Me without you Chapter 3 (Junba, Sakumiya)
Title: Me without you 3/?
Pairing: Junba (main!), Sakumiya, Ohno/?, others possible
Rating: up to R
Genre: AU, romance
Plot: Although they are both young students at college, both the youngest brothers within three, and both part of high society, there are worlds between Jun and Masaki. Jun comes from a rich, traditional and conservative family, while Masaki's family gained wealth and fame by luck. Masaki is cheerful and enjoys life to the fullest. Jun is unusually earnest and distanced. Although part of the same glamorous world, their paths would have never crossed, they would have never even talked, but then Masaki's brothers decide he needs to catch up with his studies, and hire Jun as his tutor. With being so different it seems they will never get closer, until they realize that they both hold a sad secret.
Note: This is dedicated to
yukitsubute. I had (and still have) a lot of fun writing this, and I wonder where it takes me to. I can promise you some fluff, some fun and some drama (the usual ^^) There might even be some hurt & comfort.
Masaki attends a concert on Friday evening, but remembering his promise to his brothers he decides not to get drunk afterwards and instead return back home right after the concert ends. Shingo however looks at him in horror.
“Who are you?” he exclaims dramatically.
Masaki blushes. “Don’t be so stupid,” he grumbles.
Satoshi giggles and turns around on the sofa. He is lying on his back now, his head hanging down from the edge of the sofa, while he looks at a picture he has painted. He has such an admirable talent. No one would believe that a lazy and droopy guy like him could paint and produce are. “It’s not 4AM yet, we are just surprised to see you home so early.”
“Unbelievable,” Shingo cries out, eyes widened in a ridiculous way. “Are you sick? Possessed from an alien? We need to heal you!”
Masaki grabs a pillow and hits Shingo’s shoulder with it. Before he can hit him once more, Shingo has grabbed the pillow though and they both tug at it. At one point they drop to the floor, both of them giggling like madly.
“Anyone ice-cream?” Satoshi asks from the sofa.
“YES!” Shingo exclaims.
“Fine,” Satoshi mumbles lazily. “Are you making some for all of us?”
“You just offered it,” Shingo complains. “I can’t believe you are so lazy! Move your own butt.”
“Nope.”
Masaki grins. “Did you two drink?”
“We only had two glasses of wine,” Shingo explains. “Or maybe five. Celebrated the successful wrap-up of my last project.” He grins. “Good you came home earlier! We can still eat and party together.”
“Let’s play twister,” Masaki grins cheekily. “I’ll so win against you!”
His brothers’ competitive side is awakened almost immediately. “Oh, little brother-chan,” Shingo snickers. “You need to get up earlier to win against your awesome older brother.”
Satoshi snorts. “Age does not qualify you for winning. I’m half your size, and can move easier.”
“Great,” Masaki exclaims. “I’ll get us the ice-cream, you prepare the game!”
“With whipped cream and chocolate,” Satoshi demands. “And with warm fruits!”
“If you find cookies, put some on top of it,” Shingo says.
“Fine,” Masaki giggles.
“And pour some cherry liquor over it.” Shingo winks. “We are not drunk enough yet for twister.”
All three of them laugh, and Masaki hurries to prepare the promised ice-cream. He is happy that he returned home earlier than usual on a Friday evening. He originally wanted to go to sleep earlier because he has to meet this Jun-san tomorrow at 10AM. But spending some quality time with his brothers is just too alluring. He giggles while he puts a lot of chocolate topping on their ice cream. It’s going to be a fun evening.
~~~
“Do you want another cup of tea?” Masaki asks almost shyly.
Jun shakes his head. “No thank you,” he says without even looking up from their books.
Masaki still needs time to recover. A lot of time. He has managed to drag himself to the bathroom before 10 AM, showered, and changed into somewhat acceptable clothes. Jun came in time. On point. Right when Masaki put on his sweater, relieved that he managed to be ready in time, someone rang at the door.
He was so sure that Jun would be some ugly, annoying creep but to his shock he finds a pair of intense dark eyes resting on him while he tries to solve his first task, and two prominent eyebrows furrowing and raising whenever he says or does something. Kame was right though, he is never smiling. Never. Actually he isn’t showing many emotions at all. Which means… he is kind of creepy, but in an almost alluring way. Masaki is just not sure if he wants to dive more into Jun’s personality - he seems to be freaking difficult.
Masaki tries his hardest to comply and to follow what Jun tells him. This is probably the last guy he wants to piss off. He looks so serious that Masaki is sure he would win an award if there was one. He has only accepted a cup with tea when he came to Masaki’s place, and although Masaki has prepared cookies for the both of them, hoping they could chat a bit and get to know each other, Jun doesn’t even touch one.
Jun raises his head. “You are not listening to me,” he says with a deep frown.
Masaki can’t help a laugh. “Sorry,” he smiles brightly. “I was concentrating so much on being concentrated that I forgot to concentrate. Does that make sense?”
Jun raises his thick eyebrows. “No,” he says calmly.
God, does that guy even change his expression sometimes?
“Why is it that you missed so many classes?” Jun wants to know all of a sudden.
“I partied too much,” Masaki answers honestly.
Jun’s eyes widen in obvious surprise. “What?”
Oh, dear, sure, he forgot he talks to the most serious person in universe. “Party,” he explains, slowly losing his patience. He can’t with these guy’s dark eyes and the way he looks at him with this unreadable expression. “When you meet your friends and hang out with them. And have fun… in case you know what I mean.”
Jun pulls his gaze away all of a sudden. “I know the meaning of the word party,” he explains quietly, and much to his surprise Masaki feels a bit bad all of a sudden.
“I didn’t mean to say,” he stutters. “That you don’t party, or don’t have any friends, or…” Fucking shit, what the hell is he saying now!? He is making matters worse!
“I was just surprised by your answer,” Jun interrupts his stuttering. His somewhat uncertain expression is away again, and back is his stoic one. “I didn’t expect you to be so honest.”
“What? You thought I would lie to you?” Masaki chuckles.
“Of course,” Jun answers. “Anyone would lie about something like that.”
Masaki shrugs. “I’m not anyone,” he says. “And I hate liars. Everyone knows the truth anyways, why should I hide it?”
“And your brothers don’t mind?”
“Not at all.” Masaki smiles brightly. “Shin-chan is actually the king of partying himself. He just advised me to find a good middle-way. That’s our deal. I’m going to try to find a good path for myself.” He looks at Jun curiously. “You are on top of your classes, right? I bet you are super-duper-smart. You really like studying?”
Jun looks at him for a long while, his eyebrows scrunched together. Then he relaxes them slightly. “I do what’s expected,” he answers.
Masaki tilts his head. What’s that supposed to mean? It seems like Jun won’t give him any real answer to his questions. “Are you always answering so cryptically?” he asks curiously.
Jun points at Masaki’s book. “Let’s go back to your physics class. I don’t visit that many science classes, but I have quite some math classes, so I guess I can help you with them. What’s your plan for you future? Do you want to become a scientist?”
“I want to cure cancer!” Masaki exclaims full of motivation, and means it.
Jun looks at him in a mixture of annoyance and surprise. “What? That’s your goal? You mean, you want to become a doctor?”
“I want to cure illnesses and help desperate people,” Masaki answers, trying not to roll his eyes. “Yes, I want to become a doctor who never loses hope,” he continues to explain. “I can’t believe I almost lost track of my dream the last year.”
He expects Jun to say something sarcastic again, but much to his surprise, Jun just looks away from him and something in his eyes flickering for a moment. “Well then, let’s start with physics,” he says. Masaki isn’t quite sure what to think about this weird guy, it’s not even like Jun is unfriendly or anything, he is just distanced and doesn’t seem to even want to get to know him. Okay, it’s his job to tutor Masaki, but wouldn’t it hurt to at least try to like him?
~~~
Nino joins him and Shingo later for dinner. “How was it?” Nino asks curiously, smiling happily when Shingo provides him with a huge plate with pasta.
“I’m still trying to find the right words,” Masaki muses.
“Is he an ugly creep?” Nino giggles.
Shingo laughs heartedly. “Is that what you thought he would be just because he is good with his studies?” He chuckles in amusement. “How I wish I would be 18 again.”
“I secretly made a photo,” Masaki says dryly, and shows his phone to Nino. He took it in a moment when Jun dropped his pen and was distracted by searching for it. He enjoys the look of shock in Nino’s eyes a little too much. “Yeah, I was surprised too,” he grins. “When he rang at the door, I even asked him what he wants here and if he mixed up the numbers of the doors. I told him that the rich single lady lives in the villa on the other side of the street.”
Nino grins. “You didn’t.”
“Yes, I did. Guess for him it kind of sealed my fate as a spoiled, annoying rich kid.”
Shingo laughs even more. “What did he say?”
Masaki smirks, and goes for a very serious and firm expression. “Most certainly not,” he answers, trying to go for Jun’s voice. “Then he looked at me like I was the weirdest guy in universe.”
Nino giggles. “And? Was he… I don’t know… How was he?”
“He is polite,” Masaki explains, tilting his head thoughtfully. “It’s really hard to explain him. He really hardly lets down his guard. But he wasn’t unfriendly.”
“Was he kind?” Shingo wants to know.
“I couldn’t say yes to that either,” Masaki admits. “But he remains calm, a bit impatient sometimes, but he knows what he is talking about. First time I understand integrals. He…” Masaki’s voice trails off, and he isn’t sure how he should continue. When Nino prompts him to say something, he just shrugs and shakes his head. He isn’t sure what he wants to say anyhow. In this short moment when Jun let go of his guard, he looked vulnerable. Weirdly so. Masaki knows he is not the smartest person in universe, but he has a feeling for people and their emotions. “He isn’t a bad guy,” he says suddenly.
“That’s deep,” Shingo chuckles. “How come?”
“He looks a bit sad, like a puppy that was kicked once, and now he never wants to be open again,” Masaki hears himself say. “Maybe this whole stoic aura is just a mask? Or it isn’t, and he is just stoic and earnest, and thinks I’m the biggest idiot of the universe.” Masaki can imagine only too well how Jun probably judged him for being the person he is.
“Well,” Shingo says surprisingly earnest. “If it’s a mask - at least once you are sure it is - it’s your task to make it disappear.”
“Hm,” Masaki makes with lack of motivation. What is he supposed to do with that guy? Jun obviously doesn’t think too highly of him, and he is feeling pretty inferior in front of Jun too. So why lingering too long on these difficult thoughts and even more difficult problem? It wasn’t even his problem to begin with.
“It’s our most important family rule!” Shingo exclaims proudly. “Don’t forget it.”
“Oh god.” Nino rolls his eyes. “Don’t tell me, you are forcing this weird credo on Masaki all the time? So that’s why he collects all these stray cats.”
Masaki nods thoughtfully, before he chuckles. “Our family credo is good though! We never walk passed a person who needs us!”
“Right,” Shingo exclaims excitedly.
“You two really like stray dogs,” Nino repeats with a dramatic sigh.
Masaki grins. “You are just curious yourself,” he teases. “Join us three at the dinner party next week and Jun-san might be there.”
“He is there for sure,” Shingo explains. “His oldest brother is on the executive board, and it’s a party to honour him, so I’m sure his younger brothers have to appear.”
“Hm,” Masaki nods. “What is expected…”
“What?” Nino asks curiously.
“Nothing.” Masaki grins. “I’ll help you find an outfit!”
“Who said I would come!?”
“Oh,” Masaki grabs his arm, snuggles against it and makes puppy eyes. “Please~”
Nino tries to pull his arm free, but then he bursts into helpless giggles. “Fine,” he gives in.
~~~
Actually the thought of being alone at home on a Saturday is less than alluring, so he is glad when Shun gives him a call, desperately so. His father recently bought a restaurant chain, some high class food, and expects Shun to go and eat there this weekend. Jun joins him.
“Do we really have to eat something?” Jun whispers when they sit down at the best table on the roof deck of the restaurant. Outside people are actually lining up for up to five hours to get in.
“Yes, unfortunately.” Shun sighs. “I don’t even know what they cook. Last time my father ordered me to go and eat somewhere and I bothered to check their menu, I felt sick. I’m sure I ate something that was alive. But it would be a disgrace to my father not to eat something here.”
Jun nods. He can understand that sentiment. “What should we order?”
“That’s the problem,” Shun explains. “If we look into the menu, we’ll know what we eat. And it’s better not to know… What are we going to do? We-“
He gets interrupted by the head waiter approaching them. He bows deeply. “May I present the young masters with the menu?”
Jun throws a look at Shun and motions him to be quiet. “Actually,” he says in his most charming way. “It is too difficult for us to decide with so many delicious dishes to choose from. We would very much appreciate it if you could offer us the staff’s recommendation.”
The waiter’s eyes widen, then he nods, a proud smile gracing his lips. “I would be honoured to do so. May I provide the two young gentlemen with the wine of the day for now?”
“Please,” Jun smiles politely. Wine will actually be safe, gladly.
When the waiter brings them a bottle of wine and leaves them alone, Shun lets out a sigh of relief. “You are a pro,” he chuckles. “Now we don’t need to know what we’ll eat. By the way…” He looks at Jun curiously. “How did you escape the memorial?”
“Not at all,” Jun explains shortly. “Takuya-san ordered me to take the day off.”
“Ah, so that’s why you went to this Masaki-san today.” Shun eyes him curiously. “So, how is he?”
“Difficult to say,” Jun muses. “He is honest.”
“And that’s bad?”
“He says what’s on his mind. Unfiltered and without further reflection,” Jun explains, not sure if that’s a good or bad thing. He has never met someone like Masaki before. Something about his straight-forward honesty and his blunt and naïve excitement ticks him off, and at the same time fascinates him.
Shun chuckles. “I see. So you don’t like him?”
“No, that’s not it,” Jun answers honestly.
“So, you like him?”
“I can’t say yes to that either.” He sighs. “I’d say, it is like it is. I took the job, so I’m not in the position to whine about the guy.”
“Jun-kun,” Shun smiles warmly. “You can whine as much as you want about any guy in front of me, okay? Who cares if it’s appropriate or not. I’m your friend.”
“Yes,” Jun says after a while, looking down into his glass of wine. “You are.” What did this Masaki say before? Something about partying and meeting your friends, and having fun. Like Jun didn’t know how it was supposed to work. He doesn’t understand why it bothers him so much. He is no one who is easily irritated normally, but somehow this guy made him almost drop his guard. In a twisted way it almost pains him to be close to him. Jun isn’t all that sure why he feels that way, it’s just something about Masaki that reminds him something long ago, and he wonders if he wants to be reminded of it by a guy he hardly knows - actually he isn’t even sure if he wants to know Masaki. His presence during their lessons is already overstraining him, hence it’s impossible to become friends. He just can’t drop his guard. He needs to be careful around him.
A/N: I've so much fun writing the Masaki-brothers, because they always have so fun. On contrary I always need forever to write scenes between the Jun-brothers (not in this update, but in the next one, they'll have an appearance again)
Sooo, Jun and Masaki met, and it's awkward? Icy? Irritating? For me it's like one of those meetings where you aren't sure what you are even supposed to feel. I think dumbfounded might be the word for it? For now these two don't seem to have any similarities at all. But this is only the beginning ;-)
Pairing: Junba (main!), Sakumiya, Ohno/?, others possible
Rating: up to R
Genre: AU, romance
Plot: Although they are both young students at college, both the youngest brothers within three, and both part of high society, there are worlds between Jun and Masaki. Jun comes from a rich, traditional and conservative family, while Masaki's family gained wealth and fame by luck. Masaki is cheerful and enjoys life to the fullest. Jun is unusually earnest and distanced. Although part of the same glamorous world, their paths would have never crossed, they would have never even talked, but then Masaki's brothers decide he needs to catch up with his studies, and hire Jun as his tutor. With being so different it seems they will never get closer, until they realize that they both hold a sad secret.
Note: This is dedicated to
yukitsubute. I had (and still have) a lot of fun writing this, and I wonder where it takes me to. I can promise you some fluff, some fun and some drama (the usual ^^) There might even be some hurt & comfort.
Masaki attends a concert on Friday evening, but remembering his promise to his brothers he decides not to get drunk afterwards and instead return back home right after the concert ends. Shingo however looks at him in horror.
“Who are you?” he exclaims dramatically.
Masaki blushes. “Don’t be so stupid,” he grumbles.
Satoshi giggles and turns around on the sofa. He is lying on his back now, his head hanging down from the edge of the sofa, while he looks at a picture he has painted. He has such an admirable talent. No one would believe that a lazy and droopy guy like him could paint and produce are. “It’s not 4AM yet, we are just surprised to see you home so early.”
“Unbelievable,” Shingo cries out, eyes widened in a ridiculous way. “Are you sick? Possessed from an alien? We need to heal you!”
Masaki grabs a pillow and hits Shingo’s shoulder with it. Before he can hit him once more, Shingo has grabbed the pillow though and they both tug at it. At one point they drop to the floor, both of them giggling like madly.
“Anyone ice-cream?” Satoshi asks from the sofa.
“YES!” Shingo exclaims.
“Fine,” Satoshi mumbles lazily. “Are you making some for all of us?”
“You just offered it,” Shingo complains. “I can’t believe you are so lazy! Move your own butt.”
“Nope.”
Masaki grins. “Did you two drink?”
“We only had two glasses of wine,” Shingo explains. “Or maybe five. Celebrated the successful wrap-up of my last project.” He grins. “Good you came home earlier! We can still eat and party together.”
“Let’s play twister,” Masaki grins cheekily. “I’ll so win against you!”
His brothers’ competitive side is awakened almost immediately. “Oh, little brother-chan,” Shingo snickers. “You need to get up earlier to win against your awesome older brother.”
Satoshi snorts. “Age does not qualify you for winning. I’m half your size, and can move easier.”
“Great,” Masaki exclaims. “I’ll get us the ice-cream, you prepare the game!”
“With whipped cream and chocolate,” Satoshi demands. “And with warm fruits!”
“If you find cookies, put some on top of it,” Shingo says.
“Fine,” Masaki giggles.
“And pour some cherry liquor over it.” Shingo winks. “We are not drunk enough yet for twister.”
All three of them laugh, and Masaki hurries to prepare the promised ice-cream. He is happy that he returned home earlier than usual on a Friday evening. He originally wanted to go to sleep earlier because he has to meet this Jun-san tomorrow at 10AM. But spending some quality time with his brothers is just too alluring. He giggles while he puts a lot of chocolate topping on their ice cream. It’s going to be a fun evening.
~~~
“Do you want another cup of tea?” Masaki asks almost shyly.
Jun shakes his head. “No thank you,” he says without even looking up from their books.
Masaki still needs time to recover. A lot of time. He has managed to drag himself to the bathroom before 10 AM, showered, and changed into somewhat acceptable clothes. Jun came in time. On point. Right when Masaki put on his sweater, relieved that he managed to be ready in time, someone rang at the door.
He was so sure that Jun would be some ugly, annoying creep but to his shock he finds a pair of intense dark eyes resting on him while he tries to solve his first task, and two prominent eyebrows furrowing and raising whenever he says or does something. Kame was right though, he is never smiling. Never. Actually he isn’t showing many emotions at all. Which means… he is kind of creepy, but in an almost alluring way. Masaki is just not sure if he wants to dive more into Jun’s personality - he seems to be freaking difficult.
Masaki tries his hardest to comply and to follow what Jun tells him. This is probably the last guy he wants to piss off. He looks so serious that Masaki is sure he would win an award if there was one. He has only accepted a cup with tea when he came to Masaki’s place, and although Masaki has prepared cookies for the both of them, hoping they could chat a bit and get to know each other, Jun doesn’t even touch one.
Jun raises his head. “You are not listening to me,” he says with a deep frown.
Masaki can’t help a laugh. “Sorry,” he smiles brightly. “I was concentrating so much on being concentrated that I forgot to concentrate. Does that make sense?”
Jun raises his thick eyebrows. “No,” he says calmly.
God, does that guy even change his expression sometimes?
“Why is it that you missed so many classes?” Jun wants to know all of a sudden.
“I partied too much,” Masaki answers honestly.
Jun’s eyes widen in obvious surprise. “What?”
Oh, dear, sure, he forgot he talks to the most serious person in universe. “Party,” he explains, slowly losing his patience. He can’t with these guy’s dark eyes and the way he looks at him with this unreadable expression. “When you meet your friends and hang out with them. And have fun… in case you know what I mean.”
Jun pulls his gaze away all of a sudden. “I know the meaning of the word party,” he explains quietly, and much to his surprise Masaki feels a bit bad all of a sudden.
“I didn’t mean to say,” he stutters. “That you don’t party, or don’t have any friends, or…” Fucking shit, what the hell is he saying now!? He is making matters worse!
“I was just surprised by your answer,” Jun interrupts his stuttering. His somewhat uncertain expression is away again, and back is his stoic one. “I didn’t expect you to be so honest.”
“What? You thought I would lie to you?” Masaki chuckles.
“Of course,” Jun answers. “Anyone would lie about something like that.”
Masaki shrugs. “I’m not anyone,” he says. “And I hate liars. Everyone knows the truth anyways, why should I hide it?”
“And your brothers don’t mind?”
“Not at all.” Masaki smiles brightly. “Shin-chan is actually the king of partying himself. He just advised me to find a good middle-way. That’s our deal. I’m going to try to find a good path for myself.” He looks at Jun curiously. “You are on top of your classes, right? I bet you are super-duper-smart. You really like studying?”
Jun looks at him for a long while, his eyebrows scrunched together. Then he relaxes them slightly. “I do what’s expected,” he answers.
Masaki tilts his head. What’s that supposed to mean? It seems like Jun won’t give him any real answer to his questions. “Are you always answering so cryptically?” he asks curiously.
Jun points at Masaki’s book. “Let’s go back to your physics class. I don’t visit that many science classes, but I have quite some math classes, so I guess I can help you with them. What’s your plan for you future? Do you want to become a scientist?”
“I want to cure cancer!” Masaki exclaims full of motivation, and means it.
Jun looks at him in a mixture of annoyance and surprise. “What? That’s your goal? You mean, you want to become a doctor?”
“I want to cure illnesses and help desperate people,” Masaki answers, trying not to roll his eyes. “Yes, I want to become a doctor who never loses hope,” he continues to explain. “I can’t believe I almost lost track of my dream the last year.”
He expects Jun to say something sarcastic again, but much to his surprise, Jun just looks away from him and something in his eyes flickering for a moment. “Well then, let’s start with physics,” he says. Masaki isn’t quite sure what to think about this weird guy, it’s not even like Jun is unfriendly or anything, he is just distanced and doesn’t seem to even want to get to know him. Okay, it’s his job to tutor Masaki, but wouldn’t it hurt to at least try to like him?
~~~
Nino joins him and Shingo later for dinner. “How was it?” Nino asks curiously, smiling happily when Shingo provides him with a huge plate with pasta.
“I’m still trying to find the right words,” Masaki muses.
“Is he an ugly creep?” Nino giggles.
Shingo laughs heartedly. “Is that what you thought he would be just because he is good with his studies?” He chuckles in amusement. “How I wish I would be 18 again.”
“I secretly made a photo,” Masaki says dryly, and shows his phone to Nino. He took it in a moment when Jun dropped his pen and was distracted by searching for it. He enjoys the look of shock in Nino’s eyes a little too much. “Yeah, I was surprised too,” he grins. “When he rang at the door, I even asked him what he wants here and if he mixed up the numbers of the doors. I told him that the rich single lady lives in the villa on the other side of the street.”
Nino grins. “You didn’t.”
“Yes, I did. Guess for him it kind of sealed my fate as a spoiled, annoying rich kid.”
Shingo laughs even more. “What did he say?”
Masaki smirks, and goes for a very serious and firm expression. “Most certainly not,” he answers, trying to go for Jun’s voice. “Then he looked at me like I was the weirdest guy in universe.”
Nino giggles. “And? Was he… I don’t know… How was he?”
“He is polite,” Masaki explains, tilting his head thoughtfully. “It’s really hard to explain him. He really hardly lets down his guard. But he wasn’t unfriendly.”
“Was he kind?” Shingo wants to know.
“I couldn’t say yes to that either,” Masaki admits. “But he remains calm, a bit impatient sometimes, but he knows what he is talking about. First time I understand integrals. He…” Masaki’s voice trails off, and he isn’t sure how he should continue. When Nino prompts him to say something, he just shrugs and shakes his head. He isn’t sure what he wants to say anyhow. In this short moment when Jun let go of his guard, he looked vulnerable. Weirdly so. Masaki knows he is not the smartest person in universe, but he has a feeling for people and their emotions. “He isn’t a bad guy,” he says suddenly.
“That’s deep,” Shingo chuckles. “How come?”
“He looks a bit sad, like a puppy that was kicked once, and now he never wants to be open again,” Masaki hears himself say. “Maybe this whole stoic aura is just a mask? Or it isn’t, and he is just stoic and earnest, and thinks I’m the biggest idiot of the universe.” Masaki can imagine only too well how Jun probably judged him for being the person he is.
“Well,” Shingo says surprisingly earnest. “If it’s a mask - at least once you are sure it is - it’s your task to make it disappear.”
“Hm,” Masaki makes with lack of motivation. What is he supposed to do with that guy? Jun obviously doesn’t think too highly of him, and he is feeling pretty inferior in front of Jun too. So why lingering too long on these difficult thoughts and even more difficult problem? It wasn’t even his problem to begin with.
“It’s our most important family rule!” Shingo exclaims proudly. “Don’t forget it.”
“Oh god.” Nino rolls his eyes. “Don’t tell me, you are forcing this weird credo on Masaki all the time? So that’s why he collects all these stray cats.”
Masaki nods thoughtfully, before he chuckles. “Our family credo is good though! We never walk passed a person who needs us!”
“Right,” Shingo exclaims excitedly.
“You two really like stray dogs,” Nino repeats with a dramatic sigh.
Masaki grins. “You are just curious yourself,” he teases. “Join us three at the dinner party next week and Jun-san might be there.”
“He is there for sure,” Shingo explains. “His oldest brother is on the executive board, and it’s a party to honour him, so I’m sure his younger brothers have to appear.”
“Hm,” Masaki nods. “What is expected…”
“What?” Nino asks curiously.
“Nothing.” Masaki grins. “I’ll help you find an outfit!”
“Who said I would come!?”
“Oh,” Masaki grabs his arm, snuggles against it and makes puppy eyes. “Please~”
Nino tries to pull his arm free, but then he bursts into helpless giggles. “Fine,” he gives in.
~~~
Actually the thought of being alone at home on a Saturday is less than alluring, so he is glad when Shun gives him a call, desperately so. His father recently bought a restaurant chain, some high class food, and expects Shun to go and eat there this weekend. Jun joins him.
“Do we really have to eat something?” Jun whispers when they sit down at the best table on the roof deck of the restaurant. Outside people are actually lining up for up to five hours to get in.
“Yes, unfortunately.” Shun sighs. “I don’t even know what they cook. Last time my father ordered me to go and eat somewhere and I bothered to check their menu, I felt sick. I’m sure I ate something that was alive. But it would be a disgrace to my father not to eat something here.”
Jun nods. He can understand that sentiment. “What should we order?”
“That’s the problem,” Shun explains. “If we look into the menu, we’ll know what we eat. And it’s better not to know… What are we going to do? We-“
He gets interrupted by the head waiter approaching them. He bows deeply. “May I present the young masters with the menu?”
Jun throws a look at Shun and motions him to be quiet. “Actually,” he says in his most charming way. “It is too difficult for us to decide with so many delicious dishes to choose from. We would very much appreciate it if you could offer us the staff’s recommendation.”
The waiter’s eyes widen, then he nods, a proud smile gracing his lips. “I would be honoured to do so. May I provide the two young gentlemen with the wine of the day for now?”
“Please,” Jun smiles politely. Wine will actually be safe, gladly.
When the waiter brings them a bottle of wine and leaves them alone, Shun lets out a sigh of relief. “You are a pro,” he chuckles. “Now we don’t need to know what we’ll eat. By the way…” He looks at Jun curiously. “How did you escape the memorial?”
“Not at all,” Jun explains shortly. “Takuya-san ordered me to take the day off.”
“Ah, so that’s why you went to this Masaki-san today.” Shun eyes him curiously. “So, how is he?”
“Difficult to say,” Jun muses. “He is honest.”
“And that’s bad?”
“He says what’s on his mind. Unfiltered and without further reflection,” Jun explains, not sure if that’s a good or bad thing. He has never met someone like Masaki before. Something about his straight-forward honesty and his blunt and naïve excitement ticks him off, and at the same time fascinates him.
Shun chuckles. “I see. So you don’t like him?”
“No, that’s not it,” Jun answers honestly.
“So, you like him?”
“I can’t say yes to that either.” He sighs. “I’d say, it is like it is. I took the job, so I’m not in the position to whine about the guy.”
“Jun-kun,” Shun smiles warmly. “You can whine as much as you want about any guy in front of me, okay? Who cares if it’s appropriate or not. I’m your friend.”
“Yes,” Jun says after a while, looking down into his glass of wine. “You are.” What did this Masaki say before? Something about partying and meeting your friends, and having fun. Like Jun didn’t know how it was supposed to work. He doesn’t understand why it bothers him so much. He is no one who is easily irritated normally, but somehow this guy made him almost drop his guard. In a twisted way it almost pains him to be close to him. Jun isn’t all that sure why he feels that way, it’s just something about Masaki that reminds him something long ago, and he wonders if he wants to be reminded of it by a guy he hardly knows - actually he isn’t even sure if he wants to know Masaki. His presence during their lessons is already overstraining him, hence it’s impossible to become friends. He just can’t drop his guard. He needs to be careful around him.
A/N: I've so much fun writing the Masaki-brothers, because they always have so fun. On contrary I always need forever to write scenes between the Jun-brothers (not in this update, but in the next one, they'll have an appearance again)
Sooo, Jun and Masaki met, and it's awkward? Icy? Irritating? For me it's like one of those meetings where you aren't sure what you are even supposed to feel. I think dumbfounded might be the word for it? For now these two don't seem to have any similarities at all. But this is only the beginning ;-)