Strawberry Season

There are things that Tomoki knows are in season despite seemingly living under a rock. Strawberries happen to be the only fruit that he ever knows will be in season. At this point it’s honestly quite funny. A joke that no one will laugh at because it’s really funny to only himself. Regretfully, this also means that he’s never in the know in regards to when peaches are in season. 

Or blueberries for that matter. While both of those fruits may not be his exact favourite fruit, they sure are Parker and Elio’s favourites respectively. Except they’re not here today. 

Tomoki doesn’t want to know where they are or what bullshit they’ll find themselves in. He’s been with them once, and it’s honestly not something that he’s paid enough to deal with. And he’s a writer! 

For the first time in a few months, Tomoki thinks that he's done enough and not enough at the same time. On one hand: he could be writing more (he should always be writing more) while on the other hand: Tomoki needs a break. Specifically to nap for two whole months preferably. Wouldn’t that be nice? 

Instead, he finds himself outside of The Rabbit Hole instead with his hoard of strawberries. A drink won’t fix him but maybe he’ll feel better afterwards. 

All the same, when he finds himself finally stumbling into The Rabbit Hole, Hops finds him immediately. Part of Tomoki wonders if she expected to find him here. 

“What are you craving this time?” she asks. It’s not pointed, instead, she sounds more curious about it. Previously, he’d come here just to ensure that he could fall asleep. “Something to knock you out again?” 

Tomoki swears his sleep schedule isn’t completely fucked up, he promises. It’s that his recent writing playlist is more kinetic than he’d like it to be. 

“Not exactly,” he deflects. “More like something that pairs well with the strawberries that are in season.” 

“Right, and then you’ll fix your sleep schedule.” Hops deadpans. “Won’t you?” 

A beat. 

He groans. “I have work to do– Actually, just take some of these strawberries and don’t breathe a word to anyone else about it.” 

And the thing is, Hops does take some of the strawberries on the table. Except that’s not a promise since Tomoki knows her. The next thing he’s going to get is Shibani calling him up or worse– Primrose bothering him late into the night about going the fuck to bed. 

“Maybe I should call up Beanny and ask her about making something to put you to bed,” Hops admits offhandedly. 

“Please don’t call her. You’re working, aren’t you?” it almost sounds like he’s pleading. 

“And we all know each other,” Hops reminds him while taking another strawberry. 

A beat. 

“Fine, I’ll try to go to bed at a better time. Now could I get an Iris Coffee?” 

“That’s the opposite of trying to put yourself to sleep!” 

–

Hops is right about the fact that he won’t go to bed even after he finishes eating his initial batch of strawberries. In fact, he finds that he actually gets another little case of them instead. They’re in season and he’s craving some fruits. 

They’re supposed to be good for him and that much is fine for him. 

What he doesn’t expect, however, is for Parker to message him over strawberries of all things. 

Parker

Hey. Strawberries were on sale. I got you some along the way. 

Tomoki 

We have enough at home. 

Parker 

No

We don’t actually

Tomoki 

Literally any other fruit would be better, Parker

Fuck. 

He’s fine. The amount he has now will last him a week except Parker is still typing and– and– so is Shibani. Tomoki doesn’t even know what Parker is replying and that’s the truly menacing thing about the bun, so much so that he’s prepared to come back to see a stuffed fridge later tonight. 

Tomoki is so fucked when he does get Shibani’s call though. 

“Is it to pick up some strawberries for you and Dan?” he prompts. 

Shibani has the audacity to laugh at him. “I thought you were fixing your sleep schedule. But if you did bring some over, I wouldn’t mind.” 

He closes his eyes for a moment, then breathes as he considers his options. 

Instead, he replies: “Gimme fifteen minutes and I’ll bring over the strawberries.” 

“So much for fixing that sleep schedule.” 

“Parker’s not even back yet so sleeping is overrated.” Nevermind how he’d like to put his time into a nap instead, maybe hit up the market again. It’s all good exercise as he gets ready to leave his humble abode again. 

The only thing he hopes is that Parker doesn’t actually commit to that promise to bring back more strawberries. 

–

When he comes back from Shibani and Dan’s place, he finds a watermelon in his apartment. Then a fridge filled with strawberries. 

Tomoki supposes he’s never going grocery shopping ever again.