Langa doesn't usually get nervous. He was always reliant on the calm nature of his late dad's, and somehow that particular part of his personality was inherited onto him.
But he stands before a new location he hasn't been in, in his short time since moving back to Okinawa. A Kimono shop, bold yet humble, with decor as deliberate and as thoughtful as any traditional Japanese house.
He received a text from Kaoru the other day that an appointment has been made.
Langa thumbs at the corner of his school jacket, skateboard tucked behind him and secured in a strap. He takes a step towards the entrance, but stops. The nerves come back roaring, mocking him.
He pushes down any chance of a memory that threatens to repeat in his head.
The owners of the shop are long-time customers of Kaoru. There are even a few of his pieces displayed on the walls inside. They're a kind, older couple - people who are understanding and open despite their own traditional roles. This isn't the first time he's come to them looking for feminine attire, though it is the first time he's asked on behalf of someone else.
Thanks to the usual reminders from Carla, Kaoru is exactly on time. He parks his car outside of the shop and cuts the engine.
Seeing Langa there, he can already tell that he's struggling. Given how placid Langa often looks it's not noticeable, but Kaoru's been in his shoes before, thought the things he's probably thinking now. It's not easy and he knows it.
He steps out of the car and offers Langa a gracious smile.
"Good afternoon, Langa. I hope you found the place without any trouble."
Kaoru smirks a bit when he hears Langa catch himself on the name. It's a far better job than Reki seems to do with his names, but that only seems natural given Langa's thoughtful demeanor.
He reaches out and places his hand on Langa's shoulder, sensing that he needs reassurance of some kind.
"You'll like this one," he says before taking his hand back. He doesn't want to make Langa uncomfortable after all. "The owners are friends of mine. They're very helpful, especially for first-timers."
He moves to the door and slides it open for Langa.
The hand on his shoulder grasps firm and grounding, and Langa can't help but look up at Kaoru in wonder. The adults at S - Him and Joe - they have many insights that Langa has yet to ever understand, and in this moment, his mind settles into calm.
Then he turns his attention towards the door, gaze lighting up with less nerves and more excitement.
"Oh..."
Langa steps through the open door, and stares around with his lips parted in awe.
Some small part of him tugs at his consciousness to immediately start exploring - hands in what he thinks could be soft material, but he stays put, barely fidgeting in his place.
Kaoru follows Langa inside, closing the door softly behind him. At first he simply lets Langa take in their surroundings. Mannequins wear examples of various kimono and yukata styles. The walls are lined with a variety of fabrics, each one more eyecatching than the next.
An older woman, small in stature appears from among the fabrics in a beautiful kimono of emerald green with gold accents. She smiles at the two of them and bows her head.
"Welcome!" she says before lifting her head and giving them a friendly smile. "Sakurayashiki-san, thank you so much for reaching out to our humble shop again. I've made certain that your appointment is the only one this afternoon."
Kaoru thanks her graciously with a bow of his own. "We appreciate you taking the time to assist us like this, Miyako-san."
He had spoken with Miyako over the phone and ironed out all the details so that the appointment would be as comfortable and stress-free for Langa as possible.
"Langa, this is the co-owner of this shop, Miyako-san. Miyako-san, this is my friend Langa Hasegawa."
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gnc langa starter GO
But he stands before a new location he hasn't been in, in his short time since moving back to Okinawa. A Kimono shop, bold yet humble, with decor as deliberate and as thoughtful as any traditional Japanese house.
He received a text from Kaoru the other day that an appointment has been made.
Langa thumbs at the corner of his school jacket, skateboard tucked behind him and secured in a strap. He takes a step towards the entrance, but stops. The nerves come back roaring, mocking him.
He pushes down any chance of a memory that threatens to repeat in his head.
Ahh... Maybe he'll wait for Kaoru to show up.
no subject
Thanks to the usual reminders from Carla, Kaoru is exactly on time. He parks his car outside of the shop and cuts the engine.
Seeing Langa there, he can already tell that he's struggling. Given how placid Langa often looks it's not noticeable, but Kaoru's been in his shoes before, thought the things he's probably thinking now. It's not easy and he knows it.
He steps out of the car and offers Langa a gracious smile.
"Good afternoon, Langa. I hope you found the place without any trouble."
no subject
Some part of his brain vaguely recalls that it is indeed the same car that Kaoru uses; outside the shop and sometimes at S.
He watches for a while, then lets go of tension he wasn't aware of holding when Kaoru emerges.
Langa breathes a little easier. His heart doesn't squeeze so much now.
"Hi Ch-Kaoru," he says, trying to placate the nerves in his voice. He goes even softer, not knowing if Kaoru could hear him.
"I've never been to a kimono shop before."
He has never been to any traditional Japanese establishment, other than Kaoru's calligraphy shop, and the accommodation they crashed in at Miyakojima.
He continues to thumb at the hem of his school jacket.
no subject
He reaches out and places his hand on Langa's shoulder, sensing that he needs reassurance of some kind.
"You'll like this one," he says before taking his hand back. He doesn't want to make Langa uncomfortable after all. "The owners are friends of mine. They're very helpful, especially for first-timers."
He moves to the door and slides it open for Langa.
no subject
Then he turns his attention towards the door, gaze lighting up with less nerves and more excitement.
"Oh..."
Langa steps through the open door, and stares around with his lips parted in awe.
Some small part of him tugs at his consciousness to immediately start exploring - hands in what he thinks could be soft material, but he stays put, barely fidgeting in his place.
no subject
An older woman, small in stature appears from among the fabrics in a beautiful kimono of emerald green with gold accents. She smiles at the two of them and bows her head.
"Welcome!" she says before lifting her head and giving them a friendly smile. "Sakurayashiki-san, thank you so much for reaching out to our humble shop again. I've made certain that your appointment is the only one this afternoon."
Kaoru thanks her graciously with a bow of his own. "We appreciate you taking the time to assist us like this, Miyako-san."
He had spoken with Miyako over the phone and ironed out all the details so that the appointment would be as comfortable and stress-free for Langa as possible.
"Langa, this is the co-owner of this shop, Miyako-san. Miyako-san, this is my friend Langa Hasegawa."