zzz

₊ ° ✦ ‧ ‧ ₊ ˚✧ part 1

"Yoshino, do you want something to drink?"

"No, thank you."

"You haven't eaten either, have you? You should have something, even just a little."

"I said, I don't want anything."

Yoshino remained sullenly silent on his desk. He had been unusually cranky all day, or at very least ever since Hatori arrived.

(He's been like this for a while...)

The reason for his bad mood was evident: He was frustrated because he couldn't properly put together his next material. 

Yoshino wasn't the type of person who would take his frustrations out on others. He knew it was inappropriate, so whenever his bad mood coincided with an assistant being present, no matter how bad it was, he would manage to keep it in somehow.

Far from being offended, he even found it kind of endearing: it was living proof that Yoshino trusted him enough to show him his true self.

However, there were times like this when he just couldn't control himself, and it was only when he was alone with Hatori that he would let his feelings out. Even without wanting to take his anger out on him, his curt responses made it very difficult to have a proper conversation.

It was nothing that could particularly upset Hatori though, and at this point he knew that, if he just let it be, it was only a matter of time before Yoshino went back to his usual self.

Regardless, as much as he insisted he didn't want anything, Yoshino was eventually going to lose strength if he continued with an empty stomach. And with that, his concentration would falter, and his irritability would increase. Not to mention that, from experience, Hatori knew that at times like this, Yoshino could only go back to normal once he was full.

"Here." Hatori offered him a glass of carbonated drink with a lemon slice, at least to give him some sugar. 

"Mm." Even though he had said he didn't want it, Yoshino accepted the drink as if it were the natural thing to do. It seemed he was indeed rather thirsty, because it took him no time to start chugging it.

And finally, after a while, Yoshino started to look a little embarrassed, as if he had just realized what an asshole he had been this whole time.

"Go get a change of pace. You won't come up with any good ideas by just sitting there and groaning,"

"Going outside is too much trouble."

"Then eat something, take a shower, take a nap. You haven't slept properly since yesterday, right?"

"I'm not sleepy."

"At least try to lie down. It's important to rest your body, too."

"I know that, but it's almost there! I feel like I'm almost there... Ugh! Why am I like this!?" Yoshino rubbed his temples frantically. 

"You can't organize your ideas, right?"

Hatori would’ve loved to help him brainstorm if only Yoshino asked. But since no one was asking for help yet, the wise thing to do for now was to just lie in wait quietly.

Whatever was the root problem was hardly relevant at this point. What was important now was to find the easiest solution. 

"That's why I'm telling you to take a break. It's a beautiful day, why don't you go for a walk? You're not getting enough exercise, are you?"

"I don't even have ideas!"

Looking out the window, a clear blue sky stretched out before Hatori's eyes. It was a little windy too, but for a walk, that breeze would probably be a good thing. Hatori himself hadn’t taken a leisurely walk in years, so maybe it wouldn't be so bad.

"I’ve been feeling a little sick lately, I don’t think I should be going outside." 

Yoshino didn’t seem to have any full-blown symptoms yet, but he did mention his nose feeling itchy. It could very easily just be his mind playing games, but come to think of it, maybe it was clever for him to stay indoors during peak pollen season, just in case.

"Well, how about a movie? You can wear a mask while you're outside. I'll go along with anything, if you don’t want to go alone."

Whenever Hatori went to the movies, he liked to see indie films, while on the other hand Yoshino preferred to watch action films. So usually, whenever Yoshino wanted to see a movie, he would go with Yanase, whose tastes aligned way better to his.

“………” Yoshino had fallen silent again. It looked like he wasn’t even hearing a word Hatori was saying anymore.

“Yoshino, are you listening?”

Resigning himself to the fact that he’d have to let him be for a while, Hatori turned to head back to the kitchen... Until a muttered voice brought him back.

“……I think I get it. I get why I’m irritated.”

“Oh, really? So what is it?”

Yoshino didn’t answer. Instead, he simply stood up abruptly, grabbed Hatori’s arm and dragged him out of the living room.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

“You said you’d be going along with anything, didn’t you?”

“I was talking about the movie…”

“Yet that’s not the root problem, is it?”

“Huh?”

Before he could make sense of the situation, Hatori was shoved into the bedroom, and then onto the bed he’d just made.

“W-What the hell?” Without the faintest idea of what was going on, Hatori frantically sat up to complain, but was immediately taken aback by Yoshino’s remark.

“We haven’t done it at all lately! So I guess I’ve been building up some sort of pent-up energy.”

“………………………………………What did you say?” Hatori blinked in disbelief at the words he would've never expected to hear coming out of Yoshino’s mouth.

“Hey! You’re super pushy when you want to be, why are you so shy now? Are you trying to tease me just when I’m finally getting used to this?”

“No, that's not it… Who are you?” Hatori blurted out, staring intently at Yoshino’s face. Although the person in front of him did look and sound like Yoshino, Hatori found himself suspecting that perhaps his Yoshino had been replaced with some sort of evil doppelgänger.

“Got a problem?”

“Not at all, but...” He was about to say he was just surprised, but ended up swallowing his words when his body was suddenly pushed back down. 

Yoshino pinned Hatori down from above and looked at him, his eyes fixed on Hatori’s. Hatori would’ve loved to ask if he was genuinely being for real, but there was something in the air telling him this indeed wasn’t a joke, so he remained silent. 

So even if Yoshino was acting like a whole new person today, Hatori concluded that there was no actual need to force him to stop. 

(In a way, it’s a win-win situation, isn't it?)

To an outside observer, it might’ve even looked like Hatori was being attacked, but truth was he wasn’t putting up the slightest resistance.

“……There’s still light outside.”

“It’s a bit too late to care for that now, isn’t it?”

“You’re right.”

Yoshino’s head blocked from sight the light coming through the window, casting a shadow over Hatori’s face. And just when his eyes started to adjust to the light, the face in front of his disappeared from view.

“……..” The lips pressed against his were hotter than expected. Perhaps Yoshino's body temperature in general was higher because he hadn’t been getting enough sleep.

 “Mm, uh-huh.” Yoshino was the one to entwine his tongue with Hatori's, who was still taken aback by his assertiveness.

It was true Yoshino seemed to be getting quite used to this sort of thing, but that little nervousness from the beginning was still far from gone. It wasn’t so much a sense of guilt or resistance, but rather that it was overwhelming to endure the embarrassment, which he pretty much just accepted as part of the experience.

“U, mm……!”

The kiss, their first in a long time, made Hatori's body grow hot. He placed his hand on the back of Yoshino’s head and ran his fingers through his tousled hair, making his shoulders tremble slightly when he casually brushed behind his ear, 

As Yoshino had mentioned earlier, both of them had been so busy with work lately that they hadn’t had a moment to spare for private time. 

(…Or was that just an excuse?)

Nevertheless, it still wasn't right to make Yoshino feel dissatisfied. Especially since his mental state directly affected the quality of his work, Hatori realized he should have been more considerate, both as his boyfriend and as his editor.

Hatori reflected on how he could have been using their busy schedules as an excuse to tease him. Because it was not like they didn’t have any chance to meet face-to-face; if he had wanted to, he could have always made the time for that to happen.

Yet he didn't do it because he wasn’t as anxious as he used to be; now that he could truly feel that Yoshino did love him the same, it seemed he was starting to let his guard down. 

“You.”

“...What are you thinking about?” Hatori's train of thought was interrupted when Yoshino looked at him and nudged his nose.

“Sorry.” Hatori couldn’t help but laugh. Yoshino really did seem like a completely different person today, telling him to focus more.

“I’m right here, you idiot.” .

After offering his apology, Hatori embraced Yoshino’s waist and rolled over to switch to their usual position and start over.

“...You don't look sorry.” Yoshino glared at him.

“That’s just your imagination.”

“Mm, mm...” Yoshino’s lips were covered before he could protest any further, Hatori forcing his tongue into Yoshino’s gasping mouth. 

As Hatori continued kissing him relentlessly, Yoshino writhed, looking as if he were struggling to breathe. Startled, he looked up and Hatori paused.

The sensation of Yoshino's hot tongue clenching around his was almost enough to burn out the nerves in his brain. And adding to that, Hatori could feel something hard against his crotch. Yoshino seemed to be already rock-hard, and Hatori was pretty much in the same state.

“Sorry.”

“......Why are you apologizing?” Yoshino glared at him with moist eyes, breathless.

When Hatori looked away, his gaze fell on Yoshino's defenseless Adam’s apple, rising and falling as he swallowed air. It was probably just Hatori’s own delusion that made it look so inviting, but he couldn't help but lean in as if drawn to it.

“Ah!” Yoshino let out a small gasp when Hatori lightly pressed his lips against his neck, suppressing an impulse to bite.  

Pleased by that reaction, Hatori sucked gently on his skin, leaving a little mark behind. As he continued to kiss his neck like that, Yoshino's body grew even more flushed, with each little breath that escaped his lips carrying a growing heat.

“Mm, ah, ha………………!”

With both their lips locked once again, Hatori slipped his hand under the hem of Yoshino's sweatshirt, touching his skin already glistening with sweat. The smooth texture felt so good that he couldn’t help but run his hand all over him.

“Yaa—” The moment Hatori's finger caught the tip of his nipple, Yoshino's body jerked in response. 

The nipple grew hard as Hatori continued to stroke it with his fingertips. Then, holding down his squirming body, Hatori pulled the sweatshirt up and pressed his lips against the hardened spot.

Hatori pushed down the waistband of Yoshino's sweatpants and stroked the area around his hipbones. And just as he was about to reach for his underwear…

“Hya, ah, an” Unable to hold back any longer, Yoshino wrapped his arms around Hatori's head as he let out a breathy moan. Every time Hatori bit down, Yoshino’s slender body jerked beneath him

“Take yours off too.”

Suddenly, Hatori's knit sweater and the T-shirt underneath were pulled up and forcefully stripped off.

“…”

“What’s with that face?” Perhaps Hatori's surprise at this forcefulness was showing on his face, because now it was Yoshino’s turn to laugh.

“I was just a little surprised.”

As if to strike back, Hatori set about undressing Yoshino, pulling the sweatshirt over his head to fully expose his pale skin.

Hatori had always thought of himself as heterosexual (*T/N if you laugh you go to hell). Yet, the fact that he found himself so aroused by this flat, curveless chest just went on to show what a mysterious thing instinct could be

“Have you gained weight?

“You told me to put on some muscle.” Yoshino’s glare darkened at Hatori’s words.

“I wasn’t complaining.”

Quite the opposite, it was good that Yoshino seemed to be getting healthier. While he usually had a huge appetite, he would often get so immersed in his work that his head would not have room for hunger or anything else that wasn't manga, so he could go entire days without eating or drinking a single thing.

To encourage Yoshino to eat, Hatori would usually prepare some side dishes in advance for him to just heat whenever he felt hungry. Adding to that, Yoshino had been learning to cook rice on his own, so his diet improved considerably even while Hatori was away. 

If anything, now it would be ideal if he could also get some moderate exercise, but Hatori tried to not nag him too much with it, so as to not accidentally discourage him with excessive demands.

(...Wouldn't this count as exercise, too?)

He was burning calories for sure, but he wasn't building any muscle. It was cardio, more than anything.

“...You’re thinking unnecessary things again, aren’t you?” Yoshino shook him.

“How did you know?”

“How wouldn't I? We’re childhood friends, after all.”

“We are lovers as well, right?”

“……That’s part of it, too.” Yoshino corrected himself with an embarrassed look on his face. “Whatever. If you zone out again, I’ll have to punish you, you know.”

“I’ll be looking forward to that.” Hatori was curious about what exactly did Yoshino mean by 'punishing' him, but he decided to save that question for another time. 

“I’m serious—! huh?”

Hatori grabbed Yoshino's buttocks with both hands and rubbed his hips against him, interrupting his words.

“I’ll focus now.” Hatori whispered in his ear, sensing Yoshino gasp softly.

“Mmm…”

It had been Yoshino who urged him to hurry. Hatori had been trying to build up some tension as a form of penance, but Yoshino wasn't having any of it.

Finally, Hatori obliged to his wishes and spread his open legs apart to push his erection, covered by that nasty rubber sheath, inside him.

"Relax." Even though he had thoroughly loosened him up with lube, Yoshino was still unbearably tight.

"I… can't..."

"You can always do it, right?"

"Yeah..."

Hatori gripped his slender waist and pushed all the way in forcefully. Suppressing the urge to roughly thrust in and out, he focused on savoring that tight, slick feeling around him.

"Ah, ah..."

Yoshino was gritting his teeth, enduring the pressure. To help ease his tense body, Hatori reached for his erection, still rock hard from not having come once in all that time.

"Aah..."

Hatori found the tip dripping wet with overflowing bodily fluids. As he stroked it, enjoying the slippery sensation, he started to move his hips in and out, restraining himself from moving impulsively and going at a steady pace.

"Ah, ah, ahn" In time with that rhythm, an even sweeter voice rose from the depths of Yoshino's throat.

Satisfied with this response, Hatori continued to thrust. Seeing Yoshino's face, on the verge of tears from the intense pleasure, only made him want to be even meaner.

“Let me hear more.”

“No... ah, ah, ah?!”

Perhaps struggling to endure the overwhelming rush of pleasure, Yoshino’s pale fingers that had been wandering over the bedspread suddenly clenched tight around the edge of the pillow. 

Unable to resist that sight, Hatori thrust into the inner walls that writhed hungrily around him with renewed intensity, His breath coming in ragged gasps, Yoshino dug his nails into Hatori’s back as if to cling to him tightly, signaling that the climax was near.

“I’m… going to come………………!”

“Hold on just a little longer.”

“Aah………………!”

Hatori regained his grip on Yoshino's hips and thrusted forcefully, the deepest he could. Yoshino’s body, arched like a bow, shook violently at the increased tempo. As Hatori picked up speed and pounded into him, lewd wet sounds echoed through the room, further heightening his excitement.

“Ah, ah, ah, ah… Aaah!” Eventually, Yoshino let out a particularly high-pitched cry as he finally reached his climax, releasing a stream of white fluid as his body trembled.

"Yoshino…!” Feeling Yoshino clench down on the erect member he had taken deep inside him, Hatori also reached his climax. 

And before he could try to process the afterglow of his orgasm, Yoshino pulled his head closer and stole a kiss from him. 

It had been a day full of surprises for him, but this was just the beginning. All Hatori had to do now was compose himself, savoring the sensation of their lips and tongues meeting. 

And again and again, he had Yoshino let out moans of pleasure.

₊ ° ✦ ‧ ‧ ₊ ˚✧ part 2

“Yoshino, how long are you going to keep this up?”

“I told you to leave me alone!” Yoshino snarled back from under the covers.

Rather than wanting to sleep, it seemed like Yoshino was simply taking something out on Hatori. He was most certainly embarrassed, and Hatori could hardly blame him; just from thinking about what had happened the day before, he still found himself grinning.

“There’s no need to be shy now.”

“Shut up!” This snide remark, however, seemed more a way of hiding his embarrassment than taking it out on him.

Just as he had thought, Yoshino hadn’t been quite himself earlier due to a lack of sleep. But having gotten both his need to rest and his pent-up desire satisfied, all he had left now was this undying self-consciousness.

(It almost looked like he was drunk…)

It had been quite the bold move after all. But despite being taken aback by such a daring invitation, Hatori had absolutely no complaints; on the contrary, it had been a very welcome surprise. 

“The water is ready, so go take a bath. I’ll get dinner ready while you’re in there.”

“I don’t want either.”

As if to object to that statement, Yoshino’s stomach growled loudly, and an awkward silence followed. At times like this, Yoshino’s body was more honest than his words could ever be. 

“Are you really sure you don’t want anything?”

“………”

“I can make you anything. I haven't made fried rice in a while...” Rather than pressing him, Hatori figured things might go quicker if he just dangled the carrot in front of Yoshino.

“……..”

“Or would you prefer something lighter? Udon, soba…" Hatori started listing Yoshino’s favorite foods one after another. "Or how about something sweet with an egg on top? Or maybe..."

“……I’ll have some fried rice. And egg drop soup too.” Yoshino mumbled his request from under the covers. Just as expected, it didn't take too long before he finally threw the towel. 

“Got it.”

Amused by such a predictable reaction, Hatori left the bedroom. He knew Yoshino would only get even more sulky if he caught him grinning, so he did his best to keep his lips shut tight 

(Well, he’ll bounce back in a little while, I guess.)

(previous)

₊ ° ✦ ‧ ‧ ₊ ˚✧ part 4

It was once the after-dinner coffee arrived that Hatori could finally take a breath. Dinner had been harsh under so much pressure, but it was finally over.

"I'm so glad we could get along so well, Yoshikawa-san."

“I also enjoyed talking about manga a lot with you, sir."

To the dinner attended Isaka, Yoshino, and Hatori.

It had been very helpful that, knowing that Yoshino was quite shy, Isaka had been very nice the whole time. He was a natural when it came to winning people over, so the more they talked, the more Yoshino seemed to relax.

Not to mention of course, Yoshino himself was also trying incredibly hard to give a good impression, so much so that Hatori was secretly amused to see him try so hard.

"I know there is still a lot for you to draw, Sensei, but I'm looking forward to the developments for next year. Thank you very much."

"Oh, I'll just be drawing like I always do. It's Hatori who's gonna be working hard… Speaking of which, what happened with the collection?"

"Ah right. That illustration book is scheduled for next year, right?"

"Yes, that's the plan." Yoshino nodded to Isaka's question. But even though Hatori had already told Isaka about the project, he was yet to report to him the little inconvenience he was having with the missing manuscripts.

“So, it’s all settled?”

“No, well, that’s…” 

“Did something happen?” Isaka pressed for an answer at the sight of Hatori’s hesitance.

Hatori would’ve wanted to wait until things had progressed a bit further before saying anything, but since Yoshino had brought it up in flow with the conversation, he had no choice but to talk about it. 

“Actually…”

And as Hatori explained everything, from how the illustrations he planned to include hadn’t been returned, to how he was told to either not include them or postpone the publication date itself, Isaka reacted with more and more indignation.

“What’s that supposed to mean? It’s nonsense! Does that author work with us?”

 “Marukawa published some of his books a few years ago, but the editor who handled them is no longer with us.” Hatori had tried to find someone able to contact this novelist, but the one person that could have done that had gotten married and left the company the year before. “These are very rare works from Yoshikawa-sensei and I’d like to include them if possible, but as things stand now, it’s going to be difficult.”

“Have you spoken to the legal affairs department?”

“I tried to, but since I didn’t want to make a fuss, I wasn’t sure how to proceed.” Hatori had offered compromise after compromise, but there was absolutely no sign that the other side was willing to budge. 

It came to a point where it seemed less like company’s policies and more like the novelist’s own whim. And in this kind of work where creators collaborate, there was no hierarchy.

Or at least so it seemed to Hatori. Back in the day, he had gotten the impression that this novelist was looking down on Yoshino, who wasn’t particularly popular at the time. Still, the work itself was interesting, and the editor was enthusiastic about it, so he didn't pay it much mind.

But even now, even when he insisted on using Chiharu Yoshikawa’s name as a hook, his dismissive attitude was still blatant.

“...I’ve been thinking about it a lot, but what if we just don't use those illustrations?”

“Huh?”

“I had fun working on them, and I definitely gave it my all, so it’s not like I don’t want to show them to my readers. But if using them is gonna bring us so much trouble, I can just draw something better—so please use that instead.”

“Yoshino…” Even though they were standing right in front of Isaka, Hatori couldn’t help but call Yoshino by his real name.

"We tried to explain our situation and come up with a solution, and they are still not willing to compromise; at this point it feels like they are just trying to get in the way. The editor from back then may not be here anymore, but I'm sure he would’ve told the author about the collection from the beginning if he had just asked. So maybe this guy just doesn't care about us."

Hatori had tried his best not to let Yoshino sense that he was being disregarded, but it seemed he had picked up on it anyway.

"Are you sure about this, sensei?"

"I think I'd regret it more if we included them. I don't want any trouble after the collection comes out, so I'll draw as many new illustrations as needed." Yoshino answered to Isaka's question with a wry smile.

"Oh! Thank you for those encouraging words. I’m sure readers will be very happy with lots of new illustrations."

But even though Isaka seemed pleased, Hatori couldn't just let it go.

"Hey, Yoshino. Are you sure about this?"

Yoshino wasn't particularly fast, and especially when it came to colored illustrations, he could be way too meticulous. And even if he miraculously could make things work when it came to magazine covers and the like, doing so much for an illustration collection wouldn't be as easy.

"It's fine. I'll do my best."

"..." Yoshino’s gaze was more serious than usual, and upon sensing the strength of his resolve, Hatori fell silent.

"Hatori, make sure you provide the proper support."

"Of course, that's my intention." In any case, if the author was serious about anything, then it was the editor's job to support them. So it was up to Hatori to do everything he could.

"I just have one last question: what is it like having Hatori as your editor? Being his childhood friend, it must get weird at times, right?"

“Isaka-san…”

“Well, I don’t know about Hatori, but I’m really glad he’s been assigned to me” Yoshino cut off Hatori before he could reply. “Not just because he is someone I trust personally, but also because I genuinely think he’s the most talented editor you guys have, so I count on him.”

“Then I’m looking forward to seeing how things unfold! We’ll be giving it our all, and I look forward to keep working with you.” Isaka smiled contentedly at Yoshino’s response, and as he bowed deeply, Yoshino hurriedly straightened his posture and returned the bow.

After declining a second cup of coffee, the dinner finally came to an end.

“Um, thanks for the meal today. I’ll keep doing my best, so please continue to take care of me.”

“Likewise, thank you for coming all this way. How are you getting home?”

Isaka had offered to call a taxi for him in front of the restaurant, but Yoshino declined.

“Oh, I want to sober up a bit, so I’ll walk home.”

“Are you sure?”

“I don't really like taxis, and I like to take the train every once in a while. Oh, but thank you for your concern.” 

“Well then, I guess I’ll take the train home, too. Hatori, can I leave the rest to you?”

“Yes. Thank you for your time today.”

"...Oh, that's right, Hatori?" Before Hatori could turn away and urge Yoshino toward the station, Isaka called out his name, as if he’d just remembered something.

"Yes?"

"That’s a nice tie. You should wear things like that more often."

"......Thank you." The unexpected compliment made Hatori’s heart skip a beat.

"Well then, be careful on your way home! Please take care of sensei."

"Will do." Hatori bowed again before turning around and walking with Yoshino.

The busiest downtown area in Japan showed no signs of sleeping. It was lively but not chaotic, giving off an elegant calmness. It was in moments like these that Hatori truly felt he had become an adult, even though he had been one for the past 10 years.

Or maybe it had to do with the the person he'd always wished to have by his side now walking beside him.

"......You really helped me out today. Thank you." Hatori had intended to support the inexperienced Yoshino at tonight’s dinner. But in the end, it was him who had been helped.

"For what?"

"For agreeing to dinner. And… for what you said to Isaka-san."

"I-I didn't really say anything strange." Yoshino looked away, seeming a little embarrassed.

“But are you sure it was okay to say something like that?”

“Like what?”

“About the illustrations. You don’t actually have the time to draw a bunch of new ones from scratch, do you?”

Yoshino’s schedule was already booked solid for the next three years, and this past year alone had been packed to the brim. Even if he did manage to juggle his schedule a bit, it’d be really hard to be able to produce that many new illustrations.

“It’ll be fine. I’ll make sure to carve out the time. And it’s not like I’m not upset about it.”

“Huh?”

“You’re pretty attached to those drawings, aren’t you? It was my first time working on a commission, I put a lot of effort into them too. You had been saying since then that you wanted to make that collection, so I get why you’re so determined to include them. I’m sure they have their own reasons, but this still feels so disrespectful...”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry if this got you upset.”

“That’s not it—well, I’m not exactly in a good mood either, but if I had to pick, I guess what really pisses me off is that you were treated like that… I can’t really explain it well, but…”

“Yoshino…”

“And if I get in trouble, you’ll end up having to deal with the fallout again, right? Anyway, it pisses me off, so I’m not using them! Instead, I’ll draw something even better! That’s it!” 

“...If you say so.”

Hatori couldn’t say he didn’t have any lingering regrets. But more than that, he was happy to hear how Yoshino felt.

And as Yoshino had said, even if they somehow could manage to get those illustrations included, there was no guarantee that there wouldn't be any complaints later. Considering that risk, it was safer not to include them from the beginning.

"Sorry if I’m being selfish."

"I think I'm the one who should apologize." Hatori would’ve never imagined Yoshino would see right through his feelings and stubbornness.

"...You wore that tie, didn't you?"

"I guess."

"Isaka-san complimented it too, so maybe I have good taste after all."

Even though he had hesitated to wear the suit, Hatori still wanted to match the tie with a suit he already owned. He figured it would be acceptable to dress up this much, and as much as he would’ve never picked those flashy colors for himself, he was happy to see Yoshino pleased.

"Hey, let's go somewhere."

"Right now?" Although the dinner ended earlier than expected, it was still getting late.

"It's okay, we're adults. And I've never gone out at night before. So take this as a practice run for a date."

"There's not much to do right now besides eating and drinking?"

"Then let’s go to a bar!"

"Okay…"

Normally, Hatori would’ve sent him home early so it wouldn’t affect his schedule, but just for tonight, maybe he could make an exception.

“Don’t jump into bed like that. Give me your jacket first”

“As if I would ever do something like that.”

“I don't know about that…” Hatori took Yoshino’s jacket and hung it on a hanger.

Even though they had called it a date, they didn’t really have anywhere to go. Hatori didn’t feel like going to a club, nor could he think of any in particular where Yoshino would enjoy himself. He had considered a late-night movie, but there wasn’t any Yoshino wanted to see. So in the end, Hatori simply decided to go along with whatever Yoshino wanted.

They ended up having a few cocktails at a hotel bar within walking distance from the restaurant. One can go and “let loose” virtually anywhere, but if it’s a bar inside a hotel, it’s hard to worry whether it’ll be a hit or a miss.

However, when closing time came around, Yoshino impulsively booked a room.

“Whoa, what an amazing view! I would say the cliché line here, but you can’t really see anything at night anyways. Check out Tori…! What’s up with you? You look tired.”

“I guess I did drink too much.”

Not only had Isaka made him drink a lot, but also, without giving it much thought, he had ended up chugging that strong cocktail Yoshino had ordered and didn't like. In retrospect, maybe that second part hadn’t been much of a good idea.

He wasn’t about to black-out or anything, but Hatori did feel exhausted.

“You don't look that bad, though.”

“You know I don’t let it show on my face. And you don’t get say on this, you made me finish the rest of that cocktail.”

“Sorry, sorry. I just didn’t think it would be that strong~. And come to think of it, wasn’t it Isaka who made you drink until you were about to die that one time?”

“......I guess that did happen.”

The one time Yoshino was refering to, Isaka had found out Hatori could hold his liquor pretty well and, barely ever having the chance to see someone drink so much without getting drunk, had a fun time making him drink to no end.

(It’ll wear off after a good night’s sleep, though.)

Hatori had never in his life been badly hungover, and ever since his student days, he’d always been the one to take care of his drunk friends at drinking parties. He’d sometimes wish he could just get drunk himself so that he wouldn’t have to take on that troublesome role, but then again, it was better for him to not lose control and make a fool of himself.

After hanging his own jacket in the closet, Hatori sat down on the bed, and just as he was about to take off his tie...

“Hold on!”

“What?”

"Don't do it. I wanna untie it for you" Yoshino pouted. 

The whole ‘the person who gives the tie now gets to untie it’ thing was quite a cliché, so Hatori was quite surprised Yoshino actually wanted to go through with it.

".....I'll leave it to you, then."

"I've always wanted to try it."

"Yoshino, are you drunk?"

"No, I'm not!" Yoshino exclaimed before standing in front of Hatori and slipping his fingers into the knot of the tie, untying it smoothly. "Wait, this is kinda fun. I wanna do it again."

"Tie it back yourself."

"You know I'm not good at it."

"Then do it with your own tie."

"It’s not fun if I do it with my own tie!"

"You're drunk."

"I'm not!"

"Just get out of the way. If you're not going to use the shower, I'll go in first."

"Hey, that's not fair! You're trying to escape!" Yoshino tried to block his path.

"I just want to take a shower..."

"But wait a minute... whoa!" Yoshino lost his balance and tripped forward, knocking Hatori down and falling on the bed, right on top of him.

"...You're being quite straightforward today."

"I-I didn't mean to..."

But just as Yoshino tried to get up in a panic, Hatori shifted their positions, pinning him against the bed.

"Now it's my turn."

"Huh?"

Since he'd gone to such lengths to keep him there, Hatori figured Yoshino must’ve been expecting something. Being a little drunk, he had thought Yoshino would just fall asleep quickly, but with this kind of teasing, his patience was starting to run thin.

With Yoshino staring at him, Hatori removed the clip and carefully untied his tie, placing it by the pillow. Then, he reached for the buttons on his shirt and started undoing them one by one.

As if he was unwrapping a present he had wrapped himself.

"W-wait a second! I didn't go that far!" snapping back to reality, Yoshino tried to grab his hand, but Hatori paid him no mind and continued.

"You can do the same later."

“What do you mean ‘the same’!?, I didn’t mean to take off your shirt, I just wanted to untie your tie…!”

“I, on the other hand, want to take this whole suit off you.”

“....” As soon as he voiced that desire, Yoshino’s face flushed bright red.

“You brought me to this hotel. You knew this would happen, right?”

“……Yeah, well……” Blushing deeply, Yoshino looked away. Perhaps all that had just been an attempt to fool himself into forgetting what he was actually thinking.

“You’ll have to take responsibility for setting this up.”

And as his chin was lifted, Yoshino obediently closed his eyes. The lips Hatori gently kissed tasted of lime from the gimlet, and Yoshino’s mouth, forced open somewhat roughly, felt hotter than usual.

In the meantime, Hatori slid his hand under Yoshino’s shirt and caressed his dry skin. When he stroked up his side, Yoshino twisted his body, and when he pinched the tip of his nipple, he trembled slightly.

“W-wait a second.”

“Now what?”

“At least let me take this off first—you’re going to wrinkle my pants.” Yoshino protested as he pushed Hatori away from him.

“That’s true.” It was unusual for Yoshino to even think about something like that, but maybe he was being careful because these were formal clothes he rarely wore.

"You should take yours off too. I can’t be the only one like this..."

"Yeah, yeah." Just when Hatori had thought the mood was getting more romantic, it seemed to quickly revert to its usual atmosphere.

Perhaps to hide his own embarrassment, Yoshino began to undress himself as if he were about to take a bath. There was absolutely nothing sexy about it, but that was to be expected of him.

"Why are you still clothed?!" Turning around in just his underwear, Yoshino raised his voice at Hatori's appearance.

"I was watching you undress."

"Just hurry up and take them off!"

"So you are not going to undress me after all?"

"......At times like this, you really piss me off." Yoshino pouted as he grabbed Hatori’s collar.

"Really?" The angry expression on Yoshino’s face was so cute, Hatori couldn’t help but laugh.

"Yeah! What are you laughing at!?"

"Sorry."

"Do you even think you did anything wrong?"

“I do.” It was just that he didn’t really regret it. “...So, where were we?” Placing his hand on top of Yoshino’s, Hatori urged him to continue.

“Mmm, mmm, hmm…” With their arms wrapped around each other, Hatori and Yoshino embraced and entwined their tongues. 

At some point, their sweat-soaked bodies started to feel gross, so they ended up moving to the glass-walled shower stall. They had meant to hold back once there, but ended up getting carried away anyway. 

The hot water pouring down from above was now getting annoying though, so Hatori reached out and turned off the faucet, the awkward position causing their kiss to break.

“Ah…”

Hatori brushed his wet hair back and smoothed it against the back of his head, then did the same with Yoshino’s bangs.

“Tori, more…” Despite Hatori’s attempt to stop for a moment, Yoshino stood on tiptoe and reached for Hatori’s lips.

“.....Hmm.”

Yoshino should have sobered up by now, but he still seemed to be drowning in pleasure, clinging to Hatori’s neck as he intertwined their tongues together. However, when Hatori sucked hard on the tip of his tongue, he trembled, meaning the shame surrounding the act itself wasn't completely gone.

At moments like this, Yoshino could become very assertive, sometimes even leaving Hatori speechless. Regardless, whatever Yoshino desired, Hatori would respond accordingly.

"Mm, mm, mmm." 

As Hatori pulled Yoshino’s hips closer, his hardened desire pressed against him again. He had wanted to stop with just this kiss, but that seemed out of the question now. 

It didn’t take long before he lifted one of Yoshino’s legs and pressed the tip of his erection against him before pushing himself back inside. 

“Ahh!?” There was no resistance left after the previous lovemaking in bed, so even if Yoshino was bewildered by Hatori's haste, all he could do was gasp as his hot inner walls clung tightly to the intruder that kept penetrating further inside him.

"Hold on tight." Hatori lifted Yoshino's other leg, who was now digging his nails into his back.

"Uh... ah, ugh..." With the weight of his raised body deepening the connection, Yoshino slumped over Hatori's shoulder, gritting his teeth. Perhaps uneasy in this unstable position, Yoshino tensed his body. squeezing Hatori’s arousal even tighter.

"It's tight."

"Ugh, Tori, don't move yet...!"

"It’s harder like this, right?"

"Yeah... Ah, A, ah...!"

As Hatori shook on impulse their bodies joined together down to the very base, the inner walls enveloping his arousal trembled with desire, and a raspy, high-pitched moan escaped Yoshino's lips. Hatori knew he had chosen a reckless position, but being clung to as if Yoshino were clinging to a lifeline didn’t feel half bad.

“Ugh, ah, ah, ah…” Listening to his incessant moans right by his ear, Hatori too surrendered to his desires and pounded Yoshino fiercely. 

Soon enough, they ended up losing track of time as they continued to seek each other out, holding each other close.

₊ ° ✦ ‧ ‧ ₊ ˚✧ p.5

Hatori was shaken violently, forcibly awakened from his sleep.

"Wake up, Tori! What's going on?"

"Shut up... Let me sleep..."

When he looked at the clock; Hatori noticed it wasn't even 7 a.m yet. So the alcohol must have made Yoshino’s sleep light.

"But where are we?! You and I are both naked!"

"You brought me to this hotel, remember?"

"I did?!" Yoshino cried out in disbelief. Having just woken up, he seemed to have no memory of whatever happened last night.

"Don't you remember wanting to go to a bar after dinner with Isaka-san?"

"I guess, but..."

"And then you said you wanted to get a room and went to the front desk, right?"

"I don't..."

"And then you untied my tie and pushed me onto the bed."

"I did that!?!?!?"

"You were pretty proactive. How can you not remember?"

"Ah, something like that...???"

Taking advantage of the fact that Yoshino didn’t seem to remember anything, Hatori exaggerated the story a bit. He figured Yoshino would eventually remember things once he cooled down, but for now, Hatori wanted to poke some fun at him.

"If you don't believe me, check the name on the check-in yourself. I'm going back to sleep."

"Hey, Tori, don't fall asleep!"

"Shut up. There's still time until check-out. Come, sleep some more too."

"Whoa!"

Hatori pulled the flustered Yoshino into his arms and hugged him tightly. No matter what, he didn't want his precious slumber disturbed right now, not even by Yoshino.

"But even if you tell me to sleep—"

"Either you shut up, or I shut you up."

And with that final threat, Yoshino finally closed his mouth. 

fem sagaodas first time hehe

(previous)

"How is it going, Yoshino?" Hatori called from outside the fitting room.

"It’s on, but I can't fix the tie..." a struggling voice replied from inside.

As planned, once the storyboard had been submitted on time, Hatori went with Yoshino to buy a suit, having chosen this store because Hatori thought its' sophisticated style would suit Yoshino. It would have been ideal to have the suit be fully custom-made, but there wasn't enough time; in the end, the dinner with Isaka was scheduled to come after the final proofreading—in two weeks.

"Come out, I'll tie it for you."

"W-wait a second..."

After a while, a somewhat embarrassed Yoshino emerged from the fitting room. Everything from head to toe —suit, shirt, tie, and shoes— had been all carefully picked by Hatori, taking the salesclerk’s advice into consideration. The hem was a little too long, but other than that, the suit looked fine on him.

"I haven’t worn leather shoes in ages..."

"They suit you."

"You’d think even a horse looks good in fine clothes!" Yoshino retorted sarcastically to hide his embarrassment.

"That's not true. Here, let me fix your tie." Hatori took the slim tie and put it around Yoshino's neck, adjusting the length and carefully tying the knot.

(How nostalgic.)

Back in their student days, Hatori used to fix Yoshino's tie just like this. Perhaps the reason Yoshino still couldn’t do it on his own was precisely because Hatori always stepped in to help.

"It's done." he patted Yoshino’s chest and gestured for him to look in the mirror. "It looks good, doesn't it?"

"Yes, it suits you very well." the salesclerk standing nearby agreed.

"R-really?"

It almost annoyed Hatori that Yoshino seemed to trust the salesclerk’s words more than his, but thinking about it, perhaps the clerk’s opinion would be more reliable, considering Hatori’s own biases.

"How does it feel?"

"It's much more comfortable than I thought! The jacket feels light too."

"Because it's so light, we recommend this option to people who don't wear suits often."

"But still, it feels weird... It's like, it's not made for me..." Yoshino looked very uncomfortable standing in front of the mirror. His back, usually hunched, was now unusually straight.

"That's probably because you don’t wear suits often. You’ll get used to it after a while."

"The length seems fine as is. Shall we adjust the hem a little?"

"Ah, yes."

The salesclerk knelt down and adjusted the hem length.

"How does this look?" Yoshino asked once again, glancing at Hatori.

"It suits you well." Hatori told him again while looking at him in the mirror with a serious expression.

"......Um, then, I'll take the whole set, please." Yoshino blushed.

"Certainly. Thank you."

"Oh, shouldn't I take this off?"

"We'll prepare a new one for you right away, so take your time." The salesclerk bowed and went to the back room. Yoshino also returned to the fitting room to change back into his own clothes.

"It feels like I've finished a big job." Yoshino, back in jeans and sneakers, now sported a bright expression on his face, in stark contrast to how uncomfortable he looked in that unfamiliar ensemble.

"The real thing is in two weeks, you know."

"Ah, why did I accept...?"

"Hey, don't back down now."

It was too late for regrets now. When Hatori had told Isaka that Yoshino agreed to the dinner, it didn't take the man too long before starting to look for a restaurant in very high spirits.

"But I don't even know what to talk about!"

"Don't worry. Isaka-san is good at starting conversations. He might even know more about manga than I do."

"Wait, Isaka-san reads manga?"

"He's probably read almost all of our company's books. He's the type to read anything he finds interesting."

"Oh, really?"

Despite being born into the founding family of Marukawa Shoten, Isaka’s current position as President and CEO was something he had earned through his own merit. He was a self-made man, who rose through the ranks and climbed the corporate ladder all the way from the bottom at a young age, undeterred by the constant accusations of riding on his parents' coattails. And while his demanding nature could sometimes be annoying, his talent and hard work were certainly worthy of respect.

"He can be quite pushy though, so be careful not to get carried away and take on extra work." 

"Don't try to scare me..."

Knowing him, Isaka had the persuasive skills to push onto Yoshino certain things he had turned down before, such as autograph sessions. And if Yoshino were to regret anything he had agreed to during the dinner, it could only bring him trouble.

"I'll handle that part, so just be careful." 

"Well, whatever. No matter how much I think about it, whatever will be, will be." Yoshino’s statement was hard to tell apart as positive or dismissive, but it was much better than him being stubborn. "...Oh, that's right. Are you not gonna try a suit too?”

"I'm fine. I have enough suits." Hatori had bought a new one in the spring, not to mention the ones from this store were usually too flashy for him to wear to work, and not really suitable for a salaryman's monthly wage anyways.

"That's not fair, you dragged me here and now you're being dismissive! At least try something on… Look, this one's nice!" Yoshino pointed to a mannequin, donning a suit of a color and silhouette Hatori would have never picked for himself. 

"You have a good figure, so I'm sure it would suit you." A nearby salesclerk chimed in.

"Right?"

"You can just try it on, if you like."

"...Just try it on."

"Okay! So that suit with this shirt. And which tie?"

"Well, if you're going for something safe, this one would be good, but maybe you want to try something a little more adventurous."

"A bright color like this would be nice, wouldn't it?" In stark contrast to when he was picking out his own suit, Yoshino was now enthusiastically chatting with the salesclerk.

“Here, this one.”

And so, Hatori took the suit and reluctantly headed into the fitting room, hoping Yoshino would be satisfied with 'just trying it on’.

Just as he had thought, the suit picked for him had a very slim silhouette and an overly pretentious vibe to it. True, it was comfortable because it was well-tailored, and the design did make him feel somewhat more stylish, but it was way too much to wear on a dialy basis.

He wouldn’t go so far as to say he looked like a host, but other than a party, he couldn't think of any other special occasions where he would wear something like this.

(Oh well.)

Yoshino must have been trying to get back at him by dressing him up like a doll. He deftly tied the tie and after checking his full reflection in the mirror, he stepped out of the fitting room.

“Whoa! My taste isn’t so bad after all.” Yoshino let out an innocent cheer.

“It suits you very well.”

“Right? No matter how you look at it, he doesn't look like an editor at all. It actually really bugs me how perfectly the hem fits.”  Even as he grumbled, Yoshino seemed thoroughly pleased with his choice.

Sometimes, Hatori got the vague feeling that Yoshino became a bit more sincere when he was in a suit than when he was in casual clothes. Maybe he just had a thing for suits.

"Hmm, but maybe a blue tie would look better. Something a little more sophisticated."

"I'll bring some other options now."

"You should wear stuff like this more often." Yoshino muttered once the salesclerk left them alone.

"I can't go to work in something this flashy."

"You could wear it to a company party."

"What would be the point of the hosts dressing up?" The parties the company hosted were meant for entertaining authors and related personnel. Marukawa Shoten had many editors with strong personalities that easily stood out, but in moments like these, they had to remain in the background.

"Well, then, why don't we go somewhere you can wear it? Like a concert, a play, a meal…”

"What, are you inviting me?"

Even though Hatori was only half-joking, Yoshino blushed and fell silent. Normally, he would have tried to deny it, but it seemed he did have something on his mind this time.

"I'll buy it for you, so please wear it on our date."

"Huh?"

"It's okay every once in a while, right? You cook for me, do my laundry, clean my house... and you're my boyfriend... I want you to wear it! Got it?!"

"...Okay." Yoshino’s unusual intensity made Hatori nod impulsively, and Yoshino's face gradually turned redder in response.

"Sorry to keep you waiting… Is something the matter?"

"N-nothing, I think it just got a little hot in here."

"Should I turn up the air conditioning?"

"It's fine, I just get hot easily. Oh, that color is nice!" Yoshino forced a change of topic despite his suspiciously red face, and the salesclerk didn't press the matter further.

"This color is lovely too, isn't it? Is subtle, but it has a sheen to it. I think it would look elegant."

"Now, Tori. Put this on next."

“…” for a while, Hatori had no choice but to obediently follow Yoshino's overly enthusiastic instructions.

Having also bought a complete ensemble for Hatori, the total came out much higher than expected. Once they picked up the wrapped items and the receipt, Hatori and Yoshino finally left the store and decided to take a breather at a café they passed by on their way home.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. Here’s your blended coffee and cream soda.”

“Oh, the cream soda’s mine.” Yoshino raised his hand excitedly, and it didn't take him too long before he started digging in on the ice cream.

“Are you sure it’s okay for you to buy this for me?” Hatori pointed out to the wrapped items. He was happy to receive such a gift from Yoshino, but considering it wasn’t his birthday or Christmas, he still felt a little weird about it.

“It’s fine! You’re always taking care of me, so I’d be happy if you accepted it. And I kinda just want you to wear it, so I guess it doesn’t even count as a gift perse…”

“...I’ll gladly accept it then.” It wasn’t exactly the kind of thing one would buy on a whim, but if it was important to Yoshino, Hatori decided to humbly accept the gesture. “So, what about that date? Is there anywhere you want to go?”

“Oh, right. I guess I have to think of a place to go.” Apparently, Yoshino had really just said that without thinking.

“I would suggest a concert, but you’d probably fall asleep the moment we sit. You slept the whole way through that art appreciation class in high school, remember?”

Back then, they had attended a classical concert as part of an extracurricular activity, but the moment Yoshino's butt toucked the seat, he drifted off to sleep. Naturally, the content of the reflection essay he had to submit afterwards consisted mainly of Hatori’s thoughts.

“I pulled an all-nighter that day, so I was sleepy!”

“Let’s go to one then. Let me know what you feel like.” There were many different types of concerts after all: orchestras, vocal music, opera, piano, chamber music, and so on. Although, come to think of it, Yoshino might actually enjoy a theater production more.

“…By the way, what do you think the clerk thought our relationship was?”

“I told them we were author and editor, didn’t I?”

“You did say that, but still… Oh well, never mind.” Even though Yoshino looked like he wanted to say something, he ended up swallowing his words and changing the subject. Which meant it probably wasn’t that important to begin with; if it was a serious matter, he would have looked a lot more anxious to speak up.

(……Right, there was something I needed to tell him.)

Hatori now remembered he did have to talk to Yoshino about that little trouble he was having with the illustration collection. He was supposed to let Yoshino know once he had finished the storyboards, but with the whole suit matter, he had missed his chance. 

Still, he didn’t want to bring it up right now and dampen the good atmosphere they’d created. So he found himself making excuses, telling himself it wouldn’t be too late to let him know after looking into possible solutions a little more. 

In the end, as Takano had said, they might have no choice but to give up on including that work in the collection. Regardless, Hatori had his own reasons for not wanting to give up on those illustrations so easily.

After all, they had been a parallel process to the creation of Yoshino’s first work for Emerald. And even though Hatori had just been a liaison between Yoshino and this other writer, it was still the first work of Yoshino's that had made it to the public with Hatori fully involved in it. So he’s never told anyone this, but it was a work he personally considered very special.

"By the way, what was it you wanted to to talk about? Is it about work?"

Hatori flinched at Yoshino’s question, which seemed to see right through his concerns. And since he had indeed been the one who wanted to talk, Hatori couldn't really just say it was nothing.

"…It’s about the illustration collection." 

"Right, we should start discussing the contents soon."

"Before that, there's something I need to apologize to you for."

"Apologize?"

"Remember those illustrations you did for another company back when you made it into Emerald? For a fantasy novel?"

"Oh, the ones with the hard character designs? Come to think of it, I think I left those with the editor too."

"That's right. I’ve been trying to get them for the illustration collection, but I haven't gotten the manuscripts back."

“So they are missing? I should’ve asked the editor to give them back when he left, but I guess I forgot.”

Yoshino’s tone was lighthearted, but if a manuscript held by an editorial department were to go missing, it would be a huge problem. For an author, a manuscript is their most valuable asset, and its loss most certainly wasn’t something that could be solved with an apology.

“No, the manuscripts are still there, but I was told the author can’t return them because he plans to use them next year for a re-release, an e-book, and an international release.”

“Huh? Did we get any notice about that?” 

Even Yoshino, who usually didn’t pay much mind to this kind of stuff, seemed to sense something off about Hatori’s report.

In case of new developments like this, and especially when it came to e-books or international releases, the standard procedure was always to get permission in advance or renegotiate the existing contract. 

“No, I heard about it for the first time this week.”

“Right? You definitely wouldn’t forget something like that… But why now? That author hasn’t released anything recently, has he?”

“I looked it up, and it seems he hasn’t in about three years. This is just a theory, but I guess he wants to re-release it to make it coincide with the up-coming movie and the book fair.”

“But the movie’s release date hasn’t even been announced yet, has it?”

“There was no mention of it, so I think this is just a last-minute attempt to cash in on the hype.” 

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

"I was told to hold off on including them in the art book until those publications were finished."

"Huh? So we either postpone the art book or not include them at all?"

"I suppose."

"But why would it be a problem if the timing overlapped?”

“I guess if the collection comes out at the same time as this whole re-release, some readers might not see the appeal on buying the book.”

“I don’t really get it, but I guess they just don’t want us getting in the way.” Yoshino, having grasped the situation, let out a sigh.

“I’m going to try talking to them again to see if they can adjust the release dates, so they don’t affect each other.”

“...I see. Sorry for the trouble. If I had just gotten them back right away, things wouldn’t have gotten so complicated...”

“It’s not your fault. They shouldn’t be treating those manuscripts like a hostage in the first place.”

Hatori was startled by his own words. It was natural, the reason his uneasiness just wouldn´t go away was that he felt the work he cherished so much wasn’t being treated with the respect it deserved.

“Well, I guess I’ll just have to leave it to you—there’s nothing I can do about it...”

“Just do your best with what’s right in front of you, and that’ll be enough.”

After all, it was a waste of time for a manga artist to get involved in behind-the-scenes issues, not to mention it was precisely the editor’s job to create an environment where the artist could focus on their work.

“Well, I finished the storyboards early, so I’m ahead of schedule. The rough sketches are already done, and there aren’t any color pages this month.”

"I see. Keep up the good work then."

And while complacency could sometimes lead to trouble, dampening Yoshino’ spirits right now would not be wise, more so considering how difficult his mood could be to manage.

"Leave it to me. I'll get serious tomorrow."

"Not today, then...?"

"I just finished a job! And I'm hungry, so I think I'll order some cake too… Excuse me, I'd like to add a mille-feuille, please." Yoshino didn't hesitate much before telling the passing waiter his order.

"A mille-feuille, understood."

"Why don't you eat something too, Tori? The opera cake and the chiffon cake look delicious."

"You're the only one who wants to eat it... I'll have a chiffon cake too, please.” Given Yoshino’s expectant gaze, Hatori placed an additional order anyway, going with the chiffon cake because at least it seemed to be lighter.

A few minutes later, Yoshino's eyes lit up when the mille-feuille and chiffon cake were brought to the table.

"Now take responsibility and eat it all."

"But this one is yours. Here, open wide."

"Stop, where do you think we are?" Yoshino's sudden action startled Hatori. Very deep inside it made him happy, but considering their current location, he had to keep his wits about him. 

"It's a blind spot, so it's fine."

“Still, there’s a time and place…”

“I’m just kidding. So even you make that kind of face, Tori.” Yoshino let out a quiet chuckle.

“It’s not funny.” Hatori quickly regained his composure.

“It’s payback for what you did before. I got you, didn’t I?”

Yoshino, grinning like a mischievous child, seemed to have no clue that Hatori had long since already been defeated. 

₊ ° ✦ ‧ ‧ ₊ ˚✧ part 1

"Now that the film adaptation has been greenlit, I'd like to have a proper chat with Yoshikawa-sensei about it. So, please make sure to arrange it!" Those were the words with which Marukawa Shoten's president, Ryuichiro Isaka, had set the business dinner.

Then, an hour later, Isaka's secretary contacted him to set a date, so it seemed Isaka had made his choice. For an employee, the president's orders were absolute, so as long as nobody’s rights were being violated, refusing was nearly impossible.

Regardless, Yoshiyuki Hatori’s first instinct was to find a way to decline. There was simply no way shy, reclusive Yoshino would agree to a dinner with a company executive, and anticipating his reluctance, Hatori racked his brain in search for a proper excuse.

Therefore, it was a shock when it came the time for Hatori to break the news and Yoshino opposed no resistance.

"What did you just say?" Hatori stared intently, convinced he had misheard at first.

"I said it's okay if it's just for one meal."

"......What's gotten into you?"

"I mean, I really hate this kind of stuff, but if I refuse, it won’t be good for you, right? Even I understand that much!" Yoshino awkwardly averted his gaze.

So despite his reluctance, Hatori realized that Yoshino, the type of person who usually couldn't care less about interpersonal relationships, was now considering his position. This thoughtfulness touched Hatori's heart.

"But only this once, okay?"

"I know." Hatori was grateful that Yoshino, who used to only think about manga, had the courage to leave, even just this once, his comfort zone.

(Well, he is a grown man, after all.)

Even so, the old Yoshino would have simply said, "It's too much trouble, just come up with something and decline" and then forget about it. And not because he didn't care for what may happen to Hatori afterwards, but simply because Yoshino unconditionally relied on him, almost like a child relies on their own parents.

Someone had once pointed it out to Hatori: "You're intentionally making Yoshino dependent on you", and he couldn’t really deny it.

It was never in his plans to confess his feelings, as it would’ve never crossed his mind that they would have a chance to become lovers. So in its place, Hatori did everything to remain close to Yoshino, acting more mature than he actually was just to make him feel the need to have him around. And that behavior had been there way before Hatori even realized he was in love. 

But little by little, he was going from running around aimlessly dragged by Yoshino, to simply backing him up. Even so, at times he still felt like he was chasing after Yoshino, but that may just be because Hatori's world revolved around him.

"Hey... you're also coming to the dinner, right?" Yoshino asked, visibly worried. It seemed that, as much as he was decided to go, he still had his worries.

Yoshino could be surprisingly decisive in strange ways, but this was just so typical of him that it made Hatori laugh.

"Well, I’m your editor, so of course I’m coming. I'll be right there supporting you, so don't worry. Besides, Isaka-san isn't the stiff type, so you don't need to be so nervous."

"That's good to hear, but..."

"So what would you want to eat? Isaka asked me to find out what would sensei like."

French or Italian would probably be the safest bet, and Hatori figured it would be best to avoid any place where they'd have to sit seiza-style, since being alone in a private room would certainly just make things worse.

(*T/N: In itself, seiza (正座) is when you sit by kneeling on the floor, resting your buttocks on your heels. It is meant as a form of respect, and it is associated with events like the japanese tea ceremony, which in this case may be too formal for Yoshino.)

"Tori’s rice!"

"...Are you asking me to cook the meal?" Hatori sighed at the unhelpful answer. He was happy Yoshino liked his home cooking so much, but making dinner for an executive like this was some kind of home party was out of the question.

"It’d be great! Everyone will definitely love it!" Yoshino talked as if he had really come up with a brilliant idea. It was hard to tell if he was serious or not, but for now, Hatori decided to just ignore it.

"...I'll just tell him you don't have any particular preferences. And we also need to get you a suit for the dinner."

"Huh? But the one I bought for the party is fine."

The suit Yoshino was talking about was the one he had gone shopping for with Yanase, for a New Year party the company was hosting. Even now, that memory still made Hatori’s chest churn.

(I'm so bitter.)

There was no way Yoshino would ever guess Hatori had secretly wanted to choose a suit for him. And it was probably for the best; the last thing Hatori wanted was for Yoshino to know how narrow-minded he truly was, still getting jealous over something as trivial as clothes.

"It’s a different season, and dressing according to the season is good manners. It's best to have at least one suit for spring and one for summer."

"Ugh, clothes are such a hassle..." Yoshino frowned in displeasure, seemingly accepting this as unavoidable.

Yoshino usually wore whatever casual clothes he could find in his closet, so a suit was certainly gonna feel stifling for him. Nevertheless, Hatori liked the idea of dressing him up every once in a while.

"We'll go buy it this weekend. So fnish the storyboard by then."

"What?! No way!" Yoshino suddenly changed his expression and protested.

"Why are you against that? The deadline is Friday, isn't it?"

"Huh? Oh, well, yes, but..." Yoshino’s eyes visibly darted around, and thus his plan became clear as day.

"So you were calculating that you could drag it out until I came over on the weekend, weren't you?" 

And while it was true Hatori liked to be relied upon, this kind of complacency was problematic. More so, since the line between work and private life was so blurred at this point, there was no way around it other than just pointing it out whenever it happened. 

Hatori knew that, If he showed any more leniency now, Yoshino would let his guard down. So he had to harden his heart.

"N-no, that's not true... I just wasn't very confident..." Yoshino mumbled. 

"You have until Friday night. I'm looking forward to it, so please let me read it soon."

"I-I know..." Yoshino seemed embarrassed by Hatori’s words, which had been intended to motivate him.

‘I can do it if I try!’ was often Yoshino's catchphrase, and Hatori was convinced it was true. If only he didn't have a habit of running away, Hatori wouldn't have the need to run around begging for a new deadline, and then they would have more time to spare together.

(Well, being too much of a model author wouldn't be like Yoshino, would it?)

Hatori could never imagine Yoshino not missing a deadline or complaining every once in while. If that were to even happen, it would be plausible to assume he had been replaced by aliens.

Besides, Hatori himself knew he would probably lose his sense of purpose.

"W-what'? Is there something on my face?" It seemed that having Hatori stare at him made Yoshino think he was unconsciously leading him on again.

"No, it's nothing. Let's discuss the format after you finish the storyboard. I'm going home now, I don’t want to get in the way of your work."

"What, already?"

"You won't be able to concentrate with me around, and I don't want you to use me as an excuse. There’s some curry in the freezer. The potato salad is in the refrigerator. And the rice—"

"You don't need to give me all those instructions. I can manage my work and meals on my own. I'm getting on in years, you know."

"That's true."

Hatori did know that it would be best to stop being so overprotective. After all, hand-holding Yoshino through every little thing would not be good in the long run. So as much as Hatori wanted Yoshino to rely on him, maybe it was time to let him take a step forward.

“So, what time will you have the storyboard ready on Friday?”

“...I guess I’ll just do what my gut says.”

And then again, Yoshino’s words made Hatori stop feeling so remorseful. Maybe he did need to be more strict after all.

₊ ° ✦ ‧ ‧ ₊ ˚✧ part 2

"...Understood."

"I'm sorry I couldn't be of much help..."

"No, I should apologize for the trouble. If anything else comes up, I'll be in touch." Hatori hung up the phone and let out a deep sigh.

The person on the phone was someone from the legal affairs department. He had been dealing with this one problem for a few days now, yet a solution seemed impossible to find.

(If only I had known I'd stumble over something like this...)

Hatori was in the works for the publication of Yoshino's upcoming illustration collection, in which they intended to include everything from his early works to the latest ones. With the number of color pages published nearing the target and the timing aligning with their media mix strategy, the plan was to publish it the following year.

This was something he had been planning from the very moment he recruited Yoshino. Ever since he moved from his debut publisher to Marukawa, Emerald had been the only magazine Yoshino had drawn for. However, whenever he had time, he would also accept requests on illustrating novels from other companies. And while Yoshino kept the original manuscripts from where he debuted, some of the novel artwork had been kept by these other companies.

Most of them were cooperative, and Hatori was making good progress compiling the manuscripts, but there was this one case where they just wouldn't give in.

It was a bunch of illustrations Yoshino had drawn years ago for some fantasy novel. The author was now requesting that they refrained from including them in the collection because he wanted to use them for new material, even though there had been no activity surrounding that work for a long time.

So these sudden projects must have been an attempt to ride the wave of popularity surrounding Yoshino’s work. As proof of this, when Hatori had first contacted the editorial department, it seemed like the matter would be settled with the standard administrative procedures. His relief was short-lived, however, because as soon as the week began,  word came that they couldn’t return the artwork because several other projects— a new edition, an international release, an e-book, and a fanbook—had already been greenlit.

Hatori had lodged a complaint on his end, but the author himself lodged a stronger complaint, asking, ‘Isn’t your company infringing on writers’ rights?’.

Thus, Hatori consulted with the legal affairs department and tried to find a solution, but so far, they hadn’t found any grounds to persuade the other side.

And of course, a good work should be read by as many people as possible. However, having nurtured this project for so long, Hatori couldn't help but resent how awful the timing was.

“Are you okay, Hatori? You look like you could murder someone right now.” Editor-in-Chief Takano’s voice snapped Hatori back to reality. 

“I can’t exactly say I’m okay…”

“Yeah, you don't look so good.”

“I’m willing to compromise with whatever they want, but these people just won’t give in.”

Normally, no matter what the problem was, Hatori always managed to handle it calmly and methodically. But perhaps because he was particularly invested in this project, he could get a tad too emotional about it.

Back when he had taken over as Yoshino’s editor, they had talked about how great it would be to publish an illustration collection someday. But to compile such a thing into a single volume, they needed a substantial number of pieces. In other words, they would have had to work together for a long time, and the illustration collection would serve as living proof of that.

Hatori was aware that his personal attachment was a bit too strong for his own good, but he wanted this project to come out as good as possible. 

“You’ve been working on this for a long time, after all. Those illustrations came out around the time Yoshikawa-sensei joined us, didn't they? They are great pieces—I’m sure fans would be thrilled if we could include them.”

“I agree.”

“Did you tell the company they would be included in the art book?”

“I did mention it. However, the editor from back then doesn't work there anymore, and the author says he heard nothing about it during the handover.”

Yoshino didn't use blogs or social media at all, so since he had no direct contact with the outside world, any requests came through the editorial department. And even though Yoshino could sometimes handle further communication by himself, Hatori ended up acting as an intermediary on Yoshino’s behalf most of the time, since Yoshino felt it would “be fishy” if he did it himself. 

The arrangements for Yoshino to accept work from other companies always implied prohibited secondary use. Every time they agreed to publish a piece, however, it was a condition that it would also be included in an illustration collection to be published someday in the future.

Unfortunately, at the time it didn’t occur to Hatori to draw up an actual contract, and that verbal agreement was now coming to bite him in the ass. With the former editor gone, they could now just brush Hatori off, claiming to have never heard of such a condition.

“And can’t they adjust their publication dates?”

“I did try suggesting that, but they said that if it became known the illustrations would be included in the collection, it would affect their print run. So if I wanted them included, I’d have to postpone our publication by a year.”

“That isn’t even up for discussion.” Takano shrugged and let out a sigh.

“And then, when they accused me of infringing on the author’s rights, I didn’t even know how to respond…”

Their claim was that, since the characters depicted appeared in the novel, the artwork belonged to the writer. But even if the characters did belong to this person, Yoshino had been the one to work on those illustrations. 

They could have hired a different artist for the re-release, but their insistence on using Yoshino’s art definitely had to do with banking on his popularity. Yoshino was still kind of an amateur back when he had worked on that project, but this writer's editor had approached back in the day precisely because he was a fan of his.

“Even by that logic, Yoshikawa-sensei has as much right to those illustrations as the author. Don’t they realize how ridiculous their argument is?”

“That may be true. But since they have the original manuscripts, they might just push through with it.”

"That would require permission from  Yoshikawa-sensei, wouldn't it? Have you told him about this?"

Indeed, the fact that there was no previous agreement about any re-releases meant that Yoshino hadn't permitted this secondary use yet.

"I'm going to tell him soon. He’s working on the storyboards right now, so I wanna wait until he is done with that." After all, it wouldn't be wise to bother Yoshino with something like this when he should be focused.

"I guess that's for the best."

Taking legal action was certainly an option. However, that would cause friction and take time they didn't have, not to mention it could leak internal information to the readers. And no matter what, what Hatori wanted the most was to avoid anything that would tarnish the image of Chiharu Yoshikawa.

"And in the worst case scenario, we'll just have to give up on those illustrations. You've received all the other manuscripts, right? I guess a few pages can be adjusted to make up for that one.”

"---Yes, I'll take another look." Hatori simply gave a mature answer.

However, he was determined to not give up.