'Obochama,' the butler opened the door and ushered him in. 'Okarinasai.'

Keigo nodded his head curtly and dismissed him. After all, it was already two in the morning. Keigo shook off his jacket and his butler hung it on the rack.

'Go and res-,' he once again ordered.

'Atobe-sama,' his butler cut in. 'Akutagawa is waiting for you in the living room.'

Jiroh?

Keigo shot an annoyed look at his butler. 'I'll take care of it. Now go and retire, Koriyoshi-san.'

His butler nodded hastily and exited. While the Atobes were strict, they did care about their employees, no matter what position.

Keigo entered the living room to find Jiroh sprawled the kotatsu. Keigo smiled at the sight. But what on earth was he here for, especially on a dead winter's night?

Keigo made himself comfortable in the kotatsu. Then he realized he should probably make some tea. Just he was about to get up, one of his servants entered carrying two mugs of hot chocolate. She smiled slightly, noting the surprised look on her employer.

"Which servant would allow her master busy himself with such a menial task?'

'Thank you, Grace-san.'

Grace was one of his favourites, she had taken care of him since he was young, always hardworking and genuinely cared for him.

'And tell Koriyoshi-san and whoever's awake that they are excused from morning duty tomorrow. It's a Saturday after all.' 'And that includes you, Grace-san!' he called after her retreating back.

'Wake up, Jiroh. I know you're not asleep.' He turned to the figure in front of him. Jiroh has been nudging him with his toe since Grace entered.

'But it's so warm...' Jiroh whined before sitting up and rubbing his eyes.

'So what brings you here?' Keigo took a sip of the drink that instantly spread warmth into his frozen body.

'You know I don't own a kotatsu.'

Keigo felt something probing his feet. He swatted the disturbance away with his foot but the said disturbance caught both his feet into foot lock. Not to be defeated, he twisted the lock around and broke free, this time, he 'attacked' the other.

'You didn't attend school on Friday, so I brought your homework.'

'You should trouble yourself. Ore-sama was stuck in a series of meetings since eight this morning.'

'Any contracts?'

'Signed the contract with the Yuriha Company we had been chasing for months. They were being difficult about it too. Of course,' he couldn't help but add. 'They complied, since Ore-sama offers the best.'

And he couldn't hold in the smirk that spread over his face as he caught Jiroh's feet into a foot lock.

Jiroh struggled slightly.

"Ne, Atobe?'

'Hmm?'

'You've got some cream on your nose.'

Keigo stared at Jiroh with a disbelieving look. Jiroh took the opportunity to lean forward, lick it off, and settled back with an innocent expression. Keigo gaped at Jiroh in an undignified manner.

'Could I have more?' Jiroh pointed to his now empty mug.

Wordlessly, Keigo nodded and made to get up. However, he fell back down again as his feet were locked together. Jiroh had flipped them over when he licked the cream off.

Jiroh beamed innocently and Keigo sighed, a small, genuine smile on his lips.

'It's late. You can take any guest room you like.'

'Mmm. Can I stay here? It's warm.'

'The beds and rooms have a heater, Jiroh.'

Jiroh shook his head and snuggled further into the kotatsu. Keigo sighed and complied. After all, when Jiroh had his mindset on something, it was impossible to change it.

Oblivious to the two boys, Grace and Koriyoshi were crouched against the doorway of the living room.

'You owe me 1000 yen,' the female voice spoke.

Koriyoshi grudgingly handed the money over.

Grace received it with a smirk of triumph.' I told you Master Keigo can never beat Akutagawa-sama at footsie.'

'And,' she continued as she fondly watched over the now sleeping boys. 'Master Keigo always listens to Akutagawa-sama.'

Koriyoshi nodded with defeat. 'Obochama is so whipped.'