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Hifumi continuously read the message he received from Gentaro that was requesting him to come to the kitchen.
He found Gentaro to be extremely difficult to understand, always thinking he had to read between the lines before he was made a fool. Yet, thinking deeply of his guest’s intentions had simply gave him some form of headache. He concluded that had to endure whatever is going to be thrown at him, as soon as he enters the kitchen; whether it’s an actual emergency situation or a sly smile.
He took a breath and stepped in.. and there was nothing besides a fidgeting Gentaro- unexpected. Taking a few glances around the room for good measure, Hifumi ended up calling out his name in confusion.
“Yumeno?”
He looks over at Hifumi, and his expression is tense, eyebrows furrowed. "Hifumi.." Gentaro tugs at his bangs a bit and let's out a sigh of frustration. "I require your assistance yet another time. Do you know how to get to Busujima-san's campsite?"
Never had he seen him so tense! Hifumi’s confused expression remained on his face for a bit. However, his mouth twitched into a slight smile as he heard his request for help once again. It was unbelievable the first time, but what was this now? The third time? He knew he called Gentaro a princess as a joke but… was he seriously a damsel in distress? “Hm… the campsite? I have some memory of the path, but getting to the forest is easy!”
"Please take me. There's something I need to get as soon as possible." Asking for help once again is something that is killing Gentaro on the inside, but at this point he was desperate.
…Gentaro wanted him to come to the rescue, and now he wants to return there? He didn’t know what to think or what to say for a moment. “…What? Say that again?”
He grits his teeth, looking at Hifumi with narrowed eyes. "How many times must you make me repeat myself? I need you to take me back to Busujima-san's campsite."
What an intimidating glare, if Hifumi cared! He laughed as Gentaro repeats himself. There was something very satisfying about your rival having to rely on you. “Oh yeah! …Hold on, but why?”
"There's something I left.. I.." He fidgets anxiously. "I need it."
Hifumi took a short moment to reflect on how reckless he was carrying Gentaro back without thinking of his belongings… but it couldn’t be helped. So then, it must be something important, he assumed. It also made him curious. “What is it that you need?”
"So many questions.." Gentaro's annoyed and doesn't attempt to hide it. "All you need to know is that it's something very important to me. Now are you going to help me or not?"
“Of course, of course! But only if you say please!” It’s clear Gentaro’s annoyed, but he continued to push his buttons regardless.
"..." A minute passes. Then two, before finally.. "Please."
Hifumi smiles smugly, before his phone goes off, and he gets a sudden alert. The host pales as he reads the message.
Gentaro stares, confused. "What is it?"
"Doppo texted me. He's in the hospital. Apparently he got attacked by one of those.. things? I should-"
The writer reaches out, grabbing Hifumi's arm. "Wait."
It was selfish.
Extremely selfish.
"Hm?"
"Please.. just.. take me to Busujima-san's campsite first. You promised that you'd help me."
"But-"
"I'm sure he'll be okay. And besides, I'm sure there isn't much you can do in this situation."
Hifumi looked between his phone and Gentaro, before frowning slightly.
"Alright," The host says slowly, putting his shoes on. "Let's go."
The walk all the way to the forest was in complete silence.
It was obvious Hifumi had a lot on his mind.
"..If you'd like to return, I should be able to find Busujima-san on my own now." Gentaro can't help but feel awful for tearing him away from Doppo. The silence they had been walking in gave him enough time to think and reflect on his actions. "I was acting rashly and let myself get carried away. My apologies for my behavior." Gentaro takes one step towards the forest and suddenly trips on a branch.
Hifumi’s lips pursed after the long moment of silence was broken, his eyes looking up at Gentaro, and he watched as the writer toppled forwards and landed onto the ground - he was lucky to have let go of his hand otherwise he would’ve went down with him. “Yumeno! Are you alright?” He blurted out.
Gentaro hisses in pain, frowning slightly. "My ankle.." He mumbles as he stands up, brushing dirt off of his clothes. It seems liKe he can't get a break. He takes a step forward, limping. "I'm fine. I'm going to let Busujima-san know that I'm here, so you can leave now."
Worried, he stepped towards him, noticing he was limping - his rival verbalised the pain of his ankle too. Hifumi’s arm was still outstretched, taking hold of one of Gentaro’s wrists to stop him from moving further. “I’m not going to leave you… I can’t go back right now.”
Gentaro looks at Hifumi with a glare. "Let go of me."
“You’re injured and limping, let me take you to the campsite.”
He pouts slightly. "And how exactly do you plan on doing that?"
Hifumi made a short hum whilst giving Gentaro’s wrist a small tug. “Come closer, let me pick you up.
The writer blinks. ".. Did I hear you correctly? You want to pick me up? Do you plan to carry me there?"
He nods a few times. “Yes, I do plan on doing that. Only if you would accept, though.”
"If I must.." Gentaro goes closer to Hifumi, then looks away, unable to make eye contact with the host. This is embarrassing..
Hifumi was beaming again, knowing Gentaro accepted his offer. He didn’t waste any time. “Then… 1… 2… 3!” He started to countdown before wrapping his arms around the writer and lifting him by the legs and back. Overall, he carried him like a knight would carry a princess.
Gentaro keeps his gaze on anything but Hifumi. His ears and cheeks are slightly pink, and he seems to not know where to put his hands. He's a little surprised at how effortlessly Hifumi can lift him up. "Be careful.." He mumbles quietly. It's the only thing he can say right now.
Gentaro may have his eyes averted, but Hifumi was definitely gazing at his flustered expression. The writer’s bashfulness was an interesting sight to see. “Are you feeling secure enough? Hold onto me too.”
He follows the hosts instructions and holds onto Hifumi's shoulder. He's definitely more flustered. His face is burning. "Yes," He says, voice still quiet. "I feel secure." He might just die if anyone sees him like this..
“I’m glad to hear that.” His voice quietened into a whisper that matched Gentaro’s. Now, he would’ve started walking but all he did was stand there and indulge. It’s easy to forget that the person he’s carrying was the same person that called him ‘insufferable’.
Gentaro finally looks up, feeling Hifumi's gaze on him. His emerald eyes look into Hifumi's golden ones for the first time, and he raises an eyebrow. "What is it?"
Caught in the act, Hifumi’s eyes finally averted. Besides his lips pursing, he hoped his expression didn’t give anything away. “Nothing, let’s go.” His legs felt like they couldn’t move, but he forced it anyway.
Gentaro goes quiet, tons of thoughts running through his mind as they walk to Rio's campsite. The forest is peaceful, and he feels secure in Hifumi's arms. And being held like this.. It's actually quite nice. He leans in closer without thinking.
The silence between them returns, and yet he was uncertain if it was awkward or very welcoming. He too found the forest peaceful, he loved the scenery, he loved taking it all in. And this closeness, this warmth? It felt like it enhanced the experience altogether.
He wanted this moment to last.
"About what I misplaced," Gentaro begins to speak, disrupting the peaceful silence between them. "It's a pen that belongs to someone that means more to me than words can describe." Gentaro smiles softly. "I'm just borrowing it for now, but.. I hope to return it to them someday when I no longer have use for it.. and when they can properly use it to the best of their ability again."
Hifumi's steps only got slower and slower throughout the explanation, his concentration leaning towards listening more than anything else. “I see, that’s why you were so agitated. I understand the urgency, not thinking properly, rushing.” He then suddenly remembered that Gentaro had apologised for all of that and how he didn’t respond. That was terrible on his part. “…I forgive you for those things. I know I would’ve reacted the same way if something I cherished were to disappear.”
The writer's smile gets softer, and his tone is warm. "It's still no excuse, but the fact that you're being so understanding about everything is very kind. Thank you, Hifumi."
Hifumi chuckled and nodded in response. The other’s soft smile and warmth was very contagious. He wouldn’t dare admit it yet, but Gentaro looked adorable in his arms; he would’ve actually took the time to admire him if a very important pen wasn’t waiting for them.
“…Hm, we should be close to arriving now, if i memorised the path correctly?” He questions himself a few minutes afterwards.
"I'll let Busujima-san know." He reaches for his phone and sends a message to Rio to let him know about their arrival. After he finishes sending the message, Gentaro then looks over at Hifumi again and notices a leaf that landed in his hair. Reaching up, he brushes it out of his hair carefully. It's soft. His touch lingers for a moment, before he reluctantly pulls his hand away.
“Thank you… Oh?” Hifumi was momentarily calm until his eyes followed Gentaro’s hand. As expected from the writer, he was careful picking out the leaf that rested on his head - it was as if his hair strands were extremely fragile, the touch was that ghostly.
When that same touch lingered, he swore he could feel his heart melt a bit. Now he was blushing, it felt like they were still competing, and this was completely new ground for them.
Gentaro isn't sure what to say now. He keeps thinking about how soft Hifumi's hair is and how comfortable he feels in Hifumi's arms. Wait... is Hifumi.. blushing?
The writer's heart skips a beat at that, and his soft smile changes into a slightly smug grin.
The host was just as surprised when he saw that dreadfully smug grin return to his face again. “Urgh…” Hifumi quickly morphed his face to one of disgust, his head turning away so he couldn’t look at Gentaro at all.
"Aww~ don't be shy!" Gentaro's tone is playful and teasing, "Come on, Hifumi~ why won't you look at me? Hmm?" His grin grows. "You were staring so closely just a bit ago, yet now you refuse to look me in the eyes? Are you perhaps.. Embarrassed?"
The tables are turning, the teaser becoming the teased.
Hifumi began to fidget, he wasn’t looking at Gentaro but he knows his grin was getting wider just by the tone of his voice.
He didn’t want to give him this satisfaction, but he lacked a response and gawking at him would mean defeat, wouldn’t it? “No, that’s not it, I’m just watching my footing…”
"Hmmm~? Your footing? Good thinking. It would be a shame if we were to trip and fall~" Hifumi's stubbornness was cute. "But, I'm sure you could take a moment to spare a glance at me. Could you check to see if anything is in my hair?"
He took a while, trying to put up an act of cautiously stepping on the path. Hifumi then stopped in place. “Sure.”
The host murmurs, confident that his flustered look had faded away by now. He finally turned his head back to Gentaro, once again having to look at all of his features and most importantly his hair. “I don’t see anything—“
"Are you sure?" His eyes look into Hifumi's, and for a moment it feels like their surroundings fade away. It's just the two of them. "Look closer."
This was certainly foreboding for him. Look closer…? Hifumi felt like he was going to misinterpret this, he couldn’t hide his nervousness. He tilts his head toward Gentaro, his eyes taking another few glances before their eyes locked together.
A genuine smile comes on his face, and the warm look in his eyes returns, before-- "Say cheese!" In one swift movement, Gentaro grabs his phone and quickly snaps a photo of Hifumi's face.
“Ah?!” Hifumi couldn’t process what was happening until he heard the phone camera’s shutter. He felt like he was choking on air with the knowledge that Gentaro took a surprise photo of him.
“W…what are you doing? If you wanted a proper photo you could’ve just asked.” Who knows what kind of face he had when the picture was taken, would he blackmail him for it? Post it? Would everyone see a new side of Hifumi?
"You wouldn't have made that expression if I had asked to take a photo," Gentaro points out. "Pictures are designed to capture moments so you can relive the memory when you see it. I simply wanted to save this one."
That expression? So it was something to be worried about. Hifumi became more noticeably anxious the more Gentaro spoke about it. “Haha… a memory… of my face? You can always look at it in person, though.”
".. and just when am I supposed to do that? It isn't like the two of us spend any time together. And besides, after this is over.. I'll go back to my life and you'll go back to yours." For some reason he can't help but feel saddened by that thought. "Let's get going." The smile that was on his face is gone now, and he frowns as he falls silent once again.
Gentaro's frowns were just as contagious as his smiles. Hifumi appeared disappointed.
“You’re always welcome to spend time with me, as long as we’re not pressured by schedules, Princess.”
Gentaro looks over at Hifumi again, thinking about what the host offered. They had never been close until Gentaro reached out to him in desperation.. who knew that a simple text message would bring them here? That Gentaro would seriously be considering his suggestion?
"That.. would be nice," Gentaro responds simply, a small hidden smile on his face. "I'll have to take you up on your offer sometime."
The two arrive at Rio's campsite with lots on their mind, sneaking glances at each other when they thought the other wasn't looking. Rio spots them, and waves, gesturing for them to come closer.
"Hifumi?"
"Hm?"
"I think I might have.. misjudged you. Thank you for bringing me here."
Hifumi looks surprised. "I promised, didn't I?"
"But you didn't have to." You shouldn't have. Gentaro clears his throat. "Don't worry about taking me home-- I'll call Dice to come pick me up."
"Are you sure?"
Gentaro nods.
The host lets Gentaro down gently, before turning, preparing to walk back and leave the forest.
"And.. One more thing." Hifumi stops in his tracks.
Gentaro looks over. Green eyes meet gold.
"Have safe travels back."
Hifumi smiles.
"I will. See you later, Yumeno."
Gentaro smiles in return.
"Until we meet again."
The two part ways, unaware that they would be seeing each other again very soon. Neither of them can get their interaction out of their minds, and Gentaro finds himself thinking about Hifumi's warmth and the gentle way he was held for the rest of the evening.
This feeling is new to him, but not one that's uninvited... and he finds himself looking forward to their next meeting.
Funny how so much can change in such little time.