Watching as his remarks startle Sougo for a bit, Yamato manages a smile; it’s been a long time ( days? weeks? years? ) since he could place the last time he found someone to tease. Don’t get Yamato wrong, there’s plenty of his colleagues that he talks to on a daily basis for the customary drinking out, but that’s nothing more than to save face. “Ahh, I get it,” Yamato responds, checking back to the pick-up counter on his coffee, “Sou isn’t the type to move first for messages. You like to be the one that waits, huh~?” Not as if Yamato had any excuse, mostly just trying to cut ties to live out his very bleak life; like he wanted. These normal, hardworking but honest kids made him want to try his hardest too – which Yamato vehemently didn’t want to enjoy. Like man thirsting for water, but still refuses to drink.
Rather than go on the discussion on Sougo’s father ( years of sharing the dorms with each other made Yamato privy on how Sougo felt about his own father. From the tone to how he would hold himself as he tried to smile through the happy news on the further achievements his father made. Being the heir to the throne is a heavy burden ), Yamato would say, “Yeah, you look like a natural in front of the camera, Sou. Sounds like it’s been a lot of tiring work, but you’ve done a really good job.” He feels like it’s a weak praise, but hopefully decent enough, for an old friend. It’s difficult enough to want to watch much else on TV when he gets back home late, and the news had a chance of also showing his own father, so he avoids it as much as possible.
“With how long the days can be, makes me think it’s replaced my blood at this point.” Coffee and beer, his doctor has a field day with that one. Not like he’s enjoying it much either, but as a reminder to take a seat at Sougo’s urging, Yamato looked back again at the counter and noticed what is most likely his order. “One sec,” says Yamato, holding up a finger as well to keep the conversation paused as he crossed the short distance to pick up the caffeine elixir of life back with him, and finally sit down.
“Well, it’s not like I have anything interesting about myself to say,” Yamato answers after taking a tentative sip on his coffee, but decided to wait for a while longer to drink the rest after it’s cooled. “Graduated and went to finding a cozy office job like I told you I would. The casualness of it is–” boring? repetitive? grey? “–easy to remember.” Shrugs as he glances out into the busy crowd outside of the window. Swarms of other people also dressed in business wear, highschoolers on the way to the subway to their stop, and mothers hurrying to the store for the newest sales. It’s nothing different than how he would look out into the streets growing up, and think: yes, everyone had their own lives. They all had a family to go to. “Maybe afterwards if we’re ever lucky, we can go out for more adult drinks. I’m always getting to go to those company hangouts, and I know those guys can’t drink anything like you could, Sou. You’re not that far gone as a lawyer to loosen your tie, right?”
Suddenly he’s put on the spot and now they’re back in their college days again, with Yamato’s relentless, but playful teasing. He flushes red at Yamato’s accusations, and shakes his head vehemently. “N-No, that’s not the case at all!” He protests, but he cracks a smile at how nostalgic their conversation is. Instead of at the table of a bustling coffee shop, they’re in their shared dormitory trying to live on shittily brewed instant coffee which tasted more like water with a hint of the supposed bitter taste rather than anything substantial. It feels comfortable-- like he’s back at peace with those more careless days. The days where he felt a little more free from his father. Now the guilt settles in, and he thinks for a second he doesn’t deserve any of this. He doesn’t deserve Yamato simply brushing the topic of his father aside in consideration of Sougo.
He inhales a deep breath, willing the nagging shame away as Yamato goes on to offer some praise. It’s nothing much, but it speaks billions to Sougo’s lack of confidence in anything related to his self-worth. He knows that Yamato cares about him. “Thank you, Yamato-san... I’m glad to hear that. I was very nervous at first, but I suppose I did get used to it.” Sougo points out with a reproachful chuckle. The mention of it makes Sougo think to the next appearance he has to make on another news channel in the following week. It’s almost like he’s a celebrity, when all he’s trying to do is at least somewhat honest work as a lawyer.
He laughs in agreement genially, and he wonders if he’s coming off too fake. Acting has become part of his blood as well, with the coffee. “It seems like we’re the same in that respect. This is what comes with becoming an adult, huh?” He nods as the other takes a moment to retrieve his own drink from the counter, and smiles up at him reassuringly when he settles down with him at the table.
“Ah, so you landed the comfortable life you’ve always been wanting.” Sougo remarks, grabbing his own cup of coffee and taking a large gulp of it. He enjoys the scalding liquid slide down his throat, and then inevitably warming him belly and magically rejuvenating him into a person rather than a robot. “That must be nice. So every day is the same as usual? I miss having my routine.” He muses out-loud, showing even some envy at how monotonous his friend’s life became. That sort of normal-- Sougo values that, rather than being heralded as a celebrity lawyer and the future inheritor of the Osaka fortune. I envy them all, Sougo thinks as he follows Yamato’s gaze to the window, and also glances over all the adults and teenagers commuting to work or school. Of course, he doesn’t know their stories-- but for all he carries a heavier burden than them.
“... drinking?” He balks at the proposal, but then remembers that right, they’re adults and they should do what adults do. He usually avoids alcohol because of how... undignified he gets, and he always manages to brush his family off by saying he likes to abstain from “wordly pleasures” like the sake and wine they serve at dinner-- somehow they believe him every time. But he can’t say no to an opportunity to hang out with his old friend. It’s not like Yamato isn’t used to it, considering that backhanded compliment to him and insult to Yamato’s coworkers. “Well... I’ll be willing to accompany you. Just text me and I’ll see if I have the time.”
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