Dinner for Two

*

Aoi somehow managed to get the boy to Megumi-san’s office and escorted them to the nurse's office within the building.

“Good job bringing him in, I honestly didn't think you had it in you,” Megumi said, lighting another cigarette in front of the infirmary.

Aoi smiled shyly, not used to getting such praises from adults around him, he looked back into the infirmary at the young boy concerned, he wanted to go back to his room but also didn't want to leave him alone.

“You can leave if you have to, the nurses made sure he won't be up till probably tomorrow,” Megumi said blowing out a puff of smoke.

A light blush brushed across Aoi's face from being caught, but he was relieved that he could leave the strange boy in good hands, he turned around to leave when Megumi called out to him and dropped a ten-dollar bill in his hand…

“You look like you haven't eaten in a week, there's a canteen down the street and a convenient store by the left corner… Do what you like.” The dorm master said before walking away with his hands in his pocket.

Aoi watched in awe… he never believed Mr Megumi would be so reliable, he tagged him as an unofficial tug when they first met that morning, but now he knew he could rely on him.

He bowed where he stood as he shouted the biggest thank you his voice could carry, Mr Megumi only waved his right hand before disappearing into a corner, Aoi stood up straight looking at the ten he was given, his eyes glittered already preparing what he would make for dinner in his head.

The sky had faded from blue to a mix of orange, peach and purple, with the low buzz of boys filling the lower canteen. Aoi walked by, deciding to make his way to the convenience store first to pick up some ingredients for dinner.

The store was bustling with students grabbing snacks and drinks, while Aoi carefully selected fresh vegetables, tofu, some rice and a few other necessities, already planning for a simple yet comforting meal in his mind.

As he made his way back to the dormitory, the sky had gotten darker, and the cherry blossoms swayed gently in the evening breeze. A sense of calm washed over Aoi as he entered the building and headed towards their shared kitchen to start cooking.

He noticed the cookies he had left out earlier, Kosuke had given those to him and he made sure to save them properly. With a shy smile, he bit into the chocolate chip cookie and couldn’t help how amazing it tasted.

He got himself a glass of milk as he snacked on the cookies. After a refreshing 10-minute break, Aoi rolled up his sleeves, washed his hands, put on a disposable apron and got to work.

The aroma of sautéed vegetables filled the air as Aoi worked diligently in the kitchen, chopping, stirring, and seasoning the food with care. Cooking had always been a source of comfort for him, a way to express himself and show care for others.

Lost in his own world, Kosuke walked back to the dorm, the basketball in his hand and the lingering feeling of unrest. On getting to his floor, the entire hallway was filled with an interesting aroma, one that even brought the boys out of their rooms.

“Do you smell that?” a random guy says.

“Smells like mother’s cooking.” The other sighed. Kosuke walked by, not paying attention to them and ignoring the delicious scent, till his door.

He smiled.

Just as he was about to set the table, Kosuke walked into the kitchen, a tired but intrigued expression on his face. He watched Aoi with curiosity as he prepared the meal, the clinking of utensils and the sizzle of the stove filling the room.

"Hey, Aoi. What’s going on here?" Kosuke asked, trying to sound as gentle as possible, leaning against the kitchen counter.

Aoi looked up, a small smile on his face, this took Kosuke aback, the boy was so beautiful. "Just a simple vegetable stir-fry with tofu and rice. I hope you don't mind."

Kosuke's stomach growled in response, and he chuckled. "Mind? Are you kidding? That smells amazing. Do you think I could get a plate?"

Aoi paused for a moment, the smile growing wider across his face, nodding profusely, he excitedly rounded up his cooking while Kosuke set the table for the two of them.  As they sat down at the table, Aoi served the food onto their plates, the steam rising and carrying the fragrant scent of the dish.

Kosuke looked at the food in front of him, astounded, in his head, Aoi was another rich spoilt brat.

“Thank you for the food.” Aoi said, distracting Kosuke from his thoughts.

“Thank you for the food,” Kosuke said back. They ate in awkward silence, the clinking of cutlery and occasional words exchanged creating a slightly tense yet warm atmosphere.

“So, err… Aoi,” Kosuke tried starting small talk. Aoi looked up at Kosuke with curious eyes.

Caught off guard, by his beautiful pink-hued eyes, Kosuke looked away, “So, what’s your major?”

“Arts and Entertainment Management Major, under communication,” Aoi said, focussing on his food.

“Oh, you want to be a manager?” Kosuke followed up, awkwardly having a drink. Aoi’s body language wasn't really putting him at ease.

But the boy only shook his head and the two fell back into an awkward silence. A few minutes after dinner, Aoi and Kosuke cleaned up together, their movements a bit clumsy as they navigated around each other in the small kitchen. There were moments of awkwardness, but also moments of shared laughter.

As they finished cleaning, Aoi felt a mix of emotions swirling inside him. Despite the awkwardness, there was a sweetness in the air, a budding connection between him and Kosuke that he couldn't quite explain.

"Thanks for the meal, Aoi. It was really delicious," Kosuke said, drying his hands on a kitchen towel.

Aoi smiled, feeling a warmth in his chest, grateful for the unexpected bond that was forming between them.

Kosuke walked into the living room and picked up a magazine, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "So, what did you do after I left the house?"

Aoi shrugged, trying to hide the nervousness that bubbled within him. "Oh, it was nothing much. Just found a boy passed out in front of our door and took him to the infirmary."

Kosuke raised an eyebrow, curiosity evident in his gaze. "Boy you found earlier? What happened?"

Aoi hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to reveal. But then, he decided to take a leap of faith. "Well, I had a nap after you left with Mitsuki-san when I heard a loud crash. I rushed to the front to find a boy passed out, so I did what I could to get him to Megumi-san who helped him to the infirmary."

Kosuke's expression softened, a look of concern flickering in his eyes. "Is he okay?"

Aoi nodded, relief flooding through him. "Yeah, the nurses said he'll be fine. He won't wake up until tomorrow, though."

There was a moment of silence between them, the air thick with unspoken words and untamed emotions. Aoi felt his heart racing in his chest, his palms growing sweaty as he struggled to find the right words to say.

Suddenly, Kosuke stood up from the couch, his gaze locked on Aoi's. "Hey, Aoi... Can we talk?"

Aoi's breath caught in his throat at the seriousness in Kosuke's voice. "S-sure, what is it?"

Kosuke took a step closer, his eyes searching Aoi's face as if trying to read his thoughts. "I know we got off to a rocky start earlier, but I just wanted to say... I'm glad you're my roommate."

Aoi felt his cheeks flush at Kosuke's words, warmth spreading through him like wildfire. "I'm glad too, Kosuke," he whispered, his voice barely above a breath as he stood up slowly.

And then, without thinking, Aoi closed the distance between them, his heart pounding in his chest as he wrapped his arms around Kosuke in a friendly hug. It was warm and comforting, a gesture of trust between two newfound friends.

For a moment, time seemed to stand still as they lingered in each other's embrace, Kosuke surprised by Aoi’s actions, the world fading away until there was only the two of them, lost in a moment.

When Aoi finally pulled away, their eyes met in a silent exchange of understanding. Aoi felt a sense of gratitude wash over him, grateful for the opportunity to forge a friendship with someone as kind and genuine as Kosuke.

"I'm glad we're roommates, Kosuke," Aoi said, looking to the floor, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

Kosuke returned the smile, looking away, his eyes holding a warmth and sincerity. "Me too, Aoi. Me too." He scratched under his chin lightly.

“Err… I think I’ll go in first. I have to run in the morning.” Kosuke said.

“Ohhh, I understand.” Aoi said with sad eyes. Kosuke panicked.

“No, no… I mean, we could talk some more tomorrow, maybe learn more about each other?” He said, trying not to upset Aoi.

The young boy looked into Kosuke’s eyes and smiled, “Sure, I’d like that.” Kosuke felt relieved.

“Good night, kid,” Kosuke said, walking into his room. Aoi responded, “Good night, Kosuke-san.”

As they settled back into their respective beds, Aoi couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over him. Despite the challenges and uncertainties that lay ahead, he knew that he had found something with Kosuke, someone he could rely on and trust for now.

With that comforting thought in mind, Aoi closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, his heart full of gratitude and hope for the future.

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