Chapter 1: Wingman

"Thinking of buying some flowers, Kamijou-sensei?"

Kamijou Hiroki snapped his head back so fast he cricked his neck, cinnamon eyes landing squarely on a tall man with silver hair, who was standing right behind him and carrying a bulky brown envelope in one hand, a cup of coffee in the other.

"Wh-what?! What are you talking about?" Hiroki spluttered, his eyes wide and brows furrowed in indignant panic. He quickly grabbed his coffee mug and raised it to his lips, taking a large gulp, and hoped that the porcelain was big enough to hide his reddening face.

His best friend slid into the seat across him with a bored expression. "Don't even bother lying to me, Hiroki," he sighed, placing the envelope on the table between them and sliding it over to Hiroki's space. "I've known you for ages and besides, I think I deserve to know the reason why I had to come all the way here instead of meeting up at the usual place," he complained, setting a pack of cigarettes and a lighter on the table. "For three times in a row now."

Hiroki sent the man a withering look. "Nothing's up," he insisted, before his treacherous eyes betrayed him and traveled to the window once more, observing the flower shop across the street. Pots of colorful blossoms and shrubs were lined up neatly on display along the front of the store and a very tall man tended to them, wearing a long black apron and a slightly crumpled white button up shirt. The sleeves were rolled all the way up to his elbows, and they revealed strong, toned forearms.

Hiroki watched the muscles flex enticingly from his seat and his companion followed his gaze, before letting out a low whistle. "That's one handsome guy right there," he smirked, raising an elegant silver brow, "but honestly I've never thought of you as being the stalker type."

Hiroki wrenched his eyes away from the glass and turned to glare at his friend. "Shut up Akihiko," he warned, but there was no real bite to his words. Rubbing the crick on his neck, he muttered, "And by the way, I'm not stalking him - I'm just watching him."

Akihiko's smirk only widened, perfect teeth gleaming in the filtered sunlight. "Ah, but what's the difference, Hiroki? As far as I know you've been coming here for weeks now," he chuckled, before leaning forward conspiratorially. "And so, have you two done it yet?"

Hiroki choked on his coffee and coughed loudly, the hot liquid scalding his throat, and causing the other customers around them to look at him in alarm. He could feel his face growing redder by the second as he quickly wiped his mouth with a napkin and growled, "of course not, you moron!" Seriously, why did this guy always jump to the most perverted conclusions?

Across the table, his best friend ignored the insult and instead squinted at him with curious violet eyes. Resting his chin on steepled fingers, he suddenly asked, "So what's up with you and Shinoda? Have you ditched him yet?"

Hiroki's face darkened at the question and he quickly picked up the envelope in front of him – he didn't like where this conversation was going the least bit. "No. It's – you're being ridiculous," he replied, pulling out a manuscript from the envelope and settled down to peruse it, purposefully ignoring Akihiko and hoping that the man would let the topic rest.

On a regular day, he would have gobbled up the other man's work like slices of salmon belly sashimi, but this time, he found it hard to focus on the text in front of him. How very unusual, considering that written words had always been a form of escape for the assistant professor. An unpleasant ache seared in his chest without warning, and he unconsciously wrapped his arms around himself, willing for it to subside.

Akihiko was silent for the next few minutes, save for the light drumming of fingers on the table and the gentle clinking of a coffee cup being set down on its saucer. "Something happened, again," he finally said, and leaned back on his seat. "Tell me what the bastard did so I can smash his face in. It's about time, really."

"It's nothing. Just the usual arguments," dismissed Hiroki, not looking up from the manuscript in his hand.

Akihiko clicked his tongue impatiently. "I can tell it's something serious this time. What is it? Another suspicion of an affair going on?"

The brunette froze and opened his mouth as if to say something, before closing it again, pushing the stack of papers back on the table. There was no use lying to his best friend, the man could read him like an open book. It was just that God knew how desperately Hiroki had been trying to keep his thoughts from straying to Shinoda for the past few weeks, and now that Akihiko wanted to talk about it – he wasn't sure if he was ready.

"Out with it, don't bottle it all up," his author friend pressed on, "you've been moping about long enough." Reaching out a large hand, he roughly tousled Hiroki's hair. "You look like a dead person, Hiroki, and anyone can see that you haven't been eating or sleeping well. Plus we're practically brothers, I'll feel offended if you don't trust me enough with this."

The smaller man bit his lip and stared at his friend. Although he found Akihiko annoying most of the time, he had to admit that the guy was a truly great friend and had been a brother he'd never had – the only one who had stayed and supported him throughout the years of sour moods and insults. He'd always been an ally.

Exhaling through his nose in defeat, Hiroki started hesitantly. "I- It's not a suspicion… I actually tailed him this time and saw him meeting up with a woman." Saying it out loud actually made him feel extra sick, the coffee churning in his empty stomach.

At this, the blonde's eyes went wide and his hands slowly balled into fists. "And you're positive she's not just a colleague or a friend?" he probed.

Hiroki nodded, cradling his head in his hands wearily. "Yeah, I followed them for quite a bit and… and it was definitely a date." They'd gone to a love hotel, was what he wanted to add but Hiroki didn't think he had it in him to say it to Akihiko; hell he was just overall pissed at how pathetic he'd become. Why hadn't he confronted them when he saw them? So much for someone hailed as the 'Devil Kamijou'.

The author let out a quiet snarl and stood up all of a sudden, bumping the table in his anger and the coffee cup clattered loudly against the saucer. Hiroki quickly grabbed his wrist and pulled him back down, before they could make a scene; he'd forgotten how sensitive Akihiko was to this sort of topic.

"Leave him, now. Call that son of a bitch and dump him right now."

"I- I will, but not now Akihiko, I can't do it now," Hiroki replied, squeezing the wrist in his hand. A deep frown creased between his eyebrows. "Just give me some time."

The taller man stared at him and huffed, before sitting back down reluctantly. "Yeah that's what you've been saying for the past 3 years. Listen up Hiroki, going down this path – continuing with this relationship – isn't going to lead you anywhere pleasant," he said matter-of-factly, "trust me on this."

The brunette scowled. "I know that, it's just that I…"

I love him.

He swallowed the words back down his throat and looked out the window again. Still outside his store, the tall florist was now chatting with an old woman, a soft, genuine smile resting on his face. He looked like the complete opposite of his lover.

"Ugh honestly I just feel so angry and tired of everything," Hiroki grumbled, shaking his head. "Part of me wish that I can just erase him from my memories or maybe even be pathetic and fly off to some distant country or whatever... but then the other part thinks that what I should do, is to go out and find some attractive guys to fuck around with," he blurted out viciously, gripping his mug so tightly his knuckles had turned white. "And get back at the cheating asshole, hurt him just like how he's hurting me."

Akihiko hummed in agreement and nodded. "I say go have fun and fuck someone else, just hurt him back. That way whatever happens, you get to even out the score." He tilted his head towards the window. "You can start with him," he said, pointing to the florist across the street, "he's good-looking enough for you I bet." Narrowing his eyes, the blonde examined the man further. "Hmph, although he's not really my type to be honest." He turned to fix Hiroki with an interested expression. "I take it you two know each other? You're not the type to get smitten by a stranger."

Hiroki scowled again. Was he really that easy to read? Ah, the perks and drawbacks that come with a childhood best friend.

"Yeah we kind of talked a little. It's a long story, and it's the type that goes with alcoholic beverages, not coffee," he mumbled, rubbing his forehead with his hands.

"And that's what we shall do tonight then," Akihiko declared, gathering his things about and preparing to leave.

"Wait, what about the manuscript? Don't you have a deadline to meet?"

"It's fine, don't worry about it. I'll get it done somehow."

Hiroki sighed. "Bakahiko, don't you always miss your deadlines?"

"Oh shut it Hiroki, one night isn't going to make a difference. Plus you don't have classes tomorrow. Perfect timing."

"Perfect timing my ass, you're ditching work," the brunette snorted.

"Let's go," ignored his best friend, motioning for him to stand up, "we can grab some dinner, you really need to eat." He started to weave his way out of the coffee shop before abruptly stopping in his tracks. "Ah but before that, let's get some flowers. It's right across the street anyway."

Hiroki blanched. "What? What do you need flowers for all of a sudden?"

"It's Aikawa's birthday tomorrow. Just thought I'll leave them in the living room for her to find when she comes over to nag in the morning. Maybe it'll get her off my back for a few days." Akihiko looped an arm around his elbow and started tugging him across the road. "Come on, I want to see the guy for myself."

I knew it! Hiroki dug his heels onto the asphalt and struggled to remain in place, however Akihiko was much larger and stronger than he was, and thus his efforts were futile – he was literally getting dragged along like a suitcase. "Bakahiko! Quit it! I don't want to–!"

The author just laughed, clearly enjoying himself. "Oh why not Hiroki? Let's get your acquaintance to recommend me something good, shall we?"

"Oi Bakahiko! I'm seriously getting pissed off here! I told you I don't want– "

Akihiko pushed open the door to the shop and Hiroki was shoved bodily inside, nearly tripping over his own feet. He whirled around, whispering violently under his breath, "Bakahiko, I swear I'm gonna kill– ", only to find himself alone. The man in question had remained outside the store, lighting up a cigarette on the sidewalk and grinning smugly at him. Hiroki could feel his blood boil in exasperation and embarrassment; he couldn't wait to smack that perfect silver blonde head. He'd already placed one hand on the door and was about to step back outside, when a soft, bright voice called out from behind him.

"Good evening Kamijou-san, I'm so happy you're back!"

Heart suddenly racing in his chest, Hiroki slowly turned around to find himself standing in front of a tall, blue-eyed man who was beaming down at him, a small potted plant cradled in his arm. The brunette felt the heat spread across his face, and he cleared his throat rather nervously.

"Ah, Kusama, good evening."

A/N: For those who don't know who Shinoda is, he is featured in the manga, and used to hook up with Hiroki back in his uni days. Later on it's shown that Shinoda has a child.

I'm an amateur who just started writing fiction and so if you have some time please kindly leave me feedback :)

I hope you enjoyed this and thank you for reading! \(^0^)/