"Hiroki was the one who encouraged me to write, you know," Akihiko said at breakfast. I could tell by his face that he thought he was doing me a favor, bragging on me in front of my boyfriend, but Nowaki was jealous of every moment of mine that had not been with him. Besides, dredging up the past was embarrassing, which I'm sure he also knew. "When we were kids, he told me, without any hesitation, that I should be an author, and demanded to see the rest of what I'd written. Now that I think of it, I'm surprised you never became an editor, Hiroki." All eyes turned to me, expecting an explanation.
"I like literature, not BL novels," I sneered to retaliate. Misaki choked on his eggs. Whoops. "Besides," I added quickly, "editors do much more babysitting than reading. I'll pass." Akihiko smiled broadly at Aikawa, who glared at him while nodding moodily in agreement with my words. Ha, Akihiko was in the hot seat. I grinned evilly and took a swig of coffee. Nowaki gave me a funny look. I glanced at his plate; he wasn't eating much. My phone and Misaki's beeped at the same time. It was a campus alert. Classes were cancelled; the university was also without power. I was torn between joy and frustration. It was nice to have a break. It would be annoying to catch up. It was fantastic that Nowaki and I had a day off together. It was killing me that we were practically snowed in at Akihiko's. Our host looked calculatingly from his lover to his guests. Misaki seemed to recognize the look and grew red in the face. Akihiko wouldn't dare, not with all of us here.
"You have the day off, Misaki, isn't that nice," he said. His gaze was just a little too open and intimate.
"Sure is," Misaki blustered. He escaped into the kitchen to do the dishes. Nowaki sneakily held my hand under the table. I didn't react. I think he was hoping I would.
"Sensei,"Aikawa said silkily, "isn't it about time you got to work on your manuscript?"
Akihiko glared at her darkly. I made a mental note never to come between him and his lover; this was nothing fluffy and tame like his decade-long infatuation with Takahiro. Akihiko's eyes locked with mine, and they started to gleam. I knew I should be worried.
"I think so," he said smoothly, "I'm getting all kinds of ideas." He stood up, dropped his napkin on the table, and strode lightly up the stairs with a mocking backward glance at me.
"How is it that you were the only one who could handle that bastard, Hiroki," Isaka said with disgust after Akihiko disappeared into his study.
"That bastard put you up for the night, mind your manners," I snarled back. Nowaki's grip on my hand tightened. Isaka ignored me.
"He's still so arrogant and superior."
"Hey, Misaki might hear you," I said sternly. I was less concerned with Misaki and more concerned that I'd fly off the handle and punch Isaka . . . again. That's another story.
"Let him, he probably agrees with me."
"I doubt it, Isaka-san," Nowaki said, to my surprise.
"Who is this anyway?" Isaka said. Great, Nowaki, now we're the targets.
"Kusama Nowaki, pleased to meet you," Nowaki said, bowing in his chair.
"What is he to you, Hiroki?" Isaka-san said, as if Nowaki hadn't spoken. That pissed me off.
"My lover," I said simply. I took another sip of coffee and looked at Isaka challengingly. He was very surprised, but eventually an evil grin twisted his features. I was vaguely aware that Aikawa was delighted by my announcement. Nowaki was probably in shock. I looked up at him: dark eyes wide, firm mouth agape, yup, in shock.
"And you said you didn't like BL novels," Isaka sneered.
I shrugged. "What can I say, when you've got the real thing," I may have glanced up adoringly at Nowaki, he deserved it, "the books fall flat." Isaka choked on his coffee while Aikawa gripped the edge of the table, enraptured. Nowaki grinned like an idiot. "Of course, that doesn't stop Akihiko," I ended darkly, remembering the look he'd given me before disappearing to work. I had a feeling I was about to star in yet another of his BL novels. I thought I had handled Isaka pretty well, but I could no longer ignore the hysteria rising in my chest. I scooped up my plate and walked calmly into the kitchen.
Misaki stared at me, wide-eyed, when I offered to help with the dishes. I felt a little guilty for abandoning Nowaki with those people, but I was confident he could handle himself, now that I had made things clear. Of course, Isaka was likely telling embarrassing stories about me, but Nowaki would always be on my side.