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Curiosity was the first bud to sprout within Daigo: Mine, despite his insistent devotion, was rather recluse- technical and absolute in everything he did and said. It was hard to imagine such dedication without some kind of emotional attachment, Daigo knew that better than anyone. A small desire to know precisely what drove Mine inspired Daigo to truly set their relationship in motion; s urely a few drinks together would give Mine reason enough to loosen his tongue and talk about himself, and even better, could grant Daigo the friend he wasn't totally aware he was yearning for. But no matter how many times they went out together and no matter how many drinks he had, Mine appeared stalwart in never letting anything too personal slip. Whenever Daigo would ask about his personal life or his past, he would always pivot away from the topic or provide a vague answer. Amongst a drunken haze, Daigo didn’t mind, yet as he sat alone in front of his- their- bartender, he couldn’t shake the thoughts that had began to rouse in his mind.
“Bartender,” Daigo began, nursing his near-empty glass of whiskey. As the bartender finished cleaning a crystal glass, he provided a small hum of acknowledgement, looking to Daigo once he put the glass down. Even with the bartender’s attention on him- the attention he called for- Daigo’s throat felt tight, words quickly failing him. He opened his mouth to speak, yet he still needed a few more moments to decide exactly what he wanted to say. “...What do you think of Mine?”
“Mine?” The bartender blinked before he realized who Daigo was referring to, a smile of familiarity quick to find its way to his face. “You've been bringing him here for a while now, haven't you? He seems like a nice guy- and would I be wrong to say you think so too?”
Daigo smiled at the response, yet trouble still lingered at the back of his mind as he found himself frowning again. “I’m glad you think so as well. But… Do you think he’s being... sincere with me?”
It was the bartender’s turn to be stumped, eyebrows carefully furrowing with a tilt of his head. “What do you mean?”
“You’re already aware of my position within the Tojo Clan.” The reminder seemed to shake Daigo more than the bartender, having to recollect his fresh position as chairman causing him to take in a deep breath and sit up straighter. With a slow exhale, he continued. “Do you think that might affect how Mine acts around me?”
“You think he’s just being nice to you because you’re his boss?” When the bartender said it so plainly, Daigo felt himself wince, but at the same time he gave a weak nod. Just as Daigo didn’t want to believe his own assumption, the bartender shook his own head in disagreement. “You’re overthinking it, Daigo-san. He could be the best actor in the world, yet it’s hard to fake that kind of happiness when you two are together.”
At the mention of it, Daigo found himself grinning as he imagined Mine smiling and joking with him. How punctual he'd be to show up to their outings, and how excited- in his own muted way- he would appear when Daigo was getting ready to ask him out for the night. Though the bartender's positivity should’ve made Daigo feel better, the feeling of dissatisfaction should have faded, and for a second it did. Unfortunately, the ugly thing managed to linger. Daigo was warm to the idea that Mine was truly his companion and he could trust him with casual company. So if it wasn’t the need to have Mine enjoy him as a friend, then what was it?
—
What it was would strike Daigo like a metal bat to the head. It was during a leisurely walk at night with Mine, the two having decided to stretch their legs a bit before settling in at their usual spot, and with winter just starting to make itself apparent in Kamurocho, the duo donned long coats over their usual suits to shut out the cold. Though the walk was a new addition to their weekly routine, it shouldn’t have brought on anything significant- not until Daigo could hear the wild screeching of tires atop the black ice on the road, the signs of the season proving to be a dangerous one. Daigo had little time to fully understand just how critical the situation was until he heard Mine beside him yell for his name, sharply pulling him away from the road as a car rocketed past them and into the lamp post right behind them. The resulting bang was loud and easily knocked out the lamp's lights, bright sparks bursting from the light bulb above and scattering themselves all over the crash site.
While the growing crowd around them would scream and gawk at the accident, Daigo could only focus on Mine and how close he suddenly found him to be, his senses suddenly flooded with the light scent of mint and lemon zest. Recovering from the mild shock, Daigo blinked as he realized Mine pulled him into a hug to keep him out of the car’s path. But just as quickly as he realized, Mine gave him enough space to look him in the eyes, the flickering lights from the accident illuminating Mine’s face and revealing its usual stoicism to be replaced with signs of concern. “Were you hurt, Daigo-san?”
Though the warmth of Mine’s body was brief, Daigo still felt his mind needing to relax after having felt his solid body pressed against his, especially when the lights happened to highlight Mine's prominent cheekbones. He couldn’t have been standing there for more than a few seconds, yet Daigo felt the time slip away the longer he stared back at Mine’s handsome face, his pale skin kissed with a light pink from the chill. As Mine held Daigo’s biceps- strong hands holding firm as though Daigo would fall back into immediate danger if he didn't- he found his tongue tied, forcing a swallow to break through the awkwardness. “Y–yeah, thank you.”
And just as quickly as Mine was ready to hang on to him, he let go and stepped away. Daigo was surprised to find himself disappointed at the immediate loss, though he couldn't rightfully argue Mine had any reason to hold on to him any longer. “Please be more careful. You can’t depend on these people to know how to drive correctly, apparently,” Mine huffed before continuing their walk along the sidewalk, not letting them dawdle on the moment more than need be.
But Daigo wasn’t conscious of the fact he was still standing beside the smoking car until Mine turned around, the careful sway of his trench coat giving an almost ethereal air to him. “Daigo-san? ...Are you sure you’re alright?” Daigo didn’t need to say anything else before Mine was quickly walking back, his hands coming out from his jacket to hold Daigo’s face. He studied him considerably, gently turning his head from side to side as if he was looking for something in particular.
Had it been anyone else, Daigo was sure he’d be calling them a mother hen or that they were fussing over nothing- he was positive he wanted to say such things to Mine now. Yet he couldn’t, the cold, feather-light touch of Mine’s fingertips against his jaw too distracting as his chin was lifted upward and leaving his neck exposed. Daigo couldn’t have Mine so concerned- especially not when they were in public and the fussing was leaving Daigo bashful.
It was painful, but he slowly came up to swat Mine’s hands away, forcing an impish grin onto his face to hide his dismay. “I told you, I’m
fine.
I’ll let you know if I scrape my knee at some point though-
then
you’re free to kiss it better.” It was a mocking remark, yet now that Daigo had put the thought of Mine giving him a kiss into his head, he found himself trying to hide in the collar of his trench coat to conceal his blush.
Daigo’s cheeky response elicited a small smile from Mine as he put his hands back into his pocket, thoughtful of his overreaction. “Right, my mistake. Let’s keep walking, then.” Mine dropped his grin and turned around to sneer at the car, already moving to walk past it. “I’m not in the mood to make a witness statement tonight…”
As if on cue, Daigo could hear the distant sounds of police sirens down the street, prompting him to get the lead out of his shoes and to start catching up to Mine. If he were lucky, the modest walk to the Champion District would surely help shake the strange feeling out of Daigo’s system.
But hours later when Daigo and Mine were seated comfortably in the bar and drinking the cold away, Daigo could feel himself getting worse. He was mesmerized by how quickly Mine’s stony face shifted to one of absolute jubilation, his laugh unapologetic as he recounted one-of-many stories from when he was still within the Nishikiyama family. Of course Daigo was listening intently with real interest, yet he was additionally distracted by how pronounced Mine’s cheekbones became when he grinned and how the small beauty mark on his right cheek would shift with the corner of his mouth.
Daigo wasn’t aware how much he was staring until he saw Mine’s face relax into a leisurely smile as he called his name. With a jump, Daigo straightened up, his own smile stretching in an attempt to make up for his apparent silence. “Ah- yes?”
Mine looked at him in silence, a question obviously on his mind. But in spite of such, he just continued to smile. “Just checking if you’re still there. You haven’t had too much to drink, have you?”
As if Mine pointed out a spider on his suit, Daigo flashed a glance at his whiskey glass, seemingly afraid it would be gone if he hadn’t. The mild urgency brought out a snicker from Mine, taking a moment to drink from his own glass while Daigo eased back into normalcy. “Enough worrying about me, I was just listening to your story. You're a great storyteller, you know.”
To that Mine’s grin broadened slightly, bowing his head seemingly in mild embarrassment to Daigo’s attention. “I appreciate your concentration then…”
Mild guilt pricked at Daigo, for while he was focusing on Mine, it wasn’t exactly to his anecdote. Instead, he was marveling at how beautiful Mine suddenly appeared to him. That night, Daigo was sure with himself he not only wanted to be Mine's confidant, but he apparently wanted something more intimate. Was it just the adrenaline of nearly being hit by a car that had him acting so dazed, or did it simply provide him the opportunity to have become enamored with all of Mine, his person and physique in all?
Maybe he did have too much to drink- he was sure to laugh about his strange feelings in the morning, the inkling feelings of excessive ardor sure to have faded away by then.
—
He didn’t laugh it off the following day, nor the day after that- and especially not the months after that.
Everyday when the Tojo Clan HQ was just too quiet and he couldn’t quite focus on his work like he needed to, his mind would wander off to Mine. How composed he carried himself was devilish, yet it invited Daigo to pay special attention all the little things about him. To catch how his jaw would clench when someone would say something irksome during meetings, how his eyebrow would twitch when he was met with something disagreeable- in right contrast to how they would relax when something pleasant would happen. It was as if Mine’s mouth was stuck in a perpetual frown, yet all the same it would be those rare moments where he did offer the smallest of smirks that made Daigo’s heart skip a beat. To see a genuine smile was even more of a phenomenon, though the slight crinkle of Mine's eyes was worth waiting centuries to see it. Such times made him want to take his phone out and take a picture to treasure the moment, yet he knew all too well that by the time he did his smile would be gone, swiftly replaced by his usual expression. It was a painful game, and Mine wasn't even aware he was not only a participant, but the prize.
Even more, Daigo still found himself greedy from the night Mine pulled him away from the car. He had always been a bit of a touchy man before, yet nowadays he found his hand lingering on Mine’s shoulder longer, enjoying the feel of the fine fabric of Mine’s suit under his heavy hand. If not the prolonged touches on Mine's shoulder or his wrist, then he found himself manufacturing ways to touch him.
Going out anywhere aside from the usual bar was abnormal, yet occasionally Daigo would treat Mine to a nonchalant dinner at Smile Burger, even if the latter would always comment on how out of place it felt for them to be there. And Daigo would be inclined to agree if the spot hadn’t become comfortable to him somewhat, not to mention it offered him another excuse to touch Mine: no matter how refined and well-mannered someone could be, it would be inevitable there would be a crumb or two on someone’s face while dining at a fast food restaurant. Whenever such a thing would happen, Daigo was overly ready to pick up a napkin next to him and wipe away what bit of sauce was on Mine’s face, all to just momentarily feel his plush lip brush against his thumb.
“Thank you, Daigo-san- but I can take care of myself,” Mine would say, and Daigo would laugh.
“You’re right. But you are always talking to me about ‘appearances’. It’s only right I make sure you’re taken care of too,” Daigo would lie, and he’d feel sleazy for it, even if Mine accepted the excuse with a hum.
It would be wrong to put any blame onto Mine for Daigo’s ridiculousness, but still Daigo was hoping Mine wouldn’t appear so careful around him. Pardon the one night, Mine was always sure to be a comfortable distance away from him, and was even more sure never to touch him no matter their proximity. It shouldn’t have been an issue: by nature some people were more physical than others. But it was just the fact it was Mine and Daigo was sure he was so closed off for the sake of professionalism that had him itching for any semblance of informality.
Even tonight at the bar where all there was to do was be informal, Daigo could still see Mine make an effort to hold his arms close to himself, elbows not even daring to extend beyond the width of his shoulders on the countertop. It was practically a talent how Mine kept to himself even when he was a few drinks in, whereas Daigo invited himself to lean against Mine’s shoulder any chance he got.
Throughout the night, Daigo found himself sneaking more chances than typical as he finished another glass of whiskey. Despite his eyelids feeling weighted, the feeling in his lips long gone, and he could have sworn he was dangerously close to falling off his stool, he still leaned over the counter to ask for more. “Hey- bartender! I’d like another glass!”
Aforementioned bartender had tucked himself into the corner of the bar to give the men privacy, and while he had been attentive the rest of the night, he only looked over his shoulder and shook his head. “I think you’ve had enough for the night, Daigo-san. I don’t want you getting sick- especially not on my counter.”
Sitting back, Daigo stared dumbfounded. He hadn’t had that much, had he? “What do you mean? I’ve only had a couple glasses...”
At his side, Mine tsked, ready to disagree with the notion; while he was also indulging in a few glasses himself, he possessed enough self restraint to not overdo it like Daigo appeared to have. “I was prepared to say the same thing, Daigo-san.” Taking his phone out and flipping it open, Mine squinted against the bright screen and quickly checked the time. As he did, he reached into his pocket and swapped his phone for his wallet. “It’s been a good night, as always- but we do have business to tend to tomorrow. We shouldn't drink too much.”
“Mine...” Daigo began, but already knew he wouldn’t be able to win any argument he’d start; Daigo knew Mine was right, as per usual. Perhaps that fact is what made his ears burn as he hobbled out of his chair, immediately falling to the wall beside him to support himself.
As Mine was handing off the necessary yen to the bartender, he looked beside him, sporting his signature scowl at Daigo’s clumsiness. “Were you saying something?”
“Mine, please. I’ve been worse—” Whatever something could have been though, Mine wasted no time in approaching Daigo and grabbing him off the wall, throwing one of his arms over his shoulder and holding his hip. Being the less intoxicated between them, Mine seized the right to take the lead of where they would go.
“It shouldn’t be hard to get a cab, but we will have to walk for a bit. If you need to stop, let me know.” Daigo wanted to complain more, but it was hard to when he would rather focus on the smell of Mine’s cologne intermingled with the faint scent of the bourbon he’d been drinking earlier, the delicate smell of ginger making Daigo want to do nothing more than bury his face against Mine’s neck. He hardly noticed Mine open the bar’s door and bid the bartender goodnight, leaving the pair to shuffle awkwardly out of the Champion District alley and into the open street. The warm, night air of summer was prepared to greet them, the additional heat making Daigo's head feel woozier. Fortunately, j ust as Mine said, Daigo could easily spot a lone cab at the end of the road, and relished in their time outside looking to be a short one.
During the bulk of the walk over, Mine remained silent- occasionally glaring at strangers who stopped to stare at them- and Daigo was too preoccupied with enjoying Mine’s palm pressed against his side to make much commentary, though he wasn’t totally without anything to say once his head lolled towards the crook of his neck.
“I really like your cologne,” Daigo slurred, his eyes shutting to properly to enjoy the scent. To Daigo's knowledge, Mine wasn't much of a smoker, yet the faint scent of tobacco was intermingled with the notes of ginger he picked up earlier. Even more, the underlying smell of chocolate was also a welcomed surprise. Mine hadn't applied too much- possibly intentionally, as it meant Daigo truly had to lean in and focus to properly value its profile; Daigo wasn't sure he'd smelt something as unique and pleasant before, and he let Mine blindly guide him to the cab car as he appreciated the fragrance. “Smells nice…”
Mine didn’t say anything for just a second, yet the second felt far too long for Daigo’s comfort: had he finally gone too far? It wasn’t odd to compliment a friend’s cologne, was it…
…But his worries were whisked away as Mine fixed Daigo’s posture, lifting him up straighter and more against him, inadvertently allowing him to breath in more of the cologne. “Thank you. My assistant recommended I wear it tonight...” Mine mumbled something more to himself, though Daigo wasn’t sure exactly what. However, he was positive he could hear a hint of a smile in his tone.
“Huh?”
Seemingly having forgotten he was carrying Daigo’s entire weight, Mine looked next to him with an apologetic smile. “Sorry. It’s just that she assumed you would have been a fan- and I’m happy to find out she was right, apparently.”
That would be their only semblance of conversation as they finally reached the car, and despite its brevity Daigo was bound to have it in the back of his mind during the car ride. Did Mine talk about him to his assistant- how often did he do so? More importantly, did Mine really fuss over what kind of cologne to wear- if Daigo would like it, at that? Daigo didn’t exactly have a personal assistant of his own, so perhaps it was just a thing that occurred between a boss and a secretary: trying to decide which cologne your boss should wear during his outing with his good friend was surely a regular activity- he’d have to tell himself that for now to not obsess over it.
Opening the passenger side, Mine tried to gingerly tuck Daigo into the cab, the only act of resistance coming from Daigo who was intent on staying close to Mine. “Daigo-san, you can let go now. You’re not going to fall, I promise.”
“I know, I just…” Daigo caught himself before he could expose his wants, instead slumping fully into the seat to hide the mistake. He had only been separated from Mine for a little bit, but he was already missing the smell of cocoa.
Buckling him in- Daigo feeling his breath catch in his throat both at the sudden seat belt strapped to his chest and how briefly Mine’s hand hovered over his crotch- Mine shut the door before walking to the other side and climbing in. When Mine did enter the vehicle, he leaned towards the middle of the cab in an effort to speak more clearly to the driver. “Take the highway and make a right on the second turn. We should be fine once you get to that corner street.”
Daigo looked at Mine hazily: he didn’t remember telling him where he lived, yet that would be the right way to get to his apartment from here. “How…”
The engine of the cab turned on and began to drive as Mine directed, the man himself staring straight ahead at the back of the driver’s seat. “Your safety is my top priority, Daigo-san. I can’t ensure that if I don’t know your place of residence.” Mine looked down at the cuff of his sleeve, pulling it forward to straighten out a wrinkle. “If I’m not aware of where you are at all times or where you could be, I won’t be able to help you if you get in trouble.” Daigo’s awestruck look never faded, and Mine dodging the question of how wasn't help; Daigo was amazed he was able to do it, but the fact he wouldn't tell him the straight truth left him uneasy. On second thought, it was most likely better that he didn’t know the details.
Moving on from the thought, silence settled between them, the rumbling of the car easily lulling Daigo into a comfortable sleep against the cab window. What a good sleep it was, for when he felt Mine’s firm hand clasp against his shoulder and give him a forceful shake out of the blue, Daigo could only flounder against the wall confused. “We’re here, come on.” Daigo sniffled as he steadily gained consciousness, the bright lights of the city outside working well as a visual alarm clock. It only felt as though he was out for a second, and now they already had to start the walk back to his place...
He murmured a thanks to the driver before he urged himself out of the car, shakily rising to his feet and, meeting Mine at the door, used him as support. Although he protested beforehand, he was foolish to only now see the benefit of absolute inebriation being he got to rest against Mine all he wanted without any complaint, enjoying the return of his sweet-and-spicy aroma in the process.
It didn’t take long for Mine to navigate and weave through the streets to bring the pair to the apartment Daigo lived in, already walking past the receptionist- offering a small nod of acknowledgement to her on the way- to the elevator in the back of the lobby in order bring them upstairs. Having called the elevator and waiting little to see the steel doors opening in front of them, Mine brought the two inside, Daigo’s concern rising as he realized how familiar Mine seemed to be with the building as he didn’t hesitate to hit the right floor button either. Mine's confidence was never ending, as when the doors opened and Mine dragged the duo to Daigo’s apartment door, he let go of Daigo’s side to reach into his own pocket to retrieve a key ring- one of the numerous keys fitting perfectly into the lock. He was absolutely certain he never gave Mine his address, nor the key to his apartment- and he especially didn’t tell him he could make a copy of it.
While Daigo stared wide-eyed at Mine’s key ring, Mine was starting to ease himself away from him after opening the door to the humble living space, overly casual about having full knowledge and access to Daigo's home. “You’ll be fine by yourself, right?”
But Daigo was so caught up on realizing Mine snuck a copy of his key somehow, he was left speechless. Mistaking his shock for dozing off, Mine was prompted to grab hold of him again and lead him inside. “Listen to me next time when I say you need to slow down.” Daigo wanted to be upset, and he was to an extent- he was just too drowsy to really press the matter at the moment, and he would be lying to himself if he didn't enjoy the light scolding somewhat. On one hand, he felt like a kid being reprimanded for doing something idiotic- but he also felt cared for, that aspect ultimately cancelling out the negatives for right now.
Stepping into the space offered little options for where Daigo could sit, though after toeing off their shoes Mine brought Daigo to sit on the lone sofa in the middle of the room, the large windows beside it presenting an ample view of the city life below. This was the first time Mine was in Daigo’s apartment (as far as he knew and hoped), and Daigo suddenly felt overly conscious about how puny and mundane it appeared. Mine made no comment on the bleak living space however, and after placing him down, he stood up straight and looked over Daigo in consideration. “I’ll get you some water.”
Though before Mine could reveal anymore how well acquainted he was with Daigo’s apartment, Daigo sat up to grab his wrist. “No- wait. It’s fine. You’ve done enough, thank you.” Too much, even.
Mine nodded, yet Daigo found himself unable to let go of his wrist. “Alright. If that’s all, then I’ll see you tomorrow. Remember to drink some water when you wake up- I can also send someone to deliver you breakfast if you'd like as well.”
As Mine bid goodbye- Daigo wanting to tell him to relax with his generosity- Daigo couldn’t find himself able to let go, instead reaching behind to scratch the nape of his neck with his free hand. “Uh… why don't we get breakfast together instead ?”
With a tilt of his head, Mine blinked, thinking to himself and mentally checking his schedule. “...Sure. Just give me the time and I'll be over as soon as I can--”
"That's not what I meant," Daigo blurted out, rousing a confused look from Mine.
"...Are you asking me to stay over tonight?"
Suddenly, Daigo found himself wanting to retract his invitation: perhaps he was being too needy. After all, Mine probably wanted to head home for the night- he was silly to consider the possibility, anyhow. “A-Actually, if you have to go, then—”
"Would you like me to stay, Daigo-san?” Came Mine's tender tone, Daigo feeling his throat tighten as he looked up at him.
Wetting his lips, Daigo nodded, easing his grip on him. “If you could…”
Wrist freed, Mine nodded before turning to walk to the mouth of the room, shutting and locking the door and neatly lining their shoes against the wall. “Then you’ll have to let me still get you that water while I’m here. It would be unfortunate for our breakfast to be sullied by a terrible headache.”
Again, Daigo had dealt with worse. But he was through with trying to make that point known as Mine retreated into the small walk-in kitchen by the entrance, the sound of the fridge opening and closed coming from the cramped corridor. Leaving the kitchen, Mine was back with two bottles of water, taking the time to uncap both of them before handing one to Daigo.
Taking the bottle with a thank you, Daigo scooted over on the couch and patted beside him. “It’s not the comfiest thing ever, but…” No complaints were made as Mine took his seat, the small couch offering little breathing room for either of them. The couch was just barely able to account for Daigo's own height, yet somehow Mine was still able to keep his body to himself and prevented so much as their knees from touching, causing Daigo to frown. “Relax, Mine. You don’t have to sit so stiff.”
Mine offered a small apology as eased his legs, spreading them just enough to graze against Daigo’s and letting himself reluctantly relax against the couch. His ease, even if hesitant, made Daigo smile, taking a drink from his water bottle before reaching over to pat Mine on the shoulder.
“There you go!” Pulling his hand back, Daigo laid against the couch and propped his head against his palm as he watched Mine take occasional sips from his water.
Despite his own bottle, Daigo hardly took many drinks after the initial one, too focused on watching Mine steadily get through his drink and watching the way his Adam's apple would slightly bob with each swallow. Even with the minimal light the outside offered, the glimmer from the city behind highlighted Mine's jaw, the rest of his face carefully hidden by shadow: it was practically a sign for Daigo to stare at Mine’s lips, now enamored with how drinking from the bottle made them appear slightly more plump and fuller in color.
His staring was bound to get him in trouble some day, and what day was better than the one where he was perfectly alone in his apartment with Mine. “Daigo-san, I didn’t get you water just for you to not drink it.” Focus broken, Daigo blinked at Mine side eyeing him only to look down into his hand to see the near-full bottle in his hand. Without many other options, Daigo shrugged with an awkward smile.
“I told you, I was fine.” That gave Mine reason to shift his body to totally look at him, relaxing his elbow against the back of the couch while he placed his bottle against the crevice of the couch, hand hovering over it to keep it from falling over. Apparently, it was Mine’s turn to study Daigo, and now being the subject of such a sharp gaze he felt uncomfortable. Though he’d been in far more intimidating and life-threatening circumstances before, there was something in particular about Mine staring at him head on that made his skin crawl- perhaps it was the fact he’d been the center of Daigo’s fascination for months, and now that he was giving him absolute attention in his home, he could only feel his heart pound against his chest the more he stared back into his dark eyes: it felt like some sort of divine comeuppance that Daigo's skin would feel itchy once he had someone else observing him.
Mine didn’t avert his gaze as he leaned forward to put his near-empty bottle on the table in front of him, bringing his right leg to dangle over his left when he got back into place. When Mine moved to rest his cheek against the palm of his hand, Daigo swallowed as he watched his pinky press against the corner of his mouth, once more drawing attention to his bottom lip. “Would you like anything else from me, then?”
A lot of things: Daigo may have harbored some denial before, but he was sure he’d be more than welcome to indulge in Mine’s hospitality as much as he could until he would be told enough. The more he thought of it, Daigo wasn’t sure he’d be able to have Mine in such a personal setting again, and he’d very much like the capitalize on the opportunity of he could,
But even if his head still felt dizzy, he had enough common sense not to say something so brazen out in the open. Another swallow and a wetting of his lips preceded Daigo’s response, shifting awkwardly in his seat. “Would you still be willing to stay for the night?”
“You don’t want to be left alone?” Instead of coming as a genuine question, it felt more accusatory- as though he already knew the whole truth about the request. As per usual, Daigo tried to laugh off the question.
“I don’t mind a little alone time, but I don’t want to cut our night out short just because you think I drank too much." Daigo smirked at the light jab at Mine's worrying, though his playful look melted into sincerity. "I enjoy your company, Mine- I would’ve hoped you’d know that by now.” Whether he did or didn’t know how true that statement was, Mine’s eyebrows raised ever so slightly and his eyes widened just as subtly. Daigo had taken a while to notice, but Mine always had these particular types of reactions whenever Daigo said something so earnestly: dare he say it, it was overwhelmingly endearing. It was a gracious break from his cold stares to be given even a hint of vulnerability, and it never failed to make Daigo grin.
“I… am aware,” Mine spoke slowly, evident that he was struggling to believe so wholeheartedly. Despite his shyness, he ultimately leaned closer into Daigo’s space, reducing his voice to a whisper. “I suppose I like to be reminded.”
“And I’m more than happy to remind you,” Daigo soothed, returning Mine's hushed tone. Flickering his eyes away from Mine’s, Daigo realized they were still stuffed in their suits, and the summer heat was starting to make him too warm. “Take your jacket off- g-get comfortable, I mean. It's pretty warm tonight, huh?” Acknowledging his small blunder made Daigo want to hide his face into the couch cushion, but the defense that he was too drunk and too hot should be able spare excuse him from his embarrassing behavior.
Shame aside, Mine, too, seemed to only now realize he was still wearing his blazer. "I guess you're right..." Chuckling to himself, he took his time slowly undoing the buttons before placing the jacket on the coffee table, his tie following soon after. Seeing Mine in only his dress shirt felt wrong; Daigo had wanted to be more personal with Mine, yet even something as simple as taking his suit jacket off was leaving him red in the face.
It dawned on him that now he was the sole one left fully dressed up, only Daigo had the advantage of being in his home and having night clothes. Getting up and putting his water bottle on the table, he retreated to his small bedroom across the hall. “I’ll be back- do you want me to get you some clothes too?”
The question caused Mine to pause, the low light of the room barely concealing his rosy cheeks. “Only if it wouldn’t be any trouble. Thank you.”
Due to the apartment’s tiny space, it wasn’t hard for either man to hear what the other was doing in each room. While Daigo was presently digging around his drawers for fitting pajamas for him and Mine both, he could already hear Mine start to remove more of his clothes. Hearing the sound of fabric moving, Daigo felt his searching become more frantic.
And his haste would reward him: as Daigo poked his head back out into the main room, he was just able to catch Mine shedding his dress shirt, and with his back turned to him, he was able to perfectly see the full of his tattoo, a golden, flaming beast ready to meet his gaze. Apparent to Daigo’s footsteps, Mine looked over his shoulder, mechanically folding his dress shirt as best as he could before tossing it on top of his jacket. Daigo should’ve just moved from his spot and gave Mine his clothes, yet he found himself stuck in staring in awe at the hoofed creature on Mine's back. It didn’t take long for Mine to notice the source of his fixation, casting his own back a quick glance. “You’ve never seen it finished, have you?”
“No,” Daigo muttered, legs finally working to guide him to stand behind Mine. Shifting the pairs of clothes into one arm, he didn’t think to ask before letting his fingers brush over the design, the delicate touch of his fingertips causing Mine’s back to slightly arch. “You got… This is—”
“A kirin,” Mine completed for him, voice cool and proud. “I doubt there’s anything more fitting for me.”
A light seemed to go off in Daigo’s head as he looked up at Mine who was ready to meet his stare. He was knowledgeable of what a kirin was- it was hard not to be. Yet he still felt inclined to ask, as though he was somehow misunderstanding the meaning of it. “Why do you say that?”
Mine stalled, standing contemplatively for a second before turning to face him, keeping his head high and expression profound. “Kirin are known to have unwavering loyalty to those they believe to be benevolent leaders. Furthermore, they’re ready to do whatever they must for such men." Mine paused to look at Daigo’s face, and seeing nothing to dissuade him, he continued. “I don’t believe this should be any sort of revelation that I feel the same towards you. It’s how I’ve felt ever since I met you- and I refuse to imagine such a feeling going away so long as I live.” The way Mine looked at Daigo indicated he wanted to say more, but- as he always did- held back on the full of what he wished to say. But whether he said everything on his mind or not, Daigo wasn't concerned with all the details, he could live just fine with what he was told then.
And it wasn’t a revelation- only to the blind it would have been. It wasn’t as though Mine hadn’t professed something similar before either: he was seldom shy when it came to reminding Daigo about his loyalty. Yet seeing the sentiment inked forever into his skin- imagining the long, painful process of getting that message pricked and poked into such a large part of his body that only he and few others would know about, it left Daigo’s skin prickling with ebullience. If there was ever such a declaration of love from Mine, Daigo was sure this would be it; any specks of doubt that Mine only ever dealt with him out of responsibility or that he only saw him as an ordinary friend dissipated instantly, and Daigo wasn’t exactly sure what to do with the sheer amount of affection he was bestowed with in that moment.
“Can I kiss you?” Both men were taken aback by the blunt request, Daigo dropping the clothes in his arms once he realized he asked the question aloud. Following them to the ground, he began to recollect them as he tried to quell his mortification. “I- I mean. I…” It was impossible to recover from such a declaration, and even worse he had nowhere to run: he couldn’t hide in his room seeing as Mine would still be there, and it would be terribly rude to just kick him out- especially when he was now shirtless.
To his mixed fortune, Mine didn’t appear to take the question seriously. “Don't worry, I understand what you meant. You’ve had a lot to drink tonight anyways, Daigo-san- you're just saying things. We can forget this happened in the morning.” Somehow instead of trying to console Daigo, it sounded as though Mine was trying to convince himself that Daigo was only being hyperbolic in his adoration: the thought of that being true left a terrible taste in Daigo’s mouth, a taste he quickly wanted to extinguish.
“No- Mine, wait.” Daigo gave up on the clothes on the floor to stand up and look at Mine. Caution was to the wind by now: if any time was the best for being wholehearted, then being inebriated was certainly his golden ticket. And if not- just as Mine said- they could forget about it in the morning, and the only thing Daigo would have to live with was both humiliation and heartbreak once he sobered up- plus an additional headache to help distract him from the two if he was lucky. Regardless, he refused to let Mine think for even a moment Daigo's affections for him was any less than monumental, not when his slip up had done enough to expose so.
“You mean a lot to me, too- you mean so much to me.” Daigo didn’t think he was totally helpless when it came to his diction skills, but when his limbs felt akin to wet noodles and his mind like mush, it was hard for him to get his exact thoughts together. “No one’s ever cared as much as you do, I can’t remember the last time I really felt like I had someone there for me. For me- not just for the sake of the Tojo Clan or out of obligation, but as an actual friend.”
Placing his hands onto Mine’s naked shoulders to keep himself from falling over, Daigo shook his head and wet his dry lips again. “I-I don’t want to assume or overstep. You just…” Daigo willed himself to look up at Mine who appeared unfazed thus far. “I…” He knew what he wanted to say, what word stuck out in his mind- yet he felt as if he actually uttered it, he might somehow ruin what relationship they had. He would just have to hope Mine could grasp even a fraction of what Daigo was saying, if not fully feel his adoration.
When Daigo was unable to utter another word, he could see Mine’s eyes soften, having taken some time to properly absorb Daigo's sentiments before responding. “And… how long have you felt this way?”
Daigo expected some sort of outward rejection, so when he didn't receive it he found himself chuckling at the question, forehead falling onto Mine’s chest. “I’m not sure- a while, though. I’ve driven myself mad over you, if I’m honest.” He tightened his grip on Mine’s shoulders, fearful that he might run away the more he confessed.
Without a word being spoken by either of them, the atmosphere was suffocating, each muted second feeling more like hours. Daigo was sure he’d complicated their friendship by now, Mine saying nothing as his hands carefully moved to his suit jacket while he seemingly ignored the reply. “You’re still wearing this thing.”
Initially, Daigo assumed Mine had brushed off everything he said. Upsetting, but he was glad he didn't appear too upset about the news to immediately leave. On the contrary, Mine’s gaze jumped from undoing the jacket and to Daigo’s lips, soon his voice coming out no louder than a murmur. “...And you can, by the way.”
In that moment, Daigo felt his heart in his throat alongside his jacket starting to slide off his shoulders, the jacket soon crumpling to the floor. “I can what?”
Though Mine bent down to pick up the jacket and fold it, throwing it on top of his own clothes, the tips of his ears adopted a scarlet color once he heard the inquiry. “Have you already forgotten your question?”
How could he- it’s what had them in this situation in the first place, and although Mine’s hands had started at Daigo’s tie, they stopped once his own hands gradually slid up Mine's bare chest, stopping short of his collarbone. Daigo felt a grin tug at the corner of his mouth, beginning to lean into Mine's space. “I guess I just wanted a reminder.” No, what he wanted was confirmation: confirmation that any of this was real and happening to him. He would have sooner accepted that this was the result of a drunken dream, yet when Mine didn't show any resistance and Daigo didn't find himself waking up on the bar table or on his couch, Daigo knew he was in reality.
With that wonderful confirmation, Daigo brought their lips together before he could see Mine smirk back at him, but he was more than capable of feeling him smile against his skin. It was a chaste kiss- a simple press of the lips to get acquainted with the feel of the other. Daigo was guilty of imagining exactly what it might feel like to kiss him, and he wasn’t sure if he should have been embarrassed or pleased that it was just as he had imagined, if not Mine proving to be a little more awkward than he thought. All the same, Daigo was happy to indulge in the fading taste of bourbon, and even more glad to feel his soft lips move against his own.
He hadn’t meant to push Mine against the wall behind them amidst their innocent kissing, but once he had Daigo brought his mouth away from Mine’s to settle against his neck. Again, he was met with the same captivating cologne from earlier that night, only now he was at liberty to kiss and suck at the skin below Mine’s ear as he desired; he didn't mean to abuse his neck, yet now that Daigo found himself in a reality where he was allowed to the need to restrain himself felt useless. Against him, Daigo could hear Mine's even breathing start to stutter, though he was without complaint to the hasty kissing. Proving his enthusiasm, Mine gently bit his bottom lip to silence his moaning, his hands shakily moving to reclaim Daigo’s tie and pull him closer. With how Mine tugged at his tie- even spreading his legs enough to let Daigo's thigh slide against his crotch- Daigo gave one more kiss to his neck before reclaiming his needy lips once more. Mine's carefulness steadily dissolved into need to touch Daigo, letting loose of his tie in order to hold his hips and carefully roll his growing erection against Daigo's leg.
Although the smell of his cologne was pleasant, Daigo was certain now there would be no greater indulgence than being able to taste Mine, and the way his hoarse voice would whine for his attention added to its delicacy. Daigo pulled away, if only just to tease Mine and watch his concentrated face pout at him. “Would I be allowed to do more than kiss you?”
“Please—” Was all Daigo needed to hear before he was urgently dragging Mine by his golden studded belt, the two stumbling a bit over the clothes and their own intoxication before Daigo got to push him towards the couch. Mine was hardly given a breath to relax as Daigo was quick to climb on top of him, pushing him onto the cushion before kissing his lips again. Not that Mine would complain, quick to match Daigo's fervor with his hands reaching up to entangle themselves in his gelled hair.
Amidst feeling Mine’s breath against him, Daigo could feel the buttons of his dress shirt being fumbled with once Mine's hands slipped away from his head. A quick peck was what Daigo gave Mine before straightening up- the latter attempting to chase after him for another kiss, yet could only look up at him with his mouth agape. Daigo could feel his blood pump as he gradually undressed himself, his body feeling electric as he watched Mine’s eyes watched each button come undone until all that was left was to untuck the shirt entirely.
Apparently Daigo was taking too long as Mine sat up, finally disposing of the tie still around his neck and throwing it to some corner in the room. He could hardly wait for Daigo to take his shirt off completely either before his hand was at the back of his neck, pulling him back into their heat.
Daigo snickered against him as he attempted to throw his shirt in the same direction of his tie, though Mine’s want for attention made it difficult to throw it anywhere and he would instead have to drop it beside the couch. If Daigo thought himself hungry for Mine, then the man capable of satiating his appetite must have been starving to be acting so aggressively. Should his actions then not have been evident enough, then the restrained buck of his hips under Daigo was plenty more to tell what he wanted. Months of pining and fantasizing should have made Daigo weak to the obvious advance, but a part of him found equal enjoyment in playing with Mine just a bit longer. Again, he pulled back and pressed Mine onto the couch- Mine's arms landing beside his head- and watched his frustration show in a slight furrow of his brows. “Easy, Mine. There’s no need to rush.” As if he had any right to say that when he was additionally torturing himself with the delay.
When he was upright, he allowed himself to admire the mess under him: Mine’s well-styled hair was starting to lose its neatness, a few stray strands of hair coming loose from its gel binding to fall over his face. Through the few strands, hooded eyes looked up at Daigo expectantly, lips now swollen and red and waiting for Daigo to claim them again. The light glisten of sweat against his temple and well-toned body added more to the sight, unsurprisingly causing Daigo’s blood to race to his groin and causing his cock to twitch.
Mine attempted to regain some of his composure, closing his mouth to swallow and trying to make his voice sound normal, though all the same it came out husky, need ever apparent. “Daigo-san…”
Deciding to make that even more difficult for him, Daigo lightly rocked his hips against Mine’s, the feeling of their clothed erections rubbing against each other eliciting a sharp gasp from him. “What do you want, Mine?”
“Don’t play with me like this—” Mine attempted to bark back, though another sudden thrust of Daigo’s hips left him holding his breath. “D-Daigo-san…!”
“Just tell me, Mine. I want to hear you say it.” As if to sweeten the deal, Daigo leaned down to return to Mine’s neck, once more suckling at the reddening spot from beforehand. Placing his hands on Mine’s chest, Daigo let his thumbs occasionally brush over his pert nipples, each stroke causing Mine suck in his breath and clench his fists.
“Yoshitaka...” Daigo breathed against the shell of his ear, planting another kiss and dragging his blunt nails down to graze against his abdomen. That seemed to be Mine’s limit, Daigo soon feeling his own nails gripping his ass and forcing their hips to grind against each other.
“Use me- please,” Mine begged, only able to squirm under Daigo’s weight. He was making a greater effort to feel the friction between them, having had enough of being toyed with. “You’re all that I need!” Finally granting Mine's wish, Daigo thrust his hips in tandem with Mine’s, kissing his way back to his mouth and slipping his tongue in-between his panting lips.
“Good,” Daigo growled in-between kisses, his hips maintaining a smooth rhythm despite Mine’s enthusiastic bucking. “That’s all I need to hear- that’s all I need...”
The longer the pair rutted against each other, the more Daigo’s hot body begged for him to remove the rest of their clothes- to properly feel Mine’s warm, sweat-slicked skin smack against his own. At the same time, all Daigo wanted to do was hold Mine down and marvel at what skin was exposed to him while he writhed with the need for release, the thought of being too overwhelmed to properly undress and cumming in his pants quickly enticing him.
It wouldn’t be long for Daigo’s trousers to feel too tight on his body, the feeling of his cock threatening to burst swelling at the tip as he ground hard against Mine’s own twitching prick. The sudden pressure caused Mine to interrupt their open-mouth kiss, only able to whine and moan against Daigo as the two could only resort to whimpering out a mess of curses and each other’s names. Finally being able to feel not only his own warm cum seep through his briefs, but it begin to seep into Mine’s own dress pants had been more euphoric than finally cumming itself: they were left a mess once they were fully spent, and they would surely have some regrets in the morning when they'd need to get ready for the day, as if the feeling of sticky undergarments wasn't quickly becoming uncomfortable at that moment. But being able to share the intimate moment with Mine would make whatever complaints they had worth it, Daigo's body ceasing as he collapsed on top of his companion.
—
A week would pass before Daigo and Mine found themselves walking back into their typical bar, already jovial from whatever conversation the pair had prior to stepping in. The bartender was ready to greet the two, already placing down two whiskey glasses on the table. “Glad to see you two got home safe last time!”
Mine would be the first of the two to take his seat, choosing his usual spot on the right side of the bar. “I should hope that will be the last time you drink so recklessly, Daigo-san.” Despite the mild reprimand, Mine still sported a smile as Daigo pulled out the stool beside him and sat down.
"I told you to stop fussing so much- I know my limit!”
But it was the bartender’s turn to pipe up as he turned to his shelf, pulling out their typical pick of bourbon from the shelf behind him. “I’d argue not, actually...” While the bartender appeared prepared to continue poking fun at Daigo, he paused as he eyed Mine, an eyebrow quietly raising amidst filling the men's glasses. When he reached Daigo, he checked to make sure Mine was too preoccupied with his drink before whispering to him. “...So how have you two been doing lately? I remember you were stressing yourself out over him a while ago.”
The question seemed sudden, causing Daigo to hesitate drinking from his own glass. Looking over to Mine, he couldn’t help but smile as he turned to meet his stare with a grin of his own, raising his glass in a quiet cheer. “We’ve been fine, why?”
“I thought so. Just... be careful. You guys might have been a bit too fine as of late.” With a quick tap on the skin under his ear, the bartender placed the open bottle between them before moving away to tend to the few dirty glasses behind the counter. Perplexed by what the bartender meant, Daigo looked over at Mine again- but when he did, he felt his cheeks start to burn before he could even drink a sip of his alcohol.
Mine seemed to catch on to his confusion, cocking his head to the side at Daigo’s staring- but in doing so, it only made the red blot peaking over his collar ever more apparent, and worsening Daigo’s embarrassment.