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It wouldn’t hurt to try.
Haz mimicked the movement Shibuya’s Composer had made, using the spoon to bring a portion of the parfait into his mouth.
His vessel’s senses ignited, both temperature and taste, processing the cool, smooth texture, and then each ingredient in turn. The strawberry had been plucked red far from the city, the cacao beans of the chocolate from even farther away. The cream, sugar, and other ingredients had each taken a journey to arrive here in the city, all to be blended for their eventual purpose together.
A long while seemed to pass before Joshua spoke again.
“So?” he asked. “What’s the verdict?”
Haz thought it a waste to let the sensations pass from his mouth, but Joshua met his eyes. In Shibuya, he would do well to behave as humans did. Haz swallowed.
“I think I understand why they like this so much,” he said, looking at the empty spoon in his hand. “But it’s all over so soon, isn’t it?”
“Well, you’ve still got the rest of the glass, and when you’re hungry again, you can always have more,” Joshua said, taking another bite of his own parfait.
“So it’s also about the anticipation, huh?” Haz realized that he could follow suit, and scooped another, larger spoonful into his mouth. Now that he was used to the taste, it wasn’t as difficult to part with it.
“And if you don’t fill up on that,” Joshua said, “I’m certain we could find another eatery to patronize.”
Next, Haz focused his attention on the way the spoon moved through the cream of the parfait. “To what end?”
Joshua shrugged a shoulder, letting a sly smirk dance on his lips. Haz had yet to achieve such nuance of facial expression, but tried to mirror him anyway. “To no end, necessarily. You seem interested in Shibuya,” he said, letting his eyes meet Haz’s, “and I’m interested in you. We might as well carry on until we’re both satisfied.”
Haz couldn’t help but laugh. “So while I’m observing Shibuya, you’ll be observing me?” Descending to become Shinjuku’s Composer had meant leaving a portion of himself on the Higher Planes, and with Shinjuku in the state it was in, it wasn’t as if he was in full use of his powers—Angel or otherwise. “Senpai, with me as I am, I see no interest to be had in that.”
“That’s exactly why I’m interested,” Joshua said. “You remind me of a friend.”
Haz stilled, so suddenly he didn’t relax the smile muscles on his face, even as a sudden increase in gravity between them sent the cream on their parfaits sinking. “You compare me to the Fallen?”
“I don’t recall saying who it was,” Joshua said, unfazed. He casually went for another bite, even as a drop of parfait tumbled from his spoon to splat heavily onto the table. “Funny, though, that he should be the one you thought of.”
The pressure between them dissipated as the ire drained from Haz’s vessel as quickly as it had come, leaving him lost for words. Joshua licked his lips, still smiling.
“I guess I can add myself to the list of people you confuse,” Haz finally said.
“Oh, that’s a long one.” Joshua’s smile widened into a grin. “Now finish your parfait.”
Once they’d both cleaned their glasses, Haz watched, fascinated, as Joshua stopped to chat with the café employee. She immediately confided to him that she was worried that a friend of hers was going through something difficult, but wouldn’t tell her about it. Haz couldn’t distinguish between Joshua’s demeanor and the one he’d presented to Rindo, and yet Joshua could make her thoughts bloom like a flower between them, almost unbidden. Perhaps it was the distinction between acting friendly and being friendly.
“I’ve been meaning to ask,” Joshua began, turning to Haz as they walked up the Udagawa steps. “Why that form?”
Haz looked down at himself. “You recognize it?” With it being so long since he’d constructed a human vessel, he’d been quite proud of what he’d been able to assemble for his shift into Shibuya, and had surmised that it would be pleasing enough to its Composer.
“A UNISON model’s face. Center Street Salon hair. And Joli bécot’s new Men’s collection for the outfit,” Joshua said, pointing out his features, one by one. “It’s Shibuya a-la-carte.” He folded his arms, eyeing Haz thoughtfully. “Some say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. What do you think?”
Despite his intentions, Haz realized he’d underestimated Shibuya’s Composer yet again. During his shift, it’d been easy to skim the city for the elements of a suitable vessel, but to assume his mimicry of Shibuya could slip its Composer’s notice to pass as original creation now seemed arrogant, perhaps even insulting.
“It made sense at the time,” Haz said. “But now I fear I’ve offended you.”
“Quite the opposite,” Joshua said, leaning casually against the stair railing. “Nascent as it may be, your sense of fashion is commendable. Simple, yet effective.” He paused, as if remembering something. “Like that friend of mine.”
This time, Haz remembered to frown. “There you go again.”
“I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean.”
Haz climbed to the step Joshua had stopped on, meeting him on his level. “I chose to take the role of Shinjuku’s Composer to learn more about the planes We govern. The cities We pass Our judgement on.”
Joshua’s eyes raised to his. “What do you think he was trying to do?”
Heat rose in Haz’s vessel like a thermal column, but Joshua only continued. “Shinjuku hasn’t even reformed yet. You have nowhere to govern until it does. And yet you still choose to remain Lowered, just to sit around and watch these little cities with a front row view.” Joshua tilted his head. “One wonders why.”
Haz was quiet. It was as if Joshua had the ability to make words tangible, and send them writhing through his vessel’s stomach, impossible to control.
“It’s not as if time matters to you,” Joshua’s next words came, “but the role isn’t a short-term engagement.”
“I construct the rules,” Haz said, finally rising to his own defense. “It doesn’t need to be a permanent appointment. Someone bests me at a level I determine, and the position is theirs. I step out of it, and back into the Higher Planes.”
Joshua’s frown pressed something unexpectedly heavy onto Haz’s chest. “So you think you can make it through unaffected. Unscathed.” His smile returned, and the air around them went still and silent as Joshua raised his hand between them, and brushed a lock of Haz’s hair behind his ear. “We’ll see about that.”
Haz was unable judge the amount of time that passed between then and the moment that Joshua turned to finish their climb to the top of Udagawa’s steps. His vessel’s ability to measure time had become suddenly and inexplicably impeded.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Joshua asked, sliding a hand into his pocket.
“I don’t think my vessel is functioning as it should.”
Joshua closed his eyes and half-turned away, using his free hand to cover his mouth. Oh dear. Was his comment that concerning? Worry rose in Haz until Joshua smoothed his expression, and looked back at him.
“Oh, you can expect a lot more of that.”
Haz’s brow furrowed. “So it’s just something I’ll have to get used to?” The thought of his body wresting control from its owner, however briefly, wasn’t at all comforting. Perhaps in apology, his heart gave a sympathetic response and began to beat more quickly, but it only served to turn his chest tight.
“Well,” Joshua said, considering, “not alone.”
Haz’s vessel calmed at that, relief spreading across him like a breeze.
“I appreciate it, senpai.”
“Oh, the pleasure is all mine,” Joshua replied, and Haz wanted to be able to sound like that: like he meant what he said.