Jun 22, 2018
The view from the second highest peak Lovcen of Montenegro. Feeling on the top! #top #view #peak #mountain #lovecen #nature #amazing #viewfromthetop #travel #traveler (at Nacionalen Park Mavrovo)
seen from China
seen from United States
seen from Germany
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seen from United States
seen from India
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seen from France
seen from Kenya
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from France
seen from Germany
seen from China
seen from Ukraine
seen from China
seen from United States
seen from Malaysia
seen from Indonesia
seen from France
The view from the second highest peak Lovcen of Montenegro. Feeling on the top! #top #view #peak #mountain #lovecen #nature #amazing #viewfromthetop #travel #traveler (at Nacionalen Park Mavrovo)
3年だったか…
ラブセン〜V6とヒミツの恋〜 本当には、どうもありがとうございました♥
速いですね、3年だった。このゲーム始めた時、嬉しかった。どこまでも、ラブセンはファンたちにもっと近くV6をもたらします。毎日ラブセンでV6の応援力もらえるみたい本当によかったです。いつも、いっぱい幸せな感じがあります。だからこそ、ラブセンのスタッフ皆様に感謝いたします!
そして、ラブセンからも日本語勉強の方がたくさん習いました。始めた時、私の日本語が自分に習いましたから下手です。ストーリーの読みます時たくさん新しい字を習いました。今は日本語の勉強してV6とラブセンがモチベーションくれました。本当には、私の心から、ありがたいです。ありがとうございました!!
ラブセンのアートはすごく綺麗です。自分もデザイナーからラブセンにたくさん仕事やクリエイティブのハードワークなど理解します。ラブセンのスタッフ皆様、よく頑張ったからお疲れ様でした!！皆様のハードワークありがとうございました! ♥♥
メンバーのフォトセーブ忘れちゃった、悲しい(´；ω；｀) でも、今までいい思い出たくさんもらいましたからとっても嬉しかった(*^-^*)♥ ラブセン〜V6とヒミツの恋〜作ってくれたからどうもありがとうございました!！✧*。☆.｡.:*♡. :
Thank you for bringing all the love and happiness of V6 so much closer to us over these three years ♥ ラブセン has brought much comfort especially on some of the roughest days..and has sped up my Japanese learning immensely. It’ll be hard to live without ラブセン, I’m already missing it a lot ;__;
Thank you for the hard work. Thank you so much for the wonderful memories :) ♥ Till we meet again *。☆.｡.:*♡. :
#V6とヒミツの恋 #ラブセン #ラブセンありがとう #ラブセンスタッフに感謝の気持ちを伝えよう
#V6 #坂本昌行 #長野博 #井ノ原快彦 #森田剛 #三宅健 #岡田准一 #V620週年
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.