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AFTER THE LADY scanned in his book, the price popped up on the little LED display, prompting a very brief, very momentary pang inside Tino’s chest–that was still quite a sum of money. Nevertheless, he forked over the proper amount with a courteous smile and waited patiently for his change. “There goes a good half of my wallet,” he chuckled. “But I’m sure I won’t have any regrets. I mean, I have been eyeing it a while. Guess it’s about time.” He was handed the change soon after, and once it was all wrapped up, Tino gave the cashier his sweetest thanks, took the package, and tugged Hiko out of the bookstore with him.

He nodded along with the other’s words, agreeing. “ It’s fine it’s fine~ I’ve spent more on a book before. You’ll just have to be a little frugal for a while. But it’s worth it. Now you’ve got it. The expense is out of the way and you’ve got it.” He says as he’s tugged along out of the bookstore. He spares it once last glance, looking over his shoulder wistfully. It was okay, he’d be back. He’d be back and wouldn’t let Tino kiss him and he’d get some books of his own. He nods, “ Exactly. It’s time. You deserve to spoil yourself every so often with something special.”

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AH, HIKO. ALWAYS so reluctant when it came down to public displays of affection. Tino had known that a while, but he couldn’t exactly help it nor stop himself. His was an innate need to be physically close to the people he cared about, whether it be with kisses or hugs or simple hand-holding. “I was just nuzzling your cheek, that’s normal enough, right?” he grinned, tugging Hiko along as, arm in arm, they made their way to the counter. He set the book down before the cashier with a thud and took his wallet out. “You know? I’m happy you convinced me to get it.”

Hiko had an innate need not to be touched by pretty much everyone in the entire world. There a few exceptions, his dad, Josh, and now Tino of course. But he was still adverse to extensive amount of physical contact in public, that much was for sure. He pouted. ‘ How is that normal ? I’ve literally never seen anyone nuzzling cheeks in public before in my entire life. Kissing would be more normal.’ He pauses, ‘ That was not an invitation to do so.’ He walked along, or rather was tugged along, following after him, rolling his eyes when he spoke. ‘ Of course. No one ever regrets buying a book. It’s always a good decision.’

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THE SMALL SMILE directed pointedly at Haruhiko lasted for just a bit longer before Tino finally succumbed to his chuckles. Removing his hand from the inside of his pocket, he pulled the other close to him and leaned down to press his cheeks against his, nuzzling and making little pleased noises of utter glee. “If you say so,” was all he said after, upon stopping and straightening up, emphasizing once more the somewhat dramatic difference in their sizes. Still, he kept his hand on Hiko’s elbow, choosing then to coil around it so they could stand arm in arm. “You’re absolutely sure you don’t want to get anything? Last call, then I’m paying for my book, and it’s off for dessert we go.”

Hiko had very clearly told him not to kiss him again-- and he hadn’t, so some points for that. But if he seriously thought roping him in, hugging him, and nuzzling against his cheeks was any better than Hiko wasn’t dating an idiot as well as a child. He made a soft noise of protest, but didn’t do much to break free, despite his cheeks getting a tad bit warmer at the contact. When Tino finally pulled back the feline was pouting. “ D-don’t do that stuff in public stupid..” He grumbled. He breathed a soft sigh, shaking his head, “ Yes, I’m absolutely sure Tino, 100%. Let’s go get your book.”

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SLOWLY, INCH BY inch–you could literally see the inches–Tino’s lips, initially pursed into a pout, began to widen just the slightest bit. Within seconds, or at least by the time Hiko was through talking, it had become a full-fledged Tiny Smile™. It was the sort of smile that was warm and fuzzy and super small but super sincere. His heart was fluttering to say the least, and like a teenager with a puppy crush, Tino stared down at the ground, one hand finding its way into the pocket of his pants while the other tightened its grip around the book, and kicked at nothing. 

“OK, I’ll get it, I’ll get it…” he said, unable to wipe the smile off. He pressed his lips together and said nothing for a brief moment, before eventually, brown eyes flickered up to the other’s. “You really liked the kiss?”

Scratch that, he wasn’t dating a five year old, he was dating a thirteen year old apparently. I mean god, look at him. With that totally goofy smile, looking at the ground, swinging his fot around with his hand in his pocket. He looked like a kid who’d just successfully asked their crush to hold hands with them for the first time. Hiko shook his head, eyes rolling at the sight, though it was playfully and he had a small little smile of his own. What a total dork he was dating. Hiko’s cheeks flushed a little when he asked that, eyes drifting to the side. “.... Yes, I did. Don’t-- don’t be getting any idea to do that again.” He warned glancing back at him with not very convincing stern eyes, “I did like it though.... bu-but yeah, if you do that again I’ll throw the heaviest book I can find at you.”

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HE WAS QUIET for a few more seconds after the question before, finally, he straightened up and pouted briefly at his boyfriend. “It’s just…” he started to say, small remnants of his previous “whining fit” still causing his words to lilt a little. “We went in here for you, and you were so excited to get a book, and you even convinced me to get something for myself, and I was so happy that I kissed you, and I guess you didn’t like that because now you don’t want to buy anything at all, and it’s not like you, and now I feel bad. I’ll just put this book back, and I’ll leave empty-handed with you, and I won’t ever kiss you in bookstores and libraries and those little secondhand book stalls ever again.” 

He rolls his eyes, ever dramatic this one. He flushes a little when he says he guess he didn’t like the kiss, because in fact it was quite the opposite. He swallows, looking off to the side, breathing a soft sigh and ignoring his warm cheeks. “Tino relax, for once, you’re the one over thinking this.” He shook his head, smiling up at him, despite being an actual child he was still endearing. “ I didn’t... um, I mean the kiss was.... I l-liked it. Maybe... too much. A-anyway, I liked it and it was fine, it just shocked me and now i think my brain isn’t working properly anymore but it’s fine. There’s no need to feel bad. I buy books way too often. And if you don’t buy that book I will personally kick your ass.”

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WHILE HIKO REACTED and spoke, Tino had been dry sobbing the entire time, rubbing his face into his boyfriend’s sleeve and whining like a child lost in the middle of a supermarket for the very first time. He was reassuring enough with his words, but Tino still couldn’t help it; he’d been so excited to come in and buy something, and yet… now, he’d leave empty-handed? Was Hiko OK? Tino didn’t reply right away, his dry sobs softening by the second before finally coming to a stop. Without pulling his head up, he spoke, his voice muffled. “You sure…?”

Seriously, what the hell was his boyfriend? Why was he dating an actual child? He sighed, shaking his head, thinking this was probably more embarrassing than kissing him earlier. He was glad when his sobs started to quieten down, hopefully no one had heard them in first place. ‘ Yes Tino, I’m sure. I promise, relax. What are you getting so worked up over ?” He resisted to urge to call him a five year old, somehow, thinking it might make him start those sobs up again.

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WHOA. WAS THE kiss that bad that it erased all of Hiko’s enthusiasm to buy books? What was he even feeling now? He looked so… so blank. What did that expression mean? It was scary! “Aaaah!” Tino exclaimed all of a sudden, shutting his eyes and whining as he tugged Hiko closer and rubbed his face against his shoulder. “Don’t be like that! You love books! It’s my fault, isn’t it? I kissed you, and now you don’t want to buy anything! All because of my stupid, disgusting mouth!”

What in the hell... What had happened to Tino? Hiko blinked, standing there awkwardly . ‘ Um... wh-what ?’ Yeah okay the kiss had kind of shaken him to the very core and now he didn’t know what to do with himself, but it wasn’t bad or anything. “ Tino... it’s fine, I’m fine. What are you even talking about ?” He shook his head, brow quirked, biting back a smile at his odd behavior. “It’s fine Tino. I don’t need anymore books for now, and it’s not your stupid disgusting mouth’s fault.”

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FOR REAL? HOW was that possible? Hiko always, always had something to get whenever the two of them were at a bookstore. The heck happened? “You serious?” said Tino, both eyebrows raised. “But just a while ago, you had all these books with you.” He’d taken his sweet time too, walking around and perusing the shelves. Was Hiko out of sorts? Was it Tino’s fault? This wasn’t normal behaviour for him at all! “Hey, c’mon–we gotta get you something, right?”

‘ Yeah ?’ He replied in a questioning tone. He wasn’t sure why Tino seemed so completely shocked. Though he should understand why, when your book obsessed boyfriend doesn’t want to buy books it seems suspicious. He shrugged, looking at all the books. “ It’s fine. I can’t decide which one I want to get most. Plus I already have a whole stack of books to read at home. It’ll take too long for me to figure out which to get. So we can just get yours and go.”

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FUNNILY ENOUGH, HARUHIKO was right there, still standing in the same spot they’d been in minutes ago. He didn’t look like he was still deciding on what to get for himself, and he didn’t seem like he was thinking hard about his purchases either; if anything, Hiko looked absolutely blank. After a brief pause and some blinking, Tino approached the other and gave him a quick tap on the shoulder. “Yo. Have you… decided what you’re getting yet?” Was this still about that kiss earlier? Was he so shook that he couldn’t even function? 

He was most definitely so shook that he couldn’t even function, thank you very much Tino. He blinked, surprised by the tap, turning his head to face him. “Oh. Tino.’ Who else would it have been? He glanced back to the bookshelf and shrugged. ‘ No... nothing really jumps out at me.’ Not anymore at least. He looks at Tino, and his cheeks flush a little, remembering what had happened here moment prior. ‘ Maybe I’ll just get some stuff another time.’

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HE MUST’VE STOOD there for one whole minute more before finally breathing out a short, decided sigh and clutching the book closer against him. With a nod to himself, he turned on his heel and moved to find his boyfriend yet again. He was slow in this, though, part of him mostly distracted by the book and by how simultaneously nervous and giddy he was about making such a huge purchase. It wasn’t some small magazine nor a thin pocketbook. This was a big, elegant hardcover, with “special” pages, full illustrations and a timeless text he could recite and read over and over and never get tired of. It was a pretty big deal.

Vaguely, at the back of his mind, he wondered if Hiko was still where he’d left him.

Hiko was in fact, right where Tino had left him, staring idly and absentmindedly at the books on the shelf. He couldn’t think straight enough to pick any he might want to buy, hell he couldn’t even focus enough to read the titles of the books in front of him. He breathed a sigh, shaking his head, come on Hiko stop being stupid. Honestly, why was he so flustered over a dumb kiss, he’d done a hell of a lot more than that with Tino so it shouldn't be a problem. He figured it was the whole, being in public thing, that was getting to his, his heart was still thumping loudly against his chest. 

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AS MUCH AS he wanted to see, Tino had to resist the urge to look back and check on Hiko–such a “second thought” type action would ruin the extremely smooth exit he’d just made (always with the theatrics, huh, Kiritani?) and mess up the mood. No, he was just going to keep walking, up until he finally wound up right back where he started, staring at the big hardcover displayed cover first upon the shelf. Though his heart still fluttered from the memory of such a sweet, sweet kiss, seeing the book there almost completely pulled him back down to reality. Hiko had already told him to buy it, and a huge part of him was set on doing just that–he’d been eyeing the thing for, what, two, three months now?–but still. It was a pretty big decision, a huge purchase. Gingerly, he picked it out and turned it around and stared at that price sticker.

“Mmmmmm,” he hummed quietly.

It was times like this that Haruhiko had quite the urge to kill that “smooth” boyfriend of his. Or at least give him a good whack like he used to in the good old days. Had he not been so preoccupied with trying not to collapse and die, he might have done just that. Lucky for Tino he’d escaped before Hiko could regain his senses. He took a deep breath, or maybe a couple, turning back to face to bookshelf and trying to think. He couldn’t even focus on the books anymore-- and that was saying something. ‘ Did it on purpose.’ He grumbled to himself. He was sure of it, Tino was just jealous of Hiko’s undying love for the books and had to come and do all that so his thoughts would be filled with him instead of the books. He sighed, which ones did he even want again? 

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STANDING THERE, KISSING his boyfriend between two bookshelves in a quiet corner of a modest, sparsely-populated bookstore was probably one of the warmest, softest feelings and experiences he’d had in a while. The pads of his fingers barely touched the smooth skin of Hiko’s chin, but it did its job to keep his face up while Tino leaned down. Hands and fingers curled against his shirt, and he felt just as weak as the other, his hear bursting with icky romantic stirrings. There was thrill in the “what if” of getting caught, but that wasn’t the main chunk of it. In fact, that thrill barely registered. Tino was so caught up in the kiss itself–in the feel of his lover’s soft, warm lips against his, in the way both their hearts pounded together as he tenderly pressed him against the bookshelf–that it barely even mattered.

But of course, all good things had to come to an end. He let go eventually, giving the other a small smile as he ran a finger through his silky dark locks. “Come find me once you’ve decided what to get for yourself, OK?” said Tino, after which, he moved to take his leave.

It might not have registered in Tino’s mind all that much, but the good majority of Hiko’s was very much caught up in the “what if” of being caught. His heart was pounding, his stomach churning with nerves, his legs might have even trembled a little. And in a strange way he kind of .... enjoyed it? It was a rush of excitement and fear and god it was thrilling. What if they were caught, what would happen if they were? These questions swirled around in his mind as he melted into the kiss. Which was also very nice. Though it might have been a soft and sweet kiss, Hiko was so worked up with the nerves of it all that he felt like it was one of their more hot and heavy ones. By the time Tino pulled back, Hiko’s gaze was hazy, his cheeks a bright and painfully obvious red. He didn’t even register what Tino said, still trying to come to his senses. 

And then Tino was gone, and Hiko felt like he might collapse. His breath was heavy, chest heaving. ‘ What ... the fuck.’

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HE LIKED IT. If he didn’t, he’d have said it right away. Tino knew his boyfriend, and he knew that if he wasn’t into something, he’d say it. That biting of the lip, coupled with the turning away? He could tell. He could easily tell. 

Looking up to see if anyone was passing by, Tino side-stepped a bit and, noticing a customer slowly saunter past, pretended to be interested in a book right beside where Hiko stood. When she disappeared, he moved back in one swift motion, body right in front of the other’s, trapping him against the bookshelf yet again. “I’ll have another, OK?” Without even bothering to hear his answer, he turned Hiko’s face towards him–very gently–and leaned in to press yet another soft kiss. Longer this time, and lingering.

He could have died when he saw the woman approaching, Tino had seemingly covered  it up pretty well until she left but-- god, what if she saw, what if she knew, what would she think?? He let out a small whimpered sigh of relief when she’d left, cheeks, ears and neck burning red with a deep crimson blush. He was going to kill Tino for this, for embarrassing like this. But before he had the chance he spoke. Hiko’s eyes went wide, about to protest but before he could his lips were stolen. He pressed his palms weakly against the other’s chest, trying to push him back. But all too quickly his strength left him, and before he knew it his fingers where curling into the fabric of his shirt, whining softly against his lips. It was so soft and gentle, and yet he felt weak in the knees, his heart pounding loudly against his chest. They shouldn’t be doing this, he shouldn’t be letting Tino do this, but... it felt so good. 

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THERE WAS SOMETHING weirdly cute and satisfying about what they’d just done (brief as it had been). Kissing in a bookstore was a little nerdy, a little adorable, and it definitely fit Hiko’s aesthetic, right? But, of course, with Hiko being Hiko, he wouldn’t ever admit to that being so–least of all out loud. “What’s wrong? There aren’t a lot of people around,” Tino whispered back, his mouth shrinking into a tiny smile. “Tell me you didn’t like that.” As if to tease, he moved in just a tad yet again, this close to kissing his boyfriend another time, but quickly pulled back before their lips could even touch. Tino wasn’t going to lie. He wanted another go at that. It was sort of… sweet and warm.

This idiot. Hiko’s cheeks were quickly heating, growing warmer and redder by the second, his eyes torn between glancing around to make sure no one was about ready to see them, and looking up at Tino who was so, SO close to him. He swallowed a lump in his throat. Maybe he did... kind of like it, and maybe this was probably the perfect place for Hiko to being kissing someone, considering his book obsession but-- it just wasn’t right! They were in public, who knows when someone could stumble upon them. He bites his lip, turning his gaze to the side. He refuses to say he liked it. But... he’s not saying he didn’t either.

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CHOICES, HUH? WELL. From the sound of it, Hiko wasn’t giving him much of one, going so far as to say that their date would be ruined, seeing as he’d have to buy it for Tino and would then be unable to buy any for himself. The taller of the two could only very affectionately roll his eyes. “OK, fine. I’ll buy it. What was I expecting you to tell me anyway?” He gave Hiko a little smile, thankful enough for his “advice,” harsh as it seemed (buy it, or else our date will be ruined). “Before I leave to get it, though…” Tino stepped closer then, simultaneously leaning down and bringing up a hand to lift his boyfriend’s chin up just a bit. Brown eyes fluttered closed as he moved to erase the gap between them, lips pressing very softly, very sweetly against Haruhiko’s.

His lips curled into a small smirk once Tino agreed to buy his book. He was right, asking Hiko whether he should buy a book or not was essentially deciding you were going to but the thing because Hiko answer would, not matter the circumstances, be a yes. ‘ Good. I’m glad you’ve decided not to ruin out date.’ He mused in a teasing tone. But then-- he quirked a brow, wondering what Tino meant. He was... moving closer, leaning in-- no, he wasn’t going to, surely not! Hiko tried to move back but he was already as far back as the bookshelf would let him, left to feebly press his hands against the other’s chest and let himself be kissed. ‘ T-Tino....! S-stop it, someone might see...!’ He chastised in a whisper. 

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