A/N: As promised, the third chapter, a happier one compared to the last. Thanks for reading my first junjou romantica fic!
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Chapter 3
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The building that my brother's friend stayed in was a super-luxury housing that made me self conscious about bring pork soup to such a place. In fact, meeting Usagi san made me nervous on the whole, being the kind of guy who seemed like an all-powerful god to a regular citizen like me. Akihiko Usami, age 28, second son to the owner of a super rich company, the Usami Corporation, graduated first in his class from T University's College of Law and owns a 5-bedroom pent house in the best district in Tokyo. What makes him even more eligible is that he is still single, as well as youngest winner of the Shisen awards, a super-best selling novelist, though I have never read any of his books. I'm not sure how, but this god is my brother's best friend.
I pressed on the doorbell many times, but nobody answered. Well, since he told me to just come in if he's not home, I punched in the key code he provided and entered the pent house. Wow, I was impressed by the spaciousness and the deco, this is indeed a super-luxury housing. The stack of books on the living room's coffee table caught my attention. Curious, I took one of them and read the cover.
EH! It is the latest BL novel by my favorite author, Akikawa Yayoi sensei! Despite what happened to me, I had no hate for BL, after all, it is those prejudiced against gays who did me injustice. Actually, reading BL novels and manga is kind of like a healing process, exposing me to my fears of being assaulted again using my favorite media. Initially, my mind automatically replaced the faces of those in the manga with the ones of the bullies, however, repeated exposure to the manga and paying attention to the lovey-dovey nature of the plot helped. Slowly, I got over my fears and began to truly enjoy the BL novels and manga again. It was a plus that I am now equipped with self defense items as well as well versed moves against any future perverts.
Eagerly, I began read the latest BL novel, "The Romance of the Student Council Room". The names of the characters surprised me. They were "Akihiko" and "Takahiro". Wait a minute…isn't Akihiko the name of my new tutor whom I have yet to met? Is this a coincidence? I look around, and noticed the note that came with the stack of books.
"Honshou san, I'm going to bed, so please take this, thanks. Usami."
The reply below that was "Usami sensei, I have received the draft, thank you for the hard work, I will contact you later. Honshou."
EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Akihiko Usami is also the author of BL novels, with a different penname Akikawa Yayoi? I was shocked. Wait another minute…isn't the name of the other character in his latest BL novel, "Takahiro" the same as my brother's name? What the hell! Is he using my brother to write his BL erotica?
AHHHHHHHH! I don't know if I should be angry with him using my brother's name this way, or to feel excited at meeting my favorite BL author. Is it a coincidence he used my brother's name, or was he actually in love with him and writing about his fantasy? From my knowledge of reading Akikawa sensei, no, I mean Usagi san's BL works, I felt that he uses his own experiences and emotions in his writing. So… it is possible he is in love with my brother. I recalled the novel that moved me to tears, "The Faraway Sun". Was it my brother who is his unrequited love, causing him heartbreak? It is entirely probable. My brother can be a little oblivious sometimes, it is highly possible he didn't notice Usagi san's feelings towards him. Suddenly, I felt really sorry for my favorite author. Anyway, I should wait patiently in the living room, since the note mentioned that Usagi san is sleeping after finishing his drafts for the publisher.
After one hour…I started twitching from the wait.
Another hour passed by. I started staring intensely at the clock.
And then yet another hour gone from my youthful life. I paced to and fro, from the living room to the main door, and back.
Hours, I don't know how many hours later… my patience finally cracked and I shouted "Usagi san I don't care if you are still sleeping I'm going to wake you up! You are supposed to be tutoring me!"
Storming towards the bedrooms, it was on my second try that I found the one he was sleeping in. The stuff inside the room…doesn't seem to belong to a 28 year old man. Teddy bears, toys were everywhere, and a train was chuffing along a rail that went around the entire room. What the hell?
I located a manly shaped lump covered in blankets on the king sized bed. Approaching the bed warily, I shook the suspicious lump awake.
"Usagi-sensei, wake up!"
The unmoving (but warm) body remained unresponsive, despite my repeated wake up calls.
"Hey wake up! It's getting late and I have been waiting forever!"
A slow movement from the stubbornly asleep sensei, then silence. He is ignoring me on purpose, I'm sure of it! Argh, fine! Desperate times call for desperate measures. You made me do this, Usagi-sensei, don't blame me! From my recent studies of the anatomy and acupuncture points, I remembered there's this particular point on the foot that will make a person become wide awake when prodded. It can be painful though, but I can't be bothered at this point (unintended pun) in time. With a none-too-gentle prod, I pushed at the targeted point.
The author shot up from bed like a jack-in-a-box when the lid was opened. Heh, guess it worked!
"What the…?" I got my first look at my favorite BL author, and though he looks grumpy from being wakened abruptly by an unknown person, his expression did nothing to deter his good looks. Wow… with exotic ash-grey hair and smoldering dark eyes, I could feel my long dominant libido beginning to rise. Hey…isn't there something extremely familiar about his appearance? Where have I seen someone like him before?
…
… …
Ding!
Oh, I remember now! He resembles the seme from the first gay porn video I have watched before, the one where my brother barged in and discovered my sexuality! Seriously… what are the chances that my favorite BL author, also has the type of looks I like?
"… hey! HEY! Who are you? Stop your day-dreaming and answer me!"
I snapped out of my internal ramifications and discretely wiped the drool off my chin.
"Oh sorry sensei, I'm Misaki, Takahiro's younger brother. Pleased to meet you!"
"Huh, so you are Takahiro's beloved brother. Well, you don't look like much."
My mouth-in-foot disease reared its ugly head at the rude comment.
"Excuse me, you also don't look like much, what is it with the toys and deco in this bedroom more suited for a 3 year old than a supposedly respected award winning, 28 year old novelist?"
We glared at each other, before huffing out in unison. For nii-san, I must endure! I decided to be the better man and apologized.
"Sorry sensei, I didn't mean to be rude. If you could get ready for my tutoring session please?"
"Fine, wait for me in the living room. I will be out shortly."
Fortunately, this time the wait was relatively short. In about ten minutes, Usagi-sensei came to the living room and began questioning me.
"All right, which college do you want to go to?"
"Mitsuhashi University."
"Are you still daydreaming, or are you talking in your sleep?"
"Hey! If I don't try how can I know the results!"
"I know the results." Usagi san held up a stack of papers that looks suspiciously like my mock tests papers from cram school.
"Look here, I have already seen your practice exam results. From these papers, I see that rather than you being too careless or not knowing your formulas, you just don't know what they are asking. You should be more realistic! Most Universities have economics concentrations!"
"Mitsuhashi University! It must be Mitsuhashi University! For my brother I will definitely get in Mitsuhashi University! If I can't get into this University, I won't go to college at all!"
"Why do you connect Takahiro with this University?"
"Well, you should know about it too! My parents died in an accident 10 years ago. My brother raised me. At that time, he got into Mitsuhashi University, but because of me, he went straight to work instead. Since I want to do economics too, I want to go for him…I guess my motives aren't simple…"
Before I could avoid his hand, Usagi sensei ruffled my hair. I tried to hide the flinch and he gave me a puzzled look.
"All right, I understand your reason, I will make sure you get in! With super Usami sensei, how can you lose! Okay?"
"Ah, yeah! Thank you sensei!"
Weeks passed, with Usagi sensei's tough and efficient tutoring, my grades soared rapidly.
"A C score, amazing improvement!"
"If I put in the effort, I can do this easily!" I boasted a little, encouraged with my latest results.
"Don't get too excited, you still have to study more! Anyway, Takahiro must be really happy. I want you to pass so that I can see his happy smile. I noticed the for the past half a year he has been troubled about something, but he didn't confide in me."
Must be me making my brother worried.
"Nii-san didn't tell you what happened to me?"
"What do you mean?"
"You know I am not attending high school anymore, since the end of my second year, right?"
"Yes, your brother mentioned you were doing self study and attending cram school due to some circumstances but he didn't elaborate, so I didn't ask."
"Well, yes, something happened in school and it had a negative impact on me, so I guess nii-san was worried about me…but I am much better now, so he doesn't need to be troubled anymore!"
Changing the topic, I asked, "Anyway, how do you really feel about nii-san? I know you are concerned about him and, well, maybe I am being too sensitive, but do you like nii-san?"
"He's my good friend, of course I like Takahiro."
"You know I don't mean that kind of like. I read the BL novels you wrote under a different penname you know. Is it really a coincidence you used my brother's name and yours in the latest novel?"
"…"
"I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't pry into your personal affairs."
"No, no it's ok. I really like Takahiro, but relax it's all one-sided. That stuff in the novel was all made up by me."
"But, do you know that nii-san has a girlfriend?"
"I know. To be able to stay beside the beloved one is a special privilege of a friend."
I guessed I wanted to confirm my suspicions of his unrequited love towards my brother, but why did his confession hurt me?
"If you really like him, don't you want to be become his lover?"
"Since I care so much for him, I don't want to be hated by him."
I realized that Usagi san would never do anything my brother didn't want. Fretting, treasuring, he treats my brother like a precious treasure. But nii-san just treats him like a good friend! Even so, Usagi san's still loyal, just…stubborn. My brother's an idiot! If someone cherish me as much as Usagi san does nii-san…if only…
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Wow, my latest results from the practice exams are great! All of my grades now are 'B', I have improved so much so fast, I must be a genius! I think I might have a shot at getting into M University!
I rushed happily back home eager to share the good news with my brother. Wait, maybe I should let Usagi sensei know first? It is with his tutoring that I made such rapid improvements. Maybe he will praise me too!
As if my thoughts were a siren to Usagi san, he appeared before my very eyes.
"Misaki, what are you doing?"
I stopped my excited dance and chuckled in embarrassment. "Oh hi Usagi sensei, you appear to be in a great mood!"
"Yes, it's Takahiro's birthday today, I bought a cake, let's go!"
Oh, I forgot about nii-san's birthday…what a bad brother I am!
"You have the 'oh shit I totally forgot his birthday' look on your face."
"Waaa, how could I have forgotten? Anyway, sensei, my grades came in today…"
I passed the papers to Usagi sensei and wanted for his response. This time, I saw his hand coming and prepared for his touch. Not disappointing my expectation, he ruffled my hair and pat my head encouragingly.
"Very good!"
My face turned hot, I could feel myself blushing and my heart beating faster. Why is my heart thumping like this? Usagi sensei is praising me because nii-san will be happy. I guess, regardless of his motives, both of us wanted nii-san to be happy.
When we reached my house, I was glad to see that there were enough ingredients in the fridge for me to make a feast for my brother's birthday celebration. Great, that can be my present to nii-san! As I set the last dish on the dinning table, I heard the door opening.
"Takahiro, Happy Birthday!"
"This is a huge feast, thank you so much!"
"Your present is a Philip Patek watch, haven't you always wanted one?"
"What, but that watch is really expensive!"
"Nah, one luxury a year, no one is going to punish it, here take it!"
Nii-san happily accepted the gift. I have never seen a gift giver happier than the receiver.
"Nii-san, you forgot to lock the door!"
"Sorry! Oh sorry! I have something important to tell you. Usagi chan, you should hear this too!"
Footsteps approached the three of us in the living room. And the person who appeared was none other than my brother's girlfriend, Manami.
"Oh, Manami san, you're here!" I wasn't surprised to see her here, since it's my brother's birthday. But what important news did nii-san wanted to tell us?
"This is Manami Kajiwara. We have decided to get married!"
There was a shocked silence. I was sure that this is the first time Usagi san is seeing Manami, and nii-san just suddenly blurt out his decision to get married? To the man who have loved him for god knows how long? How insensitive can you be, nii-san!
"Is that so? You have finally decided, Takahiro! And such a lovely lady too!"
"Thank you, I'm glad you approved! Actually, I had wanted to share the good news with Usagi chan first!"
I couldn't take it anymore. As much as I love my brother, he can be such an idiot! How can he be so oblivious to Usagi sensei's feelings, how can he be so cruel! I thumped my fist on the wall in frustration.
"Misaki?"
"…We're out of champagne, I will go buy more!"
"But you are a minor, they won't sell to you. And it's late, it's dangerous to be wandering out now…"
"Usagi sensei you come with me!" Without waiting for their reply, I grabbed sensei's hand and ran out of the house. After a distance away, we stopped, and I panted from running so fast.
"I'm so sorry…" Tears and sweat mixed as they dripped down my face.
"Why are you apologizing to me?"
"Because, because that was terrible…Usagi sensei, you like my brother so much, care for him so much…and he said he wanted to tell you he's getting married to her first! He's completely out of it! This is the first time I have ever wanted to hit him…"
My tears just wouldn't stop flowing, as I continue to sob uncontrollably.
"Look at you! Don't get yourself down by crying!"
"It's your fault I'm crying! If I start crying I can't stop!"
"I see…"
Abruptly, I was grabbed into a hug by Usagi sensei. As if my body recognized his touch, my self-defense moves were thrown to the back of my mind as I stood still, frozen. He raised my face up gently towards him, and his lips swopped down upon mine. What is he doing! It's my first kiss! Even the five bullies have not kissed me on my mouth before, and they certainly didn't stick their tongue down my throat like what Usagi san's doing! Ahhhhh, blood is rushing up to my face, I'm sure it's all red now!
"See…it stopped."
What stopped? My heart? Oh…he meant my tears. Is that why he kissed me?
"Sorry…just a little bit…" Usagi sensei, sagged in my arms, burying his head on my shoulder.
"Usagi sensei…if you want to cry, it's okay…I'm here for you."
"Silly boy, don't be patronizing! I have to say…I have never cried in front of anybody, except you. I can't take anyone but you seeing me like this…"
We stood under the lonely streetlights, icy snow falling gently upon us. It was a cold night, but the tears that fell from our eyes and hearts were warm. Within me, I felt unformed ideas surging.
If only I could stay with this person forever
I want to become someone special to him
It's strange how safe I feel in his arms, and how much I didn't want those arms around me to ever let go…
Usagi san, am I falling in love with you?
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A short chapter this is, but I just wanted to post it up before I start on the next one. Upcoming, Misaki moves into Usagi's pent house, attends M University and meet new people. Will everything go smoothly?