Chapter 7

The night had started innocently, if not awkwardly enough—just a group dinner to celebrate Hiroki's birthday. The room lights were dimmed to a warm glow, casting a cozy, almost intimate atmosphere. Plates piled high with food had long since been cleared, but empty bottles of champagne, wine, and beer cluttered the table, a testament to the indulgence of the evening.

Hiroki sat back in his chair, feeling the familiar warmth of alcohol swimming through his veins. His face was flushed, a subtle shade of pink spreading across his cheeks, and his head felt pleasantly fuzzy. He wasn't drunk —at least that's what he kept telling himself—but more buzzed than he'd intended.

"I'm so full, I could burst," Hiroki muttered, a small, almost delicate burp escaping him. He placed a hand over his stomach, eyes half-lidded from the drinks.

Nowaki's soft voice cut through the hum of conversation. "It was a lovely meal, wasn't it, Hiro-san?" His eyes gleamed with that familiar adoration, the same look that always made Hiroki's heart skip, even when he tried his hardest to play it cool.

"The steak was delicious!" Misaki chimed in, his earlier nervousness fading thanks to a few shared drinks. "I could eat it again."

Akihiko, sitting next to Misaki, swirled his glass of wine lazily, taking a slow sip before adding, "There's nothing quite like good food and company, especially for a birthday celebration." His voice was smooth, almost predatory as if he was quietly observing everything but choosing when to engage. His violet eyes flicked toward Hiroki, a faint smirk playing at his lips. "Have you had a good day, Hiroki? Anything nice to mark the occasion?"

Hiroki blinked at Akihiko, momentarily caught off guard by the inquiry. He rarely asked about Hiroki's day unless there was some ulterior motive. It made Hiroki's hackles rise slightly. "Wouldn't you like to know," Hiroki shot back, his tone as defensive as ever.

Akihiko raised an eyebrow in response, his expression unreadable but somehow amused, silently pressing for more.

Hiroki sighed, rolling his eyes before giving in. "This whole weekend is Nowaki's gift to me. We even have a room with a hot tub." His eyes twinkled at the memory of last night.

"Wow," Misaki's eyes sparkled with excitement. "That sounds lovely! What a great and thoughtful gift, Kusama-san!"

Nowaki went to respond to Misaki's comment but was interrupted by Hiroki mumbling. "Yeah, and so was the blowjob I got this morning," the words slipping out before he could even process them. As soon as he heard himself speak, his eyes widened, mortified. Misaki's face turned beet red, his mouth hanging open in shock, while Nowaki's eyes went wide in surprise. Akihiko, however, seemed delighted.

"I don't know why I said that out loud," Hiroki muttered, feeling the heat of embarrassment creeping up his neck. "I think I've mixed my drinks too much."

Beside him, Nowaki chuckled, the tension lifting as his deep laughter filled the room. He leaned in, brushing his arm against Hiroki's and grabbing his hand. "What couple wouldn't have fun in a hotel room with a private hot tub, when celebrating?"

Akihiko's eyes glinted with mischief as he turned to Misaki. "I'd do the exact same thing."

"Usagi-san!" Misaki snapped his voice a mixture of embarrassment and indignation, his cheeks burning even brighter.

Akihiko smirked, unbothered by Misaki's reaction. "What? It's only natural."

Hiroki slouched further into his chair, groaning inwardly as the conversation took a turn, he hadn't quite anticipated. He lifted his beer to his lips, deciding to drown his embarrassment in the last dregs of alcohol.

Hiroki placed the empty beer glass on the table, his lips curling slightly in defeat. The alcohol had certainly loosened him up far more than he had planned. He sighed deeply, trying to shake off the embarrassing slip of his earlier comment.

"I need another drink," Hiroki grumbled, avoiding eye contact with anyone as he tried to regain some composure.

"Of course, anything for the birthday boy, my treat to you," Akihiko responded smoothly, raising his glass in a mock toast before taking a leisurely sip of his wine.

Nowaki, ever attentive, chimed in, "Why don't I go and get the drinks? I could do with stretching my legs." He stood up, pressing a soft kiss to Hiroki's forehead, his lips lingering a little longer than necessary. Hiroki tensed, his heart racing as he glanced up through his lashes at Nowaki, a slight frown pulling at his lips.

"Ah, Nowaki, we're in public," Hiroki muttered, feeling the familiar flush of embarrassment creeping up his neck again. He glanced over at Akihiko, fully aware of the smug, knowing look he was undoubtedly receiving.

Nowaki, unfazed, gave his signature warm smile. "Hiro-san, I wouldn't exactly call this public. It's a private dining room and we're around others like us." His words were gentle, but the meaning behind them was clear. They were surrounded by people who understood and accepted them. Still, Hiroki couldn't help but feel a twinge of discomfort, especially with Akihiko's prying eyes on them.

He mumbled something incoherent, sinking further into his chair, his gaze fixed on the table. It wasn't that he was embarrassed of Nowaki—far from it. It was more that public displays of affection felt foreign to him, a remnant of his traditional upbringing. Even after years together, showing his love so openly still felt unnatural. He wished he could be as free and open as Nowaki, but that was something deeply ingrained in him.

Nowaki, as always, seemed to sense Hiroki's unease but didn't push further. Instead, he turned his attention to Misaki. "Takahashi-san, why don't you come with me and remind me which cocktail you had last? It looked lovely."

Misaki nodded eagerly, happy for the distraction. He liked Nowaki—a stark contrast to the emotionally colder figures in his life like Akihiko, not that Akihiko didn't show his love in his own way. Kusama-san was warm, easy to talk to, and it made Misaki feel more at ease.

Just as Misaki stood, Akihiko's hand gently cupped his chin, turning Misaki's face toward him. With skilful grace, Akihiko placed a light kiss on Misaki's lips, leaving him stunned and blushing. "Usagi-san!" Misaki's voice wavered, his cheeks aflame as he shot a quick glance at Hiroki, clearly mortified by the public display in front of his former professor.

Akihiko, unconcerned, smirked lazily. "Now we're equal.' He glanced at Hiroki before turning back to his Misaki, 'And, get us another bottle of wine, Misaki, since you're heading out."

Misaki nodded stiffly, still recovering from the kiss, before quickly following Nowaki out of the room. They could be heard chatting about fruit flavours and cocktails as the door closed behind them, leaving Hiroki and Akihiko alone.

Akihiko turned, sliding his half-full beer glass across the table toward Hiroki, barely touched as he preferred wine. "You look like you could use this, old man."

Hiroki narrowed his eyes, already irritated. "We're the same age," he retorted but took the glass anyway, downing two large gulps as if to drown the remnants of his embarrassment.

"So, a hot tub, eh?" Akihiko's tone was casual, but his eyes showed a mischievous glint. He leaned back in his chair, swirling his wine glass idly. "Had any fun in that?"

Hiroki shot him a sharp look, but his alcohol-drenched brain wasn't cooperating. Normally, he would have ignored Akihiko's prodding, but tonight, the alcohol had loosened his tongue a little too much.

He laughed, a low chuckle, shaking his head. "Well, I was planning on being fucked in the hot tub tonight after my BBQ dinner... but those plans got changed." The words slipped out before Hiroki could stop them.

Akihiko's eyes gleamed with interest, the smirk on his lips growing wider. "Oh?"

Hiroki groaned inwardly, knowing he'd walked right into the trap but too buzzed to care. He took another swig of beer, mumbling to himself. "Doesn't mean we haven't used the hot tub already... We had some fun last night before we took it back to the room."

Akihiko leaned forward slightly; eyes gleaming with amusement. "Hiroki, I never imagined you'd be the type to get so... adventurous."

"Shut up, Akihiko," Hiroki mumbled, though there was no real heat behind his words. He buried his face in his hands, groaning again at the mess he'd made of the night. 'I've done plenty of adventurous things.'

Akihiko raised an eyebrow at Hiroki's comment, leaning forward with that familiar glint of curiosity in his eyes. "You wouldn't know half of the adventurous things I've done," Hiroki muttered, his words coming out more confident than he had intended, likely fuelled by the alcohol coursing through his veins.

Akihiko's smirk widened. He tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing in amusement. "Enlighten me," he said, his tone sly but deceptively casual as if he was asking about the weather. Hiroki knew better, though—Akihiko never asked about anything unless he genuinely wanted to hear every detail.

Hiroki hesitated momentarily, his better judgment barely holding on by a thread. But as the alcohol buzzed through his system, the weight of his stories felt lighter, less private, and suddenly, it didn't seem like such a big deal to talk. He took another swig of beer and leaned back in his chair, his gaze lazily fixing on Akihiko.

"Well, for one…" Hiroki began slowly, "before Nowaki came along, I used to... well, let loose. Sleeping around with random guys, trying to forget about a certain someone I was stupidly hung up on."

Akihiko's smirk softened for a moment, his eyes gleaming with nostalgia as Hiroki mentioned his unrequited love. "Ah, unrequited love, huh?" he echoed, swirling his glass. His voice was smooth, but a faint shadow of something deeper lingered in his tone. "No one can have a unique experience, eh?" he added quietly, thinking of his own long-standing, long forgotten, one-sided crush on Takahiro, Misaki's older brother.

He glanced off to the side for a second, lost in thought, before his gaze returned to Hiroki, the smile creeping back onto his face. "But now we've both found our people," Akihiko said, his lips curling into a rare, genuine smile as his thoughts turned to Misaki. He couldn't help but smile to himself, thinking of the younger man who had, despite all odds, become the centre of his world.

Hiroki caught the subtle shift in Akihiko's expression and smirked knowingly. "Yeah, I guess we did."
'So what did that lead to?' Akihiko asked, getting back to Hiroki's revelations.

Hiroki rolled his eyes but continued, fuelled by the alcohol and the odd comfort of Akihiko's teasing. "Well… I'd spend nights with guys I didn't even know, to get rid of that frustration. Bars, clubs...you name it. No strings, no names. I didn't care. I just wanted to stop thinking about… well stop thinking." He shot Akihiko a glance, not even needing to elaborate further.

Akihiko raised his glass in acknowledgement, a small, appreciative nod. "I never took you for someone who'd go out of his way to be so reckless," he commented, his voice smooth and bemused. "You always seemed so focused on your studies back then."

Hiroki chuckled at that, a deep laugh that almost surprised himself. "That's exactly why," he confessed. "School was my distraction, but when that didn't cut it, I found other… outlets. Letting loose was easy when there wasn't anything else grounding me. It was just something I did, and I'd move on the next day."

Hiroki shrugged, downing the last of the beer in front of him. "But when Nowaki came along..." Hiroki's voice softened, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips despite himself, "Well, things changed. Now, all of that energy goes toward him. It's all the more fun when there's someone who actually cares about you—someone you can share those moments with."

Akihiko regarded him with a mixture of surprise and amusement, raising his wine glass in acknowledgment. "Well, I'm surprised, Hiroki. It seems you've lived quite the adventurous life after all."

Hiroki laughed again, this time more freely. "You have no idea, Usagi-san. And with Nowaki, every day is an adventure. A fun one."

Akihiko's lips quirked up into a genuine smile—rare for him—and he leaned back in his chair. "It seems you've found your balance. And here I thought you'd be forever buried in your books."

Hiroki shook his head, grinning now. "I still have my books… but I have something better waiting for me now."

Akihiko swirled the wine in his glass thoughtfully, watching the light reflect off the deep red liquid. "It's funny how love does that, isn't it? Changes us, even when we're not expecting it."

Hiroki snorted, leaning back in his seat. "You're one to talk. From what I hear, Misaki's done quite the number on you."

Akihiko raised an eyebrow, his smirk returning. "Touché." He glanced out the window, watching the city lights twinkle against the night sky. "It wasn't easy at first. I mean, you know how I am..."

"No kidding," Hiroki muttered under his breath, earning a playful glare from Akihiko.

"But Misaki…" Akihiko continued, ignoring the jab, "despite everything…" His expression softened slightly, something Hiroki rarely saw in his old friend. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

Hiroki nodded, understanding all too well. "It's weird, isn't it? How someone can come into your life and change everything. Even the things you thought were set in stone."

Akihiko hummed in agreement. "And suddenly, the things that used to seem so important… they don't matter as much anymore. It's like your whole perspective shifts."

"Yeah," Hiroki murmured, thinking of Nowaki's bright smile and unyielding optimism. "It's scary at first, though. Letting someone in like that. Trusting them with all of you."

Akihiko glanced at him, his gaze sharper now. "But worth it, right?"

Hiroki hesitated for a moment, then smiled, a rare, genuine smile that Akihiko had seen only a few times over the years. "Yeah. It's worth it."

They sat in companionable silence for a while, the quiet hum of the city below them filling the space. Finally, Akihiko spoke again, his tone lighter this time. "So, about those escapades with Nowaki... any more stories you care to share?"

Hiroki groaned, rubbing a hand over his face. "I'm starting to regret telling you anything."

Akihiko chuckled. "Too late for that now."

With a resigned sigh, Hiroki leaned forward, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Alright, alright… if we're sharing stories, there was this one time when Nowaki decided to surprise me during a work conference. Let's say, the hotel staff wasn't exactly pleased with the noise complaints."

Akihiko burst out laughing, clinking his glass against Hiroki's. "Now that's the Hiroki I want to hear about!"

"And another time at the university library, after hours. It was late, and one thing led to another."

Akihiko raised an eyebrow, already intrigued. "In the library? You, of all people, breaking rules like that?"

Hiroki chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Miyagi hasn't let me forget about it since."

Akihiko nearly spat out his wine, laughing. "Your co-worker? I bet he gave you hell for that one."

"He did," Hiroki said with a resigned sigh, though there was amusement in his eyes. "But then again, he's always going at it with his brat in the office, so who's he to judge? Not that me and Nowaki haven't christened the office as well."

Akihiko grinned, shaking his head in disbelief. "I would've thought your office was sacred, given how serious you are about your work."

"Work can wait sometimes," Hiroki replied with a smirk. "Let's just say, when Nowaki's determined, it's hard to say no. I'm sure you'd understand that you're always avoiding deadlines."

Akihiko's eyes gleamed with amusement, but he decided to ignore Hiroki's goading and decided to continue with his questioning. "So, you've turned the office into your playground too, huh?"

Hiroki shrugged nonchalantly, though a faint blush crept up his neck. "It's not just the office. There was one time at the hospital when I had to take Nowaki his Boston bag—he'd forgotten it. He dragged me into one of the on-call rooms. Those beds are tiny, barely enough space to move."

Akihiko chuckled. "Sounds cramped."

"You have no idea," Hiroki muttered, shaking his head. "But Nowaki was relentless. Didn't care about the size of the bed or how uncomfortable it was, or that he didn't fit. He just—" Hiroki paused, feeling the flush spread across his face. "Well, you get the idea."

Akihiko raised his glass, amused by Hiroki's growing embarrassment. "Oh, I get the idea. It seems Nowaki has a bit of a bold streak."

Hiroki snorted. "Bold doesn't even begin to describe it. Anytime there's water involved—shower, bath, hot tub—Nowaki just can't help himself. He loves water. It's like an invitation for him, instant boner."

Akihiko leaned forward, intrigued. "Shower sex, huh? Now that's an interesting quirk."

"Interesting? It's exhausting," Hiroki muttered, but the smile on his face said otherwise. "I swear, every time we're in the shower together, it's like a green light for him."

Akihiko laughed, shaking his head in disbelief. "Well, at least you're not bored, Hiroki."

"Far from it," Hiroki admitted, his tone softening again. "With Nowaki, there's never a dull moment. As frustrating as he can be sometimes, I wouldn't trade it for anything."

Akihiko raised his glass in a toast. "Here's to that, then. A life full of unexpected moments."

Hiroki clinked his glass against Akihiko's, a rare smile lingering on his lips. "I'll drink to that."

Before Akihiko could respond, the door creaked open, and the sound of Nowaki and Misaki's laughter filled the room again. Nowaki held a tray of drinks, his eyes immediately seeking out Hiroki's as if checking to make sure everything was okay.

"Here's your special birthday drink, Hiro-san," Nowaki said softly, placing a colourful cocktail in front of him.

Hiroki glanced at the drink, then at Nowaki, it wasn't the beer he was expecting but he felt his heart swell despite himself. Maybe he wasn't the most open or affectionate person in public, but when it was just the two of them... well, that was something entirely different. Nowaki understood him.

Nowaki took his seat again, glancing between Hiroki and Akihiko, sensing a shift in the atmosphere. "What were you two talking about while I was gone?" he asked, his curiosity piqued. The air had felt different when he walked back in.

Hiroki smirked, still feeling the warmth of the alcohol and the lingering buzz of the conversation with Akihiko. "Just life's adventures," he said with a shrug, keeping it vague.

Nowaki tilted his head, clearly confused and unsure what Hiroki meant. He glanced at Akihiko, who wore his signature enigmatic smile, and then back at Hiroki, wondering if the drinks were talking more than his boyfriend. "Adventures?" Nowaki echoed, not quite understanding.

Hiroki's expression softened as he turned his gaze fully on Nowaki, his usual guarded demeanour slipping away. He placed a hand on Nowaki's thigh, a rare display of affection. "And all you need to know, Nowaki, is that you're my favourite adventure." His words came out unexpectedly tender, and the effect was immediate. Nowaki's face lit up with a beaming smile, his eyes shining with pure adoration.

"Oh, Hiro-san…" Nowaki whispered, his voice thick with emotion. Without hesitating, he leaned in, pressing his lips softly against Hiroki's. Hiroki didn't resist—he leaned into the kiss, allowing himself to fully enjoy the moment, completely forgetting they weren't alone.

From the other side of the table, Akihiko cleared his throat, his voice dripping with dry amusement. "Sorry to interrupt…" he said, glancing at Misaki, who looked visibly uncomfortable, squirming in his seat. Watching the usually stoic "Demon Kamijou" so openly affectionate was clearly a shock.

Nowaki pulled back slightly, his cheeks flushed but still smiling. "Apologies, Usami-san," he said, his tone polite but not entirely regretful. "Hiroki was just said I'm his favourite adventure, which I thought was incredibly sweet."

Hiroki, still a bit lost in the moment, didn't realise his hand was still resting on Nowaki's thigh. In fact, his fingers had started rubbing gentle circles without him even noticing. Nowaki, on the other hand, noticed, glancing down quickly in mild panic but too flustered to say anything. He caught Hiroki's eye, but his lover seemed oblivious.

Akihiko, ever the observer, didn't let the moment slide. "Ah yes, Hiroki was telling me about some of his... adventures while you were gone," he said, his voice laced with mischief, his violet eyes gleaming. "Would you like to share any of your adventures with Hiroki?"

Nowaki chuckled, instantly catching the not-so-subtle hint. "Well, Usami-san, mine and Hiro-san's adventures are just for the two of us," he retorted, his smile playful but firm. "I'm not sharing those stories with you. My life isn't going to be fodder for those books of yours."

Before Akihiko could respond, Misaki's voice cut in, his curiosity getting the better of him. "Wait, he writes about you too?" Misaki looked genuinely surprised, his eyes wide as he glanced between Nowaki and Akihiko.

Akihiko chuckled softly to himself, clearly amused. "Ahh, Kusama-san, you caught on. I was hoping for some more inspiration tonight."

Nowaki shook his head, his tone turning more serious. "My sex life is private, Usami-san. If Hiro-san chooses to share that, well, that's up to him." His gaze flickered toward Hiroki, who was still nursing his cocktail and rubbing his thigh.

At that moment, Hiroki downed the rest of his drink in one go, slamming the glass onto the table with more force than he'd intended, causing a loud thud. His cheeks flushed, and his voice slurred just a little. "This conversation is boring," he muttered. "It's my birthday, and I want it to be fun!"

Akihiko's eyes twinkled with amusement as he leaned back in his chair, holding his wine glass aloft. "How rude of me," he said, though the tone wasn't nearly apologetic enough to be genuine. "It is your birthday. Let's cheers to that." He raised his glass higher, looking at the others expectantly.

Nowaki, ever the gracious boyfriend, lifted his drink to meet Akihiko's. "Happy Birthday, Hiro-san," he said softly, his sincerity cutting through the light-hearted atmosphere.

"Happy Birthday, Hiroki," Akihiko added, his smirk never leaving his face.

"Happy Birthday!" Misaki chimed in, his voice a little too gleeful, clearly feeling the effects of the alcohol. His cheeks were flushed, and his smile was wide—Misaki was definitely tipsy.

Hiroki shrugged, picking up his empty cocktail glass and half-heartedly clinking it against the others. He couldn't help but smile a little, despite his earlier irritation, feeling the warmth of the people around him, and the hand on Nowaki's thigh gave a soft squeeze, unspoken gratitude passing between them.

AN – What's the saying again? Loose lips, sink ships? What an interesting turn of events, and Akihiko managed to pry all that information from Hiroki. I myself have been known to have less of a filter when drinking is involved. Drunk words are sober thoughts or something like that.

I hope you enjoyed this longer chapter from me. The office sex was a nod to my other story office rendezvous, the on-call room is made up (I've watched way too much Grey's Anatomy – I'm surprised hospital sex hasn't become canon already) and the water, well we all know Nowaki's fantasy and wanting to share a bath with Hiro-san. Plus his name means typhoon, so why wouldn't he like water – maybe he's a water sign?

As always, comments and feedback are welcome. I hope you enjoyed the update. I have been enjoying writing this double date - I wonder where the evening will lead...

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