fic for happymaybe
Title: We'll paint a heart on the wall
By: spiritdream
Pairing: Akanishi Jin/Kamenashi Kazuya
Word count: 3,385
Rating: G
Genre/Warnings: fluff. Sweetness in general. Seriously, it will make your teeth ache.
Notes: dear happymaybe, I hope this meets your fluff criteria! :)
Summary: Jin is a genius pastry chef in training. Kame is his discrete stalker. Conclusion: profit!!!
"That will be 720 yen," Jin says, folding the paper before gently sliding the bag across the counter. He winks when the girl says her goodbye, and earns rosy cheeks in return for his effort. Her complexion goes well with the strawberry shortcake hidden under the plastic wrap.
"Please come again!" Jin waves before the soft clinking and closing of the door. The shop is empty again, and he rolls his shoulders with a sigh. It's only a few minutes before he can begin closing and his fingers itch badly for the cleaning supplies. For a few times he's tried to prepare in advance, sweep the tables and arrange the chairs a bit earlier than the actual closing time, but once his mother caught him she gave a lecture about customers and policy and all that stuff for so long that Jin missed the meeting, the movie, the dinner and half the karaoke session before he could get away amidst all the apologies and promises to never ever do that again. A few years later, now well out of high school, he still hasn't dared to close shop even a second earlier than the stated opening hours.
Fortunately, last minute customers are rare to come by. If they do show up, they know what they want most of the time so Jin doesn't have to stay any longer than absolutely necessary, and can still remain perfectly polite serving them.
He's been helping out in the shop since he's been a teenager, first outside the kitchen and later inside as well. Even though working had been a bother and a chore at first, if it weren't for his early involvement he'd probably never discover his love for baking at all.
He made his first cake after a shouting match with his mother, wanting to prove something important and life-depending he most probably forgot about half an hour later. It's hard to say who was more shocked, him or his mother that the cake turned out not just barely edible but actually rather tasty and visually quite appealing as well. Reio ate the whole thing almost by himself, declared Jin's hidden skills better than mother's and promptly demanded more cake to be made. He got smacks and glares in return, but if Reio had perfected anything to the highest level as a younger brother, it was his ability to annoy Jin to death. After that, just to shut him up Jin often found himself up to his elbows in flour and eggs on a weekly basis.
The soft chiming of the bells announcing a new customer pulls Jin back to the present. He swallows an irritated sigh and hopes to get this over with quickly.
"Welcome!" he says, smiling what his mother calls his lady killer smile. The force of it doesn't lessen when he realizes that the customer is male.
The guy's face is half covered by a gigantic scarf wrapped around his neck, but otherwise, he looks like a normal human being. His longish hair is tied back to a messy ponytail with a few, unruly auburn locks that managed to escape framing his face. High cheekbones as far as Jin can see, a nose that has seen better times, and, well, yes. Rather funky eyebrows, but who is he to judge teenagers these days? Apart from the bleached hair, Reio has at least five piercings per ear nowadays, so maybe those highly arched, perfectly plucked and groomed eyebrows are totally in fashion with high schoolers today.
"May I help you?" Jin asks politely, and the guy pulls down his scarf to speak.
"I would like something sweet," comes the reply, which makes Jin blink. The sound is soft and soothing, a bit hesitant but overall quite pleasant - he thinks could listen it to hours and hours on end and not get bored - but the request leaves Jin a bit confused. Surely, the guy realizes he stepped into a cake shop? Requesting something sweet is similar to going to a flower shop and asking for something nice smelling.
"Sure, how about some layer cakes?" He points out various types, all different in size and color but tasting equally sugar dipped. The customer's eyes follow his movement, taking in every suggestion briefly before wandering back to Jin. The attention at first surprises Jin, but the surprise quickly turns into irritation when the guy can't decide on anything. He wanted to close up half an hour ago. He doesn't have the patience to deal with someone who doesn't even seem to like cakes all that much anyway.
He asks about flavors and preference of textures, tries to gauge the occasion, but the more he talks the less attention the guy pays to the merchandise. Still, he's a valuable customer to whom Jin shouldn't be rude. His annoyance must show somehow because the guy ducks his head and studies the slices with forced intent, shoulders hunched and hands in pocket, body language all defensive embarrassment. Jin feels a tinge of guilt forming in his gut.
Whether it is eating them or buying them, giving them or receiving them, cakes should make people light with happiness and warm with satisfaction. It's a philosophy his mother's shop stands for, and with which Jin agrees wholeheartedly. Difficult customers may be harder to please, but it doesn't give Jin the right to make the process even more daunting. If the experience leaves even the slightest bit of bitter aftertaste, he shouldn't be in this business at all.
"Well," Jin starts, waiting for the customer to look up from the display. "We kind of have something special. A minute and I will be back, jus have to bring it out."
The kitchen is clean and spotless, everything organized and in its rightful place - especially compared to the morning rush - and Jin takes out a tray from his private fridge. The knife cuts into the cake smoothly, and Jin carefully plucks the slice from the chilled pile.
"Here," he says, coming back, and the ceramic makes a quiet click when it meets the surface of the counter. "Chocolate layer cake from four kinds meshed together, with chocolate frosting and shaved chocolate topping. Mint is the underlying flavor which is supposed to counter the heaviness on the whole. The layers are light in texture but still hold rather well together. Sweet, but not overly so. Very filling."
The guy studies the slice and nods slightly.
"I will take it."
Jin smiles while reaching for paper. Success. Finally.
"Sorry. I didn't see that between the displays." Now that he has something to buy, the tension in the customer seems to be slowly dissolving. Good - from what little information he could gain from their rather one-sided conversation, it looks like Jin made the right decision.
"Ah, well. You shouldn't have, it's still under, uh, development and not in our regular rooster."
"Really? Is it going to be a shop specialty?"
"I hope so. It's the eleventh version I've made from scratch. I'm actually satisfied with the result this time so I believe it will get an OK from the manager."
The guy eyes the wrapped package with renewed interest. "You made this?"
"I know, I know. It's hard to believe that I'm useful somewhere else than the sale's counter. I promise it's perfectly edible."
"I'm suing you if I get food poisoning, just saying," the guy smiles, and Jin can't help grinning back. The expression suits the guy more than the haunted look he wore when he came in, soft dimples and glowing skin making him look younger than he appears to be. His eyes are the most expressive; Jin thinks briefly, hot chocolate mellowed by cinnamon, warm and comforting as a crackling fireplace.
When the customer reaches for his wallet, it's Jin's turn to be embarrassed.
"No, that won't be necessary," he says, and quickly continues when he sees a frown starting to form and protests wanting to break free. "I couldn't possibly sell something which has not been approved by the manager. Think of this as a gift."
"But-"
"No," Jin cuts him off firmly. "I should be grateful that you are willing to give a cake a try that's not even on the menu. Think of this as a welcome gift. Or a thank you gift. Or just a gift. Please."
"Welcome gift?"
"For trying the shop for the first time," Jin nods. Something that is a bit of surprise mixed disbelief flashes across the guy's face for a millisecond, but it disappears quicker than Jin can blink, and he's sure he's only just imagined it.
"Ah. Well. Thank you," he says, carefully picking up the wrapped slice.
"If you want cakes as not gifts, please come again! Or even as gifts!"
"I think I will," the guy laughs as he opens the door, the sound slightly muffled behind his scarf.
Jin really hopes he'll come back at least once - he kind of really wants to know how his cake tasted.
*
The guy doesn't show up and the chocolate cake makes it on the display with his mother's seal of approval. Jin doesn't feel as satisfied over this as he should be.
He has exams to study for and according to one of his teachers, his custard tarts are still inadequate. Too lumpy, too hard, too sweet, not enough sugar, too chunky, too much vanilla essence, too brown, not nearly yellow enough. He hasn't known that custard tarts can be ruined in that many ways; he believes he's the only one who's managed that feat so far. He's going to fail his exam spectacularly. Sensei will be disappointed. Mitsuki-san will be frustrated. Mother will pity him. Reio will gloat. He doesn't know which will be worse.
He's going over the recipe for the hundredth time in his head, jutting down notes on the paper in front of him when he hears the door open. He bites off the curse wanting to break free - only five minutes and he could be closing up before getting back to practice.
"Ah, evening? I hope you're still open?" comes from the front hesitantly, and Jin turns his head so fast he almost feels dizzy. Chocolate layer guy stands in the doorway, almost too hesitant to come in.
"Sure," Jin smiles, his voice pleased and friendly and surprisingly genuine. The guy seems relieved.
"The cake was really delicious, so I thought I would drop by to buy something for a change."
"What, no free samples?"
"Well, if you have anything I can try-" the guy trails off playfully, and after a few beats of hesitation, Jin thinks: why the hell not.
"Are you in a hurry?"
"Um." Chocolate layer looks confused. "No, not really."
"Good," Jin nods, and quickly deposits a cheesecake in front of the guy before locking the door, declaring the shop closed for the day.
"Are you going to do something criminal?" the customer asks, holding the plate in one hand and the fork in another, eyeing the closed door in bemusement.
"Oh, no. Just some experimenting."
"A deadly one?"
"For your sake, I hope not," Jin laughs, and motions for the guy to follow him to the kitchen. He's breaking countless written and unwritten rules. Mitsuki-san would have a heart attack if she knew that a stranger had been in her kitchen. His mother would give him lectures for weeks on end.
"By the way, I'm Jin. Nice to meet you," he says, because you don't take strangers to your kitchen.
"Kame. The pleasure is all mine." From the way his posture relaxes after the first bite, Jin believes that yes, it is truly all his.
*
Two days later Jin aces the exam. His Sensei is satisfied. Mitsuki-san is proud. Mother is happy for him. Reio gloats.
"I told you they were good," Kame hums behind a mouthful of fruit cake (with less sugar than Jin usually makes it with), languid and happy, and Jin grins. He feels giddy and full and too tight for his skin.
"Well, yes. They were. Genius, I am," he nods, at which Kame only rolls his eyes good naturedly.
*
Kame quickly becomes a regular at the shop. He comes always at the end of Jin's shift and most of the time stays after the official closing hour. Even though the weather is getting warmer as the days pass by, sliding deeper into the warmth of spring, he wears multiple layers, his hair is windswept and something always hides some part of his face.
"You look fine," Jin says once when he can't stop thinking about it.
"Thank you?" Kame blinks, surprised, looking up from Jin's kneading fingers covered in flour.
"No, I mean, not like that. Well, yes, okay. That too. But nothing is wrong with your face, you shouldn't have to cover it up all the time when you're not in the shop," Jin rambles on, patting the dough with a bit more force than absolutely necessary.
Apart from the repetitive slap-slap noises, the kitchen is strangely silent. It's not an entirely comfortable silence, and Jin is surprised by the sudden change in atmosphere. He glances at Kame, then stops with his kneading when he sees a bitter half-smile tugging at the corner of that mouth.
"Kame?" he asks, uncertain and confused. Has he crossed a line? Does Kame have some kind of unnoticeable skin disease? Sun allergy? Hyper sensitive nose that he must cover up? Is he partially blind to have to wear sunglasses outside?!
"I just prefer it that way," Kame says, his voice deceptively light and nonchalant, and Jin wisely drops the subject.
*
They don't talk about Kame's strange layering again. Jin chalks it up to the crazy fashion of eighteen year old students.
Jin doesn't ask Kame much about his school and studies and future plans, because Kame gets skittish every time the topic somewhat comes up. In turn, Kame doesn't ask about Jin's father because Jin clams up faster than an ostrich shell if the man is mentioned somewhere.
The shop and its kitchen is a safe place where they meet and tease and ease into a comfortable routine. Kame becomes more open with every visit, fun and dorky and talking a mile about baseball games. Jin feels happy and content to see him so animated. He's also kind of glad that Kame is willing to try everything he makes - he's never had marks as high as he has now in his entire life, which is kind of weird.
Jin is in the middle of decorating a strawberry shortcake, ignoring Kame's suggestions on rather outrageous toppings when he can hear the front door opening. He frowns, still concentrating on getting the perfect loop, but Kame falls quiet and slowly gets up from the chair.
"Mom?" Jin asks loudly. He remembers locking up, and not many people have a key to the place.
"Nah, just me," says Reio and barges into the kitchen. When he sees Kame he stops abruptly, his eyes going wide and mouth opening in a surprised oh.
"Reio, this is Kame, my loyal test subject. Kame, this is Reio, my idiotic brother. Nice to meet you. Good? Good. Now get the hell out of my kitchen."
"Oh. Um. Nice to meet you," Reio says, a bit breathless, which is strange. Jin looks up with a frown, but gets distracted seeing Kame calmly walking out of his kitchen.
"Wait! Kame, stop! Not you. That idiot over there," Jin gestures to his brother.
"Shut it. It's not your kitchen anyway."
"No, I should be going, really. It was nice meeting you, Reio."
"Tomorrow same time?" Jin asks hopefully, at which Kame smiles a little.
"Sure," he says, and the shop is quiet after his departure.
"Jin," Reio starts, slowly, his voice laced with awe and disbelief. "Why do you know him? How? When?"
Jin blinks. "Kame? He's a regular. Weird, but nice guy." Perfect in every way including his imperfections, but he doesn't want to say this - at least not to Reio.
Reio stares. "You really have absolutely no idea who he is, do you?"
"Who, Kame?" Jin shrugs and goes back to finishing his cake. "He is Kame. Eighteen year old high school student who doesn't like sweets but spends a big chunk of his free time eating my cakes. As I said, a weird, but nice kid."
Reio snorts. "You'd be surprised. Jin, when you have the time, look up Kamenashi Kazuya," he advises before strolling away.
*
It turns out Kamenashi Kazuya is some kind of super idol in Japan. He's kind of a very profitable household name that everyone knows even in the farthest, most rural nook in the country. Up in the top five of every imaginable list, with his face plastered on billboards and magazines and posters in train stations. Kind of hard to miss.
He looks very different without the help of make up and photoshop, all pretense and artificial smiles pulled down the drain, leaving a skinny, slightly awkward but genuinely fun person to spend time with. Like two completely different person. It's no wonder Jin didn't recognise him.
At least, that explains the layers and the sunglasses. Jin is kind of glad that Kame is not sick and doesn't have deadly allergies.
*
"So you are some kind of mega popular celebrity known all over Asia?" Jin asks the next day when he's putting tiny little confectionary in the colors ranging from frosted blue through baby pink to sunshine yellow.
Kame actually flinches from the question and doesn't look at Jin. He hasn't really looked at Jin all that much today, to be honest. This development bothers Jin more than it should have.
"I guess," he says, and his voice is quiet, his tone carefully neutral.
"Okay," Jin nods after a few beats. His mind had been already made up, but seeing Kame folding and closing himself off again cements and strengthens his resolve. "It was not your first time coming into the shop, that time."
Kame shakes his head. "No."
He can't remember much from their first meeting, only that it involved pleasant chatting and sampling of macaron pieces before the shop was suddenly flooded with camera flashes and ear piercing screams. The customer quickly ducked out with an apology, taking all the noise but none of the sweets with him, leaving Jin blinking and dazed in the aftermath.
"Here, macaron," Jin says, holding out a plate full of the petite creations.
"I, ah. Thanks." Kame picks one and bites into it uncertainly. His expression quickly melts into pure bliss, and Jin smiles slightly at the sight, his stomach flipping and chest warming at seeing Kame so obviously happy. He knows his macaron is divine.
"Still really sweet," Kame states after he swallows. He takes the plate from Jin and puts it on the counter.
"It's supposed to be," Jin nods. His fingers twitch. "You don't like sweets."
"No," Kame hums in agreement. "Not really, no. But once in a while, I can make a few exceptions."
"Depending on what?"
Jin notices that Kame is now standing instead of sitting in his favorite chair. They are somewhat close.
"I think you can figure that out," Kame says and his eyes brimming with mirth are the last thing Jin sees before he tastes sugar and almond and raspberry jam all mixed into one.
*
"Seriously, you could have asked me out after the first time. I would have said yes," Jin sighs exasperatedly, but snickers when he looks at Kame whose cheek is smeared with jam and his hair is peppered with flour.
"I know. But where is the fun in that?"
"Brat. You know, I almost got accepted into your agency."
"Really?"
"Don't sound so surprised. On the last round I didn't make the selection. I was so angry and disappointed that I just tore up my number and run out of the room without saying proper goodbye to anyone."
"Smooth, Akanishi. Real charmer."
"Shut up. I make a better pastry chef than I would an idol, anyway," Jin scoffs, at which Kame laughs, a sound free and happy and similar to what Jin feels deep within fluttering.
"I'm glad you do."
- end -
By: spiritdream
Pairing: Akanishi Jin/Kamenashi Kazuya
Word count: 3,385
Rating: G
Genre/Warnings: fluff. Sweetness in general. Seriously, it will make your teeth ache.
Notes: dear happymaybe, I hope this meets your fluff criteria! :)
Summary: Jin is a genius pastry chef in training. Kame is his discrete stalker. Conclusion: profit!!!
"That will be 720 yen," Jin says, folding the paper before gently sliding the bag across the counter. He winks when the girl says her goodbye, and earns rosy cheeks in return for his effort. Her complexion goes well with the strawberry shortcake hidden under the plastic wrap.
"Please come again!" Jin waves before the soft clinking and closing of the door. The shop is empty again, and he rolls his shoulders with a sigh. It's only a few minutes before he can begin closing and his fingers itch badly for the cleaning supplies. For a few times he's tried to prepare in advance, sweep the tables and arrange the chairs a bit earlier than the actual closing time, but once his mother caught him she gave a lecture about customers and policy and all that stuff for so long that Jin missed the meeting, the movie, the dinner and half the karaoke session before he could get away amidst all the apologies and promises to never ever do that again. A few years later, now well out of high school, he still hasn't dared to close shop even a second earlier than the stated opening hours.
Fortunately, last minute customers are rare to come by. If they do show up, they know what they want most of the time so Jin doesn't have to stay any longer than absolutely necessary, and can still remain perfectly polite serving them.
He's been helping out in the shop since he's been a teenager, first outside the kitchen and later inside as well. Even though working had been a bother and a chore at first, if it weren't for his early involvement he'd probably never discover his love for baking at all.
He made his first cake after a shouting match with his mother, wanting to prove something important and life-depending he most probably forgot about half an hour later. It's hard to say who was more shocked, him or his mother that the cake turned out not just barely edible but actually rather tasty and visually quite appealing as well. Reio ate the whole thing almost by himself, declared Jin's hidden skills better than mother's and promptly demanded more cake to be made. He got smacks and glares in return, but if Reio had perfected anything to the highest level as a younger brother, it was his ability to annoy Jin to death. After that, just to shut him up Jin often found himself up to his elbows in flour and eggs on a weekly basis.
The soft chiming of the bells announcing a new customer pulls Jin back to the present. He swallows an irritated sigh and hopes to get this over with quickly.
"Welcome!" he says, smiling what his mother calls his lady killer smile. The force of it doesn't lessen when he realizes that the customer is male.
The guy's face is half covered by a gigantic scarf wrapped around his neck, but otherwise, he looks like a normal human being. His longish hair is tied back to a messy ponytail with a few, unruly auburn locks that managed to escape framing his face. High cheekbones as far as Jin can see, a nose that has seen better times, and, well, yes. Rather funky eyebrows, but who is he to judge teenagers these days? Apart from the bleached hair, Reio has at least five piercings per ear nowadays, so maybe those highly arched, perfectly plucked and groomed eyebrows are totally in fashion with high schoolers today.
"May I help you?" Jin asks politely, and the guy pulls down his scarf to speak.
"I would like something sweet," comes the reply, which makes Jin blink. The sound is soft and soothing, a bit hesitant but overall quite pleasant - he thinks could listen it to hours and hours on end and not get bored - but the request leaves Jin a bit confused. Surely, the guy realizes he stepped into a cake shop? Requesting something sweet is similar to going to a flower shop and asking for something nice smelling.
"Sure, how about some layer cakes?" He points out various types, all different in size and color but tasting equally sugar dipped. The customer's eyes follow his movement, taking in every suggestion briefly before wandering back to Jin. The attention at first surprises Jin, but the surprise quickly turns into irritation when the guy can't decide on anything. He wanted to close up half an hour ago. He doesn't have the patience to deal with someone who doesn't even seem to like cakes all that much anyway.
He asks about flavors and preference of textures, tries to gauge the occasion, but the more he talks the less attention the guy pays to the merchandise. Still, he's a valuable customer to whom Jin shouldn't be rude. His annoyance must show somehow because the guy ducks his head and studies the slices with forced intent, shoulders hunched and hands in pocket, body language all defensive embarrassment. Jin feels a tinge of guilt forming in his gut.
Whether it is eating them or buying them, giving them or receiving them, cakes should make people light with happiness and warm with satisfaction. It's a philosophy his mother's shop stands for, and with which Jin agrees wholeheartedly. Difficult customers may be harder to please, but it doesn't give Jin the right to make the process even more daunting. If the experience leaves even the slightest bit of bitter aftertaste, he shouldn't be in this business at all.
"Well," Jin starts, waiting for the customer to look up from the display. "We kind of have something special. A minute and I will be back, jus have to bring it out."
The kitchen is clean and spotless, everything organized and in its rightful place - especially compared to the morning rush - and Jin takes out a tray from his private fridge. The knife cuts into the cake smoothly, and Jin carefully plucks the slice from the chilled pile.
"Here," he says, coming back, and the ceramic makes a quiet click when it meets the surface of the counter. "Chocolate layer cake from four kinds meshed together, with chocolate frosting and shaved chocolate topping. Mint is the underlying flavor which is supposed to counter the heaviness on the whole. The layers are light in texture but still hold rather well together. Sweet, but not overly so. Very filling."
The guy studies the slice and nods slightly.
"I will take it."
Jin smiles while reaching for paper. Success. Finally.
"Sorry. I didn't see that between the displays." Now that he has something to buy, the tension in the customer seems to be slowly dissolving. Good - from what little information he could gain from their rather one-sided conversation, it looks like Jin made the right decision.
"Ah, well. You shouldn't have, it's still under, uh, development and not in our regular rooster."
"Really? Is it going to be a shop specialty?"
"I hope so. It's the eleventh version I've made from scratch. I'm actually satisfied with the result this time so I believe it will get an OK from the manager."
The guy eyes the wrapped package with renewed interest. "You made this?"
"I know, I know. It's hard to believe that I'm useful somewhere else than the sale's counter. I promise it's perfectly edible."
"I'm suing you if I get food poisoning, just saying," the guy smiles, and Jin can't help grinning back. The expression suits the guy more than the haunted look he wore when he came in, soft dimples and glowing skin making him look younger than he appears to be. His eyes are the most expressive; Jin thinks briefly, hot chocolate mellowed by cinnamon, warm and comforting as a crackling fireplace.
When the customer reaches for his wallet, it's Jin's turn to be embarrassed.
"No, that won't be necessary," he says, and quickly continues when he sees a frown starting to form and protests wanting to break free. "I couldn't possibly sell something which has not been approved by the manager. Think of this as a gift."
"But-"
"No," Jin cuts him off firmly. "I should be grateful that you are willing to give a cake a try that's not even on the menu. Think of this as a welcome gift. Or a thank you gift. Or just a gift. Please."
"Welcome gift?"
"For trying the shop for the first time," Jin nods. Something that is a bit of surprise mixed disbelief flashes across the guy's face for a millisecond, but it disappears quicker than Jin can blink, and he's sure he's only just imagined it.
"Ah. Well. Thank you," he says, carefully picking up the wrapped slice.
"If you want cakes as not gifts, please come again! Or even as gifts!"
"I think I will," the guy laughs as he opens the door, the sound slightly muffled behind his scarf.
Jin really hopes he'll come back at least once - he kind of really wants to know how his cake tasted.
*
The guy doesn't show up and the chocolate cake makes it on the display with his mother's seal of approval. Jin doesn't feel as satisfied over this as he should be.
He has exams to study for and according to one of his teachers, his custard tarts are still inadequate. Too lumpy, too hard, too sweet, not enough sugar, too chunky, too much vanilla essence, too brown, not nearly yellow enough. He hasn't known that custard tarts can be ruined in that many ways; he believes he's the only one who's managed that feat so far. He's going to fail his exam spectacularly. Sensei will be disappointed. Mitsuki-san will be frustrated. Mother will pity him. Reio will gloat. He doesn't know which will be worse.
He's going over the recipe for the hundredth time in his head, jutting down notes on the paper in front of him when he hears the door open. He bites off the curse wanting to break free - only five minutes and he could be closing up before getting back to practice.
"Ah, evening? I hope you're still open?" comes from the front hesitantly, and Jin turns his head so fast he almost feels dizzy. Chocolate layer guy stands in the doorway, almost too hesitant to come in.
"Sure," Jin smiles, his voice pleased and friendly and surprisingly genuine. The guy seems relieved.
"The cake was really delicious, so I thought I would drop by to buy something for a change."
"What, no free samples?"
"Well, if you have anything I can try-" the guy trails off playfully, and after a few beats of hesitation, Jin thinks: why the hell not.
"Are you in a hurry?"
"Um." Chocolate layer looks confused. "No, not really."
"Good," Jin nods, and quickly deposits a cheesecake in front of the guy before locking the door, declaring the shop closed for the day.
"Are you going to do something criminal?" the customer asks, holding the plate in one hand and the fork in another, eyeing the closed door in bemusement.
"Oh, no. Just some experimenting."
"A deadly one?"
"For your sake, I hope not," Jin laughs, and motions for the guy to follow him to the kitchen. He's breaking countless written and unwritten rules. Mitsuki-san would have a heart attack if she knew that a stranger had been in her kitchen. His mother would give him lectures for weeks on end.
"By the way, I'm Jin. Nice to meet you," he says, because you don't take strangers to your kitchen.
"Kame. The pleasure is all mine." From the way his posture relaxes after the first bite, Jin believes that yes, it is truly all his.
*
Two days later Jin aces the exam. His Sensei is satisfied. Mitsuki-san is proud. Mother is happy for him. Reio gloats.
"I told you they were good," Kame hums behind a mouthful of fruit cake (with less sugar than Jin usually makes it with), languid and happy, and Jin grins. He feels giddy and full and too tight for his skin.
"Well, yes. They were. Genius, I am," he nods, at which Kame only rolls his eyes good naturedly.
*
Kame quickly becomes a regular at the shop. He comes always at the end of Jin's shift and most of the time stays after the official closing hour. Even though the weather is getting warmer as the days pass by, sliding deeper into the warmth of spring, he wears multiple layers, his hair is windswept and something always hides some part of his face.
"You look fine," Jin says once when he can't stop thinking about it.
"Thank you?" Kame blinks, surprised, looking up from Jin's kneading fingers covered in flour.
"No, I mean, not like that. Well, yes, okay. That too. But nothing is wrong with your face, you shouldn't have to cover it up all the time when you're not in the shop," Jin rambles on, patting the dough with a bit more force than absolutely necessary.
Apart from the repetitive slap-slap noises, the kitchen is strangely silent. It's not an entirely comfortable silence, and Jin is surprised by the sudden change in atmosphere. He glances at Kame, then stops with his kneading when he sees a bitter half-smile tugging at the corner of that mouth.
"Kame?" he asks, uncertain and confused. Has he crossed a line? Does Kame have some kind of unnoticeable skin disease? Sun allergy? Hyper sensitive nose that he must cover up? Is he partially blind to have to wear sunglasses outside?!
"I just prefer it that way," Kame says, his voice deceptively light and nonchalant, and Jin wisely drops the subject.
*
They don't talk about Kame's strange layering again. Jin chalks it up to the crazy fashion of eighteen year old students.
Jin doesn't ask Kame much about his school and studies and future plans, because Kame gets skittish every time the topic somewhat comes up. In turn, Kame doesn't ask about Jin's father because Jin clams up faster than an ostrich shell if the man is mentioned somewhere.
The shop and its kitchen is a safe place where they meet and tease and ease into a comfortable routine. Kame becomes more open with every visit, fun and dorky and talking a mile about baseball games. Jin feels happy and content to see him so animated. He's also kind of glad that Kame is willing to try everything he makes - he's never had marks as high as he has now in his entire life, which is kind of weird.
Jin is in the middle of decorating a strawberry shortcake, ignoring Kame's suggestions on rather outrageous toppings when he can hear the front door opening. He frowns, still concentrating on getting the perfect loop, but Kame falls quiet and slowly gets up from the chair.
"Mom?" Jin asks loudly. He remembers locking up, and not many people have a key to the place.
"Nah, just me," says Reio and barges into the kitchen. When he sees Kame he stops abruptly, his eyes going wide and mouth opening in a surprised oh.
"Reio, this is Kame, my loyal test subject. Kame, this is Reio, my idiotic brother. Nice to meet you. Good? Good. Now get the hell out of my kitchen."
"Oh. Um. Nice to meet you," Reio says, a bit breathless, which is strange. Jin looks up with a frown, but gets distracted seeing Kame calmly walking out of his kitchen.
"Wait! Kame, stop! Not you. That idiot over there," Jin gestures to his brother.
"Shut it. It's not your kitchen anyway."
"No, I should be going, really. It was nice meeting you, Reio."
"Tomorrow same time?" Jin asks hopefully, at which Kame smiles a little.
"Sure," he says, and the shop is quiet after his departure.
"Jin," Reio starts, slowly, his voice laced with awe and disbelief. "Why do you know him? How? When?"
Jin blinks. "Kame? He's a regular. Weird, but nice guy." Perfect in every way including his imperfections, but he doesn't want to say this - at least not to Reio.
Reio stares. "You really have absolutely no idea who he is, do you?"
"Who, Kame?" Jin shrugs and goes back to finishing his cake. "He is Kame. Eighteen year old high school student who doesn't like sweets but spends a big chunk of his free time eating my cakes. As I said, a weird, but nice kid."
Reio snorts. "You'd be surprised. Jin, when you have the time, look up Kamenashi Kazuya," he advises before strolling away.
*
It turns out Kamenashi Kazuya is some kind of super idol in Japan. He's kind of a very profitable household name that everyone knows even in the farthest, most rural nook in the country. Up in the top five of every imaginable list, with his face plastered on billboards and magazines and posters in train stations. Kind of hard to miss.
He looks very different without the help of make up and photoshop, all pretense and artificial smiles pulled down the drain, leaving a skinny, slightly awkward but genuinely fun person to spend time with. Like two completely different person. It's no wonder Jin didn't recognise him.
At least, that explains the layers and the sunglasses. Jin is kind of glad that Kame is not sick and doesn't have deadly allergies.
*
"So you are some kind of mega popular celebrity known all over Asia?" Jin asks the next day when he's putting tiny little confectionary in the colors ranging from frosted blue through baby pink to sunshine yellow.
Kame actually flinches from the question and doesn't look at Jin. He hasn't really looked at Jin all that much today, to be honest. This development bothers Jin more than it should have.
"I guess," he says, and his voice is quiet, his tone carefully neutral.
"Okay," Jin nods after a few beats. His mind had been already made up, but seeing Kame folding and closing himself off again cements and strengthens his resolve. "It was not your first time coming into the shop, that time."
Kame shakes his head. "No."
He can't remember much from their first meeting, only that it involved pleasant chatting and sampling of macaron pieces before the shop was suddenly flooded with camera flashes and ear piercing screams. The customer quickly ducked out with an apology, taking all the noise but none of the sweets with him, leaving Jin blinking and dazed in the aftermath.
"Here, macaron," Jin says, holding out a plate full of the petite creations.
"I, ah. Thanks." Kame picks one and bites into it uncertainly. His expression quickly melts into pure bliss, and Jin smiles slightly at the sight, his stomach flipping and chest warming at seeing Kame so obviously happy. He knows his macaron is divine.
"Still really sweet," Kame states after he swallows. He takes the plate from Jin and puts it on the counter.
"It's supposed to be," Jin nods. His fingers twitch. "You don't like sweets."
"No," Kame hums in agreement. "Not really, no. But once in a while, I can make a few exceptions."
"Depending on what?"
Jin notices that Kame is now standing instead of sitting in his favorite chair. They are somewhat close.
"I think you can figure that out," Kame says and his eyes brimming with mirth are the last thing Jin sees before he tastes sugar and almond and raspberry jam all mixed into one.
*
"Seriously, you could have asked me out after the first time. I would have said yes," Jin sighs exasperatedly, but snickers when he looks at Kame whose cheek is smeared with jam and his hair is peppered with flour.
"I know. But where is the fun in that?"
"Brat. You know, I almost got accepted into your agency."
"Really?"
"Don't sound so surprised. On the last round I didn't make the selection. I was so angry and disappointed that I just tore up my number and run out of the room without saying proper goodbye to anyone."
"Smooth, Akanishi. Real charmer."
"Shut up. I make a better pastry chef than I would an idol, anyway," Jin scoffs, at which Kame laughs, a sound free and happy and similar to what Jin feels deep within fluttering.
"I'm glad you do."
- end -