In enstars hell forever

Izumi Sena grabbed me by the ankles 9 years ago and he hasn't let go ever since A blog for me to ramble about things I do (fanfics, AUs and occasional art)

[cutebeast64]

Only mine

Summary:

Busy as ever, a summer festival happening close-by becomes the perfect excuse for Izumi and Mika to go on a date. With Mika struggling to understand his growing possessiveness towards izumi, the festival is also the perfect backdrop for Mika to finally dare to ask for that seaside hotel date... [POV Mika x smut on chapter 2]

Pairing: Ensemble stars, Mika Kagehira x Izumi Sena

Rating: Explicit, awkward first time

Word Count: 12,344

(Part of my Mikaizu series Stupid in love, but you don't have to read the other parts to understand it. Chapter 1 is a fluffy festival date and chapter 2 is a trip to Ito that ends in smut)

AO3 Link

***

Tapping his geta together, he turned the phone in his hand to check the screen. No new messages. 15 minutes till their agreed meeting time.

The sun already low on the sky, his own shadow extended far past the entrance path - the usual silence around Seisoukan filled with the buzz of insects and the cries of cicadas.

A line of ants stole his attention for a moment – climbing along the rock wall he was leaning against and disappearing somewhere inside it.

The breeze was stifling – almost as hot as the sun and weirdly damp inside your throat.

He checked his phone again. No new messages. Still 15 minutes till their agreed meeting time.

The entrance to Seisoukan was surprisingly empty. Not a soul yet to cross paths with him.

Everyone must be busy; understandably so. There were plenty of summer exclusive campaigns and promotions, not to mention live performances… he himself had been running around the clock, even missing out on sleep, to polish a small set of summer-exclusive clothing for a popular line Valkyrie often worked with. The final designs had been passed just the day before, as he’d hoped to.

After all, today was a special day.

He reached yet again for his phone – still no messages, 14 minutes left for-

He heard the wooden click of getas against the flooring and shot a glance up to the entrance, finding a slender figure just on the other side of the glass door, wrapped in a light-colored yukata and carrying a butterfly-patterned kinchaku.

“Izu-chan!” he propped to his feet, a full smile warming his until-then listless expression.

“Huh? I thought I was early…?” Izumi mumbled, a puzzled expression in his face as he approached him. The left side of his hair was braided back gently, held together with a blue chrysanthemum hairpin, its tassels decorated with cotton butterflies in white and baby blue, long enough to caress his shoulder when he moved “Since when have you been waiting?”

“Just a bit, was hopin’ ya’d be early too” he chirped, reaching up to inspect Izumi’s hairpin a bit better, fingers catching on a single white butterfly – the gesture must have been unexpected, because Izumi jumped slightly, cheeks turning pink “So pretty-”

“Hmmn… you don’t think its too girly for me?” Izumi observed with fake nonchalance, lips pursed cutely.

“Mnwha? Of course not! Beautiful stuff like ‘tis suits ya perfectly” he admitted sincerely, both hands raised up defensively “Yer way too beautiful to limit yerself by stuff like that. Anyone that dares to say otherwise oughta be a philistine.”

“Pfft, haha!” Izumi suddenly let out a laugh full of mirth, a hand reaching up to cover his glossy lips from sight as he did.

“Ngha? Did I say something weird?”

“Hahaha, it’s just, kind of amusing how much you sound like Itsuki sometimes” Izumi explained, eyes crinkling with genuine amusement “He said pretty much the same thing earlier.”

“Earlier?” Mika tilted his head to the side, eyes wide in surprise.

“Yeah. He stopped me when I was about to leave to put this on my hair” Izumi explained, passing his long fingers through the long tassels, his lips curled in genuine amusement “I tried to stop him, since it is clearly a women’s accessory but he insisted. Said you would appreciate it -which, to be fair, was true. Then, went on a whole tirade about how I’m so ethereally beautiful and what not”

The soft cadence of the words made him feel just a bit bothered: the thread of Izumi’s clear voice tangling itself tightly around his ribcage, digging somewhere weird inside of him.

There was nothing strange about the small vignette of daily life.

Shu and Izumi were roommates, so it made sense that Shu would have been present while Izumi got ready for their date.

He clicked his tongue.

Not only that, but Shu was always drawn towards beauty - from which Izumi had plenty of, as anyone with eyes to see and a functioning brain would agree. It made sense that he’d try to further highlight that beauty with an accessory – and that Mika would feel so drawn to it was only logical; his own sense of aesthetics strongly inspired off Shu’s.

Yes, there was nothing weird about it. Nothing except the small twisting feeling inside his stomach.

“…does he tell ya stuff like that often?” he found himself asking.

Izumi’s smile gave way to a slightly puzzled expression, an almost feline tilt of the head as he responded.

“Mnnn… sometimes? He was a lot more intense in high school, would go on about having to protect my beauty or something” he rolled his eyes a bit at the memory “I’m glad he’s gotten less intense, but it still feels weird to be spoken of in such a way.”

…Shu said that to Izumi… when they were still in high school?

Before they started dating…?

The weird feeling spread a bit further, a bit thicker, a bit heavier…

“…can’t…” Mika found himself mumbling, his hands reaching forward to hold the white softness of Izumi’s.

“Huh?” taken by surprise the model gazed down at their now locked hands, then back up at him, questions overflowing the icy pools of his eyes

“I know Oshi-san is real cool!” he started far louder than he intended, his bubbling feelings making it extremely hard to control the volume of his voice “He’s way taller than me, and has a real nice face. He sings super well and can make the most beautiful thin’s ever! He is super-duper talented”

“…r-right…?” Izumi agreed half-heartedly, an eyebrow crooked up.

“H-he, has a real knack with words… while I struggle to even connect a couple words like this” he insisted, his fingers trembling slightly as he clasped Izumi’s hands tighter “He knows a lotta things about a lotta stuff and he is very very kind too…”

Izumi tilted his head, looking even more puzzled now. His soft lips remained pursed together as if he just didn’t know what to say to all that.

Mika himself wasn’t sure what he was trying to say. So, he just kept going, exposing the awkward feelings spinning inside his belly one word at a time-

“He is… way better than I am… I could be… b-but…” he bit slightly on his lip, desperate eyes gazing into Izumi’s surprised look “But ya can’t fall in love with him!”

“…huh?” Izumi seemed even more surprised now, long eyelashes fluttering beautifully.

A warm breeze sneaked past them, shaking the trees along the door.

“…you’re jealous?” Izumi finally asked, voice almost lost in the wind

And yet, the unexpected word reached Mika’s ears just fine. His back stretching tall and his hands tightening their grasp on Izumi’s as he chewed on it…– was he?

Jealous?

Maybe he was. Maybe he wanted to be the one to understand Izumi’s beauty the best of all- to be the one to offer little presents to enhance his outfits, to bring attention to the perfect symmetry of his features…

“Pffft!” Izumi let out a small chuckle before Mika could even form a response, probably reading a confirmation in his expression “I don’t think you have to worry about me stealing your beloved mentor away. I’m pretty sure he doesn’t see me like that at all. And I mean, isn’t he with-”

Ah… Izumi didn’t get it at all…

He released the white hands he’d been holding to, instead reaching up to cup soft cheeks; slightly warm against his still shaking fingers.

Izumi sucked a breath, big eyes wide open and words cut in half-

Closing his eyes, Mika leaned in with purpose.

Soft. Tender. Needed.

Their first kiss in a long while –

How many months had it been since they met in person? Since they touched? Since they kissed…?

When he pulled back, Izumi’s face was bright red– perfect blues half-hidden under long eyelashes, slightly damp with need.

“…yer datin’ me” he hushed against those soft lips, giving them a small warning bite as to make his point “I’m the one that likes ya best… that knows yer beauty best. I ain’t ‘bout ta let ya fall for someone else…”

Izumi remained still, like a deer on highlights; big blue eyes shining brightly and cheeks completely red. His expression begging for another demonstration of adoration.

And who was he to deny him that?

So, he leaned in for another kiss. His free hand tight on Izumi’s small waist as to bring him closer, his heart thumping loudly as he allowed himself to linger; to savor the tenderness of plump lips. To lick and suck and nibble on the inviting flesh-

It tasted like peaches.

When he pulled back, Izumi’s breath was slightly rushed, a pink tongue barely visible between his lips–

He was about to dive in a third time, when a white hand stopped him – pressed cutely against his mouth.

“S-stop it, idiot… I get it!” Izumi complained, his voice too sweet to sound bothered “S-saying embarrassing shit out of nowhere…then lapping at my mouth like a damn dog! Dumbass!! You ate a bunch of my goddamn gloss!”

“Oh… m-my bad” he apologized awkwardly, reluctantly releasing his hold on Izumi’s small form… his eyes following him still as he shuffled through his kinchaku for his gloss and a compact mirror – fixing up what Mika had messed up with his tongue.

…the image kind of sexy.

Izumi popped his lips cutely a couple of times before finally returning both pieces to the kinchaku, a faint turn towards Mika making their eyes meet; an embarrassed pout marking his features.

“…didn’t expect you to be the jealous type…” he mumbled, voice so low Mika almost missed it

“Eh? I… um… s-sorry?”

“I don’t mind it, actually~” Izumi offered, voice sweet an maybe a bit playful. A small smile gracing his features “So? Don’t just stand there… we’re going to the festival, aren’t we?”

“Uh…? A-ah, y-yeah!” he jolted up slightly, the whole conversation almost making him forget about their plans for the day.

Izumi started walking, so he jogged up to him, easily matching his pace so they could walk side by side-

Their shadows, sharp and ever growing forming a single line –

…

Despite being a relatively small festival in a local shrine, the usually empty streets leading to it were bustling with visitors – the actual festival grounds filled with the booming of drums and the laughter of children; families, groups of teenagers, and plenty of couples filling in every available space between stalls, and all the way to the shrine.

With little space to maneuver in the crowd their bodies naturally came closer together as they avoided running children and rowdy teens.

“Ugh, festivals are always so damn noisy” Izumi complained, his shoulder pressed slightly against Mika’s, his hand brushing against his slightly.

“R-right…” he mumbled, intentionally brushing his own hand against Izumi. The lack of any negative reaction giving him enough courage to grasp at it, gently enough Izumi could pull back if he so wished “We should hold hands- W-wouldn’t wanna be separated”

“…I guess…” Izumi pursed his lips slightly, as if unconvinced, but gently returned the gesture – his fingers slowly tangling themselves with his in a lovers’ hold.

His heart was thumping loud.

Trying not to get swallowed by the sensation – or the pervasive desire to taste more of Izumi’s peach gloss – he thew a glance around at the grounds, his eyes suddenly finding something of interest.

“Ah, look Izu-chan! Candied apples!” he called, pointing towards one of the first stalls in line. “Let’s grab one!”

“Hah? No way in hell. I refuse to eat such calorie heavy stuff, much less this late in the day” Izumi hissed a bit, tugging from Mika’s hand as to stop him.

As if that would work!

“Eh? Don’t say that~ Eatin’ is half the fun of a festival~” Mika insisted, pulling him towards the stall, undeterred by his sharp tone “And candied apples are a staple!”

“No way! Do you want my skin to break out? L-let go!” Izumi whined, trying and failing to fight against Mika, his resistance dwindling the closer to the stall they got. “I’m serious! I’m not eating!”

“Ehh? Why? I just wanna enjoy the festival with Izu-chan~” He insisted, pulling him hard enough to clear the final couple of steps left for the line…

Izumi stumbled ever so slightly on the geta he wasn’t used to, bumping onto Mika’s shoulder – and remaining there. Long fingers clinging to his wine-colored yukata as he offered him a defensive frown-

“Because! Since when do you need to eat to enjoy a festival? Huh?” He insisted, his expression far cuter than it had any business being.

And well. He wasn’t wrong, was he?

They could still walk around the grounds, play some of the games and chat until the fireworks show. He’d done that before, a couple years ago; side by side with an uninterested Shu who refused to eat anything or participate of anything, acting like a chaperone to Mika’s excitement.

Back then, even that felt like more than enough. More than he could ask for, and surely more than he deserved.

And yet…

Holding onto Izumi’s hand, he couldn’t help but want… more. To share his favorite festival food, to play every single game around, to drag him back and forth until he complained about his feet hurting…

Why?

…what was so different?

He was getting greedier. Needier. More demanding…

Maybe it was a side effect of becoming human…

To yearn. To want. To need.

“I’m not eating” Izumi reminded him when the line moved forward – tightening their held hands as to call for his attention.

He paused, biting down on the many words he wanted to say, on the many things crossing his mind.

“…not even one bite?” he dared to insist, returning the gentle squeeze as a last, desperate plead

“…puppy eyes? Really?” Izumi huffed “…is it really that important to you that I ruin my diet eating junk food today?”

“…kinda?” he admitted, suddenly feeling really bad about how demanding he was being. Izumi did care quite a bit about counting calories “I uh…Can help ya burn the calories? Like, we can go for a run later! Or tomorrow? Together!”

Izumi blinked for a bit, and then chuckled again.

“That’s not where I thought that sentence was going” he admitted in a slightly sultry tone, his body weight leaning a bit harder on Mika “But fine. I haaate sweating in this goddamn heat, but I guess we can go for a jog together… and I can spare one bite of stupid junk food, just for you~”

He felt his heart soar at the offer; uncontained excitement having him almost bouncing in place as he bought the candied apple.

They were barely out of the way when he gave the apple a big chomp – the sweet and sour flavor, juicy and sticky, bringing a big smile to his face.

“Here” he offered right after.

Pulling his fringe out of the way with a hand, the other gently keeping the sleeve of his Yukata out of the way, Izumi leaned in- his tiny mouth taking a bite from the exact spot Mika had bitten from, probably trying to get the fruit with none of the candy.

He really had no business being so cute.

…

After that, Izumi became far more agreeable, easily going along with Mika’s little whims, now stopping here to try and grab some goldfish, then over there to pick up water balloons - he even agreed to take a single bite from every food stuff he bought, from Takoyaki to cotton candy, passing through chocolate bananas and corn dogs. His tiny mouth leaving impossibly adorable marks in every piece of food-

With each new stop – here to the shooting range, there for a bite of something sweet – the small fabric pouch he’d brought full of coins grew lighter, and the sun went lower-

Soon, only the warm light of paper lanterns kept the grounds illuminated – the sound of drums booming over the chatter of the crowd, announcing a prompt start to the fireworks.

Sitting on a small wooden bench at the further end of the festival ground, Mika opened the last meal of the day. A single serving of yakisoba with a fried egg on top, the crinkly plastic box almost threatening to spill from his fingers.

On his side, Izumi sat quietly, lap occupied by a rather sizeable bunny plush they had won on the shooting range – and just as Mika had grabbed the first bunch of yakisoba with the chopsticks, he leaned forward. Lids low on pretty eyes and mouth open gently, right hand gracefully keeping the tassels back, it seemed more than obvious that he was expecting to be fed-

Mika smiled to himself, gently guiding the little bit of noodles to Izumi’s tiny mouth.

He blew on it a couple of times before closing his mouth on it – sluuurp. The perfect painting was broken cutely by a bit of soy sauce splashing on Izumi’s cheek as the very end of the noodles hit his upper lip.

“Hold still” he requested, reaching forward to wipe the sauce with his thumb. Izumi’s soft skin all too tempting under his fingers “’issit good?”

“I guess… for junk food” Izumi half-conceded, gaze following Mika’s finger as he brought it up to lick the sauce from it.

“Good” he smiled, now moving on to eat the yakisoba himself.

The salty, oily flavor was irresistible – and he found himself slurping it a tad too fast.

“…I guess, I understand a bit of the appeal.” Izumi suddenly mumbled on his right, hands busy playing with the bunny’s ears, gaze soft on Mika.

“Mnhw?” he made a sound, his mouth to full with food to actually make a question.

“Of festivals… I never really cared much for them. Too hot and crowded and full of junk food.” Izumi explained, pulling the bunny’s ears in opposite directions before folding them over the plushie’s face. “But it was fun spending it with you.”

Mika blinked, mouth full of yakisoba he was forgetting to swallow-

“I like seeing you have fun” Izumi admitted, voice a bit shakier as he clearly grew embarrassed by his own words “Makes me think it might not be too bad to come again… maybe… next year? I-if you want…”

He tried answering, his words lost in the mouthful of yakisoba still there. So, he forced himself to swallow it all down in one (slightly painful) gulp before trying again

“I-I’d love to! Next year we can go watch the fireworks in Yokohama!” he offered, a big smile filling his face.

Izumi blinked a bit, then smiled.

“Sure…”

…

He had barely finished the yakisoba when the first fireworks filled the sky. Their position by the temple made it a bit hard to watch them properly, so he threw the sticky trash to the closest bin and pulling from Izumi’s free hand (his other one busy hugging the plush close to his chest) he led them towards the tree line.

The normal paths were far too full of people for them to reach a good spot quickly, so he stepped right into the overgrown grass –

Izumi seemed a bit reluctant, but eventually he followed suit – two pair of getas clacking along long grass, overgrown roots and unknown bushes…

It took a bit of effort, the booming sounds of the fireworks spurring Mika into faster movements, but eventually they reached a small clear. The suddenly open sky full of gold and green –

“Wow” Izumi let out

“Ain’t it quite the spot?” he boasted off with a cheeky smile, getting a sly grin in return.

“Yeah, yeah. Though I still didn’t like wading through the grass in the dark” he chastised gently, squeezing Mika’s hand gently.

“Haha, my bad…”

Another colorful flower filled the sky, its booming sound swallowing Mika’s apology as its red sparkles sizzled out gently into the night.

Then a triple boost of blue and green and yellow filled every single spot in the sky above. Oohs, and ahhs from the crowd not so far from where they stood filling in the consequent silence.

A sequence of golden fireworks followed suit – then a few more loud ones, exploding colorfully at regular times.

Izumi’s silver hair and blue eyes shined beautifully, reflecting every single flashing color.

“… yer gonna stay in Japan a lil’ longer this time, right?”

He found himself asking, his words only barely catching a moment of silence between the fireworks.

Izumi’s blue eyes shifted slightly towards him, a small nod, shining gold and green under the fireworks, his answer.

“…a-and… ya said…”

A loud boom cut his words in half. Izumi squinted as if straining to hear…

He gulped, all his courage draining from his body as the inevitable approached- his heart beating even louder than it ever had, sweat drenching his palms.

Hands cold and trembling, he leaned in a bit closer to Izumi, enough for his breath to caress the beautiful ear of the model

“…ya said ya were free for a few days…?”

Izumi nodded again – the red sparkles from the fireworks above painting the enticing lines of his neck.

“…like… T-Thursday…?”

“…our anniversary?” Izumi asked. The gentle whisper of his voice against Mika’s ear giving him goosebumps.

Feeling his ears burning, he rushed to nod. Above them another fire flower exploded, blue and green this time around. The air smelled of gunpowder-

“…yeah, I’m free.” Izumi added, fingers closing painfully tight on Mika’s hand “…are we going somewhere?”

“…Ito, if ya’d like…” he explained “ya’ve been all stressed out lately, I thought ya’d like to relax on some onsen…”

There was a small pause… his heart threatening to escape through his mouth as he waited for an answer.

“…a one-day trip?” Izumi finally asked.

He gulped, feeling caught- his true intentions apparently out on the open.

He cleared his throat, his fingers shaking in Izumi’s strong grip.

“I… ha-have reservations for a… a hotel … if ya want of course! W-we don’t have to but-”

Izumi’s grip on Mika’s hand got stronger.

“I want to”

Mika gulped down, body pulling back slightly to finally get a good look at Izumi. His embarrassed face, the hopeful tug of a smile on plump lips and the almost needy dampness of his gaze making his own heart do flips-

The sky was full of blue and red when he leaned down for a kiss –

It tasted like soy sauce and yakisoba.

--- chapter 2 on ao3

[cutebeast64]

Rambling about chapter 11

If fate is a mistake - Chapter 11. Downpour

It's come the point were there's so many moving pieces that every new chapters becomes a bit more complex and I find myself worrying about how to bring it all together.

I knew things were about to go south, since there's still a lot of unresolved issues on both sides, but I wanted to keep some of the light hearted, hopeful and warm feelings at the start. Izumi acting like a girl in love over Mika adding him on LINE and Mika losing his train of thought when he sees Izumi at school are some of my highlights of 'oh they are really in love love now'.

There's also finally a proper conversation, woohoo! It's pretty short and full of silences, since they aren't that close yet, and I think you can tell they're still nervous around each other. Can you believe they've been circling each other for months and this is still the first time they are /properly/ talking. Insanity. What is this fanfic.

About that conversation, Izumi has a secret agenda throughout it. The conversation with his mom at the start of the chapter sets it up and a few of Izumi's thoughts/fantasies along the chapter emphasizes it. He needed a 'proper alpha', and a part of him was starting to see Mika as that. He wanted to know if he could fill the boxes on his mother's checklist... too bad Mika isn't secretly from a super wealthy family, huh?

Still, I think he might have tried to ask Mika to 'fake date' him if it wasn't for the whole little ramble about how MUCH he LOVES Shu, and he is THE MOST IMPORTANT to him and HE'D DO ANYTHING FOR HIM. I think Izumi's heart broke a little there (insert: you can actually pinpoint the exact moment his heart breaks in two meme here haha)

I pondered quite a bit on whether that part should be on Mika's POV or Izumi's POV. In the end, I felt like Mika blindly (and gleefully at that) putting his foot in his mouth and not knowing why Izumi suddenly seems so sad felt more heartbreaking so I went with that.

There's something so sad about Mika being so excited and happy about things going well, just for everything to fall apart for no reason (at least in his head).

Finally, we had the Shu-Sena catfight. It was originally meant to happen at the start of the chapter, but it just didn't fit well with the rest of the scenes, so I reworked it to be at the end and I feel like it worked a lot better!

I find their argument so interesting - they are having two completely different conversations and neither of them seems to realize it. On one side, Izumi feels like the mistress being called out by the official wife. On the other side, Shu is like a (possibly over-protecting) mother evaluating a possible daughter-in-law. No wonder they just ended up more confused at the end!

I do think it makes sense for Izumi to be dead set on not admitting to his relationship with Mika. Not only does he feel like he's intruded in a perfectly good relationship (Shu and Mika), but now that he caught feelings, he inevitably falls in his usual self-sacrificing mentality. He wants Mika to be happy and figures their relationship (which he sees as Mika cheating on Shu) will only be a hindrance to that, so he is trying to erase. To make it seem as less important, even if it means hurting himself.

By the way, Sena was at the rooftop because of the scenting from Tsukasa. The argument is meant to happen a day or two after the engagement ceremony, which is why the smell of Tsukasa feels so fresh on him. I figure, since he isn't a fan of the scent, having it around him at all times must be quite annoying - and so he would go somewhere with fresh air!

Talking of which, I tried to give the engagement ceremony a traditional feel since Tsukasa's family has such strong ties to tradition on the original story. I think its also just a really fun way of exploring some more 'old-fashioned' concepts on omegaverse. And the idea of Izumi wearing a pretty omega collar just makes me so happy! Such a beauty! Too bad Mika didn't get to see him like that ToT

There's a few lose ends I still have to tie and I'm racking my head on how to do it. It somehow feels like a lot of things are going to crash together pretty soon...

But also, since the flow of the story doesn't really allow me to stray too far from the main plot, I'm considering making a tiny KuroShu oneshot to explain their relationship a bit better - or maybe I'll just add it at the end of the fanfic as an extra. But then again who even knows when the fic will be over, Cheval live was supposed to be only one chapter and it ended up taking 3 whole chapters! From 9 to 11! Insanity!

I have really lost all control of this fanfic.......

Also this has nothing to do with anything but... Mika on a horse, dressed in white AND BLUE and with A whip? IzuMika Graceful Punishment? Hello? Was this made specifically for me? Is Hapiele after me?? They'll probably won't exchange a single line in the story but God can a girl dream...

Anyway, thank you for reading my ramblings! Hope to see you for the next chapter (whenever I manage to publish it).

[cutebeast64]

Re-reading Human Comedy since its full voiced now and AAAHHHH its killing me, its so good so sad so ughhnsvsgahjaak I LOVE VALKYRIE I LOVE MIKA I LOVE ENSEMBLE STARS

[cutebeast64]

Rambling on (part 1)

If fate is a mistake - Chapter 9. Pining

This one took me quite a bit to write... and that's with me having a general idea of what I wanted to write. Actually, I had planned to include Cheval Live in the fanfic from all the way in chapter 1! It is one of the few instances of Izumi and Mika ever meeting in canon, even if they barely talk to each other, so I just had to.

My first idea was to hammer on the canon interaction of Mika panicking about waiting for the bus alone with Izumi and Tsukasa ("what should I do? it's so awkward!! They aren't even talking with each other? Is it my fault?"). I thought it'd be really funny to add an extra layer of 'they actually know each other but can't act like they do' and make everything more tense and awkward. However, as I wrote chapter 8 and introduced Izumi's mom, along with the whole matchmaking thing, Tsukasa passed from being just an ignorant bystander to someone who actually wanted to get in the way!

Which made things a bit harder for Mika, changing the situation from funny to kinda sad lmao. I'm sorry bby (pats him)

This happens quite a lot with If fate is a mistake. Since the story has developed in a much angstier direction than expected, a lot of the ideas I originally had, had to be reworked.

All in all, it was a bit hard to bring it all together in a way that I found satisfying and so... it took a long while.

So, what's the purpose of chapter 9 in the current story?

My goal was to make both Izumi and Mika ponder about their feelings for each other when faced with a third party. A point of reference for them to compare. In this occasion that measuring stick happens to be Tsukasa.

To Mika, Tsukasa appears as a particularly tough 'rival'. They are both alphas, but Tsukasa's education (and a childhood surrounded by nothing but alphas) has given him all the confidence, aggressiveness and poise Mika lacks. He is, in many ways, the very example of what an alpha should be (to the point he's one of the 'desirable' marriage partners Izumi's mother found) and as such, it highlights Mika's own insecurities and feelings of 'not being enough'. It also presents itself as a contrast to Shu's (and by extension Mika's) idea of what an alpha is - as someone brutish, violent and dominated by inferior instincts.

Being surrounded by betas in his childhood, and then raised by Shu and his strong anti-alpha sentiment, Mika has come to feel that being an alpha is 'wrong'. In his head, being an alpha means to hurt and to take. Which adds to why Mika doesn't 'want' to be an alpha.

Tsukasa's presence is then a new image of alpha - elegant, well-mannered, and 'perfect for Izumi'. I hoped that seeing Tsukasa with Izumi would awaken some feelings in Mika - jealousy of course, but also a sense of 'I'm an alpha too, so I could also be a perfect match for him'.

On Izumi's side, Tsukasa is... annoying. lol. In this fanfic, Tsukasa's background as 'old-money' has an added flavor of 'thorough-blood alpha'. Being raised as the alpha heir for a very traditional alpha family, means that Tsukasa holds very traditional values, specially around secondary genders. While he still greatly respects Izumi as a senpai and leader, and isn't purposefully trying to diminish any of Izumi's accomplishments, he can't help but see him as an omega - someone that needs protection and care. So while Tsukasa isn't romantically interested in Izumi, being a 'gentleman' includes being chivalrous towards the 'fairer sex' - in this case omegas- and so, Tsukasa keeps trying to 'protect and care' for Izumi.

Which is not well received.

As someone who was both originally raised as an alpha, and stubborn enough to prove himself as capable as one, Izumi finds Tsukasa's chivalry to be annoying, misguided and somewhat offensive.

The comparison here lays in what Izumi might want in a partner. Since they met, Izumi has been rather dismissive of Mika - to him a disheveled, awkward and clumsy alpha as Mika is hardly worthy of his gender (something Izumi wanted for himself). However, when faced with an actual 'ideal alpha' he dislikes that even more. He feels patronized and babied and looked down on.

To further emphasize the difference (and Izumi's feelings about it) I used the towel!

Tsukasa who is a confident alpha, scents a towel before handing it over to Izumi. A dominant behavior, which intents to protect Izumi from other alphas - but that fails to consider Izumi's own thoughts/wants.

Mika, on the other hand, hands him a completely scent-free towel. His intention is purely to be helpful, while keeping a respectful distance. While Izumi finds himself annoyed by it at the moment, it's because of Mika's attitude that he feels able to be vulnerable around him.

It's also a fun highlight for how Izumi is actually seeking dominant behaviors from Mika! Specially in this scene, where he is longing for Mika's scent.

Talking of scent, that's another part I wanted to really pin down.

In this version of omegaverse, alpha and omega scents are like perfumes, with different notes and bases. This allows for a wide arrange of possibilities, and for some changes depending on their humor/feelings.

Mika mentioned it in chapter 8, but there's an idea that 'fated pairs'* should have matching scents. My reasoning for it is the simple biological concept of scents allowing us humans to find compatible partners irl (of course it's not as verbose or conscious as in omegaverse). As such, in this universe, similar or complementary scents would mean a higher level of compatibility.

Mika's rather loud and messy 'summer-like' scent and Izumi's calm and elegant 'winter-inclined' scent are opposites and as such would appear to be 'incompatible'. This is part of Mika's reasoning in chapter 8 for his relationship with Izumi being 'impossible'.

However, in this chapter, after intimately scenting each other, their scents didn't clash. They didn't override each other or become unreadably messy. Instead it became a completely new scent that has hints of both! That means they ARE compatible! (That's what Mika is thinking in that infirmary bed lmao)

*As mentioned by Mika in chapter 4, the idea of 'fated mates' is something akin to a fairy tale in this rendition of omegaverse. There's no clear way (natural, magical or scientific) to determine who can be a 'fated mate'. Still, there is a fated mate out there...

[cutebeast64]

If fate is a mistake (MikaIzu)

Alpha!Mika Kagehira x Omega!Izumi Sena

Summary:

Immediately, he felt like curling into a hole in the ground and just dying. But that was it. The last thing he had to do to erase his mistake. And then, everything would be back to normal. Or so he hoped. Izumi Sena loses to his heat and accidentally mates with certain 2nd year student he knows nothing about - despite his best efforts to the contrary, they get to know each other and eventually fall in love.

Pairing: Ensemble stars, Mika Kagehira x Izumi Sena

Other characters: Shu Itsuki, Arashi Narukami, Tsukasa Suo, Ritsu Sakuma

Rating: E, slow burn, omegaverse, ! enstars era

CW: Dubcon (mildly in chapter 1 bc of the heat), omegaverse, some angst with a happy ending, extreme slow burn, mutual pining, lots of character introspection.

Word Count: 72,462 (ongoing, currently in chapter 12)

AO3 Link

***

Both his harsh panting and the sound of a metallic package breaking open were hidden with the roar of the open faucet. Body slack, he was barely able to stay up by pushing his whole weight onto the wall – the cold wall that felt so refreshing against his feverish skin.

Fucking hell. Who the actual FUCK makes these packages?

He cursed inside his head, poorly coordinated fingers having a hard time with the package of the suppressants.

Shouldn’t these be easy to open in case of emergencies like this?

He huffed, biting the inside of his cheek. His mouth felt unbearably dry, even though he’d been gulping on water until just a moment ago, and his sight was getting blurry. He could feel his knees buckling… that spot between his legs calling for some sweet, sweet attention.

“Sena-senpai!”

A loud bang on the door came right along the high-pitched call, making him jump in place- the pill he’d just managed to get out of the package slipping between his fingers and falling, unceremoniously, in the floor.

No way he was taking that now.

“Is everything alright? Are you perhaps unwell?”

His underclassman called from the other side of the door, still banging on it like his life depended on it. That kid; he wasn’t too bad of a student, a bit too strait-laced sometimes, but God… he could be so…

“Do you need anything?”

The young alpha came even closer to the door – Strawberry frappé, condensed milk – the smell was thick and sickeningly sweet, seeping under the door, crawling all the way into his body, and sticking to the inside of Izumi’s lungs.

He heaved, barely containing his desire to throw up.

Not even an attempt on the side of the alpha to suppress the ferocity of his pheromones, blissfully unaware of its effects.

That’s why he hated thorough-blood alphas – never socialized outside of their own little circles.

“Get out of here. If you have time to concern yourself with me, shouldn’t you be practicing your steps? You still haven’t done them properly, have you? Stop loitering around and do something, for once.”

He squeezed every bit of determination to spit those words – harsh thorns in every corner.

The last thing he needed right now was for an alpha to barge into the pheromone filled bathroom and go berserk on him. Much less his own underclassmen.

“Ah… you’re right, but… without the leader there’s just so much we can do…”

The banging stopped. But the presence didn’t leave the door.

“Well, as the leader” a temporary one, in any case, Izumi thought to himself vaguely through the mist of his own growing heat “I’m telling you to fuck off. Go practice or go bother someone else.”

The presence held onto the door just a bit longer – the young alpha leaning in closer for a second, before finally stepping out.

Thank GOD.

Returning his full attention to the silver of the package between his fingers, he struggled for a moment to pop the very last pill out, dropping it unceremoniously into his mouth and crumbling the damning evidence in his hand and into his pocket.

They had lasted fucking nothing.

Could he even get any more this month?

He could already see the damning glare of the doctor – it’s not good for your health to take this many suppressants, he would say.

But what else could he do? It’s not like he could stop going to class. Like he could give up on Yumenosaki – not right now, not until Leo came back.

Shaky fingers tried -and failed a couple of times- to close the faucet, before finally managing to do so.

He gulped down, saliva still pooling unnaturally on his mouth… his heartbeats were still raising, his body was still pleading…

It always took a bit of time for the pill to work. Lately, it took even longer… when they worked.

This was bad… he could feel his thoughts getting fuzzy, the boundaries between an idea and the next diluting like salt in water. No, like acrylics being mixed. No, like…

Like what?

He shook his head, trying to recover his train of thought.

It wasn’t there.

It felt hot – burning even. He pulled at his shirt, trying to get some air into it.

There were still small hints of strawberry and cream left in the air… his mouth opened and closed a couple of times, as if trying to taste its flavor.

Ah… he snapped his eyes open. Right, his heat. He was… he needed… he…

He felt a warm sting in the lower part of his body… an instinct taking root on his body, pulling at his muscles… the hints of strawberry left in the air felt like a path of crumbs leading to a perfectly good alpha.

He shook his head again, coming back to right as he was opening the door to the bathroom. And by miracle almost, he managed to stop his feet from trailing after Tsukasa- instead doing a sharp left out into the hall.

The pills weren’t working. That much was clear.

His heat was about to reach its peak, uncontrolled. He could barely keep a coherent thought at once…

There was only one thing to do at this point.

He had to get to Sagami. He was one of the few people that knew Izumi was an omega – and as a bonded alpha, he was safe. He would let Izumi stay in the infirmary until he calmed down – maybe give him a stronger suppressant and get him home.

Quick.

Powered by little more than his own stubbornness, Izumi rushed through the halls, as fast as his shivering body would allow, fighting a time trial against his own pheromones.

Forced to avoid the usually crowded halls that lead to the infirmary, what could have been a brisk 5 min walk turned into an intricate puzzle – he went up and down stairs fleeing the boisterous laughter of alphas, and even ventured into parts of the school building he wasn’t all too familiar with; unknown doors and halls making him feel terribly lost.

He staggered, head light and body burning.

He felt parched, yet his mouth was full of drool… he mouthed air, almost by reflex, and each time, lines of saliva dripped from the corners of his mouth every. Assaulted by the gross sensation of his own warm drool dripping from the corners of his lips, he rushed to clean it with the back of his sleeve.

He came to a halt in the middle of the hall, warm sunlight slashing through the clouds and past the window, all the way to him… A small breeze brought to him the scent of old fabrics, wet dirt and…

Before his eyes was his hand, half-covered by the sleeve of his school blazer, damp where he’d used it to clean his mouth.

…where was he?

Any sense of purpose gone from his movements, he weakly slumped onto the closest wall.

Even through the tarnished windshield of his mind, he realized being out in the open wasn’t safe. The self-preservation tactic of an omega engraved deep into his mind.

If he could at least lock himself up somewhere…

He forced himself to walk forward, only stopping when he found a door - shaky fingers struggled with it for a second before managing to slide it open, tripping his way inside and almost clinging to it as he fought to lock it for a few moments too long.

Keep reading in AO3

[cutebeast64]

Love me more (MikaIzu)

New years MikaIzu (originally posted Jan 3, 2025)

Summary:

End of the year drinking parties sucked. Being dressed up and put in Izumi's preferred makeup wasn't bad. He enjoyed it, truly. No, the problem was the /actual/ party... Jealousy stirs unspoken issues, and alcohol makes everything worse. A MikaIzu New Year's fanfic - POV Mika.

Pairing: Ensemble stars, Mika Kagehira x Izumi Sena

Rating: M, angst and fluff, mild hurt/comfort

Word Count: 6,696

(Vaguely a continuation from Love you Forever and Not so lonely birthday, contains a jealous and drunk Izumi Sena)

AO3 Link

***

End of the year drinking parties sucked.

Shu was strongly against such open displays of debauchery by unrefined peasants -his exact words- so he always made a point to skip on them. And as Shu’s obedient partner, Mika had done the same.

He never really gave it much thought besides that. Shu always knew what was best, and Mika himself rather disliked loud crowds, drunk people and the smell of beer – not to mention he wasn’t yet of age to drink – so it felt natural for him to avoid such places.

…Today however, he regretted it.

“There’s this end of year party I kind of have to go to. Work related and all” Izumi had excused himself when Mika, gathering every bit of his confidence tightly against his chest, had shakily asked to spend the New Year’s together.

He lowered his head, grappling at his own nape nervously, trying not to let the disappointment show through. He just thought he’d ask, since Izumi was going to spend a bit longer in Japan than originally planned…

“Wanna come with me?” Izumi had suddenly cut through his muddled thoughts with that simple question. Long eyelashes fluttering as he looked up at Mika, long white fingers fidgeting with the longer ends of his silver fringe “It might be a bit boring but I have a plus one so… if you don’t have anything else to do…”

“I’ll go!” He answered without thinking, and Izumi’s sweet smile, eyes squinted like those of a kitty and cheeks slightly pink, made it seem like he made the right choice.

And much to his delight, accepting the plan, meant spending a lot of time with Izumi.

If Mika was coming with him to a job party, he was going to have to look the part, he said. And so, their first stop was Mika’s room.

Izumi strutted in confidently, like he owned the place. Not even gracing Ritsu’s side of the room with a single glance, he made a beeline for Mika’s closet. He went through every drawer and every hanger, from top to bottom, analyzing every piece and dividing them into piles under Mika’s rather confused look.

“Ah, no good. Nothing matches with the clothes I’m planning to use” he finally huffed, crossing both arms across his chest with mild irritation “We’re gonna have to find you some new clothes, Kage-kun.”

And so, their next stop happened to be a mall in Shinjuku. Apparently, one holding some of Izumi’s favorites boutiques. They got early in the morning to avoid the crowds, and walked through every single floor as the model carefully picked an appropriate outfit for him, matching shirts and pants against his body then throwing him into the fitting room.

These pants with this shirt. But no, this shirt with this jacket. But then how about these pants? Ah, but put on this too. Hah? What you mean you don’t know how to tie a cravat? Geez. Lean down, I’ll tie for you.

And such.

By the time Izumi was done planning and buying the perfect fit – from shoes to accessories, and everything in between- the sun had already gone down.

Izumi bickered about missing lunch as he clung to Mika’s arm, hardly any bite in his words, and eventually pulled him into a fancy-looking store for dinner. He seemed to know about it, blue eyes stealing meek glances at him as if trying to gauge his reaction.

It was a rather expensive place, which kept it rather empty despite being on the main street – the soft instrumentals and dim lighting easing his nerves as he made his way in.

They sat on the deepest corner, away of prying eyes, and chatted over a delicious Italian meal. Then they argued over who would pay – with Mika eventually winning the privilege of inviting Izumi dinner.

At the end, they returned to the train station just in time to catch the express - Mika carrying all the bags, a silly smile dancing on his lips as he peered into Izumi’s beautiful face, right in front of him.

The train wasn’t exactly packed, but most seats were still taken, and with no two seats side by side, Izumi had eventually opted for standing. He wouldn’t sit if Mika remained standing, he argued. He wasn’t tired, he insisted. Little yawns betrayed his words barely a minute later as he scrolled through his phone, leaning beautifully against the train doors – the lights of the city right behind finishing the painting.

Mika simply smiled; whatever exhaustion he had feel completely gone, replaced by thousands of butterflies spreading through his insides, desperate to become another decoration around Izumi.

While they called often, and would sometimes talk until one of them was fast asleep, this was the longest they’d ever spent together in person. It felt like such a dream… a fantasy. The face he’d come to love so much was right before him. Not in a screen, or a photo, but in reality - close enough he could feel his warmth and hear the even pace of his breathing…

And that alone made he feel so… satisfied. Content beyond words.

Maybe that’s why it felt almost painful to say goodbye – a harsh fall back into the coldness of the real world. Izumi waving him off as he walked up the stairs to his own room, leaving him only a memory scorched by the desire of more…

Specially since they both had work the following days. Their schedules torturously never quite aligning for them to meet.

Each night he returned to his room, exhausted in more ways than one, and threw himself to bed, fighting his every instinct to run to Izumi’s room until falling asleep.

But finally, the 31 was here.

He was in front of Izumi’s door as soon as he physically could, dressed in the fit the model had picked for him and bouncing on his feet. The model called for him to enter, and he obeyed…

He had to suck a breath, as he realized the room – rather sizable even compared to his own – was completely empty, bar the model.

He knew Shu was in Paris for the New Year’s with Kuro, and, giving the situation, he had to guess Isara was busy too. He always was. Even before becoming the president of the student council but even more so after…

He sat on Izumi’s bed when prompted to do so, hand tightly pressed against his knees, in case his instinct wanted them to wander.

Quiet and obedient as a doll, he enjoyed the novelty of having the model fixing his makeup – the pampering of soft fingers and even softer brushes almost as enjoyable as the focused look in Izumi’s blue eyes, merely a few inches away from his own.

Time seemed to go by both fast and slow – every touch feeling endless, yet ending all too quickly at the same time.

More than an hour had passed when Izumi gave a last, satisfied look at Mika’s makeup. His attention, as well as the warmth of his fingers moving on to his hair.

He gently untangled it with his own brush and a smaller comb, leaving it as straight and malleable as he could before styling it - long fingers carding through black locks with styling mousse, shaping it in ways Mika wasn’t terribly familiar with. A new style – something to Izumi’s liking, he thought.

He didn’t mind that. He never had.

Back when Shu was still in school, Mika had embraced the idea of being a perfect doll for him. Sitting still under Izumi’s acute gaze, he felt a bit like that – thrilled and excited and hopeful. Hoping to be a blank enough canvas for Izumi to mold his perfect boyfriend out of him – someone he’d be proud to be seen with.

“Almost done…” Izumi hummed, his warm breath tickling Mika’s nose. It smelled like mint “Purse your lips a bit for me”

Ah, was he going to put some product on his lips? That was new. Shu hardly ever did. And weren’t they done with makeup already? Not that it mattered, he’d obeyed either way.

He pursed his lips obediently and Izumi reached out to him, holding his chin up slightly with his index as he pressed a chap-stick covered pinky against his lips. Slowly, almost sensuously… it felt soft.

“And now-“

Mwah

Izumi leaned in, soft pink lips pressing gently against his own – it felt just a bit sticky, some of Izumi’s gloss being passed over to him.

“There, perfect… now that’s the face of next year’s hottest idol” Izumi smirked teasingly at Mika’s embarrassed face.

He really was never gonna let that one go, huh?

“…Ya mean second hottest…” he mumbled, hands nervously reaching up to hold onto Izumi’s small waist. It fit so nicely between his hands he could feel himself lose his breath.

“Oh, right. There’s still Yuu-kun. You sure are smart~” Izumi chirped, eyelids low, voice a wet whisper against Mika’s lips

“I meant you…” he retorted – his voice sounding like a rumbling growl despite himself.

Izumi seemed to like it though, a soft sigh, so sweet it could be confused with a moan, being pressed against Mika’s own mouth as he leaned down to kiss him again.

“It’s almost time, we should get going…” Izumi mumbled against his lips, tenderly stepping away from Mika’s weak hold.

Yes, none of that was the hard part. If anything, it was a reward to him.

The hard part was the actual party.

Styled like a cocktail party, with the guests all standing around the beautiful longue, it wasn’t as demanding nor mentally grating as a normal drinking party at an Izakaya might be. Grateful as he was about that, his own resistance to it all – from the crowds to the smell of alcohol to the small talk – seemed to wear down rather quickly.

“This is Kagehira, a junior of mine from ES and member of the highly popular Valkyrie. He said he’d like to make some acquaintances in the modeling industry so I invited him over” Izumi introduced him, lies forming in his mouth with astonishing ease.

It’s not like they could say the truth – idols weren’t supposed to date.

“Ah, thank ya’ kindly. I’m Kagehira Mika, nice ta’ meet ya-”

“Oh, with a face like that, I can see why you’d want to branch out to modelling. May I interest you in our agency for that-” Fake smiles and rehearsed offers, he’d heard them all today, the dodging turning exhausting.

“Ah, scouting him when I’m right here?” Izumi jumped in just as Mika was starting to check out, guiding the conversation into a different topic and allowing him to rest.

It happened again, and again. Izumi must have done an amazing job, because despite his own awkwardness, people kept flocking to him – asking for his information, his card, a chance to work with him, even just a photo together.

He tried his best to be properly social – to not be an embarrassment to Izumi. But he often ended up being shielded by the model’s higher social skills…

“You okay Kage-kun? You’re looking kind of pale…” Izumi mumbled, rubbing Mika’s forearm in a caring way.

They were now by the aperitives, far enough into a corner to have a conversation without anyone watching them.

“Ah… na, ‘m fine Izu-chan… don’t wanna be a burden.” He mumbled, already feeling the exhaustion climb into his shoulders, turned into knots. “Ya still have some greetin’s to get thru yeh?”

Izumi nodded slightly, perfectly blue eyes shifting around the room as if to find his next targets before returning to him – mild concern still shining through. He felt the warmth of soft fingers covertly reaching for his hand, caressing his knuckles reassuringly.

“…then, want to take a break here? If you’re eating they won’t try to talk to you. It’s a… politeness thing, I guess.” Izumi offered, locking his single index around Mika’s.

He felt his heart flutter, his social battery charging up just a bit at the soft, concerned touch.

He nodded.

“I’ll be back in a while. If anyone talks to you just act aloof and uninterested, it suits your look for today.” Izumi gave him an almost haughty smile – clearly proud of his work on him- pulling away ever so gently “If they are too intense you can accept their business cards, but don’t agree to anything, okay? Or I’ll be real jealous~”

Izumi’s tone made it hard to tell if he was serious or not, but it was most likely just a joke to ease Mika’s nerves. Still, he liked the thought of it being true. Of Izumi being jealous of him of all people. Wouldn’t that be funny?

He stayed by the food, as Izumi had suggested, chewing everything very slowly as to buy time. Still, he got more than a few curious looks and more than enough scouts and girls approaching him, asking him what his agency was or in what magazine was he appearing.

He gave brief replies, and focused on the food, attempting to follow Izumi’s suggestion of being ‘aloof’. It seemed to work – people left his side soon enough, but never seemed offput. They would still smile his way and throw some glances in his direction from time to time.

Just how nice had Izumi made him look? He hadn’t really paid all that much attention, still rather apprehensive about mirrors, and far too busy looking at his partner for the night the whole time…

Talking of which, he hadn’t returned in a while… was he that busy?

He shook his head no as another tray of champagne and wine was offered in his direction, eyes instead scanning the room for familiar silver hair.

He wasn’t by the drinks… nor the window… not the door…

He walked around a bit, trying to get a better look of the floor – eyes jumping between unfamiliar faces with increasing speed, until-

Ah, there he was. He seemed to be busy chatting with some other models – a group of maybe four young guys surrounding him. They were tall – probably all over 180cm, and looked just the part, with their fancy clothes and their perfectly fixed hair.

He felt a knot in his throat.

One of the guys leaned in, resting an arm with nonchalant ease on Izumi’s shoulder. He could feel his teeth clench and his fists tighten instantly. The dark, heavy feeling he’d experienced over Christmas somehow returning full of claws and teeth and a fierce desire to deck that stupid guy in the face.

No.

He shook his head, vanishing the thought as best he could.

He wasn’t about to make a scene in one of Izumi’s important work events.

He refused.

He had to be good.

He was told to stay by the aperitives, so he would.

He turned his feet towards the aperitives table, but still threw a cautious look in Izumi’s direction. The guy was at a respectable distance now. Izumi had probably pushed him away on his own.

He let out a breath he didn’t knew he was holding.

That’s right.

There was nothing to worry about.

Having gained some ease of mind he continued his walk to the aperitives table. Maybe gnawing on something hard and meaty would help with this aggressiveness…

“Ah, you’re Kagehira Mika, right?” He heard his name in a meek, sweet voice and turned towards it.

It was a couple of models, probably around his own age – wearing pretty dresses with big cleavages and lots of frills. He stared, maybe a bit too much – the golden details in their outfits rather appealing to his trained eye.

“Ah, I knew it! You look a bit different from usual so I wasn’t sure at first” One of the girls giggled. The pearl decorations hanging from the hems of her skirt moving along with her, and catching in the light “But I’m a big Valkyrie fan~ I could just tell it was you.”

“Ah…for real? I’m glad to hear that. Thank ya kindly fer yer support” he gave her his best idol smile, repeating the words he often used in fan-meetings.

“Are you getting into modeling, maybe?” the other girl cut in with a wide smile, throwing him a bit off pace “I always said you’d be perfect for it, you’re just so handsome~”

She immediately giggled, hiding her face behind his hands as if she was just too embarrassed to look directly at him.

He gave a dry laugh, not really sure how else to answer to that.

“Do you already have an agency? If not, maybe you can come to ours.” The first girl started, reaching forward to hold onto his hand.

“Oh yes. We’d love to work with you sometime-” the other girl immediately walking into his personal space, wrapping both arms around on of Mika’s own-

He gave another dry laugh, whole body tensing at the unexpected situation, brain failing to give him a proper way out of it.

Izumi had said to be aloof, but he couldn’t really do that to a fan, could he…?

“There’s going to be a group shoot next week for this really fancy brand that I think would suit you sooo well. You’re so hot I’m sure you can get in no issue~” the girls continued to chatter around him, moving on ahead with their plans when he failed to answer either way.

This was bad. He needed to cut them off…

Hetero-chromic eyes irremediably dragged themselves back to Izumi, as if the sight of him could give him an answer… and just as he found him, he felt his blood freeze.

Izumi was being held again – a strong arm around his shoulders as he slumped against a guy…

Alarm bells rang violently inside his head and he swear he could taste blood.

The girls were saying something else, but he wasn’t hearing anymore. Eyes completely fixed in his boyfriend, trying to get a read of the situation.

He was surrounded by the laughing models, leaning most of his weight against the tallest one – whose arm was now tightly wrapped around his shoulders. He wasn’t exactly sure when had it happened, but an empty glass of champagne was still in the tip of his white fingers…

“’m sorry, gotta go-” he dropped in a cold monotone, forcefully shaking off the tiny hands keeping him prisoner and rushing off into the crowd before their startled owners could even react.

He pressed forward, and forward through the crowd, as fast as his feet would allow him –

He didn’t feel alive until he was able to grab Izumi’s warm body in his own arms, away from the guy that was playfully holding him up until then.

“Sena-kun, ya alrigh’?”

“Ah, you’re Sena’s friend? That’s good, this guy got plastered on a single glass of champagne, can you believe that?” the guy laughed heartily, and his friends laughed too.

It didn’t seem like they had anything to hide – no bad intentions in their eyes

“Haah? I ain’t… drunk, you dumbass. You said I couldn’t drink, so I did” Izumi growled, supporting himself on Mika’s shoulder to complain “Now say you were wrong.”

The guys laughed again, the sight of a drunk Sena, face all red and words slurring, apparently hilarious to them.

“I see, I better take’im back then” he gave his best fake smile, hands gently holding Izumi’s torso against his own.

“Hah? I ain’t gooooingg Kage-kun… I’ven’t gotten my apologyyy yet” he slurred. His breath, all too close to Mika’s face, smelled of sweet champagne.

“Yes, yes, we’re sorry senpai~” the boys laughed, giving him a small wave as Mika tried to drag him off the floor.

“You’re not sinceeereee, apologize properly!” Izumi insisted, fighting with arms and legs as his voice raised in pitch and volume.

Mika lowered his head in apology to the few that turned their heads to them.

“’m sorry. Senpai got a bit drunk so imma take ‘im home” he excused as he could, dragging the small body off the floor with surprising ease.

…

(Read the rest on AO3)

[cutebeast64]

Not so lonely birthday (MikaIzu)

A fanfic for Mika's bday (originally posted Dec 30, 2024)

Summary:

It was fine. With how busy things got around the end of the year, he’d already resigned himself to spend it working. And in all honesty, it was probably for the best. At least if he was busy, he didn’t have time to think of anything stupid, like wanting to have a Christmas date with Izumi… He must had become greedy without realizing it. In which Mika thinks he's going to spend his birthday alone - but gets a happy surprise. [POV Mika, totally self-indulgent MikaIzu]

Pairing: Ensemble stars, Mika Kagehira x Izumi Sena

Rating: G, fluff

Word Count: 3,476

(Vaguely a continuation from Love you Forever)

AO3 Link

***

It was still early; the sun barely peaking past the city line and the breeze chilly against his cheeks.

He should have grabbed his gloves.

But the dorm was close, and he was distracted...

Sinking both hands into his uniform pockets, Mika picked up the pace slightly, careful not to slip on the small frozen patches down the road. Tiny piles of snow and mostly-melted snowmen last reminders of what had been a white Christmas.

He let out a sigh – loneliness turning into white clouds as it left his lips.

It was fine.

With how busy things got around the end of the year, he’d already resigned himself to spend it working. And in all honesty, it was probably for the best. At least if he was busy, he didn’t have time to think of anything stupid, like wanting to have a Christmas date with Izumi…

No, no, no, no.

He shook his head vigorously. That was the exact line of thought he had to ignore.

Izumi was busy. Even more than him. He’d spent the eve at a sponsored party and Christmas performing in an ES event. Not to mention the exhaustion from the sudden trip from Italy and many other meetings and odd jobs…

If anything, he should be glad he even got to see him in person during Christmas – even if it was from a distance, barely exchanging glances and waves whenever they could. And he was! He truly was! The sight of Izumi, looking even more beautiful than usual in his Christmas set-up had to be a Christmas miracle, and he was so sure that sight alone would be enough to last him until next year.

And yet… He must had become greedy without realizing it.

Because he came to know what Izumi’s warmth felt like in his hands, and how his kisses tasted like against his mouth– cherry chap-stick and soft delight – he couldn’t keep his mind from wondering.

How would it feel to caress his cheeks? To touch his hair? To hold his hand?

How warm his body under Mika’s touch? How sweet his purrs? How salty his tears? How beautiful his face when lost in the moment…?

He shook his face again – his face burning hot despite the punishing freezing wind.

He needed to focus in his job.

…

He ate breakfast with Anzu, her company a godsend. Her completely lack of interest in anything other than work allowing him to shift his focus from the never-ending mess of thoughts inside his head to the Birthday Event photoshoot.

Anzu’s excitement about the stage and outfits was so contagious, in fact, that Mika soon found himself just as excited about the whole thing. And much to his gratefulness, even the photographer was a really nice guy, easily throwing compliments his way.

It made the whole ordeal feel easier, hours flying by as he changed into different outfits, stood in different sets, and tried all sort of poses.

By the end of the session, Anzu asked for a last cheki – one to remember the day, and he smiled in quick agreement before a single thought poked at him.

“Ah, wait… Uh, can’ya maybe take an extra one?” he mumbled, getting a questioning tilt of the head from the girl “Ah… I just, uh, kinda wanna hold onto a copy myself s’all…”

She seemed confused, but still agreed, taking the two extra chekis – one for herself, which he promptly signed, and one for him, which he immediately put into his pocket, not allowing himself any time to regret asking for it.

After all, he was probably being stupid.

Even if Izumi’s birthday cheki - a two-shot of them side by side, elegant penmanship decorating the sight with a “Don’t you dare to look away from me”- was like a treasure for him, that didn’t mean Izumi would feel the same about a cheki from him…

Ah… there came the regret.

…

Mika gave a last bow forward as the sets were dismantled, thanking the staff for their support across the event. Anzu smiled back, prompting him to return already – there were a few hours left for him to celebrate his birthday, so he should leave the clean up to them and go, she insisted.

It didn’t feel quite right to leave without helping, and he didn’t have any particular plans for the day, but she was determined. She insisted, and insisted, and insisted…

“If you have no plans then at least get some rest” with that simple phrase, she unceremoniously pushed him out into the elevator hall.

Silence fell as soon as the door shut on his face.

With most of the remaining staff gathered back in the event room, the halls felt almost disturbingly empty.

He frowned, shoulders sagging and body slouching as soon as he was out of view from the cameras, exhaustion catching up to him…

Just as the thought came to mind a loud yawn escaped his lips… Feeling slightly disappointed about the anticlimactic ending, he turned his heels and pressed the elevator’s down button. A tired pair of eyes looked back at him from his reflection on the silver finish in the door.

Guess he could always catch up on sleep?

Ding

The elevator ride was silent and long enough to gnaw at this mind, tearing open the barely stitched together loneliness in his heart…

He was asking for too much…

“You’re late! The hell were you doing for the event to last this long?” An annoyed voice greeted him as soon as he stepped off the elevator, forcing him to look up from the ground and into the trap of icy blue eyes.

“…eh… uh… Huwaah?? I-Izu-chan??? Wha-?”

“Don’t ‘wha-’ me. I can’t believe you had me waiting this long! The nerve!” the model complained, looking down at him from a few more centimeters up than usual… was he wearing heels?

He gave a quick look down. Izumi’s outfit…

“…that coat…”

“Huh? My coat? I told you I had a meeting at a modeling agency, didn’t I?” He still sounded a bit snappy, but the comment seemed to distract him slightly. Blue eyes skipping to the closest reflective surface as if to check himself, fingers quickly moving up to check the odd blue earring on his left ear and groom his already perfect silver hair “What kind of idiot would wear anything but their best outfit for something like that?” “

His best outfit.

Mika gulped down, only barely managing to contain his breath. That was the coat he made for Izumi. His birthday present to him, tenderly sewn by hand through a few months of embarrassingly devoted work…

“I-Izu-chan… didn’t know ya liked it that much… makes me real happy, though… it’s kinda… embarrassing” he admitted, feeling his face immediately burn in embarrassment.

“A-ah!” Izumi’s mouth dropped, and he flailed silently for a second as he came to realize what he’d just said. Anger easily fizzling out into embarrassment, his beautiful cheeks soon dusted red. “N-never-mind that! Don’t you have something to say to me after having me wait for so long?”

A different kind of frown now gracing his features, he fixed his fierce blue eyes in Mika- and nothing but Mika.

To be quite fair, he didn’t remember making any promises to meet with Izumi today – and he was confident in his memory. He knew Izumi’s schedule by heart, from even before they started dating – every meeting, photoshoot, event, performance, variety show, recording and interview.

Was that kind of weird and off-putting? Probably. Which is why he never quite mentioned it to Izumi’s face.

More importantly, now that he’d won the privileges of an official boyfriend, he got to hear all about Izumi’s plans directly from him, and noting it all up on his very own scheduler was not weird anymore! Probably!

All that’s to say, today’s meeting should have been longer. He was pretty sure it included a drinking session afterwards, as it was often the case with end-of-the-year meetings. Had Izumi skipped out on it?

Not that it mattered to him.

“’m sorry to make ya wait!” he chirped, his smile wide enough he felt his cheeks hurt. Any thought that wasn’t that of pleasing the model before him immediately trashed as useless.

He got to spend his birthday with the love of his life, what was there to overthink?

“…as long as you understand…” Izumi mumbled, face turning even redder.

Before he could have the time to voice up the million compliments that were already flooding his mind, Izumi had already moved again - charmingly spinning on his golden high-heel like a fluttering butterfly as he snuck his way to Mika’s side, linking their arms together as if that was the obvious move.

Which it probably was since they were dating.

He felt his heart jump, his own face heating up probably as much as his boyfriend’s.

The entrance was mostly empty by now, and by now, most staff hardly had it in them to question the overly touchy-feely behavior of Yumenosaki graduates, so there were no preying eyes to worry about.

“You’ve made me wait long enough, let’s get going already~” he huffed, tugging slightly from Mika’s arm as he started to walk. And Mika easily followed suit.

…

“Are you sure this is good enough?” Izumi gave him a complicated look as he stirred some vegetables – the simple white ribbon of the apron marking his thin waist despite the fluffy sweater he was still wearing.

By the time they had left the ES building, the options of restaurants and cafes was severely limited. Whatever wasn’t bursting with crowds would most likely require a reservation they didn’t have.

Izumi seemed terribly bothered by it – this less-than-ideal situation. He spend a good time snapping and hissing as he went through the options in his phone, often throwing little biting remarks at Mika for taking so long at work, only to eventually give up with a sigh.

Mika didn’t understand what was there to be mad about. He would have been happy enough just watching Izumi bicker with his phone for the rest of the evening, to be quite honest.

He was, in fact, positively elated.

The lack of reservation made him think his previous assertion had been right. Izumi had most likely turned down the drinking party at the last moment, just to spend time with him.

How could he Not be happy about that?

In the end, they settled for eating at the dorm, with Izumi cooking. Luckily, no one else was in the dorm common space at this time – either sleeping, or working, or out partying, adding to the feeling of intimacy.

However, Izumi seemed a bit unsure, even now, giving him conflicted looks he couldn’t even begin to decipher as he worked through the meal.

Eventually, his long rant about how annoying the people at the modeling agency was and how boring the meeting he went to, ended abruptly with that question.

“Are you sure this is good enough?”

“Uwa? Whatcha mean?” He wondered, tilting his head to the right.

“…I mean… I’m just here ranting about my day, cooking a simple meal with whatever leftovers I found in the freezer…” Izumi started, the movement of his slender white hand as he stirred the vegetables as graceful as everything he did “It doesn’t… are you really okay with only this? Maybe I can get a reservation for some place you like tomorrow…”

“Unuh… it’s fine” he chirped, resting his face in his hands.

The loneliness that had threatened to swallow him whole early in the day was completely gone. Replaced with the bubbling warmth of this perfectly domestic sight, the kind of which he’d be too embarrassed to even dream about – the person he loved cooking for him.

“…you sure?” Izumi asked again, brows slightly furrowed.

“Ah, I ain’t sayin’ no to going out withcha! Whenever ya want. Tomorrow, the day after. Any other day of the year. But… I’m more than happy with this today.”

“…you are?” Izumi insisted, silver hair swaying over his confused eyes as he crooked his head ever so slightly. The odd blue earring on his right ear catching onto the light beautifully.

He smiled. How could he not?

“Yep. I get the person I love most in the world cookin’ somethin’ just for me. That’s all I need to be happy~”

“You’re such an idiot” Izumi snapped, turning off the stove with a single move; bright red cheeks and trembling lips betraying how happy he actually was. “Why don’t you get the table ready instead of going on the sappy stuff?”

“’kay~” he smiled, leaving his privileged spot sitting by the kitchen counter to help Izumi set the plates and serve the meal.

Despite Izumi’s grievances about it being a ‘simple meal’, the result was anything but. There was tonjiru soup, takikomi gohan, stir-fry vegetables, sweet tamagoyaki and meat stew. A perfect Japanese meal, if Mika could say so himself – and it all smelled delicious.

“Wah, I think I might be the happiest man on Earth right now” he babbled, sitting down on his side of the table – a very specific warmth feeling his heart as he looked over all the plates.

If he could eat this every day of his life, he wouldn’t have nothing to complain about ever again.

“You haven’t even started eating, idiot.” Izumi pouted, the redness on his face spreading all the way to his ears. “I-it’s just cooking, I can do that for you whenever you want…”

“For real? Will ya?” he jumped up to standing and Izumi frowned again.

“Sit down, idiot.” He mumbled, pressing his hand against Mika’s shoulder so he’d be sitting again. Despite that, he didn’t move to sitting just yet, moving to the back of his room instead.

“Izu-chan? Aintcha eatin’?” he questioned, turning around to try and find the figure of his boyfriend.

“Don’t look this way, idiot” Izumi growled and he immediately turned back to the front, stiff as a board “Tch…I’m going, just wait a second.”

There was a bit of ruffling, and then the quiet sound of steps as Izumi approached him from behind. He gulped, unsure of whether he could turn now or if he should still stare in front of him.

“You can turn now if you want, dummy” Izumi mumbled, no bite nor venom in his words, a single cold digit poking at Mika’s cheek.

Slow, almost hesitant, Mika turned his gaze to Izumi. To his beautiful figure, standing proud and elegant on his side – cute red in his cheeks and... a paper bag, bright red with white snowflakes (clearly a Christmas design) in his hand.

“I got you an actual present, you know?” Izumi mumbled, offering the bag forward “Merry Christmas… I wanted to hand it to you yesterday but didn’t get the chance… t-too many people watching.”

Mika’s heart thumped once, shaky hands moving over to receive the bag.

“C-can I?”

“Be fast, the meal will grow cold” Izumi protested weakly, and Mika nodded, tearing the ribbon keeping the bag shut, and reaching inside.

There was a knitted pair of gloves, purple and light-green, the design one of skeletal hands. His eyes sparkled at the intricate design – one probably rather hard to accomplish in knitting.

“…you like creepy things like that, don’t you?” Izumi mumbled, maybe nervous because of Mika’s lack of words.

“I do! I love ‘em! Ya did ‘em for me? They’re perfect! Ah, I also-” he chirped, jumping back to his feet so he could look Izumi in the eye, grabbing his soft hands in his…just to notice another strap on Izumi’s left hand “Uh?”

“Ah…” Izumi bit down on the softness of his lower lip, and retreated just enough to release his left hand from Mika’s hold, revealing a second, much smaller present bag “…that was only the Christmas present. This is… for your birthday”

Eyes swimming as far away from Mika’s gaze as possible and fingers rather fidgety with nerves, Izumi offered forward the second present bag.

Taken by surprised, Mika nervously accepted it forward.

Inside the simply designed black bag, there was a smaller box, wrapped in gift paper.

He gave a single curious look up at Izumi… the odd blue earring bouncing lightly when he nodded for him to open it.

Feeling his hear thump with excitement, he grabbed for the smaller box – unceremoniously tearing the wrapping to pieces to discover a rather elegant looking box. Golden letters on the side probably the name of some brand Mika wasn’t terribly knowledgeable about.

It didn’t matter. Anything Izumi got him would be perfect. He was sure.

He opened the box with a single movement, discovering a single blue earring in a set of two, the other one gone from the box already…

His eyes widened.

It was the same design as the single odd blue earring in Izumi’s ear. The one that’d been catching his attention through the whole night.

“…this…?”

“…I saw them at the store and thought… it’d be nice if we could have one each… the set, won’t be complete without… the two of us” He stumbled slightly on his words, long eyelashes fluttering softly and lips pursed sweetly, showing just how embarrassing the idea was to admit.

He could feel his chest tightening. His heart beating hard enough to tear a hole through his ribcage and run right into his rightful owner, standing so beautifully right in front of him.

“…I-is it too much?” Izumi mumbled when Mika lost his words, beautiful blue eyes finally looking at him with a hint of worry.

As if.

He shook his head no as fast as he could.

“…I… I love it!” he dropped. Even though the words were barely enough to convey how he felt.

Izumi’s jolted slightly, as if he wasn’t expecting just a passionate response – his blue eyes finally returning to Mika’s face. Soft, and warm and… loving in a way he wasn’t sure he’d ever seen before.

“I’m glad” he smiled, a soft hand reaching up for Mika’s cheek to keep him in place as he leaned up to press a kiss against his lips “Happy birthday, Kage-chan.”

Was a man allowed this much happiness? He felt even more satisfied and fulfilled than on Izumi’s birthday, despite that feeling impossible just a few hours ago.

“Ah…” he let out, suddenly remembering something.

“Mn?” Izumi hummed his questions against Mika’s lips, still so close Mika could swear he could feel his eyelashes tickling his cheek when he looked up.

“I’ve somethin’ for ya too… I mean, the Christmas present ‘sn my room, so I can’t give it to ya now but…” he quickly reached into his back pocket. Where he’d put away the cheki he’d asked for before. “I… don’t know if ya’d want one, but since ya gave me one on yer birthday…”

He explained himself as he put the single cheki on Izumi’s soft white hand, hoping the present wouldn’t come as too narcissistic.

“Hmn, it’s kind of annoying”

“Uwa---awawawa? I-is it? Ah… I… I’m-” he panicked, but his attempt of apologizing was soon thwarted by the feeling of slender arms wrapping themselves around his neck, pulling him in closer

“Yeah, it’s su~per annoying that soo~ many people get to have photos of my boyfriend just because they bought a few event tickets and what not.” He huffed, pressing a possessive kiss against the corner of Mika’s mouth “I get only one and it isn’t even signed, isn’t that annoying?”

Oh, he was about to short-circuit. He could feel his thoughts leaving his brain one at a time, his hands struggling to put down the presents so he could reach out for the enticing waist, so close to him…

“I… I wasn’t sure you’d want it so…” he tried to excuse himself, the words failing him.

Izumi smelled so nicely… like… mint and lilies…

“Why wouldn’t I want it? Don’t you know my boyfriend is one of the ten hottest idols?”

“Hehe… ya hadn’t forgotten ‘bout that one?” he chuckled in embarrassment, his eyes inevitably glued to the softness of Izumi’s lips as his mind could do little more than wish for another kiss

“I would never” Izumi joked, his lips almost grazing Mika’s as he whispered into his mouth “The meal is gonna get cold.”

With those simple words and an elegant twirl, the beautiful butterfly fluttered away from his grasp and back to the table, leaving him light-headed and flustered…

“Ah, but you better sign this up after we eat, okay? I think Isara keeps some glitter pens in his desk so we can borrow them later.” He hummed to himself, happily looking at the cheki in his hands – his expression that of a girl in love.

…ah… this really was love wasn’t it?

This birthday truly was perfect.

[cutebeast64]

Love you forever (MikaIzu)

A fanfic for Izumi's bday (originally posted Nov 2, 2024)

Summary:

Maybe Shu was right, and God truly answered to sincerity, because his hopes were answered. -after dating long-distance for a few months, Mika gets the chance to spend some time with Izumi for his birthday. He tries to make it special. Or, Mika is trying really hard not to be too overbearing while being totally head over heels for Izumi. [POV Mika, totally self-indulgent MikaIzu]

Pairing: Ensemble stars, Mika Kagehira x Izumi Sena

Rating: G, fluff

Word Count: 3,309

AO3 Link

***

It was still early in the morning when he saw Izumi.

Sunlight was barely seeping through the glass walls at the topmost floors of Ensemble Square, warm light cutting through the dim coldness of these late-autumn mornings. Normally, he wouldn’t even have a reason to be here – Cosmic Production’s floor at least 10 floors further up. And yet, here he was, almost hopeful; in his hands the until-now forgotten box of birthday props they’d used for Shu’s birthday a few days ago.

He'd been awake since way before daybreak, and too anxious in his own skin to go back to sleep, he’d gone to Ensemble Square, in his mind the hope to distract himself by adding more mindless details to the personal project hanged in his personal space - the one he was supposed to be done with a few days ago, in fact. He was barely stepping into the building, already animated by the many different workers settling into their posts, when his Hold-Hands buzzed with a message from a sleep-deprived Anzu, as overworked as ever, talking about a box of props she’d overlooked. He offered without thinking- the earnest thanks he received in exchange, despite his intentions being purely selfish making him feel apologetic...

Still, here he was…

And maybe Shu was right, and God truly answered to sincerity, because his hopes were answered.

He was just leaving the box in its designated spot, mulling over whether to linger around for a bit longer -maybe offer to help with the decorations – when the elevator rang at the end of the hall.

And just like that, Izumi was here. His steps confident, his stride graceful. Even the standard uniform with its white jacket and navy slacks suited him all too well. His eyes were focusing in the floor, a few steps ahead – apparently too deep in thought to spare a glance to his surroundings.

He was always so serious about everything related to work… such a hard-worker.

He lowered his own gaze, feeling guilty yet again – to think he didn’t even have the discipline to wait a few more hours when Izumi was working this hard from early in the morning…

Maybe he should slip away back to his workroom before Izumi noticed him…

He tried stepping back, but Izumi’s blue eyes were already on him. The golden light of morning coming through in just the right moment and angle to hit his face, his silver hair shimmering beautifully like threads of moonlight.

Izumi’s eyes widened in mild surprise. His expression turned somewhat shy as he made a quick check of his face in the closest reflective surface (maybe checking his makeup?), but he soon turned his gaze back to him, giving him a small wave and a thin smile.

Mika gulped, his heart suddenly thumping a bit harder. An awkward jolt up followed by an almost robotic attempt of returning the hand-wave. His face must have been as decomposed of a mess as the rest of his movements because Izumi was giggling the next second, barely hiding it with the back of his hand.

“I-di-ot” Izumi mouthed the word without any sound as he went by him in a brisk step, soft glossy lips -a bit too tempting for him- still gently upturned in a smile.

He swallowed hard his every impulse and thought, and hiding his already furiously burning cheeks as best he could, he rushed out of the 7th floor…

A few more hours, he told himself…

…

A day had never moved slower, he thought as he gazed into the unmovable face of the clock on the wall for the... how many times was it? He’d stopped counting sometime around 10 am, and it was way past noon now… Maybe a couple hundreds? No, not that many, surely… Though, who could say?

He returned his gaze to the fabric in between his fingers – the lace decorations he’d started out of a whim already done… he shouldn’t add anymore things, surely. He was sure Shu would agree with that.

And yet, he still felt restless… the memory of Izumi’s soft smile, burning somewhere deep inside his head.

It’s been so long since they’d last seen each other in person… they’d even missed each other on Shu’s birthday and on the Halloween event. Not that they would have had any time to chat, as Izumi kept hoping around, not a second to breath –all his Knights’ related work compacted into a hell schedule for the few days he was back in Japan…

He sighed.

He’d promised himself he wouldn’t be overbearing. That he wouldn’t be the type of jealous, demanding boyfriend a part of him was sure he’d become if left to his own devices. It was already a miracle that Izumi agreed to date him – he would surely get struck by lighting or dragged to hell if he got any greedier…

You just need to wait a little more. Just a little more.

He kept repeating as he packed his things, and changed his clothes, and fixed his hair and even as he turned off the lights of his workspace.

Just a bit more. Maybe an hour… or two… or three…

He tried to tell himself, but he was already back on the 7th floor before he could fully stop himself.

It was still fine… right? Like… borderline okay. Surely.

He wouldn’t interrupt. He wouldn’t bother. He was just… checking.

No matter how much of a perfectionist Izumi was, he couldn’t possibly take longer to finish the photoshoot than Shu, right? And he was done around this hour…

He would just… take a little, tiny, itsy, bitsy, look…

The lights were still on, the set was still being used. The flashes surrounded a perfectly professional Izumi, spinning around into perfectly planned poses, like one of Shu’s beautiful dolls.

Left without breath, he slumped onto the closest wall, throwing longing stares at his long-distance boyfriend, for once so close home…

Izumi spun on his heels yet again, the black suit-jacket turning with such flourish it could surely go for a fashion editorial rather than a simple cheki… what a waste. It made him understand Shu’s grieves about the world losing art to consumerism…

Ah…

A bit too distracted he forgot to hide himself, blue eyes finding him where he stood.

Oh no.

He flinched back, attempting to melt into the shadows when Izumi turned around to answer Anzu’s question… it seemed like the photoshoot was almost done. He should just, go to the first floor and wait there. Yes, that would be better.

“Kage-kun~? Where do you think you’re going?” The sweet voice he loved to hear called in a playfully annoyed singsong, the clack-clack of high-heels catching up to him before he could even reach the elevator “Geez, you sure have guts, making me run after you.”

Izumi huffed, his cheeks slightly red – was it because of the tiny run or something else?. He reached forward, slightly cold fingertips closing around Mika’s warm wrist – the temperature difference giving him a small chill.

“Here, you’re coming with me.” He demanded, pulling him back to the set.

He gulped down, unable to say a thing. Unable to fight back when all he wanted was more of that chilly touch on his skin.

Before he noticed he was in the middle of the set, Anzu smiling tiredly at him.

“Get a bit closer.” Izumi almost demanded, standing in front of the blue roses from the stand, and he nervously complied “Stop with that face, you’re making this look like a hostage situation when it should be a light-hearted cheki”

“A… cheki?” He finally found his voice, awkwardly turning to look at Izumi.

“Uh, yeah?” Izumi seemed almost confused by Mika’s own confusion “The whole set and cameras are already here, so might as well, right? I already took one with Anzu-chan~”

Izumi smiled, in that somewhat-mean way his underclassmen often feared, and Anzu let out a dry ‘haha’.

He looked back at Izumi, those blue eyes back on him.

“… ‘r ya sure?” he mumbled, unable to keep his mouth shut.

Izumi blinked twice, head tilting slightly to the side.

“Huh? What kind of stupid question is that?” he mumbled, moving in a bit closer to Mika – long fingers resting tenderly on his shoulder “Don’t worry, you’re looking handsome enough to stand by my side. So how about you smile?”

The last words came in a playful singsong, getting another thump from his already unbridled heart.

He took one deep breath - invoking the stage presence he only ever used for Valkyrie’s performances to stand proudly besides the single most beautiful person in the whole world.

The cameras flashed a couple of times… and then it was done.

Anzu smiled. The cheki was looking good, she said.

“Oh yeah?” Izumi pondered out-loud, a confident strut as he approached her from the side, peeking at the photo from over her shoulder “You’re right. Not bad at all~ Seems like Valkyrie is learning a bit of fanservice, huh?”

He chirped, giving Mika a teasing look as he snatched a glitter marker from the desk, quickly scribbling something over the photo. He shook it in the air to dry it and once satisfied with it, he slipped it in Mika’s pocket with a smile.

…

He still had to wait some more. A couple formalities here and there, some greetings and presents and such before Izumi could finally be free…

But finally, it was time.

The sun was painting the clouds red and orange when a soft finger reached to poke his cheek.

“Found a lost puppy” Izumi teased, lips curled into a smile as he pulled the usual tease “Don’t you have anything better to do than sit there idly, Mr. top 10 hottest idols?”

He hadn’t got tired of that one – even though the article he reference was already more than 6 months old.

“It’s the event over?” he asked, desperation maybe a bit too palpable in his voice.

“You think I’d be down here if it wasn’t?”

“…nha… no...” he admitted, dodging the icy look from Izumi – raised eyebrow in judgment and all- by staring at the floor instead.

“Well, then get on your feet and let’s get going. Don’t want to be late for the reservation” Izumi insisted, pulling from his sleeve.

He obeyed easily, quickly lining up to Izumi’s right as they left the building.

…

The restaurant he’d reserved was a new and trendy spot with sea view and golden chandleries – recommended by Arashi Narukami herself, and admittedly, a few levels too fancy for Mika. In fact, it was half the reason he’d ditched his usual alternative grungy clothes for a fancier ‘high-fashion’ look, proper collar shirt included. The other half was wanting to match Izumi’s taste for at least once…

Either way, he felt self-conscious surrounded by all the other patrons in their fancy clothes. Like an intruder who would soon be found out.

He held it together by the single thread of Izumi’s approving smile.

“Heh, so this is the place you reserved.” he smiled, shedding his jacket and settling on his chair “Naru-chan’s been talking quite a bit about it so I was a bit curious~”

“Ah, I’m glad~” he answered, awkwardly trying to match Izumi’s graceful movements as he got off his own jacket.

Izumi chuckled, fingers reaching forward to help him with it.

Ordering was just as though – the menu a bit too full of katakana and foreign languages for him to get. Luckily, Izumi didn’t seem bothered by it, promptly helping him navigate it and even reading the names of the Italian plates for him, the words rolling beautifully off his mouth each and every single time.

They chatted about work, about life – about the same things they would often talk about over the phone. It just felt, nicer when Izumi was right in front of him. Where he could feel the scent of his cologne and the warmth of his feet, playfully tapping him under the table.

“So, why this place?” Izumi asked with a teasing smile, as Mika struggled yet again with the fork and knife, a bit too used to chopsticks “It doesn’t seem like a place you’d like.”

“Oh… was it weird? It’s yer birthday so I wanted to take ya somewhe’e yed like.” He mumbled, maybe a bit too sincere.

Izum’s chuckled, shaking his head no at the question posed.

“Naru-chan’s recommendation?” he asked right away.

“…yeah…” he admitted, as embarrassing as that was.

“I knew it” Izumi laughed a bit to himself, his fork going through the different pieces of his salad before settling for a cherry tomato, he soon popped into his mouth “Thank you. But next time let’s go somewhere you’re comfortable in, yeah?”

Mika nodded, his expression softening into a smile, despite how hard his heart was beating.

…

The meal was over sooner than he’d expected, the amiable conversation slowly loosening his nerves. He paid it all – wanting to show off a bit – and soon enough they were back outside. In the slightly chilly wind, salty from the sea.

There wasn’t a lot more to say, but they kept ambling down the road, not quite wanting to get back to the dorms so soon.

Eventually, they found a bench looking into the ocean, and after exchanging some looks they sat on it, side by side at an awkward middle point between too far and too close. The inevitable awkwardness of barely a few dates down the road…

“Oh… I ain’t sure what the right timin’ wouldabe…” he remembered, getting Izumi to perk up “But… ah, h-happy birthday, Izu-chan.”

He lifted the black paper back he’d been carrying around, and offered it awkwardly.

Izumi’s eyes jumped from the bag, to his face, and back to the bag. His gesture a tad more timid as he reached forward to accept it.

“…can I… open it now?” he pondered out loud.

“…ah… y-yeah, if ya wanna.” He mumbled, eyes swimming around the dark silhouettes on the other side of the shore– both too scared and too excited about Izumi’s reaction to properly settle on where to look.

“Huh…?” the soft call immediately drew his eyes directly to Izumi’s face “Y-you… did you make this?”

Mika gulped and dropped his eyes right down to the ground, his every muscle and articulation suddenly feeling horribly tense.

“Ah… y-yeah… I… uh…i-is it… weird? I… ya don’t hafta-”

“No…” Izumi gazed softly upon the outfit. A shaped coat, in navy, white and gold – the shape and form improving on the current Italian’s trends he’d seen in the most recent magazines, while adding some of his personal heavily detailed taste. In fact, it might be a bit too charged with details for it to be truly ‘avant-garde fashion’, but he’d failed the minimalist trend again.

He just kept finding little details that would highlight Izumi’s beauty… adding more and more and more useless little things every single day…

“…these buttons…” Izumi mumbled, noticing the three moon-shaped buttons on the sleeves.

“Ah… I noticed yer phone case so I…” he couldn’t even finish the sentence, it felt too embarrassing. He might be too much of a stalker, even when he was trying his best not to be.

There was no audible response, so he nervously -fearfully even- returned his gaze to Izumi’s soft face.

His eyes seemed filled with every single star in the night sky – soft cheeks painted in the single most beautiful shade of pink.

“…so pretty…” he mumbled, and Izumi, suddenly realizing he was being looked at hid his face on the jacket. His still visible ears burning red still.

As if pulled by it, Mika also blushed at once, only to recoil into himself as he tried to vanish into his jacket.

There was a long silence, filled with nothing but the rap of the waves and the hammering sound of his beating heart… until…

“Huh? What’s this?” Izumi’s clear voice called again, so he dared a peek.

Izumi was back to his normal and collected self, the jacket lovingly folded now resting on his lap. His attention had shifted to the bottom of the paper bag…

“Ah… I kept gettin’ fidgety so, I did somethin’ else too…” Mika mumbled.

Coming from inside the bag, tenderly cradled in Izumi’s hand, was a grey-cat-plushie, dressed in a cute blue shirt with white lace all over. A simple collar on its neck, with a heart-shaped cushion pendant, embroidered with a small legend ‘love you forever’…

Izumi was left speechless again, blue eyes simply staring at it…

Oh, maybe it was too soon for an ‘I love you’? Had he overstepped himself again? They’d barely been dating for a few months! All of them long-distance! Oh, no… Naru-chan had warned him about this! About not being the kind of overbearing intense boyfriend that is already thinking of marriage by the third date. Oh damn… Oh, he was such an idiot… Now what?

“Ah, I… em… it ain’t that serious like… ya don’t hafta take it to heart, it just a…”

“…not serious?” Izumi’s blue eyes peered back at him; an indescribable emotion hidden in them. What was it? Disappointment? Anger?

He’d never wished to read minds as much as he did right now.

“I… No… I mean yes… wait no, like….kinda? I mean if ya like emm…” he stumbled on his words, almost biting his tongue twice or thrice in the process. This wasn’t working, Izumi’s frown kept settling further down. He shrunk into his jacket, eyes falling awkwardly to his own lap “… I… I’m sorry… I know it’s a bit much and all but… I do… love you. A lot… I keep thinkin’ ‘bout you all the time… all the things you’d like… everythin’ that would look good on you… all the things I wanna do together… I would spend every wakin’ moment by yer side if I could… I… know it’s a bit much, and ya even sayin’ yes to datin’ is like, more than I can wish for so… don’t feel like… pressured or anythin’, I can wait forever. Ah, that’s not, I mean… just, uh…don’t mind me I…”

“You’re an idiot.”

“Huh?” hit by the whiplash of Izumi’s sudden interruption, he whipped his head back to look at him, ready to apologize for everything, to make things right-

He didn’t have the chance to do any of that.

Izumi’s soft hand was already on the lapel of his jacket- a harsh, determined pull bringing him closer and just like that-

He stopped breathing.

On top of his lips, was the soft tenderness of Izumi’s own. The scent of the cherry chapstick he’d reapplied before leaving the restaurant swallowing him like a giant wave…

Izumi pulled back an eternally-long second later…

“…awah?”

“Don’t ‘awah’ me…” Izumi huffed, a sweet frown in his face. His cheeks completely red now “You can’t just say stuff like that. Are you an idiot?”

“I… uh? Wha?” his mind was barely processing a thing, too busy replaying the feeling of Izumi’s soft lips on his own.

Izumi sighed “No, of course you are. I don’t know why I even ask…”

Mind still reeling, Mika tried to form a question – a proper one. But before he even could, Izumi’s soft, cold fingertips were already reaching for his face. Holding his cheek ever so tenderly

“Look at me more” he whispered, leaning in to press a small kiss to the corner of Mika’s mouth “You said forever… better keep your word.”

Izumi’s hands slowly moved from his face, further down to his neck, easily locking around it… a third kiss following suit.

In the few moments of lucidity between the short-cuts these kisses were causing, Mika did wonder… if it was fair that he’d received so much even though it was Izumi’s birthday.