Hi all!
So! Chapter 18, ha. It's, ah... a fun one! Those of you who are also Game Grumps fans will understand the chapter title reference ;-) For those of you who don't, I would recommend not looking it up until after reading this chapter, as it's kind of a spoiler, but was one I couldn't resist, ha. I do recommend looking it up after reading this chapter, though. You can search "Mondo's D Club" on YouTube and it should bring up a video that explains it, while also being humorous. Warning, it has kind of NSFW audio, as well as a slur, so... yeah.
Anyway! I do have a bit of a warning... so, y'all know how I warned that the rating of this story will be going up eventually? Well... that day is about to come. Next chapter has some definite NSFW elements, so just... be warned. I've already marked off the areas that have NSFW aspects, and am planning to write a summary for those sections for those who do not wish to read such things, but the rating will be rising to explicit. This chapter has some mature elements in it, but nothing explicit, but next chapter... well. Just letting y'all know.
Enjoy!
"Mm. Time ta wake up, kyoudai. S'mornin'," he hears that soft, wonderful voice call, rich in his ear. With very little resistance, he blinks his eyes open and is surprised for a moment. Because, for one thing, instead of the (still slightly messy despite his best efforts) room he's come to expect when waking up beside Mondo, he sees his overly clean and tidy room, which is a strangely foreign sight these days.
He's also surprised because, for another, he's not lying on a hard chest like he's grown accustomed to. Instead, he's currently lying on his side, facing his room, a warm arm wrapped around his middle while a hot and heavy heat radiates against his back. He shudders when he feels light fingers dance over his toned abdomen, ticklish but only a little. He and Mondo must have shifted at some point in the night and it... it's so good, so nice, and he feels the familiar pain rise in his chest and he wants to push it away, but-
He doesn't.
He lets it sit and he feels it and it hurts, but... but after a few breaths it becomes manageable. He takes his hand from under his pillow and lets it slide down his body, and then he's grabbing Mondo's hand and he's holding it tight. Mondo twines their fingers, and he pulls Taka closer and it's so perfect he wants to cry. He laughs instead, smiling softly as he looks at his clock, the blinking numbers saying that it's 6:31, telling him it's time to get up and start his day. He's never wanted to do anything less, though...
Mondo chuckles behind him, and he feels a chilly nose press to the back of his neck, making him shudder again.
"So goddamn cute... we gotta get up, though. Wanted ta take a bath, 'member? It... it might be good. Let yerself relax fer once. 'Specially... 'specially after last night. Shit..."
Mondo takes a deep breath here and Taka feels him press, somehow, closer. Like it's providing him just as much comfort as it provides Taka. And Taka... Taka lets him. Not like he'd ever push him away...
They should get up though... it's early enough that if they take their showers quick, they might be able to get to the bath in enough time to not encounter anyone else there. Not many people use the bath part of the bath house, preferring the sauna and other spa amenities, but some students do partake every so often. While Taka normally wouldn't mind, he's not entirely sure he wants people seeing him and Mondo together in the baths... naked... while it's perfectly innocent and brotherly (on Mondo's part, at least), he's starting to realize how the school sees the two of them. And he... he isn't afraid that Mondo will leave if he ever realizes that, not per se, but... well. He doesn't want it to be an issue.
And so, even though he hates it, his throat unintentionally letting out a soft whine of displeasure, he pulls away from Mondo's warm embrace (feeling like he's tearing off a limb, god), and stretches lightly as he sits. He can feel Mondo's eyes on him, trailing him up and down slowly, but he doesn't let himself focus on it, for fear of lying back down and never leaving this bed. Instead, he swings off the bed and pads over to the bathroom, calling over his shoulder as he goes.
"I'm going to go and take a shower, as well as clean my bathroom, kyoudai! If you would like, it may save time for you to take a shower in your room, so we have more time in the bathhouse! It is entirely up to you, though! Stay here if you'd like, I do not mind!"
Taka grins at the biker, who looks utterly adorable lying in his bed, still all bleary from sleep, before turning back to his destination. He grabs a change of clothes, just an undershirt and sleep pants he's accidentally (on purpose) stolen from Mondo. While it is considered polite to wash oneself before entering a communal bath, it doesn't make any sense for him to fully dress before going. He could probably wash off at the communal shower the bath has, too, but he does want to clean the hair off his floor, a little anxious at the thought of an untidy room... not to mention that the thought of being next to Mondo, naked, while warm water pounds down around him, assaulting his body so deliciously... a-ah. It's a little much, even for his new-found acceptance of his feelings. The idea of being naked next to Mondo while in a bath is already starting to get to him; anymore and he is positive he will implode.
Luckily, Mondo doesn't question it. He just hums and waves a careless hand, sitting up and stretching as well. Taka isn't even sure when he turned back around to watch the teen, but the second he notices it, he blushes and hurries the rest of the way into the bathroom, saying a quick 'see you soon'!
Once there, he leans against the door and closes his eyes, breathing deep. Okay... he can handle this. He can handle this! He is Kiyotaka Ishimaru, Mondo Owada's kyoudai, and he can handle this.
He must.
That settled, he opens his eyes and looks over at the toilet, tsking at the mess he sees. Honestly... he hadn't even thought to place a tarp down around him before he started cutting, like he always does! Ugh. Whatever, it shouldn't take too long to sweep up... taking the mini hand broom and dustpan he has, Taka kneels down and starts the process of cleaning his floor. While he's there, he also takes some of the cleanser the school provides for free and starts doing a bit of a deeper clean, because why not. He's been so busy with his feelings recently that he's started to slack off on other things, like cleaning! How terrible!
After about ten minutes, his bathroom is nice and tidy again, making him smile in satisfaction at the sight, feeling the most like himself than he has in... well, weeks! He's still not sure who he is, really, but for once... well. He's not exactly afraid to find out. What a marvel...
With that task done, Taka stands and heads for the shower, turning on the water to not quite the hottest it goes, but still fairly hot. He's found that he loves the feel of hot, not-quite-scalding-but-close water pounding down on him, assaulting him freely. It's... quite nice.
He keeps his shower short today, though, knowing he's spent a long time cleaning his bathroom already. He knocks out the remaining loose hair off of him and rinses out the remaining gel that Mondo's fingers hadn't removed. He lathers up his body with the cheap, citrus scented three in one body wash slash shampoo slash conditioner he'd found on sale at the general store a few weeks ago, washing his hair at the same time since he hadn't the previous night. Once he's finished, he rinses himself off and exits the shower, taking his towel and wiping down his body. He pauses when he stands, and he looks up in the mirror, his stomach clenching as he gazes at his naked body.
He doesn't do this often. He used to, when he was younger, not caring what he looked like, but then he'd gotten his scars. The long one on his chest, obviously, but also the smaller ones. The less dramatic ones. One on his hip from a particularly sharp kick from a pointed shoe. One below his rib cage from a cut he'd gotten while getting punched in his gut. One under his armpit that he doesn't even remember getting, since there are so many little scars that he just can't keep up. He scars easily, so they litter his body, like a patchwork of old injuries, old reminders. Little, tiny reminders of the abuse he's faced. Little, tiny reminders of the abuse he's survived.
He hates looking at it, being reminded, but he makes himself look today. He looks, hard and long, and documents every scar, every chink. He stands so long that the November chill starts creeping in, his body breaking out in gooseflesh, but he still looks on. His eyes dart down, and he bites his lip at the sight of him. His manhood, his most private of parts. Mondo will see this, today. See all of him, everything he hides under layers and layers of cloth. The best way to get a judge of someone's character, indeed… hm. Last night he laid his soul bare to the teen and today he will lay his body. Pretty soon, there will be nothing left that is solely his. Mondo will see it, all of it. He just has to hope it won't frighten the biker away...
After a minute, he looks away, his cheeks flushed slightly at his thoughts. He isn't hard, not quite, but he has to be careful that he doesn't let any, er... thoughts enter his head during their bath... now that would be mortifying! There is nothing sexual about a bath. Just... two people, sharing warm water together... absolutely naked... s-see? Nothing sexual at all...
Grk...
Taka shakes his head and hurriedly puts his clothes on, covering up his secret shame. He looks in the mirror again and doesn't quite know what to make of the boy he sees there. His hair is shorter than it had been, but not too short. His eyes are still red, his mouth is twisted, his eyebrows are larger than life... he still looks intense, and commanding, but maybe... maybe there's a softness there, too, that he's never really seen before. A gentleness that he yearns for but always had to push away. Maybe... maybe he can find it inside himself and nurse it back to life, somehow. Let the world see it, too... let Mondo see it too…
He looks away from the mirror and he grabs a fresh towel which he throws over his shoulder, in preparation for the bath. He doesn't grab anything else, soap not exactly accepted in a communal bath, and he takes a deep breath before opening the bathroom door.
He blinks when he sees Mondo, sitting casually at his desk, glasses on his face as he reads more of the Harry Potter books that Hina had recommended for him. He's been slowly making his way through the English copy, wanting to practice reading the language, after finishing the Hunger Games series and enjoying it well enough, even with the flaws he'd been more than happy to point out. He seems to like Harry Potter more, though, as he doesn't even look up when Taka enters, eyes intent on the words. The biker has obviously been to his room, since his hair is no longer crusty and dry, like it always is after he takes it down from the pompadour but doesn't wash it, like it had been before. Now, it is slightly damp and falling down his back in soft ringlets, wavy and curly and beautiful. So... so beautiful...
Taka must let out a soft noise at the sight because Mondo is looking up then, eyes wide, before they soften once they land upon him. Then Mondo is smiling, marking his page and closing the book gently, setting it off to the side. He watches fondly as Mondo stands, the teen stretching as he takes off his glasses and tosses them carelessly onto the desk.
"Hey, Taka. Ya ready ta get goin'?" Mondo questions, still smiling gently at him. Taka nods, heading over to his dresser to grab one of his carefully folded uniforms and holding it carefully.
"I am now, kyoudai! Lead the way!"
Mondo laughs at his enthusiastic words, nodding with a grin. He doesn't say anything else, though, as he heads for the door, putting his version of Taka's keycard that Taka had given him a few weeks ago into the pocket of his sleep pants. He's holding his own everyday clothes in his hand, though his duster is missing, left strewn on Taka's table. Taka doesn't mind. It's nice, seeing it lying there as he leaves. The one thing out of place in his room, making it all the better for it.
To his relief, the halls are empty, which makes sense since most students are either still sleeping or in the dining hall, not exactly milling around. It's not even 7:00 yet and class doesn't start until 8:30. They all have time.
The walk to the bath doesn't take long, less than a minute, and Taka can feel mild tension fill him as he follows Mondo into the room, heart racing for reasons that he does his best to not think of. He relaxes somewhat when he sees that the main room, at least, is empty. He and Mondo head over to the boy's section of the bathhouse, then, silent as they move through the empty room.
The steam that envelops them as they step into the room makes him gasp softly, reminding him painfully of the previous month, when he and Mondo finally reached the peak of their antagonistic relationship and realized that they make much better friends than enemies. It's so strange to realize that it's only been a little under a month since they became kyoudai that he just stands there for several seconds, a little dazed, only moving when he hears Mondo call out to him.
"Hey, Taka... y'okay, man?"
Taka nods fervently, laughing slightly with his nerves. Mondo is already over by the lockers, putting his day clothes away. Taka averts his eyes as Mondo starts removing his, um, night wear, and he marches only slightly stiffly over to one of the many free lockers. He places his uniform and key card in one with only slightly shaking hands, shuffling a little as he psyches himself up for the next part.
He must take a little too long because he can hear (and feel) Mondo walk up behind him, his back tingling with the knowledge that Mondo is standing naked behind him, his breath punching out in a sharp tattoo. His hands are shaking as he holds the edge of his undershirt, and he can't make them stop.
"Ya doin' okay, Taka?" Mondo asks softly, the familiar rumble making his breath shudder again and suddenly it's hard to breathe. He's shaking and his face is flushed, and he knows it shouldn't matter. It's just a naked body. It doesn't matter. It... it shouldn't matter, and Mondo is going to notice and he's going to wonder why, but how can Taka explain? How can he explain why he's so nervous, so anxious, how... how...?
"Y-y-yes," he stammers, his eyes closing at the obvious lie. He feels Mondo step closer and his shoulders tense unwillingly. Mondo hesitates and stops.
"Yer nervous," Mondo says plainly after a moment, no inflection. Taka shudders at the words again. He wants to lie and say no, he isn't, but he knows how obvious that lie would be, and he's never been a good liar. Never. Another moment passes, then Mondo talks again. "Shit, Taka... if ya didn't wanna do this, we didn't hafta... you... you said that-"
"I know what I said," he snaps, his words coming out a lot harsher than he intended. He hears Mondo take in a sharp breath, and something about it makes Taka tense further, though he does his best to relax his shoulders, sighing shakily as he bites his lip. He doesn't want Mondo to hurt, so he turns to talk over his shoulder, not quite looking but... but close enough. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to… t-to snap. I just... need a moment. That's all, kyoudai. Just... one moment. Please."
Silence echoes around them again and Taka waits for one breathless moment, hoping Mondo accepts his words at face value. And then… then Mondo lets out his own sigh and he hears bare feet slapping against the tile. He doesn't hear the sound of water splashing, though, which indicates that Mondo decided not to enter the bath, but it's enough that he's away from him that he can breathe a sigh of relief. He can still feel eyes on him, but it's not as forceful now that Mondo is farther, so he's able to gain the strength he needs after a few moments to strip his shirt off. And then— a few moments later— his 'borrowed' sleep pants. And then... then all he has on is a thin pair of briefs and his breath is starting to grow faster again, the eyes on him still boring into him and Taka... Taka...
Taka removes his briefs.
Now completely nude, Taka stands facing the lockers, holding his briefs needlessly in his hands. After a moment he stuffs them into the open locker, not bothering to fold them like he usually does, and just... stands there. He tries to tell himself to turn around, to show that this doesn't affect him, that he's not... that he's n-not... but he just- he just-
Can't. Can't. Can't force his body to turn, can't force himself to pretend that this isn't affecting him. He can feel himself getting harder at the thought of turning and he thinks desperately of every unattractive thing he can think of, trying to keep himself down. If this is just what the thought of turning around does to him... if he's already getting aroused when nothing has even happened, it's just a bath, god... then what will happen when he turns and actually sees- sees... sees Mondo, n… naked... he's seen him shirtless, seen him without pants even, he knows his body intimately from sleeping next to it every night for weeks now, but he has never seen- well. That, and it shouldn't matter; to a normal, straight man it shouldn't matter. And he knows, okay? Knows he's not straight, painfully not straight, but he just... and Mondo said he wouldn't care if he weren't, said that Taka matters more, but would he feel the same way if he knew what Taka feels when he looks at him; thinks about him? It's... i-it's immoral to obtain physical gratification at the thought of a friend... he... he knows that, so why... w-why...
He hears footsteps again, and he gasps softly when he feels heat radiating behind him, so close, too close, and he wants to cry but he can't because then Mondo will try and comfort him and he will absolutely break down if such a thing happens. He just- he can't- he-
"Taka. Look. I get yer nervous, but y'ain't gotta be, bro. I ain't gonna judge ya. Not fer anythin'. Just... look at me, Taka."
Taka can feel himself shaking his head, desperate and frantic, and he wants to stop but he can't stop it any more than he can stop the way his body is trembling. He feels a hand gently touch his hip and he inadvertently jolts forward out of the touch, hissing at the pain of bumping into the locker.
"Shit, fuck, man, sorry! Just... Taka, c'mon man. This is supposed ta help ya relax. Not make ya more tense. Would it... shit. Would it help if I left? Ya can take yer bath and I'll make sure no one enters so ya can have privacy, and-"
"No!" he blurts, body turning red with the mortification at his stupid mouth. God, why didn't he just say yes? He'd have to explain later, but he could lie, and he knows Mondo wouldn't press him, wouldn't question him, he knows Mondo wouldn't, but... but... well. He can't bear the thought of Mondo's disappointment. He can't bear the thought of disappointing Mondo ever. Mondo wants to do this, thinks it will bring them closer, like baths are meant to, and Taka just... he just... "One moment. Please, just... one moment."
He hears Mondo sigh again, before the biker takes a step back. He doesn't go any further, though, and Taka tries not to let the thought of it drive him mad. He presses his forehead against the steamy metal of the locker and breathes deep. The heady scent of the oiled water doesn't help him much, but it does help ground him just a little. Enough for him to think about things rationally. Or, well... as rationally as possible, at least.
Okay. Alright. Okay.
Him and Mondo. Mondo and him. They are friends. Kyoudai, even if Taka's feelings for him are decidedly not brotherly. But they are close. They have been for nearly a month now. Closer than he's ever been to anyone else. Closer than anyone has ever wanted to be to him. This is just... this is just a different type of closeness. It's important. This matters, it matters, and Taka knows that. He wants to share this with Mondo, to share all of himself and have nothing left between them, but how... how can he when he feels like this? It feels sinful and wrong, and while part of him knows that there isn't any shame in being gay, it still feels like it. Like there is, for him. For him to be gay and to be in love with his straight best friend, while said best friend has no clue.
And the thought of looking at Mondo, knowing it means more for him... knowing he will be getting something from it that Mondo, himself, will not... it feels wrong. Immoral. Sinful. He's spent his entire life striving to be as moral and upright as he can, needing to prove he's better, that he's good, and this just feels... wrong, wrong, so wrong. Maybe if Mondo felt the same way about him, it wouldn't matter as much, but as it stands, he doesn't, he doesn't and he just... he just can't-
But he also can't stay like this. Mondo is behind him, waiting, and he can't make the teen wait forever. The more time that passes the more awkward this will get, and he has to just do it and get it over with and move on! That's all, he just... has to do it. Maybe... maybe if he keeps his eyes firmly up, that will make it better? It will still be slightly awkward, a confession practically, but he just... he needs to survive until they're in the water.
Once they're in the water, the murkiness from the scented oils and minerals the school pumps into the baths to simulate the effects of being an onsen— despite not being a natural hot spring— will be enough to mask anything. Taka has been to bath houses before, during the worst of their debt and when his father couldn't afford to pay their water bill, which was where he learned to not mind nudity. He knows that the water helps hide things, even without the oils. He still doesn't really understand why a school has such a place, not with their private showers and the communal showers by the pool, but he guesses it's just to show how luxurious and high scale they are. But it shouldn't matter, it shouldn't change anything, and yet... and yet there is something about being here, with Mondo that makes him so...
Ugh, he just has to do it. He has to do it! Just... man up and do it! Turn around, look Mondo in the eyes, don't look down, and do it. Okay. Any second now... any second... okay.
Taka turns around.
His body is bright red, his back tense, but he turns, and he does his best to smile at Mondo, hoping it doesn't look awkward as all hell. Judging by the unimpressed look Mondo gives him, he has a feeling he fails. Of course…
The pair stare at each other for a second, the awkward silence stretching, before Taka moves hesitantly forward, trying to indicate that he's ready to go, but the biker refuses to budge. He just keeps standing, staring him right in the eyes. Er... he looks quickly to the sides— making sure not to look down— and notices that he's kind of... boxed in. The locker he's chosen is in the corner (the farthest he could have gotten from Mondo's locker), and where Mondo is standing, Taka would have to brush past him if he wanted to leave without Mondo moving. Which would be a terrible idea, so he just... kind of stands there awkwardly, shuffling.
When several moments pass and Mondo neither moves nor says anything, Taka decides it's time to man up and be the first to talk. Great...
"U-um... Mondo... are we... going to take a bath...?"
Part of him was hoping that his words would break Mondo out of whatever stupor he's entered and make him move, but that sadly does not seem to be the case. Mondo just keeps staring at him, a frown on his lips, that mysterious emotion swirling in his eyes and Taka... Taka has no idea what to do.
He's just about to ask again, more forceful this time, but then Mondo lets out a loud sigh, looking up at the ceiling. He watches— concern entering him— as Mondo runs a harsh hand through his hair, pulling the long wavy strands roughly to ground himself. Mondo then looks back at him, determination in his eyes, his jaw set. That... is disconcerting...
"Okay. Okay, ya know what? Fine. Goddamn... shit. So, this is awkward, yeah? I'm not the only one who feels it?" Mondo questions, eyes hard as he stares at Taka. Taka— stricken temporarily mute at the forceful words— can do nothing but stare. Mondo stares back for a moment, before angrily biting out, "well?!"
Jolting at the words, Taka nods, not sure what Mondo wants from him but knowing he has to give something. This awkwardness is entirely his fault, after all…
"Y-yes! I- I mean... n-no? I mean! You're not the only one who feels it!"
Mondo blinks at his frantic response, before huffing a soft laugh, his lips tilting up in a smirk. He's still looking Taka in the eyes, so he can see the way the biker's eyes soften a little, less hard and pissed off. That... that's good...
"Shit, right. S'what I thought. So... okay, look. This is gonna sound crazy, but just hear me out. So, I read about this thing on the internet, right?" (Famous last words...) "An' it was sayin' somethin' 'bout how Westerners who go ta Asian spas can get uncomfortable 'bout our whole nudity thing— which is bullshit, they're in our fuckin' country, but whatever. So, one thing that the article said is that, for guys 'specially, it can help ta... uh... ta... fuck."
Mondo pauses here, before letting out a frustrated sigh and running his hand through his hair again. He looks up at the ceiling, shaking his head slightly, before looking back at Taka, with the determination back. This is getting... very disconcerting... where the heck is Mondo going with this...?
"Okay. So... ya trust me, yeah, kyoudai?" Mondo asks, eyes intent.
"With my life!" Taka replies instantly, not even needing to think. Mondo smiles brightly for one moment, before sobering up and looking determined again. Unease... rising...
"Okay. Good. Then trust me when I say I think this'll help, okay? I know it's gonna sound fuckin' crazy, but the article swears it helps. So... ya just gotta..." Mondo pauses again, eyes darting to the side, before meeting Taka's again, determined as ever. "I'm gonna need ya ta look at my junk."
...
...
...
"WHAT?!"
Okay! Okay! Abort, abort! Abandon ship, everybody off, goodbye! Because, clearly, he's actually gone insane this time! Clearly, because that's the only logical explanation for the absolute nonsense Mondo just said!
Taka watches, eyes wide and frantic, as Mondo blushes bright red, the color going down his chest, all the way to-
Taka forces his eyes back up, face and body bright red, shaking slightly. This... this is worse than he'd thought, oh god... w-what if he's not insane and Mondo somehow f-figured it out? And now... and now he's trying to figure out if Taka really is gay or not, and oh god, what if there are people hiding behind the walls and they're going to pop out and laugh at him and 'there's something wrong with you, you disgusting freak' and- and-!
"Shit! Taka, fuck, man, ya said ya fuckin' trust me! Just... I ain't jokin' 'bout this! This shit is awkward as hell an' I know it's fuckin' 'cuz we're fuckin' naked!" Mondo exclaims, cheeks bright red and an angry look entering his eyes, but he… he doesn't stop… god… "An' the way ta fix that is ta just... face it head on, as it were. Look, ain't nothin' weird 'bout it, okay? We're two dudes, ain't like we never saw a fuckin' dick before, yeah? I've been ta fuckin' bathhouses 'fore, took the gang ta 'em a couple a' times ta relax, so it ain't a big fuckin' deal. Ya said y'ain't shy 'bout nudity, an' unless ya were lyin'— which I doubt 'cuz yer a shit fuckin' liar— ya meant it. This is somethin' 'tween us, then, an' until this shit gets resolved, s'always gonna be awkward. An'... fuck, man, I don't want that! It ain't even just today, for weeks now I've noticed it, and I just... I ain't gonna force ya, we can just get in the fuckin' water and avoid eye contact if ya fuckin' want, or I can fuckin' leave, but I just... god. Jesus Christ. Whatever. Just... fuckin' whatever..."
He sees the determined light go out of Mondo's eyes and sees something far worse take its place. Resignation. Sadness. Hurt. He... he hurt Mondo, is currently hurting Mondo and it's all because... because he's such a freak and he just can't figure his own shit out and now Mondo is hurting and it's all his fault and-
"W-wait!" Taka blurts out, heart pounding and breath ragged, and he doesn't want things to end like this. He doesn't want their friendship to peter out because he can't get his own head together. Maybe he'll get hard looking at Mondo, maybe Mondo will figure out his truth, maybe, maybe, maybe, but god. If he does nothing, then Mondo will leave. He will go into that water, he won't look him in the eyes, and the easy casualness they have shared will be broken forever. Maybe they'll stay friends but by rejecting Mondo now— and that's what Mondo will think, that Taka is rejecting him— they will never have the easy friendship they used to.
Baths are a place to get closer to people, but they're also a place to grow apart. You can figure out all you need to know about a person's character by looking at them naked, and if that person refuses to let you see them, well. That says a whole heck of a lot about their character, doesn't it? Or if you refuse to see someone else naked... a-and Taka doesn't want that. He can't do that. He's too selfish, far too selfish, he can't lose Mondo and his friendship. He should tell the truth, tell Mondo why he's so nervous, tell him that he's gay and worried about getting aroused by looking at him, but that would be even worse, so he can't do that. He just... he has to suck it up, trust Mondo, and hope that this doesn't make things so, so much worse...
Taka watches with a pounding heart as Mondo turns back, his eyes still on Mondo's, knowing what he is going to have to do but not able to do it quite just yet. Seeing Mondo's hard, unhappy eyes makes his heart ache, and he smiles softly at the biker, putting all the emotion that he can muster into his eyes, hoping that by being open here, Mondo knows he means this. He means this. He... he truly, truly means this…
"Okay. Okay, Mondo... okay. I- I trust you, more than anyone else, and if you say this will help... then I will do it. T-this... I don't want things to be awkward between us, kyoudai. You mean... everything to me, and I can't... s-so if you say this will help? Then okay. I... okay."
He is still staring at Mondo and he watches as the teen looks him in the eyes, his face still hard and set, searching, searching, searching for... he doesn't even know. Something. Anything. Taka just keeps on staring, his face open and genuine, feeling so hopelessly vulnerable but not caring, not now. They are in a public venue, anyone could walk in and see them, but he doesn't care, he doesn't care, all that matters is Mondo and making sure he knows that Taka... that Taka cares. That he wants to fix things. Even if it just makes things worse, god, he has to try. He can't lose Mondo, not without even trying.
Finally, several moments later, Taka... Taka sees Mondo's eyes start to- to... to soften again. His mouth relaxes from his angry sneer, his eyebrows stop furrowing, his shoulders loosen. He stops looking so closed off and angry and hurt and he... he...
He smiles. It's soft, and gentle, and almost sad, but he smiles. And it… it's so…
"Shit... Taka, fuck, man. Ya don't... y'ain't gotta do this if ya... if ya don't wanna. I just... shit man, ain't my business why yer tense 'bout this, I don't wanna make ya uncomfortable ta please me, Taka, man-"
"You're not," Taka interjects softly, smiling gently, his heart swelling with love as he looks at Mondo's hesitant expression. Even when the biker truly is pissed off and hurt, he still cares so much about Taka and his comfort... how did he get so lucky to find such a wonderful man? "I want to. I don't like this awkwardness either. And... and maybe it will help. If you think it will... then I'm willing to try. For you, kyoudai... for you."
The look Mondo gives him makes his heart swell even more, a look of amazement and just... he can't even describe it without wanting to burst into flames, so he just smiles wide. And when Mondo takes a step closer to him... Taka doesn't move. He just keeps looking at Mondo and doesn't dare to look away. He doesn't ever want to look away, he doesn't want to, he-
"O-okay... shit. Yeah, okay. So, uh... shit, I dunno how ta do this, the article didn't talk 'bout this part, fuck, shit..."
For some reason, the awkward mumbling makes Taka laugh, a soft breathy thing, and he sees a hint of irritation enter Mondo's eyes that is gone as soon as it arrives, a bashful smile replacing it on the biker's face. Taka— finding this entire situation absurd and finally seeing the humor in it— just shakes his head, a grin rising on his face.
"Count of three, perhaps?"
Mondo looks at him blankly for a second, before he lets out a bark of laughter too, shaking his head, grinning like a madman, eyes sparkling and Taka... god, Taka...
"Fuck, ya know what? Sure, why not. I'll count us, alright?" Mondo grins, and Taka... reality setting in, the knowledge of what they're about to do very real, feels a spike of intense anxiety flood through him, but he doesn't back down. He's never backed down from a challenge before and he sure as heck won't start now. He just keeps looking Mondo in the eyes and nods once, with determination. Mondo looks back and, after a moment... "Alright. Count a' three. One," Taka takes a deep breath, mentally preparing himself, "two," god, no turning back now, they're doing this, god they're doing this- "three."
Almost against his will, Taka looks down, and immediately his eyes seek out- and he- he-
Grk!
Okay. Okay, he can do this, it's a- a penis, he knows what one looks like, he's had one his entire life and besides, he'd taken sexual education online once, he knows what male genitalia looks like and Mondo is his friend, his 100% straight friend, and he needs to calm himself down or he's going to get hard... a-and...
And none of that helps the fact that he's looking at Mondo freaking Owada's half hard dick.
Grk!
And it is, isn't it? Half hard. Taka thinks that Mondo may have been completely full of it when he said this would make things less awkward, because if anything he feels more awkward, because all he can think is dear god, it's huge and what would that feel like inside of me and I want to know what that tastes like, and many, many other terrible, horrible, immoral thoughts. He's fairly certain that he's bright red, his entire body like a tomato, so painfully hard it hurts, but his eyes are glued to Mondo and his manhood and Taka can't- god he can't-
And he tries. He tries to think of unsexy things, to think of things that no one would find sexual, things that are disgusting, but nope, it's not working, especially not when- when-
Mondo gets harder-
Grk! Ack! Eek! Help! Abort! Abort!
"S-shit..." he hears Mondo breathe softly, almost like he doesn't mean to, and Taka wants to look away, knows that this is going on for too long, god, what would someone think if they walked in now, him and Mondo staring at each other's dicks, both fully hard and bright red and- he can't even think about it without wanting to die, mortification filling him, but it does nothing to curb the painful arousal he feels and-
Mondo tears his eyes away, the biker breathing heavy, so flushed that Taka would be concerned if he had any blood left in his head to think with. The motion jolts Taka out of his own weird fugue state and he turns his eyes away, also bright red, so maybe he doesn't blame Mondo.
The pair stand in the empty bathhouse, panting like they ran a marathon (or did some other exertion extensive exercise-), looking anywhere but at the other, trying to compose themselves. Taka has no idea what is going through Mondo's head, only that it sure as hell is not what is going through his, that's for damn sure.
Taka doesn't know how much time passes before Mondo clears his throat, which make his eyes dart to Mondo without permission. The other teen isn't quite looking at him, but is at least looking in his direction, body still as red as a tomato. Taka very carefully stays focused on his face, because- ah. Because.
"S-shit, w-we uh... we should, fuckin'... t-take the fuckin'... shit. Take the bath?"
Mondo's voice cracks on the last word, the biker looking utterly mortified, but Taka barely notices. He's too busy nodding frantically, his eyes wide, his body turning towards the warm pool of water like it's a lifeline.
"Y-y-yes! T-the bath! An excellent idea, k-kyoudai!" Yes! The bath! Aha! Ahahahaha! That will make everything better! Yes!
Mondo nods furiously too, his feet turning towards the bath and moving towards it with purpose, his body shaking as he goes. Not that Taka notices. He's too busy trying to appear natural as he practically flings himself at the bath, stumbling down the steps into the water without really even noticing anything. He hears a *splash* and he knows that means Mondo is in the bath now too, but he doesn't look up from the water, his entire body on fire which isn't helped by the deliciously warm water. If he had gone into the bath without all of that... stuff happening, he might even enjoy the wondrous heat that soothes his aching muscles even despite the tense way he is holding himself. It's such a shame... Mondo was right, this is pretty relaxing... or would be, if, uh-
"Taka..." he hears Mondo call to him several long moments later, startling him out of his carefully blank staring at the water, thoughts simultaneously frozen and racing, far too sluggish to know what any of them are. He turns wide eyes to Mondo, who stares with wide eyes back, and suddenly they- they are-
L... laughing...?
Oh, god, they are. Taka is laughing, big, belly aching laughs, so full he almost falls into the water. And Mondo is too, his laugh loud and boisterous and Taka hopes the bathhouse is soundproof because otherwise he doesn't even want to think about what anyone walking past the room is thinking. But the thought just— insanely— makes him laugh more and Mondo is laughing harder too, and they're both laughing, on opposite sides of the bath, because... you know what? Yes. Yes, this situation is absolutely hysterical, and it makes him laugh so hard, because if he weren't laughing, he'd be crying, and laughter is better than tears.
It takes them several long minutes to calm down, because anytime either of them tries, they just glance at the other and start howling again. He loses track of time— again— as they laugh but he doesn't even care. School has never mattered less to him, to be honest.
Eventually, they both manage to calm down enough that they're not cackling but instead are just giggling softly like freaking schoolgirls, but he doesn't care. It felt so good to just laugh, to let the tension inside of him release, and allow him to be able to sit in the bath, body loose, the knots and butterflies and whatever else in his chest still present, but not suffocating. He glances at Mondo, sees the biker chuckling to himself, a wry grin on his face, and everything in him lurches sideways at the look. God, but he really is beautiful-
Mondo turns to him and their eyes meet. It's like electricity flies and Taka can't help the gasp that escapes him, and he sees Mondo's mouth open softly as he takes a sharp inhale and he doesn't know what that means but he just- god, he just-
"S-so. Uh. Just me or... uh. Was that fuckin' article full a' shit?" Mondo's voice calls, breaking the tension that is creeping between them. Taka blinks at the words, before laughing softly, cheeks still red but that's fine, they've been red this entire time, he was born with a red face after all...
"H-ha! Y-yes! I often find that the internet lies! Aha!"
He can see Mondo's body relax at the words, though he isn't entirely sure why, and he watches at Mondo grins at him, snickering gently as he leans back in the bath.
"Shit, man... I'm so fuckin' sorry. Shouldn't a' made ya do that, goddamn... I'm a fuckin' idiot, that's fer damn sure-"
"Don't say that," Taka interrupts, scowling lightly at the biker. Mondo looks over at him with a raised eyebrow and Taka scoffs softly. "I agreed, didn't I? I thought it sounded like it might work," (ha, liar), "and as such I was as much at fault as you! Anyway, it... this isn't... this didn't... a-are we... k-kyoudai... are we, um... good?"
Mondo stares him in the eyes, shock filling the lavender, and he watches as Mondo nods his head furiously.
"Shit, fuck, hell yeah, man! Ya fuckin' kiddin' me? Take more than a fuckin' awkward moment like that ta make us not be good. Unless... uh... ya don't- uh... wanna be?"
Uncertainty fills Mondo's eyes and Taka hates it. He hates it, so he immediately shakes his head, too fast, but not caring.
"No! I- I wanna be! I mean, er... want to be. Good, that is. Between us. I hate... I hate having awkwardness between us kyoudai, you know I do..."
"Then we won't," Mondo insists, voice sure and steady, all traces of uncertainty gone from his face. He grins at Taka and chuckles softly. "Y'ain't gotta worry 'bout a thing, bro. We'll just... ferget 'bout it. Shit ain't gotta be awkward 'less we make it awkward, yeah? Now, fuck, it's gettin' late. 'Round 7:30, shit. Let's finish actu'ly enjoyin' this bath, 'kay? Then we can get somethin' ta eat and head ta fuckin' class. Shit, still have that goddamn exam don't we... ah hell. Well, let's just enjoy, yeah? No need ta worry. Sound good?"
Taka nods slowly, before sinking down into the water, letting his eyes close as his muscles get assaulted by the warm heat of the scented bath water. He's not sure the name of the scent, just that it's floral and cloying and very, very heady. It makes him feel relaxed. So relaxed that part of him just wants to fall asleep, honestly, though the majority of him knows that's a bad idea for many reasons.
The pair don't speak for a while as they soak, the only sound the quiet trickling of the filtration and the soft splashing of him and Mondo moving. There's no music playing, not even the general soothing music that he's heard typically plays at spas. Taka knows they could have that if they wanted, since there is a music player and CDs in the corner, but he's okay with the quiet. It's not even awkward, really. It's just... peaceful.
After some time passes, he hears Mondo start to speak, his voice soft and low. Taka turns to look at him, his breath stolen as he sees Mondo lounging in the bath, his chest glistening, looking so utterly ethereal that he almost can't take it. Because of this, he nearly misses what Mondo says, but his brain thankfully catches up before he misses it entirely.
"-ya know? Daiya an' I, we'd go ta a bathhouse when things got too heavy at home an' we'd let ourselves just... relax an' shit. Didn't hafta worry 'bout our piece a' shit ol' man, or our cryin' ma, or anythin'. I'd feel bad, sometimes, but Daiya would tell me it wasn't my fault. Felt like it sometimes, heh. Da always said it was my fault things went bad fer us... heh. But he left an' ma died an' it was just Daiya an' me. An' then the gang. We stopped goin' ta bathhouses as often, since we'd both be busy, but I never fergot how nice it was. Ta just... relax an' shit. Know what I mean?"
Mondo is looking over at him then, his eyes soft and yet still so piercing, and Taka can't be dishonest even if he wanted to be. Which he doesn't, not really.
"Somewhat... when I was young, After, uh... my grandfather's fall. My mother and I would share baths, sometimes, to save water. I always enjoyed it, getting to spend more time with her, since we rarely got to spend so much time just the two of us, without any worry. But then, when she... died. We, um… we fell more into debt without a second paying adult in the family. Father couldn't always afford the water bill, so I'd have to go to the cheapest bathhouse once a week just to get clean, making do with the communal showers in the school gym the rest of the time. It... isn't the most pleasant memory for me, to be honest... I always felt so tense there, afraid someone would try and hurt me... or laugh at me... especially with my scars…"
He doesn't quite like the way Mondo is looking at him, the soft sympathy making him want to squirm. Thankfully, Mondo notices his discomfort pretty quick and looks away, at least. He still looks unhappy though, a small grimace on his face and that's somehow worse...
"Aw, shit, man. Shoulda told me that. That's why you were tense earlier, wasn't it? Man, an' there I was, makin' shit worse, goddamn, I'm such an asshole-"
"No," Taka interrupts, unable to listen as Mondo beats himself up for something that isn't, at all, his fault. "That wasn't it. I just... it was something else. I didn't think you would laugh at me. Or hurt me. I... I trust you."
Mondo is looking again, and he feels so exposed, naked in more ways than one, but then Mondo is smiling, a soft blush on his face, and it... it's okay. It's okay, it's okay, it... it's okay.
"Oh... heh... okay..."
The silence returns after that but it's less awkward this time. It's companionable and nice and when Mondo starts up a conversation about a movie that they saw a week ago, Taka joins in immediately and soon they're laughing and arguing playfully and just like that, any and all tension is just... gone. Like it was never there in the first place.
In fact, the only remnants of what happened between them earlier is that sometimes, at random intervals in their conversation, Taka will think Mondo is naked under that water and his mind will explode with memories of Mondo, naked in front of him, his dick hard and turning an interesting shade of red as it lengthened, and Taka will have to forcibly swallow in order to keep his reaction from becoming too noticeable. Thankfully, at their distance and due to the murky water, Mondo doesn't notice anything amiss, so it's relatively easy for him to get back into the swing of things and not get stuck on embarrassment.
There is one noticeably awkward time when this happens while Taka is talking, which makes him trail off awkwardly as his face blooms bright red. However, Mondo is such a good friend that he doesn't question it and just picks up the slack, continuing the conversation seamlessly, pretending like Taka hadn't just made a bit of a fool of himself. He thinks that's one of the things he loves about Mondo the most, honestly...
Eventually, it gets a bit too warm, the water turning from relaxing to overwhelming, and they unanimously agree that it's time to get out. Taka gets out first and wraps his towel around his waist, flushing slightly at the feeling of eyes on him. At this point, he honestly doesn't know if the feeling is even real or just a figment of his imagination, really. He can hear Mondo get out of the water behind him with a gentle splash, and it takes all of his self-restraint not to turn around to try and sneak a peek. God, and he's supposed to be the Ultimate Moral Compass...
Eventually they get dressed and Taka is able to relax the tension that has entered his shoulders again, despite the long bath they'd taken. Together they exit the bathhouse, laughing softly, and head to get some food to eat, joining their friends as they look over their notes for the exam that day. Taka normally would be doing the same, but... well. He's still feeling a bit off inside and he just... really doesn't want to study. Not right then. Oh, god… he isn't getting sick, is he?! Hm...
He flushes every time Mondo looks at him, his heart stuttering and clenching and swelling and it feels awful and wonderful and he just... he just doesn't know what to do. He does his best to let himself feel it, to not push it down, but it's all so... so much and it chokes him sometimes and he honestly doesn't know if this is better than the alternative or not, truthfully. He has got to find a good alternative, and fast, because he doesn't want Mondo to notice and think it's because he's upset with him. He hadn't known Mondo had noticed his tension these last few weeks, hadn't noticed Mondo noticing. What else hasn't he noticed? He'd thought he'd gotten better at lying, but maybe... maybe not...
The exam comes and goes and it's easy for him to fill in the boxes, his mind recalling the information from all his studying with only a little struggle. Afterwards, his friends all thank him for this help, even Hagakure, and they all decide to celebrate by going out that night and looking at the holiday lights.
When they head out, Taka and Mondo find themselves staying close together the entire time, the unexpected rain forcing them all to pair up and hide under umbrellas, but it's not bad. It's even nice, having Mondo pressed against him, arm around his shoulder while Taka holds the umbrella over them with his left hand, the biker's heat warming him against the bitter chill.
Once they reach the metropolitan area, they decide to scrap the idea of looking at the lights and instead enter an arcade to escape the rain. Here, Mondo insists on paying for a two-thousand-yen arcade card for Taka, and while Taka tries to protest, he eventually has to give in, his cheeks pink but his smile happy.
Taka spends most of the time trailing after Mondo, playing a few games that Mondo is interested in, surprisingly finding great enjoyment playing the childish games he'd always seen as a child, but never had the opportunity to play. At one point, he watches with curious eyes as the biker tries to win a plush dog with sunglasses and a leather jacket from one of those rigged crane games, having never played such a game but very curious about it. And— just when he can tell the biker is about to get frustrated and hit something— Taka asks hesitantly if he can give it a try. He's been watching Mondo try enough times and he thinks if he just...
When the dog somehow tumbles out of the machine a few tries later, Mondo doesn't get offended or upset that Taka got it so easily. He just whoops, not caring who hears, and wraps an arm around Taka in a warm side hug, happily saying that 'yer the absolute, goddamn best, kyoudai!'
Seeing Mondo proudly hold the toy dog, for once not caring who sees him... it makes his heart ache and he's happy but he's also kind of sad and he's starting to think this is going to be the new normal for him. Happy and sad all at the same time. He hates it and wishes that he could just... be happy only, but beggars cannot be choosers and Taka will just have to be content with both sides of his coin.
They learn after a little exploring that the arcade has a gashapon area, so Taka trails after his friends as they trade their paper yen for coins and try their luck cranking the little vending machines, hoping they get the prizes they want. He sees Mondo spend quite a lot of yen on a gashapon machine that has mini plastic dogs in various costumes, hoping for the one in biker gear with a mini motorcycle beside it on a stand. When he finally gets it, he lets out another whoop, their friends coming over to coo at how cute it (and the numerous others he's collected along the way) is.
Mondo just grins at them, not trying to hide his excitement to look tougher, allowing himself to be happy without worrying what other people think. When he looks at Taka, Taka grins at him, bright and happy, heart so full at the sight of his dearest friend looking so content and relaxed with himself. Taka then turns to spend the few yen his friends pitched in to give him (gifts, they said, as thanks for his help with their studying, though he knows the truth and is part ashamed, part grateful) on little figures of ancient scholars dressed in modern clothes that he finds utterly ridiculous but— at the same time— somehow charming.
Eventually they decide to head back, their wallets thinner but their smiles wider. Everyone is laughing and having a good time, and even Chihiro starts to relax as she enthuses about some programming thing she's been working on. The rain had stopped while they'd been in the arcade, so they're able to walk freely without umbrellas, but he and Mondo still stay close, practically touching. No one questions it, they don't even seem to notice, and Taka is glad. It's not like they're doing anything wrong, but... well. His mind still sometimes forces him to think about Mondo and his... er... manhood, and that is awkward enough without people staring at him while he does it.
By the time they head back to Hope's Peak it's misting again, but they're able to run through the courtyard fast enough to not get too soaked without opening their umbrellas again. They all part ways then, since they'd eaten before heading out, and Taka follows Mondo to his room. Mondo practically forces Taka out of his damp uniform and into a dry pair of sleep clothes the minute they walk in, Taka's face bright red but not denying Mondo for a second.
They then spend several lazy hours watching movies together, Taka resting his head on Mondo's shoulder, Mondo running gentle fingers through his hair, like has become their usual. It makes Taka want to cry with how domestic it is, their comfortable routine not ruined by their earlier awkwardness, or by his confessions the night before. They're as close as ever and it makes him as happy as it makes him sad. The two sides of the coin he was gifted.
And later... in bed that night...
"Hey, Taka?" Mondo whispers softly, breaking the silence they'd settled into. Taka is on his side again, Mondo curled up behind him, like they'd been that morning. They hadn't even spoken about it, they'd just... naturally fallen into that position and it's so incredible that he wouldn't have complained regardless. He looks over his shoulder but can't see the biker, so he contents himself to listening, hearing the way Mondo's breath has picked up, indicating he's upset about something.
"Yes, Mondo? Are you alright, my kyoudai?"
Mondo doesn't answer for a while, his arms tightening around Taka's waist subtly while he thinks about what he wants to say. Taka doesn't rush him and just puts his hand gently on Mondo's arm, enough so the biker knows it's there.
"Ya'd let me know, wouldn't you?" the biker eventually mutters, making Taka's eyebrows furrow in confusion. What...? Mondo continues before it lasts too long, though, his voice shaking slightly. "I mean... if I ever upset ya. Right? I know yer such an amazin' person ya don't wanna hurt people's feelin's but I... I don't want ya ta just do things just 'cuz ya think I want ya to, or ta keep doin' stuff if it makes ya upset. Yer hair, the bath, t-this... this mornin'... shit, man. Taka, I want ya ta do things 'cuz ya want to. An' I don't ever want ta be the reason yer upset. So... if I ever did, ya'd tell me... yeah?"
Taka blinks at the question, wondering where exactly it came from. If it's been bothering Mondo the entire day. He remembers the biker saying something similar to him the day before, and it makes his heart clench to hear. So, he doesn't even hesitate before moving his hand and twining it with Mondo's, wanting to have some way of comforting the teen, even if only a little. Given the way Mondo squeezes his hand firmly back, he hopes he succeeded.
"Mondo... kyoudai, I would not do things that I do not want to do. Everything I do with you, I do because I want to, okay? And you have done nothing to upset me, nothing at all, and if I gave you the impression that I was, then- then I am truly sorry. But yes, Mondo, yes I will tell you if you ever did."
"Do you promise?"
Taka takes a moment— the intensity in Mondo's voice shaking him— before he replies.
"Yes, my dearest kyoudai. I promise. I will tell you if you've ever upset me, and I promise that anything we do together, I do it because I want to. Even if you have to convince me, if I give in it is because I want to give in. This, I promise. And that's a man's promise, you know. A promise between men. A good friend of mine tells me that that means I must keep it!"
He smiles when he hears Mondo snort behind him, the teen pulling him closer until he is completely surrounded by Mondo, the teen's face burying deliciously into his neck. He can't help the shudder he gives, and he can practically feel the smile Mondo gives in response.
"Good... good," Mondo mumbles against his neck, making him shudder again, his breath shaky and weak. Silence follows for several minutes after that, and Taka is almost about to drift off when he hears Mondo again, his voice soft and hesitant, uncertainty and insecurity clear in the tone. "Hey, uh... Taka. If yer still up... did ya wanna, I dunno... go out fer a ride again, sometime? Just you an' me? Prolly won't go as far as last time, maybe a place in the city, but just... somewhere. Y'ain't gotta, if ya don't wanna, I mean... shit, yer prolly sleepin', god, I'm so stupid-"
Taka opens his eyes at the whispered words, heart aching at the insecurity he hears. He hates it, hates thinking of Mondo, probably the strongest person he knows (aside from, maybe, Sakura...), as being insecure. He can't help it when he shifts on the bed, his hand gently untangling from Mondo's reluctantly. He can hear Mondo let out a sound of surprised dismay, but he doesn't stop, not until he is facing Mondo, eyes intent on his, pressing close until their legs are practically entwined, and their foreheads are pressed tightly together. He can't help himself when he reaches out his hand and grabs Mondo's again, their fingers twining wondrously once more.
"Mondo. Kyoudai. I want you to know that I would love to go out for a ride with you. Anytime, anywhere. Well... perhaps not anytime, we do have school after all! But... anytime outside of school. And if it won't interfere with our sleep, so we don't miss school... um... I'm getting off track..." Taka blushes when he hears Mondo laugh at him silently, the biker pressing his nose to Taka's and nuzzling softly, like a kunik. It makes him get tongue tied for a moment before he remembers what he wants to say. "What I mean is! I want to go out with you. F-for a ride! You and me. Together. And you don't have to worry about me doing it just because you asked. I found that I actually enjoyed our last ride! It was very... refreshing!"
And he does mean that. He truly, truly does. While that night had been the night that he'd fully realized his feelings, unable to escape the realization that he is utterly, hopelessly, ridiculously in love with his best friend who has no hope of ever loving him back in the same way, it had also probably been the best night of his life, so far. The idea of going out again, just the two of them... well. It's a good one. Even if they just ride around on Mondo's motorcycle, he doesn't think he would mind. Riding on the bike is strangely thrilling, even despite the terror. He truly does means it when he says he'd love to go again...
He focuses back on his bedmate when he hears Mondo let out another soft, breathless laugh, his eyes bright as he presses closer to Taka, so that every inch of them is pressed tight to one another. It's... very nice.
"Shit, man... fuckin' awesome. I think it's supposed ta rain the next couple a' days, but maybe we can go after school one day. Or maybe next weekend if it ain't rainin' or worse. I just... I'm glad. That ya like it. Heh... maybe I can teach ya how ta ride one day... get ya a hog a' yer own... heh..."
Taka tsks softly, shaking his head at such nonsense. He says nothing though, just smiles happily before closing his eyes. He knows he should turn back around, that this position is far more intimate and personal, but he... he's just so tired and it's so nice, having Mondo's arms around him and being able to put his arm around Mondo, being so close to Mondo like usual, but in a much, much more personal way. It just... it's nice. So, rather than overthink it to death, he just closes his eyes, ignoring the mild discomfort, and lets himself drift off to sleep.
(And when he wakes the next morning, his sleep pants suspiciously wet and his mind full of decidedly not wholesome images of his best friend, back at the bath in that moment, but instead of pulling away Mondo presses him back, back, back against the lockers, his lips fervent and determined as they press against his, trailing down his neck and his body until Mondo is on his knees, grinning up at him wolfishly before-
Grk!
A-anyway! It's very awkward then, especially considering how close the two are pressed together, so close that Taka can feel Mondo's own morning wood. His leg is pressed between Mondo's and their bodies are slotted together so utterly, so perfectly.
Mondo is, of course, awake, and they pull away from each other with bright faces, neither looking at the other for several long moments, though for very different reasons, he assumes.
Eventually things calm down, but then Mondo, mischief in his eyes and a smirk on his lips, asks Taka casually 'So. Whatcha dreamin' 'bout, kyoudai?' That makes Taka panic for a heart stopping moment, sure that Mondo knows and is being cruel, but then he realizes he's probably just teasing and so he throws a pillow at the biker, yelling after the laughing teen that 'you are the absolute worst, Mondo Owada!', causing Mondo to throw the pillow back, leading to a very impromptu but impassioned pillow fight, ending with both boys panting and giggling on the ground, side by side, eyes soft and relaxed and just... happy, so happy...
All in all, it's a nice morning.)
Summary of this chapter: Two bros, sittin' in a bathhouse, five feet apart 'cause they're painfully gay but think the other is painfully straight and know that if they sit any closer the other will immediately know and they will ruin their entire friendship in one fell swoop...!
;-)
Now... before anyone comments, YES, I understand how weird it was to have an emotionally charged moment hinging on them not looking at each other's private parts, ha. However, I know that many Asian cultures are a lot different than western countries about nudity and such, at least amongst same sex individuals. Western influence is making its way to eastern countries, yes, but they're not quite as restrictive still... I don't think? I'm not sure, I just know that when researching bath houses, it mentioned that it's a way to get close to another person, and seeing as how bath houses are gender divided, I think it doesn't mean romantically, aha. Plus, in the game, if you spend your free time with Taka, he practically forces 'you' (aka Makoto) to go with him to the bath house and "bare yourselves to each other," since, as I said in this chapter, Taka believes that the best way to get a feel for another person's character is to see them naked. So... ha.
Also, as said, the whole 'looking at another man's private parts helps make things less awkward' thing comes from Arin Hanson from the Game Grumps. No idea if it actually works or not, since I'm a girl regardless, but Arin swears upon it, so... yep. Did it actually make anything less awkward for Mondo and Taka? Hell no. But hey, at least they tried! And it made them grow closer! Aha... ;-)
(Also, fun fact. I seriously considered having Byakuya come in, see Mondo and Taka at... any point during this chapter really, raise an eyebrow, go "I don't even want to know", before walking straight back out. I'm not the biggest Byakuya fan, which is why I don't have him in this story much, but I can appreciate a spot of deadpan humor here and there. But I decided against it because it would utterly mortify Taka, which I already did enough this chapter, poor boy, ha.)
(Also also, who wants to place a bet for how long Mondo lied next to Taka having a wet dream, listening to him moan softly, before Taka— *ahem*— concluded? Hmmm? ;-)