Our Romanesque - Chapter 7
Title: Our Romanesque
Pairing: Yasuba
/Note: I'm so sorry this took so long guys. I completely lost my motivation for it, but I promise to never leave a chapter that long again! The next will be posted soon.
The snow crunched underneath my feet.
I was heading for the only open café in sight - the rest were closed, as it was New Year’s Eve. It had been the first time in what seemed like months that I’d had time on my own, time to think. I felt somewhat relieved, as if I’d just got my breath back from struggling underwater.
A lot had happened in the past couple of weeks. I shuddered at the thought of that dreadful Christmas Day, the realisation of how twisted the boss I’d been working under was, how cruel he could be. I knew that something must have happened to Yoko to make him this way, I didn’t remember him being so evil - unless he was simply a great actor. I still found it hard to grasp on to the fact that he had been deceiving us all with this ‘nice’ act for all this time.
After the incident had happened, Uchi, Maru, Hina and I had all quit working for him - we didn’t even have to let him know. Neither of us would show up at that place again.
This also meant that I was looking for a job; it was a struggle. Almost everywhere I’d went had no job offers; in the end I ended up working in the local supermarket - which Subaru found hilarious by the way.
I moved in with Subaru on boxing day, he wanted to move our relationship a step further. I don’t think he realised how happy this made me - Tadayoshi was my first and only lover before Subaru, so I thought the way Tadayoshi had hurt me was normal for couples.
My parents split up before I was born, so I didn’t know what a real relationship was supposed to be like. Tadayoshi had told me that his father used to beat his mother, to the point that led her to death.
I felt sorry for him. I think that’s the reason I never put up much of a fight. Tadayoshi simply copied the only thing he knew, what he was brought up watching. I found it hard to blame him for any of it. All I could hope for is that he would find someone to love, someone who will stand up to him and show him what a real relationship is like. Just the way Subaru has shown me.
I’d finally made it; flinging the door open and embracing the warm air that hit me in the face.
“Just a large coffee please.” I ordered, before looking up to find Murakami Shingo grinning at me.
“I didn’t expect to see you here!” he answered.
--
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you got a job here!” I exclaimed.
“Yeah well, I’m not one to brag.” Hina replied, clearly contradicting himself as he was one of the biggest show-offs I knew.
“Aren’t you meant to be working?” I questioned.
The grizzly-teethed man had swiftly left his position at the bar, tagging someone to take his place, to have a chat with me. Sitting opposite me, I could see through his grins, in his eyes that there was something wrong.
“This is my lunch break.” he answered, shuffling on his seat and fiddling with his apron. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you.”
“What’s up?” I asked.
“Maru’s being really awkward. He won’t look at me when he talks to me, and he just looks sad all the time.” Hina frowned. “I think what…Subaru said, had an impact on him.” He broke eye contact with me when he mentioned Subaru’s name.
I stayed silent, waiting for him to continue, nodding occasionally.
“So I asked him eventually. He said he was fine, but when I asked if it was about Subaru, he looked like he was…in pain. It took a full half hour to get anything out of him. He ended up blurting out that he should be with Subaru right now.”
I didn’t know what to say. Maru was right. Of course he was right. If it wasn’t for Yoko, Subaru and Maru would be together. But I couldn’t let Baru go that easily. Besides, Subaru seemed to have no feelings for Maru whatsoever. I had to keep Maru and Hina together, I owed Hina that much at least.
“I don’t know what to do.” Hina said, his voice cracking as he was on the verge of tears.
I took his hands across the table. “Everything’s going to be okay, Hina. Maru is just in shock from what Subaru told him, I mean - he’d been thinking that Subaru was just a complete bastard to him for this past year or so. He loves you.” I confirmed.
“But it doesn’t feel right, Shota. He just doesn’t have his usual cheerful aura around him anymore, and that’s what made me fall for him. He’s the first guy I’ve ever had feelings for. But at this rate, I’m thinking it might have been a mistake breaking up with Erika for him. Maybe I should just stick with being with girls.”
“Hina, you know you’re speaking nonsense. You love Maru, and he loves you. No matter what he feels for Subaru, that can never change what you two have got. You’ve got to fight for the one you love!” I encouraged, unsure of any other advice to give my friend.
Hina nodded. “I better get back to work. I think I’ve gone over on my lunch break!” he laughed. “Oh, and we’re having a little New Year’s party over at our place tonight.” he must’ve caught my worried face as he continued, “-and I don’t have a problem if you bring Subaru along.”
I smiled, gulped the last of my coffee and stood up to give my friend a hug. He was putting up a really good front. “Stay strong.” I whispered into his ear, before turning swiftly and walking out.
--
Every time I would pull out my new key to Subaru’s - or should I say Our place, I was swept with overflowing happiness. I had somewhere I belonged, somewhere I felt comfortable. I never had those same frightened, worried, choking emotions I constantly had when I was with Tadayoshi. I felt like the luckiest man in the world.
“I’m back~” I called out as I clicked the door shut behind me.
“Welcome home!” Subaru called back. He would usually run up to me as soon as I’d got home, but he was in front of the crackly fireplace today - playing his guitar.
I loved watching him play; he would change from the giddy, dorky, cute guy into the handsome, passionate, smart guy right in front of my eyes. I wasn’t sure which Subaru I liked best, but I was attracted intensely to the passionate Subaru. He seemed like such a bigger man when he was playing. I don’t mean that he get’s fat or anything, but he seems to grow into something more brilliant than his usual self - which I would’ve thought was impossible as his brilliant self was simply amazing.
I perched myself next to him, singing along with him to his unnamed song that he’d sang for me at the bakery. He played it so often that I already knew the words.
At the end of the song he looked up at me. “You know, our voices blend together really well. I love your voice so much.”
“I don’t really like my voice… it’s basically nasal. I don’t have talent for it like you do.” I blushed, I couldn’t help but smile at his compliment.
“By the way, Uchi dropped your guitar around earlier. He said Ryo had somehow sneaked into Tadayoshi’s apartment and got it for you, and that he know’s how much it means to you. I guess Hina couldn’t carry it with all your other stuff in his hands.” Subaru laughed. “But why did you never tell me you played too?”
“I forgot…” as silly as it sounded, it was true. Tadayoshi didn’t like me playing, so I rarely did. “You can’t really call it playing, I just mess around on it and compose little bits and bobs.” I revealed.
“Are you any good at composing?” Subaru questioned, a huge cheesy grin on his face.
“Why… what are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking that the two of us should do a song. We can write and compose it together.” Subaru expressed.
“That’s a brilliant idea!” I gleamed. The thought of Subaru and I having our song filled me with the utmost joy. I glanced at the clock: 6pm.
“Right, get your coat on. We’re going to a New Year’s party.” I declared.
“What..?!” Subaru said, almost pouting. He didn’t seem to like festive occasions much. He sighed, getting up and putting his guitar on it’s stand. “I’d be a fool to say no to you though, right?” he winked and sped off to do as he was told.
--
This was the most awkward New Year’s party I’d ever been at. Maru and Hina were quite clearly having some sort of argument in the kitchen, whilst Uchi and Ryo were making out in the corner. Subaru had his head buried into my shoulder, my arms clasped around his frail body.
“How long have we got to stay here?” Subaru whined.
“Shut the fuck up and be grateful you got invited.” Ryo uttered before meeting with Uchi’s lips again.
“Oi, who saved you from those dirty Yakuza hey? Who got their precious guitar pick scratched, for you? Heyyyy?!” Subaru retorted.
“Psssh. Motherfuck. I don’t even know you.” Ryo sheered back.
Subaru rolled his eyes and I pecked him on the forehead. “Calm down Babu, it’s New Year’s Eve!”
Maru came skipping into the living room then, with Shingo trailing not far off behind him.
“It’s almost midnight, so grab your coats. We’re going to watch the firework display!” Maru chimed, he seemed to be back to his normal self.
We all cheered, just glad to have a reason to get out of the house and move for a bit.
If only I’d known back then, the nightmare I was heading straight for.