fic for gomushroom! (2/2)

[nino_mod]

For: gomushroom
From: :3.

Part 1


Chapter 4

Things become hectic as soon as they get home, with the concert Jun has been planning coming even sooner than expected. Nino also being pressured to send another set of manuscripts, just in time for Yoshitaka to edit and proofread, send it back for retouching, repeat, then send it to their boss. They meet from time to time, only in Nino’s place though because he’s not leaving unless he’s done with his work and Jun’s usually nearby. Sometimes he comes in the dead of the night just to pass out on his couch and leave for work again the next day. At least he has homemade breakfast as thanks for crashing his home at random times.

Nino’s just glad he finally has the time to sit down and write again, despite not being able to play his games for a while, or get his midday naps. Iceland has definitely given him a lot to work with, from the beautiful sceneries and the natural beauty to the feelings that he’s finally acknowledged and given into. It almost sounds like he’s a romantic of some sort, but he calls it introspection.

After placing a blanket over Jun, who is now an inhabitant of his couch, he flurries away to type out the next chapter. So far, he’s been able to produce more than mediocre chapters and Yoshitaka is more than pleased. Despite the left-over exhaustion from the trip, Nino manages to get himself to work and pours out every possible, word, sentence or phrase is able to churn out before it is lost in the recesses of his mind. He checks on Jun every now and then, sometimes as a break from writing.

He finishes up that night, quite happy with the productivity and the output. In a few days, he may be able to send in the next chapter and then play all his hours off for the new game a friend gifted to him while he was away. Before he does head to his room, he walks over to the Jun who’s completely knocked out on his couch.

“Thank you, Jun.” He whispers closely and kisses his forehead, brushing bangs away. He means it wholeheartedly. He doesn’t have a penchant for being so openly gratuitous neither expressing any sort of feeling out loud. But some words are meant to be said.

He’d never hear the end of it if he was awake.

He was.

—

Jun finds Nino curled up in front of his computer chair, right in front of his laptop. He’s probably overworked himself lately, mentioning that he got some side jobs along with his main manuscript. For the money, probably, and Jun chuckles to himself. He puts a blanket around his sleeping body, rather not waking him to get him to his room. As much as possible, he tries to avoid looking at the screen, Nino probably not wanting him to see unfinished work. He takes a little peek though, seeing it as no harm anyway. He sees the cursor blink when he reads the last few lines.

Thank you for showing me how beautiful the world is.

He smiles a little to himself, planting a kiss on his head, his heart full.

FLIGHT N617 | 20:40 NRT | DEPARTURE

It’s easy to spot Jun from afar, with his gaudy Hawaiian shirt, straw boat hat, and some shades. Guess someone’s ready. Nino’s fashion completely nothing special, a t-shirt under a button-up, some shorts, and sneakers. He feels slightly underdressed, but that’s a common feeling when he’s with Jun. When he takes his seat, Jun removes the sunglasses and takes a look at him. Now he can see why he’s put his shades on— his eye bags are huge and dark, almost like a panda’s. For some reason, Nino reaches out to cup his face and rub his thumb over them.

“Have you been getting proper sleep?” He pulls his hand away, adjusting himself on his seat. His heart suddenly beats loud enough that it thunders in his ears; what compelled him to make such a move?

“No, but I’m hoping this trip would ease off the stress. I don’t want to get old too fast.” He puts the shades back on and reclines. Nino doesn’t really hear what he says because his ears are filled with the sound of his own heartbeat. Jun doesn’t say anything after that, leaving Nino to his devices.

He ends up thinking about it until he forces himself to sleep.

FLIGHT N617 | 9:10 HNL | ARRIVAL

When they finally land in Honolulu, Jun had been more excited than the previous. Not only had he been anticipating to finally visit Hawaii again, they were to meet one of his acquaintances who were in the area. They were to meet a friend named Sakurai in the bay area. Nino had somewhat a nostalgic or familiar feeling to the name, but there’s a lot of Sakurai's out there; it’s probably just a coincidence.

It wasn’t. It was the Sakurai Sho who he had been best friends with in high school, the Sakurai Sho who garnered so many admirers back then and embarrassingly, Nino was one of them.

“Nino-chan is that you?!” Sho hollers with an audible gasp, almost comedic.

“What the heck, Sho-chan! I haven’t seen you in so long!” He hollers back and gets a face full of Sakurai. He hugs as if he’s about to turn into dust and Nino nearly chokes. So much for Sho and Jun’s reunion, it rather becomes Nino’s and Sho’s and Nino almost feels bad for taking the spotlight.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were going to bring Nino?” Sho asks almost like he’s angry, but it’s probably just excitement oozing.

“I didn’t know you were well acquainted. Well, that saves me the need for introductions. Sho-kun and I were teammates in university, we played futsal together.” He says in an enthusiastic tone, somewhat excited to realize that his circle of friends aren’t that far apart after all.

“Satoshi-kun should be coming around now… Anyway, he and Aiba-chan were good friends of mine in high school! Along with Satoshi-kun, who’s supposed to be here by now…” He searches the area, trying to spot his friend. “What a small world, huh?”

A slightly shorter man than Nino drags himself towards them, bowing and smiling weakly as a greeting. His eyes widen and furiously blink when he notices Nino in front of him. “Ah, Nino-chan.”

Nino gives him a big hug, slapping him on his ass, and the man merely laughs in response, elbowing Nino’s ribs when they pull away. “Hey there, Oh-chan. You’re so old. And burnt. Have you ever heard of sunscreen?” Ohno Satoshi, another close friend of his, despite he being a senior. His oddities and lethargic disposition never really scared away Nino and Aiba back then. How he and Sho became friends is more of a mystery though.

“I managed to catch a lot of fish though. So it’s okay.” Ohno smiles. “Also, if we don’t get a move on, your friend and Sho-chan will leave us.” He points at them, already at a distance. They seem to be enthusiastically chatting, probably catching up. Not that Nino minded, but he did feel a bit jealous.

—

“Sorry if I imposed on you guys, I mean the flight was long and all,” Sho says before he takes another bite into the chili dog. Sho had suggested this joint partly because it was one of his favorites around the area and that they needed a quick bite before they head to the airport.

Jun swallows but there’s still a bit of food on his mouth so his voice is slightly muffled. “It’s fine, you guys are on a tight schedule anyway.” Nino notices that Jun had willingly agreed to whatever Sho had suggested. Maybe Sho has great taste too.

Nino tells him of his experience in Iceland and suggests that he should go fishing there along with Sho so that he could try the shellfish too. Because he’s Nino, he knows Ohno is listening despite the lack of energy and response.

They continue chatting for the latter hour, Ohno doesn’t really say anything at all, only answering if he’s asked, and Nino just eating and staring off into space. They talk about various topics, from the weather to the locals, to the activities they can do there. But what Nino notices is the way they talk. They talk as if they’ve never lost touch, even if Jun states that they’ve haven’t seen each other for a while. There’s a certain kind of affinity between them, a deep-rooted friendship that he can’t quite explain. They’re not as touchy but the way they look at each other has this certain earnestness and depth that Nino’s slightly jealous of. He wonders if Jun looks at him the same way. And now he kinda misses Aiba.

When Nino gets lost in thought, he doesn’t realize Sho has been calling out his name for the past minute. “Nino, Nino. It’d be really nice if Aiba-chan was here too, don’t you think? And you’ve got sauce on your face.” He suddenly reaches out and wipes the corner of his mouth, dabbing it on a napkin after. He notices at the corner of his eye, Jun’s expression hardening for a bit, then he shifts back to stoic, or rather, default expression. Who it was for and what it meant, remains a mystery.

“Anyway, sorry if I have to go now, I don’t want to miss our flight!”

“It’s like an hour and a half, but it’s you, Sho-kun, so it’s no surprise.” Jun splits the bill with Sho, answering them in English, but there’s still the trace of the accent.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Sho pouts, slinging his backpack on, only to slip off his shoulders again. Ohno manages to catch it before it falls, but they all erupt into laughter, except for Sho of course.

“Oh, typical Sho. And don’t tell me you still own a bunch of ugly bucket hats.” Just when Nino finishes the last syllable, Sho slaps his hat on, creating such a lame ensemble.

“Do you ever wear anything else? Aside from double parkas and camouflage?” Nino continues, snickering loudly much to Sho’s dismay.

“You don’t have a wardrobe to brag about either.” Sho huffs indignantly, crossing his arms.

“Touché.”

—

Honolulu is not that bad, Nino thinks. Though all the activities and the ambiance boasts of outdoors, looking around, it’s quite a nice place after all. It’s unique for where Asian, Hawaiian and American cultures all blend together. From the mixed languages, he’s hearing, to several Asian restaurants popping out here and there. He spots a lot of Japanese noodle shops, or fusion restaurants around, and some Japanese locals. Honestly, they look similar to Okinawan locals, so it isn’t that hard to tell them apart. The weather is a lot warmer than that of Iceland and he’s just glad he can bring out his shorts again; multiple layers had become a hassle to put on and off. The sun is a bit glaring though, so he has to bring a cap to avoid getting blinded by the sun’s rays.

They stroll around for a bit, passing by the Chinatown for a little while, but they had enough at Shanghai so they don’t stay long. They head for their actual destination, the Diamond Head, a former volcano then a former military base on Oahu, on the far eastern side of Waikiki. They make it there in the early afternoon and there’s already a long line up ahead. At least they wait in the shade.

After a good ten minutes or so, they’re allowed on the hike up. For Nino who’s terribly unfit, the first stretch isn’t that bad, but he’s not confident. The longer they are on the trek, the farther away Nino feels because he barely manages to keep up. The trail starts to gain elevation and his legs are getting sore. Jun, of course, despite the exhaustion, doesn’t show it on his face and rather looks like he’s enjoying it. He just wants to tumble down the hill now.

The trail feels like it has gone forever and that they’ve been going in circles, but that’s just Nino, Nino who banishes himself indoors. After what it seems like forever, but in actuality only thirty minutes, they finish the trail and go through a military tunnel, but much to his dismay, not only is it dreary and humid inside, they have to go through a flight of stairs. He groans when he makes the first step and Jun can’t suppress that chuckle. After what feels like an eternity once more, they emerge through a bunker and into open space.

Nino finally feels like he can breathe again, and no, he’s not taking any more walks that day. The skyline is beautiful; aside from the tall industrial buildings, the view of the volcanoes populating the island, different types of flora sprouting within the greeneries, the white, sandy beaches along the coast, the crash and roll of the waves, the crater that creates a bowl around the area, and the way the ocean shimmers under the sunlight. He feels triumphant all of a sudden and has now the rights to brag to Aiba that he’s finally did something physically strenuous aside from gym class and baseball. The wind swipes against their hair and clothes, cooling off the sweat produced during the hike.

At first, he was about to scold Jun for even having the idea of bringing Nino on a hike, but now?

Not bad, Jun. Not bad.

—

The rest of the day, Jun decides to do water sports and Nino… didn’t want to do any of that, so he merely lays by one of the benches, under the umbrella. He’s taking proper care of his skin. He takes a flimsy straw hat Aiba had given him back in middle school and some sunscreen, despite it being the afternoon already. Sand slips unto his feet each time he manages to clean it off and he’s getting annoyed. At least it isn’t hot. He finds a bench that is far from the crowd and without any occupant and inhabits it for the next three hours or however long Jun does his water sports. So typical, he thinks.

Jun emerges out of the changing room, only in trunks, a hanging shell necklace and those designer shades like the tacky man that he is. He supposes that his slippers are probably designer too. He and Aiba would definitely get along. His gaze lingers over Jun’s abdomen and biceps nearly chiseled like a marble statue but definitely broad. When he stretches. Nino’s eyes widen and his jaw nearly drops on how amazing his muscles look like when they flex. So much better than his tiny, lanky stick body, but at least he’s cute. His back his just as beautiful, when it tightens and contracts at each stretch, he feels a slight discomfort in his shorts. Am I really getting turned on right now? he thinks. But god, those thighs, he’d like to hold on them sometime. He hands Nino his towel and change of clothes and picks up his surfboard to head for the shore.

Nino already feels dizzy from all the windsurfing and wakeboarding he’s watching from afar. He watches Jun surf, at the beginning only catching the smaller waves as a warm-up, but he eventually moves on to the gnarlier, and more wild ones. His skill isn’t that noteworthy, but it’s still way more than what Nino could ever do. He watches as the sun begins to set, creating a warm orange glow over the sea.

After a good two hours or so, Jun emerges out of the water, soaking wet, of course, but that’s not why he’s caught Nino’s attention. The water droplets that remain on his body, glisten under the late afternoon sun, almost like they’re sparkling, his muscles flexing magnificently from all the workout, and how despite the messy mop, it’s the dangerously handsome kind of messy. The way he slicks it backed away from his face almost looks like he’s in a movie, all perfect and striking in the right way. Complete it with a wink and he could probably hear girls screaming in the distance. He’s frustratingly handsome and the closer he gets the more Nino is annoyed with the way his body is reacting. He forgets that he’s been staring this whole time but Jun doesn’t mention about it. The man probably knows though, the way he smirks when Nino lets out a strangled cough. When he reaches over for his towel, his nape stretches right in front of Nino, sweat glistening as it trickles down. Nino’s almost tempted to lick at the sweat there, but reminds himself that they’re not in that kind of relationship (yet), that they’re in public (but who honestly cares?), and that it’s probably really salty from the ocean. He can’t deny though the scent of Jun’s natural odor mixed with the sea is heady and almost mesmerizing.

Curse his sexual frustrations.

—

The next day, they make it to the Big Island. At this point, Nino’s already tired of seeing the ocean because it’s everywhere and it’s endless. The rolling waves crash against black lava stone cliffs and over the sandy beaches. There is a tropical jungle nearby, only noticed by Nino when he hears the moans of thousands of frogs, birds chirping in the distance. At least that’s not in their agenda, he probably wouldn’t make it out of the jungle in one piece. And besides, the way Jun overreacts over bugs is probably a big factor on why it’s not in his plans. They hike through different forest paths, but they’re paved and far away from the inhabitants of the jungle itself, but there’s the occasional small animal or unavoidable mosquito that buzzes around. There a ton of waterfalls around the place too, the sound of water gushing out of rivers to head back into the sea.

They head over to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, as the Big Island is home to two of the world’s largest volcanoes, including the very active Kilauea. It homes a site of a huge volcano crater but they can’t go near the boiling magma pit. They take a ride around the vicinity, circling the Kilauea Caldera. It shows them an overlook of the volcano, the Kilauea that has been erupting since 1983.

The first pass by the Halemaumau Crater, the home of Pele, the volcano goddess. Steam vents plume from the massive crater. They pay their respects at the sacred site and tour around it. Despite being a former lava lake, the nearer they are, the colder it gets. Nino curses himself for not being able to at least pack a light jacket but Jun magically has a spare for him. He can’t complain because he doesn’t have one, to begin with, and it’s not really much of a problem with the sleeves going past this palms. If in any case, he slightly happy because at least he’s not catching a cold up here and that it does kind of smell like Jun. They tour around the area, through more volcanic craters, scalded deserts, and rainforest. After they view the two active volcanoes, the Kilauea and Mauna Loa, they get dropped off at the lava tubes.

They venture out into Thurston Lava Tube, a 500-year old lava cave formed when an underground channel of molten lava drained from its cooled walls. They are given gloves, a hardhat supplied with a headlamp, along with a flashlight for good measure. The entrance is obscured by different kinds of flora and the cave is dark, unlike that of those ice caves in Iceland, illuminated by the glow of frozen water. Nino shines his flashlight towards the rocky path created by large chunks of fallen lava. Their guide reminds them not to try and touch the bugs since they’re harmless and knocking them off the walls would do them no good since they can’t get back up. Not that any of them were to even try and touch the bugs anyway, much more Jun.

Nino shines his flashlight over the ceiling, the roof crusted over with frozen drips called lavacicles. As they delve further into the tube, they end up in a wide area called an amphitheater. They stay there for a while, in complete darkness, listening to the water drip before they make a move on. They move on to a shallower part of the cave, having to bend down since it only reaches up to four feet. Nino notices the bathtub-like rings on the sides, created by the molten lava flowing underneath. Deep cracks speckle the tube, created by seismic activity. When they finally make it to the end, they scramble up a mound of boulders and end up in front of a tropical rainforest.

Their last stop is at the Thomas A. Jaggar Museum named after the man who pioneered the study of volcanology at Kilauea, where they can find geologic displays, maps, and videos about the study of volcanoes. In the museum, they manage to watch the fiery glow of the Halemaumau Crater, red-hot trails blazing molten lava, the splatter spewing up from the mouth of Kilauea. The stark contrast of the luminous blue glow of the icebergs back in the glacier lagoon with the blaring glow of lava from the volcanoes is fascinating, almost like completely different worlds.

—

Later that night, they attend the Merrie Monarch Festival of course, as per Jun’s request. Nino would rather stay back at the hotel, but he feels bad about being a killjoy so he accepted to accompany him, just not participate in the activities. The festival in honor of the legacy of King David Kalākaua who inspired the perpetuation of Hawaiian language and tradition features a grand parade through the town of Hilo and is complete with hula competitions and other events with troupes from around the world. The crowd is immense and buzzing, with people dancing around and shouting, and fire not coming out of volcanoes. Everyone’s either in their flashy Hawaiian t-shirts or dresses or dressed in Hawaiian garb complete with the grass skirt and flower wreaths on their heads. They’re greeted with wreaths placed on their necks and cocktails. The cocktail is colorful, a fruity mix in a sunset palette, with a tiny pink umbrella on top. When Nino takes careful, tiny sips, he sees Jun down the whole drink in seconds and hands the glass to a nearby waiter. He nearly coughs on his own when Jun finishes due to the sheer shock of it. Jun eventually drags them to a nearby table to fetch some snacks and plates for them.

The crowd progressively gets wilder as the night grows older, the traditional dancing show is vivacious and entertaining, a steady flow of cocktails and shots to keep the guests occupied, a myriad of traditional Hawaiian dishes in a grand buffet, and all the screaming and shouting from the different activities around him; all one big luau that supposedly lasts for a week. He nearly loses Jun more than a couple of times —which is why Jun wraps an arm around his waist when the crowd gets too pushy— is wheedled into the dance floor once or twice, wheedled himself out of limbo and dance competitions —Jun participated though, being one of the last contenders of the limbo competition, and besides Nino’s back is not suited for such activity—, been offered to do body shots for the nth time, and has probably more than enough alcohol for that night.

When Jun’s busy chatting up the locals and fellow countrymen, Nino sits by a corner, allowing the buzzing to dissipate in his head. The scenery is a blur, from the colorful decorations and costumes to the sheer number of people dancing and playing along to Hawaiian music, to the number of torches blazing around making him sweatier than usual. Because he is so lightheaded and dizzy, he doesn’t notice someone sidling up to him, invading a bit of personal space.

“Do you want some company?” He slurs in their mother tongue and Nino’s surprised that out of all Asians right here, someone from Japan had chosen to approach him.

But Nino is still dizzy and spacey from all the alcohol and the business of the atmosphere so he only manages to produce a slurred out, bemused, “Huh?” Before Jun steps beside him and wedges himself in between him and the stranger.

“No, he doesn’t. He’s with me. He’s mine.” Jun blurts out too loudly, slurring even. He wraps an arm around him protectively, securing his hold on his hip. Nino shivers at the last sentence and when Jun wraps himself around him, his breath close to his ear. He pulls him closer by the waist and holds his chin to pull him in for a long fervent kiss, right in front of the stranger. Jun kisses him passionately even, and Nino returns the kiss just as enthusiastically, opening his mouth and tilting his head for better access. He is uncaring in the least, nibbling and even sneaking a little tongue, playing inside his mouth teasingly. Their breaths reek of alcohol and various food but nothing seems to matter at the moment, even with the crowd cheering and rooting around them. When they pull away after what feels like forever, the crowd had dissipated a little yet a round of applause awaits them and Nino buries his face in the crook of Jun’s neck, suddenly feeling the embarrassment rushing in.

Jun whispers, “I think we should go back,” his breath is hot on his ear, his voice a low timbre, and his body flush against his.

Nino merely nods, and Jun kisses him one last time before dragging him out of the party.

—

With his alcohol-swaddled head and desire coursing through his veins, he no longer thinks rationally. All he thinks is of Jun, of how he wants to kiss that luscious lips of his, of how he wants to whisper into Jun’s ear and tell him what he wants, of how he wants give in to Jun, of how he wants of how he wants to let go and fall into the depths of want and desire, of how he lets Jun allow him to come undone, to give in to carnal instincts; though in the right mind, he would still have such desire, but now he wants to succumb to it, it’s all too much for him to bear, it threatens to burst open like a waterfall, neverending and unrelenting.

When they finally get back to their hotel room, more importantly, a bed, Jun is already nearly ripping his clothes off of him. Nino, not a stickler for his clothing but would rather not waste a good shirt, pushes Jun off for a brief while to strip, throwing his clothes haphazardly on the floor while Jun does the same. After the formalities, he finds Jun’s hot mouth on his own, on his neck, tracing his jaw, nibbling on the shell of his own ear.

“Is this okay…? I have to hear you say yes.” Nino squirms at the cadence of Jun’s voice, the low rumble that causes him to shiver, and he’s tipping over the edge of sanity and yet he wants more.

He grabs for Jun’s face and pulls him in for a long searing kiss. They pull away, breathless and flushed, and he’s noticed that Jun’s eyes are fully dark, and he knows what he wants. “I want you, Jun. Fuck me.”

And that’s what does it for Jun. While he buries his face in the junction of Nino’s neck and shoulder, he scrambles for the condom and lube situated on the drawer, as if he’d been waiting on the chance. He bites hard on his sweat-slicked neck, leaving dark marks that will bloom in the next morning. When Jun goes for another, Nino’s equally as sensitive, arching off the bed slightly, tugging at the locks of Jun’s hair. When he finally lifts up his head, Nino pulls him for another kiss, moaning when Jun slips his tongue in, searching for particular destinations Nino seems to enjoy more than the rest. They fight for dominance but Nino eventually gives in, with Jun not conceding an inch of control. When they pull away again, Jun puts enough lube on his fingers and his eyes meet Nino’s, waiting for permission. Nino merely nods, sitting upright to get a better angle.

He lets Jun explore the expanse of his body, kissing here and there, leaving marks as a testament that he’d been there. He licks into crevices and trails down a path from his chest to just above his cock. It already has become swollen, with precome pearling at the tip, but Jun pays no attention. He tries to memorize the dips and curves of Nino’s body, etching them into memory, for safekeeping. Nino’s cock aches for attention, but for now, he’ll let it slide. He continually fists Jun’s hair, twisting them harshly when Jun finds a particularly sensitive spot and lingers there. If not bruises, he leaves teeth marks, particularly on his nipples, sucking and nibbling routinely, pinching and rubbing the other one. He eventually finds himself in-between Nino’s legs and his cock is swollen, begging for attention. He merely kisses the tip, leaving it in favor of creating bruising marks on his plump, pale thighs and Jun had recently fawned over. He kisses his knee and goes back to sucking on his thighs because he loves it that much.

When Jun helps him situate a pillow on the bottom of his spine, his finger prods at the opening, as if testing the waters. Nino’s breath is still a little shaky and his mind is swimming, but he doesn’t say no so Jun pushes one in, ever so slowly. Nino flinches at the intrusion, no matter how slowly, as a testament that it’s been so, so long. Nino feels tears forming in his eyes and Jun brings himself closer, wiping them.

“Are you okay? I can pull it out—”

Nino shakes his head vigorously, wiping off his own tears. “I’m fine, it’s just been a while. Go on.” Jun does accordingly, pushing his finger in until Nino gets used to the force. When Jun prods another finger, Nino merely nods and immediately it’s a push stronger and faster than the first that gets Nino surprised and tightens around Jun’s fingers. Jun pets his hair, trying to release tension and as soon as Nino loosens up a bit, Jun pushes it experimentally. He moves his fingers in and out, and Nino grips the sheets, thrashing a bit, helping him get used to the stretch. When Jun crooks his fingers, it has Nino yelping, clenching his eyes tightly and ultimately tightens around Jun’s fingers once more. Jun this time doesn’t stop. He pushes in and out, harder than the previous and Nino’s moans progressively get louder, echoing off the walls of the room.

When Jun picks up the pace, Nino can no longer keep his eyes open, yielding to the pressure and the force of Jun’s fingers inside of him. After Jun feels like he can insert another, Nino rasps,

“Now, Jun, I want you.” He’s still visibly squirming but there’s already a certain looseness than Jun seems to see fit. He pulls them out slowly, Nino wincing a bit at the sudden loss. While Jun slicks up his cock, Nino rips open a packet, his hands shaking as he slides the condom down on Jun’s cock, earning a hiss from him. Jun sits upright, beckoning for Nino to sit on his lap. When Nino straddles Jun, Jun inserts a finger back, like a double check. Nino moans into his mouth when he pushes a second, then a third, already picking up a hurried pace. Nino eventually grabs ahold of his wrist and takes it out of him, needy and desperate for something hotter.

Nino adjusts himself, lifting just above Jun’s cock. He holds on to his abdomen for support, positioning his cock towards his hole. He descends slowly, allowing himself to adjust to his size, panting heavily. He manages to lower himself down fully, trying to adjust to the thickness of Jun. He brings out a guttural groan from Jun when he bottoms out. It feels like all air has been knocked out of his lungs as soon as he acknowledges that Jun is fully inside him and there is no sense of distance between them any longer. There is pain, a pain heralded by the lack of activity for years. It’s a harsh kind of pleasure, yet he would never tire of it; the pain is like an addiction and Jun is the drug that becomes the source of it.

“Fuck, I’m so full,” Nino moans, clinging on to Jun’s shoulders, trying to breathe. He rolls his hips experimentally and a garbled moan escapes Jun’s lips, probably loud enough for the neighbors to hear.

“I won’t last long like this, Kazu.” Jun grabs onto Nino’s hips, almost bruisingly. Nino scrambles around, finding Jun’s face to hold on to and immediately pulls him for a deep kiss. Nino adjusts himself, moving his position to on his knees and holds on to Jun for security as he starts to move. At first, it is slow and unhurried, trying to get used to the stretch and unfamiliar fullness. “Good boy,” Jun murmurs into Nino’s ear and Nino whimpers at the gravity of those words.

He fully wraps his arms around Jun’s neck, picking up the pace. He lifts himself up slowly and immediately slides down, moaning out his pleasure. He could sense the vibrations of Jun’s own erotic sounds against his chest. When he feels Jun tighten his hold on his waist, they meet: when Nino sinks back down, Jun thrusts his hips upwards, earning a cry from Nino.

The pleasure is overwhelming once Jun starts to work, thrusting in tandem with Nino’s movements. Nino uses his knees to grind himself on Jun’s cock, even more, frantic and desperate. When Jun thrusts a bit too harshly, Nino tightens around him, and immediately muffles his scream with his palm, almost at a sob. They don’t stop, Nino’s hips faltering a little, Jun pulls Nino’s hand away, leaving open-mouthed kisses inside his palm.

“Don’t. Let me hear you.” Nino whimpers at the way Jun whispers in his ear, breath unsteady and that low rumble sending tingles down his spine. He immediately aims for a steady pace, allowing Jun to not do all the work just yet. He finds a rhythm that matches Jun, bouncing on his lap, holding on to his thighs for proper balance. Jun then trails his hands across Nino’s body, finding pert nipples and pinching them when he feels Nino tighten around him. Nino’s cries progressively get wilder and wilder, his eyes clenched tight to fully give in to the feeling of Jun, thick and hot. He begins to whine when it’s not enough, there is not enough friction and depth; he wants more. Another factor is that his own cock is swollen to the tip, still neglected, but he knows Jun will tend to it soon, but not now, he will wait. He throws his head back when Jun particularly hits an angle that makes Nino feel the stimulus throughout his body. Nino cries out once more, spurring Jun on. He eventually loses the energy to do so and slumps on Jun’s body, letting him thrust into tight heat.

Jun eventually cradles his head, wheedling him into a long, deep kiss and eventually pulls out, much to Nino’s dismay. He lays Nino back down on the sheets and pushes in without warning, making Nino keen and moan as if to wake the dead. His hips and thrusts are unrelenting, stuttering a bit, but nonetheless ruthless and powerful. Nino links his ankles at the base of Jun’s spine and moans when Jun finds the right angle again, pounding harder each time. Nino arches off the bed at each push, his neck stretching prettily to the side, and that’s Jun’s cue for him to bite into his neck, leaving even more bruising marks. At this point Nino doesn’t even care anymore, rather he wants to feel, feel, feel.

The symphony of the mattress creaking, the slapping of Jun’s balls on his ass, the mixture of their vocalized sounds of pleasure; the feeling is overpowering. Not a single brain cell has any thoughts of anything besides of how fucking good it feels. “So good,” Jun rasps, “So fucking good.” Jun slides even deeper, hitting Nino’s prostate. It makes Nino almost fly off the sheets, writhing and scrambling for purchase. He brings his hands up Jun’s back, clinging on to him for dear life, leaving harsh red trails in its wake. The pain is an impetus for Jun to keep going at a harsh pace. Unforgiving. Nino’s trying his best to keep his legs apart, but with each force that feels like he’s ripping apart, he’s weakening. Jun grips his hips bruisingly, but Nino senses that he’s getting tired. He decides to help him out by pushing against his thrusts, achieving an even better rhythm, and plus, it feels even better.

“Harder, Jun, come on.” Nino moans Jun’s name like a mantra, increasingly becoming a garbled version or somewhat a rendition of his name. When he does cry out his name properly, Jun snaps his hips back sharply, causing Nino to see stars when his eyes roll back. He senses Jun becoming more haphazard and sloppy in his thrusts, and each time he pushes in, he tightens around him, producing choked groans from Jun. Jun’s muscles visibly twitch and he comes with a loud, guttural moan, nearly slumping on Nino.

But Nino is not finished, and Nino is greedy.

He brings Jun’s ear to his mouth, giving all of what is left in his arsenal: he moans vehemently, letting his voice drop down to an octave, letting his name roll off his tongue sultrily, nibbling on the shell of his ear in-between, voicing every filthy noise he can produce. Jun picks up the pace again, spurred on the rough quality, leaving his ear in the captive of Nino’s voice. He tries to ride out the vestiges of his own high; sloppy but deep enough to make Nino feel the sensations throughout his body. He discerns the feeling of his coming undone and tightens even more strongly than before, and Jun, still sensitive, has reduced to whimpers, shuddering breaths, and what sounds like to be Nino’s name. Jun aims for the angle Nino likes all too much to ruthlessly pound a few more times to help Nino release.
It does work and it takes two or three more thrusts and white heat spills in between them. He comes in spurts, dirtying both their chests, with a sob, almost a cry, and one last shout of Jun’s name. His entire body convulses when Jun continues to thrust lazily, guiding Nino to a completion. Jun is equally as greedy, wanting more and more of the feeling of tight heat, of Nino wrapped around him, begging for more. When they both feel like they’ve reached the limit of their physical capabilities, Jun slumps on top of Nino, neither of them bothering to care after all that’s been done. Sweat isn’t a problem for now, but they rather not sleep on it. Jun eventually pulls out after a while and all Nino feels is satiated and debauched. He squirms at the newfound emptiness and as much as he would like to fill that up again, there is a lack of energy for that. Tomorrow, perhaps.

Jun comes back from the bathroom to bring in a wet towel. He has already wiped off the sticky come from his own body and is now back to clean Nino up. Nino senses it as his maternal instinct, to be in-charge of the aftercare. The room is now silent, well a lot more silent than a while ago, only consisting of their panting breaths. Nino’s come undone: his legs are splayed carelessly on the sheets, his face, cheeks, and ears flushed a rosy pink, and there’s an incessant buzzing in his ears. When Jun wipes off the sweat and come from Nino’s body, he leaves kisses and trails them across his chest, hips, thighs, soft and doting, not likened to his frantic and brutal thrusting. He kisses back towards his clavicle and neck, brushing against blooming marks, and then eventually kissing him on his lips. It is again, slow, languid, and passionate. His lips now are fully swollen once they break apart, finally lying together.

Nino wiggles to lay his head on Jun’s chest, basking in the post-coital bliss. Nino’s still a bit too sex-stupid to say anything witty or participate in any banter, so this will do, for now. He evens out his breathing, almost matched with Jun’s. He eventually gives in to that feeling of drowsiness and fatigue, giving up the shower for tomorrow.

—

The next morning, well almost lunchtime, as much as Nino would rather stay back in their room and dedicate their whole day to just sex, they’re still on an all-expenses-paid trip and Nino would feel bad about wasting their money and all the time Jun used for making the itinerary.
It doesn’t stop Nino though from giving Jun what he calls, “the best blowjob of his life”. Jun’s all too willing anyway so it goes off without a hitch. They’re still naked from last night so there’s more time in getting into it. Jun’s still too tired from last night and he’s not particularly very good in the mornings so this time Nino has to do all the work.

He first blows on to the tip, finding it rock-hard after stroking it a couple of times to get Jun in the mood. He kisses it from the base going all the way to the top, flicking only slightly at the tip. He looks up to see Jun frustrated, his hands clenching at the sides.

“Are you getting on with it or what?”

“Patience, Jun.” He kisses the head teasingly, leaving only puffs of breath. Jun is about to bring his head down when Nino immediately sinks down on his cock, taking as much as he can. He flattens his tongue to take him at the back of his throat and he hears Jun let out a string of moans, his head flying back. When he moans around Jun’s cock, it vibrates all the way through Jun’s body, feeling Jun’s shoot up his throat. He feels himself choke when his cock hits the back of his throat. That’s when he purposefully hollows out his cheeks and begins to suck him off. He already tastes the precome on his tongue, licking the underside while stroking what he can’t reach. He stares up into Jun’s face and Jun’s a mess; he’s moaning Nino’s name repeatedly, not caring if anyone can hear him. He holds on to his thighs, kneeling higher so he can go faster, earning a whimper from Jun.

He pulls off to relax his jaw once more, sucking at the tip. Nino’s own cock needs some tending to, so his hand slowly guides down to find his own and he thrusts lazily on to his own hand. He feels Jun grow heavier in his mouth and his jaw is starting to tire. Jun then grabs own to his hair to spur him further, wanting his own release. Nino does continue in earnest, pulling away with an obscene pop then taking in as much again, successfully earning another set of moans from Jun.

Eventually, Nino gives up and leaves his jaw slack, letting Jun grab on to the locks and thrust into Nino’s mouth himself. Nino moans, sending vibrations and that does it for Jun. His muscles twitch and he comes after one last thrust in, and Nino nearly chokes at the liquid heat spilling unto his throat. After that, Nino becomes needy with his own, wanting his own release. He thrusts into his hand desperately until Jun pulls him up surprisingly. He makes Nino sit on his lap and he wraps around Nino’s cock, letting him thrust into both their hands. Nino whimpers and whines, trying to achieve that high again. His thrusts are messy and frantic while Jun’s hold is firm and brutal. After a few more thrusts, he comes, dirtying his chest once more and Jun sinking his teeth into his shoulder. He keens and rides out the remains of that high until his body turns taut and slacks on Jun’s chest.

“Now, I need a shower.”

—

When Nino checks himself in the mirror after his bath, he finds himself in a state of debauchery. His face exactly looks like he’s fresh from sex, his neck mottled with bruises that he probably won’t care about hiding, bite marks on his nipples; ultimately he’s fucked-out, and it’s the good kind. He’s kind of proud of himself, that despite being in a drought for so long, he’s lasted that long. Not that he’d admit it either, but Jun’s not only a great kisser but great at sex. The more he knows.

He exits the bathroom to find the room almost clean, of course, the sheets need changing and the smell of sex permeates the air, but otherwise, it’s not as messy as he thought. Jun had probably cleaned up a bit after taking his own shower. He finds Jun sprawled on the bed, scrolling through his phone, already ready for the next thing in their itinerary. He merely peers over to Nino, checking him out a bit, before diverting his attention back to his phone.

“Ready?” Jun says as he flops out of bed, straightening his clothes.

“Aside from all my joints popping and my muscle aching? Yeah.” Nino snickers at that last note and Jun rolls his eyes almost audibly. “A job well done there, Matsumoto.”

“God, Nino. You’re incorrigible.” Jun whines but plants a kiss on the corner of Nino’s mouth anyway. As much as Nino would like to pull him down for more, they’ll probably never get out of their hotel room. Not that Nino would complain, but Jun would.

—

Because of all the action from the past few days, and wanting to be far from the crowd and in solitude, Jun chooses to go to Kilauea Lighthouse, located on the island of Kaua’i. They leave for the lighthouse after lunch, exploring the island a bit, strolling for some fresh air. Nino’s just glad they finally have an activity that he can do without physically straining himself or force himself to interact with others. They walk across the ocean cliffs and grassy slopes, letting the cool breeze refresh themselves and letting the sun kiss their skin. Nino’s probably going to go home two shades darker.

When they finally reach a viewpoint near the lighthouse, they are rewarded with a 360-degree view of the sky and all of the jets zipping through it. There are tons of white-tailed birds perched upon the ridges surrounding the lighthouse. There are signages popping in different areas, pertaining to the different flora around the park, and what kind of fauna are present. There are sets of binocular stands nearby the benches and they decide to have a look. It’s not much different from seeing it without the zoomed in view, with the glimmering ocean waters, turning into white once they roll onto the shore, lush green forests surrounding the perimeter of the island, but they get to see the animals more closely, from seagulls to the very occasional whale.

After some basking in the sun and exploring the park, they decide to call it a day and go back for dinner, stroll around the city for a bit, and have a couple of beers by a nearby pub.

They finally settle in for the night, Jun immediately heading for the shower while Nino waits on their bed. Nino thinks, the view was nice and all, and the weather was calm, but he’s not as impressed as the first time since they’re all so similar anyway. But Jun makes it enjoyable anyway, with his enthusiastic attitude and earnest love for sightseeing; seeing the man happy makes him happy too, though admittedly sappy, it’s true. He doesn’t wish to be equally as fervent and ardent as Jun, but traveling isn’t so bad, every once in a while, but he wouldn’t do it without Jun. He wonders why.

His sentimental thoughts all get washed away once they go for another round that night. At least he’s getting some of this too.

—

On their last day back in Honolulu, they visit the war memorial of Pearl Harbor, USS Arizona. Of course, they had learned about the history back in middle school, how their country had planted a surprise bomb attack on the many US ships anchored in Honolulu’s Pearl Harbor and instigated the war between US and Japan and entered into World War II. But Jun suggested it would be insightful to learn about the American side of the war.

They first get a ticket signifying their time slot. Once they’re called, they’re brought to a movie room to watch a thirty-minute film about the history. Nino doesn’t really understand what they’re saying but he’s picking up on small parts and Jun translates for him from time to time, so he’s not that lost. The picture is at least a helpful guide, and he can understand that much. He listens to the many anecdotes of those who suffered from the attack and from those left behind by their loved ones. Though the war is long over, it doesn’t stop him from feeling bad. Both sides have truly suffered enough.

After that, they board a ferry for a five-minute ride to the USS Arizona memorial, a white platform that floats above the sunken ship. They allow the visitors fifteen minutes to observe the place and ruminate about the history. Nino feels the heart-wrenching and sinking feeling of the many lives lost, innocent and undeserving of sudden death. Though he had not been part of the war, born many decades after it, he still feels the guilt of his own countrymen. The Americans also have done things inexcusable to their own country, but right now is different, right now is the memorial of the lives lost, American or not, in the attack on Pearl Harbor. He could not possibly imagine to live through such atrocities and expresses his sympathy through respects and a simple prayer. He leaves with a heavy heart and a renewed sense of hope for a better world.

—

After Jun does some of his obligatory shopping for souvenirs —and himself—, they decide to settle in for the night early, as their flight is early the next day and the days have been nothing but tiring or heavy. Nino nothing but agrees, wanting to finally crash and sleep for the next ten hours. They have an early dinner in the hotel room and they immediately fall into drowsiness. Though the trip was a tad shorter than the other two, Nino’s tired of seeing beaches, trees, rainforests, the sun, or anything to do with outdoors.

He rather be asleep in Jun’s arms.

And that’s what he gets that night.



Chapter 5

Jun is a lot busier this time around, hasn’t been able to come by often, only terse conversations on the phone had been their only sense of communication these days. Nino didn’t feel bad nor was he upset at all; they’re both fully grown adults who have their own lives to live. They weren’t tied down to each other either, so there’s no reason for them to constantly check up on each other. Jun though, despite the short calls never fails to ask Nino how he’s doing and it’s well enough for Nino.

Though with time mostly to himself and his laptop, he has more time to think about things. In particular, Jun. He thinks of various thoughts that had been lingering since the times they were together, some even stemming from the beginning of their arrangement. He’s confused, not knowing how to properly understand his feelings, their relationship, and most of all, Jun. Thinking back, there are yet too many things for him to learn about Jun, yet he’s falling this hard.

He feels that they’re inchoate; lacking in fervor and conviction, as if a fleeting infatuation, but he doesn’t want that for Jun. He deserves more than that. It’s not that he feels ambivalent for Jun, rather he rather not is frivolous about the situation. But right now, it’s too much, too much for him to take in and realize:

He loves Jun.

No matter how many books he was to write about romance, of love, or even if he wrote sonnets all day, he would never understand the gravity of it.

Sometimes the greatest writers are even at a loss for words for their own feelings.

—

Sometimes the ride goes too fast, so it’s okay to stop and breathe. Take in the world for a moment.

He falls asleep on his computer chair that night, earning a stiff neck that’ll last him for a week or so, due to his physical inactivity.

—

He calls Jun that night, wanting to settle some things before they leave for their next trip. Jun replies, saying he’ll be there in fifteen. Nino prepares himself, hoping that he’ll find the right words to say and minimize the amount of drama he may cause. Nino, for one, isn’t the confrontational type, so he’s not quite sure how to approach the situation.

Hopefully, it’ll turn out well anyway.

When Jun arrives, he brings in some food from his home and they have dinner together. It was like the usual, light chatter and endless banter, but Jun catches Nino being standoffish, or somewhat distant and distracted.

“Kazu. Is there something wrong?” He sets down his chopsticks, finally finishing his meal.

“There’s something I need to talk about,” he sets down his chopsticks too, looks Jun straight in the eye, takes a deep breath —a bit too much, if you ask me—, “about us, in particular.”

Jun makes no sign of a reply and gestures for Nino to continue. There’s a distinct change in his features, from concerning to stern. Nino clenches and unclenches his fists on his lap, trying to find the right words to say.

“I like you, a lot. A lot more than I thought so, so much more than I had ever intended to. I’m not saying I didn’t want to like you, but I didn’t know it would come to this point.” He winces to himself when he sees Jun’s jaw clench, expression hardening.

He continues. “So, I don’t know what to make of this, of us. I don’t know if I’m ready for something yet, and I hope you understand that. I want to understand myself first before I understand you.” He nearly stumbles on his last words, “And this was supposed to be professional, wasn’t it?”

Jun raises an eyebrow, crossing his arms. “So, you’re telling me this was, or is, a mistake?”

Nino nearly slams the table in surprise, but merely shakes it when he tries to react. “No! Of course not. Never have I ever or would have thought of that. It’s just… unexpected, you know? I’m sorry, I’m just a huge mess—”

“I understand. I’m not angry. But I’ll be needing some space too as well if that’s alright. I’m sorry for getting ahead of myself.” He says plaintively, cleaning up his place and already fixing his things, ready to leave. He knows in-between those words that he’s truly not angry— he’s hurt.

As much as Nino would like to reach out, take his hand and ask him to stay, it’s cliche and definitely not the right thing. He watches Jun clean up after himself, leaving the room in radio silence and tense air. They don’t look at each other for that period of time, and Nino begins to wonder if time has passed at all. Eventually, enough minutes have passed and Jun heads for the door, without pause and without even looking back at Nino. He mutters, “Thank you, Kazu.” though his tone is deadpanned. He shuts the door politely but with the deafening silence, the sound of the door closing almost feels like thunder crackling all too close for comfort.

Nino feels better about a frank reply rather than a sugar-coated lie. He’d rather not engage in delusions. It was as civilized as possible, despite the incoherence and confusion Nino has brought upon them. Though it didn’t end as messy and fussy as Nino had pictured, he feels as if his heart had sunk. There’s a sudden emptiness in his system that he can’t seem to comprehend or make sense of. It’s not like his heart has been crushed; he’s the one who decided to put that space in the first place, but there’s this nagging feeling that he’s lost something, someone important.

He wonders if he did right.

He wonders if it was the right thing to do.

—

FLIGHT M830 | 17:25 NRT | DEPARTURE

When Nino boards the plane, he finds his seat next to Jun. This time Jun takes the window seat and Nino makes no plans of complaining, especially on strained and rocky terms. They don’t have their usual chat at the beginning of the flight and Nino already somewhat misses that. When he peers over to check out what Jun’s doing, he’s reading a novel he mentioned in an earlier trip, something about the art of zen and bonsai. He already knows Jun can’t be bothered if he’s invested in his book.

He decides to brace himself for the long haul, the flight being the second longest at twenty hours approximately. It’s at least less than a day now, compared to their flight to Johannesburg, along with their five-hour layover at London. He slightly misses those days, lighthearted and carefree, but he doesn’t deny that it wouldn’t last for long anyway and things were bound to change. He just wishes that they weren’t this tense.

FLIGHT M830 | 11:25 LAX | ARRIVAL

Nino manages to sleep for the most part of it, if not fiddling with some games on his phone. Their only times of interaction were when Jun had to go the bathroom or when their meal had come and Nino was still fast asleep. Anything else was just silence from the both of them. Nino liked silence, but not the silence that was tense and made him feel lonely. He’d been tempted too many times to touch Jun or try to initiate a conversation, but Nino felt as if he was encased in a bubble, closed for business.

When they finally land in Los Angeles for a short layover, Jun excuses himself, telling him that he was going out to buy some souvenirs for his friends. He sends Nino the place where they’ll eat dinner and his order. When Jun bids goodbye, Nino sulkily walks to the restaurant, tired and desperate for attention. He’s not used to being silent with someone in front of him for so long, but too many things are holding him back from speaking; in other words, he’s scared. He wants to reach out but there’s the fear of being bitten on the hand.

After a while, he waits on their table after being texted that Jun was arriving. The waiter has gone over to ask for their orders and he’s already been served two rounds of iced tea when Jun arrives. He comes in holding a bunch of plastic bags and a mask. His eyes look tired and he kind of slumps down on the seat. Nino merely makes a noise of affirmation and then continue on, quiet for the night.

It’s getting a bit late, the crowd is much thinner, there isn’t much noise aside from the clanging of the pots and pans and the chatter from other customers. They’re a perfect depiction of how people interact in this generation— no talk, just faces downcast, focusing on their phones. They don’t tear away from it, only stopping when they finally have their food served. The silence makes the time go ever too slowly, almost painstakingly and excruciatingly. Nino glances at Jun every once in a while, sometimes even catching some eye contact, but it goes without any other response from Jun.

Jun finishes later than Nino, arriving late and having more appetite than him, gestures for the bill. And in what Nino perceives to be a scratchy, slightly pitched voice, comes from no other person than Jun.

“May I have some water? No ice please, thank you.” He says in straight English, with a dash of accent. The waiter nods and fetches him some water. Nino’s jaw nearly drops with an audible gasp, staring disbelievingly at Jun.

“What is it? I’ve been having a sore throat lately so I rather not use my voice. Did I sound funny?” No, no he didn’t. He was more focused on the fact that Jun wasn’t ignoring him, rather he was just plain sick and it was all in Nino’s head, or as he thinks so. He feels the onset of tears as a sign of relief, almost like a heavy burden has been lifted off and the dam was ready to burst. He remains in shock while Jun nonchalantly drinks his water, raising his eyebrows in question. Jun doesn’t ask why and Nino's too overcome with emotions to break the silence, preferably not wanting to break.

They leave after paying the bill and leaving a tip, Nino letting Jun walk ahead before punching him none too lightly on his shoulder.

“I hate you— I thought— I—,” he continually stumbles on his words, not finding the right thing to say to properly express his emotions. Jun probably laughs the hardest despite the in-between coughs and clearing of the throat. Nino, despite himself, smiles a little, easing off the tension. He repeatedly punches Jun on the arm, only making Jun laugh even harder than before. Nino’s entirely embarrassed, redness running down his neck and up his ears.

Jun takes ahold of his hand and grips it tightly, stopping the barrage. “Did you seriously think I was ignoring you, Kazu? I mean, there’s all that, but I had no intention of giving you the silent treatment. Don’t cry, okay?” He laughs anyway but he’s still sincere about it.

“I am not going to cry! I’m just extremely, and utterly angry with you.” He spits without the bitter vitriol, almost coming to a whisper. Of course, he isn’t angry; he’s more relieved than upset, happy to an extent.

Jun pulls him in for a hug and Nino stiffens in surprise, patting him on the back, as if consoling him. He can’t help but laugh though and Nino nearly doubts his sincerity. But he accepts the hug anyway, burying his face on his shoulder. Maybe he cried a little, inside of course.

FLIGHT J308 | 23:50 LIM | ARRIVAL

They land in Lima, where they’ll stay for a night or so, to explore the city and slightly immerse themselves in the culture. They spend a whole day resting from the sluggish flight and to try and get over jet lag.

Lima is a chaotic and beautiful introduction to the country. The traffic is horrendous, and Nino immediately wants to go back and call it a day. The city is extremely busy and he ends up getting pushed around by the crowd. He’s glad that at least he’s not being pickpocketed or mugged out here. Undeniably, the place looks vibrant though, from its colonial aesthetic to trendy and busy neighborhoods.

They visit the Plaza Mayor for colonial beauty. The Plaza de Armas, also known as Plaza Mayor, is located in the historic center of Lima. The plaza is surrounded by archaic and baroque buildings, that of the Government Palace, where the president lives, the Cathedral of Lima, the Archbishop's Palace, and the Municipal Palace of Lima. A beautiful bronze fountain, stands in the middle of the square, glistening under the sun. The Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco stands tall with its yellow facade and white accent, and the monastery inside is twice as magnificent, an intricately decorated church with winding corridors and seemingly endless number of rooms. They are later lead to the dimly lit catacombs strewn with centuries-old bones, but they don’t stay long because being with the dead what they’re interested in.

When they leave the central plaza, they head over to Chocomuseo. Right next to the plaza lies this chocolate shop that organizes workshops and has chocolate tea, spicy chocolate and a variety of local specialties. They try out a bunch of different flavored chocolate, mostly Jun because he’s adventurous and Nino isn’t. The tea is good though, he says, bitter and aromatic. He watches Jun participate in a short workshop on tempering and sees how skillfully he manages to temper the chocolate like he’s been doing it for years. It somewhat fits him, he thinks, and he feels somewhat nostalgic.

They move on to The Huaca Pucllana ruins, one of the few that still remain from the historic pre-Columbian period in Peru. It’s a sacred site, a ceremonial center used for spiritual ceremonies and sacrifices back then. It’s filled with ancient history, the clay and adobe platforms create a several stories high pyramid, on one section lies benches and evidence of deep pits, supposedly made for sacrifices for the gods, and on the other area with the various clay sculptures and huts made out of adobe, supposedly courtyards and patios of the early ancestors. They watch as the night falls and the Huaca is illuminated, creating a cryptic and mysterious atmosphere, like that of movies.

They visit Miraflores, a neighborhood nearby. The neighborhood has a scenic view, with its craggy cliffs and pretty beaches, the coastal neighborhood abounds with green spaces, public art, and shopping opportunities galore. Nature thrives around open spaces, with different colors of flowers brightening up the parks. Their stroll is calming at least, free from the busy streets of Lima, serene and full of fresh air. They take a rest over to one of the benches near the coast, listening to the roll of the waves. They head for dinner at Sanguchería la Lucha, famous for its sandwiches. They order the La Lucha, consisting of tender beef sirloin, Edam cheese, and caramelized onions, stuffed inside a freshly baked sandwich roll. The wait is long but the food is worth it, juicy and tender at every bite, and Nino’s in love. They leave with satisfied stomachs and head for another round in the trendy neighborhood, witness the street performers and lights and sound show, and pass by an artisan market, where Jun buys some souvenirs. They cross the bridge as their last stopover, crossing it to get back to town when Nino notices how Jun’s been holding his breath throughout the duration of crossing it.

“Something smell bad?” Nino asks bemusingly, not really smelling anything off in particular.

“If you held your breath, you could make a wish and it’d come true.” Jun shrugs, “It didn’t hurt to try.”

“What did you wish for?” Nino smirks, prodding him for an answer.

“If I told you, it wouldn’t come true.” He laughs, punching Nino’s shoulder lightly and Nino all but pouts, actually wanting to know what he had wished for. On the back of his mind, he wondered if it was about him.

Their last activity is to watch the Circuito mágico Del Agua in Parque de la Reserva. The park is beautiful, with its artistic fountain as its centerpiece. When night falls, the lights turn up and dance along, creating different kinds of scenes. The aqua jets burst according to the rhythm of the music, with lights following suit. It creates all sorts of shapes and designs, from pyramids to arches, to reflecting the colors of the rainbow. It looks absolutely magical and is entertaining in the least, but they decide to head in early to avoid any incident in the now rowdy neighborhood.

—

Nino almost doesn’t sleep a wink that night. He looks over to Jun, who’s sleeping peacefully, wishing that he was in that state too, but not when his mind of swamped with thoughts, swimming with possibilities, constant overthinking— all about Jun. He only realizes that Jun had not said a single word to him since their flight, sans the call to go or the comments on the places they’ve visited. He’s not completely leaving him in the dark though, it’s just that they don’t even have a single light conversation with each other, that it feels like they’re back to strangers again. In all honesty, he didn’t think that he’d get close to him within this short span of time, but they did and all of those memories feel like nothing but a fleeting dream.

Jun may have reassured that he was in no way angry, but he wonders for what reason would he be ignoring him here as if he doesn’t exist? It all feels too lonely, with a cold and aloof tone, hollow laughter, and he always looks so, so distant, it’s unnerving. It’s no surprise he’s like this though, Nino just didn’t get to realize that no matter how physically close someone is, it doesn’t guarantee that they’d be spiritually present too.

Jun had made his every day fun, he had even made leaving the house and going to the damn outdoors fun. He’s shown Nino how beautiful the world could be if he could step out of his goddamn flat. Yet he’s here trying to cut that happiness short.

Nino remembers that he’s selfish; that he wants Jun to be here, close to him, yet he pushes him away with the premise of no commitment, no promises. It’s paradoxical, contradictory, and all Nino feels is nothing but helpless and wondering if he ever did things right. Nino doesn’t understand his feelings, and he wonders if he ever will.

—

They prepare for their next and last activity, yet the longest one, the hike in Huaraz. Jun had not been able to book a trip to the Inca Trail beforehand, inquiring a bit too late as all slots have been filled up, and that this hike was said to be on the easier side. Though Nino would usually not agree to such activities, it’s worth a try, at least, but he’s expecting the worst. His body is no shape at all and Jun had to force him to gym at least twice a week— which he did, but only for measly twenty minutes per session. He was a lot fitter back then, playing baseball often, but that had been many, many years ago. Now he’s nothing but a bunch of aching muscles and a sad excuse of a thirty-five-year-old. Though the ride is long before they reach their destination, Nino feels nothing but anxious and just hopes he doesn’t die up in the mountains.

They reach Huaraz in the late afternoon, settling in some hostels for the next two days or so so that they acclimatize here. The temperature has dropped, the air is thin, and where they are is as good as nowhere. Nino thinks of high up in the mountains he is, far from civilization and he almost passes out by the thought. He does though, pass out on the bed once he reaches the room, wanting to relish his time on a bed before he parts with it for three days. Jun is equally as tired though, having a short hike after traveling is not ideal for one, and Jun’s not used to being high up in the mountains either. Which brings Nino to think why he ever considered this idea, but it’s Jun, so he’s bound to tackle such an activity.

—

After taking as many pills as he can, drinking as much coca tea as much as he can —and go to the bathroom enough times—, and even chewing on those coca tea leaves, he prepares for the preliminary hike to Laguna 69. He had only agreed to it for acclimatization purposes and to at least get a feel of what it’s like to hike, to avoid giving up halfway in the real thing or dying in the process. It’s a big sacrifice, he thinks, but he’s smart enough to take it.

After Nino eats as many carbs as possible with his small appetite, they join a bunch of other hikers en-route to Laguna 69. Though Nino’s not that bothered about waking up early and getting prepared, Jun’s the exact opposite. Because all their activities had been scheduled to at least as early as 8 AM in the morning, waking up at 4 was a no-go. Jun looked completely miserable and honestly looked like he could break someone’s neck. He had no choice though, if it meant finishing the hike before dark and that the schedule was completely up to the touring company. His mood worsens when they cramp in the back of the van, with all the other hikers filling up the seats with both themselves and their hiking gear. He sits in-between Jun, who’s currently sulking and inaudibly cursing at the window, and a fellow employee, Murakami Shingo, who has agreed to accompany them throughout the rest of their trip. Murakami, on the other hand, looks ecstatic despite the glum sky overhead. He greets them both warmly and proceeds to talk to fellow tour guides.

Later on, they make a stop at Chinancocha, a glacier lake nearby the head of the trail. Nino’s just glad that he’s out of that stuffy van and has time to catch fresh air again. The air is crisp and unfiltered, free from the pollution of concrete jungles and busy cities. The lake is magnificent, shimmering turquoise underneath the morning sun. Though the sun is bright, it’s not that hot, so the heat is bearable at least. Nino’s not really afraid of heights, so seeing how far up he is, is just breathtaking at least. But he’d definitely take the indoors every time. Though the stop had been wonderfully relaxing, Nino can’t be more anxious about the road ahead.

—

After fifteen minutes or so, they finally make it to the head of Laguna 69. It doesn’t look as bad as Nino’s expectations. The view was pretty and most of the path is flat with the occasional rocks causing it to go ruggedly. They hike alongside the river, between two giant snow-covered glaciers. There’s really nothing but grass and the unique Queñua trees that looked like large overgrown ferns. Though he had been harmlessly enjoying the scenery and walking at a moderate pace, he notices how labored his breathing had become. Even the slightest hill had made him immediately more exhausted than in the past minutes. He was already leaning forward, struggling along to keep up with Jun, but he had been kind enough to stay back and wait for him. He would stop and catch his breath more often as they progressed, drinking enough water not to completely dehydrate himself but also avoiding using it all up. Nino’s glad enough that he’s lasted until the end of the valley and for lunch, but it reminds him that this is only the start.

After Nino had eaten as much dried mangoes and almonds as possible, he makes his way towards the switchback, which he is less enthusiastic about. He begrudgingly slugs himself up the hill, wondering if this would end soon. At least he isn’t one of the last ones though, overtaking a bunch of fellow travelers. Jun’s expression hasn’t changed though, still earnest and excited. Murakami walks up ahead, directing them towards the views. The higher they get into the mountain, the farther the valley stretches below them, creating a wonderful panoramic view from above, with a distant waterfall on the horizon.

After the first set of switchbacks, they had made it to half the trail and up the hill, and Nino nearly falls forward, not without Jun catching him. They sit by some rocks and take a long-needed rest and Nino nearly, nearly wants to give up. What’s spurring him on, he wonders, because this would be on his list of things to never do, yet he’s here, tackling a tough hike. The hill that loomed before him intimidated him greatly but after he had tackled it, he curses at that blasted hill, earning a chuckle from Jun. The view is tricky up here, with the glacier having the clouds as its background, he can’t really tell which is which. At the second switchback though, they make a stop at a glacier lake nearby and have more of those dried fruits and trail mix.

Though the view had been nice and all, it did nothing to mask how hard the next section was. He had his unsettling feeling at the pit of his stomach, feeling the impending doom he was about to face in the road ahead. As soon as the trail disappeared, it had faded into a wide stretch of grassland, and the hikers had begun to scatter around. Jun and Nino had decided to follow Murakami since he was their designated tour guide after all, and that he probably knows the trail better than they or any of the fellow hikers do. The stroll is enjoyable enough, a lot better than the rocky path and hill popping out every once in a while. Though, it doesn’t last long.

They make it to Zona Sylvestre, their next section of the hike. Nino was more than happy to hear about how this would be their last set of switchbacks, he sees the road up ahead, and no matter how picturesque it looks, it doesn’t look pretty. The altitude had risen sharply and quickly, thinning the air and the road was now made out of small granite stones. From the start of the incline, Nino’s foot kept slipping, overturning the stones and pulling him backwards. Nino was more exhausted than ever, with the added difficulty of the stones to the thin air that makes Nino barely manage to be able to catch a breath, and the constant, grueling reminder to hurry along. Nino’s breath had started to speed up, pressure building up in his chest, trying to gasp for more air, and he had begun to feel tingles in his fingers and toes. Jun had immediately noticed his faltering state and held on to his hand securely, guiding him through the path. He was ever so patient with him, too kind for words, and Nino wonders how could he ever deserve that.

After how Jun had been encouragingly gentle and caring, Nino had regained a renewed sense of strength and that little push to keep moving. He had stopped thinking of how long the road was ahead, and rather putting one foot in front of the other. It had helped though, making his body ease from the pressure and control his breathing. He was dizzy, disoriented, and on the verge of tears, but Jun is here with him, and he feels a strong sense of security with him.

After what feels like forever, he sees the horizon stretch out from below them, a beautiful lake surrounded by the granite cliffs, glimmering a crystalline blue, with a waterfall gushing out ice cold water streaming from the snow-covered mountains. The view was breathtaking, so much better than what he had seen on the way. Though he really wonders if the hike was worth it, he’ll make himself believe so. Despite all the exhaustion plastered over his face, he couldn’t help but smile, smile really wide because at least he’s managed to achieve this much. He looks to Jun, who mirrors the same wide smile, but probably even blindingly brighter than his. They’re offered some chocolate and protein bars, along with the same coca tea he had drunk before they left. The view and the refreshments were a great reward, but his stomach grumbles, not because he’s hungry, but because it’s a reminder of the trip back home.

When they finally get back, Nino rejoices at the sight of a warm bed and stable ground, and a bathroom. He takes a long, warm shower to wash away all the dirt and sooth his sore, aching muscles and almost feels like he’s aged twenty years more. Jun’s equally as exhausted, and they don’t even have the energy to talk to each other, which they don’t really mind. His eyes feel extremely droopy and he’s nothing but cramped up and sore. At least it goes as a reminder to stretch before the next hike. He wants to sleep for the next five years because he’s at that age already, but that’s just an exaggeration, probably. He makes a mental note to himself to ask Jun for full body massages when they get back to Tokyo as reparation for his strained body. But at least he’s getting cuddles in the meantime.

—

After a full rest day in Huaraz, they take a minibus to Caraz for two hours and a cooperativo to La Vaquería for four hours to where they’ll begin the trek. But that means they have to wake up at 4 in the morning and Nino’s more tempted to stay in, due to his aching body and in favor of being wrapped around by Jun. Though the warm is comforting and great, Nino has no choice to wake up. He shakes Jun awake frantically, knowing that any later would make them miss the bus. Jun looks completely miserable and his hair is sticking out in every possible direction. His face is contorted by complete disappointment; his eyebrows furrowed, jaw clenched tight, lips in a full pout, eyes bleary, skin dry and unmanaged, for a lack of better word, he looks like shit.

“Poor baby,” Nino mutters under his breath, as he watches Jun slug through the morning ever so slowly, groaning at every step and cursing at every object he bumps on the way. At least he isn’t on the receiving end.

When they reach La Vaquería, Jun’s mood had turned 180 degrees. He’s visibly grinning and his face looks fresh under the afternoon sun. Must’ve been all the sleep he’s managed to catch on the way here. All Nino feels is his ass aching because he’s been sitting for the past six hours yet again. Just when he was tired of road trips. He’s a bit exhausted still from the hike two days ago and from the land trip going here. He feels his joints popping at every movement and completely sluggish at every step. At least he has the advantage taken from the hike the other day, so it’s not that bad of a situation, he thinks. The rest of the hikers disperse into their own tours and routes, so he’s left with Jun and Murakami. They make a stop at a nearby store for some emergency supplies, while Nino waits outside, trying to get accustomed to the atmosphere up in the mountains. Murakami comes out with two donkeys on his side, already carrying most of their belongings such as tents and water. Nino approaches them gently to greet them, only to get one of them sneezing on his face.

—

The hike for the first day is easy, going through small villages and across a flat grassy meadow. The mossy meadows are dotted with cattle and horses, strolling and minding their own business. Small farms and a hamlet with traditional Quechua homes with thatched roofs pop out in view while they walk on the trail. As they pass by the quaint villages, they take time to visit the villages and greet the locals. If not for Murakami, the only thing Nino manages to understand is their “Hola!” Nino walks around the village, seeing the children run from different directions, sheep being sheared, dogs sleeping amongst the pigs; the simplistic life of the Andes is such a sight to behold, free from the incessant and overly complicated city life, free from the many complexities of modern society. Though he would rather live back in the city, such a peaceful life seems promising, but he wouldn’t want to live in the middle of nowhere. He sees Jun surrounded by some old ladies, offering some woolen mittens and beanies. Unsurprisingly, Jun buys some off them, immediately putting the beanie on. It fits him perfectly, framing his face well and his hair is snugly hidden underneath, with some stick out stylishly. He also isn’t surprised when he gets handed a pair of gloves, and he accepts it gratuitously. He slips them on and they feel wonderfully warm and snug. He sits by a rock nearby to watch Jun and Murakami play flying disc with the children of the village. After a while or so, they bid farewell, parting with a now warm heart and even more food.

They continue the hike after parting with the natives. Nino sometimes lags behind but Murakami willfully waits for him without telling him to rush, and Jun routinely asks about Nino’s condition. Though his body’s not in perfect shape, he can do this much, at least. What makes Nino manage to keep up are the several stops to view the mountains and one particular stop to eat their packed lunch. The homemade egg sandwiches are hearty and filling, having a somewhat nostalgic feeling of home. Nino immediately feels rejuvenated and happy, with enough energy to carry on with the hike.

The hike takes them a good three hours, finally coming to a stop at Paria Valley right before sunset so that they have enough light to set up the tents and cooking station. Their camp is situated near the stream so that they have a cool breeze for when they sleep at night. Nino and Murakami set up a teepee for when they eat dinner, while Jun prepares dinner. Murakami and Jun chat while preparing the hot pasta soup, while Nino prepares some hot coca tea. Once they all finish, they settle underneath the teepee, around the boiling pot of soup. The soup is warm and filling, expecting no less from Jun, and the heartiness makes him drowsy so he decides to settle in for the night earlier than the both of them. Right before he enters the shared tent, he watches Jun stargazing at a distance. There a bit of clouds on the sky, so the visibility is not as great, but the night sky glitters brighter than any of the nights he’s had in Tokyo. He watches Jun gaze up towards the sky, moonlight illuminating the frame of his face. Nino finds himself blushing over how much he’s staring but Jun is yet to notice. Nino can’t help but appreciate beautiful (things) after all.

—

The next day, Murakami wakes them early for the continuation of their trip. Nino surprisingly wakes up later than Jun who’s already cooking pancakes for breakfast. When he gets dressed and packs up his things to leave, he heads over to Jun, who holds out a plate of pancakes and a tumbler of coffee. As expected, the pancake is fluffy and soft, warm in every bite and Nino feels the energy run back to his system. Murakami talks about the length of the trek and Nino immediately feels the color draining from his face. It’s a long grueling seven-hour trek and the altitude is no joke. Jun nonchalantly continues to eat his breakfast though, not really showing signs of worry. Nino, slightly he wishes he was more physically fit for this trip, but that’s too late now. He looks towards their view, snow-capped peaks illuminated by the sun’s rays, eagles soaring through crystal clear lagoons, and Nino thinks he’d rather just stay here and enjoy the view. But he doesn’t want to give up just yet.

Now he wants to give up for real. When they traverse through the gradual incline of the Huaripampa Valley, the path becomes more aggressive and wearying, the wet, rocky terrain proving to be a problem for both he and the donkeys. He goes back to pet them every once in a while, to encourage them somehow. The air has thinned to a significant extent and the temperature has gone further below, making every step forward so much harder than the previous. Murakami allows them to take breaks though because Nino feels like passing out every two minutes. The trek to their final ascent to Punta Unión is definitely challenging, the long and steep climb is nothing like Nino’s ever experienced before, but that’s a pretty low standard. Jun is also beginning to start showing signs of fatigue, nearly falling to his knees once or twice, but immediately picks himself up and continue the pace. And yet despite the tiredness, Jun always manages to watch out for Nino and gently encourage him on. Recognizing his efforts, Nino begins to realize even a smile for him gives him a slight boost of energy.

—

When Nino is about to keel over and pass out (die), they make it to Punta Unión Pass, a narrow notch in the granite wall of mountains. Though it had taken longer than expected, with Nino’s head beginning to pound the higher they got and his breathing shortening, they had reached the top. He lifts his head to watch the horizon pan out, and it is, truly is, beautiful. To the north is the Taullraju, a glacier-wrapped peak that towers in the distance. On the other side of the pass lies the Taullicocha laguna, glimmering a bright turquoise hue. The east planes out a long valley of azure lakes with snow-capped peaks. On the west pan out the rugged edges of glacier coated rock and ice with ragged peaks crowned with snow, the highest of which is Huascaran, as pointed out by Murakami. The panoramic view is truly so breathtaking and Nino would’ve never thought he’d see it first-hand. Nino throws his hands up triumphantly, beating every physical activity he’s ever done in his life. He’s overly joyous over on the fact that he isn’t crippled yet and that he didn’t die on the way. Despite not even finished with his book, he feels duly accomplished. He never wants to do this kind of thing again. He has definitely changed. Months ago, he wouldn’t have ever thought of ever leaving his house, but now he’s out here tackling a mountain, talk about a drastic change. The change that’s significant though is that he’s broken free of his comfort zone and is here now, exploring and seeing the world for himself, and he wouldn’t have done it without Jun.

Despite the view and the joyous occasion, Nino takes half the time drinking as much water as he can, chew on bundles of coca leaves, and take some pills for acclimatization, not wanting to worsen his condition and burdening Murakami and Jun. Murakami stays near, watching his condition dutifully and offering assistance from time to time, while Jun stays behind to tend to their belongings and donkeys. After eating enough protein bars and chocolate to replenish their energy, they continue the trek.

Once they’re done viewing Punta Unión, it’s an easy downhill to their campsite in the meadow of Taullipampa near the river. The campsite is colder than the previous so Nino adds an extra layer to keep warm. They perform the same routine of setting up the tents and teepee before night falls while Jun prepares dinner. Nino smells the familiar scent of curry and he feels his stomach rumble, completely famished and in anticipation for Jun’s cooking. Despite being within talking distance, Jun doesn’t strike up a conversation or even bother Nino at all, almost like he’s ignoring him. He can’t say that he is, truly, because he does occasionally come up to him and ask how he’s doing, but it’s nothing more than that. He suspects that he is though when Murakami comes up and they immediately get into a conversation like nothing’s happened. He even has the audacity to immediately look away when they lock eyes as if he’s deliberately trying to show that he’s avoiding him. The food is good though, he has to admit, but two can play at that game, and if Jun’s trying to avoid him, then he will too.

Despite all the tiredness, thoughts begin to swim around in Nino’s head: of his book, of how far he’s come, of how much he’s seen the world and of what he is yet to see, of all those deep and poignant conversations about the sceneries they’ve seen,

And of Jun.

—

When Nino wakes up, he is greeted by the scenic view of the Nevado Paria, shimmering underneath the sun’s rays, and on the other direction, a mountain famous for the logo of a popular filming studio, the Artesonraju illuminated just as majestically. He wonders what it would be like to wake up every morning to such a beautiful scenery, provided that he had proper bedding and heating though. He also is greeted by the aroma of breakfast and is yet again reminded of how Jun managed to wake up earlier than him again. And now he’s more than convinced that Jun’s ignoring him when Murakami is the one who hands out his meal. Of course, he can’t drag the poor man into their problem so he accepts it without complaint. He does feel a bit lonelier now though, wanting at least a short conversation or something along the lines of that, just something to ease the silence. But he gets none of that.

The hike today is as long as the previous, but a lot easier than yesterday. They pass through different sceneries along the way, such as a desert, forest, waterfall, and every other possible landscape. The path is easier, the only obstacles being loose sand and rocks. The trail obviously looks like it has been altered, but it’s probably due to natural causes. There is an abundant sighting of spectacular mountain scenery, small razor-like waterfalls, ice-blue glittering lakes, and interconnected marsh swamps. The mountains color in many different ways due to the sun’s rays, creating a prismatic view out on the horizon. The sky is a brilliant shade of blue, devoid of clouds, and the sun shines brightly upon them. Nino’s still on the verge of recovery though, so they take their time through the trek, letting him acclimatize once more.

They stop by Lake Jatunchocha for respite, setting down their things and resting up as much as possible. When Jun finishes his lunch earlier than them, he heads over to the lake to dip his feet in the chilly water. It’s tempting since his feet are aching, and it’s probably a good way to sooth the soreness. But he waits for Murakami to accompany him because it’s too awkward for him to go alone. As soon as he finishes lunch,

They make their next stop at the Arhuaycocha Alpamayo viewpoint, not too far from the campsite. They are rewarded with yet again, shimmering glacier lakes down below. The rest of the walk is framed by a valley, trekking alongside a peacefully flowing river. Nino is starting to feel the weight of exhaustion dragging him down and they come to a stop for him to be able to recover. This time Jun gives him a brief check-up before wandering off again, so seemingly distant and closed off. Murakami doesn’t take wind of it or isn’t paying attention so he doesn’t bring it up. They spend the rest of the trek in silence, sans the explanations and guides of Murakami and the occasional question from Jun.

—

They reach the last campsite, Llamacorral, by late afternoon. Nino observes the forest-like surroundings, with the abundant Quenua trees, bushes and boulders surrounding the grassy field. There is a steady supply of water nearby and Murakami immediately heads for it, leaving Jun and Nino behind. Jun says nothing and immediately leaves him be, off to prepare for dinner and that’s what makes Nino decide that this is it, and he could no longer stand the unwarranted silence. Though setting up the tent and helping in preparing for dinner is more of a priority right now, he can wait.

They do the usual routine of having an early dinner, cleaning used pots and dishes, freshening up and changing into sleepwear but this time Nino doesn’t immediately head straight to bed. He goes to find Jun, who he knows is probably still awake, watching the stars twinkle at night. He strolls around the perimeter to find Jun perched upon a rock and staring up towards the sky.

The sky is immaculate, far from civilization and with minimal pollution. The stars are strewn all over the sky, millions of them pepper the sky with white and blue lights, the constellation drawing maps across space, traces of a far galaxy leaving trails of dust clouds and dark matter, all creating a mystical view like no other. No wonder Jun likes it so much.

When Nino doesn’t hesitate in taking a seat next to Jun, immediately cozying up beside him because the rock is not meant for two people, Jun makes no sound of response nor any sign of movement. If he’s giving the moment to Nino now, this is Nino’s chance to make things right.

Thousands of thoughts swim through Nino’s mind: I’m sorry. Thank you. Why are we like this? I like you. I don’t want you to go. I don’t want this to be our last. How’s the sky? Are you resting enough? I like you. I think you’re even more beautiful than the sights I’ve seen. I want to see the world with you. I’m tired. I hate the outdoors, yet I’m here. Is it too late? I want to show you some card tricks. What do you think of the weather? I like you.

The world wouldn’t be as beautiful without you in it.

He says that last thought out loud and Jun hears it perfectly, and turns to face Nino, blinking rapidly as if unbelieving. Tears drip from his eyes but it’s probably because the sky is moving. He’d like to cry too, if possible.

“Sorry, sorry,” he wipes off the tears but continues to face him and Nino just wants to explode like a supernova. “Well, that was awfully honest of you.”

“I—, uh…” He stumbles on his words, finding an appropriate reply because although it’s true, he’d never have the courage nor the willpower to say such things out loud. Not until now. He’s gone and said it now and he doesn’t know what to say next.

“No, take backs?” Jun asks while raising an eyebrow.

“What? No, of course not.” He pouts feeling that he’s made light of.

“Well, I hope this a reply appropriate enough.” He leans in to press his lips unto Nino’s, cupping his nape with his hand. Nino’s all too willing and pliant that he melts into the kiss, returning it with the same enthusiasm.

I want to see the world with you.

—

epilogue

On Jun’s most recent blog post, he posts a picture different from all of his previous posts, usually consisting of sceneries or of his face. It’s a picture of a person, face cropped out, hands cupped around a mug. The stubby fingers and the sweater color is only familiar to Jun, of course, and probably several of his other friends or acquaintances.

Written below as the caption is as follows:

Hello there, this is a post quite different from the usual so I hope you’ll bear with me this time. This is Kazu, he’s someone I love very dearly. I’m here writing about him because I want you to know that he’s releasing his book on the 17th! His newest work is called Niji, and it’s a book about a traveling and romance! I’m not really good at making summaries so you should go read the synopsis here instead. He’s truly worked so hard on this. It’s also one of my favorites now. I hope you’ll support my Kazu— Ninomiya Kazunari-sensei! Thank you!

—

When they finally wrap up for the day, Nino stretches out painfully, after sitting down for hours. Both his ass and arm hurts because he’s been signing books all day, without break. He’s happy that people had taken the time out of their busy lives to have him sign some paperback, but all he wants is to have a long shower and sleep for the next two days.

Just when he’s about to get up and put away the markers and papers, another man comes up and hands out a book for signing. He raises an eyebrow questioningly, wondering if the man had read the sign outside the bookstore. He is about to tell the man off but he sees the familiar hands outstretched before him. He sighs defeatedly, knowing already who is in front of him.

“Haven’t I written enough for you?” He sighs, rolling his eyes at Jun, hopefully letting him get the message to cut the act.

“I want a personal message just for me.” He smiles widely, with his arms still outstretched, book in hand.

“Aren’t you selfish.” Nino continues to pack, ignoring his request. Jun eventually puts the book away but goes towards Nino’s area, helping him fix up the place. After they clean up, Jun takes him out to his favorite hamburger restaurant as a reward for the day. It’s not like Nino ever pays, it’s just that Jun decides to ignore his own cravings and take Nino to his favorite place, no matter how many times they’ve eaten there. They make idle chat for the rest of the night, about work or the continuously postponed plans to hang out with Aiba, Sho, and Ohno.

It’s all the usual until Jun pops the big question.

“So what do you think about Egypt?”

Comments

[gomushroom]

OH MY! THIS IS-- WOW. WOWWWW <3!

Your description of this fic made me smile already! I can't wait to experience this lengthy work!!! :D :D I'll back after the weekend for proper comment so until then!

[gomushroom]

Anon, I apologize it took me almost a week to get back to you! I’ve read this more than twice, and the more I read the more I found more and more gems! I’m so happy you took the travel theme and went all the way with it! And by “all the way” I mean all the way! This fic has some incredible details of places—which I love so much, and it makes me feel like I’m not only reading an Arashi fic but also a prose about beautiful places around the world! Reading this was a true experience!

.

Writer Nino having a writing block <3! I love how you set up Nino as a writer but still very Nino, with his aversion to use too much energy for anything else except for the things he loves.

Ah Yuriko made appearance! I always love her interaction with Nino!

A little while later, he drives up to the front of his flat’s building and spots Aiba, waiting for him in front.
AH. THIS IS THEIR NEW YEAR DRIVING ‘DATE’? Aiba the ever helpful bff! I truly love him being supportive and all, and Nino’s trust to him is lovely to see here.

I love how Nino still wants to try even if he knows it’s not a good idea; he might not have any other choice but there’s a subtle positivity. Instead of just rejecting what’s coming his way, Nino tries and finds delight in new things—I like how you handle this opening.

I truly love how dubious the 8UPPERS is. Kimi-chan <3! Also all the Kanjani guys along the way, meeting them through the travel.

And then the fateful meeting with Jun even before their match. Well, who can resist the charms of Matsumoto Jun. I love how you potray Jun here is a hardworker who knows how to work hard until he passed out on Nino’s couch and then take a vacation just as hard with all the paid-expense tour.

The Shanghai part is my second favorite in this. You got into so many details—I was truly enjoying their walk to the touristy part of the city and also the hidden alleys AND XIAO LONG BAO! Arashi’s xiao long bao story is an old time fave and it’s lovely to see it here.

Jun being very protective from the beginning <3! I like how it foreshadows the whole relationship, and also Nino’s reaction to it. I also love how they are learning each other’s weakness in the first trip, and more later on the next ones.

I don’t expect Jun begins to visiting nino’s home but it’s a development and a lovely openness from Nino’s side. Also, it gets Jun to meet with Aiba. :D :D

You will fall in love with train rides, and sooner or later you will realize that nowhere seems like home anymore
Shinji Moon <3!!!!!

So Nino’s working on a book about travelling? I had a guess but since you made it obvious I cannot help to be even more excited to continue the story. It’s one of the reason Nino’s taking the trips with Jun, but now I am curious how these details of the trip would be incorporated into Nino’s own story.

Ahhh, the layover in London is so touristy I really love it. :D And then they meet Aiba! And Kazama! The part where a cute white small cub curling in Nino’s lap is especially cute! I don’t see Nino that much willing to interact with animals but when he does, it’s cuteness all around.

When I finished part one (for the first time) I had to take a moment. It was intense, in a good way. You just don’t take us to experience Nino and Jun travelling around the world but you really give description of the full ambience of the experience. It’s like we are there with them. I also love the gradually increasing closeness, both physically and in mindset. I love slow burn and I know what’s involved in writing one—the fun and frustration <3! This is such a treat to read and writing it must be a true challenge.

Then, I figure they’re going to Helsinki but you took them to Reykjavik! Iceland! OMG! Have you taken a peek of my bucket list? It’s one of my dream to go up there and THE SKY! NORTHERN LIGHTS! Wow, thank you for including this one up in the fic!

Niji, as title. <3333333!

It’s one of his books, in particular, his most recent one called “A Day Like Today Will Come Again Tomorrow”.
AHHHHH. One of Nino’s book is また今日と同じ明日が来る, the song from AYH! I’m loving all these small bits from Nino’s discography. I think there’s more of this (I just can’t catch them right now), and it excites me more to find more as I reread this later.

Also, “Thank you for showing me how beautiful the world is.”
This sounds so familiar, but for the life of me, I cannot pin it down now. Part of Nino’s lyrics? Arashi’s? All the same, this part highlights my own feeling toward this fic. I know I’m only a bit more than halfway through but that you for the beautiful descriptions of the world <3!

Oh, Hawaii! A very special place for Arashi! And there’s Sho and Ohno! Ah, I don’t know why but I’m so happy to see them and to find out that they are all connected! It’s nice to see Sho’s quirky habits sneaked up in the story even for a bit. :D

And they finally move forward with their relationship here. It’s lovely to see how the slowly build up tension finally coming into the story. Jun was extra attentive from the beginning and Nino was no better. I love how they have shared so many things and still the sex scene can be so intense and hot.

Ah, the angst. Nino, you think too much. Still the story progress and they managed to settle their misunderstandings. I like how you show that while they’ve been through a lot of things there will still be insecurity and this relationship is not instantly solid, but one that requires compromises and stuff. This gives so much space for them to know each other—and how you do slowburn is so perfect to explore this <3!

A random fave: THE SKY!!!! I LOVE HOW YOU DESCRIBE THE SKY, in different chapters, in different parts of the world, always enchanting, full of hope, and utterly beautiful. It truly fits your beautiful prose, especially in some parts, and encasing the travelling story because they are watching the same sky but different sky, but beautiful all the same. AHHH. I probably didn’t make any sense here, but I’m so riveted in realization. <3!

I also love the epilogue, because Nino finishes his book (and it’s Niji!!!!) but his journey with Jun still continues. Not in the big splashy relationship but steadily in the same slow paced and warm connections of theirs.

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Dear anon, I can only thank you for writing this for me. I definitely wasn’t expecting to receive such a lovely gift. 50K fic, omgg, I am so happy. I can only guess how laborious this one for you, but you should know that I love you for tackling my silly prompts into this gem. I was smiling so wide when I finished this story because this fic is a true journey and you have taken us to follow Nino and Jun’s journey. It’s so beautiful, and I truly love you for writing this epic lengthy fic! This rambly comment might not convey my love for this fic, simply because I found it difficult to express how much I love this, the simple bits, the reference to Arashi and all, all the amazing details. This story is the one I will revisit later when I am in need of soothing and comfortable story! Thank you, thank you<3!

[semikusa]

Why, thank you for enjoying my fic for you! I'm quite happy that you liked it and it even makes me more happy to see this long list of praises for it! I wasn't quite confident but thank you for these words. It was a lot harder to write, especially since I myself don't leave the house often but I'm glad I was able to convey it properly. Thank you for enjoying! It really makes it all the worthwhile. <3

[jkc80]

I loved it your and ur worldly knowledge, a slow romance but they got there is the end I love how they compared how much beauty they saw in each other to some of the most beautiful cultural surroundings

[semikusa]

Thank you for reading!

[nicefinalbeam]

I need to read this again and again because I guarantee you I will find hidden gems I didn't pick up on the first go through. There's a lot to take in with this fic with the multiple settings and the slow burn, wooo, but that's why I really loved it. I appreciated that Nino wasn't necessarily looking for love but it just found him through Jun so naturally. They had that perfect combination of sizzling and domestic chemistry through this fic that I think fits them and made me grin ear to ear.

I was so impressed with the way you navigated Nino's hesitance as well. He got a little spooked, communicated that with Jun (and made sure to say it wasn't regret - very important), and I think it was totally fair for Jun to be disappointed at first. But Jun still showed up for him, and was patient, and accidentally got his revenge by being sick and not intentionally giving the cold shoulder LOL

“Haven’t I written enough for you?”

WHAT. SO CUTE. Honestly anon, this is a wonderful wonderful fic.

[semikusa]

Thank you for reading! I'm glad you enjoyed it, and hope that it wasn't too slow or boring enough! I wanted their development to be unhurried and somewhat like a self-discovery too, hence the pace of their relationship.

[raatkerani]

This is so warm and reading it makes me feel cozy. I love the slow burns. I love that neither Nino nor Jun rushes their feelings. And I believe it takes a lot of efforts to write them, especially with the description of travel. I love the small gems you put, from Nino getting angry at the toilet seat, to the song quotes.
Thank you for this story. I love it.

[semikusa]

Thank you for reading! I'm glad you appreciate this and the slow burn, despite it being infuriating at times!

[learashi]

The number of references in here were an absolute treat.
The friendship between Aimiya was so sweet and the cameos from the rest of Arashi too.
I feel as I went on those holidays right alongside Nino and Jun.
Thank you for this wonderfully gentle slow burn romance.

[semikusa]

Thank you for reading! Despite being Nino-centric and the pairing being Matsumiya, I definitely didn't want to leave out the other three! I'm glad you appreciate this, it means a lot to me.

[gemplee]

Thank you so much for sharing your fic. MatsuMiya is my fave pairing so see their love story unfolding is just so satisfying. I loved how you fit in real situations or happenings into the story.

[semikusa]

Thank you for reading this! Matsumiya is also my favorite pair, so I'm glad a fan like you appreciates this!

[bluelight89]

Wow now you really made me want to visit all these places, such nice and interesting descriptions! And the Matsumiya relationship development was good too, not rushed but still there=) Thanks for sharing!

[semikusa]

Thank you for reading this monster of a fic. I’m glad you enjoyed it!