Takano Masamune no Baii

Chapter 5

"Well that was pointless," Takano muttered as they left the store.

"No, it wasn't! I got to buy one of Onodera-san's works! That's not a waste!" Takahashi exclaimed, throwing up one of the many manga he had bought. Usami had supplied Takahashi with the money, of course, despite Onodera's offer.

Speaking of that fool, where was he?

Takano glanced around and found Onodera lingering at the back of the group, deep in conversation with Usami. He felt a flash of irritation as he watched the small man laugh and smile as he talked to the older writer, something he almost never did with Takano. What was so different about his former author? Why could Onodera talk to Usami, but not to him?

Takano glanced at Takahashi. The boy was also looking at the pair, but not with eyes full of jealousy—they looked innocently intrigued.

"Where are we going?" Takano threw back at the pair, sending Onodera an intense stare when he pulled his gaze away from his former author.

"We can go back to my apartment, and Misaki could cook us something," Usami replied, giving Takano a curious look. It read, "What?"

Takano glanced back at the rich man's bright, unmistakably foreign and unique sports car. A small crowd of people had gathered around it, marveling at the luxurious car. He wanted to break his usually stoic expression and make a face at the intrigued onlookers, but he held himself back. He didn't want Usami or Takahashi to get the wrong idea about his personality.

"I can help you cook, Takahashi-kun," Onodera offered.

Takano barked out a laugh at the comment. "Sure, we all want you in the kitchen, Onodera."

Onodera shot him a glare. "Shut up…" he muttered, obviously expecting no one to hear, but even Usami smirked at the sidecomment. "But what are we supposed to even do at your apartment, Usami-sensei?" Onodera continued.

"Well, I can show you some of my other works—"

"I've already bought all of them!" Onodera interrupted, earning a startled widening of the eyes from the Sensei. "I'm glad that whoever replaced me as your editor is amazing, he does even better than me!" he exclaimed. Takano sighed in relief as he realized that this was all they had been talking about—nothing intimate, just a shared love of books.

They all climbed into the Ferrari after Usami had cleared the onlookers away with a steel glare. Onodera hopped in the backseat next to Takahashi, and Takano was forced to sit next to the revered author.

The first five minutes of the car ride were silent, without even the radio playing. Takahashi fidgeted and squirmed constantly, and Onodera gazed fiercely out the window, chin in hand, deep in thought.

"So, um, what should I make for lunch?" Takahashi tried after the unbearable minutes of awkwardness.

"Can you make oyakodon?" Onodera asked through his fingers.

Takano glanced back at the two conversing younger men. "Sure!" Takahashi exclaimed, his face breaking into a smile. He obviously thought the awkwardness had disintegrated at a word from Onodera.

But of course, Usami had to have a say. "That sounds good, nice idea, Onodera," he said. Takano saw him glance at the brunette through his rearview mirror.

Tch.

Takano could feel his irritation reaching whole new levels. What was this man's deal? He almost felt like the sensei was deliberately sending glances Onodera's way—when Takano could see it.

"Ah, Onodera—"

"My mother used to make that dish, what nostalgia," Onodera murmured, but with the car so quiet, it seemed like he had deliberately interrupted Takano. He snapped out of his daze to blink a few times at his boss. "Oh, sorry, Takano-san. You were saying?"

It was times like these, when Onodera forgot to be hostile towards Takano, that he wished they were alone so he could simply ravish this man. But Usami and Takahashi were the obstacles, standing in the way of everything.

He could feel Usami's smirk.

"Well, once we get to the apartment, we don't have to make lunch right away. We can catch up for a while longer, Onodera," Usami added.

Takano, on the inside, was seething. But he had a plan. He didn't have to sit there and take Usami's shit like a lost puppy, he was a grown man and could think for himself. "Takahashi, I'll help you look for recipes online, so you have more to make than just oyakodon. I'm a better cook than Onodera, at least."

"I am a good cook!" Onodera protested, completely dragged out of his daze.

Takano smirked. "Only on Wednesdays*."

He watched as the brunette blushed in anger before turning to Takahashi and engaging the younger brunette in an intense conversation about cooking. His coworker was talking so fast, Takahashi looked flustered as he tried to keep up.

Usami glanced at Takano out of the corner of his eye, processing the situation. It was incredibly entertaining to watch the man struggle to keep his expression emotionless as he tried to fight his jealousy. Of course, he liked catching up with Onodera, but his boss was so amusing. It was almost as fun to watch as Misaki's fits of discomfort before and after sex.

But only almost.

They arrived at the apartment, and they all headed into Usami's room after going up the grand elevator. Takahashi was still chattering to Onodera about cooking, but it was at a normal conversation's pace. Takano was listening with little interest, more concerned about keeping Onodera occupied.

Usami smirked inwardly as he opened the door to his apartment. Onodera gave a little ooh at the sight of the roomy living space, but Usami knew that Onodera's place was far more extravagant, and his former editor was just being polite.

Usami knew that it was going to be a fun afternoon—welcome or not.

Really abrupt, rocky ending. Gomen!

* About that, it was a completely non-Takano, irrelevant comment by him, but I thought "What the hell" and just went with it! Plus, that kind of comment seems like it'd tick Ricchan off!

I seem to have developed a regular fandom! Yay for fandoms! Thank you for reviewing! I also seem to have sparked some controversy—or whatever you would like to call it—over Junjou and Sekaiichi! Actually, my first ever yaoi (like many, I would assume) was Junjou Romantica. I love them both!

Also, now this is way off topic, but I have recently watched an anime called Sword Art Online (I'd be surprised if you haven't heard of it, based on how much hype it got—not saying it deserved all if its praise but it's good nonetheless!) and instantly paired main character Kirito and Klein. Don't ask why—blame the yaoi fangirl-ness! To reach my point, I'm wondering how many of you would be interested if I wrote a fic about the pairing—I have no idea if I should ask this here or not, but here I am, asking it. The pairing has almost no recognition here on FanFiction—from what I've seen of a few weeks ago. Who knows what can happen in a few weeks here, though! So if you're interested, let me know!

Not to show any favoritism (I love you all!) but to point something out—Fi Suki Saki, I see that you want moar Misaki! The next chapter will be Usagi's point of view for the sake of letting each seme have their time to shine, but I will for sure make the chapter after next Misaki's POV! As I said, (I'm pretty sure I said this…xD too lazy to check) if your request is within relevance to the story, I will do my best to write whatever is requested.

So, to say something relevant to my story…I apologize if this chapter was a little meh, I actually had to rewrite it because the other storyline for the chapter was even more meh. I needed to write something, so I basically gave you a chapter full of fluff. But now I can actually get on with it, because they're at Usagi-san's apartment!

Ah, thank you for putting up with this giant AN!

Till next week!