YNoMH? (BL)

22

Chapter 22: Center of the World (9)

The next day and the day after that, Kuniedsan came over to see Ushio. If he were to go see his parents because he had nothing else to do, it would make the situation more complicated, and having him close-by made things easier. His parents would surely notice how different their son had become, and if more people were brought into the situation, it could escalate quickly. Although Kei was on vacation, the accident had occurred while he was working, and there was the likelihood they'd have to report it to the company. Ushio knew that it wasn't what Kei would want if he could help it. It was less trouble being able to keep an eye on him, but no matter how much Ushio told himself that it was for Kei's own good, he hated having to hide his real intentions from him like this. Especially with how happy Kuniedsan looked.

Kuniedsan's daily routine wasn't very different from Kei's. He read a lot of newspapers and watched a lot of TV news.

"Don't you ever think to ignore the news when you're on vacation?" Ushio asked as they ate dinner together.

"But if I'm unable to follow the stories that we're working on after I get back from vacation, it would create more trouble for the staff. I find it easier to check on the news every day than to let it pile up."

They were having stir-fried pork ribs with lettuce, a vinegared eggplant salad, and nyuumen noodles1 topped with a pickled plum. Unbelievably, Kuniedsan had cooked for the two of them. Kei never cooked (at least never when Ushio was around), but he prepared the meal with a precision and skill that Ushio couldn't help but admire once again how Kei really could do just about anything.

"Doesn't it get tiring, Kuniedsan?"

"Huh?"

"Well, when you're on TV, you have to be extremely careful about your behavior. So I thought that you might relax more, let loose a little during your personal time, but you don't seem to behave any different from when you're in front of the cameras. I guess I was wondering when you're able to get some rest."

Kuniedsan took some time to think and answered, "I rest at home."

"But reading the papers is an extension of your job."

"That may be true... I suppose it's my stubbornness that doesn't allow me to sit still until I'm satisfied that I've done all that I can for my work. That is probably why it doesn't feel like work to me, because over half of it, I do for my own benefit."

"I understand that."

Ushio had seen with his own eyes how he would drive himself to the brink and back, and in the face of everything, refused to break or ever back down.

"I suppose you could call this moment right now a place to let loose."

"Hmm?"

"I feel very much at ease when I'm here at your house, Tsuzuki-san. It's somewhere I can let loose, I suppose. But I feel safe, like I can let my guard down, and everything will be all right... I apologize, this is your house and not mine."

"No," Ushio said, shaking his head, "I'm happy to hear it. Very happy."

It was only a few seconds, but it felt like time had stopped as they looked into each other's eyes. They both suddenly snapped out of it and hurried to keep eating.

"Is there too much vinegar in the eggplant?"

"No, it's perfect."

The conversation felt forced and unnatural, and so Ushio decided to stir up the stiff atmosphere between them.