Chapter Text
Takahashi Misaki, twenty-two years-old. Brown hair, green eyes. Staring at what appears to be his brother trapped between a wall and another man with ash-gray hair and lavender eyes. And kissing his brother's temple!
"Wha - What - Nii-chan!" Misaki gaped, dropping his recent printout of his grades from his undergraduate program along with his course planning for graduation. "Who - Are you - What?!"
"Oh, Misaki, welcome back," Takahiro smiled.
"Your little brother?" the other man asked.
"Right! Misaki, this is my friend, Usami Akihiko. Usagi, my little brother, Misaki," Takahiro introduced them, pointing at each one.
Misaki stepped inside, letting the door click behind him. He turned around slowly and pressed his forehead to the door. "Nii-chan, is there something you need to tell me? I won't treat you any differently. You'll always be my brother."
"Hm? What are you talking about, Misaki?" Takahiro asked.
"Nii-chan," Misaki hissed under his breath, starting to bang his forehead, letting the light thuds try to knock some sense into him because obviously his brother was missing some.
"Hm, you don't really look alike," Usagi commented, a slight smirk on his face.
"I know," Misaki replied against the door, still thumping his head. "Nii-chan looks like Tou-chan and I look like Kaa-chan. We get that a lot."
"Is that so," Usagi remarked.
"It's quite true," Takahiro laughed, pulling away from Usagi to grab Misaki away from the door. "If you keep doing that, you're gonna end up hurting yourself, Misaki."
Misaki gave a small nod, following his brother and glanced to the side at Usagi. "Well, hi, nice to meet you. Thanks for taking care of Nii-chan, I guess."
Usagi gave a slight hum in response, watching the two brothers make their way to the living room. "So, that's Misaki."
Misaki was struggling in his final year of undergraduate. See, when he had graduated high school, his grades weren't that great so he went to a smaller university instead of Mitsuhashi University like he wanted. He tried really hard and made it through three years, but his last two terms were dragging him down. He was really hoping to get into a graduate program at Mitsuhashi University. He knew that the job market was tough, and if he wanted to get into the field he wanted, he would need more experience and education. Plus, he had been working at a restaurant, so financially, they were doing much better which was why he was even considering it.
Well, apparently Usagi had graduated head of his class at Teito University Law School which has a highly-acclaimed graduate program. His career was a novelist was going so well that he was the youngest awardee for the Naomori Award, a contemporary literature award usually split into six categories known as one of the most prestigious awards in Japan for literature. In fact, winners received two million yen and a customized inkstone alongside the award. He also was a member of THAT Usami Group, the well-acclaimed and wealthy family.
"Man, Usagi-san has high accolades," Misaki murmured as he approached the address given for the in-house tutoring.
Usagi had offered his own place to study since he had extra space, and it meant less chance of disturbing Misaki's study since he had a whole suite.
"He's only a few years older than me, but he's already pretty much set in life," Misaki sighed. He readjusted the tonjiru which was essentially miso soup with some pork and veggies. Misaki couldn't understand why Usagi wanted Takahiro's specifically-made tonjiru since it really wasn't that different compared to others, but he wouldn't complain about it in exchange for tutoring sessions.
Usagi had offered, upon hearing Misaki struggling through his undergraduate classes, tutoring sessions to help Misaki, especially since Misaki struggled the most with English. He had done well so far but the further advanced classes require more proficiency which Misaki lacked.
"Wow, this complex is huge," Misaki gaped, staring at the tall complex. "If it's a suite, does that mean each floor is its own individual suite? That's crazy. And he's right in the middle of the city too, so this must be expensive to keep." He approached the ringer and selected Usagi's suite number.
No response.
"Is he out?" Misaki asked. "He said if he wasn't there, I could just go in, but . . . Just going into what is essentially a stranger's expensive house without notice is . . . Well." He trailed off, looking to the side with trepidation. Misaki decided. Taking out his phone, he shot a quick text to Usagi to notify him he had arrived.
No response.
He tried calling Usagi's number.
No response.
"Well, I guess third time is not the charm," Misaki grumbled. "Please excuse my intrusion then." He selected in the door code for the complex and headed inside. Nothing he could do if Usagi wasn't home but drop off the tonjiru and head out.
"Usagi-san? Are you home? Are you okay?" Misaki asked as he walked into the suite. "Wow, just as I thought, it's huge."
The suite was spacious, so big that it had two-floors. It had an open-floor concept so the kitchen was in the same space as the living room. Misaki presumed the office and bedrooms were on the second floor. He could see a bathroom beyond the living room in a barely-cracked-open door.
"I wonder what his rent is like," Misaki pondered, placing the tonjiru on the kitchen counter beside the stove. "Well, if he's not here, I should try to properly store it, so it doesn't taste as good later. Hm, any containers?" He poked around the kitchen a bit but couldn't really find much. "Ah, as expected of a bachelor. Not much in the kitchen. Hm, I guess I can only leave it in the refrigerator like this for now. He can return the pot at a later time."
So, he placed the pot into the refrigerator which had ample room, only containing some eggs and bread. "Yep. For sure a bachelor with no cooking skills."
Just as he was preparing to leave a message for Usagi about the tonjiru, he noticed a note on the coffee table in the living room. "Is that for me or someone else?" He peered over and saw it was a note presumably for an editor since it was talking about a manuscript while Usagi would sleep away. "Nope, not for me them. I'll just shoot a text over then and leave. He's probably still sleeping in bed."
He noticed a pair of novels beside the note. One was a book he had seen in bookshops recently called Midair, Deep Sea. Actually, while studying literature in his undergraduate program, he has seen a few of Usagi's books to compare modern contemporary literature to old contemporary ones. This must be his newest title since it hadn't been one he's heard brought up in discussions and mentioned his recent awarding of the Naomori Award.
The other novel had a pair of high school boys on it in a caught embrace. It was from Akikawa Yayoi?
"I mean, maybe Usagi leans towards that direction, and so he likes reading books that feature it?" Misaki guessed. He had read a few himself before figuring that the story directing wasn't really his cup of tea. He had read a few on recommendation from friends that were good not because of the boy love aspect but just good storytelling and characterization.
Misaki shrugged. "I mean, if you're writing contemporary literature all the time, you probably want to get away from it sometimes." He peered into the book, feeling it likely was one of those he generally avoided from the poor development since the title was Romance in the Student Council Room.
And yep. Cliche. Risqué. And featuring a character named Akihiko and Takahiro?!
What.
WHAT.
WHAT?
Before Misaki knew it, he was shooting up the stairs with the book in hand, opening the doors to find Usagi's room. Seeing a large lump in the bed, Misaki was blowing up before he knew it. "Usagi-san! Why are you featured in a boy's love book with my brother? Did you get permission? Did you allow yourself to be in it?"
"Hah?"
Oh.
Whoops.
Misaki realized he had essentially given a rude awakening to a man who looked very sleep deprived. He was also surrounded, actually, his whole room was filled with children's toys. In fact, it seemed like Usagi was sleeping beside a giant teddy bear?
"Um, I mean. Nii-chan is pretty spacey, so I don't think he'd ever realize he was the one in the book, but anyone else who knew him would! Did you know he was in it? Have you told him? I don't think Nii-chan would approve of this!"
Usagi rose from the bed with a fierce glare. "Approve of what? A fictional character in a book who coincidentally shares his name?"
"Yeah, it's fictional, but it's really obvious to see it's about Nii-chan if you know!" Misaki persisted. "Whoever wrote this should really get permission for it first to make sure Nii-chan would even be okay to be used as inspiration! If anyone's going to be used for these kind of intimate stories, they should at least know before-hand!"
"Anyone?" Usagi echoed, slamming a hand on the doorway beside Misaki's head.
Misaki froze, eyes going wide. "Y-Yeah? Anyone who gives permission?"
"So, do you give permission for this kind of thing? What do you know of my relationship with Takahiro that you think I haven't asked? What do you know anything about a story about two fictional characters who just seem to have similar characteristics?" Usagi continued.
"Well, that is," Misaki trailed off. "Did Nii-chan give permission?"
Usagi hummed. "To be used as inspiration."
"And it's entirely fictional and not against Nii-chan's will?"
"It's entirely fictional."
"Well," Misaki grumbled, looking away, going as far as taking a step back. "It's fine then. I was just worried. And you had the book, so I thought you might know."
Usagi's gaze didn't quite soften, but his glare did seem to lessen.
Misaki kept glancing back at the man. "Sorry. For making assumptions. I'm bad with doing that."
Usagi held his glare a bit longer before finally dropping it. "So, why are you here?"
Misaki turned his body slightly to point towards the general area of the kitchen. "To drop off the tonjiru for the tutoring."
Usagi sighed, running a hand over his face. "Right. That."
"I put it in the refrigerator for you. You should re-heat it on the stove, so that it still tastes similar to how it was when first cooked. I didn't think you were home til I saw the note," Misaki explained.
"Hm, how do I turn that stove on again?" Usagi wondered.
Misaki balked at the man. "It's your stove! How do you not know how to turn it on?" He thought back to the rather empty kitchen. "Ugh, never mind. I'll go reheat it now for you." He stomped down the stairs, rushing really, to get the pot out of the refrigerator. 'It can be part of my apology for accusing him so directly without thinking, at least. Seriously, it's his house. How does he not know how to use his own stove?'
Usagi stared after the young man for a while before ambling along.
"Here. The tonjiru," Misaki said, placing the bowl in front of Usami on the coffee table after clearing some space. "Nii-chan makes a decent tonjiru, though it would've been better to ask for his okonomiyaki. He's much better at that."
"This is good enough," Usagi responded, taking a slow slip of broth. "By the way," he gestured towards the giant bear at his side, "this is Suzuki-san. I collect a lot of toys to try to recreate what normal kids do normally in their childhood."
"Well, that's one way to live your life, I guess." Misaki wasn't really sure how to respond. "Oh wait, please don't tell me that you're one of those rich guys. Like the story ones where your father neglected your family, your mother turned to her hobbies and ignored everything else, you ended up with a strained relationship with your brother, and all this lead you acting out in a form of rebellion while feeling very lonely. Are you one of those guys who had a long-haired dog named Alexander and drive a red sports car everywhere?"
"How did you know?"
Misaki dropped his face into his palms. "So, textbook rich boy." He paused. "Now, I know I said I'm bad for making assumptions, but this is a pretty big assumption and pretty prejudice, but you wouldn't happen to not like women because of something happening with your mother, right? And you like men because you had a kind tutor who did some things when they shouldn't have turning your gaze to men?"
"If the news ever found out what you knew, it'd be on every single newspaper."
Misaki heaved a loud sigh. "How are you a textbook example for the rich, gay playboy? Ah! Not that you necessary are one! You can be who you want to be. Stories have to have some sort of inspiration, right?"
Usagi hummed, letting the rambles roll over him. He took another sip from the broth after spooning some more of the pork. "So, what exactly is your goal? You're already about to finish up your undergrad, so why keep going?"
Misaki's eyes dimmed, lowering a bit just as he lowered his head. His hands became fists clenched in his lap. "I want to attend Mitsuhashi University."
Usagi snorted. "Are you sure you're fully awake and not dreaming?"
"Hey, that's not fair!" Misaki responded.
"I'm being realistic. I looked at your current progress and where your grades stand, it's going to be difficult to consider a post-graduate program at Mitsuhashi. Those with lacking grades like this tend to lack rapport with their professors to get a recommendation for continuing their education. Most of these grades tend to come from lacking in understanding problems and poor analysis skills," Usagi explained.
"Look, it has to be Mitsuhashi University. I'm not willing to accept a program anywhere else," Misaki repeated. "For Nii-chan, I have to go there since I didn't make it for my undergraduate."
Usagi perked up. "Why do you bring up Takahiro in this decision?"
Misaki flinched, uncurling and re-curling his fists. He kept his eyes on this motion, not wanting to meeting Usagi's gaze. "You probably already know, but our parents passed away ten years ago. I was still pretty young at the time, so Nii-chan has been the one taking care of me ever since." He felt his eyes water but fought against the feeling. "Even though he received an offer at Mitsuhashi, Nii-chan rejected it to start working right away to take care of me. He gave up on it for me."
Misaki released a shaky breath. "I couldn't do it for my undergraduate program. But, I thought, if I went, and kept pushing, found a job to help, I could maybe transfer mid-way through or make it my post-graduate study. We weren't in a good spot a couple years ago, so I held it off for my post-graduate program. I wanted to do it for Nii-chan, that he didn't give up his studies without a good reason."
Usagi watched as the young man curled into himself further. 'So that's how it is.' His lips quirked up, rising to cross the distance between them. He shoved a hand onto the man's head, ruffling the brown locks. "If that's how it is, I'll definitely get you in. You have two terms left. You can't possibly fail with the Usami-sensei teaching you. Got it?"
Misaki's face flushed, smoothing out his hair as Usagi pulled away. "Oh, yeah, got it!"