A piece of cheesecake for cherry_shoko (1/2)

[futurepm_mod]

Title: Something New, Something Blue
Pairing: Sho/Ohno and Sho-Okada friendship
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Sho has absolutely no intention to be in a relationship—solely focusing on his newscaster career and all—but Ohno-Sensei can be very patient and relentless.
Warnings: None, really.
Notes: Hi cherry_shoko, I combined several of your prompts and this became a lengthy LDR-ish themed get-together AU, with some inspirations from News Zero, Sekamuzu, and Nazodi. I had a great time writing this so I hope you enjoy it! Many thanks to the mods for the patience, and to my beta for the help!




Okada is already waiting when Sho reaches the room, with a large grin on his face. “Sho! I see Kitayama-san briefed you already.”

“Don’t ‘Sho’ me! What were you thinking with this shift of assignment?” Sho grumbles. At least Okada has readied two cups of coffee, and Sho doesn’t even bother to excuse himself as he takes a seat across Okada and dumps all the paper he’s been carrying on the table. “This is not a good idea.”

“I did throw that suggestion on the table.” Okada takes his seat again, with a chuckle. “But of course, I didn’t just agree on this lightly.”

“I’m only here because Kitayama-san said so. This is out of my league so I suppose you need to brief me properly on this.” Sho takes deep breath, as realization of the new assignment complexity begins to sink into him. “This is just another reporting job. This is just another reporting job, so it’d be fine.”

“And we can spend some extra time together this afternoon. Bonus for us,” Okada says, clapping his hands and nodding approvingly.

“Oh, for god’s sake, can we just focus on the assignment right now?”

Okada grins widely. “I can focus and enjoy the time I spend with you all the same, Sho.”

“I said don’t ‘Sho’ me,” Sho says curtly, before sighing. He needs Okada for this. “I do appreciate all the help I can have right now.”

“I already made a list of the basics,” Okada says as he slides a thumb drive and a file folder across the desk. “You should get all the basic personal information. I also put together several important features about Ohno-sensei from few years back. There’s nothing much really, except for his exhibitions coverage.”

Sho sets the thumb drive aside and starts to open the folder. Inside he finds few printed copies of newspaper headlines and website headlines. “I haven’t heard much about him.”

“He’s been dubbed the next renowned Japanese artist after Yoshimoto Nara,” Okada continues. “That’s like a huge compliment, even if I think the man himself is not really interested in the glory and the whole thing. Most artists aren’t anyway.”

Sho nods, making notes on his tablet, plugging in the thumb drive and finding a folder filled with documents.

Okada leans forward with a grin. “You know who Yoshimoto Nara-Sensei is, right?”

“I do,” Sho says quickly. “No more than general public knowledge but I’ll know more by tomorrow.”

“That’s the spirit. I might bring you some souvenirs from LA. Along with a photo with Cameron Diaz if I can manage it.”

“Oh, shut up,” Sho says, rolling his eyes half-heartedly, his focus already on the file he’s found. “You sure this is okay with you? I don’t mean to be ungrateful, because this has been more than enough for background search. Am I taking too much credit for your work?”

“This was actually scheduled for two months back, so I did my homework thoroughly,” Okada says, skimming at the folder Sho has left open. “It was when he was announced as the Tokyo Olympic logo designer.”

"I read that on Kitayama-san’s proposal brief. Maybe it would be another approach if I focus on his future work for the Olympics?”

Okada scratches his chin, considering. “That might work better for you, right? Why not, I’ll say.”

Sho begins to tap some of his notes, initial thoughts, knowing that he will need to do more research regardless. “Are you sure I can use all of this? This is basically your work.”

Okada’s serious expression melts back to an easy teasing grin. “For you, Sho, I basically have no objection.”

Sho considers throwing a pen or even the folder back to Okada’s direction but that would spur the man on more. He holds his head comically high and strides out the room instead. It is only after he hears Okada’s loud laugh behind him, that he allows himself to roll his eyes.





Sho wipes his sweaty palms on his trousers, shifting in his seat as they wait for the first camera test on the guest quarter of the Roppongi Art Exhibition Center.

He didn’t get a good night’s sleep last night, mostly cramming and trying to get as much information on Ohno Satoshi as possible. It doesn’t help that the newsroom is having the departmental monthly meeting this morning, meaning that he couldn’t have a quiet morning to continue his research.

He mumbles quietly, practicing several of his planned questions. He decided to ditch most of Okada’s questions last night since they are too technical and detailed. They are perfect for Culture coverage but Sho is not here to do Culture coverage. His Ichimen segment covers different viewpoints of topics and with Kitayama-san’s approval of his early draft, Sho can only wait for the actual interview to find out if his strategy works.

There’s a distant sound of commotion and Sho straightens himself, setting his notes aside. From the corner a man with a sharp suit appears, bowing to the crew politely before he continues to walk toward Sho.

Sho frowns in confusion because he is sure that this man is not Ohno Satoshi—or perhaps his official photographs don’t do him justice at all. He turns to aim a silent question to his producer assistant next to him, and receives a shrug.

The man only smiles when he’s stopped in front of Sho, extending his hand for a handshake. “Sakurai Sho-san, nice to meet you.”

Sho nods politely and accepts the hand. “Nice to meet you. Sensei?”

“I’d rather not be him if I can help it.” The man smirks playfully before stepping aside, revealing another man wearing an amused expression aimed straight at Sho. “This is Ohno-Sensei.”

Sho meets Ohno’s gaze. Flush rises up on his cheeks, and he wants to blame it on his earlier mistake, but the man in front of him smiles and Sho can barely remember to breathe.

Ohno seems to see the glaze in Sho’s eyes because his smile widens charmingly, eyes crinkled in pure amusement. He takes another moment to look at Sho before greeting softly, “Sakurai Sho-kun, it’s a pleasure.”

Sho finds his mouth forming a soft smile and blinks a few times in daze. Ohno’s hand is holding his, warm and firm. It is the shake of Ohno’s hand that finally shakes some senses into him.

“Ohno-Sensei,” Sho says, finding his voice a bit rough. “The pleasure is all mine.”

Ohno lets a cute chuckle before he says, “I hope I’m not late?”

Sho’s producer takes a step forward and begins to explain the technical arrangement. Sho is immensely grateful for it because he cannot stop staring at the man in front of him; there’s some warmth, amusement, and—if Sho’s reading him correctly—interest.

Ohno throws him a final smile before being ushered to do a quick makeup and wardrobe change.

Sho gives himself another shake of head before taking a step back. At the corner of his eyes, he can make out the first man with the suit watching him with interest. He turns to greet the man, intending to apologize for his mistake earlier when the man introduces himself instead.

“Ninomiya, his manager.”

Sho bows lightly before taking the offered hand, “I apologize for my mistake earlier, Ninomiya-san.”

Ninomiya chuckles at Sho’s formality. “No problem. I suppose that would be the last time you mistake Sensei for me.”

The comment is very off hand yet it sounds almost like a friend teasing another and Sho is a bit confused about that. “Pardon?”

Ninomiya only smiles wider before bowing to take his leave.

Not long after, Ohno returns to the set and is directed to sit in front of Sho. As usual, the team will do some tests while Sho tries to work with the questions and plan for the interview together.

“We can skim through the questions first, one by one, if you want, Sensei,” Sho says when they both are cleared by their stylist.

“I trust you with that,” Ohno replies. “It’s just I’m not really good at explaining my work.”

There’s something in the soft voice that makes Sho smiles. Some of his interviewees tend to get nervous on set, trying to cover their nervousness by mindless chatting and jokes. Some of his other interviewees get really quiet and reserved when the set lighting is on. Ohno Satoshi is neither. The man calmly sits in a slight slouch, displaying quiet manners yet expressing his worry openly, in a soft voice, melodious and gentle.

“I’m not really good at art feature myself,” Sho says encouragingly, his fingers unconsciously pinching the hem of his trousers. “Let me just quickly go through the questions we’ve planned then. We are not going to use all of them. You can just start to tell me about your upcoming exhibition, and I will make adjustments as we go.”

Ohno nods and says, “I’ll trust you with that.”





They work around the usual beginning of an interview, with Sho leading the talk about the exhibition details and Ohno responding quite smoothly. They spend the first 10 minutes rather aimlessly—as Sho likes to call it the warming up—before Sho finally starts his important questions.

“Sensei, many of young people consider your art highly, with distinguished rawness and unique quality. Some of them even take you as their source of inspiration and refer you as a contemporary Japan art figure.”

Ohno chuckles sheepishly—and Sho knows the viewer can see the blush on the man’s cheeks, a sign of a good right-on-the-mark question. “I am just doing what I want to do. In a way, it is a selfish act.”

“But isn’t it from such selfishness that great art is born?”

“Great art, huh?” For a moment Ohno looks like he’s in deep thought.

Sho was about to dive into another question when he senses something more, something else that Ohno wants to say. He stays quiet, and gives an encouraging nod. There’s a few seconds pause and Sho begins to worry but his patience finally pays off.

“What is great art, really?” Ohno begins. He’s still wearing the same dreamy expression. “I personally don’t think I am creating great art. Art is not great. Art is just art.”

Sho leans just a tad forward to silently encourage Ohno.

Ohno gets the silent hint somehow, because his lips are curling slightly in appreciation. “I work on things I want to work on and then people label them as art because they like what they see, what they feel when they see. Artists don’t decide if their works are art or not. We just create something that we wanted to create.”

Sho gives a nod and a soft hum.

“That’s selfish, right? I said it before and I’ll say it again, we artists are selfish. Sometimes we are so absorbed into our creations that we forget about those who will see our works. But as you keep on working on something that you like, as you keep on drawing, painting, you end up wanting to create more. And you then realize that you cannot forget those who will see our works because an artist is only able to create more when there is appreciation from people who like what they see, from people who will label my work as art.”

Sho finds himself unable to take his eyes off of the man in front of him. Gone is the quiet Ohno Satoshi from minutes ago along with the fiery speech of his existence.

Ohno takes a deep breath as if talking out this much has tired him out. The complete silent on set is gripping but everyone knows that Ohno is far from finished.

“I don’t know about being an art figure or an inspiration but I know that what I have right now is a privilege to create more. I’m grateful to the people who enjoy my creation. I’m extremely grateful. They are one of the reasons that I’m able to do this. And in a full circle, they are one of the reasons I want to continue to work and create art.”

Sho doesn’t say anything else. He doesn’t trust himself to say anything else. It was a beautiful answer, worth every second of waiting and encouraging, and Sho knows that this part is the one that’s going to be on air, in its entirety.

Sho is one second away from calling a cut and moving on to the next question when Ohno shifts in his seat, looking straight into Sho’s eyes, and adds more, “You were partially right.”

Sho barely manages to keep his surprise in. “I was?”

“I was terrible at drawing when I was in school and I wanted to get better. I wanted to do more. And now I am still drawing, heedless of being better or not—I’m still doing what I want. So, you were right. Art is born from selfishness.”

Sho has to fight the urge to look down, both to pretend to look at his notes and hide his proud grin. He settles for the best closing question he could think of in order to wrap this part neatly with a small smile. “Therefore, great art is born from great selfishness?”

Ohno laughs and Sho allows himself to chuckle along with the man. The interview may have few more extended questions but Sho knows that they have gotten the best part of the interview, the best sound bites, and that exact expression from Ohno to feature in his Ichimen screen Monday night next month.





Okada corners Sho after the night briefing, still clad in his fancy suit from the live broadcast. “You did amazingly well for someone who’s art-blind.”

Sho on the other hand has lost his suit jacket and in the middle of taking off his tie. They are clearing the meeting room at a slow pace, only several interns still gathering the unused proposal in the background.

“I might be art-blind, but I did my best,” Sho shrugs at the concealed praise.

“Nevertheless, it was a great interview. I’ll give you that.”

Okada can be a jerk. Okada can be pushy and flirty when Sho is concerned. But, Okada is also one of the best casters and Sho respects hard work and well earned reputation. At least he knows that Okada’s praises are rare and now he’s receiving one of them.

“Thank you,” Sho says, grinning. “Still, I regret nothing about not including part of your research in the interview.”

“You’re just sly enough to use your lack of knowledge as your weapon. That was a good tactic to get Sensei to talk more on his art. His previous interviews were never able to get him to talk that much.”

Sho smiles pleasantly. He’s really proud of himself. “That’s basically how Ichimen works, to provide information without sounding too condescending for those who don’t know. We’re just common people.”

Okada stares at him with a mixture of what Sho reads as amusement and acknowledgement. “How about dinner to celebrate tonight? On me.”

Sho rolls his eyes, because he should have seen this one coming. “Which would be, in your dictionary, called a date?”

Okada grins. “That’s why I like you, Sho. You’re very smart.”

“I’ll pass,” Sho says, waving his hand in dismissal. “I’m after all smart enough not to make the same mistake twice.”

“Ouch,” Okada says, clutching his chest dramatically before laughing. “If only I can get you drunk enough again, I bet we can—”

His phone rings and Sho thanks the heavens above for the welcome distraction. He doesn’t even glimpse on the screen as he walks out from the hallway to head back to his cubicle with a wave. “I need to take this. Thanks again for everything.”

Around the corner of his cubicle Sho stares at the caller ID. A unknown number? At this hour? Sho wants nothing but a hot meal, cold beer, and some peace and quiet to wind down from a long day and the thought of receiving a last-minute assignment is dreadful but he decides to answer anyway.

“Hello?”

There’s a sound of paper rustling on the other side of the line before a voice greets him. “Sho-kun?”

Sho tries to place the voice since the sound is familiar. Nothing comes for few seconds until he sighs his answer, “Yes?”

“This is Ohno Satoshi.”

Sho manages to cover his mouth just in time to cover his surprised gasp. He tries to flip his mental files to remember what had happened at the end of the interview day as he takes a seat at his desk: Ohno shook his hand a moment too long while his producer and Ninomiya exchanged contact details. They parted with a promise to stay in contact at least until the airing date of the interview.

Ohno speaks again, “Is it a bad time to talk?”

“Yes, Ah. Sorry.” Sho answers one second too quick before flinching at his own stutter. “I’m sorry. No. I mean, yes this is a good time. I was just surprised, that’s all.”

There’s a soft chuckle from the other end of the line and it doesn’t help Sho to get his sense back. “Ohno-Sensei, how can I help you?” Sho finally says, without stuttering this time.

“I saw the coverage, your Ichimen corner. It was good.”

Sho smiles on the praise; he is always eager to hear back from his interviewees. Even if he doesn’t have full control over how the program will edit his feature, he always makes sure to provide his best work. It also sends a rush of pleasant shivers to hear Ohno’s voicing his praise in a warm voice.

“Thank you. I’ve received some very good feedback so far. Thank you for your cooperation.”

“I’m glad,” Ohno says on the other line. “I’m also calling to invite you to the closing tomorrow. I hope you can stop by the hall since you said you would be interested in seeing the exhibition.”

He finds himself smiling, glad that Ohno still remembers Sho’s comments when they walked around the exhibition space after the interview last month, that Ohno still remembers his promise to invite Sho later for the real exhibition.

“That’s very kind of you, Sensei.”

Ohno’s voice is soft with an apparent hint of nervousness when he speaks next. “I want to see you again.”

Sho feels a rush of pleasant warmth running up his cheeks. He stays silent for a few moment; words have completely failed him this time. Ohno on the other side of the line doesn’t seem to be disturbed with Sho’s silence, waiting patiently for a response. Sho quickly runs his choices through his head; he does want to see the exhibition at a much more leisurely pace. He allows himself to smile, since no one is around, knowing that Ohno is calling him to invite him personally.

There was indeed something in the air at the day of the interview, of distant promises, something that Sho needs to make sure of by meeting Ohno again.

“Then I’d be glad to accept the invitation,” Sho finally says.





Now that he has thought about the invitation more carefully, Sho can’t help to be a little bit confused.

Ohno asked him to come over around 1AM, which is very considerate since Sho only got off work after midnight. All day, Sho has been feeling some sort of excitement because he gets to see Ohno again. This will be a meeting to catch up on things that they didn't talk about during the interview, Sho says to himself, but underneath it all he cannot lie to himself and say that he doesn’t expect more.

When the production meeting wraps slightly after midnight, Sho quickly excuses himself. He flags a taxi and heads for Roppongi Exhibition Hall, only to arrive at a quiet entrance. Standing clueless at the front lobby, he tries to remember his conversation with Ohno, searching for the missed details: was he supposed to go somewhere when he got here?

He’s about to take out his phone and contact Ohno when someone appears from the other side of the glass door. Ninomiya waves cheerfully at him. “Sakurai-san. Please wait just one moment.”

Sho bows his greeting and does so.

“Come right in. It’s freezing out there.” Ninomiya smiles politely, opening the door for Sho to go through before locking it securely again when Sho steps inside.

“Nice to see you again, Ninomiya-san. I hope I’m not bothering anything—“ Sho says as he unwraps his scarf and takes off his coat.

“Not at all. Sensei has already called in about you.” The man turns and flashes another of his smile at Sho. “If you’d just follow me, he’s waiting for you at the exhibition hall.”

With his scarf and coat now folded on his arm, Sho nods and follows Ninomiya inside.

The gallery is different somehow. All the arrangement is still the same from when Sho visited for the filming few weeks ago but there’s a sense of finality. Ohno is standing in the middle of the empty exhibition halls, dreamily musing over something. He notices Sho and Ninomiya and lets out an excited, “Sho-kun.”

Sho bows his greeting, and can’t help but smile at the sound of Ohno’s tone. “Good evening, Sensei.”

Ohno guides Sho to the far end of the hall to start his tour, while Ninomiya quietly excuses himself.

Sho starts slowly, taking his time and carefully examining details of mini sculptures lined up in the showcase or frowning with concentration in front of a painting. “I feel like I missed a lot by not making time to go during the exhibition.”

“But you are here now and that's what matters.” Ohno has been watching Sho’s reaction subtly. “There’s no need for us to be formal with each other, don’t you think?”

Sho catches the meaning behind the question but only nods.

“You’re not wearing a suit today,” Ohno says.

They are already on the last row of the displays and suddenly Sho becomes conscious of his clothes. He’d gone to the office today in less formal attire since there were no scheduled meetings with the higher ups, only wearing cargo pants and a simple dress shirt. So after the broadcast, he was more than glad to change back into the comfortable clothes. He just didn’t realize that Ohno might notice or comment on it.

“I wasn’t expecting to attend anything formal today,” Sho says, with an apologetic nod.

“I like seeing you outside your fine suits. It’s like seeing someone else,” Ohno says with a chuckle. “I mean it in a good way, of course.”

Sho turns to his side and meets Ohno’s gaze with a smile. Along the way through the exhibition, Ohno has been quiet most of the time but everything that he's said has been laced with extra meaning. There’s nervousness in the air, Sho realizes, not only from his side but also from Ohno’s.

“Now, I’m just rambling.”

The sight of Ohno’s scratching his head in confusion is so endearing Sho can't help but let out a laugh. “It’s alright.”

“Maybe I’m nervous, because…” Ohno steps aside wordlessly to allow Sho to turn his attention back to the row of paintings. With a shy smile, Ohno points out the last painting in the row, which catches Sho’s attention immediately.

He walks towards the space to get a better look. silver sixpence, the title plate says. The large canvas has crazy clashes of colors, small dots in dollops of black paint with ardent immense red splashes and streaks of violent waves in the true colors of the sea. Such is the intensity of the painting, Sho wants so much to reach out to feel its texture and bound energy.

“Go ahead,” Ohno says.

Sho turns in surprise not only that Ohno sounds very amused but also that his hand is already moving towards the painting. “I didn't mean—“

“I won't tell Nino, and I'm sure the artist wouldn't mind.”

Sho reaches out to touch and startles when he finds the bumps on the right side are soft to the touch and bouncy when he tries to press them lightly. “Oh?”

Ohno lets out a chuckle at Sho’s concentration and amusement. “It has air bubbles in it so it's a bit spongy.”

“Feels funny.”

Ohno laughs this time. “Well, no one is supposed to touch them.”

“Ah I’m sorry I didn't mean this is bad, just the texture is a bit strange for me.“

Ohno is smiling. “That's okay. Compliments are always welcome.”

Ohno falls silent again and now Sho begins to run his fingers on the other side of the painting, tracing the turbulent splashes and streaks. It screams power with so much elegance, with so much life in it, completely different from all the other paintings on the same row.

In fact, Sho realizes that the painting is completely different from all the art pieces in the entire exhibition hall. The sculptures were dark clay of sad and serious people. The fabric prints were earth toned and gloomy. The other paintings were in monochrome. And then there’s this last piece.

“This is different,” Sho says, muttering his guess as he turns to Ohno. “This is new.”

“Yes.” Ohno nods. “I just finished this last week.”

Sho finds himself smiling too. “So this not an actual part of the exhibition?”

“I started this the day after the interview,” Ohno says. “The day I met you. And I invited you because I want to show you this.”

Sho’s warm smile slowly turns into disbelief expression before ended up in a full bafflement. “Huh?”

A beautiful smile spreads in Ohno’s face, showing mixture of pride and fondness. “I painted this for you.”

“What?” Sho wants to hold off everything because now there’s too much information to process at a very short time. Ohno is still smiling patiently, waiting, and Sho’s mind is buzzing with all sorts of conclusions all at once. He turns to see the painting, under a different light now.

From the day they met, Sho is fully aware that along with Ohno’s extended gazes there was interest; along with Ohno’s invitation there was anticipation, and now after Ohno plainly poses his ultimate question, his confession, in form of large colorful painting in his public art exhibition, Sho is rendered speechless.

Ohno takes a step forward and closing their distance. A fleeting touch of his hand runs down Sho’s arm and speaks softly. “Too much?”

“More like too sudden.” Sho shakes his head before sighing with a smile. Warmth fills his chest and has him smiling. “I totally didn’t see it coming.”

“Neither did I,” Ohno says with a chuckle. “Now, have you eaten? Because if you haven’t, I want to take you for a late supper.”

Sho chuckles at the sudden invitation. He’s barely finished processing the confession and now this. “Are you always this direct?”

“When I need to be.” Ohno’s grin is easy and charming. “So?”

“Okay,“ Sho says with a slow nod. He still hasn’t figured out what has just happened, but spending more time with Ohno might give him the space and time he needs to recover and inquire.

“Great. Let me call Aiba-chan and then we can go.”





Ohno guides Sho to the front lobby, where Ninomiya is already waiting along with a sleek sedan with a chauffeur.

Ninomiya grins knowingly at Sho but doesn’t comment on anything. The man talks briefly with Ohno before Aiba opens the back door for them and they wave Ninomiya goodnight.

In only a short drive, Aiba takes them to a small alley and stops in front of what looks like an ordinary house. Sho gets off the car first and catches the small banner nearly hidden near the sliding door entrance.

“I’ll text you when we’re done, Aiba-chan.” Ohno says as he slides out the car.

“Yes, Sir.”

Ohno steps out next to Sho and joins him. “Shall we then?”

The owner greets Ohno with a smile and without delay leads them to the end of the bar counter.

“Our recommended menu tonight is our special kimchi nabe.” She stands behind the counter, setting their wet towels in front of them. “We have some other dishes if you have anything particular you want tonight.”

Ohno only turns to ask Sho silently for his preferred choice.

“Kimchi nabe sounds perfect,” Sho says offering a smile to both Ohno and the owner. “With a glass of beer, please.”

“And one for me, too.”

She notes down their order before heading to the kitchen. Before long she returns with two glasses of cold beer and a plate of appetizers. After she leaves for the kitchen to deal with the rest of their order, Ohno raises his glass and Sho joins him for a toast.

“Thank you for inviting me tonight,” Sho says with a satisfied sigh when he has already taken the first long gulps.

Ohno sets his glass in front of him before turning to Sho. “And thank you for accepting my invitation even after a long day of work.”

“Not at all.”

They sit in silence for a while before the woman begins to arrange the small stove and all. When their order arrives Sho realizes how hungry he is as his stomach grumbles in delight.

“Ah,” Sho says, a bit embarrassed.

Ohno only shrugs. “Let’s dig in. And here, let me.”

Sho watches Ohno takes a bowl into his hand and tries to scoop a serving. The awkward and careful gestures are pretty telling, and Sho finally relaxes for the first time in Ohno’s company tonight. “You are not used to doing this, right?”

“You can say that,” Ohno says as he smiles sheepishly, nearly spilling the broth when he tries to balance them over the hot pot.

Sho realizes that the answer to his question can also mean something else; of not being used to ladle the soup and ready a serving for others or of not being used to have this kind of ‘date’ with someone else. With a flush riding up his cheeks Sho mumbles his thanks.

Ohno says their grace quietly, gesturing Sho to begin and then begins to partake. Hot comforting food soon becomes their sole focus.

Sho has to hold in his satisfied moans as he slurps the remainder of the broth in his bowl. He gives a small smile before scooping another serving himself. “This is good. This is very good.”

Ohno smiles back and nods with his mouth full, even as his pace slows. He takes slower bites now as he takes interest in watching Sho eat. “If I knew you were this hungry, we should have gone straight to dinner instead of roaming around the exhibition hall leisurely.”

“I had early dinner but it was hours ago.”

“Oh, before the broadcast?”

“Yes,” Sho says. He pauses a bit to properly swallow before continuing. “We usually have one hour break after 6 PM, and I usually had small portions of dinner. You wouldn’t want to be too stuffed because we will have another meeting and camera test and—”

Ohno raises his eyebrows at Sho’s trailing off explanation, and encourages Sho to continue, “And?”

Sho eyes him with a question, finally setting his bowl down. He takes a few sips of beer to reorganize his thoughts before he continues. “I was going to tell you about my day before I realize that you might not be interested in hearing about it.”

“I’m interested.”

Sho chuckles at the over excited expression Ohno is wearing now. “It seems like you are.”

“I like listening to you,” Ohno says, smiling warmly. “After all you have listened to me.”

“That was the interview,” Sho says before adding. “You meant the interview right?” He wants to believe that they are not only talking about Ohno’s interest in listening Sho’s story about his day but also something else, something more.

“Yes. But I didn’t mean only the interview.” Ohno’s reply is confident enough for both of them. The way he looks at Sho is focused and comfortable, sending Sho some reassurance that there might be something else, something more indeed.

“Is that so?”

Ohno nods. “I don’t take random people for private viewing of my exhibition or even on a supper date.”

Sho has to look away to hide his smile. So this is a planned date, and he is getting special treatment in a way. To be honest with himself, Sho is also interested and curious of how it might work out between them; all the possibilities are spinning on his mind.

When Ohno speaks next, his voice is clear and sure. “I want to see you again, Sho-kun.”

Sho reaches his glass and takes a few sips to calm his rapid heartbeat. Ohno is not pushing him into anything but he must admit he wants to see the man again. While it might be too early to tell what it is between them right now, Sho knows that there is something; if not interest, at least curiosity.

“I am interested, very interested,” Sho begins.

Ohno tilts his head to the side, not interrupting but looking hopeful all the same.

Sho lets out a small laugh. “But I’m busy. I’m always busy. I have assignments and most of them require me to travel. My work hours are different from normal people.”

“I don’t think I would say I’m normal either. I can be very detached when I’m working. Or so people around me keep on reminding me,” Ohno says with a chuckle. “I also travel and I’m known to be terrible at replying to messages. Or so the people around me keep on reminding me.”

“I don’t think it’s advisable to start anything between us.” Sho sighs at his own words. “I’m not good company most of the time.”

Ohno’s eyes grow wider in surprise at the words before he relaxes as he catches Sho’s smile. “Aren’t you now?”

“But I also want to see you again,” Sho quickly adds, in softer voice. Just as the words left his mouth, Sho feels the rush of excitement going through him. This is a bad idea. Ohno is asking for them to have a better reason to keep seeing each other. If Ohno is asking that means he is willing to try; Sho is willing to try, even if he is completely not confident where this is going. So, maybe it’s actually not such a bad idea.

Sho shifts in his seat before looking up and finds Ohno’s eyes, finding hopeful glimmers and patient understanding. They would need to try their best because this is not going to be easy. He takes a deep breath before closing his eyes, and repeats, “I want to see you again if you’ll let me.”

Ohno’s smile spreads over his face, crinkling eyes and soft laugh lines. He looks so happy and Sho cannot help to smile as he can clearly see, despite the low lighting, that the tips of Ohno’s ears are turning red.

Ohno nods and says nothing else, his hand reaching out to touch the tips of Sho’s fingers on the table in a fleeting brush.





“Let Aiba drive you home,” Ohno says as they are waiting for Aiba to come around with the car.

Sho could only blinks in surprise. It’s late but he can always grab a taxi. He is sure that his apartment is not very far from the restaurant. “Are you sure?”

“I was the one who suggested for us to have late supper. It’s only right if I take you home afterwards.”

When they are back in the warmth of the car, Ohno asks for Sho to give his address to Aiba. And then spend the whole ride home in silence. So what now? Sho likes the silence and the way Ohno is just slouched lazily beside him, but what now? Sho doesn't know or isn't brave enough to ask, so he clings to the shared quiet moment between them.

“Here’s fine, Aiba-san,” Sho says when Aiba makes the turn to the front of his apartment. The car pulls over a bit far from the gate and Sho gathers his bag turning to thank Ohno for the night.

But, Ohno grips his hand lightly, holding Sho on his seat, and says, “Aiba-chan, step out of the car for a moment.”

There's only a slight pause before Aiba says yes and closes the car door behind him gently. The sound of soft purr of engine fills the silence and
Sho waits.

“Stop me if you need to,” Ohno says as he shifts to press himself closer to Sho’s side. The hand reaching up to touch Sho’s cheek is firm and warm, but his gasp and voice are cold and shaky. “Please.”

Sho sighs and shuts his eyes to let pleasant heat spreading through him. Ohno’s lips are cold but wet, coaxing as patiently as the man has been tonight to have Sho open his mouth for him.

When Sho sighs into the kiss, Ohno presses closer and slides his hand around Sho’s waist and clings with a grip, pulling Sho towards him. Sho’s hand finds Ohno’s shoulder before snaking up to hold the Ohno’s nape, intending to keep the man right there and never stop kissing him.

Sho leans back slightly first, breathless, feeling brave, and chuckling, whispering, “Satoshi-kun.”

Ohno hums approvingly before surging forward and locking his lips with Sho in a more passionate kiss. His leg shifts to rub against Sho’s knees before sliding up on Sho’s lap.

Everything is warm and Sho doesn’t want this to end, but he needs to. He squirms, both wanting to let go yet stay close to Ohno. He rubs Ohno’s nape and gives short tugs until the deep kiss turns into soft pecks. He gives Ohno one last kiss on the cheek. “Have a good night, and thank you.”

“Till next time,” Ohno says, hand framing Sho’s face, landing one last peck.





Only after Sho returns from his work trip to Korea two weeks later that he finally replies Ohno’s message, letting Ohno know that he’s now back in Tokyo. Sho takes a picture of himself at the NTV building entrance, and sends it to Ohno with a caption Back at the office headquarters for now.

Ohno has been constant in sending Sho snapshots while Sho was away. Almost all of them were taken seriously, focusing on the drawing on any surface. Some of them were caricatures of Ohno’s day—of Ohno himself slouching in the floor trying to mold his new batch of clay dolls; some of them are random little animals doing cartwheels or even making funny faces, and few of them are life-like charcoal sketches of Sho’s side profile.

Sho most of the time cannot find the answer he wants to give—if only he could draw, or have a decent drawing skill—and gives up. He scrolls the special folder on his phones every night, hugging his pillow with a wide smile in his face.

Sho later thanks Ohno when he talks to the man over the phone. Yet Ohno never presses for anything and seems to understand that Sho appreciates his sketches even without a reply. There are days when they talk about their days—mostly when Sho is awake enough after a long day of work. Slowly and steadily they begin to set their routine, feeling comfortable with the space they are giving each other.

The next morning, Sho is enjoying his coffee while considering which household chores he needs to tackle first today when the thought of Ohno comes floating in mind.

He misses Ohno.

Not his heartfelt messages, not his soft voice over the phone, but the presence of the man near him.

Ohno is in Fukuoka for his upcoming exhibition until next week, and the last time they talked on the phone was days ago. Sho puts down his coffee and ends up staring at his upturned phone on the table.

Sho has always been careful, extremely careful, with his past relationships, which is probably one of the reasons he has never been able to maintain one for a while, with his work being another. Ohno has been nothing but kind and understanding.

Sho sometimes worries that he is giving Ohno the impression that he is taking this relationship for granted but he is certainly not. He’s more than thankful to Ohno for dealing with his moods, for always making the decision when Sho is doubtful of himself.

He really misses Ohno.

He unlocks his phone and glosses over his recent call history. And without giving himself time to reconsider his decision, Sho taps Ohno’s contact.

After several rings, Ohno’s voice comes to answer. “Sho-kun?”

“Hi,” Sho manages to say, his heart clenching over the concern that laced the greeting. “I’m sorry to call you out of the blue.”

“It’s okay,” Ohno replies. There are muffled voices in the background followed by the sound of Ohno moving to another space where it’s completely silent. “Is everything alright?”

“Everything’s fine, I just—“

Ohno doesn’t say anything, just as usual, patiently waiting for Sho to finish talking.

“I just—” Sho sighs, and decides to be honest right off the start. “I just miss you.”

Ohno’s chuckles are music to his ears, and Sho finds himself smiling at the simple sound.

Ohno finally says. “How’s settling back at home after the trip going?”

“I’m not happy about going back to work at full speed, but I’ll get by.” Now this Sho can do. Talking about his day to Ohno has never been a problem for him. But right now Sho wants more. “Am I interrupting your meeting?”

“No, we’re just chatting after breakfast.” Ohno hums for a few second. “We’re setting up the space nicely here. Nino has all the shipments ready and we’re going to start displaying the pieces tomorrow.”

“You’ll be busy then,” Sho says. “And I should probably not bothering you so early in the morning.”

“I never have easy morning on an exhibition road show anyway, so your call is extremely welcome.”

Ohno always knows what to say; Sho grins widely.

“Sho-kun?”

“Yes?”

“Stay over when I’m back in Tokyo?”

Ohno always drops unexpected invitation at random times; Sho is smiling as he asks, “Would that be okay?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

“I don’t know what my schedule will be like when you’re back,” Sho says.

“How about I’ll contact you first in the afternoon? We can head back to my house whenever you’re done with work,” Ohno says. “I’ll be working at Nino’s office downtown for a few days after all. We can arrange something.”

Sho nods before he remembers that Ohno cannot see him. “Okay.”

“Now, I need to get back to the meeting,” Ohno says.

“Meeting?”

“Ah. I mean, chatting after breakfast.”

Sho laughs at the guilty tone. “So I did interrupt your meeting.”

“They’ll be okay without me for a few minutes,” Ohno says, his voice bashful and light. “And I miss you too.”

“Have a good day,” Sho finally says when he can find his voice; feeling lighter and happier than minutes ago. He makes a mental note to welcome Ohno with a warm hug when he sees the man; he really really misses him. “I’ll see you next week.”

(2/2)