Nijimura isn't sure how visiting his grandparents over winter vacation turned into visiting Himuro in Akiba, but he has give up on resisting Himuro by this point. They’re now both strange in the ways that only implants can be, and sometimes Nijimura finds himself saying "excuse me" or "thank you" in English, even when they're simply eating at the local izakaya.
At least, Nijimura thinks, Murasakibara hasn't tried to reconnect with him. He'd been slightly relieved when Murasakibara seemed bored by Nijimura's appearance at Yosen.
"You know," Himuro says when Nijimura is waiting for the train back to Tokyo. "Alex is currently in Tokyo with Taiga, and my break starts in three days."
"No," Nijimura says.
Himuro just gives him that infuriating smile. "Don't you want to spend Christmas with me?"
Nijimura responds by flicking Himuro on the forehead. "Nope!"
Still, Nijimura is barely settled back into his grandparents' house when Himuro calls him a few days later.
"I'm lost," Himuro opens the conversation pleasantly. "It seems that I need a tour guide after all. Come find me?"
"Why are you so annoying?" Nijimura asks, but he's already patting his pockets for his wallet and checking his watch.
Himuro laughs in return. "Am I annoying? The attendant at the station called me handsome. Maybe I should just ask for directions? Oh, I see a man with an arm sleeve of tattoos. Maybe I should ask hi-"
"Stay right where you are," Nijimura growls. "I'm coming to get you." He arrives at Ometesando in record speed but wastes ten minutes trying to find the right exit. Himuro is sitting on a bench when Nijimura finds him, and he gestures for Nijimura to take the space next to him.
When Himuro hands him a box with basketball wrapping paper, Nijimura sighs. "There was no man with a tattoo sleeve, was there?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." Himuro hums as illuminations light up the streets. They're in a prime spot, surrounded by couples on dates and under a bridge decked out in snowflake LEDs. "Open your present."
Nijimura does as he's told and finds a stack of university pamphlets. "You got me... information packets?"
"No." Himuro pulls out an envelope from the bottom of the stack. "I got you a gift card to UNIQLO, but I'd like for you to consider some of these universities."
"Are these the ones you're taking the entrance exams for?"
Himuro responds by setting a hand over Nijimura’s. "Yes. I thought it would be nice for us to go to school together."
It takes a moment for Nijimura to formulate a response. He glances at the illuminations around them and the window fronts decked out in Christmas decoration. "This is a date, isn't it?"
FILL: TEAM IMAIZUMI SHUNSUKE/NARUKO SHOUKICHI, G
Nijimura isn't sure how visiting his grandparents over winter vacation turned into visiting Himuro in Akiba, but he has give up on resisting Himuro by this point. They’re now both strange in the ways that only implants can be, and sometimes Nijimura finds himself saying "excuse me" or "thank you" in English, even when they're simply eating at the local izakaya.
At least, Nijimura thinks, Murasakibara hasn't tried to reconnect with him. He'd been slightly relieved when Murasakibara seemed bored by Nijimura's appearance at Yosen.
"You know," Himuro says when Nijimura is waiting for the train back to Tokyo. "Alex is currently in Tokyo with Taiga, and my break starts in three days."
"No," Nijimura says.
Himuro just gives him that infuriating smile. "Don't you want to spend Christmas with me?"
Nijimura responds by flicking Himuro on the forehead. "Nope!"
Still, Nijimura is barely settled back into his grandparents' house when Himuro calls him a few days later.
"I'm lost," Himuro opens the conversation pleasantly. "It seems that I need a tour guide after all. Come find me?"
"Why are you so annoying?" Nijimura asks, but he's already patting his pockets for his wallet and checking his watch.
Himuro laughs in return. "Am I annoying? The attendant at the station called me handsome. Maybe I should just ask for directions? Oh, I see a man with an arm sleeve of tattoos. Maybe I should ask hi-"
"Stay right where you are," Nijimura growls. "I'm coming to get you." He arrives at Ometesando in record speed but wastes ten minutes trying to find the right exit. Himuro is sitting on a bench when Nijimura finds him, and he gestures for Nijimura to take the space next to him.
When Himuro hands him a box with basketball wrapping paper, Nijimura sighs. "There was no man with a tattoo sleeve, was there?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." Himuro hums as illuminations light up the streets. They're in a prime spot, surrounded by couples on dates and under a bridge decked out in snowflake LEDs. "Open your present."
Nijimura does as he's told and finds a stack of university pamphlets. "You got me... information packets?"
"No." Himuro pulls out an envelope from the bottom of the stack. "I got you a gift card to UNIQLO, but I'd like for you to consider some of these universities."
"Are these the ones you're taking the entrance exams for?"
Himuro responds by setting a hand over Nijimura’s. "Yes. I thought it would be nice for us to go to school together."
It takes a moment for Nijimura to formulate a response. He glances at the illuminations around them and the window fronts decked out in Christmas decoration. "This is a date, isn't it?"
"Think about it," Himuro says with a smile.
"I will."
Himuro smiles. "So where's my present?"
"Right here," Nijimura says and kisses him.