Work Text:
It was 7 in the morning when Narumi heard the alarm blaring from the bedside table. He opened one of his eyes lazily. He knew by heart it wasn't from his phone, since he rarely set an alarm on weekends.
His right hand slowly moved from Hoshina's back to reach his lover's phone, and he abruptly turned off the alarm. The picture of both of them on its lockscreen—with a pose during a snow in front of Himeji Castle—greeted Narumi's eyes afterward, thus softening his sleepy eyes a little.
The sun peeked through the small gap on their apartment's curtains, but Narumi didn't bother to wake up. His hand went back to hold Hoshina's back, who was still in deep slumber.
'How can you always set an alarm during the weekend but never bother to wake up by it, okappa?' Narumi sleepily wondered.
He drifted his gaze to Hoshina's face, taking in the details of his sleeping face. His soft, uneven breathing, along with his long, curled eyelashes that adorn his squinty eyes—which Narumi quietly loves so much—and his puffy cheeks while he sleeps.
Narumi wished to kiss those cheeks, but he refrained from doing so when Hoshina stirred a little and quietly mumbled incoherent words while clutching Narumi's T-shirt a little tightly.
'Is he having a bad dream right now?'
Hoshina had slept very late because he had to polish his abstract before submitting it to the international conference website portal.
Narumi repeatedly told Hoshina to sleep because it was close to 2 AM, but he paid no heed, even though he occasionally rubbed his tired eyes behind those black rimming glasses.
Ah, what an absolute nerd Narumi had to deal with.
Narumi knew no one could stop Hoshina from pursuing his goal, even if it were just finishing simple household chores. He was truly ambitious and among the most determined people Narumi had ever known—second only to himself, which is why Narumi truly admired his partner.
But for now, Narumi really wanted Hoshina to rest more, as he silently noticed his partner repeatedly yawning and sometimes rubbing his eyes. His squinty eyes were wide open and glued to the screen for almost two hours after their intense lovemaking.
'How is it possible for him to maintain that level of concentration after I banged him hard a few hours earlier? I even got him to orgasm twice!' Narumi wondered in fascination.
So, Narumi played his last resort that night by testing Hoshina's patience with suggestive gestures. He moved to sit beside his partner on their bed, hugged his waist, and kissed Hoshina's neck.
"Narumi, stop it. It's ticklish!" Hoshina's palm tried to move Narumi's head away from his neck.
"Mhhm. No, I won't stop until you close that laptop and go to sleep with me now." Narumi slowly licked Hoshina's earlobe, making the latter shiver a little.
"Gen, you know I need to finish it tonight. The deadline is coming closer," Hoshina sighed when Narumi's tongue reached his sensitive spot.
"I remembered you told me that the deadline is tomorrow, by 10 PM JST. You still have time, okappa," Narumi whispered in his guttural voice before kissing Hoshina's neck again.
Ugh. Narumi Gen and his sharp memory.
And that bedroom husky voice of his, which rarely failed to caught Hoshina Soushirou's attention.
"Gen, stop now, or I'll choke you," Hoshina warned him, yet his hands kept typing while his brain slowly went haywire from Narumi's ministrations on his neck.
"Try me, Shirou. When you choke me, I'll jerk your cock then." A blush crept across Hoshina's neck and cheeks upon hearing his answer, yet he could feel Narumi's grin on his neck.
Seriously, what the fuck is wrong with this cheeky brat?
"Fine, Gen. Give me fifteen minutes, then I'll stop and go to bed with you," Hoshina sighed in defeat, and Narumi's head immediately jerked away from his neck. He grinned a little before pulling Hoshina closer by the waist.
"That's fine by me. If not, then I will make you sleep my way."
'By having another round of sex?! Oh no, I am too tired tonight!' Hoshina bites his lips. He should keep his word then.
After fifteen minutes had passed, Hoshina finally finished his work and abruptly closed his laptop because his fiancé kept peppering his cheeks with kisses. He simply couldn't resist falling into Narumi's arms and quickly drifting into a deep sleep afterward.
Working as a researcher and a newly appointed assistant professor in his own faculty for these past six months really tires Hoshina out, but it's the career path he's been chasing since graduating with his Ph.D degree a year ago. He hoped to apply for a tenure-track position someday, even though staying committed to academia over the years requires extra resilience and patience.
Having a career in academia was never really Hoshina's first choice, but he was dying to prove to his family that he could do better in his field of interest, without having to fulfil his duty as the second heir to one of Japan's largest pharmaceutical companies.
After all, his older brother is set to be the next leader of that company. Not only is he the older sibling, but he's also been prepared for the role from the very beginning, and Hoshina Souichirou has completed every step along the way with flying colors.
His older brother is undoubtedly the epitome of a perfect heir to the Hoshina family.
Hoshina Souichirou has always been the valedictorian in his studies, not to mention his impressive non-academic achievements as a kendo athlete for years and his wins at several national tournaments during his school days.
Deep down, Soushirou feels tired of being number two, always seen and living in the shadow of his older sibling, even though he is no different from his brother in terms of achievements.
Soushirou excelled in sports during his school years, playing a key role on his school's fencing team and consistently winning tournaments.
He was even enrolled at one of the top universities in Japan, pursuing a degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Soushirou was so close to becoming a valedictorian at that time, but Gen ranked him second among the top students during his undergraduate years.
"Soushirou, with your strong background in biomedicine and pharmaceutical sciences, I think that you could use your degree to help the company instead. Are you really not interested in working as a technical advisor at our company? A bigger take-home pay, with less work pressure, is certainly what you'd get there," Soichirou casually asked Soushirou one time right after he finished his studies. He came home to Kyoto to fulfil his mother's wish to have a family dinner to celebrate his doctoral graduation.
"… Our company? It was never truly mine from the start, Nii-san. And how could you possibly know whether your current antibiotics are still effective against those pathogenic bacteria without several reports from basic medical research, like what I've been doing? And I worked extremely hard to complete my doctorate abroad to continue working on my research—the one with less pay, more pressure, but also incredibly satisfying."
'Satisfying? For my ego, perhaps.'
Soushirou is half-lying, because academia is tiring him out, if he had to be 120% honest. Sometimes he wishes he was a trophy husband for Gen.
Yet, he can't shake the rewarding feeling he gets after presenting his research results at international conferences, the hours spent in the lab with his research peers and students doing laboratory experiments, the days or even months dedicated to writing peer-reviewed publications or research grant proposals, and the joy he finds teaching students in the faculty, discovering so many potential young researchers there and when he sees his name as the first author on numerous top-ranked international scientific papers.
He needs to stand confidently on his own feet, firm and unshadowed, even if it means stepping outside his family's business.
But despite how much he despises being the second option, he was feeling grateful for coming in second place in his undergraduate studies, because it marked the day he realized he could be the number one in someone's heart—none other than Narumi Gen, despite years of their academic rivalry and constant push-and-pull.
Life finally feels more exciting after Hoshina decided to pursue a romantic relationship with Narumi, a month after their college graduation. Although he has to deal with Narumi's lively, sometimes childish nature on a daily basis, it surprisingly brings him comfort.
Even though their relationship was heavily at stake when Hoshina decided to pursue his doctoral degree abroad.
They had been in radio silence for several months after Hoshina left. But then Hoshina chose to set aside his ego during the early term of his doctoral studies because he simply needed someone to talk to, and Narumi was the only person he could think of.
A wave of exhaustion and pent-up emotions turned Hoshina into a crying mess on his first call with Narumi after months had passed, leading Narumi to use all his annual leave and fly halfway across the world to knock on Hoshina's apartment door a week later.
Narumi has often taken extra shifts at work and even bought fewer new games ever since, all to save up more pennies for visiting Hoshina.
It is funny to Hoshina when he realizes that it is his former academic rival's cheekiness, his boisterous behavior after losing the games, his clinginess, his frequent yearning for affectionate touches with Hoshina, his impressive stamina in bed, his serious expression when he's busily dealing with those daunting coding or his video games, and how attentive he can be when Hoshina is tiredly rambling about his problems before their bedtime— that Hoshina always looks forward to every single day.
He didn't even expect that Narumi would wait for him at the airport when he arrived in Japan after finishing his doctoral studies, with a box of Mont Blanc from his favorite bakery in Tokyo and the Japanese classic literature books he'd been looking for months.
He was expecting Narumi's usual smirk and a typical bear hug, but to his surprise, he also received a sudden engagement proposal just a few moments later.
"Hoshina, I couldn't hold this any longer. I've been waiting for years for you to come back home, so please listen to me," Narumi whispered into his ear, holding him too tightly—so close that it squeezed him.
"W-what happened, Narumi?" Hoshina stroked Narumi's back, wishing it could ease Narumi's nervousness (and his own, of course!)
"Hoshina, I want to see your fox-like eyes as the first and last thing I see every day of my life. I want to see you devour those overly sweet desserts at every bakery we visit. I want to buy all the books you want, even that means I have to spare another room in my apartment for another bookshelf. I want to hear your annoying laughs and silly grins. I want to hear your breathy moans calling my name every time we have sex. I want to hear your ramblings about those bad bugs you had in your lab, even though I have zero idea about them!"
Narumi inhaled deeply, pausing for a moment before continuing.
"I want you to stay with me for many years to come. I honestly can't imagine anyone else living with me, except you. I need you by my side, Soushirou."
Hoshina was caught in utter shock. His heart almost leaped out of his ribcage.
"… W-wait! Did you just… propose to me… in the airport??!"
"I know it is so annoying and so corny, but I just cannot wait any longer, Shirou! And don't worry, I brought you a ring." Narumi's left hand was fervently digging through his jacket, only to come up empty with a deep exhale.
"Ah, crap! I left the ring in my car! Soushirou, I'm sorry, but I—" Narumi's words were cut off when Hoshina forcibly grabbed his jaw and kissed him passionately, like rent due tomorrow.
Narumi stood in daze as Hoshina gently pulled back from their kiss and softly pressed his forehead against him.
"Be glad because I'm more than willing to spend the rest of my life with you, even after this bizarre proposal, Narumi Gen. And please, make sure you've already bought the ring because I don't accept Mont Blanc as a token of our love!"
Oh- how Hoshina Soushirou wishes he could live forever with that annoying-but-so-damn-lovely Narumi Gen.
But here he is, trapped in somewhere dark and humid. Hoshina sees nothing as he slowly opens his eyes, yet he feels familiar with the place.
'Is it my own laboratory? Why is it so dark? Did something happen with the electrical generator?' He tried to find his phone and turned on the flashlight feature when he heard crackling noises from the aisle beside his laboratory.
He managed to leave his lab, and he was in utter shock when he saw a messy aisle. Everything had fallen apart. It was as if a massive earthquake had hit his laboratory building, and he saw rubble before his own eyes.
'Perhaps that was why I stayed unconscious?' Hoshina still found everything incomprehensible as he slowly made his way through the debris toward the emergency exit. He tried to call out his colleagues but received no response, which made him feel even more anxious.
A few moments later, he was greeted by a gaping hole and fierce winds from his right, and he stared in shock as he realized his laboratory building was in ruins.
'What the fuck? Did something crush this building?'
He was about to call 911 when he saw a huge red monster with a horn on its head outside the building. Hoshina's eyes widened, and he gasped in horror when his gaze met the monster's weird eyes and large fangs.
"Holy shit, w-what is th-" His words faltered as he saw the monster grinning at him and walking closer, making him feel even more frightened.
"N-No!!" Hoshina gasped, waking with wide eyes as he saw Narumi's surprised gaze and felt his firm hand on his back.
"Hoshina?? Hey, calm down, it's me. You're safe and sound now," Narumi whispered, holding him gently and comforting Hoshina by softly rubbing his back and head.
"Take a deep breath and relax, Soushirou. It's just a dream." Narumi stroked Hoshina's dark purple locks to soothe him. Hoshina nodded while trying to catch his breath and gripped Narumi's shirt tightly.
A few minutes passed, and Narumi finally noticed Hoshina's breathing slowing down.
"Are you back here with me now?" Narumi gently tucks Hoshina's bangs back and presses his lips to Hoshina's forehead.
Hoshina closed his eyes and nodded slowly, but instead of speaking, he chose to hold Narumi tighter. Narumi took that signal to keep rubbing Hoshina's back and stroked his hair before he heard Hoshina's mumble.
"I had a bad dream, such an awful dream."
"I know. That's why you jolted and stared in horror like that, as if you saw a ghost, a monster, or something scary."
"I really saw a monster, Gen." Narumi gave him a confused look, his right eyebrow slightly arched in curiosity.
"Oh no, please don't make me describe that thing. It is scary and huge, with red color all over its body and a horn on its head. And that maniacal grin, along with that odd-looking one eye—"
"… You've just described it, okappa," Narumi scoffed, gently tousling Hoshina's hair, then kissed his cheek. He moved his left hand to cup his cheeks and kissed his lips.
Hoshina sighed quietly as Narumi coaxed his mouth open, letting Narumi's tongue dominate his. Hoshina's hand slowly moved to caress Narumi's neck and hair as their kiss deepened.
Their saliva began to trickle as their tongues danced inside Hoshina's mouth, before he pulled away from the kiss and gasped for air.
"H-hah. And good morning to you, too, Narumi. Mhmm," Hoshina hummed in pleasure as Narumi kissed his jaw before he pulled away and smiled cheekily.
"Feeling better now? Or do you want another kiss?" Narumi pecked Hoshina's lips twice, thus making the latter smile. Narumi didn’t mind the idea of having morning sex with Hoshina to ease his stress, but he sensed it might not be the best choice right now.
"I'm feeling good now, thank you," Hoshina says, caressing Narumi's cheeks, "and I'm thirsty, Gen. I need water, not our saliva."
Hoshina slowly wakes and sits on the bed. He stretched his arms out before standing up and gently pulling the curtain aside. His eyes squinted before he slowly opened the window, greeted by the crisp winter air.
Hoshina was completely unaware of Narumi's longing gaze upon him.
Narumi's magenta eyes capture every detail of his partner. How Hoshina's dark purple hair gently swayed in the breeze, and his cheeks tinged pink from the cold. The morning sun cast a warm glow over him, outlining his figure. Narumi's pupils dilated slightly when Hoshina turned to face him, revealing gleaming red eyes beneath his falling bangs as his gentle voice slipped from those thin, moist lips.
"Gen, what do you want for breakfast?"
'I want you for eternity, Soushirou,' Narumi unhesitantly answered in silence, before reality struck him.
'… Huh? What the hell, Gen?! This isn't the silly Asian romcom that Kikorun usually gushes about!'
It's been more than five years since they have been together, yet Hoshina Soushirou rarely fails to put Narumi Gen in this kind of lovestruck state, again and again. But, Narumi hardly ever says anything about it—of course—and prefers to keep those feelings to himself.
"Whatever you want, okappa. I'm good with anything you made," Narumi shrugged and responded in a nearly mumbled voice, trying to clear his mind by looking for his game console and his glasses on the bed.
Hoshina slightly lolled his head in confusion before closing the window and helping Narumi make the bed. He knows Narumi often tosses his game console onto the bed before sleep, and he has no idea where it is the day after, which usually leaves him in a grumpy mood afterwards.
"Here's your console, and your glasses are on the bedside table, if you are looking for that too." Hoshina handed him the console before he put their pillows.
Hoshina Soushirou and his own ways of knowing what Narumi Gen needed.
"… Shirou, I will make soufflé pancake for you this morning. You like eating them with your black coffee, don't you?"
"… Huh? Wow. Today isn't my birthday, is it?" Hoshina blinked in surprise. Narumi swore he had to resist the urge to squish those cheeks and kiss him out of cuteness aggression.
"You don't want that? Fine. I'll go make toast then." Narumi headed to the bathroom, slightly heaving in surprise as he felt his body squished by Hoshina's hug from behind.
"Haha. I think it's not a bad idea to have a bad dream, if it means I would get a free homemade meal from my Gen!" Hoshina hugged Narumi's waist tightly, resting his head on Narumi's shoulder. He could smell Narumi's lingering musk and powdery scent, which comforts him like no other.
'My Gen?'
'My… Gen.'
'My Gen!'
'Why did that sound so nice?'
Narumi held his smirk, and a faint blush crept onto his cheeks. Hearing those two words felt like his biggest victory, even more than winning any game, creating any software for his work, or successfully making a deal with the stakeholders.
"… Meeting the monster in your dream just for free food? You're the worst, Shirou." Narumi playfully tousled Hoshina's hair, a small giggle spread across the latter's face.
"It is not an everyday occasion that Narumi Gen cooks something, despite how good he is. I just had to seize that chance!" Hoshina kissed Narumi's left cheek before they entered the bathroom.
Both of them simultaneously stand by each other, before Hoshina's hand reflexively takes the cat's trio hairclip from the mirror cabinet and claps it to Narumi's fringe. The latter is closing his eyes before taking the maroon-colored toothbrush, putting some toothpaste, and handing it to Hoshina, who's just finished putting the fluffy cat headband right up to his hairline.
Both of them are brushing their teeth, almost in sync. Hoshina's soft hum echoes in the small bathroom before shifting to the sound of running water from the faucet and a splash.
It is simply their morning routine, a quiet moment that etches itself into the hustle and bustle of their lives. What sets it apart is that there was no rush, no clock to beat, no traffic to worry about, and no train to catch.
It's just both of them, in their free time on Sunday morning.
"Gen, let's try some new sheet masks from Okonogi-chan today! She bought a skincare set and received many sheet masks as free samples. I'm quite eager to try the retinol one." Hoshina was busily massaging his face with the face wash before rinsing it.
"Whatever, but please put that mask on and take it off for me, Shirou. I don't want to tear that weird thing off my face again." Narumi just finished drying his face before he took off the hairpin, putting it in the usual spot.
He never quite understood why Hoshina had such immense patience for wearing that slimy, thin, tortilla-like mask. He even did that altogether with Narumi's loud, silly cousin, Shinomiya Kikoru, when she visited their place.
Narumi didn't want to deal with the sheet mask again, especially since he had previously put it on the wrong way and accidentally tore it after applying it by himself (since his fiancé made him do it, of course), and Hoshina couldn't help but burst out laughing at the funny mishap.
However, Narumi really liked the way Hoshina patiently put the mask on his face, the refreshing sensation that followed, and how Hoshina gently tapped his face after taking it off to help the serum absorb better.
… And more love absorbed into Narumi's heart, of course.
When Hoshina is built to handle the laborious work of a researcher who spends hours experimenting with pathogenic microorganisms and antimicrobial substances in the lab, Narumi has spent the past seven years immersed in working with binary data and coding, analyzing which software would best meet the company's evolving needs, attending countless meetings with stakeholders, and enduring rigorous workloads in the corporate world.
Two different worlds collide, yet they always make sure to create a comfortable space and mundane moments for themselves during their day off, amid the constant pressure of their respective jobs.
One of those moments—funnily—is a simple skincare session led by Hoshina, using mostly products given for free from his female coworkers.
"I'll make the pancake now, okappa. Don't let it get cold." Narumi softly pinched Hoshina's cheek before heading to the kitchen.
Hoshina was about to brew his morning coffee when he saw Narumi diligently preparing the pancake batter.
Hoshina took a moment to enjoy how Narumi was carefully beating the egg whites, even though that wasn't the easiest thing to do. How he whisked the egg yolks, milk, and vanilla in a separate bowl, how his bangs slightly concealed his serious expressions, how his back slightly bent as he whisked the mixture.
Hoshina never expected that watching Narumi make a soufflé pancake could warm his heart. It's not a grand gesture or heroic act, just Narumi handling batter and making breakfast, but it’s inexplicably comforting.
Hoshina thought he would live a life where he met someone from a prestigious family, an heir or grandson of a business tycoon who runs the economy of his country, as his family had done for years.
An arranged marriage would be his rhetorical choice, and he'd wake up in a penthouse and being greeted by dozens of maids, with a private secretary and an assistant to manage his work schedules and meetings.
But here Hoshina is, holding a bag of coffee beans that his fiancé managed to get from his business trip to South America a few months ago. He doesn't live in a penthouse or in a traditional Japanese old house like his family's in Kyoto. Instead, he lives in a three-bedroom apartment that he and his fiancé purchased six months ago in the heart of Tokyo.
The one whom Hoshina chose to live his life with was not an heir or grandson of a business tycoon. He is simply a corporate employee, working as a senior software engineer at a major multinational tech company in the country.
Narumi Gen is just an ordinary man with an exceptional academic record, simply a genius mind with a heart of steel.
Despite his rebellious nature, Narumi consistently graduated as a top student during his school years, aided by scholarships because he had lived in an orphanage for many years after losing his parents when he was only four. Narumi even took the title of valedictorian away from Hoshina when he graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering.
Hoshina was in utter shock when Narumi turned down the fully funded scholarship offer from his faculty to pursue a fast-track doctoral program abroad, three months after their graduation.
"If I were you, I would instantly accept the offer, because it is quite a rare chance to get that offer in the first place," Hoshina said with a longing look toward his Mont Blanc. He hadn't dug the dessert for a while after hearing Narumi's story.
Narumi gave him an unreadable look. He could catch the hint of jealousy in Hoshina's words, knowing how Hoshina longed to continue his studies as the first step toward becoming a researcher.
"Hoshina, you know what the fast-track program is aiming for. Working in academia is not my calling. I prefer to secure a position at a company that aligns with my field and interests. Actually, I also received an offer to join a startup. I would gladly consider working there if they could support my decision to work while continuing my Master's here," Narumi gently said as he patted Hoshina's head.
"… Why did you decide to continue your studies here? Narumi, you can do much better if you continue your studies abroad!" Hoshina bites his lips hard, holding himself from smacking Narumi's head. He wanted to knock some sense into this guy's head, really.
"Why should I bother studying abroad if it doesn't bring me any stable income and also being a thousand miles away from you, at least for the next two years?"
Okay. Hoshina is biting his lip tighter to hold back that awkward little smile, but still…
"Don't let your feelings for me, or this relationship, hinder your steps to pursue a better future, Narumi Gen."
"Stop being overconfident, okappa. If my feelings for you hinder my steps, there was no way I could beat you and being a valedictorian." Narumi smirked before he softly tousled Hoshina's hair.
"Don't worry about me. I know exactly what I'm doing, and I'll make sure my future includes you in it, Hoshina Soushirou."
Maybe that's also why Hoshina continues to choose Narumi, even though his life seems pretty ordinary now compared to the "what if" scenario where he would lived his life as the second heir to his family's business.
Because Narumi keeps his word to build his future with Hoshina in the picture.
Hoshina vividly recalled the moment Narumi went to Kyoto to meet Hoshina's parents and brother after Hoshina secured a job at the university following his doctoral graduation, to ask for their blessing on their engagement.
It was the first time Hoshina saw Narumi so overwhelmed with nervousness, even more than when he had spoken as valedictorian years earlier. Their first dinner was somewhat tense, partly because of Soichirou's intimidating yet slightly provocative presence.
However, the atmosphere shifted when Gen politely asked for blessings on their engagement, speaking softly as he bowed to both parents and Soushirou's brother.
"I may not be the perfect person to be Soushirou's partner, as everyone here might think, but I will protect him and ensure his happiness because he has been the most important person in my life for the past few years. His presence keeps me going, and I want to stay by his side, supporting him through every step he takes. Soushirou has taught me many ways to give and receive love, and I want to offer my heart as a token of my gratitude for his constant presence through the ups and downs of my life."
Soushirou's eyes widened upon hearing Gen's words. A faint moisture gathered in his eyes, and a faint blush crept onto his cheeks and neck.
'Wow. How long did it take him to craft those confession words, word by word?'
'Oh. So this is what it feels like to be someone's first and foremost.'
"Soushirou, why are you just standing there? Are you okay?" Narumi's question, along with a faint smell of a cooked soufflé pancake, snapped Hoshina out of his reverie.
"Oh, nothing. I'm good." Hoshina smiled before joining Narumi in the kitchen. They are busily making breakfast, standing side by side.
Narumi occasionally rubs Hoshina's cheek using the back of his pointed finger when he can, and Hoshina sometimes peeks at the soufflè pancake from Narumi's shoulder.
"Gen, which milk do you want for today's brekkie? Strawberry or the plain ones?"
"Emm- yours?" A soft smack landed on Narumi's left shoulder, followed by his grin.
"Plain sounds good, because I want to make this pancake quite sweet."
Despite Narumi's love for coffee as his brain fuel during work, Hoshina knows very well that his lover's stomach can tolerate much less coffee than him. Narumi rarely drinks coffee at his first meal of the day, no matter how much he needs the caffeine, because his gastric juice would go into limbo and upset his stomach.
So, Hoshina likes to make him a hot ginger tea to soothe his digestive system, or simply a glass of cold milk for Narumi's morning protein intake.
"How's the pancake, Shirou? Is it too sweet?" Narumi observes Hoshina closely as he takes his first bite of the pancake.
They are sitting face-to-face, and Narumi has this habit every time he makes a meal for Hoshina: He won't eat until he heard what Hoshina would say about his meal.
Narumi isn't a frequent cook because he's simply too busy, but he's fairly confident in his cooking skills, especially when it comes to breakfast or full-course meals. Hoshina, on the other hand, is quite skilled at baking and brewing coffee.
"… So yummy and fluffy as usual, Gen. I love how it blends well with the berries, because you make it a bit sweeter. And it tastes perfect with my coffee too!" Hoshina grinned widely with his squinty eyes, his mouth savoring every bite of the pancake, prompting Narumi to smirk.
"Good, and please eat slowly, okappa." Narumi took a bite of his pancake, then briefly looked at Hoshina before gently wiping the corner of Hoshina's mouth with his thumb upon noticing a trace of maple syrup there.
"… Gen, let's play a 'what if' question today." Hoshina chewed on his fork, gazing playfully at Narumi.
"What do you wanna know about me, Shirou? You know me like the back of my hand."
"I'm just curious about your answers, and it is for fun!"
"Ok, ok. I'm in, you go first." Narumi nodded while chewing his pancake.
"Gen, what if you've never met me?"
Narumi paused his chewing, his head tilted upward. Their gazes lock for a few moments.
It is merely a spontaneous question. A byproduct of impulsive thinking, fueled by a lingering sourness from a strawberry that Hoshina just munched on a split second earlier. But it feels like a heavily serious matter for Narumi.
"… I don't know, Sou." Hoshina sensed a glimpse of melancholy in Narumi's gaze. Narumi continued chewing, his eyes darted to the pancake on his plate.
"Because I never imagined living a life without you around, Soushirou. You're definitely one of the most stubborn, annoying, and determined people I've ever met, the one who ignites my competitive side like nobody else—"
"What the—?"
"—But you're also the one I care about and need the most. I don't know if the universe never let us cross paths, Shirou. You feel like home to me. Maybe deep down, I’ve always wished to meet you." Narumi slightly shrugged, unaware of Hoshina's surprise gaze.
He never knew that there was one person amongst billions in this world who wished to cross paths with him, even when they began their meeting initially as rivals.
"And what if you never meet me, Soushirou? Will you be happy with someone else?"
Oh, Narumi Gen and his charming jealousy tendencies.
Hoshina chuckled. He took a bigger bite of the pancake along with the berries and gave Narumi a playful look—prompting a pout on the latter's face.
"… I would live my life peacefully, for sure. Because there wouldn't be a childish, impulsive, and heavily competitive man by my side." Hoshina smiled as he looked at Narumi's eyes. A pair of red eyes locked with the magenta ones.
Narumi couldn't really decipher that gaze, but he could sense one thing from it.
A longing.
"But I don't think I could stand living a life without you by my side, Gen. I would die from the endless pit of boredom without your antics. I'm so used to having you around, and how you take good care of me in your own way. I think I couldn't be happier with anyone else."
Narumi blinked before a blush crept on his cheeks. He immediately gulped down his milk to ease his racing heart.
They continued their breakfast in comforting silence, and just before Hoshina finished his last pancake bite, Narumi suddenly asked him another question.
"Hoshina, have you ever regretted your decision to live your life with me? You even threw away your life as a successor to your family's business from the very beginning."
Oh. That one didn't count as a what-if question, and it slightly threw Hoshina off guard.
"… Not even once, Narumi. Even if we weren't meant to meet, I'm close to 100% sure that I will live my life without getting involved in my family's business. I'm glad that having you by my side made my decision a full circle."
Narumi feels pretty confident he could make Hoshina happy, but deep down, he sometimes wonders if Hoshina might be even happier if they met under the circumstances Hoshina was meant to live in.
"One more thing, I'm glad we didn't meet one another as the children of a wealthy tycoon, Gen. Even if that meant we shared a similar background, I bet our lives wouldn't be this simple," Hoshina chuckled before finishing his coffee.
Narumi's pupils widened.
'Is his partner a mind-reader or something?'
Hoshina never asked for more from Narumi, and Narumi often has no expectations for Hoshina. They simply wanted to stay close to each other, no matter the circumstances they had to encounter.
"... Anyway, I'm gonna play a game now, I still have a few arcs to be finished." Narumi woke from his seat, and Hoshina just nodded.
Twenty minutes later, Narumi was intently focused on his BS5, sitting cross-legged on the carpet with his metal grey-rimmed glasses perched on his nose.
He was completely absorbed in his game, leaning back against Hoshina's right thigh. Hoshina sat on the sofa, his right hand gently resting on Narumi's right chest. He quietly enjoyed Narumi's shouting or whispered curses as the background noise during his fictional book reading session. His palm softly pats Narumi's chest whenever he hears him curse.
"Hey, okappa. If you were a game, which genre would you want to be? And what kind of character would you choose?" Narumi asked without moving his eyes off the screen.
"Mmm... Maybe it could be a survival or a puzzle game? I wanted to be the game's final boss. The final mystery, or the riddle that needs to be solved before you reach the ending of the game. As simply as being the final piece of the puzzle to be added before you wrap up the game." Hoshina's eyes were still glued to the pages when he noticed Narumi tilt his head to face him.
"Haha. It means I have won the best puzzle game ever." Narumi smirked as he gazed at him intently, leaving Hoshina with a faint blush on his cheeks.
'Stop looking at me like that with those glasses on, you handsome nerd!'
"… Why?" Hoshina leaned in closer, his breath hitching as he heard Narumi's deep voice in his ears.
"Because I have successfully found my own missing puzzle here." Narumi slyly grinned before Hoshina's hand moved from his chest to hold his jaw, kissing him fervently.
Narumi was about to kiss him deeper and coax his tongue inside Hoshina's mouth when his finger accidentally pressed the "Start" button on the stick, and the eerie sound blared in their living room.
"… Oh, shit! Not now!" Narumi instantly pulled away, leaving the string of saliva on both of their lips and Hoshina's surprised look.
"Ha ha. It's okay, Gen. Just continue your game. We can continue ours tonight." Hoshina wiped the saliva. His cheeks turned into a faint crimson.
'Fuck that game for not letting Gen fuck me hard on this sofa,' Hoshina wondered as he caught his breath.
"Hey, do you want me to fuck you on the sofa now? With these glasses on?" Narumi grinned before he climbed onto the sofa and trapped Hoshina's body between his arms.
Narumi knows how much Hoshina loved seeing him in those glasses—the ones Hoshina chose for him. There were some moments when Hoshina forced Narumi to have sex with him while wearing the glasses, despite it could hasten Narumi's eyesight due to the fog, or when he wanted to kiss Hoshina's face.
"S-Sou, can I take off these glasses? I wanted to kiss you without bumping on your nose." Narumi put both Hoshina's legs on his shoulders before he leaned in to kiss Hoshina as he pushed himself deeper and groaned. The loud noises of skin slaps and squelching echoed throughout their room, followed by Narumi's deep groans and Hoshina's erratic moans.
Hoshina moaned loudly as he closed his eyes. Narumi's deep and unrelenting thrusts left his brain in a total mess. But he needs to articulate his words before Narumi removes the glasses himself.
"Ah- ah ah- No, please don't! I want you to fuck me hard with those glasses on, Daddy."
'... Daddy? What the fuck?!'
Narumi completely lost his self-control at that moment, causing Hoshina to cry out as Narumi's thrusts quickened, leading to Narumi's sudden release which filling Hoshina to the brim—even before Hoshina reached his own climax.
"… I wanted to, but that creepy sound game of yours totally killed my arousal. We can do that tonight, it's okay." Hoshina pushed Narumi's body off him and he instantly took the BS5's stick, handing it over to Narumi's slightly dazed state.
"I-I'm sorry, Sou." Narumi gave him a guilty look, but Hoshina just laughed.
How can he be angry with those puppy eyes and guilty look all over Narumi's face? Besides, it is still quite early in the morning, and they've just finished their breakfast. Definitely not the best time to have morning sex.
"It's okay, Gen. Oh gosh, look at your face now. Totally didn't match your glorious and big weapon inside your pants!"
What? Narumi is pretty sure he didn't get a boner!
"I didn't get a boner just because you kissed me, okappa!!!" Narumi shouted with a flushed face, causing Hoshina to laugh even louder. Hoshina holds onto his stomach as he sits beside his flustered fiancé.
"I didn't say that, Narumi! It's a compliment, though! Why did you make it sound like you're busted??!" Hoshina wipes the tears from the corner of his eyes.
"…. What the hell, Hoshina? You casually said as if I was in—"
"Wait, Gen! Are you sure you did not realize you have a big dick even without a boner, big guy?" Hoshina gasped when Narumi squeezed his body and tickled his waist, causing Hoshina to laugh again.
"Okay, okay! I'm sorry, love! I surrender! Just continue playing your game there!" Hoshina cupped Narumi's jaw and pecked his cheeks. Narumi finally loosened his grip before gently holding his waist so that Hoshina wouldn't go anywhere.
Hoshina finally caught his breath and was immersed in Narumi's gameplay as minutes passed by.
"… Gen, what kind of game genre did you want to be, and which character?"
"Oh, it is exactly what I'm playing now. The survival games, whether it's an apocalypse or a horror. I wanted to be the main character, of course!" Narumi's eyes were glued to the screen. His fingers actively press the buttons.
"Why? Is it because you love the adrenaline rush when playing those games?"
Narumi shook his head, "No. It is more to… How can I put this into words? It gives me a ray of hope every time I am about to reach the end of the game, that after the difficult and tricky stages I had to go through, everything shall pass."
Hoshina smiled. It is just like how life is for people in general. No matter how tough and long the journey may be, everything eventually passes.
"Gen, what if we lived in a world where we were not the victims of capitalism?"
"… Do you prefer us to live as the victims of monsters or zombies' attack then, Soushirou?" Narumi glanced at him playfully
"Oh, please… Just don't remind me about that monster again!" Narumi chuckled softly before he continued to ignite Hoshina's imagination.
"We would live in a world where monsters are common creatures amongst us. Not as the pets of course, but as creatures we should kill because they just like the aliens— aimed to claim our Earth as theirs."
"So, we won't be living a life as the exhausted corporate slaves, Gen?"
"Of course, no! I wanted to be one of the main characters there, playing my role as a member of the defense force, specialized in killing those monsters. I would wield a specific weapon to combat them. Life seems more challenging yet so fun with less paperwork to take care of, don't you think so?"
"… The defense force members also had some paperwork to manage, you silly! But that sounds quite fun, combating the monsters instead of completing the presentations for your monthly meetings." Hoshina giggled, using all his imagination to put the imagery of his fiancé in the defense force uniform.
'Wow. I wish I could see my Gen in the defense force uniform every day. But, how could I hold myself then?'
"You'd also work as the defense force member, Sou. I think you'd be a good close-quarter combatant and specialize in using swords as your primary weapon. You were so good at playing kendo aside from fencing, too, right?"
"… Well, yeah. I love playing kendo and was quite good at it, but because my brother was so damn good at it, I moved to fencing!" Hoshina slightly pouted, recalling how much he enjoyed sparring with his brother, even though he kept losing and his brother often teased him.
Soushirou had never wanted to be in his brother's shadow since he was young, period.
But perhaps, in the parallel universe of "what if" when he was a defense force member and had to fight the monsters daily, Soushirou would be able to be on par with his brother with swords, even surpassing him.
"But, the monsters would be huge, right? I think only using swords is not enough, Gen."
"Technically speaking, yes. But who knows if the monsters varied in size, Shirou? I mean, what if the monsters' offspring are also able to attack the humans? You could maximize your ability as a swordsman when facing the small and mid-size monsters." Narumi's eyes lit up as he saw the new weapon unlocked on his character.
"Wow, is that a gun modified with a sword? Quite fancy."
"Yes! Oho. This is so efficient to use! I could battle the zombies with a wide range of attacks, Shirou! Well, I would prefer to use this kind of weapon if I were a member of the defense force and had to fight the monsters too—with a larger size and more firepower, of course."
"It reminds me of a bayonet. You need double swords and a long-range gun to kill those monsters effectively, I guess." Hoshina didn't even realize he was immersed in his own imagination along with Narumi.
"… You seemed so immersed in being the anti-kaijū' defense force, okappa," Narumi chuckled.
Another thing Narumi appreciated about Hoshina was that he could discuss anything with him comfortably, despite their different professional backgrounds.
From everyday topics like mundane chores and political views to work-related matters, the gameplay of the game he is currently playing, highly sensitive topics such as relationships or mental health struggles, or even silly imaginations like this.
"Yes, yes. It would be so fun. But I think we would work in different divisions, Gen."
"Why?!" Narumi's loud question jolted Hoshina a little.
"B-Because having a relationship in the workplace is… condemned? Especially in military settings? It would be quite challenging."
"Well, but— how can you work in another division? It means I couldn't see you every day, nor fight together with you!" Narumi pouted a little.
Ah. Even in an alternate universe, Narumi Gen remains a silly and possessive lover of his.
"Gen, we aren't even working in the same field in our current world!"
"Whatever, maybe you just don't want to be with me in your alternate universe." Hoshina laughed at Narumi's childish answer and kissed him on the cheek.
"No way, I don't think I could find another hot and nerdy guy there, so I'd still choose you," Hoshina's hands softly caress Narumi's hair, totally aware of a faint blush on his lover's cheeks.
"But, I wonder… Would we be able to be in this relationship for a long time there, Gen? I mean, we fight the monsters every day. There would be a high chance one of us would bite the dust first, no matter how good we are at fighting."
'Perhaps, we wouldn't have had the chance to share our feelings by then—because the circumstances wouldn't have allowed it, and death would have called us first, Gen,' Hoshina wondered to himself, sighing inwardly because he didn't expect feeling this somber mood from his own imagination.
"… We would, Soushirou. Because I would be the captain of the strongest division in the whole country, so I could protect you even when we weren't in the same division. I would not let you die at the hands of the monster. We had to live together for a long time there before dying peacefully of old age, Shirou."
Even in another universe, Narumi always makes sure to include Hoshina in his present and his future.
Hoshina smiled. He rested his head on Narumi's shoulder and enjoyed the gameplay.
"You couldn't even live without me in another universe. I'm impressed by how romantic you were, Captain Narumi."
"… Shut up, okappa. You're supposed to be thankful that Captain Narumi would still choose you, not just any random defense force member there," Narumi exhaled a little before he quietly continued,
"Even if we lived in an alternate universe where we have much bigger responsibilities like fighting the monsters to protect the country, I wish you were there and never change at all."
"… Even if that means I would be your rival too?" Hoshina grinned, and he was not anticipating the lengthy answers that Narumi gave afterwards.
"It doesn't matter because I would win, just like I did to you during our undergrad years," Narumi grinned, "I would want to see your annoying smiles and squinty eyes, hear your laughs and those lovely moans in bed, and do everything with you— from mundane chores to lethal works, like putting that tortilla-like sheet mask on our face, playing games together or fighting enormous monsters," Narumi took a deep breath before continuing,
"No matter what universe we live in or 'what-if' scenario comes our way, I would always choose you, Hoshina Soushirou."
Hoshina's face flushed after Narumi's lengthy response—more like a confession—and he couldn't help but hastily grab Narumi's cheeks, turn his face towards him, and kiss him with a fervor.
Hoshina pulled away from the kiss when he heard a roaring sound followed by a groan from the screen, indicating the death of Narumi's character there.
Narumi instantly whipped his head to the screen before he whined loudly, "Oh no!!! I need to redo that stage again?! Hoshina, you need to take responsibility!!"
Hoshina laughed silly. He knows that Narumi would always be so childish, loud, fiercely competitive, and occasionally a bit lazy—yet a true genius and avid gamer in every universe they shared.
And despite everything, Hoshina Soushirou would always find and choose Narumi Gen, no matter the universe they found themselves in.