I like you, so what's the problem?

"I like you!" Shimizu responded. Not a hint of hesitation in his eyes.

Hirahi sat down, rubbing his nose bridge with his large fingers. "I know and I like you too, but…"

Shimizu didn't let Hirahi finish. "I like you more than just a friend. I want to know more about you I want to be in a relationship with you and i want to have sex with you."

"You can't." Hirahi remarked, his voice was cold and assertive. "I get how you like me, yes I like you in the same way but you're just a kid and I'm in my mid thirties. Do you understand the issue here?"

Shimizu looked down at the floor. He knew what Hirahi meant, he didn't want to be perceived as a shota. He must have bent over backwards because of it himself. But just hearing him admit he likes Shimizu made the young guy happy.

"Then how about we just date? No sex until I reach 18. How about it?"

Hirahi thought for a while. He just sat there and thought of all the possibilities, he tried weighting the pros and cons. Shimizu nervously sat next to him, his legs felt weak. This was his first confession, he didn't expect to feel this way.

It took him a while but finally Hirahi reached his conclusion. He took Shimizu;s hands and clasped them together.

"Let's do it. But don't forget until you turn 18, no funny business."

Shimizu lit up and he wanted to kiss his boyfriend but he held on and hugged him instead.

"I've never been happier!" he yelled into Hirahi's ear.

Hirahi pushed Shimizu off. "Alright. So anything for dinner?" he asked shyly.

"Your favorite. Teo Bayaki."

Hirahi's ears perked up and he stood up, until he felt uncomfortable. The buddy downstairs wasn't calming down. He looked up at Shimizu and at the door behind him.

"I'll take a bath first." He said swiftly walking past Shimizu. The young guy just laughed and went to prepare dinner.

"Shimizu, have you prepared for the new arrival of transfer personnel?"

"I have everything covered. Tomorrow, manager Sou will bring you their CVs so you'll have to look them over in the meeting room."

"Would you like to go with me? It's a good opportunity for you to observe how I deal with these things in case you'll need to cover for me."

Shimizu lit up and nodded. Will he entrust me with such an important task in the future? I'll have to prepare for tomorrow. Thought Shimizu while happily skipping to his desk.

At the end of the work day Hirahi came to check on Shimizu.

"Do you want to go eat out tonight?" Hirahi asked.

"Is it a date?" Shimizu smirked at Hirahi. "If it is, I'm free."

"Great."remarked Hirahi and got back to his office to finish up.

They went to a high class restaurant.

"It's my first time in such a place. Everything looks fancy and I haven't heard of most of the items on the meniu." Said Shimizu looking around. "Why aren't there prices next to the dishes?"

Hirahi chuckled. "It's a high end place, they don't write prices on the menius. I'll be paying so don't worry about the money, get whatever you want."

They ordered and Hirahi tried to make conversation.

"So what happened to your parents, I believe I never asked that? Don't they worry that you're living with some older man?"

Shimizu looked troubled. Once Hirahi noticed he cursed himself and apologized.

"I'm sorry I didn't know this was a sensitive topic. Forget I ever asked."

Shimizu shook his head.

"Please don't apologize, it's nothing to be sorry about. I would have told you sooner or later anyways, maybe it's a good time to get it out of the way." he remarked trying to keep a smile on his face. "My mother died a bit more than half a year ago, since then I kinda became homeless." He stopped and looked over to Hirahi who just sat there listening. I love this about him too, he always knows when to talk and when to just listen. Shimizu smiled slightly, and then got back to the topic. "The day I lost my house was the day we met. It had been 2 weeks since mother passed that day. That's why I needed a job quickly."

"What happened to your dad?" Hirahi asked casually.

Thank you for not pitying me or looking down on me! I love you Hirahi! Shimizu yelled internally.

"It's a bit more difficult with my father…" Shimizu gathered his thoughts. "You sure you want me to talk about it? It's not the most fun story."

Hirahi did what Shimizu respected the most about him.

"It depends on you. I personally want to hear about it, but if you need time, take it, I'm in no rush. I just want you to trust me and rely on me more."

Shimizu got his reassurement and continued.

"So basically my parents conceived me in a one-night stand. And they got married out of obligation. It might have been happening before but I remember that once I started going to middle school my father began abusing my mother so she took me, ran away and got a divorce. After that we lived a pretty normal life, I haven't heard from my father until mothers funeral. He came to tell me that he won't be able to take care of me because he has a family that he needs to take care of and that he has a debt. He even made me his collateral if he ever fails to pay up the debt collectors."

Hirahi was shocked, how could a father do that to his child, especially Suzuki.

Shimizu laughed. "Don't think too much about it. It's not a pleasant topic, let's ignore it."

Hirahi looked troubled, because Shimizu said an absurd thing.

"I'm just so mad. How could he act that way? It's disgusting."

Shimizu shrugged. It made him happy that Hirahi was this mad because of how he was treated by his father.

At home Shimizu begged Hirahi to let him sleep in his bed.

"Hirahi please!" At this point Shimizu was already begging on his knees.

Hirahi gave in and let Shimizu into his bed.

None of them could properly sleep. They both had to surpass their desires and hold them in.