Chapter 123: Dinner
Hiroshi sat after exchanging pleasantries with his brother.
"You didn’t come with Haruki?" Aki threw the question he had on his mind from the moment Hiroshi walked in.
"Yes, I guess he’s too busy," Hiroshi said reaching for the menu already on the table.
He was ready to make his order but Aki remained silent watching him with eyes that held some information he could not decode.
"Won’t you order?" Hiroshi had to ask when he was uncomfortable with the awkwardness.
"I’m waiting for someone else," Aki replied casually resting his back against the backrest.
Hiroshi eyes narrowed slightly before a small smile lifted the corners of his lips. "You’ve got yourself a new girlfriend, right?"
Seeing the hint of excitement in Hiroshi’s eyes, Aki felt the urge to save some words and spilt them out without a thought, "He doesn’t love me anymore, there’s no way he could be my lover."
Hiroshi’s eyes narrowed as he felt his body tense. He could easily guess who his brother was talking about. He had just told his brother that Haruki wouldn’t be coming so it shouldn’t be but he was certain that Haruki was coming anyway.
He swallowed and calmly moved his gaze to the menu he held. He focused on the food, not the multiple thoughts on his mind. He didn’t want to think too deeply about it or else he wouldn’t be able to control his expression to show some thoughts he would rather keep hidden.
There was a soft knock on the door by the staff of the restaurant before the door was slid open. Hiroshi didn’t need to raise his head to know who it was. His whole body screamed of Haruki’s presence and his brother rising from his seat was a bit of confirmation.
Haruki stepped in through the door and Hiroshi found it difficult to keep his gaze on the menu but with so much self-control utilised, his gaze remained on the menu.
He raised his head naturally saying, "We could have order now, I’m a bit famished." Finally, he looked at Haruki whose beautiful eyes were widened slightly as their gaze met. He showed just the right amount of surprise. As he very naturally said, "I thought you were very busy today."
Haruki could sense something was wrong with the man’s expression. He was not sure exactly what it was but he knew at that moment that Hiroshi wanted him to confirm his thoughts to his brother.
Since he was displeased with he doctor for leaving for a personal program but since the person he was meeting was his brother, he decided to give him a treat.
"Yeah, it got cancelled so I can be here," Haruki replied casually as he sat beside the doctor.
"What do you want to eat?" Hiroshi asked as he tapped on the signal button. The waiter waiting outside came in.
"Order anything for me," Haruki replied knowing the doctor knew a few things he liked and could make an order for him. He moved his attention to Aki sitting across the table. "You look a lot better."
"Yeah, thanks to my brother," Aki replied glancing at Hiroshi was telling the staff his orders.
"I guess his leave was very effective," Haruki said glancing at Hiroshi who was busy ordering their meals. Aki and Haruki both turned to face each other.
Aki nodded in agreement preventing his brow from furrowing to hide his feelings when he noticed the warmth in Haruki directed towards his brother. He could not ignore the fact that he could not feel the closeness he had felt with Haruki a decade ago.
It felt like Haruki had built a wall around himself. Every action and word from Haruki directed at him felt distant as though Haruki was being careful with him but there was so much familiarity between Haruki and his brother.
The meal the ordered was served while he continued to have casual discussions about light topics like travelling and playing golf. "Can I play golf with you every weekend before I leave?" Aki asked hiding his caution in a carefree smile.
"Sure. Why not unless I am too busy. I could use a proper circle of friends." Haruki saw Aki’s question as a request to reignite their friendship by meeting every weekend to play golf and he had no reason to reject him considering he didn’t even have any real friends.
"You chose a really good restaurant," Hiroshi commented when they began eating.
"He owns it," Aki said gesturing to Haruki who was eating the sashimi Hiroshi had placed on his plate.
Haruki smiled slightly as he continued to chew slowly holding back the urge to hum in appreciation for the taste. When he was done chewing, he asked, "How do you know?" Seeing Aki tense at his question, he added, "Many people don’t know all the restaurants I own."
"This was pretty easy to find. My dad eats here frequently. I like the fact that it included everything I need for the dinner party. None of you will be allowed to leave early today."
Hiroshi shook his head in disagreement before warning his brother, "You must remember your stomach isn’t the way it was in the past."
"Don’t worry, we’ll just drink a little but we will do more than just drink."
Hiroshi looked down at the feast on the table and could not hold back a sigh. When Aki asked him and Haruki to confirm to spend the night with him, they both agreed.
How could he drink when he was left with the task of taking care of them? It was a task no one asked him to do but it simply came to him naturally.
Sake was brought at the right time and although that was neither Haruki nor Aki’s favourite alcohol, they began to indulge. Hiroshi took a sip and found it very pleasant but held back from gulping down the whole glass.
It was a night spent leisurely. They sang some songs and thanks to the soundproofing in the room, they were unrestrained. It was as though three of them had been friends all their lives and this was not the first time they were doing this together.
Hiroshi was the only one sober and he noticed everything Haruki did including returning to his side on the chair and leaning close to him. He could swear at that moment that Haruki was in love with him but the rationality he had left stopped him from reading too much into it.
Aki was drunk but not too drunk to notice the level of skinship between them. It was as though Haruki was announcing his relationship with his brother. He sighed and shook his head before reaching for another glass of alcohol.
Hiroshi looked down at Haruki who seemed to have fallen asleep against his shoulder completely unguarded and at his brother whose health condition doesn’t permit him to drink at all but was already drunk.
"Stop drinking. I think we should leave," Hiroshi said coldly. He met Aki’s gaze firmly. "You’ll land in the hospital from all this drinking."
"Do I look like I care?" Aki asked roughly as he reached for the bottle.
Hiroshi although unwilling to leave the position he was in with Haruki was forced to stand up hurriedly to stop his brother from gulping down the whole bottle of alcohol.
He snatched the bottle from Aki and placed it on the table before pulling Aki up. "Clear the bills. It’s getting too late. Take some warm soup before going to bed."
With those words said firmly, Hiroshi turned to Haruki thinking he would need to support the man up but Haruki had woken up completely alert as though he had not fallen asleep drunkenly against Hiroshi.
Haruki rose up. He staggered slightly but regained his composure and adjusted his clothes ready to leave. Aki was forced to stand up seeing this and went to clear the bills after a small stretch.
Hiroshi watched Haruki closely to see if Haruki would need his support but to his disappointment, Haruki didn’t need him. He followed him out to the entrance of the restaurant.
He noticed Haruki paused when a couple stepped through the door. The lady paused staring at Haruki with a small smile that didn’t quite get to her eyes and the man said something to her which she nodded to before he walked past him and Haruki into the restaurant.
Hiroshi felt the need to get close to Haruki when he noticed Haruki’s shoulder tense visibly. For someone who was very good at hiding his emotions, Haruki was showing too much meaning the woman had to be someone significant.
He stood beside Haruki a slightly brushing the back of his hand against Haruki’s silently announcing his presence. Haruki glanced at him and he could see Haruki relax visibly in those few seconds before turning to face the woman again.
"We meet again," the woman smiled warmly. This time, the smile got to her eyes as though she had perfected the art of pretence.
"Yeah." Haruki sounded very natural giving the woman the right amount of distance in his tone as he looked at her.
"If I knew you were eating here, I would have joined you. I’m done I just came back to get something." She glanced at her wristwatch and shook her head as she said, "And it is too late for us to go somewhere else for more drinks."
Haruki noticed that although there was a slight blush on her cheeks, he was sure she wasn’t drunk. "We are not that close."
"We could get close then."
They both spoke with so much ease but it was easy to perceive the tension between them. Hiroshi swallowed as he got urged to take Haruki out of that situation.