Takano leaned back in his chair and put the book that he'd been scrutinizing over his eyes. He was exhausted, but it wouldn't do to let his employees suspect, so he reigned himself in and sat up. Setting the manga down on his desk, he peered at the Emerald editors. All were hard at work-especially Onodera. That kid was always plowing away at whatever task he'd been saddled with.

He let his eyes linger on that lithe figure and the smooth skin exposed above Onodera's collar. Takano felt his mouth water at the thought of running his lips long that slender neck-

Work.

He was at work and he had to maintain a semblance of professionalism. But…was it just his imagination or was Onodera stealing glances his way every now and then? Takano's heart skipped a beat when those green eyes locked on his. Takano smirked. Onodera's eyes widened at first, then immediately looked to the storyboard on his desk. A violent flush stained his cheeks. Relief and smug triumph coursed through Takano's frame. Regardless of what Onodera pretended, he was in love with Takano.

He had to be.

Right?

Takano tapped his pen on his desk and tried to put it out of his mind. He had way too much work to see to. But throughout the rest of the day, he couldn't help finding small excuses to talk to Onodera…touch him on the shoulder…imagine throwing him into the break room and kissing him senseless…

Takano had to see him tonight.

There was no question.

The evening arrived and slowly, the Emerald editors trickled out. All except for Onodera and Takano. He often wondered if the younger man simply stayed late so that they could take the train together, as they often did. It would be an easy excuse. But Takano also felt many of his hopes were unfounded. Wishful thinking, that's all it was.

Still…

He stood up from his desk and stretched, eyeing Onodera all the while. There it was. Onodera ran his gaze up Takano's body. A shiver rushed through him as he watched and Takano tried to imagine what Onodera was thinking.

"Let's get dinner," Takano said, trying to make it sound like a command rather than a suggestion.

Onodera's brows furrowed. "I'm staying here. I've got too much going on to bother with dinner."

Takano raised an eyebrow. "You'll miss the last train."

"I can walk."

Takano sighed and strode across the floor. Taking Onodera by the collar, he playfully pulled him to standing and whirled him around.

"I haven't seen you eat all day. You must be hungry. Come on. You. Me. Dinner at my place."

Onodera frowned, but kept his mouth shut for several minutes. Finally, "Fine."

Takano's mouth parted. Onodera actually said yes? Happiness fluttered in Takano's gut and he swung his arm around Onodera's shoulder. The man hissed and forced the arm off, but he didn't move too far away. The flush warming his cheeks further endeared him to Takano.

And in that simple moment, Takano loved Onodera so much that his chest ached.

How had things become so complicated between them? He remembered the first time he caught that shy boy watching him in the library and how he had wondered about "Oda" Ritsu's reasons for loving him. Takano still felt like he was a rather boring creature. How could this vibrant, fiery now-man love him? Did he? They'd been sleeping together for over a year now, but he'd yet to hear those coveted words.

"Onodera…" Takano whispered without intention of saying more.

"Takano-san?" Onodera raised an eyebrow.

They'd already left Marukawa and were on their way to the train station. They stopped under a street lamp for a moment - - just long enough for Takano to take Onodera's chin between his fingers and pull him in for a kiss. Predictably, Onodera stiffened.

"We're in public, you ass!" He pulled away, wiping his mouth.

Takano couldn't help smirking. "I don't care."

"Well, I do!"

He relented and took the compromising route of holding Onodera's hand. The other man jerked away at first, but after a moment softened and squeezed Takano's hand in return.

Takano's eyes widened at that.

All through the train rode and the rest of the way home, they existed hand in hand and Takano practically glowed with pleasure. It was when Onodera snapped his hand away from him and headed for the second apartment door that Takano realized they hadn't picked up any food.

"What about dinner?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I've got food," Onodera said, fumbling for his keys.

"Like hell you do. You're apartment is a disaster. Even if you had any, how would you find it in there?"

Onodera shot him a glare.

"Come on. I've got leftovers in mine," Takano said.

Green eyes narrowed, glanced to the door, then back at Takano. "Just food, then I go home. I'm exhausted."

"You have my word," Takano promised, though it sent regret straight to his core.

It wasn't as though Onodera hated what they did together. Why did he always make it seem like he did? Takano tried to hide his furrowed brows as he unlocked his apartment and stepped into the genkan. Onodera followed, toed off his shoes and followed Takano up into the hallway. Now that they were truly alone, it took all of his willpower not to turn in for a kiss…or more.

Inside the living room, Takano said, "Have a seat. I'll make reheat the curry."

Onodera did, grabbing a book off the coffee table on the way to the sofa. Takano watched him thumb open the pages and smiled. They both enjoyed Usami Akihiko's work. A pleasant quiet fell over them as Takano stood at the stove, stirring the curry. His rice cooker stood beside him on the counter, steaming away. It felt so domestic that, for a moment, Takano imagined they lived together like this always. He'd wanted to ask Onodera to move in with him in earnest, but the younger man would no doubt throw it off as a joke or vehemently protest.

But damn it, Takano hated when they were apart. Did Onodera seriously want to get away from him that badly?

"Have you read that one before?" Takano asked.

"Not yet," Onodera admitted.

It was Usami's newest release and Takano knew how much his kouhai loved literature. "Take it. I can get another one at work."

Onodera blushed. "Th-thank you."

The rice cooker beeped and Takano set about making them bowls with the curry on top. He set them on the coffee table and invited Onodera to sit beside him. Instead, the other man stayed deliberately on the other side.

Pain splashed across Takano's heart, but he quelled it. They ate in silence. It didn't feel awkward to him, but Onodera's face remained downcast as he ate. It was so like his younger face that Takano couldn't help the memories of their high school days-the way he'd responded when-

No. He couldn't let his thoughts travel down that road. He'd promised Onodera.

Could he keep such a promise, truly?

His sense of honor warred with his sense of passion. Takano almost wanted to put his head down on the table and sigh.

"Thank you for the meal," Onodera said, standing up and retrieving his dish.

He'd barely touched the food, but Takano didn't press it. They put their bowls in the sink and Takano tried to think of an excuse to keep Onodera in the apartment just a bit longer, but his mind drew a blank. Instead, he walked him to the genkan and Onodera left without another word. Takano watched him go and felt a bit of himself dim. Would it always be like this between them? Did Onodera really feel nothing for him anymore after all this time?

He sighed and went to wash up the dishes.