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Seventeen
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2024-10-29 19:42:56“How is your project coming along?” Hiro-san asked after we had been doing our own bits for dinner for more than ten minues without really conversing.
“It’s in the final stages.” I replied. “Probably just a couple more working days.”
“Your company must love a diligent worker like you.”
“So much that they don’t want me to be away even on a Sunday.” I rolled my eyes.
“You’re working tomorrow?”
“I would have had to had I not pulled the previous few late-nighters. I don’t have to go tomorrow.”
“That’s good. Man, I have forgotten what it’s like to live like that!”
“Fancy being a freelance consultant and designer, huh?”
“Well, yes.” He smirked. He was clearly proud of it too.
“I don’t think I am enterprising enough to get to-” I began saying but stopped when I heard the front door open. Simmering the flame, I left the kitchen immediately. Surely enough, Hikaru-nii had come in. And along with him came the smell o
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Home Eighteen
I woke up with my alarm. After switching it off, when I sat up, I felt the throbbing pain in my head. I had had way too much to drink the previous night. Thankfully, it was a Sunday. “Good morning.” A voice said from beside me on the bed. I froze. Hiro-san? I turned to see him smiling at me from where he lay beside me. I had a headache to begin with. And now, to see him- bed-head and all – right beside me as soon as I woke up… “Why are you here? No. Wait. Here-” I looked around. I was in Aki-chan’s room. “I… Hah?" What on earth was going on? “You don’t remember anything. Of course.” He exhaled heavily, stretched a bit and sat up. “You asked me to stay the night. I stayed with you till you sept and then came to Aki-chan’s room but you followed me here saying that you did not want to sleep alone.” I DID WHAT?! Hiro-san laughed on seeing my terror-stricken face. I felt the blood rush to my head. I couldn’t possibly
Home Nineteen
Kaori-nee’s mother had sent a few pictures to me to show that Aki-chan was getting along with her cousins. She had always been close to them and, hence, it was not a surprise. However, she also did admit that Aki-chan did not sleep too well and that there were occasions when she would cry. After having been abandoned and sent away by her own parents like that, it was definitely not going to be easy for her. And I felt responsible for it too. I had called Kaori-nee’s mother and asked to talk to Aki-chan. She came on call, said that she was doing fine and that she wanted to play and ran off again. She could spare me- her Kake-jii- less than a minute. It was clear that she was upset with me for not trying to keep her with us. Her response made me feel incredibly guilty. The most that I could do to make up for it was to pay her a visit. Given my work and that I did not want to leave Hikaru-nii, it was difficult to find the time needed to visit her three hou
Home Twenty
Hikaru-nii’s room’s door was open and we could see him lying on the bed, eyes closed. The alcohol must have already put him to sleep. There were empty bottles strewn all over the dining table and living room. Seeing that, I felt compelled to come home earlier than I did off-late. My brother was- no- IS not a drunkard. I will not allow him to be. For the sake of his daughter, at least, I will not allow him to do this to himself. The sight had given both me and Hiro-san pause but we spoke not a word about it. We just quietly went about clearing the bottles. Hiro-san addressed me only after we had finished clearing up. “Kakeru, have you eaten yet?” “I’m not really hungry. I ate at office in the evening.” I replied. That was a lie but I really had no appetite. “I’m hungry though.” “I’ll make you something.” I offered. “I’ll allow that only if you eat too.” He shook his head. Is that how you're going to do this? “I’m not hun
Home Twenty-One
“Kuronomiya, are you leaving?” Yamato-san stopped me just as I had reached the elevator. “Yes. I’m done for today.” I replied. “I see. Futaba-chan just completed a really big project today. She’s so proud of it that she has agreed to treat all of us. Come along.” He said enthusiastically and threw an arm over my shoulders. “I-Is that so? That’s great but… today isn’t possible.” I smiled wryly. I really did not want to be away from home any later than I needed to be. “Sorry.” “Hm? You’re really just going home?” “Yes.” “Heh… You…” He became a little serious. “Are you okay? You haven’t been hanging out with us and you aren’t as hyper about work as you used to be. You look tired too. I mean… I know about the accident and all that but… are things not okay at home?” People at work were starting to notice. “It’s okay. I just… want to be with my brother.” Yamato-san smiled and patted me on my back. “You’re a good little brothe
Home Twenty-Two
I had completely lost track of the time as I waited out there in the corridor. Eventually, I heard approaching footsteps and voices. I opened my eyes and looked down the hallway. One of the voices that I was hearing was most definitely Hiro-san’s. I could never mistake that. However, it was only when the two people rounded the corner and came into view that I became certain about the other voice. A woman. “Kakeru?” Hiro-san stopped in his tracks, the smile that he had had on his face till then disappearing. He had an arm around the rather elitely-dressed woman’s waist. She too had been coyly smiling up till then. It was so obvious what was happening that I sighed. So, this was why you weren’t at home. I should have known what to expect. I stood up and dusted myself off. “I should probably have called before coming. My bad. I’ll just come back later.” I began walking towards them to head out the way that they had come in. “No, Kakeru.”
Home Twenty-Three
Hiro-san had left a change of clothes along with an unopened pack of underwear on the bed by the time I had stepped out of the bathroom with just a towel wrapped around my waist. His clothes were indeed a little big on me but it would have to do. I could smell the instant ramen when I left the bedroom. I remembered what it was like to have Kaori-nee around. I remembered what home used to feel like. “Oh? You’re out?” He asked as he brought in the pot of instant ramen. … Home. “Mm.” “Are you feeling better?” Thanks to you. “Yes.” I took a seat at the table that had already been set. “Don’t you want to freshen up before eating?” “No. I’ll take a shower later.” He sat down in the chair opposite me. “I wish I had something more to give you. I have to go shopping to stock up on things.” You’re just presuming that I would come by again? “This is enough.” “It will have to do for now anyway.” He replied.
Home Twenty-Four
“Good morning.” Hiro-san smiled at me when I entered the living room. “I was just going to wake you up. Your coffee is ready.” I stared at him. Last night, thanks to this guy, I had not wanted to go to sleep. This morning, thanks to this same guy, I wished that I had not woken up. This isn’t good. This isn’t good at all. “Good morning...” I mumbled and went over to the coffee table where he had set down two mugs of coffee just then. He had proceeded to sit on the two-seater couch. He raised an eyebrow in what looked like amusement when I took my mug and went to sit on the single-seater adjacent to the one he was sitting on despite there being space beside him but made no comment on it. “You have work, don’t you?” “Yes. I’ll leave after coffee.” “Mm.” He picked up his mug. “Stay for breakfast.” “I’ll get late.” I shook my head. “We can have a really quick breakfast.” “I can’t. I have to go.” I can
Home Twenty-Five
‘I will not be able to make it. I’m still hung up with work.’ I read the text, put my phone away and looked towards Hikaru-nii’s room. He had just finished his shower and stepped out. I texted Hiro-san back. I know that he hadn't quite asked about it but I reported it to him anyway. ‘He’s home and well.’ It took a minute for me to receive a reply. ‘Did he say anything?’ ‘No.’ ‘Did you talk to him?’ ‘No.’ ‘Shouldn’t you?’ I should, shouldn’t I? “Kakeru, have you eaten?” Hikaru-nii came out of his room and went over to the kitchen counter on which I had left the food. “No. Not yet.” I replied and got up from the couch. “Let’s eat together.” “Mm.” He grabbed a plate off the shelves and began serving himself. I sighed and followed him to the dining table after getting my own food. I really should talk to him about it. “What about Hiromitsu?” He asked as he began eating without e
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Home Fifty-Two
“Kuronomiya-kun, you’re leaving already?” Yamato-kun asked when I got up from my desk after packing up. “Yes. I have somewhere to go.” I replied and said goodbye to Shirokawa-san as well who was sitting next to my desk. “Thank you for your good work.” “Likewise.” They called back. I dropped by Hamada-san’s cabin and informed him of my progress on the new project that I had been assigned to. He was rather pleased with my progress too. Conscience clear, I headed out into the 06:00 pm streets of Tokyo. I checked my phone out of habit. There were no calls or texts from my brother. There was, however, a text message from my boyfriend. ‘Come fast.’ ‘Half an hour.’ I replied and po
Home Fifty-One
“Where’s Hiro?” Hikaru-nii’s voice came from behind me as I was attending to the egg that I was frying. I turned to the doorway to find my brother leaning against the doorframe, his hands folded over his chest. He had been sleeping when I had gone to check on him earlier. So, I had started preparations for breakfast while trying to think of the various possible scenarios I would have to make my through once he woke up. “Not here… now.” I responded rather cautiously. “He hadn’t stayed?” He frowned. “I thought I had told him that he could.” “You… remember all that?” I had hoped that we could ease into this conversation but this being brought up right off the bat made me a little anxious. “I was a lot more sober by the time you had gotten home. I don’t remember sending
Home Fifty
“You’re still not done?” I asked as I sat on the floor next to Hiro-san at the coffee table after my bath. “Maybe… one hour more?” “That’s okay.” I leaned against his arm. “I’ll wait.” “If you’re sleepy, please go to sleep.” “I can’t sleep properly without you, Hiro-san.” A lie… Maybe. “What is with that?” He laughed and patted my head. “Then, you can wait.” I nodded. I was planning on waiting anyway. I had left my phone on the coffee table next to his laptop. When I began looking around, I saw that the notification light was blinking. I reached out to take it. “Had someone called?” “No. I think you had a message though.” Hiro-san replied. “I did not check.” It definitel was a message and it had surprised me enough to make me sit straight up on reading it. “It’s from Hikaru-nii.” “Hikaru?” Hiro-san stopped what he was doing and looked at my phone as I opened the message. There were just two words on the
Home Forty-Nine
I was the first one to wake up the next morning. However, I could not even bring myself to move from the position that I was in. For one, Hiro-san was still holding on to me closely. Secondly, my back hurt a bit. Moreover, I did not exactly want to move. The clock on the bedside table revealed that it was a little past 10:00 am. I had managed to somehow apply for leave on my phone last night before falling asleep. Considering that I had been wide awake before it, it was incredible how much that sex had taken out of me- actually, taken out of Hiro-san and I. Once was far from enough for the both of us and by the time we settled into each other’s arms after that, we barely had enough energy left to move. I looked up at his sleeping face. It was no wonder that he was so popular. Anyone would want to see a face like that as soon as they woke up. Ah… Now I wanted to kiss him. It was past 10:00 am anyway. He had slept enough. I moved his arm
Home Forty-Eight
He held my gaze and slowly smiled. “You seem sure enough about this.” Sliding one hand down my right arm, he grasped my hand. “Let’s go back to bed though.” Saying that much and indulging in a soft kiss, he led me back to the bedroom. He came to a stop next to the bed, turned to face me and took both my hands in his. I gave him a questioning look. “You don’t have to treat me like one of your women.” “What? This?” He raised our hands to ask. “It’s not that I am trying to be really gentle or anything. It’s… Despite all my experience and how eager I am now,” he placed my hands on his chest and smiled sheepishly. “I feel like such a boy.” His heart was pounding against my palms. I let go of his hands and wrapped my arms around his neck. “When was the last time that you dated someone for real?” “Towards the beginning of college. Why are you asking me that now?” I shrugged. “Because I wanted to know.” Then I kissed him. “Because this is… amu
Home Forty-Seven
I opened my eyes fast because it was still too dark for me to see anything. I was breathing heavily and my eyes felt moist. There was a throbbing heaviness in my chest and my entire body felt numb. I had had a dream and it was painful enough to jolt me awake, almost crying, but I couldn’t even remember what it was about. It was rare for me to dream in the first place and, hence, a dream that was capable of leaving me in a wreck like that was even rarer. It made me close my eyes and try to recollect it again but all I could remember were the emotions and that I was not alone. Maybe… it was a good thing that I couldn’t remember it. I turned on my side and picked my phone up from the bedside table. The time was 01:57 am. I had barely just fallen asleep at 12:30 am too… I turned back and looked at Hiro-san. I was still lying on his arm but he had turned onto his back, his other arm lying over his stomach. He hadn't been awoken by my movement
Home Forty-Six
On unlocking the door, Hiro-san let me in first. He followed me in after locking the door and proceeded straight to the kitchen. "I'll get you something warm to drink. Go change or freshen up if you want to.” I could at least change into something warmer. “Mm. I’ll… be out on the balcony after that.” “Kakeru, it’s cold out on the balcony too.” He said apprehensively. “I’ll take a blanket with me.” I said and went into the bedroom. He had offered no further protest, so I changed into warmer home-wear, wrapped a blanket around me and headed out onto the balcony. It was a little cold but I felt a lot better after changing and wrapping myself up like that. With my back to the wall, I sat on the floor and brought my knees up to my chest, covering myself up with the blanket and looking out at the night. My eyelids felt heavy. It was probably because of all that crying from earlier. “Why are you sitting on the floor?” Hiro-san asked on findin
Home Forty-Five
What seemed like an entire lifetime to me was probably just an hour or so on the clock. That was all the time it took for Hiro-san to get there. I had already seen that shocked look on his face two times before. It was easier for me to offer up a smile the third time. Nevertheless, he was by my side in an instant- his eyebrows scrunched up in a way that told me that I was the only one finding this pattern of meeting strangely amusing. “Kakeru, what are you doing out here?” He crouched before me and took my face in his palms. The worry I saw on his face just then- I wished that I was seeing it on my brother’s. “Meeting out in the hallway like this is really becoming our thing, isn’t it?” I chuckled. “It shouldn’t be though. What happened?” He looked me up and down. “Where are your shoes?” He found them soon after asking, then looked at me seriously. “Hikaru?” I looked towards the door. “I don’t think he’ll want to see you now.” “Huh?” “
Home Forty-Four
Did I have to actually say it out anymore? It seemed to me as though he had already figured it out. I could not bring myself to admit it. Confronted like that, I could not bring myself to deny it either.I had thought that it would be easier to tell my brother about us. I had not told him till then because he was still mourning Kaori-nee and I was trying to be considerate. I had thought that he would understand.“Kakeru, answer me.”What for? And, then what?“Kakeru!”“We’re dating.” I finally said it.“What?” He lowered his voice, his eyes pinning me to every word that I spoke.“I-I said that we’re dating.” I spoke deliberately and clearly. “Hiro-san is my lover.”He stared at me, then nodded. “Lover.”I swallowed nervously. “Yes.”“Since when?”“Almost two months now.”
