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Yuma was having so much fun that night.
He was laughing hard, smiling a lot, and showing his precious teeth.
He was having a few drinks, but not enough to become drunk. Limits. He just needed to be conscious to not slip that information away and ruin his enjoyment.
It was boys night, so all of his friends — Nicholas, Jo, Harua, and Maki — were there. As well as some of Taki's close friends — Kei, Fuma, and Euijoo — whom he just met briefly. Yuma knew they were wonderful people to be around, even if in the beginning he chose not to admit it.
They were Taki’s friends, of course they were good people to be around. Even if it wasn't Yuma’s first boys night with them, they were still Taki's family, and if something went wrong, they would be there for him — and only him. He trusted Taki a lot, and seeing him being friendly teased by the group was also fun. Because, deep down, it was a way for that group of friends to show their love for him.
Yuma and Taki were hanging out for two months. They were also hooking up some days during those two months. Two lovely months for Yuma, as Taki was always adorable in his own way. However, they decided to not tell their friends yet. Maybe in some weeks, maybe only when they decide to date for real. Who knows?
For the couple, the suspense was interesting, thrilling even. And their friends' lack of involvement allowed them to better comprehend their own relationship.
For Taki, it was very difficult to hide anything from his friends, especially from his older brother, who always asked who he was hanging out with. On the other hand, knowing something that other people aren’t aware of was totally hilarious for Yuma, his ultimate entertainment.
Nakakita Yuma and Takayama Riki aren’t the reasons why this group were having so much fun together. Yuma was friends with Nicholas, who was dating Euijoo, who knew Kei, who was Taki’s oldest brother. A real mess.
Nicholas and Euijoo had just been officially dating for a few months. Everyone was having a boys' night because of them, the Nicojoo's were the link: everyone was Nicojoo's friends. For Yuma, it makes things funnier. He smiled again just from thinking about it.
“Taki, come help me bring the pizzas downstairs!” Koga Yudai, Kei, called him in the middle of a messy game because the dinner had arrived.
They were all at the brothers' apartment, gaming and talking about any subject they cared about. When the dinner arrived, they all agreed to stop the card game to just chat a bit.
Nicholas started. “Do you guys realize that Taki is a bit… weird, maybe?” He had a confused expression on his face. It wasn’t exactly the word he wanted to use.
“Weird?” Maki, Maus Riki, retorted the question. “What do you mean by that? He is always weird.”
“He is actually the weirdest guy I know.” Harua said, helping Euijoo and Fuma to put the kitchen utensils on the table.
For some reason, it made Jo burst into laughter with Yuma. The boy tried his best to not look at his friend Asakura Jo in search of the answer to why he laughed too, because for Yuma, it was obvious. Again, seeing them friendly teasing Taki was so amusing to him. However, Jo probably just thought it was a funny phrase coming from the straightforward Shigeta Harua.
“Guys, don’t call him this.” Euijoo interfered. He tried to sound angry but obviously failed. Nicholas whispered some compliment to him that made his cheeks instantly turn red. “He is just being a cute boy, adorable.”
Yuma agreed in his mind, covering his face with his blouse sleeve, stifling a smile, and hiding his slightly pink cheeks.
“No, guys, I mean…” Nico tried to correct himself, with a serious expression on his face. “He is acting really weird. A different kind of weird. As if he is…”
“... Hiding something from us?” Fuma completed the sentence, naturally. Coming from someone who had known the boy for so many years, the assumption became even stronger and somehow now made more sense in the other guys' minds.
“Yeah…” Nicholas thanked him with his right thumb up. “And what makes it weirder is he’s also hiding it from Kei. Whatever it is...” He was still so confused.
“Whatever it is…” Yuma automatically repeated out loud, making everyone look at him. Nicholas raised an eyebrow, not expecting that. Maki also looked at him a little suspicious of the sentence, at least in Yuma’s mind. “Whatever you guys think of it, I mean…” He corrected himself.
The boy put so much effort into making his voice firm. He just needed to think of anything, faster, to shift focus away from himself and refocus the conversation solely on Taki’s weirdness. Otherwise, the fun would be over and the situation would become dangerous. “Anyone have a guess…?” He forced himself to give a slight smile.
“Maybe he's preparing a surprise for Kei's birthday, it'll be soon.” Jo suggested innocently. Harua agreed with him, shaking his head up and down.
“I honestly don’t think so.” Fuma disagreed. “He would, at least, ask me or Euijoo for help.” He adjusted his glasses.
“Which makes more sense.” Euijoo said, adjusting a chair to make room for others at the table. All that was missing was the pizza, olive oil, ketchup, and a place to sit.
“Perhaps he is still figuring out what he will do. Has he told anyone what he will do after he graduates?” It’s Maki’s turn. “An exchange? Or is he struggling to find his true passion?” He put his hand on his chin and made a funny face.
Yuma tried too hard not to spit out the drink he had just poured the second he heard the word passion. They were getting close… It wasn't so funny anymore.
“I don’t think so…” Nicholas moved his head in disbelief. “I also don't think it is something too complicated, like Maki said. It doesn't seem like something that Taki would do.” He said, relying on what Euijoo had told him about Taki. “Maybe the truth is that Taki is seeing someone.”
Everyone has shocked expressions on their faces, even Yuma, who thought everything was in his control. Not anymore.
Fortunately — or maybe, unfortunately — the brothers came back with the five pizza boxes in their arms, plus two giant sodas, and caught the end of the conversation.
“I’m what?”
“Taki is what?”
They said it almost at the same time.
Kei had a surprised expression on his face while his younger brother was desperately trying not to send Yuma some S.O.S. signal or not to show that Nico was correct. Taki knew it was a dumb thought, because Kei knew him better than any person in this world, and now he could tell that his brother was hiding something from him.
In the middle of this mess, Euijoo and Fuma helped the brothers with the food. Taki was trying to sigh deeply to deceive the curious stares on his face. He smiled softly, playing dumb.
"How did you come to this conclusion?” Taki giggled, showing a half-hearted smile. “Guys, I deeply appreciate this guess, but I can't even flirt properly…” He scratched his head and shook his hair with his right hand, although he knew that these small actions were enough for Kei, or even Fuma, to realize that he was trying to change the subject or omit something. “I'm a total mess. Who would fall for my silly side?”
I would. I fell. Yuma thought, pretending not to be noticed while laughing in Jo's company again. He was very grateful that Jo was having so much fun with the situation, and it helped to disguise the fact that at least it had nothing to do with him. Even if it had.
Kei looked at his brother with a suspicious look but simply said, "OK then, let's eat. Everyone, let’s sit around the table now." Taki knew his brother already noticed.
However, his friends will never change the topic. At least Nicholas, Harua, and Maki were so interested in finding it out, regardless of their methods.
“I actually would, Taki.” Harua said, walking to the table and giving Taki a perfect wink. “You’re cute in your own way.”
Incredulous at what Harua had said, Maki stared at him in shock. It was hard to believe that this was the same person who had called Taki the weirdest guy he knew. Harua understood the judgment and quickly completed it. “Even though it’s a bit weird, you know. In a good way. In a Taki way.”
Taki giggled nervously. He was about to blurt their long-awaited answer out… He just wasn't good at hiding things. Everything was fine until someone brought it up. Although he wanted to glare at Yuma, Taki controlled himself as much as he could. It was as if he were alone in this losing battle.
Euijoo and Fuma had cut the pizzas into nine similar slices and placed three of the five boxes on the table, ready to attack. Taki could breathe a sigh of relief for a few minutes while everyone focused on the food.
They were comically too hungry, but again, not enough to give up until Taki gave them a small hint.
Then, they used the silence strategy: they just stared at Taki until he said something. They were testing Taki’s patience, which was still so funny for Yuma to witness.
However, when their eyes met for a few seconds, Yuma tried to say something like, “Give them what they want, it’s okay. Just don't say who it is yet." While pulling an expression that was meant to ask Taki for a slice of pizza.
They were on opposite sides of the table. They couldn’t simply chat. Yuma hoped that they were at least on the same wavelength and that Taki got what he meant.
The silence didn’t bother Fuma, Jo, and Harua at all. Kei was immersed in thoughts, staring at a fixed point on the table while chewing a pepperoni slice. Nicholas and Maki were chewing, making noise on purpose to annoy Taki. They were staring at Taki. Euijoo was starting to feel embarrassed by the situation, looking at each of his friends one by one, smiling, and showing his cheeks. He wanted to say something to break the silence and, somehow, get his friend out of trouble.
However, Taki couldn't take it anymore.
“Okay.” He finally said. Everyone immediately stared at him. He just needed to avoid his brother’s face. “You guys are right… I’m seeing someone.”
Relief for some, shock for others, and curiosity for all.
Yuma was also curious. Curious about how Taki would fare in this next stage of the interrogation. However, he felt awful when he looked at Kei because a part of that sad expression was his fault, which he would not reveal for the time being.
“I’m sorry for not telling you before.” The boy dramatically stood up and bowed to everyone multiple times. “I’m sorry, especially to you, Yudai.” Calling his older brother by his governmental name showed how truly he wanted to sound. “I know I shouldn't hide this from you, but it was a choice we both made.” Taki emphasized in his voice how the decision was not solely his. “We're still in the testing phase. I hope you guys understand.” He also tried not to stare at Yuma every time he used the pronoun “we.” “We just didn't want to announce something we weren't sure about.”
Taki sat down and took a slice of pizza.
“We…” Kei whispered.
Fuma nudged Kei, staring at him with both eyebrows raised, meaning that it wasn't the time to overreact. They were in a family moment. It was a time of welcome. Kei was just too shocked with the information that his little brother was growing and maturing.
However, to Taki's misfortune, the questions were just starting.
“How long has it been?” Nicholas was the first. He wanted to know if the information matched when he first noticed the strange pattern of behavior.
Taki stared at Yuma for a few seconds, seeking approval. The part about making decisions together was very real. Yuma raised his eyebrows: Taki could say whatever he wanted. Then, he looked at Nico and answered, "One month and a half."
“Gender?” Now it was Harua.
“It’s a boy.” He giggled because the question in his mind sounded like he was pregnant, and Harua asked about the kid’s gender.
“Do we know him?” Maki asked, without looking at his friend.
“Yes…” Taki answered, but seeing that his friends were opening their mouths to ask who it would be, he quickly completed it. “And I won't say who he is.” He was a bit angry now. “Stop asking. I've already said too much.”
Fuma shook Taki’s hair. “Thanks for telling us.” That made the boy feel more at ease, but the expression on his brother's face still worried him.
(...)
Taki was grateful when Euijoo changed the subject. Taki was also grateful when they finally left.
Don’t judge him, it was a terrible day for him because he felt awful. And, even if it wasn’t a pleasant feeling for anyone, for Taki it was even worse, because it felt as if he betrayed Kei’s trust forever.
Maybe he was being just too dramatic…
However, for him, it also was a difficult thing. Hiding something so important from his friends — the ones he trusts the most — was really difficult, but as he justified, he and Yuma both decided it was best for their relationship.
Even if Taki thought he was doing great for the sake of their relationship, he still knew that his brother was disappointed in him. As if an arrow had pierced his heart. Or, at least, that’s what he believed.
“I knew you would react like this. I’m sorry again, but I don’t think I did something wrong.”
Taki sat down on their couch, beside his brother. He put his head on Kei's shoulder in order to demonstrate his true love, but the truth was he was too afraid to look at his brother’s eyes. “The original plan was for you to be the first person to know about it, by the way. But, you know… Nothing went according to plan. Still, you’ll be the first to know once we officially start dating. I promise, Kei, he agrees 100% with me.”
Taki was saying all of it in a serious tone, the most serious Yudai had ever heard — which surprised him greatly for the second time that day.
“This is really new to me, Kei, I’m taking it slow. We’re taking it slow, actually.” Now he was hugging his brother's arm, like a koala joey with its mother.
Yudai wasn't exactly angry. He was just a bit upset because he thought the situation would be different. However, he made some effort to not show this emotion in his speech. “I already know who he is.” The affirmation made Taki murmur something. “You two can't fool me, and he was being too quiet for his normal behavior. It was obvious.”
Taki giggled.
“And I know you already know who he is.” Taki said, now reaching his brother's face to look directly in his eyes. “Just don’t tell anyone.” He pleaded with his eyes closed. “Not until we date for real. We discussed a lot to not ruin it.”
Kei didn't know what to say. Then, Taki continued. "I guess we're already taking it seriously, but we're also scared to name our relationship."
They stayed in silence for a few minutes. Just looking at the clock, seeing the seconds passing by.
“Are you happy?” The older brother finally asked.
"Yes. In fact, it's much better than I thought it would be. I never thought I'd be good at this. Being in a relationship. Taking care of another person, in a different way than only as a friend.” A big smile appeared on Taki's face. “Also Keeeeei, he thinks I’m adorable. He likes to kiss me a lot.”
“Okay. Okay. Taki. You don't need to be too detailed.” Kei sighed. "If you're happy, I'm fine with that."
He hugged the younger one.
“Also thank Fuma for being my advisor. He gave me help on how to handle it. He said I’m just too shocked that you are growing up faster than I imagined. I'm sorry for seeming angry or… I don’t know, disappointed. I was just… scared.”
“It's fine, Kei.” Taki smiled again. “Growing up as fast as I'm doing is also scaring me.”
They laughed at each other and ended the night watching some random comedy movie on the first streaming service they found.
(...)
“I'm sorry for not saying anything yesterday.”
Yuma welcomed Taki into his small apartment. It was a studio, in a good location and not far from Taki’s place. Yuma pulled Taki inside with a warm hug, smelling and giving some soft kisses on Taki’s naked neck, still standing right behind the door.
Taki giggled and started tickling Yuma’s belly to make him stop for a moment. It's not as if Taki hated physical contact; it's quite the opposite. He just wanted to talk and update Yuma that now Kei knows about them. Most importantly, Taki wanted to calm down Yuma’s silent nervousness. In Taki’s mind, Yuma was probably feeling that he was the worst partner ever, someone who could not protect the other in a tough situation in favor of a heavy promise.
Yuma moved away and pointed to a big cake on his small table.
“I bought it this morning.” He smiled and showed all of his adorable teeth. Which made Taki smile too. “But…” Yuma walked to his small sofa and grabbed something resembling a bouquet, all wrapped in plastic. “The most important thing is…” He walked back, hiding it behind his back. “...This!”
It was a bouquet, a special one, but Yuma made it himself from start to finish. A random idea: a wasabi paste bouquet, because Taki’s favorite thing in the world is wasabi.
“When did you buy these pastes??? It’s a lot… Yuma-kun…” The suffix was suddenly used because Taki was speaking softly, so grateful for the gift. Like a joke. He hadn't used it in a long time, although he sometimes did so unconsciously out of habit and because he was the younger of the two.
“Let me take a photo and send it to Kei, he’ll think you are the best brother-in-law in the world, even though we aren’t exactly dating yet, you know…” The boy giggled, amused by the situation.
“Oh.” Obviously it surprised Yuma. “He knows?”
“Of course he knows… He’s Koga Yudai, he knows everything. And he told me yesterday,” he cleared his throat to imitate his brother's tone, “you two can't fool me, and you were too quiet for your normal behavior. It was obvious.”
“So… Is everything fine between you two? Kei-hyung seemed so terrible when I left. Even though Fuma-san said that everything is going to be okay and I didn’t need to worry about it… I felt like I ruined your relationship.”
“Yeah.”
“Yeah, for what? “Did I ruin your relationship with your dear brother?” Yuma still seemed stunned, without a clear answer.
“Of course not, Yuma…” Taki kissed Yuma’s cheeks. Two kisses per cheek. “I mean, we are totally fine. Fuma-hyung gave him some advice after you left, and it probably was when I went to the bathroom because I didn’t hear anything…”
“So… Fuma-kun also knows about us?”
“I think so… He gave Kei’s advice and told you to not worry. He’s a genius, and we need to thank him for helping us. You are better than me with gifts, think about some Pokémon cards he might want. It will be the perfect gift.”
They stared at each other for a few seconds. Just admiring each other’s faces. Each detail. A cute moment before they burst into laughter for no reason, they were just having fun. They were in their own world.
“Taki, Taki.” Yuma said when he was trying to stop laughing and went back to the serious conversation. When he finally stopped laughing, Taki stopped too. “I’m sorry for yesterday. You know… Letting the conversation get to the point where they were talking about your love life and not having the courage to break our agreement and to defend you or at least tell them to stop.” He seemed a little anxious as he spoke without pausing. “I only laughed. I’m sorry. Any partner would have been better than me.”
Yuma found it very hard to say sorry because he never felt like he was being 100% honest, even though he was. He grew up knowing the best way to say sorry is through his acts. However, at this exact moment he was trying his best to sound sincere and to maintain eye contact without laughing.
“But you did great.” Yuma continued. “You sound like a grown-up adult when you asked them to stop.” He mimicked Taki’s mannerisms, making him giggle a bit. “I’m very proud of you, even though I did nothing to help and I think I should…”
As Yuma spoke the words of the last sentence, he looked at the floor with a certain shame on his face. His cheeks were visibly flushed, and the strands of his bangs were hiding his catlike eyes. At that time, he valued the promise they made beforehand far more than anything else.
Instead of consoling him with mere words, Taki chose a more delightful and tender option: a soft kiss on Yuma’s lips. He gently grabbed the other boy’s face when he was looking at the floor, distracted, and sealed their lips. Naturally, Taki kissed Yuma with a gentle smile on his lips, thinking about how handsome the boy he loves is, even when he is simply apologizing and feeling ashamed about his acts. What really mattered was that Yuma was telling the truth.
When they stopped kissing, Taki played with Yuma’s bangs and told him, “It’s totally fine. You only valued our promise, and you helped me a bit during the questionnaire with your own two adorable eyes.” He kissed Yuma’s eyelids. “Those guys are just too curious and love to make fun of me. Everything is fine, okay? I promised.”
He waited until Yuma realized that he needed to respond with another "okay." This was necessary for Taki to confirm that they were on the same page. He didn't want Yuma to keep another worry to himself.
When he responded, Taki murmured "good boy" and kissed him deeply on the lips. As soon as they ran out of breath, Taki took advantage of the opening to pull him up and sit around the small table. He ran his finger through the white frosting on the cake and smeared it on the other boy's nose. "Let's eat! You could try some wasabi on the cake today, couldn't you?"
Inevitably, Yuma grimaced, thinking that the combination wasn't good. Ignoring the frosting on his nose, he cut the cake and opened a wasabi paste for Taki.
Seeing Taki so happy with the weird combination made Yuma smile and play with his hair.
“Taki… I think I wanna date you.”