![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
futurepm_mod posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
shoexchangeNearly a year, approximately ten months later:
“I’m not doing this.”
Behind him, Jun groans, but it also sounds like he’s laughing a bit.
“We’re already here, Sho-san,” Jun says, his voice a bit loud since they can hear the engines of the skydive craft whirring. “We’re here and you’re saying that?”
“I keep telling you that I can’t do this!” Sho insists, shaking his head.
It was Jun’s idea, that for Christmas, they can try something fun. Sho, while knowing that Jun’s idea of fun frequently involved thrill rides that make him sick, didn’t think it’d go this far. But Jun can be very convincing when he’s determined, eventually making Sho say yes when Sho was so deliriously lost in pleasure that he simply agreed to anything Jun asked of him.
Which brings them here, a thousand feet above Waialua. It was Sho who wanted to go back to Hawaii, wanting to spend his first Christmas with Jun in the place where they got together. It’s silly and cheesy. It’s something Jun teased him mercilessly for, but Jun’s a not-so-secret sap that Sho got him to agree after Jun’s had his laugh.
But Sho didn’t want them to skydive. He didn’t.
“I can’t do this, Jun,” Sho says, shaking his head fiercely.
“I’m right here,” Jun tells him, patting on the contraption that keeps them attached to each other. Sho’s afraid to jump alone since he’s acrophobic and has no skydiving experience. In fact, Sho’s afraid to jump. Period.
“Can’t we just take a boat ride?” Sho tries, trying to back away from the door, but of course Jun is resisting, keeping his feet firmly planted on the floor.
“We’re almost at the drop point and you’re telling me that?” Jun wraps an arm around his torso, holding him in place. “Come on. It’ll be over before you know it.”
“I’m going to die,” Sho says, entirely convinced of it.
“No you won’t,” Jun reassures him. “Now turn your head towards me so I can kiss you.”
Sho knows it’s another attempt to take his mind off his current predicament, but he looks over his shoulder anyway, pushing his goggles up his forehead. There’s still that plunge in his gut whenever he sees Jun’s smile right before Jun kisses him, adding a little tongue but pulling back before they can get carried away.
“You need to stop using your mouth to distract me,” Sho complains, putting his goggles back on.
“Says the person who always uses his mouth to distract me,” Jun shoots back.
Sho lets his head rest against Jun’s shoulder, pouting. “Ten months. Ten months together and I really should have known you’d choose to do something like this to celebrate it.”
“We’ve been through a lot in those ten months,” Jun reminds him. “Got to make it special.”
That’s true, now that Sho looks back on it. The first few months were tough for the both of them. Their schedules hardly matched in those months, and when they finally did, it felt like they had to learn how to navigate around each other once more.
To avoid misunderstandings and miscommunication, Sho made a rule that they’d never go to bed angry with each other.
Which made Jun put forth another rule since he didn’t like losing: if, during an argument, one of them moves to leave, the other mustn’t let him.
Which made Sho supplement that with another rule, though it’s mostly directed to himself: they’d give each other time to listen what the other has to say. This made Jun raise an amused eyebrow at him, but he said nothing, only smiled knowingly.
Those rules were sometimes hard to adhere to, especially when they reached the fifth month and Sho had decided to ask Jun to come live with him. Back then Jun had hesitated, not wanting to leave his place, but eventually he relented albeit to a different scenario. They bought a place together, a little further from both of their workplaces but theirs all the same.
On some days, Sho would have a rough day at work and he’d come home to Jun being cranky because work wasn’t kind to him too, and they’d resolve not to talk to each other. Sometimes Jun would be angry at Sho for overwriting on his unwatched TV recordings and would exact revenge by putting too much pepper on Sho’s eggs or adding too much milk on Sho’s coffee, knowing Sho prefers it black.
One time, when they fought over who broke Jun’s prized water filter, Sho left the apartment to seek refuge at Nino’s, taking the train to allow himself to cool down.
Only to find Jun in Nino’s place (because Jun always takes the car with him), already waiting for him with a box of cheesecake. They ended up sharing that cheesecake with Nino (who kept complaining that he’s not their couple therapist but ate a slice anyway) before heading home together to have some make-up sex.
It’s not perfect. There are days in which Sho finds a post-it stuck to his forehead that says TONE IT DOWN with more than three exclamation points, and he pads to the living room to discover that Jun is sleeping on the couch. Sho always assumes it’s about his snoring and proceeds to make up for it by watering Jun’s bonsai, which Sho affectionately refers to as Macchan despite Jun insisting that there’s no way that’d be the name.
But even if it’s not the domestic bliss Sho often hears about, it’s okay. They have rough days, but they go through it together. They compromise and sometimes they still lose their cool with each other. Regardless, they try their best to stick to their rules. Jun remains as the one person whom Sho doesn’t mind showing his tears in front of, especially when they watch Titanic.
Better Titanic than penguins, is what Jun always says to tease him.
Jun reaches for his hand, entwining their fingers. “I won’t let go. I promise.”
Now it’s Sho’s turn to laugh. “You sound like Rose.”
Without looking, he knows Jun is rolling his eyes. “I’d rather be Rose. She survived the sinking.”
“I might pee in my pants,” Sho says, hoping it will deter Jun. “Really.”
“Disgusting,” Jun comments, but he’s laughing anyway. He lives through Sho’s bad habits and snoring—nothing can surprise him anymore. “Count with me.”
“One,” Sho says, heart leaping to his throat at the sight of the skydive craft’s door sliding open. Just beyond is a clear blue sky and the island of Hawaii, looking like it’s merely waiting for them.
“We’ll go on three,” Jun promises, holding his hand tight.
“Two,” Sho says, but it ends in a scream because Jun suddenly jumps off the plane, taking Sho with him. “Jun, you idiot, that was two!”
Whatever Jun’s saying gets lost to the rushing wind hitting Sho’s face. Sho keeps his eyes shut, squeezing Jun’s hand tightly, not minding if he crushes the bones there.
Jun squeezes back, and soon, Sho hears the unmistakable sound of Jun’s spirited laughter.
It’s the sweetest sound there is.
Tags:
(no subject)
20/2/17 05:48 (UTC)(no subject)
28/2/17 16:00 (UTC).
So, I was like, what’s with all this Nino awesome so early in the story!? I love Sakumiya dynamics and it’s just perfect here, because Nino is sly and Sho is grumpily willing to adhere to Nino’s plan.
So Sho has this problem. Hahaha. I love that Sho here is reluctant and careful about hiring escort but at the same time is reasonable enough to consider his choices. AND NINO YOU ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE, KEEP GOING! :D
I truly enjoy the first phone conversation—because with a slow pace it gives so much yet so little. All the anticipation and already Jun is being Jun—HAHA sugar daddy joke LOL—and Sho knowing that this would not end right just because he figures out that Jun also likes to tease, just like Nino!
What a nice opening scene!
OH. THE FIRST MEETING, SHO YOU ARE STARING HAHAHA. I love how it is not actually instant attraction, but the kind that goes warm and endearingly cute. Well, at least Sho is cute, but wow Jun with sunglasses. UHMMM. All the name negotiation, one of my fave cliché in Sakumoto. Thank you for the Sho-san Hahaha.
The Divine Comedy?! Oh rly? Matsujun, a man after my heart, or in this case, Sho’s heart! :D Why are you reading Dante, Jun? Hahaha. This goes to me thinking about a reference somewhere. Did Jun mention about this before? Well, it doesn’t matter. I’m totally grinning because perhaps only Jun would be bringing such heavy edition for a work-vacation trip. Hahaha. I’m also so happy that you write their characteristics very nicely and we can see from the very beginning that Jun is a nerd. I love nerd Jun!
THE TAKE OFF SCENE OMGGGG YES. This is so sweet, so Jun being helpful, so Sho being completely charmed by Jun. And yeah, so sweet! I love how you pace the scene in a kind of slow pace, unravelling slowly and surely, and I can feel the a tad of impatience since we are curious of how this will be at the end, but at the same I want to experience their slow exploration of each other. Beautiful!
DOCUMENTARY ABOUT PENGUINS. I’m cackling at this because I am so amused, but this part is SO SO GOOOOOD. How Sho, oh you softie, tries to defend himself, because penguins (!!!), and Jun is amused and then proceeds to watch the same docu because he wants to know what makes Sho teary. A+ dialogue at that. :)
(no subject)
28/2/17 16:00 (UTC)Change of viewpoint! Now we get to see Jun’s. It’s lovely to see the early attraction signs from Jun’s eyes. And HELLO OHNO! And KING SIZE BED problem. Hahahaha.
AHHHH the groom and friends dance, from Ai no Sakebe? I can truly imagine Ohno leading bunch of his close friends, training them strictly, and then delivering the surprise just fine at the wedding.
Bonus—for me at least—this also has some great domestic scenes, because grumpy Jun in the morning is also my favorite Jun. Meanwhile, Sho you are too lively in the morning. I also love how they slowly familiarize themselves into each other’s’morning routine—these two considerate ppl for serious hahaha.
OH. MY. GOD! THAT Shukudai moment reference!!!!!! Complete with the ‘mild’ comment, and how Sho coughing out water out of his nose! AS:LKFLDSKL YESSS! Anon, this is one of the best things out of the most favorite Arashi shows for me, so thank you for including this!!!
Also A++ for all the reference from what they were doing in Hawaii back in 2014!!!
These two are so complicated. Okay, Sho is complicated but this long discussion about feedback amuses me and Sho, please just… well, it’s Sho so it has to be difficult. :D
Eh? We have Ariyoshi here? LMAOO.
Never mind, this rowdy revelry is just amazing! AND ALL THE FLIRTING. AND WHOAAAA BODY SHOTS. WAIT. LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT. BODY SHOTS?! BLESS YOU, ANON!
BODY SHOTS OMG I DIDN’T KNOW I WANTED JUN DOING BODY SHOT ON SHO BUT THEN YOU WROTE IT. It’s just hot hot hot! HOTDAMN, JUN! And drunk Sho! And hot and bothered Jun! And drunk Sakumoto! I was on the edge of my seat all along, because it’s all hot and yeah escalated quickly, BUT OF COURSE HAHAHAHA.
When Sho’s snores begin to fill the room, Jun groans. “I hate you,” he says out loud, despite Sho not hearing him.
I feel you Jun! There, there.
(no subject)
28/2/17 16:01 (UTC)Albeit the new dynamic, with more pretenses over pretenses, their ‘dates’ are very cute. I especially love the firework parts. It is somehow sad to see them not able to tell each other how they feel, but how they both steal those moments of pretense to show their feeling. This is so complicated in a way but very simple. I love the contradiction and how stubborn they are; and Sho, learn to say the right thing! :D
In the mean time to have Jun smothered by overenthusiastic and sympathetic children? LMAOOOO. I love this G no Arashi reference and how they were all there but this time without Aiba so Jun, go handle all the children who are overly curious about your love life! This part is beautiful and hilarious!
I’m so glad that they finally make up!!! Ah, you two! FINALLY YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT, SHO! Keep it up! And of course, communication! Typical Sakumoto <3!
Their first kiss is a public kiss? I like how Aiba and Ohno finally also approve, but now that they know the truth it makes the approval sweeter!
The sex is hot. I truly like how it is Sho that goes down on Jun first, and then switching dynamics!!!! Jun stretching. OH YEAH I APPRECIATE THAT :D And Freshly fucked. OH THIS BRINGS A GREAT IMAGE ON MY HEAD. THANK YOU!
I love the epilogue!!! I love that it gives even more details of how they compromise after all rough beginning! Ahahaha, skydiving; that will never get old! I love how more canon references are fitted here, because all are special! (anniversary in Hawaii, cheesecake, TITANIC (!!!!), and of course the counting one, two---jump from Training camp <3!)
.
Anon, this has been a truly great read. Thank you so much for writing this lengty one for me. I really did not expect something this large out of my silly prompts, so yeah, thank you thank you thank you! Again, I’m so sorry this was so incoherent and late, but this has been the highlight of my weekend and it’s all because of you <3!
(no subject)
4/3/17 00:18 (UTC)I'm happy you enjoyed this! I'm not very fond of fluff so that was a bit of a challenge, but I enjoyed working on this.
(no subject)
20/2/17 07:43 (UTC)They made such an adorable couple. By the end I was grinning ear to ear - I'm so glad you included that epilogue. Also all the little inside things from variety shows, etc. that were so fun to pick out, like the indirect kiss.
Most especially I appreciated the friendships. Aiba listening to what had happened with Sho and offering nothing but loving support, and Ohno willing to help Jun but not until he'd established how Jun had hurt his friend, all those things warmed my heart. And Nino probably knew what he was doing, that rascal.
I'm a lover of romcoms and they seem to be dying out? I miss them. This felt like getting to watch one in its own way, and for that I'm really grateful to you anon! ♥
(no subject)
4/3/17 00:26 (UTC)In my head, Nino was getting frequent updates from his bff Aiba, so even in his absence, he's updated.
Thank you for such a lovely comment! I like the fake dating trope but I never read one that was for Sakumoto (would still love to read one tbh) so doing this served as a challenge in itself. I'm happy to know I came up with something enjoyable! :)
(no subject)
20/2/17 08:11 (UTC)The unresolved sexual tension, the misunderstandings and the final resolution of their problems, leading to extra hot sex.
Thank you for an awesome Sakumoto, with a special mention to the friendships involved as well. Nino is sooo Nino. Aiba and Ohno are both understanding and supportive of their friend.
❤💜❤💜
(no subject)
4/3/17 00:29 (UTC)Thank you for reading!
(no subject)
20/2/17 10:32 (UTC)This is. Brilliant. Their dynamics are on-point, and I see all these references that make me smile like an idiot because oh I remember that go on three and Jun shoves him off the zipline at two. Hahahaha. Its a beautiful fic. Thank you for writing this, author-san. :)
(no subject)
4/3/17 00:31 (UTC)Thanks for reading! :)
(no subject)
20/2/17 12:58 (UTC)Did anyone say fake dating? I could seriously live off fake dating stories my entire life and never get bored of them.
That said, this was all kinds of cute and adorable! I love the slow build-up and the POV switch so that we can see both sides of the story.
The characters are perfect, especially Jun. The side-pairings were also awesome! I admit it took me a while to understand who Ohno's bride was (I got distracted by Jun's sexiness, pardon me) but I love eeeevery ship in here so much!
The bachelor party was hands down my favourite part. Ohno is so shameless that I think I was torn between blushing and laughing my arse off. (I did both in the end.)
The epilogue is awesome, especially the training camp reference - that scene never fails to me me laugh. I love that you pointed out the realistic bits, like the fact that they don't always get along, but they are willing to make it work. Hat off to you for that!
Thank you for this beautiful romcom, author-san! :D
(no subject)
4/3/17 00:55 (UTC)Lol Jun's sexiness can be very distracting so I understand. ;)
Thank you for reading and dropping a comment!
(no subject)
20/2/17 13:17 (UTC)I liked how you handled the business side of Sho & Jun's relationship, and how they had to resolve the messiness that came with it before they could properly act on their feelings. I especially loved how, despite the amazing body shots incident and ensuing almost-sexytimes (ty Ohno, the real MVP), their real first kiss didn't come until later. It was really nice to see Jun's commitment to respecting Sho's boundaries.
Actually, that's probably my fav aspect of the fic in general: how respectful Jun and Sho were of each other and their boundaries, even when a bit of pushing was sometimes needed. It felt very them to me.
I also have to mention how much I appreciated all of the great references inserted throughout - super enjoyable and fun to spot!
This was a great read, anon. Thank you! :)
(no subject)
4/3/17 01:07 (UTC)I like Sakumoto because they are so awkward, and tackling that awkwardness is one of my fave things to do. ;) They're so serious and so formal in front of one another, it's fun to pick on these things.
Thank you for catching the references! I love references and every time someone comments on noticing them, I get really happy. :D Thanks for reading and commenting!
(no subject)
20/2/17 16:21 (UTC)(no subject)
4/3/17 01:11 (UTC)(no subject)
26/2/17 03:52 (UTC)Thank you for writing this!
(no subject)
4/3/17 01:36 (UTC)Thanks a lot for reading. :)
(no subject)
1/3/17 09:30 (UTC)Okay but I am a fan of fake relationship stories (who doesn't, honestly), AND SO OF COURSE I LOVE THIS STORY A LOT.
I love how it begins with Sakumiya, how Nino was somehow the one who had set Sakumoto up. I doubt that he didn't already expect those idiots to actually like each other, so GREAT JOB, NINO, thank you for making sure these idiots met and just couldn't resist the attraction towards each other.
And they really couldn't! Their flight scene was just so, so, adorable, and even when we only saw Sho's POV in this, it was visible that Jun was also attracted to him already (or I'm probably just garbage BUT WELL).
I didn't expect that this story would come in alternating POVs so then I didn't expect that I'd see Jun's side of things AND THAT AFFECTED ME. The awkwardness when they talked about their sleeping arrangements (and the skinship arrangements LMAO), the way Jun enjoyed the fake relationship a little bit too much (I FEEL YOU JUN). I totally didn't expect the 'indirect kiss' to appear in this fic, although I did expect the nagging Ariyoshi LMAO.
THE BODY SHOTS. I don't even know what to say about this. I'm just going to say that I enjoyed this probably a little bit too much, so when they ended up going back to their hotel room and making out I felt so much for Jun. And when Sho pulled his leg I probably started to cry. Although the image of Jun hogging all the blankets and the duvet was very cute.
Of course Sho didn't remember everything after that, of course. All the miscommunication happening in here just made me sad, so sad, very sad, why did it happen, all the way reading it. Which means you did a good job in breaking my heart. I'm not going to say more about that because I still feel sad if I remember.
But thankfully all ends well for them, and ends SO WELL, I must say. Thank you for highlighting Jun's flexibility for their sex position, it was a real treat. And thank you for making Jun fuck Sho that was also a treat. Why am I thanking you for them having sex this feels weird I am sorry I will stop.
I was glad that you included the bit of Sho questioning "are you sure you weren't just lonely" to Jun because that meant that they started off honest to each other after all the miscommunication. And thank you for including bits of how they worked it out well for the next year, after talking about they would make compromises.
HMM this is a long comment, but all in all I just want to say thank you for this wonderful emotional journey. Also thank you for letting us see both sides of the story (it makes me feel more for Jun honestly, probably because he's my fave).
(no subject)
4/3/17 01:43 (UTC)As a Sho girl, most of my feels were for Sho so getting a Jun girl POV about this story is really interesting. There are things only a Jun girl would feel immensely about LOL
Thank you for a long and lovely comment! You get trash hearts: ❤️💜
(no subject)
1/3/17 18:45 (UTC)I like the plot and the pairing hehe...
tbh, i love all arashi au fics, esp shojun ones.
the body shots part was huge for me. And those two stubborn ojiisans!
ugh... love this.
thank you for writing and sharing such a good story!
love lots! <3
(no subject)
4/3/17 01:44 (UTC)Thank you for reading and commenting! :)
(no subject)
4/3/17 18:24 (UTC)