Squaring the Circle (4/6)
Aug. 12th, 2014 11:27 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wendyjolyTitle: Squaring the Circle
Author: WendyJoly/![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
chibipinkpetals
Pairing : Nino X yuriko Yoshitaka, sho X ohno + sakumiya (one sided)
Rating: R
Lenght : Chaptered
Beta : Cookies and muffins tochibipinkpetals
Genre: Love, misunderstandings and friendship
Disclaimer: I owe nothing but Arashi owns surely my soul
Summary : Sakurai Sho, Yuriko Yoshitaka and Ninomiya Kazunari shared a dormitory at the university. Soon after their graduation Nino and Yuri get married but years after, as they’re spending a week-end with their old friend, a secret of their past reappears.
Note : This story takes place in the present and in the past which is in italic. My dearchibipinkpetals wrote OS concerning the Yama pair, you can find them on her LiveJournal!
CHAPTER 4
“Ninomiya VS Ninomiya”
Yuriko thrills when she hears the words she feared so much. They are facing each other, a big black table between them, Nino sitting beside his lawyers, Yuriko alone on her chair.
“Mrs Ninomiya, are we waiting for your lawyer?” asks the judge, an impatient look on her face.
“I have no lawyer, your grace.”
“Are you aware that the court may provide you one or you can ask your husband to pay for it, if you can’t afford it.”
“I decided willingly to be on my own, your grace, I don’t need any lawyer.”
“Very well.”
She avoids on purpose Nino’s incredulous look and focuses on the judge.
“Sensei?” Asks the judge to Nino’s attorney.
“Yes your honour. Mister Ninomiya leaves the house they own at Saitama to his wife and half of his goods. He wants to keep the chalet family in the mountain. He will continue to pay a pension each month. Whatever the amount could be, he let her chose.”
The lawyer is visibly stunned by his client’s attitude but Nino looks at his wife straightforwardly, the tenderness he always had for her still in the eyes.
“I refuse.” murmurs Yuriko.
“I beg your pardon Mrs Ninomiya?”
“I refuse the house and the money, I don’t need it.”
“Yuriko!”
“I’m sorry. That’s all I have to say.”
“Well, it’s...pretty unusual.” says the old woman.
Yuriko intertwines her fingers, doesn’t really follow the lawful speech, looks outside the kids playing in a park, she avoids at all cost to stare at Nino.
“...I pronounce the divorce. You are free to go.”
She stands up immediately and leaves the room as fast as she can, hearing Nino’s steps behind her.
“Yuriko wait!” He grips her wrist and she turns back to face him unwillingly.
“Hi.”
“It’s been a long time. How are you?”
“I’m fine. Thanks. And you?”
“I’m fine too...no it’s a lie, I’m pitiful since you’re not with me.”
“I’m not very proud of myself to be true. I hope you will forgive me. One day perhaps.”
“I’ll try at least.”
“Thanks.”
“Why didn’t you accept the money?”
“I don’t need money.”
“If you’re not with me, I don’t need either, I figured it out.”
“You’ll be fine, Nino. Everything will be fine for you.”
“And for you? What will you do now?”
“Don’t worry for me. ”
She caresses his cheek and turns back, leaving the Court and Nino’s life.
=+= ♥ =+=
It was not really the university he would have chosen.
But the very day of his birth, his father had bought a set of leather suitcases with a golden plaque with his name for him to be ready to follow his path, at the university he went.
Applied literature. Why not? He has always dreamt to teach anyway, so why not in a university?
Perhaps because he would have preferred to work with children. He had four years to think about it, to find himself and discover his own path.
Nonetheless he didn’t expect to meet them.
Sho was working in his bedroom the day he met Nino.
A bang against the wall, then another, then another and after half an hour his patience was gone.
He went out the bedroom, furious, ready to hit the guy who dared to imagine that the wall they shared was a baseball field...until the moment he had opened the door and had crossed his gaze.
“Yeah?”
“I...I…”
“You?”
“I’m your neighbour and the ball…”
Sho pointed the ball he was still holding in the hand and Nino looked at it, surprised.
“Oh! Sorry, I didn’t know someone was in the next room. You’re really discreet.”
“I do my best.”
“Do you want to drink something? Ninomiya Kazunari and you?”
Nino reached out to shake his hand and Sho felt a brick falling in his stomach at the idea to touch him.
“Just…stop it with the ball.”
He ran away and slammed the door behind him, his breath short, and his head spinning around. Now he knew. He came here to meet him. To meet Ninomiya Kazunari.
The next days he avoided him, perfectly aware that he won’t be able to hide his agitation when if he came to approach him.
Then, the noise in front of his door and a girl’s voice, Nino’s voice too. Sho sneaked out and saw him with that totally soaked woman that Nino was luring shamelessly. Like he won’t ever look at him. A huge wave of jealousy overwhelmed him and pushed himself between them.
“Is there a problem?”
“Hm, the hermit decides to get out from his cave. The office made a mistake and gave my bedroom to this girl.”
He probably deserved this. He managed so well to stay away from him until now…
Sho figured out how the girl was detailing him and he wondered how she could wander on the campus, worst in the men dormitory in such an outfit. Was she totally lunatic or an exhibitionist?
Stay in this dormitory? With Nino? Damn Hell no! But...perhaps was it an occasion for him to approach him? Could he be bold enough to live by his side?
“Nice to meet you. I'm Yuriko Yoshitaka.”
He turned back to face the girl who had a so special voice. Sweet, drawl…
“Sakurai Sho, nice to meet you.”
“It’s a mistake, obviously and I~”
“Do you have a place to stay if you’re not here?”
“They said I had to wait the next semester.”
“But for the time being?”
It was wrong, so wrong, but he couldn’t help but trying his luck.
“So take mine.”
“W…what?”
“My bedroom is a single one. I’ll be Ninomiya roommate.”
“At least you could ask me!” Had yell Ninomiya.
Certainly not if it was to refuse!
“You would not kick out a damsel in distress?”
“Wait I’m not precisely~”
“Yes or no?”
“Y…Yes.”
“I’ll pick my stuff when you have changed your clothes. You’re gonna catch a cold if you keep this wet dress.”
“Thanks.”
They stayed together in the corridor, an awkward atmosphere in the air. Love was an awful thing, though Sho, able to turn a good man into a devilish manipulator. Crap.
“I warn you. I saw her first.” Said Nino pointing his finger on Sho’s chest.
Those years were the best and the worst of his life.
They were together all day long, all night long, separate only by the hours they spend in the classrooms or on the baseball field.
He fell more and more for Nino and he saw the desire Nino felt for Yuriko turning in a foolish love.
“I want to marry her.”
“You’re crazy.”
They were on their separate beds, laid down in the dark and Sho tried to not sound too happy.
“Why?”
“Because...I don’t know, for thousands of good reasons. You’re too young, both of you, you’re still at the university, you have nothing in common, she’s an artist and you’re a sportsman and another thing I almost forgot….Oh yeah, she hates you.”
“She doesn’t hate me. It’s a game between us, she likes to argue with me.”
“Love is blind. And deaf.”
“Oh men of little faith! Wait and see.”
“Wait what?”
“She will be mine, I swear to you.”
“Why?”
“Because I can’t live without her. Because I came in this university to meet her, fate placed her on my way. Because she’s the woman of my life, that’s all.”
Sho bit his lips, keeping for himself a moan of pain. Love was blind. Deaf. Excruciating.
=+=
The last night at the dormitory was here in a blink of eye.
And while Yuriko and Nino were fighting idiotically as if nothing special was happening, Sho fell the perfume of the nostalgia taking him away.
For four years, his life has been fulfilled by the relationship he built with those two. The courses, the love he had for them, so different and so complementary, the intercourse he had with some regular guys of the campus...he found a balance. A shitty balance, true, he knew it better than anyone, but during that time, he never had to think about a future which frightened him.
An adult life, with a job he didn’t really chose by himself, a woman to marry to please his parents, a new balance to find between a mask of respectability and a sexuality he couldn’t officially assume.
And love.
He drew a line on Nino since a long time.
Yuriko confessed to him, the week after their encounter, and it helped him to figure out how much one couldn’t fight against his true nature. He loved her deeply, true, she was the woman of his life but he would never be the man she wanted him to be.
He would never make love to her, like he never would make love to Nino. What an ironical situation.
At least, that’s what he thought until that last night at the university.
He made love to them and said goodbye to his youth and the foolish dreams that he still bore that day.
He left the bedroom with an only regrets, he lied to Yuriko. He could never forget that night, it will haunt him until his last day.
=+=+
“So who wants to take part of the theater piece?”
Sho looked out over the entire amphitheater, showing his own copies of the piece he wrote with some students during a workshop.
“The text is written, I’ll give a copy to each of you. Read it, we’ll talk about it later. See you next week.”
The students stood up in an almost perfect silence and Sho stayed in the class to retrieve his stuffs, then climbed the stairs hastily.
He placed his big brown leather bag's on his shoulder and ran to be at the appointed time at the bar of the university campus.
He greeted a lot of people on his way, with his sunglasses on to enjoy the sunny weather before taking them off as he entered the little bar; empty in the middle of that afternoon.
The man waited for him at the counter, a coffee in hand and was looking at the television where a baseball match was aired.
“Are you a baseball freak?”
“Not really. But there is a kind of poetry in sports...and you?”
“I don’t get the poetry in all those broken nose and gym odour but I’m ready to believe you. Sakurai Sho, nice to meet you.”
“Ohno Satoshi nice to meet you too.”
“I’m the literature teacher, Jun-kun’s friend.”
“I know. I saw you at Jun-kun’s party and on the campus from time to time.”
“You’re stalking me!” laughed Sho and Ohno blushed nicely. “Sorry, I didn’t...I...it was a joke.”
He was cute, thought Sho. Not precisely his type of guy, he used to hit on men less classy, less shy, the type of men you could lay for a one-night-stand. Ohno sensei was rather the type of men a girl would like to marry. Wait, wait, wait...why was he thinking about? He blushed because of a pretty bad joke, not because he pleased him…
“Would you like to sit at a table?” He proposed to break the ice.
“Why not.”
“But if you followed the match…”
Ohno smirked enigmatically and dragged his feet to a table followed by Sho.
“So this piece?”
“It’s the result of a writing workshop with the students of my class. Understanding how a theatre piece is build and playing it at the end of the year. Of course, we need a stage set and if you could lend us your talent...or include your students in the project. Jun-kun told me you would be interested by the idea.”
“What’s the story?” Said the artist sipping his coffee.
“The story? Ah a love story of course.”
“Of course?”
“Love rules the world and unleashes wars. It’s the only emotion able to move mountains.”
“If you say so…”
He was definitely interesting and Sho sent a grateful thought to Jun for his brilliant idea. It would be a real pleasure to work with him.
They began to work together and Sho discovered rapidly how a new friend could change a life, how Ohno could turn his world upside down by his unique point of view on every little event of life.
=+=
“The first girl we saw?”
“The tanned one?”
“Yeah...she’s not really tanned though.”
“Whatever, she’s not pretty enough.”
Sho stared at the man sitting by his side in the big amphitheater where they were auditioning the actors for the piece. Ohno could be so harsh sometimes, so honest, too much for Sho.
“We don’t care!”
“Of course we care! Do you think that Romeo would have fallen in love with Juliet if some of her front teeth were missing?”
“You’re creepy…”
“But I’m right.”
“You’re right.”
“Are you free tonight?”
“Sure why?”
“I have to go to an exhibition, one of my old students.”
“I’ll come.”
“We could eat together. Before, I mean.”
“Why not.”
Something sweet in Ohno’s voice pushed Sho to be frank with him during this outing. They were drinking a last beer in a cozy pub when he felt Ohno’s leg under the table subtly touching his.
“Ohno sensei…”
“Satoshi.”
“Satoshi-kun, I don’t really know if I am right when I think that we’re friends now.”
“Yeah of course, we are.”
“Would it be presumptuous to think that perhaps you would like to be more than my friend?”
“Don’t you like men? I thought that…”
“I do. You’re right.”
“Oh, I see. It’s me? You don’t like me?”
“Quite the contrary, I like you very much. I appreciate you and I don’t go out with my friends.”
“Do you have someone?”
“Look. I've been in love for a long time with someone that is neither single nor gay. I moved on but I can’t have a serious relationship. That’s not what I’m looking for.”
“And?”
“Could you be with someone who loves another man? We’re not made to be fucking buddies, we get along too well and you’re definitely a man who deserves to find someone serious.”
“Not everybody deserves this?”
“A quiet and serene love story doesn’t fit to anyone. I’m convinced.”
“And you like me?”
“If I would have met you in a bar, definitely, I would have slept with you.” laughed Sho, relieved that his friend didn’t turn his back to him.
“Do I drive you back?”
“Yes, please.”
They chatted agitatedly during the road, certainly excited by this charming outing and when Ohno stopped the car, Sho smiled to him.
“Thanks. It was a great evening.”
“For me too. See you tomorrow?”
“Yeah.”
“Sho?”
The teacher stared at his friend, surprised to hear his name for the first time from his mouth and didn't understand when he felt Ohno’s lips on his. A chaste and gentle kiss then a stroke on his cheek which took his breath away.
“Good night, Sho.”
He got out of the car, astonished, wondering where he failed in his yet so clear explanation. However, the little flame of pleasure inside his belly was there and it will be hard for him to forget this moment of tenderness.
=+=
“You invited Ohno?”
“Yes, why? Was I not supposed to?”
Sho patted Jun’s shoulder and made his way through his crowded living room to be in front of Ohno and offer him a drink.
“Welcome.”
“Your house is nice.”
“True, you never came before. I wonder why.”
“You were too uncomfortable with me ever since I kissed you.”
Sho's thoughts of confusion faded and smirked awkwardly.
“Listen, I don’t want to pressure you. You decided on your own that I was looking for a serious relationship. I can’t go and say I don’t, but a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. That’s not my quote, it’s Lao-Tzu’s.”
“What does that means?”
Ohno stepped forward and caressed Sho’s cheek gently.
“Let me love you, Sho. You have nothing to lose, everything to gain. You don’t have to worry for the rest, it’s my problem.”
“Satoshi…I…”
“Sho, where is the wine?” A voice interrupted them.
“There.” He pointed vaguely to the bar and seeing the guy waiting for him, he sighed and left Satoshi behind.
He wanted him, it was obvious now and the way he looked at him from the other side of the room teased his envy. If things could be as easy as that. Was it possible? Seeing him, going out with him, perhaps having sex with him from time to time, and after? Hurting Ohno’s feelings when he will finally realize that he will never fall for him?
Yet.
They passed the party to run into the others, to run away from each other, to exchange smiles from afar and sensing obstinately the attraction they shared.
Sho watched patiently his guests disappearing one after the other and he was not surprised to find Satoshi in his living room.
“You like the Hammer’s movies?”
“Don’t mock me please.”
“I like it too. There’s some kind of outdated charm in it, this so fake colors, those actors and their exaggerated performance…”
Sho sat on the couch and brushed his lips with his thumb.
“So...you always mention Lao-Tzu when you flirt with someone?”
“Not with anyone.” Smirked Satoshi as he stood up and walked to Sho. Sho reached out and grabbed his hips to bring him on top of him.
“So I should feel lucky…”
“Are you drunk?”
“A little bit. And you?”
“Enough to be carried away.”
He straddled Sho and took his mouth eagerly, the alcohol helping them to forget his preventions.
Ohno unbuttoned his shirt, tossed it on the couch and slide his hands under Sho’s top, pecking his neck.
“Are...are you sure?” Moaned Sho.
“Stop thinking it over. Just let yourself go.”
Sho took off his top and carried Ohno to his bedroom, laying him down on the bed cautiously. They kissed all night long, laughing and caressing each other, talking and finally making love joyfully. When Ohno fell asleep on his chest, Sho brushed his hair tenderly and covered his beautiful body with the slight blanket of the bed.
It was almost unbelievable.
For the very first time of his life, sex was not synonym of guiltiness or lust, the man he was holding in his arms had all his respect and was worth to be loved. He was not agitated and it has nothing to do with the way Ohno had appeased his body.
He didn’t sleep at night and when the sun rose he took a shower then came back to bed where Satoshi was laid on his stomach.
“Are you awake?”
“Hm?”
Sho laughed and kissed his shoulder lovingly.
“Would you come with me the next week-end? I have friends to see, they own a chalet in a charming mountain. I would like to introduce them to you.”
Author: WendyJoly/
chibipinkpetalsPairing : Nino X yuriko Yoshitaka, sho X ohno + sakumiya (one sided)
Rating: R
Lenght : Chaptered
Beta : Cookies and muffins to
chibipinkpetalsGenre: Love, misunderstandings and friendship
Disclaimer: I owe nothing but Arashi owns surely my soul
Summary : Sakurai Sho, Yuriko Yoshitaka and Ninomiya Kazunari shared a dormitory at the university. Soon after their graduation Nino and Yuri get married but years after, as they’re spending a week-end with their old friend, a secret of their past reappears.
Note : This story takes place in the present and in the past which is in italic. My dear
chibipinkpetals wrote OS concerning the Yama pair, you can find them on her LiveJournal!CHAPTER 4
“Ninomiya VS Ninomiya”
Yuriko thrills when she hears the words she feared so much. They are facing each other, a big black table between them, Nino sitting beside his lawyers, Yuriko alone on her chair.
“Mrs Ninomiya, are we waiting for your lawyer?” asks the judge, an impatient look on her face.
“I have no lawyer, your grace.”
“Are you aware that the court may provide you one or you can ask your husband to pay for it, if you can’t afford it.”
“I decided willingly to be on my own, your grace, I don’t need any lawyer.”
“Very well.”
She avoids on purpose Nino’s incredulous look and focuses on the judge.
“Sensei?” Asks the judge to Nino’s attorney.
“Yes your honour. Mister Ninomiya leaves the house they own at Saitama to his wife and half of his goods. He wants to keep the chalet family in the mountain. He will continue to pay a pension each month. Whatever the amount could be, he let her chose.”
The lawyer is visibly stunned by his client’s attitude but Nino looks at his wife straightforwardly, the tenderness he always had for her still in the eyes.
“I refuse.” murmurs Yuriko.
“I beg your pardon Mrs Ninomiya?”
“I refuse the house and the money, I don’t need it.”
“Yuriko!”
“I’m sorry. That’s all I have to say.”
“Well, it’s...pretty unusual.” says the old woman.
Yuriko intertwines her fingers, doesn’t really follow the lawful speech, looks outside the kids playing in a park, she avoids at all cost to stare at Nino.
“...I pronounce the divorce. You are free to go.”
She stands up immediately and leaves the room as fast as she can, hearing Nino’s steps behind her.
“Yuriko wait!” He grips her wrist and she turns back to face him unwillingly.
“Hi.”
“It’s been a long time. How are you?”
“I’m fine. Thanks. And you?”
“I’m fine too...no it’s a lie, I’m pitiful since you’re not with me.”
“I’m not very proud of myself to be true. I hope you will forgive me. One day perhaps.”
“I’ll try at least.”
“Thanks.”
“Why didn’t you accept the money?”
“I don’t need money.”
“If you’re not with me, I don’t need either, I figured it out.”
“You’ll be fine, Nino. Everything will be fine for you.”
“And for you? What will you do now?”
“Don’t worry for me. ”
She caresses his cheek and turns back, leaving the Court and Nino’s life.
It was not really the university he would have chosen.
But the very day of his birth, his father had bought a set of leather suitcases with a golden plaque with his name for him to be ready to follow his path, at the university he went.
Applied literature. Why not? He has always dreamt to teach anyway, so why not in a university?
Perhaps because he would have preferred to work with children. He had four years to think about it, to find himself and discover his own path.
Nonetheless he didn’t expect to meet them.
Sho was working in his bedroom the day he met Nino.
A bang against the wall, then another, then another and after half an hour his patience was gone.
He went out the bedroom, furious, ready to hit the guy who dared to imagine that the wall they shared was a baseball field...until the moment he had opened the door and had crossed his gaze.
“Yeah?”
“I...I…”
“You?”
“I’m your neighbour and the ball…”
Sho pointed the ball he was still holding in the hand and Nino looked at it, surprised.
“Oh! Sorry, I didn’t know someone was in the next room. You’re really discreet.”
“I do my best.”
“Do you want to drink something? Ninomiya Kazunari and you?”
Nino reached out to shake his hand and Sho felt a brick falling in his stomach at the idea to touch him.
“Just…stop it with the ball.”
He ran away and slammed the door behind him, his breath short, and his head spinning around. Now he knew. He came here to meet him. To meet Ninomiya Kazunari.
The next days he avoided him, perfectly aware that he won’t be able to hide his agitation when if he came to approach him.
Then, the noise in front of his door and a girl’s voice, Nino’s voice too. Sho sneaked out and saw him with that totally soaked woman that Nino was luring shamelessly. Like he won’t ever look at him. A huge wave of jealousy overwhelmed him and pushed himself between them.
“Is there a problem?”
“Hm, the hermit decides to get out from his cave. The office made a mistake and gave my bedroom to this girl.”
He probably deserved this. He managed so well to stay away from him until now…
Sho figured out how the girl was detailing him and he wondered how she could wander on the campus, worst in the men dormitory in such an outfit. Was she totally lunatic or an exhibitionist?
Stay in this dormitory? With Nino? Damn Hell no! But...perhaps was it an occasion for him to approach him? Could he be bold enough to live by his side?
“Nice to meet you. I'm Yuriko Yoshitaka.”
He turned back to face the girl who had a so special voice. Sweet, drawl…
“Sakurai Sho, nice to meet you.”
“It’s a mistake, obviously and I~”
“Do you have a place to stay if you’re not here?”
“They said I had to wait the next semester.”
“But for the time being?”
It was wrong, so wrong, but he couldn’t help but trying his luck.
“So take mine.”
“W…what?”
“My bedroom is a single one. I’ll be Ninomiya roommate.”
“At least you could ask me!” Had yell Ninomiya.
Certainly not if it was to refuse!
“You would not kick out a damsel in distress?”
“Wait I’m not precisely~”
“Yes or no?”
“Y…Yes.”
“I’ll pick my stuff when you have changed your clothes. You’re gonna catch a cold if you keep this wet dress.”
“Thanks.”
They stayed together in the corridor, an awkward atmosphere in the air. Love was an awful thing, though Sho, able to turn a good man into a devilish manipulator. Crap.
“I warn you. I saw her first.” Said Nino pointing his finger on Sho’s chest.
Those years were the best and the worst of his life.
They were together all day long, all night long, separate only by the hours they spend in the classrooms or on the baseball field.
He fell more and more for Nino and he saw the desire Nino felt for Yuriko turning in a foolish love.
“I want to marry her.”
“You’re crazy.”
They were on their separate beds, laid down in the dark and Sho tried to not sound too happy.
“Why?”
“Because...I don’t know, for thousands of good reasons. You’re too young, both of you, you’re still at the university, you have nothing in common, she’s an artist and you’re a sportsman and another thing I almost forgot….Oh yeah, she hates you.”
“She doesn’t hate me. It’s a game between us, she likes to argue with me.”
“Love is blind. And deaf.”
“Oh men of little faith! Wait and see.”
“Wait what?”
“She will be mine, I swear to you.”
“Why?”
“Because I can’t live without her. Because I came in this university to meet her, fate placed her on my way. Because she’s the woman of my life, that’s all.”
Sho bit his lips, keeping for himself a moan of pain. Love was blind. Deaf. Excruciating.
The last night at the dormitory was here in a blink of eye.
And while Yuriko and Nino were fighting idiotically as if nothing special was happening, Sho fell the perfume of the nostalgia taking him away.
For four years, his life has been fulfilled by the relationship he built with those two. The courses, the love he had for them, so different and so complementary, the intercourse he had with some regular guys of the campus...he found a balance. A shitty balance, true, he knew it better than anyone, but during that time, he never had to think about a future which frightened him.
An adult life, with a job he didn’t really chose by himself, a woman to marry to please his parents, a new balance to find between a mask of respectability and a sexuality he couldn’t officially assume.
And love.
He drew a line on Nino since a long time.
Yuriko confessed to him, the week after their encounter, and it helped him to figure out how much one couldn’t fight against his true nature. He loved her deeply, true, she was the woman of his life but he would never be the man she wanted him to be.
He would never make love to her, like he never would make love to Nino. What an ironical situation.
At least, that’s what he thought until that last night at the university.
He made love to them and said goodbye to his youth and the foolish dreams that he still bore that day.
He left the bedroom with an only regrets, he lied to Yuriko. He could never forget that night, it will haunt him until his last day.
“So who wants to take part of the theater piece?”
Sho looked out over the entire amphitheater, showing his own copies of the piece he wrote with some students during a workshop.
“The text is written, I’ll give a copy to each of you. Read it, we’ll talk about it later. See you next week.”
The students stood up in an almost perfect silence and Sho stayed in the class to retrieve his stuffs, then climbed the stairs hastily.
He placed his big brown leather bag's on his shoulder and ran to be at the appointed time at the bar of the university campus.
He greeted a lot of people on his way, with his sunglasses on to enjoy the sunny weather before taking them off as he entered the little bar; empty in the middle of that afternoon.
The man waited for him at the counter, a coffee in hand and was looking at the television where a baseball match was aired.
“Are you a baseball freak?”
“Not really. But there is a kind of poetry in sports...and you?”
“I don’t get the poetry in all those broken nose and gym odour but I’m ready to believe you. Sakurai Sho, nice to meet you.”
“Ohno Satoshi nice to meet you too.”
“I’m the literature teacher, Jun-kun’s friend.”
“I know. I saw you at Jun-kun’s party and on the campus from time to time.”
“You’re stalking me!” laughed Sho and Ohno blushed nicely. “Sorry, I didn’t...I...it was a joke.”
He was cute, thought Sho. Not precisely his type of guy, he used to hit on men less classy, less shy, the type of men you could lay for a one-night-stand. Ohno sensei was rather the type of men a girl would like to marry. Wait, wait, wait...why was he thinking about? He blushed because of a pretty bad joke, not because he pleased him…
“Would you like to sit at a table?” He proposed to break the ice.
“Why not.”
“But if you followed the match…”
Ohno smirked enigmatically and dragged his feet to a table followed by Sho.
“So this piece?”
“It’s the result of a writing workshop with the students of my class. Understanding how a theatre piece is build and playing it at the end of the year. Of course, we need a stage set and if you could lend us your talent...or include your students in the project. Jun-kun told me you would be interested by the idea.”
“What’s the story?” Said the artist sipping his coffee.
“The story? Ah a love story of course.”
“Of course?”
“Love rules the world and unleashes wars. It’s the only emotion able to move mountains.”
“If you say so…”
He was definitely interesting and Sho sent a grateful thought to Jun for his brilliant idea. It would be a real pleasure to work with him.
They began to work together and Sho discovered rapidly how a new friend could change a life, how Ohno could turn his world upside down by his unique point of view on every little event of life.
“The first girl we saw?”
“The tanned one?”
“Yeah...she’s not really tanned though.”
“Whatever, she’s not pretty enough.”
Sho stared at the man sitting by his side in the big amphitheater where they were auditioning the actors for the piece. Ohno could be so harsh sometimes, so honest, too much for Sho.
“We don’t care!”
“Of course we care! Do you think that Romeo would have fallen in love with Juliet if some of her front teeth were missing?”
“You’re creepy…”
“But I’m right.”
“You’re right.”
“Are you free tonight?”
“Sure why?”
“I have to go to an exhibition, one of my old students.”
“I’ll come.”
“We could eat together. Before, I mean.”
“Why not.”
Something sweet in Ohno’s voice pushed Sho to be frank with him during this outing. They were drinking a last beer in a cozy pub when he felt Ohno’s leg under the table subtly touching his.
“Ohno sensei…”
“Satoshi.”
“Satoshi-kun, I don’t really know if I am right when I think that we’re friends now.”
“Yeah of course, we are.”
“Would it be presumptuous to think that perhaps you would like to be more than my friend?”
“Don’t you like men? I thought that…”
“I do. You’re right.”
“Oh, I see. It’s me? You don’t like me?”
“Quite the contrary, I like you very much. I appreciate you and I don’t go out with my friends.”
“Do you have someone?”
“Look. I've been in love for a long time with someone that is neither single nor gay. I moved on but I can’t have a serious relationship. That’s not what I’m looking for.”
“And?”
“Could you be with someone who loves another man? We’re not made to be fucking buddies, we get along too well and you’re definitely a man who deserves to find someone serious.”
“Not everybody deserves this?”
“A quiet and serene love story doesn’t fit to anyone. I’m convinced.”
“And you like me?”
“If I would have met you in a bar, definitely, I would have slept with you.” laughed Sho, relieved that his friend didn’t turn his back to him.
“Do I drive you back?”
“Yes, please.”
They chatted agitatedly during the road, certainly excited by this charming outing and when Ohno stopped the car, Sho smiled to him.
“Thanks. It was a great evening.”
“For me too. See you tomorrow?”
“Yeah.”
“Sho?”
The teacher stared at his friend, surprised to hear his name for the first time from his mouth and didn't understand when he felt Ohno’s lips on his. A chaste and gentle kiss then a stroke on his cheek which took his breath away.
“Good night, Sho.”
He got out of the car, astonished, wondering where he failed in his yet so clear explanation. However, the little flame of pleasure inside his belly was there and it will be hard for him to forget this moment of tenderness.
“You invited Ohno?”
“Yes, why? Was I not supposed to?”
Sho patted Jun’s shoulder and made his way through his crowded living room to be in front of Ohno and offer him a drink.
“Welcome.”
“Your house is nice.”
“True, you never came before. I wonder why.”
“You were too uncomfortable with me ever since I kissed you.”
Sho's thoughts of confusion faded and smirked awkwardly.
“Listen, I don’t want to pressure you. You decided on your own that I was looking for a serious relationship. I can’t go and say I don’t, but a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. That’s not my quote, it’s Lao-Tzu’s.”
“What does that means?”
Ohno stepped forward and caressed Sho’s cheek gently.
“Let me love you, Sho. You have nothing to lose, everything to gain. You don’t have to worry for the rest, it’s my problem.”
“Satoshi…I…”
“Sho, where is the wine?” A voice interrupted them.
“There.” He pointed vaguely to the bar and seeing the guy waiting for him, he sighed and left Satoshi behind.
He wanted him, it was obvious now and the way he looked at him from the other side of the room teased his envy. If things could be as easy as that. Was it possible? Seeing him, going out with him, perhaps having sex with him from time to time, and after? Hurting Ohno’s feelings when he will finally realize that he will never fall for him?
Yet.
They passed the party to run into the others, to run away from each other, to exchange smiles from afar and sensing obstinately the attraction they shared.
Sho watched patiently his guests disappearing one after the other and he was not surprised to find Satoshi in his living room.
“You like the Hammer’s movies?”
“Don’t mock me please.”
“I like it too. There’s some kind of outdated charm in it, this so fake colors, those actors and their exaggerated performance…”
Sho sat on the couch and brushed his lips with his thumb.
“So...you always mention Lao-Tzu when you flirt with someone?”
“Not with anyone.” Smirked Satoshi as he stood up and walked to Sho. Sho reached out and grabbed his hips to bring him on top of him.
“So I should feel lucky…”
“Are you drunk?”
“A little bit. And you?”
“Enough to be carried away.”
He straddled Sho and took his mouth eagerly, the alcohol helping them to forget his preventions.
Ohno unbuttoned his shirt, tossed it on the couch and slide his hands under Sho’s top, pecking his neck.
“Are...are you sure?” Moaned Sho.
“Stop thinking it over. Just let yourself go.”
Sho took off his top and carried Ohno to his bedroom, laying him down on the bed cautiously. They kissed all night long, laughing and caressing each other, talking and finally making love joyfully. When Ohno fell asleep on his chest, Sho brushed his hair tenderly and covered his beautiful body with the slight blanket of the bed.
It was almost unbelievable.
For the very first time of his life, sex was not synonym of guiltiness or lust, the man he was holding in his arms had all his respect and was worth to be loved. He was not agitated and it has nothing to do with the way Ohno had appeased his body.
He didn’t sleep at night and when the sun rose he took a shower then came back to bed where Satoshi was laid on his stomach.
“Are you awake?”
“Hm?”
Sho laughed and kissed his shoulder lovingly.
“Would you come with me the next week-end? I have friends to see, they own a chalet in a charming mountain. I would like to introduce them to you.”
