Zhao takes a hasty step back when Majima lurches up off his stool threateningly, erupting into a nervous giggle mostly against his will. Yikes.
But luckily (?), Majima talks himself down in the most depressingly relatable way possible, so Zhao is spared from having to fight for his life just for accurately describing the situation. He is not spared, however, from Majima rudely turning the tables on him. "That's not— I don't— ah, fuck." Zhao has never been one to lie to himself for long, no matter how embarrassing the naked truth is.
Because, yeah. It's definitely just a smidge humiliating just how easily he got charmed by the same things about Kiryu. How quickly watching him do what Kasuga-kun does—sweep into someone's life and put everything to rights just because he happened to bump into them in the street—made him more than willing to do insane shit, like haul his ass to frozen fishing villages and almost get murked by the very Yakuza Legend drooping in the stool across from him now. He, Saeko and Nanba have even fondly commiserated over drinks at Survive more than a few times about how similar hanging out with Kiryu is to getting dragged along all throughout the city by Ichiban's wild, generous whims. (Seonhee usually tries her best to loyally defend his choices until getting deep enough in her cups that she comes out giggling over them too.)
It really is hard not to love Kiryu at least a little bit, after meeting him. And he's certainly not wrong about Kasuga having no idea how to handle women, if Saeko's horror story (dragged out into the open after both Nanba and Kiryu left Survive early one night, abandoning her to Zhao and Seonhee's tender, nosy mercies and combined high alcohol budget) is to be believed. Poor Majima. And for four decades...
A chill runs down Zhao's spine at the thought of being stuck in the purgatory of crushing on Kasuga unrequited for as long as he thinks Majima has done for Kiryu, so he decisively crosses the tiny kitchen like he's escaping from those very sad thoughts. Finding himself next to the stove as a result, he flicks the fire on under a wok, and plants his hands on his hips while waiting for it to get searing hot so he can finally start working his magic. "Okay. Listen. Just because that's how it is now, doesn't mean it has to be like that forever, man! You need a plan." Surely they can fix this, but they have to start soon, because... well. Kiryu's whole situation. Normally Zhao is a go-with-the-flow sort of guy, but with enough booze in his system he's flush with the drunken courage required to make some truly stupid plans. And so what if he's projecting? Shut up! "Take him on a date. Not a fight, a date." (He has met Majima, so the stipulation feels necessary.) "He doesn't have to know that's what it is at first, you know? What's his favorite restaurant?"
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But luckily (?), Majima talks himself down in the most depressingly relatable way possible, so Zhao is spared from having to fight for his life just for accurately describing the situation. He is not spared, however, from Majima rudely turning the tables on him. "That's not— I don't— ah, fuck." Zhao has never been one to lie to himself for long, no matter how embarrassing the naked truth is.
Because, yeah. It's definitely just a smidge humiliating just how easily he got charmed by the same things about Kiryu. How quickly watching him do what Kasuga-kun does—sweep into someone's life and put everything to rights just because he happened to bump into them in the street—made him more than willing to do insane shit, like haul his ass to frozen fishing villages and almost get murked by the very Yakuza Legend drooping in the stool across from him now. He, Saeko and Nanba have even fondly commiserated over drinks at Survive more than a few times about how similar hanging out with Kiryu is to getting dragged along all throughout the city by Ichiban's wild, generous whims. (Seonhee usually tries her best to loyally defend his choices until getting deep enough in her cups that she comes out giggling over them too.)
It really is hard not to love Kiryu at least a little bit, after meeting him. And he's certainly not wrong about Kasuga having no idea how to handle women, if Saeko's horror story (dragged out into the open after both Nanba and Kiryu left Survive early one night, abandoning her to Zhao and Seonhee's tender, nosy mercies and combined high alcohol budget) is to be believed. Poor Majima. And for four decades...
A chill runs down Zhao's spine at the thought of being stuck in the purgatory of crushing on Kasuga unrequited for as long as he thinks Majima has done for Kiryu, so he decisively crosses the tiny kitchen like he's escaping from those very sad thoughts. Finding himself next to the stove as a result, he flicks the fire on under a wok, and plants his hands on his hips while waiting for it to get searing hot so he can finally start working his magic. "Okay. Listen. Just because that's how it is now, doesn't mean it has to be like that forever, man! You need a plan." Surely they can fix this, but they have to start soon, because... well. Kiryu's whole situation. Normally Zhao is a go-with-the-flow sort of guy, but with enough booze in his system he's flush with the drunken courage required to make some truly stupid plans. And so what if he's projecting? Shut up! "Take him on a date. Not a fight, a date." (He has met Majima, so the stipulation feels necessary.) "He doesn't have to know that's what it is at first, you know? What's his favorite restaurant?"