#saicho

“I told you you’d get used to it!” Tsukamoto called afterhim in a jovial tone.

“Haha, yeah!” Cho waved over his shoulder and when he wasout of earshot, muttered beneath his breath, “Get used to it, my ass.”

He wasn’t cut out for this kind of decadent indulgence, with hispreference for a bland diet. But he also wasn’t the only one around these parts who enjoyed so-called boring sustenanceand in fact, compared to plain kake soba, Cho thought his meals were quitefancy.

That’s how the idea formed to use this sweet chocolate caketo serve up some equally sweet revenge. Saito had been exceptionally dickish inthe last two weeks—constantly hovering over him, bitching about this andbitching about that. He hadn’t said even an inkling of a nice thing since thislatest case broke and it was getting on Cho’s nerves.

Your attention todetail is severely lacking. (Istayed up all night doing this shit, asshole.)

You’re late. Again.(By five whole minutes, oh wow!)

The deadline was movedup by two days. After hour work is required. (Yeah, because I ain’t got nosocial life. Yep. You got it, Fujita.)

Get out of my officeunless you have something important to say. I don’t have time to idly prattlewith you. (I was just askin’ about your weekend. Damn.)

Don’t ask me toexplain things you can easily find out on your own. (Why are you likethis?)

It was really more of the same business as usual, just inheavier doses, but Cho was more put off about the potential explanation of Saito’srecent extra irascibility.

Rooster-head hadn’t been around lately and the lack of hispresence seemed to be directly correlated to Saito being in the worst mood ofall time. He was inapproachable at best, and the number of smoked cigarettesbuilt higher and higher over the hours until the ashtray was holding a smallmountain by evening.

Figures. Cho had long suspected something was going onbetween them and while this development would satisfy his curiosity as solidevidence (and even be amusing gossip), it annoyed him more than anything. Whyshould he have to shoulder the bruntof their fallout, after all? He just worked here, damn it.

As Cho strolled down the hall, he sucked his teeth. Leave itto the fuckin’ rooster to get involved with such a demanding, thanklesshard-ass, who had ice in his veins and never smiled if not for sarcasm. Hell,those qualities were the exact reasons Cho had wanted—more than once—to punch Saitosquare in the jaw, especially over the last few days since they seemed to haveamplified three-fold.

Unfortunately, such an option was out of the questionbecause thatwould’ve meant he’d also be out of a job, but this sugar-laced weaponin hand would allow him to annoy Saito in a way that appeared entirelyinnocent.

As Cho approached the stairs, he could see thesituation unfolding:

“Ey, boss! I just atethis really, really delicious thingfrom Yokohama and it was so good that I had to bring you some! Here, try it.It’s amazing! You will to~tally loveit.” Wink wink, nudge, nudge.

“Sawagejo. I am anabsolute asshole who will not thank you for such a kind act. But I’ll acceptyour offer anyway. Because I’m a dick.”

Then, Saito would take a bite and be so totally shocked and horrified that those stupid antenna bangs would stand straight up and his perpetuallyserious face would contort into something hilarious. And with due justice delivered, the triumphantCho would exit his office to go laugh his ass off.

‘Good! It’ll serve him right!’ Cho thought as he started descendingto the landing separating the first and second floors. However, betweenbeing both too smug and overly eager to achieve his vengeance, he managed to miss a stephalfway, lost his footing, and began to stumble.

A snapshot of the situation flashed through Cho’s mind. Theplate was in his right hand. That’s where the banister was, too. He managed topivot and swing his left arm toward it so he could regain his balance, but thefloundering put the railing out of reach and with a shout, his eyes shut tightas he fell backward. The dish crashed against the floor and tumbled in a clamor:a prelude to the pain that Cho’s body would also experience.

…only, it didn’t.

He remained flinching.

…because he landed somewhere soft.

The realization slowly dawned.

…as in, half bridal-style in someone’s arms.

At that, Cho’s eyes snapped open to find Saito’s golden onesboring into his and his body went rigid. Unblinking, he stared blankly as amillion observations hit him at once; perhaps, it was from all the adrenalinecoursing through his system, but whatever the reason, he was suddenly extremelyaware of several things.

Those long black bangs didn’t appear so awkward from thisangle and the hard lines of Saito’s face no longer as threatening. Up close,these features were actually…quite handsome. Cho could feel breath spillingacross his skin, could smell cigarettes and soba and a trace of mint. Saito’sarms were strong and warm and they’d caught him effortlessly and…

‘Holy shit, he hasnice lips.’ Another most unfortunate intrusive thought.

“Sawagejo.”

“Hn!” A kneejerk reaction had Cho attempting to surgehimself forward without success, and Saito simply pushed him back up on hisfeet.

“Be more careful, you moron.”

“D—” Cho cleared his throat and pressed his back to thewall, gathering himself. “Don’t talk to me like I’m rooster-head or somethin’!”

Saito’s brow merely twitched and he then pointed to the mess.“Dare I ask?”

“Uh, yeah. Tsukamoto bought somethin’ called, uh, chocolate cake from Yokohama and…”

“Cht. You’ll eat anything, won’t you?” Tossing his face tothe side, Saito turned to the stairs and began to climb. “You really are like him.”

“H…hey!” Cho called, the fire all but gone from his voice bythis point. “I’m nothin’ like rooster, y’hear?”

A heavy, sarcastic sigh fell from Saito. “Right.” Then, he disappeared on the second landing.

Blinking, Cho’s attention fell to the sad sight of cakeon the floor. He may not have liked or even wanted to eat it, but afterspending too many days of his childhood starving, he hated seeing food go towaste. His whole plan for petty vengeance was looking more and more ridiculousby the second, because it was clear that Saito wouldn’t have taken the offer to begin with.Cho should’ve known.

And as for Saito…

Cho swallowed, not feeling much like revenge anymore. Infact, he was more confused and terrified than anything because he’d totallyjust realized his boss was attractive…and his boss had totally just comparedhim to his ex. …Or his presumed ex.

With a hand coming to up his mouth, both of Cho’s eyeswidened.

Holy shit.

Did Saito have a type, and was he it? His heart fluttered.

This was not good.

~

Several ideas marinated overnight and by morning, Chodecided that, yes, there were some glaring similarities between himself andthat damn rooster after all. Saito had always been prodding Sano and trying to whiphis ass into shaping up when he’d been around; it was the same treatment Cho received.

It was logical to assume, by these facts, that the boss did, indeed, have a type.

…And if Sano was it, then so was Cho.

He slammed a hand on his desk at that thought, startling anearby colleague, and began drumming his fingers. How could he have gone fromnever seeing Saito to seeing Saito withinthe span of five seconds?

Landing in his arms had somethingto do with it, along with getting a glimpse of his lips up close and beinginundated by his scent…not to mention having the impression that Saitoactually cared more than he let on, but…Cho groaned and rubbed furiously at thesides of his head.

‘Don’t think about it,don’t think about it!’

He continued to think about it.

This was not goodat all.

~

There hadn’t been any reason to go into Saito’s office, butCho found himself shuffling down the hall anyway. Halfway there, he scowled andwondered what he was even doing. That’s when he heard a familiar voice.

“Aw, c’mon. You knowyou missed me! I bet you spent all week brooding and pining while I was gone.”

“You are ridiculous.”

“Uh-huh…”

Cho peered into Saito’s office to find Sano halfway throughthe window from outside, leaning on his forearms and wearing a huge satisfiedgrin. Saito stood facing him, tobacco in hand.

“By the way, I got you somethin’, old man…” Sano sang. He reacheddown and reappeared, extending a large peach in Saito’s direction. “For makin’you wait so long for me to come back. You can have this one now.” His voice lowered. “Andthe other one later.”

Saito huffed. “Aho.” But he did accept it. And Cho was suddenlyaware that there was endearment inhis insult. In fact, Cho had begun to realize that every time Saito had eversaid something he’d presumed as offensive, it had carried with it backwardencouragement or some kind of tough love.

Tough love.

Holy shit. That’swhat rooster-head saw in him. And because it was so cleverly disguised, no one else noticed.

“You’d better go,” Saito said. “Stay out of trouble.”

“Yeah, yeah! See you tonight.” Sano winked and loweredhimself slowly to his feet. Lingering for a moment more, he fluttered his eye lashes, smiled, and disappeared from the window.

Cho watched as Saito turned, regarding the peach—andsimply wasn’t ready to see those shapely lips curved into a tiny smile. An actual smile.

Saito placed the fruit on his desk and then glanced up. Cho’sback straightened when their eyes met and he shoved himself out of sight.

“Sawagejo.” Cho heard from inside and his stomach dropped. “A suggestion.”

Slinking back into the doorway, he swallowed and looked up. “…Yeah,boss?”

“Lurking outside your superior’s office doesn’t look good.”Saito cocked his head ever so slightly. “So, unless you’re here for a reason, Iwould immediately get back to work.”

Nodding, Cho held his hand up and forced a laugh. “Iwasn’t—I mean.” A piecing gaze sized him up. “Yeah, lemme go do that. The analysisis almost done, so I’ll just…” He pointed down the hall. “Yeah.”

Using the frame, he hurled himself out of Saito’s view again and stalked back to his desk with his cheeks burning. How stupid could hehave been? All Saito cared about with Cho was work getting done, but when it came to a damn rooster-headed idiot, it was all accepting peaches and smiling softly and…ugh, fuck it all.

When Cho slumped into his chair and flipped to the page heleft off at, the sudden sound of the Chief’s voice surprised him.

“Ah, Commissioner Kawaji! This way, Sir.”

Kawaji?! Cho threw himself back into his task, making sure he looked busy as the twoof them passed by him and when they turned the corner, he gazed over his shoulder.The commissioner was someone who made the sound of even Saito’s criticismssimilar to a kitten’s purr. If he’d seen Cho just standing around outside hisboss’s door, it wouldn’t have gone over well.

…Had Saito been looking out for him just now? Surely, he’dknown Kawaji would be around today.

Cho blinked. Was that more tough love? Possibly… But thetoughest thing about this all was that he’d begun falling for someone who hecouldn’t have—at least not without a fight.

With a groan, he rubbed at his face, but when Cho peeredover the tips of his fingers, his eyes were determined.

“Hope you’re ready for war, Sagara…”