Log: Ryoma/Dan
When: Sunday the 24th, around 5 in the evening.
Rating: PG
Summary: Dan takes Ryoma out for his birthday (ice-skating, then dinner, & all that good stuff).
Notes: Though it's mentioned in the log-- thanks to a formal request that Ryoma sent in to the producers, he and Dan were not followed by the cameras for this outing.
"O-...kay. I think I've got it this time." Dan confirmed, this time without wobbling. Roller-blading was a cinch, so why did ice-skating have to be so tricky? With one arm held out to his side for extra balance, Dan extended his mitten-clad left hand down to Ryoma to help him up. Only moments earlier they slipped, almost ceremoniously, while in mid-glide, and their feet came up from under them.
"Hope so," Ryoma said, but he was chuckling - okay, so he may be good at tennis, but he was not going to any championships for ice skating anytime soon. It was kind of… interesting, trying something he had no real good idea how to do - he'd been ice skating once or twice before, but that was when he was much, much younger and lived in the US. He hadn't been for years. And it showed.
He pushed himself carefully up off the ice, trying not to pull on Dan too much, lest they go over again. "Wanna try again? Slower, maybe," he grinned, keeping close to the other's side for more reason than one.
Dan nodded in half-concentration, or rather, as much as his scarf would allow. The skating rink had been set up in the heart of the city, surrounded by the shops, restaurants, and bustling holiday crowds. As it was Christmas Eve, there were people everywhere; some making their last-minute gift decisions, while others took their time to look at the decorations, and take in the warmth that the holidays brought; meanwhile, others were already on their feet getting ready for New Year's celebrations.
"Slower... Yeah. That'd be good," he finally said aloud, once Ryoma was secure and on his own two feet again. One of Dan's arms slipped around Ryoma's waist for support, the other out to the side again for balance. "Ahh... It looks so much easier! It kinda makes you admire all those professionals, y'know?" A smile in Ryoma's direction was offered, then. His cheeks were a dark rosy hue, though mainly due to the opposing temperatures; the ice-rink was man-made and out in the open, crisp air, but wearing the Winter layers, as well as putting forth energy to stay on his feet warmed him up. Appearances meant nothing, though. Dan was clearly excited and eager enough to finally have some time with his boyfriend, and on Ryoma's birthday, no less.
"Maybe we should stay near the wall, too..." Dan added soon after. The ice-rink was rather crowded.
Ryoma just nodded, in admiration of said professionals. This was very different from just stepping out onto a tennis court. This was a whole new way of moving. The principle may be the same, but the medium was very, very different.
Dan had a good point with the wall, though. "Yeah… that's a good idea." Already attached to Dan by the arm around his waist (and Ryoma was not unhappy to have it there - he hadn't actually seen Dan in far too long and he intended to take advantage of this night as much as possible), Ryoma angled their movements more towards the rink wall, where the skaters were moving slower, and there were somewhat fewer of them. "Just 'till we get it." He grinned over at Dan - they'd get it soon enough, he was convinced - and he covered the mitten-covered hand on his waist with his own. "This way. We c'n practice over here." He moved them just close enough to the wall to grab it if they started going down again.
Slowly; very, ve~ry slowly... Using the wall, as Dan thought, had definitely been a good plan. Because no more than five minutes since their last fall, Dan stumbled; a lazy shhhrkt of the skate blade scraped the ice when he managed to catch himself. In order for Dan's hand to reach the wall, he crossed an arm in front of Ryoma, which only resulted in him pivoting to completely face Ryoma. Dan stumbled back again before finally grabbing the edge of the rink, barely remaining on his feet.
Dan let out a sigh of relief before gradually righting himself. The flush on his cheeks seemed to stand out more. "I wish this were more like roller-blading..." He laughed the incident off, and the two began again. That's what Dan Taichi was best at, after all: Always getting to his feet after a fall (and he'd taken plenty in his 22 years of life thus far, that was for sure).
Ryoma thought they were doing pretty damned well - Dan nearly fell once, and Ryoma's arms were about to shoot out to grab him when the other grabbed the wall first, at least preventing the fall, but bringing them face-to-face. Ryoma grinned, helping Dan as they started off again, this time linking his left hand with Dan's right, keeping the wall on his own right side. That way if Dan started going down, Ryoma could grab the wall, and hopefully they'd both stay up.
"Heh, well, guess it's not like anything either of us is used to," he admitted a bit ruefully, squeezing Dan's hand. "But otherwise it wouldn't be any fun, right?" After a few more minutes, finally feeling a little more comfortable (and a little less like Bambi on ice), Ryoma sped up their pace a little, tugging gently on Dan's hand. "C'mon, a little faster."
Dan didn't mind all that much that neither of them were very good. It was still a blast (though, a big reason for that was due to Ryoma being with him), and it wasn't like all of the other skaters on the rink were much better. A few times there'd be someone passing by who would twirl, or do some fancy maneuver in the air, but other than giving them a look of amusement or admiration, Dan paid no mind to them all. It'd been too long - even though the party for the first cast had been only a few weeks back - since he'd physically spent time around Ryoma. Holding hands, sitting shoulder to shoulder, their kisses; Dan relished each moment. Commenting on the journals, phone calls (monitored by the house, no less), and emails just weren't as special (though he certainly enjoyed those, too).
With a determined, but cheerful gleam in his eye, Dan replied, "Yeah!" It wasn't too difficult to get used to the ice, really. Dan was grateful that Ryoma happened to be the type of person who, more or less, picked up on things easily. Catching up was simple enough, and several moments later, a steady, but not too fast pace was decided upon between the two of them.
Dan laughed, smiling brightly as they eased along. He wouldn't look over to Ryoma quite yet, though, as any small distraction might throw them off course.
Ryoma grinned as they both settled on a decent pace, pleased that both he and Dan were getting more comfortable with this. It really was pretty fun, for all it still felt just a bit foreign, and now he could concentrate a little more on being close to Dan, even if it was just to skate beside him. He'd really missed Dan quite a bit when he'd moved out of the house - Ibu was definitely not the same (both in mannerisms and in the fact that… well, he didn't want to go out with Ibu) and not living with Dan… well, calls and the internet only did so much. Seeing someone in person was always better. And it was definitely nice to spend tonight out of the house, and out from underneath the cameras.
"So, you think we should start competing at this?" he asked Dan with a grin, moving them a little ways away from the wall (though not too far) and glancing over. "I think we're getting' the hang of it."
"Yeah~" Dan snickered a little. "We can be the special guest-stars on the blooper clips!" Almost for show (keyword: almost), Dan sped up a little, ahead of Ryoma. Once their hands parted, he attempted a small twirl, but missed his footing, and wound up spinning on his rear. However, instead of moving to get up right away, Dan reached up to take Ryoma's hand, once it was close enough, and tugged him down to sit on the ice for a moment. A grin cracked across his flushed face, and Dan beamed. "Gold medal~" A playful kiss to Ryoma's lips, and they helped each other up again.
By the time 6:30 rolled around, nearly three hours had passed. Dan had reservations for dinner at 7:30, which meant that getting off the ice was likely a good idea, as was a change of clothes. The restaurant wasn't entirely fancy, but Dan knew it to be more on the upper-class side; showing up with snow-gear on wouldn't be the best of ideas.
Ryoma and Dan finally stumbled off the rink, returning their rented skates and stopping into the locker rooms briefly to get changed into nicer clothes (or at least ones that weren't ice-slush covered). As fun as skating had been, Ryoma was also looking forward to sitting down with Dan someplace quiet, where they could talk - really talk - for the first time in weeks. Not to mention the fact that he was starting to get hungry.
Getting to the restaurant wasn't hard, but took up most of the time before their reservation. As they waited the last few minutes for their table, Ryoma leaned against the wall in the waiting area and shot a grin over at Dan. "S'not bad for a first real date, you think?" It was funny - in a lot of ways, this could probably be considered their first real date. They'd never really been out like this alone before.
Dan leaned against the wall as well, facing Ryoma. It certainly felt nice to be in a well-heated room, wearing comfortable clothes (and shoes, as the skates were rather constricting). "Mn, yeah," Dan replied with a partial grin of his own. The thought had never really crossed his mind, to be honest. With all the hype he'd been going through at work everyday, though, he figured it wasn't too strange for him not to have noticed.
First real date... it sounded formal to Dan; official. Back when he was on the show, ninety-nine percent of the time, he and Ryoma would sneak away to the bathroom of all places, just to be alone. Whether to talk in private, sneak in a well-needed kiss, or even, at one point in time, to hug without having a whole slew of fans jump for joy at a sighting of "their new favorite pairing!!" A real date was what they were on now, and Dan knew he didn't want it to end. It was amazing enough as-is that they were allowed to send in a formal request to the producers, so that they wouldn't be followed by the cameras.
Dan's name was called a few minutes later, and he took one of Ryoma's hands in his own, keeping him close, as a young woman took them to a booth near the window.
Ryoma just nodded; they waited in comfortable silence for only a few minutes before they were led to their table; it was in a nice spot, right next to the window, where Ryoma usually preferred to sit. They were handed menus and left in peace to look them over; Ryoma glanced over the top of his at Dan, half-tempted to poke his foot under the table. "So, any suggestions from the master chef?" Most of the dishes looked pretty good to him; he had a feeling Dan would just laugh and tell him to get whatever he wanted, but it was more fun to tease.
Besides, Dan pretty much was a master chef. And was busy as hell to prove it. Ryoma wondered if he wouldn't go insane, making and serving food all day long. Then again, that just wasn't quite his thing. After all, he was perfect happy serving - just tennis balls, and usually into other people's faces. Not quite the same thing.
Dan took a few moments to glance through the menu before looking back to Ryoma. The options were more or less typical, for a Japanese restaurant; he'd considered taking Ryoma to a teppanyaki-styled place, but then opted not, since he didn't particularly want that hotplate in between them. So, Dan kept with the basics, though the place was on the higher end of the price range; they were rated the best in Tokyo just last year, though, and Dan wanted to see what they had to offer.
"Hmm~" The grin shot back to Ryoma via Dan's eyes, and he skimmed through the dinner entrée portion briefly. "I say that you order whatever you'd like, without holding back." It was Ryoma's birthday after all, and Dan was definitely going to pay, even if Ryoma insisted otherwise. He honestly didn't have a whole lot of free time to personally choose a gift for his boyfriend (and Dan wasn't about to order or buy something generic), so the decision of surprising Ryoma with skating and dinner, and whatever was to come, would be just fine, and Dan knew that Ryoma would be okay with that.
Another glance through, "Or, you can go with the random choice option and simply close your eyes and point." Dan offered. Another playful smile lit up his face and he set the menu down on the table. "I'll even do it as well!"
Ryoma couldn't help but laugh a little - both at how well he'd guessed the first part of Dan's answer, but also at the second part of it as well. "That doesn't sound half bad - it's a deal," he agreed, putting the menu down and covering his eyes, pointing at random and peeking only once his finger hit paper. "Hey, not bad." There were advantages to liking everything on the menu.
"Your turn," he said, leaning over the table to cover Dan's eyes for him, not really caring if people stared, because it was his birthday and there were no cameras and he was going to enjoy it. Dan's skin was warm against his palm and the other's eyelashes tickled just a little.
Ryoma's gesture took Dan somewhat by surprise, but he smiled anyways; a light blush rose to his cheeks, though in the softly lit dining area, there wasn't much to see.
"Ah-" Dan reached up to nudge Ryoma's hand away before peering down to where his finger landed. "One of my favorites!" He grinned to Ryoma, pleased with the idea he'd come up with. Dan then turned towards the drink menu and bit his lower lip in thought. A few moments later, though, the waitress came by. She was likely around her late twenties or so, and before Dan could even ask about the wine menu, the waitress gleed.
Dan blinked, startled, when she didn't speak at first. But then, "...It is you two! This is so neat! I saw your name on the reservation list, but I thought it'd be you with your family!" She peered around the general area, then back to Dan, leaning in closer. "So, are there cameras here right now? Am I on TV???"
Ryoma was a bit quicker to react than Dan was - Dan still looked a little blank at the assault, so Ryoma leaned in closer to the waitress (also trying not to attract any more attention than she already had). He wanted to just tell her off, but they were in a nice place and he'd learned, after years of relative fame from his tennis career, that telling people off (especially the girls) never really worked well in most situations.
Trying to keep his voice firm but not demanding, he said, "Actually, s'just us tonight - no cameras, an' we'd kinda like to keep it that way. That'd be nice, don'tcha think? Been on camera for months now, an' tonight's kinda special." He hoped she'd get the point, instead of just fangirling more - you could never tell with some people. It was always a gamble; but she looked like she was older than they were, and hopefully that meant she'd be more likely to possess tact. He hoped. Or they'd be leaving shortly and finding someplace else to eat. Which would be all right, but still, a shame. Dan had obviously planned this night to be something special, and while Ryoma would be happy doing anything at all with him, he didn't want the other's plans to go to waste. That wasn't fair.
The waitress flushed a little in her giddiness; she was actually speaking to not only the famous Echizen Ryoma, but to what was the most popular couple from that hit reality television show, Second Set! Even Ryoma's boyfriend, Dan Taichi was fairly well known; or at least to her, since she'd been working in the restaurant business for a while now.
"R-right, right! Of course!" She made haste to step back and smooth down an imaginary wrinkle in her dress-slacks and nodded. She was a proper woman, right? Right! ...it didn't take long for a stupidly happy grin to break out across her face; combined with the blush, she looked more like a teenage fangirl being serenaded by the hottest pop idol around. There wasn't much of a difference.
"You guys are just so cute, though. I can't help but say that. And Dan-kun! Us club members miss you a whole lot! It was sad to see you go... but I can understand," her smile softened a bit, in Dan's direction.
The whole time, as the praising continued for a few moments longer, Dan merely smiled, his head lowering a bit. The color of his cheeks rivaled that of his & Ryoma's admirer. She soon got down to business though, thankfully, and headed to a different table after taking down their orders. Between praises, she even suggested a "great wine that you guys should try," which Dan and Ryoma simply agreed to.
Watching Dan, Ryoma couldn't help but grin softly - just the demeanor with which he'd sat there and dealt with the waitress was… well, adorable, for lack of a better term. When the waitress finally left, he waited a moment, then reached over and tipped Dan's chin up gently, trying to catch his eyes. "You c'n come out now," Ryoma chuckled; Dan had been right when he'd said he didn't know how to deal with being famous - they weren't as famous as, say, real celebrities or idols, but it seemed like every day they got a little bit closer. Ryoma'd been dealing with this kind of thing for so long that it was easy to forget someone like Dan hadn't, even after a few months.
"… You're really cute, y'know that?" Ryoma said quietly, leaning back a little once Dan finally looked up. "Least she wasn't so bad. The younger girls're worse, huh?"
It wasn't quite that Dan felt embarrassed, but maybe more on the side of awkward, or even just startled. Obviously, though, the praise and fangirl hype wasn't something Dan was expecting; especially at such a nice restaurant. At least the other customers didn't pay much attention to the commotion over at his and Ryoma's table; if any, a few people gasped, or smiled when they saw the pair.
Dan took a moment to finally lift his gaze again. The color in his cheeks, while still mostly present, faded a decent amount. He merely laughed a little, smiling. "Y-yeah, the younger ones are worse," he agreed. There'd been several occasions, even over the past month, and during his hectic schedule, where Dan was recognized, by himself. Amazingly enough, quite a few of those people were older businessmen and women. They were the easiest to deal with, as their behavior wasn't so startling; they were polite, and, simply put, delighted to meet "the talented Dan Taichi."
It didn't take Dan much longer to calm his nerves. At least, and he was thankful for this, he wasn't as easily flustered, such as when he was still in school. That incredibly shy part of his personality burned off into something more on the side of modesty.
"Thanks, by the way..." Dan finally added, in a smile towards Ryoma.
“Nah,” Ryoma shook his head, shrugging. “Didn’t do anything. She wasn’t that bad, anyway,” he reiterated; she hadn’t caused a very big commotion or anything, so he was thankful. He hadn’t been out on his birthday with a friend in so long - and Dan certainly counted as more than that, even - that he was thankful for the small things, for once. Like waitresses who saw the light of reason.
Their wine came a few moments later - Ryoma wasn’t really big on wine, but it was here now, so he figured he’d give it a try. He sipped it, only to find that really, it wasn’t bad. He nodded his approval and waited for Dan to try his before glancing back over the table, thinking that now he could finally ask the other the more in-depth questions about how things had been going that he hadn’t exactly been able to get out on the ice.
“So, how’s the job going?” he asked - he knew Dan was busy, and that he was heavily relied-upon in this job - and why not? Dan was a really good cook; he always had been, and he had good taste when it came to putting meals and desserts together. Ryoma was betting hectic wouldn’t even begin to describe Dan’s life since he’d left the show.
"Guh," was all Dan could say at first, with a slight laugh. He leaned back comfortably in his seat and gave a small shrug. "It's... not exactly bad, obviously, but we've been so busy. Even just the past week alone. It was crazy! We had about eight parties to cater for - er, at least my team did. The company as a whole has, ummm, four teams total, I think - and that was all over the past five days." He smiled; though a bit on the fatigued side, it'd be obvious to just about anyone that Dan really did love what he did for a living.
After a sip of his wine (which was indeed quite good), Dan went on. "I think the most tiring aspect though... that'd have to be the hours." He made a face. "It's a pain to get up and go to work at 5 in the morning! At least that isn't all the time, though... It was like that every now and then when I worked for Yuuki-chan's place." Of course, the customers were a handful as well, on occasion, but that was only a given. Dan didn't mind so much, as long as he was able to do his very best to get them what they needed. Sometimes the orders were quite detailed and complex; Dan merely saw them as a challenge to his abilities.
"How 'bout you?" He then asked. "Well, besides what's shown on TV. how're things on the show?" There was a slight hesitation in his voice, but he hoped it didn't show.
Dan seemed to really like what he was doing - which was good, in Ryoma’s book. He thought far too many people ended up doing things they didn’t love, and he was glad that Dan wasn’t one of them. Though really, it seemed as though everyone he’d known had managed to end up in fields they liked. Not bad at all.
He made a face at the mention of 5am, though - he still hated mornings; “Dunno how you do that.” He remembered many a tennis match that he’d had to get up nearly that early for. And had been almost late nearly every single time. He just… couldn’t do mornings. But that wasn’t the point; he nodded as Dan went on, then paused to consider the question.
“Well… I mean, s’mostly what you see. S’kinda different, this time around…” It was really different, in fact, with both Momo-sempai and Tezuka-buchou there. The first season, things had been different. And he hadn’t realized just how much he’d missed his best friend - or even his former captain - until they’d suddenly reappeared in his life. (He often wondered if his manager hadn’t known these things would happen. But it would be useless to ask.) “I mean… heh. Well, Ibu’s not half the roommate you were - an’ that’s before we even get into whether I’d think about dating him or not.” He cast a wry glance at Dan; really, Ibu wasn’t all that bad, but he certainly wasn’t Dan. Or even remotely like Dan. “But I guess I got more friends starting out, this time around. S’not bad.”
Dan wasn't always sure how he pulled off those hours, either. After working with them for so long, though - just as Ryoma had been dealing with the fans for such a long while - he more or less grew used to them. They just became a hassle when it was a daily event for him to be up at such an early hour. At least he was given some time off, though!
He nodded in response, understanding, and somewhat amused. "It's still so awkward, at times, to watch the show. When I first came home, my sister wouldn't stop asking me allll these questions about what it was like." Dan rolled his eyes, but laughed anyways. Maybe he wouldn't ask quite yet about that...other issue that gnawed at the back of his mind. As far back as he was able to remember, Momoshiro was Ryoma's really close friend, so obviously they'd be getting along on the show. So, there; nothing to worry about at all. That's it, yep. Dan knew he'd likely be the same way, had Sengoku turned up, or heck, even Akutsu, or any of his old teammates.
The waitress returned in a few moments to give Ryoma and Dan their food, and left with only another smile to the two. Dan was quite relieved.
Ryoma could understand that - it probably was pretty weird to watch the show, when Dan had been on it himself the previous season. “Yeah, kinda like something you used to do, an’ then you see someone else doing it, an’ it’s weird…” Ryoma trailed off, wondering if that’s what it would feel like when he left the show. He was… pretty sure he’d be leaving in another season, but with his manager, who knew? He didn’t want to put off his international career forever, but there were plenty of local tournaments he could play in for now. And besides, it really hadn’t been bad, so far. Interesting, but rarely bad. In fact, some very good things had come out of it…
His thoughts trailed off as their food arrived - smelling quite good - and nodded to the waitress, who seemed much more reserved this time. “Well. Guess we shouldn’t let it get cold,” Ryoma said, digging in - and it was really good. “Damn, you picked a good place,” he said - though really, should he be surprised? Not with Dan’s taste. “Hope yours is as good as mine.” He grinned over, waiting to see if Dan liked his just as much. It looked good - he wouldn’t mind swiping a bite, but not before Dan had gotten a taste. There was playful, and there was rude. Ryoma was only rude to people he didn’t like.
"I had a feeling you'd like it!" Dan beamed. Though, in reality, one of his co-workers helped him out with a few things. Of course Dan paid attention to what was good and well liked, in the realm of food and restaurants in the area, but knowing that Ryoma loved Japanese food... Well, the options were definitely endless. After noticing that even to make reservations at this particular restaurant was difficult, Dan tossed out all other options and went for it. Reserving a table for two at a high-end restaurant, especially around the holidays, wasn't easy. Thankfully he called in nearly a month prior.
The look on Ryoma's face made Dan grin, rather amused. After a few bites - which were absolutely wonderful - Dan nudged his plate towards Ryoma in offering. "You'll like this, too~" he smiled, then reached for his wine.
Ryoma nodded, taking a bite of Dan’s food with his chopsticks, chewing thoughtfully. Yes - yes, he liked this place. He would definitely come back. “Yeah - s’good, try mine.” He offered Dan his plate in return; the two spent their meal thoroughly enjoying the food and the wine, occasionally stealing a bite from the other’s plate. It was really nice to not only eat such good food, but to do it in Dan’s company and in relative anonymity. Ryoma was almost sad to see the meal come to an end - though it was hard to be sad through the warmth the excellent food and wine had sent running through his veins.
Dan paid without a second glance at Ryoma - though he didn’t quite think it was fair, Ryoma had known from the start that Dan would absolutely refuse to let him contribute a single yen to the bill. So he offered nothing but a whispered “Thanks~” and a soft kiss to the spot right below Dan’s right ear as they walked out of the restaurant and into the cold winter night. He slipped one hand into Dan’s and pulled him off to the left, raising a hand once they reached the street to catch a taxi.
Once they’d both piled in, Ryoma gave the driver his address - for once, it was a driver who seemed to know that area and simply nodded, so Ryoma could sit back against the seat next to Dan instead of directing the cab to his apartment. There were no cameras, and there had been no stipulations that he couldn’t go home. He had his keys. And he lived alone. He grinned at Dan, sitting in the seat next to him. “Wanna see my apartment? Guess I should make sure it’s still there.”
Dan responded with a nod, a tiny grin seeping its way into the almost-timid smile he wore (likely due to the wine, as a slight flush colored his cheeks, as well). As he thought about the fact that they were headed to Ryoma's apartment, it dawned on Dan that the last time he really visited Ryoma's home was back in high school. Maybe their second year or so? That was so long ago...
"You sure the producers won't be upset?" Dan murmured. His hand remained within Ryoma's for the duration of the ride, and at times, his head upon Ryoma's shoulder. "Unless there weren't any specifications on what you could and couldn't request." Dan thought about it for a few moments. During his time on the show, there'd been that incident with Taki and Bunta, but... they never asked permission, did they? Then again, as far as Dan (and Ryoma) was aware of, that rule of formally requesting time away from the cameras never existed. Either way, though, Dan was content. As long as Ryoma wouldn't get in trouble for their outing (and especially on his birthday), then everything would be just fine.
Ryoma shrugged; “Doesn’t matter right now, does it?” He’d filed the stupid form - the least they could do was let him be alone with Dan on his birthday. And if there was something against his going home… well, no one would have to know, would they? He lived alone, and though his mother was looking in on his apartment from time to time while he was on the show, no one would be there now.
The cab driver dropped them off right in front of the building; Ryoma dug in his pocked for his keys and let them into the lobby, where they took the elevator up to his floor. He had to admit, making enough money to live in a nice apartment complex like this one was really nice. Unlocking the front door once they’d arrived, he felt around for the light switch and stood aside to let Dan precede him into the apartment. “C’mon in. There’s prolly not much to drink or anything, but I c’n look if you want something.” He toed off his shoes, shutting the door behind them.
"Nah, I'm fine for now," Dan smiled as he stepped inside, automatically removing his shoes.
Before even going on any kind of tour of the apartment, Dan's jaw nearly dropped. So spacious! And big! And nice! "Uwaaa~ Your apartment is huge!" Without much of a request, Dan made his way into the living area, eyes wide and taking in everything he possibly could see, without touching. All of it, likely, made him look silly, but how he appeared at the moment was the last thing on his mind. It wasn't as though Dan never saw large homes - given his job, actually, and especially around this time of year when parties were all over the place, it wasn't rare for Dan to visit some of the upper-class homes. Everything was different while he was working, though, and acting as he was now, in a good friend's apartment, would likely get Dan kicked out, or at least looked down upon by his bosses.
Dan went to Ryoma's side after a few moments; while large, there really wasn't much to see in the apartment, as far as Dan was concerned. He flushed a little from the sudden outburst.
After another moment or so, Dan realized with a laugh, "Hey. Um... I actually never said this at all yet. Which is stupid, 'cause I thought I did! But...I didn't, so," he moved to wrap his arms around Ryoma's neck, holding him close, in a light hug. It was nice to be, more or less, at eye level with Ryoma. Dan smiled, speaking softer than before. "Happy birthday, Ryoma."
Ryoma just stood by while Dan wandered his living room, vaguely amused - he supposed it was pretty big for one person, but he’d chosen it more for the location (in a nice complex and near his preferred tennis club) than the size, though he didn’t mind the extra space even if he didn’t use it much. When Dan came back, though, Ryoma returned the embrace, arms slipping around the other’s waist. “Thanks,” he said quietly, leaning in to kiss Dan’s cheek softly, before moving to kiss his lips, just lightly.
“Haven’t been out with a friend for my birthday in a long time, y’know.” Having a birthday that fell on Christmas Eve had caused more problems in the US than it had in Japan, but even still, people were usually busy because of the romantic aspect of the holiday here. “An’ I haven’t been out from in front of a camera in a long time, either,” Ryoma chuckled, kissing Dan one more time, just as softly. “S’nice not to have people watching everything, hm?”
Dan returned the kiss as softly as it'd been given, and his heart fluttered, as it seemed to enjoy doing. His fingers lightly played at the back of Ryoma's head. Their last kiss had been weeks ago, at the going-away party for the first cast; it felt more like months.
"Yeah, I know..." A faint grin tugged on Dan's lips. He agreed to both the camera comment, as well as going out on a birthday with a friend. Dan didn't have it much easier, as not many people wanted to go out and have fun on the day after New Year's. People were usually tired by that time, and getting ready to go back to school or their jobs.
Dan leaned in closer, their foreheads touching. "It was a bit strange, actually, for the first week or so after I left," he commented about the cameras. "I ate breakfast without the world knowing how I like my eggs. .granted I still can't walk around naked, since I still live with my family, but I'm okay by that." The last part drew out a little more of the grin; teasing, of course, but all in good fun. Dan was just enthralled as-is to have Ryoma all to himself, and how the whole day was ending perfectly.
"But yeah, it really is nice. Extremely so," Dan whispered, bringing their lips together again.
Ryoma grinned into the kiss, definitely determined to take advantage of the fact that the country wouldn’t be watching them for at least another hour or two. When they broke, he nuzzled beneath Dan’s ear, still grinning. “Heh - well, you c’n walk around naked all you want here,” he joked; he decided they didn’t need to stand in the front hall anymore, pulling away to tug Dan lightly by the hand towards the living room. They didn’t have to spend their last while together standing up, that was for sure.
“We c’n sit down, at least,” he said, sitting down on the couch and tugging Dan down behind him. He leaned back against the cushions, sighing and closing his eyes; “You wanna do somethin’ next week? Your birthday’s not so far, right?” He frowned. “Dunno f’I can get another appeal in about the cameras, though. Maybe you could come back to the house, though.” He glanced over at the other and grinned again. “We got a Wii.”
Dan settled comfortably into the couch and exhaled quietly, content. "That'd be really cool, actually," he grinned. "Don't worry too much about getting an appeal, really. Heh. They'd probably say no, anyways..." He shifted a bit, wanting to face Ryoma. It likely wouldn't be too bad, Dan mused. There were plenty of New Year's parties as well, but his bosses already knew about Dan's upcoming birthday; he'd been working over-time recently, so getting the day off for his birthday probably wouldn't be too difficult.
"It'd be fun to see everyone again, too!" Dan stopped by just a few days back, to drop off a few treats for the house-mates. Things seemed to be on the hectic side, so he didn't stay too long. "And Wii! My sister really hopes to get one of those, but neither me nor either of my parents have found one yet." He grinned again. "I'll definitely try to make it over."
Dan snuggled up close to Ryoma again, moving a hand to find one of Ryoma's, their fingers twining. Being away from the cameras (and not by simply being in a bathroom), almost made Dan sad, since he knew that Ryoma would need to return to the house soon enough. At the same time, that same fact gave Dan ideas; he wanted to spend as much time as he possibly could with Ryoma. Whether they spend the next few hours talking, or fall asleep in each others arms. At least, though, Dan knew that when he visited, he could reach for Ryoma's hand without risking a shock to any of the viewers. They weren't exactly a "secret couple" anymore. So, any way it happened, Dan knew that everything would be okay.
Ryoma nodded. “We c’n still do dinner an’ a movie or something, even if we stay in the house to do it.” It could be a… group thing, or something, he figured. Dan liked most of the people in the house, and they couldn’t… really be alone when they were on camera. Not like this. The thought that maybe they should retreat to the bathroom, for old times’ sake, crossed Ryoma’s mind, but he dismissed it with a soft snicker. Whatever happened, happened. He’d worry about that later, because right now it was nice to just sit here and talk with Dan without having to step around anything they were saying.
“Well, we c’n worry about that later. Right now, guess we gotta make the most of the time we’ve got.” Ryoma leaned in, tugging Dan a little closer and sliding his free hand into the other’s hair, kissing him again lightly and squeezing the hand in his. “S’been a good birthday,” he murmured against the other’s lips as he shifted to lean against Dan’s warmth and decided that right now, he couldn’t ask for a whole lot more.
Rating: PG
Summary: Dan takes Ryoma out for his birthday (ice-skating, then dinner, & all that good stuff).
Notes: Though it's mentioned in the log-- thanks to a formal request that Ryoma sent in to the producers, he and Dan were not followed by the cameras for this outing.
"O-...kay. I think I've got it this time." Dan confirmed, this time without wobbling. Roller-blading was a cinch, so why did ice-skating have to be so tricky? With one arm held out to his side for extra balance, Dan extended his mitten-clad left hand down to Ryoma to help him up. Only moments earlier they slipped, almost ceremoniously, while in mid-glide, and their feet came up from under them.
"Hope so," Ryoma said, but he was chuckling - okay, so he may be good at tennis, but he was not going to any championships for ice skating anytime soon. It was kind of… interesting, trying something he had no real good idea how to do - he'd been ice skating once or twice before, but that was when he was much, much younger and lived in the US. He hadn't been for years. And it showed.
He pushed himself carefully up off the ice, trying not to pull on Dan too much, lest they go over again. "Wanna try again? Slower, maybe," he grinned, keeping close to the other's side for more reason than one.
Dan nodded in half-concentration, or rather, as much as his scarf would allow. The skating rink had been set up in the heart of the city, surrounded by the shops, restaurants, and bustling holiday crowds. As it was Christmas Eve, there were people everywhere; some making their last-minute gift decisions, while others took their time to look at the decorations, and take in the warmth that the holidays brought; meanwhile, others were already on their feet getting ready for New Year's celebrations.
"Slower... Yeah. That'd be good," he finally said aloud, once Ryoma was secure and on his own two feet again. One of Dan's arms slipped around Ryoma's waist for support, the other out to the side again for balance. "Ahh... It looks so much easier! It kinda makes you admire all those professionals, y'know?" A smile in Ryoma's direction was offered, then. His cheeks were a dark rosy hue, though mainly due to the opposing temperatures; the ice-rink was man-made and out in the open, crisp air, but wearing the Winter layers, as well as putting forth energy to stay on his feet warmed him up. Appearances meant nothing, though. Dan was clearly excited and eager enough to finally have some time with his boyfriend, and on Ryoma's birthday, no less.
"Maybe we should stay near the wall, too..." Dan added soon after. The ice-rink was rather crowded.
Ryoma just nodded, in admiration of said professionals. This was very different from just stepping out onto a tennis court. This was a whole new way of moving. The principle may be the same, but the medium was very, very different.
Dan had a good point with the wall, though. "Yeah… that's a good idea." Already attached to Dan by the arm around his waist (and Ryoma was not unhappy to have it there - he hadn't actually seen Dan in far too long and he intended to take advantage of this night as much as possible), Ryoma angled their movements more towards the rink wall, where the skaters were moving slower, and there were somewhat fewer of them. "Just 'till we get it." He grinned over at Dan - they'd get it soon enough, he was convinced - and he covered the mitten-covered hand on his waist with his own. "This way. We c'n practice over here." He moved them just close enough to the wall to grab it if they started going down again.
Slowly; very, ve~ry slowly... Using the wall, as Dan thought, had definitely been a good plan. Because no more than five minutes since their last fall, Dan stumbled; a lazy shhhrkt of the skate blade scraped the ice when he managed to catch himself. In order for Dan's hand to reach the wall, he crossed an arm in front of Ryoma, which only resulted in him pivoting to completely face Ryoma. Dan stumbled back again before finally grabbing the edge of the rink, barely remaining on his feet.
Dan let out a sigh of relief before gradually righting himself. The flush on his cheeks seemed to stand out more. "I wish this were more like roller-blading..." He laughed the incident off, and the two began again. That's what Dan Taichi was best at, after all: Always getting to his feet after a fall (and he'd taken plenty in his 22 years of life thus far, that was for sure).
Ryoma thought they were doing pretty damned well - Dan nearly fell once, and Ryoma's arms were about to shoot out to grab him when the other grabbed the wall first, at least preventing the fall, but bringing them face-to-face. Ryoma grinned, helping Dan as they started off again, this time linking his left hand with Dan's right, keeping the wall on his own right side. That way if Dan started going down, Ryoma could grab the wall, and hopefully they'd both stay up.
"Heh, well, guess it's not like anything either of us is used to," he admitted a bit ruefully, squeezing Dan's hand. "But otherwise it wouldn't be any fun, right?" After a few more minutes, finally feeling a little more comfortable (and a little less like Bambi on ice), Ryoma sped up their pace a little, tugging gently on Dan's hand. "C'mon, a little faster."
Dan didn't mind all that much that neither of them were very good. It was still a blast (though, a big reason for that was due to Ryoma being with him), and it wasn't like all of the other skaters on the rink were much better. A few times there'd be someone passing by who would twirl, or do some fancy maneuver in the air, but other than giving them a look of amusement or admiration, Dan paid no mind to them all. It'd been too long - even though the party for the first cast had been only a few weeks back - since he'd physically spent time around Ryoma. Holding hands, sitting shoulder to shoulder, their kisses; Dan relished each moment. Commenting on the journals, phone calls (monitored by the house, no less), and emails just weren't as special (though he certainly enjoyed those, too).
With a determined, but cheerful gleam in his eye, Dan replied, "Yeah!" It wasn't too difficult to get used to the ice, really. Dan was grateful that Ryoma happened to be the type of person who, more or less, picked up on things easily. Catching up was simple enough, and several moments later, a steady, but not too fast pace was decided upon between the two of them.
Dan laughed, smiling brightly as they eased along. He wouldn't look over to Ryoma quite yet, though, as any small distraction might throw them off course.
Ryoma grinned as they both settled on a decent pace, pleased that both he and Dan were getting more comfortable with this. It really was pretty fun, for all it still felt just a bit foreign, and now he could concentrate a little more on being close to Dan, even if it was just to skate beside him. He'd really missed Dan quite a bit when he'd moved out of the house - Ibu was definitely not the same (both in mannerisms and in the fact that… well, he didn't want to go out with Ibu) and not living with Dan… well, calls and the internet only did so much. Seeing someone in person was always better. And it was definitely nice to spend tonight out of the house, and out from underneath the cameras.
"So, you think we should start competing at this?" he asked Dan with a grin, moving them a little ways away from the wall (though not too far) and glancing over. "I think we're getting' the hang of it."
"Yeah~" Dan snickered a little. "We can be the special guest-stars on the blooper clips!" Almost for show (keyword: almost), Dan sped up a little, ahead of Ryoma. Once their hands parted, he attempted a small twirl, but missed his footing, and wound up spinning on his rear. However, instead of moving to get up right away, Dan reached up to take Ryoma's hand, once it was close enough, and tugged him down to sit on the ice for a moment. A grin cracked across his flushed face, and Dan beamed. "Gold medal~" A playful kiss to Ryoma's lips, and they helped each other up again.
By the time 6:30 rolled around, nearly three hours had passed. Dan had reservations for dinner at 7:30, which meant that getting off the ice was likely a good idea, as was a change of clothes. The restaurant wasn't entirely fancy, but Dan knew it to be more on the upper-class side; showing up with snow-gear on wouldn't be the best of ideas.
Ryoma and Dan finally stumbled off the rink, returning their rented skates and stopping into the locker rooms briefly to get changed into nicer clothes (or at least ones that weren't ice-slush covered). As fun as skating had been, Ryoma was also looking forward to sitting down with Dan someplace quiet, where they could talk - really talk - for the first time in weeks. Not to mention the fact that he was starting to get hungry.
Getting to the restaurant wasn't hard, but took up most of the time before their reservation. As they waited the last few minutes for their table, Ryoma leaned against the wall in the waiting area and shot a grin over at Dan. "S'not bad for a first real date, you think?" It was funny - in a lot of ways, this could probably be considered their first real date. They'd never really been out like this alone before.
Dan leaned against the wall as well, facing Ryoma. It certainly felt nice to be in a well-heated room, wearing comfortable clothes (and shoes, as the skates were rather constricting). "Mn, yeah," Dan replied with a partial grin of his own. The thought had never really crossed his mind, to be honest. With all the hype he'd been going through at work everyday, though, he figured it wasn't too strange for him not to have noticed.
First real date... it sounded formal to Dan; official. Back when he was on the show, ninety-nine percent of the time, he and Ryoma would sneak away to the bathroom of all places, just to be alone. Whether to talk in private, sneak in a well-needed kiss, or even, at one point in time, to hug without having a whole slew of fans jump for joy at a sighting of "their new favorite pairing!!" A real date was what they were on now, and Dan knew he didn't want it to end. It was amazing enough as-is that they were allowed to send in a formal request to the producers, so that they wouldn't be followed by the cameras.
Dan's name was called a few minutes later, and he took one of Ryoma's hands in his own, keeping him close, as a young woman took them to a booth near the window.
Ryoma just nodded; they waited in comfortable silence for only a few minutes before they were led to their table; it was in a nice spot, right next to the window, where Ryoma usually preferred to sit. They were handed menus and left in peace to look them over; Ryoma glanced over the top of his at Dan, half-tempted to poke his foot under the table. "So, any suggestions from the master chef?" Most of the dishes looked pretty good to him; he had a feeling Dan would just laugh and tell him to get whatever he wanted, but it was more fun to tease.
Besides, Dan pretty much was a master chef. And was busy as hell to prove it. Ryoma wondered if he wouldn't go insane, making and serving food all day long. Then again, that just wasn't quite his thing. After all, he was perfect happy serving - just tennis balls, and usually into other people's faces. Not quite the same thing.
Dan took a few moments to glance through the menu before looking back to Ryoma. The options were more or less typical, for a Japanese restaurant; he'd considered taking Ryoma to a teppanyaki-styled place, but then opted not, since he didn't particularly want that hotplate in between them. So, Dan kept with the basics, though the place was on the higher end of the price range; they were rated the best in Tokyo just last year, though, and Dan wanted to see what they had to offer.
"Hmm~" The grin shot back to Ryoma via Dan's eyes, and he skimmed through the dinner entrée portion briefly. "I say that you order whatever you'd like, without holding back." It was Ryoma's birthday after all, and Dan was definitely going to pay, even if Ryoma insisted otherwise. He honestly didn't have a whole lot of free time to personally choose a gift for his boyfriend (and Dan wasn't about to order or buy something generic), so the decision of surprising Ryoma with skating and dinner, and whatever was to come, would be just fine, and Dan knew that Ryoma would be okay with that.
Another glance through, "Or, you can go with the random choice option and simply close your eyes and point." Dan offered. Another playful smile lit up his face and he set the menu down on the table. "I'll even do it as well!"
Ryoma couldn't help but laugh a little - both at how well he'd guessed the first part of Dan's answer, but also at the second part of it as well. "That doesn't sound half bad - it's a deal," he agreed, putting the menu down and covering his eyes, pointing at random and peeking only once his finger hit paper. "Hey, not bad." There were advantages to liking everything on the menu.
"Your turn," he said, leaning over the table to cover Dan's eyes for him, not really caring if people stared, because it was his birthday and there were no cameras and he was going to enjoy it. Dan's skin was warm against his palm and the other's eyelashes tickled just a little.
Ryoma's gesture took Dan somewhat by surprise, but he smiled anyways; a light blush rose to his cheeks, though in the softly lit dining area, there wasn't much to see.
"Ah-" Dan reached up to nudge Ryoma's hand away before peering down to where his finger landed. "One of my favorites!" He grinned to Ryoma, pleased with the idea he'd come up with. Dan then turned towards the drink menu and bit his lower lip in thought. A few moments later, though, the waitress came by. She was likely around her late twenties or so, and before Dan could even ask about the wine menu, the waitress gleed.
Dan blinked, startled, when she didn't speak at first. But then, "...It is you two! This is so neat! I saw your name on the reservation list, but I thought it'd be you with your family!" She peered around the general area, then back to Dan, leaning in closer. "So, are there cameras here right now? Am I on TV???"
Ryoma was a bit quicker to react than Dan was - Dan still looked a little blank at the assault, so Ryoma leaned in closer to the waitress (also trying not to attract any more attention than she already had). He wanted to just tell her off, but they were in a nice place and he'd learned, after years of relative fame from his tennis career, that telling people off (especially the girls) never really worked well in most situations.
Trying to keep his voice firm but not demanding, he said, "Actually, s'just us tonight - no cameras, an' we'd kinda like to keep it that way. That'd be nice, don'tcha think? Been on camera for months now, an' tonight's kinda special." He hoped she'd get the point, instead of just fangirling more - you could never tell with some people. It was always a gamble; but she looked like she was older than they were, and hopefully that meant she'd be more likely to possess tact. He hoped. Or they'd be leaving shortly and finding someplace else to eat. Which would be all right, but still, a shame. Dan had obviously planned this night to be something special, and while Ryoma would be happy doing anything at all with him, he didn't want the other's plans to go to waste. That wasn't fair.
The waitress flushed a little in her giddiness; she was actually speaking to not only the famous Echizen Ryoma, but to what was the most popular couple from that hit reality television show, Second Set! Even Ryoma's boyfriend, Dan Taichi was fairly well known; or at least to her, since she'd been working in the restaurant business for a while now.
"R-right, right! Of course!" She made haste to step back and smooth down an imaginary wrinkle in her dress-slacks and nodded. She was a proper woman, right? Right! ...it didn't take long for a stupidly happy grin to break out across her face; combined with the blush, she looked more like a teenage fangirl being serenaded by the hottest pop idol around. There wasn't much of a difference.
"You guys are just so cute, though. I can't help but say that. And Dan-kun! Us club members miss you a whole lot! It was sad to see you go... but I can understand," her smile softened a bit, in Dan's direction.
The whole time, as the praising continued for a few moments longer, Dan merely smiled, his head lowering a bit. The color of his cheeks rivaled that of his & Ryoma's admirer. She soon got down to business though, thankfully, and headed to a different table after taking down their orders. Between praises, she even suggested a "great wine that you guys should try," which Dan and Ryoma simply agreed to.
Watching Dan, Ryoma couldn't help but grin softly - just the demeanor with which he'd sat there and dealt with the waitress was… well, adorable, for lack of a better term. When the waitress finally left, he waited a moment, then reached over and tipped Dan's chin up gently, trying to catch his eyes. "You c'n come out now," Ryoma chuckled; Dan had been right when he'd said he didn't know how to deal with being famous - they weren't as famous as, say, real celebrities or idols, but it seemed like every day they got a little bit closer. Ryoma'd been dealing with this kind of thing for so long that it was easy to forget someone like Dan hadn't, even after a few months.
"… You're really cute, y'know that?" Ryoma said quietly, leaning back a little once Dan finally looked up. "Least she wasn't so bad. The younger girls're worse, huh?"
It wasn't quite that Dan felt embarrassed, but maybe more on the side of awkward, or even just startled. Obviously, though, the praise and fangirl hype wasn't something Dan was expecting; especially at such a nice restaurant. At least the other customers didn't pay much attention to the commotion over at his and Ryoma's table; if any, a few people gasped, or smiled when they saw the pair.
Dan took a moment to finally lift his gaze again. The color in his cheeks, while still mostly present, faded a decent amount. He merely laughed a little, smiling. "Y-yeah, the younger ones are worse," he agreed. There'd been several occasions, even over the past month, and during his hectic schedule, where Dan was recognized, by himself. Amazingly enough, quite a few of those people were older businessmen and women. They were the easiest to deal with, as their behavior wasn't so startling; they were polite, and, simply put, delighted to meet "the talented Dan Taichi."
It didn't take Dan much longer to calm his nerves. At least, and he was thankful for this, he wasn't as easily flustered, such as when he was still in school. That incredibly shy part of his personality burned off into something more on the side of modesty.
"Thanks, by the way..." Dan finally added, in a smile towards Ryoma.
“Nah,” Ryoma shook his head, shrugging. “Didn’t do anything. She wasn’t that bad, anyway,” he reiterated; she hadn’t caused a very big commotion or anything, so he was thankful. He hadn’t been out on his birthday with a friend in so long - and Dan certainly counted as more than that, even - that he was thankful for the small things, for once. Like waitresses who saw the light of reason.
Their wine came a few moments later - Ryoma wasn’t really big on wine, but it was here now, so he figured he’d give it a try. He sipped it, only to find that really, it wasn’t bad. He nodded his approval and waited for Dan to try his before glancing back over the table, thinking that now he could finally ask the other the more in-depth questions about how things had been going that he hadn’t exactly been able to get out on the ice.
“So, how’s the job going?” he asked - he knew Dan was busy, and that he was heavily relied-upon in this job - and why not? Dan was a really good cook; he always had been, and he had good taste when it came to putting meals and desserts together. Ryoma was betting hectic wouldn’t even begin to describe Dan’s life since he’d left the show.
"Guh," was all Dan could say at first, with a slight laugh. He leaned back comfortably in his seat and gave a small shrug. "It's... not exactly bad, obviously, but we've been so busy. Even just the past week alone. It was crazy! We had about eight parties to cater for - er, at least my team did. The company as a whole has, ummm, four teams total, I think - and that was all over the past five days." He smiled; though a bit on the fatigued side, it'd be obvious to just about anyone that Dan really did love what he did for a living.
After a sip of his wine (which was indeed quite good), Dan went on. "I think the most tiring aspect though... that'd have to be the hours." He made a face. "It's a pain to get up and go to work at 5 in the morning! At least that isn't all the time, though... It was like that every now and then when I worked for Yuuki-chan's place." Of course, the customers were a handful as well, on occasion, but that was only a given. Dan didn't mind so much, as long as he was able to do his very best to get them what they needed. Sometimes the orders were quite detailed and complex; Dan merely saw them as a challenge to his abilities.
"How 'bout you?" He then asked. "Well, besides what's shown on TV. how're things on the show?" There was a slight hesitation in his voice, but he hoped it didn't show.
Dan seemed to really like what he was doing - which was good, in Ryoma’s book. He thought far too many people ended up doing things they didn’t love, and he was glad that Dan wasn’t one of them. Though really, it seemed as though everyone he’d known had managed to end up in fields they liked. Not bad at all.
He made a face at the mention of 5am, though - he still hated mornings; “Dunno how you do that.” He remembered many a tennis match that he’d had to get up nearly that early for. And had been almost late nearly every single time. He just… couldn’t do mornings. But that wasn’t the point; he nodded as Dan went on, then paused to consider the question.
“Well… I mean, s’mostly what you see. S’kinda different, this time around…” It was really different, in fact, with both Momo-sempai and Tezuka-buchou there. The first season, things had been different. And he hadn’t realized just how much he’d missed his best friend - or even his former captain - until they’d suddenly reappeared in his life. (He often wondered if his manager hadn’t known these things would happen. But it would be useless to ask.) “I mean… heh. Well, Ibu’s not half the roommate you were - an’ that’s before we even get into whether I’d think about dating him or not.” He cast a wry glance at Dan; really, Ibu wasn’t all that bad, but he certainly wasn’t Dan. Or even remotely like Dan. “But I guess I got more friends starting out, this time around. S’not bad.”
Dan wasn't always sure how he pulled off those hours, either. After working with them for so long, though - just as Ryoma had been dealing with the fans for such a long while - he more or less grew used to them. They just became a hassle when it was a daily event for him to be up at such an early hour. At least he was given some time off, though!
He nodded in response, understanding, and somewhat amused. "It's still so awkward, at times, to watch the show. When I first came home, my sister wouldn't stop asking me allll these questions about what it was like." Dan rolled his eyes, but laughed anyways. Maybe he wouldn't ask quite yet about that...other issue that gnawed at the back of his mind. As far back as he was able to remember, Momoshiro was Ryoma's really close friend, so obviously they'd be getting along on the show. So, there; nothing to worry about at all. That's it, yep. Dan knew he'd likely be the same way, had Sengoku turned up, or heck, even Akutsu, or any of his old teammates.
The waitress returned in a few moments to give Ryoma and Dan their food, and left with only another smile to the two. Dan was quite relieved.
Ryoma could understand that - it probably was pretty weird to watch the show, when Dan had been on it himself the previous season. “Yeah, kinda like something you used to do, an’ then you see someone else doing it, an’ it’s weird…” Ryoma trailed off, wondering if that’s what it would feel like when he left the show. He was… pretty sure he’d be leaving in another season, but with his manager, who knew? He didn’t want to put off his international career forever, but there were plenty of local tournaments he could play in for now. And besides, it really hadn’t been bad, so far. Interesting, but rarely bad. In fact, some very good things had come out of it…
His thoughts trailed off as their food arrived - smelling quite good - and nodded to the waitress, who seemed much more reserved this time. “Well. Guess we shouldn’t let it get cold,” Ryoma said, digging in - and it was really good. “Damn, you picked a good place,” he said - though really, should he be surprised? Not with Dan’s taste. “Hope yours is as good as mine.” He grinned over, waiting to see if Dan liked his just as much. It looked good - he wouldn’t mind swiping a bite, but not before Dan had gotten a taste. There was playful, and there was rude. Ryoma was only rude to people he didn’t like.
"I had a feeling you'd like it!" Dan beamed. Though, in reality, one of his co-workers helped him out with a few things. Of course Dan paid attention to what was good and well liked, in the realm of food and restaurants in the area, but knowing that Ryoma loved Japanese food... Well, the options were definitely endless. After noticing that even to make reservations at this particular restaurant was difficult, Dan tossed out all other options and went for it. Reserving a table for two at a high-end restaurant, especially around the holidays, wasn't easy. Thankfully he called in nearly a month prior.
The look on Ryoma's face made Dan grin, rather amused. After a few bites - which were absolutely wonderful - Dan nudged his plate towards Ryoma in offering. "You'll like this, too~" he smiled, then reached for his wine.
Ryoma nodded, taking a bite of Dan’s food with his chopsticks, chewing thoughtfully. Yes - yes, he liked this place. He would definitely come back. “Yeah - s’good, try mine.” He offered Dan his plate in return; the two spent their meal thoroughly enjoying the food and the wine, occasionally stealing a bite from the other’s plate. It was really nice to not only eat such good food, but to do it in Dan’s company and in relative anonymity. Ryoma was almost sad to see the meal come to an end - though it was hard to be sad through the warmth the excellent food and wine had sent running through his veins.
Dan paid without a second glance at Ryoma - though he didn’t quite think it was fair, Ryoma had known from the start that Dan would absolutely refuse to let him contribute a single yen to the bill. So he offered nothing but a whispered “Thanks~” and a soft kiss to the spot right below Dan’s right ear as they walked out of the restaurant and into the cold winter night. He slipped one hand into Dan’s and pulled him off to the left, raising a hand once they reached the street to catch a taxi.
Once they’d both piled in, Ryoma gave the driver his address - for once, it was a driver who seemed to know that area and simply nodded, so Ryoma could sit back against the seat next to Dan instead of directing the cab to his apartment. There were no cameras, and there had been no stipulations that he couldn’t go home. He had his keys. And he lived alone. He grinned at Dan, sitting in the seat next to him. “Wanna see my apartment? Guess I should make sure it’s still there.”
Dan responded with a nod, a tiny grin seeping its way into the almost-timid smile he wore (likely due to the wine, as a slight flush colored his cheeks, as well). As he thought about the fact that they were headed to Ryoma's apartment, it dawned on Dan that the last time he really visited Ryoma's home was back in high school. Maybe their second year or so? That was so long ago...
"You sure the producers won't be upset?" Dan murmured. His hand remained within Ryoma's for the duration of the ride, and at times, his head upon Ryoma's shoulder. "Unless there weren't any specifications on what you could and couldn't request." Dan thought about it for a few moments. During his time on the show, there'd been that incident with Taki and Bunta, but... they never asked permission, did they? Then again, as far as Dan (and Ryoma) was aware of, that rule of formally requesting time away from the cameras never existed. Either way, though, Dan was content. As long as Ryoma wouldn't get in trouble for their outing (and especially on his birthday), then everything would be just fine.
Ryoma shrugged; “Doesn’t matter right now, does it?” He’d filed the stupid form - the least they could do was let him be alone with Dan on his birthday. And if there was something against his going home… well, no one would have to know, would they? He lived alone, and though his mother was looking in on his apartment from time to time while he was on the show, no one would be there now.
The cab driver dropped them off right in front of the building; Ryoma dug in his pocked for his keys and let them into the lobby, where they took the elevator up to his floor. He had to admit, making enough money to live in a nice apartment complex like this one was really nice. Unlocking the front door once they’d arrived, he felt around for the light switch and stood aside to let Dan precede him into the apartment. “C’mon in. There’s prolly not much to drink or anything, but I c’n look if you want something.” He toed off his shoes, shutting the door behind them.
"Nah, I'm fine for now," Dan smiled as he stepped inside, automatically removing his shoes.
Before even going on any kind of tour of the apartment, Dan's jaw nearly dropped. So spacious! And big! And nice! "Uwaaa~ Your apartment is huge!" Without much of a request, Dan made his way into the living area, eyes wide and taking in everything he possibly could see, without touching. All of it, likely, made him look silly, but how he appeared at the moment was the last thing on his mind. It wasn't as though Dan never saw large homes - given his job, actually, and especially around this time of year when parties were all over the place, it wasn't rare for Dan to visit some of the upper-class homes. Everything was different while he was working, though, and acting as he was now, in a good friend's apartment, would likely get Dan kicked out, or at least looked down upon by his bosses.
Dan went to Ryoma's side after a few moments; while large, there really wasn't much to see in the apartment, as far as Dan was concerned. He flushed a little from the sudden outburst.
After another moment or so, Dan realized with a laugh, "Hey. Um... I actually never said this at all yet. Which is stupid, 'cause I thought I did! But...I didn't, so," he moved to wrap his arms around Ryoma's neck, holding him close, in a light hug. It was nice to be, more or less, at eye level with Ryoma. Dan smiled, speaking softer than before. "Happy birthday, Ryoma."
Ryoma just stood by while Dan wandered his living room, vaguely amused - he supposed it was pretty big for one person, but he’d chosen it more for the location (in a nice complex and near his preferred tennis club) than the size, though he didn’t mind the extra space even if he didn’t use it much. When Dan came back, though, Ryoma returned the embrace, arms slipping around the other’s waist. “Thanks,” he said quietly, leaning in to kiss Dan’s cheek softly, before moving to kiss his lips, just lightly.
“Haven’t been out with a friend for my birthday in a long time, y’know.” Having a birthday that fell on Christmas Eve had caused more problems in the US than it had in Japan, but even still, people were usually busy because of the romantic aspect of the holiday here. “An’ I haven’t been out from in front of a camera in a long time, either,” Ryoma chuckled, kissing Dan one more time, just as softly. “S’nice not to have people watching everything, hm?”
Dan returned the kiss as softly as it'd been given, and his heart fluttered, as it seemed to enjoy doing. His fingers lightly played at the back of Ryoma's head. Their last kiss had been weeks ago, at the going-away party for the first cast; it felt more like months.
"Yeah, I know..." A faint grin tugged on Dan's lips. He agreed to both the camera comment, as well as going out on a birthday with a friend. Dan didn't have it much easier, as not many people wanted to go out and have fun on the day after New Year's. People were usually tired by that time, and getting ready to go back to school or their jobs.
Dan leaned in closer, their foreheads touching. "It was a bit strange, actually, for the first week or so after I left," he commented about the cameras. "I ate breakfast without the world knowing how I like my eggs. .granted I still can't walk around naked, since I still live with my family, but I'm okay by that." The last part drew out a little more of the grin; teasing, of course, but all in good fun. Dan was just enthralled as-is to have Ryoma all to himself, and how the whole day was ending perfectly.
"But yeah, it really is nice. Extremely so," Dan whispered, bringing their lips together again.
Ryoma grinned into the kiss, definitely determined to take advantage of the fact that the country wouldn’t be watching them for at least another hour or two. When they broke, he nuzzled beneath Dan’s ear, still grinning. “Heh - well, you c’n walk around naked all you want here,” he joked; he decided they didn’t need to stand in the front hall anymore, pulling away to tug Dan lightly by the hand towards the living room. They didn’t have to spend their last while together standing up, that was for sure.
“We c’n sit down, at least,” he said, sitting down on the couch and tugging Dan down behind him. He leaned back against the cushions, sighing and closing his eyes; “You wanna do somethin’ next week? Your birthday’s not so far, right?” He frowned. “Dunno f’I can get another appeal in about the cameras, though. Maybe you could come back to the house, though.” He glanced over at the other and grinned again. “We got a Wii.”
Dan settled comfortably into the couch and exhaled quietly, content. "That'd be really cool, actually," he grinned. "Don't worry too much about getting an appeal, really. Heh. They'd probably say no, anyways..." He shifted a bit, wanting to face Ryoma. It likely wouldn't be too bad, Dan mused. There were plenty of New Year's parties as well, but his bosses already knew about Dan's upcoming birthday; he'd been working over-time recently, so getting the day off for his birthday probably wouldn't be too difficult.
"It'd be fun to see everyone again, too!" Dan stopped by just a few days back, to drop off a few treats for the house-mates. Things seemed to be on the hectic side, so he didn't stay too long. "And Wii! My sister really hopes to get one of those, but neither me nor either of my parents have found one yet." He grinned again. "I'll definitely try to make it over."
Dan snuggled up close to Ryoma again, moving a hand to find one of Ryoma's, their fingers twining. Being away from the cameras (and not by simply being in a bathroom), almost made Dan sad, since he knew that Ryoma would need to return to the house soon enough. At the same time, that same fact gave Dan ideas; he wanted to spend as much time as he possibly could with Ryoma. Whether they spend the next few hours talking, or fall asleep in each others arms. At least, though, Dan knew that when he visited, he could reach for Ryoma's hand without risking a shock to any of the viewers. They weren't exactly a "secret couple" anymore. So, any way it happened, Dan knew that everything would be okay.
Ryoma nodded. “We c’n still do dinner an’ a movie or something, even if we stay in the house to do it.” It could be a… group thing, or something, he figured. Dan liked most of the people in the house, and they couldn’t… really be alone when they were on camera. Not like this. The thought that maybe they should retreat to the bathroom, for old times’ sake, crossed Ryoma’s mind, but he dismissed it with a soft snicker. Whatever happened, happened. He’d worry about that later, because right now it was nice to just sit here and talk with Dan without having to step around anything they were saying.
“Well, we c’n worry about that later. Right now, guess we gotta make the most of the time we’ve got.” Ryoma leaned in, tugging Dan a little closer and sliding his free hand into the other’s hair, kissing him again lightly and squeezing the hand in his. “S’been a good birthday,” he murmured against the other’s lips as he shifted to lean against Dan’s warmth and decided that right now, he couldn’t ask for a whole lot more.