A/N: Because it's already in my computer: here's chapter 2!

Again, please enjoy :)

Chapter 2: Not so one- sided, anymore

xxx Tetsuhiro xxx

"Angel- kun, the moe moe flowers you are emitting is making me ill." Hiroto commented dryly as his regular patron and friend happily ordered a long island tea and proceeded to gaze dreamily into space.

Tetsuhiro stirred his drink randomly, the grin unabated despite Hiroto's sarcasm. "Tonight, Hiroto- san, your cold water is not going to make me upset! Ahhh, sempai…" Hiroto shuddered and sincerely hoped that whatever conquest Angel- kun was going to unload on him later, it wouldn't be a blow- by- blow report of their foreplay that Angel- kun and his tyrant "roommate" engaged in, like what Tetsuhiro had done the other night three weeks ago after he and Sempai- san had "consummated their love" as Tetsuhiro himself had coined.

"So, what's the happy occasion?" Nobody could say that Hiroto was not masochistic.

Tetsuhiro did not know where to begin. Ever since Sempai had told him to stay by his side and the night when they had made love instead of having sex, Tetsuhiro had begun to feel that Sempai was slowly opening up to him.

"Sempai? Where are you?" Tetsuhiro had called Souichi's cell the day after his return from Tokyo where he had had his first week- long training session. Souichi had been missing from their shared apartment when Tetsuhiro woke up in the afternoon, having shared a drink with Hiroto till four am the night before.

"Er…I'll be back. Don't go anywhere!" With that cryptic message, Souichi had hung up and Tetsuhiro had been puzzled but happy that he could get to spend the day off with his Sempai. Yesterday's happy homecoming celebration with Souichi had been shelved due to some mishaps at the lab and the both of them (Sempai mostly) had been too exhausted. Tetsuhiro's plan of having a romantic dinner out, followed by a romantic walk home, then a night of passion had been totally canned. To say the young man had been disappointed would be an understatement.

Tetsuhiro's ruminations were disrupted when he heard the sound of a key turning in the apartment door's lock. "Sempai! Welcome home!" His eyes widened at the sight of Souichi carrying about ten bags of groceries.

"Come and help me close the door, you baka!" Souichi hefted the groceries to the kitchenette while Tetsuhiro hastened to close the door.

"Sempai…? What in the world?" Souichi ignored him as he began to tie the apron, which belonged to Tetsuhiro. Tetsuhiro rummaged through the bags. There was steak, potatoes, carrots, flour, eggs… What in the world was going on? If Tetsuhiro did not know that Sempai never cooked, ever, he would have guessed that Souichi was about to prepare dinner for them.

"Shoo! Go watch some TV or something. The kitchen is out of bounds!" With that, a bemused Tetsuhiro went and sat at the couch and pretended to watch TV, all the while following his sempai's movements around the kitchenette.

It was four hours, a mini explosion at the oven and many expletives later that Souichi and Tetsuhiro sat down at the square table that served as both coffee and dining table, two almost- burnt steaks garnished with raw salad haphazardly chopped into strange cubes, a bowl of lumpy mashed potatoes and a soufflé that looked decidedly saggy staring up at the two men. The clock chimed 7 pm.

"Uhh, sempai…?" Tetsuhiro could not believe his eyes; his Sempai, the man who had never cooked even an egg before, had whipped up a whole main course and dessert in four hours. He was unbelievably touched. This was how sempai meant to make up for yesterday's ruined plans. He wanted to remember this moment forever.

Unfortunately, Souichi took Tetsuhiro's hesitation for refusal. Glancing at his dismal effort at making a romantic dinner (minus the candlelights and flowers; there was only so much he could concede), Souichi grimaced. No way anybody would stomach the food, even Morinaga. "This means nothing! Don- don't eat it, I'll clear them now. Let's order takeout sushi instead." Souichi had started to collect the plates when Morinaga stopped him, the brilliant smile making every thwart in the kitchen worth it.

"Thank you, Sempai. Itadakimasu!"

"The food was delicious…" Tetsuhiro sipped his long island, his grin firmly in place. "Hiroto- san, the food cooked with love is incomparable." Hiroto merely shook his head daintily. Angel- kun was gone off the deep end on this Sempai- san.

It was two days after he had come home from Tokyo. Tetsuhiro and Souichi were drinking beer at the park near their apartment, a cigarette dangling off Souichi's lips. The air was cool and quiet, autumn approaching. They had been talking about Tetsuhiro's training.

"Their lab was enormous; so many departments! Prof. Fukushima went with me and he introduced me to the head chemist at the main lab. They said that they are developing a new drug that utilises all- natural herb ingredients. I think I might be able to help out on this project!" Tetsuhiro was excited; the trip to Tokyo had shown him the many applications of his research in the university, and he could not wait until the year was up to start working officially at the giant pharmaceuticals company.

"Sounds good. Choosing to work definitely suits you. When's your next training session?"

Tetsuhiro was glad that Sempai did not seem bored by his ramblings about Tokyo. It was a pity that Souichi was too passionate about his research at the university, if only sempai could join him in Tokyo! But he had promised that Tetsuhiro could always stay by his side, and the younger man decided that that was enough at the moment; the future would sort itself out. "Ehh that would be a month later. Do you want to go with me? I miss Sempai so much during the trip~" Tetsuhiro grinned and ducked when Souichi swung, as was his habit, a fist at his head. Sempai's bark was definitely worse than his bite.

"Prof. said that it's a good time now to accept this job, because it's likely that I will be travelling around Japan to the different branches on a rotational basis. He said that this position had at first been offered to another postgraduate but because his wife was pregnant, he declined the offer. I'm lucky! But truthfully, Sempai, if given a choice, I wouldn't want to travel so much either and be away from you… Maybe I could request to stay at the Nagoya branch!"

"Baka! You are a newcomer; don't go getting your head all swollen up. This is a good chance to learn all the things and apply them." This time, Souichi's fist connected with Tetsuhiro's head and the younger man winced as he rubbed his head sheepishly. "I said before, didn't I? No matter where you go, I'll…be right here. Now, let's go; my stomach isn't feeling too well." Long hair swishing, Souichi had stood up primly and begun to stalk out of the park. Tetsuhiro knew though that his Sempai's face would be flushed red in embarrassment. He stood up happily and followed the familiar track home.

When he caught up with Souichi, the both of them exited the park and stepped onto the pavement. From there, it was a five- minute walk to their apartment. At this time, most people were already at home, so the streets were quiet, only the occasional dog barking as they trekked home. Somewhere in the middle, Tetsuhiro took hold of Souichi's hand, clasping the man's smaller palm in his while holding his breath. "Baka…" was all Tetsuhiro heard but Souichi's hand remained in his. Two and a half minutes later, they reached the apartment door and Souichi had removed his hand before letting themselves into the warm apartment. It was short but it was the first time they had held hands as they walked.

"Another long island tea, Hiroto- san. I held Sempai's hands for the first time! And he didn't resist! And we were outside, in public!"

Angel- kun was becoming embarrassing. Luckily, it was a quiet night. Hiroto mixed the drink efficiently, replacing the empty glass in front of Tetsuhiro. "Seriously, Angel- kun? Two point five minutes of holding hands is, in my opinion, not holding hands at all. You have to work harder!"

Tetsuhiro merely grinned, his head already falling lopsidedly onto the bar table. "Sempai…"

"Sempai, breakfast is ready!"

Tetsuhiro set the last plate of grilled mackerel on the square table with a flourish, satisfied with his handiwork. Sempai's appetite had not been too good of late and he had especially prepared Souichi's favourite Japanese breakfast. Tetsuhiro had even bought ginger tea to replace their usual oolong, having heard that ginger was good for soothing the stomach.

"Ahh, gomen. I wanted to help out with breakfast today but the alarm apparently did not wake me." The older man padded over to the breakfast-laden table and sat down beside Tetsuhiro. Tetsuhiro could smell the minty aftershave on the other man's skin. Grinning, he stole a peck from Souichi.

"I wish Sempai were my breakfast, yum."

"You-!" Souichi scowled, pushing Tetsuhiro's hands away as he started on the food. "Wasn't yesterday night enough to whet your appetite!"

"I will never have enough of you, Sempai," Tetsuhiro grinned and caught the chopsticks that were thrown at him. The breakfast passed in relative silence, the aromas from the grilled fish and miso soup wafting lazily in the morning light. Tetsuhiro was glad to see that Sempai finished everything on the plates today, when he had barely eaten half a bowl of rice for the past few mornings.

"The tea's good. Is it ginger?"

"Yea! Minami- san in school recommended this for upset stomachs. Is it working?"

"Y-yea, it's good…Thanks, Morinaga." Souichi's ears were turning a slight pink.

Happy, Tetushiro knew that Sempai had acknowledged his concern. "Sempai, you should take better care of your eating habits! I won't be here to cook for you for the next two weeks, ne."

"Baka, I'm a grown man! There's nothing to worry over. I'll wash up while you go get ready; you are going to school with me today, right?" The older man began to collect the plates and started to head to the kitchen sink. Tetsuhiro headed to the shower, his good mood set to last for the day. If he could wake up every morning to cook and eat together with his Sempai, then life would be perfect.

To be continued.

Comments and reviews would be read with great pleasure and heart :p