Zenkichi muttered something very adult and very inappropriate under the blanket. The kind of curse that was only legal to say if you were over forty, under duress, and physically hiding from your problems.
"This is not happening," he whispered to himself, trying to tuck in a stray corner of the blanket around his shoulders like it might cast Dispel Awkward Situation if he cocooned hard enough. "Goddamn it, Hamuko."
And then—of course—he heard footsteps.
No, not footsteps. That soft, polite shuffle of a man who never seemed to fully walk, just glided forward with the gentle unease of someone who had too many thoughts and too little friction with reality.
Zenkichi braced.
"Ah—Hamuko-san! Thank you again for inviting me,” came the familiar voice, warm and slightly sheepish as always with the slightest bow- sake in hand. "It’s...really nice to see you again. To be honest I have been incredibly busy ever since- you know. I really owe you for letting me invite Ichinose-san over, she's having a great time too."
Zenkichi didn’t move. Maybe if he stayed still, Maruki would think he was a rock.
"I’ve really been hoping to catch up with everyone. It’s... been a long while."
Maruki turned his head toward the makeshift blanket gremlin still sitting stiffly beside Hamuko and blinked.
"Zenkichi-san...?"
The greeting came with a mild but pointed uptick of confusion, followed by a beat of silence as the older man tried, with all his kind-hearted brainpower, to parse the blanket. His eyes flicked to the edges, to the distinct shape of a sulking adult man clearly still glowering under it.
Then—surprisingly, almost nervously—the good doctor smiled.
"...Is this a new kind of... stress relief technique?” he asked, gently curious. "Very...enshrouding."
Zenkichi slowly lowered a corner of the blanket, just enough to scowl at him over the edge like a very betrayed burrito. "...okay, alright you owe me now Arisato."
Maruki’s smile tugged a little tighter with effort. He turned to Hamuko, tone softening. "Ah—if it’s not too much trouble… do you mind if I borrow Zenkichi-san for a short walk? Just to... speak privately. It won’t take long."
There was a pause. Even Maruki looked like he was trying very hard not to look too hopeful.
Zenkichi let out the longest, most defeated sigh known to man as he slowly peeled the blanket off his head like it had personally betrayed him.
"Fine," he muttered, mostly to himself. He dusted off his coat like that somehow made this less humiliating, then stood up with the weary grace of someone preparing to walk into a social landmine.
He turned to Hamuko, not quite looking at her. Give him a chance. "Relax and get rest. Again, I appreciate the taiyaki." It's why I am doing this. No, I didn't get tricked- I am a grown adult. I don't just...do shenanigans.
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"This is not happening," he whispered to himself, trying to tuck in a stray corner of the blanket around his shoulders like it might cast Dispel Awkward Situation if he cocooned hard enough. "Goddamn it, Hamuko."
And then—of course—he heard footsteps.
No, not footsteps. That soft, polite shuffle of a man who never seemed to fully walk, just glided forward with the gentle unease of someone who had too many thoughts and too little friction with reality.
Zenkichi braced.
"Ah—Hamuko-san! Thank you again for inviting me,” came the familiar voice, warm and slightly sheepish as always with the slightest bow- sake in hand. "It’s...really nice to see you again. To be honest I have been incredibly busy ever since- you know. I really owe you for letting me invite Ichinose-san over, she's having a great time too."
Zenkichi didn’t move. Maybe if he stayed still, Maruki would think he was a rock.
"I’ve really been hoping to catch up with everyone. It’s... been a long while."
Maruki turned his head toward the makeshift blanket gremlin still sitting stiffly beside Hamuko and blinked.
"Zenkichi-san...?"
The greeting came with a mild but pointed uptick of confusion, followed by a beat of silence as the older man tried, with all his kind-hearted brainpower, to parse the blanket. His eyes flicked to the edges, to the distinct shape of a sulking adult man clearly still glowering under it.
Then—surprisingly, almost nervously—the good doctor smiled.
"...Is this a new kind of... stress relief technique?” he asked, gently curious. "Very...enshrouding."
Zenkichi slowly lowered a corner of the blanket, just enough to scowl at him over the edge like a very betrayed burrito. "...okay, alright you owe me now Arisato."
Maruki’s smile tugged a little tighter with effort. He turned to Hamuko, tone softening. "Ah—if it’s not too much trouble… do you mind if I borrow Zenkichi-san for a short walk? Just to... speak privately. It won’t take long."
There was a pause. Even Maruki looked like he was trying very hard not to look too hopeful.
Zenkichi let out the longest, most defeated sigh known to man as he slowly peeled the blanket off his head like it had personally betrayed him.
"Fine," he muttered, mostly to himself. He dusted off his coat like that somehow made this less humiliating, then stood up with the weary grace of someone preparing to walk into a social landmine.
He turned to Hamuko, not quite looking at her. Give him a chance. "Relax and get rest. Again, I appreciate the taiyaki." It's why I am doing this. No, I didn't get tricked- I am a grown adult. I don't just...do shenanigans.