About Us

Food.

A/N: a little bit of sexual suggestiveness is in this chapter. :^)

---------------

They stayed up late. Too late.
In the end, the walk home from the park became walking Juzo home, even though the former Super High School Level Boxer refused politely, saying that it wasn't necessary.

"Just let me walk you home, Sakakura. I know you are able to defend yourself from whatever jumps on you, but I don't want to take any risks." Munakata stated, his stoic face bearing a small smile that made Juzo's heart skip a beat.

"O..Okay, I give up. Fine, I'll let you walk me home. Jeez.. What's up with you suddenly?" Juzo grunted in response as the other male ignored him, or pretended to not hear him as Juzo's house was nearing in the distance. He could've sworn that he saw Munakata's smile widening ever-so slightly beside him, as they made their way together through the narrow road framed with grapevines.

As soon as they reached their destination, it was Juzo's turn to insist in repaying the favor of Munakata walking him home, to his surprise. Munakata seemed to be delighted at the offer and accepted, taking off his shoes as Juzo unlocked the door and let him inside.
"I'm home," he shouted, to empty halls with no one present. He let out a small sigh before Munakata behind him whispered to himself with an amused expression, "Welcome home, Sakakura."
To this, the male flushed a slight pink as he let out a stuttered reply, facing Munakata nervously as he took off his fur-rimmed jacket.

"D..did you have to reply?" he spoke concisely, asking the question straight to the point as he observed Munakata's expression morphing from an amused face to a slightly flushed shade of red.
"...I felt like it. That's all I can say. Anyway, what do you want to do to repay me, as you had insisted before?"
At this question, Juzo grinned wide and it was Munakata's turn to feel his heart jump in joy at seeing that rare face directed at him.

"I would like to cook for you, Munakata. I figured you must be hungry, staying out this late with me and all. Sorry I dragged you along, by the way." he chuckled as the silver-haired beauty nodded and shrugged slightly.
"It's no problem. It was out of my own volition afterall. It's not like you forced me to stay with you. I just wanted to. Plus... I do feel hungry."

They walked together around the halls towards the dining room, decorated to give off a vintage ambience as Munakata felt right at home, the scent of vanilla incense answering one of his lifetime questions:  "What is that perfume Sakakura uses?"
Juzo went and wore a white, frilly apron, took a frying pan and a spatula, and started making one of the dishes he excels at; Omelettes.

He bent over to find some eggs, while Munakata was clearly enjoying the sight. His face was devoid of emotion, but his eyes stated interest as he observed his whole body, as if stripping him off with his eyes. His tongue flicked over his lips ever so slightly, feeling his throat getting dry from the sight of Juzo's body.
He was thirsty. For water, but mostly, for Juzo's lips to crash against his, for his body to be claimed by him, his hands running down the toned boxer's body, hearing his hitched breaths and his breathless moans.

"Tsk." he clicked his tongue in half-hearted annoyance as he willed himself to clear his mind of indecent thoughts. The man he loved... loved? Did he love Juzo? Did he fall in love with Juzo? Since when? And why?
His heart pounds as he put a hand over his chest, feeling his heartbeat go wild, and his face heat up. His previous suspicions had been proven true.

He loves Juzo. Not in a friendly way, but in a romantic way.
As Juzo cracked the eggs into the pan, they let out a hiss, hitting the heated teflon they were cooked on. He calmly continues to cook as it was silent between the two of them, until the time came when Juzo finished the omelettes, topping Munakata's off with a small drawing of a bunny made out of ketchup, and a bear with a star on his own. It was a bad habit from Chisa's cooking classes that he had took over after cooking omelettes continuously.

He placed the plates atop the dining table, as Munakata looked at the ketchup drawing and stifled a laugh, in which Juzo flushed a deep red at.
"A bunny? Really, Sakakura?"

"I..it's a bad habit because I learnt from Chisa on how to cook this. She likes it cute, and it became a habit I overtook after fifteen retries on cooking." he explained in embarassment as he leant back in his seat, taking his set of silverware and said his prayers (with Munakata following suit), before eating the omelette. Munakata, upon eating a spoonful of the omelette, brightened up as he felt the taste of the rice and egg melt in his mouth. "I didn't know you had a talent for cooking. This tastes amazing, even better than Chisa's cooking."

Upon being praised by Munakata, Juzo's face exploded in another shade of red, as he grinned and chuckled a little. "That so? Thank you. I'm grateful that you said that." He finished his own meal soon after and was about to go off to wash the dishes, when suddenly, Munakata grabbed his hand and prevented him to do so.

"Wait."

The sudden halt surprised him as he set the dishes back onto the table, looking at Munakata who stared at him with.. strangely, a serious expression.
"Hm? What is it?" the confused reply had taken Munakata aback, and found himself at a loss of words, the script he had set in his mind vanishing into nothing but a blank sheet of paper.

"We need to talk. I have something to tell you." the silver-haired male said sternly, before Juzo understood and took a seat beside him, crossing his arms in front of his chest and smiled slightly.
"Speak. I'll listen."
With that, Munakata began to speak out what he had always wanted to say.

"Sakakura. It's not much of a big deal, but I'd like to tell you something. It seems that.. Since we're good friends ever since that time, my feelings of friendship for you has changed.
It has come to a point where my feelings took a turn for the worse. These days, you may have noticed I do look troubled and unfocused even in important meetings. The reason for that is because I've been thinking, wondering about my emotions. And now.. I finally figured it out.. and.."

A moment of silence ensued briefly, before it was sliced away by the last lines of the Former Super High School Level Class President, like butter to a heated knife.

"I think I may be in love with you, Sakakura."

Juzo, who had been listening to Munakata silently, had been taken aback by the statement, his eyes wide as saucers and his mouth slightly agape, his cheeks flushing a deep red shade. He seemed to be in deep thought, unable to process what Munakata had said. The latter seemed saddened at his response and sighed exasperatedly.

"Listen, if you feel uncomfortable after what I just said, I can-"

"No."

"...What?"

Juzo pulled Munakata into his embrace, his body shaking as he seemed to be sobbing uncontrollably. Munakata looked surprised, yet relieved as he hugged the other male gladly.

"I'm happy... Muna.. I'm so happy, you won't even understand it. I've loved you for so damn long. I've been rivals with Chisa secretly from who knows when. And.. to hear those words from you, I.. I'm overjoyed.
I can't think of anything but you all those times when I'm under stress. You really are..."

Munakata heard Juzo sniffle, as he pulled away from the warm embrace and took out his handkerchief from his pocket, wiping away his tears. An earnest smile was plastered on his face out of pure elation.
"Thank you, Juzo. Thank you for responding to my feelings well. Thank you for all you've done to support me. This time, it's my turn to help and support you in return."

Munakata's warm hand grasped Juzo's own, and as his sniffles and sobs mellowed down, Juzo certainly felt that, indeed... Food truly was,

the perfect way..

to a man's heart.