Waiting for a response felt like an eternity, and Rin couldn’t help but feel like a weight had been dropped in the pit of his stomach as anxiety played in his head after sending the message. Why was he feeling so nervous? He knew that Nanase liked him in return, otherwise they wouldn’t be going on a date. If that was the case, why did his stomach feel like it was collapsing? He felt almost sick from it all.
But then his own phone lit up with a notification that had the officer’s heartbeat speed up. Quickly he grabbed the phone and unlocked it to read the message.
Work. Can’t wait to see you.
Oh. How cute. It was simple and straightforward, just like the type of person Nanase seemed to be. It had all of the anxiety pretty much slip away, and Rin let out a small sigh at the thought of himself being so worked up. He knew how to go on dates!! He didn’t need to be so freaked out! But it was honestly his first time going on a date with a guy, and one that he really really liked. So he couldn’t help it.
Sending a quick message that read he was on his way soon after that, the redhead gathered his wallet and keys before heading to his car. It wasn’t the police car, but a simple, sleek black car that one would see on the road every day. Rin liked flashy things, but he figured a flashy car would be too much, so he would stick with the hand-me-down he got from his mother many years ago because it still drove well.
Getting to the patisserie wasn’t hard. The officer had remembered the way a while ago when he first got called for the robbery, the fateful day he once again met up with the man he was about to go on a date with. Rin’s nerves started to return as he got out of the car and walked up to the front of the establishment, letting himself in before looking around for the other he would soon be taking to dinner.
“Haru… Are you here? Is your shift over now?” He had made sure to wait as long as possible so he didn’t seem too eager, though he was sure his expression would betray that in a heartbeat..
He busied himself with clean-up, trying his best to focus in on every little bit so as to have something to distract him from anxious thoughts of the upcoming date. He wasn’t so much nervous as he was excited--looking forward to spending time together with Matsuoka, alone and this time sober, without the pretense of a job giving them the excuse to see one another. His lips curved upward slightly as he thought of the idea of Matsuoka using work-related excuses just to see him.
“You’ve been rubbing that spot for about five minutes,” a familiar voice behind him snapped him out of his thoughts, causing his head to snap up as well, a little embarrassed for getting so caught up in those thoughts despite trying so hard not to. He said nothing in response, merely moved to a different spot and tried his best not to think about the officer. He succeeded and even got a little too involved in clean-up that he actually missed the four o’clock mark until he heard Rin’s voice calling him from the front.
Haru peaked out from the back, still in his apron, covered in flour, and even unknowingly adorning a smidge of the white powder on his cheek. The use of his first name--and nickname, at that--surprised him a little. “Is it four already?” he asked instead of commenting on that, his hands reaching behind his back to unfasten the bow of his apron with practiced ease. He removed it from around his neck and proceeded to carefully fold it up, neat and precise. He would typically just leave it at the cafe, but he wanted to take it home to get it washed--a good washing was well overdue. Underneath he wore a white blouse and black trousers--a very typical attire in Japan. “I will go get my things... wait here?”
Still not having noticed there was a little flour on his face, he disappeared to the back once more and only emerged again some minutes later in a blue jacket and his crossbody bag strapped over his shoulder. Before leaving from behind the counter, he reached into the cupcake display and pulled one out, placing it into a small bag and handing it over to Rin once he’d officially clocked out and was standing in front of him. “For later...” He gave Matsuoka a small smile and then gestured with his head towards the door. “Let’s go?”
