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Male actors in japan are infamous for having at least 1 role in a BL. But Nagi and Reo , they were famous for them. They both have had minor and major roles in bls , in some they even acted together but they never played as the main couple , until "Rich man can't stop attracting love", a light novel adaptation. Reo was playing the rich man and Nagi was the mysterious worker of his thats the love interest the character ends up with.
When fans heard about this they were ecstatic.The internet was going crazy about THE Mikage Reo and Nagi Seishiro having to kiss. The fujo were blasting the internet every time a new episode came out.
Currently they were filming episode 10 where Reo and Nagi's characters get into a argument.Reo was scrolling twitter while he was having his make up done.
"Wow the fans are really losing it. They are so crazy they are even shipping us together."
Reo turns his phone to Nagi who was styling his hair.
"Look we even have a ship name. Nagireo, it sounds like if we got married and i took your name"
The shorter giggles as he continues to scroll on twitter and see various tags of people shipping them.
The stylists finish their work and leave the 2 alone so they could get ready for filming.
"People really want us to date." Reo comments as he put on his coat.
Nagi finally moves his eyes to look Reo right in the eyes.
"Why dont we?"
Reo pauses when he hears the other say it like he was talking about the weather.
"Well you said people already see us as a couple and we are pretty close."
Nagi doesnt want to admit he secretly was in love with Reo. The shorter was the reason he even became an actor , even now he still has a secret fan account for Reo. When he first found out that he finally got to play as the main couple of a show with him it was probably the first time he had ever jumped out of his bed in joy.
Reo was a blushing mess . Was Nagi really suggesting they date so nonchalantly? But he was right, if people already see them as a couple them actually date would help their career even more and even attract westerners since they seem to love actors who are part of the LGBT community. It's not like he minded dating a guy , he though himself as a bisexual plus you have to be a little gay to be able to act so well in BL's. Nagi was really smart for thinking about this.
"You're right , fans will love it. Yeah lets do it!"
Nagi is started when Reo pulls him by the arm close so they can take a selfie. He quickly posts it with the caption.
"Can't wait for us to film the kiss scene~"
"Rep?"
"If we are going to pretend to date we can at least play the part. Have you not seen how sappy some couples get with their photo's. Come on , we are actors it wont be that hard"
"Wait I didnt mean it like-" Reo drags him out of the changing room.
"Come on its almost time for us to start filming."
Guess what Nagi had to say will have to be postponed for another time.
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And that time never came . For the past month they have been 'dating' everyone seems to respect their relationship with only minimal backlash but he didnt care. And best of all people have stopped hitting on Reo which was his no.1 issue since before they started to 'date'. Every time some gets a little too close to him Nagi clings to him like the possessive boyfriend he is and Reo doesnt even bat an eye anymore , thinking Nagi is just taking this pretent dating very serious.
Although not much as changed about their relationship and it was annoying Nagi. They were boyfriends , they were supposed to kiss and hold hands and cuddle . But since Reo though they were only pretending they only held hands and maybe clinged to eachother tighter when people were around but once it was just they went back to being just friends . They never went farther than holding hands and it was eating Nagi alive . He got to be called 'Reo's boyfriend' and be considered the mans only love but he didn't feel like it. He had to tell Reo that he was serious when he said they wanted to date and he didnt want it to be just a pretend game for fame.
A week before they were set to film Nagi pulls Reo aside into a storage closet.
"Hmm? Whats wrong Nagi?"
"Reo listen , about our relationship-"
"Oh yeah its been working great. You really are a genius for thinking about this whole pretend dating thing."
"I didnt mean it like that!"
"Huh? But you said why dont we date since the fans already think of us as a couple."
"I did say that but i meant as in we date for real. And so stuff like holding hands and cuddling and kiss even when its just us."
"So what youre saying is-"
"I love you Reo , I always have."
"Nagi…why didnt you correct me before? I feel so bad for playing with your feelings all this time and just using them for fame. I wouldnt have if i had known."
"I..I wanted too but- seeing how you started to be more clingy towards me and let me be more possessive than usual , seeing how people finally backed off and stopped flirting with you , it-it made me feel like it was real. But then I started to crave more , just holding hands and skin to skin contact only when people were looking. I wanted us to kiss , spent nights sleeping cuddled up on my bed together , i wanted us to be together 24/7. I know its weird , we are just colleges but i need to get it off my chest."
"Nagi I-" Reo's words were stuck in his throat. He was stunned. Reo didnt know what to say when the person he had been pretending and considered a great friend just tells him he actually loved him romantically.
Nagi took his silence as a rejections.
"You dont have to accept my feelings . I just needed to get it off my chest, just pretend like this didn't ha-"
"Give me a week."
"Huh?"
"I dont know how to feel right now , and i just need sometime to process all this. Just , give a week and then ill give you my answer."
"Reo you dont-"
"I want to , ok? You just spilled all your deepest thoughts to me im not that much of a dick to just push that to the side.I already feel like one for taking your confession for granted."
"Ok.. Ill give you a week."
And they left it at that.
Reo had spent that entire week thinking about his own feeling towards Nagi. He saw him as a great friend , a genius junior and just over all a great guy. He was cute , adorable even especially when he pounds because the staff forgot to refil the vending machine with his favorite lemon tea or when he dozes off while staff are doing his make up in hair. Speaking of hair, it was so soft he wish he could just make himself a home in there and live for the rest of his life. He was very attractive too , he was tall , built , soft lazy eyes and nice plump lips- fuck he might actually like Nagi. But part of him still didnt want to admit it , loving your coworker , your junior like that just felt wrong. But why? Was it because hes so used to having all his life layed out on the internet and be controlled by media that the 1 thing he wants for himself feels wrong? Was his father mindset still haunting him after this long? Maybe thats why , looks like his father still finds a way to control him even after so long.
"I made up my mind."
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The day right before recordings for the final episode were supposed to happen Reo comes in and hour earlier than usual. The staff is bewildered.
"Wow Mikage , youre early. Are you that nervous about the kiss scene?" The director comments in a joking manner to lighten the mood.
"No uh, has anyone seen Nagi?"
"Oh hes sleeping in his changing room." The makeup artist comments.
Reo doesnt even thank the woman before he sprints to the other's changing room and burst in , waking up the taller.
"What the-"
"I accept!"
Nagi rubs his eyes and stands up , confused.
"What?"
"Your confession huff last week huff i accept" Reo his out of air from all the running but still tries to explain through breaths.
Nagi takes him to sit down on the couch to catch his breath.Once the purple head has gotten back to normal he looks at Nagi and takes his hand in his.
"Ive thought about it. Really thought about it. I do love you Nagi , its just all this time ive been gaslighting myself that its wrong for me to feel that way. I know i told myself that my father wont dictate what i do in my life but i still let him indirectly because i was thinking back to when he told me how emotions like these are wrong. But you made me realize its ok to feel like this , to want to love another even when it can be seen as taboo , that i shouldnt care so much about my image. So … do you still want to be boyfriends?"
Nagi jumps him and pins him down to the couch with his weight , he holds him close.
"Of course i still do dummy~"
The stay like that for a while, just bathing in eachothers love until a bang on the door brings them back to reality.
"Are you guys ready? Filming starts in 10." Yells one of the staff from behind the door.
"Coming!" The both say in union.
As they hear her steps going quieter and quieter , a sign that she finally left , the 2 giggle like little kids.
Reo gently caresses Nagi's cheek.
"Come on, we still have a kiss scene to film. Ill make sure to put all my love for you into it~"