Chapter Three

A/N I'm planning to rewrite this and add some more dialogue in the future, but then again, I might not be able to get around to doing that until much later. Wrote this to escape from the piles of shit I have to get done and to give you at least something to read during this depressing lockdown. Hope you're all safe and healthy. See you all soon XX.

Graduation and Then After

Graduation came sooner than Hibiki had anticipated. He chalked this down to him having been too busy, making sure a certain someone didn't starve to death, to have noticed the time tick by.

Hibiki had originally been planning to jump straight into the art scene once he graduated but Usami Natsuko had had other plans. While she had mostly left Hibiki to do as he pleased, the one thing she refused to back down on was his career plans.

"If you want to make a career out of that hobby of yours, do something productive with your time and get a degree first."

He didn't want to admit it at first, but Hibiki couldn't deny that what she said wasn't all that wrong. Art, especially paintings, was something not many could afford to live solely alone off. Many struggled to even scrape by and most had to establish a network before earning a firm standing within the profession. It was logical. But at the same time, it showed how little she knew about him since Hibiki was already fairly well known alongside his grandfather.

As he'd grown older, Inohana Daiichi had slowly retired from professionally painting. He'd stopped selling his painting altogether by the time Hibiki had been born but that didn't mean he'd stepped out of the scene altogether. Daiichi had always kept contact with his old friends and acquaintances, never forgetting to take Hibiki alongside him when he'd gone to visit them. He'd also made sure to introduce his grandson to his well-established network once he noticed Hibiki's fascination with oil paints.

Both thanks to his grandfather's help and his own talent in the art, Hibiki had his own standing within the professional circle. It may be due to the fact Hibiki went by the pseudonym Naegi Hibiki that Natsuko didn't know that his hobby had already become a career but either way Hibiki didn't really care.

"Fine." is all he replied to her before promptly leaving the room. He put in an application to Touto University for Arts the very next day and was accepted in just a month shy of graduation.

The graduation ceremony itself would have been quite boring had Hibiki bothered to even show up for it. He saw little meaning in sitting for hours in the gymnasium listening to their balding principal drone on and on and on. So instead of going to the ceremony, Hibiki had stayed inside the classroom with Kyo, who had conveniently gotten a stomachache as soon as he'd caught wind of Hibiki's plans.

"You're an idiot, you know that?" Hibiki said, chuckling as he combed his fingers gently through Kyo's tangled fringe.

Kyo only hummed in amusement and signed contently at his friend's gentle strokes.

Before graduation, Hibiki and Kyo had talked, in great length, about where they were going to take their relationship after graduation. While they weren't exactly lovers, they could say they were just friends either. So Hibiki had suggested they try things out while living together since they both had plans to move to Tokyo.

Kyo had wholeheartedly agreed with Hibiki's idea and blushed when the redhead had leaned down for an experimental peck on his cheek. Hibiki loved making the other boy blush but couldn't help but feel like a cradle robber when he was reminded of the age gap between their souls. He didn't dwell for long though, since 'Well, what he doesn't know won't hurt him.' was the conclusion he came to each time he was reminded of this fact.

After graduation, the two moved into a fairly spacious apartment near Marukawa Shoten. Kyo had wanted to get an apartment near Touto but gave in when his editor put his own two cents into the argument.

"It'll be easier for us to drag your sorry ass to the company building."

Unable to refute this statement Kyo gave in and let Hibiki have his way.

"I hate you…" Kyo had mumbled into his lover's shoulder. Hibiki had laughed at this and replied, "You know you love me." to which Kyo didn't even bother to deny.

Moving into their new apartment was easier said than done for Hibiki. One, he had to coerce the Usami elders into allowing him to move out of the mansion. Two, he had to convince Akihito no, he was not going away forever, and yes, he would be back to play with him on holidays. And finally, three, he had to ignore the glares Haruhiko was giving him as he loaded his things into the trunk of his car. It was a long and tedious journey but still, he managed to achieve his ultimate goal so he wasn't complaining.

Hibiki's relationship with Kyo was slow but nauseatingly domestic in the eyes of a stranger.

Hibiki often woke up snuggled up against Kyo's chest. He liked to lay there for a while, before getting up, just taking in the sight of his lover's peaceful daze. If he could Hibiki would have spent the entire day like that but alas they had lives to live and jobs to do.

Being the early raiser of the two, Hibiki wiggles out of bed and head down to make breakfast. On days he had classes early, Hibiki would have his breakfast and then make lunch for Kyo and leave it in the fridge before heading out. On days he didn't, Hibiki would wake Kyo and the two would have breakfast together.

Today, Hibiki's classes started at 9 in the morning so Hibiki fixed up a quick breakfast for himself before making a few sandwiches and popping them into the fridge for Kyo. After washing up, Hibiki went back up to their bedroom to give Kyo a small peck on the cheek before leaving.

Kyo stirred slightly in his sleep but didn't wake from the kiss. Hibiki chuckled lowly at this adorable scene. He would have taken a photo if he wasn't already late for his train.

While both Hibiki and Kyo had their own separate cars, Hibiki liked to take public transportation. It wasn't for environmental reasons but because he liked to watch the mundane nature of the world around him. It was unusual and kinda creepy in a way, but that was just how Hibiki got his inspiration.

Because he was about 10 minutes late to class, Hibiki entered the room as quietly as he could before taking his seat at the back. Rather than this being because he didn't want the professor to know he was late, it was more about not disturbing his classmates while they were working.

They had started on a new canvas the week before and most of them were still sketching out ideas. Hibiki had finished his sketch last week but he was still not sure on what base colours to use so it took a while before he could start putting any paint to his sketch.

He'd wanted to at least finish the riverbed but only managed to get a few dark blue hues down by the end of class. Not satisfied with his progress Hibiki returned to retrieve his canvas after his lectures for the day were finished

He took it home with him d he could get some more work done in his studio. To avoid any stares, he would receive if he took it on the train, Hibiki called Kyo to see if he could come to pick him up.

"I'll be there in half an hour."

"Hmm, I'll be waiting in the café nearby. Call me when you arrive, kay?"

After the short phone call, Hibiki went to the university café and ordered a tall latte. He sat at his regular seat, taking small sips of his coffee as he observed the bustling streets outside. He took out a tattered sketchbook and laid it open on the table in front of him so every once in a while, he could keep his hands busy.

By the time he's finished his drink, Kyo had arrived in front of the café.

"Sorry, I'm a little late. Did you wait long?" Kyo asked, taking the canvas from Hibiki to place it in the backseat.

"Nah, it's fine. You weren't that late anyway." Hibiki said, playfully petting his lover on the cheek before taking his seat upfront.

It didn't take long for them to get back home. Once they arrived back, Kyo went to put the canvas in Hibiki's studio while Hibiki started preparing dinner.

Dinner was something the two liked to do together on days they weren't busy. Both of them could cook moderately well if they had a recipe so having another set of hands was helpful to them both.

"Craving anything?" Hibiki asked as he tossed Kyo his apron.

"Anything without bell peppers and I'm good." was Kyo's answer to which Hibiki took a moment to laugh at.

In the end, the two decided on okonomiyaki. Hibiki chopped the veggies while Kyo mixed the batter. Both took turns to fry the dough and laughed at how utterly limp their dinner looked.

""Ittadakimasu~""

Since Hibiki did the dishes in the morning, Kyo did the dishes after dinner. Hibiki would always disappear into his studio after dinner and today was no different. Kyo would join him sometimes but most he would disappear into his own studio to work on his manuscript. Both wouldn't come out until around about midnight, which was when both headed to bed.

Sex was something they were still experimenting with. Most of the time they were too exhausted to do anything but, on the occasions, they did do anything, Hibiki couldn't say he disliked it.

"Natsu…"

The way Kyo whispered his name into his ears sent a tingle down Hibiki's spine. He leaned forwards to plant a small kiss on his lover's lips but was soon devoured by the starved beast before him.