[AllTakemichi] Control

Chapter 46

Takemichi finishes his shower. His body feels warmer now, though his head still throbs a little. The nosebleed's stopped, but his nose still stings. Not that it matters anymore. He needs to calm down. Alright, he'll talk to Mikey - he'll calm him down. Mikey won't stay mad.

Even so, Takemichi tiptoes nervously into Mikey's private room. Mikey's sitting cross-legged on the bed, chin resting on his hand, his face clouded with a dark, unreadable expression. Takemichi can't even begin to imagine how much effort it took for this man to compose himself to that extent.

"Mikey-kun..."

"Takemitchy," Mikey says, voice sharp, "why do you know that white-haired guy? Why did you see him today? And how much have you been hiding from me?"

That serious tone makes Takemichi's nerves spike even more.

He opens his mouth, stammering. No words come out. All the mental preparation he had vanishes into thin air. The room goes quiet for a moment - just their breathing fills the silence. Mikey stares straight at him, unblinking.

Then Mikey lets out a breath.

"Takemitchy. Come here."

His voice softens. He thinks to himself - no matter what, he always loses to this guy. He hates seeing Takemichi looking so scared of him. Besides, just for today... he'll go easy on him.

Takemichi steps closer, slowly. He has no idea what Mikey wants, but the gentler tone eases some of his fear. As soon as he reaches Mikey, the boy grabs his wrist, pulls him forward, and wraps his arms tightly around Takemichi's waist, burying his face in his chest.

Takemichi freezes for a moment, caught off guard - then lets out a quiet chuckle. So the big cat just wants to cuddle, huh? Here he was thinking Mikey would scold him or something. Turns out, he's still the same hug maniac as always.

Takemichi gently strokes Mikey's hair, just like he always does when he's comforting him.

Mikey's mind drifts completely into another world. Takemichi is wearing his clothes - and he looks unbearably cute. That familiar scent of Mikey's own body wash lingers on Takemichi's skin now, blending into his natural scent, wrapping around Mikey like a gentle fog. He's warm. And now, he's even rubbing Mikey's head. It feels way too good. This feeling is... it's driving him insane.

He looks up - and crashes right into those soft, gentle blue eyes of Takemichi. The moment their eyes meet, Takemichi flashes him a sweet, cotton-candy smile.

Mikey's heart, which just started to calm down, begins to act up again. It doesn't matter how many times he sees that smile - he can never prepare himself for it. Why is it so beautiful? Why does it feel like it could destroy him? If only... if only that smile was meant for him and him alone.

Takemichi notices the way Mikey stares and tilts his head, puzzled. "What's wrong, Mikey-kun?"

Mikey presses his lips together, then leans in again, like a little cat rubbing up against him. Tilting his head up, his voice carries a soft pout.

"Call me Manjirou... like you did earlier."

Takemichi blinks. Oh right... when he had that nosebleed, when his body was throbbing with pain, he must've called Mikey by his real name without thinking. A strange mix of emotions suddenly stirs within him. It's the first time he's ever said that name out loud, and yet it's not tied to any happy memory. But maybe this time... maybe it can be different, can't it?

Holding onto that faint hope, Takemichi says it again - "Manjirou" - with a tenderness that carries traces of sorrow from the past and a fragile hope for the future.