The look on the other’s face only served to amuse Hirato even more. He thoroughly enjoyed his moments of teasing people around him, but Akari always gave the unparalleled responses to his taunts. That anguish, no-nonsense look contrasted his own smug look. His smirk only grew wider when his flirtatious behaviour was called out in a blunt manner.
Hirato put his gloved hand on top of the doctor’s own hand, while putting his index finger close to his smiling lips, gesturing the male to quiet down a bit due to the glances they had been receiving from Akari’s loud voice. “Do keep your voice down, Akari-san.” Violet hues flickered while he continued. “I must clarify that my coquetry are only reserved for those who I deem interesting, you need not to worry, dear doctor.” Hirato took the glass of wine near his lips before taking a small sip, A waiter soon came by, notifying in his ear that the preparations that he had planned for tonight are completed. The captain hummed in response, standing up from his seat.
“I do hope you enjoy this performance, Akari-san.” Hirato beamed, turning on his heel as he walked towards the large, triangular instrument that stood proudly in the middle of the restaurant. A couple of stares from the other tables came his way, but the gentleman took no heed to them.
Sitting himself firmly on the seat, adjusting the height slightly in accordance to his own before he opened the lid, revealing a set of pristine white keys and elegant black ones on top of them. It had been quite a while since Hirato had ran his fingers over the cold surface of the ivory keys, but he recently took an interest in re-approaching the sophisticated instrument that had captivated him at an early age. If he had never pursued his current career as a law enforcer, he would’ve been a talented pianist instead. He did not regret making this choice however, for otherwise he wouldn’t have been able to meet his beloved teacher from old times once more in his current workplace. Fate does work in mysterious ways, don’t they?
Hirato took his gloves off, revealing a fair skin underneath those fabrics as he stretch his fingers in preparation, producing a slight cracking sound. His eyes glanced at Akari once more before his hands landed on white keys and began to play
Nocturne by Chopin, what a classic, Hirato thought. Fingers dashed along the keyboard in a graceful manner, tickling the ivories while the soft music drowns the restaurant in a sense of musical bliss. The pianist occasionally glanced back at the doctor, smiling as he always used to as he continued playing through the piece. It was surprising how Hirato still managed to remember how to play it days before when he touched upon an old piano at a music store. It was what gave him the idea of finally showing his musical prowess to his co-worker.
The piece finally came to an end, and a round of applause soon followed. The bespectacled pianist stood up as he bowed, before he put his gloves back on and returned the piano to the restaurant. It was a marvellous performance and the gentleman had not lost one bit of his musical talent at all.
The captain’s eyes landed on his date as he seated himself comfortably once more, with notice that their food would be arriving any moment now. Taking the glass of wine on his hand, he gestured the other to do the same.
“Our food should be arriving any moment now, so let us keep ourselves entertained over a glass of wine, shall we?”
Being taught the importance of an all-rounded education, Akari was exposed at a young age to various fine arts. He learned to appreciate it when the situation called for such, but mostly preferred the company of his scientific projects.
The Nocturne was a popular piece that he had heard of more than a few times. If anything, the thought that Hirato would have chosen a piece by Chopin seemed befitting enough -- the besuited man was a charmer in his own rights, selecting a piece by one of the most famed composers of the Romantic era was hardly surprising. Arms clasped over his lap, his eyes remained unriveted from the man at the piano, watching as fingers caressed the keys, repeated motives and waltz-like themes that produced beautiful and rich tones.
The piece ended too quickly, far too soon. Reluctantly, the doctor joined in the applause as well, watching as the captain returned to his seat opposite him.
“You planned this,” his tone was accusing, sipping his wine as eyes of roseate hues scrutinized the man. “I never knew you could play.” In his entire time of service to circus, Akari had not known life beyond the walls of his office or his abode. It was now that he realized that he may have gained much knowledge during his expeditions, but there were still much that he remained in the dark of when it came to his colleagues personal lives.
It shouldn’t matter, his mind whispered as he was once again pulled back into reality. My responsibility is to focus on my job. Everything else is inconsequential. Yet at the same time, an indescribable feeling tugged at his heart...a desire, if he could be as bold as to quote it as such, that he felt when deeply involved in his researches.
It was the desire, the thirst of knowledge.
Somehow, within the short moments since they had stepped into the restaurant, Akari had sealed his fate. Having been given cruel teases of what hid beneath the iceberg, Akari was curious about Hirato -- about his past, his musical experience, his thoughts.
However, before his mind could wander, it was as Hirato had said, the server had arrived to serve their dinner. Momentarily, Akari cleared his mind of the thoughts that had plagued him, looking up at the man who sat opposite him.
“...We should eat.” He had to clear his throat to break the awkward tension that he himself felt, given that the situation was no longer appropriate for the man to react in his usual manner, which included coldly shutting the other up or rudely chase him away.
