Joker

4. This guy is a weirdo but he's cute

Nakul was definitely shocked to see a pair of old red converse next to his son's blue shoes inside his house. He found Ayu in the kitchen along with someone wearing a blue sweater over a collared white shirt. Akabane? Here? How? Nakul suddenly remembered. Mrs. Choi mentioned hearing about some new people moving in across us. Must be him. Making Maggi? Nakul looked at the pixielike guy turn the stove off, he asked in his quiet voice "Soupy or dry?"

"Dry!" Ayu said.

"Soupy for me." Nakul smiled from the entryway. He walked towards them "Hello Akabane. What are you doing here?"

"H-hey. I- I was just across the street. Moving in soon. I saw Ayu- he-he got hungry but you were asleep and I didn't wanna disturb you and he wanted these noodles so I- I just made him some I hope it's okay-" Akabane stuttered, hands shaking a bit, honey coloured eyes wide open. Social anxiety all right.

"Whoa, whoa. Calm down. I won't yell." Nakul placed his hands on Akabane's well angled shoulders. DID I JUST DO THAT? NO wait it's okay. Bros do this all the time. Yeah. Bros. From this close up Nakul could practically count the number of freckles but he kept talking though "Thank you for taking care of my son. Again."

"It-it's nothing." Aki said softly.

Ayu yelled "DAD LOOK AKI MADE MAGGI!"

"Let's eat then." Nakul smiled "Eat with us Akabane."

Akabane opened his mouth as if to decline but his stomach audibly growled and Nakul held back a chuckle as he softly said, "If you insist."

"I do." Nakul guided him to a barstool on the other side of the counter by the shoulders still, unwilling to let go. "Sit down. Let me get some bowls."

He got bowls and looked at Akabane "Dry or soupy?"

"Dry please." He asked nicely.

"Coming right up." Nakul ladled some into an orange ceramic bowl and placed it in front of Akabane with a fork.

He took a bit with his fork. Nakul and Ayu both forgetting manners for a second and watching for his reaction in anticipation. He whispered shyly, cheeks pinker, "Why are you two looking at me like that?"

"Wanna see your reaction." Ayu grinned and Nakul nodded in assent.

He and Ayu watched Akabane put a tiny bite into his pretty pink mouth and his eyes widen. He broke into a smile. A full smile. Beautiful. Nakul's heart was definitely racing. He grinned "It's delicious!"

His previous nerves seemed to have melted away at the taste of Maggi as he inhaled the bowl. That's the power of Maggi. Suck it, rest of the world! Nakul thought proudly and ate some too. He looked at Akabane "It's great! It tastes better than it ever does when I make it!"

"Yeah." Ayu agreed, slurping noodles in "Dad takes three tries for one pack."

"Ayu!" Nakul hissed. Don't embarrass me in front of the pretty man!

Akabane chuckled softly "I'm glad you like it but I didn't do anything special. Just followed the back."

"Still tastes good." Ayu insisted.

"So, Akabane, you're moving in across?" Nakul asked "Alone?"

"I live with friends. They'll be there too." Akabane said

"How old even are you?" Nakul frowned "You don't look old enough to be living alone with friends."

"How old do you think I am?" Akabane raised a dark eyebrow behind his fringe.