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Ever since I realised that this world is where BL run rampaged, my health is one of the things I prioritised the most. Why, you ask?
Of course it’s to protect my backdoor!
I’ve read and researched, one of the main flags would be where one of the pair got sick! And then, the other one would come to their home, tending the sick person. If it’s the situation where they are already a couple then I would not freak out this much but….becoming sick, a fever particularly, is the drive for the seme especially to take advantage of their uke!!! Who in their right mind would do that to a sick person, you say?
Well, you clearly haven’t read enough.
Anyway, yes, since then, I took care of my body so well. Especially when, Ayato’s friend, Hatano started to become brazen throughout the three years since he told me he’s not gonna wait. I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared. For the first year, it’s still okay but entering the second year, Hatano started to be daring in his advances. Maybe god pitied me? I didn’t see Hatano even once in our third year.
By the way, if you’re wondering, I said all of that because, the me right now could not even get up from bed. From what, you ask?
From. a. damn. Cold.
.
“Your temperature is so high…You sure you don’t want to go to hospital?” My mother asked worriedly yet I could only reply in a dying affirmative grunt.
Your son’s backdoor will be at risk if he goes to hospital, mom.
“Hmm…maybe someone should accompany you after all…What to do, Ayato said he cannot afford to miss class this time…” My mother closed her eyes contemplatively, humming in wonder before smiling happily. Mother please, don’t go and call young men from nowhere to take care of your son. “I can ask for early leave, maybe? After all, it’s been such a long time since I asked for a paid leave.”
….Maybe I've read too much BL.
“I’ve prepared porridge on the stove. Heat it up if you want to eat. But, it’ll be best if you wait for me lest you tripped up from the stairs. The medicine and water is on your bedside table.”
I nodded weakly, the headache finally catching up to me. In my hindsight, finally being a working adult may have caused more stress than I thought. Oh, no, not from the workload of course.
It’s from the fucking environment where people, men especially, seems to be single a lot!? I thought it’s the rules of BL to have each man with their respective(male) partner already!?
The only remedy that could calm me is the fact that I noticed this earlier and successfully dodged many flags. Yet, this cold I’m having right now is the result of the close call from the very, somehow or another, young CEO of the company I’m working at.
His persistence and obsessiveness are so hard to break off really. I was forced to act like one of his fanboys in the end! Still, I’m glad he looks so disgusted after that.
“Stupid brother, you’re still awake!?” Ayato’s voice suddenly broke off my thoughts. I looked at him wearily. He tsk-ed, “Stupid brother, they say only idiots caught a cold in summer.”
This not so cute brother of mine…Try deflecting your own boss advances and see if you can smile happily after that!...Oh, yeah, his boyfriend is already an aspiring CEO right now. This world is so unfair. I want a big breast CEO to come to me instead.
“Oi, nii-san, can you get up? Let’s go to the hospital.”
“...no..Don’t..you have..classes?”
“I don’t. Now, get up.”
Hah…look at him lying…This insufferable brother of mine still cares for his older brother, huh? “No.” I said firmly this time albeit my sentences come out a little slurring. “You need..to go..Mom..said she..will be back..earlier…” Ayato looked unconvinced but he sighed in resignation a second after. He spat out one more “Stupid brother.” before going to the university after renewing the damp cloth on my forehead.
.
It’s too hot. My body felt like on fire, everything around me felt like the fuel to the fire. Yet, my feet and hands are cold to the touch as if they have been doused in iced water. My back is drenched in sweat as it makes me uncomfortable to rest.
Suddenly, I felt someone’s hand on my cheek. That person’s touch felt cold yet pleasant to my heated skin. As my eyes could not bear to open up and my mind did not have its usual perceptiveness, I couldn’t find myself to be suspicious of the owner of this hand. Vaguely, I heard that person muttering something before I fell into my consciousness once again.
.
“Hatano.” Called out by his friend from high school, the man with dark hair and eyes turned his head towards the caller and greeted with a nod. Ayato looked at the tall man before him as he mulled over his decision once again. “Do you have any classes after this?”
Hatano seemed confused but still replied, “I don’t. What seems to be the matter?”
Ayato looked unwilling as he said it clearly, “Can you please go check up my stupid brother? He has a bad cold and no one in the hous-” Ayato cannot even finish his words before the man dashes out of the university. “What, the, Fuck, was, that!???”
Toujou who’s been standing by his side all along laughed amusedly.
.
“Ugh…” I tried to get up as I held my head. The headache is more bearable now than before. At least I can get up. Cursed that damn CEO. I need a raise for this. While trying to stand, I remembered the hand that seemed to take care of me. It must be mom…she got back earlier than I thought? My stomach suddenly grumbled, signalling that it has not eaten since morning. “So hungry…” I wonder if the porridge is still there?
Since my body feels quite sluggish, I walked slowly, especially when descending the stairs. But, luck seems to be having a grudge with me lately so no matter how slow I am in stepping the stairs, I still managed to slip upon reaching the two last stairs.
….I couldn’t avoid going to the hospital in the end. Seriously though, I hope I don’t bump my head too much to the point I get amnesia. Don’t want to risk being robbed of 50,000 yen from my own brother.
“Careful there.” With one hand circling my waist while the other holding up a tray, this familiar voice got my body stiff in disbelief. As baffled as I may be, the owner of the hand did not give me any chance to think as he hoisted up my body until I stood properly.The hand around my waist didn’t leave. “...Hatano?”
His long hair is still the same length but was tied low with a purple hair band while his right ear is also pierced with a metal purple band. Gone the red blush as it was replaced with a heart-wrenching smile with dark eyes that seemed to melt when it bore into mine.
Stop there, author-sama. Why are you using such ambiguous and high level sentences to explain our situation!?
I tried to shake off his hand but it was a fruitless attempt. Hatano chuckled, “Are you okay? I have heated up the porridge. You haven’t eaten yet, right?”
“Ah, yes…” I avoid his eyes and look everywhere around my house. Somehow, the ceiling looks extra nice today. “Hatano-kun?”
“...Ryuji is fine.”
“Ryuji-kun.”
“Yes?”
“Can you please let me go?” At my request, Hatano went silent but he still let me go after a while. Just as I wanted to heave a relieved sigh, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me towards the living room. Caught in the moment, I found myself sitting on the couch with him being so close to me. My lips twitched in disbelief, “...It’s hot, Ryuji-kun. Can you please sit a little bit further?”
“..Oh.”
I tried my best to ignore his sadden expression that’s similar to a kicked puppy.
.
“I love you.”
“Cough, cough-!!!???” The confession was so sudden I choked up while eating the porridge. I look at the perpetrator in shock. Hatano patted my back and gave me a glass of water. “W-What…What with the sudden…”
“It’s not so sudden. I already told you that I’ll confess again three years later.” As I wiped my mouth, he suddenly clasped my hands in his. That’s when I realised that his hands seemed to be bigger than mine. My eyes scaled upward and finally felt another immense change in this boy in front of me. Not only is he taller and bigger, he also became more confident than ever, looking me straight in the eye.
The Hatano three years ago cannot even find the courage to look at me.
I’m doomed?
“Please, accept me…” I don’t know why but Hatano abruptly switched his tone and began to beg, grasping my hands tightly as he advanced forward. “I’m already legal in age. I also have my own car that I bought with my own money. I can bring you anywhere you want. You want to go playing darts? I can bring you there and even pay for it. You want a lot of cats? Sure, let’s adopt as many as possible. I’ll prepare all the necessities needed. Sake or wine, I’ll bring all kinds of drinks that you like. You want to go on trips? Yes, let’s go together and travel around the world.”
….Someone tell me how he got all that money.
“Ryuji-kun…I-”
“-----san!” Hatano shouted whisperingly as he held my cheeks. My eyes went wide as he called me by my name. “Know that, if you ever went to someone else just to make me give up on you, I will make sure that person distanced themselves from you.”
This is…very…dangerous. “....” I regretted trusting my future self i.e me right now to deal with this. “...Alright, Ryuji-kun. Let's calm down first- ah!”
!!!???#$%%$%&!?&%!!!??!!!??
He. Bit. Me!?
“I heard you like someone who’s rough…I don’t want to force you but…please allow me to be selfish for once.”
“Wha-! Hold up, Ryuji-kun-”
BAM!
“Stupid Brother, are you okay....” Ayato’s words trailed off as he looked at the situation before him. His stupid brother, who’s face flushed in red whether because of the cold he’s having or something else is currently pinned under his very friend. The said friend also is holding his stupid brother’s hands in one hand while the other is dangerously close to his stupid brother’s lips. To make matters worse, Ayato got the fortune to see their previous position where his said friend’s mouth is on his stupid brother’s neck. Now, his eyes, in one way or another, actually got the power to zoom in and saw the bite mark on his stupid brother’s neck.
Toujo who’s initially surprised but later finds it funny, detects the dark energy his lover’s emitting all of sudden. Sure enough, Ayato’s voice is akin to that of an Asura.
“HA. TA. NO. RYU. JI.”