writetomyheart | [TEAM TWO] is this normal in america?

sorry i'm late!! and sorry about the previous round yells i'll check back more often... i didn't expect to not get a notification email TT anyway here's haru reliving the sydney situation this time with albert instead of rin lol

"One bed's fine," Haru mumbled, and the receptionist gave him an apologetic smile. He turned to his companion to translate. "They don't have any twin bedrooms left." As he said it, he felt a strange sense of déjà vu. Hadn't this happened before? His companion, none other than one Albert Volandel, didn't seem at all surprised by the arrangement. Rin had been quite alarmed back in Sydney, but then Rin was still Japanese. Was it normal in Western countries for two young men to share a bed? Haru didn't know, and didn't want to make it more awkward by asking. It was Albert's first time staying with someone who wasn't from his team, after all.

"Since the room assignment was a clerical error on our part, we'd like to offer you complimentary dinner at our restaurant," said the receptionist, placing two tickets on the counter next to their room card. "The buffet starts at seven and runs for three hours, so please feel free to come down at any time during that period."

"They'll let us have dinner for free," Haru translated. Albert perked up, brushing his fringe out of his eyes.

"Do they have the mackerel sets?"

Before Haru could even open his mouth to ask, the receptionist answered, in perfectly fluent English, "We do offer standard Japanese cuisine as well as international fare." Haru looked at her askance. He should have just let Albert talk from the beginning.

"Great— Haru, you have no idea how much I suffered all these years after our first lunch. Thank you, we'll be down later," Albert took their room card and the dinner tickets, flashing the receptionist a quick smile. Haru, who was still feeling vaguely betrayed, glimpsed a slight blush on the receptionist's cheeks, and felt even more so.

"America doesn't have mackerel?" He reached to reclaim his duffel bag from Albert, but Albert just started walking to the elevators. Haru could only follow along. "And just three years have passed." He felt a little proud thinking about how much his English skills had progressed in those three years.

"Of course we have mackerel, but— it's not the same in the States," Albert sighed, jabbing the call button. The elevator doors opened a moment later, letting out a group of guests who parted around Albert like waves, eyes wide. Haru was used to this by now. For whatever reason, Albert had that effect on people.

"Is it because you're tall?" Haru wondered.

"No," Albert caught his wrist and dragged him into the elevator, "it's because I'm good-looking."

This was one of the reasons Haru was so comfortable around Albert. Even before Rin had force-fed him English lessons, when he couldn't even explain what saba shioyaki was without faltering, he and Albert had understood each other. Haru had already accepted the fact that no one other than Makoto would be able to fill in his conversational gaps, and had been actively working on his social skills. But then Albert showed up, and suddenly there was one more person who could almost read his mind.

"Mackerel isn't the same because you're good-looking?" Haru asked anyway, turning his back to Albert so he wouldn't see the smirk.

"Haru," Albert sounded injured, "that wasn't what you were talking about." The easy surety in his voice made something warm bloom in Haru's chest.

"Okay. You're good-looking. I'll buy your gravure magazines."

"Hey, I send you those for free!"

The elevator dinged, saving Haru the need for a reply. He didn't want to explain how he gave them all to Rin's sister. Maybe he should have stopped Albert from sending them in the first place, but he didn't really want to do that either. It was nice to open his mailbox to things that weren't assorted flyers for adult services— even if sometimes Albert's magazines seemed to be in the same category (Haru had a lot of doubts about his management. Hopefully Albert was an exception in the world of professional athletes, not the norm).

When they opened the door to their hotel room, Haru made a beeline for the bathtub and thus didn't see the bed they'd be sharing until Albert barged into the bathroom to tell him about it.

"I don't think we can both fit on the bed," said Albert. Haru looked down at his naked self and thought about covering up. He didn't think Americans had the same sort of hot spring culture as Japan did, though Albert didn't seem to care in the slightest. "But Kaede said his room upstairs has space for an extra bed, so one of us could sleep there?"

"Kinjou?" Haru wrinkled his nose, temporarily setting aside the issue of his nakedness. "He's in the same hotel?"

"That face again. I don't know why you avoid him all the time." Albert poked Haru's nose. "Yeah, he's just a floor up."

The unlikely trio of Kinjou, Albert, and Momotarou was one of the few problems Haru had with his current circle of friends. It wasn't that he disliked any of them, of course, not even Kinjou— Kinjou had never been particularly abrasive toward Haru personally. It was just… After Albert had discovered Haru's Midas touch with Lucky Meals, he mentioned it in their group chat, and from then on Kinjou absolutely refused to leave him alone. Haru didn't want to eat at Bow Bow Burger all the time, but when Kinjou was around, that happened more often than not. He rued the day the three of them discovered their shared obsession with Lucky Meal toys.

"I don't avoid him," Haru lied. He slid further down in the tub. "Did you say you're with me?"

"No, I just said the bed in our room is small. He's probably assumed I'm with Ralph again. And you totally avoid him."

"I think we can both fit. I'm not as big as Ralph."

Albert gave him a knowing look, but he didn't say anything further about Kinjou. "Okay, come out and try then. We can tell the staff at dinner if it's really too small."

At this, Haru was reminded that he wasn't wearing his jammers. He looked up at Albert, who tilted his head inquiringly. "I can't get out if you're standing there," said Haru.

"Oh! Right. I brought you a towel, too," Albert said, putting said towel on the sink and backing up just enough so Haru could get out, but obviously not leaving. Haru pushed himself up out of the bathtub, and then couldn't bring himself to meet Albert's eyes. He didn't know why Albert was just watching while he wrapped the towel around himself, but again, didn't want to ask in case it was a weird American thing. For some reason, his skin felt hotter than usual.

"Al," said Haru, clearing his throat. "I'm done." There wasn't enough room for him to go around Albert to get out. The bathroom was definitely not big enough for two people to use at the same time— they were practically touching already, with how close they were.

"You know," Albert said, instead of moving, "I can't tell if I'm not being obvious enough or if you're just like this with everyone."

"What?" Haru wasn't sure what they were talking about now. He supposed this was what it had felt like when people who weren't Makoto had conversations with his younger self. He furrowed his brows; maybe it was just his lacking English skills. "Are we talking about the bed?"

"We could be," Albert replied, confusing Haru even more. He took Haru's hand and pulled him out of the bathroom, and Haru finally saw the bed.

It wasn't particularly small, nor was it particularly large. Haru eyed the length of it, and concluded they could both fit if they curled up really close to each other. He decided he'd rather they be very close instead of be separated to different rooms, which was a thought he was somewhat surprised at having. He liked being alone, usually, but after meeting Albert he understood more and more the behaviour of couples who couldn't stop texting each other. Not that Haru texted very much still; there were some things that just wouldn't change.

"It's big enough," said Haru. "No need to disturb Kinjou."

Albert, who was still holding on to Haru's hand, yanked forward until Haru toppled onto the bed. He then knelt on the edge of it and said, in solemn tones, "We won't know unless we try." He shuffled forwards until his knees were framing Haru's waist.

"We have to be lying down for that," Haru said, swallowing. He had some ideas about where this was going, but he could still be wrong. Maybe this was just friendly interaction in America. Even so, Haru was starting to think that he shouldn't have kept shoving things into the "American culture" box. He lay down anyway.

"Oh?" Albert put his hands on either side of Haru's head. "Am I being obvious enough now?"

"Is this normal in America?" Haru just wanted to double check.

"It's normal in some situations," Albert answered, his mouth curling in a smile. His eyes had sharpened, as if he was getting ready for a race, but less aggressive. Haru knew that particular look. It was the gravure magazine look. He wondered if Gou would be annoyed if he asked for some of the magazines back.

"Okay," said Haru, "but I'm still wet. And I'm hungry. We can test the bed after dinner."

Albert stared at him. Haru stared back.

"Maybe I should go to Kaede's room after all," Albert mused. Haru frowned up at him.

They missed dinner.

you're up,

shinysylver!

[TEAM TWO] is this normal in america?

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