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“A movie?” Mamoru tilted his head to the side like a dog.
“Yeah! One of the staff members gave me two tickets to see this really popular action movie!” Kensuke said after he and Mamoru finished up their last job of the day. “Want to go see it on our next day off?”
“Sure! I’ll go with you, Ken-kun!” Mamoru agreed.
“Great! It’s a date, Mamoru!” Kensuke was delighted.
“Mm~! Wait…a date?!” Mamoru tried not to raise his voice. They were dating of course, so it wasn’t strange for the two of them to go out on a date together as boyfriends, but it still surprises Mamoru.
Kensuke laughed. “Yup! Don’t be late!”
On their next day off, Mamoru wondered why Kensuke told him to meet up separately at the movie theater. Mamoru figured it was probably so that they wouldn’t draw too much attention to themselves.
Mamoru wasn’t sure what to wear for their movie date. After staying up late last night asking Koki for opinions, Mamoru decided on a green short sleeve button down shirt with a pocket that had a simple flower pattern embroidery. He wore his usual loose wide earthy brown pants for comfort, and slip on brown shoes so he wouldn’t struggle with the laces.
It wasn’t usually too hard for Mamoru to walk outside without a heavy disguise since most people seem to recognize the other three members of GROWTH more often than the composer himself. Whether that was a good thing or a pinch to Mamoru’s pride as a music idol, well…
“Mamoru! Sorry, were you waiting long?” Kensuke finally arrived, pulling Mamoru out of his daydream.
“Mm-mm, I just got here!” Mamoru shook his head and responded.
Mamoru noticed Kensuke came wearing a black bucket shaped cloth hat over his head, and he was wearing squarish shaped sunglasses over his green eyes. He was wearing a simple black t-shirt with a simple chain choker around his neck that had a small silver star accessory chained in the center. His pants were ripped dark blue jeans, which Mamoru learned from Kensuke they were ripped for fashion and not by accident. Kensuke also was wearing his favorite pair of converse sneakers that had a star pattern on the sides.
“Great!” Kensuke checked the time. “We’re still a bit early before the movie starts, but it won’t hurt to go in early to find our seats. Oh by the way, I got these for you!”
Mamoru was surprised when Kensuke pulled out a pair of round sunglasses that were a shade lighter than the ones Kensuke was wearing and put them over Mamoru’s brown eyes.
“Ken-kun?”
“It’s a present for you, Mamoru!” Kensuke smiled.
“For me? Ah! Is that what you’re supposed to do on dates? I didn’t prepare a gift for you,” Mamoru was flustered.
“Don’t worry about it! Think of it as a treat for working hard as our composer and also my boyfriend!” Kensuke said.
“Treat? Oh, I know! I’ll pay for the popcorn and drinks!” Mamoru offered.
“Ah–sorry, Mamoru, but the staff also gave me free food and drink vouchers with the tickets,” Kensuke mentioned.
“Eh? Then–how about we go to a cafe after the movie, my treat!” Mamoru thought instead.
“Oh! Great idea! We can discuss our thoughts on the movie at the cafe and have a cafe date!” Kensuke was happy.
After picking up their drinks and a large shareable popcorn bucket, Kensuke and Mamoru headed inside the theater room. Thankfully since it was a weekday in the middle of the day, there weren’t too many people inside. They found good seats towards the back and slightly in the middle so they got a nice viewing position.
The two of them chatted quietly while sharing the popcorn in between as advertisements and commercials played on the screen until the lights dimmed to signal it was time for the movie to start. They took off their sunglasses and relaxed in the reclining seats to enjoy the movie.
The movie plot started a bit slow, but once the action started things got way more interesting. Kensuke’s attention was fully drawn into watching the movie at first.
Halfway through the movie, a scene played that showed a car accident scene. It was nothing graphic, but the sounds of sirens and a child crying were heard amidst the accident.
Kensuke didn’t miss the quiet gasp that escaped Mamoru’s lips. He quickly glanced over that Mamoru’s body flinched, and his hand closest to Kensuke was gripping the armrest between them.
Kensuke realized what Mamoru must have thought, or rather remembered.
No one died, thankfully, and the scene moved on to the next. Kensuke noticed Mamoru’s body relaxed and he looked focused on the movie again, but his hand was still gripping the armrest.
Kensuke shifted his eyes back to the screen, but he gently placed his hand over Mamoru’s, and like a natural instinct let Mamoru turn his hand around so he could hold Kensuke’s hand. Kensuke squeezed Mamoru’s hand gently to reassure him.
Don’t worry. I’m here.
Kensuke gave a quick glance to Mamoru and felt relief when he saw Mamoru was calm. The two of them focused back on the movie, holding hands together the rest of the time.
When the main theater lights came back on, Kensuke didn’t let go of Mamoru’s hand until Mamoru was ready to let go. He picked up their trash to dispose of in the nearest bin while Mamoru followed behind.
As they exited the theater, sunglasses back on for disguise and letting Mamoru wear his bucket hat, Kensuke didn’t mention anything yet.
Once they were outside, Kensuke took Mamoru’s hand and pulled him in a different direction.
“Ken-kun? Isn’t the cafe over there?” Mamoru wondered where they were going.
“Ah–can we take a quick detour first?” Kensuke asked.
“Sure,” Mamoru agreed.
They didn’t walk far as Kensuke brought Mamoru over to a bench under the shade of a large tree, with small colorful flowers growing in rectangular foundations around them.
The two of them sat down on the bench quietly. Mamoru looked at Kensuke and noticed he had a deep pensive look on his face.
“Um–perhaps you didn’t like the movie?” Mamoru spoke up first, twiddling his fingers in front of him.
“Eh? No, no, the movie was great! But–Mamoru, are you okay?” Kensuke asked suddenly.
“Hm? I’m perfectly fine, Ken-kun,” Mamoru answered.
“Really? You’re not pretending?” Kensuke wondered.
“Why–” Mamoru wanted to ask, but then he paused and the answer clicked in his head. “Oh, you mean about the movie scene with the accident?”
Kensuke nodded.
Mamoru smiled. “Don’t worry, Ken-kun, that kind of thing doesn’t bother me anymore,” Mamoru reassured Kensuke.
Kensuke looked at Mamoru, trying to read the atmosphere so he didn’t make anything feel awkward. “Did it used to bother you?”
Mamoru hummed as he leaned back in thought, looking up at the dancing leaves in the branches above them when a gentle breeze passed by. “I can’t deny I was sensitive at first to that kind of scene. Whether it was a news report, or a scene depicted in a manga or movie, I used to shut my eyes and cover my ears. I tried to hide from it, even though I already knew and accepted the truth deep down.”
“Mamoru…”
“Of course, I’m completely fine now after I grew older!” Mamoru reassured Kensuke. “Although my body reacted instinctively at first, I know what we saw in the movie was simply an imaginary scene. Besides…”
“Besides?”
Mamoru smiled at Kensuke. “You’re here with me, Ken-kun! It was a lot different back then seeing those kinds of scenes when I was alone, and often during those times I cried about it. It caused some trouble for the teachers at the orphanage back then because they probably understood why I was crying, but it was hard to talk about. But I didn’t cry this time!”
Kensuke sighed as he held Mamoru’s cheeks and pinched them a little.
“Ken-kun?” Mamoru fidgeted a little under Kensuke’s touch.
“It’s okay to cry when you need to, Mamoru,” Kensuke said seriously. “You don’t need to hold back for my sake.”
Mamoru blinked and felt the warm sense of relief and protection wrap around his heart.
Mamoru chuckled. “I won’t cry this time, but thank you, Ken-kun.”
Kensuke smiled back. “Well, now that you seem all better, shall we continue our date and head to the cafe?”
“Mm~!”
Kensuke held out his hand to help Mamoru stand up and they headed to the cafe together with uplifted spirits. They even spent time shopping for fashionable clothes and accessories after, taking selfies together to show off their purchases to share on SNS later. Kensuke laughed whenever a dog passed by them and asked for pets and attention from Mamoru, like they recognized someone of their kind.
The bright daylight soon transitioned to the dazzling nightlife.
“Whew, we sure had a lot of fun today! I feel even more energized now to work hard on our next jobs for GROWTH,” Kensuke said as he stretched his arms.
“Mm, it’s been a really fun date, Ken-kun!” Mamoru said.
“Should we call for a taxi to head home?” Kensuke asked, looking at his phone and sending a quick reply to Koki and Ryota that he and Mamoru were on their way home.
“Um…” Mamoru hesitated for a moment. “Sure, that’s fine.”
Kensuke looked at Mamoru and understood that behavior. “Mamoru, is there somewhere you want to go?”
“Ah! It’s not really that important,” Mamoru tried to deny, but Kensuke didn’t believe him.
“We’ve still got time. I’m the one who’s been dragging you all around town today. Where do you want to go, Mamoru?” Kensuke encouraged Mamoru.
“I-It may be a bit of a walk from here,” Mamoru said.
“Mamoru, I’ve got enough energy to run and even carry you with me,” Kensuke pointed out.
“Then, it’s this way.” Mamoru took Kensuke’s hand.
The two of them walked away from the bustling streets and stores into the neighborhood area.
“Um, I think it was around here…” Mamoru mumbled.
“Mamoru, did we get lost?” Kensuke asked.
“We’re not lost! I think…I’ve only been there a few times when I was younger, so I’m not sure if it’s still around but…”
Mamoru looked like he was about to give up, but Kensuke looked around and saw something of possible interest. “Mamoru, is that the place over there?” Kensuke pointed.
Mamoru looked to where Kensuke pointed and gasped. “Yes! Over here, Ken-kun!” Mamoru took Kensuke’s hand and started running.
Kensuke couldn’t help but laugh at how Mamoru gets so excited like a dog.
They stopped underneath a wisteria tree that grew at a neighborhood park.
“It’s still here! Wahhh, how nostalgic!” Mamoru was happy. “I used to see this tree all the time on the way home from school back to the orphanage. It’s gotten much bigger now.”
Kensuke smiled as he looked up and admired the wisteria flowers with Mamoru.
When a breeze passed by, a few of the wisteria petals scattered around them in the air.
“Mamoru.”
“Yeah?” Mamoru turned to face Kensuke and was surprised when Kensuke suddenly leaned in and kissed Mamoru on the lips.
The kiss was warm, probably from the tea that Kensuke drank at the cafe, and sweet like the cake they shared between them.
Kensuke laughed as he held up a wisteria petal between his thumb and index finger. “You had a petal stuck in your hair.”
“Ken-kun!” Mamoru’s face was blushing. It was a good thing no one was around the park at the late hour.
Kensuke smiled joyfully as he let the petal go to dance in the breeze with its friends before taking Mamoru’s hand once again.
“Let’s go home, Mamoru.”
Kensuke knocked and entered GROWTH’s dressing room.
“Mamoru, the staff said it’s your turn for the photoshoot,” Kensuke said.
“Ah, is it already that time? S-Sorry, I’ll be right there–” Mamoru rushed to get ready.
Kensuke looked around and noticed the assistant staff weren’t around. “Where’s the make up artist?” Kensuke asked.
“They had a sudden emergency come up, so I told them to go on ahead and I could finish getting ready,” Mamoru explained. “Don’t worry, they already put the make-up on me, I just need to put on the flower.”
Kensuke could see Mamoru struggling with several pins scattered all around the dressing table and floor.
“Let me do it,” Kensuke said as he picked up all the pins and helped Mamoru arrange the artificial wisteria flowers they were using for the photoshoot’s theme.
“Thank you, Ken-kun!” Mamoru appreciated it gratefully.
Kensuke pinned the wisteria flowers on each side of Mamoru’s hair like a crown. “There you go. Let’s hurry back before the staff worry.”
“Yes, um, one more thing Ken-kun!”
“Yeah?” Kensuke wondered if he missed a pin, but was surprised when Mamoru suddenly kissed him on the cheek.
“Thank you, always!” Mamoru expressed before he quickly rushed out without looking back to see Kensuke’s reaction.
Kensuke looked in the dressing room mirror and laughed. Mamoru forgot his make up was still fresh, so there was a very obvious kiss mark on Kensuke’s cheek.
“Mamoru.” Kensuke chuckled as he took a quick selfie to tease Mamoru about it later before hurrying out to rejoin the others.
Two wisteria petals were left on the dressing room table, together forming the shape of a heart.