「CHAPTER 8」
“Uwa......”
It was the day of the party and Yoshino was feeling overwhelmed as he stood in
the great hall of the hotel, where the occasion was taking place, long after the party had
started.
What the heck? Seriously? Practically all the people here are manga artists......
The place was packed with people talking unanimously with each other. The ratio
of men and women was about half and half at this party where artists from the shounen
manga department and the shoujo manga department gathered; but it seemed like the
women, all dressed up in flashy attire, were particularly lively. As Yoshino nervously
stood by the entrance, Yanase came up to him bearing drinks.
“Here. There's no alcohol in it, okay?”
“Thank you. Where am I supposed to be at......?”
“You should be where all the shounen manga artists are meeting right now. There
are many men over there so wear your name tag or no one will know who you are.”
“Ri- right.”
Yanase escorted Yoshino to the meeting place like a pro.
“Yuu, have you ever been to a place like this before?”
“Yeah, I’ve been to these types of places before with my seinen magazine author
from another company. It wasn't this huge, though. Maruwaka sure is a popular
publishing company. Oh, do you want something to eat, Chiaki? I'll get you something.”
“Get whatever you think tastes good then.”
“Okay.”
As Yoshino stood by an empty table, waiting for Yuu, Hatori spotted him and
came over.
“There you are.”
“Geh! Tori.”
Lately he had realized the fact that he couldn't look Hatori straight in the eyes. His
face flushed whenever their eyes met.
“What's with that attitude? Where's Yanase?”
“He went to get some food right now. Don't bother with me. I'm handling this just
fine, so scram.”
Even if it wasn’t for the awkward atmosphere, it would still have been better if he
weren't here with Hatori today. If Yoshino accompanied the editor from the Emerald
editorial department, he might be regarded as somebody who is part of the shoujo manga
department. Though nobody would probably find out his true identity, he still decided it
was better to attract as little attention to himself as possible.
Hatori furrowed his brows when Yoshino shooed him away.
“You know, I hope you at least realize that you can't treat the company like this.”
Such words from Hatori annoyed Yoshino greatly.
......What the hell do you mean by ‘treat’? To you yourself, Chiharu Yoshikawa is
more important than Chiaki Yoshino anyway.
It wouldn't have bothered him if one of his colleagues had said this, but it
bothered him whenever Hatori told him off.
While Yoshino moped around, Hatori called out to stop a group of men passing
by.
“Chief editor, do you have a minute?”
“What is it? Oh, Yoshi...no.”
The chief editor of the Emerald editorial department that Hatori had called out to
was Masamune Takano. Besides Hatori, Takano was the only person in the editorial
department who knew Yoshino's true identity. Even now, Takano must have realized
their current location and used Yoshino's real name instead of Yoshikawa. Yoshino felt a
little bit relieved to see a person he knew amidst unfamiliar faces.
“Thank you for your continued cooperation.”
“No, thank you. Thank you for going through the trouble of inviting me here
today.”
He's as handsome as always......
He didn't understand why everyone in the Emerald editorial department was so
good looking. They looked horrendous just before the deadline, or so he had heard, but
when he glimpsed them out of work, they looked as if they belonged to another division
in the company. If they said that they were models belonging exclusively to the fashion
magazine division, it would be quite believable. But even the editorial department setting
was unusual itself, since it was full of pink, frilly cute things. It seemed like people
working within Marukawa Publishing nicknamed it 'the otome department'.
“Thank you for your latest manuscript. Your series is becoming very interesting.
I'm looking forward to it personally.”
“Oh...well, thank you......”
Yoshino didn't receive compliments all that much, so he had trouble responding to
such direct praise. Takano changed the subject; perhaps realizing that he was making
Yoshino uncomfortable.
“We have a new editor in our company. I was going around and introducing him
to everyone just now.”
“Nice to meet you. My name is Ritsu Onodera.”
Onodera modestly gave Yoshino his business card. His facial features were so
perfect that Yoshino suspected he was hired because of his face. He was about the same
height as Yoshino but his face was small and the position of his hips was high. He had
the so-called vogue body type and Yoshino inadvertently observed the young man.
It IS the otome department after all......
Yoshino realized that now was not the time to be struck with admiration and gave
a quick bow of his head.
“Ah, I'm Chiharu Yoshikawa. Thank you for your continued cooperation,” he
replied with a soft voice, inaudible to their outer surroundings, as he took the business
card. An expression of surprise flashed on the young man's face, who had introduced
himself as Onodera.
Figures......
If people found out that Chiharu Yoshikawa was a man, everyone would react like
this. Then they would either try to hide their surprise or make a huge fuss by
exaggeratingly saying something like 'I thought you were a woman'. But Onodera did not
look like he was surprised much further as he bowed politely.
“I should be the one thanking you for your cooperation. I used to be in literature
so I'm still new to all of this, but it's really nice to meet you.”
Yoshino liked Onodera’s modest, naturally sincere attitude. The fact that the chief
editor was tagging along with Onodera was probably because he was in the midst of
Takano's training.
“I'm sorry but we're in a hurry so please excuse us. Feel free to stay a little while
longer.”
As Yoshino watched the two of them vanish into the crowd, he started talking to
Hatori, who was patiently standing beside him.
“They got such a young man working for them. Did he graduate recently? I felt
extremely young being around him.”
“Actually, he's 25. It seems like Onodera used to be in publishing before. I heard
he was a literary editor and was in charge of Akihiko Usami.”
“Really? That's cool.”
He had read only several books by Akihiko Usami, but all the works he had read
were subtle and deep. He also heard that Akihiko Usami always kept up his literary style
and that he was picky about his work. If one were in charge of someone like that, one
would probably be very experienced. He didn't understand why Onodera would transfer
to shoujo manga from the world-class department of publishing, but nevertheless, he
wanted the Emerald editorial department to succeed.
“He's working extra hard on manga right now since he's a newbie. Takano is
seriously putting him through hell with the training, but I hope he doesn't discourage him
in the process.”
“Eh? Is Takano that horrible?”
“He is a – ”
“Ah! Tori-poo, there you are~!”
Just when Hatori had started to say something, a group of pompous ladies
approached them. Considering their friendly behavior, they were probably authors who
drew for the same magazine as Yoshino. Yoshino quickly turned around and took a few
steps away so that the ladies wouldn't see him. Thereupon, Hatori took a moment away
from the ladies by saying 'excuse me for a minute' and came over to where Yoshino was.
“I'll be done with this soon, just wait until then. There are a few corrections with
the storyboard which I received the other day that I have to go over.”
Yoshino raised his eyebrows when Hatori whispered this to him.
“Huh? You're going to discuss the storyboard even tonight?!”
“Days like these are meant for work. Besides, it will be a nuisance if I don't do it
now. Do you realize how much time it left until the deadline?”
“Urgh......”
Yoshino was confronted with this fact and it left him speechless. He sank into
silence, unable to reply, and Hatori, thinking he had an understanding with Yoshino,
returned to where the lady authors were.
“Sorry to have kept you waiting. . .”
As Yoshino quietly gazed after Hatori, he saw how warmly he greeted the ladies.
What the hell...?
The fact that Hatori, who seldom ever smiled at Yoshino, was now so friendly
with the ladies made him sick to his stomach. He watched with mixed feelings as Hatori
got dragged away by the arm when Yanase returned with the food.
“What's wrong? You're sulking.”
“Ah, no. I'm just hungry.”
“I thought so. That's why I came with all this stuff, so eat as much as you want.”
“Yeah, definitely.”
Surely the unpleasantness he was feeling right now was because he was hungry.
Surely these feelings will diminish after his appetite was satisfied. Truly believing this,
Yoshino silently ate the food that was handed to him.
* * * *
I want to go home already......
The party was now in full swing, but Yoshino was not enjoying it as he had
predicted. He had gone to the specific room and had pretty much met all the people
working on the drama, so it was safe to say that he had fulfilled his duty. He would go
home right away if he could, but Hatori had told him to wait, so now he had nothing to
do. The food was delicious, but he had to eat standing up since there was nowhere to sit,
so he couldn't eat well. And now Yanase was talking to a lot of shounen manga authors,
so even when he tried to talk to him, he got interrupted many times.
Yanase certainly did have great art skills and worked quickly, which made him
famous for being a legendary super assistant in this industry; many authors constantly
invited him, saying, 'Are you interested in signing with us?’ But no matter how important
the authors were who had asked him this, Yanase always refused the invitations.
“Say, Yuu. Why do you refuse them? You'll be more secure if you signed a
contract, right?”
An assistant's paycheck will differ depending on the author who has taken him in.
If an author charges high manuscript fees, then naturally the assistant's pay will also be
high. One could have a stable income by signing a contract with a popular shounen
manga author, for example.
“Chiaki, you dummy. I wouldn't be able to come to your place if I signed with
someone else.”
“Thanks for that...”
“Can I sign with you, Chiaki?”
“I'm flattered, but that won't work out. Since our magazine is monthly.”
“Yeah. That's why I'm fine with being free-lance.”
Yanase ended the conversation with just that, but Yoshino was not convinced.
Is that really his only reason?
If Yanase could come to his studio, he would be able to see Hatori. That's why
Yanase was with him, right? Yoshino couldn't deny that possibility. He emptied his glass
while pondering it over.
“Ah, excuse me. I'll take that one please.”
Yoshino took a fresh drink from the waiter passing by and then Yanase muttered:
“Oh, there's Hatori.”
“Huh?”
He glanced over in the direction Yanase spoke and saw Hatori, over by the table
where the desserts were, with a different lady than before sticking close to him. She was a
beautiful woman, older than Yoshino, in a low cut dress that showed off her cleavage. It
looked like she was flirting as she stroked Hatori's arm with her fancy fingernails. Hatori
was holding a plate with several cakes; perhaps he had been talked into taking the dessert.
He has been surrounded by women this whole time. He keeps saying 'it's work, it's
work', but here he is ogling women.
“Ah, if I'm not mistaken that's Erika Ichinose.”
“Hmph, I see.”
Erika Ichinose was an author serialized in the same magazine as Yoshino and
made her debut when he was still a high school student, so she fell into the veteran
category. In the past, her works were often turned into dramas that ran on prime-time
television. Although Yoshino was struck with admiration at how well informed Yanase
was, he was puzzled.
But Tori isn't in charge of her.
If he was, they would be discussing the release of her comic or something.
“Hey, if he's not in charge of her, why is she so close to Tori? Who is in charge of
her?”
“How should I know? But I hear she's after him.”
“After him?”
“She takes him out to dinner often. Then gets him to walk her home and calls him
out to hotel bars, saying she has some things to discuss.”
“Re- really......?”
For some reason, he felt even gloomier. Pretending to ignore how unhappy he
was, Yoshino calmly continued the conversation.
“You know, I suspected that. But where did you hear such a rumor?”
“From other assistants?”
“Oh, yeah.”
Yanase's duty was to go from one author's place to another, so he was full of
handy information.
“She might not be as popular as you are now, Chiaki, but she was a big time
author once, as you know, and had many fans since she changed the magazines she drew
for. You can't be hard on her just because she had many editors. That's part of hospitality,
isn't it?”
“Hospitality, huh......?”
As he listened to Yanase's explanation, he started to feel terribly sick to his
stomach. He thought that he would calm down after eating, but perhaps this was a mental
thing?
“Just between you and me, I hear Hatori isn't so against the idea, though. He
finally gave-in and started seeing her or something. Miss Ichinose is older than him, but
she is beautiful and has money. So it's not such a bad thing being a gold digger, is it?”
“What!?”
What the hell......!
What did he mean by ‘gold digger’? Yoshino felt like protesting, saying that
Hatori didn't have a disposition of giving-in like that. Yoshino forced a smile, as he
watched Hatori mingle with the author, but anger welled up inside him.
Aren't you supposed to like me!? Like hell we're dating......
He began complaining to himself, mulling over the circumstances. Were Hatori
and him really officially dating? Sure, Hatori had told him 'I love you' and they even had
sex, but Hatori had never said 'go out with me' and besides, Hatori didn't even sweet talk
him, let alone take him out on dates for all these months. Recently, Hatori had kissed him
out of the blue, but it had been far from romantic.
......I don't get it.
Nothing made sense to him when he thought about Hatori therefore he abandoned
these thoughts. When he glanced at Yanase, he saw that he was wearing a mixed
expression on his face. Then Yoshino remembered something very important.
Oh yeah......Yuu likes Tori, too......
Yanase usually did not reveal his personal feelings. One can safely say that he had
a poker face. But the only time he looked like this was when he was brooding over
something. It wasn't just Yoshino – even Yanase hated the way Hatori caused him
distress. Yoshino unconsciously muttered.
“Gah! Why is he always so popular?”
“That's sudden.”
“Ah, yeah. Tori was always so popular even back in the day.”
“He’s sweet but he doesn't look it, so this contradiction makes him attractive, I
guess?”
“Then you think so too?”
“What?”
Crap!
Yoshino blurted that out completely by accident, but the more he tried to fix it,
the more he said unnecessary things.
“Umm......you like Tori too, don’t you, Yuu......?”
“What are you talking about? There's no way I like that guy.”
“Eh? You don't?”
Yoshino automatically asked because of how extremely abhorrent Yanase's
reaction was.
“Why would you think that I like him? That's disgusting.”
Yoshino was surprised at how Yanase spat this out. Seeing as there was not a
tinge of embarrassment in his demeanor, Yanase was speaking the truth.
“Honestly......you're delusional as always. You have all these crazy ideas......”
“Aha..hahaha......”
All Yoshino could do in return for Yanase's appalled look was give him a wry
smile.
“I don't plan on listening to how you came up with this stupid assumption but
instead of thinking about unnecessary things, why don't you work out the plot of your
manga instead?”
“So- sorry.”
So I was wrong......
Yanase nudged him and Yoshino quieted down, disappointed by the fact that the
thing he was so worried about this whole time had turned out to be a mere theory.
Suddenly, he realized that he was slightly relieved that Yanase didn't like Hatori.
Hold on! What am I relieved for!?”
Didn’t this look like he was celebrating that Yanase was not his rival? While
Yoshino’s heart felt troubled, the front stage lit up and the chairman began the closing
speech.
“This banquet is in full swing but......”
After the announcer appeared on the stage, informing the end of the banquet, the
attendants gradually flooded outside, happily chatting with one another.
“It's finally over......”
Yoshino wearily leaned against a table to take some pressure off from his legs,
which were in a standing position this whole time. These few hours were torture for
Yoshino, who hardly ever moved around since he usually just sat at his desk all the time.
“Good job. You look like you didn't have much fun, though,” Yanase told him,
laughing at how fed up Yoshino looked.
“Yeah, well, I think this was a good experience, but I've had enough of it.”
The magnificent atmosphere of the party was new and all, but he did not want to
attend one like it again.
“I figured you'd say this, Chiaki. Well then, I have work in the morning
tomorrow, so I'm gonna head out.”
“Oh, then I'm leaving too.”
“Is it okay for you to leave? Don't you have a meeting with Hatori after this?”
“Oh! ......Right......”
With Yanase's reminder, Yoshino remembered that Hatori had told him to wait.
He wanted to get away from work for the day, but he couldn't let Yanase worry over him.
“Thanks for today, Yuu. Sorry I begged you to come here.”
“It's fine! Thanks to you, I ate as much as I wanted. Well then, see ya later.”
“Okay. Take care.”
Yoshino heaved a sigh for the hundredth time and watched Yanase leave.
“Haa......”
Was Hatori seriously planning on having a work meeting after this? In all
honesty, it seemed unlikely that Hatori was inclined to do any more work. Yoshino knew
that it was necessary to have the storyboard corrections done immediately, but something
surging in his chest made him feel gloomy.
I mean, didn't he say something like he was going to be done soon?
Seeing that Hatori had still not come over to Yoshino, it seemed like he would be
unable to escape the party after all. When he looked for Hatori inside the hall, he saw that
he was still confined to Erika Ichinose.
By the looks of it, he's being forced to go to the after party.
Naturally, Yoshino could not wait until then, since even the trains will be done for
the day by the time that party ends.
He concluded that it probably wouldn't be a problem if he left, but when Yoshino
picked up his coat at the check-out, Hatori came running after him.
“Did you forget our promise?”
“I didn't forget, but you look busy to me, so the meeting can wait until
tomorrow.”
Unable to make eye contact, Yoshino turned away as he put on his coat.
“What kind of selfish things are you going on about? The storyboard corrections
are our top priority. Go back there immediately and wait for me!”
“But SHE is looking for you over there.”
He pointed ahead of him to Erika Ichinose who was restlessly scanning the crowd.
She was definitely looking for Hatori, who had disappeared on her. Hatori clicked his
tongue as Yoshino left him behind and headed towards the elevator hall.
“See ya.”
“Hey! Yoshino!”
Yoshino hurriedly got on the elevator just before it closed. As expected, it seemed
that Hatori was caught by Erika Ichinose, so he had not pursued Yoshino.
* * * *
“Haa......”
He felt refreshed after coming home and taking a bath, but his mind was still
cloudy. Being a simpleton was supposed to be a redeeming feature, but it was hard to be
one this time. He couldn't get Hatori and Erika Ichinose out of his head even when he
tried. She was really beautiful and had a good figure. Yoshino felt depressed at the
reflection of his own body in the bathroom mirror since it was completely different from
her body.
Beautiful women are usually preferred over someone like me......
He felt annoyed at himself for doing nothing but sulking.
“I'm going to bed......”
Since Yoshino usually wore only a t-shirt inside his home even during the winter,
Hatori had once brought him pajamas, telling him 'you'll catch a cold like this'. Now,
Yoshino put on these pajamas and left the bathroom.
“Why are you so careless? Didn't I tell you to put on some clothes after taking a
bath?”
“Shut uuup. What are you, my mother?”
“Who would force a mother to do this? Here, I brought you pajamas so put them
on.”
“How annoying......”
“What will you do if you catch a cold after taking a bath? Every single winter you
get a stuffy nose. It's all because you dress too light.”
On that day, Hatori had brought him several pajamas in a paper bag, which looked
like he had bought them at an outlet store.
“......You seriously nag too much.”
But the only reason he could lead a normal life while living by himself was
because Hatori was always there for him. If there was nobody telling him what to do,
then his home would probably become even more of a wreck.
“Argh! Stop it already!”
He decided he wasn't going to think about Hatori anymore. Thinking that it'll be
easier for him to fall asleep if he drank some beer before going to bed, he opened the
door of the refrigerator, which stood in the kitchen, but then heard a noise at the front
door.
“No way......”
The noise was not his imagination or just the sound of the wind. The only people
who had a spare key to his apartment were Hatori and Yanase. Yoshino was in dismay
when he saw Hatori appear in the living room, looking exhausted.
“I came to discuss the storyboard.”
“Are you kidding me? We'll do it tomorrow!”
“We need to do it while we can, otherwise it's going to be like last time. Did you
already forget what happened?”
“..........”
Then I have no other choice now but to quickly get this over with and show him
the door.
He did not need to mingle with Hatori after they finish with the storyboard. In the
meantime, he decided to sort out his mixed feelings. Yoshino reluctantly obeyed Hatori
and headed towards the sofa.
Hm? What's that smell......?
Suddenly a sweet smell hit his nose. It came from Hatori. It was probably the
scent of the perfume left behind by the lady authors, who had been clinging to Hatori at
the party. An unpleasant feeling filled his chest, but he told himself to not think about
unnecessary things.
“Let's get this over with.”
“My words exactly.”
As usual, they sat side-by-side on the sofa with the storyboard spread out on the
coffee table. Hatori took off his suit jacket, hung it on the back of the sofa, and took out
the storyboard corrections. Then he began explaining the corrections in a low, smooth
voice.
“The protagonist doesn't have sufficient monologue on pages 4 through 5. There's
only so much that the readers can comprehend through facial expressions alone isn't
there? You should express these emotions not only though drawings, but with words as
well.”
“..........”
“Then there's page 15; build up the scene on the previous panel, where she starts
crying from having her feelings hurt, and bring it to a climax on page 16. You know what
you want to do, but when both your beginning and ending panels hold the same
atmosphere, it reduces the dramatic effect, you see?”
“..........”
..........I can't concentrate.
He was bothered by the smell of the perfume lingering on Hatori so he couldn't
concentrate on the explanations of the corrections. Just how long was Hatori together
with her to have her smell transfer on to him? He made up his mind to try not to think
about it, but only unpleasant fantasies kept floating into his head.
'Just between you and me, I hear Hatori isn't so against the idea, though. He
finally gave in and started seeing her or something.'
They didn't fool around at the hotel, did they?
Yanase's words sprung back into his head and bothered him further. When
Yoshino was silent, Hatori, perhaps suspicious by it, asked in a strong tone of voice.
“Hey, are you even listening?”
“......I'm listening.”
He planned on appearing calm, but irritation was evident in his voice. It looked
like Hatori misunderstood his attitude, thinking that Yoshino was unhappy about the
storyboard corrections.
“If you're unsatisfied about something, then say so beforehand. I can't have you
telling me about it afterwards.”
“......!”
Why is he so insensitive...!?
Hatori's advice was reasonable but Yoshino was angry at the way he had said it. It
wasn't that Yoshino was unsatisfied, it was just that everything he was hearing went into
one ear and out the other; but Hatori still had no right to talk to him so arrogantly. No
matter how much Yoshino called himself a person hard to upset, he wanted Hatori to
choose his words more carefully. He wouldn't have paid much thought to it if someone
else had told him this, but because these words had come out from Hatori's mouth – they
were important.
Even if I said that he was the one making me upset, he would just put me down......
Hatori's word was absolute. That's why sometimes Yoshino just did not want to
hear it. When Yoshino shut his mouth and looked down at the storyboard, frowning,
Hatori brought down the final blow.
“I'm sure that even you understand that it's horrible the way it is now. I can't
publish such a boring story with Chiharu Yoshikawa's name on it.”
“Boring......huh?”
In his heart, he had no intention of rebelling against Hatori, even though Hatori
had said more than was necessary.
Usually, he could cope with it by thinking, 'damn him!', but since he already felt
disheartened today, he couldn't bring himself to confront Hatori.
I don't care anymore......
“......All right. I'll change this panel like you said and should I add this monologue
here?”
Yoshino continued correcting the storyboard just like Hatori indicated for him to
do so. He was heedlessly moving his pen over his paper when Hatori grabbed his hand.
“What are you rushing into it for? Aren't you the one who's always saying, 'I'll be
the one to decide. You just give me the suggestions'? Think for yourself!”
“I know! I'm just really tired today so I can't think straight!!”
It was his own story, so he wanted to take it seriously, but he just couldn't
concentrate on thinking about the storyboard when images of Hatori and that woman
flickered in his mind.
“I'm tired too. But I don't whine about it like a child. Put some effort and get to
work!”
“I'm trying, but......!”
“No excuses. If you have all this time to talk with so much self-importance, why
don't you spend it on using your own head? What do you think work is for anyway?”
“Oh, isn't that a bit rich coming from the guy who reeks of perfume?!”
“......!”
Yoshino blurted out on impulse but it seemed like his words had a stronger effect
on Hatori than he had expected. At ordinary times, Yoshino would drop his relentless
preaching but now, it was unusual seeing Hatori flinch, and it got on his nerves.
“I bet you wish you had gone on a hot date with Miss Ichinose today instead of
coming here to my place, don't you? Or, did you come all the way here after you guys
had your little fun?”
“Hold on, Yoshino.”
“You're not even her editor and yet she sucks up to you. That's pretty obsessive,
wouldn't you say? She was constantly glued to you but even you were smiling, looking
like you enjoyed yourself.”
“You have it all wrong. We didn't do anything.”
“Then why do you stink of perfume?”
“We were standing close together and the smell must have rubbed off.”
“So was it THAT necessary to stand SO close together that her smell rubbed off
on you?! I hear you ‘gave-in’ and started seeing her and what not, but you're actually not
very much against it, are you?”
Now that he was all worked up, he couldn't stop the words from spilling out of his
mouth.
“Yoshino!”
Hatori's raised tone of voice made Yoshino flinch. Yoshino shut his mouth and
Hatori calmly began to question him.
“I'm going out with you, aren't I?”
“......Who knows?”
“Don't you remember that I confessed to you?”
“I remember! Of course I remember! But you didn't say anything about us going
out!”
“Isn't that obvious without me having to say it!?”
“It's not! It's impossible for me to think you're my lover when we haven't done
anything since then!”
“Yoshino......”
Hatori finally fell silent; not knowing what to do about Yoshino who was all riled
up and couldn't stop blabbing. Yoshino couldn't bear seeing Hatori like this so he looked
away.
What the hell am I saying!?
Yoshino cooled down in the silence that fell on them, but then shame slowly
welled up inside him. The way he had said this just now seemed like he felt dissatisfied
that they couldn't live like lovers.
Could it be that I'm jealous......?
That's probably why he had felt so irritated during the party. He had been
extremely discontent that other people were all over Hatori because he wanted to have
Hatori all to himself.
Yoshino's face turned red the moment he realized this. He awkwardly turned
towards the table, so that Hatori would not see the commotion building up on his face.
“..........Anyways, we have to work on the storyboard. No more unnecessary talk,
lets hurry and finish it.”
As he gripped his pen and cast his gaze down at the storyboard, Hatori remained
silent. But then Hatori's soft voice ended this silence that seemed as if it would carry on
forever.
“......Sorry.”
“Huh?”
“I have no right to criticize you when I was the one who forced my feelings on
you.”
“Tori......”
Yoshino raised his head to the sudden timid tone of Hatori's voice. He cast a sidelong
glance at Hatori who began faltering, his shoulders drooping more than usual.
“The truth is, I didn't think about what would happen after I confessed because I
never planned on telling you. So now, I don't know how to act around you when we're
alone or when we're at work. Even I myself regret that I avoided you by making up
excuses saying I was busy.”
“......Um, well, it's my fault too, I guess......”
Having Hatori apologize to him so meekly stupefied Yoshino. He calmed down;
as if his vigor from before had all been an act.
“It's not your fault. Doesn't it bother you that the person you have thought of as
your friend confessed to you? It’s good enough just having you think well of me.”
“..........”
“Miss Ichinose is one of the authors I hold dear, but we definitely don't have a
physical relationship. As for my smiling, I was faking it. Rest assured that she doesn't suit
my taste in the first place.”
“Your taste, you say....”
He was at a loss for words because of Hatori's blunt explanation. While Yoshino
remained astounded, Hatori continued to honestly explain.
“She is the highlight of the magazine so I can't offend her. The chief editor
ordered me to simply keep her company, nothing more. I'm sorry. I should've explained
the situation to you ahead of time. “
“Ah, no......”
This straightforward apology eased Yoshino's pent up feelings from just a while
ago. At the same time, his anger also diminished and he felt relieved. Then, Hatori began
hesitatingly:
“You...actually prefer Yanase over me, don't you?”
“HAH?”
This crazy question made Yoshino let out a silly cry. He couldn't understand why
Hatori would ask such a question.
“He's the one you always seek first, isn't he? You went shopping for a party suit
with him when actually I was meaning to go with you.”
“You were about to say that back then......?”
“This happened on your last trip as well. I didn't even know you two were going
until I heard about it from Yanase, so it came as a shock for me, as you would expect.”
Hatori sighed deeply. This was the first time Yoshino had seen Hatori so
diffident, so he was at a loss of what to do.
“So- sorry, I figured you were busy......”
“I understand that you care about me, but I can't be truly convinced even if I do
understand this, can I? I don't have the art skills even if I wanted to help you out when
you're overloaded with work. I accept that I'm useless when it comes to the manuscript
but seeing you rely on Yanase honestly kills me.”
“..........”
He completely had no idea that Hatori was troubled about that. No, he didn't even
bother to take notice of it.
So Tori was troubled too, just like I was......
When Yoshino kept silent, unable to say anything, Hatori laughed in selfdeprecation.
“He told me: 'You go all out of your way extending the deadlines for him and you
even visit him, but it accomplishes nothing since you're just intruding.' That's certainly
true. Even when I'm around you during the deadline week, I only put pressure on you,
don't I?”
“I didn't really think that......”
“Besides, you even refused my kiss, so I didn't know what to do. I think I’ve
forced too much on you......”
“You couldn't help it...! I'm still embarrassed even now!”
While protesting, Yoshino felt like his feelings of contempt were disappearing,
for he now saw that Hatori had also been feeling uneasy.
“Then you don't hate me?”
“......Who told you that I hated you? I told you to wait but you forced yourself on
me...... Of course I was confused when you suddenly did something like that.”
“Yoshino......”
“Sheesh, why do you hate Yuu so much!? I don't have any desire to kiss or have
sex with any guy other than you!!”
Yoshino raised his voice in annoyance, not wanting to look at Hatori being so
irresolute anymore.
Hatori widened his eyes at Yoshino's bellow. Yoshino averted his eyes, unable to
face the blatant look of surprised on Hatori's face.
Crap, why did I have to go and say that?
“So......you really mean that?”
Yoshino searched for words that would smooth over the awkward situation but
the more he talked, the deeper he dug his own grave. The moment he truly felt like
getting out of this situation, his hand, that was digging its nails into the sofa, was seized.
“Then you're okay with it as long as it's not sudden?”
Yoshino did not want Hatori to ask him that so earnestly. He hoped that Hatori
would read the atmosphere at times like these. Nevertheless, Hatori patiently waited for
Yoshino's answer.
“......I- I guess.”
Left without a choice, Yoshino gave him a vague answer but then Hatori
immediately questioned him again.
“So, can we do it now?”
“N- now!?”
If he said no, he would be going against his word.
Wha- what should I do......
The atmosphere did not allow for saying 'maybe next time'. After hesitating,
Yoshino swallowed and braced himself.
“......All right.”
He squeezed his eyes shut, as if to say, 'whatever happens, happens', and waited to
feel the sensation of Hatori's lips on his. It's bad for the heart to be struck with a sudden
kiss, but he nervously waited with anticipation for it. Expecting Yoshino to react like this,
Hatori only lightly kissed him and quickly withdrew.
“Tori......?”
When he slowly opened his eyes, the other’s almond shaped eyes were fixated on
him.
“You say you don't get it unless I tell you, so I'll tell you many times over. I love
you. Only you. ......So be mine.”
Yoshino averted his eyes in embarrassment because Hatori was staring straight at
him while announcing this.
Idiot! You're always so stoic and yet why do you have to go and blab so much
now......!?
It was probably because he was a shoujo manga editor, or perhaps because it was
his true character, but Hatori's pick up lines were embarrassing.
“What do you say?”
“......I'll try.”
Hatori burst into quiet laughter at this weak reply.
“I'm okay with that for now.”
He peered at Yoshino's downcast face and kissed him once more. This time, just
another mere peck was not enough. Yoshino started to pull back by reflex but both of his
arms were seized, preventing him from moving. A tongue forced his trembling lips apart
and excitedly caught Yoshino's own tongue, making his mind go numb.
“Ngh, aah......mhmm......!”
The kiss was not rushed like last time, it was full of sweetness in some way. The
back of his head was being supported and the more deeply he was being kissed, the more
deeply intoxicated he became.
“Nngh......ngh...! Haa...wait......”
“Wait again?”
Hatori frowned slightly when Yoshino called for a break in between the kiss.
“It's starting to feel strange somehow so......”
“We have to finish what we started.”
“Wah!......Hm!? Nngh, nngh......!”
He was pushed down on the sofa and kissed from a different angle than before.
Hatori wildly rummaged within his mouth and his whole body instantly became limp. As
he tightly gripped at the hem on Hatori's suit, Yoshino found himself surprised at his own
hesitation.
The first time had been by force, the second time they had sex was due to the
course of the events, but this time, it was neither. He himself decided to do this and his
heart beat vehemently to the point that it seemed as if it would burst, since he was so
nervous.
“Nngh......angh...mhmm......! Aah, no......!”
“You don’t like it?”
“I don't dislike it, but......we shouldn’t do this.”
Yoshino constantly felt like a contradiction. He felt ashamed, because it was like
he was being made fun of. As he pouted, Hatori pushed on his hips with his own.
“It's been a long time for me.”
Yoshino's heart leapt at the stiff sensation that struck his thighs. Understandably,
a man's erection is a delicate thing. Because of this relationship being homosexual,
Yoshino realized that Hatori was holding back.
Why does he like someone like me?
Even Yoshino felt that he himself had said insensitive things sometimes and that
he was a rude and irritable person. His body, being pinned down, wasn't soft like that of a
woman’s. However, the eyes looking down at him clearly desired him. Just being held by
their passionate gaze set his body on fire.
When Hatori's cold palms crawled over his hot body through his pajamas, the hair
on his skin stood up.
“Aah......! Mhmm...haa......!”
“So you wear this, huh?”
“You- you told me to......wear it......Nngh!”
Hatori kissed him on neck, making his body jump. The tip of Hatori's tongue
tickled his skin, and whenever Hatori strongly sucked on it, his back trembled with
ecstasy.
“Don't let anyone else undress you besides me.”
“Who...would do that......? AH......!”
Hatori skillfully unbuttoned Yoshino's pajamas, revealing bare skin. Reaching to
the exposed mid-section, he groped and stroked up the side of Yoshino's thin waist.
“Chiaki.”
“......!”
This low voice, tinged with sweetness, was too cruel. Just this whisper alone
made Yoshino's body tremble.
“Urgh, nngh......! AAH......!”
He raised his voice when the tips of Hatori's fingers touched his nipple. As Hatori
stroked the small teat in between his fingers, the throbbing in his chest grew heavy. He
hadn't known of this sensation until he had slept with Hatori, and yet he still couldn't
believe that having his nipples toyed with like this made him so excited.
“Hya! Ah, aah...idiot, don't lick there......!”
“Doesn't it feel good?”
“No......! Shut up......! Ah, nngh......!”
Blood rose to his head when he felt a wet sensation upon the sensitive place
Hatori stroked with his fingertips. He tried to push Hatori's head away, thinking that will
get him to stop, but his strength left him as Hatori persistently sucked and licked him.
“......Ah, ngh...ah......! Haa......!”
His head grew cloudy as he was being forced to feel this sensation whether he
wanted to or not. Little by little, ecstasy outshone his shame and he realized that he had
begun to crave this feeling given to him. With his knees bent and his chest being toyed
around with, Yoshino himself realized that he was unconsciously trying to rub his hips
against Hatori. In a fluster, he pulled his hips away, but Hatori powerfully pressed into
his knees as if craving his touch.
“Ah! Ah, no, Angh......!”
The moment his pajama pants came down, his legs were lifted into the air. Having
his private parts exposed like this dyed his cheeks red with embarrassment.
“Wai- no way! Wai- wait......!”
“You think I can wait at this point?”
“But......!”
When he was being sucked off the last time, he thought his head would seriously
explode from the intense ecstasy and shame. He tried to struggle, thinking to escape
somehow, but Hatori firmly held the back of his knees, so he couldn't move freely. Hatori
removed everything Yoshino was wearing below his waist while holding his legs up; he
slung one of Yoshino's legs on the back of the sofa and bent the other one all the way to
his chest. Hatori hid his face in between Yoshino's legs, and this indecent pose
bewildered Yoshino.
You've got to be kidding me!
“No! Ah! Aah......! Nngh......!”
As Hatori sucked the delicate place in his crotch and between the soft parts of his
thighs, Yoshino's body froze. Yoshino shut his eyes and turned his face away, giving up
his resistance. He decided that at the very least he wasn't going to watch what Hatori was
doing. However, all he could concentrate on was that particular spot that he was trying to
shut out from his sight.
“Aah......aah......!”
After stalling for some time, Hatori now pressed his lips against the very essence
that aroused Yoshino's excitement. No sooner had Yoshino time to be bewildered by the
soft sensation, when Hatori touched the narrow back opening with his tongue.
“Urgh......! What are you...doing......? Ah, aah......!”
Having thought that they were only having oral sex, Yoshino clearly feel into a
panic when Hatori directly licked his private back part.
Hatori persistently licked that place, ignoring Yoshino, whose mind and senses
failed to keep up. Simultaneously, his member was being rubbed, and cum leaked out
from the tip of it. Fingers moved along the shaft, as if spreading the substance that was
trickling out; the slimy feeling felt good, overworking him with excitement even more.
“Ah...! No, no......! Ah, ah, stop......!”
“You'll get used to it so bear with it a little while longer. Is it that you don't want
to do this?”
“Hya......! No, I can't......! I'm embarrassed......angh, aahh...!”
He was at his wit's end, unable to withstand it any longer. He kept begging Hatori
to stop, but stopping was not allowed. Before long, Hatori's tongue went all the way
inside. Yoshino's eyes began to water at this peculiar sensation of having his soft insides
licked.
“Ngh, aahh......aahh......!”
Feeling Hatori's finger bury itself inside the saliva soaked opening took his breath
away. Each time Hatori's finger moved, stretching his insides, it caused him to exclaim in
a shrill voice. He stopped resisting, since it wasn't feeling as tight anymore, and another
finger slipped in with a third one following just after. This endless fingering almost
brought his to a climax, but right before he was at his peak, the fingering stopped.
Being severely teased like this took practically all of Yoshino's reasoning away.
“Ah, aahh......! Angh! Stop...do...something...already......!”
When Yoshino pleaded, unable to withstand it, the finger slipped out from within.
He felt an emptiness in his soft insides when there was nothing there. Then he heard the
sound of the belt being removed and the rustling of clothes, and after that, he felt a stiff
object touch his twitching hole. He raised his head upon reflex, and saw Hatori's furious
excitement.
Uwa......
The moment he took a great gulp at the magnificent the size of it, the stiff object
thrust right inside Yoshino.
“KUH! ......uguu, aah...ah......aahh......AAHH...!”
At first Hatori slowly forced his way in, but just when Yoshino had thought that
all of it was inside, Hatori thrust in deeper. Yoshino's desire burst out, scattering milky
whiteness. Having his soft insides chafed caused a shock. His member trembled from the
lingering effect of the climax and his belly was wet with the hot substance.
“......You're tight,” Hatori muttered as he rocked his hips.
As Hatori jiggled deeply within him, ecstasy arose in Yoshino and a sweet voice
escaped from his throat. Hatori shook Yoshino's hips as if churning up his narrow organ
and intertwined his own body around Yoshino, whose insides were convulsing.
“Urgh...! Ah! Ah! Nngh......!”
Little by little, the shaking grew more vicious and turned into a rhythmic
movement, like that of fingering. As the enthralling motion continued, Yoshino's mind
went blank whenever Hatori thrust in.
“Angh! Ah...! Not...there......Ah! Ah!”
“Here?”
“AH! Ah! Noo......!”
Hatori rammed into his weak spot and thrust up. Yoshino couldn't escape this
sensation even if he denied how good it felt.
“Don't! I'm scared......! Tori......!”
Whenever he slept with Hatori, a strange sensation arose inside of him. The pain,
like that of being unable to breathe, made him feel like crying every time.
......My chest hurts.
He used this line a numerous amount of times in his manga. And had felt
heartache before when he was crushing on a female classmate in the past. But this was
the first time his chest hurt so bad like this that it became hard to breathe.
“You're scared? Doesn't it feel good?”
“I don't know......Ah! Aah......! Nngh...!”
This deep whispering made him tremble. When he looked up with watery eyes, a
snarling kiss befell him. Hatori's tongue thrust in, violating his mouth, and captured
Yoshino's tongue by tightly sucking on it. The mixing of their saliva made a wet
squelching noise and incited pleasure. Hatori did not stop the rhythmic movements as he
devoured Yoshino's lips. Grasping Yoshino's shaking shoulders, Hatori roughly plunged
in.
“Nngh...ngh...! ......Aahhh......!”
The moment their lips parted, Yoshino's lovely voice spilled out from his lips
again. He found it very strange that this kind of voice came out from somewhere within
him.
“I kiss you and you're tight again.”
“.......Haa..aah...! Angh...!”
“Loosen up a little. I can't move like this.”
“Ah! Nngh...ah...I...can't......!”
He himself was aware that he was tightly squeezing Hatori's desire. Yoshino’s
body was out of control. Now that he was aware of it, he felt the heat and the form of
Hatori’s cock inside of him, as well as its throbbing.
He realized anew that he was sleeping with Hatori, a man, but didn't feel
disgusted by it or felt that it was a wrong thing to do at all, and instead was pleased that
he was so aroused by it.
“......I have no choice then.”
“Uwa......! What are you...!? NNGH......!”
Suddenly, Hatori put his arm around Yoshino's waist, forcibly lifted him up and
straddled him on his knee. Yoshino’s body weighed down and deepened their connection.
Hatori held him in his arms so Yoshino's stiff member kept poking Hatori's belly so much
that it hurt. Hatori bore into one spot, sweetly paralyzing it, as well as grazing the tip of
Yoshino's cock whenever he moved.
“Wha...why like this......? Aah...Ah! Aahh......!”
Grasping his waist, Hatori rocked and rubbed Yoshino’s soft insides. In an
instant, he tightened around Hatori even more. As Hatori rocked his body, he felt his
insides melting again. The continuous, profound fingering rhythm suffocated him; made
him feel like his innards were gradually rising up. Eventually, he began lusting after this
ecstasy and rocked his hips himself.
“Aah...! Ah! Don't...! I'm coming......!”
“Go ahead – come.”
Hatori shook him so fiercely that he thought he would break. As Hatori violently
thrust up, Yoshino saw stars for a brief moment.
“Ah! Ah, AAHH......!”
Hatori's heat slammed into the very depths of Yoshino's body about the same time
as it expanded and burst.
After reaching his climax, his member trembled as it overflowed with a milky
whiteness. His desire gushed out, leaving evidence by staining Hatori's shirt. The sight of
it vividly reflected in Yoshino's eyes.
......It's not only my fault.
His reason was slowly coming back to him and Yoshino dared to turn a blind eye
to it as he tried to lean against Hatori, thinking to support his powerless body on his, but
his lips were violated before that could happen.
“Hm?! Ngh...nngh......NNGH......!”
Hatori didn't just kiss him, he fondled his sweaty skin as well. He massaged his
nipples and Yoshino's body turned pleasantly numb all over again. Even though they had
just finished, did Hatori intend to continue further? Yoshino desperately broke the kiss
apart and raised his voice.
“Wai-...Just what are you thinking......!?”
“A healthy man in his twenties is not going to stop just yet after waiting for over 3
months.”
“What is this healthy man in his twenties business? You sure have some nerve;
you're close to 30......”
Because Yoshino was appalled, it made his reply sound too serious, but he was
pushed down on the sofa again without further adieu.
“Shut up. You have to look cute at times like these.”
“Fuck that...! You're the one who likes my un-cute face!”
“Yes. I love it, that's why I want you.”
“......!”
He choked on his words when Hatori told him such an embarrassing thing so
earnestly. Yoshino had lost since he couldn't carry on the argument. Taking advantage of
Yoshino's silence, Hatori continued doing whatever he pleased. Yoshino's body, burning
up again, wouldn't be able to handle it if Hatori stopped now, so he wasn't too displeased
that this was happening. However, Yoshino cursed despite completely submitting
anyways.
“Why the hell is this so natural for you......?!”
“It's not natural. I'm just skilled,” Hatori retorted nonchalantly but for some
reason Yoshino knew that Hatori had experience doing this with men other than Yoshino
himself. It was probably all a meaningless past for Hatori, but when Yoshino thought
about what kind of people Hatori had slept with, his heart ached. Hatori painfully smiled
at Yoshino whose own thoughts were hurting him.
“Don't make that face. You're the only person I've ever wanted.”
“Idi-...What are you say......AAH! Aah......aa......!”
Hatori continued the rhythm, making Yoshino lose his mind.
“......I'm yours.”
“......HUH?! Ah......What did you say just now......?”
“I just said I love you.”
“Liar......”
Yoshino hadn't expected his lips to be moved like this. Hatori silenced Yoshino's
bickering with a captivating kiss that left the matter unsettled. This endless pleasure he
was feeling had tricked Yoshino and in the end, he didn't have a chance to ask Hatori to
repeat what he had just said.
「CHAPTER 8」
“Uwa......”
It was the day of the party and Yoshino was feeling overwhelmed as he stood in
the great hall of the hotel, where the occasion was taking place, long after the party had
started.
What the heck? Seriously? Practically all the people here are manga artists......
The place was packed with people talking unanimously with each other. The ratio
of men and women was about half and half at this party where artists from the shounen
manga department and the shoujo manga department gathered; but it seemed like the
women, all dressed up in flashy attire, were particularly lively. As Yoshino nervously
stood by the entrance, Yanase came up to him bearing drinks.
“Here. There's no alcohol in it, okay?”
“Thank you. Where am I supposed to be at......?”
“You should be where all the shounen manga artists are meeting right now. There
are many men over there so wear your name tag or no one will know who you are.”
“Ri- right.”
Yanase escorted Yoshino to the meeting place like a pro.
“Yuu, have you ever been to a place like this before?”
“Yeah, I’ve been to these types of places before with my seinen magazine author
from another company. It wasn't this huge, though. Maruwaka sure is a popular
publishing company. Oh, do you want something to eat, Chiaki? I'll get you something.”
“Get whatever you think tastes good then.”
“Okay.”
As Yoshino stood by an empty table, waiting for Yuu, Hatori spotted him and
came over.
“There you are.”
“Geh! Tori.”
Lately he had realized the fact that he couldn't look Hatori straight in the eyes. His
face flushed whenever their eyes met.
“What's with that attitude? Where's Yanase?”
“He went to get some food right now. Don't bother with me. I'm handling this just
fine, so scram.”
Even if it wasn’t for the awkward atmosphere, it would still have been better if he
weren't here with Hatori today. If Yoshino accompanied the editor from the Emerald
editorial department, he might be regarded as somebody who is part of the shoujo manga
department. Though nobody would probably find out his true identity, he still decided it
was better to attract as little attention to himself as possible.
Hatori furrowed his brows when Yoshino shooed him away.
“You know, I hope you at least realize that you can't treat the company like this.”
Such words from Hatori annoyed Yoshino greatly.
......What the hell do you mean by ‘treat’? To you yourself, Chiharu Yoshikawa is
more important than Chiaki Yoshino anyway.
It wouldn't have bothered him if one of his colleagues had said this, but it
bothered him whenever Hatori told him off.
While Yoshino moped around, Hatori called out to stop a group of men passing
by.
“Chief editor, do you have a minute?”
“What is it? Oh, Yoshi...no.”
The chief editor of the Emerald editorial department that Hatori had called out to
was Masamune Takano. Besides Hatori, Takano was the only person in the editorial
department who knew Yoshino's true identity. Even now, Takano must have realized
their current location and used Yoshino's real name instead of Yoshikawa. Yoshino felt a
little bit relieved to see a person he knew amidst unfamiliar faces.
“Thank you for your continued cooperation.”
“No, thank you. Thank you for going through the trouble of inviting me here
today.”
He's as handsome as always......
He didn't understand why everyone in the Emerald editorial department was so
good looking. They looked horrendous just before the deadline, or so he had heard, but
when he glimpsed them out of work, they looked as if they belonged to another division
in the company. If they said that they were models belonging exclusively to the fashion
magazine division, it would be quite believable. But even the editorial department setting
was unusual itself, since it was full of pink, frilly cute things. It seemed like people
working within Marukawa Publishing nicknamed it 'the otome department'.
“Thank you for your latest manuscript. Your series is becoming very interesting.
I'm looking forward to it personally.”
“Oh...well, thank you......”
Yoshino didn't receive compliments all that much, so he had trouble responding to
such direct praise. Takano changed the subject; perhaps realizing that he was making
Yoshino uncomfortable.
“We have a new editor in our company. I was going around and introducing him
to everyone just now.”
“Nice to meet you. My name is Ritsu Onodera.”
Onodera modestly gave Yoshino his business card. His facial features were so
perfect that Yoshino suspected he was hired because of his face. He was about the same
height as Yoshino but his face was small and the position of his hips was high. He had
the so-called vogue body type and Yoshino inadvertently observed the young man.
It IS the otome department after all......
Yoshino realized that now was not the time to be struck with admiration and gave
a quick bow of his head.
“Ah, I'm Chiharu Yoshikawa. Thank you for your continued cooperation,” he
replied with a soft voice, inaudible to their outer surroundings, as he took the business
card. An expression of surprise flashed on the young man's face, who had introduced
himself as Onodera.
Figures......
If people found out that Chiharu Yoshikawa was a man, everyone would react like
this. Then they would either try to hide their surprise or make a huge fuss by
exaggeratingly saying something like 'I thought you were a woman'. But Onodera did not
look like he was surprised much further as he bowed politely.
“I should be the one thanking you for your cooperation. I used to be in literature
so I'm still new to all of this, but it's really nice to meet you.”
Yoshino liked Onodera’s modest, naturally sincere attitude. The fact that the chief
editor was tagging along with Onodera was probably because he was in the midst of
Takano's training.
“I'm sorry but we're in a hurry so please excuse us. Feel free to stay a little while
longer.”
As Yoshino watched the two of them vanish into the crowd, he started talking to
Hatori, who was patiently standing beside him.
“They got such a young man working for them. Did he graduate recently? I felt
extremely young being around him.”
“Actually, he's 25. It seems like Onodera used to be in publishing before. I heard
he was a literary editor and was in charge of Akihiko Usami.”
“Really? That's cool.”
He had read only several books by Akihiko Usami, but all the works he had read
were subtle and deep. He also heard that Akihiko Usami always kept up his literary style
and that he was picky about his work. If one were in charge of someone like that, one
would probably be very experienced. He didn't understand why Onodera would transfer
to shoujo manga from the world-class department of publishing, but nevertheless, he
wanted the Emerald editorial department to succeed.
“He's working extra hard on manga right now since he's a newbie. Takano is
seriously putting him through hell with the training, but I hope he doesn't discourage him
in the process.”
“Eh? Is Takano that horrible?”
“He is a – ”
“Ah! Tori-poo, there you are~!”
Just when Hatori had started to say something, a group of pompous ladies
approached them. Considering their friendly behavior, they were probably authors who
drew for the same magazine as Yoshino. Yoshino quickly turned around and took a few
steps away so that the ladies wouldn't see him. Thereupon, Hatori took a moment away
from the ladies by saying 'excuse me for a minute' and came over to where Yoshino was.
“I'll be done with this soon, just wait until then. There are a few corrections with
the storyboard which I received the other day that I have to go over.”
Yoshino raised his eyebrows when Hatori whispered this to him.
“Huh? You're going to discuss the storyboard even tonight?!”
“Days like these are meant for work. Besides, it will be a nuisance if I don't do it
now. Do you realize how much time it left until the deadline?”
“Urgh......”
Yoshino was confronted with this fact and it left him speechless. He sank into
silence, unable to reply, and Hatori, thinking he had an understanding with Yoshino,
returned to where the lady authors were.
“Sorry to have kept you waiting. . .”
As Yoshino quietly gazed after Hatori, he saw how warmly he greeted the ladies.
What the hell...?
The fact that Hatori, who seldom ever smiled at Yoshino, was now so friendly
with the ladies made him sick to his stomach. He watched with mixed feelings as Hatori
got dragged away by the arm when Yanase returned with the food.
“What's wrong? You're sulking.”
“Ah, no. I'm just hungry.”
“I thought so. That's why I came with all this stuff, so eat as much as you want.”
“Yeah, definitely.”
Surely the unpleasantness he was feeling right now was because he was hungry.
Surely these feelings will diminish after his appetite was satisfied. Truly believing this,
Yoshino silently ate the food that was handed to him.
* * * *
I want to go home already......
The party was now in full swing, but Yoshino was not enjoying it as he had
predicted. He had gone to the specific room and had pretty much met all the people
working on the drama, so it was safe to say that he had fulfilled his duty. He would go
home right away if he could, but Hatori had told him to wait, so now he had nothing to
do. The food was delicious, but he had to eat standing up since there was nowhere to sit,
so he couldn't eat well. And now Yanase was talking to a lot of shounen manga authors,
so even when he tried to talk to him, he got interrupted many times.
Yanase certainly did have great art skills and worked quickly, which made him
famous for being a legendary super assistant in this industry; many authors constantly
invited him, saying, 'Are you interested in signing with us?’ But no matter how important
the authors were who had asked him this, Yanase always refused the invitations.
“Say, Yuu. Why do you refuse them? You'll be more secure if you signed a
contract, right?”
An assistant's paycheck will differ depending on the author who has taken him in.
If an author charges high manuscript fees, then naturally the assistant's pay will also be
high. One could have a stable income by signing a contract with a popular shounen
manga author, for example.
“Chiaki, you dummy. I wouldn't be able to come to your place if I signed with
someone else.”
“Thanks for that...”
“Can I sign with you, Chiaki?”
“I'm flattered, but that won't work out. Since our magazine is monthly.”
“Yeah. That's why I'm fine with being free-lance.”
Yanase ended the conversation with just that, but Yoshino was not convinced.
Is that really his only reason?
If Yanase could come to his studio, he would be able to see Hatori. That's why
Yanase was with him, right? Yoshino couldn't deny that possibility. He emptied his glass
while pondering it over.
“Ah, excuse me. I'll take that one please.”
Yoshino took a fresh drink from the waiter passing by and then Yanase muttered:
“Oh, there's Hatori.”
“Huh?”
He glanced over in the direction Yanase spoke and saw Hatori, over by the table
where the desserts were, with a different lady than before sticking close to him. She was a
beautiful woman, older than Yoshino, in a low cut dress that showed off her cleavage. It
looked like she was flirting as she stroked Hatori's arm with her fancy fingernails. Hatori
was holding a plate with several cakes; perhaps he had been talked into taking the dessert.
He has been surrounded by women this whole time. He keeps saying 'it's work, it's
work', but here he is ogling women.
“Ah, if I'm not mistaken that's Erika Ichinose.”
“Hmph, I see.”
Erika Ichinose was an author serialized in the same magazine as Yoshino and
made her debut when he was still a high school student, so she fell into the veteran
category. In the past, her works were often turned into dramas that ran on prime-time
television. Although Yoshino was struck with admiration at how well informed Yanase
was, he was puzzled.
But Tori isn't in charge of her.
If he was, they would be discussing the release of her comic or something.
“Hey, if he's not in charge of her, why is she so close to Tori? Who is in charge of
her?”
“How should I know? But I hear she's after him.”
“After him?”
“She takes him out to dinner often. Then gets him to walk her home and calls him
out to hotel bars, saying she has some things to discuss.”
“Re- really......?”
For some reason, he felt even gloomier. Pretending to ignore how unhappy he
was, Yoshino calmly continued the conversation.
“You know, I suspected that. But where did you hear such a rumor?”
“From other assistants?”
“Oh, yeah.”
Yanase's duty was to go from one author's place to another, so he was full of
handy information.
“She might not be as popular as you are now, Chiaki, but she was a big time
author once, as you know, and had many fans since she changed the magazines she drew
for. You can't be hard on her just because she had many editors. That's part of hospitality,
isn't it?”
“Hospitality, huh......?”
As he listened to Yanase's explanation, he started to feel terribly sick to his
stomach. He thought that he would calm down after eating, but perhaps this was a mental
thing?
“Just between you and me, I hear Hatori isn't so against the idea, though. He
finally gave-in and started seeing her or something. Miss Ichinose is older than him, but
she is beautiful and has money. So it's not such a bad thing being a gold digger, is it?”
“What!?”
What the hell......!
What did he mean by ‘gold digger’? Yoshino felt like protesting, saying that
Hatori didn't have a disposition of giving-in like that. Yoshino forced a smile, as he
watched Hatori mingle with the author, but anger welled up inside him.
Aren't you supposed to like me!? Like hell we're dating......
He began complaining to himself, mulling over the circumstances. Were Hatori
and him really officially dating? Sure, Hatori had told him 'I love you' and they even had
sex, but Hatori had never said 'go out with me' and besides, Hatori didn't even sweet talk
him, let alone take him out on dates for all these months. Recently, Hatori had kissed him
out of the blue, but it had been far from romantic.
......I don't get it.
Nothing made sense to him when he thought about Hatori therefore he abandoned
these thoughts. When he glanced at Yanase, he saw that he was wearing a mixed
expression on his face. Then Yoshino remembered something very important.
Oh yeah......Yuu likes Tori, too......
Yanase usually did not reveal his personal feelings. One can safely say that he had
a poker face. But the only time he looked like this was when he was brooding over
something. It wasn't just Yoshino – even Yanase hated the way Hatori caused him
distress. Yoshino unconsciously muttered.
“Gah! Why is he always so popular?”
“That's sudden.”
“Ah, yeah. Tori was always so popular even back in the day.”
“He’s sweet but he doesn't look it, so this contradiction makes him attractive, I
guess?”
“Then you think so too?”
“What?”
Crap!
Yoshino blurted that out completely by accident, but the more he tried to fix it,
the more he said unnecessary things.
“Umm......you like Tori too, don’t you, Yuu......?”
“What are you talking about? There's no way I like that guy.”
“Eh? You don't?”
Yoshino automatically asked because of how extremely abhorrent Yanase's
reaction was.
“Why would you think that I like him? That's disgusting.”
Yoshino was surprised at how Yanase spat this out. Seeing as there was not a
tinge of embarrassment in his demeanor, Yanase was speaking the truth.
“Honestly......you're delusional as always. You have all these crazy ideas......”
“Aha..hahaha......”
All Yoshino could do in return for Yanase's appalled look was give him a wry
smile.
“I don't plan on listening to how you came up with this stupid assumption but
instead of thinking about unnecessary things, why don't you work out the plot of your
manga instead?”
“So- sorry.”
So I was wrong......
Yanase nudged him and Yoshino quieted down, disappointed by the fact that the
thing he was so worried about this whole time had turned out to be a mere theory.
Suddenly, he realized that he was slightly relieved that Yanase didn't like Hatori.
Hold on! What am I relieved for!?”
Didn’t this look like he was celebrating that Yanase was not his rival? While
Yoshino’s heart felt troubled, the front stage lit up and the chairman began the closing
speech.
“This banquet is in full swing but......”
After the announcer appeared on the stage, informing the end of the banquet, the
attendants gradually flooded outside, happily chatting with one another.
“It's finally over......”
Yoshino wearily leaned against a table to take some pressure off from his legs,
which were in a standing position this whole time. These few hours were torture for
Yoshino, who hardly ever moved around since he usually just sat at his desk all the time.
“Good job. You look like you didn't have much fun, though,” Yanase told him,
laughing at how fed up Yoshino looked.
“Yeah, well, I think this was a good experience, but I've had enough of it.”
The magnificent atmosphere of the party was new and all, but he did not want to
attend one like it again.
“I figured you'd say this, Chiaki. Well then, I have work in the morning
tomorrow, so I'm gonna head out.”
“Oh, then I'm leaving too.”
“Is it okay for you to leave? Don't you have a meeting with Hatori after this?”
“Oh! ......Right......”
With Yanase's reminder, Yoshino remembered that Hatori had told him to wait.
He wanted to get away from work for the day, but he couldn't let Yanase worry over him.
“Thanks for today, Yuu. Sorry I begged you to come here.”
“It's fine! Thanks to you, I ate as much as I wanted. Well then, see ya later.”
“Okay. Take care.”
Yoshino heaved a sigh for the hundredth time and watched Yanase leave.
“Haa......”
Was Hatori seriously planning on having a work meeting after this? In all
honesty, it seemed unlikely that Hatori was inclined to do any more work. Yoshino knew
that it was necessary to have the storyboard corrections done immediately, but something
surging in his chest made him feel gloomy.
I mean, didn't he say something like he was going to be done soon?
Seeing that Hatori had still not come over to Yoshino, it seemed like he would be
unable to escape the party after all. When he looked for Hatori inside the hall, he saw that
he was still confined to Erika Ichinose.
By the looks of it, he's being forced to go to the after party.
Naturally, Yoshino could not wait until then, since even the trains will be done for
the day by the time that party ends.
He concluded that it probably wouldn't be a problem if he left, but when Yoshino
picked up his coat at the check-out, Hatori came running after him.
“Did you forget our promise?”
“I didn't forget, but you look busy to me, so the meeting can wait until
tomorrow.”
Unable to make eye contact, Yoshino turned away as he put on his coat.
“What kind of selfish things are you going on about? The storyboard corrections
are our top priority. Go back there immediately and wait for me!”
“But SHE is looking for you over there.”
He pointed ahead of him to Erika Ichinose who was restlessly scanning the crowd.
She was definitely looking for Hatori, who had disappeared on her. Hatori clicked his
tongue as Yoshino left him behind and headed towards the elevator hall.
“See ya.”
“Hey! Yoshino!”
Yoshino hurriedly got on the elevator just before it closed. As expected, it seemed
that Hatori was caught by Erika Ichinose, so he had not pursued Yoshino.
* * * *
“Haa......”
He felt refreshed after coming home and taking a bath, but his mind was still
cloudy. Being a simpleton was supposed to be a redeeming feature, but it was hard to be
one this time. He couldn't get Hatori and Erika Ichinose out of his head even when he
tried. She was really beautiful and had a good figure. Yoshino felt depressed at the
reflection of his own body in the bathroom mirror since it was completely different from
her body.
Beautiful women are usually preferred over someone like me......
He felt annoyed at himself for doing nothing but sulking.
“I'm going to bed......”
Since Yoshino usually wore only a t-shirt inside his home even during the winter,
Hatori had once brought him pajamas, telling him 'you'll catch a cold like this'. Now,
Yoshino put on these pajamas and left the bathroom.
“Why are you so careless? Didn't I tell you to put on some clothes after taking a
bath?”
“Shut uuup. What are you, my mother?”
“Who would force a mother to do this? Here, I brought you pajamas so put them
on.”
“How annoying......”
“What will you do if you catch a cold after taking a bath? Every single winter you
get a stuffy nose. It's all because you dress too light.”
On that day, Hatori had brought him several pajamas in a paper bag, which looked
like he had bought them at an outlet store.
“......You seriously nag too much.”
But the only reason he could lead a normal life while living by himself was
because Hatori was always there for him. If there was nobody telling him what to do,
then his home would probably become even more of a wreck.
“Argh! Stop it already!”
He decided he wasn't going to think about Hatori anymore. Thinking that it'll be
easier for him to fall asleep if he drank some beer before going to bed, he opened the
door of the refrigerator, which stood in the kitchen, but then heard a noise at the front
door.
“No way......”
The noise was not his imagination or just the sound of the wind. The only people
who had a spare key to his apartment were Hatori and Yanase. Yoshino was in dismay
when he saw Hatori appear in the living room, looking exhausted.
“I came to discuss the storyboard.”
“Are you kidding me? We'll do it tomorrow!”
“We need to do it while we can, otherwise it's going to be like last time. Did you
already forget what happened?”
“..........”
Then I have no other choice now but to quickly get this over with and show him
the door.
He did not need to mingle with Hatori after they finish with the storyboard. In the
meantime, he decided to sort out his mixed feelings. Yoshino reluctantly obeyed Hatori
and headed towards the sofa.
Hm? What's that smell......?
Suddenly a sweet smell hit his nose. It came from Hatori. It was probably the
scent of the perfume left behind by the lady authors, who had been clinging to Hatori at
the party. An unpleasant feeling filled his chest, but he told himself to not think about
unnecessary things.
“Let's get this over with.”
“My words exactly.”
As usual, they sat side-by-side on the sofa with the storyboard spread out on the
coffee table. Hatori took off his suit jacket, hung it on the back of the sofa, and took out
the storyboard corrections. Then he began explaining the corrections in a low, smooth
voice.
“The protagonist doesn't have sufficient monologue on pages 4 through 5. There's
only so much that the readers can comprehend through facial expressions alone isn't
there? You should express these emotions not only though drawings, but with words as
well.”
“..........”
“Then there's page 15; build up the scene on the previous panel, where she starts
crying from having her feelings hurt, and bring it to a climax on page 16. You know what
you want to do, but when both your beginning and ending panels hold the same
atmosphere, it reduces the dramatic effect, you see?”
“..........”
..........I can't concentrate.
He was bothered by the smell of the perfume lingering on Hatori so he couldn't
concentrate on the explanations of the corrections. Just how long was Hatori together
with her to have her smell transfer on to him? He made up his mind to try not to think
about it, but only unpleasant fantasies kept floating into his head.
'Just between you and me, I hear Hatori isn't so against the idea, though. He
finally gave in and started seeing her or something.'
They didn't fool around at the hotel, did they?
Yanase's words sprung back into his head and bothered him further. When
Yoshino was silent, Hatori, perhaps suspicious by it, asked in a strong tone of voice.
“Hey, are you even listening?”
“......I'm listening.”
He planned on appearing calm, but irritation was evident in his voice. It looked
like Hatori misunderstood his attitude, thinking that Yoshino was unhappy about the
storyboard corrections.
“If you're unsatisfied about something, then say so beforehand. I can't have you
telling me about it afterwards.”
“......!”
Why is he so insensitive...!?
Hatori's advice was reasonable but Yoshino was angry at the way he had said it. It
wasn't that Yoshino was unsatisfied, it was just that everything he was hearing went into
one ear and out the other; but Hatori still had no right to talk to him so arrogantly. No
matter how much Yoshino called himself a person hard to upset, he wanted Hatori to
choose his words more carefully. He wouldn't have paid much thought to it if someone
else had told him this, but because these words had come out from Hatori's mouth – they
were important.
Even if I said that he was the one making me upset, he would just put me down......
Hatori's word was absolute. That's why sometimes Yoshino just did not want to
hear it. When Yoshino shut his mouth and looked down at the storyboard, frowning,
Hatori brought down the final blow.
“I'm sure that even you understand that it's horrible the way it is now. I can't
publish such a boring story with Chiharu Yoshikawa's name on it.”
“Boring......huh?”
In his heart, he had no intention of rebelling against Hatori, even though Hatori
had said more than was necessary.
Usually, he could cope with it by thinking, 'damn him!', but since he already felt
disheartened today, he couldn't bring himself to confront Hatori.
I don't care anymore......
“......All right. I'll change this panel like you said and should I add this monologue
here?”
Yoshino continued correcting the storyboard just like Hatori indicated for him to
do so. He was heedlessly moving his pen over his paper when Hatori grabbed his hand.
“What are you rushing into it for? Aren't you the one who's always saying, 'I'll be
the one to decide. You just give me the suggestions'? Think for yourself!”
“I know! I'm just really tired today so I can't think straight!!”
It was his own story, so he wanted to take it seriously, but he just couldn't
concentrate on thinking about the storyboard when images of Hatori and that woman
flickered in his mind.
“I'm tired too. But I don't whine about it like a child. Put some effort and get to
work!”
“I'm trying, but......!”
“No excuses. If you have all this time to talk with so much self-importance, why
don't you spend it on using your own head? What do you think work is for anyway?”
“Oh, isn't that a bit rich coming from the guy who reeks of perfume?!”
“......!”
Yoshino blurted out on impulse but it seemed like his words had a stronger effect
on Hatori than he had expected. At ordinary times, Yoshino would drop his relentless
preaching but now, it was unusual seeing Hatori flinch, and it got on his nerves.
“I bet you wish you had gone on a hot date with Miss Ichinose today instead of
coming here to my place, don't you? Or, did you come all the way here after you guys
had your little fun?”
“Hold on, Yoshino.”
“You're not even her editor and yet she sucks up to you. That's pretty obsessive,
wouldn't you say? She was constantly glued to you but even you were smiling, looking
like you enjoyed yourself.”
“You have it all wrong. We didn't do anything.”
“Then why do you stink of perfume?”
“We were standing close together and the smell must have rubbed off.”
“So was it THAT necessary to stand SO close together that her smell rubbed off
on you?! I hear you ‘gave-in’ and started seeing her and what not, but you're actually not
very much against it, are you?”
Now that he was all worked up, he couldn't stop the words from spilling out of his
mouth.
“Yoshino!”
Hatori's raised tone of voice made Yoshino flinch. Yoshino shut his mouth and
Hatori calmly began to question him.
“I'm going out with you, aren't I?”
“......Who knows?”
“Don't you remember that I confessed to you?”
“I remember! Of course I remember! But you didn't say anything about us going
out!”
“Isn't that obvious without me having to say it!?”
“It's not! It's impossible for me to think you're my lover when we haven't done
anything since then!”
“Yoshino......”
Hatori finally fell silent; not knowing what to do about Yoshino who was all riled
up and couldn't stop blabbing. Yoshino couldn't bear seeing Hatori like this so he looked
away.
What the hell am I saying!?
Yoshino cooled down in the silence that fell on them, but then shame slowly
welled up inside him. The way he had said this just now seemed like he felt dissatisfied
that they couldn't live like lovers.
Could it be that I'm jealous......?
That's probably why he had felt so irritated during the party. He had been
extremely discontent that other people were all over Hatori because he wanted to have
Hatori all to himself.
Yoshino's face turned red the moment he realized this. He awkwardly turned
towards the table, so that Hatori would not see the commotion building up on his face.
“..........Anyways, we have to work on the storyboard. No more unnecessary talk,
lets hurry and finish it.”
As he gripped his pen and cast his gaze down at the storyboard, Hatori remained
silent. But then Hatori's soft voice ended this silence that seemed as if it would carry on
forever.
“......Sorry.”
“Huh?”
“I have no right to criticize you when I was the one who forced my feelings on
you.”
“Tori......”
Yoshino raised his head to the sudden timid tone of Hatori's voice. He cast a sidelong
glance at Hatori who began faltering, his shoulders drooping more than usual.
“The truth is, I didn't think about what would happen after I confessed because I
never planned on telling you. So now, I don't know how to act around you when we're
alone or when we're at work. Even I myself regret that I avoided you by making up
excuses saying I was busy.”
“......Um, well, it's my fault too, I guess......”
Having Hatori apologize to him so meekly stupefied Yoshino. He calmed down;
as if his vigor from before had all been an act.
“It's not your fault. Doesn't it bother you that the person you have thought of as
your friend confessed to you? It’s good enough just having you think well of me.”
“..........”
“Miss Ichinose is one of the authors I hold dear, but we definitely don't have a
physical relationship. As for my smiling, I was faking it. Rest assured that she doesn't suit
my taste in the first place.”
“Your taste, you say....”
He was at a loss for words because of Hatori's blunt explanation. While Yoshino
remained astounded, Hatori continued to honestly explain.
“She is the highlight of the magazine so I can't offend her. The chief editor
ordered me to simply keep her company, nothing more. I'm sorry. I should've explained
the situation to you ahead of time. “
“Ah, no......”
This straightforward apology eased Yoshino's pent up feelings from just a while
ago. At the same time, his anger also diminished and he felt relieved. Then, Hatori began
hesitatingly:
“You...actually prefer Yanase over me, don't you?”
“HAH?”
This crazy question made Yoshino let out a silly cry. He couldn't understand why
Hatori would ask such a question.
“He's the one you always seek first, isn't he? You went shopping for a party suit
with him when actually I was meaning to go with you.”
“You were about to say that back then......?”
“This happened on your last trip as well. I didn't even know you two were going
until I heard about it from Yanase, so it came as a shock for me, as you would expect.”
Hatori sighed deeply. This was the first time Yoshino had seen Hatori so
diffident, so he was at a loss of what to do.
“So- sorry, I figured you were busy......”
“I understand that you care about me, but I can't be truly convinced even if I do
understand this, can I? I don't have the art skills even if I wanted to help you out when
you're overloaded with work. I accept that I'm useless when it comes to the manuscript
but seeing you rely on Yanase honestly kills me.”
“..........”
He completely had no idea that Hatori was troubled about that. No, he didn't even
bother to take notice of it.
So Tori was troubled too, just like I was......
When Yoshino kept silent, unable to say anything, Hatori laughed in selfdeprecation.
“He told me: 'You go all out of your way extending the deadlines for him and you
even visit him, but it accomplishes nothing since you're just intruding.' That's certainly
true. Even when I'm around you during the deadline week, I only put pressure on you,
don't I?”
“I didn't really think that......”
“Besides, you even refused my kiss, so I didn't know what to do. I think I’ve
forced too much on you......”
“You couldn't help it...! I'm still embarrassed even now!”
While protesting, Yoshino felt like his feelings of contempt were disappearing,
for he now saw that Hatori had also been feeling uneasy.
“Then you don't hate me?”
“......Who told you that I hated you? I told you to wait but you forced yourself on
me...... Of course I was confused when you suddenly did something like that.”
“Yoshino......”
“Sheesh, why do you hate Yuu so much!? I don't have any desire to kiss or have
sex with any guy other than you!!”
Yoshino raised his voice in annoyance, not wanting to look at Hatori being so
irresolute anymore.
Hatori widened his eyes at Yoshino's bellow. Yoshino averted his eyes, unable to
face the blatant look of surprised on Hatori's face.
Crap, why did I have to go and say that?
“So......you really mean that?”
Yoshino searched for words that would smooth over the awkward situation but
the more he talked, the deeper he dug his own grave. The moment he truly felt like
getting out of this situation, his hand, that was digging its nails into the sofa, was seized.
“Then you're okay with it as long as it's not sudden?”
Yoshino did not want Hatori to ask him that so earnestly. He hoped that Hatori
would read the atmosphere at times like these. Nevertheless, Hatori patiently waited for
Yoshino's answer.
“......I- I guess.”
Left without a choice, Yoshino gave him a vague answer but then Hatori
immediately questioned him again.
“So, can we do it now?”
“N- now!?”
If he said no, he would be going against his word.
Wha- what should I do......
The atmosphere did not allow for saying 'maybe next time'. After hesitating,
Yoshino swallowed and braced himself.
“......All right.”
He squeezed his eyes shut, as if to say, 'whatever happens, happens', and waited to
feel the sensation of Hatori's lips on his. It's bad for the heart to be struck with a sudden
kiss, but he nervously waited with anticipation for it. Expecting Yoshino to react like this,
Hatori only lightly kissed him and quickly withdrew.
“Tori......?”
When he slowly opened his eyes, the other’s almond shaped eyes were fixated on
him.
“You say you don't get it unless I tell you, so I'll tell you many times over. I love
you. Only you. ......So be mine.”
Yoshino averted his eyes in embarrassment because Hatori was staring straight at
him while announcing this.
Idiot! You're always so stoic and yet why do you have to go and blab so much
now......!?
It was probably because he was a shoujo manga editor, or perhaps because it was
his true character, but Hatori's pick up lines were embarrassing.
“What do you say?”
“......I'll try.”
Hatori burst into quiet laughter at this weak reply.
“I'm okay with that for now.”
He peered at Yoshino's downcast face and kissed him once more. This time, just
another mere peck was not enough. Yoshino started to pull back by reflex but both of his
arms were seized, preventing him from moving. A tongue forced his trembling lips apart
and excitedly caught Yoshino's own tongue, making his mind go numb.
“Ngh, aah......mhmm......!”
The kiss was not rushed like last time, it was full of sweetness in some way. The
back of his head was being supported and the more deeply he was being kissed, the more
deeply intoxicated he became.
“Nngh......ngh...! Haa...wait......”
“Wait again?”
Hatori frowned slightly when Yoshino called for a break in between the kiss.
“It's starting to feel strange somehow so......”
“We have to finish what we started.”
“Wah!......Hm!? Nngh, nngh......!”
He was pushed down on the sofa and kissed from a different angle than before.
Hatori wildly rummaged within his mouth and his whole body instantly became limp. As
he tightly gripped at the hem on Hatori's suit, Yoshino found himself surprised at his own
hesitation.
The first time had been by force, the second time they had sex was due to the
course of the events, but this time, it was neither. He himself decided to do this and his
heart beat vehemently to the point that it seemed as if it would burst, since he was so
nervous.
“Nngh......angh...mhmm......! Aah, no......!”
“You don’t like it?”
“I don't dislike it, but......we shouldn’t do this.”
Yoshino constantly felt like a contradiction. He felt ashamed, because it was like
he was being made fun of. As he pouted, Hatori pushed on his hips with his own.
“It's been a long time for me.”
Yoshino's heart leapt at the stiff sensation that struck his thighs. Understandably,
a man's erection is a delicate thing. Because of this relationship being homosexual,
Yoshino realized that Hatori was holding back.
Why does he like someone like me?
Even Yoshino felt that he himself had said insensitive things sometimes and that
he was a rude and irritable person. His body, being pinned down, wasn't soft like that of a
woman’s. However, the eyes looking down at him clearly desired him. Just being held by
their passionate gaze set his body on fire.
When Hatori's cold palms crawled over his hot body through his pajamas, the hair
on his skin stood up.
“Aah......! Mhmm...haa......!”
“So you wear this, huh?”
“You- you told me to......wear it......Nngh!”
Hatori kissed him on neck, making his body jump. The tip of Hatori's tongue
tickled his skin, and whenever Hatori strongly sucked on it, his back trembled with
ecstasy.
“Don't let anyone else undress you besides me.”
“Who...would do that......? AH......!”
Hatori skillfully unbuttoned Yoshino's pajamas, revealing bare skin. Reaching to
the exposed mid-section, he groped and stroked up the side of Yoshino's thin waist.
“Chiaki.”
“......!”
This low voice, tinged with sweetness, was too cruel. Just this whisper alone
made Yoshino's body tremble.
“Urgh, nngh......! AAH......!”
He raised his voice when the tips of Hatori's fingers touched his nipple. As Hatori
stroked the small teat in between his fingers, the throbbing in his chest grew heavy. He
hadn't known of this sensation until he had slept with Hatori, and yet he still couldn't
believe that having his nipples toyed with like this made him so excited.
“Hya! Ah, aah...idiot, don't lick there......!”
“Doesn't it feel good?”
“No......! Shut up......! Ah, nngh......!”
Blood rose to his head when he felt a wet sensation upon the sensitive place
Hatori stroked with his fingertips. He tried to push Hatori's head away, thinking that will
get him to stop, but his strength left him as Hatori persistently sucked and licked him.
“......Ah, ngh...ah......! Haa......!”
His head grew cloudy as he was being forced to feel this sensation whether he
wanted to or not. Little by little, ecstasy outshone his shame and he realized that he had
begun to crave this feeling given to him. With his knees bent and his chest being toyed
around with, Yoshino himself realized that he was unconsciously trying to rub his hips
against Hatori. In a fluster, he pulled his hips away, but Hatori powerfully pressed into
his knees as if craving his touch.
“Ah! Ah, no, Angh......!”
The moment his pajama pants came down, his legs were lifted into the air. Having
his private parts exposed like this dyed his cheeks red with embarrassment.
“Wai- no way! Wai- wait......!”
“You think I can wait at this point?”
“But......!”
When he was being sucked off the last time, he thought his head would seriously
explode from the intense ecstasy and shame. He tried to struggle, thinking to escape
somehow, but Hatori firmly held the back of his knees, so he couldn't move freely. Hatori
removed everything Yoshino was wearing below his waist while holding his legs up; he
slung one of Yoshino's legs on the back of the sofa and bent the other one all the way to
his chest. Hatori hid his face in between Yoshino's legs, and this indecent pose
bewildered Yoshino.
You've got to be kidding me!
“No! Ah! Aah......! Nngh......!”
As Hatori sucked the delicate place in his crotch and between the soft parts of his
thighs, Yoshino's body froze. Yoshino shut his eyes and turned his face away, giving up
his resistance. He decided that at the very least he wasn't going to watch what Hatori was
doing. However, all he could concentrate on was that particular spot that he was trying to
shut out from his sight.
“Aah......aah......!”
After stalling for some time, Hatori now pressed his lips against the very essence
that aroused Yoshino's excitement. No sooner had Yoshino time to be bewildered by the
soft sensation, when Hatori touched the narrow back opening with his tongue.
“Urgh......! What are you...doing......? Ah, aah......!”
Having thought that they were only having oral sex, Yoshino clearly feel into a
panic when Hatori directly licked his private back part.
Hatori persistently licked that place, ignoring Yoshino, whose mind and senses
failed to keep up. Simultaneously, his member was being rubbed, and cum leaked out
from the tip of it. Fingers moved along the shaft, as if spreading the substance that was
trickling out; the slimy feeling felt good, overworking him with excitement even more.
“Ah...! No, no......! Ah, ah, stop......!”
“You'll get used to it so bear with it a little while longer. Is it that you don't want
to do this?”
“Hya......! No, I can't......! I'm embarrassed......angh, aahh...!”
He was at his wit's end, unable to withstand it any longer. He kept begging Hatori
to stop, but stopping was not allowed. Before long, Hatori's tongue went all the way
inside. Yoshino's eyes began to water at this peculiar sensation of having his soft insides
licked.
“Ngh, aahh......aahh......!”
Feeling Hatori's finger bury itself inside the saliva soaked opening took his breath
away. Each time Hatori's finger moved, stretching his insides, it caused him to exclaim in
a shrill voice. He stopped resisting, since it wasn't feeling as tight anymore, and another
finger slipped in with a third one following just after. This endless fingering almost
brought his to a climax, but right before he was at his peak, the fingering stopped.
Being severely teased like this took practically all of Yoshino's reasoning away.
“Ah, aahh......! Angh! Stop...do...something...already......!”
When Yoshino pleaded, unable to withstand it, the finger slipped out from within.
He felt an emptiness in his soft insides when there was nothing there. Then he heard the
sound of the belt being removed and the rustling of clothes, and after that, he felt a stiff
object touch his twitching hole. He raised his head upon reflex, and saw Hatori's furious
excitement.
Uwa......
The moment he took a great gulp at the magnificent the size of it, the stiff object
thrust right inside Yoshino.
“KUH! ......uguu, aah...ah......aahh......AAHH...!”
At first Hatori slowly forced his way in, but just when Yoshino had thought that
all of it was inside, Hatori thrust in deeper. Yoshino's desire burst out, scattering milky
whiteness. Having his soft insides chafed caused a shock. His member trembled from the
lingering effect of the climax and his belly was wet with the hot substance.
“......You're tight,” Hatori muttered as he rocked his hips.
As Hatori jiggled deeply within him, ecstasy arose in Yoshino and a sweet voice
escaped from his throat. Hatori shook Yoshino's hips as if churning up his narrow organ
and intertwined his own body around Yoshino, whose insides were convulsing.
“Urgh...! Ah! Ah! Nngh......!”
Little by little, the shaking grew more vicious and turned into a rhythmic
movement, like that of fingering. As the enthralling motion continued, Yoshino's mind
went blank whenever Hatori thrust in.
“Angh! Ah...! Not...there......Ah! Ah!”
“Here?”
“AH! Ah! Noo......!”
Hatori rammed into his weak spot and thrust up. Yoshino couldn't escape this
sensation even if he denied how good it felt.
“Don't! I'm scared......! Tori......!”
Whenever he slept with Hatori, a strange sensation arose inside of him. The pain,
like that of being unable to breathe, made him feel like crying every time.
......My chest hurts.
He used this line a numerous amount of times in his manga. And had felt
heartache before when he was crushing on a female classmate in the past. But this was
the first time his chest hurt so bad like this that it became hard to breathe.
“You're scared? Doesn't it feel good?”
“I don't know......Ah! Aah......! Nngh...!”
This deep whispering made him tremble. When he looked up with watery eyes, a
snarling kiss befell him. Hatori's tongue thrust in, violating his mouth, and captured
Yoshino's tongue by tightly sucking on it. The mixing of their saliva made a wet
squelching noise and incited pleasure. Hatori did not stop the rhythmic movements as he
devoured Yoshino's lips. Grasping Yoshino's shaking shoulders, Hatori roughly plunged
in.
“Nngh...ngh...! ......Aahhh......!”
The moment their lips parted, Yoshino's lovely voice spilled out from his lips
again. He found it very strange that this kind of voice came out from somewhere within
him.
“I kiss you and you're tight again.”
“.......Haa..aah...! Angh...!”
“Loosen up a little. I can't move like this.”
“Ah! Nngh...ah...I...can't......!”
He himself was aware that he was tightly squeezing Hatori's desire. Yoshino’s
body was out of control. Now that he was aware of it, he felt the heat and the form of
Hatori’s cock inside of him, as well as its throbbing.
He realized anew that he was sleeping with Hatori, a man, but didn't feel
disgusted by it or felt that it was a wrong thing to do at all, and instead was pleased that
he was so aroused by it.
“......I have no choice then.”
“Uwa......! What are you...!? NNGH......!”
Suddenly, Hatori put his arm around Yoshino's waist, forcibly lifted him up and
straddled him on his knee. Yoshino’s body weighed down and deepened their connection.
Hatori held him in his arms so Yoshino's stiff member kept poking Hatori's belly so much
that it hurt. Hatori bore into one spot, sweetly paralyzing it, as well as grazing the tip of
Yoshino's cock whenever he moved.
“Wha...why like this......? Aah...Ah! Aahh......!”
Grasping his waist, Hatori rocked and rubbed Yoshino’s soft insides. In an
instant, he tightened around Hatori even more. As Hatori rocked his body, he felt his
insides melting again. The continuous, profound fingering rhythm suffocated him; made
him feel like his innards were gradually rising up. Eventually, he began lusting after this
ecstasy and rocked his hips himself.
“Aah...! Ah! Don't...! I'm coming......!”
“Go ahead – come.”
Hatori shook him so fiercely that he thought he would break. As Hatori violently
thrust up, Yoshino saw stars for a brief moment.
“Ah! Ah, AAHH......!”
Hatori's heat slammed into the very depths of Yoshino's body about the same time
as it expanded and burst.
After reaching his climax, his member trembled as it overflowed with a milky
whiteness. His desire gushed out, leaving evidence by staining Hatori's shirt. The sight of
it vividly reflected in Yoshino's eyes.
......It's not only my fault.
His reason was slowly coming back to him and Yoshino dared to turn a blind eye
to it as he tried to lean against Hatori, thinking to support his powerless body on his, but
his lips were violated before that could happen.
“Hm?! Ngh...nngh......NNGH......!”
Hatori didn't just kiss him, he fondled his sweaty skin as well. He massaged his
nipples and Yoshino's body turned pleasantly numb all over again. Even though they had
just finished, did Hatori intend to continue further? Yoshino desperately broke the kiss
apart and raised his voice.
“Wai-...Just what are you thinking......!?”
“A healthy man in his twenties is not going to stop just yet after waiting for over 3
months.”
“What is this healthy man in his twenties business? You sure have some nerve;
you're close to 30......”
Because Yoshino was appalled, it made his reply sound too serious, but he was
pushed down on the sofa again without further adieu.
“Shut up. You have to look cute at times like these.”
“Fuck that...! You're the one who likes my un-cute face!”
“Yes. I love it, that's why I want you.”
“......!”
He choked on his words when Hatori told him such an embarrassing thing so
earnestly. Yoshino had lost since he couldn't carry on the argument. Taking advantage of
Yoshino's silence, Hatori continued doing whatever he pleased. Yoshino's body, burning
up again, wouldn't be able to handle it if Hatori stopped now, so he wasn't too displeased
that this was happening. However, Yoshino cursed despite completely submitting
anyways.
“Why the hell is this so natural for you......?!”
“It's not natural. I'm just skilled,” Hatori retorted nonchalantly but for some
reason Yoshino knew that Hatori had experience doing this with men other than Yoshino
himself. It was probably all a meaningless past for Hatori, but when Yoshino thought
about what kind of people Hatori had slept with, his heart ached. Hatori painfully smiled
at Yoshino whose own thoughts were hurting him.
“Don't make that face. You're the only person I've ever wanted.”
“Idi-...What are you say......AAH! Aah......aa......!”
Hatori continued the rhythm, making Yoshino lose his mind.
“......I'm yours.”
“......HUH?! Ah......What did you say just now......?”
“I just said I love you.”
“Liar......”
Yoshino hadn't expected his lips to be moved like this. Hatori silenced Yoshino's
bickering with a captivating kiss that left the matter unsettled. This endless pleasure he
was feeling had tricked Yoshino and in the end, he didn't have a chance to ask Hatori to
repeat what he had just said.
