convey happiness. I never disliked them.”

When Sakuya didn’t immediately reply, Kana also kept quiet. She heard him shifting, cloth rustling in the background. It was easy to imagine him picking out clothes during the call, all naked. Not that she did that. Not at all.

“We’re ahead of schedule on the shoot, so it seems we’re getting a day off at the beach next Monday. I know it’s your day off too, so I was wondering… Would you like to join me?”

Kana froze.

“Hello?”

“Yes, sorry, that was a bit sudden. I’m still here. I… will Haruki be there?” Kana asked.

“He’s going back early to prep for a brand endorsement photoshoot.”

“I see.”

Avoiding Haruki and going to the beach? Theoretically the perfect scenario. Though…

“I don’t want to pressure you. We couldn’t do much here anyway. The shooting location and hotel are besieged by fans. I’d have to send a car to pick you up from the train station,” Sakuya explained.

“Are you sure that’s worth it?”

“I’ll be honest, I don’t think we know each other well enough yet to say yes and have you believe it, so I’ll bet on my future and say yes anyway.”

“Idiot,” she said fondly.

“So? There’s an early morning train. You could stay until Tuesday, there are still spare rooms that the staff vacated early. I can take you back in our company car.”

“There’s still that mole in your agency. Do you really think this can be kept under wraps?”

“Kana… I just really want to see you. I miss you so much. I don’t get many days off.”

Sakuya took that moment to activate his camera, so she could see him sitting in bed, tousled hair, a mountain of blankets, and soft lights. He still wasn’t wearing any clothes.

“You don’t play fair.”

“Of course not. I want to win.”

“Stop making those puppy eyes.”

“Are they working though?”

“… they are. Alright. Yes. Send me the connection time. I’ll be there.”

The way Sakuya’s face lit up was a marvel to behold. It was like the sun had risen inside his hotel room. He even jumped a bit and the camera shook enough to expose his chest. Kana couldn’t help but stare. There was a reason he’d won second place in ‘Idol Dream Starlight’. It wasn’t like she hadn't seen him in swimwear in one of those compilation videos before, but this felt…

“Enjoying the view?”

Kana cleared her throat.

“I have to close up the shop soon.”

“I also have to leave. Dinner is soon. Can’t wait to see you.”

“Me too.”

Kana’s heart raced a mile a minute even after the call was disconnected. She quickly closed the front door and dimmed the light in the cafe, so that no one would see her face, because if it was as red as it felt, it would make her look like a ripe tomato.

18:37 [Sakuya] I meant it. I can’t wait to see you. I know we have spent more time talking on the phone than face to face, but I can’t stop thinking about you.

Unfortunately this kind of enthusiastic flirting was really, really working for her. Kana groaned. The worry faded into the background and was overwritten by excitement, and a fluttering in her chest she hadn’t felt in a while.