Chapter 8: Katsudon
TW: Language
The next morning Akihiko woke up, his head pounded as he recalled drinking nothing but alcohol the night before. He groaned, at least he slept so poorly he never had the chance to dream. He slid out of his bed and walked downstairs, immediately filling up a glass of water and chugging it down. Suddenly, the memory of his text encounter with Yuki came rushing back to his head and a weight fell into his stomach. He felt nauseous for more reasons than one as he climbed the stairs back up to his room, his second cup of water in hand.
He set it down next to his phone, sighing loudly as he flipped it over and saw he had two messages from Yuki. He swallowed nervously and clicked it open, the anticipation swelling as he read the words,
本当に,ありますか?
Really, you have?
His second reply came 12 minutes later,
友好的な方法で?
In a friendly way?
Yuki groaned again, he downed his second glass of water and waited for his headache to go away, pondering his response.
OhMyFuckingGod. What do I say. What do I do. How do I save this?!
He panicked, internally most of the morning, typing and erasing multiple messages until he finally gathered what little strength he had in him and said,
いくつかの方法で
In a few ways.
He watched impatiently for the read icon, his palms slick with sweat as he held his device tightly in his clutches,
今日のレッスン?
Lesson today?
He read it a few times, rejection something he could currently taste. He sighed,
That's it? That's all he said? I guess that could mean a lot of things, maybe he's...offended I implied something.
His mind raced with the possibilities, and he responded nearly 30 minutes later,
はい,今日の午後です.
Yes, this afternoon.
He dressed quickly and checked his appearance in the mirror, running his fingers through his messy locks. He shook it into place best he could, spritzing on some of his cologne he'd hardly been wearing. He brushed the taste of rejection from his mouth, multiple times, before racing down the stairs and grabbing the broom.
He swept the rooms quickly, poking Kota with the broom a few times as he chased him around the house. Kanada was outside today, playing in their small garden out back. Most of the plants had died since his mother passed, he hardly went out there anymore because of the memories. He smiled at her through the window though, she somehow still looked so happy.
He heard a knock at the door. He swallowed nervously and ran to open it. Yuki stood there, smiling with another large bag in his hands. This time Akihiko quickly took it from his arms, inviting him inside. He removed his shoes and placed them neatly by the front door, leaning down to pet Kota several times.
"Is...Kanada here today?" He questioned.
"She's in the back, I think reading in the garden."
"Oh I see." Yuki said, and Akihiko cleared his throat,
"Listen about what I texted you earlier I'm really sorry about that."
Yuki avoided his gaze, brushing his hair behind his ear. He shuffled his feet anxiously, but didn't say anything.
"I truly hope you didn't take any offense I didn't mean to like imply something weird or anything."
Something weird?!
He swallowed nervously and laughed a little bit, "A-anyways, right, let's cook." Aki said.
You fucking blew it.
Yuki laughed quietly under his breath and went to the kitchen with him, he helped unpack the ingredients and lined them up neatly on the counter. He began to pre-portion them into smaller containers, Akihiko watched over his shoulder. He hovered a little close and Yuki suddenly said,
"You um...you smell nice." He kept his face forward, hiding his pink cheeks while he continued meticulously measure things out.
"Oh, t-thanks." Akihiko said, he took a step back, realizing just how close he was.
"So why are you measuring everything out like this, last time you did it as you went along." He questioned,
"Yes well, last time I did most of the work. This time, you will be." He looked up at him and their eyes met for the first time today, Akihikos heart thumped rhythmically again, he stood there for a few moments, eyes locked.
Yuki just blushed, "U-um...Araki, you're okay with that, right?"
He snapped back to reality, leaning on the counter while he laughed nervously, "Oh yeah, I mean I'm totally ready for that." He lied.
"Okay good, today were making katsudon. I've separated the ingredients into different bowls so you can easily dip the meat into them before placing them-" he turned his chopsticks to his right, "into this pan."
"I've turned it to the correct heat, it's medium." He pointed at the stove, "You want to wait until the oil is heated up nicely."
"So, I should get Kanada?" He said.
"Sure." Yuki smiled at him and he went to the back door, cracking it open.
"Do you want to cook with us?" Akihiko called out to her. She jumped up without second thought, leaving her book and running into the house, a smile on her face.
"Yuki! You're back!" She exclaimed, running up to him.
"Yes, and we're learning something a bit harder today." He warned her, "Make sure you're extra careful."
"I will be." She promised, washing her hands in the sink, "I'm so ready!"
"I wish I shared in your confidence." Akihiko admitted, this made Yuki chuckle.
He showed them both how to properly coat the meat in the separate mixtures before frying, Akihiko dropped it several times during the process, but Yuki only laughed.
"You're so clumsy with the chopsticks, Akihiko" He said, "O-oh I mean, Araki." He corrected himself, this time, he swallowed nervously.
"I think we're past that." Akihiko said, "We should lose the formalities, we're friends after all."
"Y-yeah, we are..." Yuki said, a hint of nervousness tainting his words.
"You should hold the chopsticks like this for more control." Yuki reached up and rearranged his fingers, Akihiko felt goosebumps trail up his skin from his gentle touch.
"U-u-m right, yeah I knew that." He lied again, chuckling anxiously.
Yuki laughed again.
They finished cooking the meal, and while it wasn't perfect, it still tasted better than anything Akihiko had made for himself in the past.
"Wow Aki...I can't believe you made this." Kanada said,
"We made this." He corrected her, "And it's all thanks to Yuki."
"I can't take the credit for this; I only gave you the steps." He said, smiling at him from across the table. He ate slowly, mostly focusing on his drink.
Akihiko scarfed his down; he contemplated going for seconds but remembered his father might be coming home soon. He sighed,
He doesn't deserve any...
Against his better judgement, he cleaned his bowl and sat back down at the table.
"Thanks Yuki." He said, his first name leaving his lips felt strange, but right.
"Of course..." He replied softly. "I think I'm full though." He said sadly,
"It was bad, wasn't it." Akihiko said.
"No, that's not it at all I promise you I just...don't feel so well tonight." He admitted.
"Oh, right! One second!" Akihiko jumped from his seat and raced up the stairs, he snatched the medicine and tea from his bedside table and ran back down to the kitchen quickly. He set them down in front of Yuki who looked up at him with curiosity and some form of pain in his eyes,
"For your cold. I know you probably already have these things I just, saw them the other day and thought of you." He said.
"Aww Onii-san, you're so thoughtful." Kanada said,
Yuki suddenly stood up from his seat, he picked up his things and said quietly, "I-I should go." He slipped the tea and medicine into his bag, heading for the front door.
"H-hey, wait, what did I say. Yuki let me walk you out please." He pleaded, getting up from his own seat. Kanada looked confused, she continued to eat her food and watched them.
"It's fine Akihiko I just, need to leave." He said, putting his shoes on quickly. He reached for the front door and opened it, "I'm sorry I'll see you later."
He started to walk up the sidewalk, but Aki chased after him,
"Yuki, wait. Please." He begged,
He stopped in his tracks, when Akihiko finally reached him, he turned to face him with streams of tears down his cheeks.
"Please, what's wrong." Aki pleaded,
"I'm dying." Yuki said suddenly.
An overwhelming silence encompassed the both of them. Time felt like it stopped as Akihiko stood there, examining his tormented face as the tears kept falling.
What's...happening.
He felt a familiar anxiety swell in his gut, his hands perspired and trembled as the terror of facing death once again stood before him. He panicked, instinctively and felt tears of his own well up in his eyes. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Yuki while he sobbed uncontrollably. He hid his face from him, so he didn't know he was crying too. After a few moments Aki's tears dried up.
Yuki took even longer.
They stood there in the street for a while, until a familiar voice called out to Akihiko,
"Hey!" Issei said.
Oh fuck.
He released Yuki from his grip, the front of his shirt was wet with tears, and he quickly wiped his own face with the back of his hand as Issei walked up. Shimada looked sad, he stared at his feet avoiding anyone's prying eyes from the shame he felt in that moment.
"What's uh, what's up?" Issei said awkwardly, he held up a bag that had several drinks in it. "I thought after last night you might need some real hydration" He laughed nervously, "Everything, uh...okay?"
"I'll see you later, Akihiko." Yuki said suddenly, disappearing down the street.
Fucking god damnit, FUCK.
He ripped the bag from Isseis hands.
"Not a fucking good time man." He said, angrily.
"Yeah, I can see that." He pointed to his shirt. "Was he...crying""
"Just drop it." Akihiko said suddenly.
"Geez don't be so defensive I was just asking." He paused briefly, "What's going on with you two I thought he was just teaching you how to cook?"
Akihiko stood there for a moment, racking his brain for any possible answer that might satiate his friends desire to pry into his life.
"He is teaching me to cook. He's just going through something right now." He said, only revealing half the truth.
"Alright, enigmatic but, alright." He responded. He pulled out his cigarettes and offered one to Akihiko who took it gratefully. The smoked in silence for a few moments before Issei finally said, "You know you can tell me anything, right?"
"Dude, just shut the fuck up." Akihiko said, but he smiled at his friend anyways.
They laughed and talked for an hour or so while Aki gathered the courage he needed to message Yuki.
He climbed the stairs to his room, phone in hand, a whirlwind of emotions swirling through his head.