Chapter Text
[Kaito: Yo Shuichi! If you’re free wanna meet up at the usual spot around 11-ish? Got sommthin I wanna ask you!]
Shuichi re-read his text from Kaito as he reached the coffee shop they were gonna meet up at. Their usual spot they (and occasionally Maki or Keade) would meet up after classes. The blue haired detective looked down at his phone again to check the time to see it was already 11, he was on time.
As he entered the cafe, he didn’t spot Kaito anywhere so he got in line to order his drink. While in line, Shuichi wonders to himself why Kaito wanted to meet up with him. They didn’t have any training or yoga night plans now that it’s summer. Maybe he wanted to tell him he signed up for the Hope’s Peak University summer program. That would be a bummer, Shuichi was hoping he could spend some time with the Astronomer major now that class was over. Sure they would have some days where they would hangout, study, or workout. But they both were also busy with classes or in Shuichi’s case, interning for his uncle's cases.
When he enrolled at HPU, he mostly kept to himself and didn’t really reach out to any of his classmates. Sure he made friends with some students like Kaede, Maki, and Kiibo but that was because they were in the same classes as him. It wasn’t until Keade and even his uncle encouraged him to try after class activities to reach out and hopefully make a connection.
That’s how he met Kaito Momota.
He went to an afternoon yoga session thinking it wouldn’t be too difficult to take part in. Needless to say his experiences made him stick out like a sore thumb. That’s where Kaito went over and helped him out with a few positions, turning the anxious boy into an even more nervous wreck. After that, Kaito offered him to come over to his dorm to refresh and hang out, just as long as he wasn’t freaked out over his roommate’s gothic decor or allergic to hamsters.
Shuichi never understood what Kaito saw in him but after that, the two became best friends. Though sometimes, Shuichi wonders if it was possible if they could be more than that. But no, it was impossible! Kaito was straight as an arrow and even if he wasn’t, he would never fall for someone like him.
“Sir? Sir, will you like to order?”
Shuichi's attention was brought back to reality when the cashier asked for his drink order. He ordered and paid for a black coffee and went to the next counter to wait for his drink to be ready.
He then looked up when he heard the door open and smiled softly when he saw Kaito rushing in, smiling back when he spotted a blue haired student.
“Shuichi! Hey!” he greeted as he rushed over to hug Shuichi, who was trying not to blush from the sudden contact. “Sorry I’m late. I had to send a few more of my final assignments in.”
“No. It’s fine. I already ordered so go right ahead. I'll get my drink and a table for us.” Shuichi offered.
“Sweet! I’ll be super quick.” Kaito said as he pulled away to go make his order.
Shuichi couldn’t help but chuckle at the taller student’s excitement as he got his coffee and went to get a table near the window.
Once Kaito got his iced mocha, he hurried over to the table and sat down with a big grin on his face.
“Well someone is very happy today. Excited that it’s summer and all?” Shuichi asked as he drank his coffee.
“Well yeah about that, what are your plans for the summer?” the purple haired student asked, grabbing a napkin to wipe the bit of mocha dripping out of his cup.
“Oh! Ummmm…..not sure. Maybe help my uncle some more or if they're hiring I was thinking of doing some part time work at the school bookstore. Why?” Shuichi asked him.
Kaito took a quick sip of his drink and then placed it on the table. “Well, Gundham and I are renting a beach house for the summer off of Jabberwock coast.”
Shuichi was very surprised by this and asked “Isn’t that expensive?”
“A little yeah. But his mom and step dad are pitching in and my boxing teacher loaned us some rent money as well. You remember Sakakura right” Shuichi does remember him. He was very intimidating but he knows he’s been like a mentoring father figure to Kaito since the last semester.
“So yeah, we’re renting it out and we were ... .well I was wondering if you would like to spend the summer there with us.” Kaito offered.
Shuichi was even more shocked by the proposal, wondering if he heard it correctly. “You mean ....spend the summer with you and Gundham?”
“Well not just me and Gundham. His brother Taka and his boyfriend are staying as well and he also invited Kazuichi and that Sonia girl. He told me I can invite three more people over if they’re interested.” Kaito explained, taking another sip.
So Kaito wanted to invite him to a beach house with him, his roommate, and a bunch of other people he doesn’t know. Shuichi was both excited and nervous about all this. Sure he’ll get to spend the summer with Kaito but now he’ll be stuck in a beach town with students he doesn’t know much about.
“W-who are the other two you’re inviting over?” Shuichi asked him, fiddling with his cup.
“Hmm? Oh um…I was wondering if you wanted to invite the last two people. That way it would be more comfortable for you.” Kaito explained.
Shuichi was taken back from that, secretly happy that Kaito was thinking of him for this vacation plan. “Well I can see if Kaede is free and….maybe Maki?” Shuichi had an inkling Kaito would want Maki on this trip. She was the astronomer student’s type after all. Mysterious girl that can kick his ass. Hell he didn’t need to be a detective to figure that out.
“Perfect choices!” Kaito then pulled his phone out and typed on it. “I’ll send you, Kaede, and Maki Roll more details about the place, the address, and when we’re all moving in. This is gonna be so much fun!” he stated as he sent the emails.
Shuichi drummed his fingers anxiously and asked “And this is okay with Gundham and his brother right?”
“Oh hell yeah! We planned this last weekend and thought this would be a great adventure for all of us until we go back to Uni. Plus we’ll get to celebrate Mondo and Kaz’s birthdays while we're there so that’s a bonus.” Kaito told him as he put his phone away.
“So, what exactly is the plan once we’re at the airbnb house?” Shuichi asked, not too familiar with this type of social gathering.
“Anything really. Get a part time job, party some nights, swim at either the beach or the pool at the house, a lot of nature hikes, anything! It’s all about exploring new horizons and making memories.” Kaito said in excitement, finishing his drink. “And who know, you might get some summer romance thrown in there~”
Shuichi nearly spat out his coffee and looked at Kaito in shock. “I…wha…..romance?...what?!?”
Kaito couldn't help but chuckle at his friend’s reaction and grabbed a few more napkins for him. “Relax, bud. I can help you with that if you like. I’ll be your ultimate wingman!”
“That….that really won’t be necessary.” Shuichi declined his offer.
Kaito just smirks at him and says “Still, if you need someone to help you with a date, I’m your man.”
Shuichi knows that still wouldn't be necessary because of his feelings towards him but maybe finding someone to distract him from those feelings might be helpful.
Kaito felt his phone go off and pulled it out to read the text. “Shit! Sorry man. I need to head out. Gundham snuck in another raccoon in our dorm and he needs help to get it out to the wild before he’ll get in trouble.” he explained as he got up.
“Why does he keep doing that?” Shuichi asked, though realize it was probably a rude question to ask seeing how Kaito was friends with the veterinarian student.
Kaito just shrugs and says “They’re his friends and he hides them from animal control. He gives them names and full on backstories that just go over my head. But we’ll text you on the plans, car details, and everything. I’m really excited for this, Shuichi!”
Shuichi smiles from that as he watches Kaito head on out, sighing quietly as he pulls his phone out to open Kaito’s email on the house they’re all staying at.
It looked really nice and cozy. It was in a small cul-de-sac area and had a trail walk to the beach. He looked up pictures of the inside of the house and saw how spacious it looked. He still couldn’t believe he was gonna spend the whole summer there with his classmates, with Kaito.
“Uh-oh! My gay-dar is going off!!”
Shuichi nearly jumped in his chair and turned to see a smirking Kokichi.
“Christ! Don’t scare me like that.” Shuichi scowled at the dark purple haired student, who went over to sit across from him.
“Oh you love it~” Kokichi teased him, leaning his cheek on his hand. “Soooooooo you going off this summer with that space case?”
“If you must know, he invited me to come with.” Shuichi told him, finishing his coffee.
“Along with a bunch of randos.” Kokichi pointed out.
Shuichi rolled his eyes and said “Not true. Kaede and Maki are coming too. And I know Miss Sonia from some of my criminology classes.”
“But you’re gonna be stuck with hamster lord and the love child of Sharkboy and Lava Girl. Not to mention Captain Buzzkill and his top.” Kokichi added once more.
“What is it with you and giving everyone weird nicknames?” Shuichi asked him, raising a brow at him. “Also, why do you even care what I do this summer?”
Kokichi just kept his smirk and said “I care because we’re friiiiiieeeeeends. Right Shu-shu?” He then leans back in his chair with a pout expression. “But still I’m a little butthurt you didn’t want to include me on your vacation.”
“Why would I include you? You hate Kaito and you just annoy everyone.” Shuichi said bluntly, getting up from his chair.
“But it’s so fun!” Kokichi told him with a laugh but then dramatically sighed. “But whatevs. I’m too cool to be stuck all summer with you and a bunch of losers.”
Shuichi rolled his eyes again and went to put his trash away. “But you go and have fun with your astro-butt boyfriend.”
“We’re….we’re just friends, Kokichi. Just friends.” Shuichi told him firmly.
“Riiiiiiight and I was in the boy scout. Bye Shu-shu~” Shuichi heard Kokichi say as he headed out.
As he walked back to campus, he was still trying to process everything that just happened. He’ll need to tell his uncle about this sudden plan but he already knows that he would be onboard with it. But being in a house far from home with a bunch of people he didn't know did make him anxious. Sure he'll have Kaito there but he would probably want to hang out with Gundham or Mondo or even Maki instead of him. He wouldn't blame him. Shuichi never thought he was interesting or fun to be around. His anxiety gets the best of him and he was never really good at making new friends.
He then felt his phone buzzed and pulled it out to see a text from Kaede.
[Kaede: Hey, so what's this about Kaito inviting you, me, and Maki to Jabberwock for the summer?]
Shuichi sighs but smiled as he texted back.
[Shuichi: I'll explain it more later but he and his roommate are planning a trip and they're inviting a few people]
[Kaede: Oh! Anyone we would know]
[Shuichi: Gundham's brother and his partner. Along with Soda and Sonia Nevermind]
[Kaede: Don't know any of them but it'll be fun meeting new people! Plus, you get to spend more time with Kaito!]
Shuichi almost lost his balance when he read that text. First Kokichi and now her? What is going on?
[Shuichi: I mean he would probably spend his times with his others friends more than with me]
[Kaede: No way! He's your best friend! He would want to spend the whole summer with you. Why else would he invite you?]
Shuichi managed a small and hopeful smile from that. He did like the idea of hanging out with Kaito for the whole season but wonders what they would even do during that time. Knowing Kaito, it's either working out or something reckless but fun. Like he told Shuichi, this would be an adventure.
[Shuichi: I hope you're right, Kaede. Wanna meet up later at the dining hall to talk more about this trip?]
[Kaede: Sounds like a plan! I'll let you know when I'm out of class. See you later! =D ]
Shuichi smiles again as he puts his phone away. He was still feeling the nerves getting to him about this trip but still somewhat hopeful. He thought he was going to have a chilled and uneventful summer but this could do some good for him. Maybe he'll make more friends and connection this summer. Maybe...he and Kaito will be more than just friends.
'No, that's crazy, Shuichi. He's just your friend and nothing else.'
Shuichi thought to himself, walking back to campus as he prepares for the best summer vacation of his life.