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Junichirou looks up at Atsushi. “Can I draw on your hand?”
That’s… an odd request, Atsushi thinks, but he nevertheless gives his hand to Tanizaki. “Why do you want to draw on my hand?”
Junichirou clicks their ballpen and starts scribbling on the back of Atsushi’s hand as they speak, “Well, I’m bored!”
Plus, I may or may not be also looking for an excuse to hold your hand. Junichirou blinks away their thoughts and draws a small cat’s face.
First, a small circle. Atsushi has to pretend that Junichirou’s touch isn’t at all ticklish. Maybe it’s the pen… Yeah. It’s definitely that.
“Maybe I should draw snowflakes too…” Junichirou mumbles. They abruptly stop drawing. “Ah! I’m sorry for not asking before, you’re okay with me drawing on your hand, right?”
Atsushi nods with a smile on xyr face. “Of course! I wish you’d asked sooner. It’s also a fun way to spend time together.”
Junichirou hums in agreement.
Atsushi watches as Junichirou moves the pen, creating an image on the back of his hand. He looks at Junichirou and Atsushi’s cheeks turn pink. Tanizaki looks even cuter up close. Snows hands are soft too… I wish I could hold their hand anytime for no reason.
Atsushi’s eyes light up at the little snowflakes that surround the equally little cat tiger. “Ooh, you’re drawing our abilities! That’s so cute!” Xe exclaims.
Junichirou looks up at Atsushi, smiling, “Yeah! I’m glad you like it.”
“Of course I would. It’s by you!” Atsushi sighs. “This is nice. We should do this more often!” He mumbles something that Junichirou wishes he’d say a little louder– “I like it when you hold my hand like this.”
Junichirou thinks, I don’t know if I heard that right… I could ask him to repeat that. Xe clears xer throat, “Ah, Atsushi, did you say something? After the one where we should do this more often – I totally agree with that part though.”
Atsushi shakes xyr head and xe feels xyr face grow warm. “N–No! It's fine. It's nothing. Completely forgot about it.”
Junichirou, again, hums cheerfully, masking the twinge of sadness they feel. “Alright, if you say so..!”
By then, Junichirou had already finished drawing on Atsushi's hand, xe rests xer hand on top of Atsushi's hand. Junichirou decides to run xer thumb across the drawing – across Atsushi’s hand – and the action makes Atsushi’s cheeks turn a crimson shade.
Junichirou says, “The longer I look at it, I kind of… don't like it? I know it's only a small drawing but–”
Atsushi interrupts Junichirou, “I– I don't see what's not to like here? Remember when we had to paint the walls for a client? I loved the pictures you painted! And I love this drawing on my hand even more.”
Junichirou could feel snows heart skipping a beat. “Ah… Thank– Thank you, Atsushi. I'm glad you like them. Especially this one!”
An idea pops into Tanizaki Junichirou's head. Sno exclaims, “You could draw the same image on my other hand! We'll match.”
“Of course! Like those couple tattoos but with way less pain. Just a little ticklish.” Atsushi blurts out.
Atsushi's words quickly sink in on xem. Xe stammers, “I mean! Uhm, it won't be as cute as the one you drew on me, but, give me your hand!”
Junichirou chuckles. “I doubt that. I saw the pictures you painted that time! You're quite talented as well, Atsushi, you shouldn't doubt yourself too much.”
“You only say that because you're my friend!”
Well… that's one reason.
Junichirou clicks their tongue, “But it’s true! Here,” they place the pen in Atsushi's hand, Junichirou smiles. “Feel free to do whatever.”
Atsushi chuckles. “If you say so.” Xe proceeds to draw two stick figures on Junichirou’s hand while Junichirou silently watches.
“Ah, it isn’t visible, but they’re holding hands..!”
Junichirou blinks snows eyes, anticipating the faces Atsushi would soon draw. Sno hears Atsushi mumbling, “How do I draw the hairclips… I drew their face too small…”
Atsushi quickly finishes doodling on Junichirou’s hand, writing their names on top of the mini drawings of them. A heart was between their names as well.
“I feel like I’ve been pretty good at hiding it, or maybe not… Well, I figured it would be obvious with what I’m drawing–! I’m rambling, sorry! But, I like you, Tanizaki.”
?!
Atsushi’s words stun Tanizaki Junichirou.
Atsushi continues, “I’m just… putting that out there. It just felt right?! But you don’t have to, you know, say anything, but–! Yeah, I just thought that now’s the perfect time and–”
“Atsushi, it’s okay. I like you too.”
Junichirou’s words surprise Atsushi, causing xem to snap the pen xe was holding in half.
“Oh. My God, I’m so sorry! Hang on, you like me too?!”
Junichirou laughs out, “Of course! It’s hard not to… When we first met, you were so..! I can’t figure out the word but I was touched that you were offering me to go job-hunting with you. Even though I was ‘about to’ –” They made air quotes –“bomb you and the agency.”
Atsushi hides his flustered face from Junichirou, “Well, what can I say? I… I shoot my shot early.”
Junichirou teasingly looks up and down at Atsushi. “Do you?”
“Yes, I do!” Atsushi pauses for a moment before blurting out, “Do you want to go on a date this weekend!?”
“Of course, Atsushi! Also, call me Junichirou. Or, whatever you like.”
“Juni?”
Junichirou – Juni smiles. “Yeah, that's fine too.”