In a quiet café, away from the noise and commotion outside, the two brunettes seat opposite each other, each having a cup of coffee in front of them. Having not seen each other in for a while after what happened, it was abit awkward between them.

''Ricchan,'' started An. ''I'm really happy to see you again.''

''It's good to see you too,'' said Onodera, despite the awkward circumstance, he was happy to see her.

''How are you doing ? '' The petitie lady asked.

''I'm….. good,'' answered Onodera, his last word carrying a hint of surprise, as if the editor himself did not expect the answer.

''I'm glad,'' remarked An , happily smiling away at how her former fiancé was doing. She couldn't complete shut her feelings away, but to see Onodera doing so well was wonderful.

''How are you doing ?'' asked Onodera.

''I'm fine,'' said An, letting the silence pass for a moment. '' My mom has been asking me to go for match making sessions lately. I've been to a few, just to try and they were nice but I don't feel anything other than friendship towards them.''

''Ah…'' said Onodera, not knowing what else to say. '' I see. Well, I'm sure you will meet someone you like! You're a really nice person, '' he told her honestly.

''Ricchan,'' said An. '' Don't worry about me,'' she said nicely, meaning no ill intent. ''Are going back to your parent's to visit ? Your mom told me what happened.''

At the mention of his parents, Onodera's expressed turned conflicted, and he sighed in exasperation. '' I don't know if they actually want me to go back.''

''Ricchan, you should speak to your mom,'' said An. '' I know things aren't great between you two but I believe she still care about you. At least make a call.''

Onodera exhaled, considering the advice. '' Well… maybe I would call to ask.'' It has a been a while, after all.

An smiled at him, and took a sip of her drink.

''An chan….'' Onodera hesitated. Is this suitable to ask? Isn't it a bit insensitive? '' What is a good gift ?'' he asked.


''Masamune,'' Onodera spoke . '' I will be going out today.''

''To where ?''

''An chan's house.''

''What for ?''

''I'm going there to visit,'' said Onodera, half telling the truth.

Takano eyes suspiciously at him.

''It's nearly Christmas,'' Onodera scrambled to say.

''What will you be doing over there ?''

'' Just visiting.''

Takano knew something was off, but not enough to raise red flags.

''Fine,'' he said. ''If that's what you said.''

'' Onodera.''

''Hai ?''

''I love you.''

Onodera blushed. '' I love you too.''

Break

''Ah hai Takano ? ''

''Are you coming back for dinner ?''

''…. Ah No I will be having dinner here… Hai…. Hai…''

While Onodera ended the call, An watched from the back with a pensive look.

He really does love him a lot.

''I'm sorry, did that bothered you ?'' asked Onodera.

An shook her head, passing a spare apron to the male.

I can't believe I'm actually doing this. Onodera panicked.

'' What is a good gift ?'' he asked.

''Hmm…'' An pondered. '' A hand-made gift.''

Hand made ?

''Is it for Takano San ?'' she asked.

Onodera paused, didn't expect her to guess. '' Hai…'' he answered shyly. Takano's birthday was coming up, and even though the editor in chief said he didn't want anything, the brunette still felt like he had to give something. It's his birthday after all. '' His birthday is on Christmas Eve.''

An chan eye's widened at the news. '' Christmas Eve! It must be very special to celebrate it, Ricchan.''

Akwakardly, Onodera smiled. '' It is … I mean… I need to get a gift though…''

''How about baking a cake ?'' An suggested.

''A cake ?''

''Hai '' said An. '' A Christmas cake.''

He was really doing this - baking a cake. Out on the kitchen table in An's house, was all the bowls, measuring cups and equipment all lay editor couldn't even make a rice omelette, let alone a cake.

''Don't worry Ricchan, I'm here,'' said An reassuringly. They had arrived yet after their conversation.''Takano San is so lucky that you're making a cake for him,'' she said.

''Ha.. ha.. ha..'' laughed Onodera dryly. If the cake doesn't turn out disastrous.

So for the next few hours, they weight the ingredients, mixing it with the beater, occasionally looking at the instructions.

''This actually isn't easy,'' said Onodera, sweating with nerves. The hardest part was the rolling of the cake. He lacked the delicate moves of a girl and in the end the cake was a bit charred.

'' I'm sorry I have to trouble you for this An chan,'' apologised Onodera for causing inconvenience.

''It's okay Ricchan, said An. '' You can come here and practice. Besides, we haven't spent time like this since we were teenagers.''

At the mention, a memory came back to him.

That's right… remembered Onodera suddenly. An Chan gave him chocolates for Valentine's Day before, way back when they were teenagers.

''Ricchan, is something wrong ?''

''AH ? Eh… no…''

''Ricchan….'' An looks at him, knowing that he's lying.

''I …. I just remembered the time when you gave me Valentine's day chocolate in high school,'' said Onodera. It was around that time the he rejected her, but she still made it for him.

An smiled. ''You still remembered,'' she said, grateful enough.

I can't believe I'm doing this.


Onodera panicked. He was really doing this. He was really going to Takano a cake- a cake that he baked by himself. He already spend another day at An's house perfecting the recipe.

What if he doesn't like it? He thought. Or if it taste really bad?

'' Takano,'' said Onodera nervously. '' I have something for you.''

Curiously, the older male went forward to him.

''H-here'' Onodera stammered, holding out the box dreadfully. '' Here is it.''

''A cake ?'' asked Takano.

''H-h-hai''

While he was opening the box, Takano thoughtlessly told him, '' Why did you buy this-'' Seeing the messy icing, the crooked and lopsided handwriting, Takano realised immediately that he cake was handmade – by Onodera. The brunette embarrassingly looked away.

''You made this ?'' asked Takano.

''Hai…''

''Was this why you were at your ex-fiance's place?''

''H-hai…''

Takano set the cake on the table, unboxing it. He grabbed a fork, picked up a chunk of it and pop it in his mouth. Unwittingly, Onodera looked on with careful anticipation, waiting. During the small pause where Takano examined the cake, Onodera gave a disclaimer.

'' I don't know how bad it will taste ! So you don't have to force yourself eat if you don't want to.''

''Don't be an idiot,'' said Takano. Of course he would eat it. To his surprise, the cake was coffee flavoured. It wasn't bad at all, maybe a little dry.

''It's good,'' said the older male as Onodera observed his reaction very carefully. Takano took another bite. ''Thank you,'' said Takano coming over to give Onodera a kiss. ''It's delicious.''

Flustered for a moment, Onodera broke out of Takano's embrace as he remembered something else. He dig into his bag and took out a small white bag.

''I got this for you too, incase the cake was bad,'' he said handing the bag over.

Onodera handed Takano a small bag, inside it was a black box.

''What's this ?''

''Your gift.''

Takano opened the box. Nesting inside it, was a large watch. It had a silver casing, attached to a handsome black leather strap. In the dark background were finely detailed dial and sub dials, the silver numbers and lines stark and clear against the black ground. The slim second hand ticked away. It was utterly exquisite.

Two gifts ? Onodera got him two gifts this year ?

''Happy birthday,'' wished Onodera. Shyly, he tiptoed and gave a peck on the cheek to Takano.


Takano rested in bed, with Ritsu, as always now. The cold weather was making snuggling needed more now.

Takano loved this feeling of being in bed. He had really been a lazy individual but it was a lot harder now with the brunette with him. It was too comfortable, too warm. He would like to up get, but it was like he was too heavy to now.

He looked back, finding Onodera staring up at him with this sleepy gaze and half lidded eyes, with the look- the look that he only gave him. Takano smirked. Every now and then he catches Onodera sneaking glances at him, but letting himself being catch red handed like this was rare.

''What are you staring at ?''

Instead of answering, Onodera simply stayed quiet. Moving over, Takano leaned forward on his knees, placing his hands on either sides of Ritsu. The brunette was still looking at him with the heavy dreamy gaze .

Takano Masamune was fair skinned and sharp edges. Shiny black hair fell forward as the editor in chief stared back at him with a slight smile from above. Onodera continued observing, before him – long pretty eyelashes lined the top of his gorgeous dark eyes, a feminine feature on an otherwise very masculine face.

How could someone so cold, be this hot blooded towards him ?

Onodera continued observing this enigma before him, and it mildly occurred to him that he might just never completely figure him out in this life. Takano Masamune was beautiful. It wasn't just his outer appearance, but it was his entire being.

''You're beautiful.''

''W-what ?'' Startled, Takano looked at him with wide eyes.

''You're beautiful,'' repeated Onodera.

Hesitantly, Takano stared back him.

In his life, the editor has been called a lot of things: capable, hardworking, fierce. An asshole; a player; quiet; straightforward, good-looking; handsome. Bastard.

No one had called him beautiful.

Wordlessly, Takano struggled to get the words out.

''Did I say something wrong ?'' asked Onodera, never seen Takano so shaken. Should he not have said that ?

''No… I ….'' Takano struggled weakly. He was moved to speechlessness. Even with all that he did initially, and his cruel intention, Onodera could still find him that. '' Can you say that again ?'' he asked softly.

Ritsu brushed strands of hair away from Takano's cheek, gently caressing it. '' You're beautiful,'' he said. '' I love you.''

Break

Takano hugged him for a long time.

''Um…. ''

The editor in chief pressed a gentle kiss to Ritsu's forward. Closing his eyes, he put their forehead together, taking a minute with his brunette. Likewise, Onodera closed his eyes. Slowly, Takano undressed him, taking his time. The way Takano kissed was soft and slow, the opposite of his usual deep and intense ones. With his hand, he held Ritsu's chin and tilts up gently, looking into green eyes, clear as marbles.

Overlapping their hands, flat against the bed, Takano made gentle love to Ritsu, moving into his slowly.

''Ritsu…''' Low, and deep, Takano's voice drifted over. He's never made slow and gentle love before to this person; Onodera has just proved once again how much he means to the black haired male.

''…Uh…'' Tilting his head backwards, Ritsu let out a slow chorus of a purr while Takano dropped small kisses over him. Even like this, Takano overwhelmed him.

Hitting their climax, Takano hold Ritsu as they come down, so gently but dearly, like he was the most precious and fragile thing in the world.

''Masamune…'' Onodera wanted to say something.

''…. I love you…'' Takano said it again. Onodera Ritsu was so precious to him.

He's the best thing that has ever happened to him.


Against the table, Onodera's phone vibrated nosily. Picking it up, the brunette widened his green eyes at the name of the caller. Hesitating, he debated for a moment before picking up the call.

''Dad?''

''Ritsu,'' his dad said. '' We would like to see you and your partner.''