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Yuma is stretched out on his bed lazily scrolling through his phone. He’s bored, but at least he has something to look forward to: dinner with Taki! Yuma was surprised by the invitation, but he wasn’t going to turn down a free meal, so he accepted without giving it too much thought. Plus, he was curious. Did Taki want to talk about something? Ask him for advice maybe? And if he was being honest, he was also eager to spend some time with Taki. He’s been on Yuma’s mind a lot lately…it’s a little frustrating actually. Maybe having dinner together will give him some clarity.
Yuma’s phone suddenly vibrates in his hand. It’s a message from Taki, telling him to meet him in the dining room. A little confused, Yuma gets up and checks his hair in the mirror before leaving his room. He thought they were going out for dinner, but maybe, could it be..? Yuma smiles to himself, hoping his guess is right.
When Yuma enters the dining room, Taki is setting the table for two. Seeing Yuma, he smiles brightly, “Good, you’re here. I’m cooking dinner tonight! I hope that’s okay.”
“Really?! I knew it!!” Yuma can’t hide his excitement. He loves Taki’s cooking, and he honestly prefers staying in anyway. “I’d offer to help but…nah.” Yuma laughs as he stretches his arms above his head, playfully pretending to be too tired to help.
Taki laughs right back at Yuma. “Yeah…no way. I’ve got this. Anyway, it’s your Christmas present! So just relax. I’m almost done.” He smiles brightly at Yuma before heading back into the kitchen. Yuma’s eyes follow Taki, noticing he’s wearing the same apron from his live the other day. He’s also wearing that silver necklace with the small heart charm. He loves that necklace. Taki is so…cute. Yuma has been thinking that for a while, but especially in the last couple of months. He’s been noticing Taki’s smile more. And the funny way he tilts his head to the side just like a curious puppy.
“It smells so good…What are we having?” Not giving Taki a chance to respond, Yuma heads into the kitchen to see for himself. “Ooooh, karaage! Awesome!”
Taki laughs, “Hey! What if I wanted to surprise you? You’re so impatient.” Taki doesn’t actually sound bothered by Yuma’s intrusion. He seems more focused on the chicken that is currently sizzling in a pan filled with oil. Yuma has no idea how to cook…anything, let alone a full dinner, but he can tell Taki has been in the kitchen for a while. There’s miso soup simmering in a pot on the stove, along with several pickled side dishes, dipping sauces, and potato salad in little bowls on the counter.
“Wow, everything looks amazing! What did I do to deserve all of this? I didn’t even get you a gift this year.” Taki doesn’t appear to be listening to Yuma now. He’s too focused on the chicken. Yuma, on the other hand, can’t take his eyes off of Taki.
“Taki-chan…Taki-chan…in the kitchen, making me delicious foooood.” Yuma laughs at his own goofy song, but he knows he’s basically talking to himself at this point because Taki is in another world. “Taki-chan always looks so cool in the kitchen, I wonder why…” In the past, he mostly thought of Taki as funny and a little chaotic. Usually jumping all over the place like an energetic puppy. Talented, of course, and always cute. But…this is something different. Seeing this new side of Taki has been kind of exciting. That’s probably why Yuma watched his live so many times. It’s just…“Oh. I know. Serious Taki is actually pretty hot! I think that’s it. I bet your fans love it too. You know, I was watching your live the other day and I noticed the way you–” Yuma’s rambling is interrupted by Taki yelping in pain.
“What happened? Are you okay?!” Yuma looks at Taki with concern, but Taki just shakes his head, looking a little embarrassed.
“I’m fine, some of the oil just splashed and burned my finger.” Taki is blowing on his index finger, clearly in pain. “I just wasn’t paying enough attention and added the chicken too fast.” Yuma can see that the skin is already turning red. Grabbing Taki’s hand, he pulls him over to the sink. After turning the faucet on he puts Taki’s finger under the cold water, giving him a stern look. “What are you doing? You have to treat a burn right away! Your hands are precious, you know?”
“Yuma…it’s fine. Really! Just…let go of my hand.” Taki tries to pull away from Yuma’s grasp.
“Why? If you won’t treat it seriously, I will.” Tightening his grip, Yuma stares at Taki defiantly. It’s then that he notices Taki is blushing. A lot. And he’s doing everything he can to avoid Yuma’s gaze. Yuma guesses that Taki is embarrassed because he made a mistake in the kitchen, but the way he’s trying to pull away...it kind of annoys him actually. It makes him want to tease Taki. Just a little. “What’s wrong? You don’t like holding my hand? Would you rather K rush in and take care of you instead? You know, I can pamper you too.” Feigning jealousy (well, mostly feigning) Yuma brings Taki’s hand to his lips and kisses his finger. “Is that better, my precious Taki?”
Taki uses his free hand to push hard on Yuma’s chest, forcing him to let go of Taki’s hand and take a startled step backwards. Yuma is shocked and searches Taki’s face for some kind of explanation. “What’s gotten into you? I was just–”
“Just teasing me?” Taki interrupts Yuma with a strained voice. “Please, don’t do that…and don’t say things like that unless….” Taki’s voice gets so quiet that the sound of the running water drowns out whatever he says next. And Yuma is too stunned to ask him to repeat himself.
After what feels like a lifetime of silence, Taki clears his throat and turns off the water. “Yuma, just…wait in the dining room. Please? I need to finish this. I’ll put something on the burn, don’t worry. It’s fine. I’m fine.” Taki dries his hands on a towel as he speaks, not meeting Yuma’s eyes even once.
Feeling like a child who has just been scolded, Yuma nods and quietly leaves the kitchen. His mind is racing as he sits down at the table. What was that? Don’t say things like what? Unless what? What is going on? Yuma’s eyebrows furrow as he tries to figure out what he did wrong. Taki has never spoken to him like that before. He’s not sure Taki has ever spoken to anyone like that before. Was he really being that annoying? He always thought Taki liked the way he teased him. But maybe he actually hated it? Did he hit a nerve with the comment about K? Maybe Taki really would prefer being with K tonight…After all, K wouldn’t have upset Taki like that.
Yuma lets out a heavy sigh and puts his forehead on the table. “Why did I have to say all that? I just wanted to help…and to watch him cook. Ahhh, this is so frustrating…when did Taki get so sexy anyway? It’s his fault I’m all mixed up…Jerk.”
“Do you mean that?” Taki’s voice makes Yuma’s heart jump, and he lifts his head up to see him standing in the doorway with a plate full of karaage. He also notices Taki has bandaged his finger.
“Um…which part?” Yuma’s first thought is to play it off as a joke, or pretend he doesn’t know exactly what Taki is asking about. But the way Taki is standing there, staring at him with those big, bright eyes…”Okay, yes, I do mean it. You’re a jerk who got all sexy somehow, and it’s driving me crazy. Happy now? I said it. I didn’t mean to tease you or get in your way. And I’m sorry I said that about K. You just…I just…I don’t know what you’re thinking, and I hate that.” Suddenly Yuma is feeling a little nervous. Why is his heart beating so fast? Why is Taki looking at him like that? That smile. It’s so bright it’s practically blinding Yuma.
Taki sets down the plate and moves around the table to stand in front of Yuma. Before he knows what’s happening, Taki has taken both of Yuma’s hands and is pulling him up from his chair. Standing so close, face-to-face, Yuma can’t help but notice how soft and full Taki’s lips look. How beautiful and bright his eyes are. It feels like his heart is going to burst out of his chest, and he’s sure Taki can hear it hammering away. “What are you do–” Before Yuma can finish his question, Taki is kissing him.
The moment their lips touch Yuma feels his whole body responding, like a shot of electricity coursing through his veins. He closes his eyes, taking in every sensation. Taki’s scent (pine and bergamot), Taki’s hands (gripping Yuma’s tightly, as if he never wants to let go), Taki’s lips (softer than Yuma could have ever imagined).
After this moment of pure bliss, Taki slowly pulls away from Yuma’s lips. “I’m kissing you. Is that okay? Am I sexy enough to kiss you? And make you dinner? And shower you with compliments? And be beyond happy to hear that you’re thinking of me and like to watch me cook? Is it okay for me to feel this way?” Taki tilts his head to the side in a questioning, curious, way, and Yuma clinches his teeth, trying not to show how completely and utterly charmed he is by this man.
“What is this…a love confession?” Yuma laughs, but he knows he’s forcing it. He’s actually…terrified? He can feel his palms getting sweaty in Taki’s grasp. Part of him wants to pull away. What if he’s misunderstanding? And why does that scare him so much?
“Yeah. Obviously. This is me telling you what I’m thinking. Yuma, I like you. I thought you just saw me as a puppy to play with. That’s why I got mad before. Or really, I was just frustrated with myself. I never thought you’d actually…see me. I spend forever trying to choose the perfect thing to wear every day, I cook things I think you’ll like best, and if you compliment something I do, even if it’s the tiniest thing in the world, I think about it constantly. I’ve just been hoping I’ll catch your eye, but never dreaming it would actually happen. But I can’t keep this to myself anymore.” Taki squeezes Yuma’s hands, “I want to be with you. Nobody else. I’m serious. What about you?”
Taki is staring directly into Yuma’s eyes as he says this, which isn’t helping the pounding in Yuma’s chest. But he can’t let Taki act all cool with him just standing there, dumbfounded and swooning like a teenager in love. He’s supposed to be the older, mature one, after all. Yuma takes a deep breath, working to regain his composure.
“...Okay, Taki. Yes. I like you. I want to be with you. I watched your live more times than I can count. The apron, the perfect white shirt unbuttoned just enough to show your cute little heart necklace…” Yuma reaches forward and taps the charm on Taki’s necklace before slowly running his finger up along the chain to rest his hand firmly on the back of his neck. Yuma can feel Taki shudder slightly at his touch. “That serious expression you get on your face as you focus on your cooking, the fact that you clearly love being in the kitchen…You absolutely caught my eye. And now that you’ve confessed to seducing me, I’m going to do all the things I’ve been dreaming about. Are you ready for that?”
This time Yuma is the one to initiate the kiss. And because he’s no longer anxious or unsure of what Taki might be thinking, he pulls him into his room without another word. The Christmas dinner will have to wait, Yuma has another present he wants to open first.