"Shuichirou!" Takumi hugged him tightly as soon as Oishi opened the door. He was wearing a dark blue t-shirt with jeans and snickers. Shuichirou could feel his bones being crushed due to the biologist's affection. "I've missed you!"
It took him a couple of seconds to breathe properly and being able to reply.
"Takumi, I've missed you too." He smiled to his friend. Haruka was by his side. "You look beautiful, Haruka."
"Thank you." She was wearing an yellow dress with some cleavage showing and her hair was tight on a ponytail. Putting a small gift box on his hands, she smiled. "I hope you like it."
"What's it?"
"I helped to chose it!" Takumi said.
Shuichirou opened the box and there were a set of 2 ceramic bowls, a bigger one and a smaller one and two pairs of hashis. They were white and blue with a beautiful wave pattern.
"This is beautiful! Thank you, both of you!"
"Since you have a roommate now, I thought it would be nice for you guys to have a set on something."
"It's lovely, thank you." He was very happy.
"Hey, Shuichirou, I'm going to make karaage." Takumi smiled showing him a big bag. "Is it still your favorite?"
"Sure! Eiji-kun is on the kitchen, finishing the dessert."
"Oh, we're having dessert?" Takumi said, taking of his shoes and rushing to the kitchen.
Eiji was finishing decorating the cheesecake,meticulously putting strawberries on its top. There was a thick layer of strawberry jam as well. The blue eyes were extremely focused and he had a serious look on his face.
"Wow, this is beautiful!" Takumi said, by his side, looking at the dessert.
"Ah!" Eiji jumped to the other side, scared and looked at the unknown young man.
"Sorry, sorry!"
"Takumi, what are you doing?!" Haruka scolded him. She was by the kitchen with Shuichirou. "Don't startle Eiji-kun!"
"Eiji-kun, are you all right?" Oishi asked.
"Ye...yes." he smiled at Haruka. "Kono-san, good evening."
"Hello, Eiji-kun. This silly one here is my fiancé, Harada Takumi."
"Nice to meet you, Harada-san." He made a quick reverence.
"Harada-san was my father." He smiled. "Takumi is just fine!"
"Wow, Eiji-kun, you did this?!" Haruka came close of the cheesecake. "It's perfect!"
"It's the first time I'm preparing such a thing!" he blushed.
Oishi put his hand on his hair and smiled at him.
"I'm sure it's wonderful. Let's put it in the fridge and let Takumi start dinner, okay? You can rest for a while, you worked so hard during all afternoon."
"I will take good care of your kitchen, Eiji-kun." Takumi said, taking his own apron from the bag.
"Okay." Eiji smiled.
#######
"Thank you for helping me with the therapy, Kono-san." Eiji said, sincerely. They were on the living room while Takumi was on the kitchen.
"Don't mention it." She drank a sip of wine from her glass. "So, did you choose a place?"
"He's going to Tokyo Counseling Services. They charged him over his income on the part time job, so it was a reasonable price."
"I'm starting next week." He made a small reverence. "I'm really grateful."
"I hope it can really help you out." She smiled gently. "You can call me anytime if you need something, okay? You can get my cell phone number from Shuichirou later."
"Ah, thank you very much." He was a little shy.
"Food is ready!" Takumi appeared on the kitchen with a big bowl of deep fried chicken.
"Oh, it smells good." Haruka said, getting up.
"I made rice and some green salad as well with some vegetables I found on the fridge." He looked at Eiji. "I hope it's okay."
"Sure!" Kikumaru smiled "Let me help you to set the table."
"I will help too." Shuichirou said, standing up as well.
They set the table and sat down. Takumi stood, with a red wine glass on his hand, looking at Shuichirou with a big smile.
"Happy late birthday, Shuichirou. I wish you all the best! Kanpai!"
"Kanpai!" Haruka and Eiji toasted as well. She continued to drink wine and Shuichirou and Eiji were drinking orange juice.
Takumi served them and waited for Shuichirou to try the food.
"How's it?"
"Amazing!" he said, after taking a bite. "What do you think, Eiji-kun?"
"It's… incredible!" he looked at Takumi like a puppy waving his tail. "Like nothing I tasted before! What kind of seasoning you used?!"
"It's a secret." The biologist smiled widely.
"What?" Eiji was disappointed.
"He learned the recipe with his grandmother, he had never told me as well." Haruka said. "And we've known each other for all our lives." She shrugged.
"Maybe he will pass it down for your own kids in the future." Oishi said.
"Speaking of which." The psychologist smiled at her fiancé before looking back at her friend. "We set a date."
"Really?!" the doctor smiled. "That's great! When it will be?"
"July 6th." Takumi smiled. "The first day of the morning glories festival, since they are Haru's favorite."
"And it's going to be on a Saturday night, so people can go and enjoy themselves at the inn."
"Ah, so you're doing it at your parent's place!" Oishi said.
"Your parents have an inn, Kono-san? That's awesome!"
"Yes, at Isshiki Beach." She took a deep breath. "And they are a little mad with me. It's been a while since I went there."
"Shuichirou, I was wondering if you would like to be my best man?"
"Really?" he was very touched.
"I don't have any siblings and you'll look handsome on anything." He grinned. "It would be good for the photos."
Oishi chuckled.
"Of course! It's an honor."
"Eiji-kun, are you going to be busy at school? We would like you to come as well." Haruka said.
The blue eyes sparkled.
"For real?! I would love to go! I've never been in a wedding or an inn before!" he looked at Oishi. "Is that okay?"
"Of course." He smiled gently.
############
Takumi and Shuichirou were doing the dishes. Haruka was watching tv and Eiji was asleep on the sofa. It was late already.
"The kid is cute." Takumi said, smiling to his friend. "And very talented as well, the cheesecake was perfect."
"Isn't he?! He's really working hard on the desserts at college."
"You sound like a proud mother." He smiled. "And you're happier too."
"Wha do you mean?" Oishi was confused.
"I had a feeling that you were always a little bit lonely, especially when you move to this place. But, seeing you around with Eiji-kun, you seem very at ease." The scarlet eyes looked at him gently. "Maybe you needed someone to take care of. Everyone needs a connection like that. Being alone for a long time isn't good."
"I guess you're right." He said, sponging some dishes.
"How about the Tezuka guy?" he whispered. "Are things okay?"
"Yes." He blushed a little. "Things are fine."
"Good. If he ever hurt you, I'm going to punch him."
Oishi chuckled.
"You must be relieved with setting a date, right?"
"Yeah." He took a deep breath. "I was afraid Haru was going to leave me. But, fortunately I was able to fix my schedule for good this time. For the next three eyes, at least, I will be able to stay on land. I will try to be a spot at Toudai after this research ends, so I can be a teacher there."
"Really? That sounds great!"
"I don't want to be apart from her anymore." He noticed the scarlet eyes were filled with love while talking about his fiancée.
"Haruka will be a beautiful bride." Shuichirou said, sincerely.
"She sure will." He replied happily.