A short drabble from Fumi Yoshinaga's Antique Bakery. Slight Ono/Tachibana
A Moments Distraction"Tachibana I Love You" It had started with those four words, what happened afterwards, had just really been unforeseen circumstances. The pain of rejection lanced through him like lightning, and ached so much that he felt he could burst from the inside. But Ono didn't regret it. Retrospectively, maybe Tachibana's merciless rejection had been the best thing that's ever happened to him. That first rejection had devastated him to the point that he had really thought that death had been a preferable option. His words wouldn't stop ringing in hid head for days after, 'I'm so disgusted that I'm about to throw up! Go to hell you homo?' And the image of Tachibana's disgusted face seemed to have been burnt into his very eyes because it was all he could see for days whenever he closed them. Well, if he was going to hell he might as well do whatever he wanted now, the teenaged Ono had thought grimly.
It had been the first time for him. First time to confess to a boy. First time to even tell anyone that he was gay. So his first (and only) rejection had flicked open a switch, cut the binds to the reserve he had always shown. Without it he would have never had the guts to stumble into that bar in Shinjuku. Never built up his famous reputation. Never have discovered the power to make any man, desire him. It was as he said to Tachibana. If it weren't for his rejection he would never be as comfortable with himself as he is now. So really, he should thank Tachibana for his blatant refusal. Ono thinks this as he looks over his shoulder at his manager who is busily serving and charming customers.
The pastry chef gives a sad smile as he turns around to pay attention to the cake he is decorating. But sometimes, Ono wishes that Tachibana's answer had been different.