uncertainty

The Lovecen Appreciation Station. And then a couple of other things, mostly of the V6 variety. Delving into full blown mobage madness over at @otoroll. Lovecen Tales

[fumei]

Floptical Drive (🖤 Shounent̶ai) on Twitter

“[SALE] V6 Fans! I am unloading my stuff. This is just a few things I want to sell. I will be shipping from Canada and I promise you shipping WILL be expensive, so I prefer US & CAN buyers. I will ship abroad if you can afford it. #v6 #johnnys”

Hey y’all. It’s been a while, and part of that is work consuming me, Lovecen dying as a thing (RIP), and also me falling too heavily into the world of other mobage. Perhaps someday I’ll finally go back into that folder of screencaps and translate the rest of the event stories I have. (Also on that note, NEWS is getting a mobage and... no promises, we’ll see.)

But I figure if you followed this tumblr it was probably for the V6, so here’s a signal boost for a friend selling off some of her goods. I can vouch that they’ll be in amazing quality and she’s a responsible seller, so you won’t regret buying from her.

[fumei]

Well, if Okada was one scenario, then clearly our last boyfriend, Maa-kun, must be the other!

If you haven’t read the Okada story, I’m not going tell you which one it was.

I will, however, say that this last story has all the hallmarks of a Sakamoto story. All of them. Like, there is no possible way this could have been written for any other V6 member. Please try to stay alive. You know who you are.

Boyfriend Shirt Gacha Scenario: Sakamoto Masayuki version

One night after work, Sakamoto took you out for dinner to a Japanese tapas restaurant. The two of you sit at the counter, eating the sashimi recommended on the menu.

“Fish is delicious when it’s fresh,” you comment. “It’s amazing how much flavor you get in one bite.”

“Right? I wanted you to try this,” Sakamoto grins proudly. The two of you hadn’t made any plans for the night, but since he finished his jobs early, he messaged you. And I’m so glad he did...

Happiness is being able to see the person you love.

“...can you stay out a little longer?” The question comes out naturally as he checks his watch, and of course you check yours. It’s pretty late already. You’d still like to spend time with him, but he’s got work tomorrow too, and you don’t want to get in the way. “I shouldn’t be out too late, so I think I should head home soon,” you respond regretfully.

“That’s true...” He can’t deny your logic, but it doesn’t mean Sakamoto’s happy about it either. “Why?”

“No, it’s just... since we managed to see each other today, I just wanted to spend some more time with you.” He smiles shyly. “Sorry, am I being too needy?”

You’re weak to him. So weak. Especially when he does that.

“No... I’d like to stay with you longer myself.”

Sakamoto knows he’s sunk your battleship, and you can see the joy of victory dancing in his eyes. “Then let’s go to my place after this.”

...of course that was his goal. Of course. I know what you did there, Maa-kun.

His soft voice entreating you is the final straw, and you nod. “...okay.” You weren't even expecting to be able to spend this much time with him, and being with next to him makes you so happy you can’t hide it. Let’s be real, this also makes Maa-kun happy.

“Sorry, it’s a little messy since I invited you over spur of the moment,” he apologizes weakly as he heads to the kitchen. “Not at all,” you tell him, “It’s amazing you keep it so clean already with how busy you are.”

“As long as you’re comfortable,” he smiles, returning with two cans of beer. He plops himself down onto the sofa next to you with a small grunt, and you happily take one off his hands.

“Did you want something to eat? I can make dinner if you want,” Sakamoto offers. He always whips up a quick snack to go with your alcohol, but tonight you decline. “Thanks, but we ate so much at the restaurant that I’m stuffed.”

“I see. Then how about I cook Japanese for breakfast tomorrow?”

“I’m good with whatever you want, Maa-kun.”

The two of you idle away time like that, chatting gaily until you realize the clock is striking past midnight.

“We should hit the hay soon,” Sakamoto remarks with regret, “Time always flies when I’m with you.” He stands, collecting the empty beer cans. “You go take a bath first. I’ll leave you one of my shirts to change into.”

“Can I? Thanks.” You say this much more coolly than I imagine you actually might. Well, more than I would.

“Take your time,” he smiles.

When you get out of the bath, you put on the shirt you borrowed from Sakamoto and head for the bedroom, its sleeves loose and fluttering lightly from momentum. “I’m finished with the bath, Maa-kun,” you announce your presence.

“You’re out already? Are you sure you’re warmed enou...” his voice trails off when he sees you, and he laughs. “It really is big on you.”

“My hands are drowning in these sleeves,” you agree with a smile.

“Sorry,” he grimaces, patting you on the head, “That’s the only shirt I had that seemed like it would fit you.” He takes the sleeves and gently rolls them up for you. “...okay, now we’re set. I’ll go take a shower now. Go ahead and sleep if you’re tired.”

“No, I’ll stay up,” you insist. Since you’ve already gone to the trouble of staying over, you want to be together with him until you fall asleep.

Sakamoto smiles at your childish response. “I got it. But get in bed so you don’t get cold.” You obediently climb into bed and watch him head off to the bathroom before you pull out a book to read while you wait.

And then the next thing you know, you’re waking up, slowly rubbing the sleep out of your eyes.

“Oh, did I wake you?” You hear Sakamoto’s voice and look over to see him climbing into bed next to you.

“’m sorry,” you mumble, “I fell asleep, didn’t I?”

“Don’t worry about it, just sleep,” he lightly scolds you. He’s clearly just gotten out of the bath himself, and that freshly-cleaned smell wafts around you.

“But it feels like such a waste if I fall asleep,” you protest. Sakamoto shuts you down. The two of you have work tomorrow, and you have to get up early, at that. But as he brushes your hair from your face, you keep at it.

Before you know it, he’s pulled you against his chest. Surprised, you look up at him.

“You’re just too adorable today,” he sighs, “Maybe it’s the shirt.” You watch his brow furrow as he thinks of something. “It might be a little thin. Are you cold?”

“I’m fine,” you tell him, happily snuggled in his arms. “And the room’s warm anyway. When you hold me, I feel like everything will be okay.”

Sakamoto chuckles softly at your cheesy lines, brushing a hand against your cheek. “...are you sure you’re okay with just the shirt?”

“Huh?”

“Because...” You could swear his voice has a setting that reads Ultimate Sexy Voice when it drops into that low, soft tone that now vibrates through your ear into your whole body. “I want you to come closer. Much closer.”

His lips crash down upon yours, insistently, deeply, as if to open the floodgates.

Breathless, you call his name mentally and you feel the shirt he loaned you gliding off easily. Closing your eyes, you surrender your body to a night of sweet rapture.

...wait, what happened to going to sleep because we have to wake up early tomorrow?

So there you have it. In the span of one story, we have Maa-kun the Food Lover, Maa-kun the Alcoholic, Maa-kun the Cook, Maa-kun the Caretaker, and Maa-kun the Seducer. I’m not even kidding; I take occasional liberties in description when I translate these things (for example, “Ultimate Sexy Voice setting”)... but “as if to open the floodgates” and that last line also is basically a word-for-word translation.

Smelling salts are in the corner when you’re ready to return to reality. And yes, sadly, you do have to return to reality.

[fumei]

When you think “boyfriend gives you his shirt to wear,” there are two scenarios that immediately come to mind.

1) You got stuck in the rain, so he gives you something dry.

2) You’re sleeping over, so he lets you wear his shirt to sleep in.

No? Is it just me with the limited drama experience? Sorry, I'm clearly learning better from these gacha event stories.

Anyway, you may have noticed so far we haven’t hit either of those scenarios in these stories. Well, now you can check one off the list, but I suppose you’re just going to have to read and find out which one it is for yourself. If you’re at this tumblr, you probably aren’t complaining about having to do that.

Boyfriend Shirt Gacha Scenario: Okada Junichi version

You and Okada are on your way back from a movie date, strolling through a residential neighborhood to his place. It was a stunning film visually, with lots of panoramic scenes that really impressed the magnificence of nature on you. Even the movie pamphlet that he bought for you is filled with beautiful landscape photos; it may as well be a photography book.

“Seeing something like that really makes you realize just how small we are,” Okada remarks, slipping your hand into his.

“It does,” you agree. But you’re okay with being small in the grand scale of things. It’s the little things like walking home hand-in-hand that make you happiest, after all. It’s the first time you’ve held hands all day, and feeling his warmth course through your hand is calming.

A cold drop hits your cheek as the wind decides to claim your attention. You look up to see the starry sky you’d seen only moments ago quickly being swallowed up by dark clouds.

“It’s going to rain,” Okada says aloud, echoing your thoughts. “Let’s run for it.” You aren’t going to argue with that. The two of you dash in the sudden downpour to Okada’s home.

But when you get in, you’re still soaked to the bone. “Jun-kun, are you okay?” You look over at your boyfriend, toweling his hair dry, and he takes your hand.

“I’m fine. You get into the bath first,” he says, feeling your temperature. You hesitate, “But what if you catch a cold?” It’d be a huge problem if filming for the projects he’s working on got delayed.

“I’ve trained in these conditions, I’m fine,” he reassures you with a smile. “But if you keep insisting, then I’ll go in together with you.”

You feel the familiar warmth of embarrassment spreading across your cheeks. That’s... But you also don’t want to give in. His health is just as important to you, after all. “Okay then, let’s do that.”

Of all the answers, that was one Okada was not expecting. “Huh?”

“I’m fine with that. We’ll take the bath together,” you repeat yourself, gripping his cold hand tightly.

“Uh, are you...?” It’s his turn to feel his cheeks heating up. But every moment the two of you spend arguing this is another moment you are not warming up, and you tug at his arm to stress the need for speed. “Come on, let’s go already...!”

“Ah, hold on, I’m not ready for this...” Okada stammers, and then realizes there’s something wrong with this picture. “Wait, how am I the one who’s hesitating in this situation?”  He has to laugh at how well you’ve executed this role-reversal.

“Don’t just stand there and laugh,” you complain at him, “It’s embarrassing enough for me already...” You can barely remember how you summoned to courage to be so bold.

“Sorry,” he chuckles, “I’m glad you’re so worried about me, I really am.” He tosses his towel onto your head and kisses your brow. “But I’m just as worried about you, so go in first,” he insists once more, but gently. All the urgency in his voice has disappeared in favor of a gentle declaration, and you have no urge to fight your kind boyfriend on this anymore.

“Okay, then. Thanks,” you give in, “I’ll get out ASAP, so hang on just a bit longer.”

“I told you I’m fine,” Okada reminds you again, “Take your time warming up.” He hands you a shirt to change into and you hurry to the bathroom.

When the two of you are done getting cleaned up and warmed up, you snuggle with Okada on the couch. Finally, you feel safe and calm enough to let out a sigh of relief.

“Your shirt’s drying right now, so wear that when you go home tomorrow morning, okay?” he says.

“...tomorrow?” you repeat dumbly.

“You’re staying here tonight. Aren’t you?” It’s a question, but he says it with a tone that makes it clear it isn’t. Also, there’s that rain going on outside.

But even as you think it over, Okada looks at you with that gentle expression of his, like he’s reading your mind. “...I am,” you agree. You’re happy to spend this extra time with him too, curled up in the crook of his arm.

Still, there’s something more bothering Okada. “That shirt is a little big on you after all.” In fact, the shirt he’s loaned you is so big that it’s slipped off one shoulder, and the sleeves hang over your hands. “You really are tiny,” he grins.

“I only look that way because you’ve bulked up so much,” you shoot back. But wearing his shirt, you feel like the physical differences between men and women are so much more obvious. “But having your shirt on is relaxing. It’s loose and comfortable,” you admit.

“Really?” Okada says, raising a hand to your chest and reaching for the shirt button.

“...Jun-kun?” you stammer out.

“I thought I’d loosen it at the throat for you,” he says. Is that what that was? But his sudden action has moved him even closer to you, and your heart is already pounding. As if he’s reading your mind, Okada smirks at you. “Were you expecting something else?”

You pout at him, pushing his chest away. Still, you can’t be too mad at him. Even when teasing you, his eyes belie his affection.

Okada opens his mouth and then closes it again, picking his words carefully. “Seeing you so defenseless is stirring something in me,” he says hesitantly, slipping an arm behind your back to hug you. “You’re so adorable, I want to keep you all to myself...”

You feel your chest tighten in nervous anticipation at that last line.

“It makes me want to protect you,” he says quietly. The words echo in your ear. Jun-kun...

“So... I’m going to cherish you even more, okay?” With a huge grin, he lifts you up in his arms, carrying you princess style to the bedroom.

My sincerest apologies for the abundance of pictures. not sorry at all. When you stay up late at night doing this you kind of lose your sense of reason and the ability to narrow down Okada faces.

[fumei]

I’ll fess up. I’ve been known to call out Lovecen on being blatantly artificial, even ignoring that this is an AU. Nowhere is this truer than in the case of Inocchi stories, because let’s just all acknowledge it: He is married to the beautiful Seto Asaka, they have two kids (one of whom is old enough for kindergarten), and other than the whole “Johnny’s says you can’t talk about having a happy and healthy family life” thing, they seem wonderful.

Confession 1: I typed all of the above mostly as a reminder to myself, because Lovecen is making that hard to remember lately.

Confession 2: In looking up his wife, I started getting jealous of Inocchi. She’s done a lot in the Japanese entertainment industry did you know she technically had her music debut before he did?, she makes delicious looking meals, and at the risk of being a creeper, her photobook STAZIONE is smoking. (☉o☉) You done good, both of you.

Food for thought: ...do you think she gets creeped out by the thought of fangirls deluding themselves about her husband via this game the same way he probably did with regards to men and the aforementioned smoking hot photobook?

...er. Anyway. Boyfriend shirt! In which Inocchi is a totally capable man deserving of a totally sweet lady such as Inohara Megumi I mean, you.

Boyfriend Shirt Gacha Scenario: Inohara Yoshihiko version

On a sunny day, Inocchi welcomes you to his home. He’s all cheery seeing your face since he’s been waiting, and you apologize for being late with a small box.

“Oh, is this...?” He takes the box from you, his voice going up in anticipation. You see, the box you brought contains cream puffs from a store that Inocchi has told you he loves. “Did you go just to buy this for me?”

“Yep,” you smile back at him, “I thought we could eat them together.”

“You have the cutest ideas!” Inocchi practically croons to you. It’s clear he’s ecstatic, and you’re just as pleased. After all, you waited on line out under the cold winter sky just so you could see him smile. I will admit to being guilty of this. Cream puffs are delicious and worth it.

“Ahh, you really do love me.” The way he talks, you can never tell if he’s serious or joking, but the blissful sigh that escapes his lips gives it away.

“Of course I love you, silly,” you reply teasingly. He beams as radiant as the sun, even as he acts scandalized. “My, aren’t you being bold so early in the day.” Inocchi is adorable when he’s all hype, and it makes the curve of your own lips widen to match his.

“Oh, sorry, I’m keeping you standing. Come on in, I’ll make us some coffee.”

You sit on the sofa and sip the coffee Inocchi’s brewed, exhaling with a distinct tone of satisfaction as you thank him. “I’m the one who should be thanking you,” Inocchi rejects your words of thanks, “Hey, can I eat a cream puff?”’

“Go ahead,” you say, perched and eagerly watching him bite into one with relish. The custard gushes out eagerly, leaving clear traces of its fleeting existence on one cheek.

“You’ve got some cream there,” you point out to Inocchi. He simpers at you, “Oh? That’s a problem.”

And then he eagerly smears another dollop of cream onto the corner of his lips.

You'll admit to being slightly amused, but you call him out on it. “You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?”

“Whaaaaaaat? Of course not,” he sings-songs back, “But I can’t really see where it is, you know...?” He juts out his cheek for you as if it’s only natural, giggling and grinning in his maniacally exuberant manner.

So you take a napkin and wipe his mouth. “Okay, that’s better.”

Inocchi could thank you, but he believes in saying and doing. So he thanks you and then insists on kissing you as yet more thanks. His quick peck on your lips takes you by surprise, but as much as he’s blushing, he also looks extremely satisfied with himself. “Thanks for the cream puffs.”

...that’s what he wanted from the start, isn’t it?

It was a roundabout way to go at it, but the joking method suits him perfectly. This is why you love him so much. We haven’t been able to meet lately, so being able to spend time with him like this is bliss.

“Okay, next, I’m going to feed you,” he declares.

“Ah, that’s alright, I can feed myself...” you try to object, but Inocchi has already picked up a cream puff and is steadily bringing it closer to your mouth. “Don’t hold back, say ahhhhhh.”

Then it happens. A blob of custard frees itself from its choux pastry confines, and makes its way onto your shirt.

Inocchi cannot say he’s sorry nearly enough, hurriedly trying to wipe the cream off your clothes, but even just the few seconds it sat on there seems like it’ll leave a stain. “I think washing this would be better,” he mutters.

You try to refuse again, “It’s okay, no one’s going to see when I’ve got my coat on.”

“No, I can do it quickly,” Inocchi insists. “Sorry, just wear one of my shirts until it’s dry?” He’s clearly so disappointed by how things have gone, with his face downturned and shoulders sagging, that you end up feeling bad for him instead.

“If you’re that insistent, then I’ll take you up on that,” you agree, partially to assuage your own sudden sense of guilt.

You change in the bathroom, poking your head out and calling him to let him know you’re done. Inocchi comes at your call. “Okay, I’ll have this clean right away, so... oh.”

He catches a glimpse of you and his mouth falls open in surprise. You don’t often see him like this, with his eyes so wide and round. “What’s wrong?”

But other than closing his mouth, Inocchi stands as if frozen. You call his name again.

“Sho... sho kyoot...” he squeals quietly to himself, but you’re not actually sure if that’s what he said. But when you ask him to say it again, he brushes you off. “Sorry, it’s nothing! Don’t worry about it. We have to wash your shirt quickly. I’ve got some other clothes that need washing too, so we’ll toss it in together with those...”

Still, there’s something weird about how he’s behaving. You just can’t figure out what caused this change.

By the time your shirt - and the rest of the laundry - is done, the sun is setting and lighting the living room with its fading brilliance as the two of you fold the freshly washed clothes. Your shirt is nice and clean, with nary a trace of the sweet tragedy to be seen, and it’s all thanks to Inocchi’s quick action.

Not that he sees it that way. He’s still feeling guilty. “But it’s my fault for being too excited and messing around too much...”

But pouting, chastened Inocchi is adorable. And it’s not like it was all bad - you got to do laundry with him, right down to sorting and folding the clothes. It’s spending this sort of ordinary time with him that makes you happiest.

You take one of his shirts from the pile of laundry and hug it. It smells like the sun.

“This scent is comforting. Like you,” you remark to Inocchi. “The shirt you loaned me smells the same, too.” It smells like brightness, like fun, like warmth.

It smells like your beloved Inocchi.

He takes the shirt from your hands and gently wraps it around you. “...for me, doing this is comforting.”

And there he is, with that smile as dazzling as the sun, by your side.

“It feels like we’re maybe a little too happy like this,” he says bashfully. Your eyes meet, and the two of you have a little laugh. Inocchi kisses you, and the two of you sit yourselves together on the floor, playfully poking and prodding and kissing back and forth in the orange hue of the sunset.

[fumei]

When this particular Avatar Collection Gacha event started, there was a preview of the stories and items to try and entice you to go for the gacha. That is, to spend money. These story previews usually consist of just a basic overview of the situation leading to that scenario (in this case, where you get V-Man’s shirt), and a line or two from the story spoken by V-Man. A line or two that are meant to be deadly.

For example, Nagano’s preview would mention that you went over to cook and he loaned you a shirt, and then show you the lines, “But you’re just too cute in my shirt. When you look this adorable, I don’t know how to react, you know…?”

Or Go’s preview would explain that you were lazing around at Go’s house with his shirt on and then give you the lines, “Looks like I can’t let you go home just yet. I thought I’d be good and see you off, but… now you’ve flipped the switch.”

I’m telling you all this because there was one reason why I went crazy on this gacha event, with all the avatar items I didn’t want (except for the actual boyfriend shirt in question).

As always, this whole mess is Ken’s fault. Let me just lay down his words and you can decide if it was a OHKO or not:

“How about we spend the day making out at home?”

You’re welcome.

Boyfriend Shirt Gacha Scenario: Miyake Ken version

It’s a sunny morning, you have the day off, and you spent the night over at Ken’s place.

“Ready to go?” Ken’s voice calls out to you. Today, the two of you were planning to do a day trip somewhere, since he managed to get a day off too.

“I’m ready whenever you are,” you respond, putting the finishing touches on your makeup and going over to him.

“...you’re wearing the same clothes as yesterday,” Ken remarks. “I forgot to bring a change of clothes,” you explain. All you’d brought with you was just some roomwear. I need to note two things here: 1) Roomwear is apparently considerably cuter than American loungewear. It was also the rest of the gacha item theming for this event, so I have a ridiculously fluffy pink bunny-eared poncho-like thing for my avatar, and a fuzzy brown/white/blue robe and slippers set for mini V-man. I’d also like to take this time to call out the avatar item organization system.

2) ...it doesn’t say you brought pajamas.

Ken’s not so sure he can be seen with you wearing the same clothes two days in a row. “Those clothes are cute, but since we’re going on a date and all...” You are damn lucky I adore you and forgive your ridiculous fashionista ways. And then he has the bright idea to loan you one of his shirts for the day. His eyes light up in excitement.

You’re not so sure about wearing one of Ken’s shirts, but he doesn’t let you voice any objections and disappears into his closet. He returns soon after, arms loaded with shirts. You and I know he just wanted to play dress-up.

He starts holding them up for you to look at. "I wonder which one would look best on you? So, this one is one of my favorites. Oh, I just bought this one here.”

Wait. He just bought it...? “Ken... you haven’t even worn that one yet, have you?”

“Of course. So you want to try this one on?” He holds out the shirt, but you refuse. “I couldn’t. You bought it because you liked it, I can’t wear it before you even get the chance to...”

Ken gets pouty at your protests. “I’m saying I don’t care about that because it’s you! Okay, let’s get up!” He pulls you up by the arm and leads you over to the mirror to hold the shirts up to you so you can see.

“The new one looks good on you, but I think this one would look even better,” he decides, picking out a different shirt from the pile. “It’s unisex, so even with the larger size, I think it’ll look great.”

“Oh, I’ve seen you wearing this on TV before,” you remark. Ken’s extremely pleased that you pay attention to his TV appearances too. “I really liked this one, so I bought it from the stylist,” he explains, “I looked really good in it, right?”

He might be a little narcissistic, but his confidence is endearing. “Yeah, you looked amazing,” you laugh, “But is it really okay for me to borrow this shirt?”

“Of course,” Ken gives you a little exasperated smile. “Now try it on.”

When he sees you with the shirt on, his face lights up immediately. “Oh crap... it looks super cute on you...”

Your own face brightens. “Really?”

“Even more than I expected it would,” he reassures you. In fact, you’ve surpassed his expectations so much that he wants to see how you look in the other shirts he picked out for you. So you try on shirt after shirt for him, and fashionista Ken offers styling comment after styling comment. “Ooooh, this one’s cute too! Oh, but you should wear your hair up with this style. And maybe do your make up brighter than usual.”

You’re starting to feel a little like a dress-up doll.

But there’s not a soul to hold Ken back, and he’s going all out in his excitement. He’s completely forgotten about going out and is just focusing on styling you. Right down to adjusting your makeup. Ken, sweet monkey, I have a game for you. It’s called わがままファッション ガールズモード/Style Savvy. There are three games in the series. Sometimes they include real life brands. Go wild. (Also, I seriously recommend these games for any of you with a DS/3DS.)

You don’t really dislike it, of course. “This would knock anyone out!” Ken declares as he finishes applying lip gloss on you. It’s not a style choice you would normally make, so it’s interesting for you, too. When you look at yourself in the mirror, you look so different that you can’t help but smile.

Ken comes to admire your reflection together with you, wrapping an arm around your shoulder as his eyes glimmer with satisfaction. “You look really cute. Like the perfect mix of all my preferences.”

“Actually...” he muses aloud as he turns to look at you, “I could get used to seeing you dressed in my style.” He swoops in for a quick kiss, as if he needs to express that same ardor. Never mind that he’d just put lip gloss on your lips. Locking gazes with him standing so close is making your chest tighten.

So you close your eyes, and then this time the two you kiss long and hard, tongues battling.

But then you realize: “All we’ve been doing is this fashion show. We’re never going to head out at this rate.”

“Mmm... but now I don’t really want to let anyone else see you,” Ken dismisses your concerns. “How about we spend the day making out at home?” The look he gives you as he makes the suggestion is as sweet as the lip-locking he follows it up with, as sweet as the fluffy feelings clouding your head.

The shirt slips quietly from your shoulders to the floor.

“...what a shame, after I had you try on so many clothes,” Ken remarks, “I guess you don’t need this after all.” But his eyes never leave you, twinkling wickedly as he continues to hold you and pays the shirt no mind.

"Looks like I don’t today,” you agree with an embarrassed nod. You bring your own arms up to wrap around his neck, and resign yourself to your happy fate.

[fumei]

And we’re back with the boyfriend shirts! In case you’ve forgotten where these come from, here’s a handy-dandy link with way too much exposition on the nature of Japanese freemium otoge and also the first story in the series that I got, Go. I decided to go back to my original “schedule” because it’s easier to have a backlog of these shorter stories built up and posting while I slowly work on the long event scenarios, but knowing me, I’ll probably procrastinate until this runs out because things are about to get hectic at work again. To be fair, I work in a restaurant, so things are always hectic.

Next up is Nagano. If there’s one thing you really ought to know about Nagano by now, in Lovecen or otherwise, it’s that he likes experiencing things with his mouth. Please read whatever you want into that. This is Nagano and everything you are imagining is probably true. I’m including my personal image of puppy Nagano sticking his head out the window of a moving car, tongue lolling in the wind because I’m fairly certain that photo exists.

Boyfriend Shirt Gacha Scenario: Nagano Hiroshi version

You’re finishing up at work, trying to get all your tasks done so you can leave sooner. Today, you and Nagano promised to cook and eat dinner together at his place, and you should be leaving soon to be able to meet up with him in time.

Speaking of which, he sends you a text; “I want to go shopping for ingredients together, so let’s meet up at the supermarket nearby.” It’s a supermarket in his neighborhood that has some unique produce you don’t normally find in Japan. Of course he’s serious when it comes to food, you think fondly as you text him back.

You reach the supermarket. “It’s kind of cold tonight, so how about hotpot?” Nagano suggests. Being the lazy butt I am, I offer you this handy wiki link on nabe(mono), which is meant to answer any following questions you may have about nabe dishes to follow.

“Sounds good. What kind?”

“Hmm… there’s mizutaki, chanko, yudofu…” Nagano lists hotpot dish after hotpot dish. “Fuguchiri, kiritanpo, ishikari-nabe…” What I want to know is why does this supermarket sell pufferfish for cooking and how confident is he that Nagano can just casually suggest buying some for dinner? You don’t really care which dish the two of you make. After all, whatever the two of you make will be delicious if Nagano’s involved.

“Anyway, let’s decide while looking at what they have,” Nagano finally decides, taking the shopping basket and your bag off your hands. You appreciate the casual way in which he does it, it’s just part of how kind he is to not make it a grand gesture.

Nagano spies some nice looking Chinese cabbage, and suggests a simple pork-and-cabbage millefeuille nabe. Cue my disappointment after getting excited for fuguchiri. You like the sound of that. The two of you continue shopping for ingredients like that, lightheartedly discussing dishes.

When you’re done shopping and head over to his place, you’re both pretty hungry, so you get straight to prep work.

Or you would, but Nagano takes a good look at the suit you’re wearing - since you literally came from the office - and decides maybe a little prep work for you is in order. “It’d be hard to cook in those clothes, wouldn’t it?” he comments, referring to the pantsuit you have on. You hadn’t even considered it until he brought it up, but now that you think about it…

But that also means you didn’t bring a change of clothes, since you’d just planned on changing into the clothes you left over last time.

“Then I’ll loan you one of my shirts,” Nagano smiles, pulling out a white cotton shirt from his own closet for you. “It might be a little big on you, but it’ll be easier to move around in that than in a suit.”

You go into the bedroom to change into his shirt. It’s definitely big on you. But you can’t say you’re unhappy with it either, and you head back to the kitchen where Nagano’s waiting to see his reaction.

“Sorry to keep you wai…” You don’t even get to finish when Nagano sharply pokes his head out of the kitchen. “Oh, you’re done changing?”

“Y-yes…”

“I’m skimming the broth, so could I ask you to cut the veggies?”

You’re not gonna lie, you’re kind of disappointed that he didn’t have anything to say about how you look.

“What’s wrong?” Your silence doesn’t go unnoticed by Nagano.

“It’s nothing. I’ll cut the cabbage,” you try to brush it off as you enter the kitchen.

“I’m thinking we’re going to have a healthy and hearty tofu hotpot tonight,” he says cheerily, turning back to his task.

That’s right, he’s focusing on cooking right now… With a bitter smile at your own silly expectations, you roll up your sleeves and get to work. The two of you continue preparing your ingredients.

Your next task is to make chicken meatballs. You place the ground meat in a bowl and get ready to knead it when Nagano calls you softly from behind and reaches a hand over. His body heat radiates as he leans close against your back…

“You should roll up your sleeves. They’re flapping around,” he says, a low chuckle sending his breath to warm your ear. It’s true, since his shirt is so big on you, the sleeves come loose almost as soon as you roll them up. Nagano reaches around you, almost like he’s going to pull you against his chest, but instead his hands meet by your arm to carefully fold the sleeves up, one by one.

Just his warmth is getting you nervous and excited, and you freeze up. It’s hard to even breathe with him so close.

“Okay, now you’re set,” Nagano murmurs, his soft voice still breezing by your ear as his hands leave your arms.

…and promptly place themselves around your waist so he can spin you around to face him before actually pulling you against his chest this time, to your surprise.

“Um, Hiroshi-kun…?”

“Yes?” He’s got the same composed expression as always, but his grip on you is strong.

“Er… we should get back to finishing the hotpot…”

“We should, shouldn’t we.”  He looks at you, the corners of his mouth twitching up a little. “But you’re just too cute in my shirt.”

But… he just had no reaction to you before… right?

“When you look this adorable, I don’t know how to react, you know…?”

Is that what that was…? But now that you think about it, it was a reaction befitting the always calm Nagano. No, he was just trolling us. GoKen/Okada may have been the super pranksters, but Nagano is the master troll. Not that one is really necessary anymore - just knowing he thinks you look cute in his shirt makes your heart skip several beats.

Nagano’s smile reflects more than a little mischief now. “You were so cute I was wondering what I’d do all this time… and then I decided this was the perfect chance.” Still holding tightly onto you, he kisses your forehead.

And then slowly travels down to rain kisses on your eyelids… your cheeks… your lips…

It’s a torrent that has no intention of stopping. With your arms bound to your sides by his arms, you’re his to do with as he pleases.

But even with your arms held back, you can still return his sweet kisses, over and over.

Seriously, there are distinct themes to how Lovecen writers write V6 members, and Lovecen!Nagano has a distinct penchant for kisses.

Then again, it kind of fits with what I have now decided is his troll thing. He’ll also eat you up. Just needs to live under a bridge and we’re all set.

[fumei]

I have the not-so-sneaking suspicion that Lovecen’s Ken writers love Ken as much as you and I do. You do love Ken, right? I kind of doubt you’d be reading this if he hadn’t charmed his way into your heart, at least.

Because even when he’s being sappy, and we all know he can be sappy (see all V6-related J-web posts), they never fail to shoehorn bits of awesome.

Let me explain. Sakamoto’s route was boring and served as an decent setup for how this event was going to work and I am ever so glad I played Masa first to get that out of the way, even despite my obvious love of magic. Okada’s route was just as boring if not poking fun at him. Though it really could’ve been so much more...!

But Ken. Ken is, as always, irreverent. Dream? Dream where you and him don’t know each other? Well, he knows you, but that’s beside the point. He’s going to speedrun this relationship shit using cheat codes his real-life knowledge of you.

...or at least, he tries to. This is where you all learn that I’m also a horrible person, because Ken getting cockblocked by his own dream is hilarious to me. (We all know Ken plays Lovecen, right? I’d give anything to learn his reaction to this scenario.)

Dream Kiss ~His First Dream of the Year~: Miyake Ken

Soon after the new year has started, you’re at Ken’s place. He’s going through something on his phone in bed, and you come over to lie down next to him. “What are you looking at?” you ask, stretching out and getting comfy.

“A furniture site. I was thinking about redecorating if I found anything I liked, since it’s the new year and all,” he answers.

“I want to see too,” you clamor, snuggling up against him. The smell of your shampoo wafts from your hair, and he raises his other hand to start petting you as the two of you browse through the site.

“Oh, I like this table. I wonder how it feels,” he remarks on one. He focuses on the image, and at the same time you reach out from the side and poke at the screen with a finger. The page on the phone changes to a special site for winter interior decorating. Ladies (and gents?), we are a cat. Search your feelingsnekomimi, tumblr, you know it to be true. In other totally unrelated news, I am going to hell.

"Ahhhhhhhhh, what are you doing? I was looking at that table!” Ken pouts. “Sorry,” you giggle, “but you looked so serious, I wanted to mess with you.” Despite being a cat, or perhaps because you are a cat, you are too adorable and Ken wraps his arm around your shoulder to bring you even closer against him.

“Oh, but I always wanted one of these when I was a kid.” You point at a picture of a rocking chair on the new page. “In foreign movies, you usually see one in front of a fireplace, right? And then there’s a white-haired grandma reading a fairy tale picture book to a little girl siting in her lap as the two of the rock in that chair.”

Ken smiles. “While they eat cookies?” You nod happily, pleased that Ken’s getting the image. We practically painted it out for him, though. A rocking chair, huh? ...well, I don’t really have a place to put it. “Even if I had a fireplace, I don’t think...”

But when he looks at you, you’ve already fallen asleep.

“What are you, a kid?” V6′s own kid is understandably incredulous. But with a little snigger, he reaches over to the nightstand and turns off the light. “Good night,” he whispers to you, and closes his eyes, arms still cradling you to his chest.

...from far away, he hears his cell phone ringing. Man, that’s annoying... who’s calling when people are sleeping? It’s too troublesome for him to open his eyes, so Ken gropes about for his phone and answers it without looking at the screen. “...hello?”

“Miyake-san? You fell asleep in your studio again, didn’t you.” It’s a familiar-sounding male voice, but he can’t really place it. More importantly: ...huh? Studio? The voice continues, ignorant of his thoughts. “I’m sending some of my staff over with a truck now, so get it ready, okay?” The caller hangs up.

“Wh-what? Hey, wait!” But there’s only silence.

Ken forces his sleepy eyes open, and finds himself on a bench in a workshop he’s never seen before. It’s filled with furniture and the smell of lumber. Oh, and he’s wearing overalls. Whoa, I’m covered in wood shavings! Crap! He hurriedly brushes them off.

Checking his phone shows that the call was from a furniture store he goes to from time to time. ...wait, so I make furniture? Is this a dream?

And he realizes, of course this is a dream. After all, I’m an idol! There’s no way I’d forget that fact.

...Miyake Ken the Irreverent, folks.

Ken realizes that this dream is being influenced by the furniture window-shopping he was doing with you just before sleeping. But he figures that until he wakes up, he may as well enjoy the ride. Speaking of ride, the truck comes and Ken decides it’d be way too boring to just hang around in his workshop, so he hitches a ride to the furniture store.

Once there, he starts admiring a table... and the notices that the tag says it comes from Studio Miyake. Alright, me! he applauds his subconscious over his own taste in furniture, I wonder if I can take this out of the dream with me?

The manager - who turns out to be one of his childhood friends - pulls him aside to settle payment for the furniture that was delivered today, and just then the door to the store opens and another familiar voice echoes. This one, though, he can place. It’s the voice of someone he loves.

“Look, don’t you think a chair like this would suit the image we’re going for with this event?”

It’s your voice.

He turns around to see you in a suit, with another woman who looks like she’s your coworker. “It looks like something you’d like,” the other woman is saying to you.

“I mean, I do like it,” you admit, “but we’re not talking about my personal taste.”

Ken walks over to rest a hand on your shoulder. “Hey, you working?” he smiles fondly as you turn around.

But to his horror, you look at him blankly.

“Someone you know?” the coworker asks. Like a trainwreck in slow motion, Ken watches you mull it over before you open your mouth.

“...have we met somewhere?” are the words that come out.

You’re kidding me, right!? His heart sinks. I’m not an idol, so that means I haven’t met her? This butterfly effect has gotten far too realistic for him. It’s my own dream, why are we being so strict with the details?

You’re still looking at him, trying to place him, and Ken realizes he has to give an answer. “Ah, sorry... you looked so much like a friend of mine, I got mixed up,” he lies blithely. You let the matter drop with a smile, and Ken melts from how cute you are.

At home, Ken sits in front of the TV. He doesn’t recognize a single person who shows up onscreen. All of the contacts stored on his phone seem to be people he knows from being a furniture maker. I wish I knew how to wake myself up... He thinks. Sometimes you have dreams that feel long, like epic movie, but when you wake only 30 minutes have passed. So time passes differently between dreams and reality.

...whatever. I’m in a dream anyway, so even if she’s not with me... He tries to shrug off your absence from his dream life, but... No, that’s impossible. She’s my girlfriend, no matter what happens. Who cares if this is a dream, I want to sleep with her in my arms! He might be doing that in real life, but that doesn’t stop his dream self from being jealous of his real self. Oh, Ken.

It’s not fair... why is this so complicated? What kind of first dream is this!? He continues to pout. Why did I have to tell her, "you look like a friend of mine”... Well, it’s a dream, so it’s fine if things don’t make sense, right? Ken decides it’s fine if he changes things up a bit. Oh, Ken.

But even if it’s a dream, and even if he wakes up from it soon after, he wants to take your feelings into consideration too. He doesn’t want to scare you or stress you out with a sudden confession or anything. If we’re going to be together, I want her to smile... ah, man, that’s just how much I love her. He flops onto the sofa with a sigh. It doesn’t matter how much he wants to be with you, the fact is that right now, he’s got no link to you in the dream.

I know where she lives and where she works... but I’d be a real creeper if I suddenly showed up. Ken is miserable. Ahh, I want to see her...

As an aside, the lovely girl doing the Japanese blog remarked, “Don’t worry, Ken. Okada already did that in the main story.”  And now I know whose main route I’m doing next. (♡´艸`)

The next day, Ken’s crafting away in his workshop. Even as he berates himself for just working as though everything’s normal, he likes the feeling of his hands moving as a distraction, just making whatever he wants to make. Like a bookshelf that he totally wishes someone in the real world would make so he could buy it.

Trying to come up with a design that would use the wood scraps from his other pieces, he sighs. It’s lonely sleeping by myself... It’s not like the two of you can sleep together all the time, but last night, his bed felt especially big. It’s no fun when she’s not around...

And just then, the door to his studio opens.

“Excuse me,” your voice chimes, to Ken’s great surprise. He wasn’t expecting to hear your voice just when he was thinking about how much he wanted to meet you, and he pokes his head out from the workshop area to see you standing at the door.

“I don’t know if you remember, but yesterday...” Ken picks up where your trailing voice leads to. “Yes, sorry about that.” He’s not sure how he should be acting around you, but he feels like he’s behaving nothing like himself.

“...so what can I do for you today?”

“Oh, sorry. I work for this company,” you say, handing him a business card. Ken takes it dutifully, trying his best not to laugh at how useless this feels to him. I know, I know. I know exactly who you work for and what you do...

“We’ve got a talk event coming up, actually...” In the middle of your proposition, Ken cuts you off. “It’s cold outside, would you like to come in? It’s a bit messy, though.” You take him up on his offer, and when you step into his workspace, a smile naturally lights up your face. That’s right... you always did like this sort of stuff, he smiles to himself.

Out loud, he asks, "Are you okay with the smell of wood?” “Yes, it’s quite calming,” you respond, and taking a seat, explain the business proposition to him. Your company is holding a talk event, and they’d like to get a table set from Ken. You hand him the flyers and explain what the company is looking for, proceeding through your agenda for this meeting fast and smoothly. Ken admires and falls in love you even more, since he never really has a chance to watch you at work. It doesn’t even matter that this is a dream.

But there’s a part of him that still feels uneasy.

You explain that after Ken left the furniture store yesterday, you’d approached the manager and asked after him. Ken lights up, so happy the manager is a buddy of his that mentally he’s pumping his fists in glee.

But outwardly, he cheerfully accepts the job from you. Luckily, he took inventory and brings item after item out for you to examine. (You offer to help, but he tells you to sit your ass down so you don’t get your suit dirty.) You like what you see so much you have a little trouble deciding, and Ken suggests mixing up the pieces for a unique style. As an example, he picks out two different chairs that would match with the furniture already present at the event.

“You’re right, that looks amazing!” you exclaim. “I know, right?” Ken grins proudly, his hands just naturally drifting towards you as he would in the real world.

...well, it’s fine, isn’t it? After all, he remembers acting much more familiar with you when you two first met. But he’s still worried about what would happen if he suddenly got cozy with you.

You, on the other hand, keep on looking over the tables and chairs without having noticed anything. There’s some wood shavings stuck to your hair, and Ken barely manages to stop himself from taking it off for you. “There’s a bit of wood in your hair,” he says instead.

Your hands search for the offending wooden bits, but in the wrong area. “No, it’s a bit more to the right... wait, that’s too far,” Ken tries to guide you verbally, but it gets a little frustrating when he can’t seem to lead you to the right area. “Sorry, I’ll just brush it off for you, okay?” He gives up with a disarming smile and quickly brushes off the wood.

“Sorry to trouble you. Thanks,” you beam at him, and Ken could swear his heart is pounding faster. Why? I see this cutie smile all the time, there’s no reason for me to get nervous over this... You’re still happily oblivious, pulling out a camera from your bag to take pictures for the team to look over. Ken’s mental state is still out of whack and he gives you permission distractedly.

Several days later, Ken is having fun making furniture. Still, when his phone rings with a call from you, that’s even more fun. It doesn’t matter that it’s a business call, his heart is skipping, dancing, jumping, and twirling beats.

“I’m calling to reconfirm that we’ll be picking up the tables and chairs tomorrow morning,” you’re saying. “All sets are go!” Ken chirps, and he hears you laugh in appreciation on the other end of the phone.

Well, you’re laughing, but something feels wrong to him, like you’re actually depressed and just trying to hide it. Is she tired? Did something bad happen? “Then I’ll see you tomorrow. I look forward to it,” you continue, and Ken panics. He wants to say something to make you feel better, but he can’t find the words. I don’t think she’ll answer me honestly if I just ask “Are you tired?”...

“Miyake-san?” Ken’s silence prompts some worry from you, and he hastily answers. “Oh, sorry... I’ll be waiting for you tomorrow, then!”

That night, he worries about you nonstop. Is she okay? Is she getting enough sleep?

Of course, he realizes the real you is actually just fine and this is just part of the dream plot. Not that that’s any relief, either. Seriously, if you’re my dream, then don’t make her unhappy! Geez! Unable to sleep, he rolls around in bed.

What he really wants to do is fly to your side that instant, but that would make him look like a super creeper, so he knows better. But I’m the only one in love right now, aren’t I? He loves you so much that he’s become even more scared of scaring you off by being too forward, but then he doesn’t know how else to get closer to you. But he also loves you so much that just your smile makes his heart go crazy, and just receiving a call from you brightens his day.

They say whoever falls in love first loses. Ken always wondered how you could win or lose in love, but now? Now he understands. ...I’ve been checkmated. It feels like you’ve just been making me dance to your tune. It’s like he’s falling in love with you all over again.

Seriously... you’re getting me so agitated. I already love you so much, what am I gonna do if I love you even more? You’ll take care of this mess, right...? Pouty-faced in his monologue, Ken misses you more and more.

But he still can’t wake up yet, because any iteration of you that isn’t okay is a you that he can’t abandon. Though I don’t know what I can do as a carpenter...

He heaves a huge sigh and falls into a fitful sleep.

The next day, you roll up to his studio with a moving truck. “I’ll be taking these for the day, then,” you say gratefully to him as the furniture is loaded onto the truck. “We probably won’t be able to return them until night... would that be okay with you?”

“It’s fine, I’ll be waiting,” Ken replies. He can see just from your face that you’re getting tired out. As you join the furniture pieces on the truck he calls out to you, wanting to give you some sort of encouragement. So when you turn around to face him, he smiles as brightly as he can. “Work hard... but don’t overwork yourself, okay? Even if that’s hard for you to do.” Because you’re totally the type to take on extra work onto yourself.

You stare back at him blankly for a moment, and then he watches your facial expression change into one of relief. “Thanks, I’ll do my best,” you smile back at him, and then rethink your choice of words. “...within limits.”

The truck takes off, and Ken can only hope he got what he wanted to across. I know my smile is amazing thanks to my job, but I wonder if she got the message? I’m a carpenter now, after all... Restless, he turns the energy towards cleaning up his studio, and comes across a certain item in the pile of furniture.

Pulling it out, he can’t help but laugh. I think she’d like this.

So that night, when you come back with the truck, he goes out to take the furniture in. When you offer to help, he asks you to take the smaller chair to get you inside. The instant you bring it into the room, your eyes alight upon the item he found earlier.

"I always wanted one of these when I was a kid,” you’re now saying, echoing the words he heard your real-life counterpart speak as you spy the rocking chair in the room. Well, of course she would. She is who she is.

“They’d always be in front of a fireplace in foreign movies, right?” Ken says, a cheeky grin on his face. You light up immediately. “Exactly! And there’d be a grandma reading a picture book.”

This feels a little like cheating, since I heard it from her to begin with... But he just easily wipes away the guilt. Forgive him, he just wanted to see you smile. You’re completely forgiven, Ken. ._.

“So, want to give it a go?” He offers you the seat, to your surprise. “I found it in the storeroom this morning,” he explains when you make no move. “It’s still a work-in-progress, since I was just messing around while procrastinating, but it didn’t turn out too bad... I think.”

He starts to get a little desperate as you continue with your lack of reaction. “Uh, but don’t feel like you have to push yourself to.” So you finally give in. “Alright, since you insist...”

And Ken is all smiles again. “Don’t hold back and relax!”

You ease yourself into the rocking chair, rocking back and forth. “It’s the first time I’ve sat in one of these...” you remark as Ken brews up some tea for you.

“You’ve worked hard today, so take a breather,” he says, handing you a cup. As you reach out to take it, you shift your weight towards the front of the chair, and it reels back with even more force to compensate. Ken gets scared for you for a moment, but you regain your balance quickly and take the cup with a shy smile. “Thanks. Oh, it’s nice and warm!”

“It’s way too cold outside,” is Ken’s response as he seats himself on a nearby bench with his own cup.

“Thanks for this morning,” you say as he gets comfortable, “I was really happy when you told me not to overwork myself.”

Ken’s so happy his feelings got through, but plays it down. “It’s nothing, I was just saying what I was thinking.”

“Lately things have been so crazy, I haven’t really had a chance to rest, but your words really helped,” you insist. Watching you rock back and forth on the chair, sipping away at your tea, Ken lets the fond feelings surge. ...though what I really want to do is hug her and tell her what an amazing job she does. Once again, those feelings of how he wants to be close to you but can’t leave him vexed.

Outwardly, though, he maintains a poker face to hide his mental conflict. You tell him about your day, rocking back and forth, and then realize just who you’ve been talking to - someone who, for all intents and purposes, is a stranger. “I’m so sorry, I’ve just been going on and on. You’re just so easy to talk to, Miyake-san... and this rocking chair...” Miyake-san thinks even your embarrassed excuse is adorable and bursts out laughing. “It has that effect,” he grins.

But it is getting late, so you stand up to take your leave. “Come again,” Ken says, to your great surprise. “I’m not saying that you have to go out of your way, but why not come by to get stuff off your chest?”

“...that’s a little...” you hesitate. Ken’s got other reasons for extending the invite - to him, it feels like if you leave now, the two of you will never meet again. Even if it’s just a dream. Especially because it’s a dream.

“It’s not good to work too hard, but there are times where you have to overwork yourself.” Especially you, you tend to do that a lot. Ken knows. “So when that happens, don’t you just want someone to listen to you?”

“...do you feel that way sometimes?” you ask him back. Not as a carpenter, but... Ken plays with the response in his head. Finally, he decides to change tacks. “I don’t plan on putting that chair up for sale. So come sit in it,” he offers instead.

You giggle at his invitation, and Ken knows you don’t dislike the idea. Good thing, because if you had rejected him, he’d have been depressed for days. Even after waking from the dream.

“Then I’d like to come again,” you say, the corners of your lips curling up gently. His heart dances madly at your soft smile, and he replies cheerfully, “I’ll be waiting.”

So several days later, when he reads your response to his text inviting you over, he can’t stop smiling. “I don’t really have anything to complain about, but can I come anyway?” Of course you can. Remembering that the rocking chair scenario you mentioned involved cookies, he’s even gone out to buy cookies from a bakery you like.

When you show up in casual clothes, it feels like he hasn’t seen you dressed like that in forever. He helps you take off your coat, and you hand him a small bag. His eyes widen when he sees the logo on the bag... because you’ve brought cookies from the same bakery. Well, I knew she liked them but... oh come on, this is my dream!

Ken’s a little miffed that his dream is working against him as always, to the point where he never knows what to expect. ...but he supposes this is one unexpected development he doesn’t mind. He brings out his own box with a little smile at your astonished look. “I guess we’re having a little cookie party?” 

“Looks like we’re set up for it,” you agree with an uneasy laugh. Ken jokes, “Should I have also prepared a picture book?”

“No,” you shoot that down immediately, “today I came to chat with you.” Your direct response makes him nervous. C’mon, I’m happy, but this wasn’t how this was supposed to go. This stupid dream...

Since Ken’s gotten so quiet, you also get nervous. “Did I say something weird?” Well, now he feels like teasing you, and he tells you simply, “Yep.” That gets you even more panicked, so he relents. “It was joke. Go ahead and sit, I’ll get us some tea.”

The two of you end up talking until the sun has set, and only one box of cookies has been demolished. “It’s so much fun when I’m talking with you, Miyake-san. Time flies by too quickly,” you remark, “Why is that?”

~NORMAL END~ Ken offers his cheeky grin, “I wonder.”

You look at him confusedly - it’s clear you know he means something more than just “I wonder,” so he makes his best excuse. “I mean, I think we get along well and that’s all we need.” After all, outside of his dream, the two of you have been dating for a long time. If the two of you didn’t get along, there’s no way you could still be in love with each other.

“...or is that not enough of a reason?” he asks.

“No, I’m happy with that.” Ken’s pretty happy at your answer, too - it’s basically as though you’ve said that you're happy you get along so well. He’s been so worried that he's just been nourishing an unrequited love. As you nibble on another cookie, he makes up his mind and asks you in a soft voice, “How about we go out next time?”

“What?” You freeze, staring at him.

Why isn’t she saying anything...? Oh man, if she says no, I’m definitely going to be depressed for days... It feels like forever before you finally reply.

“Uh, yes. I’d love to.”

Ken’s relieved, but he feels as though all his energy has been drained. “Thank goodness... I thought I screwed up since you didn’t say anything.”

“I’m sorry, I was just surprised,” you tell him.

“That much?” But Ken isn’t one to dwell on the bad. “Whatever, it doesn’t matter. Is there anywhere you wanna go?” You think for a while, then recall something. “I wanted to go buy shelves about waist-high, actually. Would you mind helping me choose one?”

“Wait wait wait,” the words come out of Ken’s mouth so fast he could stumble over them. “That’s one weird request. You don’t have to ask me to go pick one out with you when I can make it. Aren’t we in a furniture studio?”

“No,” you explain, “I was thinking something more simple. Something pre-fabricated.” When Ken insists on making it for you, you tell him, “It’d be really hard to talk about limiting factors like my budget.”

Ken bursts out into laughter when he realizes what’s been holding you back. “Don’t worry about stuff like that,” he tries to reassure you, but you stand your ground. You want to properly pay for this.

She picks the silliest things to be strict about, he thinks fondly, but he really does love that part of you too. “So how about this - we’ll take a shelf that’s just lying around here and remake it to your specifications. And since it won’t take too much effort, I’ll take these cookies as payment.” There’s still one box of them left, after all.

“But you bought the same cookies,” you argue.

“The ones I bought are the ones we’ve been eating, and the ones you’ve bought will be just for me then,” Ken decides simply, “Then that works out, doesn’t it?” You’re not so sure, but he’s clearly not going to give up on this, so you give in to his logic. Ken promptly starts asking you for details about where you want to put it and what you want to use it for.

“I’d like to put it in the gap between the TV stand and the wall,” you explain. Ken’s already got a vivid image of your apartment in mind, so he tells you immediately, “Okay, got it.”

And when you give him a confused look is when he remembers that he’s not supposed to have ever seen your apartment before.

“Er, I mean, I’m going to need some exact measurements, so could you text them to me?”

That’s how, several days later, he ends up in front of your apartment with the shelves in hand, a bright red ribbon wrapped around them like a gift. “Delivery!” ...Ken, I thought we were going to go out on a date. What happened to that?

You look back and forth from the shelves to him, the apology on your face growing more and more obvious until it takes verbal form. Ken tells you not to worry about it, he’s just happy that you’ll be using something he’s proud of making. “And it’s not that heavy either, so you can carry it by yourself too, y’know?” For all that he’s probably gotten closer to you, he’s still not sure if he can go to your apartment.

“Ah, that’s true. I think I can take it from here,” you admit. “Yeah... then that’ll be all for today,” Ken starts to excuse himself, but you invite him in for some tea. Mentally he starts to panic, even though he’s been to your place tons before. “I mean, you’re always treating me at your studio, so I thought I should return the favor...” you hastily justify your invitation, but Ken remains silent.

“Um... if you don’t say anything, I’ll take that as a no.”

That snaps Ken back up. “...then, I’ll take you up on that offer,” he manages a smile. The two of you set up the shelf where you want it, and Ken internally congratulates himself for getting everything right. He’s made the shelf so that it’ll match your room perfectly, from the colors to the image, and you love it.

Ken starts to explain some features of the shelf to you, but when he looks up for a moment he suddenly realizes how close you are. How close your face is. How close your eyes are. Your eyes meet and he can’t take his gaze away.

I love her. There’s no other way to put it, I love her. But he’s still too scared, so he says it softly, barely a whisper. “I love you.” More than anyone else, for longer than you’ve ever known...

You continue to meet his gaze silently.

“If you don’t say anything...” Ken starts to pout, but before he can continue you let out a little sigh. “I love you too,” you acknowledge, and Ken breaks into an ear-to-ear grin.

“...finally. I was getting tired of waiting for it,” he chuckles, back to his cheeky self. He cups your cheeks and draws you closer for a kiss, closing his eyes just before your lips meet.

The next thing he knows, he’s not conscious of being in your room any longer. He hears his name being called from far away...

And wakes up in his own room. “Ken,” you’re calling to him, “It’s already noon. Wake up.” He slowly opens his eyes. ...well, I guess I can’t say I didn’t expect that.

“You have horrible timing,” he grumbles at you. “Huh? What are you talking about?” Well, he can understand your confusion, since he’s literally just woken up and here he is complaining at you.

“Maaan... it just hit the super good part, too,” he continues, unrelenting. “I’m sorry,” you tell him, genuinely concerned, “What did?”

“My dream, silly,” Ken says, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. He gets up and moves closer to where you’re sitting on the bed. “Just 5 more centimeters... No, probably even 3 more centimeters. And then I would’ve gotten that kiss.”

Sitting so close to you, he can see the unspoken question, “Who were you kissing?” flashing in your eyes. “Of course, it was with you,” he beams impudently.

You let out a little derisive snort, “Whaaat.” You are also way too easy to mess with.

“It was really hard just getting to that point, don’t just go ‘whaaat,’” he protests sulkily, “I had to start all over from the beginning, introductions and everything. You even asked who I was when you first saw me, you heartless person. I was so upset.”

Seeing Ken make his pouty face, you start laughing. “That is slander,” you eke out between giggles.

“Still... I missed you so much,” Ken wraps his arms around you and pulls you close, like he’ll never let go. You yelp in pain, he’s hugging you so tightly, but Ken just begs you to forgive him for the moment. “This is all I wanted to do, and now I can finally do it.”

Still giggling, you look up at him, and Ken brings a finger to his lips.

“Hey, I didn’t get it in the dream, so gimme a kiss?” He closes his eyes and waits for you to close in. He feels you shift in his arms, but just then, his eyes fly open. This time you were definitely only 3cm away.

“...I forgot to say it. Good morning,” he beams. “Good morning,” you respond. And then bathed in the winter sunlight, he closes his eyes once more...

~PREMIER END~ Ken offers his cheeky grin, “I wonder.” It’s infectious, and he watches your own mouth crack a smile. Feeling like you’re getting closer is something he won’t take for granted.

“Sorry, but I actually have work early tomorrow, so I should be leaving soon,” you say. Ken’s disappointed, but he can tell you are too. I want to be with her some more but I don’t want to get in the way of her job... His gaze lands on the remaining box of cookies.

“We’ve still got a whole box of cookies here, did you want to bring them home?” he offers, “There’s still some time before they go bad, though, so you can leave them here, too.” You understand what he’s actually saying.

“I’ll leave them here, so please don’t eat my share, okay?”

That answer was just too cute... Since he’s met you, he feels like everything you do messes with him. It’s frustrating. “Maybe I will, maybe I won’t...” he sing-songs back as revenge, “It’s exhausting crafting furniture, so you don’t come back soon then I might end up eating them all.”

The setting sun colors your face with a pale orange glow as you titter at his impish smirk. “Then I’ll come back soon.”

Some time later, at night, Ken starts brewing some tea after he finishes work for the day. I should be waking up soon, he thinks. It feels like enough time has passed to him.

“Miyake-san?” Your voice interrupts his train of thought, and he turns around to see you. “Oh? What’s up?” You hadn’t made any plans or even called to say you were coming, so seeing you at his studio is a bit of a surprise.

“I just felt like eating something sweet,” you respond, “You’d eat all the cookies yourself if I didn’t drop by, after all.”

Ken allows himself a little bit of self-indulgence, choosing to interpret that as you wanting to see him. “Nice timing,” he chirps, “I just started a pot of tea. Want some?” You accept the offer and head for the rocking chair, sitting in it like that’s where you’ve always belonged.

He comes over with the tea and cookies, but you pause after taking one. “There’s this alley near the office where stray cats like to hang out,” you start to say. Yep, she came because she wanted to see me, Ken smiles to himself. “Everyone’s taken a liking to them and naming them, and lately they’ve even given birth to kittens....”

“Isn’t your phone ringing?” he interrupts you. Over by the wall, where you’ve hung your coat, a ringtone is emanating, muffled, from the pocket.

“I wonder who it could be?” you muse, standing up to get it. The rocking chair falls back heavily, suddenly freed of its weight, and lurches forward with a vengeance, knocking you off balance.

Ken lunges to catch you, wrapping you safely up in his arms. “I told you not to get up so quickly...” he scolds you. You apologize in a tiny voice, and without thinking, Ken clutches you to his chest even tighter. You voice no complaints, but settle into his arms.

“...your phone’s still ringing,” Ken points out. “So it is,” you note. But you still seem perfectly content to stay there. He smells your shampoo, that light, familiar scent floating around the two of you, and he feels his heart pounding faster, as if it was trying to burst free. It hurts.

“I love you,” he finally says, the words just slipping out of his mouth. It’s not like there’s anything else he can think about.

“...it’s odd,” you say. “It doesn’t feel like we’ve only just met.”

He lets out a small chuckle. “Same here. It feels like I’ve known you forever.” His eyes gaze fondly at you as you look curiously back at him.

“I wonder if that’s why I love you this much...?” you say aloud, as if testing the words. It’s a fleeting confession, one that doesn’t even really sound like one. But it strikes Ken immediately.

Oh, will you quit being so damned adorable already...!? This long dream has left too many arrows in his heart. But even if I told her that I’d loved her long before we met, it’s not like I could expect her to believe me... His fingertips brush against your cheek lightly, a sudden warmth spreading from them to the rest of his body as he repeats himself, “I love you.”

He kisses you tenderly, and the sensation is very familiar. Those are lips he remembers very well. Your lips.

“...hey, can you say it again? That you love me...” he whispers, but before you can say it back, everything goes white.

...oh, is that how we’re gonna play it? C’mon... at least let me hear that she loves me again before I wake up...!

Ken blinks. His eyes feel heavy with sleep, but when he regains his bearing, he’s in bed. The curtain is pulled back and the window exposed, letting the beams of the morning sun trickle in.

And you’re still sound asleep, curled up in his arms.

His heart is still pounding quickly thanks to the dream, and he smiles adoringly at your sleeping face. Even out of the dream world, you’re adorable.

But that was horrible. I just changed my job and then I had to meet her all over again? There’s no way I would put up with that for anyone else...!

He reaches out, fumbling around to find the alarm clock. It’s still too early.

I knew it... What kind of trope is this? He recalls the exact events of the dream from just before he woke up. In fairy tales, the princess wakes up from a kiss. ...so why am I the one waking up!? Because you’re a pretty pretty princess, Ken. That’s why. He didn’t even get to hear you say “I love you.”

He wiggles himself down to plant another soft kiss upon your lips. You make a small noise and begin to stir. See, normally the girl’s the one who wakes up from the kiss, he notes, extremely satisfied.

“Mornin’,” he greets you as your eyes peek open, looking for him. “Hmm...? Morning, Ken. What time is it?”

“It’s still before 7,” he says.

“That’s early,” you grumble, getting ready to settle back into sleep. “What’s the matter?”

“You woke me up.” Surprised at his answer, your eyes peek open again. “...sorry, was I snoring? Did I hit you?”

Ken gives a wry smile, “No, you woke me up in my dream.” Well, now you’re outright confused. He watches you struggle to make sense of it and takes pity on your sleep-fogged brain. “...I’ll tell you later. Sorry I woke you up, go back to sleep.”

“Okay,” you somehow manage to say clearly, and then drift right back into a deep slumber.

“What are you, a kid?” Ken laughs in disbelief. ...you have no right to talk, Ken.

Much later, after you’ve both properly woken up, Ken's trying to tighten a screw into an the alarm clock... and then promptly loses it to his shaggy carpet. He starts combing through, trying to find it. Even though I was a furniture maker in my dream, he groans inwardly, it’d be nice if those skills would carry over...!

You come back from washing the breakfast dishes to find him on his hands and knees. “What’s wrong?” “Sorry, a screw dropped. Help me look for it?” So the two of you move the table and go through the carpet.

“Ken, weren’t you a furniture craftsman in that dream?” you remark impudently. He’d told you all about the dream over breakfast. “Oh, hush. Weren’t you the one who dropped the clock?” he fires back.

“Yep, that was me,” you admit with a laugh. It takes a little while, but you find the tiny screw, and Ken promptly screws it in to finish his task. “Okay, all set! Thanks,” he cheers, kissing you in joy.

“You’re welcome. Even though I was the one who broke it in the first place,” you smile fondly back at him. Ken finds even your self-aware joking adorable, and realizes he’s in trouble. It’s no good. Ever since I woke up from that dream, it feels like I really do love her more.

“Hey, what are you doing to me?” he asks you, setting the fixed alarm clock aside. “Huh?” you ask, sitting down next to him on the carpet. He wraps his arms around you and pulls you down onto the carpet with him.

“It doesn’t matter whether I’m sleeping or awake,” he pouts at you, “it feels like I’m dreaming all the time.” This is where I apologize for my translation, because the original was much cuter but it’s kind of hard to convey the cuteness in English because it relates directly to kanji. What Ken literally pouts is 夢でも現実でも……ほら、文字通りだよ。夢の中って書いて夢中！Yume demo genjitsu demo... hora, moji doori da yo. Yume no naka tte kaite muchuu! which is literally “Whether it’s a dream or reality... look, it’s just like the characters. You write ‘delirious' as ‘in a dream’!”

Ken: You’re always driving me crazy... I kind of want you to stop it already. You roll over to face him with a wry smile. You: ...are you praising me or mad at me? Ken: Both. It’s fifty-fifty. You: Well, that’s a problem. Ken: I’m the one who’s having a problem here!

He raises his hands to cup your cheeks. “Hey... do you love me?”

“Of course I love you.” Your response is immediate.

“Say it again?” It’s the one thing leftover from the dream that he wants resolved, even if he has to get it done in real life.

But you’re not so obliging. “You know, Ken, you’re not the only one who’s getting driven crazy here,” you smirk.

Maybe, but Ken’s definitely getting driven crazy right now, if the pounding in his chest is any indication. “I told you it was a fifty-fifty thing!” Even though he’s pinching your cheeks now, you’re still laughing, amused.

“Seriously... it’s annoying, how much I love you,” Ken says resignedly. He lets go of your cheeks and slips his arms around your neck, drawing you in for another gentle kiss.

...what? Just let me die here. I’m good. We don’t need any more Lovecen. I don’t need any more Ken. WE’RE GOOD.

[fumei]

We’re going to interrupt the already delayed New Year’s Dreams events for a bit. If I had managed to keep up with my schedule, this would’ve originally been posted after the next dream, which is Ken’s. Then shit got delayed so I thought I’d post this series of stories after the New Year’s Dreams had all been completed.

And then I realized that we had a special day and I would be remiss if I didn’t mark the occasion.

Let me make it official: I am Lovecen trash.

Not Johnny’s trash, not V6 trash. (Though I kind of was/am. It’s heavily documented on the Internet, there’s no point in pretending otherwise.) No, I am Lovecen trash.

Let’s talk about a part of Lovecen that I haven’t mentioned yet thus far. We’ve gone over events (both kinds), Sugoroku, and special purchasable birthday stories. Here’s another purchase for you: Gacha.

Half the “fun” in this game, like in many a freemium otome game, is dressing your little avatar up. The dress-up items give you a numerical Charm value, and the higher your Charm value, the greater your chances of winning against other players when you do Jobs (i.e., battles) which honestly doesn’t matter because you can keep refreshing opponents to find the obvious newbies you can win against, c’mon, this is Freemium Games 101 here and the more battles you win, the more Girl Power points you have.

Look, there's a reason I didn’t want to talk about this earlier and that’s because it all sounds really stupid in English and Japanese. Seriously, give me another translation for 女子力, I’m begging you here.

This brings us to Gacha, which you will probably know as gashapon/gachapon or capsule machines. These are the collectible random draw things you will find in every Japanese-styled freemium cell phone game. In Lovecen, there are two kinds of gachapon: Lovecen Gacha and Avatar Collection Gacha. Lovecen Gacha is not important. (Well, it is, but not to this post it isn’t.) Avatar Collection Gacha is all about getting a set of dress-up items for both you and V6 man, and uses the premium Gacha Coin currency, which you can either build up from whatever the game gives you, or pay money for. Two Gacha Coins to a pull.

Pulls will get you outfits for you, outfits for mini V6 man, backdrops, decorative props, and more extra side story scenarios, all based off a theme. For example, there was a Halloween Party theme. And a V6 Live Tour 2015 ~Since 1995-Forever~ Concert Goods theme. And a V6 Live Tour 2015 ~Since 1995-Forever~ Concert Outfits theme. (Outfits for mini V6 man, not you.) It takes about 18 pulls to get everything, including the game items (like closet space or story tickets) that is considered part of the collection sheet.

Alright, then. So the last Gacha theme was Boyfriend Shirt; that is, you wearing [V6 member]’s shirt. And the side story is them reacting to you wearing it.

...What this is leading to is me telling you that I bought the gacha coins to get all six stories. Also a ton of avatar items I didn’t want in the process. DX The current gacha collection, Couple Items, is exactly what it says on the tin and I like it so much more. But the point is, I bought Boyfriend Shirt. And so, I present to you, Lovecen: The Boyfriend Shirt collection.

Starting with Go, because I always get Go first in these things. And not continuing for a little while after this, for reasons explained at the very top.

Boyfriend Shirt Gacha Scenario: Morita Go version

You and Go finally have a shared day off together, and he’s invited you over to his place. The last time he went over to your place was two weeks ago, but it feels like forever since you last met. You’re making coffee for the two of you in his kitchen. It’s really clean. Probably because Go doesn’t really cook for himself... well, since I’m here, I’ll cook something for him tonight.

Smiling at your decision, you take the two mugs out to the living room, where Go is waiting. He’s silently studying a script, and doesn’t even notice your entrance. He’s got a play starting soon, and he told you sometime ago that before rehearsals start, he likes having all the lines down pat. It’s something you really admire about him.

You set the cup down in front of him and take a seat to watch his face as intently as he’s reading the script.

“Oh, sorry,” he mutters when he lifts his gaze up at you, “I didn’t notice you there.”

“Don’t worry about it,” you tell him with a little smile, “go back to work.” You’re happy just being next to him, even in the same space with him.

But Go lets out a sigh and gives you a tight-lipped smile. “We’re finally together, don’t you want me to pay more attention to you?”

You repeat his question in surprise. “Normally you’d be annoyed,” he smirks, “We’re together and I’m just ignoring you.” You can’t deny that. But it doesn’t feel like he’s ignoring you this time. Rather, you just want to help him focus on this script. All I can really do is treat him as well as I can, after all...

But Go closes the script and faces you with a smile. “You know it’s okay to get mad or be annoyed with me from time to time.”

“I guess there will be days where I will, then,” you chuckle back at him. “But today I’m happy just being like this with you.”

Go hesitates before responding, his expression warping into one of concern. “If you’re going to say something like that, of course I’ll have to treat you better.” You’re surprised that the shy Go would say something like that, but pleased. So pleased you can feel the blood rushing to your cheeks.

“Men are simple creatures to please,” he continues. “I’m not going to let go of someone who understands me so well.” He brings the coffee up to take a drink, but just then you let out a small sneeze.

“Are you cold?” It’s fine, you tell him, you didn’t catch a cold or anything. Still, Go insists on giving you one of his shirts to wear. You can smell his favorite cologne faintly wafting from it.

Go has an amused smile on. “It’s kind of refreshing seeing you wear that,” he remarks. You return his smile. “Your shirt is pretty warm.”

“Good. So what do you want to do today?”

In the end, the two of you watch a DVD and then ate dinner together (you cooked), staying at his place the whole time. Go thanks you for dinner, but remarks that the two of you ended up staying in. “Well, it was nice and relaxing for me,” you say.

“Same here. It feels like I’ve been working nonstop lately,” Go agrees. That’s right... it’s unfortunate, but he’s working tomorrow. You don’t want to get in the way, and it’s late, so you decide to take your leave and head home.

“Oh, wait. I’ll take you,” he offers, grabbing his car keys. You grab your own bag and then that’s when you remember - you’re still wearing his shirt. “Sorry, I was about to wear this home,” you apologize, and start to take it off. Go stops you with one hand.

“Don’t. I’ll give it to you,” he says, “It’s cold out, so just wear it home.”

Your heart squeezes at his nonchalant gestures of kindness, but you thank him and accept. “When I wear your shirt, it’s like we’re together.” It really makes you happy.

“You’re that pleased with just a shirt?” Go’s confused.

“It’s your shirt, so it’s special,” you reply. With this shirt, you can feel that gentle warmth that Go emanates. Even if we can’t meet, it’ll be like he’s nearby.

He lets out an exasperated sigh. “What’s wrong?” you ask him.

“Sorry,” he answers you with a frown, “Looks like I can’t let you go home just yet.” He sets your bag down on a chair, and takes your hand to lead you back to sit on the sofa.

“I thought I’d be good and see you off, but... now you’ve flipped the switch.” Go leans in close, and you can see the heated look in his eyes clearly as he pulls you in for a long and sweet kiss. “...you’d better take care of this.”

Happy 37th birthday, Go. We’ll go look at the Hoi An Lantern Festival (that’s his birthday story this time around) together later, okay?

[fumei]

I know, I know, I’m not actually on a roll here after all. Let’s just say that I understood Okada in this scenario very well.

Y’see, when events start in Lovecen, they give you a little preview of what to expect should you participate in the event. For the first half of this first dream event, the preview showed Okada as a scriptwriter. Of the romantic sort.

Naturally, this and my experience with Okada’s stories so far being always amusing made me get my hopes up high.

I’m sorry to say Lovecen did not break all the fourth walls that they totally should have, with a story like this. They did, however, set out to break one thing: the cool Okada stereotype.

They broke it very well.

Dream Kiss ~His First Dream of the Year~: Okada Junichi

It's New Year 2016, and having finally finished both his end-of-year and start-of-year jobs, things are calming down for Okada. And best of all, you've come to stay over for the first time in a while.

Okada took a shower first, and now he's lounging on the sofa reading a script as he waits for you. It's a difficult role this time, but the fun part of acting is being able to experience lifestyles completely different from his own. But it does get tiring throwing himself completely into his roles. He decides to take a break and lies down.

You went to the bathroom a while ago, but you still haven't come out yet, and Okada's getting impatient because he wanted to recharge with you before his schedule got packed again. And then realizing what he's thinking, he laughs at himself. Man, that's embarrassing. How basic can I get? But just the thought of you gives him the energy to straighten his shoulders.

She's always pampering me... And I just keep leaving her... alone... even though I love her......

And before you come back, he's fallen asleep.

Scene 12: The bar at night. Okada punches the words in and looks up from the computer screen.

Huh? Something feels extremely off about this situation. Okada can't remember what he was supposed to have been doing, but from the looks of it, he was writing a movie script. And the fact that it's only at Scene 12 means he's got a long way to go.

For now, he decides to read it over from the beginning.

Wait, just what is this...!? He hits an embarrassing scene where a man and a woman are discussing love.

Who could write something like this!? ...was it me? ...it was me!?

After all, if nothing else, he distinctly remembers having just typed in the words "Scene 12: The bar at night" and hitting the Enter key. ...it was you, Okappi.

No, it has to be him. And yet, something still feels uncomfortably weird. For example, why has he lost his memories? And is he so busy that he was writing while unconscious?

The ringing of his cell phone interrupts Okada's discombobulation. I may have really wanted to use the word “discombobulation.” Or perhaps, it adds to it, startling him so much he stubs his pinky toe against the corner of his desk.

“Ow!” he exclaims, hearing his own voice for what feels like the first time. Grabbing his phone, he checks the screen. It’s from the publicity department for the film distributor, so he picks up. “Hello?”

“Hello? It’s Suzuki. Am I speaking with Okada-sensei?”

“Ah, yes. Yes, I’m Okada.” Whether or not he’s a “sensei,” at the very least, he knows for a fact that he’s Okada.

“Can you come out for a moment? It’s just to a place nearby,” Suzuki says.

“Yes. Yes, I can.” It might be because his head’s all muddled, but even Okada catches that he’s repeating himself. Suzuki doesn’t comment on it, just gives him directions to a nearby cafe. And so Okada-maybe-sensei takes steps out into this big new world.

“Oh, Okada-sensei! Over here!” Suzuki calls out when Okada enters the cafe. He’s still unused to hearing “sensei” appended to his name, and approaches the table nervously, where Suzuki sits with another man and a woman. Okada vaguely feels like he’s met the woman before, but he can’t remember who she is at all. She feels so familiar... like someone dear to me.

“This man is my subordinate, and she works for the event planning company,” Suzuki introduces the two as they hand over their business cards. Seeing your name, Okada’s certain he must have met you before. “These two will be the main staff in charge of the film distribution this time,” Suzuki continues explaining.

“Already? Even though I’ve only written up to Scene 12?” Okada remarks, amazed. You’d think it’d be a bit fast for them to start planning on promotions for the movie.

“What are you talking about? That’s the scene that’s filming in the spring, right? We’re already working on publicizing this one. Did you get all mixed up from overworking yourself again, sensei? You’ve still got bed head.”

Okada hurriedly tries to smooth down his hair, and a tiny giggle slips from your lips. When did my hair get this bad? I guess I was pretty busy after all... He has to admit, he is the type to throw himself into a project and forget everything else.

“I haven’t shown you the flyer yet, either. Take a look,” Suzuki slides one over to Okada in a clear file, and Okada nearly flips out. The movie the flyer promotes is unmistakably a love story, and his cheeks burn.

“Could you get a hold of yourself?” Suzuki is not impressed. “You wrote the story yourself, stop getting so embarrassed about it.” It seems like this is a regular habit of Okada’s. “No, it’s just... You’re right, I’m sorry.” Okada starts to protest, but decides better.

“We’d also like you to be part of the stage greeting. We’ve prepared a seat for you,” you tell him, and Okada agrees. It’s all a part of the job, after all, so you give him a date and time and he jots it down into a notebook. A stage greeting, for reference, is primarily a East Asian media promotional event, where starring actors and main staff involved in the production of the film/play/drama will do a sort of press conference before the release Japanese, primarily to promote the release but also the names involved as an extra form of hype. There’s no real Western equivalent unless you want to count the late night talk show circuit. Here’s an article discussing its use as DVD extras.

After meeting with the promotion staff, Okada leaves the cafe.

“Sensei! Sensei! Okada-sensei!” you yell after him as he walks down the street. Oh, that’s right. She’s talking to me, Okada remembers, turning around in the direction of your voice. “Sorry, that’s me. I’m Okada.” Even as the words leave his lips, he knows it sounds off, like he’s impersonating himself.

Luckily, you’re out of breath from running after him and don’t hear. Okada feels a twinge of regret seeing you pant like this, since he could’ve saved you some distance and exercise if he’d reacted sooner.

You hand him a pen. “Sensei, you forgot this.” Okada takes it with an apologetic nod, and you smile. Those weird feelings well up in him again. “Sorry, have we met before?”

“No,” you respond, “but I do know who you are.”

“From my works?” Okada asks tentatively, and you light up. “Of course!”

“Not just the one we’re promoting now?” Actually, now that he’s thinking about the flyer and its design again, he’s struck with a distinct feeling of unease.

“Yes, I’ve seen them all! I’m excited to be working with you on this one,” you gush. Seeing you so chipper makes you look all the cuter to Okada, even when you apologize immediately after for fangirling over him to him. Even in his dreams, Okada has fangirls.

“No, don’t worry about it. It makes me happy to hear you like my work so much,” Okada waves it off. “By the way, if you were to recommend one of them, which would it be?”

You laugh at the question. “Sensei, are you asking me to recommend one to you?”

That night, Okada strains the limits of his willpower, and then some.

But still, he caves and pushes pause on the remote control in the middle of watching the DVD you recommended to him.

Ugh, it’s no good. This is too embarrassing. Who the hell wrote this? …wait, it was me… No matter how many times he looks at the Screenwriter credit on the box, it clearly lists his name. He rolls around on the sofa, with nowhere to escape from the overwhelming feeling of shame. This. I want this Okada in his next movie.

But he still has to continue writing the rest of the script he’s working on. It’s a love story about a failed genius pianist and the girl he falls in love with, and Okada hasn’t written a thing beyond Scene 12, where the two first meet. It feels like I’ve heard this story somewhere before… If you’re thinking the same thing, then... for the record, it feels like a generic love story but I suck at googling Asian dramas or it doesn’t actually exist.

The part Okada’s stuck at is specifically what gets the pianist interested in the girl in the first place. It’s not like he’d suddenly fall in love from a bit of small talk at a bar…

He recalls your bright smile when you were talking to him about his penned dramas. Knowing that there are people who enjoy what he writes so much makes him want to work harder. Just... if only he could write.

For now, he heads to the kitchen. There’s a famous foreign mystery novelist who supposedly gained inspiration by eating apples while taking a bath. …but I only have bananas… I guess they’ll do… Dame Agatha Christie would be horrified.

The day of the stage greeting arrives, and Okada is at the theater, sitting in the staff seats. …bananas didn’t work after all. In the end, all he ended up doing was writing and rewriting the same scene over and over, and he hasn’t made any progress at all. It’s not a matter of bananas or apples anymore. May I suggest the banapple? This is an actual fruit I saw in Japan, to my great amusement. Also, Dame Agatha Christie is horrified.

It feels like there’s another job that would suit me better. Blankly staring at the brightly-lit stage from his seat, Okada is struck by that nagging sense of unease again. …should I be sitting here? I feel like I belong elsewhere. He just can’t think of where.

He makes his exit before anyone else, and he hears your voice calling out again. “Sensei! Okada-sensei!” Oh, that’s me. Oops.

“I’m sorry, I was a bit lost in my thoughts,” he apologizes. You brush it off. “How was the stage greeting?”

“…it was embarrassing. Just like the movie you recommended to me.” Your hands fly to your mouth as you desperately suppress your snickers. “Go ahead and laugh,” Okada smiles at you. Seeing you is giving him strength, and it’s another sensation that feels all too familiar. He cranes his neck, trying to remember.

“You must be exhausted,” you remark sympathetically.

“Mm… I haven’t really been able to write lately,” he admits. You’re a little surprised. “So even you have problems putting pen to paper.”

“That’s all I ever have,” Okada confides to you. “I’d probably better suited for another line of work.” He knows he wants you to tell him that isn’t so, to cheer him on. And then that would be his sign to keep on.

But instead, you ask him, “So what is it you want to do?” And that was the response he was least expecting.

Seeing him at a loss for words, you clarify the question. “I guess what I’m asking is, other than screenwriting, what kind of work are you interested in?” But Okada still doesn’t have an answer to that. “...I wonder. I don’t know myself.”

“Then that must be why,” you say, as if that settles the matter. His heart pounds in his chest. This is much more heartening than being told that being a screenwriter is his true calling.

And then he realizes that this is exactly what he needed for his own script. I see. Right now, I’m like my own protagonist. If his pianist had been encouraged like this by the heroine, there’s no way he’d forget her. Even if the conversation had only been in passing at a bar.

“You’re amazing,” he grins at you.

But you have no idea why you’re suddenly being praised. “Huh?” He grasps your hand, feeling like he’s finally seeing the light at the end of a long tunnel. “Seriously, you’ve saved me. Thanks to you, I think I can keep writing.”

And then he notices that you’re blushing furiously, and also realizes that he’s holding your hand very, very tightly. “I’m sorry,” he stammers out an apology, “I got caught up in the moment.”

“It’s fine... I’m just glad I could help,” you tell him, lowering your head. Okada does the same, but when he looks up, your eyes meet, and you blush again.

He knows he’s definitely feeling something towards you. But like with everything else in his life, he’s just not sure what it is.

At that moment, you get called away, so you take your leave. After watching you run off, he turns to head home himself.

“Sensei...! Okada-sensei!” he hears your voice calling again. By now, it’s like he’s cursed to react belatedly to being called sensei, since he never turns around in a timely fashion. “Yes?”

“I’m looking forward to this next work,” you say before running off again. That’s unfair, Okada groans internally, knowing you probably don’t understand the effects those words have on him. It makes him want to work even harder than a simple “Do your best” would have. And chuckling to himself, he leaves the venue.

Some days after, he’s finished writing Scene 12, he hits another block again. I’m tired of eating bananas and apples... and I’ve been eating too many mandarins, too. He knows his problem has nothing to do with fruits, but he also has no other options for inspiration. Never mind Dame Agatha Christie, I’m horrified. You can never have too many mandarins! Or clementines.

I’m definitely not meant for this kind of work... he starts to grumble, before he thinks better of it. No, I gotta stop thinking like that. There’s someone who’s waiting to see what I’ll put out. She said she was looking forward to it.

Of course, thinking of you just makes him want to see you. And so he searches through the pile of business cards on his desk for yours. Surprisingly, even though it’s a work card, your private phone number is listed on it. I had a little panicky moment here because I couldn’t remember if my private number is listed on my own business card so I had to go check. /TMI

He hesitates. You’re nice, so he knows if he asks something of you, you’ll pretty much agree to it. He doesn’t want to bother you, but it’s a far better option than not writing anything at all. Even if there’s no guarantee I’ll be able to write after seeing her...

Okada paces around in the middle of the room, and ends up stubbing his pinky toe on the corner of his sofa, instinctively crouching in pain. Ah, this is just a waste of time. And from that crouching position, he calls you on your cell. Seriously, he’s such a dork this time around. He’ll give up if you don’t pick up...

But you do, and hearing your cheerful voice lifts his own spirits.

Okada: Sorry, it’s Okada. You: Huh!? I’m sorry, Okada-sensei? Okada: Er, yeah. That Okada.

He takes a deep breath to calm down first. “I’ve got a favor to ask of you...”

That night, because he was the one asking for the favor, you meet Okada at a cafe close to your office. You’re a little nervous at the odd request, and even after meeting him you have to ask, “Are you sure you want me to do this?”

“It’s fine, don’t worry,” Okada reassures you, sliding over what he’s written of the script. “I want to hear your honest impression.” It’s not very long, anyway. You pick it up and start to read while he waits, feeling sheepish and starting to doubt himself. Maybe he doesn’t want you to read it after all. It’s embarrassing enough to read it myself, but it’s even rougher having someone else read it...

But it’s a little late to stop you now. You pore over the script seriously, and Okada finds himself studying your expression as he sips his coffee. Even this focused, you look pretty to him.

Not too much time has passed when you finish the last page.

“I can’t wait to see what happens next!” you tell him eagerly, “I wonder how the two of them will get closer.” How indeed, Okada repeats to himself. It doesn’t escape your notice, though, and you get flustered.

“Uh, you don’t have to worry about that. That’s my job to figure out,” Okada tries to reassure you, but you still apologize for being unhelpful. He hadn’t meant to make you remorseful, and those eyes filled with worry leave him feeling guilty.

“How should I put this... I just wanted to meet with you and chat a little,” he says. “Somehow, it’s like being with you calms me down and invigorates me.” Half of that is actually a lie, since being with you tends to make his heart beat faster. “So is it okay if I ask you to put up with me for a bit longer?”

You’re not going to refuse, of course, and agree with a faint blush creeping over your cheeks. But now he has to think up ways to continue this conversation, and it’s not like he wants to talk about the script some more. His eyes fall upon a bag you have next to you, with the logo of a video rental store. Well, he’s got nothing else. “What movies did you rent?”

“I was going to return these, actually... but did you really want to know?” Okada hastily backpedals, “Huh? No, it’s fine if you don’t want to tell me.”

But you’re already pulling out DVDs from the bag. To his surprise, they’re all action movies. “Don’t you just want to zone out and watch explosions sometimes?” you defend your choice of films, red to the face.

“I like them too,” Okada says encouragingly, “I actually probably like these sort of films more. They get my blood pumping.”

“But...” you stop yourself, but Okada has an idea of what you want to say. “Watching something is pretty different from writing it,” he admits with a bitter smile. He doesn’t think he could really write an action film, either.

You laugh. “But sometimes I really do just want to zone out and watch B movies.”

Okada gets it. “Yeah, when I don’t want to think about anything, I’ll put on stuff like Aliens vs. Mole Men.” When you can’t sleep, too, if they’re airing then you’ll end up watching them all the way to the end. Before Okada realizes it, he's laughing along with you.

“I’m sorry there’s none of your works here, Okada-sensei.” He waves it off. “Just tell me if you want any, I’ll loan them to you.”

The instant it’s out of his mouth, he knows it sounds like a pretext to see you again. “You don’t have to return them or anything,” he says quickly. But it’d still be nice to see you again. And to get to know you better.

“Could we meet up if I get stuck again?” This time it’s definitely an excuse.

“If I can be of help,” you say. “Of course you are,” he says assuredly, and then inside second-guesses himself. I hope that didn’t sound weird…

While Okada’s worrying over how he sounds, you’ve been worrying over something else. Finally, you speak up. “I was wondering if I should say something, but…” Okada looks at you curiously.

“…you’ve got bed head,” you tell him.

He quickly pats down the offending hair. “I’ll make sure it’s neat next time,” he mutters.

You smile impishly. “I’m looking forward to it.” Now that might be problematic for him.

That night, Okada intently pores over his computer. I’m in love right now… I think… Maybe? Thinking back to his meeting with you in the cafe, he finds himself blushing. It’s a side effect of writing love stories, but he usually thinks of himself as detached from such emotion. It’s a fresh feeling that he wants to include in his work.

After all, his protagonist might be a genius pianist... but even for geniuses, falling in love should work the same as normal. Falling in love like normal, huh? I might be overthinking this. Still, even as he writes what he’s pretty sure is a good scene, he can’t maintain his composure. Who would write this sort of line... wait, it’s me. Ah... Okada is just embarrassing himself into a humiliation conga here.

From that day on, he goes out with you quite a lot. He’s sure you’ve figured out that it’s all an excuse. After all, the instant he says, “I’m stuck,” you’re telling him, “You need to take a break.”

“So did I get it right today?” He asks when you arrive, turning in place.

“Congrats, sensei, you finally got rid of the bed head.”

“I tried my best,” Okada grins. “But could you stop calling me sensei? Everyone keeps turning to look.”

“That’ll be hard...” you respond, “Even before we met, I thought of you as sensei.” It’s not a satisfactory answer, but Okada lets the matter drop. “So you wanted to go shopping today?”

“Yes. Sorry to drag you along, sense- er, Okada-san.”

“I’m the one who invited you along so I could relax,” he replies as you two head into a shopping mall.

In one boutique, you hold two dresses up against your body. “Which do you think looks better on me, the yellow one or the white one?”

“I’m no good with this,” Okada protests. “You already picked one before you asked me anyway, right?”

“I haven’t, so tell me which you like better,” you insist. So Okada studies both dresses. “I guess the yellow one?”

“Okay, I’m going with white then!”

Okada pouts, “Meanie.” You laugh as his shoulders slump, “I’m just kidding. I like the yellow one too.”

“Then we could say you did pick one already,” he retorts. You think it over for a moment, and laugh again. “I guess you could say I did.”

I’m falling in love, like a normal person would. Just thinking it makes him blush. But when he’s with you, he’s happy, he has fun, and he already can’t wait until the next time you two meet. He’s been making good progress on the script, too. When he heads home after dating you, the words can’t stop coming. “I’m stuck” really is just an excuse now.

Suddenly, he realizes you’re peering closely into his face. “Okada-sensei, are you listening?”

“Er, yes, that’s me. I’m Okada.”

“I know.” This time you’re holding two caps. They’re the exact same, except for the color. “This time I haven’t decided yet, so black or yellow?”

Okada studies the two caps. “Black?”

“Sorry, the answer’s yellow.” “Meanie.”

As you giggle at him, Okada smiles fondly, and falls in love with you even more.

Quite some time later, Okada runs into a cafe, folding up his umbrella  and heading over to where you’re waiting for him. “It’s been a while,” he offers a meek smile, “I’m sorry I kept you waiting.” His deadline’s nearing, so he hasn’t been able to contact you. But last night, since he was finally nearing the end, he decided to invite you out for the first time in a while.

“How’s the script coming?” you ask. “It’s going pretty well, thanks to you,” Okada says. And then he remembers that he’d used the “I’m stuck” excuse to ask you out again. Oops.

But you just grin at him. “...you figured it out?” Okada asks sheepishly.

“Pretty much, yes,” you continue to grin at him, “A long time ago.”

Okada returns your smile with a chagrined one of his own. “Well, thanks to you, I’m making a lot of progress.” Actually, all that’s left for him to write is the ending. “Right now, the hero’s playing piano again, but he and the heroine have begun walking separate paths.” He tells you all about the tale he’s weaved in the script up ‘til now.

You react with a lonely expression. “Sounds like things have gotten rough for them.”

~NORMAL END~ Oh... Okada realizes why. “Sorry about not reaching out to you.”

You chuckle. “You couldn’t help it, right? I’m a fan of your works, sensei, so I’ve been looking forward to the completion of this script. I’m happy things are coming along.”

“Sorry it’s such a bad excuse,” Okada smiles wryly and bows his head apologetically. She always seems to know my weak point. “Then as an apology, where would you like to go today?”

“I can’t really pick if you ask me so suddenly... how about somewhere fun?”

“That’s some pretty broad guidelines,” Okada laughs, parsing his memories as he tries to figure out what “fun” is for you.

Where he takes you to is none other than a movie theater. You burst out in a fit of giggles. “I guess I did say I like them.”

“You said you rent them when you just want to zone out, right?” Because the film he’s bought tickets for is a B movie style action flick. “Or we could wait 30 minutes and go see The Colossal Clash of the Titanic Tentacles.” It took a lot of willpower to not translate 巨大タコVS巨大イカ as The Titanic Tako vs. The Immense Ika. I’m still not sure I did it any justice. Hurray, localization!

“That is a tough one,” you laugh, as the two of you find seats. “It’s a little known masterpiece,” Okada expounds with a smirk, to your immense approval. At the very least, you look excited to Okada.

The film starts and the theater darkens. Okada is quite relieved to find that he can watch other movies without getting embarrassed, as long as they’re not romantic ones. His eyes stay glued to the screen as he gropes about for his drink to take a sip, but when he grabs it, he feels you tapping his hand. He’s grabbed your drink.

Sorry, he puts his hands together in apology, and finds his own cup to drink from.

But not even 10 minutes later, he’s doing it again. You give him a tight-lipped smile, like you’re trying to tell him it’s OK, but honestly it bothers you, and he apologizes again, mentally swearing to get it right next time.

So the next time he wants a drink, he mentally checks which one his is first. Mine is on the right... mine is on the right... But when he reaches out to grab it, he stops in his tracks.

Because the sight of your face, engrossed in the tale being played out onscreen, is among the most beautiful things he’s ever seen.

She’s got a great smile, she’s cheerful, she’s good at cheering people on... I really like her.

He thinks about it for a moment, and then reaches out for your cup again. And once again, you tap his hand.

That’s Okada’s chance to grab your finger with his own. It’s soft...

He glances over to his left, expecting disapproval. What he sees is you trying to suppress your giggles, shoulders heaving uncontrollably. And while he’s trying to make sense of your reaction, you wrap your hand back around his.

Why is she...? When his eyes meet yours, he feels himself overcome by laughter as well. The two of you sit there all the way until the credits roll, silently laughing.

“It’s because you did it at the scene when the hero was carrying ten logs on his back,” you explain when the credits finish and the lights come back on. “I thought, This is where he wants to hold my hand? and, well... sorry.” But your hands are still joined. “And it’s you of all people, Okada-sensei! You write such amazing romance stories and...”

Okada cuts you off. “When you take the test for your driver’s license, the written test is different from the practical one, isn’t it?”

“That’s true,” you admit. But you laugh only harder at the offended look in his eyes, and he has even less of an idea of what to do. Finally, he just lets out a deep sigh.

“I’m sorry, I really am,” you plead, “I won’t laugh anymore.”

“That’s not...” he starts to reply, and then stops himself, “I love you.” He watches your eyes widen at his confession, and then watches you clearly try to hold back your laughter. “...this is when you want to say it?”

Okada’s beginning to run out of patience at this point, and finally bursts out into chuckles himself. “Alright, I get it... I get zero points in the practical part.” He stands up and takes you by the hand. “Let’s go.” The two of you start walking, him leading you through the seats out of the theater.

“But I’d give you 200 points in the written part,” you chime from behind. He pauses, turning around to look at you. “How am I supposed to follow that one?”

You walk to stand next to him, smiling brightly. “I love you, Okada-sensei.” He finds himself just naturally smiling back at you. “I told you to stop calling me sensei.”

But he’s not mad. “I love you too,” he repeats himself, “I’m really glad we met.” And as the two of you step out past the theater doors, everything goes white.

...huh? He slowly opens his eyes, and looks around from his curled-up position. Some of his hair is sticking up. Oh, so just now... I see, it was a dream. No wonder it felt like he wasn’t meant to be a scriptwriter, because he actually wasn’t one.

He sees you sitting at his feet, watching TV. He calls your name, and you turn to face him with a smile. “You’re awake?”

“Mmm, I guess I am... How about you? Watching a movie?” He’s asking, but it’s pretty clear you’re not really paying attention to it.

“...yeah. It’s about a failed genius pianist.” Well, that sounds familiar. “He gives up the piano and becomes a martial art practitioner. It’s the story of a miraculous career change or something like that.” Wait, where did that story just head to?

You’re making such a weird face trying to describe it that Okada laughs. So this is why we went to watch such a weird movie in my dream. Of course, it’s thanks to this that he branded himself as someone who gets zero points in romance.

“Is it interesting?” “I have no clue what’s going on anymore,” you admit.

He flattens the stray hair against his head and thumps the sofa, “Come here. It’s warm.” You obediently roll over towards him, and he hugs you as a reward, as you look adoringly up at him. “You don’t want to watch the movie anymore?”

“Like I told you, I have no clue what’s going on anymore. If you hadn’t woken up, I’d probably have gone to sleep.”

“If you did, you’d probably have an interesting dream, y’know?” He smiles, “I was a screenwriter just now.”

“Since it’s you, I’m sure you were a brilliant writer,” you say, but Okada recalls his struggles writing grimly. “It didn’t suit me at all. I had so many problems writing, it got agonizing.”

“Is that so? ...I can see that,” you smile at him, “I’d enjoy seeing movies you acted in more than movies you wrote. I’m looking forward to the next one, too.” He notices the script he’d been reading before he fell asleep lying on the coffee table, and remembers your words in his dream.

“I’m looking forward to this next work,” you’d told him, and he’d internally complained, That’s unfair.

It really is unfair... He remarks to himself, I’ll want to show an even better side of me than a “Do your best” would have enticed.

From where you are snuggled in his arms, he hears the rhythmic sounds of your breathing. It’s your turn for a New Year’s dream. He plants a gentle kiss on your forehead.

~PREMIER END~ Oh... At the sight of your forlorn face, Okada feels a painful twinge deep in his heart.

Maybe... I’ve made her lonely too. His intention was to write this script, using his own feelings to find out his protagonist’s motives and goals. But at some point, real life seems to have overtaken the script, since it looks like you and him are on the verge of walking your own paths yourselves. If I really did leave her hanging, I’m no better than a... what could I even call myself?

No matter how many sweet lines he may write for the job, he’s always been detached, and especially from himself.

“Okada-san, what’s wrong?” you ask, interrupting his self-flagellating.

“...it’s nothing,” he tries to smile at you. What lines did I write for this sort of situation? He’s honestly irritated at himself being unable to say anything smooth and tries to change things up. “How about we go grab some food?”

But when the two of you move to leave the cafe, a cold winter rain is beating upon the streets. “It was still so sunny when I left home in the afternoon,” you lament, pulling out a small collapsible umbrella from your bag, “I should’ve been more careful.”

Okada watches you fumble to open it, and offers only a simple invitation. “Want to come under here?” When you look at him, befuddled, he shrugs and lays out his reasoning. “It looks like you’re having some trouble getting that open, and the restaurant’s not that far anyway. My umbrella’s big enough for two...”

Your response is an awkward smile. “I don’t know if I should call you amazing or what...” Now it’s his turn to be confused, and you switch tracks, grumbling. “Or maybe I should say you’re merciless, Okada-sensei. Even an unexpected situation like this turns into one right from your scripts.” With a small sigh, you put away the umbrella and accept Okada’s invitation to share his umbrella.

The two of you walk along the street, and Okada notes that he takes considerably smaller strides as he tries to match his pace to yours. It feels to him like you’re trying to maintain a bit of distance between the two of you. Even though you’re so close he could physically touch you, you still seem far away. And there’s so many things I want to ask her, too...

Little mundane things, like how your job’s been going. And more importantly - most importantly - did he make you feel abandoned?

The two of you walk in silence and Okada mulls over how to ask that pressing question.

“...sensei. Er, Okada-san?” He hears your voice calling him and reacts with a jolt. “Er, yes, that’s... uh... huh?” Looking around, the two of you seem to have gotten lost in a residential neighborhood.

“I thought it was weird, but since you were holding the umbrella and kept walking...” you trail off apologetically. “Sorry, I was lost in thought,” Okada says remorsefully. You give that little worried smile again, and Okada thinks over the many times you’ve shown him that expression. He thought you liked him, at least a little bit, but now he’s growing increasingly unsure.

“Let’s go back,” you say encouragingly, and turn around to head in the direction you came from.

Looking at your back, Okada’s self-doubt comes to a head. “Hey... I just want to know. Were you lonely? Or I guess what I’m actually wondering is, did you miss me?”

Now that he’s worrying about how to literally continue on in these unfamiliar streets too, he ends up just saying what he’s thinking directly. And once again he scolds himself, I’m really not suited to be a writer. After all, there were so many ways he could say it.

You turn back around to look directly at him. “Not really. I’m pretty busy too, y’know. There’s always events to be setting up, so I don’t really have the time to feel lonely.”

Okada looks at you in silence. “And I was wondering if I should say it or not...” you continue, “But... your bed head’s back.” He automatically raises his left hand - the hand not holding the umbrella - to pat down the offending hair, but you give him an impish grin as you raise your own left hand to fix it for him. “The other side.”

“You’re in quite the daze,” you remark, gently patting down his hair. “But I guess you can’t really help it.” Okada’s heart skips a beat. Maybe several. His hair is standing up stubbornly and you keep trying to work it down, and he just keeps thinking about how much he really really likes you...

He switches his umbrella over to his left hand so he can grab yours with his right. You stop trying to fix his hair, looking directly at Okada in surprise.

“I think I’m going to have to rewrite some of these lines when I get home,” he chuckles, but he finally feels like he knows what he wants to write.

Okada: Times like these, you should just tell me honestly that you missed me. Maybe you think it’ll affect me badly if you tell me that, but I’ll actually get even more worried if you don’t. I want to worry about you, more than you know.

Even in the darkness of the rainy night, he can tell how red your blushing cheeks are. You try to distract - him? yourself? probably the both of you - from the obvious. “...sensei, you’re going to get embarrassed reading this over later.”

“Too late, I’m already embarrassed.” Because Okada feels his own cheeks tingling from the blood rushing to them.

“That’s why I said you’re merciless...” you pout. “Sorry,” Okada responds, not sorry at all as he leans forward to kiss you.

“I like you,” he smiles shyly when he lifts his head. “I know. I’ve known for a while now,” you respond, just as bashful. “...yeah, I figured,” he admits, and the two of you have a good laugh as you burrow yourself against his chest.

“Seriously, how could you just leave me all alone like that?” you complain, “From now on I’m going to make you worry so much, you’ll be drowning in it.”

Okada cracks a smile at your threat. “Okay. That makes me happy.”

The two of you start walking again, now hand-in-hand. “About the script...” he suddenly brings up, “It was supposed to have a sad ending, but now I’m thinking about changing it to a happy one.”

“Won’t they get mad at you for that?” you ask. Okada thinks about the possibility of that for a moment and chuckles a little. “I think there’d probably be a lot of bigwigs rushing to support it instead. Producers and directors and the like.” You chuckle. “Well, we wouldn’t want that, would we?”

“But I just feel like letting them have a happy end too,” he defends himself. His smile grows wider as he looks at you. “I love you.”

With the pitter-patter of the rain as a backdrop, your voice seems to sweetly echo under his umbrella. “I love you too, Okada-sensei.”

“...could you please stop calling me sensei?”

“Oh, just get used to it already.” Hi-five, Okada’s dream me! Hi-five.

Okada feels his consciousness blank out, and all he can feel is the warmth of your hand on his...

His eyes fly open with a start.

“Jun-kun, you’re awake?” You’re kneeling by his side, chin resting in your hands as you look at him earnestly. Hearing you call him “Jun-kun” makes him finally understand. That was all a dream. Well, yeah, of course it was. I’m not a screenwriter or anything. Your hand is holding his right hand, and he knows where the warmth came from too. He notices a blanket’s been pulled over him.

“Sorry,” he says, “I fell asleep. So what are you doing there?”

“I’ve been watching you sleep,” you respond simply. “You make so many faces, it’s never boring.”

“Oh?” Okada asks. Just like in his dream, you let out a chuckle. “Your mouth would move like you were saying something, and then every so often you’d break out into a wide grin.”

“...okay, stop it,” Okada’s beginning to get embarrassed again. He sits up, trying to ignore the blush rising to his cheeks.

“What a shame,” you say, reaching a hand out to him. “You took a bath, but now you’ve got bed head.”

“I thought I would,” Okada grins ruefully as you pat his hair down flat. “Why is that?” you ask, smoothing down the stray hairs.

“...because you were doing this for me in my dream, too.”

“You had bed head in your dream?” You are, understandably, incredulous. You would be even more incredulous if you knew just how often it happened.

“...that’s what happened,” he admits. You laugh even harder at him and he takes advantage of the opening to bring you up onto his lap. He looks at you adoringly as he asks the question that plagued him in his dream. “I’m going to be pretty tied up again... will you miss me?”

You respond with a question. “Is that the kind of dream you had?”

“Well, yes... I thought I’d try asking you anyway.”

You think it over before deciding on an answer. “Maybe I won’t,” you tell him brightly, smiling from ear to ear. But that smile feels strange to Okada.

“...liar,” he smiles back at you.

“Well, if I lie about it, you’re just going to worry for no reason... so I may as well admit I’m going to miss you.” You’re right about how he’ll react, and that makes Okada’s heart skip a beat. You know him too well.

Your eyes twinkle devilishly at him as you continue. “And then, after I tell you that I will miss you, you’re going to be happy.” Okada starts to protest, but you quickly manage to silence his defense. “Look, the corners of your mouth are already beginning to turn up!”

Feeling his cheeks burn, Okada quickly pulls you in for a kiss.

“...okay, enough of that,” he jokingly scolds you when it ends. “I’m glad you know me so well, but no more predictions. Even if I love that part of you too.”

Outside, the rain has begun to fall. He holds you in his arms as the two of you listen to the steady beat of the rain.

A lot of things happened this time around, because holy crap, it’s been a month and a half since the new year started (and I think two weeks and a half since I finished the Maa-kun one?). Sorry, guys. I think after finishing everything from this event we’re going to go back to summarizing instead of straight up translating. It’ll probably go faster and let me avoid boring bits.

[fumei]

Lovecen. Lovecen never ends.

Look, I’m learning a lot about myself playing this game. Specifically how far my tolerance level for obvious money grabs in the name of pretty boys and dress-up goes. It goes very far. Ridiculously far. Way further than I ever thought it would go.

I gripe about this because in keeping with Lovecen event tradition, we got the next scenario event less than a day after the Belated X’mas Gathering event ended. This is a bit less in keeping with presumably Japanese traditions, because that meant the event started on the night of December 31st in Japan, maybe a little before Kohaku started airing.

At least Lovecen is an equal-opportunity life-ruiner.

Dream Kiss ~His First Dream of the Year~: Sakamoto Masayuki

Let’s add a little bit of cultural context here with thanks to Wikipedia. (I’m sure there are deeper cultural notes to be had, but we’re just giving you the bare minimum.)

Hatsuyume (初夢) is the Japanese word for the first dream had in the new year. Traditionally, the contents of the dream would foretell the luck of the dreamer in the ensuing year. In Japan, the night of December 31 was often passed without sleeping, thus the hatsuyume was often the dream seen the night of January 1. This explains why January 2 (the day after the night of the "first dream") is known as Hatsuyume in the traditional Japanese calendar.

This go-round, we’re getting V6′s point of view. Well, how else are we supposed to know what their dreams were. The preview promised us more random AUs again, in this game that is already nothing but AUs, and it kind of feels like they just threw in whatever scenario they couldn’t come up with a theme for. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing, if it means we were never gonna get some of these stories otherwise.

So. We’ve hit New Year’s 2016. Sakamoto’s finished his major jobs for the end of the year (that is, Kohaku and then the video feed for Johnny’s Countdown, and then the TV appearances for post-end-of-year-performances... and even just typing that was exhausting.), and now he’s happy to just relax and spend the time with you in his apartment.

You poke your head out from his kitchen to chirp at him, “Maa-kun, you wanted to have some ozoni, right? How many rice cakes should I put in your bowl?”

“Mmm, how about two?” Sakamoto responds. This year, he’s left all the cooking for the New Year foods to you. Though honestly, you asked to do it, seeing how busy he was at the end of the year. Since he’s usually the one cooking, he thinks it’s cute seeing you all gung-ho to go, with your sleeves rolled up. So much, in fact, that he gets a little slack-jawed and has to make himself look casually cool again before you bring the food out to him.

Speaking of which, you bring out the plates of food, all prettily arranged, and Sakamoto happily has at it. “It’s delicious. You’ve gotten better,” he compliments you. “Thanks. Since it’s New Year’s, I wanted to give you a break,” you respond with some clear relief, and start telling him about how you tried adjusting the flavors. It’s obvious that you were cooking with him and his health in consideration, and Sakamoto thinks to himself just how much he loves you.

After cleaning the dishes, the two of you retire to the sofa to watch New Year’s programs on TV. Just watching performers all dressed up makes brings a celebratory air to the apartment.

“Look, they’re doing magic!” you eagerly point out. You’re enthralled by the magician’s tricks, your eyes sparkling as the magician on TV makes a cigarette disappear. Normally you’re calm and composed, but when you really get into something, you end up looking like an excited little kid. Like now.

She’s cute no matter what sort of face she makes, Sakamoto muses. But he still has to butt in, “Even I can do simple magic tricks.” Because the TV has you so enraptured that he can’t help but feel a little of antagonism towards the magician that’s stolen your attention.

“Really? I want to see!” And now you’re looking at him, your expectations clearly written in your eyes. Sakamoto pulls out a 1000yen bill and folds it into thirds, and makes it hover above his right hand using only his thumb. At first you’re excited, and then you notice... “Maa-kun, I can see the coin wrapped inside that bill.” He was balancing the bill using the coin.

“I thought you wouldn’t notice because you’re so simple,” he admits. You (quite understandably) take offence to that, “Why can’t you say I’m straightforward instead?” Besides, don’t you know it’s the overthinkers who miss the easy tricks?

But even though you see through the trick, you still enjoyed it. If she’s this happy with something like this, maybe I should learn more magic tricks, Sakamoto decides, as the two of you turn your attention back to the TV, where an illusionist is about to make a building disappear. If I could do something as showy as this, I think she’d be pleased... He wants to be nothing more than whatever will make you happiest.

...can we just pause for a second, Maa-kun? I really do love magic - as you guys are all about to find out reading this - but please start slow and don’t attempt Chinese water torture cells yet. I promise you I’ll be happy with card tricks.

Of course, when he realizes what he’s thinking, he has to laugh at himself. You’re leaning against his shoulder, engrossed in the trick being performed, and even though you’re not paying him any attention, feeling the very real presence of your weight on him, having you right next to him puts him at ease. So at ease, that he finds himself getting sleepy, and falls into a deep sleep...

“Masa? I’ve picked a card,” he can hear a woman’s voice saying. ...huh? Sakamoto snaps back to reality at the sound of his name being called. He’d forgotten he was in the middle of performing a magic show. Crap, I spaced out...

“Sorry, I was worrying about what I’d do if I messed up,” he flashes a brilliant smile, and the customers at the table all laugh at his joking tone. “I’ve never seen you mess up before,” says one man.

“Thanks, but I’ve screwed up many times before,” Sakamoto replies evenly. It’s important for a magician to control the atmosphere with conversation, along with other skills.

...that’s right, he’s Magician Masa. The line for sign-ups to be his lovely assistant starts over there.

Also, while we’re talking magician Johnny’s, let us have a moment to appreciate the awkwardness that is Kimutaku’s Magician Zero character. Right down to real-life inspiration Cyril Takayama’s hilariously overacted expressions, and then in reverse. And also Goro.

Here’s some more Zero if you’re so inclined, and more Cyril. All clips linked are unsubbed, but you should have a decent idea of what’s going on/what the trick is even without knowing Japanese. ...this has also been your timely reminder about the SMAP debacle, now back to Magician Masa.

“Now, watch carefully,” Sakamoto guides the audience. He slips the chosen card back into the center of the deck, and with a flick of his finger, summons the card to the top. His audience is admiring and amazed, and these are the moments that Sakamoto lives for.

But there’s one girl he takes an interest in. She comes from time to time to watch his magic shows. He’s pretty sure she comes to watch because she likes magic, but she never seems to have any reaction to his tricks. He figures ordinary feats of magic won’t be enough.

“...Masa, I’ve picked a card,” she - that is, you now say. You holds the card out towards Sakamoto, but he asks you to sign your name on it, watching with interest and noting your name. Yes, that’s how he learns your name. Yes, out of all the stories for this event, it is by far the most roundabout way to go about it. It might be his pride as a professional magician, but he wants to make you smile from the depths of your heart.

He has you replace the card in the middle of the deck. Feeling the eyes of the other patrons on him, he snaps his fingers, and the card jumps to the top of the deck. You react with surprise for a second, but quickly return to a reserved smile. I guess this one didn’t grab her either...

Even if you’re not reacting, the other girls certainly are. “Masa’s Rising Card trick always looks amazing!” Sakamoto accepts all the praise with a humble smile, but the fact that he couldn’t get you to respond as enthusiastically still puts a damper on his mood.

A little while after, it’s a sunny day off for him and he’s at a park, still despondent over you. I wonder just what it is I’m missing... For a change of pace, he’s doing some juggling today. Sakamoto used to do street performances when he first started, where he had to attract crowds on his own. Even though now he does close-up table tricks, he’s still got a bit of a reputation.

I’m probably getting lax, he thinks ruefully. His aim as a performer is to leave everyone who sees his tricks with a smile, so there’s no way he can forget about you.

His juggling attracts the attention of some boys on their way back from baseball practice, and they surround him in interest. Having an audience gets Sakamoto excited. “Hey, how’d you get so good!?” One kid demands to know.

“Looks cool, right? Want to give it a try?” With a grin, Sakamoto starts to teach them to juggle. But from the corner of his eye, he glimpses a familiar figure. He calls out to you, and you’re surprised he knows your name. You come closer to the ring of children around Sakamoto, as he explains it’s because he had you write your name on a card for the trick that one time. Totally not a stalker.

Speaking of those kids, Sakamoto seems to realize something. “Have you been watching this entire time?” You shyly admit that you came to the park for some fresh air and just happened to see him.

“Don’t worry,” he laughs, “Watch as much you like.”

Wait a minute, I know it’s Maa-kun’s dream and all, but there is such a thing as being too suave. We love you because you’re a dork. A dork whose stage name is Magician Masa.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen you juggling,” you remark, a smile playing about your lips. It’s the first time Sakamoto has seen you smile so naturally, and he feels his heart skip a beat. Maybe she likes this kind of display...

"Masa! Teach us how to juggle already!” Another kid yells at him. And that calms him down before he realizes this is the perfect chance to engage you. So he invites you to try juggling with them. You’re a little surprised at first, and take him up on the invite - because, as he tells you, “It’s more fun to actually try it out.”

Your little group plays around until evening falls, and the kids have to run home after a promise with Magician Masa to play together again sometime. It’s just the two of you now, and you thank him for the nice time. It was a lot of fun juggling after all, you admit. The setting sun illuminates you from behind, and it gives Sakamoto a completely different impression of you compared to when you’re watching him do magic at night.

“Would it be okay for me to come watch your show again sometime?” you ask him. “Of course! I’ll be waiting,” Sakamoto replies calmly. But inside, more than ever, he wants to make you smile with one of his tricks. And probably, he has to admit, he just really wants to get to know you better.

So several days later, he invites you and a friend to the Magic Bar, where he performs. Of course it’s called the Magic Bar. Of course it’s a bar. The friend is enthused, it’s her first time here, and even more so to be greeted by Magician Masa himself.

That’s because Magician Masa shows up on TV shows from time to time and he’s famous. Of course he does. This dream is the ultimate in wish-fulfillment fantasy for Maa-kun. You had no idea, since you don’t really know too much about magic. That answers so many questions for Sakamoto, such as why you seem to view him so differently than most of the customers who come, and why you’re more interested in things like juggling than the usual magic tricks.

“Tonight, I’ve prepared some special tricks just for the two of you,” he smiles as he starts the show. Your buddy is super excite, because when Magician Masa does tricks, they really do seem like magic. Well, she’s about to get even more excite, because today, Masa’s got some mentalism up his sleeves.

He pulls out some white cards and asks you to write down your favorite flower on one while he turns his back to you. When you’re done with that, he asks you write down two other flowers on two more cards, and then turns back around, telling you he’s going to pick out the flower you like.

You’ve written down Rose, Gerbera Daisy, and Lily. He watches the movements of your eyes on the cards as he says them aloud, and deduces that your favorite flower is the Rose. He is, of course, correct. I am disappointed in you, self, that was way too easy. “How did you do that!?” You and your friend’s eyes widen in amazement.

“Maybe I just read your mind,” Sakamoto smiles enigmatically, folding up the card that says Rose as small as possible and making it disappear into thin air before he brings out a single rose to present to you. You accept it with a smile. I guess that was a success. Maa-kun, you smooth beast, you.

He shows you and buddy trick after trick, including one with a coin. You calmly watch his performances and he can’t help but think more and more how cute you are. And the more he watches your reactions to his tricks, the more he thinks he’s beginning to understand you, too. For example, the reason why you don’t smile so much at his tricks is because you don’t think it’s worth forcing a smile if you don’t feel it'll be genuine.

And finally, he admits to himself that it’s become more than curiosity at this point - he likes you.

Conveniently, your buddy gets a phone call right at that time and has to leave to take it, leaving just the two of you at the table. I like our buddies. Even in Sakamoto’s dream, she’s always a good wingwoman. You remark how today’s tricks have all been brand new ones, and Sakamoto admits he prepared them just for you. You’re interested in mentalism, because it feels like Magician Masa can see right through you.

“Aren’t you afraid that I’ll read too much?” Sakamoto asks, “For example... I can tell who the guy you like is.”

"Can you really?” you ask, interested but also worried. Sakamoto tells you of course he can. ...just kidding. This would be so much easier if I could, he thinks ruefully. But he makes a show of it, and says you can tell him the next time you meet, handing you a business card with his personal information on it as he asks you if you’re free the next time you’re off.

And that was how he invited you on a date on your next day off.

...seriously, I can’t tell if this is Maa-kun being extremely smooth, or being extremely dorky. Other than the idea of this being Maa-kun’s idea of being extremely smooth being extremely plausible, I can’t tell anything anymore. Please stop breaking my brain, Lovecen. (Please give yourself a pat on the back if you parsed that middle sentence. If you couldn’t, don’t worry.)

Sakamoto arrives right on time, and you come running up soon after, apologizing for making him wait even though you’re on time as well. “You don’t have to run,” he chuckles, but you apologize and explain it took a little while to get ready. Of course, he can tell that just by looking at you - you’re all dressed up, and he can feel himself succumbing to your charms.

“So, shall we go?” He tries to hide his feelings by getting you to walk briskly with him, but he hasn’t really decided on any particular location. So he asks you if there’s anywhere you want to go.

Your face brightens. “I want you to take me anywhere you usually go to.”

“Where I usually go?” Sakamoto repeats, thinking his options over. None of them are stylish or anything... but it’s not like he wants to deny your request either.

And then one place to comes to mind. “I got it,” he smiles, “You might be a little surprised, but come with me.”

When you arrive, the first words out of your mouth “It’s a magic shop. It’s one of my regular haunts,” Sakamoto explains. It caters to magicians of all sorts, from just-starting amateurs to full-fledged professionals, and Sakamoto leads you over to a corner that holds props for magic tricks.

Internally, he admits, If this were a regular date, this would probably be a bad idea. But it’s you, and you’re loving it. He demonstrates a couple of them, like a silver hat that he pulls out a stuffed rabbit toy from. He’s just having fun being with you, though he thinks that’s only natural for any guy spending time with the girl they like.

There’s a particular trick he wants to show you, though, so he goes searching for it. And when he finds it, he calls out to you.

~NORMAL END~ You turn around to see him with a vertically-striped handkerchief. “When I put this handkerchief into the box, and say the magic words...” Sakamoto leads into the trick as usual, and you watch him intently. With a little flourish, he pulls the handkerchief from the box...

“Now it’s a horizontally-striped handkerchief!” he presents it with a cheeky grin. All he did was change the way it’s held. For a moment, a look of surprise crosses over your face, but that quickly changes into nonstop giggles.

“I’m sorry, it just seemed so different from how you are,” you apologize between laughs, but Sakamoto’s relieved that his “trick” went over well instead. He’s actually a little surprised that you like it so much.

“This is something one of my mentors came up with,” he explains. You already know, though, you’ve seen it on TV before.

Speaking of seeing it on TV... Here’s Maggie Jirou, who originated it, performing it for 24-hour TV a few years back.

But you still laughed for him, and Sakamoto appreciates that. Maybe I’ve just been overthinking this. And that natural laugh of yours just now has been the killing blow - he’s completely fallen for you and knows it.

Afterwards, he took you to one of his favorite restaurants for dinner, and now you’re in a park for a quick stroll as he walks you home. “My impression of you has been changing nonstop since we’ve met,” you remark to him.

“How so?” Sakamoto asks quietly, gazing at you. He needs to know just what you think of him.

“At first, you seemed like a stylish man, with no gaps. You were the very picture of a magician.”

“So you mean to say, ‘But that’s actually nothing like who you are,’” He laughs. You reel in horror from his teasing, face burning red. “Not at all...! I was so nervous because your magic was so amazing, so much that I couldn’t really speak or react.” Is that why her response always seemed so constrained? But Sakamoto’s glad that it’s not because he’d been no good as a performer.

“Masa’s magic is wonderful. But you were also teaching those kids how to juggle, bringing smiles to their faces as well,” you continue shyly, “I’m so glad I’ve gotten to see various sides of you...”

You’re not saying it upfront, but Sakamoto can read between the lines. “I’m the one who’s glad,” he tells you. “I’ve been trying to catch your attention for the longest time... though I think you don’t have a clue how much I’ve practiced and trained.” You bring a hand to your mouth in embarrassed surprise, and Sakamoto smiles even more. “I think if you got to know me better, magic would lose some of the wonder and glamour it has.”

“That’s not true,” you protest, gazing up at him.

Sakamoto meets it with a bashful smile. “...actually, I’m bad with enclosed spaces, so I avoid escape tricks. And when I mess up, I tend to freeze up. And then I have to desperately salvage the situation, even though I’m already so anxious I’m breaking out into a cold sweat.” He’s never told anyone this before. But we all know this already. “I’m not the perfect being you think I am.” And that’s why we love you.

He takes a moment of consideration for you. “Sorry, it must distressing, having the magician reveal his tricks.” He gives a bitter smile and turns his back on you to walk a few steps ahead.

And that’s when he hears your voice pipe up from behind, “...I don’t think I’m likely to be distressed.” Sakamoto spins back around to face you as you tell him simply, “No matter what kind of person you are, Masa, I...” Looking into your eyes, he can tell there’s something you’re desperately trying to say. I can’t even read her mind for something like this...

But there’s no doubt that the person you’re thinking of is him. “I... ever since we met, I think I...”

He doesn’t wait for you to finish that sentence and grabs your hand. Feeling the warmth from your fingers makes you only more precious to him, and he runs his own along your cheek.

“...I know what you’re thinking,” he says. You make a peep of confusion, and he continues, “Let’s meet up again like this, just the two of us.” He sees your eyes glimmer even despite the obvious state of bewilderment you’re in.

“You like me. And because you like me, you always want to see me, right?” He’s not even trying to read your mind anymore, now Sakamoto’s just saying what he himself is hoping for.

Luckily, you answer his prayers with an embarrassed murmur of agreement. He wants to protest, Don’t admit to it so easily like that. That’s too cruel, because you’re being too cute for him to handle again, but he gathers you up into his arms for an embrace, burying his face into your sweet smelling hair.

“Some bad guy is going to con you if you’re like that,” he warns.

“I want to be conned if it’s by you, Masa,” you reply.

I’m telling you, that’s why this is... Even as he complains internally and externally calls you a little fool, he takes your hand and wraps it around his waist. “Masa?” you ask, confused, but he only wraps you in a hug again when it seems like you’re going to step away.

“...bad girl. You belong to me,” Sakamoto whispers into your ear.

Silently, uncertainly, you hug him back. At this rate, I don’t know if I can send her home, he thinks, taking you in for a kiss.

And just then, he opens his eyes to find himself in his living room.

“...oh, sorry. Did I wake you?” you’re asking him. He’s confused to find you covering him with a blanket, an apologetic look on your face. When did I fall asleep...?

He stretches out a hand to you, feeling as though he’s just woken up from an long dream. “Come,” he summons, pulling you to his chest.

“Maa-kun? What’s up?” “It’s nothing,” he tells you. Just that all he can think of is how much he definitely loves you, even in a dream. Feeling your warmth against his chest, knowing that you’re real and with him, he feels the desire to finish off his dream, and brings your lips in for a sweet kiss.

~PREMIER END~ You turn when Sakamoto calls your name. “Let’s play with this,” he invites you, holding a stuffed raccoon doll and skittering it about. “It’s like it’s really alive!” you exclaim with a delighted laugh as he makes it feed from your palm and climb onto you and even fall asleep.

And on that subject, here’s Maggy Shinji with his own “pet,” Lucky.

Even though you always examine his most elaborate magic tricks with a stern expression, something like this is making you laugh, and this is making Sakamoto confused. She’ll laugh with something this simple? Maa-kun, Cyril would like to inform you: ‘Less is more.’ If this reference confuses you, please watch the very first video in this post to the very end.

“Masa, you really can do anything,” you smile brightly at him, petting the raccoon doll’s head. “Anyone could do this with a little practice,” he demurs.

Sakamoto’s big revelation occurs here: He’s been overthinking things in his quest to make you smile, but it didn’t really have to be that difficult. All he wanted to do was get to know you better. And as long as he focuses on that, he figures his feelings will get through. After all, here you are laughing naturally.

“Shall we move on to the next stop?” he says, and you look at him confusedly. “Next stop?”

“Yep. It’s just about showtime,” Sakamoto smiles. Where he takes you to is a theater where his juniors are performing a magic show.

“Tonight, dear audience, let us lead you into a world of dreams,” Ken is smiling onstage, looking as handsome as Ken will look in a gray wool suit. “But first, let me introduce my lovely assistant...” Go introduces himself as Ken’s assistant, equally dapper in a pinstripe suit.

Ken pauses to take a good look at his partner. "Huh? Go, I thought I told you to come out in a bunny costume.”

Go stares right back at Ken. “What. Like I’d actually wear that?”

I need a magician AU with GoKen, stat. I don’t care if the AU is actually situated in Sakamoto’s dream, either, because look at this. The man knows how to come up with a good scenario.

The audience laughs at their banter appreciatively, and Sakamoto watches you watch the show with wide eyes. You’re so clearly enjoying yourself, he’s glad he brought you here.

It mentions a disco ball coming out at the climax of the show. For narrative purposes, it’s only important because Sakamoto notices the light shining back from your eyes, because ~imagery~. For our purposes, this is important because of course Sakamoto thinks a magic show hosted by Ken would have a disco ball involved.

After the show, he takes you home. “It’s the first time I’ve seen such a flashy stage,” you remark. Sakamoto explains that his juniors are illusionists, and flashy spectacles are their hallmark. Quick, I just need to get this out of my system. If Sakamoto’s the classic top-hat and coattails table magician, and GoKen are illusionists... Inocchi would be a stand-up magician duo with Nagano, and Okada would be an escape artist. And now I definitely need this AU.

You’re still amazed, because the show had been a parade of wonders to you. You might’ve still been nervous when the two of you had left the magic shop, but now you’re completely at ease around Sakamoto. Speaking of which, he has to mock his own thoughts, because he’s been so focused on seeing your smile that it’s like he’s already fallen in love with you.

He notices the headlights of an oncoming car and gently wraps an arm around your shoulder to pull you closer in. As the car passes, you quietly thank him, and the two of you continue walking to the station in silence. Somehow, it feels like the distance between you two has suddenly widened even though you’re standing even closer than before.

I wonder how she thinks of me, Sakamoto muses. Even if he’s a magician, he can’t read something as important as this. But the two of you continue on in silence.

“Masa,” you pipe up, “You were moved to tears during that show, weren’t you?” He hadn’t thought you’d noticed. Since they were his juniors who'd always given him trouble, he’d gotten emotional seeing them become splendid magicians. Of course that’s what you think, you big squishy bear.

But to you, he gives a small chuckle, “Maybe it was just a figment of your imagination.”

You press on. “I think it’s wonderful that you’re so considerate of them. And you treat me just as importantly.” Well now, of course he’s gonna get bashful.

“You are important to me. Very much so,” he says. “All I’ve been thinking of is how to make you smile.” Now it’s your turn to be surprised and shy.

“Why...?” You ask, but just then, Sakamoto figures out how he wants to express his feelings to you. Instead of answering you, he asks you to come to the bar.

While the Magic Bar is usually closed today, he called up the owner and asked him for a favor. Today, he’s going to show you a trick especially for you. You’re visibly nervous, but dutifully sit at the usual table while he breaks open and shuffles a new deck of cards.

He has you pick four cards, whatever cards you like, memorize them, and then replace them however you like into the deck. He shuffles the deck again, and spreads the deck out into an arc on the table with the backs facing up... except for four cards. Sakamoto pulls out those four: the 7 of Diamonds, the Queen of Hearts, the Ace of Spades, and the 3 of Clubs.

“Those are the cards I chose,” you affirm with that small smile of yours. As always, your reactions to his magic are subdued.

“Before we came here, I told you wanted to make you smile, didn’t I,” Sakamoto smiles back at you. “The reason for that is written here.”

“Here?” You look up at him from the cards. He brings the cards together so that the numbers and letters on your bottom right are lined up and hands it to you.

I’m just gonna give you a moment to figure that out and then facepalm.

When you see it, you flush red. “Do you understand now?” Sakamoto prods.

3. A. Q. 7. When lined up in that order and flipped, you can make out the word LOVE.

“It’s been a little while for me, but I think I pulled it off pretty well,” Sakamoto smirks, proud of himself. After all, he only learned this trick on a whim. He certainly never thought he’d be using it, and much less like this. But he wanted to show it to you. Anything to make you smile. Unless...

“Or did you not like it?”

You shake your head furiously. “It’s embarrassing... but I’m actually really happy.”

“Yeah, I’m pretty embarrassed too right now,” Sakamoto admits.

The two of you sit there exchanging shy looks for a bit before you finally pipe up. “That’s actually why I chose these cards myself...”

In his dreams, we are a woman as cheesy as Sakamoto himself is.

You look upon the cards in amazement. “That’s how Magician’s Choice works,” Sakamoto explains. “We let you pick the card, but it’s all been predetermined.” Just like this romance between the two of you. Wait, how does Maa-kun even know this much about magic. Are there hidden talents that he’s not showing us in concerts?

“Masa...” you breathe out.

“Masayuki,” he corrects you, “From now on, when we’re together, can you call me Masayuki?” After all, now your relationship is different.

“Masayuki...” you say, and Sakamoto feels his chest tighten from hearing you call him by his real name. Caught up in the sweet euphoria of this blossoming love, he caresses your cheek and kisses you gently...

...and groggily opens his eyes to see his living room, feeling a soft touch on his own cheek. “Maa-kun?” He hears your voice and rubs his eyes, finding you looking at him. “Sorry, did I wake you?” You were kissing him on the cheek and just then he woke up, giving you a little shock.

“Not really... mornin’,” Sakamoto replies, bringing you closer to him so he can kiss you back. So it was just a dream... Watching the magic show on TV must have really left a strong impression on him. That said, just thinking about the adventures of Magician Masa makes him laugh.

But even in a dream, you were there with him. “...next time, I’d rather have you be my lovely assistant,” Sakamoto remarks aloud. That way, we’d be together day and night.

You giggle at him. “Maa-kun, are you still asleep?” His response is to kiss you again. “I might be... but I’d rather have the real thing instead of a dream.” And there on the sofa, with you in his arms, he kisses you over and over.

Okay, hopefully we’re gonna go on more of a roll from this point on. If I must be completely honest, I don’t ever really want to do a Maa-kun POV again, because there’s way too much angst over “Why am I not the best?!” that is very Sakamoto-appropriate but way too boring to re-wade through just to get to the ending.

[fumei]

And so, we reach the last of the Belated X’mas scenarios. And so, we reach Ken.

I have it on fairly accurate research (...with a sample size of 2) that the Gathering side stories aren’t always given in the same order to different players. Take the Japanese blogger I mentioned in the pre-Sakamoto story blurb. She got everyone except Okada, and assuming she was posting in the order she earned her side stories, Ken was the first one she got.

What I’m really saying is, Lovecen screwed me out of Hot Cafe Duo side stories.

But you’re not here to read my complaints about an event that occurred 3 months ago. (Before I started giving in to Lovecen’s cash demands.) You’re here to read about Ken being his adorable self, because when is he never?

🎄 Belated X’mas: with Miyake Ken

A few nights before Christmas, Ken gave you a call. “I’ve got to go to work this Christmas,” he tells you, “but afterwards I should have some time off. Let’s meet up when you’re done with work and go out.”

You are totally okay with this. In fact, just hearing that he’s gonna make time for you gets your hopes up. And then Ken tells you where he’s decided you’ll meet, and you feel your body stiffen with uncertainty. Name drop!

“Ken, are you serious?” The place he’s named is a plaza with a Christmas light display, and the massive crowds that come with it. This boy does not know the meaning of incognito.

“That’s just because it’s still before Christmas,” he says, “Once its passed, it should be less crowded.” Ken’s practically deaf to your concerns. Quite literally, the text says Ken has ears that don’t listen. 健くんは、まるで聞く耳を持たない。Good thing he knows Japanese Sign Language! Also, I may have snorted the first time I read that.

You switch tactics. “Why do you want to meet there?”

“Well, I looked it up, and it’s exactly equidistant from your office and where I’m working that day!” Not gonna lie, I definitely snorted when I read that one.

...is that it? Is that seriously the only reason? That was the last thing you expected to hear as his reason for picking the crowded plaza, especially considering all the downsides of meeting there. As much as you want to make a comeback or argue against it, you’re stunned into silence.

“You want to see me as soon as possible, too, right?” Ken’s voice drifts in, and you can’t really deny that you do. He cheers up immediately when you agree, and you can hear his voice brighten as he insists again, “Then let’s meet up at that plaza! We’ll be able to meet each other fastest that way.”

You still have your doubts, but since he went to all the trouble of looking it up, you concede. “But I want you to promise me something first...”

Some time later, it’s the day you’re going to meet with Ken, and you’re at the plaza.

And just as you expected, there are tons of people around, even though Christmas has passed. I should’ve known better, you think ruefully. It’s the season for end-of-year parties, and around you are drunken revelers on their way home. How could you have forgotten?

At least, you’re glad you had Ken make that promise. When the two of you were planning this out, you asked of him, “While we’re at the plaza, I’d like you to not speak at all.” Ken’s voice is way too distinct for you two to fool anyone.

But you still had to explain your reasoning to an irate Ken over and over again before he finally agreed.

You settle in to wait for him and enjoy the bedecked trees while waiting for him to show. They’re gorgeous, and you can understand why there are so many people here. It feels like stars are hanging from the trees.

So what better time for a drunken businessman to come shambling up to you for a flirt?

“Whatcha doin’ here, purty lady? Y’ by yersself?” He reeks of alcohol. You can’t covertly meet up with Ken if someone’s paying attention to you, so you start walking, trying to find a different place to wait for him. “Waitaminit! Ya don’t hafta run away,” the man slurs, grabbing your arm. His grip is anything but weak, and you can’t seem to loosen his hold. You don’t know what else you can do except struggle helplessly.

From behind, an arm reaches swiftly in and around you to free you, and you turn to see Ken in a knit cap, with a scarf covering his mouth. He glares at the drunk, and keeping his arm around your shoulder, swiftly rushes you out of the plaza.

The two of you walk in silence for a little while after that, until you reach a quiet park. Ken releases your shoulder and lets out a humongous sigh. “Honestly,” he fumes, “That drunk. The nerve of him, messing around with you right in front of my eyes! And he grabbed your arm, too! Just what did he want to do with you?!”

Now that Ken’s started talking again, he can’t be stopped. Let’s be real. This is true even outside of Lovecen romcom shenanigans.

“If I hadn’t made that promise with you, I’d have been all up in his face yelling at him to not touch you!” Ken continues to rant, but then his expression turns to one of deep regret. “...if I hadn’t made that promise...” You see his fist ball up tightly in frustration.

“...I just wanted to meet you faster, even if it was only a little bit faster. And then we could’ve looked at the Christmas lights together for a bit too...” More than anything, what he actually regrets is his choice of location. “I should’ve picked a different place. All I managed to do was make you unhappy.”

You look at Ken and your eyes meet. The look in his eyes makes your chest tighten so hard, you swear it could squeak. “I’m sorry. You must have been so scared.” The portrait of Ken used here is making my chest tighten. This isn’t playing fair, Lovecen! He takes your hand, interlocking his fingers with yours.

“No, I’m sorry too,” you respond with a tiny smile. “I’ve made you upset. And... thanks. I really did want to see you faster, too.” If nothing else, he should know how you really feel.

And that seems to be Ken’s cue to suddenly squeeze your face between his hands.

“That! That is what I’ve been waiting to hear!” ...Ken, sweet V6 baby, you are adorable but mood whiplash hurts.

“Ken, stop that, my face is going to look weird,” you whine in protest.

“It’s fine, you’re cute,” Ken waves it off. And with an impish grin, he kisses you.

“...I missed you,” he says when the lip-locking has finished. “It’s kind of late now, but how about we go home and do Christmas over again?”

“You want to do Christmas now?” you ask, a little incredulous. Ken smirks and brings his forehead against yours.

“Yep, now. And we’re not stopping until I’m satisfied.” He’s been looking forward to it for so long, after all. For you, you suddenly note how beautiful Ken’s eyes are when he smiles happily. This boyfriend of yours always leaves your heart racing.

Oh, there will be hearts racing tonight if Ken has his way, alright.

[fumei]

Some of you may remember that early on, at the start of these belated Christmas side story posts, I mentioned that in these side stories, V6 were unable to spend Christmas with you due to the AU having returned them to their rightful jobs as heart-stealers throughout the world but mostly in Japan.

You may also remember that the reason given (or not given) for their packed worked schedule was not something that had actually taken up their time in the Year of our Lord Frozen Jesus!Okada Statue 2015 - that is, the Charity Music-thon. In fact, so far the game has never given an outright reason (Go and Nagano both had “work,” while Inocchi and Sakamoto were just “busy”), and it never actually says that you were unable to meet because they’re idols. For all you know, Go could’ve had snowboarding classes and Nagano was busy at the bicycle company.

So how do I know they’ve gone back to being idols?

Because Okada missed Christmas with you for a movie shoot.

Yeah. We’re in Earth Prime, alright.

🎄 Belated X’mas: with Okada Junichi

All around the world, it’s Christmas Eve. Probably not in Buenos Aires, it isn’t. Not if it still is in Japan. /bricked But you’ve spent the day like any other day. Just like if you were in Brazil. You went to work, pulled a little overtime, and then went home. Just another ordinary day. As they did in the Falkland Islands. Okay, I’ll stop abusing the research I did to prove that one opening line wrong.

He must still be working hard, you think, I’m pretty sure he told me filming had started. So you haven’t been able to meet with Okada for a while because of that. And of course there’s no way he would call.

Even though you know your phone won’t ring, you still can’t help but stare at it, as if that will make a call come through. When you manage to tear your eyes away long enough to look at the clock, the day is pretty much over and the date’s about to change. Girl, this is why you look at the clock on your phone, so you don’t have to tear your eyes away.

You’ve got work tomorrow too, so you should really get to sleep. This is how I know Okada!route you isn’t me, because I have work tomorrow myself and here I am translating this at 2:41am despite only sleeping about three hours last night. My priorities.

Of course, the instant you unroll your futon is the instant your phone decides to ring. You practically scramble to pick up the call, thinking it might be Okada. “Hello?!”

The agitation in your voice is met by a gentle chuckle from the other end of the line.

“Were you waiting for me to call?” Okada laughs. “No, I was just about to sleep,” you retort, “I wasn’t expecting anyone to call at this time, so I got a little riled up.” You hear that chuckle again.

“What a shame. I thought you'd be waiting.” It feels like he sees right through you. Well, it’s not like you weren’t hoping he’d call. But you don’t think you could honestly tell him that you were, either.

So you change the subject. “Are you finished with work?”

“Nah, taking a break. I think they’ll call me back over soon, so just let me say what I want to first?” What does he mean, what he wants to say? You can hear him taking a deep breath.

“Merry Christmas. I love you.”

His soft voice floats into your ears. You can tell just what kind of expression he has on just from the sound of his voice. After all, in the time you’ve been dating, you’ve seen all sorts of faces from him. He might be saying it like it’s nothing out of the ordinary, but you know he’s so embarrassed his ears are red. At least this part is the same as Editor!Okada. Just thinking about how adorable your boyfriend is makes you feel embarrassed yourself.

“Thanks. I’m happy to hear it,” you finally manage to say. “Why are you getting all shy? I’ve said it to you so many times before,” Okada teases.

“I’ll always be happy to hear you say that,” you respond, “It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve said it.” Hearing your feelings makes Okada laugh again.

“How nice,” he responds wistfully, “I’d like to be told that too.” His voice takes on a childish tone as he asks you to say it back to him. It makes your heart race.

“I lo-” You start to say, but then Okada cuts you off. “Sorry, hold on a sec.” Just as you’re about to tell him that you love him. It sounds like something’s happening on the other end of the line. You think his break has probably ended.

After some time, Okada finally returns to the call, apologizing. “Sorry, the crew’s calling for me. Finish that line for me next time. I’ll be looking forward to it.” And wishing you good night, he hangs up, leaving that tingly feeling we call love spreading in your heart.

You’re glad you got to talk to him, even if it was only for a minute or two. Though you don’t know when “next time” will be. It could be the end of the year... or even at the start of next year. And as your head buzzes with these thoughts, you drift off to sleep.

Several days later, after Christmas and just before the New Year, the “next time” Okada promised you has come sooner than expected. He shows up at your door, and smiles cheekily at how taken aback you are. “Is it that surprising to see me here?”

“You seem so busy lately, I thought the next time we’d see each other would be next year,” you reply.

His face takes on a wry smile. “Well, it’s true, I don’t have that much time. But I came to hear you say you love me.” And with one step, he closes the distance between the two of you.

You try to stall. “Now? Here?”

“Here. Now c’mon, hurry up,” he insists petulantly. His warm hands cup your cheeks, and you can see his eyes gleam with delight as they focus on you.

“B-but... the timing is all weird...” you stammer, “Asking me all of a sudden is...”

“I can’t wait anymore,” Okada rejects your excuses simply, “I’ve been waiting to hear it all this time.” One final plea is all that’s needed to break through your bashfulness. “Say it for me,” he encourages you softly.

You cave in, letting the words flow out as you gaze into his eyes. “...I love you.” Now it’s his turn to be shy, as he purses his lips and his glance darts away.

“What’s wrong,” you tease him, “Why so shy?” And as though he’s getting revenge for messing with him, he pulls you into a hug with a smile. “You know exactly why.”

“How mean,” you protest. “You tricked me!”

“Alright, forgive me,” he laughs into your ear, “and tell me you love me again?”

“...only if you tell me first.” Like that, wrapped in each other’s arms, you banter back and forth, using only the words, “I love you.” Your Christmastime may have come a little late, but you still spend it as sweetly as the sweet nothings whispered in your ear.

I’m frankly surprised there was no kiss. I guess we kissed enough for Christmas during his birthday? But I also can’t express enough how adorable Okada’s demanding an “I love you” was, too.

[fumei]

I recently finished both endings of Nagano’s route in the main game, and as I type this, we’ve just started the second half of the current scenario event, and one of the choices available is Nagano.

What I’m saying is that my Lovecen-life has been a little Nagano-centric lately, and despite having seen both Nagano route endings - in one of which he invites you to live with him by saying, “I know a good place. [...] It comes with a boyfriend who’ll cook for you, too.” - I thought I’d already tasted my fill of Nagano’s nicety nectar. Say that three times fast without considering its more.. intimate implications. Oh, too late.

Lovecen likes proving me wrong.

🎄 Belated X’mas: with Nagano Hiroshi

It’s late on Christmas day - well, night now, really - and your phone rings with a call from Nagano.

“Sorry to call you so late. I just finished work...” It’s fine, you tell him. You’re more worried about him. Isn’t he exhausted?

“I’m fine,” he replies, “You don’t have work tomorrow, right? How about we go somewhere? It’s a little late, but let’s do a Christmas trip.” You’re so pleasantly surprised by this the joy comes through in your voice, “Really?”

Nagano chuckles. “It doesn’t make amends for being late, but think of it as a Christmas present. I’ve been thinking of places I want to go with you.” Inocchi got me flowers and Nagano is taking me on a trip? I think I have the wrong favorite Tonisen member. /bricked He lays out the choices: you’ll be going to an amusement park famous for their Christmas light display, or doing an eating tour by shinkansen. I definitely have the wrong favorite Tonisen member.

For you, what matters is that you’ll be spending the time with Nagano. But did you want to do a romantic date, or a Nagano Hiroshi kind of date?

...you don’t actually get a choice, by the way.

You can’t decide. “You don’t have to think that hard about it,” Nagano laughs at you, “But if you don’t choose today, we won’t be able to do anything tomorrow.”

“Wait! Wait, I’ll pick one right now...!” You panic. You know Nagano was just trying to incite a reaction, but in the end you still can’t decide. “Sorry, they both seem fun...”

“So you want to go to both? Greedy, aren’t we?” he teases you. Even as you’re sheepishly telling him that’s not what you meant, Nagano settles the matter for you. “Then let’s go to both.”

...have I mentioned that I have the wrong favorite Tonisen member yet? (இ﹏இ`｡) Okada Junichi for Boyfriend 2016, maybe, but Nagano Hiroshi for Eating Buddy for Life.

"We can’t really be in two places at once, though, so let’s just decide on an order.” Your voice is rising in excitement again, and Nagano’s amusement is making itself audible again.

“I’m not being greedy,” you defend yourself, “I’m happy as long as I’m with you, so... it just ends up being hard to decide.” It sounds like an excuse, but Nagano understands. “I see,” he responds, “Then I want to fulfill your wishes.” And with that, he hangs up.

You try calling him back, but he doesn’t pick up again. With no idea what’s going on or what happened to Nagano, you’re getting worried, but all you can do is wait for him to contact you.

And then you hear, its sound ringing through the room, not your phone but the intercom for your apartment.

“Sorry to come over so suddenly.” You open your door to find none other than a brightly smiling Nagano. You’re so relieved you could cry.

“I got so worried when I suddenly couldn’t reach you!” you rail at him, but Nagano takes it all with that gentle smile. “I’m sorry, but I really wanted to see you right now.” He cradles your cheeks in his cold hands, “Because I wanted to fulfill the wishes of my greedy girlfriend.”

“Wishes?” you repeat.

“You said so on the phone, didn’t you? As long as you’re with me, you’ll be happy.” He hugs you. “There’s no man who'd be okay spending the night alone after his cute girlfriend tells him something like that.” Nagano kisses you... then again... and again...

When he finally lets go, even the breath of air between your mouths feels sweet. Nagano declares the night is still young, so you’ll have plenty of time to decide tomorrow’s itinerary. Later.

But for now? “For now...” He smiles. And holding you close, once again, his lips close upon yours for a deep kiss.

There is so much kissing in Nagano routes I kind of want to joke the only reason we haven’t heard too much about his real-counterpart’s relationships is because he’s kissed everyone into silence. I am also totally not complaining about this kissing.

I am, however, going to complain if the obvious sexy times that followed the kiss kept him from making proper plans for the next day’s date. I was promised amusement parks and shinkansen food trips and I am a greedy girlfriend, dammit.

[fumei]

There are a couple of Japanese blogs out there that focus on Lovecen, and one of them does writeups of Lovecen scenarios much like I do here, complete with her own occasional commentary. It’s kind of fun to see how her reaction can differ from mine. Sometimes I also kind of want to lament that she has it much easier than I do, since she can literally write up exactly what the in-game text says, and then I remind myself that I decided to do this to work on my own Japanese reading ability and mumble grumble groan.

It’s based off those writeups that I’m getting the impression that this time’s side stories are especially saccharine. In which case I want to apologize for the clinical nature of these posts, because once again, I can’t deal with sweet.

Funny, because this man can’t either, but here we are. I totally could’ve gone for overseas trip with Tour Guide!Masa too.

🎄 Belated X’mas: with Sakamoto Masayuki

New Year’s Eve is nearing, and even though Sakamoto has been extremely busy all this time, he’s finally managed to get a day off. And now you’re at his place, where he’s lounging on the sofa after dinner, leisurely gesturing at you. “Come here,” he beckons.

“What is it?” you sing-song back at him as you head over. “Show me your back,” is his request. You’re a little nonplussed, but you obediently sit down on the couch with your back facing him. “Hold still for a sec,” he says, and you feel something cool rest on your neck.

“It’s a little late,” Sakamoto says by way of apology, as he finishes putting the necklace on you. When you turn around, he has both the most self-satisfied grin and the most adoring gaze on his face, simultaneously admiring you and proud of himself. This is how you know it’s Maa-kun. “It’s my Christmas present to you. It looks good.”

You thank him demurely. “It’s a little late to be bashful,” he protests with that proud grin. Somehow, you manage to tear your gaze away from him, rummaging through your bag to bring out his present. He’s happy enough to get it, but when he opens it, he gets even more excited. You’ve given him a bracelet, and he immediately tries it on with a pleased smile. “I’ll treasure it,” he promises you.

You’re just glad he likes it. You were a little regretful that you couldn’t give it to him at Christmas, but seeing his joy, you realize that when I give it to him isn’t so important.

Breaking through your introspection, Sakamoto takes your hand. “Hey... do you want to go out for a bit?” You’re a little surprised at the invitation. “At this time of night? Where to?”

But you still go with him. In the car, he explains that there’s a place he’d been wanting to take you to.

A light bulb flickers on in your head. “Ohhhh, so that’s why.” Sakamoto’s confused at your reaction. “I thought it was weird that you weren’t drinking any alcohol at dinner,” you explain. Hahaha, Lovecen writers, you horrible people.

He chuckles, “Oh, you figured it out?”

But he still hasn’t answered your question. “So where are we going to?” “You’ll find out soon,” he promises, “You’re gonna love it.”

Where he takes you to is an elevated park where a light display has been set up in the trees. Your voice peaks in excitement, “It’s gorgeous! What is this place?”

Sakamoto is very amused at your reaction. “It’s a popular date spot around Christmas time,” he replies, “but no one really comes after Christmas.” You had no idea a place like this existed.

“Well, I didn’t really know this place existed either until someone else told me about it,” Sakamoto admits. But when you ask who told him, he offers you an enigmatic grin and pulls you close to him. “That’s a secret.” Was it Inocchi? Inocchi seems like the type to wingman. All he’ll tell you is that he was working his hardest because he wanted to make you happy.

Not to say there aren’t clear results. Seeing this light display, getting the necklace... you’re ecstatic. To say nothing of finally getting that Christmas date with Masa. But even as you lose yourself in the beautiful view before you, winter brings you back to reality: it’s cold, and the sudden wind that just blew by sends shivers through your body.

“...I think I understand why no one comes at this time,” Sakamoto notes dryly, and wraps his arms around you in a tight embrace. “But can we stay here just a bit longer?” He doesn’t get many chances to cuddle with you like this, after all. You can’t really complain, either; you’d like to stay here like this too.

Even as a stronger wind blows, you don’t pay it any mind. Sakamoto worries that you’re cold. “I’m fine because I’m snuggling with you,” you reassure him brightly, but your breath escapes your mouth in white puffs.

“Sorry we did Christmas so late,” he apologizes.

“Don’t worry about it. Being able to spend time with you like this is enough,” you reply, thanking him for a wonderful year together.

“But the year hasn’t ended yet,” he laughs, caressing your cheek. “I still want to spend more time with you. Like tonight...”

Why do I have the vague feeling that Maa-kun stories are always about him seducing you?

“Is it okay if I keep you with me?” Sakamoto hugs you even tighter, as if to share his body warmth with you. It’s always hard enough to leave him already, and like a little drummer boy, your special Christmas night marches on.

...that’s because Maa-kun stories are about him seducing you, isn’t it.

[fumei]

It may be half a month since Christmas, but belated is belated and I am running this theming into the ground!

Okay, or maybe I’ll stop here and come up with more witty opening blurbs for the next ones on. 

🎄 Belated X’mas: with Inohara Yoshihiko

Inocchi beams. “Here, a present for you!” New Year’s Eve is drawing closer, and on this chilly winter day, he’s finally made time to come over to your place. In the hand he holds out is a gigantic bouquet. It’s so huge, you’re a little shocked.

“Why so many flowers?” you ask. His smile doesn’t waver, “Isn’t it obvious? For Christmas!” “Oh, that’s right. Christmas…” you repeat dimly. Now that you think about it, the bouquet is definitely in Christmas colors. So, poinsettias and lots of red and green. Got it.

He pouts at you, “Have you forgotten already? Well, I guess I can’t blame you.” With a defeated face, he settles himself onto your couch. “Since Christmas is over, everyone’s getting ready for the New Year.” You also have Kouhaku to prep for, Inocchi. What are you doing here.

“That’s true. Even though Christmas colors were all over the place just a short while ago,” you agree. Even the city feels like it’s straightening up itself for the end of the year. “It was really hard to get a bouquet like this, too!” Inocchi complains, “I was begging the florist to make it Christmas-y in any way possible.” B-but why are you getting me a bouquet in the first place? Go got me earrings, those keep well lol

All that for you. As you look over the lovely flowers again, Inocchi takes a deep breath. “So, it’s late, but… Merry Christmas!” And with his widest grin, he thrusts the bouquet at you once more. Awww, he’s just like a little boy. And that’s why we love him. :3

You thank him and accept it. How long has it been since you’ve gotten flowers, anyway? You start to mull over it, but Inocchi places a hand on your shoulder to grab your attention and kisses you. “Sorry. I took so long to come see you that you even forgot about Christmas.”

That’s not what you meant at all. After all, you know how busy Inocchi gets, and that he took the time to meet you is already enough to make you happy.

“No, I know, you’re just too nice,” he shoots down your attempt to reject his apology, “But I think it’s alright to let me indulge you from time to time.” He brings his face so close to yours the tips of your noses touch and looks directly into your eyes. “Or did you not want to see me?”

“Of course I wanted to see you,” you shoot back.

“…and?”

…and? You try to figure out a response, and you see his eyes twinkle.

“Was that all? Nothing you want to say to the boyfriend who left you allllllll alone for so long?” Inocchi prompts.

You wonder if it’s really okay to tell him, even as his gentle smile encourages you. The words stumble haltingly from your mouth. “I know you’re busy, and I love the Inocchi that always works with a smile. But I get worried when you look tired, so I want you to rest when you have the time to.” Inocchi listens to you with encouraging nods, and you could swear his smile is growing even wider.

And also… Inocchi knows you’re not done yet. “C’mon, tell me what you really think!”

“…I got a little lonely, and I really wanted to see you,” you finally admit. “There we go!” he cheers, “Me too!” He spreads his arms wide and wraps them around you, bouquet and all. “Thank goodness! If you ended up telling me ‘We didn’t have to meet,’ I’d be too sad.”

“There’s no way I would, I’ve wanted to see you for so long.” You never feel quite as warm and safe as you do when you’re in his arms. Inocchi is tickled pink, because he wanted to see you too, so much that he got you the gigantic bouquet you’re both looking at now.

“It really is big,” you remark. “Don’t tell me it’s a bother,” he grins cheekily at you. Of course you won’t, you adore your present. And you really should put it in a vase with water. You free yourself and stand up from the couch to do so, but Inocchi pulls you down back into his hug. When you protest for the flowers, he reassures you, “Let’s take care of that in a little bit. I want to snuggle with you some more.”

To be honest, you do too. Leaving the bouquet on your lap, you wrap your own arms around him and give him a deep kiss, like you’re trying to make up for all that time you haven’t been able to.

While we’re admitting truths? I didn’t even once think about Seto Asaka while doing this one. Even at the boyfriend line. Dammit, CYBIRD, you win. ;_;

[fumei]

✨ Happy New Year! ✨

Well, it’s a belated Happy New Year wish, but Happy New Year regardless! I hope you’ve all been well, and enjoyed the holiday season. If you didn’t, for whatever reason, I hope things are getting better!

And speaking of belated tidings, the side story theme for the last gathering event was “Belated Christmas”! You see what I did there? I’m patting myself on the back. Well, kinda. I still have to type. The second half of the Christmas scenario event finished on the 21st, and the gathering event started on the night of the 22nd and ended on the 30th.

The way getting side stories are spaced out, though, there’s no way you would’ve gotten all of them by Christmas unless you were one of the crazy people who ended up with 600+ points by the end of the event, so it’s pretty apt for these to be belated Christmas stories with V6, too.

...that is totally not my excuse for my break from posting these. Of course not.

While they share a Christmas theme, these are not a continuation of the Christmas Miracle AU. V6 is back to being idols here, and that is the reason why they weren’t able to spend Christmas Eve with you. They don’t say that the reason is due to the Charity Music-thon, just so there’s no timestamp on these stories. I would be lying to tell you that I didn’t feel a bit cheated - part of the reason I pounded through the event so desperately was because I was hoping for the continuing adventures of Ken and Yuuki (Ken’s was the last story given to me in the event), or eventual Mountain Man Okada (wait, I guess that one’s pretty normal).

But I have all these and ‘tis the season of Giving. ...well, ‘twas. Look, theming! /bricked

🎄 Belated X’mas: with Morita Go

You had a phone call with Go just shortly before Christmas. Sadly, he has work, so he's sorry, but this year he won’t be able to spend Christmas with you.

“Don’t worry about it,” you tell him, trying to force a smile into your voice. Go thinks he’ll have some time after Christmas, nearer to the end of the year, so you agree to wait until then. “Be careful you don’t catch a cold, okay?” The weather’s gotten much chillier, after all.

“You worry too much,” Go laughs, “Thanks.” You tell him good night with some regret that this is how your call is ending, with depressing news, and are about to hang up when he speaks up.

“You know...” You hurriedly bring the phone back to your ear at his voice, but Go hesitates to continue. “What is it?” you prompt him.

“...Christmas might be a special day to couples everywhere, but to me... any time I get to spend with you is just as special.”

You don’t know what to say. And it’s especially because it’s Go of all people telling you this that you’re at a loss for words.

“...say something, will you? I’m embarrassed enough already,” he prods you shyly. Well, it’s just like him to say something like “Christmas doesn’t matter,” you muse over his kindness. You think about the time you’ve spent with Go as you try to come up with an answer. Even though he was extremely busy, he always tried to make time to be with you. So even if you can’t meet this time, you know it’s not because he didn’t care.

“That’s true, Christmas doesn’t really matter,” you finally answer.

After that call with Go, quite some time passed. It’s Christmas night, even. Or rather, as the clock strikes 12, it was Christmas night.

As someone for whom Christmas holds no special meaning, you spent your day at work. There was a sudden issue that popped up, but after lots of toiling, you finally got it fixed. And now it’s December 26, and Christmas is officially over. In the morning, all the stores will switch over to year-end goods and displays, that’s how official it is. Oh, the wonders of capitalism.

Well, more importantly, it’s late and the trains are about to stop running, so you really need to get home. You grab your bag and stand up from your desk when your cell phone rings.

It’s Go. You wonder if he finished that job as you pick up the call. “Sorry, were you sleeping already?” Go apologizes immediately, his voice concerned. “It’s okay, I wasn’t,” you assure him, “I had some work to finish up, so I’m still at the office.”

“What, so you’re not even home?” In the background, you can hear the sound of a car engine being turned off. “But you’re coming back soon, right?” You tell him you were just about to leave the building. “Then stay right there, I’m coming to pick up you,” he says, and hangs up.

Your mind lingers on the car engine you heard, and his surprise that you were at work. He couldn’t possibly have been at your apartment building, could he?

When Go arrives, he parks close to the office building, and you climb into the passenger seat with a word of thanks. But you also ask him a more pressing question, “Why'd you want to meet so late at night?”

“It’s not really a big deal,” he responds, pulling something out from his pocket. “I didn’t manage to make it in time, but here.” It’s a little box, prettily wrapped.

“For Christmas,” he explains shyly. Inside is a pair of dainty earrings. Go shrugs off your grateful exclamation of delight. Because he’s Morita Go and look you’re embarrassing him, okay?

“But why was this so urgent?” you ask again, “You said something about not making it in time...?” After all, the two of you had that talk about Christmas not being important, so it doesn’t make sense for him to rush this present to you. I suddenly feel bad for all the Go-centric ladies Lovecen-ing with Christmas birthdays.

“...I may personally think that Christmas isn’t a big deal, but there are some guys who kept telling me that you might not actually agree.” He doesn’t say who nagged him, but there’s a few faces who come to mind. It’s totally Ken and Inocchi. Ahem.

You can’t help but smile. “So that’s why you came?” Go falters over an answer, “Well, uh... Hold up, aren’t you grinning a bit too much?”

You smirk out a sorry, but as you watch the bashful Go, you know there’s only one emotion that comes to mind. And you’re so happy that you just want to let it out. “I love everything about you, including how you think. I won’t hate you just because we can’t spend a little time together.”

“I thought you’d say something like that,” Go laughs back, but he appreciates you saying so nonetheless. He reaches over from the driver’s seat to embrace you, and you snuggle against his shoulder. “So that’s why you don’t have to worry about me,” you tell him.

“You are important to me,” he clarifies, “So I can’t help but listen to what others think when it comes to you.” Goddammit, Go. When’d you get so smooth. You share a sweet kiss with your boyfriend, and when the two of you separate, Go asks, “You’re off tomorrow, right? Want to come over?”

In lieu of an answer, you kiss him again.

[fumei]

🎄 Yay! Merry Christmas!