Heyo! Guess who got recommended one the of cutest and funniest animes ever? This girl! The amazing @intheticklecloset convinced me to watch Play It Cool Guys and UGH!!! I love it! It's so CUTE! Today I bring you Hayate and Souma, tomorrow, who knows! These boys are just precious! I hope you like it! :D
Summary: Hayate finds himself in an awkward situation. He had forgotten his coworker's name!
Hayate was in quite the pickle.
What…is his name?
He had been working at Mawarimichi’s for a month now- bumping elbows with the redhead both metaphorically and physically. He was the cheery type-, kind, always laughing without a hint of malice- the kind of person Hayate found comforting.
But he doesn’t know his name!
“Haya-chan? Could you take this to that customer over there?” Asami asked with a smile, passing him the tray of food. Damn, he could have checked with her!. “Sou-chan, I have that coffee ready.”
Sou-chan! A hint! Sou….what? Hayate racked his brain, but nothing came to mind.
“Haya-chan?” Asami looked concerned. Wait..what did she ask him again?
“I got it! It’s for the same table.” This “Sou-chan” smiled kindly as he took the tray, leaving Hayate flustered by the counter. “Next one’s on you, ‘k?” He turned away as he began to laugh.
“Uh..sorry, Asami-san.” Embarrassed, he bowed as Asami waved it off.
“Don’t worry about it. You seem out of it today- why don’t you go sit for a few minutes? Have some water.” She handed him a glass, gently directing him towards the backroom. “We’ve got this.”
“Th-Thank you. Sorry again.” Another lost chance! He shuffled away in shame with his water as he peeked over his shoulder, watching the redhead effortlessly serve his tables.
“...Souma!” Finally! He remembered! He felt a sense of relief come over him.
Then a deep sense of mortification when he realized everyone was staring at him. Flushing bright red, he smiled awkwardly before diving into the back room.
~~~
He couldn’t look at him.
Well- he could, but not without giggling like crazy. Hayate’s ears felt like they were permanently stained as he watched the redhead shaking before him, a hand over his mouth to muffle the sound. “ Pfft-I’m sorry, I’m- ehehehheheaha! I sh-shouldn’t lauhahahgh!”
“You say while laughing.” The older boy pulled at his sleeves as he waited for Souma to compose himself, unable to truly be mad at him. It was rather silly- yelling out his name across the cafe like that. He knew it was going to haunt his dreams tonight. “Sorry about earlier.”
“It’s fine- really! For a second there, I thought you’ve been calling for me!” Taking a breath, Souma straightened up with his usual expression. "Sometimes I space out and people have to call for me alot.” His lips twitched, but he kept it together. “So why the sudden shout? Did you need anything at that moment?”
“No I-” Oh God- he had to confess he forgot his name! “It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”
“Hm?” Souma tilted his head. “Would it be wrong to say I don’t believe you?” At Hayate’s shocked expression, he bit his lip and ducked his head in giggles. “Sorry, sorry- pfft! Your fahahce!”
“Forget it. See you tomorrow.” Hayate turned around, but Souma grabbed his arm.
“Wait, wait- tell me this way! I won’t laugh if I can’t see your face.” The redhead squeezed his limb gently, encouraging him. Hayate closed his eyes.
“Promise you won’t laugh?” He got another squeeze. “Okay…I, ehm..forgot your name.”
Silence. Oh no, this was worse than the laughter. He turned around, bracing himself for Souma’s hurt expression-
He had doubled over completely, wheezing. Hands around his belly and mouth open in a silent cackle. “S-Souma!”
“Heeeeeeh! T-Thahaht explains how ha-hahahppy you sounded shouting it!” The redhead choked out, bracing himself on his knees. Cute. “Like you f-foohound gold!”
So much for not laughing. Hayate narrowed his eyes at him, suddenly feeling rather vengeful. Fine- if he was going to laugh so much at his expense..
“Ehe, wait, Hayate don’t go-Ehehehek!” Souma arched with a cry at the fingers on his sides, gently tickling his ribs. “Ehehahahahha, wahhahait, is thahahat you?”
“Who else would it be?” Hayate chided gently, keeping his touch incredibly light. He didn’t know why tickles were the first thing to come to mind, but so be it. At least his hunch was right. “You shouldn’t laugh so much being this ticklish. It might invite people to get you more.”
“I wohoohuldn’t mihihind thahahat! I lihihihke laahhaughing!” Souma giggled, twisting around to catch his hands. Alas, his efforts were sloppy and weak. Hayate easily dodged the flailing hands to get his belly, making him jump with a high pitched giggle. “Ehehhek, cahahreful, thahaht’s a bahahahd spot!”
“Wouldn’t you want to hide it if it is?” What an odd guy Souma was. He didn’t fight the hands poking and clawing at his belly, only choosing to wiggle about in a fit of giggles. One hand covered his mouth while the other weakly batted at him. “You don’t have to hide your smile.”
“I dohohohn’t mehahan to! I juhuhust fehehehel weheheird about it!”
“Why? It’s cute.” Whoops, that slipped. He faltered some in his tickles at his accidental confession, giving Souma the opportunity he needed.
“Gotcha!” He cried, grabbing his hands and lacing their fingers. He puffed in pride, grinning from ear to ear as he looked up at Hayate. “Theheere! You’ve fahahallen into my hand trap!”
“Oh no.” He pretended to pull away, making the other giggle. Oh no for real. Was his eyes always that lovely shade of ruby? The piercings and tattoo made him seem cool too. He had long lashes too. He wanted to count them.
There was a moment of silence, the two of them staring into each other's eyes. Eventually, Souma pulled away, giving their conjoined hands a shake before releasing him. “We-ell, that was a bold move for you! Tickling me when I least expect it!”
Oh, right. “Sorry-”
“Don’t be.” Souma didn’t hold an ounce of resentment in that smile. “I had fun!”
“...” Did he swallow something? His stomach felt fluttery suddenly, and his ears felt warm. Souma suddenly leaned in, and he forgot to breathe.
“Just so you know- I wouldn’t let your guard down. You can ask anybody and they’ll tell you-” He narrowed his eyes playfully. “I’m a vicious tickle monster.”
“Scary.” Hayate didn’t believe it. Souma’s eyes glinted.
“Terrifying! Watch your back, Haya-chan!” He winked before turning around, making his way towards the back. Only then did Hayate let out a breath. He didn’t hear me. It was both a relief and a disappointment, if he were being honest.
Little did he know Souma was leaning on the wall in the back, face in his hands as he blushed to the roots of his hair.
mima, walking into his place: hello, people who don't live here
shun: what's up?
hayate: hello
souma: hi!
mima: i gave you guys a key for emergencies only
shun: we were out of chips
*rolls out of my hiding place* Hello! I’ve escaped just long enough to send in my first Lemonade! (Hope you don’t mind I use all 4 👀)
For my first! Could I please get 🧊 (Cooling Off) with Souma and Shun of Play It Cool Guys? (See what I did there? Hehehe) you can decide the Lee and Ler 💖
I’ll be back to bug you more soon, my friend! 💖🫂🥰 Happy Lemonades!
🍋 Lemonade Special Order 🍋
I certainly hope you do use all 4! I used all 5 of mine for your event after all! I'm glad you got into PICG - I KNEW you'd love Souma! I made him the lee here, just for you, friend! 💖
~~~
Souma sighed in relief as he plopped down underneath the tree. Shun was on his right, joining him a moment later. “This is much better than being out in that sun.”
“Hmm.” Shun sloshed his iced lemonade around absentmindedly. “Surprised you don’t burn more easily. Aren’t redheads more prone to that kind of thing?”
“I don’t know.” Souma shrugged, twirling his still wrapped straw as he settled himself further. “But if you just wear sunscreen it’s not so bad.”
They were silent for a moment as they each unwrapped their straws. Shun jabbed his into his lemonade and took a deep sip, sighing at the cool relief it brought. Souma, on the other hand, went to poke his straw through his own lid and missed spectacularly. It bounced off the top and ricocheted his hand back up into his own face, clocking him just beneath his left eye.
“Oww!” Souma groaned, then snickered under his breath. “That was embarrassing.”
Shun took another sip, watching him idly. “What’s there to be embarrassed about? You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”
Souma giggled again. “Yeah, sure, we’ll go with that.” This time he completed his task successfully and took his own drink. “Mmm, good stuff!”
“You laugh at yourself a lot,” Shun observed suddenly, making the redhead glance at him in surprise. “Is there a reason for that?”
“I have to. Life would be pretty depressing otherwise.”
“Are you sure you’re not trying to, like, make up for something?”
Souma blinked, genuinely lost. “Make up for what?”
Shun shrugged. “I mean, are you ticklish? Maybe you laugh so much to make up for people not being able to tickle you.”
“I—” Before Souma could reply, Shun reached over and squeezed his upper ribs, making him arch to the side and burst into giggles. “Hehehehehehey!”
“Ooh, you are ticklish!” Shun set his cup aside and went full force, digging his fingers into his friend’s ribs and sides, gradually driving him back so he was practically lying on the ground.
“Ehehehehehehehe! Shun, wahahahahahahait! My lehehehehemonade!”
Shun grinned. “Just put it down. You clearly have enough control to not flail like an octopus right now.”
Then three things happened in quick succession. First, Shun scribbled one hand around to Souma’s belly. Second, Souma squealed and twisted to the side in an attempt to escape. And third, his foot shot out behind him, making contact with something that sounded suspiciously like an iced drink.
Shun stopped his attack and glanced over his shoulder to see his lemonade effectively spilled and soaking into the ground.
“Sohohohohorry,” Souma wheezed, somehow still holding his own cup aloft. “I’ll buy you another one.”
“No, I’m the one who made you knock it over. It’s fine.” Shun sat back, reaching to gather up his trash, taking note of his friend’s unspilled beverage. “You know, sometimes you can be pretty cool when you’re not trying to be.”
Souma sat back up, still grinning as his friend got to his feet and walked back toward the stand to buy another lemonade. He went to take a sip of his own, not realizing he was holding it by the lid until the drink had been spilled into his lap, ice cubes finding bare patches of skin where his shirt had ridden up during the impromptu tickle attack.
The redhead blinked, then giggled to himself again.
idk there’s just something so like. refreshing??? in how cool doji danshi unapologetically embraces modernity and how it intersects with the characters’ lives/the way they make mistakes. hayate forgot to plug in his phone charger. shun’s bluetooth earbud fell out when he shook his head. mima and his colleagues play a fps zombie video game to promo it. souma tells igarashi to just use the maps app whenever he gets lost. it's not even just tech stuff, because igarashi makes up a series on the spot and gives it a "modern manga title". and the movie advertisement??? the fact that we see people were sharing everything related to it on twitter??? they were posting their mistakes and sharing what they found funny??? everyone is connected, online, plugged in, whatever you want to call it and nata kokone never treats it as a bad thing in cdd (and, no, this isn’t about them blindly devoting themselves to the age of the internet - net generation teacher was a whole commentary of itself on the dangers of social media and the harm it could potentially cause!). like. nata kokone really truly does feel like someone who grew up during the rapid technological shift and actually understands both sides - it’s good and useful and can make people happy and less alone, but they’re also aware of the darker shadows within it. they make absolutely brilliant use of it in storytelling and i’m SO in love with it
