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"Good work today!"
An ensemble of cheers echoed around one of the ES buildings studio rooms. It had been an afternoon of lights and costumes for Hajime, Niki, Tori, and Eichi who had all been selected for the years Valentines shoot. Hajime had already left not that long ago and so now only the three remained.
"Uhm...Eichi-sama?"
Eichi turns around at the hesitant addressal to see a sheepish Tori fidgeting with something behind his back.
"What is it Tori? Do you want me to pamper you more?"
At Eichi's words, Tori cringes and throws his hands up in the air. As he was sputtering his reluctance, Eichi couldn't help but notice the shiny plastic in one of his hands glistening in the overhead studio lights. It was hard to focus on the bag for long due to Tori's incessant waving, but Eichi could just make out the small heart shaped delicacies inside - not unlike the larger one he had been given earlier. Whilst he couldn't make out the all the words on the label the big font yelling 'LOVE~LOVE' was unmissable. A knowing smile graced Eichi's face and he spoke, hoping to settle Tori's anguish. "Are those for me?" As expected, Tori abruptly calmed and appeared sheepish once again. He clutched the cookie filled bag to his chest.
"Uh...yeah. I wanted to apologise again for earlier...uhm I'm really sorry for my actions Eichi-sama! So please accept these. I promise there's nothing in them either." Tori lowered his head and extended the bag out to Eichi who chuckled at the gesture. He gently took the bag from Tori's hand and pulled the ribbon keeping the plastic scrunched together. He pulled out one of the cookies before raising Tori's head up by his chin. "Well, in that case, here."
"Huh?" Tori blinked blankly at the cookie in front of his face.
"I also want to apologise for stringing you along all afternoon. Forgive me?"
"Ah! Of course I forgive you!" Tori grabs the cookies, delight evident on his face. He peers up at Eichi hopefully. "...Does this mean you forgive me?"
"Fufu, of course I forgive you my little Tori~"
Eichi smiles as he feels a weight crash into his waist. He chuckles and brings his hand up to brush it through Tori's hair. When Tori pulled back he held the cookie to his chest swaying back and forth with a dreamy expression on his face. "I'm going to cherish Eichi-sama's cookie forever."
"You can't let food go to waste!"
"Ah!" Tori yelped at the voice that appeared behind him. The cookie almost slipped out of his hold but fortunately he caught it moments before it would have laid in remains on the floor.
"See, you have to eat it otherwise it'll just go to waste."
"That was your fault, Shiina-senpai!"
"Huh? It was?"
"I'm glad to see you so full of energy after such a long shoot, Shiina-kun."
"Haha☆ Your prank on Himemiya-kun definitely made the day more fun!"
Tori huffed and tries to change the subject before his two seniors could continue teasing him. "Eichi-sama, will you walk me back?"
"Ah...I would but I think the staff quickly wanted my advice on the photos from today."
"Shall I take Himemiya-kun back then?" Niki suggested. Both he and Eichi ignored Tori's audible whine. "That would be a great help Shiina-kun. Thank you." He turned his attention back to Tori. "Behave, okay~"
"I'm not your pet!"
"Haha, good night Tenshouin-kun!"
Eichi watched them leave before heading over to where the rest of the staff were packing up. Niki had been snickering on his way out but Eichi couldn't quite tell why.
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Whilst walking back to his dorm room, Eichi reflected on the cookie filled bag in his hand. His actions earlier that day had given him great amusement and he was looking forward to performing the same prank on sweet little Aira and maybe even Rei. He let out a chuckle at that image.
Now having passed the entrance gates for the dorm complex, he made his way up the stairs to the dorms and entered the stair hall. He eyed the door for the first floor rather then carrying on up the staircase to the third and top floor where his dorm resided. An even more interesting idea of how to spend his evening had piqued his interest. Eichi looked back down at the cookies in his hand and clutched them, seemingly having made his decision. He hesitantly pushed open the door in front of him, entering the first floor. If he remembered correctly (which of course he did) the door he was looking for was two up from the end of the hall making it the fifth door on that floor. Once he had arrived in front of the door, he decided not to knock straight away.
The fifth door on the first floor belonged to Eichi's most recent endevour, Kazehaya Tatsumi. Not so long ago had Tatsumi begun to shed his suspicions on Eichi and look towards him in a more positive light. Possibly a much too positive light. Not an encounter with Tatsumi passed without some well-thought compliment or the open brush of hands indiscriminate to anyone who might see. And when they were alone...Eichi's heart jumped at the thought. It kinda seemed like Tatsumi liked him. At least, Eichi thought that might have been the case. Tatsumi was relatively foward with everyone he met which Eichi supposed was due to his saintly nature. Speaking of Saints, Eichi was hardly certain Tatsumi was even able to get away with being in any sort of relationship due to being a pastor and all. Well, an idol too. Regardless, if Tatsumi's intentions were as he thought, he knew he was bad at returning the same affection. It didn't help that Tatsumi was so loud with his yet apparently wanted nothing in return. He also felt he could understood why Tatsumi never expected anything from Eichi. Not only was he accommodating, but shared similar guilt based on his past. Eichi didn't think it was fair Tatsumi let him off like that. Plus, he sort of wanted to see him melt instead
After letting out a breath, Eichi raised a fist to the door and knocked.
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It did not take long for the door in front of Eichi to open, revealing a pair of inquisitive purple eyes. They softened with familarity once they landed upon who was waiting outside his door. "Eichi-san? What a pleasant surprise. Good evening."
"Good evening, Tatsumi." Eichi noted the way Tatsumi's gaze flickered above his head before travelling back down. Eichi thought it was odd, but perhaps there was a moth?
"Is everything okay?"
"Just wanted to see you."
"Would you like to come in?" Eichi nodded and Tatsumi moved to let him enter. The door closed with a resounding click and Eichi realised that he was really about to go through with this. A quick survey of the room reveals to him that Tatsumi must have been sat reading on the couch in the middle of the room. The book had been set aside with a pair of reading glasses neatly resting on top. He sort of felt bad that he was about to disrupt the other's peaceful evening with something so juvenile. Tatsumi walks over to Eichi and stifles a laugh. "Do I want to ask?"
"What?"
Tatsumi's sigh is half exasperated and half amused. "What you are wearing on your head." Eichi's eyes widen and he immediately reaches up to feel the mentioned area. Lo, his hands land upon the soft fluff of the prop fox ears he was made to wear during his photoshoot earlier that day. It appears he had forgotten to take them off. He wishes he could be mad at Tori and Nikii for not telling him but supposes it suffices as a punishment (though he understands that was not Tori's true intention for staying silent. He can't tell if he should be mad at that too. The staff would definitely be feeling his anger however). After having assessed the situation, Eichi attempts to find some composure and play off his embarassment in front of Tatsumi.
"My shoot just finished." Tatsumi raises an eyebrow and smiles. "So you are free to take them off then, no?" Eichi huffs in response and crosses his arms, shrugging his shoulders. "I like them." He tries to catch Tatsumi out as he leans foward with a playful gleam in his eyes. "Don't you think they suit me?" But of course, with Tatsumi, these things never seem to play out how Eichi imagined them in his head.
For in reality, his eyes softened and he leaned forward to meet Eichi tete-a-tete. He raised one of his hands and made to poke experimentally at the fluffy ears atop Eichi's head before letting out a soft chuckle and raising his other hand to start stroking them. He hummed in agreement to Eichi's words. "Perfectly." Eichi stared up at Tatsumi in disbelief. The other was clearly very amused by the overly fluffy triangles that he failed to notice the reaction of whom they belonged to. In a way, Eichi was glad. For the predator had once again become the prey. It was such an uncommon role for Eichi to assume, he never properly understood how to overcome the sudden thrum of his heart whenever Tatsumi approached a little too close. Or how to disguise the flush on his face that bloomed whenever Tatsumi complimented him in his melodic voice. Or how to react when he was being abruptly treated as someone's common house pet.
Tatsumi, whether sparing Eichi from his stupor or simply not taking notice, quickly moves on to address the small bag in Eichi's hand. "Oh. What are these?" He halts his ministrations on Eichi's ears and reaches for his hand. He lifts it up and looks at Eichi expectantly. Eichi blinks down at the cookies having completely forgotten he was clutching them-and that they were the main reason he had found himself at Tatsumi's door that evening. He stares at them blanky a few beats more, marvelling at how off track he had been taken. He raises his gaze to meet Tatsumi's still expectant one and responds. "Cookies."
"For me?" Eichi smirks and shakes his head. He pulls his hand free from Tatsumi's loose hold. "My precious Tori gave them to me. Apparently they have a special effect." Tatsumi tilts his head. "Oh? Like what?" Eichi pulls the ribbon for the second time that evening and steels his nerves. He hopes Tatsumi can't see the tremors wracking the hand he pulls one of the cookies out with. "Shall we find out?" Before Tatsumi can protest, he pops the cookie into his mouth, chews, and then swallows. Mentally, he prepares himself for what he has decided must come next.
"Ah." Eichi stumbles and drops the bag causing a few of the cookies to scatter across the floor. His other hand flies to clutch at his heart. "This feeling...?" He says weakly. Tatsumi immediately rushes towards Eichi's side worry evident on his face. "Eichi-san!" He hooks his arm around the currently addled other, attempting to pull him upright and prevent him from falling. He allows Eichi to lean against him. He brushes away some of the hair obscuring Eichi's eyes and voices his concern. "Should you have eaten that?" Eichi tilts his head up to peer at the other's troubled expression. "Tatsumi..."
"Eichi-san, do I need to call someone?" Rather than a nod or the usual shake of his head, Eichi instead giggles in response and Tatsumi's concern quickly melts away into confusion.
"Actually, now that you're holding me, I feel fine."
"You?" Tatsumi's mouth opens and closes a few times as he tries to process the sudden change in Eichi's demenor. "Are you sure?" Eichi giggles again which does nothing to help how baffled Tatsumi currently feels. "It seems your touch saved me." Tatsumi notes the alien way in which Eichi looks up at him. It was so...unlike him. He offers a hesitant laugh at Eichi's reverent words, not fully believing them. "Is that so?"
"Mhm. Hey, Tatsumi."
"Yes...?"
"Have I ever told you that your moles are beautiful?"
"Ah...no?"
Eichi smirks and moves his face closer to Tatsumi's, taking pride in the way the other's eyes widen in anticipation and how his mouth falls just slighlty ajar. He hums softly and raises a hand to gently trace his thumb over the two marks residing beneath Tatsumi's left eye. "Well they're beautiful." He chuckles softly as the other's cheeks starts to redden from his actions. As much as he wants to study the entierty of Tatsumi's embarassed face, he keeps his eyes trained on . "So perfectly placed too."
"Uhm...well...with God all things are designed with order..." He says dazedly.
"Ah, God! That makes sense." Eichi leaves his hand resting on Tatsumi's cheek and straightens his back so he can rest his forehead up against the other's. "Is Tatsumi some kind of angel then?" Tatsumi jerks his head back and stutters as the red dusting his cheeks deepens. "That! That isn't what I meant!" Eichi follows Tatsumi's head, leaning into his space once again. "Really? You aren't?" He watches as the other reaches up to take his hand in his own and slowly remove it from his cheek. Eichi allows it to drop back to his side once Tatsumi had let go. Tatsumi cleared his throat once before speaking. "Eichi-san, are you okay?" Eichi tilts his head innocently. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"You're acting...not like yourself."
"Am I? I don't notice anything different." He makes to approach Tatsumi again. But before he can reach him, Tatsumi is instead reaching down to pick up the fallen bag. He also gathers the cookies that had tumbled out and walks over to his bedside table to place them down there. He turns the bag over in his hand and reads the label out loud to himself. "Love love...guranteed to make their heart flutter..." He grimaces and pales as he reads over the next words. "Just one will make them yours." He desperately looks all over the label for any more writing but could find nothing else printed. He jolts as he felt a pair of arms wrap around his waist and a sudden weight land on his shoulder. Tatsumi places the bag down with a sigh. "Eichi-"
"Oh dear~ Was there something in them?"
"Eichi-san, this is serious!"
"Why?" He felt Tatsumi jerk again as he moves his nose to rest against the side of his neck. "There's some sort of...love potion in these cookies!" Tatsumi exclaimed.
"So?"
Tatsumi balks at Eichi's indifference. "So?! What if it doesn't wear off!"
"There are worst fates don't you think?"
"That isn't my point!"
Eichi tries not to groan into Tatsumi's neck. He felt as though he should have foreseen this. Unlike Tori, Eichi knew Tatsumi was less likely (if at all likely) to accept the current reality of a love-addled Eichi. But it wasn't even that bad. It wasn't like Eichi was asking him to do anything to him. And besides, didn't Tatsumi like him anyway? All he would have to do is wait out Eichi's malady and then whenever Eichi was done having fun, he would pretend the potion had worn off and then tease Tatsumi a little for getting so flustered. Right, this was all because Tatsumi was unfair with his affection anyway. Eichi wishes it had played out how he'd imagined it. But of course, Tatsumi had to have morals or whatnot.
Nevertheless, Eichi wasn't going to give up and reveal the truth now. If Tatsumi was going to play on the defensive, then it was Eichi who would fulfill the role on the offensive.
With his arms still hooked around Tatsumi's waist, he quickly spun them both around to push Tatsumi down onto the bed behind them. "Eichi-san?!"
"Aa~ah, I'm so tired from that shoot. Let's not fight anymore, okay?"
"Huh?!"
"Hey, Tatsumi, won't you let me rest against you?" Eichi nestles his head into Tatsumi's chest happily using him as a makeshift pillow. The other stared in disbelief. "Aren't you already doing that?" Exasperated, Tatsumi lets his head fall back onto the plush mattress letting his eyes slip shut. Though, he doesn't keep them closed for long as he feels the presence of two cold hands picking up his. He glances down and watches as Eichi drifts his fingers over his own slender ones. He watches Eichi dip them in and out of the ridges between his knuckles and then feel over the areas where the bones are most prominent on Tatsumi's fingers. After a while of Eichi's impromptu massage, he slots his fingers together with Tatsumi's and sighs contently. The sudden intimacy of the situation makes Tatsumi squirm slightly and he all but yelps when he feels a slightly wet sensation brush across his hand. Eichi glances up in excitement . This was finally going how he wanted! With most of his confidence regained, he extracts his hand from Tatsumi's and brings himself closer to the once again flushed face of the other. He places a hand either side of Tatsumi's head to steady himself. He smiles at Tatsumi who was begrudingly attempting to avoid his gaze. The gaze that Eichi knew was displaying every ounce of affection he had for the man underneath him. "That was so cute, Tatsumi." He lowers his voice to a whisper. "I wonder what other noises I could get out of you..."
Tatsumi scrambles to sit up and covers his scarlet face. Even the tips of his ears seemed to be burning the same red. "Eichi-san! That's..."
"That's what, Tatsumi?" He pries.
"...Inappropiate."
Eichi stares in awe at the fruits of his labour. "I didn't know you could look like this." He utters, sounding almost besides himself.
Tatsumi makes a noise full of embarassment. "And...and I didn't realise you were so susceptible to the devils magic!"
Eichi chuckled at the absurdity of the other's words. "The devil? You're so funny Tatsumi. You know", He leans towards Tatsumi's ear, "there is nothing more pure than love."
"Love?!"
"Well I'm under the effects of a love potion, aren't I? What else did you expect?" Tatsumi lowered his hands and stared over the tops of his fingertips. He must have been trying to scold Eichi with his gaze, but if anything It made Eichi's heart swell. He chuckled again. "Hey, what's that face for?"
"You...you are too close."
"I am?"
"Just because you are dressed like a fox, does not mean you need to communicate like one..."
"I can't help it. I just want to be as close to you as possible right now." Eichi lays his cheek against Tatsumi's burning one. "So warm..."
"Eichi-san..." Tatsumi squeezes his eyes shut.
"Ah, your heart is beating so fast..."
"Because you are not normally like this..." Eichi hummed and then went silent. His eyes only previously so full of adoration were now dull and far away. Eventually he spoke. "Does it bother you? That I'm not." Tatsumi's gaze softened and he opens his eyes to look at Eichi. "I have no idea what you remember from our normal reality, but don't I always tell you? It doesn't bother me." Eichi moves himself off of Tatsumi by sitting back up.
Finally seeing his chance, Tatsumi plants his hands on Eichi's shoulders and pushes him down. "Wha-?" Eichi blinked up in shock as he found himself not unlike the other only moments before. Perturbed, he looks up to see a triumphant looking Tatsumi staring back down at him. The red that had previously flooded his face (and that Eichi was so proud of) was slowly staring to recede. His usual gentle eyes had also returned, no longer did they appear bashful or concerned. "Is something wrong, Eichi-san?"
"Ah...ah uhm." Eichi hadn't the slightest clue what had changed. Why was Tatsumi taking control again. Just how strong-willed was he? Eichi knew he wouldn't be able to carry on his little ruse much longer, so he decided it was time to end it. Perhaps it was a sign from Tatsumi's God to stop messing with one of his purest followers. "Potion wore off." He muttered. Tatsumi chuckled. "Ahh, did it now?" He didn't sound like he was convinced by Eichi's excuse. Suddenly, Tatsumi's own random change in behaviour made sense. Eichi couldn't believe it. "You...You knew! You knew, didn't you!" He accused which caused the other to chuckle more. "Maybe."
"You did!"
"I did." He affirmed.
"How? Since when?"
"Since I read the label. Little Tori would never want to poison his dearest 'Eichi-sama'."
"Hah! If only you knew!"
Tatsumi lets out a small 'ah' at Eichi's sudden outburst. "I'll ask later then...Regardless, he would not risk the chance of you finding yourself in a scandal by consuming any of those little delights." Eichi sighs. "So you knew the whole time. What a pain. To think I thought you looked so sweet all flustered like that too."
"I wouldn't underestimate your charm my love." Eichi stays silent as he focuses all his efforts on not flushing at the term of endearment.
"Oh dear. Are you mad?"
"If anything it's me you should be mad at."
"Hardly. I thought it was cute. Your intentions are always so sweet, Eichi-san."
"You're the only one who thinks that."
"Doesn't that just make me the smartest then?"
Eichi huffs in amusement. "Maybe. I'm glad you can stand toe to toe with me. Truly becoming of an ex-revolutionary."
"Eichi-san this is hardly a matter of revolution..." Eichi ignored Tatsumi's hatching protest in favour of getting up off the bed. "I'll definitely win next time though." He announces. Tatsumi watches as Eichi makes his way over to the bedside table. "Uhm, but I don't see this as a competition...?" He continues to watch as Eichi makes his way back towards him on the bed. "Uhm...Eichi-san?" Eichi crawls over Tatsumi, a cookie now in hand. He pushes it slowly into the other's mouth, relishing in the muffled 'mmph!' sound Tatsumi makes. "Happy Valentines Day, Tatsumi~"