16 Confrontation

Haruki looked at Saito,

"Man, there are many questions then: a) I can't think of a better person than you to go through this; b) it's the sort of union that will get us out of here; c) okay Saito-san, I accept your offer. Thank you for making this journey lighter," the singer bowed respectfully to his senior new roommate.

Saito walked past him carrying the chest, "Come Haruki-san, let's organize your things."

"Yes, Saito-san's room is bigger than many apartments," Daisuke commented effusively, "They will be very comfortable!"

"And that sofa in the closet?! It's much better than this horrible bed!" compared Hinata suggesting where Haruki could sleep.

The singer went to look at the closet again to see the sofa he hadn't even noticed on the first inspection,

"Saito-san, I think Hinata-san was right. This sofa looks comfortable enough."

"Are you afraid of something? Sleeping with me, perhaps? Did my bondage performance scare you that much?" Saito had placed the chest on the sofa. And he looked into the singer's eyes, "The bed is wide. Any bump into each other will be on purpose. And my side is the left."

Laughing at the singer's confused expression, Saito explained, "Easy access to the bathroom."

"Ah, okay," awkwardly scratching his head Haruki said,

"I'm ashamed of having to share a bed, Saito-san, I prefer ..."

"Saito."

"Saito, I prefer to stay on the couch,"

The adventurer came closer and holding out his hand waited for Haruki to hand over the picture with the photo,

"We are friends. There's no need to be ashamed. I know your preference. Sleeping naked. And I don't care," Saito took a statue from the elegant and modern shelf and put Haruki's photo in its place.

"I'm going to prepare breakfast. Store your clothes. And come downstairs to eat," Saito left the room.

'OMG, will this work?' Thinking about Jun's frown, when he followed Saito to the room, Haruki knew it wasn't. 'Damn it! I can't even disguise how much he affects me. '

The singer sat next to the chest. He had never in his life experienced such intense emotions. Everything about Jun touched him right away. Knowing that Jun disapproved of his decision made him feel bad, like he was wrong.

But refusing the invitation, which was so spontaneous and sincere, seemed far more wrong than sharing the room.

Sharing spaces was common for Haruki. Hasn't he shared accommodation in the last five years?! Yes, he did and he was more than used to seeing the boys' bare asses around. And vice versa. Everyone in the mansion was handsome in their own right. Each of them had a different kind of beauty. Everyone could model. Wasn't it because of their appearance they were chosen? Haruki didn't consider himself the coolest or the most handsome of them. Jun was angry for other reasons, 1) he didn't like Saito the day they met; 2) they were in a personal dispute to be 'THE' alpha of the group. Haruki was already used to seeing this in sports and among the trainees.

As for what Jun claimed, it was he, Haruki, who had to decide. Yes, Saito was wrong to tie him up, but he apologized and Haruki accepted the apology.

Calmer, he organized his 'sportswear' in the closet.

Smiling, Haruki left to go and try Saito's breakfast. He was starving!

As he left the room, he found the moody Jun who was in the corridor waiting for him,

"Come," called Jun walking to his new room.

Haruki followed him. As they entered, Jun closed the door behind Haruki, pulling him close,

"Are you crazy? Are you going to share a bed with the Sadist? Did you like being tied up?" Jun's eyes darted his face.

Outraged, Haruki tried to break free, to no avail.

"Hey, let me go," he had to ask since in the power struggle he failed. Jun was stronger.

Jun opened his hands but didn't move out of Haruki's way, keeping him trapped between the wall and his body.

"It's not what you think," Haruki sighed, "It's not like that and you know it. He got a mega-large master room and was outraged by Honda-san's stinginess," Haruki explained the obvious fact that Jun stubbornly denied.

"Oh really. Wow, how generous Saito-san is! Me here cursing him. Shall I build him an altar? For Yoshida, the kami of sadomasochism," Jun tried to be ironic. It only added fuel to his previous resentment.

Haruki tried to keep a straight face. Was he jealous? Or was it some kind of hurt ego manifestation? Or worse, some kind of manipulation? He didn't want the feud between both guys to grow any bigger, and he didn't want to be between them either. He had already made that clear.

"He can't. He would need my permission for this, and he doesn't have it," Haruki explained the basics to Jun.

"You can stay at my place," Jun offered, but the non-verbal language was confusing for Haruki.

"It doesn't make sense. I won't go back without good reason," he looked away.

TOC TOC

They moved away, going to one side, when they heard the knock on the door.

Jun answered the door, sullen again. It was Daisuke,

"We decided to make an exchange of the things each of us thought didn't suit us, in our wardrobes. Maybe other people like it. They call it the Bazaar. So I dropped by to call Jun-san… And Haruki-san, since he's here," said Daisuke. "We are gathering the objects in the game room, and we will 'open' the bazaar after breakfast," he added, leaving shortly thereafter.

"It sounds like a good idea, doesn't it?" The conversation was getting out of hand, anyway. Daisuke's interruption was what Haruki needed to escape. He bowed slightly before leaving, leaving Jun behind.

Breakfast went smoothly. Saito-san's food was tasty and unusual. And the impromptu cook commented that due to his trips to exotic places, he knew dishes from various places. But his specialty was camping food… whatever it was.

Haruki even joked, asking if anyone would really want shorts and sweatshirts since it was the only thing he had.

Hinata said he was interested in colored socks. Takashi said if the white T-shirts fit him, maybe he would have some.

When they finally brought the objects and clothes to the bazaar, the quantity was so absurd that it looked more like a men's store, with different styles.

They were trading and having fun when the infamous music played again and the screen came down.

"What will it be now?!" Jun grunted.

Honda-san appeared on the screen, with a coffee cup in hand.

With a sigh, he said bluntly,

"Gentlemen, I know it can be boring in there, but please don't move things around or make exchanges. In short, don't change the scenario or the archetypes."

"Sorry, but it won't work! We already said we are not archetypes, but people! And while we are forced to stay here, we do have the right to live our lives freely!" Haruki couldn't help but declare.

"We ask for clothes, not costumes! shouted Hinata.

"The division wasn't fair. Some won too much and others were left with almost nothing!" Takashi interrupted.

"Why didn't Takeda-san have the same rights? Is it some kind of retaliation?" Jun asked directly.

"We can't agree with that!" Saito joined the general complaint.

"If you want our cooperation, you need to cooperate too! Don't act like a dictator, Honda-san!" Daisuke also shouted.

"We don't want to ruin your game or your scenario, but you can't make us…"

"SILENCE! SHUT UP!" Honda-san exclaimed, covering his ears at the commotion.

"What about I shut my mouth and break the hell loose out of this place?!" Jun climbed on top of the pool table, picking up a pool cue and threatening to break the chandelier above his head.

"Stop! Keep order! You… chaotic monkeys! Don't forget your contracts!" the screen went off after Honda-san spit out the words with anger and contempt.

They looked at each other, and Jun jumped to the floor,

"Uhn, he showed his true face! What a pig!"

The TV turned on again, and Honda-san appeared, "I heard that, Jun-san! I'm just not going to argue while you're screaming and acting like monkeys. So far I have valued civility and respect, but you are…"

"Desperate people!" said Haruki. "See, I was drawn to this place without even understanding what I was doing. Call me a donkey or an imbecile. But I deserve respect. Cancel this project and save us!"

"Don't you understand?! We will need help! We need experts, we need money! And without Abe-san's money, we are all tied up!" Honda-san finally admitted.

"Don't break anything or it will just cause even more problems in the program! It's not just a problem for us, but it can be a potential problem for yourselves!"

"Okay, that makes sense. It's good when you stop running and give some explanations for a change," said Haruki.

"Now, explain yourself. Why did you take revenge on Haruki-san?" Jun asked.

Saito added,

"I hope you don't distinguish between any of us. He has already apologized and intends to apologize to Miyu-chan. This attempt at humiliation cannot be repeated. We will not accept it."

"This rule of not being able to exchange objects is unfair!" Daisuke interrupted,

"We don't have to live as characters all the time. Not even actors do that!"

"I refuse!" declared Jun.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm an adult man with a big problem at hand. Why would I be planning revenge on one of you?!"

"HMMMM!" practically in unison they showed their distrust, and Takashi suggested,

"Just leave us alone and go find a way to get us out of here alive. If you want our cooperation, cooperate too. Let's talk to each other once a day, don't interrupt our lives just to say you heard everything we said 'behind your back'. It's hard to believe that we are not dealing with someone with a vengeful spirit when you do this, Honda-san," for the first time Haruki saw Takashi being sarcastic.

Honda-san grunted something and said,

"So be it. We talk at 7pm."

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