Ritsu's eyes fluttered open as he smelled something wonderful just outside of the room.
He'd almost forgotten the events of last night and simply remembering it now made him feel so… so…
Embarrassed!
'Does Takano-san feel this way too? It didn't seem like it last night when he was… doing that to me.' Ritsu wondered as he decides to get up, not before noticing that his jeans were folded neatly on the nightstand next to him.
After putting them on, Ritsu opens the door to find Masamune drizzling a bit of maple syrup onto a waffle.
Masamune noticed Ritsu and flashed him a grin.
"Morning sleepyhead." Masamune greeted, closing the cap of the maple syrup and placing it on the countertop nearby.
"Good morning, Takano-san. This smells delicious." Ritsu compliments, feeling his stomach growl. "I am starving!"
'That's right… play it cool… act like last night didn't happen.' Ritsu pondered as he trotted to the dining table, sitting in a randomly selected chair.
The breakfast table was set up like a buffet. Masamune had set out about 7 waffles, whipped cream, bacon, eggs, you name it! Ritsu began to salivate from all the food he'd been shown.
He was suddenly glad that he didn't have a hangover from the night prior.
"Well dig in!" Masamune says, sitting in the chair right across from Ritsu. He grabs a plate and picks at 3 waffles, then proceeds to add whipped cream.
"Itadakimasu." Both men said in unison before digging in.
"You know…" Ritsu says, after swallowing a piece of bacon. "I've been wondering... where'd you learn how to cook like this? Your mother?"
Masamune snorted, finishing up his last egg. "That's a good one. I wish my mother paid any attention to me. I've been cooking since middle school. I was basically considered the bastard child to my parents."
Ritsu face fell, he felt… guilty? No, pity for the man. He'd always grown up surrounded by loving parents. He soon decided to call his mother later and beg for forgiveness for ignoring her last few texts.
"I- I'm sorry for asking." Ritsu says.
"Don't be. And don't pity me." Masamune checks his watch. "Well, I suggest you hurry up and finish your breakfast. I have to go in the office soon and you have to get ready for your shift at the library."
"I completely forgot that you had a job… you know with the amount of times you're with me." Ritsu half-joked.
"You're more interesting than my job."
Ritsu flushes. "S- shut up!"
Masamune smiles again, before clearing his throat. "I… uh… believe we have to clear the elephant in the room."
Ritsu began to sweat nervously. "Elephant? What elephant? Takano-san, they're in Africa! Did you know that in Africa is the second-largest continent?"
"Ritsu." Masamune's tone changed to one that sounded concerned. "I don't want to drag it out for long."
"O- okay. What do you want to say?" Ritsu was prepared for the worst.
"I'm sorry."
Ritsu blinked. "I beg your pardon?"
Masamune sighs, taking a sip of his coffee. "I… I assumed that since you were sexually frustrated that it'd be the practical thing to do, but I was wrong. Now, when you find your senpai I hope that you won't have this lodged in the back of your mind."
Ritsu felt a bit of disappointment for a moment but quickly brushed it off. "I really appreciate that, Takano-san. However, it was a mutual thing. We both needed some release and I suppose that that was the most plausible thing to do. Please don't worry yourself too much."
Masamune smiles warmly and Ritsu felt his cheeks burn.
*badump*
Ritsu jumps for a moment. 'Was that my heartbeat? Why… why am I…?' He didn't want this. He didn't want to feel what he believed he was feeling.
"Are you done?"
Ritsu looked up at Masamune who held his hand out, awaiting his plate. Ritsu nods and gives his plate in and watches Masamune walk towards the kitchen.
*badump* *badump* *badump*
Ritsu flushes deeply. He gets up and runs up to Masamune, clutching the man's elbow.
Masamune flashed a worried expression. "Ritsu, are you alright?"
Ritsu held his head down, refusing to speak. Ritsu wanted something, and he was sure of what it was.
But he could hold back, right?
"Ritsu?" Masamune repeats him name, perplexed.
'Oh, fuck it.' Ritsu then musters up the courage to pull Masamune down to his height and press his lips hard on the older's.
Masamune had his eyes open for just a moment before feeling his eyes shut. He didn't know why he enjoyed the kiss, but he did. He then wrapped his arms around Ritsu's torso, deepening the kiss. It brought back waves of nostalgia somehow.
The two continue for another minute or so before Ritsu pulls back, panting.
Masamune pants as well, staring intently into Ritsu's eyes, before seeing it. Finally seeing it.
This was him. His Ritsu. How'd he not notice sooner?
While Masamune stood there in sheer astonishment, Ritsu cleared his throat, walking towards his things and bows quickly. "I'm going to catch the train. Please don't worry yourself about taking me to work. You should however worry about you getting to work. Heh."
Masamune opened his mouth to say something but couldn't even begin to respond coherently.
So Ritsu continues. "Uh… I'll see you soon, I suppose? Have a nice day, Takano-san."
Ritsu opens the door and looks back once more at Masamune before flashing a slightly forced smile and shuts the door behind him.
"Rit-chan, it isn't like you to call me out so suddenly. What's up?" The duo were at An's house, it was dusk and Saeki had been stuck at work due to the beginning of the cycle. Hell week.
"I can't hang out with a friend once in a while?" Ritsu says, feigning offense.
"No, that's-" The oven beeps and An gets up, puts on oven mitts and takes out a tray of gingerbread cookies. "Anyways, that's not it. It's just, you never initiate a meet up. Saeki-chan and I usually have to." She puts the cookies on a countertop and takes off the mittens.
An sits back down across from Ritsu. "So spill, Rit-chan. What's on your mind?"
Ritsu sighs. 'Here goes nothing.' "Okay… so I may have a problem."
An raises a brow. "What kind of problem?"
Ritsu twiddled his thumbs, a habit he picked up from his younger years whenever he felt anxious. "Oh you know… a I-love-senpai-but-I'm-developing-feelings-for-someone-else problem."
An jaws dropped and soon recovers, squeaking a bit. "Rit-chan! I told you this would happen! Who's the lucky lady? Can I meet her? Ooo, I'm so happy for you."
Ritsu sighs. "But the only problem is that I don't want to have feelings for the certain someone! I only should have eyes for my senpai. That's the promise I made myself after I was forced to move for a while because of my father's heretofore job in England."
An scoffs. "Rit-chan, do you hear yourself? You can't help it if you start developing feelings for someone else. The heart wants what it wants. You either have to man up to it or keep it inside, which I would suggest not to before it's too late. You wouldn't want her to move on without you having a chance to confess once more in your life."
Ritsu registers An's words and sighs. Could he tell Masamune? He'd just met the man and maybe the only reason he's feeling these feelings is because he's horny. Probably.
'But Takano-san is so sweet- no! Stop it! Stop it right now, Ritsu.' Ritsu bites his lip.
'Think only of Saga-senpai. Only of him. He's out there. Probably. NOT probably. Definitely! And Taka- SAGA-SENPAI and I will fornicate! I- I mean reconcile. God what is wrong with me?'
As Ritsu shakes his head mentally, An's doorbell rings.
An looks at her watch, and bites her lip. "Saeki-chan said she'd be here around ten, it's six. What the…? I'll be right back." An gets up and heads towards the door.
Ritsu continues to ponder and soon jumps at the sound of squealing. He jumps up and runs in the direction of the genkan, only to be surprised to see Kazuto, An's boyfriend, and An embracing deeply.
Ritsu blushes faintly and apologizes quietly but Kazuto spots Ritsu and smiles. "Onodera-kun. Hey there."
The two cease their embrace and An takes Kazuto's bag and enters their shared room, teary-eyed. Ritsu smiles. "Ah. Hello Kazuto-kun. How're things?"
"Great. Perfect now, that I have a three day vacation. I'm sure you're aware I'm not around here much."
"Evidently." Ritsu nods.
Kazuto smiles faintly. "I wish there was a way I could be home more often for An. I'm just glad she has wonderful friends like you and Saeki-chan."
Ritsu returns the smile. 'He's a nice guy. Perfect for An. Why did I judge him otherwise?' "We're the ones who are lucky to have her. I mean, who else will take care of our us when we're shitfaced."
Kazuto chuckles alongside Ritsu for a while and soon An appeared again, and calls both men into the kitchen. Kazuto enters and Ritsu follows suit and begins to collect his things.
"Leaving so soon?" Kazuto questions Ritsu.
"It's too soon for you to go, Rit-chan. Plus you haven't even tried out my special gingerbread cookies!"
Ritsu chuckles. "I have to do some last minute cleaning in my home. Besides, I think you two have a lot to catch up on me. I'll let Saeki-chan know the good news."
An blushes and Kazuto laughs, reaching for An's hand.
Ritsu faintly blushes. The way Kazuto glances at An reminded him of Masamune. It was just so warm and-
'STOP THINKING ABOUT HIM!'
Ritsu waves at the couple and heads to the nearby train station.
Meanwhile at Marukawa Publishing...
Saeki, Shouta and Masamune were the only ones left in the department. Shouta was just finishing up his storyline while Saeki had about three left to do.
'I am never leaving this job, am I?' Saeki pondered dejectedly.
*Bzzt* *Bzzt*
'Hmm?' Saeki looks at Masamune and notices he was staring intently at a storyboard, however something about his face seemed… odd?
Saeki shakes her head, feeling it was in her better judgement not to get involved with that. She takes out her phone and opens the text.
'Kazuto-kun is back home An for once. Plans are canceled for tonight. Rain check?' Saeki smiles at the message, knowing well that Kazuto was a good guy.
She replies quickly. 'It could just be you and I? If you don't mind hanging out with me at eleven at night.'
The reply was quick. 'It's not a bother. However, you're helping me clean my apartment.'
'I think you meant "watching you clean while watching some Getsuku's," but alright Rittie.' Saeki chuckles quietly before getting up with a stack papers and heading towards Masamune desk.
"Takano-san?"
"…" No response. The man was immersed in his reading.
"Takano-san? Could you check this proof over for me?" Saeki tries again and the man repeats the previous action.
"Don't waste you time, Sa-chan. Takano-san's been like this all day. He's barely talking to anyone." Shouta says from his seat. He feels his phone vibrating and checks it, blushing slightly. "Anyways, I'm heading out. Good work today, you two!"
"You too!" Saeki replies, then turns back to Masamune as Shouta exits the department.
"Takano-san, would you like to hang out with Rittie and I?"
The man finally looks up.
The icy look intimidated Saeki a bit, however she mustered up some more courage. "Rittie and I are hanging out tonight and if you come it could be a party of three? T- that is if you don't already have plans."
"Does Ritsu know I'll be coming?" Masamune questions.
"No. But I could tell him. I'm sure he wont mind, he likes you."
'What a double-meaning.' Masamune ponders but nonetheless didn't want the opportunity go to waste. "We can take my car."
Saeki, surprised he agreed to it, eagerly nodded.
"Anyways, leave those proofs here, I'll check them in a bit. Finish your other assignments."
Ritsu had just finished dusting his television when he heard a knock on his door. The man walks toward the door and opens it to find a tired Saeki and Masamune.
"Saeki-chan and… Takano-san?" Ritsu was slightly confused.
"Rittie please please please tell me your room is clean. I need to take a three hour nap. Just three. Takano-san can keep you company." Saeki practically begged.
Ritsu blinked, looking over to Masamune who hadn't stop staring at him since he'd open the door. He felt his face getting warmer by the second.
"Also, why didn't you answer my texts? I told you Takano-san was coming." Saeki questions before clicking her tongue. "Okay, I don't care enough right now but if you don't let us in I'll pass out right here and now."
Ritsu opened the door completely, inviting the two guests in and Saeki quickly rushed into Ritsu's room. Ritsu turns around to Masamune who was staring at the slight mess.
"Wooow." Ritsu flinches when hearing Masamune's first word.
"T- this isn't how it always is. I swear it."
"Do you even fold your clothes?" Masamune was completely in awe, staring at several disheveled shirts on top of Ritsu's couch. "Horrendous."
Ritsu cleared his throat. "Well I don't suppose you'd like to help me return this room to it's spic-and-span state, now would I?"
Masamune shrugged. "I'm running on a two hour nap, might as well go for the nine yards."
Ritsu blinked. "R- really?"
Masamune quickly began picking up several shoes on Ritsu's floor.
It was about 3 when the two men finished.
After leaving the living room spotless, both men settled on the couch, exhausted.
It was only a matter of minutes until Masamune spoke. "God, you're such a mess."
"…" No response.
Masamune looks down at a sleeping Ritsu and sighs. He then pulls Ritsu closer to him, feeling his eyes grow heavy.
But before he could actually fall asleep, Masamune presses his lips onto Ritsu's slightly parted ones.
'I finally found you, my love.' Masamune ponders happily. 'Though, I want you to remember me on your own. I… I'm never letting you get away from me ever again.'
Masamune moves his lips from Ritsu's to his cheek and soon his ears.
"I love you." He whispers. "So much."
Ritsu responds with a snore and Masamune chuckles silently.
:)
*sigh* I… I love romance.
Until next time, xo!