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One day, Yuki and Nico make a bet. This is nothing unusual. The bet concerns Kakeru and Haiji which is also nothing unusual. The difference may be mostly that the bet started off with one between Nico and Haiji - bets between these two were not unusual either- they were actually almost routine - but Yuki doesn’t usually get involved.
Haiji was sitting in the common area with a book open on his lap. Nico was frowning at his laptop, seemingly deep in code, next to him and typing away. They had done this so many times over the years that it was a comfortable silence but for the clacking of the keyboard and turns of book pages.
The difference now was that Kakeru was crossing through the room, basket of laundry in his arms. “Haiji, I’m starting a load. Do you want me to throw anything in for you? I can grab your basket, too.”
His eyes lingered on the pair of crutches leaned up against the wall.
“You’re too good to me, Kakeru! There’s a basket by my door...” Haiji cooed, and looked at him with bright smile. Next to Haiji, Nico glanced between the two of them. Kakeru was turning a bright red and shifting the basket in his hands awkwardly.
“Do you need anything while I’m up?” he asked. “Water? Lunch?”
“No, no. I’m alright. Thank you.”
Kakeru ducked and left the room quickly without looking at Nico who had slowly turned his head to look at Haiji. Haiji’s head was already back in his book, but there was a smile at the edges of his lips.
“He’s doting on you.”
Haiji smiled wider and simply turned the page.
“Can you imagine this happening a year ago?”
Haiji’s smile turned into an almost wicked grin. “I honestly can’t... He was a bit on an ass, huh?” he laughed lightly. “But I did always have faith in him. I knew he was special! He just needed time.”
“And you.” Nico watched Haiji pretending to read, but obviously pleased with himself. Thinking for a moment and seeing the color start to flush Haiji’s cheeks he added, “Doting or not, you want anything to happen you’re going to have to make the first move.”
Tapping his book several times, Haiji knowingly said. “I’m not so sure. You think so?”
Nico snorted. “You’re going to have to be Haiji about it.”
“I think he’ll come around on his own. Actually, I know he will.”
Haiji was always annoyingly sure of things when it involved something he wanted.
“You seem confident he feels the way you do and has the guts to act on it.”
“I know Kakeru. It’s not about guts, although I’m sure he has plenty. I just know under the right conditions he isn’t good holding back his emotions.”
“Under the right conditions?” Nico was laughing now, had to push his coffee away so he didn’t spill over his keyboard.
“I might nudge him a little.”
“That’s the Haiji I know. Alright,” there was a gleam in Nico-chan’s eye. “You think Kakeru-san makes the first move. Five thousand yen says that you do.”
Haiji’s face lit up, Nico was afraid for a moment he may have unleashed the ogre. “I’ll have you know that’s a bet I’ll gladly accept.” He mulled over it for a moment, flipping pages without reading again and then paused.
“Hey Nico-chan, how do you have that much money to bet especially knowing you’ll lose and especially since you weren’t supposed to be working this whole time, hmm?”
Nico had already gathered his laptop and scrambled out of the room.
. . . .
Yuki crossed his arms behind his head and watched Nico work on King’s business networking profile. King was busy with a trivia app on his phone, head bowed in concentration and routinely piping up quips to be included on his profile.
“I’ll take that bet,” Yuki said.
“I’m not betting against you and Haiji, I haven’t had that many projects.”
“Someone’s not very confident, are they?”
“Fine.” It was a grunt.
King looked up, “How do you know either of them makes a move?”
“I’m certain Kakeru is going to cave,” Yuki said confidently.
“I’m certain Haiji will be Haiji about it.”
King snorted, and returned to his trivia. Nico stopped typing to turn slowly and glare at Yuki. “Yuki, you better not interfere.”
. . . .
Haiji’s days were pretty typical, after the surgery. His recovery process wasn’t too bad, really but the crutches were a pain and the inability to put full weight on his leg made things difficult. Every morning he woke up early and started to make his way, slowly, down the hall. Kakeru would hear him and come out, sleepily say good morning, and help him to breakfast. It was only when Haiji was set up with tea, miso, rice and a book that Kakeru would leave for his morning run.
This was sweet and adorable but getting a little boring, and Haiji had a bet to win after all. Well, boredom and bets aside underneath it all he just wished Kakeru would break routine one morning and kiss him in the hallway. Or at the table. Maybe the kitchen. Anywhere would be fine, really.
Haiji could change things himself of course but he was determined. Instead, every day he tries something small to chip away at Kakeru’s exterior.
One day, before Kakeru goes to grab his shoes, Haiji reaches out and grabs his wrist. He leaves his hand there, lets his index finger rub a circle on Kakeru’s skin and says: “Thank you.”
Kakeru mumbles something and then hurries out the door.
The next day, Haiji gets creative early. In the hall, Kakeru comes out and says good morning. Haiji feigned surprise and loses his balance. He reaches out and leans against Kakeru, lets his hand grip at the fabric over his chest. He stays there for a while and let’s Kakeru steady him.
Kakeru blushes and then hurries out the door again He has to come back in because he forgets his shoes.
The day after that, after Kakeru’s morning run, Haiji offers to help him with a class essay. He sits pressed against Kakeru, peering over his work. He makes sure to hold his gaze a second longer than normal. Haiji knows Kakeru doesn’t think he’s much good for anything but running so he tells him, as he lets their elbows collide, “You’re so hard working and dedicated, Keru-chan.”
Kakeru’s blush is a routine reaction but he doesn’t hurry off anywhere this time.
That night, Haiji goes into the kitchen and finds Kakeru preparing vegetables for soup. He comes up behind him and puts an arm around his shoulder. Haiji inspects the cutting work, and really it’s not too bad.
...but leaving them be isn’t really what Haiji has in mind.
“Kakeru, I didn’t teach you to cut like that.”
Kakeru jumps and looks sideways at him. He balances against Kakeru and with his free arm reaches out to hold Kakeru’s hand and starts guiding him into smaller, straighter slices. Kakeru leans into him, his face softened and eyes bright. His head turns to Haiji, breath cascading onto his cheek. His eyelid flutter but he suddenly seems to come to and turn back to the pot to throw in a handful of carrots, muttering and blushing furiously.
Haiji sighs and decides to try again later.
. . . .
Yuki watched Haiji leave the kitchen from the corner of the room. For a moment he had been certain Kakeru was going to give in. Annoyed, he glares at the back of Kakeru’s neck, it’s beat red.
“Did neither of you notice I was here?”
Kakeru jumped, cucumber cascaded to the floor. Yuki looked over the rim of his glasses and sipped his tea with a curious smirk on his face.
“Yuki! No, I - didn’t realize you were.”
“Are you two going to fuck yet, or what?”
For some reason, Kakeru’s chopping got more aggressive and his voice rose an octave. “What are you talking about?”
“Look, I don’t judge. I support it, you should go for it. Can you please for the love of God though… give me a heads up? So I can put my headphones on?”
The furious chopping continued. Yuki was pretty sure they had enough vegetables cut for the week.
“Nothing’s going on, Yuki.”
Dammit. Yuki pressed on.
“I saw that sensual cooking lesson excuse he used to caress you, I’m not blind. You were were in your own world, you didn’t even realize I was here the whole damn time.”
“That wasn’t… Haiji-san is just helpful and… strange. You know that.”
“Yes, I’m sure there’s plenty he would like to help you with…”
Kakeru stopped and looked back at him. “Haiji isn’t into me like that.”
“But you’re into Haiji.”
Kakeru gave a non commital grunt and glared at the floor.
“Look, don’t be embarrassed. I think half the town is into Haiji.”
“That doesn’t make me feel better.”
“Well, if it makes you feel better I’m pretty sure Haiji isinto you and I think you should go for it.”
Yuki went to set his cup in the sink and patted him on the shoulder before leaving an open mouthed Kakeru staring after him as he left the room.
. . . .
In the evenings, Kakeru always made sure to help with dinner and clean up. He made sure that Haiji got what he needed and everynight, Kakeru said: “Goodnight, Haiji.” He sometimes said goodnight to the others but not always. He did always say it to Haiji before they went to bed in their seperate rooms.
Haiji was over the regime and pretty certain he could get it to end soon. A few days after the bet, Nico began giving him knowing, smug glances as if he could tell that any day now Haiji would cave and declare his feelings for Kakeru in the middle of dinner.
Haiji started sitting next to Kakeru at the table. Sometimes, he made sure to drink too much and lean into him. Sometimes he would reach over, laughing at some joke the twins made, and touch Kakeru’s arm. Then one night, Kakeru smiles back, rest his hand under the table on Haiji’s leg and leaves it there.
Having had a lot of beer and deciding this had been going on too long after all, Haiji didn’t even wait to look over at Nico and mouth: “Tonight.”
In the kitchen, soup and rice steamed along happily. Kakeru got up to check on their progress. The chatter from the room reminded Haiji that they weren’t close to being alone and that tonight didn’t mean right now, unfortunately.
He said it again.
“Tonight?” Nico echoed. “You’re ready to break aren’t you? Are you prepared to owe me?”
“Don’t leave me out of this,” Yuki brandished his beer towards them. With an exasperated groan, Haiji pulled himself up and left for the kitchen.
“You’re still betting against me?”
“Of course,” Yuki waves him off. “I need a consultation prize for having to sleep on the couch the next few nights.”
Some of the others in the room started turning attention to their conversation. Jota leaned forward curiously. “What are you guys betting on?”
“That Kakeru makes a move on Haiji tonight. I don’t think he will, it’s going to be Haiji but he’s trying to hold out.”
Joji looked confused. “Wait, that didn’t already happen?”
“Haiji wants to be romanced!” Musa clasped his hands together and pursed his lips.
“For being such good runners, they’re both pretty slow.”
“Wait, are we sure this hasn’t already happened?”
Yuki rolled his eyes and pushed his glass up the bridge of his nose. “No, they just eye fuck each other all the time.”
Shindou hiccuped. His face was red, he spilled beer on the table. “I can’t take the suspense anymore.”
Musa was still swaying. “I live for it.”
“Musa, you live for every damn drop of tea I swear…”
Hearing commotion, Kakeru’s head appeared through the curtains.
“What are you guys talking about?” he asked. The ladle in his grip looked menacing. After his talk with Yuki he’d been jumpier than usual.
“Oh!” Shindou furiously rubbed the back of his neck and blushed. “Eh…. just trying to figure out who Hana likes!”
Kakeru sighed, looking slightly relieved. “I thought we were passed this?”
“Yes, and it’s obviously me,” said the twins in unison.
“Musa isn’t going to spill….” as Kakeru glanced around the room his face darkened. “Why are you all looking at me like that?”
Before anyone could answer, there was a call from the kitchen. Haiji’s voice floated through the room. “Kakeru! Could you come help…?”
Kakeru dipped back into the curtains and out of sight.
“Oh my god. He’s whipped.”
. . . .
Kakeru would normally make sure Haiji got to his room okay. Haiji didn’t tell him that he was starting to move around better and he didn’t tell him that he wanted a break from their regime. What he did do, was reach out and squeeze Kakeru’s hand. Kakeru would normally say goodnight and head to his room. Tonight, he hesitated.
Haiji watched him glance down, take a deep breath, and then turn his hand into Haiji’s and laced their fingers together.
“This is normally the part where you say goodnight, Keru-chan.”
Haiji wondered how many times he could get away with this new nickname but Kakeru just blushed and said to the ground, “I’m tired of that routine.”
“We can always make a new one.”
Kakeru smiled, used Haiji’s hand to pull him forward, and kissed him.
. . . .
“I thought Kakeru was joining us?”
Shindou peered over his cards and looked over at Nico and Yuki.
“He went to help Haiji,” Nico drew a card and scowled.
“You realize it’s 2:00 am?”
They stopped and looked at each other. Yuki smirked and pushed his glasses up. “Kakeru never came back…”
“Dammit, I’ve already lost too much money tonight!”
As Yuki and Shindou laughed, Nico threw his cards down in defeat.