Reunion

Chapter 4

Gakushuu woke up from the bizarre aroma in the air.

He softly groaned and screwed his eyes tight. The texture of the mattress and the blanket felt different; they were softer and thicker and a little smelly, then recollection instantly dawned to him.

His eyes fluttering open and fell on the figure lying right next to him. Red vibrant hair, eyes closed and chest huffing up and down in soft snores. Akabane Karma. Right, he had dinner with him last night and slept over in his place.

He shortly worried about the time. He remembered he had a lunch meeting to attend today but by judging his own body clock, it was just around six or seven in the morning. It felt strange to sleep on someone else's bed, but it was stranger that Gakushuu didn't feel like getting up yet. He settled to study Akabane's slumbering face.

One could mistake him for someone who couldn't do anything immoral in his life, but this little nasty bastard was no doubt canny and mischievous enough to match his intelligence. Yet unlike him, he acted so young, immature and carefree as ever: his frequent grin and childish streak could fool anyone but that was what made Akabane a little more interesting than others. It was his charm.

Charm. As hard as it was to swallow, Akabane was charming. Cute, even. For someone as attractive as him, it was hard to believe that he couldn't last in a relationship. Well, who was he to speak? He was no different; single and not ready to settle down yet.

Gakushuu's eyes then peered down Akabane's lips. They looked soft and supple to touch. A knot formed in the pit of his stomach, his heart suddenly beat fast and an urge to reach out for them rose from him. His face heated up.

Gakushuu turned away and ran a hand through his hair. He breathed in and slowly shoved the blanket off of him before carefully pushing himself up the bed. However, despite the carefulness, Akabane seemed to sense the movement for he started to squirm to consciousness. Gakushuu watched him stirred awake.

"Oh, hey. You're awake. 'Morning," Akabane grinned sunnily at him.

"Good morning," Gakushuu greeted back.

"How's sleep?"

"Not bad. Ah, I must have fallen asleep while watching the movie last night. Sorry."

"Nah, it's okay. We can just watch it again. So, do you have work today?"

"Yes, I actually have to go, so—"

"Oh come on, you're the president of your own company. It won't hurt to skip work today... or at least be an hour late since you're the 'I have a lot of work to do and I need to set a good example to my employees so, no,' type. Have some breakfast and coffee before you go."

Gakushuu eyed Akabane at this unforeseen hospitality then realized he was smiling. "You're being such a warm host, Akabane. I can't help but feel suspicious."

There crossed a guilty spark in his eyes. "Aren't you a bit paranoid? Go on, you wash yourself while I make breakfast. How does omelette and fried rice sound?"

"Okay."

"Copy that," Karma, barely holding the creeping cackle on his face, got up from the bed and started folding the blanket and rearranging the covers.

Gakushuu did what he was told and left for the bathroom, grabbing his own clothes from the previous night on the way.

He hadn't even fully opened the door when his eyes instantly fell on his reflection looking back at him on the mirror. Confusion dawned to him at first, but at the sight of the drawn cat's whiskers on his cheeks, two lines forming a moustache under his nose, evil horns on his forehead and the words 'SECOND PLACE-KUN!' written across it, it took him just a millisecond to realize who the goddamn culprit of this vandalism on his face was.

Gakushuu took a deep, deep breath, convinced himself that this wasn't worth ruining his entire day for, and it would be a waste of time and energy to wage senses into Akabane so he supposed he would let this slide for now.

Still, he calmly came out of the bathroom to see the bastard grinning from ear to ear at his scowling face and piercing glare, and as their eyes contacted, Akabane lost it and broke into a hearty chortle.

When Gakushuu attempted to storm his way for a punch, Akabane jumped for the door knob and hastily escaped with a loud bang of the door. Outside, Gakushuu could still hear the unnervingly crisp laughter until it faded. He glared dagger at the innocent door and heaved another sigh.

God. Gakushuu didn't know that that twat could get anymore elementary schooler than this. Akabane was smart and deceptive enough to get high ranking officials sacked yet there he was, drawing over another man's face as a five-year-old would do to his father's and damn—with a permanent marker at that!

He strode back to the bathroom and sighed again, one hand reaching for the bottle of facial wash on the sink. He wet his face, eyes once again shot to the mirror, on his comically decorated reflection.

He never in this life of his met someone who had the guts to make a mess out of him like this. He, Gakushuu Asano, a highly capable leader who could charm just anyone and do almost everything was being made fun of a mere Karma Akabane. It was very unlike him to tolerate this, but one more look on the tiny evil horns and Akabane's handwriting struck him a very odd thought.

If only Akabane was a girl, he might find this prank endearing.

Oh, wait. He still thought so despite Akabane being a guy.

He heaved yet another resigned sigh.

Damn it.

"Ah, just in time!" Akabane flashed a beaming face his way as Gakushuu stepped into the kitchen, closer to the dining table. "Just done preparing everything."

"What kind of Sharpie is that!? I thought I could almost erase my face for repeatedly washing it because it just won't come off!"

"Come on, Asano-kun. I'm just messing around. Look, I cooked something— omelette is my specialty. To make up to you."

Gakushuu narrowed his eyes on Akabane then lowered them on the table. There was a set of omelette and a bowl of fried rice, both smelling and looking good. His mouth watered; he remembered their dinner last night.

He sat down and picked the chopsticks up, swiped a quick look at Akabane's wide grin before taking a piece of the bite-sized omelette and bringing it to his mouth.

"How was it?" Akabane asked, face plastered with a smile that said he already knew the answer.

"... Wow," Gakushuu mumbled and quirked his lips into an impressed smirk. "You are good at this, Akabane." It was true. The omelette was delicious. For a simple dish, it had variety of tastes and the egg's texture was so soft it melted on his tongue. He stuffed the remaining into his mouth.

"Good. That's two points for me, I guess?"

"It could have been three if you didn't feel the need to vandalize my face while I'm asleep."

"Oh? Nah, I don't mind. I can get that one more point easily, just wait."

"Then wait, I shall," Gakushuu curved his lips wider, eyes locked into Akabane's as he sat across him, wearing an equally challenging smile.

Gakushuu lied. He wouldn't really mind waking up with another face art if that was it would take to taste some more of Akabane's cooking.