Coming To Terms (4/4)
Title: Coming To Terms
Author: thanku4urlove
Pairing: Takaki/Inoo
Rating: PG-13
Warning: Slight cursing, discussions about sexuality, kissing
Genre: Slice of life? Romance
Summary: It's the end of 2014. Takaki Yuya is twenty-four, and seven years into his career as a member of the Johnny's group "Hey! Say! JUMP". He loves his job and his group mates too, but is unsure of his relationship with Inoo Kei. The things he knows about his feelings and the things he knows about himself aren't adding up, and all he wants is to make sure Inoo doesn't get hurt while he's trying to figure it all out.
About phone calls, self-acceptance, and being in love.
A/N: The end! I really loved writing this fic, it had me falling in love with these two all over again ♡ Huge thank you to those who read it, I hope you all enjoy the last chapter!
This chapter can also be read on AO3 here! (x)
Previous Parts: 1 | 2 | 3
With Koro Sensation being for the first Assassination Classroom movie, the group had known that they would probably be doing another Sensations song for the second movie too. And they were, the news coming fast at them. Due to the arrangements needed for the music video filming, a great deal of things had to be prepared in advance, and they all began learning the choreography as quickly as they could.
The choreography for Koro Sensation had been incredibly intricate-feeling and difficult, but they’d all improved since then, and picked up on the dance for Sayonara Sensation much quicker than they’d anticipated. As a result, their schedule relaxed, dance practices casual and fun instead as they got the dance cleaned up and performance-level ready.
Takaki liked the choreography, finding it cute and different with all of the wriggling and peace signs and quick formation changes. He was in a good mood, but the whole group was in a good mood, goofing off and laughing with each other. Yuto and Chinen were exclusively wriggling everywhere instead of walking, going up to various members from the side and poking them in the cheeks with their first two fingers. Daiki was in that mood where he giggled at everything, easily encouraging gags and running jokes with his laughter until the whole group was a part of them, laughing too hard to continue.
They’d called a break, all nine of them lounging around the room. Takaki was lingering by his stuff, half getting a drink from his water bottle and half watching Inoo, who was talking about something in the choreography with Daiki. He was laughing, his eyes light with amusement and his mouth open, his nose slightly scrunched up in that way it did when he was particularly pleased. He had both of his hands curled into peace signs, bending his fingers in and out in time with each other, laughing too hard to say whatever it was he was trying to say to get the joke out. He looked cute, so cute that Takaki was struck with how smitten he felt, wanting nothing more than to kiss Inoo.
With a jolt, he realized that he could. He could walk over and kiss Inoo now, as long as he was actually ready; ready to commit, ready to be in a relationship with him, ready for the rest of their group to see how he felt. The idea of it didn’t scare him as much as it used to. It didn’t scare him much at all, his decision made at once, and he put his water down, walking in Inoo’s direction.
“Hey,” was all he managed to say, but it was enough to get Inoo’s attention, Inoo turning to him with interest. Takaki stepped close, first reaching towards Inoo’s side--the sweater Inoo was wearing was so big that all Takaki got was a handful of fabric, so he slid his hand around to the small of Inoo’s back instead, pulling him in. Inoo looked up to his face, his eyes wide and astounded, and Takaki put his other hand on Inoo’s cheek, bending his own head down to kiss him.
Their lips met, one of Inoo’s hands up by his chest, hovering; the other was gripping the sleeve of Takaki’s shirt, on his arm and just below his wrist. He kissed Takaki back in spite of his obvious surprise, leaning up on the balls of his feet to press closer.
Takaki pulled back, much too aware of the rest of the group doubtlessly watching them, his eyes opening. Inoo’s eyes were still closed, opening slowly to meet Takaki’s own. Takaki could feel the group staring at them, but his gaze didn’t leave Inoo’s face. Inoo was looking up at him, his eyebrows tilting in question. Takaki nodded.
“What--?!” Yuto started, but Inoo didn’t give him the time to finish, grabbing tight to Takaki’s arm and pulling him from the room. They only made it as far as the hallway, Inoo stopping in front of the far wall and turning to face him.
“Was that--are you--do you mean--?” Inoo was stumbling over himself, Takaki unable not to smile. “Seriously?”
“Yeah.” He answered with a nod. “Yeah, seriously.”
He was about to elaborate but didn’t seem to need to; Inoo was on him then, his arms around Takaki’s neck, kissing the breath out of him. Takaki was able to kiss back for a couple of moments before he began to laugh, not from amusement but just happiness instead, his head tilted down to Inoo’s own, Inoo pressing his forehead to Takaki’s as he laughed back.
“You’re serious?” Inoo asked again, straightening up. “You want… To date me?”
“Well, it’s that thing you said, being unable not to act like you like me when the others are around. I’ve been feeling that too. Like… So much.”
“And… You couldn’t just tell me?” Inoo asked. Takaki just grinned and shrugged back, Inoo hanging his weight on the arms he had around Takaki’s neck and shaking his head. “You romantic, dramatic idiot.”
That had Takaki laughing, Inoo leaning in to kiss him again.
“Shouldn’t we…” Takaki jerked his head towards the practice room. “I don’t know, go in and talk to them?”
“Keito knows.” Inoo said dismissively. “He can tell them. Come here; I’ve missed kissing you.”
Takaki was more than happy to oblige, leaning Inoo back into the wall behind him and kissing him. It never got too risque--they were still at work--but Takaki kissed him fully, passionately, reveling in the affection of Inoo’s lips on his, the taste of him, the feel of Inoo’s body under his fingers. The kisses slowed, Inoo pulling Takaki in for a long hug instead, letting out a breath as he tucked his head into Takaki’s neck.
“Boyfriend.” He said, the word almost pouty, the tone almost selfish, possessive, and Takaki had to laugh.
“Yeah?” He asked, responding to the word like a nickname, and Inoo looked up at him, a smile splitting his face.
“Let’s go in and talk to them, I guess.”
Despite it being almost fifteen minutes later, they found the group in about the same state they’d left them in, bewilderment on all of their faces, standing around. Some of them were pointing at each other and talking, but when they walked in, it all stopped.
“...what?” Takaki asked. Inoo leaned close to his ear.
“I don’t think Keito told them.” He said, turning to Keito. “Did you not tell everyone?”
Keito looked flustered. “I promised I wouldn’t say anything!”
“That promise is kind of pointless now though, isn’t it?” Takaki asked, amused by the way the entire group rounded on Keito.
“You knew?” Yamada asked. “About…” He gestured vaguely behind him, in probably what he assumed was Takaki and Inoo’s direction. “...whatever this is?”
“We’re dating.” Takaki supplied, looking to Inoo with his eyebrows raised. “I mean, right?”
Inoo didn’t answer, but he was now wearing one of the widest smiles Takaki had ever seen on him, curling himself to Takaki’s side, so Takaki had to assume he’d said the right thing.
“Since when?” Yabu asked.
“Since now.”
“Like…” Daiki’s eyes went wide, and he pointed to the floor of the practice room. “Like now now?”
“Yeah.” Takaki said with a shrug.
“But we liked each other for a while.” Inoo said helpfully. “And we knew we liked each other. So the kiss wasn’t as out of nowhere as it seems, I guess is what I mean.”
“Not out of nowhere.” Chinen deadpanned. “Yeah. Right.”
“How long?” Yuto wanted to know.
“Long enough for being stuck in a closet with someone you like to feel awkward.” Takaki told him. It hadn’t actually been awkward, but Takaki couldn’t help himself. Yuto drew his chin back, pouting a bit.
“Yeah, well, you’re together now or whatever, so I bet it still helped.” He said petulantly. Inoo turned to Takaki, though he spoke loud enough for the whole room to hear.
“It kind of did help.” He admitted. And yeah, it had--if Takaki had to call getting hard at least three times a week during work helping--but he wasn’t about to admit that to Yuto.
“So, Takaki, you’re…?” Hikaru trailed off, meeting Takaki’s eyes, but Takaki knew he was asking about his sexuality. Takaki had been expecting this question, but it still sent a zip of fear up his chest. The feeling, thankfully, was small enough to swallow down, and he was able to answer honestly.
“I like guys too. A lot, apparently, if they’re the right one.” He resisted the urge to shrug. “It’s all kind of new to me, honestly, but…” Inoo, who was already pressed up to his side, reached his arm out to wrap it around Takaki from behind, giving him a squeeze, Takaki able to finish with a smile on his face. “But I’m happy.”
The entire group was looking at him, and some of them were even looking a little bit sappy, and it was all kind of embarrassing. He saw Inoo move towards him out of the corner of his eye, but wasn’t fast enough to get out of the way; Inoo planted a big wet kiss on his cheek, his lips taking up nearly his entire cheek with the way they were puckered up and unceremoniously squished against his face. Takaki was unable to help the laugh that leapt from his chest, half startled and half amused, jumping away from his--boyfriend, Inoo was his boyfriend--as the entire group laughed.
Inoo was laughing too, his face completely relaxed, open and happy as he met Takaki’s eyes. The expression was perfect, a rush of affection going through Takaki’s entire body. He reached towards Inoo to take his hand, and Inoo, still laughing, let himself be tugged forward. Takaki wanted nothing more than to kiss him. And now, he was able to. So he did.
Almost a year later found Takaki in a hotel room in Aichi. It was the night before their last date of the entire DEAR tour, and Takaki knew he should be asleep, but he also knew sleep would be impossible. He was sharing a room with Yabu, his friend sitting at the edge of his bed, wearing a pair of sweatpants and a tank top and and frowning down at his phone. At least he’d stopped pacing.
“Okay.” Yabu said, completely unprompted, getting to his feet. “Hikaru said he would come.”
That was Takaki’s cue go to, in all honesty. Hikaru, over the past year, had become close friends with a Harajuku model. Within a month of the two becoming close, Hikaru had come out to the group with the term “queer”, and while Takaki wasn’t exactly sure what that meant, he was glad for Hikaru; Hikaru was happier now than Takaki had seen him in a while, more goofy and lighthearted, experimenting with occasional makeup looks and colorful hairstyles, talking about maybe getting his ears pierced.
For some reason, this had sent Yabu into a sort of sexuality-questioning spiral. It came and went, and Yabu always called Hikaru for help. This was Yabu’s fifth gay crisis while they’d been on this tour, and Takaki was unable to see where Hikaru was finding the patience to continue to deal with it.
“You don’t have to leave.” Yabu told him, but Takaki just shook his head.
“Nah, it’s alright. I want to say goodnight to Kei. Don’t wait up for me.”
After grabbing a pair of clothes to change into in the morning, Takaki was out the door. He passed Hikaru in the hallway, Hikaru returning the grim smile Takaki offered him, then he knocked on Inoo’s door.
It was Wednesday night. Inoo was now a host on Mezamashi TV, and had been since April, his segment requiring him to be on live television at five in the morning every Thursday. For Inoo’s health, part of Takaki hoped that Inoo was already asleep.
He wasn’t though, and Takaki was happy for that too, Inoo opening the door for him and gesturing him inside. Due to him leaving to be flown to the studio at ungodly hours in the morning, Inoo had a hotel room all to himself. Takaki swept Inoo up into his arms as soon as the door was closed, kissing him in greeting, Inoo making a small, happy sound in the back of his throat as he kissed back.
“To what do I owe this pleasure?” Inoo asked, beaming. He was leaned almost completely against Takaki, his arms around Takaki’s neck, and Takaki found himself very pleased with his complete armful of happy boyfriend.
“Yabu again.” Takaki explained, Inoo letting out a sigh.
“Can’t Hikaru just tell him to watch some porn and get over himself?”
That had Takaki choking with laughter, Inoo laughing back before tightening his grip around Takaki’s neck and jumping, wrapping his legs around Takaki’s waist. Takaki made a noise of surprise, the sudden shift in weight unexpected, stumbling. He nearly fell, but the hotel bed was close enough, landing sideways on it. Inoo was laughing at him, Takaki letting out a breath when they safely hit the mattress.
“That was very dangerous.” Takaki told him, but Inoo just laughed some more, taking advantage of their position on the bed to snuggle his body into Takaki’s. “You’re lucky you’re so cute.”
“I know.” Inoo said with a hum. They got comfortable, Inoo pressing a kiss to Takaki’s neck, the warm soft spot right under his jaw, Takaki sliding a hand under Inoo’s shirt to rest on the soft skin of his stomach.
“You’re sexy.” He said, Inoo shaking his head a bit before kissing Takaki’s neck again.
“No, you’re sexy.”
“Kei, you’re really sexy.” Takaki insisted, Inoo laughing a little.
“Fine! I’m sexy. But you’re sexy. You’re the sexy one, and I’m the pretty one. Remember?”
Takaki made a small noise in agreement, starting to feel sleepy. It had been a long day, and now he was very comfortable, lying down and wrapped up with Inoo. Inoo seemed to misunderstand the sound, putting a hand on Takaki’s cheek and meeting his eyes.
“You’re pretty too.” He said, and Takaki wasn’t sure what it was, but something about the words--the sincerity, maybe?--had a blush rising on his face. Feeling embarrassed and overwhelmingly happy, he pushed his face into Inoo’s neck.
“What?” Inoo asked in laughter, trying to get a look at him. “What?”
“Shut up.” Takaki mumbled.
“Do you like it? When I tell you you’re pretty?” Inoo was teasing him now, Takaki moving to kiss Inoo instead. Inoo was laughing though, at the blush on his face, giggling into the kiss pressed against his mouth.
“You’re awful.” Takaki told him, but he was smiling too, Inoo kissing him properly this time.
“Well, I guess I’m calling you ‘pretty’ more often, Yuya.” He said, and Takaki rolled his eyes.
“Awful.” Takaki said again, Inoo resting his head against Takaki’s chest.
“Yeah, but you love me.”
The phrase was said jokingly, but as soon as it was out of Inoo’s mouth Takaki felt his boyfriend freeze. Though it was something Takaki had been feeling for a while, no declarations of love had been made yet, from either of them. Takaki ran his fingers through Inoo’s soft hair, wanting to kiss him again, wanting to set him at ease.
“I do.” He said, and at that Inoo looked up at him. “I love you.”
Inoo kissed him then, pushing himself up completely to hover over Takaki, murmuring against his lips.
“I love you too.” He said. “So much.”
Then Takaki pulled him down, reveling in the body in his arms, at the disbelief that he had this; that this was his life. That he was in love. He was loved in return. He’d never been more comfortable, more settled in himself, and he’d never been more happy.