Chapter 2. Not much yet. It's freaking 5am though.


Closing time, and Makoto Miki is the last to leave his ramen shop. He fixes a few more things and locks the doors.

*Sigh* "Gosh, why do I always, one way or another, make a fool of myself. I must have some sort of talent for looking like a complete idiot or something."

The young man, clad in his blue suit once again, walks the lighted streets of Shibuya. Even at night, this familiar place in Tokyo is bustling with people.

Passing the 104 building, Makoto suddenly caught a certain blond in the crowd. As it seems, he too has noticed the brunette in kind.

"Why, Mick, there you are." The Prince of Ennui greets as he strolls over to where Makoto was standing.

"Oh, hello again, Mr. Oji." He replies, forcing a smile.

"Hm, I do apologize if I seemed a bit insensitive to your situation earlier today. It was not my intention to embarrass you like that in front of your customers." Eiji says, still with his head high as always, but expression and tone, apologetic and sincere.

"A-ah, n-no! Prince! It's totally fine! It... It was probably my own fault anyway. It was no way your fault..." Makoto replied hurriedly and a bit timidly, his voice trailing off near the end of his last sentence.

"Very well, but might I ask what's wrong? You seemed very bothered."

Makoto, eyes fixated on the ground for a while, shifts on his feet a little, before finally meeting the Prince's eyes, a faint blush on his face.

---

"Gee, you didn't have to come all the way back here just to listen to me---"

"No, no, it's quite all right. I'm always willing to lend an ear. And it's nice to just hang around like this once in a while. It's not every day I have no appointment to attend to at a moment."

The two, Makoto Miki and Eiji Oji spoke, sitting inside the now closed Shadow Ramen shop.

"Uh... th-thanks." Makoto mutters out while directing his attention to something on the floor, sweat dripping down the side of his face.

"So, what seems to be the matter?" Eiji, the Prince, asks, face expressionless, waiting for a reply.

"Um, ah... I... lately I've had this feeling that a certain customer of mine might be hitting on me. I-I mean, it's just--- he's come in a little too often in just the span of two days. I don't know anymore how many bowls of Shadow Steak Ramen he's bought. And it's really just wierding me out. There was nothing in the manual about something like this! And sometimes he comes in, looks around, and doesn't buy anything at all, and I think he may just be coming in to see me! And I'm really confused, and-- and---" Makoto drawls out in almost just one breath.

"Calm down, Mick. This is nothing you should be so confused about. I'm not sure whether that boy really is trying something, but I think it's perfectly clear what is really going on here." Eiji states, a knowing smile on his pale face.

"Y-you do?"

"Oh, Mick. If you were interested in fellow males, you shouldn't force yourself to deny it." Another smile gracing his features.

Makoto, taking a few seconds to process just what the princely man just said, suddenly--- "WHAT."

"E-eiji--! I mean-- Mr. Oji! Prince! I-it's not like that!! I-it can't be! I don't!! I c-can't--- NO!"

"Oh, come now. It's nothing to be ashamed of." Eiji says, expression serious, but with a smile on his face still. "It's perfectly fine."

"B-But, Mr Oji! D-Do... Do you really think I may be... um, you know." Makoto quietly asks, eyes downcast once more, looking more frazzled and confused as ever.

"Hm? I guess you could be. Or you may like both genders. I'm not quite sure." The Prince says and puts his hand round his chin, rubbing it lightly in thought. "I mean, you seem to have quite a few female friends, but I've never seen you show any particular interest to anyone you were with. I haven't really ever seen you date a girl too. I used to figure it was because you were so dedicated to your work, but now... I think it makes a little more sense, don't you think?" He says, finishing it with another smile.

Makoto, looking at the the smiling prince, himself looking quite incredulous, suddenly just drops his head on the table, practically smashing his face in.

HEAD DESK.


end chapter 2