Tezuka woke up with the smell of food coming to his room. Looking to his side, Oishi was not on the bed. He stood up and went to the kitchen. He hugged him from his torso and placed a kiss on the back of his neck.
"Good morning."
"Good morning." Oishi smiled. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yes. You didn't have to cook anything, I wanted to take you out."
"I found some things on the fridge." He was finishing scrambling some eggs and there were also some bacon ready. There were also some toasts with strawberry jam on a plate. "I wanted to cook for you. I made some orange juice as well."
He distanced himself and leaned on the balcony, looking at him.
"Is your kid still teaching you?"
"Eiji-kun moved out." Tezuka noticed the slight sadness on his voice. He had finished the eggs and was now putting them on the plates with the toasts. "It's been a while now. I'm living by myself again."
"Is that so?" He felt incredibly accomplished. Oishi's attentions and thoughts were only his. He wasn't going to share him with anyone.
"He has moved in with a girl from his class at college. Her apartment is twice as big as mine and very fancy." He showed him a small smile.
"How are you regarding that?"
"It's lonely." He offered him a cup of the juice. "But, I will get use to it soon."
Tezuka started to eat and Shuichirou chuckled to himself.
"What's it?"
"Ah, nothing, I'm just… remembering a conversation I had with Haruka. She said you and I should live together. Isn't that silly?"
He looked at Oishi silently for a moment, while he was eating, before placing the hashi down.
"We should live together." He said calmly.
The young doctor started to cough, having trouble to swallow his bite of the toast.
"What?!"
"Come to live with me."
"But it's too sudden!"
"We've known each other since we were in middle school." He continued with his stoic expression, like he was presenting information for a case. "We have comfortable incomes and my place is big enough for both of us. We wouldn't be a burden to each other."
"Tezuka…"
"What do you say? I think the time is right."
Oishi could hear his heart beating on his ears. He knew Kunimitsu was a straightforward and pragmatic person, but didn't that kind of subject need something else? Sex was the thing that primarily bonded them together. Even now, Tezuka never spoke of his feelings towards him. Shuichirou had given up on so many things on their messy relationship, but he simply couldn't take such an important step to someone that never even said properly he liked him. Even though he was hopeless attached, he couldn't do it without an "I love you."
"I can't do it right now. I'm sorry." He felt guilty for giving him a negative response. "What if you change your mind later? You and Fuji-san broke up after so long, so…"
"You and him are different situations." He was extremely bothered with the mention of Syuusuke but was able to disguise it. "We're in a proper relationship. I'm not immature to propose such thing without being serious about it." Why is it so difficult for you to consider living with me, but you invited a complete stranger to do it?, he thought to himself, annoyed by his rejection.
"I understand." Shuichirou looked at him gently. "But, please, give me some time to wrap my mind around it?"
"Be at ease." He continued to eat. "When you feel ready, let's discuss about it again then."
"Thank you." Oishi smiled and return to eat as well.
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Shuichirou returned home after lunch. He had eaten together with Kunimitsu on a restaurant near his home and then they parted ways.
Even with him behaving completely normally after the conversation of living together, Oishi continued to worry about it.
Suddenly, he realized the weather had changed on his way home and the clouds had become darker. Another summer storm was forming? He picked up his cell phone and dialed.
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Eiji was picking up the laundry from the apartment's balcony, due to the forming rain. He already had his headphones on, listening to one of his songs. Since it was connected to his phone, he could receive calls as well, but he was surprised when it started to ring. Pressing a button, he picked up, without knowing who was calling.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Eiji-kun."
"Oishi-san!" Eiji smiled widely with Shuichirou's familiar and gentle voice. "Is everything okay?"
"I'm fine. I saw the skies becoming dark and I was worried about you. Are you at home?"
"I am! I'm with the phones on. Everything is fine. Thank you so much for your concern."
"I'm glad. Actually, I was worried. You never sent news anymore. I thought you had forgotten about me."
"Not at all!" Eiji's response was extremely sincere and Oishi smiled. "I could never! I just…didn't want to bother you, that all." I'm afraid of that Tezuka guy, he completed on his mind.
"I told you, you can contact me whenever you like. So, how's college? Did you learn a lot of new things before vacations?
"Yes! I learned desserts with fruit. I even baked a tarte tartin and…" his heart was tight for a moment. "I… I really wanted you to try it. I think you would like it."
"Tarte tartin, hm? It's made with apples and caramel, right? It's been a while since I last ate one of those."
"Really?! You like it?!"
"Yes. I'm sure yours will be perfect. Would you bake it for me? How's your lunch time on Monday? Can we have lunch at the hospital? I'm sure Haruka would be happy to see you too."
"Can I?! Really?!"
"Of course. I miss you."
Eiji had the happiest smile on his face.
"It's a date then, Oishi-san!"
"Good. I will send you the location later. Be well, Eiji-kun. See you on Monday."
"Yes!"
When Shuichirou turned off, Kikumaru held the cell phone tightly inside his hands, a feeling of absolute happiness all over his chest. After so long, he was going to finally see Oishi again!
"Ah, I have to buy apples tomorrow!" he said to himself, already planning to do the most perfect dessert of his life. He was so excited, he even forgot about the shy rain that had started outside.
