Utsukushii Kare/ My Beautiful Man [ENGLISH TRANSLATION]

Chapter-3; PART-5: Sweet and Bitter

Translator: White Lotus

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After the rehearsal, Kiyoi took out his mobile phone and found that he had received a text message from Iruma.

[If you have time, how about having a meal together?]

Iruma was a fairly popular mid-career actor, and ever since they got to know each other through work, he was giving a lot of attention to Kiyoi in one way or another. The fact that Iruma was gay was an open secret in the industry. In the past, Kiyoi would always make up excuses to brush off his advances because he considered them bothersome; however, today he typed out an OK reply.

"I thought you'd completely blown me off, so I'm glad you agreed to meet."

At their meeting place, a members-only restaurant in one of the private rooms, Iruma raised the glass in his hand in toast to Kiyoi and posed the question. Thinking that he might start flirting right away, Kiyoi chuckled, clinking his glass with Iruma, and asked what he meant.

"I had the impression that you might already have gotten yourself a boyfriend."

"No, I don't. I'm just busy with work. Besides, I'm also a student, you know."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, it is. Oh, if you're interested, feel free to come watch my next stage performance."

Kiyoi took a ticket out of his bag. The premiere day of the stage play, where he would appear as a guest performer, was just around the corner. Rehearsals were already in their final stages, which also meant that he was practically residing at Hira's house.

"Hmm. However, it feels like there must be someone who's on the verge of becoming your lover, right?" Iruma asked while propping up his cheek with his hand. For a moment, Kiyoi did not know what to say. "Ah, so there's someone, huh?"

"Well, who knows?"

Kiyoi leaned back in his chair, feeling too exhausted to offer any excuses. After all, he wasn't the type of person who relished being flirted with by someone he wasn't interested in. Even the effort of maintaining a smile on his face became troublesome.

"Could it be unrequited love?"

"I've been told I'm the person he loves* the most in the world, though."

(T/N: *Safe to say, the meaning of the phrase "一番好き" is "the most loved; "the most liked"; or the most favorite" in English. It isn't a direct love confession.)

"So passionate. Sounds like that person is head over heels for you."

"Is that soー........"

"Did you two have a fight or something?"

"It's not like that."

The sigh that was about to leak out was swiftly curtailed by Kiyoi. Although maintaining his smile was tiresome, he would rather not be seen looking depressed.