Hello! Here's the (late) update! :D Don't worry I haven't forgotten this story!


Chapter 8

They slept the whole day, leaving everything from the past feel like a dream. When Takano finally woke up he felt the space next to him empty. He turned around and saw the spot left blank. I knew he won't last long; he probably ran to his room as soon as I fell asleep. A giggle left his mouth. And here I was thinking that we were finally getting somewhere. He headed to the room opposing his, while looking at his watch to see that it was 3 and a half in the afternoon. After knocking on the door not even waiting for it to open, he just walked in. His eyes caught something quite surprising – Ritsu sitting on his desk and editing manga.

"Didn't I tell you no work for you while we're here!?"

"Huh, Takano-san? W-when did you get here?" The brunette looked up at his angry boss, who ironically doesn't want him to work. "I-I just wanted to finish up the chapter, and then I'm done, I promise. Y-you were asleep and I didn't want to bother you, a-and I figured I might as well do some work."

Masamune's eyebrows rose. "When did you wake up?"

"I guess, like an hour ago…"

The raven-haired sighed. "Ok, but let me help you, because I don't want to waste the rest of what's left of this day doing work."

"Ok, those pages just got faxed to me…and some panels need to be fixed. Here you go." Onodera handed only 3-5 pages.

"I didn't know there was a fax machine-" started Masamune.

"O-oh yeah, it's under the desk, I noticed it when I was looking around the apartment." He laughed uncomfortably.

That awkward feeling again.

They worked for half an hour. Yes, they did talk but it was only work related, like they never left the office. As if Marukawa Publishing has turned into a hotel.

"Ok, I faxed back the last page, are you done?"

The brunette nodded.

"Good, because I'm just so hungry, I feel like if I don't eat anything I'll die."

"You're tired, you're hungry, is there any time of the day you don't complain?" They both drowned in laughter.

The answer was just so simple. "Laughter" When we laugh that awkward atmosphere is gone. So that's what I have to achieve this week. The raven-haired convinced himself.

They walked down the hallways, Ritsu looked around with that childish expression on his face, mesmerized at everything he saw. As for Takano, he was just smiling. Seeing the brunette like that wasn't an everyday experience and he wanted to enjoy it, at least for as long as he could. The place they were going to was on the first floor so they had to take the elevator.

When they entered the dining room Onodera was again amazed by it. Their table was in the corner away from the noise, but it also had a huge window next to it, revealing the city in its daily beauty. Since it was only 4 in the afternoon the food served was still lunch. They ordered the special dish of the day and waited.

"You know…maybe I should talk with one of the cooks here, he might have some good advices how to improve." The brunette wondered.

"You should." They were both looking out the window staring at different directions. None of them thinking about anything in particular, just staring.

When the food arrived they both gasped at how good it looked. It was nothing like what they've been having lately.

"…so I should add more eggs if I want it more like…" Onodera and one of the main cooks were chatting for more than 15 minutes already. And that didn't bother Takano at all. He was full of bliss, to see Ritsu so happy, so active, so lively.

"Have a nice day, goodbye!" The brunette and the worker finally finished their conversation and they left the dining room.

"So…where do you want to go now?" The bigger man questioned, while they were exiting the hotel building.

Ritsu considered some options that came on his mind, but then the perfect idea hit him.

"LET'S GO TO THE LIBRARY!"

"Are you sure, there are some nice visiting attractions…" Masamune couldn't finish his sentence once he saw the determined look in those emerald eyes. He sighed. "…library shall it be."

It was kind of curious, why would he want to go to the library of all places when they worked in the book-publishing area?

"Takano-san…if you don't want to go there, it's fine, just I've been thinking…" he paused for a moment, trying to organize his thoughts in the most logical order possible "…I know it will sound weird, but I found out that the reason we can't converse like we used to in high school is because we don't really share the same interests…"

The raven-haired was just silently walking, looking at the brunette with searching eyes. As if he was soundlessly suggesting him to go on.

"…s-so I thought, maybe if we find t-the same hobbies again, then probably, I could see you the way I did as teenager. And as weird as it might sound, it just can't happen in our hometown, in the place that reminds of the past. Because just like I told you, every time I look back, I can't move forward scared that the same will repeat again. A-and I though, this is a new place, it deserves to give it a shot.

After that long confession-like statement none of them said anything. They were just walking on the loud streets. Takano had a GPS on his phone, so he quickly found the location of the library. After a what-seemed like century muteness, Ritsu did the first step to kill the unease in the atmosphere. He didn't say anything though he just grabbed Takano's hand and took hold of it, squishing it softly. He knew that this was so out-of-character, he knew that Masamune was so surprised he couldn't say anything, he knew that he was stepping in deep water, but he couldn't help himself. If words weren't an option for him, then at least with actions he could show the way he felt.

"I'm sorry for making you force yourself…Takano-san." Onodera's hand became sweaty from squeezing too hard.

"Well…you told me you don't really like that fuck-buddies relationship right? I'll wait for you, as long as it takes. I'm not in a hurry."

"Then I guess you'll have to jerk off your whole life, because I don't think I'll ever be able to confess, at least not verbally." Ritsu tightened the grip even harder he was scared he'll break Masamune's hand.

They both chuckled. Of course Takano knew that Ritsu loved him. The truth was that he was surprised to see him actually showing affection in public. It made him so happy he squished his hand and pulled him closer so that their shoulders touched. They were like that until they reached the library building. It was a tall one, but not as big as the ones in Tokyo. They walked in a normal library, nothing really that spectacular, but for Ritsu it meant a lot. He instantly loved that place. He looked around until his eyes caught something – a bookshelf that read "High School Mandatory Books". It was summer and of course students had to read books that were assigned for homework. Jackpot!

"Takano-san, could you find a seat somewhere around here, I'll be right back!" The raven haired nodded.

The brunette ran to that shelf and started to scan through the book titles. He knew what he was searching for. That book, the special book that his sempai gave to him. The moment he confessed. That was the answer. And the found it. It was put in the corner. He looked at it. That's it! Even the cover was the same. The title read "The Red String of Fate". Even though back then his sempai didn't know why he loved that book so much, because he just gave it to him without looking at it, for Onodera it was everything. So many feeling ran through his body at that moment. The plot was what thrilled him. Two people that met by coincidence, that didn't have anything in common but fell in love. Nothing could separate them when the red string is tied. The concept was so simple, yet he loved it. Who needs complex stuff, the plainness was what made it so unique. And also the author wasn't an ordinary one, he had a great sense of humor. Even though the story was in category "drama", the little jokes here and there made the reader feel at ease. Ritsu giggled at the memory. He held the book and looked around for Takano, trying to find where he might be. Then he noticed him, sitting in the end of the room, one hand on his chin, the other on the book. Another wave of memories hit him. He sat next to him and looked at his face.

"How long has it been since you've last read literature?"

"Quite a while, I love to read it's just that I don't have any time. "

Ritsu studied his face curiously.

"Look what I've got!" Onodera pointed at the book in his hand.

"Wasn't that the book you liked?"

"Mhm"

Laughter. That book was Ritsu's favorite because it made him laugh. Unfortunately the raven haired didn't know the real reason.

The brunette pulled his chair closer to Masamune's. "Let's read!" He smiled gently.

They read through the first 20-30 pages. But none of them really paid attention to the content. All that filled their minds were memories, flashbacks. Happy, sad, funny, not that funny. After each new memory a comparison between now and then followed. And in all situations "now" dominated. Ritsu lost in thought, not being able to differentiate between reality and fantasy did the most extraordinary act. He raised his head, brought his lips to Takano's and softly brushed his with the raven haired's. It was a kind, smooth peck on the lips that made the brunette flush in the brightest hue of red. Before Takano could do anything, Onodera's weird behavior went on, as he grabbed his partner's hand and started to run out of the library, on the street for everyone to see. He was burning up at that moment but he wouldn't stop, not this time. After all this was his way of confessing his feelings. They got to the hotel, in the elevator, ran through the hallways and Ritsu opened the room with his spare card as soon as he could. Both of them huffing from running so fast.

"Ritsu...what...was...that...for?".

Onodera's bloodshot face was hidden behind his long bangs. But that wasn't all. He started leading Takano to his room, the one yet unused because he slept in Masamune's. The sheets smelled nice, fresh and neat. That's when the brunette pushed the man on his back while he was topping him.

"What is this all about!?"

"You don't need to force yourself to hold back anymore, not even once, so stay still and enjoy. I-i-if you say something I-I-I'll stop right away!"


We all know what happens after this OuO hehehehe. Starts with "L" and ends with "N". Yes you've guessed it! And and lastly don't forget to review! :)