Original Sin (MewGulf AU)

🌻Chapter 16

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"I'm so glad you could come with me on this trip, Mr. Gulf!" Bright said excitedly as he opened a can of coffee. They were on a bullet train headed for Nagano.

"I was intrigued by this opportunity myself. I've been looking forward to doing some research as well," Gulf said, and he wasn't just being polite. Before Bright had proposed the trip, Gulf had been researching the area because of his interest in the local folk customs. Gulf had been the one to suggest they stay two night and three days.

"I really wasn't sure you'd accept."

Gulf thought that showed how brave Bright could be. He had expected rejection, but had tried anyway. Gulf didn't think he could do the same.

No---he could remember doing it once.

When he had confessed his feelings to Mew, he had been desperate enough to throw away everything. He could still vividly recall that feeling, like it had only happened yesterday.

"We're renting a car when we get to the station, right?"

"That's right. I reserved one for three days."

They had both agreed that it would be better to rent a car since only a few trains ran each day on the local lines from Nagano. Once that had bee decided, Gulf had left the details of making reservations at the inn up to Bright. Bright's research had been done with amazing efficiency, but that was only to be expected, since the research was going to benefit Bright's own story. Still, Bright's skill and efficiency impressed Gulf.

"Did you find interesting up here?" Gulf asked.

"I think the area's really famous with railroad buffs. Most people don't use the trains, and none of the stations have conductors, so it's kind of strange."

"I didn't know that." Gulf said.

"Most people don't." Bright said in amusement. "But I'm so glad you're here with me. It's so different seeing you wear something besides a suit. Of course, I'm the same as ever."

"I'd get much too hot if I went out in a suit at this time of year."

"I didn't mean that," Bright laughed brightly. He seemed to be the kind of person who didn't worry too much about switching between business and personal.

Mew was different. He drew a clear difference between the two, between being on and being off . He hated to talk about work during the off times and really hated to bring his private life into the on times. It was very logical, to the point where his almost inhuman logic made it hard to believe that he could feel jealousy or possessiveness.

Mew Suppasit was unlike anyone else, and Gulf wanted him to be superhuman forever. That made the things Mew had said the other day especially cutting: they didn't sound like something Mew would say.

Gulf didn't want to see Mew like that, but his desire for Mew to be superhuman meant that Gulf was refusing to understand the real man. That thought made everything less even clear.

"Mister Gulf?"

Looking up in surprise, Gulf's eyes fell on Bright, who was looking at him in concern.

"Oh---sorry. I just spaced out for a second."

Bright gave a slight nod as Gulf struggled to bring himself back to normal.

"I'm sorry for bothering you with a whim like this. I'm sure you must be busy."

Seeing the remorse on Bright's face, Gulf started to feel bad. The problem with Mew that plagued Gulf's heart didn't belong there. But considering the fact that Bright was the cause for his argument with Mew, Gulf couldn't quite shake his concern. What if Mew happened to find out about the trip?

The research trip was necessary for work, so Gulf wasn't actually breaking his promise not to see Bright outside of work. But since Gulf had been decided to take the trip without getting permission from Makihara, it might be hard for someone else to see it as business. If Mew found out about it and confronted Gulf, he couldn't defend himself.

I'm an idiot.

Worn out by his thoughts, Gulf sighed inwardly. He didn't expect Mew to find out about this trip. If Gulf didn't tell him, there wouldn't be any problem.

"Have you talked to anyone else about this trip, Mister Bright?"

"Why do you ask?"

"The truth is I didn't think my boss would give me permission  to come, so I took a day off to do this on my own. I'd like for you to avoid mentioning it to the other people, if you don't mind."

Gulf thought it was a weak explanation, but the young author who still didn't know much about the world seemed satisfied. Bright almost looked sorry about it.

"Did you really do that?"

"Yes. I'm putting aside some unfinished work to do this, so that's why I ask."

"Won't you get in trouble for taking a day off to do this  for me?"

"I said I was taking a vacation to relax. So I'd like the research part of it to be a secret."

Bright nodded meekly.

"But today we're still going to the local history museum and the library as we discussed. I want to find out more about the area."

"All right."

Maybe it would have been better to join Bright on the second day. Gulf consided that, but on the other hand, he really did want a little time to take it easy.

TBC