Between Two Men

"It's not what you're thinking Jun," Haruki started to speak and was interrupted.

Jun seemed to be angrier after hearing the singer's first words. This explanation was a cliche in soap operas and films, and the person was generally guilty.

"I didn't think I'd hear such a thing about you, Haruki," Jun hissed.

They face each other in silence.

Knowing that he didn't start his explanation the best way, ended up shutting up. 'Why do I have to defend myself after all? Plus, why should I explain myself, in the first place?! He can think whatever he wants' Haruki questioned himself filled with sudden anger,

"Why Jun? Why do you care so much?! After all, what do you want with me, surrounding me like this?"

"...!" Jun was stunned, but retorted,

"Why? Are you not able to see it? You still don't understand that I… I am watching you go on a path of no return, and I know where this will end!"

"What if? It's MY life! I'm not interested, but if I was interested, that's my problem and only mine, don't you think?" Haruki challenged him, feeling a little silly but also inflamed by all that bullying.

"Good! That's good, actually! If you're going to be interested in such experiences, take an interest in me!" Jun moved closer until he touched his chest on Haruki's chest and their faces were inches apart, "I can satisfy your curiosity, boy!" Jun whispered.

Haruki felt the cold of the wall on his back, he had stepped back without realizing it and was now trapped between the wall and Jun.

Jun's hard breath was pleasant, and the warmth of his chest was good. Haruki closed his eyes, not to meet Jun's diabolical eyes.

He felt the baker force a leg between his own, and his hands caught Haruki's wrists, forcing him to raise his arms above his head, where Jun joined his wrists to hold with just one hand. He used the other hand to brush Haruki's face and made him lift his head, "Open your eyes. Look at me."

Haruki obeyed and faced him.

"I am your owner from now on. Get your things and come to my room."

'What a son of a bitch!' Haruki was flushed with embarrassment because he was expecting a kiss, but what he received was indisputable proof of Jun's idiocy.

He laughed nervously, "Ahhh how good you turned out now, JUN! Now you made it totally clear I was chosen as a prize in this ridiculous alpha dispute between you two. This is an outdated concept, being the alpha, you know?" He spat the words with bitterness. "And if you can do me a favor, don't talk to me anymore unless it's strictly necessary."

The singer tried to break free, to no avail. The baker did not refute his words, just humiliated him a little more by holding Haruki as much as he wanted until Jun got tired of this stupid joke and let him go.

Haruki had to work hard not to cry out in hatred or cry out in helplessness.

When he was free, he left Jun's room and went to his own room. Haruki didn't want to see anyone else today. He just wanted this damn day to end.

The rain gave no respite, pouring down noisily. Lightning and thunder crossed the skies and the singer's mood. Haruki searched his mind for a way out of this dispute. While reproaching himself for wanting to know the taste of Jun's kiss, and making a fool of himself.

Unwillingly, but needing to place an order for his personal chaos, Haruki left the room and went to look for food.

He found Daisuke in the hall, and they went down talking. The influencer was occupying his time in a much more productive way, Haruki found out.

He had asked the AI butler several questions and found that he didn't notice the spaces made by the singer's friend. They were ghost zones, secret rooms inside the game. Haruki had also noticed that the digital influencer didn't comment on the 'hickey' on his neck, despite sometimes looking discreetly at the area.

Saito was in the kitchen with Hinata and Takashi. The adventurer had made camp food and was setting aside a bento,

"Hey guys, I'm glad you arrived," Saito said smiling and held out the lunch box for the singer.

"Taki it, Haruki-san, I was getting some food for you. It's good for humid days, it helps to keep the body warm."

Haruki took it just to not be rude. He blushed with this deference. Privately, he would ask his friend not to do that anymore.

He ended up eating everything, despite the pain in his throat. The stew was great, and having ginger helped to get rid of the sore sensation in the throat.

Daisuke continued his interrogation by asking Ita-san questions, now about Miyu-chan's personality.

The butler's responses described a gentle, sweet, innocent girl far from the nosy and rude girl everyone met.

Haruki left them to go back to Saito's room and make the move, he was an experienced man and would understand why. The singer had already picked up his things when Saito came to the suite and when he saw him with the chest he frowned asking,

"Is Haruki so afraid of me like that?"

"It's not like this, Saito. I understood what happened in the morning. This," Haruki showed the bruise, "is causing misunderstandings and I want the rumors to stop. Thank you for your kindness." Haruki bowed.

"Um, this is not a good thing. Let me help you. I took it here, I'll put it back. And if anyone asks, why are you sleeping on the floor... Then we will tell them about the rumors," Saito stared at him and his voice seemed sad, he looked tired.

The adventurer reached for the chest and Haruki felt a hint of regret. 'What an idiot I am. Saito is just a nice guy. I thought nonsense and now I'm going to go back to sleeping on the hard futon. Jun, you idiot, it's all your fault!' The singer went after Saito, who left for the corridor.

Haruki opened his old bedroom's door for Saito to come in with his things. He chose a wall to put the chest against. And he went to the futon on the floor. He picked it up and took it to the hall, where he hit it to clean and dust it. He came back and put it in the same place on the floor.

Haruki, still standing by the door, with his hand on the handle, watched it, not knowing what to do.

Sitting down next, Saito asked without looking at him,

"Who did you hear that there were rumors about?"

The singer came in closing the door. He sat down next to the adventurer. Straightening his spine, he sighed before replying,

"They're just looking at it when I look away. They didn't ask how it was made, really. They just get their own conclusions about what it looks like," Haruki said, but he knew it wasn't entirely true.

Jun wanted to know, Hinata wanted to know.

However, Haruki did not want to expose people. He didn't want to admit that, because he felt attracted by Jun, he also had a wrong impression about the mountaineer's intentions. Haruki misjudged him for knowing his story.

"I know. The looks. I don't know if they will stop, and I supposed that we have at least one person who is understanding and knowledgeable enough to not judge without knowledge. As for the others, I don't know. But what really matters to me is whether one of them is mistreating you, offending you, or threatening you. I hope you trust me enough to tell. Don't think I think you are fragile or incapable. But let's say ... I'm experienced. I can help. Good night."

Haruki knew he should be grateful and relieved to have left Saito's suite, but the understanding words only made him feel like a fool.

'This place is messing with me. I had no way of really knowing Saito's intentions before tonight.' Haruki tried to console himself by justifying his actions. And he even went to the scariest memory of Saito, the morning choking, when a light knock on the door brought him out of his thoughts.

"Come in," Haruki imagined that Saito came back to bring him a blanket, or something.

But it was Jun. He brought a bento.

"Haruki, forgive me for earlier. I didn't see you eat today, so I thought..."

"I did. Saito made delicious soup for everyone, but I don't think you were there to find out," Haruki was rude, interrupting Jun and talking about his nemesis. He continued when he noticed Jun was speechless, without an answer to what he heard, "Happy now? For seeing me here on the floor. I'd just like to say that I was an idiot to fall for this 'Oh, he is this! He's that!' bullshit. Well, Saito is a nice guy, and he is my friend. If you continue to offend him, all you can do is get isolated little by little." He sighed, "I want to sleep now. Can you go away, please?"

Jun kept his arms along his body, silent, and brows furrowed. He placed the bento beside Haruki, and sat across from him, cross-legged, instead of leaving, much to Haruki's surprise.

"I'm terrible with words, terrible with attitudes, and terrible with apologies. But I need to speak. Two things. One is that you're wrong about this guy, but I'm not going to try to prove anything to you about him. You are right, I don't want to make this a dispute."

"Hm ... And the second thing?" Haruki didn't want to give in easily or be deceived by Jun's thoughtful and resigned tone.

"We must talk about this attraction we have for each other, don't you think? I just know that I don't know how to deal with it, man."