Two with one crown (UshiTen)

Beach (part 26)

"Hey mom, I'm gonna head over to the beach."

The woman looked up from her book and raised an eyebrow at Ushijima.

"Alright. I thought you didn't like water?"

The boy zipped up the thin white zip up he had pulled over his bear torso.

"I'm just going to check it out."

He grabbed his phone and earbuds and shoved them in his pocket before grabbing the handle of the front door.

"Bye."

He got no response as he shut the door behind him.

It was only the second day of being in California with his mom and he was already running out of things to do. The night before, his mom was in her room most of the time. She scolded him awhile for being late, then complained about anything and everything she could, and then cried. She cries a lot. Ushijima had been uncomfortable the whole time, but sat through her sob stories and uncomfy hugs. Most of his time spent here would most likely be like that, so he figured it would be easer for him to spare her of the tears and emotions and just stay occupied.

Ushijima was wearing swim trunks and that white zip up, even though he didn't plan on swimming any time ever. He looked up at the sky and shielded his eyes from the sun. It was clear, blue, and bright. It was a pretty warm day, too. It would be nice for a run.. He remembered what he had really gone out here for and pulled out his phone. As he walked down the flights of stairs, he found his friends contact.

The night before, Ushijima had texted Tendou around the time he arrived at his mom's place, as he requested. The red head had texted him about half way through his flight to "text me when you get there safely!!" to which Ushijima had responded "What if I don't get there 'safely?'"

Tendou left him on read.

When Ushijima texted him that he had gotten there, (safely) he asked if he had time to call. Ushijima, who was getting out of the taxi at the time, had to say no. It was the same answer the other four times the red head asked. Today, Ushijima wanted to call him cus' he felt bad about not being able to yesterday.

He reached the very bottom of the stairs and clicked the "call" button and put his earbuds in. It only had the chance to ring once before the read head picked up.

"USHIWAKA-KUUUNNNN!!!"

Clanking was heard in the background, most likely from fallen kitchen utensils.

"Hello, Tendou. How is it-"

"GAHH I've been waiting by my phone all morning and night waiting for you to call me!"

"Sorry about that, really. I was busy getting situated."

Ushijima walked out of the apartment area and waited until the walking man flashed to cross the street.

"It's alright whateverr. How's it going?!"

He paused and thought about him and his mother's interactions.

"Good. My mother lives right across from the beach in a studio apartment. I'm heading to the beach right now."

"WHAT!? No way!! Turn on face time I wanna see!"

Ushijima fiddled with his phone for a moment before finally turning it on. He switched the camera view almost instantly. Tendou had his camera on as well, his head popped out of the corner of the screen. He panned the camera up to the direction he was headed. Like yesterday, the water shimmered in the sunlight, but this time around there were a lot more people on the sand.

"Oooooo! Cool! Are you gonna go in the water?"

Ushijima turns his camera around do face himself.

"I can't with my phone."

"Ah, that makes sense."

Tendou grabs his phone with his front facing camera on and carry's it with him to a new room.

"Ushiwaka-kun, look what I'm making!"

He flips the camera around to face a bowl with what looks like some sort of dough. There are utensils and various cooking/baking supplies scattered around in a mess on the counter.

"What is it?"

Ushijima continues walking around the area, looking for an empty bench to sit at.

"Chocolate chip cookies! I haven't put the chocolate chips in yet, though."

The red head turns his camera around once again so it's facing him, then props it up on the counter so Ushijima can see Tendou and the counter. Tendou picks up a yellow bag with a chocolate chip cookie on the front. It reads; "Chocolate Chips" On the front. He smiles brightly and begins to speak.

"Wanna watch?"

Ushijima, on the other hand, is situating himself on a bench under a large palm tree.

"Watch what?"

"Me put the chocolate in."

"Oh, sure."

Tendou rips the bag open and pours it in.

"Aren't there specific measurements for how much you should be putting in?"

Tendou stops pouring when about half the bag is gone, then begins again.

"Who cares? When did some extra chocolate chips ever hurt anyone?"

He shakes the bag twice once the rest of the chips are in and then sets the empty plastic bag down.

"There!"

Tendou picks up a large rubber spoon from beside the bowl and attempts to stir the batter. It looks difficult.
He starts blabbering on about how boring it's been without the other there, even though it's only been a few days, and how he hopes that Ushijima can come back early so they can go do "summer stuff." Ushijima agrees.

Even though he's never been the type to partake in typical "rebellious teenager activities," it still seems like it would be fun this summer. Sneak into a movie they aren't supposed to see, or prank a teacher no one likes, these are things Ushijima longs to do. Not because he particularly wants to do them, but because Tendou would be there doing them with him and that would make it a genuinely fun experience.

It has to be better that spending it here, in California, listening to his mom complain.

(1015 words)