Switched - Chapter 14
Chapter 14
Flipping through the pages of the book he was holding he was ready to give up. Darn him
and being such a good student. Now he literally had nothing to do on his to do list. He scribbled
on his notebook, making a doodle. He scratched his middle finger in discomfort. There was no
apparent injury but he figured he must have gotten a paper cut and it was just too small for him
to see. Morinaga started to pick up the little mess he had made and put everything in order. He
supposed he could watch some television while he waited for Senpai to return.
He walked into the kitchen and peeked into the fridge. Picking up a beer and a quick trip
to the pantry for some snacks he decided to make himself comfortable. Morinaga had already
prepared everything they would need for their hotpot celebration. He just hoped he wouldn’t
spoil his appetite by the time his Senpai arrived.
About an hour later, he heard the noise of the door open and close. In came his beautiful
Senpai with his long hair and beautiful amber eyes. “Welcome home Senpai” he said in a warm
tone. “I’m home” Tatsumi replied. He set down his bag on the table and flopped down on the
couch next to him.
“How was Kanako?” Morinaga asked tentatively. Tatsumi’s face immediately showed
annoyance at the mention of his little sister and her mischievous ways. “She was fine! More than
fine in fact” he scoffed. “She made me go through one too many girly magazines and made me
promise to take her shopping next time we meet” he grimaced just thinking about the impending
torture this shopping trip would entail. He scratched absent mindedly at his hand which had a
small bandaide securely tied to one of his fingers.
“Sounds like Kanako alright” Morinaga chuckled. “What would you like to do first? Eat
or take a bath?” he asked innocently. Tatsumi’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. He took a good look
at Morinaga to make sure he didn’t have a hidden agenda. Sensing Tatsumi’s discomfort
Morinaga fiddled in place. “I can start the hot pot while you are in the bath if that’s ok with you”
he suggested. Satisfied, Tatsumi nodded and proceeded to excuse himself.
A while later, Morinaga looked in satisfaction over the meal in front of him. The broth
was simmering and the smell held deliciousness as a promise. The meat looked well cooked and
the vegetables looked delicious. He had fished out a couple of side dishes to go with it and was
excited to begin the feast. Just in time, Tatsumi entered the living space and Morinaga was
rewarded with a small smile that showed he was excited as well. Tatsumi didn’t waste time, he
grabbed a couple of beers from the fridge and sat down at the dining table to start the meal.
“Itadakimasu!” the two cheered crashing their beer together in a small toast. The two ate
in silence for a while, enjoying the hot tender meat and the delicious broth. As Tatsumi reached
for more meat, Morinaga noticed the bandaide on his finger. “What happened to your hand
Senpai?” he was curious and asked.
“This? It’s nothing. Kanako had a lot of magazines and when I was holding one I got a
paper cut” he replied nonchalantly. Morinaga paused slightly as he scratched at the phantom itch
on his hand. Was this a coincidence or was there more to it?”
“Ah! That was delicious” Tatsumi breathed a satisfied smile as he took a drink of his cold
beer. “I’m glad this is over and we finally have our bodies back. I was dreading being sent into
one of those training seminars you do for your future job” he told Morinaga. As soon as the
words left his mouth, he felt a sharp ache in his chest. He blinked, a little startled as he put a
hand to his chest. He was about to mention his discomfort to Morinaga when he looked up and
saw the pained look on his kohai’s face.
“Morinaga?” he asked softly, confused by the sad vibes he was giving. “What’s wrong?”
he asked when he didn’t reply. Morinaga looked at Tatsumi, seemingly about to say something.
He then closed his mouth and the words he was about to say left him. “It’s nothing” Morinaga
said not very convincingly. Tatsumi’s chest ached again, as if telling him not to ignore the
situation.
“It is not ‘nothing’ ” Tatsumi retorted with a frown etched on his face. “I thought you
would be happy. I don’t understand why you look so sad” he exclaimed. Morinaga had no way to
hide from his Senpai’s scrutiny. In that moment, he sort of wished that his Senpai was oblivious
just like in the past. At least, oblivious on this account. Morinaga looked down at the table,
unable to meet his Senpai’s eyes. He started to gather the dirty plates and put them into a pile.
When Tatsumi thought his kohai was not about to answer and he would be forced to get it
out of him, he spoke. “This will be hard for you to understand Senpai, but I was not happy to get
my old body back” he told Tatsumi softly. Tatsumi was shocked and found it hard to understand
his reasoning. The idea occurred to him that maybe the pervert was trying to keep his body to
himself so he could have his way with it. He was about to voice his anger when Morinaga
stopped him with one look.
“You see, as long as we had each other’s bodies, I knew for certain that you would never
be able to part from me” he looked at Tatsumi, his eyes glistening with tears. “But now, that
sense of security is gone and all my fears have come back to haunt me” he could no longer look
into his Senpai’s eyes and buried his face into his hands hoping to hide the tears that escaped
him. Tatsumi’s mouth felt dry and his own heart ached at the pain he saw before him. Why
couldn’t he trust him? What did he need to do for Morinaga to believe that he was not going
anywhere?
“I’ve told you before that I have resolved to stay with you. Is that not enough?” Tatsumi
asked with uncertainty in his voice. Morinaga’s shoulders tensed. There were so many emotions
going through his head. Why was he so selfish? How could he do this to his Senpai? Selfhatred
was mixed in his many thoughts. But more than anything he kept asking himself that one
question. Is this not enough?
He raised his face from the cover of his hands and looked straight at his Senpai. Tatsumi
was taken aback by the intensity of his kohai’s gaze. He almost felt afraid of what his kohai was
about to tell him. A part of him wanted to run, but he had told himself he wouldn’t run anymore.
How could he when the person in front of him laid himself bare in front of him every day?
“I want more” Morinaga finally spoke up, passion coating his voice. Tatsumi’s breath
caught in his throat. He could not break away from the intense gaze of his kohai. Morinaga
decided to take that moment to rise from their dining table. He approached his Senpai who was
stone still in his own chair. Morinaga’s tall frame towered over Tatsumi but he simply did not
have the strength to move. Tatsumi couldn’t even meet Morinaga’s eyes anymore and instead
stared ahead, his whole body weak and vulnerable.
A hand reached out and grasped a strip of his blonde hair. Tatsumi felt the heat coming
off in waves from his kohai’s fingers so close to his face. His own temperature started to rise and
he could feel a blush cover his face. He flinched when Morinaga’s fingers caressed his skin and
he desperately held back the moan that threatened to escape him.
“I don’t want sympathy or pity. I want you to love me back. I want you to stay with me, not because you resolved to do so, but
because the simple thought of being apart from me breaks your heart” Morinaga said heatedly.
He leaned down to Tatsumi’s eye level. A hand reached out and firmly held the back of
Tatsumi’s neck forcing him to finally meet his kohai’s gaze. There was certainly nowhere to run
now, not for Tatsumi. Emerald eyes clashed with golden ones.
“I guess what I’m asking is: Do you love me Senpai?” Morinaga finally dared to ask the
question that had been constantly plaguing his sleep.
Tatsumi’s breath hitched. He hated that he asked him this question. He hated everything
that had to do with feelings of love because he simply did not understand it. But even Tatsumi
could tell that there was no way out of this. The situation was too serious for him to back away
and refuse to respond. Morinaga gave him a smile of resignation. His kohai’s hands let go of him
and broke their intense gaze.
As though he hadn’t just asked such a life altering question, Morinaga proceeded to
gather the mess they had made. He picked up their plates and took them to the kitchen. He
returned only to pick up the hot plate and pot and leave again. A heavy silence fell in the room,
the only sound the moving of dishes and pots in the other room. Soon, Morinaga was done with
the cleaning and there was nothing left for him to do but retire to his room.
He looked over to his Senpai to find that he hadn’t moved this whole time. But what
could he expect? He had just broken the little stability they had gained and could not blame
Senpai for his reaction. He was just about to leave when the sudden scraping of the chair against
the floor rang loudly. Concerned, he quickly turned around to check that the love of his life was
ok. This time it was Morinaga’s turn to be speechless. He grew apprehensive at the sight that
greeted him thinking that maybe he had angered his Senpai beyond no return.
His Senpai stood by the dining table with the chair he was previously sitting on in the
floor. Tatsumi’s chest was heaving with his rapid breathing and his face was full of an emotion
he could not put a name to.
“I don’t pity you!” Tatsumi shouted his hands clenched into fists. “And sympathy?” he
asked in disbelief. “I don’t even think I’m capable of feeling sympathy for anyone” he ran a hand
through his hair as he said this. Tatsumi’s face scrunched up in sadness.
“I hate it when you look sad” he continued to speak. “I feel the need to protect you and comfort you whenever you smile
like that” his voice broke but he continued anyway.
“The truth is, I think my heart would break if you ever left me” he finally said as tears
started to pour from his eyes. Morinaga watched in awe as the words spilled from Tatsumi’s lips.
“You’re a selfish, arrogant, stupid brat!” he shouted the words angrily. Tatsumi wiped the tears
with his hands, no longer able to keep up with what he was saying. Morinaga slowly closed the
distance between them stopping right in front of his Senpai.
“I don’t know what love is, but if this is love, I don’t want it!” he bawled as he looked up
at Morinaga with teary eyes. With those words, Morinaga immediately took Tatsumi into his
embrace. Tatsumi continued to cry as he held on to Morinaga as tightly as he could. Morinaga
could barely believe what was happening. He didn’t expect to hear an actual answer to his
question. He had accepted that Tatsumi would want to avoid the subject and never give him a
proper answer. Truth be told, if Tatsumi did not love him he really didn’t think he could handle
it. Morinaga held hope that in the future his Senpai would come to love him.
He rubbed circles on Tatsumi’s back as he comforted him lovingly. Morinaga’s heart
swelled with love at Tatsumi’s words. He felt that today they had made a huge leap in their
relationship. A future where his Senpai was not afraid to tell him he loved him was to him not a
mere dream anymore. Morinaga took a hold of Tatsumi’s chin and lifted his face up so that their
eyes could meet. He leaned down and took Tatsumi’s lips with his loving him slowly. Morinaga
gave his Senpai a genuine smile successfully ceasing Tatsumi’s tears.
“Thank you” he said to Tatsumi. A perplexed look crossed Tatsumi’s face. “Why?” he
asked him. “Thank you for giving me an honest answer” he said as he kissed Tatsumi’s eyes.
“Thank you for staying with me” he kissed Tatsumi’s nose. “Thank you for caring so much
about me” he gave Tatsumi a chaste kiss on the lips.
“So we’re ok?” Tasumi asked him.
“We’re ok” Morinaga gave him a reassuring smile as he held him close. That night they
made love to each other. There was no rush or uncertainty as they fell asleep in each other’s
arms.