Chapter 6

The clock struck eight, and Hiroki Kamijou found himself seated at an elegantly set table in a private dining room. The soft glow of candlelight flickered off the pristine white tablecloth, casting gentle shadows on the four faces seated around the table. Hiroki shifted uncomfortably in his seat, trying to mask the tightness in his chest.

To his right sat Nowaki, ever calm and reassuring, his presence a steady anchor amidst the subtle tension of the evening. Across from them, Akihiko Usami, his old friend, and Misaki Takahashi, Akihiko's boyfriend and Hiroki's former student, completed the awkward quartet. Misaki glanced up at Hiroki for the umpteenth time, his eyes wide with a mix of nervousness and concern. Hiroki frowned inwardly. He really needed to stop glaring at the poor kid; after all, he wasn't his professor anymore. Still, Hiroki thought bitterly, this was not how I envisioned spending my birthday.

The faint pop of a cork drew his attention. Akihiko had just opened an impressive-looking bottle of champagne and was pouring out the bubbling liquid into their glasses. Hiroki watched as the golden stream filled his flute, the soft fizz catching the light.

"Happy birthday, Hiroki," Akihiko said with a smirk, raising his glass, and the others followed suit. Their glasses clinked together in a soft chorus, but the sound grated against Hiroki's mood.

Without a second thought, Hiroki downed his entire glass in one swift gulp. The champagne slid down his throat effortlessly, smooth and rich. It was much better than the one they'd had the night before. Of course it is, Hiroki thought, narrowing his eyes. Damn that Akihiko.

As Hiroki placed his empty glass on the table, he could feel Akihiko's inquisitive gaze on him. He glanced up to meet his old friend's questioning stare and snapped, "What? It's my birthday. I can drink what I want."

The harshness of his words hung in the air for a moment. Nowaki winced slightly at Hiroki's outburst, his concerned eyes flickering between Hiroki and the others. Misaki looked away quickly, fidgeting with his napkin as if he wanted to disappear into the plush seat beside Akihiko. Akihiko, however, merely raised an eyebrow, his signature smirk still in place.

With an exaggerated shrug, Akihiko lifted his glass. "Of course," he said smoothly, downing his own champagne with the same nonchalance. He immediately reached for the bottle and topped off both Hiroki's and his own glass, as though it was a casual challenge.

The silence at the table grew heavier with every passing second. Hiroki tapped his fingers on the edge of his glass, his irritation bubbling beneath the surface. He never liked fancy dinners like this. It wasn't him. He felt out of place, stifled. His mood soured further when his stomach growled at the memory of what he'd originally wanted for tonight.

"Are we going to order? Because I had my heart set on BBQ tonight before my plans got changed." Hiroki stated.

Hiroki shot Nowaki an apologetic glance, immediately feeling guilty for his tone. Nowaki's expression softened in return, his hand reaching out beneath the table to gently squeeze Hiroki's. The warmth of that simple gesture was enough to calm the rising frustration in Hiroki's chest.

Leaning in close, Nowaki whispered with a small smile, "We can go for BBQ tomorrow. Just another excuse to extend the celebrations, right?"

Hiroki felt some of the tension slip from his shoulders at Nowaki's words. There was something so grounding about him, always knowing the right thing to say. Hiroki squeezed his hand back, grateful for his boyfriend's unwavering support.

Akihiko, as unruffled as ever, smirks at Hiroki's brashness. "BBQ, huh? Could've guessed," he says with a wry smile, swirling the champagne in his glass before taking another sip.

Across the table, Misaki cleared his throat, clearly trying to ease the uncomfortable silence. "Um, why don't we order something to share?" he suggested, his voice a little too eager. "We could pick the fanciest thing on the menu and see how it tastes. Might be fun!"

Akihiko chuckled at Misaki's attempt, his arm draping over the back of his chair casually. "A sharer, huh?" He glanced at Hiroki, eyes twinkling with amusement. "Well, since it's Hiroki's birthday, why not?"

The waiter arrived at that moment, handing out menus with an air of professionalism that Hiroki found a little too pretentious for his liking. He exchanged a look with Nowaki, who smiled softly at him.

As the others began discussing the menu, Hiroki took a deep breath. Maybe the night wasn't going exactly as planned, but he could handle it as long as Nowaki was beside him. Besides, tomorrow hopefully had BBQ, and that thought alone was enough to keep him going for the rest of the evening.

As the waiter stood by the door, poised with a notebook in hand, Akihiko leaned forward, ready to take charge of the ordering as usual. He opened his mouth to speak, but Nowaki, ever gentle yet assertive, cut him off with a calm smile.

"I really liked Misaki's idea," Nowaki said, looking warmly between Hiroki and Misaki. "Why don't we order a seafood and mixed meat platter to share?"

Hiroki blinked in surprise, momentarily caught off guard by how naturally Nowaki had redirected the conversation. Misaki, on the other hand, lit up at Nowaki's acknowledgement, his nervousness fading.

"Hiro-san did want BBQ after all and this would be close," Nowaki added, "and those options do sound delicious, don't they, Hiro-san?"

Hiroki nodded in response, not trusting his voice to sound anything but awkward if he spoke too quickly. But truthfully, Nowaki was right — the platter did sound delicious. He could already imagine the mix of meats, the charred edges of the seafood, and the savory flavors that would remind him of the BBQ he'd been craving. His irritation was ebbing away, replaced by a quiet satisfaction.

Akihiko glanced at Hiroki, amusement still dancing in his eyes, before turning his attention back to the waiter. "We'll go with that, then."

The waiter scribbled down the order, ready to move on, but Akihiko continued smoothly. "And anything extra to drink?"

"Beer." Hiroki's answer was immediate, almost too quick, and it came out louder than he intended. His face flushed slightly as he realised how eager he'd sounded. He glanced away, trying to act nonchalant, but Nowaki's gentle chuckle beside him gave him away.

"That sounds perfect," Nowaki said, his eyes crinkling in amusement at Hiroki's adorable outburst. "I'll also have a beer," he added. "And why don't you choose a wine, Akihiko-san? I wouldn't know where to start."

Hiroki turned to look at Nowaki in disbelief, his brow furrowing in confusion. Nowaki didn't know where to start with wine? That wasn't true at all. With all the cooking knowledge and experience Nowaki had, he definitely knew his way around wine pairings. So why was he letting Akihiko choose? Hiroki narrowed his eyes slightly, but before he could ask, Akihiko leaned back in his chair with a smirk.

"Fine by me," Akihiko said, casually scanning the wine list. After a few seconds, he pointed to one of the selections. "We'll have this one." He then turned to Misaki, who had been quietly observing, clearly not expecting to be part of the decision.

"And what about you, Misaki?" Akihiko asked. "What do you want to drink?"

Misaki jumped in his seat, startled by the attention. "Err… a Mai Tai if I may," he stammered, his face reddening slightly at the formality of his words.

Akihiko chuckled softly, reaching out to ruffle Misaki's hair, much to the brunet's embarrassment. "Of course, Misaki," he said, his voice carrying a teasing affection. He turned to the waiter. "One Mai Tai, please."

Before the waiter could move, Nowaki raised a hand. "Can you make that two, please?" he said with a friendly smile. "That sounds lovely."

Hiroki blinked again. Nowaki? Ordering a Mai Tai? Hiroki stared at him in surprise, his thoughts scrambling to catch up. Of course, Nowaki was ordering a Mai Tai—he'd always had a thing for fruity drinks and had a notorious sweet tooth. Hiroki had seen him enjoy sugary cocktails countless times, but it was rare to see Nowaki order one so casually in front of Akihiko.

For some reason, Hiroki had always noticed a slight change in Nowaki's behaviour whenever they spent time with Akihiko. It was subtle, but Nowaki seemed to feel like he needed to match Akihiko's polished, refined demeanour. Hiroki had told him repeatedly not to bother, that he liked – no loved - Nowaki for who he was—warm, genuine, with none of Akihiko's cold aloofness. The last thing Hiroki wanted was for Nowaki to turn into some bad Akihiko clone, but he could tell Nowaki had always felt that pressure.

And yet, tonight felt different. Nowaki was effortlessly navigating the evening, letting himself enjoy the moment without trying to measure up to anyone's standards. Ordering that sweet Mai Tai in front of Akihiko—of all people—was proof of that. Hiroki couldn't help but feel slightly thrown off by how confidently Nowaki was acting, how he was keeping everything light and playful, yet still attuned to Hiroki's needs.

As Hiroki processed the moment, Nowaki's hand squeezed his under the table again, and he couldn't help but feel a quiet surge of pride for his boyfriend. This was the Nowaki he loved—the one who didn't feel the need to change for anyone.

The waiter bowed slightly and retreated to place the order, leaving the group alone in their intimate little bubble. The room felt a little warmer now, the atmosphere lighter. Even if this wasn't the BBQ Hiroki had wanted, it suddenly didn't seem so bad. Especially with Nowaki by his side, weaving through the evening with such subtle grace that Hiroki could only sit back and appreciate it.

AN: Was that as awkward as you were expecting? Hiroki, Nowaki, Akihiko and Misaki all sat around the same table for dinner!

I've really enjoyed writing this dynamic, it's been a fun challenge! A sulking Hiroki, a calming Nowaki, an awkward Misaki and a scheming Akihiko. I hope you like it as much as me. As always, feedback is always welcome.
Keep your eyes peeled for the next chapter, just how will this night unfold?

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