Archive of Our Own

If this cold doesn't kill me, the wait certainly will.

Eichi checks his watch yet again: only three minutes until the theater doors open. Although he’s dressed for the cool weather, he’s still rather cold thanks to his exasperatingly-underactive metabolism. Fortunately, one of the theater employees has very kindly given him a chair to sit in, so he's been able to conserve his energy for the most part as he waits in line.

He feels a bit silly wearing a hat and sunglasses, but he’s certain that his partner would approve; a magician’s costume is an essential part of any successful trick, after all. Eichi won’t be performing any magic tonight, but he will be executing a surprise, and it’s absolutely pivotal that he not be recognized so close to the final payoff.

Really, his “surprise” isn’t that elaborate; it’s, quite frankly, pitifully basic and unimaginative. It’s so plain that it’s possible that his boyfriend is anticipating his surprise, and may even have a counter-surprise prepared. But Eichi doesn’t mind. Wataru told him once that there can be pleasure in failing to surprise someone—it’s evidence that that person has come to understand you so well that they're able to predict your actions.

... That having been said: Eichi would still really, really like to surprise him. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, after all—his partner can only makes his professional debut as a lead actor once.

Eichi’s scheme went as followed: Over the past weeks, he'd given noncommittal responses whenever the possibility of his attendance tonight was raised. If this play had been held in town, it would be the easiest decision Eichi had ever made; he’d even have given everyone at STAR PRO the day off with the firm encouragement that they attend as well. However, this performance is different: Wataru’s acting troupe is collaborating with a historic theater on the other side of the country. The prestigious troupe's residency is hoped to boost the small city’s tourism industry; in return, the actors are provided free lodgings, meals, and transportation for the entirety of their stay. The town isn't terribly far, all things considered—about an hour and a half by private plane—but it certainly complicated matters.

Eichi didn’t feign disinterest, of course—being as uncannily perceptive as he is, Wataru would see right through him. Instead, he acted unsure and regretful, listing various commitments he had scheduled that day that were too important to miss. (This was a half-truth: Eichi did have a couple of meetings planned for that evening, but he’d swiftly rescheduled them when he first learned the date of opening night.)

In addition, as many of Wataru’s friends plan to attend a performance a few days later once they all have the time to travel, Eichi had been able to support his narrative by openly wondering whether they’d mind if he tagged along. (He knew without a doubt that the answer was an emphatic yes, considering the likes of Itsuki and Sakasaki were among them; it had been fun to watch them squirm with discomfort when Eichi proposed the idea in front of Wataru.)

However, as committed as he's become to this ruse, it wasn’t always Eichi's intention to deceive Wataru about it—and he can’t say he doesn't feel slightly guilty. This certainly isn't the kind of stunt he'd pull on anyone else; his cute Tori, for instance, would be crushed by if Eichi repeated displayed such indifference to attending an important event in his life. But Wataru is different; he knows exactly how busy Eichi has been lately and, while he might have been a little disappointed, he wouldn't have taken his lack of attendance personally.

Furthermore, Eichi truly hadn't been expecting to get this far, and he thought with certainty that Wataru would catch on to his scheme long before opening night. But Eichi can't credit his own acting skills for the success; with his boyfriend out of town so often this past month and fine on brief hiatus as a result, most of their communication has been through phone calls and messages—a medium through which it's far easier to tell white lies without being caught.

So, yes: Eichi has been keeping up a somewhat-elaborate lie for the past couple weeks, and he will be hugely relieved to be done with it after tonight. However, there is precedent for this behavior: Wataru himself had played tricks on Eichi which required much more planning and sly misdirection—and every single one, without fail, had brought a smile to his face. Eichi’s goal is simply to return the favor in kind.

The first wrinkle in Eichi's plan came when he called the theater in advance to secure a favorable seat only for the receptionist to inform him that this theater did not offer reserved seating. Eichi was thrown; every play he'd attended in his professional life—all of which were for the sake of socializing with business associates—had offered reserved seating. (The only plays he’d attended for pleasure were, of course, at Yumenosaki.) Of course, Eichi and his family always sat in a private box, so his knowledge of the usual workings of theater seating was sorely limited.

It seems that Eichi had formed an incorrect generalization about the world of theater based solely on his own experience—how embarrassing. What would Wataru say in response to my blunder? he'd wondered, being unable to actually speak to his partner about it. Perhaps something like: “Ah~ The world is teeming with pleasant little surprises...☆ How lucky of you to stumble across one!” The thought made him smile, and he felt a bit better.

Unfortunately, this surprise meant that Eichi had no idea when to arrive. Arriving just before showtime would eliminate any chance of Wataru spotting him, but Eichi couldn't risk watching the play from an unattractive viewpoint. Reluctantly, he confided in Keito and Yuzuru to get their opinion on the matter; both advised him that arriving half-an-hour early would likely be fine.

However, Eichi remained uneasy. Even if he was an up-and-comer in the theater world, Wataru was still Wataru... if anyone could draw an unexpectedly large crowd to the opening night of a modern play, it would be him. So, instead, Eichi decided to arrive at the theater an hour early. Sure, it was likely overkill, but he didn’t want to feel rushed at any point this evening. Tonight was about Wataru, not himself; he didn’t mind waiting a little longer at the theater before the show if it meant he’d be ensured the perfect view of his partner’s performance.

Because he arrived so early, he's far ahead in line and one of the first to enter. After scanning his ticket, the attendant hands him a small booklet and welcomes him inside. Eichi thanks her and, with as much haste as he can manage while maintaining his professional composure, hurries to the auditorium to find his seat.

As planned, he has the choice of any seat in the theater—and he knows exactly where to go. He opts for the exact center seat in fifth row from the front, which he’d determined earlier to be the perfect seat in terms of angle and distance. Too close means he wouldn't be able to see the entire stage comfortably; too far means he wouldn't be able to make out the nuances of Wataru's performance.

Once he reaches his seat, Eichi doesn't sit (though he is feeling slightly winded)—instead, he shrugs off his coat and lays it purposefully across the backrest. This was another piece of advice Keito had offered him: although this theater does not formally reserve seats, the placement of one’s belongings on an empty seat is a widely-respected social cue that functions as an informal method of “saving” a spot. This way, Eichi can secure his seat and return to the auditorium in ten minutes or so once more people are seated. If he were to sit down now, he would be far too easy for Wataru to spot if he happened to sneak a peek into audience before the show.

Eichi exits the auditorium and, not wanting to seem as though he’s loitering in the lobby, tries to make himself look occupied. He settles in an unoccupied corner and begins to peruse the posters and photos hanging on the walls. In one framed photograph, he spots Hokuto’s mother: perhaps ten or fifteen years younger, she stands on stage with a stern yet fiery expression as she gestures out into the audience in what Eichi assumes is an impassioned monologue. He considers taking a photo to show Hokuto later, but decides against it; although Hokuto’s annoyed reaction of something along the lines of, “Who cares? Why are you showing me that?” would be incredibly amusing, the act might look strange and conspicuous to the nearby staff. Eichi still can't risk drawing any attention to himself.

To his relief, guests begin filtering in faster than he’d anticipated, and after a mere five minutes, he decides that it will be safe for him to return. He re-enters the auditorium to find that, although many of the surrounding seats have been claimed, Eichi seat is still unoccupied—just as Keito had assured him it would be.

But as he picks up his coat, he spots a flash of bright white tucked into one of the pockets. …Of course. With a shake of his head and a small laugh, Eichi reaches down to pull out a single dove’s feather. It’s not a sophisticated trick at all, but it gets the message across: he’s been caught.

Well, at least now he can remove his silly “disguise.” While he wishes he could’ve witnessed Wataru’s surprised reaction for himself, Eichi is mostly relieved that he's been found out before the performance begins. He’d been a bit worried about the possibility that Wataru wouldn’t notice his attendance at all, necessitating that Eichi go and seek him out backstage afterwards to make his presence known... which sounded like an awkward and anticlimactic finish to his trick.

With just about twenty minutes until the show begins, Eichi tucks his hat and sunglasses into his handbag and takes a seat. He’s hit with the impulse to check his phone in case of any urgent work matters, but stops himself. Eichi reminds himself that he trusts Yuzuru to handle anything urgent in his stead. Besides, nothing is too important that it can’t wait until the show’s over. This is about Wataru, he reminds himself. Everything else can wait. Tonight, my only job is to support him.

Luckily, he has the perfect distraction: the booklet he’d been handed at the entrance. He impatiently flips past the plot summary, the playwright’s biography, and the various full-page advertisements until he arrives at the cast list. There, in a small black and white photo, is his Hibiki Wataru. In lieu of his usual wide smile, Wataru faces the camera with a mature, confident smirk. He looks astonishingly handsome. Eichi's certain that he's never seen this headshot before—if he had, it would've already been the lock screen on his cell phone.

Twirling the feather between his thumb and index finger, Eichi reads over the short profile beside his name. To no surprise, the description casually omits any of the usual personal information offered in his castmates’ blurbs, such as age, place of birth, or education. For the most part, it’s a simple, objective list of his credentials and performance history. However, Eichi finds himself unspeakably pleased by the brief closing line: In addition to stage acting, Hibiki performs as an idol in the hugely popular idol unit fine.

... Would it be ridiculous for Eichi to clip this and have it framed so that he can hang it somewhere in his office? It doesn't matter—of course he’s going to do it. He’ll also have to ask Wataru for a high quality version of this photo too; in addition to his phone's new lock screen, it will make an excellent reference if Eichi ever decides to commission an oil painting of him.

He skims the rest of the pamphlet for the remainder of the wait, but doesn't process most of the information. Time passes slower than he'd like, but by the sixth time he's checked his watch, there are only two minutes until showtime. Eichi closes the booklet and puts it back in his handbag, but decides to keep the feather in his hand. It was a gift, after all. Perhaps he’ll frame it alongside the clipping as a memento of his partner’s wonderful achievement tonight.

He looks around him: the theater is nearly full. There are perhaps a handful of empty seats scattered in the back rows, but the attendance is certainly nothing to scoff at. Perhaps those seats will fill up if some last-minute stragglers wander in. But, now that the lights are dimming, they’d likely have a difficult time finding a spot in the dark.

Eichi’s glad that he kept the feather out; he’s more anxious for the show to begin than he anticipated. It’s not nerves, per se (although the hot, fluttery sensation in his stomach is reminiscent of his usual pre-live jitters) but... anticipation. Excitement. He can feel it in the room as well. He’d heard some faint conversations in the seats surrounding him—apparently the writer is a popular new playwright, and tonight is the first night this work will ever be performed for the public. But Eichi doesn’t care about that, and nor does it matter; the play itself could be the greatest work of literature of the modern era or the single worst piece of writing in history. A play is only as strong as its cast. And with Wataru as the lead, it will surely succeed the audience’s every expectation—no matter what.

I’m proud of you, Wataru. Tonight, you’re going to show the world the talent that you, and only you, possess. I know you’ll make it a show to remember.

Suddenly, a spotlight illuminates downstage center. The crowd falls silently instantly. With a muffled squeal, the curtains slowly part, and two actors quietly walk onstage. With this, Eichi, alongside everyone else in the audience, detaches from all of his material attachments and worries and allows himself to be pulled into the realm of fantasy.

It takes about fifteen minutes for the lead character to finally appear—an interesting choice on the playwright’s part, but far too long for Eichi’s tastes. Of course, as soon as Wataru walks on stage, he fully owns the scene, and, by extension, the entire theater. Eichi had seen the costume in photos Wataru had texted him, but he’s still taken aback by how astonishingly different he looks; if he didn’t know his face and body as devotedly as he did, he's not sure whether he would immediately recognize him. As his character is an entrepreneur, he wears a custom silver three-piece suit with a dark gray tie and his long blue hair is pulled back into a high, tidy ponytail. It's his demeanor that truly takes Eichi aback, however; with his strut slow and poised, his chin held high, and expression imposingly stony, he looks like a stranger.

From the bits and pieces Wataru has told him, Eichi understands that his character will undergo a massive transformation over the course of the play—from a calculating and repressive man to a reckless, overzealous thrill-seeker with disregard for everything but his own pleasure. This being his first scene, Wataru portrays his character at the farthest end of that spectrum. He is blunt and cruel; dismissive of his wife and friends’ concerns; interested only in profit and respectability. It’s honestly a bit disturbing to watch his dear Wataru act so callously... but with that discomfort comes respect and admiration for his incredible talent and commitment to his character.

With a huff of displeasure, Wataru turns abruptly and stalks offstage. Before he’s fully disappeared, the remaining characters, rightfully shaken, continue the scene in anxious stage whispers—but Eichi's eyes stay trained on him to the very last second. Just before he disappears offstage, it seems as though Wataru’s eyes flit, just for a moment, in Eichi’s direction. He gives no indication that he recognizes him—and Eichi would be shocked if he did; a seasoned actor like Wataru would never break character so carelessly—but the brief glance is enough to get his heart beating even harder.

The next two hours fly by much faster than Eichi had anticipated. Although the play takes place over the course of a single day, it never feels slow, and each scene and conversation seems as though it has a purpose in the narrative. Eichi even finds himself drawn in by the few scenes that don’t involve Wataru’s character—especially the actor who plays his wife, who portrays an intriguing combination of vulnerability and deep emotional fortitude in the face of incredibly stress.

However, his Wataru is without a doubt the star of the show. It’s as though he performs every scene—no, every line ever so slightly differently, subtly but surely inching his character closer and closer to the opposite end of his downward arc. As he makes one rash irreparable decision after another, his composure begins to fall; he begins to smile more, and then his speech becomes peppered with unnatural laughs, and by the final few scenes even his face is flush with manic joy as he gestures wildly and paces across the stage. The growing apprehension in the audience as each scene passes is palpable, and by the play's climax, Eichi has to consciously remind himself to blink.

The character's fate feels inevitable. Just after he finally decides to return to his wife and try to piece his life back together, he is ambushed by a hitman sent by one of the many people he’d wronged that day. With one dramatic thrust of his fist, the assassin fatally stabs him in the heart and then sprints into the darkness. Eichi expects Wataru’s character to give a parting monologue expressing his regret and despair over his actions that day—the sort of melodrama characteristic of a Shakespeare play—but instead, he merely gives a pathetic wheezing gasp and, with one final despairing look, crumples to the ground. He lays still on the stage for what feels like minutes, but couldn’t possibly be more than thirty seconds. Then, with no further sound but the same muffled squeaks as before, the curtains slowly close and the play is over.

Impassioned applause fills the room. The audience's anxiety has crescendoed into cathartic joy, and it feels as though the room will burst with energy. After a minute, the curtains open and the entire cast stands on stage to accept the audience’s fervent appreciation. One by one, each actor comes forward to take a bow. When it’s finally Wataru’s turn, Eichi’s glad to see that he’s not the only one to rise to his feet with applause. Wataru gives a wide smile to the audience and a heavy nod of gratitude, but does not showboat. Instead, he turns around and gestures for his castmates to come forward and join him in one final bow. Then, once they’re finished, the curtains close once again.

At this, most of the audience begins to gather their belongings. Eichi, still coming down from the emotional journey of the last two hours, stays frozen in place. How can everyone just rise to leave after an ending like that? It doesn’t feel like much time has passed, but suddenly he is alone in his row. Curious whether the back half of the auditorium has emptied as well turns around, he makes to turn around—

A blur of pale silver blue flashes in his periphery, and then suddenly Eichi is lifted in the air in a tight, passionate embrace. “Eichi!” his lover exclaims—speaking, for the very first time that night, in the voice of his Wataru Hibiki. Eichi's stomach flutters with warmth; but, unable to reciprocate the hug with his arms pinned against his sides, all Eichi can do is laugh and lean into him.

“Wataru,” he greets back, his voice a bit breathless. However, as sudden as the hasty embrace is, Eichi can’t say it's unexpected. Eichi knew that if his plan was successful and he did manage to surprise Wataru with his attendance, his partner would not have any special tricks prepared with which to receive him—such as suspending himself from the ceiling on a wire and lowering himself down into Eichi’s lap, for instance. Although Eichi always loves Wataru’s convoluted surprise entrances, his enthusiastic greeting is so unusually inelegant—so unabashedly sincere—that he’s just as elated as if Wataru had performed real magic before his eyes.

Hearing the slight hitch in his voice, Wataru immediately lowers Eichi to the ground. He plants his hands on Eichi’s shoulders as if steadying him in place and then leans forward to give him a quick kiss on each cheek. After he pulls back, he gives him a brilliant, adoring smile.

“I can’t believe you’re here! This is—” Wataru beams at him, seemingly at a loss for words for a moment. It's a highly unusual state for him to be in, but Eichi understands; he must be overwhelmed with a thousand emotions tonight. “Eichi, I—Ah, but let’s go backstage, shall we? I need to change and gather my things, but I can’t bear to part with you for even a second.” He steps back and holds out his hand, and Eichi places his own upon it without a moment’s hesitation. Then, as if a manifestation of the wind itself, Wataru whisks him down the aisle, onto the stage, and behind the curtains.

They travel down a dark corridor and then make a right into a cramped dressing room. There are already four other actors inside, each in various states of undress. Eichi carefully averts his eyes, but none seem concerned with privacy; in fact, the lively, intimate atmosphere of the tiny room gives him the impression that privacy has no bearing here. Wataru leads Eichi to his station in the corner and gestures for him to sit in his chair by the mirror.

“Wow!” Wataru breathes. “You... you came. I’d say I can’t believe it, but, of course, it makes complete sense. You acted so... so uncertain about whether you could fit it into your schedule, and I just... believed you! As though anything in this world could prevent you from doing exactly as you please. Ha... I'm a complete and utter fool.”

“Hehe ♪” Eichi says, situating the chair to face Wataru—and remove the half-dressed actors from his field of view. “I must say, it gives me even more pleasure than I anticipated to see you so surprised ♪” You’re very cute when you’re flustered, he wants to add, but, hyper-aware of the several strangers bustling around them, he decides to save the sentiment for later. “But—did I really surprise you, Wataru? You truly weren’t expecting me?”

“I... I knew it was a possibility—you’re you, after all, and nothing is impossible if you commit yourself to it,” Wataru admits. “But I didn’t want to get my hopes up; and I certainly wouldn’t have begrudged you for not coming. Eichi, were you not actually busy...? Fufu, you’re a better liar than I thought~”

“I was busy. But—” But I’m never too busy for you. “... I moved some things around. I’ll have a bit more to do in the next few days, but it won’t be an issue. I couldn’t stand to miss tonight. Wataru, you were incredible. I couldn’t take my eyes off of you—and I sincerely doubt anyone else could either. It was the best performance I’ve seen in my life.”

Wataru gives him a sweet—almost shy—smile. “Thank you, Eichi,” he says softly. Then, as though unable to keep still, he turns to begin gathering his various personal effects scattered across the table. “And might I applaud your performance over the past few weeks as well? You really did catch me by surprise. Not many can boast the same, as you know.”

“Hah. Yes, I’m quite proud of myself ♪ … Still, it’s a little frustrating that you found me out so close to the end; ugh, I wish I could’ve seen your immediate reaction myself. When did you spot me?”

“Honestly, I didn’t. When I looked out into the seats about twenty or so minutes before showtime, I saw what looked like your coat on one of the seats... and I gambled on the assumption that it was yours. Fufu, I couldn’t resist giving you a small thank-you gift ☆”

Eichi lets out a huff. So it was your fault that I was found out, Keito. That’ll teach me never to come to you for advice about this sort of thing again. But, as much as he’d like to, he can’t really blame Keito for his being caught; it was Eichi who had made the absurd mistake of underestimating Wataru’s perceptiveness. Though he'd bought this coat a while ago, he hadn’t worn it out yet, making it the perfect choice for his disguise—or so he thought. But Wataru must have seen it in his closet sometime in the past month and, using his enigmatic foresight, committed it to memory... Wow.

He’s about to express his praise aloud, but before he can speak, he hears the voice of one of Wataru's castmates approaching them. “Hibiki! Great job!” he calls. “Are you still on for dinner and drinks? We’re gonna head out in a few minutes.”

Wataru answers his friend with a shake of his head. “Ah, thank you for the offer, but my plans have changed. Somehow you’ll have to find a way to amuse yourselves without my entertainment~”

“Oh, that’s too bad,” he responds. “We were thinking about dragging you to karaoke and making you sing for us. Next time, though. See ya, Hibiki.” Before walking away, the man offers a friendly smile in Eichi’s direction, who responds with a polite nod.

Eichi frowns. “You were going to go out with your friends tonight?”

Wataru shrugs. “Yes, they invited me before the show. But, as it turns out, fate had other plans for me ♪” He winks. “Give me a couple of minutes to change, and then let’s go out and celebrate together~”

But Eichi isn’t satisfied. This isn't right—tonight is about Wataru. He can't let him compromise his own desires just for Eichi's sake... not after he's already done so countless times. “... Wataru, you should go out with them. Really, it’s alright.”

Wataru raises a playful eyebrow. “‘Alright’? You must be mocking me, Eichi; you know I can’t settle for anything less than amazing ☆ Come now, I want to see if you have any other surprises planned for me!”

Eichi crosses his arms. “I’m serious. I came tonight to support you, not to... to steal you away.” He reaches into his handbag to retrieve something from his wallet. “And please, instruct everyone to eat and drink to their hearts’ content. It would be my sincerest pleasure to pay for your festivities.” With that, he holds out a matte black card.

“Your... personal credit card?” Wataru asks. “Eichi, I—”

“Fufu, there’s no need to act surprised. I trust you more than anyone, after all. You could charge me an amount equivalent to the GDP of a small country and I won’t question it ♪ I’ll simply set off to work to earn more for you to amuse yourself with~”

Wataru shakes his head, his expression serious. “Still, I insist on—”

“Insist as much as you like, but you’ll not get your way on this.” Eichi gestures forward with the card once again, but Wataru does not move.

Just then, another one of his castmates approaches. Eichi recognizes her instantly: she plays Wataru’s character’s wife. Seeing her up close, he’s hit with a shameful rush of gratitude that their characters’ marriage was distant and strained—Eichi doesn’t want to know how jealous he’d feel about watching such a beautiful woman kiss his boyfriend.

“Hey, you’re Hibiki’s rich boyfriend, right?” she asks him. “Sorry to overhear, but... did you say you’re offering to pay for everyone’s meals?”

“He’s—” Wataru begins, but Eichi cuts him off.

“Yes, that’s all correct.” Hibiki’s boyfriend, his mind repeats with delight. Is that how all of you know me? Aware that he's being watched, Eichi tries to dampen his amused grin into a courteous smile. “But he seems senselessly determined not to listen to me, so please try to convince him yourself, would you?”

The woman laughs and rolls her eyes. “Ugh, Hibiki, you idiot. Forget your pride—or whatever’s holding you back; we’re poor, and we want to gorge ourselves tonight! We earned it, after a performance like that!” Her eyes narrow in feigned resentment. “I’d never forgive you if you deny us this.”

Eichi turns to smile triumphantly at Wataru.

Wataru remains speechless for a moment more... and then finally shakes his head in defeat. “Fine, fine.” He takes the card from Eichi’s hand and slips it into his wallet. “Tell everyone that I'll be out in a minute,” he instructs his friend, who nods and thanks Eichi before hurrying off.

“... Then, please,” Wataru urges once they're alone again, “Eichi, come dine with us.”

Eichi takes a few seconds to reply; he's momentarily distracted by how delicately Wataru is holding the card in his fingers—as though it’s a fragile, precious thing that might shatter if not handled without the utmost care. Does Eichi's spontaneous gesture really mean that much to him?

He looks back up to meet Wataru’s eyes. “Thank you for the invitation, but I really am tired. The show, of course, was absolutely invigorating and thought-provoking... but, as active as my mind is, my body is exhausted. So, once you’re ready to leave, I’ll head to my hotel.”

“After you came all this way?” Wataru asks with a frown. “That hardly seems right. I dare say it’s even cruel of you. Although—what was that? Did you say hotel... ? So you’re staying overnight, then?”

“Yes, but don’t get your hopes up. I’ll have to leave early tomorrow to make it to a meeting at Tenshouin HQ—my jet will pick me up at 7 AM.” With that, he reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out another card—a spare key to his hotel room. “However, I would love it if you visited me tonight, once your festivities are through. My hotel is just up the street; I’m sure you’ve seen it before.”

This time, Wataru accepts the card without hesitation.

“... Very well,” he finally acquiesces. “Then I’ll see you later tonight.”

~

They say goodbye at the theater doors.

“At least let me escort you to your hotel. It's cold tonight...”

Eichi shakes his head. “No, that’s not necessary. It's a short walk, so I'll be just fine. Just hurry and go with your friends, alright?”

Wataru doesn’t protest. Instead, he reaches forward to take Eichi’s hand in his palm and leans down to press a farewell kiss against the back of his hand. “Goodbye for now, Emperor.” Then, after gently returning Eichi’s hand to his side, he turns and advances down the sidewalk to reunite with his castmates, who all greet him excitedly at the sound of his voice.

Fortunately, Eichi’s hotel is in the opposite direction, so he doesn’t have to awkwardly follow behind them; and soon enough, their raucous voices fade away into the night. It’s colder outside than it was a few hours ago, and he can feel his joints beginning to ache in distress... but even at his laggard pace, the walk is less than five minutes, and soon enough he is safe once again in the welcome heat of the hotel lobby.

He’d checked in at reception before heading to the theater, so he’s able to go straight to the elevator and up to his room. He’s never been to this specific hotel, but he’s stayed in a couple of the brand's other locations on previous business trips, so it’s easy enough to navigate.

When he unlocks the door to his suite, he finds his overnight bag resting carefully on the dresser, exactly where the bellhop promised she would put it. He packed lightly for this trip: the only contents inside are a set of pajamas, a change of clothes for tomorrow, and his pill case. The hotel will be able to supply anything else Eichi might need—such as toiletries. Desperate to change, he retrieves his pajamas and then heads to the bathroom for a quick shower. A bath would be easier on his aching body, but he’d rather not deal with the prep and clean-up.

Of course, if Wataru were here, he’d run the bath for you.

Ugh—what a pointless, immature thought. Eichi had been right to send Wataru away earlier; it was the sensible and mature thing to do. As much as the needy, insecure splinter of his psyche desperately longs for it, Eichi is not entitled to all of Wataru’s time and attention. He knows this, and he’s glad that he did it.

And yet, as he exits the shower and changes into his pajamas, Eichi can’t quell the unreasonable loneliness that weighs at the bottom of his stomach. When am I going to become an adult? he begs himself. As much as I try to pass myself off as one—to at least convincingly play the role of one, I can’t stop myself from feeling the most childish things.

He cuts his thoughts off. This is no way to occupy himself while he waits for Wataru to visit. He settles down on the bed and, after checking the time—and, unable to resist the temptation, briefly scanning the subject lines of some recent emails—he switches the television on. Eichi swiftly cycles through the channels until he finds what he’s searching for: a rerun of Trickstar’s recent variety show appearance. Eichi had been immensely pleased with how it turned out, and he’s been hoping to catch it on television again. He could just watch it online, of course, but the experience simply isn’t the same; idols always seem so much more magical on television than they do on a phone or computer screen.

To no surprise, their performance is as excellent as he remembered. Eichi’s tuning in near the end, but he’s still able to catch the final few songs in their entirety. Even so late into the performance, none of them show any signs of fatigue—as always, they sing and dance with seemingly-limitless enthusiasm. He’s hoping to feed off of their lively energy and regain enough stamina to stay up until Wataru comes to visit, but as the four belt out their final note and thank the viewer for watching, Eichi feels just as tired as before. How disappointing.

Just as he’s turned off the television, however, he hears a muffled clatter outside the door. He pauses to listen and, a second later, another rattle occurs. Could it be—? Already? Overcome with excitement, he rushes to his feet and, hurrying to the door, calls out, “Did you lose your key in that wild hair of yours?”

But when he opens the door, instead of his boyfriend, Eichi finds a disgruntled hotel employee crouched at the ground with a tray at his feet. Startled, the employee meets his gaze for a moment, and then, catching himself, quickly rises to properly greet him.

“Mr Tenshouin! I'm so very sorry to disturb you. I accidentally stumbled while bending down to place this at your door, and the sound must have been quite loud. But I assure you, nothing is damaged.”

Eichi blinks. “I’m sorry; you called me by name, so I have to believe that you’re at the correct room, but I didn’t request anything. What is this... ?”

The employee nods, clearly flustered. “Y-Yes. My apologies, Mr. Tenshouin. I should have explained sooner. The hotel would like to express our sincere gratitude for your patronage tonight, a-as well as our interest in collaborating with the Tenshouin Foundation in the future, with this humble gift. We’ve heard that you are a tea connoisseur, so we ask that you please accept a selection of newly-imported teas, as well as this fine porcelain teapot, free of charge. Since it’s late, I was instructed to leave this at your door with a note, but...” He trails off, likely hesitant to repeat his explanation of his blunder.

“Ah,” Eichi says. He knows that he should be more courteous, but it’s all he can do just to hide his irritation. Even when I fly across the country, I can’t get a moment of peace from this awful business. “Well, that’s... generous. Thank you. Will you come in and put it down somewhere?”

The employee nods his head enthusiastically and immediately bends down to retrieve the tray. When he stands up, Eichi steps aside to allow him room to enter. Obviously in a hurry to get out as soon as possible, the employee opts to place the tray on the boudoir, the surface closest to the door, rather than the more sensible choice of the kitchen counter or dining table. Eichi doesn't care—he wants him out too. As soon as he sets it down, he turns to offer Eichi a polite bow. “Is there anything I can do for you, Mr. Tenshouin?”

“No, that’s fine, thank you. Have a good night.”

“Thank you very much, sir. Goodnight to you as well, and safe travels tomorrow.” With that, he turns and exits the room. Then, perhaps a second or two earlier than etiquette would permit, Eichi quickly shuts the door behind him.

Ugh. It seems that that interaction had drained him of the last of his energy; so, with a heavy sigh, he trudges over to the bed and tugs down the covers. After slipping under covers and arranging the pillows to his liking, Eichi leans over and unceremoniously shuts off the bedside lamp. The thick darkness that sweeps across the room rolls over him like a wave, and his head drops back onto the plush pillow with a muted thump.

I’m sorry, Wataru. I can’t stay up any longer. So please come and wake me soon.

Though his mind can't turn off, his body is exhausted, and Eichi soon falls into a deep yet unfulfilling sleep. Curled on his side, he lies without stirring for at least an hour as his unconscious mind races with abstract and incoherent thoughts. Asleep yet awake; exhausted yet unfulfilled; satisfied yet frustrated; pleased yet lonely.

~

It feels as though his mind is just beginning to finally turn off when he hears the faint click of the door unlocking. Acting purely on instinct, Eichi instantly raises his head and squints into the strip of light streaming through the crack in the doorway.

“Ah—” Half a second later, the light is gone. Eichi blinks rapidly, eyes blurry from sleep and dazed by the consecutive quick changes in lighting. In the hazy darkness, he can just barely make out a dark silhouette in the process of slipping off his shoes and removing his bag. Still not quite awake, he watches wordlessly as the tall shadow makes his way towards the bed. He can’t make out the details his face just yet, but Eichi can tell that they’ve locked eyes.

“I’m sorry to wake you,” Wataru whispers.

Eichi, not quite ready to form words, responds with a grunt of moody acknowledgment and then pointedly scoots over on the bed to invite—order—Wataru to join him.

If Eichi were more coherent, he would have noted that Wataru is still dressed in his day clothes; he’d actually planned on offering Wataru some of the complementary silk pajamas from the linen closet. It would surely be uncomfortable to lay in bed in jeans and a button-up, after all. But now, his body and mind utterly exhausted, Eichi has no patience. He doesn’t want to wait a second longer—he wants Wataru now.

Wataru, naturally having understood the situation perfectly, instantly obeys. Careful not to disturb the blankets and expose Eichi to the cold, he climbs onto the bed and slips beneath the covers beside him.

They fall into each other effortlessly and automatically, as if their bodies are compelled by the irresistable pull of opposing magnetic poles, as if they simply obeying one of the fundamental laws of nature—or the perhaps adhering to the edicts of fate itself.

Wataru, once again knowing exactly what Eichi wants, situates himself on his back and allows Eichi to snuggle up against his side, wrap an arm around him, and then pull his head up to rest his cheek atop Wataru's chest. Then, once he’s made himself comfortable, Wataru lays his own arm across Eichi’s back to press him tightly against him.

Comforted by the warm pressure, Eichi breathes a contented sigh into his chest and hugs him closer. Finally.

A few minutes pass in silence—Wataru likely waiting to see if Eichi will doze off again—but Eichi refuses to let unconsciousness take him again so soon. He has to wake himself up; this time is far too precious to waste sleeping.

“Ngh.” In an effort to get even closer, Eichi attempts to hoist one of his legs over and slip it between Wataru’s own, but retracts when he feels the hard fabric of Wataru’s jeans against his knee. “Ugh... Your pants are uncomfortable against my legs,” he mumbles in complaint.

Wataru’s chest shakes with a soft laugh. “My apologies~ I opted for haste over personal comfort. Shall I go change?”

“No.” To accentuate his point, Eichi’s arm tightens around him.

Wataru breathes out another soft chuckle. “So you just felt like complaining for the sake of it, then, with no interest in a solution. Fufufu ♪ Fatigue makes you so childish, you know~”

“Mm. I’m always childish... I just don’t have the energy to disguise it well right now.”

Wataru pauses, and his voice becomes serious. “Are you in any pain?”

Eichi shakes his head. “I’m just tired—from a half-day of work and the flight... It certainly helped to rest my body for a couple hours and watch your performance.”

“Still, you do feel a bit cold...”

“Then give me some of your energy, will you? You’re like an infinitely running generator, always letting off little sparks of life. Please spare me some.”

“But of course~” Wataru croons. “Hold me closely and absorb as much of Hibiki Wataru’s essence as you like ♪ My energy renews so quickly that even I cannot make use of it all. You, my dear Eichi, may have exclusive, unlimited access.”

“Good,” Eichi mutters. “I’ll have to stay close to you like this for quite some time, then.”

“Fufu, how could I possibly object to such a proposal? If it’s for the sake of keeping you warm, I’ll gladly hold you in my arms for the rest of time~”

Eichi hums. “The rest of time, hmm? I’ll need to get that in writing.” Amused and affectionate, Eichi presses his lips against Wataru’s chest, directly above his heart, in a lazy kiss, and then rests his ear there to listen to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

Thump thump... thump thump... thump thump...

“Checking to see that I still have a beating heart?” Wataru asks. “Perhaps my death scene was a bit too realistic~ Don’t worry; Hibiki Wataru is still very much alive and as infuriatingly troublesome as ever~”

“Mm...” Eichi replies. “It’s just nice to listen to.” Then, after a moment’s thought, he adds, “Sorry... That’s not a very fun or interesting response to what you said.”

“Hmm? You don’t need to be fun and interesting all the time, you know. If you were, then what use would I be to you as a fool? ☆” He punctuates his point with a playful tug on Eichi’s earlobe. “‘Fun and interesting’ can be overrated, anyway. Your reply was short and honest, which is pleasing in its own regard ♪”

“I’m glad; ‘short and honest’ is likely all you’ll get from me tonight.”

“Fufufu. I’ll believe it when I see it~ Even at your most out of sorts, you’ve always found something to ramble on about.”

Ramble on about? Eichi frowns. “That makes it sound like I speak without thinking, or that my words don’t have purpose... I’d hate to be thought of that way.”

“Oho! But isn’t that what you so admire about clowns like me? You should try it, Eichi~ If you’re so concerned with being ‘fun,’ then let’s entertain one another with purposeless words... ☆”

Eichi is still a little offended over the “ramble on about” comment, but he’s too exhausted to put any further thought into it. Besides, he can't imagine that Wataru was trying to hurt his feelings... perhaps he'd even meant it as a compliment? “Mm... Alright,” he relents. “But you’ll have to help me—I don’t think I can come up with anything interesting on my own.”

“Perhaps something interesting will find us, then~” Wataru hums. “In the meantime, I’ll continue warming you up.”

“Yes, thank you.” Although their bodies are already as close as possible, Eichi tries again to snuggle up even closer against him. As he nuzzles against his chest, he can feel one of the buttons of Wataru’s shirt pressing into his cheek, but it’s easy enough to ignore. It's his fault that Wataru didn't change, after all.

Wataru chuckles. “... You know, with you holding onto me so tightly... It’s easy to pretend like I’m a tall eucalyptus tree with a koala clinging to my trunk.”

“What...?” Eichi asks, dubious. “A koala?”

“Yes!~” Wataru answers happily. “Oh, I don’t know if I told you: I saw one on my most recent excursion to the zoo! They’re adorable in photos, but their cuteness really shines through in person ☆”

“Is that so?”

“Yes! I was quite taken with them! ♪ They’re smaller than you might expect—about the size of a well-fed dog. And amazingly fluffy, too~” Wataru's voice trills with enthusiasm—as far as Eichi can tell, he’s not manufacturing passion about the subject for the sake of conversation. “Eichi, have you ever seen a koala in person? Would you like me to describe one for you in meticulous detail... ?”

Eichi can’t think of a topic less interesting to him at the moment than koalas, but he musters up the will to humor Wataru’s question. “I... probably have, at the zoo when I was a child.”

“When you were a child? Oh, that’s unfortunate. Normally, I’d say that the memories of childhood are the most precious of all—essential foundational experiences which shouldn’t be exchanged for anything in the world—but when it comes to people like you and I... Well, I think we should always be striving to form new memories, don’t you? ☆”

The tender sentiment in Wataru’s words rush straight to Eichi’s heart—as well as the quick and lively pace with which his partner is speaking. “Hm...” he begins, fully committed to continuing the conversation now that Wataru has displayed genuine interest in it. “Well, I don’t want to intrude on your group activities by tagging along on your next trip, so maybe fine should organize a visit of our own... Perhaps we could stage a performance with some of the animals—you’re very fond of doves, but how about training parrots for a change? And... Fufu, it would be cute to see my Tori do a little skit with some monkeys, and perhaps Yuzuru could show his brutish side by wrestling a bear~”

“Fufufu. Interested in organizing another circus act, are you? You know I could never resist such a proposal~ Parrots are a good idea, but I’m thinking something even bigger—an ostrich, or a pterodactyl perhaps? ☆” His voice falls serious once again. “... But, Eichi, you don’t have to justify everything you do by relating it to your work; we could simply visit the zoo for fun. In fact... perhaps I’ll surprise you with an unexpected trip sometime very soon~”

“...? You’re woefully out of practice, Wataru.” Eichi clicks his tongue. “Don’t you know that you can’t ‘surprise’ someone with something they themself suggested? And, anyway, it ruins the surprise altogether if you announce that you’re going to surprise someone.”

“Ah, back to chastising me again! It seems that, no matter how tired you get, you always have some energy in reserve with which to admonish your bumbling fool for his many faux pas~ Or maybe that ‘infinite generator’ of mine is already working its magic on you, and you’re rekindling some of that heavenly fire you’re so infamous for...? ☆”

Eichi answers him with an amused huff.

“As for my non-surprising surprise... Fufu. You’ll have to wait and see what happens, won’t you? Since you’ve grown wise to my usual tricks, I’m always thinking a few dozen steps ahead to outsmart you. Don’t worry; I promise you won’t be disappointed~”

“You don’t need to promise; you’ve never, ever disappointed me, Wataru.”

“Fufu. How charming you are—and so soon after reprimanding me. Thank you, Eichi~” Wataru responds, the smile audible in his voice.

“... Anyway, I know this was a while ago now, but it’s been bothering me. Even though ‘tree’ is a character in your name, it feels like an odd image for you...” This is the kind of “meaningless talk” Wataru was asking for, right? Eichi wracks his brain for more. “Think about it: to be tethered in one place forever, unable to run and fly wherever you wished... That would be torture, wouldn’t it?”

“Ah, but even though a tree may lay down its roots in one place, it can still run and fly! When the wind passes by, its leaves rustle and dance along with it. And when the seasons change, those leaves glide down like confetti in a lively little performance.”

“But when leaves fall, they die. I wouldn’t call that ‘lively’ at all.”

Wataru is unfazed. “And then they are reborn anew in the spring! ♪ How dull life would be if everything was constant and unchanging. Aren’t we lucky to live in a world that is constantly reimagining and recreating itself with time?”

Eichi can’t help but laugh, impressed—as always—at his quick wit. “You’re quite chipper tonight, you know? I can’t tell if you’re trying to energize me or if you simply can’t contain yourself. Either way, it’s very cute~”

“Please do let me know if you settle upon an answer. Until then, I’m satisfied with letting the mystery remain! ☆ Be chipper along with me, won’t you, Eichi? Let’s speak some more about frivolous things like this~”

“Frivolous, hmm?” Eichi pauses to think for a few moments. “Then... Hmm, well, if you insist on being a tree of some sort, how about a stalk of bamboo instead? In that case, your entire body would be able to shift with the breeze, not merely your leaves and branches.”

Once again, as though words come to him as naturally as breathing, Wataru responds immediately. “Hmm ♪ While the flexibility of a bamboo stalk is appealing, I’m afraid its roots are far too shallow for me. A tree can also move beneath the ground, after all~ As it matures, it burrows further within the earth, spreading roots down and outwards like fireworks... Fufu. One could say that the immobility of a tree is evidence of how far it’s traveled and how much it has ventured.”

Eichi hums into his chest in acknowledgment. “I see that, yes.”

“And, in turn, the deeper it burrows, the more resources it finds to grow. You forget that a tree is also continuously growing upwards, reaching higher and higher towards the sun. That is to say: a tree only looks immobile from the perspective of a human. From its point of view, it is always, always in motion. So, you see, I must insist that I be a eucalyptus tree. Now, if you’d like to debate on a specific subgenus or species, I’ll happily entertain your suggestions ♪”

Eichi wants to continue humoring him, but, as exhausted as he is, it feels as though he’s losing his footing in the conversation and will soon be completely outpaced. “Mm...” he starts. “... Sorry, I’ve lost track of what we were originally talking about. You should have visited me earlier if you were looking for a conversation partner.” Eichi intends this lightheartedly, but the words come out petty and childish.

Of course, Wataru notices. “I see. I uprooted myself for too long and left you lonely. How neglectful of me.”

Eichi sighs and presses his forehead into Wataru’s chest as if to hide his face. He doesn’t trust himself not to say something greedy or immature in response, so he remains silent.

Sensing his mood once again, Wataru puts a hand on his head and begins to slowly stroke his hair. “I made sure to at least arrive before the stroke of midnight. I had to return to my prince before the magic faded and I turned back into a pumpkin~”

Eichi chuckles softly, grateful for the shift in tone. “Oh, my. Is that how it goes...? I must have remembered it differently. But I trust you ♪” Then, unable to resist, he adds, “You weren’t the lead in that production, after all, so the memory isn’t as strongly impressed in my mind.”

“No, no, I think you’re right! It’s the princess’s carriage that turns into a pumpkin; the princess herself transforms into something else. Hmm, hmm... What was it... ? A swan? A peach? A thicket of vines? No, no...” Obviously aware of the correct answer, he still pauses for dramatic effect before concluding his joke. “Aha, I remember—a beanstalk, correct? ☆”

“Ahah,” Eichi says, unable to muster more than a small laugh. “You’re rather fixated on plants tonight, aren’t you, Wataru. It’s a difficult subject for me to keep up with.”

“Ohoh? ‘Fixated’? For someone like you to say that, I must be in quite the concerning state. Allowing one's act to grow stale is the greatest sin an entertainer can commit, so I’ll move on. What else may I entertain you with, dearest?”

Eichi doesn’t reply. He wants to; he wills his mouth to open and say something, anything... but despite his fierce desire to stay awake, Wataru’s soft voice and gentle stroking of his hair is lulling him to sleep. Eichi can feel his own heart rate slowing with each gentle breath he takes, and it's clear that, if things continue on like this, he'll soon be asleep.

A few minutes pass in silence until Wataru gradually ceases caressing his hair and, after another minute, returns his hand to his side.

Eichi sighs petulantly and raises his head to look up at Wataru. “You stopped.”

Wataru’s eyes crinkle as he smiles at him. “I thought you had fallen asleep. I didn’t want to disturb you.”

Eichi shakes his head. “I was falling asleep because it felt so lovely.”

Wataru raises his brows. “Then, shall I continue? Give me the order, Your Majesty, and I will hold you and pet your hair all night long ☆ I promise not to stop for a single moment, even if my hand grows a mind of its own again and tries to scamper off. You see, I’ve picked up a few sailor’s knots in my studies, so I can easily tie it in place with my hair~”

“Heh. Is that so?” Eichi laughs. “That second part aside—which does sound highly amusing—I wouldn’t order you to do such a thing.”

“No? Even if I begged?”

Eichi pulls himself up to nuzzle his face into the crook of Wataru’s neck. “I don’t want to sleep,” he mumbles into his skin. “I want to talk to you.”

Wataru hums contentedly and tilts his head to the side to allow Eichi a bit more room to snuggle into him. “You said yourself that you’re too exhausted to make conversation. What am I expected to talk about with a man who’s barely awake? … Unless you plan on sleep talking? ☆”

“Nn... I don’t care. I don’t care what we talk about, and I don’t care if I make no sense and sound like an idiot. I just... don’t want to sleep yet, not when I have you here with me.”

Wataru laughs. With his palm now settled on Eichi’s back, he begins to stroke lazy circles into the silk of his shirt with his thumb. “So, your plan is to stay up talking with me the entire night?”

“I don’t have a plan. I simply want to stay in this moment for as long as my body allows me.”

“No plan...? How irresponsible~ I don’t think I can permit you overexerting yourself for my sake; I may have to go against your wishes and cast a magic spell on you to send you off to sleep~ Then, in the morning, I’ll wake you with true love’s kiss... ☆”

“Don’t you dare,” Eichi grumbles. “It’s not for your sake at all, anyway. I’m incredibly selfish, and I want to cherish every single moment in which I have you all to myself.”

“You use the word ‘selfish’ far too loosely,” Wataru chides. “I wish you weren’t so determined to condemn yourself for experiencing the same emotions all of us other humans do. Besides—how can it be selfish to covet something which is freely given to you? If wanting to always be at one another’s side is a selfish desire, then I am damned too.”

“‘Damned’? You? Well... I couldn’t possibly stomach that... I’ll try and see it your way, then... ‘human emotions.’” Eichi smiles and presses a kiss into Wataru's neck. Then, without really thinking about it, he reaches over and takes a stray lock of Wataru’s hair between his index finger and thumb and begins gently looping it around his fingertip. “Mm... So soft~” he coos. “I love your hair...”

Wataru responds with a soft, contented sigh. “Fufu. My hair loves you, too ☆” Then, after a moment of pleasant silence, he murmurs, “... I wish you could stay longer.”

“Yes,” Eichi says. “Me too.”

“If I asked you to stay another day, would you?”

“Yes.”

“Another week?”

“Two weeks, a month, a year... for the rest of whatever life I have left. Yes, I’d stay clinging to your side as long as you could stand me.” Having coiled a lock of Wataru’s hair around his index finger, Eichi idly strokes it with the pad of his thumb for a moment, and then carefully unwinds it. “But you’re not going to ask me to do that.”

“Don’t be so sure. I’m considering it right now. A handsome soul so willingly offered to me may be too tempting to pass up~” he teases. “What would you do about all of your responsibilities? Your business, your employees—the countless people who depend on you for their livelihoods?”

“Ngh, to hell with all of it. I’d much rather spend all of my days with you. Then every night we would sleep in the same bed, and you’d hold me in your arms—just like now—and I would be happy until the moment I died. Nothing could possibly compare to a beautiful dream like that.”

“Those are some reckless words, Eichi. Now it’s my turn to say: ‘You’re not going to do that.’”

“I will. Ask me to, and I will.”

“Hmm~”

“You don’t believe me?”

“I do. And I agree that that dream is a beautiful one. But I don’t believe that such a weighty decision—one involving the lives of thousands of others—should fall on the shoulders of a mercurial fool like me, someone far more prone to fits of reckless self-interest than the average human... And I don’t believe that you’ll still mean what you say in the morning.”

“You underestimate my love for you.”

“I counter that you underestimate my love for you.”

“Hmph. How annoying. Must you have a retort to everything I say?”

“No, but I know it amuses you when I do, and it amuses me too~”

“Amusement,” Eichi scoffs. “What if I just want you to be selfish for once? Why can’t you ever allow me to indulge you—to dote on you? I said I would give up everything for you, and I meant it. So why won’t you let me?”

“Indulge me now, then. Raise your head and let me look at you for a while.”

“It’s dark.”

“Didn’t you know? Over the years, I’ve cultivated the night vision of a jungle cat. I’ll be able to see your every feature perfectly, as though it was midday.”

“Another perfect response. It’s impossible to win an argument against you.”

“And yet still you insist on attempting to, despite how fruitless an endeavor it is ♪ Are you refusing to indulge me, Eichi?”

Eichi groans, but relents. He pushes back and repositions himself so that his torso is halfway draped across the other’s chest, his neck straining up to look at him. Their eyes meet in the darkness.

Wataru smiles. “Pretty ♪” he coos. “You must have siphoned a bit of my body heat. Your cheeks are slightly flushed~”

“I suppose I do feel a bit warm... Thank you.”

“Use my body however you like. If you ever become too hot, I’ll drop my body temperature instantaneously to cool you back down. I can even freeze myself solid to shower you with tiny snowflakes, if you like.”

“I don’t doubt it ♪ I’d like to see that sometime. But I’m completely comfortable as I am.” Eichi smiles affectionately at him, his eyes running over his face. It’s dark, but he doesn’t need night vision to make out his partner’s features; because he shines with the radiant beauty of an angel, Wataru’s perfect face can be appreciated from any angle, distance, or lighting. He’d recognize his face from the other side of the world. “How else can I indulge you, my Wataru?” he murmurs.

“Hmm... ☆ Then as my second of three wishes, I ask you to tell me what you truly thought of our play tonight, with absolute honesty. My lie detector will go off if you’re not honest, and I fear the volume of the alarm may be too shocking to your fragile heart. So please do tell the brutal truth, if only for your own sake~”

“I already told you the truth earlier: It was truly incredible. I’m still coming down from the experience, to be honest... I'm no actor, so it's difficult to put into words how I feel. The writing, the staging, the costuming... all of it was very impressive. And all of your costars were excellent as well, of course—but I can say with complete objectivity that you stole the spotlight.”

“Ohoh, I’m glad to hear it—that’s been my ultimate goal from the moment I was born, after all~ Did you enjoy the plot? Were the themes too obscure—or, perhaps, too on-the-nose? We thespians must balance across a precarious tightrope when it comes to diffusing meaning into the masses.”

“I felt that you achieved that balance excellently. I was, of course, unnerved by the ending—and yet, not surprised either; it makes more sense as I continue thinking on it.”

“And what sense did you make of it?”

“Well... As humans, we are pulled in opposing directions by our passions and our obligations. Your character chose to live his life in pursuit of passion alone, shirking his duties to his work and family. He had exhilarating experiences and lived a day full of bliss and free of worry, but his way of life was unsustainable precisely because it lacked responsibility. That’s why he was fated to die in the final scene.”

“Ah... I see ♪ And here I thought he died because he was stabbed.”

“Tch.” Eichi rolls his eyes. “You’re playing dense just for the sake of teasing me; how mean. I was speaking of the symbolism behind the plot itself—which you asked me to do.”

“Yes, I did. And I don’t disagree with your interpretation; you’re quite astute when it comes to the arts, you know? Perhaps you’d like to join Dramatica as a playwright for our upcoming revue? Fufu, it’d be worth it just to see how flustered my archrival would be~ But I wasn’t trying to tease you. I was only speaking from the point of view I imagine many audience members had: that there was no thematic explanation for my character’s death.”

“No explanation...?”

“He died because the assassin stabbed him. His demise was not a result of karma, or fate, or even any sort of direct consequence of his life choices. He was simply unlucky. I believe that many people left the theater tonight thinking, ‘He was so close to fixing his life. If only he’d been more careful that night, he wouldn’t have died. What a shame.’”

“You’re underestimating your audience.”

“I’m not. I’m only recognizing that art can be interpreted in an infinite number of ways... And that one of those interpretations naturally must be: ‘There is no meaning.’ To some, my character’s death is nothing but a meaningless tragedy.”

“A tragedy without meaning... That’s repulsive.”

“Which is exactly why such stories must be told! The theater is the only place where we are free to—no, we are encouraged to feel all of those painful emotions we suppress in our everyday lives! Hatred and despair and rage and hopelessness... On the stage and in the audience, we're allowed experience these emotions without fear of consequences.”

“Hm.”

“You feel differently?”

“I suppose not. It’s similar to how I feel about idols, after all; although my goal—with fine, with STAR PRO, and with ES—has always been to produce far more smiles and laughter than I do tears.”

“Smiles and tears aren’t as different as you think; after all, they’re both evidence that someone is feeling something strongly. Idols and actors... we’re both just trying to evoke that emotional response in our audience. What that response might be, however, is not for us to decide; we are merely the catalysts.”

“... As always, you speak with such profound beauty that I’m left absolutely clueless as to how to respond.”

“Fufu. Pay me more compliments like that, then, if you can’t think of anything else to say~”

“Is that your third and final wish?”

“No; actually, my third wish is for infinite wishes... ☆”

“Hmm... Isn’t that usually against the rules in fairy tales?”

“Most often, yes~ But you’ll grant it anyway, won’t you, Eichi? ♪ You like to break the rules every now and then, after all~”

“Hmph. Well, considering it is my sincerest wish to grant you everything you could possibly desire, what answer could I give but ‘yes’?”

“A calculated and astute answer. I’d expect nothing less from the Almighty Emperor, Tenshouin Eichi~”

“... I can’t be sure, but sometimes it really sounds like you’re mocking me when you call me things like that.”

“Is that so~ I wonder... ☆ Do you like it?”

“Well, I don’t mind it if it comes from you. You can behave however you like around me.”

“Fufu~ If that's true, then grant me another wish: tell me what you thought of my acting tonight.”

Eichi chuckles. “So you did want more compliments after all. I would have called it a waste of a wish if you hadn’t already asked for infinite wishes; praising you comes as naturally to me as breathing, after all. That will be no problem for me, and it’ll help me stay awake, too~ However, can I please lower my head? My neck has started to hurt.”

“I’m afraid not. I’m not through looking at your pretty face, you know. Here.” Wataru raises a hand and cups his palm against Eichi's cheek. “Lean into my hand. I’ll become your neck for now.”

Eichi’s eyes widen in surprise at the touch, and his chest swells with a sensation halfway between embarrassment and pleasure. But he does as instructed, and rests his cheek against Wataru’s palm.

“Cute,” Wataru murmurs.

Eichi’s heart flutters. “Shhh. You’ll make me flush even more.”

“Hmm~ As adorable as that sounds, I’ll do as you say. It’s your turn to speak, anyway ♪”

“Well, I thought you were brilliant, of course,” Eichi begins. “If I didn’t know you personally, I would have believed that you were your character, experiencing those joys and ecstasies and heartbreaks firsthand. Or—no, that’s not quite right. I think that you did become your character, and the emotions you expressed were genuine. That’s what acting is to you, right? Transformation. How else could you have conjured such believable tears for your dying monologue?”

“Ah... You saw that? I thought perhaps you weren’t sitting quite close enough to make out such details.”

“I notice every detail when it comes to you. I’m your biggest fan, after all.”

“After all this time? That’s impressive—most fanatics lose interest after a couple of years and move on to someone new.” He strokes his thumb across Eichi’s cheek affectionately. “Aren’t I lucky? ♪ I have quite a loyal fan~”

“Yes, now and forever—I’ll never, ever lose interest in you. That’s why I couldn’t possibly miss your opening night. You were correct earlier: you were a fool to think I wouldn’t come.”

“Fufufu. It’s fans like you who keep a clown like me humble.”

“But you weren’t a clown tonight, Wataru. It was almost scary to watch you up there. You had the face and body of Hibiki Wataru, but it was as though the essence of the Wataru I knew and loved had disappeared. You were so... harsh.”

“Did that scare you?”

“Yes, a little. I suppose that’s one of those ‘painful emotions’ you were hoping to inspire, right?”

“Well, not in you specifically, of course—and I imagine that your troubled response to my performance wasn’t entirely based on the quality of my acting. It must have been difficult at first to reconcile the inherent dissonance in a person who looks like your Hibiki Wataru but acts like a stranger... It’s very interesting for me to imagine your reaction, fufu ♪ But, yes, you’re right. To my delight, I did catch a few shocked faces in the audience in my introductory scene.”

“I’m sure that my own was among them; at least, I thought I saw you look my way as you walked offstage. Anyway, while it was very shocking at first... after a while, it became surprisingly easy to see you primarily as your character—and that can only be attributed to the quality of your acting. You portrayed his downfall from civility to madness so perfectly, so believably... I was captivated.”

“Oh?”

“Well, coming from me, I suppose that that doesn’t mean as much as I’d like—since everything you do impresses me. Perhaps when Sakuma and the others visit, their praise will hold more weight... But I mean it. I’ve always known that you were the greatest actor of our generation, but tonight you proved it to hundreds more people. It made me proud.”

“Your praise means everything to me, Eichi,” Wataru murmurs, looking fondly into his eyes. “I’m profoundly glad that my work affected you so deeply... that I can share it with you.”

“Me too,” Eichi agrees. “Like I said... I’m your biggest fan, Wataru—of everything you do. I know it's taken me a while to see you for all that you are, but, I promise: I don't only love Wataru the idol, but Wataru the actor, too... And not only those—Wataru the magician, the chef, the mentor... all of you. You're my favorite person, and I love everything that you are.”

“Mm~” Wataru hums, smiling dreamily. “Yes... I was right. I’m very, very lucky ♪” Gazing into his eyes, Wataru briefly runs the pad of his thumb over Eichi’s bottom lip before removing his hand. “Very well~ I’m quite satisfied. Thank you; you may finally rest your neck.”

“I think I’ll shift onto my side, actually,” Eichi says. “Your chest is very comfortable, but I’m afraid of falling asleep like this and hurting my back. So turn onto your side, too, alright? I don’t want to stop holding you.”

“... Fufu, you know, Eichi, sometimes you say the most romantic things without meaning to.”

“What? I can’t possibly see what was romantic about anything I just said. It was a plain expression of fact.”

“Hmm? ♪ Well, fact is oftentimes even more beautiful than fiction~ I, for one, find it quite dashing when you speak plainly.”

“Hmph. And I, for one, think that you’re just being a flirt... but I don’t mind. When they come from you, even words of empty praise are heartwarming.”

Eichi slides off of Wataru’s chest and turns onto his side with his arms open. He expects Wataru to turn his back to him so that the two can spoon, but to his surprise, Wataru instead turns on his side to face him. Snuggling up against him, Wataru slips his arms around Eichi's waist in a tight embrace and presses his forehead into his chest.

Taken aback but in no way displeased—displeased, in fact, being the farthest from what he’s feeling—Eichi, in turn, wraps his arms around Wataru’s back and laces his fingers together as though securing him in place. As they each pull one another closer, their legs intertwine as well; while Wataru’s jeans are uncomfortable, Eichi doesn't care anymore.

Wataru sighs into his chest. “You’re so warm now~” he murmurs, curling his arms tighter around Eichi’s sides.

“Yes, thanks to you,” Eichi replies. He hasn’t closed his eyes yet; he wants to commit the image of Wataru nuzzling in his arms to memory first. From this angle, he can’t see much besides the top of Wataru's head, but it’s enough—he wouldn't change a single thing about their position. As he fondly traces his eyes over the silvery-blue locks, he suddenly pauses and furrows his brow. “Oh... I didn’t notice until now—you didn’t take down your bun.”

“That’s true; and I didn’t undo my braid either. I usually brush out my hair before bed, but... well, I didn’t have the opportunity to tonight.”

Eichi frowns. “And I didn’t allow you to change clothes either. Yet you insist that I’m not selfish.”

“Fufufu... I suppose, in this case, I can’t argue against your point good faith. But, as your loyal fool, I was—I am—more than pleased to gratify your selfishness.”

Eichi smiles, and leans over to press his face in his hair. “My fool? Is that all you are to me?”

“I’ll be whatever you’d like me to be~ The title doesn’t matter to me... as long as I get to be yours ☆”

“You hopeless flirt,” Eichi chides with a chuckle. “Although, that reminds me... Hehe, you know, it was quite amusing to be referred to as ‘Hibiki’s rich boyfriend’... ♪ I wanted to laugh, but I was afraid your castmates might take it the wrong way.”

“Ah, that... I swear that’s not how I first spoke of you to them,” Wataru objects, his voice slightly strained as if he’s embarrassed. “At least—I never used the word ‘rich.’ But they recognized the name Tenshouin, of course, and drew their own conclusions from there.”

“It’s alright. Like you said: I don’t really care what they call me, as long as ‘boyfriend’ is included. Fufu ♪ Honestly, it was such a thrill to realize that there are people in the world who know me as something of ‘yours’ above all else; not as an idol, nor as an heir or executive, but as ‘Hibiki’s boyfriend.’ Hehe, I simply can’t get enough of the thought ♪”

“Fufufu. Yes, I understand. Back at ES, everyone knows the both of us, so there’s no need to refer to us as anything but our names. But until now, most of my castmates only knew you as an abstract figure; your existence was only relevant through your relation to me. So it was more convenient to refer to you as ‘Hibiki's boyfriend’ than by your own name.”

“Mm~ ‘Hibiki’s boyfriend’... ♪ It’s even better when you say it, Wataru ♪” He grins into Wataru’s hair. “I thought that once we’d begun referring to one another by first names, I’d never want to hear you call me anything other than ‘Eichi.’ But, ah, it’s pleasant to be referred to by informal titles by you, Wataru, whether it’s ‘dearest,’ or ‘boyfriend,’ or anything else. Maybe you just make everything magical by saying it~”

“Ah, but Eichi, I believe that this is a rare case in which the magic comes from the subject, not the magician; ‘A rose by any other name would smell as sweet,’ after all ☆”

“... Oh. I half-expected you to pull a rose from behind my ear when you said that. But I can’t rightfully complain that you don’t have any tricks for me, since I didn’t give you advance warning for my visit.”

“Yes, I’m afraid that you caught me quite off guard tonight. It’s very unusual for a seasoned clown like myself to be found without a single trick up his sleeve. I must congratulate you: you really did surprise me ♪”

“Heh. To catch a clown by surprise... that really is a victory~” However, as Eichi gleefully pictures Wataru's flustered expression in the dressing room, another memory springs to mind. “...And yet it seemed like the bigger surprise was the one I hadn’t planned; Wataru, you looked so confused when I first offered you my credit card~”

“... Ah, that reminds me.” Wataru shifts his weight to his side for a moment to slip his hand into his pocket to retrieve his wallet. Through the darkness, the matte shine of Eichi’s personal credit card catches the pale moonlight. “I imagine you won’t let me get up to return it to your wallet, so may I put it on the nightstand for now?”

Eichi shrugs with disinterest. “Sure, that will be fine.” He waits impatiently while Wataru leans over to place the card on the side table, and then greedily maneuvers him back into his arms. “Hmph,” he pouts. “That card must have been burning a hole in your pocket, for you to be so eager to return it. It almost hurts my feelings.”

“Why is that, I wonder? I am returning your credit card to you, Eichi—not your heart... Which I’m afraid you’ll never get back; I’ve grown far too attached to it ☆”

The sweet words rush to Eichi’s stomach like fluttering butterflies—but he refuses to let Wataru sway him into sweet nothings... at least not until he gets a straight answer. “Still, you seemed so uncomfortable with taking it in the first place... I’m glad that your friend was able to convince you, since you were so obstinate on disregarding my pleas.”

“You know more than most that it’s no fun for your subjects to follow your orders blindly. You’re sulking about it, but I think that secretly you enjoy when others disobey you ♪”

“Where did you get that idea... ? No, no, that's neither here nor there. Please, Wataru, I must know: why was this gesture so insulting to you? I’ve offered to buy you countless things over the years, most of them much pricier than dinner for ten—did you really think that I was joking this whole time?”

“... No, I didn’t think that. And I didn’t find it insulting, Eichi.”

“Then, what was it? Why were you so hesitant? You’ll have to lay it out plainly, so even I can understand.”

Wataru sighs. “The truth is... I don’t exactly know, myself. The sight of you, smiling and holding out that card to me... It felt... deeply significant. I was at a loss for words for a moment.”

“I thought that you didn’t care about money.”

“I don’t, not in the slightest—that’s not why. It wasn’t the money itself, but... Ah, forgive me; I’m an actor, after all. I can’t help but find symbolism in everything, on or off the stage.”

“Symbolism? You mean the card?”

“Yes... Well, no, not exactly. Not the card, but the gesture. It’s not about the money, Eichi, but about you.”

“I don’t follow. Are you saying I did something wrong, or... ?”

“No, no, no! On the contrary! What you did—entrusting me with your personal card, just for the sake of my castmates and I having a good night on our own... it was incredible.”

“... Wataru, the way you phrase it, it actually sounds quite mundane. I don’t mean to be rude, but however much you spent tonight, even if it seemed like a fortune to you and your friends... that amount is absolutely insignificant to me. I’m glad that the gesture meant something to you, but I myself didn’t think twice about it—so I really don’t deserve any praise for that.”

“Hmm~” Wataru pauses. “I suppose I can’t fault you for not understanding my meaning this time. We’ve had vastly different upbringings, after all, and money is certainly a touchy subject regardless; it appears to be obscuring my meaning. So forget the money for now, and answer me this instead: why did you insist that I celebrate with my castmates tonight, even after I said that I wanted to spend time with you?”

“You found ‘symbolism’ in that too, then?”

Wataru remains silent, waiting patiently for Eichi’s response.

“... Ugh, well, the truth of the matter doesn’t paint me favorably this time, either: honestly, I really, really didn’t want to let you go.”

“Hmm, and yet you did. How strange~ I wonder why?”

“I wish you’d stop being coy and just tell me the answer for once.”

“You plucked the words right out of my lips, Eichi. You see, I’m waiting on you to explain it to me... ☆”

“Well, I don’t know why either. I simply acted without reason.”

“Is that so? That sounds very, very unlike you.”

Eichi purses his lips in thought. “I... wanted you to have a good time with your friends. I wanted you to celebrate your accomplishment with them... which I’m sure you were planning to do anyway, before you knew I was in attendance.”

“However, as I said at the time, I would have happily spent the remainder of my evening with you instead.”

“Yes, well... I didn’t want you to have to choose. That is—I knew that you’d probably visit me later, so this way, you were able to celebrate with your friends and spend time with me.”

“So you took the choice away from me, then?”

“I... I didn’t think of it that way. I saw it as giving you more freedom.”

“It certainly didn’t feel freeing to have my lover bully me into leaving him all on his own, especially after he’d flown all the way to surprise me on my opening night.”

“‘Bully’ you... ?”

“Well, yes. You forced me into doing what you wanted; you even used my costar as a pawn to pressure me.”

Eichi’s blood races to his face. This conversation did not go the way he thought it would. Wasn’t Wataru just praising him a moment ago... ? Had he missed a tonal cue earlier—a sign that Wataru was actually being facetious when he said that Eichi hadn't done anything wrong? Or had Eichi misunderstood what Wataru meant by “incredible”—was that intended as an insult? Had Wataru actually been criticizing him this entire time?

He has to fix this immediately. “... You’re right. Agh, Wataru, I’m sorry. I thought that I was doing the right thing, and I assumed I knew what was best for you, but it was a mistake—”

“Huh?” Wataru pushes himself back to look his partner in the eye. Seeing the pained expression on Eichi's face, he furrows his brows in concern for a moment, and then breaks into an amused smile. “Oh, shh, Eichi. Ah, you went so stiff all of a sudden!” Wataru reaches over to playfully pinch his cheek. “I’m only teasing you, alright? Humor is one of the most effective avenues through which truth is revealed~ You don’t need to apologize; you didn't do anything wrong. I only want you to understand the situation from my point of view.”

Eichi leans into his palm. “Then, please, tell me.”

“I truly, deeply appreciate your sentiment. You’re right: I did want to celebrate with my friends. We’ve worked so hard to get to this point, and tonight went absolutely perfectly. We deserved to bask in our accomplishment, and I appreciate that you recognized that. But, Eichi, I also missed you. It’s been less than a week, but it feels like ages since I’ve seen your face. I must not have made myself clear before: I was absolutely over the moon when I saw your coat in the seats. Ask any of my castmates—I could hardly contain my giddiness. ‘He really came!’ I was ecstatic.”

“I wish I could’ve seen it. That sounds adorable.”

“Fufu, if that's the case, you’ll have to surprise me more often, then~”

“But, Wataru, I still don’t understand. Are you glad that I refused you or not... ?”

“I’m not particularly glad or upset about it. As always, Eichi, I find your choices utterly fascinating; so I suppose you could say that I’m ‘entertained.’ I was disappointed when you sent me away, but I had a feeling it was because you thought it was the ‘noble’ thing you ought to do... So I understood, and I didn’t put up much of a fight. You wanted to do something selfless—something that went against your own desires—because you thought it was what I ‘actually’ wanted.”

“I’m an idiot.”

“On the contrary. I found it to be a wonderfully surprising display of maturity on your part.”

“Ah... I know you phrased that statement like a compliment, but it had the sting of an insult.”

“Fufufu. I see what you mean; however, that wasn’t my intention. But it shouldn’t offend you, anyway, right? My inadvertent slight was aimed at the you of the past, whereas I am complimenting the Eichi of today.”

“Hmph. I’ll choose to be offended at whatever I like, thank you.”

“Ohoh? ♪ Then I offer my sincerest apologies, Your Majesty. I should not have deigned to call you mature, and I shall not dare to stoop so low ever again... ☆”

Eichi can’t hold back a small laugh. “Now I'm certain that you're mocking me... Hah, I think I do like it—at least when it comes from you~ Anyway, you’re right. That does sound like something a person much more mature than I am would do. But I really wasn’t trying to impress you—not consciously, at least—so it feels weird to accept praise for it.”

“Hm? You must be spending too much time around me—you’re thinking with the attitude of a clown. You don’t need to knowingly perform a trick to deserve praise~ In fact, I’d say it’s infinitely more impressive that you acted selflessly simply for its own sake—for my sake... I just wish that you’d trust my words, Eichi.”

“I do trust you, Wataru. I just... I know that, sometimes, humans say things that they don’t mean for the sake of courtesy... or to spare one another’s feelings. I... I was so intent on not smothering you with my company that I assumed that this was one of those instances... and I refused to listen to what you were actually saying.”

“I don't blame you. You were raised in an environment where people rarely said what they truly felt. For that reason, you’ve learned to make assumptions about the ‘actual meaning’ behind people’s words. And, for the most part, I’d say that you assume correctly... But, Eichi, I promise that you never have to guess at the meaning behind my words. I’m a clown, and I love to deceive, but only in jest... only when my audience knows they’re being deceived. I never lie about the things that matter.”

Eichi sighs. “... Alright. From now on, I’ll trust that whatever you tell me is the truth. Or... no, better yet: I’m not going to care whether you lie to me or not. I’ll simply choose to believe everything you say, no matter what.”

“Fufufu. An intriguing distinction, to be sure, but an irrelevant one—I have no intention of lying to you. Unless, of course, you consider tiny fibs for the sake of an effective surprise to be ‘lying’... A sin which you yourself have been guilty of this past month.”

“Ha, that’s true. It was a white lie—a series of white lies—in the interest of a more effective payoff. I feel a little bad about it... but not really ♪”

“Mm~” Wataru hums, and, after a few moments of comfortable silence, he snuggles up against Eichi’s chest again; automatically, Eichi wraps his arms around him to press him closer. “Eichi, you make life so interesting... ♪” he murmurs into his chest.

“That’s incredibly high praise, coming from you,” Eichi replies.

“It’s true~”

Eichi begins to stroke his hair. “I’ll continue to do my best, then. I’d hate for you to get bored.”

“Never,” Wataru says. “Never with you, Eichi~” His voice is softer now, Eichi notes—but perhaps it's simply because he's speaking into Eichi's nightshirt.

“Fufu ♪ You’re such a charmer~ You always know the perfect thing to say... You’re perfect.”

“I’m not perfect—not at all.”

“You are,” Eichi insists. “I love every single thing about you.”

Wataru sighs blissfully into his chest. “Mm,” he breathes.

“It’s true. I don’t lie about what matters, either.”

Wataru doesn’t respond. Eichi decides not to press him; he doesn’t mind basking in happy silence for a while.

Wataru’s breath is warm against Eichi’s chest. As he lets his mind wander, the sensation suddenly sparks an unexpected memory of childhood: Eichi sits, around five or six years old, beside his grandmother in her bedroom, as the two warm their hands by the space heater. The fireplace in the main hall is warmer, but nothing compares to the privacy and comfort of her room. They don’t speak, so the only sound in the bedroom is the rhythmic hum of the machine as it whirs out currents of hot air. With every steady pulse, Eichi can feel, ever so slightly, the ache in his muscles loosening. He leans forward—careful not to get too close and burn himself, as his grandmother often warned—and takes as deep a breath as he can manage in the childish hope that, when the warm air glides down his throat and into his lungs, he’ll be able to breathe easier on the next exhale.

Eichi’s sure he’s never recalled this memory before; after his grandmother died, he’d meticulously collected and clung to every happy memory he had of her like he was hoarding sweets. But this one is entirely new, and far too unfamiliar for Eichi to be sure that it’s even a real memory. Perhaps his sleepy mind is confusing the then and now, memory and reality—it’s understandable for him to conflate one precious person from his childhood with one precious person from his present...

He doesn’t follow the thought any further. It doesn’t matter; the “past” is merely an imperfect reconstruction of one’s subjective experiences. He’ll never know for sure whether this scene “really” took place all those years ago, as his grandmother isn’t alive for him to ask. But Eichi is, and as a living being, he can decide what's real to him. What matters. And, “real” or not, Eichi chooses to hold onto that image of a sickly little boy and his grandmother huddled around a heater.

As his mind shifts from the past into the present, he hopes that, when this very moment becomes a memory, he’ll be able to recall at least a semblance of the peace and love he’s feeling as he holds his lover in his arms. This moment—and this person in bed beside him are undoubtedly, inexorably real.

Breaking out of his own thoughts, Eichi waits for Wataru to ask what he’s thinking about; he always has an uncanny talent of sensing when there’s something on his mind that he’d like to work through aloud. But, to his surprise... Wataru remains silent.

Eichi opens his mouth to speak, but stops himself. Could Wataru be... ?

With Wataru snuggled against his chest, Eichi can’t check to see if his eyes are open or closed... so instead he waits and listens. Wataru’s breathing is soft, but he can faintly make it out in the quiet room. Eichi can also feel the steady rise of his chest with each inhale... and then the warmth of his breath with each exhale.

In...

Out...

In...

Out...

Ah. So you’re the one who fell asleep first, Wataru.

Did you do this on purpose to get me to sleep, knowing I wouldn’t dare wake you when you looked so peaceful? ... You were wrong. I desperately want to grab your shoulders and shake you awake so we can entertain one another for just a little longer.

... Well, if I really believed that that were the case, I would wake you up in an instant and scold you for such a cruel stunt. But... you’ve asked me time and time again to remember that you’re human too, so I’ll believe that you simply fell asleep because you were tired. Sometimes the simplest conclusion truly is the correct one. You’ve had a very exciting day, after all; no one could fault you for needing rest.

You really put all of your heart into your performance tonight. I’m sure it was absolutely exhausting—physically and emotionally. And yet afterwards, you so effortlessly shifted back into our Hibiki Wataru, full of energy and laughter, to joyously celebrate with your castmates... and then to whisper sweet words in the dark with me for a while. I know you’re human, I promise... But it wouldn’t kill you to give me a little more proof every now and then, you know? You never said “I’m tired” once, even though it’s clear now that you, too, were on the verge of sleep this entire time.

Hmph. I’m horribly selfish, so, even knowing you’re exhausted, I still have to resist the dark urge to wake you back up. You’re right to call me immature—I lose almost all self-control when it comes to you. I just can’t help it; I want you, all of you, all the time.

But... Well, even though you’re asleep, it’s not like we’re truly apart. Even asleep, alone in your own mind, where I can no longer reach you... you’re still nestled here in my arms. I can still faintly feel your steady heartbeat, and the slow rise and fall of your breaths. It’s a little lonely to not be able to talk to you... but we’re still together. That’s all I'll ever need.

Even I can recognize how greedy I’m being. The notion of laying with you like this, with you wrapped tightly in my arms... Ha. I can’t imagine what the Eichi of four years ago would think if he could see me now. I'm sure it'd seem to him like the ridiculous, pathetic fantasy of a dying man... Yes, I should appreciate each and every moment I have with you, waking or not. They are all indelibly precious to me, because you, Wataru, are indelibly precious to me.

Oh? Your breathing has slowed even more. You really must be fast asleep. Are you dreaming yet... ? Hibiki Wataru’s dreams must truly be something else. Since you’re able conjure such magic in the waking world of mortals, I can’t begin fathom what your subconscious is capable of without the shackles of logic and reality.

I’d like it if you dreamed of me. You must have, right—just as I’ve dreamed of you? I want to ask you sometime, but I’m afraid of the answer; not all dreams are pleasant, after all. I’ve hurt you in the past, and no matter what’s happened since then, our subconscious stubbornly holds onto past pain like the stiff grip of a dead man. I want to know if things I’ve done in the past still sting you, so I can properly make up for it... But I’m a coward as well as selfish, so maybe I’ll wait just a little longer before I ask.

Ugh... My eyes are closing too; now that you’re asleep, I don’t have the will to stay awake any longer. I suppose I’d better sleep as well. Honestly, if tomorrow was Eichi Day, and I had the luxury of sleeping in, I’d happily will myself to stay up all night long listening to you. You, my Wataru, who always wears a mask... Your body is so relaxed now.

I only wish I could see your face. Am I this relaxed when I sleep, I wonder... ? You’ve seen me unconscious far more often than I have you, after all, so I’m sure you could give me a wonderfully detailed description—although I can’t imagine my sleeping face could look nearly as angelic as yours. You truly do surpass me in every way... ☆

... Alright. I’ll join you in sleep. Even if we have different dreams, our bodies will be intertwined like this all night long, so we’ll be together while our minds are apart. Since I’m you’re in my arms, I’ll know if you try to move, and I’ll stop you. I’m sorry if it’s uncomfortable, but I simply cannot bear to let you shift even a single inch. So let’s stay just like this, holding each other tightly until morning...

Goodnight, Wataru. I love you.

~

Eichi awakes to the mouth-wateringly delicious smell of freshly-brewed tea. Through the haze of his groggy, half-conscious mind, he works to pin down the scent: it’s spicy, yet fruity—not unlike the smell of candied raisins—but not too sweet either... He’d even describe it as musky if the term didn’t sound so unappetizing. He inhales again. Whatever it is, it smells heavenly. He can't wait to have a cup.

But, no, wait... isn’t he in a hotel? Where in the world could this smell be coming from... ?

No. Eichi squeezes experimentally at the weight in his arms, and, to his irritation, discovers that he is holding a pillow instead of his boyfriend. With a melodramatic groan, he’s half-tempted to toss the pillow off the bed... but instead he tightens his arms around it and buries his face into the plush.

“Ah! Good morning, my Prince Charming~”

Eichi hugs the pillow for a moment longer and then, with a sigh, uncrosses his arms to look up at Wataru, who’s perched on the edge of the bed with an amused smile on his face.

“When did you get up?” Eichi asks grouchily.

“Oh, only about fifteen minutes ago.” Wataru cocks a brow. “So I didn’t wake you, then? Hoho, that’s good to know. I tried to be as stealthy as possible, but you were squeezing me so tightly, I was afraid I’d have to dislocate my shoulder to shimmy free~”

Eichi huffs. “You shouldn’t have moved, then. I wanted to wake up holding you.”

Wataru tilts his head to the side as though genuinely touched by the statement. “I didn’t want to, if it’s any consolation. But I was afraid that you’d miss your appointment if we slept in any longer. I’m not used to being the responsible one, but without Butler-san or Mr. Right Hand around, the position of ‘personal secretary’ fell upon my shoulders.”

“I appreciate it,” Eichi sighs. “I do—and I’m sorry for being bratty. It would have been incredibly inconvenient if I missed this morning’s meeting... Thank you.”

Wataru smiles at the praise. “Don’t thank me just yet, Your Majesty. You haven’t even gotten out of bed yet, after all! Here... ☆” Wataru reaches a hand behind his back and produces a steaming teacup and saucer. “Sit up and get something in your stomach, all right?”

He gestures with his chin to the bedside table, upon which sit Eichi’s pill case and a frosted pastry. “It’s from the restaurant last night. I had one myself and was curious about what you'd think. It’s fine if you don’t like it, but you shouldn’t have your medicine on an empty stomach, you know? And besides, it’ll hurt my feelings if you don’t at least try it~”

Eichi, still a bit groggy, is grateful for the direct instructions. Pushing the pillow aside, he sits up. He holds out his hands, onto which Wataru promptly deposits the cup and saucer.

“Thank you, Wataru. This is perfect.” He holds the cup below his face for a moment, enjoying the warm air on his cheeks, and then raises it to his lips to take a small sip. It tastes as divine as it smells. “Ah... How delicious ♪ You always brew it exactly the way I like it—just like magic~ You’ll have a cup too, won’t you?”

“Certainly. It’s a pity to have breakfast alone, after all. But I’m afraid our time is running short; we only have about twenty minutes until your plane arrives. So I’ll have to double-task, as always~”

While Eichi nibbles at the pastry and swallows his handful of morning pills, Wataru flits across the room gathering his belongings. In the time it takes Eichi to take another sip of tea, the spare outfit he'd packed is laid out across the end of the bed.

“You play the role of attendant very well,” Eichi coos as he sets down his teacup. “You’d better not show off to anyone but me, though—I think Yuzuru would be jealous~”

“That’s quite alright with me. You’re my favorite person to show off to, because you always have the best reactions ♪” Wataru practically bounces with happiness. “Fufu, you’re giving me so much praise this morning, I feel like I might start floating away soon... ☆”

“Hmph, then anchor yourself down with one of those knots you learned. I’m not finished with you yet.”

“Ohoh? ‘Yet’? Does my usefulness to you have an expiration date?”

“No, of course not. But, as you said, our time together this morning does. Give me a few minutes to get dressed and wash up, and then I want to sit and chat with you until the second I have to leave.” Eichi stands and begins to gather the clothing in his arms.

“Very well~ I’ll take the opportunity to brush out my hair; there are just a few tangles I need to work through. It’s like a fifth limb to me, you know—I must maintain it vigilantly to keep it in peak condition! Now, where did I...?” Wataru feigns confusion for a few second before snapping his fingers as if coming to a sudden realization. “Aha!”

With a flourish, he picks up the teapot, removes the lid, and reaches inside—far deeper than logic should allow... nearly up to his elbow?—to pull out his hairbrush, completely dry. “There it is! ☆” Wataru exclaims, watching intently for Eichi’s reaction as he holds out the brush for him to inspect.

Eichi frowns. “In the teapot... ? That’s awfully unsanitary. Was that in there when you poured my tea?”

“Ah—no, of course not. You see, Eichi, it wasn’t actually in the—”

“I know, I know,” Eichi interrupts. “Please, don’t explain how you pulled off the illusion; that’s against a magician’s code, right? I was only kidding. Really, that was quite impressive—and I honestly haven't the slightest idea how you did it. Fufu, good work, Wataru ♪”

Wataru grins. “Thank you, thank you~ Now, I won’t keep you any longer, so you’re free to get dressed.”

Eichi nods. “I’ll be quick.” He begins to head in the direction of the washroom until he stops abruptly and looks over his shoulder. “... No, wait. Let me brush your hair instead, won’t you? I’ll be very gentle, I promise.”

Wataru raises his brows in surprise, but his face swiftly settles into a curious smirk. “As you wish, Eichi.”

~

The next ten minutes fly by like seconds. In two chairs at the boudoir, Wataru sits with his back to Eichi as the latter slowly and tenderly runs the bristles of the hairbrush through his long blue hair. Focused on his task, Eichi sits in meditative silence as Wataru shares his plans for the upcoming days, only adding the occasional question or comment to encourage his partner to continue. He pauses every minute or so to take another sip of tea—and, at Wataru’s urging, a bite of pastry—but otherwise does not stop brushing until their time has almost run out.

If he had a bit more time, he’d offer to redo his braid, or pin his bun back in place. But he’s at least gotten out most of the tangles—and before he stands up, he takes a moment to run a hand through the length of his hair, fingers slipping through the silky blue as easily as if it were a running waterfall. It’s the softest thing he’s ever felt.

With a sigh, he stands and then leans down to plant a single kiss on the top of Wataru’s head. “You’re beautiful~” he murmurs.

Before he can pull back, a pair of arms shoot up to pin his neck and shoulders in place, keeping him from straightening back up. Tilting his own head back, Wataru smiles playfully up at Eichi and gives him a quick peck on the lips in return before releasing him.

Eichi can feel his cheeks flushing pink, and he steps back with a flustered chuckle. “You surprised me,” he laughs.

Wataru stands, grabs Eichi’s overnight bag by the strap, and hitches it over his right shoulder. Then he walks over to Eichi’s side and flashes him a mischievous wink. “Now it's your turn again~” he teases.

~

With his bag waiting on board and the pilot standing by, all there’s left to do is say goodbye. The two lovers stand facing each other at the base of the small staircase leading to the passenger door of Eichi’s plane, neither wanting to initiate the farewell.

Wataru is the brave one. “Please get some sleep on your flight, my Emperor,” he murmurs.

“I’m afraid not,” Eichi sighs. "There’s some paperwork I have to look over before my meeting.”

“How dull!” Wataru bemoans. “If we had another few minutes, I'd take the opportunity to teach you some interesting origami patterns—I'm sure that that paper would be put to much better use as material for folding practice~”

Eichi laughs. “That is unfortunate, yes.”

“But all hope is not lost!” Wataru continues. “You see, I have faith that a few mere minutes of reading will have you fast asleep anyway~ I'm also more than happy to cast that sleep spell on you, as well.”

“Did you forget? I’m the one who put you to sleep last night.”

“... Then where is my ‘true love’s kiss’ to wake me back up? ☆”

“Ah,” Eichi says. He intends to say more, truly, but he’s captivated by the earnest, tender expression on his lover’s face. His initial instinct is to object—Even though the only other people here are my employees, we’re still technically in public—but as he gazes at him, he can’t muster up the strength, nor the desire, to deny him this.

So instead, Eichi slips his arms around Wataru’s waist and pulls him in close. Wataru, in turn, slinks his own arms around Eichi’s shoulders, the fingertips of one hand lightly curling into the blonde strands at the nape of his neck. Eichi closes his eyes as though to pretend, if for a moment, that they are the only two people in the world, and leans forward to brush his lips against Wataru’s. The kiss is short—less than five seconds—but, when the two pull back in unison, they’re both smiling.

“I love you,” Eichi murmurs.

“I love you, too,” Wataru replies. “I love you so, so very much, Eichi. Thank you for coming.”

“It was truly wonderful. You were truly wonderful... Fufu, perhaps I'll tag along with the others in a few days after all~” He sighs. “Goodbye, my Wataru. I’ll see you soon.”

“Yes, you will,” Wataru assures him. “You can count on that; our separation is merely temporary and my return is always certain. We're like two halves of an elastic band—it’s only a matter of time until I ‘snap’ back into my rightful place at your side.”

Eichi wants to point out that Wataru’s strange choice of metaphor implies that their reunion will be violent and painful, but he holds his tongue—he really, really has to go. So instead, he simply smiles and reaches up to brush a lock of silver blue hair behind Wataru’s ear. “Thank you,” he says simply, and then he turns and walks up the staircase.

He has to make a concerted effort not to look back until he’s onboard and in his seat. Once he’s seated, he allows himself a glance through the small window where his boyfriend stands, waving goodbye to him with a huge smile on his face. Eichi smiles and gives him a small wave back.

You're right; it's only a matter of time until we're together again. So, goodbye for now... I'll be waiting impatiently until then.