[AllTakemichi] Control

Chapter 73

The group splits up as soon as they arrive at Mikey's place. Some raid the kitchen for snacks, some boot up a game, others dig through the shelves for manga. Honestly, just hanging out together like this is already enough to make the guys happy.

Takemichi, meanwhile, is busy being nosy. Since both Draken and Emma are here, he can't help wanting to see how far their relationship has progressed.

Emma helps Draken carry drinks over to everyone. They chat for a bit, and Takemichi hears every word clearly... but somehow, something feels off.

Shouldn't Emma-chan be all shy around Draken-kun?

So where's the pink, lovey-dovey atmosphere? Why does everything feel so... flat?

While Takemichi is still wondering about it, he suddenly notices Draken walking straight toward him. Draken hands him a bottle of soda, and Takemichi quickly takes it. Then Draken leans down until their faces are only inches apart, a gentle smile curling on his lips.

"You get a headache or anything after you got home yesterday?"

His scent drifts into Takemichi's nose again, mixed with the warmth of his masculine breath. Instantly, the dream and the lingering heat it leaves behind in his body floods back into his mind.

His cheeks flush crimson before he can stop them.

"N-No... I-I'm fine."

Takemichi, what the hell is wrong with you? Have you seriously lost your mind?!

Draken blinks at Takemichi's reaction.

No way... is Takemichi actually getting shy around me?

That flustered expression is unbearably cute.

A faint blush spreads across Draken's own cheeks as he watches Takemichi struggle to compose himself.

Meanwhile, everyone else has exactly one thought.

Something's fishy.

Seriously fishy.

Out of nowhere, Mikey wraps an arm tightly around Takemichi's waist from behind and pulls him against his chest. He buries his face against Takemichi's neck, completely content as he breathes in the familiar scent lingering in his hair. Resting his chin on Takemichi's shoulder, he looks at Draken.

He's smiling.

But his eyes are as cold as ice.

"Kenchin, don't go trying to steal my Takemitchy."

Huh? Steal? What does he mean, steal?

Takemichi is already way too sensitive to words like that.

The more he hears, the hotter his face becomes. When he turns his head, Mikey's face is right beside his shoulder.

For a fleeting moment, Takemichi freezes.

Mikey's dark eyes suddenly seem impossibly deep, so deep that there's no telling what lies beneath them.

Takemichi once thinks the empty, lifeless look in Mikey's eyes is the scariest thing about him.

But this...

This gaze makes his entire body turn cold.

A shiver crawls down his spine as if countless chains suddenly wrap themselves around him, binding him in place, locking him inside a pitch-black prison with no hope of escape.

Just as quickly as it appears, the look vanishes.

In its place is Mikey's usual carefree grin, eyes curved into cheerful crescents.