Feel My Heart Beat

Crisis

Akihito waved off his guards and bounced up the steps to Takato's apartment. He knocked on the door to announce his presence before just letting himself in and slipping his shoes off. A yell indicated that his friends must be in the lounge. He made his way further inside and discovered his two best friends on the couch. Kou was lying spread across the couch with his head in Takato's lap, arm thrown across his face as though hiding it.

"Hey guys! What's up?"

"Hey Aki, Kou's having an existential crisis."

"Really? Why?"

Takato laughed and poked his soulmate on the shoulder. Kou groaned but otherwise didn't respond. Akihito took a seat on the floor in front of the couch and looked at Takato curiously.

"So what's going on?"

"I was kind of hoping you might have some advice for our poor confused friend here and I thought a games night with beer might also help Kou with his drama." Takato poked his soulmate again. "Are you going to tell him or do I have to?"

"Aki-chan!" Kou wailed as he sat up and turned to focus pleading eyes on Akihito. "How do you date guys?!"

"Ehh?!"

"Kou apparently didn't realise that he liked both guys and girls. Which is funny because I've known that forever but didn't really think anything of it. Turns out I figured it out years before he did."

"But I don't know how to date another guy!"

"I'm pretty sure it's exactly the same as dating a girl, well, for the actual dating part. You'll have to ask Aki about the rest."

"Me?! I haven't exactly dated anyone. I mean, does Asami even count? We're soulmates and just kinda fell into it."

"Yeah, but you're the only guy I know dating another man! Help meeee!" Kou wailed dramatically, reaching over to grasp Akihito by the shoulders and shake him slightly. He was balanced precariously and would have fallen off the couch if Takato hadn't hauled him back up. "You've been on dates though right? You've told us that he's taken you out."

"Yeah but... Takato's right, what is that different from dating a girl when it comes to just dating?"

"You know that my dating record is crap right? I can't even date girls right, how the hell am I going to be able to date a guy?!"

"If you want proper dating advice, shouldn't you be asking Takato? I mean, he's married. He's been the most successful out of all of us when it comes to a relationship."

Takato chuckled, "Apparently my advice isn't wanted."

"All you told me was to just go for it and be myself and look where it's gotten me so far!"

"You just need to find the right person." Takato turned to Akihito and explained, "We were getting coffee at the place around the road from Kou's work and he pointed out that the barista was cute. I told him he should ask him out. And this is how the whole existential crisis happened."

"How did you not realise?" Kou groaned and covered his face with his hands. "I've never really thought about it but I'm pretty sure I've heard you comment on guys appearances before." Akihito shared an amused gaze with Takato while Kou flopped dramatically back down so he was lying across the couch with his head back in his soulmates lap.

"I dunno. I guess I always thought I should be dating girls. Okaasan is always calling me and asking me if I got a girlfriend. The guys are always talking about girls and trying to hook up with girls. Speaking of that, did you know Yoshida is now dating that chick from Flux? Everyone's getting a date but me!"