A/N: I made this chapter when I went outside of the house in the morning. I 've been staying in all summer so far. The only time I go out its when we're food shopping or we need to visit the doctor. I love the morning warmth. Are you lactose intolerant? Prepare for a cheesy story of a reminiscing rabbit.
It's been so long since I went outside.
Normally, I would pull an all-nighter and sleep-in every chance I get. Not too long ago, I finished writing my latest romance novel that didn't deal with the people involved in my personal life. Isaka and Aikawa finally gave me a break from all the busy writer schedules. Of course, this will only last for a couple of weeks. While this went on, Misaki had his own busy schedule. Exams were thrown here and there. I had to tutor him for some, but majority of the time I dreamed of giving him my own exam. After the next couple of days, he'd finally taken the exam and passed. I gave him my own way of congrats after a celebratory dinner for both our successful accomplishments, but of course he was a little reluctant. I could say that we rested peacefully in each other's arms.
The day after, I woke up a lot earlier than usual. I was still a little groggy, but I wasn't much in a bad mood from having a 'word document-hangover'. It was about 6:40 in the morning. Misaki was still asleep from exhaustion. Whether it'd be from last night, or all the cramming for exams, I decided to give him his rest. I walked downstairs to the kitchen to fix myself something simple to eat. No way was I going to cook and disturb Misaki. He deserved his sleep. I took out a box of cereal that he'd bought recently. "Usagi-san, I'm not going to be able to cook for you all the time!", he repeated in my mind. I ate the cereal calmly with Suzuki-san across the table.
It's 7:10, and I had nothing to do. Misaki was still snoozing like a cat, and Hiroki was probably too busy for any more distractions to juggle his morning routines. "Should I work on my latest Junai?", I wondered. "No, I've done enough writing than I need in a month", I sighed. I smoked through maybe two or three sticks, way too early for drags. I decided to go out to the balcony and get some fresh air. When I opened the screen door, a warm ray of morning sunshine fell onto my face, followed by a light breeze. The warm sensation tingled as it collided with my cold a/c skin. It felt good.
It wasn't like the time in Hokkaido on Misaki's birthday when we walked around and went sight-seeing. No, this actually felt relaxing. I closed my eyes and let out a deep breath. I could only hear the faint rolling of cars passing below, birds chirping on the few trees that inhabited the street, and a dog on a morning run with it's master. After a few minutes, I returned back inside with a small but satisfied smile on my face. I'm not a morning person, but for some reason I wanted more of this bright spirit summoning me outside.
I decided to waste the rest of the morning reading old books in my study. Out of curiosity, I took a peek at Misaki's 'the Kan' collection. I didn't exactly enjoy it. After two hours of reading, referencing, inspiring, and fixing Suzuki-san's bow, I began to grow really bored. I decided to go out for a drive. I took some trips to a couple of bookstores. I had to wear a small disguise to pass my fan-girls who were buying my books. I saw some very interesting things during my getaway.
A man selling shoujo manga seemed an awful lot like a prince character from the manga itself, not to mention he almost looked like a love-child of two certain people I know. At the next aisle, I noticed a young boy was hiding from him and staring at him with an admiring gaze. I smell a bl-plot. At the other end of the boy's aisle, I saw a strange man staring at him. Unlike the boy, he was probably a creeper. I'm not one to be helping the innocent like a neighborhood superhero, but I don't admire a third wheel in a relationship. I went up to the salesman and pointed him toward the nuisance at the other end of the shelf.
When I saw the look on the young man's face, it was very interesting. Did he know the boy the creep was staring at? Whatever it was, the salesman took the creep to the back corner of the bookstore near the 'self-help' section, abandoning the girls who were purchasing shoujo. Next to me was the boy looking at them in an anxious expression while they were arguing. The salesman won and the creep sped out the bookstore. Afterward, the salesman and boy were whispering things to one another. I guessed they knew each other by the way the man kissed the boy after. Surprised, the boy looked over at me, thinking that I saw. I pretended to look through a romance novel in the section next to self-help, "He definitely wants to get into your pants tonight", I mumbled into the book and indirectly at the boy. He made an obvious blush as the salesman smiled and a couple of eavesdropping girls giggled in the distance.
I left the store a little amused, except that the book I pretended to read was stale. I have read better smut scenes written by virgin fanfic writers in my Junai fandom. I decided to stop at the park and rest for a little bit. Once again, I found myself mesmerized in the relaxation of an outside breeze as I sat in the shade. I opened my eyes to see the blue sky and the clusters of clouds. The trees' leaves surrounded my view. This sensation felt vaguely familiar. I took a walk for the rest of the morning and I was getting hungry. I looked around for a place nearby to eat, but to my surprise I was in a housing area. As I kept walking down the street, the environment looked more and more familiar. I was near the Usami estate, where the only place I took refuge was the abandoned room and forest. "I wonder…how it looks like now", I said to myself.
I looked for the opening that Hiroki would take to get there. Only he would use the opening. The only time I would use it is when we would both go right after school. I usually just entered through the front gate since I lived in it's property. I found the opening and I still had room to walk, but I had to bend over. The path seemed to still be used. Maybe some kids found the place and called it their own now. I reached the spot and scanned the forest. It's a lot smaller now. I looked up and I saw that the tree branches and leaves had made a canopy of themselves. The bushes were thicker and the tree I laid on had grown barky and grew out tiny bits of moss. It's roots had grown out of the ground. Contemplating on how everything has changed, I sat down on a tree root that stuck out. I relaxed again as I heard the breeze brush the tree leaves together. It was almost like the sea. After a while, I heard rustling coming from the entrance of the hideout. As I looked to see what was there, I smiled as I saw a familiar face.
"A-Akihiko!", Hiroki exclaimed. "Afternoon Hiroki", I greeted him. "W-what are you doing here?!", he asked. "Just sitting. I should ask you the same question. Shouldn't you be at work? ", I asked. "…..Lunch break", he said, presenting a bento. "Oh", I mumbled, "Carry on." We sat there quietly. Hiroki continued to eat his bento and I continued to relax on the tree root. Until my stomach growled. Hiroki looked up from his food and at me. He grumbled as he took a spare bento from under the one he was feasting on and handed it to me. "Eat." "No, it's fine." "Just eat! I know how you are without nutrition." I took the bento from him as he ordered, "Thank you."
As we ate, I couldn't help but realize the look on Hiroki's face. There was something on his mind. "Hiroki, why do you have two bento?" He paused from eating, "I was supposed to have lunch with someone, but their work seemed to get in the way suddenly." "Ah, the doctor friend of yours?" "…Yeah, but I'm okay with it. It gave me an opportunity to come here." "Have you been coming here often?" "Not really. I come at any chance I get, but it isn't exactly every time." "How long have you been coming back here? I haven't been here since we entered college. This is actually my first time in years." He cleared his throat, "I haven't been here since college either. But about two years ago, I've been coming back here to clear my mind. I have so many things going on." "I guess I could say the same for me too." We both looked up at the sky, the leaf canopy hovering over us. "How tall are we now?", Hiroki chuckled, "You'd think someone would notice our heads sticking out by now."
Not too later, we heard barking. We looked over the bush facing the mansion. Alexander was headed toward us. I gave Alexander a tousle on his head. "Thank you for helping me find Misaki the other time." I said with a soft smile. "Alexander?" We turned our heads to the voice. "Alexander." It was Tanaka, the family butler. Hiroki and I looked at each other. "You're not going to hide again are you?", he asked. "No." Hiroki and I stood up from our hiding spot. I grabbed Hiroki by the arm and rushed to the tunnel. "H-hey!" "Go home Alexander." I told the household pet. He listened. When we were out of the property, Hiroki stepped back, "What was that about?! You said you wouldn't hide." "You're not gonna risk being caught trespassing, are you?" I smirked at him. He grumbled, "…ah, my bento." "Here it is, I snatched it when I ran." He took the boxes and dusted himself from the leaves. He looked at his watch, "Ah. I'm going to be late! I need to get back to work. See you later Akihiko." He jogged over to the nearest bus stop. "Thanks for lunch." Not sure if he heard me, I traced back my steps to the park.
I drove back home. It was now 2:00 in the evening. I think back on my life and what got me here today. I opened the door to see Misaki happily reading theKan. 'He's so cute.' "Welcome home Usagi-san!". Misaki exclaimed. I took him into my arms and kissed him. "You really are cute." He blushed. "Usagi-san, what are you saying?!" On most days when I look at him, I can't help but smile. "I love you." He just sat there stiffly as I held him. I grabbed Suzuki-san next to me and said like a puppeteer, "Misaki did some naughty stuff since you were away. I wish I was a teddy cam to let you see them." "Me too, Suzuki." "Usagi-san! Pervert!" I heard him make a tiny laugh.
A/N: My ending makes no cents…someone should flick me on the head for story rush…
*rolls around into Suzuki pile and sleeps* I hear the door open.
"Wagh! Usagi-san, there's a girl in the Suzuki room!"
"Leave her be, she's a fanfic fairy. She's a rookie, so it'll be a while for her to find her muse and get out of here."
"Hehehe, panda~!"
"Please let it be soon."
"I'll go call Hiroki."