Work Text:
He smiles as he receives a message from his boyfriend. Koki must've just gotten up, as he had a later evening than him, who had an earlier morning instead.
They had plans to meet later for lunch, so he simply replies to it with a selfie before he keeps going.
It's been a while since they got to be alone on a date outside, and he's waiting for it. While the small improvised dates at home were nice, so were the ones outside where they can make different types of plans or even be in different environments.
Kensuke takes advantage of being early to buy a small bouquet while waiting for the blond, and he's confused when he sees Koki’s text, telling he was nearby.
After not seeing him after looking around a few times, he decides to call him.
"Kou? You're here?"
"Over here, Ken."
The tap on his shoulder makes him turn, and it takes him an extra second to recognize the other.
"Woah!"
Koki's makeup was heavier than usual, and once he took off his hat, he could see his hair looked like they'd given him some extensions.
Nails painted, going along with his tighter outfit…
Yet, Koki's chuckle is soft, not quite fitting the image in front of him.
"Do you like it?”
"I do, it was just sudden."
"Haha, I know. I let the makeup and stylists use me as a practice mannequin since we were done early. And I thought the result looked nice, so I kept it."
"I like the braided parts. The accessories are different from usual, too! But they let you keep it all? That's amazing.”
“They insisted, yes. We took some photos, too.”
“That's amazing. Well, ready to go?”
“Of course.”
“Ah, here!”
“Flowers? Thank you, Ken.”
They go together to a small cafe that they're sort of regulars in. There's not many people in it when they go and it's a game cafe, so they get to play games as well. First they eat before asking for some game, and while the other day they might've indulged in playing with others, today they settle in a 1vs1 game.
"I have a king!"
"I... Think that's a lie."
"Really? 100% sure, Kou?"
"Yes."
"Ah, damn it~ You're too good at this game, Kou. What gives me away?”
"You grin when you try to lie. It's cute."
"Mh~"
He notes down the point in Koki's favor, and mentally makes a note to tell Ryo and Mamoru about the game so they can play it all together at home, too.
"I have a king, too."
"You're also lying~"
"I am, yes. What is it for me?"
"Your eyes."
"My eyes?”
“Yup. There's a glint… Right there. It's weird, so I can tell, ah, he's lying, immediately~"
“I'll work on it.”
“No, no, no need to work on it?!”
Koki laughs, and he can't help but join him.
They eventually end up leaving the cafe, after a bunch of rounds of different games. While it's already starting to get dark outside, they're near busy streets, so a lot of stores are still open. He enjoys walking around with Koki as they talk of whatever comes up. Kensuke enjoys how easily they can do that, as they can take it anywhere without problems- It's such an accommodating moment.
“Kou, wait a sec?”
“Ken?”
“Here, I found something nice for us to look at.”
It's a small showroom but it offers enough to get distracted for a bit. They end up buying a few things, too.
It's already late when they go out, and there's enough wind to feel a chill. The other protests as his hair gets into his face, though, calling his attention.
“Ah, wait, Kou, I have it.”
“Thank you.”
He's quick to gather a few loose strands into a small ponytail, as Koki texts to their groupchat, probably to ask the other two if there's anything missing before they go home.
He doesn't think much of it, more than he had enjoyed himself, while talking of the best parts of their date outside with Mamoru and Ryota. While those two were together during the day too, it had been exclusively for work until coming back home. He hoped their schedules would clear soon enough for them to enjoy themselves, too.
But, there was something missing.
Dates in public were okay, but much physical affection would call attention and that was the last thing they needed.
But, it meant that he was missing a bunch of kisses he wanted to give to Koki earlier.
The blond is quick to notice him approaching, laughing to himself as he puts his arms around him.
“I missed you~”
“You just went to shower?”
“It was too long.”
“And yet, your hair is still a little wet. Let's go to my room, I'll dry it for you.”
“Yes~”
—o—
"Ken?"
"Mh?"
"Mochiduki-san asked me to tell you that you and I need to go to the agency as soon as possible."
"Eh? Did something important happen?"
"Seems like it."
"Well, I can go now, my schedule is done. You, Kou?"
"I see. I have to wait some twenty minutes more, then I can be on my way there as well."
"I'll wait for you, then."
“Yeah. See you soon.”
He can’t help his surprise at that, trying to gauge what could’ve it been about. It could be about an important work, but then they wouldn’t be told to go so urgently to the agency. He can’t remember anything happening with Mamoru or Ryota that would require the four of them to make any statements, and there hasn’t been any problems from the agency they’d have to apologize for their fans to, either, so… What was he missing?
He gets his reply soon enough, when they’re already at the office, with the rest of the staff in charge of their social media and promotions.
“Uh?”
“Sorry, Mochiduki-san… Could you repeat that?”
“They intend to sell this picture of Kensuke-kun with relationship rumors of this woman. It was taken recently, but basically they’ve been hinting at it on their social media. We have time to take it down, but they’re asking for some sort of compensation. We have measures we can take, but we need to know the truth from your mouth, Kensuke-kun.”
“No, I- I absolutely did not go on a date with any woman. You know that, Mochiduki-san.”
“Kensuke-kun, we know. But still, I would like to know your schedule for that day. It’s unmistakably you, but we need to know who this person is so we can see how to organize our speeches. Here, look at the picture.”
Taking the tablet from his hands, he and Koki look at it. It was him, indeed, with his hand playing with someone’s hair, with the other person looking at the window of a…
“Ah.”
Looking at the blond, he also understands what was happening, giving him a small apologetic smile, before standing up straight to the rest of the employees to apologize to them.
“...Mochiduki-san, that’s me.”
“Eh?!”
—o—
“They didn’t recognize Kou and thought he was a random woman with you?”
“Yes.”
“That’s so unbelievably rude. And they call themselves reporters? It’s a joke. Did Mochiduki-san say how were they going to deal with it?”
“Well, not murdering people like your eyes suggest, Ryo-sama.”
Koki laughs at that, calling him over to the kitchen, to pick a tea before they go to sleep.
“Sorry, Ken. It seems I won’t be able to innovate on my looks for a bit.”
“Eh~ You can do what you want, I’d be happy if I keep getting rumors with you!”
Koki laughs again as he wraps him in a hug, and Koki replies with a small kiss on his cheek.
“I’d rather we don’t cause trouble for the staff or worry the fans.”
“Well, that’s true~ But, we have good fans! They were laughing at it online once the picture came out from our side. They said we’re just always like that.”
“I’m glad the fans can see we’re comfortable with each other.”
“Right, it’s like when they thought Ryo also had an affair because of the texts Kou sent him. Mamoru, you’re gonna have a love scandal with Kou, too?“
Even if he meant that as a joke, Mamoru goes stiff, while Ryota’s eyes narrowed, fixed on the other.
“...”
“R-Ryo-kun? Your eyes are saying so much right now that I can feel it even when you’re behind me.”
“Good.”
“I think we better not have any love scandals between us for the time being. The staff has enough to worry about.”
“Kou is right. Kensuke. Be more careful of reporters.”
“Yes, yes. Why are you angry?! I’m the one that they tried to use here!”
“You should’ve been more aware of the people!”
“That’s not fair, Kou looked too pretty for me to pay attention to others!”
“Then that’s more reason to have been careful! It could’ve been an actual kiss pic and then we would have actual problems with the media!”
“You’re not being fair at all, Ryo!”