p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ce1cce7a13a596f04b949bb8a192d408"There he is. Shinji Takenaka, heir to the Takenaka family's full wealth. They are considered to be among Tokyo's richest families. However, he hates to talk about his family, so no one ever asks him about them. Also, we have classes together at Tokyo University. We take Aeronautics Engineering together. He's quite a good student, much better than myself. But, to be fair, he is a year older than me. He's also drop-dead gorgeous. I am currently running slightly late for my Materials Engineering class, which I have a test for. I have the immense luck of not only taking the same train as him but standing right next to him on the platform./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="21b595204972eff4fe682dc3d5bcae7a""Hi, you're Shinji, right?" I say, trying to act like I haven't been obsessing over him since I first saw him./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="5cfaffee2058fc02296e76166a764c2c""Yeah, who are you?" My heart sinks a little when I hear this. How could he not even know my name, much less not know who I am? I mean, It's not exactly like I blend in, seeing as I'm well over 6 feet tall./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="da3e7e77c5882af06da899ca02439872""Oh, I'm Thomas."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="dfd15ccb5322742f4c090428410832f9"I outstretch my hand, and Shinji reaches out and shakes it. Shinji has a firm grip and is visibly muscular under his dress shirt. I never understand why Japanese people were always dressed so properly./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="359ea080b02e1672c300492b1d93275f""Oh, the exchange student? I think I sit a few seats down to the left of you for Aeronautics Engineering, right?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="1a5831778ff82e22e1af1a342a6390f5""Yes, I believe so. Oh, here comes my train."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="4194acb8d5a2643e705c0f63b2ca8f96""Oh, I take the next train, so this will be goodbye. Alright, see you in class."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="4b961d2845ff771f22d1a21305325b22""Yeah, I guess."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="7fbcc16bbd8d4727df8613a996e5aa79"We start up a good conversation and talk until the train arrives. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="7505ab8f386dd36195ee719ed24fc6cd"I get on the train, pushing my way through the hordes of people. Being 6' 7" is already hard enough in Germany, but in Japan, it's ten times worse. Here everything seems like it's built for people that are 5 feet tall. My mind wanders back to Shinji. I know that he hasn't noticed me, but I have noticed him. I'm always casting glances over at him in class, but he never looks back. He looks like he is right out of a K-Pop boy band. He is also decently near my height, standing at 6' 2". I came to Japan to escape my homophobic parents, and here I was finally free to do what I wanted, dress how I wanted, and act how I wanted. Funnily enough, I hadn't felt attracted to anyone I'd met. Until I met him. He has a soft voice, slightly higher than my own, and he is a very stylish dresser. His parents are rich, but you could never see the money on him. He is also undeniably, astoundingly attractive. Before my thoughts can venture any further, the train begins to slow down with a jolt that nearly knocks me off of my feet. The trains here slow down so much faster than in Germany. And the suspension is so much worse. No wonder people bump together on trains so much in anime./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9ebb17f8ae2f086bbe72ddb0027eaf4a"I take off quickly, to get through the crowds. If I don't hurry, I'll miss my test./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="bd346bff76de409468aa47da7c84f85f"I make it just in time to class, and it passes unmemorably. I complete it with a (hopefully) passing effort and go home the second the teacher dismisses us./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="2638b39c2df8d9b53611d19faed23a5d"On my way home, I wonder who my new roomie will be. My other one left two months ago because I was too messy and he was too clean. He left a note explaining why he'd left, and said that he pitied anyone who had the misfortune of becoming my roommate. Funnily enough, I haven't had any house-mates since./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f5ba19d1d91c8cbe8f9f1e12e7296194"I arrive at the front gate of my house, I walk in and begin to take my shoes off. At that very moment, the bell rings. I'm pretty sure that it's the new roommate, so I spruce up the entrance as much as possible. I put away the shoes, clean away the leaves, and hang up the coats neatly./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f8d7fce4a46c9d18f22b46f082e59560"I walk up to the door and I muster up some courage. I open the door, and there he is-Shinji Takenaka./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="94197767161cba44e90dd4c9f731a62d"To be honest, I'm quite surprised. I was not expecting this whatsoever. Who would've thought that my crush would end up living with me?/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8141a756bbdaab9ecaae5a6006172915""Hi, Thomas, I guess we'll be living together?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ab7eca7070338930048143546f11897b""Yeah, I guess so."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a0de3e5bb2317105c9a33d2dfa6b04f5""Well, come on in, then."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="946303087fd03177f87f58a08570ce0b"He comes in, and we go to the kitchen/living room. He sits on the couch, and I serve him tea./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="34470e66902f280f5c23988bb8f304d5""This is a good tea. Is it ujicha?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="4b2c65d3a51c1573024473427759c2fc""Yeah. No one ever notices, and most people don't even like it."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="84b4f39f287a6c90ea2404f7e2be64a7""Really? I love it. Though, I have heard it's an acquired taste. Well, this is a nice house. How much is rent?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="5190b875fef7f5c3bf20e8a727dc78aa""It is 160,000 yen a month." That's less than normal, but I've decided that I want him to move in with me./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="5a2a789918dc1ca2bcf584f6246441f6""Wow, for a house this big? That's pretty cheap."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="78d52b6f2249def89d5c5212ecf6f647""Yeah, but it requires very little maintenance, and I don't bathe much, so the bills are pretty cheap. Oh, but don't worry, I do shower once every two days, or so. If I remember to, that is."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="82c1e9311bf6856bf7dda750b420d7d8""Yeah, me neither. I just find it weird when people who are paying their bills while in university feel the need to shower once or twice a day."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="aa41bbb2bf5a9dabb9843d5b7629bf26"Perfect. This is going perfect. We have a good conversation going, we share some points of view, and I'm hoping for some interests as well./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8264dc757bf6fe303808b971b565abc0""Well, since the rent is cheap, and you seem like a nice guy, I think I'll stay here. How does that sound?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="7fed4149da4e6cc4c9a2b13cd8c59a37""Sounds great!" I say, somewhat too enthusiastically. "Do you want me to show you to your room?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="939620a02e81589b16676f347f01921e""Yeah, sure."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="bd5f83325a8e8337c72601576723d35f"We walk up the stairs to the bedrooms. There are four bedrooms, but I give him the one to the right of my room. He deposits his luggage, and he begins to unpack his things. I take this as the sign of the end of our conversation, so I head back downstairs. I see that it's already 5, so I begin to make dinner./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="796f7b3ff4abed72ebf476b2454bf4d1"- 1 hr 30 min. later-/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="983c0f996abf7e9158654889442e1208""Ooh, is that gyudon? Smells amazing!" He calls from upstairs. I then hear the pitter-patter of his feet coming down the stairs. I see he's changed his clothes, to a thin blue-and-white striped tee and white shorts. I can now see that I had been correct about his body. He is muscular but in the style of a casual lifter, not enough for it to make me see him as a "bodybuilder". All in all, an astoundingly sexy fit. He sits at the table, opposite me./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="6d6f855cb6cccf5a24a14477bebdcd5d""Itadakimasu. Wow, this looks amazing!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="78c1d47d5a59e2e39bdb412359d176be""Thanks," I say as casually as possible, trying to downplay the huge amount of effort that I put into this meal. "Would you like some beer?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="047c7c99c4199aeaaa2449ab529fd3c1""Sure. Don't give me too much, though. I'm not a big drinker, y' know."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f94de41d366304e56873bd6403e05388"I slowly pour him the glass, and he stops me at about two-thirds of the way./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="fdef1c25cc98cf151cd6fbc8a19e8997""Tell me about yourself," He looks at me inquiringly. I'm convinced, at this moment, that he is genuinely interested in my story. Either he's a great actor or one of the most caring people I've ever met. I'm hoping it's the latter. Still, I'm surprised by his forward action, and it makes me happy. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="6fae0e756449391b20c83fe7894fe509""uh-, I-, ahem..." I trip over my words but do my best to continue. "I'm from Germany, but I moved here a couple of months ago for school"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="61fac3dc25825c533a53ab9562289f94"He smiles and giggles lightly. "I've lived in Japan my whole life, but in the north. I moved down here for school. "/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a781ab9d9903f7d116ca2ce98bddad4b""Oh, you're from Hokkaido?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="7044f10f56bb32b3b8ca3c0819ad49d5""Yes, that's where my parents lived their whole lives. It took a great deal of convincing, but I got them to let me attend here. Considering that my parents are making me pay for all of this myself, I was really happy to see a place as nice as this at such a low price. Well, where in Germany are you from?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9570c2e0ee03e05847253f5d56016ee7""Oh, I'm from a small town called Troisdorf. It's near the University of Bonn, if you know it."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9160ce6bdd2c9453984809965dfaabb8""Yeah, I know its general whereabouts. So, why come to Japan?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8d27276f8499cf0790f54abcc152bf91"Do I tell him? Do I come out to him? I decide against it and do my best to improvise. "I mean, I've been a weeb for as long as I can remember, and I sort of learned Japanese through that. At first, I learned how to read Japanese so that I could watch anime without subtitles and read the original prints of mangas. But then, I saw how great education is in Japan, and since I hated all of my old classmates, I decided to come here, since I already knew the language." That was a blatant lie. I liked my old classmates, and I had even gotten romantically involved with one of them about a month before graduation. But that is the past. He is my now./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a5f361bb44d2c6e6816d364c4eff0ebf""Huh, well, I'm sorry about the classmates. I hope it's better here now?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="7c172290a54f5f267e5cf82cbbc1342e""Yeah, lots." Thanks to him. I still haven't made many friends and no very close ones./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="bebff55b17e8dd4aa2dfb82cbc807d30""I'm glad. Well, since we're both done eating, and you cooked, you just relax and I'll clean up, all right?" He flashes me a quick smile, I guess to show me he's serious about it./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8563e65d33aefb9f1f20999db4c4117f""Fine. I'll be upstairs if you need anything."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9b676ed31f329d1453fcd2f241981fa3""Alright, thanks."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3ab3e22a3925a2eba6dd9826a2553204"I jog up the stairs to my room and throw myself on my bed. I let myself fall asleep thinking about Shinji./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="50f300e2bc7a1887cdeabd740af41787"-About 2 Hours Later-/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8f5165e7b69a9a321fc43fa17ecc9862"I wake up with a start as my door is slammed open. I see Shinji standing in the doorway, dress shirt halfway unbuttoned. I see his face is slightly red, and from the way he stumbles towards my bed, I guess it's from intoxication. I wonder if he had kept on drinking while I was sleeping. He jumps on the bed, snuggles up next to me, and proceeds to start snoring obnoxiously loud./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="90862cea3e062d146f932c566310fcdb""Hey, Shinji, what're you doing? You know this is my room, right?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3d0ba2a3b99c7d5ca4583c84e0690754""Y-Yesh, I know that perfectly well. But itsh cowld, and you're warm. Lemme shleep here, mmkay?" He somehow gets the whole sentence out of his mouth before falling asleep, for real this time."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="e42dbdd7ee7253ec19f30cbdc32cd9bd""Well, alright." He snuggles even tighter into my chest under the blanket. This is going to be interesting. I let myself fall asleep again, thinking of what could happen between us, and what could be in my-no, our, future./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="21b595204972eff4fe682dc3d5bcae7a""Hi, you're Shinji, right?" I say, trying to act like I haven't been obsessing over him since I first saw him./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="5cfaffee2058fc02296e76166a764c2c""Yeah, who are you?" My heart sinks a little when I hear this. How could he not even know my name, much less not know who I am? I mean, It's not exactly like I blend in, seeing as I'm well over 6 feet tall./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="da3e7e77c5882af06da899ca02439872""Oh, I'm Thomas."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="dfd15ccb5322742f4c090428410832f9"I outstretch my hand, and Shinji reaches out and shakes it. Shinji has a firm grip and is visibly muscular under his dress shirt. I never understand why Japanese people were always dressed so properly./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="359ea080b02e1672c300492b1d93275f""Oh, the exchange student? I think I sit a few seats down to the left of you for Aeronautics Engineering, right?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="1a5831778ff82e22e1af1a342a6390f5""Yes, I believe so. Oh, here comes my train."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="4194acb8d5a2643e705c0f63b2ca8f96""Oh, I take the next train, so this will be goodbye. Alright, see you in class."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="4b961d2845ff771f22d1a21305325b22""Yeah, I guess."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="7fbcc16bbd8d4727df8613a996e5aa79"We start up a good conversation and talk until the train arrives. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="7505ab8f386dd36195ee719ed24fc6cd"I get on the train, pushing my way through the hordes of people. Being 6' 7" is already hard enough in Germany, but in Japan, it's ten times worse. Here everything seems like it's built for people that are 5 feet tall. My mind wanders back to Shinji. I know that he hasn't noticed me, but I have noticed him. I'm always casting glances over at him in class, but he never looks back. He looks like he is right out of a K-Pop boy band. He is also decently near my height, standing at 6' 2". I came to Japan to escape my homophobic parents, and here I was finally free to do what I wanted, dress how I wanted, and act how I wanted. Funnily enough, I hadn't felt attracted to anyone I'd met. Until I met him. He has a soft voice, slightly higher than my own, and he is a very stylish dresser. His parents are rich, but you could never see the money on him. He is also undeniably, astoundingly attractive. Before my thoughts can venture any further, the train begins to slow down with a jolt that nearly knocks me off of my feet. The trains here slow down so much faster than in Germany. And the suspension is so much worse. No wonder people bump together on trains so much in anime./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9ebb17f8ae2f086bbe72ddb0027eaf4a"I take off quickly, to get through the crowds. If I don't hurry, I'll miss my test./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="bd346bff76de409468aa47da7c84f85f"I make it just in time to class, and it passes unmemorably. I complete it with a (hopefully) passing effort and go home the second the teacher dismisses us./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="2638b39c2df8d9b53611d19faed23a5d"On my way home, I wonder who my new roomie will be. My other one left two months ago because I was too messy and he was too clean. He left a note explaining why he'd left, and said that he pitied anyone who had the misfortune of becoming my roommate. Funnily enough, I haven't had any house-mates since./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f5ba19d1d91c8cbe8f9f1e12e7296194"I arrive at the front gate of my house, I walk in and begin to take my shoes off. At that very moment, the bell rings. I'm pretty sure that it's the new roommate, so I spruce up the entrance as much as possible. I put away the shoes, clean away the leaves, and hang up the coats neatly./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f8d7fce4a46c9d18f22b46f082e59560"I walk up to the door and I muster up some courage. I open the door, and there he is-Shinji Takenaka./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="94197767161cba44e90dd4c9f731a62d"To be honest, I'm quite surprised. I was not expecting this whatsoever. Who would've thought that my crush would end up living with me?/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8141a756bbdaab9ecaae5a6006172915""Hi, Thomas, I guess we'll be living together?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="ab7eca7070338930048143546f11897b""Yeah, I guess so."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a0de3e5bb2317105c9a33d2dfa6b04f5""Well, come on in, then."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="946303087fd03177f87f58a08570ce0b"He comes in, and we go to the kitchen/living room. He sits on the couch, and I serve him tea./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="34470e66902f280f5c23988bb8f304d5""This is a good tea. Is it ujicha?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="4b2c65d3a51c1573024473427759c2fc""Yeah. No one ever notices, and most people don't even like it."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="84b4f39f287a6c90ea2404f7e2be64a7""Really? I love it. Though, I have heard it's an acquired taste. Well, this is a nice house. How much is rent?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="5190b875fef7f5c3bf20e8a727dc78aa""It is 160,000 yen a month." That's less than normal, but I've decided that I want him to move in with me./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="5a2a789918dc1ca2bcf584f6246441f6""Wow, for a house this big? That's pretty cheap."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="78d52b6f2249def89d5c5212ecf6f647""Yeah, but it requires very little maintenance, and I don't bathe much, so the bills are pretty cheap. Oh, but don't worry, I do shower once every two days, or so. If I remember to, that is."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="82c1e9311bf6856bf7dda750b420d7d8""Yeah, me neither. I just find it weird when people who are paying their bills while in university feel the need to shower once or twice a day."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="aa41bbb2bf5a9dabb9843d5b7629bf26"Perfect. This is going perfect. We have a good conversation going, we share some points of view, and I'm hoping for some interests as well./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8264dc757bf6fe303808b971b565abc0""Well, since the rent is cheap, and you seem like a nice guy, I think I'll stay here. How does that sound?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="7fed4149da4e6cc4c9a2b13cd8c59a37""Sounds great!" I say, somewhat too enthusiastically. "Do you want me to show you to your room?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="939620a02e81589b16676f347f01921e""Yeah, sure."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="bd5f83325a8e8337c72601576723d35f"We walk up the stairs to the bedrooms. There are four bedrooms, but I give him the one to the right of my room. He deposits his luggage, and he begins to unpack his things. I take this as the sign of the end of our conversation, so I head back downstairs. I see that it's already 5, so I begin to make dinner./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="796f7b3ff4abed72ebf476b2454bf4d1"- 1 hr 30 min. later-/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="983c0f996abf7e9158654889442e1208""Ooh, is that gyudon? Smells amazing!" He calls from upstairs. I then hear the pitter-patter of his feet coming down the stairs. I see he's changed his clothes, to a thin blue-and-white striped tee and white shorts. I can now see that I had been correct about his body. He is muscular but in the style of a casual lifter, not enough for it to make me see him as a "bodybuilder". All in all, an astoundingly sexy fit. He sits at the table, opposite me./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="6d6f855cb6cccf5a24a14477bebdcd5d""Itadakimasu. Wow, this looks amazing!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="78c1d47d5a59e2e39bdb412359d176be""Thanks," I say as casually as possible, trying to downplay the huge amount of effort that I put into this meal. "Would you like some beer?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="047c7c99c4199aeaaa2449ab529fd3c1""Sure. Don't give me too much, though. I'm not a big drinker, y' know."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="f94de41d366304e56873bd6403e05388"I slowly pour him the glass, and he stops me at about two-thirds of the way./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="fdef1c25cc98cf151cd6fbc8a19e8997""Tell me about yourself," He looks at me inquiringly. I'm convinced, at this moment, that he is genuinely interested in my story. Either he's a great actor or one of the most caring people I've ever met. I'm hoping it's the latter. Still, I'm surprised by his forward action, and it makes me happy. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="6fae0e756449391b20c83fe7894fe509""uh-, I-, ahem..." I trip over my words but do my best to continue. "I'm from Germany, but I moved here a couple of months ago for school"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="61fac3dc25825c533a53ab9562289f94"He smiles and giggles lightly. "I've lived in Japan my whole life, but in the north. I moved down here for school. "/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a781ab9d9903f7d116ca2ce98bddad4b""Oh, you're from Hokkaido?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="7044f10f56bb32b3b8ca3c0819ad49d5""Yes, that's where my parents lived their whole lives. It took a great deal of convincing, but I got them to let me attend here. Considering that my parents are making me pay for all of this myself, I was really happy to see a place as nice as this at such a low price. Well, where in Germany are you from?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9570c2e0ee03e05847253f5d56016ee7""Oh, I'm from a small town called Troisdorf. It's near the University of Bonn, if you know it."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9160ce6bdd2c9453984809965dfaabb8""Yeah, I know its general whereabouts. So, why come to Japan?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8d27276f8499cf0790f54abcc152bf91"Do I tell him? Do I come out to him? I decide against it and do my best to improvise. "I mean, I've been a weeb for as long as I can remember, and I sort of learned Japanese through that. At first, I learned how to read Japanese so that I could watch anime without subtitles and read the original prints of mangas. But then, I saw how great education is in Japan, and since I hated all of my old classmates, I decided to come here, since I already knew the language." That was a blatant lie. I liked my old classmates, and I had even gotten romantically involved with one of them about a month before graduation. But that is the past. He is my now./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="a5f361bb44d2c6e6816d364c4eff0ebf""Huh, well, I'm sorry about the classmates. I hope it's better here now?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="7c172290a54f5f267e5cf82cbbc1342e""Yeah, lots." Thanks to him. I still haven't made many friends and no very close ones./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="bebff55b17e8dd4aa2dfb82cbc807d30""I'm glad. Well, since we're both done eating, and you cooked, you just relax and I'll clean up, all right?" He flashes me a quick smile, I guess to show me he's serious about it./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8563e65d33aefb9f1f20999db4c4117f""Fine. I'll be upstairs if you need anything."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="9b676ed31f329d1453fcd2f241981fa3""Alright, thanks."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3ab3e22a3925a2eba6dd9826a2553204"I jog up the stairs to my room and throw myself on my bed. I let myself fall asleep thinking about Shinji./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="50f300e2bc7a1887cdeabd740af41787"-About 2 Hours Later-/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="8f5165e7b69a9a321fc43fa17ecc9862"I wake up with a start as my door is slammed open. I see Shinji standing in the doorway, dress shirt halfway unbuttoned. I see his face is slightly red, and from the way he stumbles towards my bed, I guess it's from intoxication. I wonder if he had kept on drinking while I was sleeping. He jumps on the bed, snuggles up next to me, and proceeds to start snoring obnoxiously loud./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="90862cea3e062d146f932c566310fcdb""Hey, Shinji, what're you doing? You know this is my room, right?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="3d0ba2a3b99c7d5ca4583c84e0690754""Y-Yesh, I know that perfectly well. But itsh cowld, and you're warm. Lemme shleep here, mmkay?" He somehow gets the whole sentence out of his mouth before falling asleep, for real this time."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" data-p-id="e42dbdd7ee7253ec19f30cbdc32cd9bd""Well, alright." He snuggles even tighter into my chest under the blanket. This is going to be interesting. I let myself fall asleep again, thinking of what could happen between us, and what could be in my-no, our, future./p