Dango Double Date

It had been some time since Shio and Lyra had last been out on a date together. A proper date, something that was more than just drinking at the Rabbit Hole. And to Lyra’s surprise, it was Shio who brought up wanting to take her out today. They decided on something a little more casual, something more comfortable. So they went out in their bun forms instead of doll forms. Shio’s claws wrapped around Lyra’s hoof gently as she tried to urge her out the door.

“Come on, let’s get going you look fine.” 

“I don’t want to look fine, I want to look perfect,” Lyra protested, but the grumpy face she got from Shio hurried her along. “Okay okay,” she conceded. She let Shio lead her by the hand along the sidewalks. Slowly they were moving away from the outskirts and closer to the inner city. As they approached the venue, Lyra understood why Shio was in such a rush. 

Dolls and buns alike were all gathered for an outdoor concert from one of Lyra and Shio’s favorite bands. With Shio holding tightly onto Lyra, they managed to push their way up towards the front of the bun section. The show lasted a few hours or so, but Shio and Lyra stood and danced and sang along the entire time. By the time the concert was over, the sun was starting to set and buns and dolls alike were filing out of the venue.

Lyra’s voice was a bit scratchy as she and Shio made their way out. 

“That was so much fun, but we should find somewhere to grab a little something to eat I think.”

Shio couldn’t help but laugh at Lyra’s scratchy voice, but it wasn’t as though hers was any better off. 

“Follow me, I know a good place for a snack,” Shio wrapped her claws around Lyra’s hoof again and led her along, just a few blocks from the venue. 

It was a little late at night, so there were no other buns in the shop when they walked in. At least not at first glance. Shio led the way deeper inside and took a seat at once of the tables. Lyra followed after her and a particularly quiet and stoic bun came out from a back room, looking at the two of them.

“Hey Dan,” Shio called out with a quick wave of her claws. “Two of my usual so Lyra here can try it out.” 

The light blue bun nodded and walked off elsewhere for the moment before someone else appeared in the doorway he’d come out of. A pristine white bun with red ropes adorning him. “Oh? Do we have a first time customer?”

The white bun walked over to their table and took a seat across from Lyra and Shio. He smiled and tilted his head as he looked over the two of them. “I’m Shibani. The other bun you saw here was Dan. He doesn’t talk much,” he explained to Lyra.

“Oh. Well it’s nice to meet you Shibani,” Lyra said with a smile. Before the conversation could change topics, Dan had brought back four sticks of dango, two black sesame for Lyra and Shio, and two blueberry for himself and Shibani. 

“Thank you, Dan,” Shibani said as he took the dango to start snacking with Lyra and Shio. “If you’ve never had Dan’s dango before, you’re in for a treat, Lyra. It’s the best in the city.”

Lyra smiled and glanced over at Dan who had seemingly puffed up a little more from the praise. She couldn’t help but let out a soft giggle as she led her dango stick in her claws. 

“Well then I’m looking forward to it.” She took a bite out of the first dango on her stick and closed her eyes as she tried her best to focus on the taste of it. It was really, really good. 

“Oh wow,” she said quietly before smiling over at Shibani and Dan. “It’s so tasty! I’d love to learn how you make them sometime.”

“You sure about that, princess,” Shio asked as she looked over at Lyra skeptically. “It’s not exactly an easy process. “I’ve watched Dan make them before.”

“Well if you like them enough to come here that often then I definitely want to learn,” she said, teasing Shio a little before Lyra looked over at Dan with a patient but kind smile.

He looked as though he were contemplating something before he looked over at Shibani who gave him a reassuring smile.

“...Sure,” he said quietly, eating his own dango. “Next time you’re in the shop, I’ll teach you some dango recipes. They’re easier to make than mochi.”

Lyra’s eyes lit up and she grinned brightly.

“Thank you so much, I’m looking forward to learning from you!” 

After that, the conversation turned to other matters. Shibani asked where they’d just come from and Shio was excited to tell him about the concert. Before they knew it, dusk had turned to late night and Shio and Lyra had to go home.