Juza felt happy tiredness. He was at the uni until early afternoon, then went to his part-time job, after which there was an evening rehearsal with the Autumn Troupe. A wonderful day, really. And it was nice to take a bath together with everyone again, although sitting next to the naked Settsu in the tub felt just as awkward as the first time. Back then, almost a year ago, the newly formed Autumn Troupe bathed together to make up after the return of the prodigal Settsu, but this time around they gathered in the dorm's bath to welcome the newcomer, Azami Izumida.
Azami joined the troupe as an actor, but he also had a passion for makeup and therefore became Mankai Company's makeup and hair artist as well. Azami was calm and serious but unexpectedly found common ground with their troublesome leader: both he and Settsu turned out to be keen on skincare and beauty products. In the meantime, the six of them were hanging out in the hot tub when at some point Banri felt it was getting too hot - he couldn't stand the heat for too long, let alone sitting so close to the naked Hyodo.
- Alright, I'm done, - Banri stood up and stepped out of the tub.
Staying behind him, Juza looked away with a blushful frown: Settsu's nicely shaped lean ass turned rosy pink and glistened with water, while he caught himself looking at the cleft and the junction between Settsu's legs... It would be too much of an embarrassment if his troupe mates saw him have a boner when he got out of the water, so Settsu's leaving felt like a big relief. Meanwhile, Azami also got out of the tab.
- Hey, isn't that the lotion everyone's talking about? – Azami wondered as Banri began to apply the product onto his face in front of the mirror.
- You really know your stuff. I got it from my sister, - Banri responded keenly.
- I've tried it before. It absorbs well and has lots of moisturizing agents, - Azami went on knowledgeably.
- Yeah, I feel my skin's been doing better ever since I started using it, - Banri confessed, skillfully working the lotion into his face.
- Actually, do you guys even have skincare routines? – Azami looked over at the rest of the troupe sitting in the tub.
- Never even thought about it... - Juza muttered thoughtfully.
- Hmm, I've never really thought about it either... - Omi was a bit puzzled too.
- I might borrow Ban-chan's stuff once in a while! – Taichi said with a carefree smile.
- You'd better buy your own, Taichi, - Banri pointed out rationally.
Azami couldn't believe his ears. No one in the Autumn Troupe except Banri used any skincare products. What's worse, it turned out that everyone except Banri washed their faces with the cheap soap the stingy old man Sakyo had bought a few years ago! It was unthinkable. From now on, they had to take proper care of their skin, no excuses.
Juza scratched the back of his head. Come to think of it, Azami was right. For an actor, the face was one of the main working instruments, so it had to be kept in a good shape too. Juza made up his mind: starting today, he'd be taking skincare seriously, the more so because Settsu seemed to be pretty savvy about these kinds of things.
After half an hour of soaking in the bath with the rest of the Autumn Troupe, Juza returned to his room. Settsu was off somewhere, probably gaming with Itaru. Well, it was for the best... Juza made it across the room and opened the door of Banri's storage cabinet. He had to find that face lotion and try it out himself. Surely, it wouldn't be a big deal if he searched through his boyfriend's stuff once they lived in one room together...
Juza opened the cabinet door and saw a bunch of hairbands, ties, and pins, as well as a hairdryer, straightener, and a few hairbrushes. "Not here", he thought and then opened the next door, this time discovering a collection of rings, studs, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, as well as some other decorative bells and whistles. "He really likes this stuff, huh. He's just like a girl", Juza huffed as he picked up one of the necklaces to take a closer look at it. The necklace had a stylish pendant inlaid with a little blue stone. Juza put it back, then opened the next door and frowned in confusion: he probably tapped into something he shouldn't have... The cabinet was full of cosmetics: eye pencils, purple eyeshadows, some tubes labelled "foundation", whatever the hell that meant, nail varnish, face powder, lip balms... Settsu probably used these for stage makeup, but... it was so much gay. Not that it was embarrassing, though... Quite the opposite, it actually was kind of cute...
Juza smirked, closing the cabinet door, but he still didn't find the lotion. Where was it?.. Juza opened another, bigger cabinet and saw an array of shampoos, some hair styling shit, shower gels, and whatnot. He began looking through various bottles and tubes when the door creaked open behind him, and Banri entered the room.
- Ha? Why a hell you're rummaging through my things? – Banri quirked an eyebrow, but his voice wasn't angry at all. Some time ago, he had looked through all of Juza's stuff including his phone log when Juza wasn't around.
- I wanted to try out that face lotion Azami was talking about, - Juza felt a bit guilty.
- It's my lotion, you know? You should buy your own, - Banri admonished benevolently. He was elated after winning a game against Itaru.
- I don't know what to buy. I've never used this stuff, and I know nothing about it, - Juza responded frankly. – Can I try out yours?
- Gah, I guess I have no choice. Sit down, - Banri said, turning to open his cabinet with skincare products. Slightly surprised, Juza obeyed and sat down in his chair facing Banri.
- You need to use this first, - Banri uncapped a small plastic bottle and squeezed some of the product onto a cotton pad.
- What is it? – Juza asked, relaxedly looking at Banri.
- It's a cleansing lotion. Against pimples, - Banri approached and started working the lotion into Juza's face.
- Do you use it yourself? – Juza murmured, his eyes being closed.
- Of course. I don't wanna have pimples like you do, - Banri said with a mocking little smile.
- Can you buy this for me too? – Juza asked after Banri finished.
- Ha? Why should I, – Banri responded calmly as he uncapped the other lotion and applied some on Juza's face.
- You're the troupe leader, so it's your responsibility too, - Juza drawled out calmly.
- Okay, you give me money, I'll buy it, - Banri said as he spread the lotion over Juza's face with massaging movements.
- I'm broke, - Juza hummed, enjoying the sensation of Banri's warm and dexterous fingers.
- The hell?.. You have a part-time job! – Banri answered incredulously.
- I spent everything on repairing my motorbike, - Juza murmured tranquilly.
- Hah?! - Banri capped the bottle with lotion.
- I paid for you in the cafe, remember? – Juza wrapped an arm around Banri's waist and pulled him into his lap, taking the lotion from Banri's hand and setting it aside on his desk.
- Geez... It's because I forgot my wallet. Ah well, what can I do with you, daikon... – Banri sighed resignedly.
- Thanks, - Juza looked into Banri's eyes before their lips merged in a tender kiss.
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Author Notes:
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Hey! I hope you enjoyed this fic! It was inspired by this backstage story:
?title=Azami_Izumida/Tanegaoka_Junior_High_School