A/N: For the Kamurocho Life zine! Goro and Makoto just hit all of my weak spots, I love this angsty trope. This is a companion piece for my other fic, that I posted months ago ahaha
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Goro was staring. Makoto was keenly aware of that, even as she sat on the bench with her eyes closed. While her sight was slowly returning, her other senses were still sharper and she felt a ticklish prickle under his gaze. The spring breeze blew gently, dropping flower petals on her open hands. On the street next to them, a pair of drunks sang wildly despite how early in the day it was. Her thin sweatshirt was just enough to keep her warm as the clouds drifted lazily over the sun.
And still, he was staring. Makoto cracked open her eyes, blinking at the sudden colours that burst to life. As she slowly focused, she glanced at him from the corner of her eyes. With his short hair and yellow jacket, he looked like nothing like she’d imagined all those months ago. Then again, he was a man full of surprises; why would this be any different?
“You’re staring,” she mumbled, cheeks red as she shifted uncomfortably, unable to take it anymore.
“’m not,” he immediately replied. After a beat, he flushed and looked away. “Why wouldn’t ah look at ya?” Goro grumbled, barely audible.
Makoto stifled a giggle. He reminded her of the alley cats she took care of, all gruff demeanor and stiff upper lips. Despite his act, he was a terrible liar and there was something comforting about it. Unlike everyone else’s lies, she could read through his like a soothsayer.
Still, she couldn’t blame him. Makoto glanced around the small park, barely bigger than their apartment. Even though she recognized nothing about it, from the bench to the vending machines in the corner to the kids who were racing cars on the dirt, she knew this place. How could she not? The last time they’d been here, she’d disappeared on him.
She lowered her eyes to her hand, to the pink petals resting lightly on her skin.
That was a sad thought.
Today wasn’t a sad day. Forcing a smile, she poked him lightly. “What’s next on the list?”
“We’re still doin’ that? Haven’t ya had enough?” Goro complained as he pulled out a wrinkled sheet from his pocket. Uncrumpling it, he smoothened it out on his thighs.
She leaned against him, her smile real now as he stiffened at their proximity. The printed text was still too hard for her to read and she bit back a sigh as she straightened up. “It’s fun.”
“We can have fun anywhere.” His nose wrinkled as he read the title on the article. “Top Ten Love Spots in Kamurocho. Like ah need a guide to tell ya what to do.”
“We’ve already done five of them,” she pointed out, holding her ground. “And my friends told me to try it out. Don’t you want to finish it?”
“Not really.” He held the sheet closer and squinted at the byline. “Who wrote this crap? Dragon? Who the fuck is Dragon?”
She frowned. “Please.”
“Fine, fine, ah’ll do it.” He ran his finger down the page, stopping when he reached the next point. “5. The Docks for Comfort.”
-x-
The Docks
Makoto was glad she had decided to wear a more practical pants and long-sleeves. Land-locked as she’d been, she’d actually forgotten how chilly it got near water, when the wind sprayed the water just so. The docks smelled of fish and oil, a scent she had remembered, and she wrinkled her nose. Behind her, she heard a constant thudding, followed every now and then by a groan or the sound of something breaking.
It was nothing like Osaka’s docks.
“The docks.” Noticing her shiver, he wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. While his skin was warm and his ears red, his tone didn’t change. “Who the fuck thought this was comfortable?”
“Maybe at sunset?” she suggested, gingerly leaning against him as she glanced at the water. A dull, murky colour, no amount of sunshine was enough to make it sparkle.
“Not even then.” Goro snorted, gesturing at the crates next to them. “These’ll block the view. And the smell. And whatever the fuck she’s doing.” He gestured to their left, to where a woman in yellow was hurling around crates in wild abandon. That explained the nose, at least.
“Is that training?” she asked, not sure if she was seeing things right. It looked like she had mannequins shooting at her. A crate broke in two, dropping money everywhere.
Goro looked at her, incredulous. “For what? A war?”
-x-
West Park
West park was warmer than the docks. It was also bigger than the other park, a stone pathway carving in between budding trees and sloping hills. The smell and sounds, however, were just as bad here as it had been by the water.
Which made sense. The canopy spread before her was blue, not green, made of vinyl and cloth, not leaves. A tent city had taken over most of the park, ragged-looking men sitting around as they played go or drank from brown paper bags. There was no way this many people could stay quiet.
Goro glared at the paper in his hand, barely restraining his anger as he growled, “Why would ah take my girl here? It’s full of bums and beer!”
Makoto barely listened as she quietly scanned each homeless man. It was no good; she couldn’t recognize any of them. Even their voices didn’t ring a bell; she’d been lucky enough to remember Goro’s when they’d bumped into each other after her therapy. There had just been too much that night: noise, people, events. Her brother’s death still hung like a shadow over it all, obscuring the small points of light.
Not for the first time, Makoto realized just how many people had carried her to this point. She bowed. “I’m glad we came.”
She hoped someone recognized her, someone saw her now and realized just how grateful she was.
-x-
Sega Center
Makoto squinted at the pixelated screen, at the tiny figures making their way across the screen. So that was what a game looked like. She couldn’t understand the appeal. Feeling a headache forming, she tore her eyes away from the machine’s screen and back to the man beside her. “This is the third spot?”
“Yeah.” Goro shifted eagerly as he scanned the large gaming center. Rows of identical machines boasted different games. Teenagers and adults taunted one another as they competed, buttons smashing quicker and quicker in a show of dominance. His fingers twitched. “The games are different than in Sotenbori.”
That surprised her. “You like games?”
“Maybe not games so much as the hot la—,” he made a strangled nose as he bit his tongue.
Panicked, she grabbed his arm. “You okay?”
His skin paled and he abruptly looked away. “Y-yeah, just peachy.” Clearing his throat, he gestured at the claw machine nearby and the stuffed toys carpeting the bottom of the box. “Ya want one?”
“Huh?” She leaned forward, trying to get a better look at him. “That doesn’t matter. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Ah’m fine.” He smiled at her, too broad and all teeth and definitely hiding something. The only good thing was that she didn’t see any blood, so despite his actions earlier, he really was okay. “The toy?”
“Sure.” Makoto frowned, following him to the machine. What had that been about, then? His profile looked almost feverish now, his ears red and skin sweaty. Maybe he was coming down with something. She’d have to get him medicine when they got back. “So you do like games?”
Goro’s fingers slipped on the toggle, the claw going down at a random spot. “Y-yeah. Only this one.”
The claw pulled back to its original position, giving him a chance to try again. Makoto cocked her head, perplexed. “You collect stuffed animals?”
“What?” Goro snorted. This time, the claw moved smoothly, picking up a purple puppy and a blue cat before retracting. He smirked as he turned to her, crossing his arms and leaning against the machine. “See? Nothing to it.”
The animals slide out of the hole at the bottom and she squeezed the soft toys, amazed. “Which one do you want?”
He immediately shook his head. “None. They’re yours. Ah don’t collect ‘em. There was just this girl who wanted one and ah got it for her. That’s all.”
“A girl?” Somehow, that didn’t surprise Makoto. Despite what he said, he was kind, his heart big, and she didn’t think he could turn anyone down if they asked for help.
“Yeah, this li’l runt. She kept calling me Pa—” Immediately, he made a strangled noise as he bit his tongue.
Makoto flinched. “Again!?”
-x-
Maharaja
Makoto wasn’t much of a dancer. Even before her kidnapping, she’d been uncomfortable in big crowds, preferring the relative quiet of home and hearth. Maharaja was none of those things—the wide, open room reminded her of a firework show: all colour and sound. In the dimly lit areas, she could just make out the shapes of couples and friends as they drank, their conversation drowned out by the never-ending dance track.
Goro however, didn’t seem to have that issue. He looked comfortable as soon as they’d stepped, making his way to the glittering dancefloor as though he’d done it before. Maybe he had. He never talked much about his past and she never asked. Despite his annoyed expression as they’d made their way in, the second he’d stepped on the brightly-coloured tiles, the disco-ball bathing them in colourful lights, he immediately started dancing.
In all of her life, Makoto could state she had never seen anything like that before. He twirled, with the poise and grace of a professional, his hair looking even more messy, if possible. Below his breath, he hummed along as he sang. It wasn’t the kind of music she’d pegged him for and she giggled as he twirled.
Noticing her stare, he flushed and gestured for her to come over. “Ya should dance too.”
Immediately, she shook her head. “I’m not—”
“Come on.” Ignoring her protests, Goro grabbed her hand, pulling her under the bright lights. “Why even come here if ya don’t dance?”
His grip was warm and tight, and she stared at it for a moment before nodding. Part of point this whole list was to try new things, after all. “If you say—”
“That was some good dancing.” A long-haired man stepped out of the shadows, adjusting his glasses. Makoto jumped, not expecting him. There was a strange glint in his eyes as he appraised Goro. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen that much talent.”
A woman laughed, her blue dress shimmering as she followed. Every step was full of strength and grace, and Makoto wasn’t sure how she felt about her coy smile. “Ohh, and he’s good looking too. I think I might be a fan.”
For a long moment, they all stared at each other in silence. These strangers had smug smirks, like challengers in a fight, but neither of them made a move. Confused, Makoto glanced at Goro. “Huh?”
Unlike her, Goro just looked annoyed. Lips pressed into a thin line, he looked up at the ceiling beseechingly. “Is there no such thing as a normalclub?”
-x-
Makoto hadn’t expected their date to end as it had started: in the small park. The kids were long gone now, their footprints in the dirt the only sign they’d even been there. Goro groaned, leaning back against the bench, and she glanced at him. He looked exhausted. Then again, she’d be tired too if she had been forced to dance against those two strangers.
Apparently, it was a popular thing to challenge good dancers to a dance fight. They refused to take no. Goro refused to lose. It had been the strangest battle Makoto had ever witnessed, but she preferred it to the bloody fists and pointed guns.
“You okay?” she asked, leaning forward to wipe his sweaty bangs out of his face.
He stiffened at her touch again, his eyes looking everywhere but her. “Ah’m fine,” Goro muttered, sounding embarrassed. “Didn’t think that’d take so long. Must have bored ya.”
“No, it was fun.” Makoto smiled as she sat on the bench next to him, her hands clasped on her lap. “I didn’t know you’re so good at dancing.”
“Ah’m not really…” Flustered, Goro glared at the garbage can as though it was at fault for what had happened. “Just picked up a few things here and there.”
It didn’t look that way to her, but she knew better than to press. Taking pity, she changed the topic. “What’s next?”
Goro raised a brow, confused. “Next?”
“On the list.” She interlaced her fingers, stretching her arms before her. “We just have the last one, right?”
“Oh, that.” He relaxed, pulling out the crumpled sheet again. It crinkled as he opened it. “Last, go to a love ho—” Goro choked, his face turning a bright red as he cut himself off. He glanced at her, then at the paper, then at her again. Before she could say anything, he crumpled the paper and hurled it at the garbage bin. “Ah’m goin’ to kill that bastard.”
“Huh?” Makoto stared at him, then the bin, not sure where to go first, what to ask first. This was like the game center again, and maybe she should really get him to go to a doctor. “Are you okay?”
Still standing, he grinned ferally, pulling out a box of matches. He lit one and toss it in the bin, laughing. “Ah’m fine. He ain’t.”
“Goro!” Makoto ran over to the trash can, but it was too late. Everything inside was burning. Just what could have made him go that far? Biting her lip, she grabbed his matches before he could do any more damage. “What did he say?”
“A…A…” Just as quickly as his murderous rage came, it disappeared, his skin flushing a bright pink as he struggled with his words.
“Was it bad?” she asked helpfully, squeezing his arm as she tried to guide him through it.
“Not really but…” Resembling a lobster, he suddenly jerked his arm free and stiffly turned around. “Lovely taikyaki. That’s what it said. Let’s get some.”
“What?” Makoto pinched herself, not sure if she was dreaming. It was the only way it would make sense. Unfortunately, all it did was send a jolt of pain up her arm.
“It said to get taikyaki. Some lovely taikyaki.” Goro turned back to her, his expression almost pleading for her to not ask any questions as he continued, “Ya want some?”
“That…” Makoto glanced at the still burning trash can. She’d have to get another copy of the magazine later. For now, though, she’d just have to let it go. “Sure.”
“Great.” He beamed brightly and she knew she’d made the right decision. Probably. “Wait here, ah’ll get it.”
Before he could jog away, Makoto grabbed his hand. When he shot her a questioning look, she smiled brightly. “I’ll go with you.”
Last time, she’d let go of his hand. This time, she wanted to hold it tight.
Besides, she wasn’t entirely certain he wouldn’t burn down the taikyaki stand.
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