Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Misaki: Is that to make up for not updating in so freaking long?

Chey: Pretty much.

Misaki: Sheesh, you could at least apologize.

Chey: Right, sorry, guys:(

Romantica Act Four Part Three

Akihiko considered what he would like to do for the date with Misaki.

He had nothing…absolutely nothing. The usual things seemed too cliché and he also had no money so he didn't really think he should be in charge of planning anyway.

But he still turned to Aikawa for help. "If you were going on a date with an older man, what would you do for preparation?"

Aikawa squeed and Akihiko grimaced when the professor lobbed a piece of chalk in their direction. She quieted then whispered, "You and Misaki Sensei are going on a date?"

"Since when do you call him by his first name?"

"He's famous. The entire world is on a first name basis with him."

Akihiko felt mildly irritated but quashed it temporarily. "So anyway…"

"Well, he's older so let him handle things. Unless, is there something specific you wanted to do?"

"Not really." Akihiko glanced back at the teacher. "Let's just drop it."

"I don't want—"

"Damn brats, shut the hell up!" Shinobu yelled, glaring at the pair of them. They both complied immediately.

…

As it happened, Misaki seemed to be on top of things though. He showed up in his precious sports car at school as soon as Akihiko's classes were over. Akihiko rolled his eyes at Aikawa. "I'm here to pick you up."

Akihiko stared. Misaki was wearing a crisp suit and tie. Aikawa squeed. "I have to go home and change first."

"It doesn't matter. Just get in."

"Bye, Usami-kun," Aikawa murmured.

"Bye," Akihiko said shortly.

"Come on, Usagi," Misaki said.

"Usagi!" Aikawa yelped. "Oh, wow, that's so cute! Usagi-kun, do you hop like a rabbit?"

"Time to go!" Akihiko said hastily.

Misaki chuckled and nodded to Aikawa before getting into the car and driving back to the apartment.

The restaurant Misaki chose was small but posh. Akihiko was wearing the nicest clothes he owned, a gray suit jacket over a buttoned blue shirt that had seen better days a decade ago when his brother owned it and blue jean that went better with the outfit than the only dress pants he owned, which were brown. He didn't exactly know why but he wanted to impress the artist. Misaki himself wore a tan tailored jacket over a shirt I knew he'd been wearing while sketching the day before. The ink and graphite stains were well hidden though by the black fabric. And even though Akihiko knew all of that, Misaki still looked utterly adorable. Akihiko's pulse raced in his ears but it was a pleasant sound.

After a waiter brought beer for Misaki and tea for Akihiko, Misaki took a sip and sighed, settling back in his seat. "How was school?"

"Fine," Akihiko replied shortly.

"Are your teachers nice?"

The teen nodded. "Except one Sensei who's a bit crazy. He throws stuff when we talk in class. He's the Lit Sensei."

Misaki snorted. "Shinobu hates students, after all," he muttered under his breath.

"Sorry?"

"Nothing." He didn't really want to talk about class. "So what should we get?" He opened the menu and winced. There were no prices listed on anything!

"Whatever you like. Indulge yourself."

"As if," he muttered darkly. "This is a bit clichéd, no?"

"How do you mean?" Misaki asked.

"You're taking me to a place that doesn't even have price tags. I know I can't afford something like that and you know I can't afford something like that."

"I'm buying."

"I know. That's why it's clichéd. You're paying for everything and you know I can't say anything."

"That's right." Misaki had just a tint of manipulative flare and he was using it now. He sipped his beer again. "Just accept it. Please."

Akihiko slouched in his chair. He gave in. He and Misaki ordered and shortly thereafter their food arrived. "Itadakimasu," they both murmured and started to eat. Misaki dove into his food as if he'd been starving for months. Akihiko ate more delicately though he watched Misaki carefully.

Misaki looked up after taking a particularly healthy bite and Akihiko noticed food on his cheek. Unable to resist, he reached out and took it on his finger and sucked it into his mouth. Misaki blushed and murmured, "Usagi…"

"Sensei…" he replied. It took a conscious effort on both their parts to avoid touching each other further. Both focused again on eating.

And then they were interrupted.

"Hello, Misaki."

Both men looked around to see a tall blond man with glasses. "Ah, Asahina-san." Misaki gave him a warm smile. "What brings you here…to spoil my date?" Misaki's smile still seemed warm but there was a forced element to it.

"I was not here to spoil your date," he said stiffly. "I saw you and merely came over to say hi."

Misaki raised his eyebrows. "Well, hello. Now please go away."

"No. In fact, I'd like to meet your friend."

"Of course, my apologies," Misaki said with a thick, fake cheer. "Akihiko, this is the chief editor of Kawamaru Publishing, Asahina Kaoru. They publish my work. Asahina-san, this is my friend Haruhiko's little brother, Usami Akihiko."

"Nice to meet you," Akihiko muttered, looking briefly at the serious man.

"Indeed a pleasure. Sumi-san has told me you have a flair for writing." He held out a card.

"Hardly," Akihiko replied, taking it and glancing over at Misaki. The man's green eyes blazed with strange anger. Jealousy?

"In any case, if you're interested, I would like to look at your work. If it's good enough, we can publish it and give you some niceties of your own. Your own lodgings perhaps? It must be exhausting to have to share with an eccentric manga artist."

Akihiko's eyes shot sharply from one man to the other. "No-not at all." Besides, I'm living there for free. Akihiko thought he could feel tightly controlled rage from across the table but when he looked, Sensei looked cool and calm. So why was Akihiko feeling himself get angry in his stead?

"Then again," Asahina went on, speaking firmly with a low, rather resonating voice, "You are rather handsome. Sensei's type in fact." Misaki turned scarlet, his cool outer layer was fracturing.

"And how would you know that?" Misaki sputtered.

"I'm friends with your brother and I'm not blind. That friend Haruhiko-kun, right? Tall, handsome." He looked back at Akihiko. "You get the idea. Of course, I am also tall and handsome."

Akihiko looked at his food. This man knew way more about Sensei than he did. He hid the tiniest amount of hurt. He wanted to know more about the man he was living with.

"You know, we could be a fantastic couple," Asahina said, still in a serious, now with a touch of sensuality, voice.

Then he leaned into Misaki.

To be continued…

Chey: And cliffhanger!

Misaki: Causing problems again.

Chey: You had to see that coming.

Misaki: I did. I just am also commenting on it.

Chey: Yeah, yeah. Anyway, please review, my lovely readers and as always, thanks for taking time out of your busy schedules to read my drivel.

~CheyanneChika