The next two weeks were rather eventless. Morinaga and Souichi didn't meet at all for a while, since Morinaga spent only little time in the school.
The next time they bumped into each other was a bit awkward, but they both calmed down enough, and they didn't fight. After a week they could even talk a few words with each other. Everything seemed normal.
Morinaga told Souichi that in the end he accepted the job offer, and Souichi told him about his new research he'd just started. Either of them avoided deliberately the other, but didn't look for the other either.
…
Souichi was having problem with his research. He couldn't manage it alone; he needed an assistant. He asked Yamaguchi.
"Do you know someone in your class who's free at the moment and could assist me? I really need someone at the lab."
"I don't know if anyone is free now, most of us are already assisting for some, Tatsumi-senpai."
"Yea, I know, but anyone will do, I just need two more hands."
"Well, actually… I'm quite sure Kimura is free. But there's a reason for it…"
"Fine, tell him to come to my lab. Thanks." Souichi turned and headed for his lab.
"Don't thank…"
…
Yamaguchi told Kimura to find Tatsumi Souichi, because he will assist him.
"Oh God, you sure, Yamaguchi-san? I really shouldn't assist for him."
"It's okay, he said he only needs two more hands, and you've got two hands. Do your best. And tell him, if he's got any problem he can just tell me."
"I'll tell him. Um…" Kimura stood up, and looked around. "Where did I put my coat…?"
"You lost your coat?"
"It seems like… I put somewhere here."
"You shouldn't even take it off, while you're here!" Yamaguchi scolded him.
"I know, but I hate it. I look like a ghost."
"Oh god! Just go already!"
"Sure!"
…
Kimura – without lab coat - went to Souichi as he was told. He knocked on the door.
"Come in."
"Hi, Tatsumi-senpai!" He said as he stepped in.
"Are you Kimura?" Souichi didn't even turn to look at him.
"Yes! I'm here to assist you."
"Yeah, I figured…" He looked up, and asked "Where's your coat?"
"Oh I'm sure I have it somewhere in or near the school."
"Whatever… Now, there are the dishes, and here's this list. Start to go through it, point by point. I'll be here in a few minutes." He grabbed his cigarette and his lighter, and was already out of the lab.
"Sure thing!" said Kimura. He looked around the dished and test tubes, frowned at the list at first, but then shrugged and started to do… well, something.
Since smoking was prohibited in the school's building, and the smoking rooms usually were full of people, Souichi went out of the school to the stairs at the entrance, sit down on a step and lit a cigarette.
"Ah, that's what I needed."
It's a shame actually that Morinaga never assists me anymore. I can't find anyone better than him. Even if he was an idiot.
He finished two more cigarettes, then headed back to the lab.
"Okay, where are you at?" asked Souichi at the very moment he opened the door.
"Well it's kind of strange… the color, I mean. Are you sure about this list?"
Souichi couldn't even blink. He stared at the Petri dishes.
"You killed my cultures in less than 10 minutes?"
"You think they're dead?" asked Kimura with genuine concern.
"Oh dear god!"
"Look, this one seems to be okay."
"Which one?"
"Oh no… it changes its color now."
"I'll kill you, I swear! Do you have any idea how much time it took me to grow them? Argh! Clean this fucking mess before I really kill you!"
"Please don't kill me, Tatsumi-senpai!" Kimura actually feared for his life as he saw how angry he made Souichi. "Spare my life! Yamaguchi-san said that if there's any problem, you can talk to him!"
"Hah! You bet I will!" He stormed out of his and into Yamaguchi's lab.
"Yamaguchi! What kind of idiot did you send to help me!"
"Tatsumi-senpai, I told you there's a good reason why he doesn't assist…"
"You didn't tell me that he's retarded!"
"I'm sorry! But there isn't anyone else; he's the only one, who's free. Now you see why."
"Christ! Isn't there anyone here at this fucking university who is able to take care of a few fucking culture?"
"I'm afraid not anyone who's got time to help. But he can clean the dishes very nicely. Give him tasks that even he can handle."
"Big help." He turned to leave, but stopped when Yamaguchi said:
"Well at least next time when you have a talented assistant you won't treat him like you treated Morinaga." he said, and it sounded just as offensive as he meant it to be.
"Mind your own business." said Souichi with suddenly clouded face. He didn't even yell. Then he left the room. He wasn't sure where to go.
If I go back to my dead cultures, I might really do kill that guy.
In the end he went back, but just long enough to tell Kimura that he's got ten minutes to clean everything up, and write down what did he do.
It might be interesting. I never ever saw a color like that – he thought, and went out for another few cigarettes. He stood there at the entrance, thinking about what Yamaguchi had said to him. He was so deep in his thoughts, he even forgot to smoke his cigarette.
Suddenly out of the blue Morinaga were there, and was going into the building.
"Hello, Senpai." he said as he passed by.
"Hi, hey wait, Morinaga."
He stopped and turned back. "What is it?"
"Say… how long will you be here? I mean your work, when does it start?"
"I start from the beginning of next month. I spend these few weeks here, but once I'm there, I don't think I'll come back here very often." he said, kind of sadly. "I'm a little nervous, I don't know how they will welcome me."
"So next month, huh?"
"Yes." They looked at each other, then when Souichi didn't say anything else, Morinaga said "I have to go, someone's waiting for me."
"Sure, go." Then Morinaga turned back, and reached for the door handle. "Morinaga!" Souichi stopped him again; Morinaga looked back questioningly. "You don't have to be nervous. You're good at what you're doing."
Morinaga looked at him a little confused.
That's odd. – he thought - He never commend. Why now? Should I ask if there is something wrong?
"Thank you." he said. Souichi watched him as he went into the building. He suddenly felt a lump in his throat.
So only a few weeks, and that's it.
He sat there for a while, then went back into the lab. He stepped in, and saw Kimura playing with the test tubes. He was trying to build a test tube-castle to entertain himself while he was waiting for Souichi.
"What the…?"
"Ah Tatsumi-senpai!" He almost fell off the chair. He grabbed the tubes, and put them aside, but two of them rolled away and fell down to the floor - to rest in pieces.
"I'm done with the cleaning! Well, except this mess what I have just done. Haha! I'll clean it up right away!" Souichi rolled his eyes.
"Did you write a report for me?" Kimura threw the glass pieces into the trash, and grabbed a piece of paper off the desk.
"Sure, it's here." he handed it to him.
Souichi started to read it, in case he might find something noteworthy, but the only thing he found out, that the guy apparently didn't know anything about what his profession would've been.
"You made such a pathetic mistake! Even freshmen know these things! If you screw up my work, you need at least invent a medication for cancer or re-invent penicillin! My dear cultures died for nothing!" Souichi yelled, and he needed all his willpower not to grab a scalpel and kill the poor guy.
"I'm sorry, Tatsumi-senpai! I won't do something like that again. Honestly, I thought it was simple enough for me not to screw up, since everyone knows that I don't know shit about these things."
"Well I didn't know it! How can you make your masters if you don't know anything?"
"My parents…"
"Oh shut up! I don't wanna hear it. Bring me a coffee instead. Can you do that?"
"I'll try."
…
Few days later
Morinaga spent the whole day in the University. Since he had nothing else to do he was helping Yamaguchi.
He leaned back in his chair, looked at the clock. It was noon.
"Ahh, let's take a break, that was a bit too much for only a half a day." he said to Yamaguchi.
"Yeah, my back's killing me actually."
"And I'm hungry. Why don't we go down to the cafeteria, grab some food…"
"Good idea. Go ahead; I'll be with you in a sec."
Morinaga went down to the diner. There was an insanely long line.
Everyone eats now?
He joined the queue, and thought about what to eat… once he'll be next.
…
Souichi stretched his limbs, and stood up. He looked at the clock, it was past noon. He was hungry, so he decided to go eat something.
"Hey, Kimura!" Kimura concocted something and blew giant bubbles from it. "Stop that right now."
"Yes!" He put down his toy.
"I'm going to lunch. Don't touch anything while I'm out." Then he changed his mind about leaving him there. "Actually it would be the best if you weren't even here alone at all, so get out, I'm locking up."
"Why can't I stay? I'm not touching anything, I swear."
"I'm afraid that you blow up the whole school with you stupidity, now get a move." They got out of the lab, and Souichi locked the door.
"Fine… when will you be back?"
"Don't know…" and he was already off.
"Great…"
…
Souichi went into the cafeteria, and frowned as he saw the line.
What a freaking line! It will be dinner-time when I get my lunch…
He spotted Morinaga in the line.
He won't mind if I queue up behind him…
He jumped the queue and went to Morinaga.
"Hey."
"Senpai! Hello." surprised, Morinaga turned to Souichi.
"Mind if I stand behind you?"
In totally different circumstances it could've sound very… interesting, actually.
"You should ask the one who is behind me."
"Hey, go to the end of the line!" Someone said behind him; he apparently didn't know Souichi.
"You got a problem, go to the grocery store!" said Souichi, and turned back to Morinaga.
"That wasn't nice…" said Morinaga, but Souichi just shrugged.
"So how come you're here. Recently you rarely eat in the school."
"I'm helping Yamaguchi. Since I don't have anything to do for a while, I thought I could come in, and see if I can make myself useful." said Morinaga.
"I see."
"And what about you're research?" Morinaga asked, to avoid awkward silence, and in truth he wanted to know, too.
"It's okay. But my assistant sucks. I can only use him to bring my coffee, and wash dishes. He's an idiot…" Souichi watched the line in front of him, but Morinaga looked at him.
"I heard that Kimura assists you. He's really a good-for-nothing guy."
"Tell me about it. It's a shame that not everyone is like you…" he looked down and frowned. "At their work… I mean." Morinaga looked at him confused, wasn't sure what to answer, or if he should answer at all.
Suddenly Yamaguchi appeared and joined them in the line. The guy behind them rolled his eyes.
"Morinaga, sorry, it took a bit long, I'm here now… Ah, Tatsumi-senpai. Hello."
"Hey."
"Morinaga, when we finish here we have to…"
Morinaga turned away from Souichi to face Yamaguchi, but he watched Souichi from the corner of his eye. Souichi looked at them for a few moments; then he stepped out of the line and went out of the cafeteria. Morinaga looked after him even more confused.
What's wrong with him? Where did he go?
Souichi headed to the school's entrance.
Grocery store will do…
…
In the evening Morinaga sat in Adam Site, watching the guests. He stared at a happy looking couple, and thought about how nice it would've been to go on a date with Souichi once.
"Angel-kun!"
"Huh…?" He still stared at the couple.
"Don't scare off the guests." Morinaga turned to Hiroto. "Are you tired?" Hiroto continued. "You don't have to wait for me every day."
"No, no it's just… Ah, I still can't get Senpai out of my mind. I miss him."
"Poor baby…"
"I met him today… he acted strange. I don't know. Don't you think I should talk to him? He has no one."
"Definitely no. He can just stew in his own juices."
"I don't know…"
"Angel-kun! Drink!"
…
Another few days later.
Souichi was home, sitting in front of his notebook. He was busy with reporting his research.
I can't do this next part totally alone. I really need someone capable. But who, if no one's free…
Well, he is free.
But I really can't ask him to help me.
He thought about it for a minute, then decided that it can't hurt asking him.
…
The next day he didn't meet Morinaga, and was almost glad that he didn't have to ask him. But late afternoon when he was going out for a cigarette, he saw him with his friends.
I guess then I just ask him if he's free.
"Morinaga! Got a sec?"
"Sure, what is it?" Souichi pulled him away a little from his friends.
"Listen, it's about my research. I'm at a point where I can't screw it up, but that guy is an idiot. He can't do anything. I'd need your help."
"Are you sure? I mean, there really isn't anyone else, Senpai?"
"No, you're the best assistant I ever got, I need your help. Please."
Morinaga thought about it for a moment, then said:
"Okay. I tell my friend that I'll be late. I'll be with you in a minute."
"Thanks." Souichi headed back to the lab, the cigarette totally forgotten, and told Kimura to go home.
He sat down and waited for Morinaga.
Why am I so nervous? I'm so stupid! He just helps me, that's all.
…
Morinaga took his phone and called Hiroto.
"Hiroto-kun, it's me. I just wanted to let you that I'll be late tonight. I know it's your day-off, that's why I'm calling."
"Sure, what's up?"
"Um, nothing really, just someone needs some help. I don't know how long it will be."
"You sound very suspicious… Someone?"
"Okay, it's Senpai who asked me to help him."
"What? No! Why would you help him?"
"He really needs an assistant now, and he said he wants me. I have to help him, he even said 'please'!"
"Angel-kun, that doesn't seem to be good idea at all."
"No, it's okay, really! I'll be home by one. Bye!"
"Ah, gods! I hope you won't regret this. Take care, Angel-kun!"
…
Souichi sat in his chair, drumming his fingers on the desk, waiting for Morinaga.
Don't be so nervous, idiot! He helped you for years! There's nothing out of ordinary in this. We'll focus on the work.
Souichi jumped when Morinaga stepped into the lab.
"I'm here, Senpai."
"Great. Let's start, then."
Souichi calmed a little as they started the work and both of them were concentrating on it. Everything went smooth.
Morinaga was excellent assistant. These last few weeks were hell with Kimura in the lab, and now Souichi really enjoyed the work with his kouhai. It was how it used to be.
When they finished the experiment it was past eleven. They started packing and cleaning the room.
Morinaga was washing the Petri dishes. Souichi stepped next to him, and handed him more thing to wash.
"Thank you for coming. It was a big help." he said.
"You're welcome, Senpai. It was very interesting."
"Yea, it is. When we're done with this, you can go." Souichi went to the desk, and collected some papers.
"You stay?" asked Morinaga.
"Yeah, for a while. I want to write the report."
"You always write reports at home."
"It's okay here." He sat down, and started to thumb the papers. "Say, are you still living at your friend's?"
Morinaga turned back, and looked at Souichi suspiciously. "Yes, until I start my job I don't really have enough money to rent an apartment by myself." he answered.
"Well" Souichi started, not even looking up from his papers. "you shouldn't have moved out from our place. It was a stupid thing. Especially after you gave me all that shit about financial things." he said.
Morinaga was getting nervous, and let out a frustrated sigh. "I thought we were over this." He started to gather his things, as he answered.
"Apparently you are." Souichi still didn't look up from his papers.
Morinaga stopped and looked at Souichi.
What is his problem now?
He tried to ignore Souichi's words. He didn't really get it why even brought he up the topic, but wasn't in the mood to fight again.
"And?" Souichi continued. "Now you two are together?"
"What? No! How can you ask that?" Morinaga was quite angry now.
"You live together…"
"He's a friend!" Why is he asking things like that?
He put on his jacket, and grabbed his bag.
Souichi finally looked up at him, with narrowed eyes, as if he was trying to figure out if his kouhai were saying the truth. "I see."
"But even if we were together, what business is it of yours? Why are we even talking about this? Can I go now?"
"Sure, go. You're good at it, anyway." Morinaga turned to Souichi.
"And you're good at letting everything and everyone leave you! Can't you see how lonely will you be like this? How lonely you are already! But what do I care. I'm going." He headed to the door, but Souichi stood up and suddenly stepped in front of him, not letting him away before he could say what he had on his mind.
"It wasn't me who just up and walked away! That's your way of solving things! Not mine!"
"What the hell are you talking about now? There wasn't anything to solve. I can solve only my problems! I can't solve yours! You had problems, I didn't!" He stepped aside to evade Souichi, but he stepped with him.
"I only had the problems that you caused. You had no right to just leave. You just can't play fair, can you?" Souichi was now leaning against the door, still not letting Morinaga anywhere.
"You talk about fair? I've had just enough. Let me…" He leaned forward to reach the knob, and Souichi grasped his hand on it. Morinaga looked at their hands. Suddenly there was very hot in the room.
"Senpai" Souichi looked at him, but Morinaga was still looking at their hands. "Let me go…" He swallowed hard, and very slowly turned to face Souichi. "…before I lose my nerve…" Their breathing quickened, and they both got flushed.
"Just go ahead."
They stared at each other, then suddenly Morinaga released the knob and grabbed Souichi by the waist. It was impossible to tell which one of them initiated the kiss, but before either of them could've realized what they were doing, they were all over each other.
Souichi wrapped his arms around Morinaga's neck, pulling him even closer, and dropped his head back, inviting Morinaga to kiss his neck. He moaned and whimpered, and Morinaga was about to lose his mind as he heard his senpai; he was kissing and nibbling him with even more intense. He ran his hands up on his back. Souichi buried his face into Morinaga's neck, and was biting him there.
Morinaga turned around with Souichi, and led them to the counter. He leaned Souichi against it, and he leaned back on it. Morinaga's hands moved down on Souichi's thighs, and Souichi wrapped his legs around Morinaga's hips. Morinaga leaned above Souichi, and was stroking his senpai's hair, then slipped his hand down on his face to his neck. His other hand moved to the buttons on his shirt. Then Morinaga parted his lips from Souichi's, and froze.
Souichi gasped and looked at Morinaga with blurry eyes. Morinaga gazed down on him frightened, then suddenly stood up, grabbed his bag and was already out the door.
Souichi's eyes followed him and frowned puzzled. He honestly didn't understand the situation. He slid off the desk, tried to catch his breath. He stared at the floor, slowly got himself together, and adjusted his cloths and glasses. He lifted his hand to his lips.
"You just left me again… you don't fight fair."
Then he wiped off his tears from his cheeks.
He stood there for a few minutes to calm down, then got off his lab coat, put on his jacket and went out of the lab.
I need to drink… I need to drink a lot.
…
Morinaga ran down the hallway, and burst out in tears. He flew out of the building and just ran.
What the hell was that? How can he play with me like this?
…
Souichi headed for the nearest bar, not caring which one it was. He went in, sat down, and waited for the bartender to notice him.
"Absinthe, please…"
"Hard day, huh?" Souichi shot a horrific glare at him, and the bartender turned to bring him the drink.
…
Morinaga headed to the Adam Site; he totally forgot that Hiroto wasn't there that night. But since he was already there and was very upset, he ordered a drink anyway.
Soon he was in a horrible state. The bartenders didn't want to let him go home alone. He might get lost on his way back, they thought.
He was sitting on a barstool, his arms on the counter encircled his drink, and his forehead rested on the glass.
"Senpaaaaai…" he sobbed in his drunken state.
"Isn't this guy Hiroto's friend? Someone call him and ask him if he can come in and pick the guy up."
One of the bartenders took his cell, and called Hiroto. The other guy tried to talk to Morinaga.
"Hey, are you okay?"
Morinaga looked up, with a red circle on his forehead the glass left on him. His vision was blurry, and frowned at the bartender as he tried to focus.
"Huuuh?"
"I think he doesn't even know where he is…" the guy said as he turned back to his colleagues.
…
Souichi could hold his drink well, he was conscious even after his fourth absinthe. His cell phone rang, somehow he managed to take it out from his pocket, and even push the talk button.
"What? Who? Sure… Yeah yeah, I hear you, dude… Suuure! Naa, would you hang-up already, I'm drinking…"
He flipped the phone shut, and put it back to his pocket. He almost fell off the barstool as he did it.
"A friend?" The bartender tried to communicate with him.
"I'm not your friend."
"The phone, I mean…"
"I haven't the faintest idea who it was… gimme another round, will ya'?"
"Shouldn't I call a taxi for you instead?"
"I wanna drink! I need to drink… that idiot… just fucking left…"
"I knew it! A pretty little girl broke your heart, didn't she?"
"Ahhh, pretty…" he put his arms on the counter and his head down on them.
"Here's your drink. But it's the very last for tonight." said the guy behind the counter.
"Fine, I'll find another bar…"
…
Hiroto arrived at the Adam Site, and went to the bar, where Morinaga sat.
"Oh my god, Angel-kun! You look awful."
"Hirotokunnn…" Hiroto turned to his colleagues and said:
"Jeez, I never ever saw him like this… How many drinks did you give him?"
"One. That glass he's clutching is his second. He hasn't even finished it."
"No way!" said Hiroto amazed.
"Maybe he breathed in its vapor."
Hiroto shook Morinaga's shoulders gently.
"Angel-kun, can you stand?"
"Hirotokuuunn…" It was pointless to try any kind of communication with him.
"Come on, some fresh air will help." Then he supported him out of the bar.
The cold fresh air did help; Morinaga stopped sobbing, and could almost walk by himself. Somehow they managed to get home.
Hiroto led him into the living room.
"Come on, sit down." Morinaga did as he was told; Hiroto brought him a bottle of water and sat next to him on the couch. "Now tell me what the hell happened to you?"
Morinaga frowned, rubbed his eyes and tried to tell Hiroto his evening with Souichi.
"Poor baby, you really can't get rid of that guy, can you? Now I understand why you looked like that."
"I don't understand him! What was that good for? Everything was just okay! Why did he have to ask anything?" Hiroto patted Morinaga's back.
"I don't know, honey… That guy is hard to figure."
"He wanted me so much to leave him alone already and when I did he's the one who comes after me!"
"Maybe, just maybe he regretted that he let you go… Isn't it possible?"
Morinaga thought about it for a second, but then shook his head. "I doubt it." He stared at the floor and played the scene in his head again.
"I miss him so much." Morinaga let out a resigned sigh. "I think I won't go to the University for a while. I couldn't bear to see him."