Let it go (8/?)
Let it go: Chapter 8
A series of events from Nino's perspective.
Authors Note: If this looks familiar, it should be. Much of the dialogue is the same, but there is a new perspective and thoughts: Nino's!
As it turns out Nino did not get fired, but he spent most of the weekend at the retreat avoiding all contact with Matsumoto, just in case. Better safe than sorry. However, the problem with working at a small company was that as soon as you were back at work it was impossible to avoid your boss. In the halls, at the hot water dispenser, in the bathroom. On his way to work (there was no way that they could live near each other. Nino was far too cheap to live anywhere nice, and he was sure that someone like Matsumoto Jun would not be caught dead in the quarter he lived in) Matsumoto was fricking everywhere. Nino could tell that the other man was watching him, though he did not say anything. After a while, Nino got tired of waiting for Matsumoto to react. Or rather, he decided that not getting fired was reaction enough. So he began to say hello to the other man, sometimes waving at him, a wink accompanied with a nod. His favorite one was to point with two fingers and smile, his signature move some would say, that always left Matsumoto startled.
This was quite fun, really.
It was a little odd when Nagase started sending him to weekly progress meetings with Matsumoto, instead of going himself. But one day, when he saw Sakurai and Oguri watching him from around a corner, whispering among themselves, then glancing to Matsumoto, who was watching him - much more subtle than the other two were - things began to make sense.
And Nino started watching Jun, noticing that the other was watching him, but he was not sure that Matsumoto realized that he was watching, just as he was sure that his not so subtle friends, Sakurai and Oguri were undiscovered.
Which is why Nino was not surprised when Nagase wanted them to change their lunch time, to boost productivity, but Nino knew for a fact that was when Matsumoto and Sakurai usually took their lunches. It helped that Nino ate like a bird. Coffee and pocky were enough for him most days. When he was hungrier he could run to the konbini and get an onigiri, soba or something.
Until the day he decided that a change was needed. He was tired of waiting for Matsumoto to make a move - how dense could one be? Nino didn’t want to throw himself a the man, but he was trying to make his interest obvious. And how much more obvious than I like your hips (and by association I have obviously been staring at your ass in those tight fitting pants to notice your hips) did he have to be? So the project Get On Better Terms With Masumoto Jun began, by sitting with them at lunch one day.
He could not help but smirk when he saw that Matsumoto and Sakurai had matching bentos, and from the twitch in Matsumoto’s eyebrow, the other remembered his comment about how couple like matching bentos were. Good, he did recall the flirtation then. It was Sakruai who invited him to have a seat and even though he wanted it to be Matsumoto he took the opening. Besides, from what he had observed, Sakurai was for this game of cat and mouse that was being played.
“Have a seat, Ninomiya-san.” He had motioned to the chair and Nino had sat down with a small smile, and curt “Thank you, and its Nino.” Before popping the top on his coffee and taking a swig with a happy sigh.
The silence was bothersome, the conversation was forced at times and more often than not Matsumoto would leave before the rest of them. Nino found himself staring after the other man, trying not to let his frustration show. Was he really that dense? Nino was not eating with bosses because he wanted a promotion, he could care less about that shit. He just wanted to get to know Matsumoto. The man was infuriatingly distant; and yet had not fired him for his forwardness.
“Jun is still hiding behind his work, instead of overcoming his shyness, I see.” Oguri, who sometimes joined then for lunch commented with a sigh, looking at Sho who nodded before he could help it. Nino glanced at Shun sharply who pretended not to notice as he finished his lunch, packing it up with a small smile.
He was good, Nino had to admit, but he could still see the pleased smiled there.
“Yuu always makes the best lunches. I think she might have beaten your gourmet, Sakurai.” Nino watched Oguri stand, noting the way that Sakurai shook his head emphatically, placing the bento down onto the table.
“You are just upset that Jun stopped cooking for you as soon as you got a girlfriend.” Sakurai packed his lunch up and stood along with Shun, following the other out of the lunch room arguing about who had the better lunches while Nino watched them go.
So Matsumoto was shy, then. This changed things, since the other would never make a move. He would just have to be more clear in his advanced then. Not much later Nino got his chance, when he needed to talk to Jun about some paperwork; his light knock on his door was met with the summons to enter.
“Come in.” Jun had called, looking back down at his work as Nino entered the office. Jun did not look up, so Nino perched on the edge of the desk, peering at what Matsumoto was marking over with a red pen in a rather vicious fashion. Staring at the project Nino could not help but frown. What the hell was that? And how the hell had they gotten his software to do something that... dense?
“Interesting use of the software, isn’t it?” Jun motioned for Nino to have a seat who sat in the chair, crossing his legs and waiting for the VP to finish.
“It was not quite what Naga-nii-san envisioned for the software, I am sure,” was Nino’s reply. He was relieved when Jun smiled.
“Skirting the line again, Nino?” Jun asked, taking the folder that Nino had left on the desk and Nino shrugged. He had not gotten fired before and hopefully he would not get fired in future, since soon he really would be skirting the line.
“I am not certain what you are referring to, Matsumoto-san.” He kept his voice light, studying Jun, who snapped back a reply.
“I am sure that you don’t.” Nino shifted, waiting as Jun studied the report in from of him. When he spoke again his voice was not as harsh - it was tinged with respect. “Impressive as usual, you all are doing quite well. At this rate, you will need a new project soon.” Jun looked up and Nino nodded.
“Nagase-nii had found a quite efficient system to motivate us. The more we are ahead of the schedule, the better the prize we can compete for.” Nino was pleased with this. It meant more video games for him.
“I am glad that his idea worked. It does make his department one of the most efficient ones.” Jun leaned back, handing Nino the folder back. “All of the changes look good to me. We will obviously need to test it out before we try and do any of the graphics rendering on it, but it looks like it is ready to launch.”
Nino nodded, standing and taking the folder off of Jun’s desk. He did not speak for a moment, just looked at Jun, who looked back with an even gaze, searching.
Matsumoto really did look quite nice with a blush. It softened his features slightly.
“You know, Matsumoto-san. If you ever get tired of cooking for Sakurai, though it does look delicious, a friend of mine owns a yakiniku shop around here. We could go. So just think about it.” Nino offered and slipped out the door before Jun could answer. This time, though, when he called Masaki later, it was to tell him that he had finally, directly, made a move: Inviting Matsumoto to lunch.
What he did not expect was a bento the next day. Nino was glad that no one was around, since as much as he enjoyed seeing Matsumoto blush, there was no way that everyone needed to see him blushing, since he was certain that he was. This was quite unexpected.
The bento was good; Nino made sure to let Matsumoto know that.
“it really is delicious, Matsumoto-san, but not quite what I had in mind. Next time, we will have to go out.” And with that he was gone, hoping that the other had not heard how hard his heart was pounding as he had taken that risk. Asking one of the bosses out while the other was sitting there, was ballsy, but worth it, he hoped.
“Ahh, MatsuJun! Nino-chan! You came again. I will get your usual ready?” Aiba called out in his usually cheery voice. Nino could not help but wonder if the man had already finished his second pot of coffee for the day. That could be the only reason for anyone to have that much energy. Yet he had never seen the older man drink caffeine. But Aiba was Aiba, so it was alright.
“No Sho-chan today?” Aiba asked as he set down filled water glasses and a pot of steaming hot tea with two cups. Jun shook his head.
“Lunch meeting with some of our perspective clients.” Jun smiled at Aiba. Nino could not help but steal a glance at him as he spoke, enjoying the carefree way that Jun smiled when they were not in the office.
“He did say to ask Aiba-chan to send back some food with us, since nothing he can get during the meeting will be as good as your cooking.”
“You don’t need to be there, Jun-pon?” Nino asked, his voice serious despite the use of the horrible nickname. Nino loved the way that Jun flinched every time the name was used. Indeed, his entire purpose in using the god awful name seemed Jun’s reaction to it. He could not hide the slight smile that curled at the corner of his lips and the light in his eyes at Jun’s discomfort.
Jun shook his head. “Sho’s job is to bring in the clients, mine is to make certain that they stay. Sho talks about price, time lines, practical things with them. I just take their creative vision and bring it to life.”
Nino nodded. He knew well that Jun was very particular about how the projects were put together. Nothing below his standards could be published by them. That was a fact no one dared argue with. Nino had heard Nagase on the receiving end of a scolding when a glitch was found in some of the software they had developed. It made him glad he was not on the development team for that one. But more often than not it was the marketing department that had to face Jun’s wrath.
“It just seems that-“ Nino started to speak, but he stopped as Aiba brought their orders to the table. At the same time Jun’s phone rang and he pulled it out of his pocket. To Nino’s immense surprise, Jun read the name on the display with a wide smile, one that Nino had never seen before.
He wanted to be the one bringing that smile to Jun’s face.
“Nii-chan, are you in town again?” Jun motioned to Nino, who nodded, waving, watching him weave through the tables, aiming for the door.
His brother, huh.
Nino watched Jun, nibbling on the food that Aiba brought. In the end, he and Aiba decided to pack up the lunches, chatting about how things were progressing with Jun.
“Not at all, he is… he just doesn’t realize, I think. And I don’t know how much more obvious I can be with him without actually propositioning him.” Nino sighed. Aiba smiled down at him.
“Nino is getting through to Jun, I think. It will just take time. He cooks for you and you play video games with him. You let him touch your games. You never let me touch your games.”
“That’s cause you break them.” Nino snapped, but Aiba continued as if the other had not spoken.
“And you pay sometimes, and Nino never pays, not even for me. If that is not love then I don’t know what is. But this is the first time I have seen you try this hard, Nino…” Aiba trailed off as Nino watched Jun who was on the phone for a while. He looked serious, Nino thought, more serious than a conversation with his brother should entail. Hopefully nothing was wrong.
As Jun came back to the table, Nino could see the surprise on his face, at the packaged food, as well as the lack of a bill.
“Aiba-chan packed it up for you, as well as a portion for Sho. We were not sure how much longer you would be on the phone out there. It seemed that things got a little serious there.”
Jun nodded, sighing as he sank down in his chair, looking at Nino for a moment before his gaze shifted to the wall behind him, then to his own hands, which held the long gone cold teacup. This made Nino nervous. Something was certainly wrong.
“It was my brother, he is in town.” Jun paused and looked to Nino again. Nino looked back, his eyes widening slightly. Was Jun going to open up to him about something? This was new and different, and progress. He could see Aiba watching them, hovering near the kitchen behind Jun’s back, flashing him a thumbs up. Nino had to fight not to roll his eyes at the idiot.
“The artist, right?”
Jun nodded. “He wishes to meet you, since it seems both Sho and I have mentioned you during conversations, and-“
Nino felt his heart begin to pound, knowing that he had to do something - soon, before he did something stupid like start blushing or leaning over and take Jun’s hand, or something else that was mushy and unlike Nino.
“Jun-pon, if you want to introduce me to your family, then you can. Though it is a big step.” Nino was not sure where those words came from, or the tone, but he stood, waving to Aiba as he walked out of the restaurant, trying not to break into a run, or worse yet, go back and tell Jun that he was kidding. Since he was not. Introducing Nino to his brother, with whom he apparently TALKED about Nino, was something significant.
What if his brother didn’t like Nino? They were close, very close, Nino knew from listening to Oguri and Sakurai talk. What if his brother said to not socialize with Nino, what would he do then?
Nino leaned against the door to the restaurant, Sakurai hovering beside him. They did not need to say it, but both wanted to give the brothers a moment, though Nino was not sure that he liked them snuggling that much, in the middle of a restaurant none the less. Since when was Jun a snuggler? If he had known that fact, he would have been snuggling with him when they played games, as that was a sure way to let the other know of his intentions.
“Aiba has been nice enough to start the food, and I don’t want it to get cold. Where are Ninomiya and Sho-chan?”
Nino could hear the other man speak and chose that moment to start walking forward, Sakurai beside him.
“They were supposed to leave a few moments after I did, I am not sure where there are.” Jun replied. It was then that Nino spoke, smiling at Aiba as the other waved enthusiastically at him from across the restaurant.
“We were hesitant to enter and ruin such a touching brotherly moment. But we are here now, so the real party can begin.” Nino slid up to the table. Jun turned, looking at the new arrivals.
“Ohno Satoshi, this is Ninomiya Kazunari. You know Sho, so I don’t have to introduce you to him. And the owner of the restaurant who had already captured your stomach is Aiba Masaki.”
“I was a little surprised when he said that he was your brother, MatsuJun. He looks nothing like you.” Aiba commented and Jun nodded.
“Step brothers, but that doesn’t really matter to us. Satoshi is one of the better things that happened in my life, and I am glad that he is part of the family.” Jun looked to Satoshi who grabbed his hand, squeezing it with a smile, and Jun knew that his brother agreed. Nino realized he could not look away from their entwined hands, lying on the table. What would it be like for him to be able to hold Jun’s hand like that, be that casual and open with him?
“I am not sure what we would have done without him, he has been a great support for both Sho and me with the entire company.”
“Satsohi-kun is quite special to us both, so it is good to see him in town.” Sho agreed. Nino looked at him, his eyes sharp. He glanced back to Ohno, noting the way that his hand was still entwined with Jun’s resting on the table - his piercing eyes met the sleepy ones. He could see Ohno assessing him, his eyes glancing to the entwined hands briefly, before his eyes narrowed. He could see Ohno’s eyes crinkle, in what he could only imagine was amusement, before he smiled at Nino.
So, I have been approved of, it seems. Nino could not help but think as he leaned forward with a smirk.
“So, artist-san, what embarrassing things can you tell me about Jun-kun and Sho-kun here. It seems that the office knows very little about them and we are dying to know.” Nino’s arms were folded on the table and he leaned forward further as he spoke, searching Ohno’s face.
“Ask Jun-nii yourself. He will answer any question that you ask of him, I am sure,” was Ohno’s reply before he lifted chopsticks to his mouth with his free hand, inhaling the food.
“Ah, UMAI!” He cried out, beaming at Aiba who smiled back at him, placing more meat on his place.
Nino was disappointed that Ohno would not gossip about his brother, or Sakurai, and even more disappointed that they held hands the entire lunch. He was certain he would be pouting, except for the fact that Ohno kept catching his gaze, smiling; not in the I Know What You Want and It Is Mine, but in a I See That You Want This and I Am Alright With It and This Is One Of The Ways That I Am Making Sure That You Really Do Like My Brother sort of smiles.
Nino could understand where the other was coming from, but still, Jun looked so happy and content - Nino was envious. He was certain that Ohno could tell, as well as Aiba could, from the way that he hovered, patting Nino’s shoulder every once in a while.
Nino and Ohno exchanged numbers, or rather Ohno took Nino’s number and sent him a message.
“You are good to Jun-nii-chan. But you will have to work hard for it. Jun-nii-chan doesn’t know how to date, or realize what is waiting for him. So be patient with him.”
It was a huge surprise to Nino, but a relief at the same time. Approval of Jun’s brother was a good thing. Their friendship grew, since Ohno was a wealth of information about Jun; and when he was in the right mood, he would tell Nino all sorts of things about Jun, about his moods and his temperament, things that Nino had figured out, or guessed, but it was good to be able to talk to him about it, like his wooing Jun strategy, and the progresses that were made.
Ohno assured Nino that Jun cooking for him was a huge step, even from the beginning, as other than him, Shun and Sho, Jun cooked for no one. His food was precious to him, and his way to show that he cared.
“He likes you, Nino-chan.” Ohno assured Nino, and it was Ohno who, when he found out that Nino’s apartment was getting demolished (it had been condemned by the health inspectors), told him that he would be moving in with Jun. Period.
Nino had tried to argue with him, claiming that it would be odd, or inconvenient, or something. Then Ohno had called him, something that he never did.
“Kazunari, stop arguing with me,” was what he had said. The Kazunari made him realize that Ohno was serious. “I think it would be good. It would help things with you and Jun, I think. The best way to get to know him is to be there, and you need a place to live, even if just for a little while as you look for a new place. Jun won’t say no, trust me.”
And indeed, Jun had not. And when he had shown up nervously at Jun’s door with with a few boxes of clothing and games, Jun had asked if that was everything. Nino knew that he was surprised at the admission, but he did not say anything to Nino about it.
And it turned out that Nino never even looked for another place to live.
Ohno was right, this was a good way to progress with Jun. And he was glad that the other seemed to want this to succeed as much as he did. The more he got to know about Matsumoto Jun the more he realized that he was an amazing person, who would do anything for those he loved.
Nino’s fondest wish, was to be one of those people.
A series of events from Nino's perspective.
Authors Note: If this looks familiar, it should be. Much of the dialogue is the same, but there is a new perspective and thoughts: Nino's!
As it turns out Nino did not get fired, but he spent most of the weekend at the retreat avoiding all contact with Matsumoto, just in case. Better safe than sorry. However, the problem with working at a small company was that as soon as you were back at work it was impossible to avoid your boss. In the halls, at the hot water dispenser, in the bathroom. On his way to work (there was no way that they could live near each other. Nino was far too cheap to live anywhere nice, and he was sure that someone like Matsumoto Jun would not be caught dead in the quarter he lived in) Matsumoto was fricking everywhere. Nino could tell that the other man was watching him, though he did not say anything. After a while, Nino got tired of waiting for Matsumoto to react. Or rather, he decided that not getting fired was reaction enough. So he began to say hello to the other man, sometimes waving at him, a wink accompanied with a nod. His favorite one was to point with two fingers and smile, his signature move some would say, that always left Matsumoto startled.
This was quite fun, really.
It was a little odd when Nagase started sending him to weekly progress meetings with Matsumoto, instead of going himself. But one day, when he saw Sakurai and Oguri watching him from around a corner, whispering among themselves, then glancing to Matsumoto, who was watching him - much more subtle than the other two were - things began to make sense.
And Nino started watching Jun, noticing that the other was watching him, but he was not sure that Matsumoto realized that he was watching, just as he was sure that his not so subtle friends, Sakurai and Oguri were undiscovered.
Which is why Nino was not surprised when Nagase wanted them to change their lunch time, to boost productivity, but Nino knew for a fact that was when Matsumoto and Sakurai usually took their lunches. It helped that Nino ate like a bird. Coffee and pocky were enough for him most days. When he was hungrier he could run to the konbini and get an onigiri, soba or something.
Until the day he decided that a change was needed. He was tired of waiting for Matsumoto to make a move - how dense could one be? Nino didn’t want to throw himself a the man, but he was trying to make his interest obvious. And how much more obvious than I like your hips (and by association I have obviously been staring at your ass in those tight fitting pants to notice your hips) did he have to be? So the project Get On Better Terms With Masumoto Jun began, by sitting with them at lunch one day.
He could not help but smirk when he saw that Matsumoto and Sakurai had matching bentos, and from the twitch in Matsumoto’s eyebrow, the other remembered his comment about how couple like matching bentos were. Good, he did recall the flirtation then. It was Sakruai who invited him to have a seat and even though he wanted it to be Matsumoto he took the opening. Besides, from what he had observed, Sakurai was for this game of cat and mouse that was being played.
“Have a seat, Ninomiya-san.” He had motioned to the chair and Nino had sat down with a small smile, and curt “Thank you, and its Nino.” Before popping the top on his coffee and taking a swig with a happy sigh.
The silence was bothersome, the conversation was forced at times and more often than not Matsumoto would leave before the rest of them. Nino found himself staring after the other man, trying not to let his frustration show. Was he really that dense? Nino was not eating with bosses because he wanted a promotion, he could care less about that shit. He just wanted to get to know Matsumoto. The man was infuriatingly distant; and yet had not fired him for his forwardness.
“Jun is still hiding behind his work, instead of overcoming his shyness, I see.” Oguri, who sometimes joined then for lunch commented with a sigh, looking at Sho who nodded before he could help it. Nino glanced at Shun sharply who pretended not to notice as he finished his lunch, packing it up with a small smile.
He was good, Nino had to admit, but he could still see the pleased smiled there.
“Yuu always makes the best lunches. I think she might have beaten your gourmet, Sakurai.” Nino watched Oguri stand, noting the way that Sakurai shook his head emphatically, placing the bento down onto the table.
“You are just upset that Jun stopped cooking for you as soon as you got a girlfriend.” Sakurai packed his lunch up and stood along with Shun, following the other out of the lunch room arguing about who had the better lunches while Nino watched them go.
So Matsumoto was shy, then. This changed things, since the other would never make a move. He would just have to be more clear in his advanced then. Not much later Nino got his chance, when he needed to talk to Jun about some paperwork; his light knock on his door was met with the summons to enter.
“Come in.” Jun had called, looking back down at his work as Nino entered the office. Jun did not look up, so Nino perched on the edge of the desk, peering at what Matsumoto was marking over with a red pen in a rather vicious fashion. Staring at the project Nino could not help but frown. What the hell was that? And how the hell had they gotten his software to do something that... dense?
“Interesting use of the software, isn’t it?” Jun motioned for Nino to have a seat who sat in the chair, crossing his legs and waiting for the VP to finish.
“It was not quite what Naga-nii-san envisioned for the software, I am sure,” was Nino’s reply. He was relieved when Jun smiled.
“Skirting the line again, Nino?” Jun asked, taking the folder that Nino had left on the desk and Nino shrugged. He had not gotten fired before and hopefully he would not get fired in future, since soon he really would be skirting the line.
“I am not certain what you are referring to, Matsumoto-san.” He kept his voice light, studying Jun, who snapped back a reply.
“I am sure that you don’t.” Nino shifted, waiting as Jun studied the report in from of him. When he spoke again his voice was not as harsh - it was tinged with respect. “Impressive as usual, you all are doing quite well. At this rate, you will need a new project soon.” Jun looked up and Nino nodded.
“Nagase-nii had found a quite efficient system to motivate us. The more we are ahead of the schedule, the better the prize we can compete for.” Nino was pleased with this. It meant more video games for him.
“I am glad that his idea worked. It does make his department one of the most efficient ones.” Jun leaned back, handing Nino the folder back. “All of the changes look good to me. We will obviously need to test it out before we try and do any of the graphics rendering on it, but it looks like it is ready to launch.”
Nino nodded, standing and taking the folder off of Jun’s desk. He did not speak for a moment, just looked at Jun, who looked back with an even gaze, searching.
Matsumoto really did look quite nice with a blush. It softened his features slightly.
“You know, Matsumoto-san. If you ever get tired of cooking for Sakurai, though it does look delicious, a friend of mine owns a yakiniku shop around here. We could go. So just think about it.” Nino offered and slipped out the door before Jun could answer. This time, though, when he called Masaki later, it was to tell him that he had finally, directly, made a move: Inviting Matsumoto to lunch.
What he did not expect was a bento the next day. Nino was glad that no one was around, since as much as he enjoyed seeing Matsumoto blush, there was no way that everyone needed to see him blushing, since he was certain that he was. This was quite unexpected.
The bento was good; Nino made sure to let Matsumoto know that.
“it really is delicious, Matsumoto-san, but not quite what I had in mind. Next time, we will have to go out.” And with that he was gone, hoping that the other had not heard how hard his heart was pounding as he had taken that risk. Asking one of the bosses out while the other was sitting there, was ballsy, but worth it, he hoped.
“Ahh, MatsuJun! Nino-chan! You came again. I will get your usual ready?” Aiba called out in his usually cheery voice. Nino could not help but wonder if the man had already finished his second pot of coffee for the day. That could be the only reason for anyone to have that much energy. Yet he had never seen the older man drink caffeine. But Aiba was Aiba, so it was alright.
“No Sho-chan today?” Aiba asked as he set down filled water glasses and a pot of steaming hot tea with two cups. Jun shook his head.
“Lunch meeting with some of our perspective clients.” Jun smiled at Aiba. Nino could not help but steal a glance at him as he spoke, enjoying the carefree way that Jun smiled when they were not in the office.
“He did say to ask Aiba-chan to send back some food with us, since nothing he can get during the meeting will be as good as your cooking.”
“You don’t need to be there, Jun-pon?” Nino asked, his voice serious despite the use of the horrible nickname. Nino loved the way that Jun flinched every time the name was used. Indeed, his entire purpose in using the god awful name seemed Jun’s reaction to it. He could not hide the slight smile that curled at the corner of his lips and the light in his eyes at Jun’s discomfort.
Jun shook his head. “Sho’s job is to bring in the clients, mine is to make certain that they stay. Sho talks about price, time lines, practical things with them. I just take their creative vision and bring it to life.”
Nino nodded. He knew well that Jun was very particular about how the projects were put together. Nothing below his standards could be published by them. That was a fact no one dared argue with. Nino had heard Nagase on the receiving end of a scolding when a glitch was found in some of the software they had developed. It made him glad he was not on the development team for that one. But more often than not it was the marketing department that had to face Jun’s wrath.
“It just seems that-“ Nino started to speak, but he stopped as Aiba brought their orders to the table. At the same time Jun’s phone rang and he pulled it out of his pocket. To Nino’s immense surprise, Jun read the name on the display with a wide smile, one that Nino had never seen before.
He wanted to be the one bringing that smile to Jun’s face.
“Nii-chan, are you in town again?” Jun motioned to Nino, who nodded, waving, watching him weave through the tables, aiming for the door.
His brother, huh.
Nino watched Jun, nibbling on the food that Aiba brought. In the end, he and Aiba decided to pack up the lunches, chatting about how things were progressing with Jun.
“Not at all, he is… he just doesn’t realize, I think. And I don’t know how much more obvious I can be with him without actually propositioning him.” Nino sighed. Aiba smiled down at him.
“Nino is getting through to Jun, I think. It will just take time. He cooks for you and you play video games with him. You let him touch your games. You never let me touch your games.”
“That’s cause you break them.” Nino snapped, but Aiba continued as if the other had not spoken.
“And you pay sometimes, and Nino never pays, not even for me. If that is not love then I don’t know what is. But this is the first time I have seen you try this hard, Nino…” Aiba trailed off as Nino watched Jun who was on the phone for a while. He looked serious, Nino thought, more serious than a conversation with his brother should entail. Hopefully nothing was wrong.
As Jun came back to the table, Nino could see the surprise on his face, at the packaged food, as well as the lack of a bill.
“Aiba-chan packed it up for you, as well as a portion for Sho. We were not sure how much longer you would be on the phone out there. It seemed that things got a little serious there.”
Jun nodded, sighing as he sank down in his chair, looking at Nino for a moment before his gaze shifted to the wall behind him, then to his own hands, which held the long gone cold teacup. This made Nino nervous. Something was certainly wrong.
“It was my brother, he is in town.” Jun paused and looked to Nino again. Nino looked back, his eyes widening slightly. Was Jun going to open up to him about something? This was new and different, and progress. He could see Aiba watching them, hovering near the kitchen behind Jun’s back, flashing him a thumbs up. Nino had to fight not to roll his eyes at the idiot.
“The artist, right?”
Jun nodded. “He wishes to meet you, since it seems both Sho and I have mentioned you during conversations, and-“
Nino felt his heart begin to pound, knowing that he had to do something - soon, before he did something stupid like start blushing or leaning over and take Jun’s hand, or something else that was mushy and unlike Nino.
“Jun-pon, if you want to introduce me to your family, then you can. Though it is a big step.” Nino was not sure where those words came from, or the tone, but he stood, waving to Aiba as he walked out of the restaurant, trying not to break into a run, or worse yet, go back and tell Jun that he was kidding. Since he was not. Introducing Nino to his brother, with whom he apparently TALKED about Nino, was something significant.
What if his brother didn’t like Nino? They were close, very close, Nino knew from listening to Oguri and Sakurai talk. What if his brother said to not socialize with Nino, what would he do then?
Nino leaned against the door to the restaurant, Sakurai hovering beside him. They did not need to say it, but both wanted to give the brothers a moment, though Nino was not sure that he liked them snuggling that much, in the middle of a restaurant none the less. Since when was Jun a snuggler? If he had known that fact, he would have been snuggling with him when they played games, as that was a sure way to let the other know of his intentions.
“Aiba has been nice enough to start the food, and I don’t want it to get cold. Where are Ninomiya and Sho-chan?”
Nino could hear the other man speak and chose that moment to start walking forward, Sakurai beside him.
“They were supposed to leave a few moments after I did, I am not sure where there are.” Jun replied. It was then that Nino spoke, smiling at Aiba as the other waved enthusiastically at him from across the restaurant.
“We were hesitant to enter and ruin such a touching brotherly moment. But we are here now, so the real party can begin.” Nino slid up to the table. Jun turned, looking at the new arrivals.
“Ohno Satoshi, this is Ninomiya Kazunari. You know Sho, so I don’t have to introduce you to him. And the owner of the restaurant who had already captured your stomach is Aiba Masaki.”
“I was a little surprised when he said that he was your brother, MatsuJun. He looks nothing like you.” Aiba commented and Jun nodded.
“Step brothers, but that doesn’t really matter to us. Satoshi is one of the better things that happened in my life, and I am glad that he is part of the family.” Jun looked to Satoshi who grabbed his hand, squeezing it with a smile, and Jun knew that his brother agreed. Nino realized he could not look away from their entwined hands, lying on the table. What would it be like for him to be able to hold Jun’s hand like that, be that casual and open with him?
“I am not sure what we would have done without him, he has been a great support for both Sho and me with the entire company.”
“Satsohi-kun is quite special to us both, so it is good to see him in town.” Sho agreed. Nino looked at him, his eyes sharp. He glanced back to Ohno, noting the way that his hand was still entwined with Jun’s resting on the table - his piercing eyes met the sleepy ones. He could see Ohno assessing him, his eyes glancing to the entwined hands briefly, before his eyes narrowed. He could see Ohno’s eyes crinkle, in what he could only imagine was amusement, before he smiled at Nino.
So, I have been approved of, it seems. Nino could not help but think as he leaned forward with a smirk.
“So, artist-san, what embarrassing things can you tell me about Jun-kun and Sho-kun here. It seems that the office knows very little about them and we are dying to know.” Nino’s arms were folded on the table and he leaned forward further as he spoke, searching Ohno’s face.
“Ask Jun-nii yourself. He will answer any question that you ask of him, I am sure,” was Ohno’s reply before he lifted chopsticks to his mouth with his free hand, inhaling the food.
“Ah, UMAI!” He cried out, beaming at Aiba who smiled back at him, placing more meat on his place.
Nino was disappointed that Ohno would not gossip about his brother, or Sakurai, and even more disappointed that they held hands the entire lunch. He was certain he would be pouting, except for the fact that Ohno kept catching his gaze, smiling; not in the I Know What You Want and It Is Mine, but in a I See That You Want This and I Am Alright With It and This Is One Of The Ways That I Am Making Sure That You Really Do Like My Brother sort of smiles.
Nino could understand where the other was coming from, but still, Jun looked so happy and content - Nino was envious. He was certain that Ohno could tell, as well as Aiba could, from the way that he hovered, patting Nino’s shoulder every once in a while.
Nino and Ohno exchanged numbers, or rather Ohno took Nino’s number and sent him a message.
“You are good to Jun-nii-chan. But you will have to work hard for it. Jun-nii-chan doesn’t know how to date, or realize what is waiting for him. So be patient with him.”
It was a huge surprise to Nino, but a relief at the same time. Approval of Jun’s brother was a good thing. Their friendship grew, since Ohno was a wealth of information about Jun; and when he was in the right mood, he would tell Nino all sorts of things about Jun, about his moods and his temperament, things that Nino had figured out, or guessed, but it was good to be able to talk to him about it, like his wooing Jun strategy, and the progresses that were made.
Ohno assured Nino that Jun cooking for him was a huge step, even from the beginning, as other than him, Shun and Sho, Jun cooked for no one. His food was precious to him, and his way to show that he cared.
“He likes you, Nino-chan.” Ohno assured Nino, and it was Ohno who, when he found out that Nino’s apartment was getting demolished (it had been condemned by the health inspectors), told him that he would be moving in with Jun. Period.
Nino had tried to argue with him, claiming that it would be odd, or inconvenient, or something. Then Ohno had called him, something that he never did.
“Kazunari, stop arguing with me,” was what he had said. The Kazunari made him realize that Ohno was serious. “I think it would be good. It would help things with you and Jun, I think. The best way to get to know him is to be there, and you need a place to live, even if just for a little while as you look for a new place. Jun won’t say no, trust me.”
And indeed, Jun had not. And when he had shown up nervously at Jun’s door with with a few boxes of clothing and games, Jun had asked if that was everything. Nino knew that he was surprised at the admission, but he did not say anything to Nino about it.
And it turned out that Nino never even looked for another place to live.
Ohno was right, this was a good way to progress with Jun. And he was glad that the other seemed to want this to succeed as much as he did. The more he got to know about Matsumoto Jun the more he realized that he was an amazing person, who would do anything for those he loved.
Nino’s fondest wish, was to be one of those people.