Kikuchi Tadashi

a grin pulls at ainosuke’s lips, showing off his sharpened canines as tadashi works to reveal the collar that he’d placed on him before their day had begun. one hand slides up to rest on tadashi’s thigh, the other moving and gently tracing along the collar and his skin with a soft hum. he moves, leaning up to let his lips brush along the other’s jaw, moving down to brush behind his ear for a moment before he pulls back. 

He stays very still, as any well-behaved pet should, but he cannot deny that his eyes briefly close in rapture as his master caresses and busses him. Ainosuke must be in a good mood indeed.

Tadashi is not one to boast, so he keeps to himself the reminder that he had already beaten Ainosuke’s time at the tournament to prove that he is capable of winning. He would much rather watch Ainosuke effervesce here than risk putting him in a sour mood by claiming defeat is inevitable. He knows his master well enough to know Ainosuke delights in the thrill of the chase.

Since, in Tadashi’s mind, he does stand a solid chance of victory, he is already planning alternatives for the cigarettes to keep on-hand for Ainosuke. Lollipops, pocky, and rolled wafer cookies all seem like viable options. (And he doesn’t entirely banish the thought of himself being used as the object of Ainosuke’s oral fixation, but he stuffs it down deep enough that he won’t fall prey to its charms right now.)

Hearing their beef called a date, Tadashi chuckles softly. “I suppose it is.” Tadashi lets himself be tugged into Ainosuke’s giddy twirl and holds onto his beloved for stability. “However, Ainosuke-sama: for the sake of the children present at the venue, please do not get too carried away with spreading our love throughout all of ‘S’,“ though he is smiling even as he gently cautions Ainosuke.

Even if smoking proved a terrible coping mechanism for the politician, he’s willing to put it aside. After all, why smoke when he has someone here to occupy his lips? Even if he has to admit that it’ll be quite the nightmare to try and quit smoking. How long as he been doing so? It must be nearly a decade at this point, and he certainly doesn’t want to end up like his father who became an older man with terrible habits. He already put aside the drinking and learned some control, maybe he can with smoking as well. 

“Hm…For the sake of the kids, I will, but don’t think I won’t do something to showcase my love when the cameras aren’t on us~” Certainly something in the limousine at least, maybe even a grope when no one’s looking. Ah, he truly can’t keep physical affection away when it comes to Tadashi. After years of keeping their distance between them, he can’t help but want to close that distance. 

And Tadashi can imagine, he thinks, the ways in which Ainosuke can express his delight through pyrotechnics and lighting. He won't deny his master those little indulgences either. Best to keep Ainosuke in as good a mood as possible before the likely difficulties of putting down his cigarettes take center stage.

bite 🍎

“It is not a problem,” Tadashi assures Fujimura. Whatever system is most useful to the person primarily examining it makes the most sense. So, Tadashi starts with the top file, find its date, and then compares the date of the next-top folder so that he can determine whether it should go in front of the first or behind it (leaving more recent items at the top/front for easier access, as they are more likely to be relevant). He follows this same insertion sort process with each document and file and all the rest, until he has begun to form a new stack organized accordingly.

Out of the sideline of his vision, Tadashi notes how Fujimura uncovers and carefully handles the photograph. Tadashi has some awareness of Fujimura’s family situation, since he is an associate of the Shindo family and Tadashi keeps tabs on every associate of the Shindo family, but he has not met Fujimura’s goddaughter in person. Thus, the photo holds no special meaning for Tadashi, aside from evidence of Fujimura’s care for the person in the photo.

Listening to Fujimura’s musings, Tadashi makes an attempt to surmise the scenario he is describing. “There is fulfillment in supporting others, especially when they are able to reach greater heights thanks to your help.” Just how much of Ainosuke’s day-to-day relies on Tadashi’s being there to make sure everything runs smoothly? “It does not sound silly to me, you need not worry about that.” With that, he finishes sorting the first stack.

Sometimes Daisuke wonders if he should invest a bit into an assistant as well, it’s definitely not exactly wise to leave all these folders and documents to himself to organize when he deals with such heavy legal issues such as this entire perjury case. Still, he should still thank Tadashi for this help otherwise poor Daisuke knows he would spend all day organizing these. Maybe next time, he should try to help around Tadashi just as a thank you at this point. 

“Thank you, Tadashi. It’s relieving to at least know we think alike in that regard.” Funny how they both served the Shindo family, and yet never really got the chance to become acquainted before more than a few pleasantries between one another. “I don’t know others who share a similar mindset, if I’m being honest.” 

More like his father disagreed and it wasn’t like Daisuke really allowed himself to actually go out and make real friends. Even his classmates from law school all those years ago weren’t actually friends, merely people he tried to talk to who hadn’t a single interest in someone like Daisuke who was so easy for others to walk over. 

"You are welcome," Tadashi acquiesces. The offer for lunch momentarily takes him off-guard, as he cannot recall the last time anyone (other than Ainosuke) had suggested such a thing. He ponders the different outcomes depending on his answer. Would Ainosuke throw a tantrum of unfounded jealousy if Tadashi agrees to this? Or would he be pleased to see Tadashi trying out something other than the same usual routine of living every aspect of his life for Ainosuke alone? He isn't confident which is the more likely, but the small voice inside him which wants to grow from the deadened state he has been in for the past decade eggs him to take the risk.

ainsouke had definitely not been pouty and upset about this entire arrangement the whole time they were at the conference. absolutely not. there’s no way he’d been maybe a little more distant and little more short with tadashi after spending each night in his room alone. he’d been civil when others were around, but he was absolutely not happy. he hums as the other speaks, hands clasped behind his back as they ride the elevator.  

Kaisa nodded slightly, thankful that Tadashi continued the conversation. She didn’t know how to go about finding a pet that she could bond with when she barely liked who she’d become before he took her in. He was kind, understanding and seemed to understand her concerns before Kaisa could even voice them. Another small smile played on her lips before she took another sip of her tea.

ainosuke is about to lay on the dramatics as the silence hangs in the air, ready to lean back in his chair and start to complain about how mean tadashi is being but then the other speaks. he rolls his eyes at first as the other brings up how much work still needs to be done, ready to tell him that they’ll just suffer tomorrow because he’s bored now and wants the other to pay attention to him. he grins a little when tadashi finally spares him a glance, giving him a wink before his brows raise up.  the words alone were enough to have ainosuke moving his chair back to his desk, placing his cheek against his fist and picking up his own work that he’d abandoned.

He isn't surprised that his master has some minor antics to spare when they merely make eye-contact, such as grinning and winking at him. For both of their sakes, it is a good thing that Tadashi is not so easily swayed to act on selfish impulse, or else they would get very little work done at all, ever.