Yakuza Tour Guide (18+)

15. Shyness Boy

 ***Footnotes in the comments!***

There's a delicious smell in the air when I open my eyes and a dull pain throbbing in my temples. Add to that my dry mouth and the fact that the thought of eating is both repulsing and enticing to me, and you've got a hangover. Well, you did it again, Maple. Third time in a week.

I resolve to cut back on the drinking for the rest of the trip and get up, smoothing out the kimono I fell asleep in and adjusting the sash, so my boobs aren't spilling out. Following the smell into our little kitchen, Tatsu's bare, chiseled ass confronts me. He's wearing nothing but an apron and so fixated on cooking that he doesn't notice me padding across the tatami mats. So, naturally, I stand there and enjoy the view.

He's got a really nice ass... like, a perfect ass. I didn't even know that I liked guys' asses until now, but that ass is giving me a lot to think about. He looks good cooking...

Even though I'm not moving or breathing very loudly, Tatsu stiffens up and slowly turns towards me. Just the apron suits him. I can see the outline of every muscle, and his full sleeve tattoo is clearly like this. Without saying a word, he goes to the fridge, bringing a glass of water and another Ukon no Chikara.

"Sit. I'm finishing breakfast now," he says, handing me both before wordlessly going back to the stove.

He's walking on eggshells after last night. The Tatsu I know was always so bold and suave on our dates. He's like a wounded dog now. I take the drinks to the table and sit down, unscrewing the aluminum cap on the Ukon no Chikara and drinking it in one gulp and then the entire glass of water in one go.

Gasping for breath, I glance over, see him diligently working on our breakfast, and smile. He may be an asshole, but it's hard to stay mad seeing him like this - cooking and knocking down a single peg. After a little while, Tatsu comes over. He sets a tray in front of me with the most delicious breakfast spread I've ever seen: two onigiris, a bowl of steamy miso soup with tofu, a plate with a whole filleted fish, and several tamagoyaki.

He pours me a small mug of green tea and then returns to the kitchen without waiting for a thank you or any reaction. A few moments later, he comes back with his food in his kimono and sits across from me. I'm speechless. I expected him to try to win me over, but I didn't think Tatsu could cook!

I lift one of the tamagoyaki to my mouth and have a bite. It's delicious! The egg is salty and sweet in just the right way. The egg is cooked completely through without browning at all, giving it a soft, silky texture. Wolfing down the entire thing, I lift the miso soup to my lips and have a long sip, then grab the tea and sip some of it, too.

It's all... perfect!

Tatsu looks anxious as I eat it and doesn't touch his food. Realizing that I'm entirely pigging out, I stop and breathe.

"Look, it's terrific. Can you stop looking like that? It's weirding me out."

"Thanks. I thought you would still be upset."

"Oh, I'm upset," I say, having a much more dainty sip of my tea. "But you made me breakfast and gave me a hangover cure, and that's worth something."

"Good..."

"Would you stop sulking!? It's bad enough that you're keeping me here like this, but making me feel guilty is even worse! I mean, what did you think was going to happen? I'd fall head-over-heels, and the fact you're a Yakuza wouldn't bother me at all?"

He sits and thinks for a moment, having a sip of his tea and looking like he belongs in a photo shoot with his deep, contemplative eyes. "I wasn't thinking at all, but I couldn't let you go."

"Ugh, this isn't going to get anywhere," I say, trying to cover for the fact that now he has me blushing. "Let's change topics. What are we doing here?"