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Somewhere along the line, Kagetsu had stopped wearing anime t-shirts and sweatpants to his tutoring sessions and started dressing like it was for a fancy date. That change in wardrobe corresponded directly with when, in an otherwise normal tutoring session, Boucheron praised Kagetsu for how good his writing had gotten, and made Kagetsu’s heart skip a beat.
Praise from Boucheron felt better than anyone else giving it to him - Boucheron was the nicest man he’d ever met, but he was also honest, so him telling Kagetsu he was making progress was a sincere observation. Kagetsu actually did all of his assigned homework from then on, desperate to impress Boucheron even more.
Yes, Kagetsu had the biggest crush on his biggest new friend, and it was making him go crazy. And today they were studying at Boucheron’s apartment. Kagetsu punched the air to get some of his excitement out before catching the bus, and then again as he stood in front of Boucheron’s door.
Boucheron opened the door while Kagetsu was mid air punch. He straightened out awkwardly, and bowed in greeting.
“Hey there, Kagetsu.” Boucheron said cheerfully. Kagetsu was always doing strange things, so Boucheron never questioned his quirks anymore. “Excited for today’s session?”
“Always!” Kagetsu slung his backpack off his shoulder and dug around for the book Boucheron lent him. “This one was a masterpiece, as all your recommendations are.” He handed Boucheron back the book, but Boucheron refused it.
“No, no, I want you to keep that one. A gift from me.” Boucheron went into the living room, where the English textbook and notes were already set up at his table, and Kagetsu shuffled in behind him, clutching his new gift like it was a sacred tome.
His apartment was so tidy! Nothing like Kagetsu’s. The only things that weren’t in place were the books, which were stacked in every random corner of the living room.
Kagetsu pulled his chair in just a little too close to Boucheron, touching his forearm as Boucheron opened to their chapter in the textbook.
“So you’re doing good on the grammar-“ Boucheron looked at Kagetsu’s hand on his arm. Kagetsu kept it there, feeling a little cheeky. Between his crush brewing for some time and being invited to his apartment, Kagetsu was feeling bold. He almost took his hand away as Boucheron kept staring, but he ultimately ignored it. “You keep messing up words, though. I’m starting to wonder if you do it on purpose.”
“What? No!”
Yes! Of course Kagetsu knew it was “kissing”, not “quizzing”, but it was so fun to make Boucheron flustered with such errors. And he laughed heartily after any one of Kagetsu’s jokes, so he liked it too even if he denied it.
“Hmm, I don’t know… Why is it that quizzing is the only word you don’t change?”
Kagetsu shrugged and made a silly face, and Boucheron laughed. They began their lesson on writing today. Kagetsu’s spelling still needed desperate help.
Kagetsu frowned looking at one of the phrases in his textbook. “Hmm… Will you go out with me…” He squinted to read the rest of it. “Is meant romantically?!” He shouted in (fake) surprise. What an excellent opportunity. “Boucheron, I have been asking you to go out with me since we first met. Why didn’t you think to correct me?”
Boucheron blushed at being put on the spot with such a bold question. “It didn’t seem that important. It can be used romantically or platonically… er, as friends.”
“But it is! I get called to HR every three days for such errors. Boucheron, you must say when I do something romantic rather than friendly, or I will eventually wind up in jail.”
“That’s a bit of an exaggeration, Kagetsu. But yeah, I’ll keep you on the right track.”
“Yes, so, for example.” Kagetsu squeezed Boucheron’s forearm. His hand hadn’t left even as they started their lesson in earnest, and both had ignored it until now. “Am I performing a romantic action?”
“No, not really.” Boucheron said. He rubbed the back of his neck.
Kagetsu trailed his fingers upward to his upper shoulder. He squeezed his huge biceps. “Am I now?”
“No, I think friends can touch each other’s arms.”
“What about-”
“Kagetsu, get back to work, please.”
Kagetsu grumbled and continued his writing drills. He wasn’t done teasing Boucheron, however.
“How curious this chapter has a whole section on romantic phrases! Is there any reason you chose this section in particular today, Boucheron?”
“It was the next part in the textbook.”
Kagetsu flipped back a few pages. Yes, they had been going in order, making today’s lesson unintentional. “Then I guess fate has decided!” Kagetsu said, undeterred. “What could it mean, giving me this section on our first rendezvous in your apartment?”
“Rendezvous? Wow, you really are doing the extra readings! Good job, Kagetsu.”
“Thank you very much! Wait, do not evade the question!”
“Evade is pretty advanced too. Nicely done.”
Kagetsu stuck out his tongue childishly. Boucheron was so effortlessly dodging his flirtatious remarks. He must have been more skilled in the art of seduction than Kagetsu realized. He should have seen it coming - Boucheron was so handsome, he must be used to gentleman callers.
Kagetsu continued on with his work, scheming in the back of his mind all throughout. Though it wasn’t a confession per se, Kagetsu formulated a good in for more time.
“For all your hard work, why don’t you go out with me for drinks?” Kagetsu asked with a wink.
“Nope! I don’t drink, sorry.”
“Then go out with me for… uh, sushi?”
“I’m staying in tonight.”
“It can be a different night.”
“I’m pretty busy this week.”
“Next week?”
“Kagetsu, you’re getting too obvious.” Boucheron said with a chuckle. “You should just say it properly.”
Now Kagetsu was the one to turn bright red. He didn’t expect to be called out. Was this how Boucheron always felt? Being the recipient of teasing was embarrassing!
Kagetsu shuffled his things around, pretending packing his bag was a Herculean task. “Well, hmm, you, would you…” He grimaced. “Do I have to?”
“I have no idea what you’re trying to ask me, Kagetsu.” Boucheron lied, keeping that sweet tone that drove Kagetsu crazy.
“You’re just going to reject me!”
“Reject what? I have no idea what your request is.”
“Ugh! Will you go out with me? No, will you go on a date with me? With romantic intentions!”
Boucheron went quiet. Then, with an evil smirk said, “I’ll think about it.”
Kagetsu threw his textbook at him. Boucheron dodged it and laughed so hard he slapped the table.
“You knave, you!” Kagetsu shouted. “Stop it!”
“Knave… that’s a good one too.” Boucheron wiped a tear from his eye, shocks of laughter still going through him. “Sorry, Kagetsu. Payback for weeks of messing with me. But yes, I’ll go on a date with you.”
“Is it another joke?”
“Cross my heart.” Boucheron did a cross motion on his chest. Kagetsu tilted his head in confusion. “I mean, I’m not lying. Not about something important like that. So, I’ll see you then.”
“Drinks?”
“Sushi. I wasn’t lying about not drinking.”
“O-okay, sushi. Yes, sushi. Friday?”
“Friday works.”
“We shall go out then!” Kagetsu backed out of the apartment backwards, bumping into the wall and almost falling over. Kagetsu bowed, and his open backpack caused the books to slide onto his head. “I-I… I love you, Boucheron!” He shouted, loudly, before running out of Boucheron’s apartment, half his books gone.
Boucheron had a power over Kagetsu yet unknown. And Kagetsu had acted like a complete dork! Kagetsu buried his searing hot face into his hands as he waited for the bus. Why did he say I love you? And why did he mean it?
Kagetsu’s pride wouldn’t survive this first date.