Vol 5 Chapter 10 (2/2)

“You’re hung up on Yasuda finding out about us, aren’t you?”

“!!” Yokozawa fell silent, words fleeing him at having Kiris.h.i.+ma hit his worries right on the nose. Their conversation earlier had barely lasted three minutes—which meant Kiris.h.i.+ma had realized something was off about him in that small span of time.

Kiris.h.i.+ma slowly settled into a seat at Yokozawa’s side. “…I knew it. I thought it was weird of you to s.p.a.ce out for so long you actually forgot to head home.”

“No one said I was s.p.a.cing out.”

“Well, you were, weren’t you? Otherwise there’s no way you wouldn’t able to finish your work and not be able to make it home on a day like this.”

“………” Yokozawa had nothing to say in the face of such sharp logic, frustrated that he could never manage to put on a cool face in front of someone like Kiris.h.i.+ma.

“Seriously, though, you don’t have to worry about him; he mentioned it because he noticed, that’s all, I’m sure he had no other ulterior motive. But—if it’ll make you feel better, I’ll make it a point to remind him not to spread it around. So just—think of it as nothing more than an inconsiderate comment?”

“…You really must be close with him.” He seemed to have the utmost faith in Yasuda. Coworkers of the same age in a company were often like fellow soldiers on the battlefield, so it wasn’t like Yokozawa couldn’t understand their bond, but…he somehow didn’t feel right about it.

“…Jealous?”

“I—I said no such thing!”

“Aah, I see how it is now, yup. You’re jealous, got it.”

“I said that’s not the deal!” But try as he might to deny it, he had to admit in a tiny corner of his mind that that wasn’t entirely true. Still, it wasn’t his way to just own up to the accusation.

“You really ought to try being more honest with yourself.”

“Shut up… The thing that was bugging me…was me.” They’d never get through this conversation sniping back and forth like this, so Yokozawa took the initiative in confessing what he’d spent the entire day worrying over. He hadn’t wanted to do it—feeling it was pitiful to be the first to break in this instance—but it was better than keeping his mouth shut and having Kiris.h.i.+ma grill him on all manner of points.

“…What are you talking about?”

“It wasn’t just Yasuda-san today; just recently Iokawa-san also realized that we were dating, remember? It just…made me worried that maybe I’m doing something, or acting in some way…that makes it really obvious.”

“Ah…” Kiris.h.i.+ma made a sour face, as if he’d been considering precisely the same thing.

“So—what do you think made him realize?”

“Not really sure… I’ve never really understood it myself, but he can be d.a.m.n sharp sometimes. You can’t keep anything from him.”

“I see…”

“But—on that note, I do honestly feel like it’s something I need to work on. I’ll try and be more careful.”

“I’d appreciate it.” While they hadn’t exactly solved the problem per se, it was still progress for Kiris.h.i.+ma to say that he would reflect on his actions. He’d been going too far lately, so Yokozawa was relieved to hear that he’d pay more attention to their surroundings from now on.

“Oh right—let’s dig in. Here, I brought food.” In the cute little lunch bag that Kiris.h.i.+ma handed him were four small onigiri, with atamagoyaki and a weiner shaped like an octopus with notched-out eyes stuffed into a little box.

“…You’re not gonna try and tell me that you made—”

“h.e.l.l no. Hiyo made these, saying she felt bad for you since you were probably hungry. She made the tamagoyaki too, by the way.”

“Hiyo…made this for me?” His chest warmed with emotion at the thought of her consideration for him. The small size of the onigirimust have been because of the tiny hands that made them, and just imagining her making them filled him with fond emotion. As he took up one of the onigiri, encased in wrapping, he could feel that they were still slightly warm.

“You’d better be grateful to me too, coming all the way in this h.e.l.lish weather to bring you something to snack on while I picked you up.

“…I am. Grateful, that is. Thank you.” He’d been shocked, yes, but not unappreciative by a long shot, and he suspected experiencing this mishmash of emotions had been what prompted him to deliver such curt responses.

“You’re quite welcome. But man, those look tasty. Gimme one.”

“You haven’t eaten yet?”

“I did, but seeing these onigiri has me hungry again.”

He pa.s.sed one to Kiris.h.i.+ma—who finished it off in two quick bites. They were all so tiny that the remaining three soon disappeared into Yokozawa’s stomach. They attacked the tamagoyaki and weiner together, and in just five short minutes, their evening snack time had ended. Still, it had been enough to ease Yokozawa’s hunger pangs for now.

“That was delicious; tell Hiyo I loved the meal.”

“Tell her yourself; you’re coming by tomorrow after all, aren’t you? Ah—you have a grain of rice on you…”

“Where?” He must’ve really been famished and attacked his meal.

“The right side of your mouth—no, not there, from where I’m looking. Ugh, forget it, I’ll get it for you.”

“I can do it mysel—?!” But rather than reaching out to remove the rice with his hand, he slipped forward, so close he could have stolen a kiss, and before Yokozawa could scramble away, he brushed his lips softly against the side of Yokozawa’s mouth.

“…Did I seriously have anything on my face?”

“You did, you did! What, am I really that hard to trust, Yokozawa?”

“Yes.” His flighty defense certainly wasn’t helping matters, either. Why did this man always have to adopt such a frivolous att.i.tude when it came to important matters? But then, he thought back.

Yokozawa was the type where, if he were seriously seduced, with no chance to object or make snide remarks, he would find the situation unbearable—so perhaps that had been Kiris.h.i.+ma’s aim after all. Either way, he still wound up on the defensive.

“Y’know, I was just thinking…now would be a good opportunity to do it…but I guess it’s not happening.”

“Do what?”

“Office s.e.x.”

“Do it yourself…!” He released a loud sigh at yet another of Kiris.h.i.+ma’s hare-brained suggestions.

“It’d be kind of hard to do it by myself, though. C’mon, there’s no one around, and it’s just dim enough to really set the mood. How about it?”

“No chance. Besides, what if the security cameras caught us?”

“Nah, it’s fine; they only record the entrances and exits. So long as we don’t get frisky in the doorway, we won’t get caught.”

“Well there’s not gonna be any ‘getting frisky’.”

“Oh I think there might be.”

“That’s not something to go around boasting.”

“Just think about it—we’re the only two people left in this whole building, on the night of a huge typhoon. Our conversation distracts us from the weather, and little by little we get closer and closer… It’s a waste of the situation for nothing to happen!”

Yokozawa groped for a response in the face of such emphatic pleading. “You’ve been reading too much manga.”

“What’s wrong with a manga editor reading too much manga?”

“I never said there was anything wrong with it, I’m just saying I want no part in it!” It was nice how Kiris.h.i.+ma was so positive-thinking, trying to make the most of any situation he found himself in, but he could be so single-minded in his efforts that it exhausted anyone dragged along for the ride.

“I at least deserve a reward for coming all the way out here in the middle of a storm to bring you a snack, don’t I?”

“Huh?” Yokozawa’s brows furrowed at the unexpected word.

“You know, a reward. But fine, have it your way—I’ll settle for a peck on the cheek.” And with that, he presented his cheek, tapping it insistently as if to say pucker up. At Yokozawa’s reflexive sour expression, Kiris.h.i.+ma slumped his shoulders for show. “Aww, and here I am, charging to your rescue, risking life and limb. My lover sure can play it cool. What I wouldn’t give just once to enjoy some sweet reward…”

“Quit your whining; all I have to do is do it, right?” With that, he kicked at the carpet to slide himself, chair and all, closer, Kiris.h.i.+ma froze in shock at the sudden movement.

Yokozawa reached out and buried his fingers in Kiris.h.i.+ma’s hair—and then proceeded to plunder his lips with a violent kiss. A kiss on the cheek would’ve been even more embarra.s.sing than a normal one, after all, and this way, he could ensure that Kiris.h.i.+ma offered no needless backtalk. “…Satisfied?” he mumbled, finally releasing the lips he’d forcibly stolen—but he wasn’t about to get off scot-free, it seemed.

“…Not by far.”

“Ngh—?!” Two hands came up to brace his head, returning the pa.s.sionate kiss, and after he’d had his way with Yokozawa’s lips, Kiris.h.i.+ma slipped a tongue inside, where it writhed and wriggled like a living creature with its own agenda. It sought out his own tongue within his mouth, and Yokozawa felt his mind freeze up, going numb. “Hnn…nnm…!”

Not just his tongue, but his whole mouth felt on fire, and a flush ran through him from head to toe, making him feel as if he were coming down with a fever. In Yokozawa’s hesitation over whether to mount further protest or not, Kiris.h.i.+ma had taken the inch he’d been given and proceeded to run with it.

His hips were starting to shudder with need, but he knew if he let himself get swept away now, he’d just be playing right into Kiris.h.i.+ma’s hand. Going any further than this would not be a good idea.

“That…that’s enough…” He pried Kiris.h.i.+ma off of himself and sliced him through with a glare—but received in return a playful response delivered with the most serious of expressions.

“…Yeah, we definitely need to do it now. Office s.e.x.”

“No way in h.e.l.l. You great idiot.” His growled shout echoed lifelessly throughout the empty office. It was clear now that he was going to be fending off Kiris.h.i.+ma for the rest of the night.

“This is some fine weather.”

“…It is, at that…” As usual, the sunny skies following a typhoon were a sight to behold. The sky was endlessly serene today, and it looked like perfect laundry weather. While the air had a bit of chill to it, that only made the weather feel all the more pleasant.

Just like my heart now—he might have liked to say, but that wasn’t happening. While he’d made impressive strides toward resolving his issues regarding his future with Kiris.h.i.+ma, it didn’t mean he no longer cared what others thought about him now.

Dropping by Kiris.h.i.+ma’s apartment like this was starting to become an everyday occurrence, and yet he couldn’t help thinking in a small, secret corner of his mind…that he really ought to cut down on how often he came by. But Kiris.h.i.+ma had been firm in his intentions to see Yokozawa home, which left him with little choice but to go along.

“…I said I was going home…”

“Yeah, but my place counts as one of your homes, right?”

“……” While he appreciated the thought, he wasn’t naive enough to accept it happily. Granted, even though they couldn’t broadcast their relations.h.i.+p publicly, they weren’t doing anything wrong, and being overly secretive about things would only draw even more unwanted attention.

Still, the more he tried to affect a neutral att.i.tude, the more awkward things became, and it was times like this that he hated how inept he was in such matters.

“Ah, good morning!”

“Kitagawa-san, good morning.” The woman who offered the pair a bright greeting as they stepped out of the car was the mother of Yuki, Hiyori’s friend. Yokozawa was immediately on guard, being faced with a neighbor so soon upon arriving, and he ducked a head in her direction from behind Kiris.h.i.+ma, given that they’d met before on several occasions.

Yuki’s mother was a warm woman who seemed rather adept at cooking and making sweets, which had Hiyori taking advantage of her kindness rather often.

“That typhoon yesterday was quite something!”

“Indeed; we couldn’t make it home from the office, so here we are dragging ourselves back the morning after!” While Yokozawa knew this was only idle chitchat, he couldn’t help being overly sensitive to the way Kiris.h.i.+ma phrased things, worried that they might be inviting undue suspicion.

“I see! That must have been quite a trial. Was Hiyori-chan all right, then?”

“My mother was visiting yesterday, so she just wound up spending the night. I’m always managing to find myself indebted to my parents!”

“It must be nice, having them live so nearby. I even find myself doing the same with my own parents! Oh, but—if ever you need anything, please feel free to ask!”

“Thanks always for your help. I must apologize for always relying on you so much this way. I do hope Hiyori isn’t causing any problems with the way she drops by from time to time?”

“Not at all, far from it! We’re both of us in the same boat, after all. Hiyori-chan is so well-mannered, and Yuki’s more proactive with getting her homework done when Hiyori-chan is around.”

“I’m glad to hear that, then. I hear that father of hers is quite a lazy slob, so I hope she isn’t setting a bad example.”

“Come now! You’re a fantastic father, Kiris.h.i.+ma-san! Though I will admit that lately she’s been all about her Oniichan.”

“Eh?” Yokozawa couldn’t help the stupid sound that slipped from his lips when he found the conversation had unexpectedly turned to himself.

“Those madeleines we received the other day—you made those with Hiyori-chan, didn’t you?”

“Oh—well, yes.” He nodded stiffly at her question.

“They were absolutely delicious! I adored them!”

“O—oh, it was…nothing, really. I’m glad you enjoyed them.” He bowed his head in return as she dipped a bow his way. He knew all he needed to do was be as open and confident as he was on the job, but the unexpected nature of the conversation had his unease showing clearly his face.

“I must say I’m quite jealous of Hiyori-chan, being able to prepare sweets with such a cool oniisan!”

“Hardly, ma’am!” He knew it was nothing more than flattery, but such straightforward compliments still left him feeling embarra.s.sed.

“Oh my, look at the time! I’m so sorry to have kept you this long.”

“Not at all, it’s our fault as well for keeping you from your errands.”

They exchanged farewells, and after parting ways, Kiris.h.i.+ma whispered a reprimand. “You’re too d.a.m.n uptight!”

“Not like I can help it! I didn’t think she’d want to talk to me…” He’d hoped to sink silently into the background, but with his build, he supposed that just wasn’t possible.

“Well hey, at least you got called a ‘cool oniisan‘.”

“That was clearly just idle flattery.”

“Even so, it means she’s fond of you, right? You’ll garner more suspicion being all uptight like that; try having a little confidence!”

“I know, it’s just…” Maybe he’d been more nervous and sensitive than usual lately. Being confessed to out of the blue when he’d least expected it, having his relations.h.i.+p with Kiris.h.i.+ma pointed out—it seemed like a never-ending parade of situations designed to unsettle, provoking his cowardly worrywart side.

But his coming to Kiris.h.i.+ma’s place was no longer all that strange—dropping by for dinner, to play with Sorata, to look over Hiyori’s homework. And while Yokozawa himself saw each and every one of these mundane things as something special, something he couldn’t help but enjoy, it was far from something he should feel ashamed of.

“…You know, if it’s bugging you so much, why not just ask him?”

“Huh?”

“You’re worried about how you come off, right? If you hear from Yasuda what made him realize we were together, then don’t you think that might go a ways toward easing your concerns?”

Indeed, if he could just figure out what had prompted Yasuda to question the depth of their relations.h.i.+p, it might resolve this whole affair—but it would certainly be no easy task tracking down someone who hardly ever showed his face at the office.

“W—wait, how am I supposed to ask him?”

“Guess you’ll have to trust in fate.”

“Oi!” He felt his irritation with Kiris.h.i.+ma rise as the man proceeded to s.h.i.+rk any responsibility in the matter, leaving Yokozawa feeling like he was spinning his wheels in fruitless effort.

“You know, you’re gonna go bald if you keep worrying over c.r.a.p like this.”

“I’ll have you know neither my father nor my grandfather have gone bald!” Granted, the fact that he felt compelled to respond to comments like this kind of suggested he was worried about it, and heaving a sigh at how easily he’d been played yet again, he craned his neck back to stare up at the sunny skies above.

“Sorry, I’m boarding!” Yokozawa called out, rus.h.i.+ng to enter the elevator which had just released some pa.s.sengers onto the floor of the literature division, where Yokozawa had only moments ago finished his own business. He moved to thank the person who’d kindly held the door for him—when his eyes widened as he took in his fellow pa.s.senger. “Ah…”

“Hey there; so we meet again!” Yasuda grinned when he met Yokozawa’s eyes. It was the second time they’d met, and the first in a week or so. Truthfully, Yokozawa hadn’t expected to meet the man again so soon, given that he seemed more like a ghost than a man.

Maybe this was finally his chance.

“Just came from a meeting?”

“Yes; we’re just finalizing the details for the upcoming campaign.” When a smile graced Yasuda’s gorgeous features, it granted him even greater intensity than before, and despite his reputation for strong-arming others, Yokozawa suspected there weren’t many around who could possibly turn down any request in the face of a smile like that. It wasn’t a matter of him being anyone’s type, more that he was just so graceful it came off intimidating.

“Which floor? Sales is on 2, right?”

“Oh—yes, thank you.” Yasuda pressed the panel at Yokozawa’s low-key request, and a silence settled over them. It was times like this that made the trip in the elevator feel interminable, and in an effort to be rid of the awkward tension, he forced himself to speak. “May I…ask you a question?”

“Ask as many as you like,” Yasuda responded easily to the hesitant Yokozawa. Kiris.h.i.+ma had mentioned that he’d speak to Yasuda himself, so perhaps it wasn’t his place to ask this kind of thing, but he might not get a chance to talk to Yasuda again after this, so he couldn’t help it.

“…How did you know?”

“Know what? Oh—about you and Kiris.h.i.+ma? Sorry about that; we’d only just met and I went and stuck my foot in my mouth, huh? Guess anyone’d freak out if some total stranger said something like that to them.”

“Oh, no that’s…” It wasn’t that he’d wanted Yasuda to apologize; he simply wanted to know how the man had realized what their relations.h.i.+p was. If he could just figure that out, then he’d know what steps to take to ensure it didn’t happen again, and while he didn’t like relying on others, it was inescapable in this situation.

“I’m pretty sharp about those kinds of things. I guess I just realized. Maybe because I’m bi myself, I felt a sense of camaraderie?”

“Huh?” He sensed that Yasuda had just dropped a huge bomb, and unsure of how best to respond to Yasuda’s unexpected reply, Yokozawa just sat there blinking stupidly.

“I guess if I had to pick one over the other, I’d say I prefer guys; oh—but don’t worry, Kiris.h.i.+ma is so not my type. Though you’re not so bad yourself… But I’m not so desperate I’d go after someone who’s already taken.”

“Uh…okay…?” He’d lost any hope of following the thread of conversation now, mind swirling at being bombarded with information he really hadn’t wanted to know. At least he’d managed to figure out that Yasuda viewed neither him nor Kiris.h.i.+ma as potential romantic conquests. This man probably had a different idea of what const.i.tuted ‘common sense’ from Yokozawa.

“Well, here’s the 2nd floor. You’re getting off here, right?”

“Oh—yes.” At Yasuda’s prompting, he wandered off the elevator in a daze. But as he turned back to the elevator, he caught Yasuda flas.h.i.+ng him a merry smile as the doors closed.

“See ya later! Looks like you got hooked by a real pain in the a.s.s, but hang in there!” This strange cheer of encouragement merely left Yokozawa feeling all the more confused. Yasuda was even more inexplicable a person than Yokozawa had heard.

“What’s wrong, Yokozawa-san? Standing there lost in thought,” Henmi called out as he pa.s.sed by, voice tinged with curiosity.

“Huh? Oh, no, it’s nothing. Just s.p.a.ced out there for a moment.”

“Are you all right? You’ve been rather busy lately, so are you sure you aren’t overworking yourself? We’d be quite stuck if we lost you, after all! Be sure to rest up well when you can and take care of yourself.”

“…So in other words, you’re not worried about me so much as your workload?”

At the shocked retort, Henmi grew a bit fl.u.s.tered. “Oh, wait, I mean—of course I’m worried for your own good?!”

“Your true feelings leaked out there for a minute, idiot.” But he couldn’t bring himself to be truly angry with the ever-straightforward Henmi. In fact, he mused that it would be nice ifeveryone were as open and honest as Henmi—but he’d never be that lucky.

“Oh—they did?”

“Good grief, you’re lucky to be able to be so honest…”

“Indeed! It’s my trademark, after all!” Yokozawa couldn’t help the smile that tugged at his lips in response to Henmi’s own broad, unabashed grin. There was no point in beleaguering over things he couldn’t change with mere worries. Things were what they were.

“I’m feeling better now that I’ve seen you.”

“Uh…well, I don’t…really get it, but that’s great!”

“C’mon, let’s get to work.”

“Yes, sir!” And at Henmi’s energetic response, Yokozawa followed him onto the sales floor.

THE END