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Josuke leaned onto the bathroom counter, his hands clutched around the edges hard enough to make his knuckles white. He grit his teeth and pulled back his lips, checking for any hints of anything that would make him less kissable. Cupping his hand around his mouth, he puffed out a breath: minty fresh. Josuke sighed, standing upright as he smoothed both hands over the side of his hair. He’d spent an especially long time getting ready tonight.
It was his first date, ever. More importantly, it was his first date with Okuyasu.
The guys had been best friends for ages now, and they might’ve been into each other for a little while, but this was their first time actually admitting that there was something romantic between them. Josuke remembered how Okuyasu had asked. They had been hanging out in the teacher’s lounge since it was the one room that had a space for smoking. Plus, there was plenty of coffee to steal. Okuyasu had been acting so weird that Josuke thought he might have to take him to the hospital or beat someone’s ass, but he had just, frustrated, yelled, “No, just--I’m trying to figure out how to ask you out on a date.”
That had worked out well enough, Josuke guessed, standing in front of his mirror and straightening his tie. It didn’t look great. Usually Gramps helped him out with this stuff. Josuke tugged on his simple blue blazer, tucking his shirt into his pants and adjusting his belt just so. With a nod of finality, he looked at himself in the mirror, twisting himself to see how these pants fit his ass. They were a little tight; he’d bulked up since the last time he wore them. And he was supposed to grow even taller, according to his mom.
But he looked handsome. Smirking to himself, he winked at his reflection and practiced biting his lip to look sexy.
“Oh, this?” Josuke mumbled, his eyebrow peaked flirtatiously as he tugged on his cufflinks. “Nothing special, really--yes, it is Gucci.” He grinned and chuckled, arching his back as he stretched his arms behind his head, his muscles clear underneath the fabric of his button-up. “Maybe tonight you can show me how good it looks on your floor, huh?” Josuke winked, but he nearly jumped out of his skin as his mother banged on the bathroom door.
“Hurry up, Josuke! Okuyasu is here, don’t keep him waiting.”
Oh, shit, Josuke thought, his confidence draining like when a vampire’s teeth sink into someone’s throat. He shakily sighed and cast one final look at himself in the mirror, tugging self-consciously on his suit before he opened the bathroom door.
He expected his mom to just hear the knocking and alert him, but when he got to the living room, he almost fainted with embarrassment when she had already opened the door.
“Oh, my God ,” he mumbled, placing his hands on his cheeks anxiously. He let gravity drip his hands down, and he sighed, hearing Okuyasu’s booming voice say, “Hiiiii, Mrs. Higashikata. Is Josuke home?”
From his position, he could see Okuyasu’s feet stay behind the threshold of the home, but he was leaning in, apparently looking for his date curiously, conscious of not entering the home since he hadn’t been invited in.
“He’s here. How are you tonight, Okuyasu? I know Josuke’s very excited,” his mom said, and Josuke groaned. He would’ve shoved his face into the pillow if he wasn’t worried about messing up his hair. “He’s been getting ready for almost three hours now--”
“Okay!” Josuke approached and clapped his hand on his mom’s shoulder, smiling with more menace than happiness. Okuyasu brightened like the sun when he saw Josuke, puffing up his chest as he kept his hands behind his back. Josuke smiled at him back, softer. “Thanks, Mom. Me and Oku are probably just gonna head out now.”
“Oh, wait, wait!”
Josuke stepped outside, his hand clutched around Okuyasu’s bicep to drag him away from his mom, but he stopped when she called. “Whaaaat?” he whined, rolling his head back.
His mom smirked and held up her camera, saying, “Smile!” as the thing flashed. Okuyasu beside him had immediately smiled so hard that his eyes basically shut, but Josuke had pouted more, his hand still holding his date’s arm.
Tomoko looked at the camera and giggled. “You two are so handsome together.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Josuke answered, and Okuyasu shouted, “Thanks, Mrs. Higashikata!” as Josuke slammed the door shut.
Surrounded in the comfort of the quiet night, their faces lit up by the porch light, they both looked at each other without the rush of Josuke avoiding his mom. Okuyasu smiled coyly and stared at Josuke with admiration, not saying anything for a moment before he said, “Oh!” like he just remembered something really, really important.
“Here, bro,” he said, pulling out a small bouquet of flowers from behind his back. He had been really focused on keeping them hidden. “I got these for ya.”
He held the flowers, some of which were crooked or lost of petals, in his fist. He must’ve plucked them himself and just tied them together with some yarn he’d found around the house, maybe the stuff he gave Stray Cat to play with.
Nonetheless, Josuke smiled. He hadn’t thought much about going on dates before; he’d seen some in movies where the guy gets the girl chocolates or flowers or balloons, but he’d never seen any with two guys. He’d never considered that anyone would get him flowers, and it made him happy.
“Hey,” Josuke said softly, taking the flowers and stroking a finger over one of the petals. “Thanks, man.” He looked at them and said, “Um, do you mind if I go put them inside?”
“Sure! Yeah. I’ll be here,” Okuyasu said, shrugging as he stuffed his fists into his pockets.
“Okay,” Josuke said, smiling. He turned back, holding the flowers delicately in his hand, as he opened the door. He shut it behind him, and his mother looked up to him from her magazine on the couch.
“That was quick,” she said, and then her sarcastic smile faded into a sincere pout. “He got you flowers?”
“Yeah--where do I put them?” Josuke said, sounding a little panicked.
“Don’t look so scared! It’s so sweet,” Tomoko said, standing up and finding a glass vase in the kitchen, tossing out the plastic ones and holding out the vase. “Here. Put them there.”
Josuke placed them there, and his mom hummed, adjusting the stems around. “Oh, Okuyasu’s such a good boy. Have a good time, Josuke!” she said, reaching out to her son’s face with one hand. Josuke groaned but she pinched his cheek so he wouldn’t jerk away and kissed him with a gentle, “Mwah.”
“Mom,” he whined. “He’s waiting on me.”
“Oh, he’ll understand,” she said, waving her hand dismissively. “Remember to be home by curfew, Josuke.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” he said, turning away. “Leave me be!”
Tomoko rolled her eyes and smacked Josuke’s butt as he left, which only got her an enraged glare that made her giggle. Josuke met Okuyasu outside, opening the door to find his date with his hands in his pocket, kicking at pieces of grass that overhung the paved pathway.
Okuyasu looked up at Josuke when the door shut and smiled again. “Hey.”
“Hi.” It was the first time that Josuke had been given a moment to really look at Okuyasu. He’d dressed up for his date too, and it was weird because he’d never seen Okuyasu dressed nice before. Hell, he didn’t even know where he got a suit from. His dad was a businessman, and the suit was a little big on him. Maybe he was wearing his dad’s suit. Still, it was nice enough, gray with a white undershirt and a black tie. His shoes even looked like he’d shined them.
Okuyasu chuckled and said, “Wow. You look really hot.”
Josuke, hyperaware of his own nerves, laughed. “You look really good too, man.” The only thing that looked askew was his tie. “Except...”
Okuyasu widened his eyes, looking terrified and insecure. “What is it?”
“Nothing, just...” Josuke cleared his throat, his face blushing, as he approached him. “Just let me...,” he said, adjusting the tie around Okuyasu’s collar and then smoothing it down his chest. It didn’t look all that much better, but it looked a little bit more organized and fashion-forward. Josuke planned on getting real good at tying ties. “Mom taught me how to do mine. Don’t worry, she had to help me too.”
“Oh,” Okuyasu said, looking down at Josuke’s hands. “Thanks.”
“No problem.”
There was an awkward pause, and Josuke realized it was probably weird to linger on his porch at the beginning of the date, so he walked down the steps. Okuyasu followed.
“I got reservations at Tonio’s,” Okuyasu announced proudly, smiling. They hadn’t ever really said where they would go on this date, but Tonio’s was way more romantic than the ice cream shop they frequented.
“Huh?” Josuke said, wrinkling his nose. “But I thought you didn’t even need reservations for Tonio’s.”
“Well, no,” Okuyasu said, puckering his lips in thought. He kept his hands in his pockets as he walked. “But I wanted to make sure that he definitely had space for us. At the table we always sit at, ya know?”
“Oh. All right.”
“I bet Tonio’s is super romantic for dinner.”
Josuke smiled. “Yeah, I bet so too.”
Okuyasu was in the middle of a loud, boisterous laugh that gave Josuke a good look at the half-eaten piece of chicken parmesan mashed between his teeth, his nose wrinkled and hand over his stomach as the other waved around his fork precariously.
Josuke leaned on the table, his cheek propped up by his hand, utterly enchanted and smitten.
“And--and, get this, man,” Okuyasu said, pointing at Josuke with his fork, supplied with a bite of chicken. “He totally lost his shit. You shoulda seen it--bam! He knocked him out with one punch. Some guys said that they saw his tooth fly across the gym.” He punctuated his sentence by snagging off the food from his fork and chewing victoriously.
“No way, I would’ve heard about that,” Josuke said, letting his hands fall onto the table. “Besides, we have gym right after that period. If he lost a tooth, there’d have been blood--and then gym class would’ve been delayed to mop it up. Plus, I don’t trust that guy worth shit. He’s always exaggeratin’.”
Okuyasu paused thoughtfully, licking his teeth of any tomato sauce. “Yeah. Like when he said that that one chick in the grade above us was totally into him, and--”
Josuke laughed in memory and nodded, finishing his sentence for him. “--and she had only lent him her pen to use during his exam. Yeah.”
The atmosphere of Tonio’s was different in the evening; usually, Josuke and Okuyasu came once or twice a week for lunch, since it was cheaper then and it was easy to come after school. The restaurant always had a light, casual ambience during the day, but now it glowed with subtle romance, the candles on every table lit to make a tender radiance and the red curtains drawn. It was a much more mature experience, which was why Josuke kept noticing when grownups on their dates kept glaring at them when they were loud.
Okuyasu had gotten a much messier meal than Josuke had gotten; Josuke had gotten some fish that was apparently special just for Italy, a meal that Tonio promised Josuke would enjoy, but Okuyasu had been served a plate of spaghetti and chicken parmesan with tomato sauce good enough to make him moan after every bite. But Okuyasu was a pretty messy eater. Josuke could tell sometimes it was habit to wipe his mouth off on his sleeve but since he was wearing a suit, he was consciously reminding himself not to.
Josuke watched Okuyasu take another bite, tomato sauce smeared on the right side of his mouth.
“Man, you’re such a mess. You got some sauce right there,” Josuke said, and he pointed to his own face to show him.
Okuyasu hummed and licked his lips. “Did I get it?” he asked, lifting up his chin and trying to look down at his own face.
Josuke chuckled. “No. Here.” Josuke leaned across the table, using his thumb to wipe away the glaze of tomato sauce right to the side of Okuyasu’s lip. He leaned back and looked at the warm sauce before sticking his thumb into his mouth, enjoying the decadent taste of the sauce with a hum. “That’s really good.”
Okuyasu stared with wide and interested eyes and then grinned. “Y-yeah. Do you wanna try a bite?” he asked, already using the side of his fork to slice off a piece of the chicken.
“Yeah,” Josuke answered.
Okuyasu penetrated the prong of the fork into the juicy chicken and lifted it to Josuke’s face, the fork wavering in front of Josuke’s gleaming, feasting lips. Josuke parted his mouth as Okuyasu brought the food closer to him, and he wrapped his lips around Okuyasu’s meat with a quiet moan, his eyes closed in cherishment of the exquisite and sensual taste.
He chewed the food carefully and nodded. “That’s delicious,” Josuke said, his voice deep and hungry.
“Y-yeah,” Okuyasu agreed, licking his lips. “It tastes pretty good. Tonio got it right, like always, huh?”
“Yeah,” Josuke said with a smile, noticing the sweat on Okuyasu’s forehead. At least, it looked like sweat. “Whoa, bro,” Josuke said. It was like sweat--but it wasn’t clear like water was supposed to be. It looked like Okuyasu’s skin was melting right off, like wax dripping down the side of a lit candle. “You’re melting.”
“Huh?” Okuyasu said, trying to wipe it away. He looked at the waxy-looking skin in his hand and then looked at Josuke. “Josuke! It’s happening to you too.”
Shit. Josuke had just thought that it was typical nervous sweating. Josuke tried wiping his face, but then his skin just began to peel off, sticking to his hand like glue. He frantically touched his free hand to his neck, scratching at the warm molten nature of his now exfoliating skin, until it all curled into the palm of his hand and stuck there.
“Whoa, dude!” Okuyasu said, shocked at how much skin had come off, but while Josuke furiously scratched at his melting skin, Okuyasu’s face began to melt faster too. The shedding became more violent and horrible until all at once the discomfort disappeared, leaving both boys shining and brand new and exfoliated.
Huh! I’m not nervous at all anymore, Josuke said, feeling gratitude towards Tonio for his abilities. He’d been a wreck; it felt normal, like every other time he hung out with Okuyasu, but then he remembered it was a date and everything got way scarier and more nerve-wracking.
The boys thanked Tonio for collecting their empty plates and the balls of dead skin.
“Would either of you boys like a dessert? Perhaps one to share?” Tonio asked, his charming Italian accent enticing to the ears and persuasive too.
“Uh...” Okuyasu glanced towards Josuke, who smiled and nodded eagerly. Okuyasu, full of confidence, said, “Yeah! Bring us what you think is best.”
“Perfetto! I will bring that right out to you boys.”
“Thanks, Tonio!” Okuyasu shouted after him, waving madly.
Okuyasu looked real handsome--he always did, but the reinvigorating taste of Tonio’s food always made his skin glow, his smile brighten, his eyes shiny and lively. Somehow--and maybe this was just his imagination--his muscles got even more ripped too. And shiny. Like he was all rubbed up in oil on the beach.
Josuke stared dreamily at Okuyasu until Okuyasu noticed and said, “Uh... dude?”
Josuke blinked and straightened himself. “What?”
“You got a weird look in your eye. Staring at me funny.”
“Nah, you’re makin’ it up,” Josuke said, and Okuyasu raised his finger and was about to argue when Tonio saved him from any explanation.
“Here you boys are,” Tonio said, setting down a small tiramisu on a modest, circular plate between them, a spoon on either side of the plate. “ Buon appetito!”
“Grazie,” Okuyasu answered in a terrible Italian accent, and Josuke scoffed a laugh, shaking his head.
“That was terrible,” Josuke teased, scooping a corner of the tiramisu into the spoon.
“No, it was good!” Okuyasu argued, his hand defensively making a fist against the table. “I’ve been practicin’.”
“You oughta practice more,” Josuke chuckled, plopping the bite of dessert into his mouth. He moaned and pointed at the plate. “That’s delicious.”
Okuyasu eyed it warily. “Wha’zzit taste like?” he asked.
“Like coffee. You like coffee.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Bullcrap! You take it every time Mom offers it.”
“Well, I don’t wanna be rude.”
Josuke rolled his eyes and laughed. “Man, you goof. You’re tellin’ me you don’t like coffee one bit?”
“Not in desserts,” Okuyasu said, crossing his arms and putting up his nose to the dish.
“More for me then,” Josuke answered, taking another bite. It was about halfway through his dessert that he felt something weird and congealing at the back of his throat, and it was around that time, of course, that Okuyasu found something sincere to say.
“Hey, man,” Okuyasu said, leaning forward so his elbows were on the table, his hands instinctively covering his mouth with his hands at first. Then he must’ve remembered that was rude or something, because he quickly folded his hands over the cloth napkin in his lap and cleared his throat. “You know, I just wanted to say--say how I been dreamin’ of this for a while. Like--like, spending time with you has always been... awesome, man. Can’t even tell you how awesome it is.” Josuke ignored the taste of rust on his uvula to watch Okuyasu, his eyes wide and shocked. Okuyasu averted his eyes and tugged on the edge of his napkin nervously. “I always thought we had something special. I know we didn’t meet on great terms at first, but you helped me learn things about myself. You gave me a chance too. And you, um. I don’t know. You made me feel welcomed and happy. You’ve been like family to me, and I--I just... never thought I’d be able to tell you all this stuff.”
Okuyasu glanced up finally, his eyes full of a tender brokenness, glazed over with tearfulness and gratitude. “I can’t believe you like me back is all. Yeah. I’m really glad I got to do this with you.”
Josuke smirked, his lips tilted in a smirk that his mom said looked a lot like his father’s, and he opened his mouth to say, “Oh, Okuyasu,” but as soon as he parted his lips, the rusty feeling at the back of his throat projected out of his mouth. He clapped his hands to his lips as soon as he felt it, catching all the blood in the palm of his hand, except for the strings of red that dripped down to the napkin on his lap.
He widened his eyes and looked at Okuyasu in embarrassment and fear. He was glad that his hand was over his mouth so that Okuyasu couldn’t see the pink of his cheeks, but unfortunately there was red all over his teeth when he awkwardly smiled.
“I--I’m going to go to the bathroom,” Josuke announced, his voice thick with blood.
Okuyasu stared and nodded in agreement. “Yeah.”
Goddamn it, Tonio!!
At least he didn’t feel as gassy anymore.
Okuyasu had the rest of the tiramisu in a small to-go box, carrying it in his hands as he walked beside Josuke.
“I can’t believe you even want to eat the rest of that,” Josuke said. He’d spent at least five minutes in the bathroom washing out his mouth of any taste resembling blood and checked to make sure he didn’t get any stains on his suit. If he had, he could’ve blamed it on the tomato sauce to keep Mom from asking any questions, but she still would’ve been pissed.
“I don’t. I don’t really like coffee, remember?” Okuyasu said. “But I was gonna give it to my dad. He’ll probably love it.”
Josuke glanced at Okuyasu and smiled. That was nice. Okuyasu was always doing small, thoughtful shit like that.
They walked beside each other; by now, the sun was gone, the moon shining brightly on their paths. They’d decided to walk to the bus stop and take public transport home so they wouldn’t have to walk so much, and the bus was nice and quiet at this time of evening, even if it still smelled like carry-out food and feet.
Josuke bumped Okuyasu with his hip as he walked, and Okuyasu laughed, only bumping him back harder.
“Hey,” Josuke mumbled and laughed as he chased Okuyasu to bump into him, but they finally stopped when Okuyasu almost lost balance and fell. He’d dropped the to-go tiramisu, but it would taste the same, right, Josuke?
Okuyasu carried the to-go box in one hand, the other holding his blazer, which was slung over his shoulder. He walked with that confident but thoughtful gait, more of an inelegant waddle, while Josuke kept his hands in his pockets. He could really only think about what it’d be like for Okuyasu’s hand to be in his own, but he didn’t know how to ask about that.
They reached the bus stop. Josuke checked his watch and hummed. “Should only be a couple of minutes.”
“That sounds fine by me,” Okuyasu said, flopping his ass down onto the bench and stretching his arms across the back of it, his legs spread apart confidently. He folded his blazer over his thigh and set down the to-go box carefully next to him. And then he looked up at Josuke, who stood, not sure where to sit on the bench.
Do I sit right next to him? Like, right next to him? He’s taking up the whole bench! It’d be weird if I sat on the exact opposite end. It’d look like I didn’t want to be close to him. Whatever, just act like you would if there weren’t a date--no, wait! This is a date! I should act--I should--oh, fuck it.
Josuke crossed his arms and sat down only a few inches from Okuyasu, so he could feel his friend’s arm against his shoulders but couldn’t feel his warmth. He was reminded by how chilly the night was--how the hell wasn’t Okuyasu cold? Josuke rubbed his arms and shivered.
“Man, you cold?” Okuyasu said, his eyebrows knitted forward in concern.
“Nah, man, I’m good.”
“Here. Have my jacket.” Okuyasu unfolded his blazer and handed it in a ball to Josuke, who accepted it with pursed lips.
He grinned, setting the coat over his shoulders and holding the sleeve of the blazer like it was Okuyasu’s hand.
Soon, the bus appeared in the distance, and it stopped in front of them. They both boarded, Okuyasu running ahead and smiling to the driver. There weren’t many other people on, except for someone in the back corner reading a book and a tired mother rocking her baby. Okuyasu sat down at the window seat, and Josuke followed. The seats were built close together, so their thighs touched when they sat. Josuke kept his coat over his shoulders, and Okuyasu bounced his knee, the to-go box squeaking with it.
“Are you still cold?” Okuyasu asked.
“A little.”
They sat silently.
Then Okuyasu lifted his arm with a clearing of his throat and draped his arm around Josuke’s shoulders, clutching at his bicep. Josuke froze but then melted into Okuyasu’s arms, smiling as he nuzzled his cheek against his best bro’s shoulder. He closed his eyes, tiredly, and it was a moment before he felt the weight of Okuyasu’s cheek against his head.
The bus rumbled through the streets of Morioh, occasionally bouncing them together, but the world around them dissolved, except for how Okuyasu’s strong arm felt around Josuke’s shoulders and how their breaths harmonized.
“Are you warmer?”
“Yeah.”
Josuke didn’t know where to go from here. He’d given Okuyasu his blazer back once they’d gotten off the bus, and Okuyasu must’ve been cold because he readily took it back and immediately put it on. Normally, once they finished hanging out, Okuyasu would be invited to spend the night and then they’d just walk together to school the next day or sleep in or play video games when they woke up. Now, it was different. Now, they were... maybe boyfriends? Josuke didn’t know. Were boyfriends allowed to spend the night? After they’d spent so many nights together already?
It was weird because they acted like boyfriends whenever they’d gotten together, sort of. And now that they actually were, things might have changed a little bit.
Josuke and Okuyasu stood in front of the Higashikata household. Josuke stood a little taller than Okuyasu, and their height difference was emphasized with how Okuyasu stood on the step below his. Josuke looked down at him, gnawing nervously on his lip. They had already said goodnight twice, but neither wanted to be the first to leave.
“I had a good time,” Okuyasu said. He had said that a lot. They were both looking for ways to make the other stay.
“Yeah, I did too,” Josuke answered.
There was silence.
God, now what do I say?
“Um,” Okuyasu said. Shit, shit, shit! “Well, goodnight,” he said bashfully, and then turned away.
Shit. “Goodnight,” Josuke called after him. He watched him walk a few steps, and then he sighed, turning towards the door. He placed his hand on the doorknob, squeezing it, before he turned back to Okuyasu and said, “Wait!”
Stupid. Now he’s looking at you for you to say something. What are you going to say?
Josuke stared as Okuyasu turned back to look at him, his shoulders slouched dejectedly but his eyes hopeful and loving. That was the Okuyasu he knew, ever faithful and charming. Maybe a little loud. Josuke grinned, and he cleared his throat, tugging on his sleeves nervously.
He felt something pushing behind him, nudging the small of his back. Huh? He widened his eyes and turned to find Crazy Diamond behind him, his eyes encouraging and excited. Of course you are. You’re not the one who’s in love with him. This is way scarier than anything Jotaro made me go through.
Crazy Diamond rolled his eyes and flicked the back of his head, and Josuke said, “Ow,” and touched his head before Crazy D shoved him. Josuke stumbled and yelped, almost falling down the steps, before he caught himself. Okuyasu had walked a few steps forward, already preparing in case Josuke had fallen flat on his face.
“You okay, bro?” Okuyasu asked, his hand outstretched. The Hand had appeared behind him too. Maybe just ‘cause Crazy D was there.
“Uh, yeah. I’m fine,” Josuke said, glaring at his Stand. He started to push himself up and then saw Okuyasu’s hand. He took it in his own and stood.
The funny thing was that when he stood up on his own, he didn’t let go of Okuyasu’s hand, and Okuyasu didn’t let go of his. Slowly, Josuke grinned and then looked away again, his hand dropping nervously to his side. “Um. I...”
Suddenly, the air vanished between them, sucking Josuke’s body harshly against Okuyasu’s, the space’s absence slamming them together. They grunted in surprise, and Okuyasu wrapped his arms around Josuke’s waist.
“Crap--sorry. I didn’t mean to swipe that much space,” Okuyasu said urgently. “I thought it would be romantic--or somethin’.”
Josuke nodded. “That’s okay. It was.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
Okuyasu held Josuke steady, just like he always did.
Josuke licked his lips and tilted his head down modestly, then smiled. “Can we kiss?”
“I might not be very good.”
“I might not be either.”
“Nah, you’ll be great.”
“Thanks, Oku.”
Okuyasu smiled and then huffed a small laugh. Their eyes met, and they understood each other, a moment of romantic clarity, as they closed the gap between their lips. Sweetly, they kissed, pulling apart after a short moment, and their noses touched as they breathed each other in. Josuke’s hand trailed up Okuyasu’s arm to embrace his cheek in the curves of his palm, and Okuyasu squeezed Josuke closer, smiling.
Their lips returned to each other, this time delving deeper together, and when they broke apart, it was only because they couldn’t breathe.
Smiling at each other, they broke apart only because Josuke’s mom was probably watching the whole thing happen.
Josuke smiled radiantly, still panting from the kiss. “Night, Okuyasu.”
Okuyasu walked backwards, smiling like the whole sun was on his face, and waved gigantically. “Later, Josuke!”
Josuke chuckled and opened the door, only tearing his eyes away from Okuyasu when he began to run in the direction of his house. Josuke’s heart was beating like crazy, and he shut the door and fell against it, happy enough to scream.
“How did it go?” Josuke’s mom asked, clasping her hands together happily.
Josuke jumped in surprise. He hadn’t even realized she was there on the couch. “Did you wait up just to see me?”
“Any lovemarks you want to brag about, huh?” she asked, hands on her hips and eyebrow raised.
“ Wha’?!” Josuke said, his face wrinkled in mortification.
“Hickeys!” Tomoko clarified.
“Mom!” He covered his face. “It was only the first date.”
“Well, I didn’t know. I don’t know how many dates I went on with your father before we--”
“ Mom!” Josuke interrupted. He covered his hands with his face. “Oh, my God! Can you just--let me have this? Give me the third degree tomorrow.”
Tomoko smiled, waiting expectantly. “How happy are you?” she asked softly.
He looked at her at first with annoyance and then had to bite back a smile. “Really happy,” he whispered.
She laughed. “All right,” she said, wrapping her arm around his shoulders and kissing his cheek. “You’re quite the young man now.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“Thanks for getting home before curfew.”
“Sure.”
She kissed his forehead and declared that she was going up to bed, and Josuke watched her fondly before he flopped on the couch. Taking the pillow, he stuffed it into his face and screamed in utter happiness, squirming around, until he rolled onto his back. Keeping his hand behind his neck, he stared up at the ceiling with an insane, in love grin.
It wasn’t even ten minutes later that the phone rang.
“Josuke!” Tomoko shouted from upstairs.
“I got it!”
He stood and walked to the kitchen, picking the phone up in confusion. “Hello?” he asked.
“Hey, bro.”
“Okuyasu?”
“Yeah.”
Josuke leaned against his kitchen wall and smiled. “Missed me already?”
“Yeah, I did,” Okuyasu said earnestly. “I thought of somethin’ I meant to tell you earlier--it’s about that new kid that just moved from Tokyo.”
“You already heard some new shit about him?”
“Yeah, dude! And it’s good too.”
“All right. Let me go up to my room first.”
Josuke smiled, carrying the cordless against his shoulder with a smile on his face. They talked naturally. He guessed that being boyfriends didn’t change things all that much after all.