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With a stiff neck and a pounding headache, Kojiro Nanjo sputtered awake, choking on a rose petal he nearly inhaled.

Gagging and spitting, he groggily propped himself up on an elbow and looked around with bleary eyes. The room wasn’t his, but it was massive. So obviously the bed wasn’t his either, but it was also massive and stunk of roses due to the petals scattered liberally over the duvet. Kojiro rolled over onto his back and immediately regretted it; the room spun and he was too hot and why was he still fully dressed and where even was this—

A fresh wave of nausea washed over him as it all came rushing back.

The wedding. The waiting. The anxiety, the nervousness, the increasingly awkward glances among the guests. The sweat rolling off the officiant’s shiny bald head in the spring sunshine. The ringing in Kojiro’s ears and the chattering and tittering of the guests as they gossiped. The knot in his throat, his tie was too tight, he couldn’t swallow. His collar was bugging him, the tux too hot and too snug. His hands started tingling and his feet felt swampy in his dress socks and stupid shiny shoes.

Then the voices, the world spinning, the disbelief. 

“She’s not coming.”

“She’s not coming.”

“She left him at the altar!”

“Joe, she’s not…”

“Kojiro, I’m sorry. She’s not coming.”

The shock, the anger, the humiliation. Then getting on a plane of all things—non-refundable first class tickets to a non-refundable honeymoon at a non-refundable resort that Kojiro had spent an insane amount of money on—

So he drank free (is it really “free” with the astronomical price of the plane ticket?) alcohol the entire flight, just wanting to black out so he didn’t have to face the pain.

Hating himself, Kojiro rolled back over and yelled into the pillow.

After briefly considering just ordering room service and wallowing in his misery, Kojiro decided no, he had to escape the honeymoon suite. And this was a ridiculously overpriced premier resort, after all; might as well at least walk around and see what it had to offer.

His stomach rumbled and although the day before was pretty much a blur, Kojiro was pretty sure he hadn’t eaten. On the lookout for one of the resort’s many restaurants, he walked by a mostly-empty bar, just the bartender and a single patron sitting on a barstool, typing furiously on a laptop.

Kojiro had consumed enough alcohol in the last twenty-four hours to last him a year; the last thing he needed was more. No, he needed to stretch his legs and find some food, get something in his stomach—

“What can I get for you, sir?” the bartender asked as Kojiro took the stool one space away from the other customer. He didn’t want to sit right next to him and creep him out or something. As it was his light-speed typing stopped for the briefest second when Kojiro sat down.

“A water,” Kojiro said. “And, uh…” He glanced over at the half-empty Bloody Mary on a coaster next to the laptop on the bar. “I’ll have what he’s having.”

“Right away, sir.” The bartender left Kojiro’s water and went to make his drink.

Elbows on the bar, Kojiro pinched the bridge of his nose and barely resisted a sigh. What the hell was he doing here? His feet had taken him inside the place without consulting his brain first, apparently. Next to him—well, with a respectful one-stool gap—the only other customer in the place was clicking away on his keyboard so fast that Kojiro could hardly see his fingers. But since the guy was preoccupied typing and glaring at his screen, Kojiro indulged in a surreptitious glance. 

Long, silky pink hair pulled over his shoulder, looking like the tie might fall out at any minute. A little furrow between his brows, matching the hint of a frown on his lips. Thin glasses framed golden eyes with long lashes. Typing one-handed, he didn’t even slow down as he reached for his drink without looking, tongue swiping over his bottom lip when he set the glass back down.

He was easily the most beautiful man—most beautiful person Kojiro had ever seen.

“Your Bloody Mary, sir,” the bartender said, setting the drink on a coaster and presenting it to Kojiro.

“Thanks,” Kojiro said, then realized the man next to him had stopped his incessant typing to look very pointedly at the drink in his hand then at Kojiro, one eyebrow arched judgmentally.

Okay, Kojiro was obviously hungover and probably looked pretty rough. He had showered but hadn’t shaved and left his hair a mess, pulling it into a little ponytail without bothering to brush it. And if his eyes looked even half as bad as they felt, he probably looked stoned or like he had pinkeye. 

But still! Just because this guy was pretty with his pretty hair and pretty eyes and pretty mouth and pretty computer he thought he could go judging people?

“What?” Kojiro grumbled defensively. “It’s a remedy. Homeopathi—? Homopath..? Hair of the dog.” He gave up, taking a sip. It was unfairly good. “Besides, you’re also drinking alone at ten a.m.—”

“Mm,” the beautiful stranger agreed with a nod. Then he glanced at Kojiro with a smirk, golden eyes sharp over the rims of his glasses. “I always start the day with a Bloody Mary; it’s how I get my daily serving of vegetables.”

Surprised, Kojiro laughed mid-swallow and choked on his drink, vodka burning his nose. “I…” He snorted to clear his nose. “I see.” Flashing a smile he added, “I’m Kojiro.”

“I know.” The stranger smiled—well, curved his lips, anyway; his eyes were still cool and aloof. “I’m the one who checked you in last night.”

“O-oh,” Kojiro stammered, looking awkwardly down at his hands, cupping his glass for dear life. He knew he’d been completely shithammered before he even got off the plane; he didn’t even remember checking in and had no clue how he got to his suite.

“Though I’m thankful to see you didn’t asphyxiate on your own vomit in the night,” the stranger added. “It would be a horrible pain and a considerable financial annoyance to run damage control for the resort if a guest died on the premises.”

Kojiro frowned. Still a little woozy, it took him a minute to put it together—checked him in, damage control for the resort..? 

With that same sterile imitation of a smile, the stranger looked at him. “I’m Kaoru Sakurayashiki, owner of this resort.”

Kojiro couldn’t get the beautiful stranger—no, Kaoru Sakurayashiki out of his mind.

He’d tried to make conversation, though not even he knew why he felt so compelled to talk to Kaoru. Yeah, he was pretty. But there were lots of pretty people in the world and besides, Kojiro was fresh off of heartbreak and abandonment. 

Which Kaoru somehow knew (just how much had Kojiro blabbed during check-in?!) and therefore rightfully kept his distance. 

After nearly finishing his Bloody Mary and several futile attempts at small talk, Kojiro was mustering up the guts to try one more time when Kaoru had reached over and snapped his laptop shut with a yawn.

“I’ve been up all night and I’m exhausted,” he had explained. 

Then he looked straight at Kojiro with a little frown that was irrationally kissable and the thought had startled Kojiro so much he absolutely froze when Kaoru cupped his cheeks with both hands and gave a little wiggle.

“Your head is crooked,” Kaoru had said, glancing away. He pushed up his glasses then slipped his laptop in a bag that probably cost more than Kojiro made in a year. “You should take advantage of the massage included in your resort package and loosen up that crick in your neck.”

And with that, Kaoru had stood up, slung his bag over his shoulder, and left.

With nothing else really on his agenda, Kojiro had wandered into a restaurant, eaten a breakfast he didn’t even taste, then followed Kaoru’s advice and booked a massage. Unable to think of anything else, he’d gone so far as to ask the massage therapist if she knew Kaoru at all and she’d just giggled awkwardly and said, “Ah, I’ve only seen him in passing. He’s really pretty, isn’t he?”

After that he’d napped in his room, took another shower (and shaved this time) then wandered around looking for dinner, preferably in a restaurant with a gorgeous pink-haired customer. (He found no such thing, so he ended up eating dinner at some place that looked ‘good enough.’)

Maybe it was perverse and obsessive but after thinking about him all day, Kojiro hoped he’d dream of Kaoru. Instead he slept like the dead.

And the next morning he ended up revisiting that bar, no bartender in sight today, and sat down one stool away from Kaoru. 

Once again clicking away on his laptop, not bothering to look up.

“Two servings of vegetables today?” Kojiro asked with a jerk of his chin at the two Bloody Marys (one half empty, one that looked just-made) on the bar beside Kaoru’s computer. “You on a health kick all of a sudden?”

Kojiro caught a twitch of a smile before Kaoru slid the full glass over on its coaster. 

“Hiromi thought you might be back,” Kaoru said, not looking at him. “So he made this for you before he left.”

“So this place is closed?” Kojiro asked, taking a sip. 

“Mm. Technically.”

“Is it okay if we’re here?”

Kaoru snorted. “What are they gonna do, fire me? I’m the boss.”

“Fair enough,” Kojiro said, goofy smile on his face. “But still…” He looked around—the tables, the point of sale system, the silverware station. “Isn’t this a restaurant?”

“Theoretically.”

Kojiro huffed a laugh at Kaoru’s terseness. “Theoretically..?”

“I don’t have a chef at the moment,” Kaoru explained. “So yes it is a restaurant, but no, it’s not an open one. Which…” Kaoru worried his bottom lip between his teeth as he reached for his nearly-empty Bloody Mary and tap-tap-tapped his finger thoughtfully on the rim. “Is too bad, really. I always preferred the ambiance of this place over the others. Want a job?”

“Huh?” Kojiro blurted. “No, I…I think it would be too hard working here, seeing everyone all lovey dovey all the time when…” Seeing everyone and being reminded every day of something I was supposed to have.

“It’s not just a couples resort,” Kaoru said rationally. “Sure, it’s mostly couples. But we do get groups every once in a while—‘girls weekend getaways’ and things like that. Might even get lucky.”

“No thanks,” Kojiro said automatically. “I’m not looking for that right now. I’m…no.” He was still reeling a little, wondering how Kaoru knew he was a chef. Or if he didn’t mean anything by the offer at all, just threw it out there to tease him. “No thanks,” he mumbled again.

“Too bad,” Kaoru said lightly, not sounding like it was too bad at all. “Good people are hard to find.” 

Kojiro frowned—Kaoru could have (should have?) said “good help is hard to find.” But he’d chosen people.

His ex’s face flashed through his mind. 

“Tell me about it,” Kojiro grumbled, washing the words down with his Bloody Mary. 

“Oh?” Kaoru said, the single word dripping with interested amusement. “When you say it like that…maybe you should tell me about it instead?”

Kojiro’s head snapped up, searching Kaoru’s face. He’d damn near made an ass of himself trying to get some sort of conversation going with the guy the day before, why would Kaoru want to give him the time of day now?

“You’re not gonna yawn in the next ten seconds and leave are you?” Kojiro asked warily.

Kaoru laughed.

Oh god he laughed.

Kojiro had thought Kaoru was the most beautiful person he’d ever seen just sitting there frowning at his laptop, but this..!

Oblivious to Kojiro’s sudden twitterpation, Kaoru snapped his laptop closed and slid it in his expensive bag. Then he set his elbow on the bar and propped his chin in his hand.

“I have to lock this place up when I’m done. I’m not quite so rude as to kick you out before you finish your drink. So.” Kaoru smiled, a wicked, smirky little thing. “Your head looks straight today; how was your massage yesterday, Kojiro?”

Kojiro woke with a groan and shoved a pillow over his face. 

Was he a total idiot or just a partial one?

He’d spent way too long yesterday actually answering Kaoru’s questions seriously (the massage had been wonderful and the resort was amazing). And he had let it slip that he was a chef (Kaoru didn’t seem surprised) and also currently unemployed. 

(“But you still turned me down, I’m hurt,” Kaoru had teased and Kojiro just about promised he’d come to work before biting his tongue and mentally berating himself for not learning his lesson and nearly making the same mistake twice. He’d uprooted his entire life for someone he’d been dating for years and had still been betrayed in the end—how could he think of doing it again for someone he’d barely even met?)

But Kojiro hadn’t asked anything about Kaoru himself before Kaoru’s watch buzzed and he checked it with an irritated twitch of his nose and a very obvious glance at Kojiro’s empty glass.

“I’m afraid I’m needed elsewhere,” Kaoru had said. “Did you bring your swim trunks? Our pools are world-class.”

“Thanks,” Kojiro had blurted. “For, uh. Keeping me company and…and letting me finish my drink.”

“Of course.” Now there was a new smile—mysterious but softer than the first day. “Enjoy your stay.”

Kojiro had spent the day agonizing over why that sounded so final. 

Needing to do something, he had hit the weight room and ultimately finished with a swim; just because he was heartbroken didn’t give him an excuse to skip exercise.

Now, stomach roiling with nerves, he slowed his pace as he walked by the (closed) restaurant. Kaoru had flat-out told him it was closed—wasn’t that his way of telling Kojiro he wouldn’t be there the next day, to quit coming by?

So why was Kaoru sitting at the bar yet again?

Hiding his relief, Kojiro took his usual seat, one stool between them.

“Mimosa today?” 

“It’s important to eat fruits as well as vegetables,” Kaoru informed him.

“What part counts as fruit, exactly? The orange juice or the little pineapple garnish?”

“Both. It’s two servings that way.”

Kojiro snorted. “You know, I was wondering…do you ever actually eat or do you get all your nutrients from cocktails?”

“I told you, my favorite restaurant is currently closed.” Kaoru didn’t look up, just frowned at his laptop and typed at hyper speed.

“So you just don’t eat at all?” Kojiro asked incredulously. “There are other restaurants here! It’s your resort, I’m sure you know that!”

“Mm. But I like this one.”

“Why?” Kojiro asked. “What’s so special about this one?”

Kaoru did look at him then, a faux-sweet smile on his lips. “Because there’s no one in this one.”

With a shake of his head, Kojiro sighed in exasperation. He shouldn’t care—the guy owned the resort for crying out loud. He probably had more money than he knew what to do with and could make any of the chefs in any of the restaurants cook whatever he wanted. Besides, he’d apparently been functioning perfectly fine on his breakfasts of Bloody Marys and mimosas; he hardly needed Kojiro fussing over him. 

Ah.

But Kojiro needed someone to fuss over. 

“Hey, Mr. Resort Owner,” Kojiro said slowly. “I’m hungry and wanted to try one of your amazing restaurants—”

“You’re a guest and it’s included in your package; help yourself.”

“But I was hoping you’d eat with me?” Kojiro cajoled. “You live here, after all, so you’d know which is the best—”

“They’re all good,” Kaoru interrupted, face lit by his laptop screen. “But the best one is closed. All the others are about equal.”

“So you’re going to let a valuable customer starve?”

Kaoru’s fingers didn’t leave his keyboard but they did stop as he frowned at Kojiro. “How so?”

“I want to eat with you. You won’t eat anywhere but here. But here…has no food—and alcohol doesn’t count. So what do we do?”

Eyes narrowed, Kaoru glared at him for a long moment before looking away in a huff. “I never said here has no food. I said it has no chef. There is, technically, a difference. So…” he trailed off. “Nevermind. I can’t possibly invite a valuable customer to cook his own breakfast—”

“Really? You’d let me in the kitchen?”

“Is there some reason I shouldn’t?” Kaoru asked warily.

“No, that’s not what I meant! But are you sure it’s okay—”

Kaoru snorted. “Haven’t we been over this? I’m the boss. Yes, it’s fine. Everything is just sitting there anyway. Help yourself to whatever you want—go wild. If you’re not going to use the meals included in your resort package, the least you could do is treat yourself with expensive ingredients.”

“I would’ve liked to make my own English muffins but was short on time,” Kojiro said, setting down a plate in front of Kaoru a while later. “But the ones in the back were quality—everything was quality, really. So here’s a riff on eggs benedict with iberico ham, poached duck egg, and scratch hollandaise topped with a caviar quenelle and herbed new potatoes on the side.”

“You really splurged.”

“Well, you seem like you wouldn’t let anything but the best of the best in your mouth so…” 

Kaoru snorted, getting a little mimosa up his nose. “You’re not wrong,” he said, haughty tone ruined slightly by the nasal stuffiness. “So this…is mine?”

Kojiro laughed. “Yeah.”

“But what about you? You were the one who was starving.”

“Oh don’t worry—I’m eating steak and eggs.” 

“Just steak and eggs?” Kaoru asked with a concerned frown.

“Well I did use wagyu for the steak…” Kojiro flashed a cheeky grin. “And maybe shaved some black truffle on my potatoes.”

Kaoru laughed. “Good for you.” With an amused shake of his head, he pulled his plate closer and picked up his fork. “Eat up.”

Kojiro, however, did not eat up. Instead he watched very closely as Kaoru broke the yolk, mixing the liquid gold with lemony hollandaise and sending pearls of caviar floating over the edge of the English muffin. With quick strokes of his knife, he freed a wedge of muffin, ham, and egg and took a bite, lips gliding off the tines of his fork.

Kojiro had never wanted to be a fork so bad in his life.

Then Kaoru’s eyelids fluttered closed and he let out such an exquisite moan of satisfaction that Kojiro’s dick was nearly half-mast in response.

“G-good?” Kojiro squeaked out, dipping his wagyu in yolk and shoving it in his face before he did something embarrassing.

“Not bad,” Kaoru answered. “The hollandaise is lighter and more citrusy than I’m used to. But that was smart, with the iberico and the duck egg naturally being so rich. And this way the caviar doesn’t get lost, which I was worried about—I thought it was superfluous but I can actually taste it and the little pop of texture is…mmm.” He gave a little shiver as he took another bite.

Not bad, huh? Kojiro thought, fighting a smug grin. “Yeah, I would’ve liked some tomato-bacon jam to cut through the richness a bit, add some acidity and complement the potatoes. But you looked hung—I was hungry,” he corrected mid-sentence. “And so didn’t have the time it would take to properly cook it down.”

Kaoru nodded thoughtfully in agreement, then looked down at Kojiro’s plate. “If you’re not eating, give me a bite of yours.”

Kojiro laughed. “I am eating, but please, help yourself—”

“Here,” Kaoru said, holding out a fork dripping with hollandaise and yolk, capped off with potato holding the bite together. “You didn’t taste this, did you?”

“Ah…” Kojiro hesitated, unsure. 

“Hurry before the caviar slides off!”

Startled, Kojiro took the proffered bite, letting Kaoru feed him. 

“That is really good,” Kojiro mumbled as he chewed, cheeks warm. “Humbly speaking.”

“Mm,” Kaoru hummed in what sounded like agreement. “Now do me,” he said, mouth open like a baby bird.

Kojiro choked, hacking up expensive ham, but it was more than worth the caviar lodged in his sinuses for the smirk playing on Kaoru’s lips.

“Thank you for the food,” Kaoru said, miming a little toast with another mimosa once they’d finished. “Though Ainosuke would have my hide if he knew I let a guest cook for himself…”

Kojiro didn’t know who Ainosuke was but he didn’t ask. He wasn’t sure he wanted to know; his emotions were confused enough at the moment. “Thank you for the ingredients,” he said instead. “I never thought I’d get to cook a brunch like that.” Then he huffed a laugh at himself. “Not that I got to cook brunch regardless.”

“Oh?” Kaoru prompted. “But you seemed to enjoy it..?”

“I do,” Kojiro admitted honestly. “It’s my favorite meal really.” He couldn’t help a crooked smile and took a sip of his own mimosa to try to hide it. “Makes me think of lazy weekend mornings, waking up in a lover’s arms and just lounging in bed since there’s nowhere to go, nothing urgent to do. Maybe stayed up too late the night before, making lo—” He stopped before he could finish the word. 

Kaoru stared back at him, unabashedly analyzing. “You sound like a very passionate person, Kojiro.”

Kojiro snorted mirthlessly. “For all the good it did me,” he muttered, then drained his drink. “Aren’t you going to ask me why I’m at a famous couples resort, paying for honeymoon package, alone?”

“It’s not professional for me to ask,” Kaoru said simply, circling the rim of his glass with a perfect fingertip. “But if you want to tell me, I certainly won’t stop you.” He smiled, a little sad. “Or if you don’t want to tell me, that’s fine too.”

Kojiro opened his mouth to spill his guts but the words stuck in his throat. 

“Espresso first,” he said instead. “If you yawn and leave for bed when I’m in the middle of my story I don’t think my fragile heart can handle it.”

“The yoga instructor?” Kaoru asked, aghast. 

“Mm.”

“And you were standing at the altar and everything?”

“Yeah.”

“Wow…” Kaoru marveled. “What a fucking cunty bitch.”

Kojiro stared back in shock. “You don’t even know her!”

“No, and I don’t want to,” Kaoru said simply. “Besides, I know you, so obviously I’m going to take your side.”

Kojiro’s lips twitched in a wobbly grin. “You know me?” 

“Let me rephrase that—I know you are the one paying me exorbitant but totally justified prices at the moment so obviously I’m going to take your side.” Kaoru smiled sweetly…and totally fake.

“Ah.” Kojiro snorted. “That sounds more like it.”

Kaoru smiled again—for real this time—and took a sip of his second espresso. “Still. Must’ve been quite a shock. That’s the type of thing that happens in movies.”

“Right? Though…looking back on it…I guess there were signs,” Kojiro admitted with a sigh.

“There always are,” Kaoru said sagely.

“That’s not really helping.”

“I said I’d listen; I didn’t say I’d help.”

Kojiro shook his head, trying not to laugh. 

“You got left at the altar; is that really something anyone can help with, even if they wanted to?” Kaoru asked bluntly. 

They could. They could sit at an empty bar, one stool away, and listen over drinks and crack dry jokes.

But Kojiro didn’t say that. 

“Besides,” he said instead, “not like I can compare with her yoga instructor. I don’t have that kind of flexibility; guy can probably suck his own dick.”

“That is blatantly untrue,” Kaoru said. “He wouldn’t need her if that was the case.” Kojiro stared back flatly. “Oh don’t look at me like that; like you would ever leave your room if you could do that?”

“Fair point,” Kojiro muttered.

“Anyway, sounds like you dodged a bullet to me,” Kaoru said coolly.

“Dodged a bullet?” Kojiro scoffed incredulously. “Would’ve rather dodged it before the engagement ring and pricey wedding and non-refundable first-class tickets and honeymoon package—”

“That’s all just money,” Kaoru said. 

Kojiro huffed mirthless laugh. “Oh, that’s something coming from you, Mr. Only-Taking-My-Side-Because-I’m-Paying-You.”

“That’s not the only reason,” Kaoru muttered. “And anyway, I’m right. Or did you really want to marry someone who is the type to cheat on you with her yoga instructor? Or the type to cheat, regardless? Who wants to be with someone who doesn’t want them?”

Kojiro opened his mouth to argue, but unfortunately Kaoru had a pretty good point—

“And besides,” Kaoru said. “You act like I’m money-hungry—and maybe I am—but you certainly didn’t mention lost love or heartbreak. The first thing you brought up was the total devastation to your wallet. So…you dodged a bullet. This way you didn’t pay for all this and lose half of whatever you have left in a divorce.”

“Well no, I didn’t mention heartbreak,” Kojiro fumbled defensively. “That’s…that’s obvious! We were supposed to get married!”

“Of course,” Kaoru said, that strained, sterile imitation of a smile Kojiro had seen on the first day back on his face. “Well, I won’t offend you further by asking if you were really in love.” Tucking hair behind his ear, Kaoru stood, not making eye contact. “Thank you for brunch—well, my dinner, technically. This is your vacation, you should go enjoy it as much as you can. People rave about the snorkeling—”

“Wait,” Kojiro said, reeling. He was the one who had been insulted so why was Kaoru the one acting like the conversation was over? “I still haven’t cleaned up the kitchen, I can’t just leave it like that—”

Kaoru barked a harsh laugh. “Nonsense. You’re a guest. I’ll pull someone from one of the other restaurants—”

“I may be a guest but I’m also a chef,” Kojiro said adamantly. Yes, his professional pride was on the line but also…he didn’t want Kaoru to leave. Not like this. “No chef worth his salt would leave a dirty kitchen—” 

“Kojiro,” Kaoru said firmly. Then that fake smile again. “Please. You may be a chef, but I am the owner of this resort and you are my guest. And no resort owner worth his salt would let his guest clean the kitchen.” For a moment, Kojiro thought just a hint of the smile might be genuine, thought a teasing sparkle flashed in Kaoru’s eyes, but then it was gone. 

“Will I see you tomorrow?” Kojiro blurted as Kaoru locked up.

“You know, if snorkeling isn’t your thing, there is also surfing lessons and parasailing. If you’re feeling more adventurous.” 

And with that, Kaoru left.

Unsure of what else to do, Kojiro went snorkeling. 

He’d thought for some brief, insane moment that it was some sort of clue, that maybe Kaoru was also the snorkel instructor or something and would be there. But no; it was just…normal. And while the instructor was pretty cute (and flirty), Kojiro couldn’t bring himself to care.

Which, should make sense, considering he’d just been cheated on and dumped all of about four days before. 

But for some reason Kojiro didn’t think that had much to do with it.

No one was at the bar and the empty restaurant was locked when Kojiro went by the next morning.

For a moment Kojiro just stood there and stared at the door, the restaurant dim through the large windows. It had happened again, hadn’t it? He’d gotten his hopes up and here he was, alone and abandoned—

No. No, it wasn’t fair to compare three mornings of talking with a stranger to two years of dating his girlfriend. That wasn’t fair to Kaoru. Maybe he’d just gotten busy or finally went to bed at a decent hour—

Wait, why was Kaoru always up all night? Kojiro had never asked; he’d always intended to. So why hadn’t he? Why had he always assumed there’d be another day, another cocktail, another conversation, just the two of them?

What did he want from Kaoru anyway?

“You know, if snorkeling isn’t your thing, there is also surfing lessons and parasailing. If you’re feeling more adventurous.” 

At a loss for what else to do, Kojiro went surfing. And then parasailing.

The surfing had gone alright. He was physically fit and had pretty good balance from his years of skateboarding, so he didn’t wipe out too bad. And he managed to get in with a few girls—one of those “girls’ getaways” groups that Kaoru had mentioned before. A couple had been blatantly interested (whether singly or as a pair, Kojiro wasn’t entirely sure) and joined him for parasailing.

It was fun enough, and flattering to have women after him again, one on each arm. And they were laying it on pretty thick, his for the taking, making it very clear all he had to do was invite them to his room…

Instead they glared with disappointment when he’d extricated himself, apologizing that he already had dinner plans.

He, of course, didn’t have dinner plans. 

The entire time he showered, he wondered why he didn’t take them up on their offer. He wasn’t seeing anyone, there was nothing holding him back. And it had been ages since he’d accepted an invite for a threesome; that would certainly have made his ‘honeymoon’ memorable. The girls were obviously just out for a good time, so no strings attached, just some sexy fun…

Letting the hot water pour over him, Kojiro stared down at his dick.

Junior hadn’t even twitched at a girl’s boobs mashed against his arm and her breath cooing in his ear. But he’d gotten half-hard just watching Kaoru take a single bite.

Kojiro sighed. 

Kaoru.

What right did Kaoru have to be angry? He’d been the snide jerk acting like he didn’t even care, flat-out admitted he wasn’t there to help—

Ah. 

But he had. 

He didn’t have to wait for Kojiro every morning, didn’t have to have a cocktail waiting and sit and listen to him talk. At any time Kaoru could have easily blown him off—he must have plenty to do, as the owner of the place. Instead he sat there patiently, that little smirk on his face, and listened. 

Even the weird daily recommendations were attempts at keeping Kojiro from wallowing, encouraging him to get out and enjoy himself as much as possible, weren’t they?

Kojiro had thought at the time that just letting some stranger use a professional kitchen—an immaculate professional kitchen, it looked brand new!—was kind of surreal. Was that Kaoru’s way of letting Kojiro distract himself, even just for a little while? Experiment and play with ingredients he might never even see otherwise? All with carte blanche permission to just do…whatever?

Kaoru was beautiful, sexy, smart, and fucking loaded. So maybe it was hard to imagine, with someone so put-together and in control but…

Was Kaoru also just adorably awkward?

“Besides, I know you, so obviously I’m going to take your side.”

Kojiro had teased him so Kaoru walked it back but no…they had been chatting like friends. Kaoru was being genuine, talking to him like he would a friend, not a guest—

And Kojiro had gotten mad at him for it. 

Because Kaoru was right.

Sure, it didn’t feel good to be left standing in front of friends and family, all tuxed up on what was supposed to be one of the best days of his life. But was Kojiro hurt because he was heartbroken, because he lost the love of his life..?

Or was he hurt because he looked and felt like a fool—for ignoring the signs, for quitting his job and selling his shit, for spending money he didn’t have because somewhere deep down he was trying to prove to himself that he loved her?

Kaoru was just pointing out what he thought Kojiro already knew.

As was his style lately, Kojiro wandered around the resort without much of a plan. He casually glanced at the windows of the various restaurants as he walked by, hoping to spy pink hair. 

(He didn’t.) 

But he did catch a flash of orange mohawk which was the next best thing.

“Ah,” the bartender (what had Kaoru said his name was? Hiro? Hiromi?) fumbled as Kojiro sat down. “W-welcome, what can I get for you?”

“Just water for now,” Kojiro said, wanting to keep a clear head. He looked around as he tried to decide what to say. The restaurant was very stylish—trendy Spanish tapas, tasteful decor, the menu looked absolutely delicious. Most of the tables were two-tops, filled with couples, though one other person sat at the bar just a couple seats away. Kojiro couldn’t help a surreptitious glance; it was rare to see another person eating alone around the resort but with this guy’s perfectly-coiffed blue hair and bright ruby eyes, he would attract attention regardless.

Kojiro gave a little nod of acknowledgement. After a split second of surprise, the man smirked and nodded back.

“I wanted to ask you something,” Kojiro said when the bartender set his bottled water in front of him. “What kind of food did that restaurant serve?”

“P-pardon?” Hiromi stammered uncertainly.

“That restaurant where I saw you a few days ago, you made me a Bloody Mary, Kaoru—Mr. Sakurayashiki was there,” Kojiro elaborated. “We got to talking and he said that was his favorite restaurant but it was closed, so I was wondering what kind of food they did.”

The bartender glanced very obviously at the well-dressed smirky man sitting a couple stools down, almost as if expecting him to answer.

He did not.

“Um…none?” Hiromi said finally. “That restaurant’s brand new. It’s never been open yet. There hasn’t been a single thing cooked in that kitchen.”

Kojiro stared back. That couldn’t be right. Though…well, now that he thought about it, the kitchen had been pristine—

It looks brand new, Kojiro had thought at the time.

“But it’s stocked,” Kojiro insisted.

“Well Mr. Sakurayashiki was getting it ready,” Hiromi explained. “But he still hadn’t hired a chef—”

“How can it not be open?” Kojiro interrupted. “I walked right in and sat down! You served me!”

Hiromi laughed awkwardly. “You were really hungover, maybe even still a little drunk, so I figured that’s why you didn’t notice we weren’t open. Mr. Sakurayashiki likes to sit in there and finish up his work where he won’t be bothered and I had some new drinks I was experimenting with and wanted to show him, so he called me in there. When you, uh, stumbled in I was going to tell you but…but he gave me a look that said to go ahead and serve you—”

“Kaoru did?” the other guy at the bar said.

Kojiro didn’t really like how that man said Kaoru but he didn’t have time for that. “That can’t…that doesn’t make sense. Of all the places, why is he sitting in an empty—an empty closed restaurant finishing his work? It’s not like it’s an office—”

“Because it’s his restaurant,” Hiromi said as if explaining to a child. A very slow one. “He designed it to his tastes, both tastebud-taste and his aesthetic taste.”

“I’m relieved,” the smarmy blue-haired guy said. “He already works ridiculous hours, the last thing he needs is to be shut up in an office. At least this way he’s forced to see daylight.” At Kojiro’s unfriendly glare, the man smiled. Predatorily and smug. “How rude of me, I haven’t introduced myself—I’m Ainosuke Shindo. Owner of this resort.”

Kojiro frowned. “I thought Kao—Mr. Sakurayashiki was the owner?”

Ainosuke’s smile widened, showing sharp, perfectly-white teeth. He raised his glass just-so to deliberately show off the shiny gold band on his ring finger. “He didn’t tell you? He’s my…partner.”

Bile burned Kojiro’s throat and the world tilted. He reflexively grabbed the bar to keep from falling off his stool.

Ainosuke burst out laughing. “That was quite the reaction! My Kaoru must’ve made a real impression on you, hmm?”

“No, I…” 

“Ainosuke-sama,” another man interrupted. He was somehow stunning in a plain sort of way, or plain in a stunning sort of way, maybe—sharply dressed in a suit with a striking beauty mark under his right eye. Kojiro was grateful for the intervention, saving him from trying to sound coherent. 

“Oh, Tadashi! What is it, my pet?” Ainosuke purred, sliding a hand around Tadashi’s waist.

“We’re in public, Ainosuke-sama. In front of a guest.”

“Well the guests are always getting handsy in front of me with no regard for propriety; why can’t I get a little handsy in front of them?” Ainosuke asked, smiling sweetly as he gave Tadashi’s butt a squeeze. To Tadashi’s credit, it didn’t register on his face at all, his expression still perfectly deadpan.

This…wasn’t right. Ainosuke had, in that velvety incubus voice of his, said that Kaoru was his partner, referred to him as ‘my Kaoru’ and yet here he was in the middle of PDA with someone quite obviously not Kaoru?

“Sit down and chat with us, my love. This is more than a guest, this is Kaoru’s friend. I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name earlier..?”

Tadashi did a double-take, like he’d seen a unicorn or something, as if Kaoru having a friend was that incomprehensible. 

“Kojiro,” Kojiro said tersely. “My friends call me Joe.”

“Ah, Joe, this is Tadashi—my soulmate, my other half, the love of my life, my beloved husband,” Ainosuke said dramatically. 

“But you just said Kaoru…” Kojiro trailed off as Tadashi reached for the drink Hiromi set in front of him…a golden wedding band flashing on his ring finger.

“Hmm?” Ainosuke hummed. “Kaoru what? Oh. Oh my. Why would you ever think..? Kaoru is my business partner, surely I said that?” With too-innocent eyes and a shitty smirk on his lips, Ainosuke knew all too well exactly why Kojiro misunderstood. 

“Ainosuke-sama,” Tadashi warned. “Don’t tease Sakurayashiki-san’s friend too much.”

“I won’t, my pet,” Ainosuke promised insincerely. “I’ll tease him just enough. So…” All playfulness vanished, Ainosuke stared right at him with appraising eyes. “You were the guest who showed up completely shitfaced the other night that Kaoru checked in.”

“He told you about that?” Kojiro asked, stomach sinking. “I mean, yeah, I was…why, what did he say? I don’t remember anything, was I rude—?”

“He just mentioned it in passing,” Ainosuke said with a disinterested wave. “Felt that I needed to be aware, I suppose. He’s such a worrywart.”

“If Kaoru’s your business partner and co-owner…why is he doing something like checking in guests?”

“Didn’t you hear me? Because he’s a worrywart—”

“I think you mean conscientious,” Tadashi interrupted gently. 

“Is that another word for ‘workaholic’?” Ainosuke asked.

“I think you could stand to be a little more of a workaholic,” Hiromi muttered.

“What was that?” Ainosuke asked, smile sharp.

Tadashi ignored them both. “He’s also a computer genius. This entire resort runs on AI infrastructure that he built himself—”

“Yes, yes, fine.” Ainosuke rolled his eyes. “I’ll admit, this perfect little Garden of Eden of my very own wouldn’t be nearly as successful without Kaoru’s nerdy support, but enough about Kaoru.” He looked at Kojiro, intent and predatory. “Tell us, Joe. What are you doing here all alone?”

“No! The yoga instructor?” Ainosuke gasped, slamming his glass down on the bar, his other hand dramatically pressed to his chest. “That fucking cunty bitch!”

Kojiro drained his drink and set his rocks glass back on the bar. “That’s exactly what Kaoru said.”

“Rightfully so!” Ainosuke said adamantly. “And Kaoru would know, because he’s kind of a cunty bitch too. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“Ainosuke-sama,” Tadashi said firmly.

Kojiro accepted a fresh drink from Hiromi and took a sip, wondering how many times in a day Tadashi said ‘Ainosuke-sama.’ 

“Should you slow down?” Ainosuke asked bluntly, eyebrow raised at the alcohol in Kojiro’s hand. Kojiro couldn’t help but be reminded of the first day he met Kaoru (well, the first day he remembered meeting Kaoru). “Unless your plan is to get completely wasted so Kaoru has to lead you to your suite again..?”

Kojiro shook his head. “Nah, he’s…he’s mad at me right now.”

Wait—to his suite again? Did Kaoru..? The first time..?

“See, I told you he was a cunty bitch,” Ainosuke said with a sage nod, taking a drink of his own. “What did you do to piss him off?”

“I don’t…” Kojiro thought about it. “I guess, he was trying to give me advice and I didn’t take it. He was trying to put it in perspective for me, a different light. Said it was only money and he was right—”

Ainosuke very ungracefully spit his Sazerac all over the bar. 

“Kaoru said what!?” Ainosuke sputtered as Tadashi patted his chin with a napkin. “Kaoru? Kaoru Sakurayashiki? Tight-ass, penny-pinching, money-hungry Kaoru—”

“Yeah.”

“Well!” Ainosuke leaned back, stunned. “To think something like that would ever come out of his mouth…either he’s the world’s biggest hypocrite or he really likes you. Though I guess the two aren’t mutually exclusive. Oh what am I even thinking!” Ainosuke shook his head, hamming it up. “You just got left at the altar! A jilted bride like yourself hardly has romance on the brain—”

“I like him too,” Kojiro blurted. 

“Oh?” Ainosuke asked, the single word dripping with interest. “But do you like him like him?”

Deep down, Kojiro knew the answer, even if on some level he’d been trying to avoid it. “I—”

“You don’t need to answer that, it’s none of his business,” Tadashi interrupted brusquely.

“Tadashi!” Ainosuke hissed.

“You also don’t need to answer it because it’s pretty obvious,” Hiromi chimed in flatly.

Alright, that was fair, Kojiro supposed. “Still, if he’s avoiding me…”

“The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach,” Hiromi said firmly. “So just make him brunch again.”

Again? Did that mean Hiromi knew? “How—how did you know about that?”

Hiromi snorted, folding his arms across his considerable chest. “Who do you think helped him clean up?” He jerked a thumb at himself just in case Kojiro was truly an idiot and needed him to be perfectly clear.

“Wait—” Kaoru cleaned the kitchen? Well, Kaoru and Hiromi. But he’d just shrugged it off like it wasn’t his problem, that he’d just get staff from some other restaurant—isn’t that what he’d said? 

“If it makes you feel any better, I probably did most of it,” Hiromi said. “Kaoru gave it a good try but cleaning is not his forte.”

“But why?”

“Because he didn’t want strangers in his kitchen?” Hiromi tried.

Something warm and fluffy and fluttery bubbled up in Kojiro’s chest. “Okay, but even if I wanted to cook for him again—” and I do, Kojiro thought, “—I can’t get in.”

“Joe,” Ainosuke said, sickeningly sweet. “Did you already forget that you now know someone who has a key?”

“Tadashi?” Kojiro tried, playing stupid.

Hiromi snorted a laugh but Ainosuke just glared at him. “Nevermind! Be an ass, see if I help you, just pine forever, see if I care—”

“Yes, I have a key,” Tadashi interrupted. “So ignore him; I’ll let you in.”

“You,” Kaoru said, freezing the moment Kojiro came around the corner from the kitchen. “Carla notified me that someone was in here but I didn’t expect—” He stared down at the very green drink Kojiro placed in front of him. “What’s this?”

“Protein smoothie,” Kojiro answered, taking the stool next to him.

Kaoru wrinkled his nose, barely touching it to push it over toward Kojiro. “Enjoy.”

Kojiro chuckled. “No, this is for you.”

“It doesn’t look right, I think your ingredients have gone bad—”

“The ingredients are fantastic and fresh and you’ll find that out when you drink it.”

“I’m not drinking this. It looks very…vegetable-y.”

“Which is exactly why I made it for you,” Kojiro said. “You have to get something in you besides alcohol—”

“Why do you care what I get in me!” Kaoru snapped, then realized his phrasing and pink dusted his cheeks. “I mean, my diet is perfectly fine. That’s…that’s what I meant.”

“Mm,” Kojiro agreed, nearly biting his lips together to keep from smiling. “Still. I made this with you in mind; I promise it tastes good. And it’s just the first part of breakfast—”

“What do you mean?” Kaoru frowned. “Why are you even in here, anyway? Aren’t you on vacation—why are you breaking and entering into closed restaurants, do you have some sort of weird restaurant addiction—”

“I’m here to cook for you,” Kojiro interrupted. “Tadashi let me in.”

Kaoru glared, then looked away with a twitch of a sneer. “Tadashi..? How did he hear about this? That meddler…”

“I think your friends are just concerned you’re not eating or sleeping enough,” Kojiro suggested.

Kaoru rolled his eyes. “They’re just extremely aware that if I die, they’ll have to actually do work.” With an annoyed huff out his nose, Kaoru took a sip of his smoothie. Then took another.

“Not bad, right?” Kojiro prompted.

“You made it,” Kaoru groused. “I guess trying it is the least I can do.” 

Despite the warmth in his chest and the swell in his ego, Kojiro’s wry smile fell. Kaoru looked tired. He was still beautiful—Kojiro honestly couldn’t think of a situation where Kaoru wouldn’t look beautiful—but there was no hiding the dark under-eye circles and the redness of his bloodshot eyes.

“What?” Kaoru snapped half-heartedly, which Kojiro supposed just proved how exhausted Kaoru was. “I said I would try it, what more did you expect me to say—”

“Oh! N-no. I’m…thanks.” Kojiro smiled weakly and resisted the urge to thumb across Kaoru’s cheekbone. “You look exhausted.”

“Wow,” Kaoru said flatly. “How sweet of you, you flatterer.” Before Kojiro could stammer a protest, Kaoru sighed in defeat. “I didn’t sleep well. It’s nothing new…and certainly not your concern.”

It’s not that you didn’t sleep well; by the look of you, you didn’t sleep at all.

…Did it have anything to do with me?

Why did Kojiro feel hopeful yet guilty at the same time for wondering?

“Well, once you get some food in you—because I do care what gets in you—” Kojiro winked and he was pretty sure if he hadn’t been a paying guest, Kaoru would’ve flipped him off right there. “—you can hopefully get some rest.”

“Yes, mother,” Kaoru answered sarcastically.

With a huff of a laugh, Kojiro went in back to the kitchen to dish up his creation.

And returned to Kaoru, completely, utterly sacked out asleep on the bar.

With a sigh, Kojiro set down the plate, a little miffed Kaoru wouldn’t get to taste it, and took the stool next to Kaoru.

“At least eat first, you ass,” Kojiro muttered, daring to comb his fingers through Kaoru’s hair. 

“I wasn’t sure you’d show up,” Kojiro said with a relieved grin. 

Kaoru managed to blush and glare sulkily at the same time. “Figured it was the least I could do since I…inconvenienced you earlier.”

After Kaoru had fallen asleep, Kojiro returned him to his room (again with Tadashi’s help getting inside) and tucked him into bed. He’d removed Kaoru’s glasses and set them on the nightstand…on top of a note asking Kaoru to please meet him on the beach after he woke up that evening.

“Inconven…Oh you mean conking out on the bar before even eating the food I made and then snoring like a chainsaw while I carried you to your room—”

“I do not snore!”

“—it was no inconvenience at all.”

“Oh really? Fabulous, I’ll be on my way then—”

“I mean my feelings were hurt, my food was insulted, and I might’ve thrown out my back. But if you hang out with me a bit, I won’t seek any damages or leave a bad review.”

Kaoru rolled his eyes and sighed dramatically, as if strolling along a pristine beach at sunset was near unbearable. 

“Did you get some rest?” Kojiro asked gently. 

“I told before you that was no business of yours—”

“Ow, ow, my poor strained back,” Kojiro cringed, hamming it up and rubbing his low back for show. 

Another eyeroll but at least it was accompanied with a twitch of a smile this time. “I did,” Kaoru mumbled. “Thank you.”

“You’re the owner, aren’t you? Do you really have to work so hard?”

“It’s because I’m the owner that I have to work so hard,” Kaoru said. 

“But what about Ainosuke?” Kojiro pressed. 

“Alright, let me rephrase: it’s because I’m co-owner with that asshole Ainosuke who doesn’t actually do anything but dream up more and more grand ideas for this place that I have to work so hard.” 

Sure, Kaoru had just called him an asshole, but something about his very obvious, easy familiarity with Ainosuke—who Kojiro was still kind of wary of—made Kojiro uncomfortable. 

“Between his busy schedule dreaming up more nonsense for me to figure out and groping Tadashi’s ass, he couldn’t possibly be troubled to do any real work,” Kaoru added in a grumble.

Now something very unpleasant prickled along Kojiro’s skin as acid burned his stomach. 

“Do you like him?” Kojiro heard himself ask.

“What?” Kaoru asked, eyes sharp.

“That was about him, wasn’t it?” Kojiro continued, bitterness coating his tongue. “That thing you told me before. ‘Who wants to be with someone who doesn’t want them’. You were speaking from experience, weren’t you? That was something you’d told yourself.”

“No,” Kaoru said after a moment. “It was something I told you because you needed to hear it. I thought…I thought it might be helpful. A-anyway, what are we even doing here?”

“You told me you had world-famous beaches.”

“We do, but that doesn’t mean I need to look at them—”

“Ai—” Kojiro stopped; he didn’t really want to mention Ainosuke right now, in this moment just between the two of them. “I thought you could use some sun.”

Kaoru frowned skeptically.

“And I thought the colors of the sunset suited you—”

“Mr. Sakurayashikiii!” an exuberant and maybe not entirely sober voice interrupted. A busty blonde woman, lips plump with filler stumbled across the sand toward Kaoru, one hand clamped on the wrist of a similarly voluptuous woman with waves of dark hair, dragging her along.

“Ah, Ms. Madarame—”

“You remember me!” the blonde woman gushed. “And please, call me Makio. You remember my lovely wife Karen?”

“Of course,” Kaoru said. “You celebrated your honeymoon with us seven years ago.”

“How can you remember all that!” Karen marveled.

Kaoru’s lips curled in his customer service smile. “How could I forget two beautiful ladies like yourselves?” he asked smoothly. “Neither of you have aged a day.”

That was probably due to the plastic surgery, Kojiro figured, but he wasn’t about to say that out loud even if it was tempting.

“Now we’re back celebrating our anniversary,” Makio tittered, pressing closer. Too close, in Kojiro’s opinion. And he really didn’t like the way she petted Kaoru’s arm, giving a squeeze as she purred, “We’d be absolutely thrilled if you’d celebrate with us. We were just heading back to our room and would love for you to join us, Mr. Sakurayashiki.”

Was this…was this what Kojiro thought it was? It had to be, right? He tried to slow down, to think of some possible way he could be misunderstanding but as a man exceedingly familiar with sexual invites there was no mistaking it.

Without even realizing it, he shuffled a little closer to Kaoru and glared menacingly at the couple. Who weren’t paying any attention to him at all, instead staring raptly and very carnivorously at Kaoru.

Didn’t they know Kaoru was hi—

Errr…busy? Didn’t they know Kaoru was a very busy man? And that he was currently spending precious time with Kojiro? Who did they think they were—!

“Oh, you flatter me,” Kaoru said as if this was all perfectly normal. “I’ll send a complimentary bottle of champagne, which will be much better company than I possibly could be. Have a wonderful evening.”

“That was an invitation, you know,” Kojiro grumbled after the couple was out of earshot. He had yet to resume his previous distance as they continued their walk, staying close just in case it happened again. 

“So..?” 

“They were asking if you wanted to join them!” Kojiro hissed.

“Yes, I am aware,” Kaoru said wryly. “Why are you mad?”

“Because…” Kojiro frowned. Why was he so angry? He didn’t get angry, it wasn’t his style. “Because you acted like you didn’t know what they meant,” he grumbled lamely. 

Kaoru snorted. “Of course I knew what they meant. It’s hardly the first time I’ve dealt with that sort of thing—”

“What?” Kojiro yelped. 

“What?” Kaoru raised a cool eyebrow. “Oh, did you think you were the only one getting ménage a trois invites?”

“What? No,” Kojiro said immediately. “I mean—wait. How did you know about that?”

Kaoru just smiled stiffly and continued his leisurely stroll along the sand. 

“Oh shit, did they ask you too—?”

“Oka told me,” Kaoru sighed. “The parasailing operator. Well,” he amended, “he told me they offered. He didn’t tell me if you accepted.”

“Why would he? Does he tell you everything?”

“Mm,” Kaoru said. 

“That’s kind of creepy.”

“Then I’ll spare you the level of my surveillance with Carla.”

“Who is Carla?” Kojiro asked, maybe still a little too riled up. Probably because Kaoru was spying on everyone and totally not because Kaoru was apparently quite close with some woman Kojiro had never heard of. 

On top of stupid Ainosuke saying things like my Kaoru and random couples propositioning him at every turn. Nope, why would Kojiro care about that? He’d had lots of people get jealous over him over the years, but he wasn’t the jealous type. Never had been. 

“Carla is the name of my AI,” Kaoru said slowly.

“Your AI.”

“Mm.”

“So she’s not like, a real person?” Kojiro asked, breathing a sigh of relief.

Wait—why was he relieved?

“Unfortunately, no.”

“Why unfortun—like what kind of surveillance are we talking? You aren’t watching people like, doing it, are you?”

Kaoru stared back at him flatly. “That is honestly the last thing I’d want to see. And no, it’s more like…let’s say I run into a guest on the beach and they start talking to me very familiarly and I have no clue who they are.” He tapped the side of his glasses. “Fortunately Carla recognizes them and through my display tells me their name and relevant information.”

Kojiro’s heart sunk. “Does that mean you don’t know who I am without your glasses?”

“I’m pretty sure I would recognize you even if I were blind,” Kaoru muttered, rolling his eyes and shaking his head. “So…” he said instead, clearing his throat and dragging his bottom lip through his teeth. “Was it fun, at least?”

Still reeling a bit from the I would recognize you even if I were blind comment, Kojiro had to think for a second what they’d been talking about. “Oh, parasailing? Yeah.”

Kaoru glared over the rims of his glasses, cheeks pink. “That is not what I’m referring to.”

“Ah, the girls?” Kojiro grinned. “Why? Are you jealo—”

Kojiro stopped mid-word, stunned.

“No, I’m not jealous!” Kaoru snapped, flustered. And sounding very jealous.

No, Kojiro thought. I am.

Kojiro had never been jealous in his life.

The world spinning when Ainosuke had implied they were partners, the shitty feeling that roiled in Kojiro’s gut at the way Ainosuke said my Kaoru. The acid bubbling at the affectionate way Kaoru talked about Carla (before Kojiro understood who she was), the red edging his vision and the itch in his palm to snug Kaoru close when those women propositioned him…

He was jealous!

“Kojiro..?” Kaoru prompted. “Why did you freeze? Do you need to reboot?”

Kojiro looked into those golden eyes, endearingly concerned and more irresistible than ever. A wobbly smile bloomed uncontrollably. 

“No, I’m…” Really in love this time. “I’m the best I’ve ever been.”

Kaoru blinked back, wide-eyed and very obviously disbelieving. He pressed a hand to Kojiro’s forehead. “No fever,” he muttered to himself. “And it’s too soon for syphilis to cause brain damage…”

“No!” Kojiro yelped, grabbing Kaoru’s hand off his head. He didn’t let it go, instead twining their fingers. Kaoru was apparently too distracted by Kojiro’s mystery affliction to bother yanking his hand away. “One of the things my ex—the last one and the ones before—told me was that she never felt like I really loved her. And I just realized what she meant.”

“Ah…” Kaoru said uncomfortably, glancing away. “Right…I—I meant to, um. Apologize. For what I said before. It was inappropriate of me; as you said, you were getting married, of course you loved—”

“No, you were right,” Kojiro interrupted. “You were right, she was right…I just didn’t understand. She felt like I didn’t really love her because she never felt special. Because, well…she wasn’t.”

Kaoru stared back, unreadable. “Are you trying to make her a sympathetic character because I’m honestly getting a little annoyed with you right now—”

“No!” Kojiro laughed. “No, I…I get it now. And I’m gonna send her a thank-you card.”

“For what?” Kaoru nearly screeched. “For cheating on you and leaving you at the altar?”

Well, no, but… “Yeah,” Kojiro said, too happy to bother explaining. It didn’t really matter—Kaoru’s fingers were still intertwined with his and Kaoru was right there, looking like at him like he’d lost his mind and it was adorable. 

“Because…” Kojiro gave Kaoru’s fingers a little squeeze. “If she hadn’t done all that, I never would’ve met you.”

Kaoru’s eyebrows shot up.

And then he laughed.

And laughed.

“What?! What are you even—? Are you crazy? Don’t answer that I know you are—” Kaoru wheezed between laughter. “That’s just…you are out of your mind! I’ve never heard anything so ridiculous—”

Kaoru’s reaction maybe should’ve hurt a little, but he looked so cute that Kojiro didn’t really mind. 

“I’m serious,” Kojiro said when Kaoru’s laughter finally started to die down. He thumbed at the tears rolling down Kaoru’s cheeks, mindful of his glasses. “And I was right—the colors of sunset look beautiful on you.”

Kaoru snorted, lips parted for some wry retort—

And Kojiro kissed him.

Totally Unnecessary Epilogue

~ A Year (or so) Later ~

“The Steak & Eggs,” Kojiro announced, setting a slightly modified version of his wagyu brunch creation down on the table. The two customers radiated lovey-dovey newlywed energy; Kojiro never got tired of seeing it. He set down the second plate, adding, “And Sia la Luce.”

“Ooooh,” the customer with purple hair gushed excitedly (something else Kojiro never got tired of). “Look, my treasure, isn’t it beautiful?”

“Mm,” the other guy grunted, shoving wagyu in his mouth. His sleepy eyes widened a bit. “Reo, this is great—I barely even have to chew it.”

“‘Sia la Luce,’” Reo repeated with a grin, then looked up at Kojiro, amethyst eyes sparkling. “‘Let there be light’? Why did you pick that name, Chef?”

“Ah,” Kojiro grinned back, a bit lopsided. “The first time I ever made that dish was for the person who brought light into my life when I was floating in a dark place. So…”

“Ah!” Reo gasped, bottom lip wobbling and blinking back tears. “Did you hear that, Seishiro? He made it for the light of his life! Isn’t that romantic?”

“Mm,” Seishiro confirmed around a mouth of wagyu, not sounding like he really cared all that much. 

Fortunately neither of them seemed to hear the irritated tch from the man sitting at the bar…his fingers oddly still over his keyboard as he eavesdropped.

“Were you listening?” Kojiro asked smugly, setting a glass full of green smoothie in front of Kaoru. “I’m romantic.”

Kaoru ignored that, instead glaring at the very green concoction in front of him. “This does not look like anything remotely alcoholic.”

“Because it’s not; it’s a protein shake—”

“Oh, so it’s for you then—”

“No.” Kojiro leaned in so only Kaoru could hear. “I already got my shot of protein last night, remember?” he asked, waggling his eyebrows.

“Ew!” Kaoru hissed, palming Kojiro’s face and trying to shove him away. “You are disgusting, get away from me—did you just lick my hand?!”

“Look, look!” Reo whispered, watching intently from their table. “They’re flirting! Ohhh, aren’t they just the cutest thing?”

“I think Reo is the cutest thing,” Seishiro offered.

“I am leaving before that couple over there ends up making out on the table,” Kaoru said under his breath. “Between that and this awful healthy drink you made me, I’m about to puke.” Looking at his palm, Kaoru crinkled his nose. “Give me something to wipe my hand with.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Kojiro said, taking Kaoru’s hand in his and wiping it down with a wet cloth. Not letting it go, he stared at Kaoru’s slender fingers and thoughtfully thumbed over the knuckle of Kaoru’s ring finger. “Hey…I wanna get married.”

Kaoru stared, which Kojiro kind of expected. Then he frowned a little, which Kojiro hadn’t expected at all.

“That…didn’t go so great for you last time,” Kaoru said finally.

“I want to get married to you,” Kojiro clarified. 

“Kojiro.” Kaoru’s smile didn’t reaching his eyes. “You have worked at the most beautiful, most elite, the most romantic resort for a year now. Please tell me that was not your idea of a proposal.”

“I thought you didn’t like romance!” Kojiro said defensively.

“Wrong answer, dude!” Seishiro stage whispered very unhelpfully.

Panicked, Kojiro said, “I mean, it wasn’t. A proposal. It was…was a pre-proposal. To see…to see if you’d be at least be open to considering it. So then I know to plan the actual proposal. Very…romantically.”

Reo and Seishiro gave him an encouraging thumbs up.

Kaoru pretended not to see.

“No.”

“What do you mean, no?” Kojiro squawked. “B-but you’re my ray of sunshine! That’s why I got this tattoo—”

“You had that tattoo before you even met me!”

“Yeah but it didn’t mean anything until I met you!” Kojiro insisted desperately even as Kaoru left the restaurant.

He scrubbed his face with a sigh, catching the sympathetic looks from the two invested customers. 

“Ah, don’t worry about it,” Kojiro assured them. He flashed a grin. “After all, we’re already on our honeymoon, a year and counting.”