A snowflake for gdgdbaby!
Sep. 2nd, 2022 11:56 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
snowmods09 posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
snow_exchangeTitle: Sakuma, Shut Up.
Pairings: Sakuma/Meguro
Genres: Romance, Comedy
Rating: PG (some mild swearing)
Summary: Sakuma takes it upon himself to set Meme up on a variety of dates because he simply has no time to even think about dating Meme himself. Probably not his greatest plan.
Warnings: Nothing
Author's notes: I hope you enjoy it. I know you mentioned preferring smut but unfortunately that is not in my wheelhouse, so apologies in advance, but I did the best I could with a prompt you gave. Also, thank you to my lovely and encouraging beta! I couldn’t have done this without you!
It was the day after the department mixer during his first week of university when Abe Ryohei and Meguro Ren met up for brunch, the former having helped Meguro get through the application process. The mixer that had sent Meguro down a path of weird encounters that were honestly inexplicable to him, even if it all started with a drunken and very loud pink-haired senior student.
“So, how did meeting your department professors and students go?” Abe asked, all too chipper at 11 in the morning for Meguro's liking, given the hangover.
“It was good,” Meguro said, cradling his forehead in his hands.
“Just good?”
“My professors seem like good people and I met a few seniors,” Meguro said with a dead-eyed stare. He really shouldn't have drunk that much.
Abe looked at him quizzically. “Oh?” he said.
“Well, there was this one… Over friendly but seemed like a nice guy.”
~~~
Meguro was glad he had waited a bit to apply for university, lest he not be able to join in at the mixer for being underage.
He'd had a good time so far, introducing himself to his professors and meeting various students who gave him great tips on how to handle different projects he'd encounter. Unfortunately, it also meant he kept getting drinks.
He really should have stopped.
The next thing Meguro knew, he had a much shorter, pink-haired senior hanging off of him, clearly as drunk or more drunk than Meguro was himself. Truth be told, he didn't mind too much, the man was cute, exactly Meguro's type even.
The two of them wound up sitting at a table with a few of the senior's classmates. They were all pretty nice people to say the least, not that Meguro's attention was perfect with the pink-haired man almost sitting directly in his lap and occasionally nuzzling Meguro's neck. It was rather confusing, though Meguro clearly didn't mind if the possessive arm he had around the pink-haired man's shoulders was any indication.
Unfortunately (though probably for the best given how drunk Meguro and the pink-haired man were), at the end of the night they parted ways, with the pink-haired man sloppily giving him a kiss on the lips and hastily writing his number on Meguro's hand. A number that was tragically gone by morning. Lost to the handwashing and lack of foresight to put it into his phone.
~~~
“I see…” Abe said, though his face confused Meguro as it did not look ponderous at all, “Well, I hope you find that mystery man.”
“Abe-san…” Meguro began.
“What? I really do. The least you could have done is got his name!” Abe pointed this out to Meguro with a grin, Meguro only sighed in response.
“Wait,” Abe said, bringing his finger to his face like he had a genius idea, “my friend would have been at that mixer, too. Maybe he can help you find your mystery man?”
Meguro smiled at Abe. It wasn't like he had much to lose. “I'd appreciate that,” he said.
“Oh good, because we can go meet him now. He should be at the rehearsal room right now. I know he has a ballet show coming up!” Abe exclaimed before he downed his coffee and stood up. Truly the move of an experienced student who had burnt his tongue one too many times. Meguro just stared.
“Seriously, we should go now,” Abe said with a smile as he reached out his hand.
Meguro left his coffee.
~~~
Sakuma Daisuke smiled as he finished his routine. It had been a while since he'd auditioned for a ballet show, mostly focusing on his studies and the dance troupe he had with his friends.
“That was great, Sakkun!” his other friend (not (currently) in the dance troupe) Mukai Koji said from the side, camera in hand.
“Yeah?” Sakuma asked. “Did you get the photos you wanted, too?”
“Come take a break,” Mukai said as he packed away his lens.
Sakuma sat by his bag as he downed some water. He was confident in the routine but had a few more things he wanted to fix. While relaxing, he checked his phone. A message from Abe greeted him:
Don't leave, I'm swinging by with that student I was telling you about!
Sakuma smiled and typed in response:
“Abe-chan is swinging by,” Sakuma said to Koji, who was approaching him, camera still in hand.
Koji settled down behind Sakuma and held the camera out in front of his face. “Oh good,” Koji said, “Maybe I can finally get his profile picture.”
Sakuma laughed. Koji handled their photography and website for them but lately Abe had been busy. Sometimes Koji did join in and learn the choreography but he also enjoyed being off to the side.
“Alright, so, these are the shots from today,” Koji said as he began to flip through them to show Sakuma. They had only gotten through a few of them when the studio door opened.
When Sakuma saw who was with Abe, his eyes widened. It was the guy from last night.
~~~
Meguro stepped into the studio behind Abe. Abe had spoken highly of this Sakuma fellow during the walk over, so he was sufficiently shocked when the pink-haired man from the previous night was in his line of sight being… embraced? Was he being embraced? From behind by another man. This was, of course, short-lived as Meguro watched the recognition flash across Sakuma's face before Sakuma shot up like a rocket, knocking the other man over.
“You!” Sakuma yelled before running over to Meguro. “You didn't text me.”
Meguro stared in shock for a moment before laughing a bit. Sakuma stared him down, waiting for an explanation. “The number didn't survive the night, sorry.” Meguro flashed him an apologetic smile before showing him his hand with the faded number, only the last two digits remained and they were barely visible.
“You should be more careful with important information,” Sakuma said, far more seriously than Meguro expected.
“I'll do better next time,” Meguro said with a smile, “but why don't we start over. Meguro Ren, first year in the media information program. Please call me Meguro.” Meguro gave a small bow after his introduction.
“Nice to meet you, Meguro-kun. Sakuma Daisuke, fourth year. Please call me Sakuma,” Sakuma replied.
“Nice to meet you, Sakuma-san,” Meguro said with a smile. “Can I trouble you for your phone number again?” Meguro said, his phone quickly in hand.
“That's rather forward, Meguro-kun,” Sakuma said as he grabbed the phone from him, promptly putting his number in. “Don't lose it this time.”
“I'll do my best not to!” Meguro exclaimed as he texted Sakuma's phone once receiving it back.
“Well, since you guys seem familiar, Meguro-kun, I have one more person for you to meet!” Abe said with a hand on Meguro's shoulder. “This is Mukai Koji, he helps out with the dance troupe.”
“Nice to meet you!” Mukai said with a smile.
Sakuma sidled up to Mukai and swung his arm over his shoulder. “He takes photos for us and updates our website. He's great at taking photos.”
“Thanks, Sakkun. Which, on the subject of that…” Mukai said as he eyed Abe, “Abe-chan, we need to update your profile picture.”
“Me?” Abe said, pointing to himself, “but I'm not ready.”
Mukai sighed and reached out to grab Abe's hand. “No getting out of it today. I'll fix you up if I have to,” Mukai said as he dragged Abe away and fussed over his hair.
“So, he seems nice,” Meguro said with a chuckle.
“Koji's very nice,” Sakuma said as he glanced at Meguro.
They both stood and watched Mukai fuss over Abe for a moment, even going as far as shoving eyeliner (or at least Meguro thought that is what it was) into his hand.
“I'm sorry about last night, by the way,” Sakuma said.
“For what?” Meguro asked.
“For hanging off you,” Sakuma shrugged, “Abe-chan says I'm too friendly when I drink sometimes.”
“Oh, it's fine,” Meguro said, staring down at Sakuma who was watching the events unfold. “I didn't mind.”
Sakuma slowly looked up at Meguro before quickly looking away. “Well, I'm glad we ran into each other again today,” he said awkwardly.
“Yeah, it's good. I was going to have to ask you to hunt down yourself.”
Sakuma let out a laugh at that. “Well, feel free to pop by here whenever you'd like,“ Sakuma said, “though you should probably make sure one of us is here first. Other people use the space, too.”
“I'll make sure I do,” Meguro nodded. He could do that, and if it meant hanging out with his senior, even better. “You know, I remember you being taller last night.”
Sakuma sputtered and looked at Meguro, “In my defence you were sitting when I was around you.”
“Ahh, I suppose I was, wasn't I?”
~~~
After the day Abe introduced Meguro to him properly, Sakuma noticed he'd stop by every so often to watch him practice and potentially ask him some things about his course work. It wasn't that Sakuma minded, he enjoyed talking to the guy, though a few times he noticed Meguro seemed a little lonely, something he had been expressing as much to his friend, Fukazawa Tatsuya, over dinner.
“I mean, you could always set him up on a date or something,” Fukazawa suggested before shoving more ramen into his mouth.
“Fukka, I don't even know what his type is,” Sakuma said as he sipped on his drink.
“Well,” Fukazawa said, “do some investigation. You play enough otome games, I'm sure you can figure it out.”
“You mean build a stat sheet for him and go from there?” Sakuma asked.
“Sure, if you think that'll work.”
Sakuma slapped his hand on the table, gaining a few glares from those around him. “I could do that! Fukka, you're a genius.”
Fukazawa smiled as he ate more ramen. “I know,” he said with his mouth full.
“Don't get a big head about it, though. You're no Abe-chan.”
If looks could kill, perhaps Fukazawa's deadpan face, ramen streaming from his mouth back into the bowl would.
~~~
The next time Sakuma saw Meguro, which was the next day while Sakuma practiced his routine at the studio, Sakuma began his stats sheet. Mentally.
“Alright, Sakuma!” he thought to himself, “First stat, height… Well, he is very tall. Handsome, too… No, no! You're working on setting him up. He hasn't written anything in a hot minute so, maybe a bit slow? I guess the more important question is…”
It was as that thought began when Meguro looked up at him and locked eyes, and in the midst of his pirouette his mouth turned on and Sakuma asked, “Do you like guys?” Total mental betrayal.
“Huh?” Meguro asked with a startled blink.
Sakuma stopped his routine and stared back at Meguro, mouth repeatedly flying agape. “I mea–” Sakuma tried to begin before Meguro calmly said, “I do.”
This caused the hamster that made Sakuma's brain go to fly off the wheel in shock. After several moments and squeaks of apologies it climbed back on and started running again.
“You do?” Sakuma said, eyes wide.
Meguro stared back, though far more level, almost as if he was tired by the reaction (which he was). He then said, “Is that a problem?”
“Not at all!” Sakuma said enthusiastically as he sat down next to Meguro. He suddenly realized he might know a guy, and this guy would definitely help fill in some missing points in his stats sheet.
Unfortunately, when he looked back at Meguro he saw a very concerned face.
“What, did I say something?” Sakuma asked.
~~~ Another Perspective ~~~
Meguro was taken aback when Sakuma suddenly asked him if he was into guys, and maybe panicking a little, though he hoped his face didn't show that much.
Meguro didn't even hear Sakuma begin to stammer when he replied, “I do.”
Unfortunately, Sakuma's reaction made his heart sink. The man was flailing in front of him, clearly in shock and when he simply asked, “You do?” Meguro prepared for the worst.
“Is that a problem?” He asked.
Sakuma's approach was quick and the next thing he knew the man had, one, told him it was okay, and two, sat beside him. The weird faces Meguro saw next weren't quite so reassuring and as he quickly learnt, that much was evident to Sakuma.
“What, did I say something?” Sakuma asked.
Meguro sighed and looked up at the ceiling. “It's not that; it's just this came out of nowhere,” he said, “though I appreciate the support.”
Meguro hoped he looked calm again on the outside because his heart was going a mile a minute. Part from the proximity to Sakuma and part because he didn't know where this was going.
“Well,” Sakuma began and Meguro felt the heart strings pull, “I was wondering if you'd like to go on a date-”
Yes.
“with my friend.”
No.
Meguro took a deep breath and collected himself. It wasn't a date with Sakuma like he had hoped but he felt that maybe, in some strange way, it would gain him brownie points with the pink-haired fellow.
“Sure, why not?” Meguro said, hoping the pain wasn't evident on his face.
“Awesome!” Sakuma exclaimed as he stood up to ready himself to keep practicing. “I'll text you the date and address later!”
“Sounds good,” Meguro mumbled as he turned his attention back to the text in front of him. Damn the mandatory math elective.
~~~
It was the next Saturday when Meguro found himself suddenly on a blind date Sakuma had set up for him. It was a date that was supposed to start at a local café but Meguro was given neither a name nor a photo of his prospective date, instead told to look out for a man in a blue and black scarf. In fairness, Sakuma did send him a photo of the scarf.
When Meguro spotted the scarf, he still couldn't see his prospective date's face. Not until he was directly in front did he realize.
“For fuck's sake,” Meguro mumbled as he plopped into the chair opposite the man.
The man looked up, a bit startled. “Meguro-kun?” he asked, a puzzled expression on his face. “I'm waiting for someone, but it's nice to see you.”
Meguro only leaned on the table, his face in his hands as he mumbled, “Yeah you are, me.”
The man squinted his eyes and let out a small “eh?”
Meguro sighed and looked at the man with eye contact. “Nabe, you're waiting for me.”
“EEEeeeHhhhhh!?” the man, Watanabe Shota, Meguro's longtime friend and the one who introduced him to Abe, exclaimed.
Patrons of the café turned and glanced at Watanabe for a moment while Meguro shushed him.
“Look, Sakuma might not have realized,” Meguro said.
“Realized what? That we're friends?”
“Yeah,” Meguro said.
“He's an idiot,” Watanabe said with a head shake.
“Well, maybe I should tex–” Meguro began as he reached for his phone only to find Watanabe stopping his hand.
“No,” he said with a grin, “I have a better idea.”
Meguro paused, eyebrow raised in question.
“He's expecting us to go on a date, right?” Watanabe began, “Which, I knew he'd fuck this up!
“Anyway, we're going to do the date AND we will send him lovey-dovey,” Watanabe's face curled in disgust at those words, “photos from our date.”
“Won't he think we're dating?” Meguro asked, mildly confused.
“That's why we tell him in person. Tomorrow,” Watanabe clarified.
“Tomorrow?” Meme asked.
“Yeah, we have a group dance practice tomorrow. Hikaru's teaching us new choreography for a competition,” Watanabe said.
“Sakuma-kun sure is busy, huh?” Meguro mumbled only to receive narrowed eyes from Watanabe.
“Anyway,” Watanabe drawled, “I guess we should do date-like things? Want a coffee?”
“Sure?”
Watanabe nodded and went to join the line for coffee. Meguro supposed it had been a while since they had hung out. The fact this was the situation, though, was a little ridiculous. He thought Sakuma knew how he knew Abe, but maybe that hadn't been clear. Now he just had to make sure Watanabe didn't catch on to where his heart truly belonged. His friend would never let it go if he knew he fancied Sakuma, who was clearly emotionally unavailable given his sudden decision to set Meguro up. He supposed he'd have to woo the man slowly.
Meguro was lost in thought thinking of all the ways he should go about this when Watanabe arrived back at the table with his coffee. “Remind me to get Koji to make you coffee one of these days,” he said.
“Koji makes coffee?” Meguro asked. The guy hadn't given a hint of anything outside photography and talking Thai on the phone. A lot.
“Oh yeah, he's got a whole set-up at home. He makes good stuff.”
Meguro took a sip of his coffee, exactly how he likes it. To be frank, they probably hung out too much prior to Meguro's enrollment in university.
“So, what do you want to do now?” Watanabe asked before taking a massive sip of his own coffee.
“I don't know, we could go fishing?” Watanabe scrunched his nose at that suggestion. “See a movie?”
“That new comedy? About the brothers?” Watanabe asked.
“Sure.”
The two of them finished off their coffee before setting off to the nearby theatre to watch the movie.
Prior to entering the theatre, Watanabe stopped Meguro. “We should update Sakuma on how the date is going,” he said.
“What do you suggest?” Meguro asked.
Watanabe quickly presented his phone and looked Meguro dead in the eyes. “Kiss me,” he said.
Meguro was too stunned to speak.
“Fine,” Watanabe said as he lined up his camera and began to lean in.
Before Watanabe could complete it, a lightbulb went off in his head and he mumbled, “oh, for a photo to send to Sakuma-kun.”
Watanabe gave him a stink eye and just sighed before huffing a “shut up.” Thankfully, Meguro was on board and leaned down to complete it and Watanabe snapped the photo.
Watanabe turned away once it was done, focusing on texting Sakuma the photo while Meguro went and bought the movie tickets and snacks.
“Did he get back to you?” Meguro asked as he arrived while juggling two drinks and a bag of popcorn.
“Not yet. I'll check after the movie,” Watanabe said as he grabbed his drink and the tickets from Meguro and started towards the ticket taker, ready to head to screen nine.
Once they were out, Meguro was ready to set off for home before Watanabe stopped him.
“So, it was good to hang out again but I should probably go,” he said.
“I mean, you could just stay over at my place since we're going to the practice room tomorrow,” Watanabe shrugged.
He had a point, Meguro realized. Watanabe's place was closer and going together in the morning might make this mission even more fun.
“Sure, I'll just borrow a shirt from you.”
Watanabe nodded and started to head off.
“Oh! By the way,” Meguro began to ask, “did Sakuma-kun respond?”
Watanabe levelled him with an unamused stare before grumbling, “that guy is an idiot.”
~~~
Sakuma was relaxing in the bath when his phone went off. As he reached over to grab it, he kept one eye on the anime he was watching.
When he saw the photo Watanabe had sent him, though, he almost dropped his phone in the water. Never in his life did he expect to receive a photo of Watanabe and Meguro kissing, nor did he expect his initial reaction, a scowl.
I should be happy for him, he thought, why have you betrayed me, face?
He quickly responded with a selfie of himself giving a smile and a thumbs up captioned “Get it.” What he didn't realize is that Watanabe read him like a book from the photo; a book Sakuma hadn't even opened.
Sighing, he set his phone aside and told himself he was far too busy for his heart to be wanting things. Far too busy.
~~~
The next morning, Meguro and Watanabe showed up together to everyone's surprise, though the reactions varied to Meguro's amusement. Perhaps listening to Watanabe was a good idea.
The first to see them walk in was Mukai, who was off to the side prepping his camera, though a video camera for the practice.
“Huh? Meme, why are you here and with Shoppi?” Koji asked.
“What? Meguro-kun is here?” Abe asked from across the room.
“Hi,” Meguro said with a small shy wave. He noticed Watanabe glancing at him and so he didn't elaborate.
“I brought him along because he spent the night at my place and he was curious about the troupe,” Watanabe explained, “plus last night we realized we're in love. Thanks, Sakuma for setting us up last night.”
“Huh!?” Iwamoto and Fukazawa exclaimed at the same time while Miyadate narrowed his eyes and smiled. Abe and Mukai merely stared at the shocked expression Sakuma was giving, both of them confused.
Watanabe surveyed the reactions, most of which were confused aside from Miyadate who just gave him a look that said “I know you're lying but I'll see where this goes.” To that, Watanabe could only nod.
“Bu- bu- but you went on your first date last night,” Sakuma stammered.
“Yeah, and?” Watanabe said with a scoff.
“That's so soon!” Sakuma exclaimed. The rest of the room were simply looking between the two men and Sakuma, too stunned by the sudden news.
“We've known each other for a few years,” Meguro said as he put his hand on Watanabe's shoulder. Watanabe reached across and placed his hand on top. “To be honest, we never would have made this leap if you hadn't intervened.”
To be even further honest, Meguro couldn't believe how easily Watanabe had read the situation the night before when they'd made this plan. It was almost scary.
“I jus–” Sakuma began. He looked both surprised and horrified, an interesting reaction Meguro noted but before he could continue, he was interrupted by Watanabe.
“Just kidding!” Watanabe barked with a laugh which caused all eyes to swivel to them.
“Ehh? Ehhhh!?” Sakuma exclaimed.
Miyadate nodded and moved to help Mukai with the set-up while Fukazawa and Iwamoto mumbled amongst themselves, seemingly okay with the turn of events. Abe and Mukai merely exchanged questioning glances before looking back at Sakuma.
“So all of that was a lie?” Sakuma asked, still shocked.
Watanabe smiled at him with pure mirth. “Well, some of it was true,” he said.
“We have known each other for a few years. Nabe's the one that introduced me to Abe-san,” Meguro said.
“Whaaa!?” Sakuma exclaimed as he leaned back in surprise.
“I'm pretty sure we told you…” Watanabe began before realization hit and he snidely remarked, “Oh, wait, you were distracted with your gacha game.”
Sakuma looked away, mildly ashamed. Before he could respond, Meguro noticed Fukazawa hit Iwamoto's arm, causing him to put his hands up.
“Alright,” Iwamoto began, “we're burning time so we should start practice. We have a competition next week.”
While Iwamoto was speaking, Mukai approached Meguro's side to grab his hand. “You can come help me with recording,” he said as he dragged Meguro off to the side.
“Is it normally like this?” Meguro asked Mukai quietly.
Mukai shrugged. “They'll be fine, Sakuma took a few shots but they'll be fine.”
Meguro nodded and watched as Watanabe approached Sakuma and whispered something, causing the pink-haired gentleman to laugh.
“Like I said, they'll be fine and if they aren't, well,” Mukai looked at Fukazawa, “we have ways to fix that.”
Meguro nodded and settled in beside Mukai, ready to watch. They hadn't started yet as Iwamoto was making them go through a stretching routine and so Mukai kept talking.
“So, how did you and Shoppi wind up on a date after all?” Mukai asked.
Meguro shrugged. “Sakuma-kun decided I needed to go on a blind date, which was weird, but hey. If it makes him happy.”
“Sakkun's got you that bad, huh?” Mukai asked with a grin.
“Shut up,” Meguro said as he tried to hold back a blush as he glanced at Sakuma, the man clearly happy to be with his troupe. Was he that obvious? He really hoped he wasn't that obvious to Mukai of all people.
“Don't worry, your secret is safe with me,” Mukai said as he locked his lips and threw away the key.
“Thanks.”
~~~
Sakuma and Fukazawa went out for dinner again the next day with Sakuma treating Fukazawa to pizza rather than ramen.
“So, operation set up Meme didn't work out,” Sakuma said as he stared intensely at a slice of pizza.
“But did you learn anything new?” Fukazawa asked before biting into his slice.
“Just to not set him up with friends like Shota,” Sakuma said with a sigh.
“You know, you could just go out with him,” Fukazawa said with his mouth full, which he had covered with his small hands.
“No!” Sakuma exclaimed, “There has to be someone out there…”
“What about asking Koji about his Kansai friends?” Fukazawa said.
“Oh, that's a great idea!” Sakuma tore into his pizza before picking up his phone to (1) secure a date candidate from Mukai's friends and (2) arrange a time for the date.
It didn't take long for Mukai to get back to Sakuma, suggesting his young, tall friend Michieda who had just moved to the area for university. Sakuma then blanched from the stream of warnings Mukai also sent about how if something happened to Michieda then Sakuma would pay.
“Something happen?” Fukazawa asked between bites.
Sakuma glanced up at Fukazawa. “Nope, nothing,” he said, only to receive a skeptical face in response. “Koji found someone free already so all I have to do is set it up.”
“Ahhh,” Fukazawa said, “oh, by the way, Raul's swinging by next week. Abe-chan told me today. We should make sure Meme is there to introduce them.”
“That's a good idea!” Sakuma exclaimed, “Maybe Raul can distract him.”
“Idiot,” Fukazawa mumbled.
“Eh? What was that?” Sakuma asked.
“Nothing, I was just saying it was a great idea,” Fukazawa said, taking another bite of pizza.
~~~
Meguro wasn't surprised when he quickly received another invite to a blind date. He really wasn't sure what Sakuma's endgame was but it couldn't hurt? He'd at least make another friend, though with a group like that dance group, he wasn't sure he needed more.
This time the date was at a small takoyaki restaurant not too far from the university. Something he greatly appreciated. When he arrived, he quickly found his date had yet to arrive and that the only people there were a man reading a newspaper and his friend who was texting away on his phone in the back corner, newspaper sitting beside him. He couldn't quite see the man behind the paper's face, though for some reason he thought the hands were familiar. He chose to think nothing of it and sat away from them so he could still watch the entrance.
This time Sakuma had actually been helpful and sent a photo in advance to Meguro. Because of this, when his date, Michieda, arrived a few minutes later in a mild frenzy he immediately recognized him and stood to wave him over and greet him.
He ignored the newspaper he could hear being unfolded behind him upon his date's arrival.
“Hi,” Meguro said with a smile and a small bow, “I'm Meguro Ren, but you can call me Meme if you'd like.”
Michieda smiled back and greeted him as well, “I'm Michieda Shunsuke, but you can call me Micchi if you'd like.”
“Nice to meet you!” Meguro said as he began to sit down, also noting the fact Michieda was only slightly shorter than himself and possibly younger.
“Likewise,” Michieda began, though he shot a glance at the other occupied table as he sat down. He continued, “Sorry about being late, I got caught up at school.”
“It's fine, I had just gotten here myself,” Meguro said with a smile. “University?”
“Ahh yeah, my first year.”
“Same, I hope it's going well for you.”
“It is. I just moved from Osaka at the start of the year and am staying with my friend while I'm here,” Michieda said with a smile.
Before they could continue with the conversation, a staff member came to take their order. Despite not even looking at the menu, Michieda ordered takoyaki with zero effort, which was mildly impressive to Meguro, who was just glad he had taken the time to see what was on the menu prior.
“You seem familiar with this place,” Meguro said as the staff went to fetch them tea.
“My friend and I come here a lot,” Michieda said with a glance to the other table.
Out of curiosity, Meguro gave the other table a glance, both men now obscured by newspapers .
“So, this friend you stay with, do I know them?” Meguro asked.
“Koji-kun? I think you know him,” Michieda said while pointedly staring at the other occupied table in the restaurant. If that wasn't enough to make Meguro realize Koji was at the table, the gutteral sound he heard was.
“Ah, that makes sense. Yeah, I know Koji.” Meguro nodded with a sly smile.
It wasn't long before the man behind the newspaper clearly gave up as he moved the paper down and let out an “Oh-ho.” It was Mukai.
Mukai set aside his paper and walked up to the couple with a smile. “Fancy seeing you two here!” he exclaimed, “I'm here with my buddy Ruuta. Good takoyaki.”
Meguro and Michieda stared at him with disbelief.
“Oi, what's with the faces?” Mukai asked, almost sounding pleased with himself.
“Were you spying on us?” Michieda said as Mukai's friend rolled up to the table.
“No,” Mukai said with a straight face.
“He was definitely spying on us,” Meguro agreed.
The staring continued, none of them letting up until Mukai's friend broke the ice.
“Oh, you must be Meguro-kun. I'm Muro Ryuta, Koji and Micchi's friend,” he said.
Meguro shifted to look at the man. “Nice to meet you,” he said, “but you should probably take Koji away.“
“Probably,” Muro said as he glanced at Mukai.
“Oi!” Mukai said, “I just wanted to make sure you let Micchi down easy.”
Michieda sighed and looked at Muro who only nodded at him before he dragged Mukai outside to much protest.
“Letting you down easy, huh?” Meguro said with an awkward chuckle.
“Yeah,” Michieda said, “I already know you like someone.”
Meguro was about to respond when he glanced at the door to see Mukai peeking around to the window, only to be jerked back and away.
“Koji told you?” Meguro eventually said.
“He did.”
Meguro nodded, a bit annoyed with himself that he had gone along with this.
“If it helps, I want to help you get the guy?” Michieda said with a shrug.
“You know what, I'll take the help,” Meguro said, sticking his hand out to close the deal with a shake.
~~~
The next morning saw Meguro joining the dance group for their morning practice, though he was immediately put to work by Mukai. Put to work setting up lights and equipment for video recording, which honestly he didn't mind since he was working closely with Sakuma. Not to mention this being on the advice of Michieda, who had told him the night prior that Mukai would be filming and that Sakuma usually helped with the lights.
“Senpai,” Meguro said, flashing him a warm smile as he adjusted one of the soft box lights, “is this good for the position?”
Sakuma turned towards Meguro, the cable he was working with still in his hands. He sighed and walked up to the light, giving it a slight adjustment while brushing slightly against Meguro. “You were close,” he said, “though I guess I can forgive you on your first day.”
Meguro screamed internally at the contact with Sakuma while trying his best to keep a calm face. He wrestled out a small thank you before following to assist with stringing the power cords.
“So, how was your date last night?” Sakuma asked as he passed Meguro a cord to unwind.
Meguro paused a bit. The date had gone well enough; he and Michieda were friends after all that, even though the romantic chemistry was obviously lacking. “It was fine, though we decided to be friends rather than go on another date,” he said.
Sakuma hummed in response before asking, “any reason why?”
This was a question Meguro was expecting and had been strangely coached on by Michieda the night before. “We just didn't click in that way, plus he was too young and too tall for me,” he replied as he moved to plug in the light he had just set-up. Why Michieda told him to specifically say the last bit he had no idea as he wouldn't explain why, even when asked. Of course, moving to plug the light in caused Meguro to miss a twitch from Sakuma.
“S-so, what do you mean by too tall?” Sakuma stuttered, his focus gone from the power cords and squarely on Meguro.
Meguro looked up and gave him a smile. “I guess I prefer someone older than me and much shorter.”
Fukazawa and Abe both walked in as Meguro said this to Sakuma. They gave each other a glance before Fukazawa spoke up. “I might know someone that fits those parameters,” he said.
Meguro glanced at the man, eyes cautious. He knew Fukazawa was in on Sakuma's plans. Abe had told him as much, but he wasn't sure of the exact capacity. The shit-eating grin he saw reassured him a tiny bit, though somehow he believed Sakuma fell for it.
“Oh? Who are you thinking of?” Sakuma asked.
“Sato Shori-kun,” Fukazawa said with a grin, Abe looking amused beside him.
“Sato-kun,” Iwamoto who had just shown up began, “Isn't that Kenty–”
Before he could finish, Fukazawa cut him off. “Kenty's friend, yes yes. I'm sure he'd be more than delighted to go out with someone like Meme.”
Iwamoto shot Fukazawa a puzzled look, though he could not finish as the rest of the crew piled in at that point, including a tall teenager who was far taller than the last time Meguro saw him.
“We'll talk about this later, Fukka,” Sakuma said before he walked up to the teenager with a big smile and said, “Meme, I'd like you to meet Raul.”
Before Meguro could respond, Watanabe cut in. “He already knows him!” he exclaimed.
“Guh?” Sakuma replied.
Meguro gave Sakuma a small smile and shrugged. “Our siblings are friends.”
Sakuma looked around at the others with a shocked face. “Why didn't you tell me?” he asked.
“We did,” Iwamoto said while Miyadate and Watanabe nodded off to the side.
“But Fukka said we should introduce Meme and Raul!” Sakuma exclaimed.
Fukazawa shrugged, “I guess I forgot?”
“Now now,” Mukai said as he walked up to pat Sakuma on the back, “let's let him off easy, he's been busy preparing for the ballet and other stuff like the competition last week.” They had won third at the competition.
“Yeah, Sakuma's been busy,” Abe agreed while Fukazawa nodded sagely.
“When is the ballet again, anyway?” Meguro asked.
“Next week,“ Sakuma said with a smile, “I expect you all to be there!” Mukai nodded beside him.
“Don't worry, we will be,” Iwamoto said, “Now, we should probably get started.”
A chorus of “okay” rang through the room, and so Meguro and Mukai moved off to the side, prepared to get a good recording of the dance practice. Today, Meguro was in charge of the music.
“Abe-chan and Fukka-san are up to something,” Koji remarked to him quietly as everyone prepared to take their places, Raul to Meguro's surprise was front and centre.
“Do you think?” Meguro asked as he scanned the room. He spotted Abe putting away his phone at the exact moment his own phone chimed.
Meet Fukka and I after practice at the usual place, it read.
“Never mind, they're definitely up to something,” Meguro grumbled as he showed Mukai his phone.
“Definitely.“
~~~
Meguro arrived at the family restaurant he and Abe often had brunch faster than he thought he would. Mukai had insisted he leave quickly and that he'd enlist others to help him tear down. He'd arrived sooner than Abe and Fukazawa had, which was fine. He'd just have to grab a table for them.
The two of them arrived five minutes later.
“Oh good, I was worried when you said we'd go where you two often hang out that it would be at a library,” Fukazawa said as he took his seat across from Meguro, Abe sitting beside him, “I'm starving.”
“I mean, we used to go to a café, but then we just started meeting for brunch. They have really good pancakes,” Abe explained.
“Hmmm,” Fukazawa said as he perused the menu, trying to decide what he'd like.
“So, why did you call me here?” Meguro asked.
Fukazawa quickly side-eyed him from the menu in front of his face before he continued perusing. “Food first,” he said.
Abe laughed at him and looked at the menu himself, not that he ever changed his order as far as Meguro was aware. The three of them were quiet after that until the wait staff took their order.
“Okay, now that food is coming we will explain,” Abe said while glancing at Fukazawa.
“We need you to ask Sakuma out,” Fukazawa stated plainly.
“Why?” Meguro asked. He knew he should put a stop to the dates but it was also highly entertaining to him.
Fukazawa shot him a tired, unamused look which caused Abe to explain instead.
“Fukka's been in on it the whole time but he's tired of dealing with Sakuma's mood when he sends you on the dates.”
“He's lying to himself is what he's doing,” Fukazawa added.
“That's why we suggested Shori to be your next date,” Abe continued, “he’s willing to set-up a second fake date but we'll need the first date to work out the details.”
“You gotta ask Sakuma out, man,” Fukazawa said.
“So, you want me to go on a date with this Shori fellow just to trick Sakuma-kun?” Meguro asked.
“Correct, because the second date will be the ballet,” Abe confirmed.
“You want me to ask him out at the ballet? While I am there with this Shori-san?”
“Please,” Fukazawa said.
“I think I can manage?” Meguro said.
“Thank you!” Fukazawa exclaimed, relief evident on his face before he was hit with a realization. “Were you just going to wait him out?”
Meguro merely shrugged.
~~~
Abe and Fukazawa’s plan had clearly gone over well with Sakuma, Meguro assumed, when he found himself waiting at the mall for Sato Shori three days later. The worst part was, Meguro felt like he was being watched even though his date hadn’t arrived yet.
He was.
~~~
Sakuma was absolutely focused on figuring out why the dates he was setting up for Meguro weren’t working. To the point he had disguised himself and was currently staring at Meguro behind large sunglasses as he tried to look like he was looking through the clothing rack of a nearby store to where Meguro was waiting.
Sato was slightly late, Sakuma noted, though he wasn’t too concerned. Fukazawa and Abe had assured him he would show up and if anyone could be trusted, it was those two. They were helping him after all, especially Fukazawa who had been part of this plot from the beginning.
When Sato walked up to Meguro, apologizing, Sakuma decided to get closer so that he could listen in, though not too close so that he wouldn’t get caught.
“Sorry about being late,” Sato said to Meguro with a small bow, “I was caught up at the studio.”
“It’s okay,” Meguro said with a smile that, to Sakuma, could light up a room, “I haven’t been waiting long.”
Sakuma snorted at this, the man had been waiting for 20 minutes which to Sakuma was far too long. He would have absolutely left by then.
Sato gave a slight chuckle. “I’m guessing Abe-chan told you I’d be late?”
Sakuma froze a little. Abe-chan? This guy was that close to Abe? Sakuma had no idea.
“He did,” Meguro said, “So, shopping?”
“If you wouldn’t mind, we can look around a bit,” Sato said with a smile. He was cute, Sakuma had to admit. Perhaps too cute if the feeling bubbling up in his throat had its way.
“Sure, let me just let them know you got here,” Meguro said. Sakuma watched him quickly text before shoving his phone in his pocket. “So, which store first?”
“I wouldn’t mind the music shop,” Sato replied.
“Music shop it is,” Meguro said as they began to walk away.
Sakuma quickly joined the crowd, far enough away that he couldn’t hear their conversation but close enough not to lose sight of them. As he watched them enter the music store, Sato excitedly pointed things out to Meguro while, at the same time, Sakuma’s phone rang. A phone call. A phone call? From Watanabe it turned out.
“Hello,” Sakuma said as he answered the phone.
“Hi, Sakuma, where are you?” Watanabe asked on the other end.
“I’m at the mall, why?”
Sakuma could hear Watanabe sigh with relief? Was it relief? Sakuma wasn’t quite sure, but he was sufficiently distracted to the point he didn’t see Sato and Meguro slip out of the music store as they glanced at him.
~~~
“He’s really trying to set you up, huh?” Sato asked as the two of them made their way to the food court on the other side of the mall.
Meguro sighed. “Yeah, it would be better if he just asked me out but Fukka-san said he probably came up with this idea to distract himself from his feelings.”
Sato only shook his head with a smile. “Sounds like some people I know,” he said, “so, shall we get a drink and then head out?”
“Is Nakajima-san okay with us coming over?” Meguro asked.
“Oh yes, he's actually preparing some food for us,” Sato said, though he was quickly distracted by another mall patron. “Oh, Hara-san!”
Meguro looked around to see if it was the same Hara he knew, surprised to find it was and also surprised to see Sato already waving and walking over to the man.
“Oh, hey,” Hara said when he saw them.
“Hi Hara-san,” Sato said with a smile, “Long time no see.”
“It has been a long time, for us at least. I saw Meguro-kun last week,” Hara said.
“And you’ll see me again this week,” Meguro laughed.
“Of course, of course,” Hara said, “Though I will say I didn’t expect to see you two together. I don’t think I’ve seen you in the same room since high school.”
“High school?” Meguro was confused, as far as he was aware he’d never met Sato before, though was he wrong? He knew he and Hara had gone to the same high school, though Hara was a year before, but Sato?
“Yeah, we went to the same high school. Don’t tell me you forgot,” Hara said with a chuckle.
“No, I don’t remember,” Meguro said.
“We were never in the same class,” Sato added, “plus you were busy in the soccer club while I was doing track and field.”
“Oh that makes sense,” Hara said.
“Track a– You’re that Sato-san?” Meguro asked, surprise written all over his face.
“There it is,” Hara said with a smile.
“That Sato? I can’t believe this is how you remember me,” Sato said with a smirk.
Meguro was embarrassed. That time of his life was a blur, though a new realization hit him rather quickly.
“Wait, Nakajima-san is Nakajima Kento, isn’t he?” he asked.
Sato only grinned at him. “There’s the soccer player in you,” he said.
Hara only shook his head. “Well, you two kids have fun,” he said as he bid them farewell. He was on a mission he stated, though he never elaborated.
As the two of them watched him walk away, Sato glanced at Meguro with a grin. “I can’t believe you forgot me but you remember Kenty,” he teased.
“The soccer captain previous to our year? Of course I remember him, he was a legend in the club,” Meguro said.
“Fine, fine,” Sato said, “shall we get a drink and then leave so you can meet your hero?”
“Well, we should probably go before Sakuma-san catches up,” Meguro said as he began walking towards the food court.
The two of them quickly grabbed a drink before hopping into Meguro’s car. As they headed to Sato’s home they chatted about high school, figuring out what they both remembered, though Meguro was amused to learn that Fukazawa was Sato’s middle school senpai. When they reached the house, which Abe and Fukazawa had already arrived at based on Abe’s car already sitting in the car park, it was time to coordinate what they would do at the ballet, a plan that also involved Nakajima showing up with the needed props.
~~~
“So, how was your date with Shori-kun?” Sakuma asked the following day they met up at the studio after practice, most of the group having trickled out except for Fukazawa, Abe, Raul, and the two of them. It was especially strange given the fact Fukazawa was usually the first to take off, though he was discussing something with Abe and Raul; Sakuma wasn’t quite sure what it was.
“It was good, we’re going out again this weekend,” Meguro said with a smile.
“Oh? So not too short?” Sakuma asked.
“Short?” Meguro asked, not quite sure what Sakuma was getting at or even why that was the point he decided to focus on.
“Well, you said Micchi was too tall and Shori-kun is shorter than I am,” Sakuma stated, though perhaps a little too loud.
Meguro stared at him but before he could speak Fukazawa yelled from across the room, “Absolutely not! Shori’s taller than you.”
Sakuma looked shocked. “I’m certain he’s shorter than me,” he said.
“He’s definitely taller than you,” Abe added.
Meguro only sighed and texted Sato asking him as such. The speed he got a reply was rather shocking since he was used to a lot of people taking their time.
I’m 171 cm tall, why Shori texted.
“How tall are you, Sakuma?” Meguro asked.
“I’m 168 cm, why?”
“Oh,” Meguro said as he flipped his phone around to face Sakuma.
Sakuma took a moment to read it, also spotting the rest of Meguro’s text conversation. A conversation formulated the night of their date in case Sakuma had looked at their text conversation by pure chance, the actual plans relegated to a conversation with Nakajima. It had been Fukazawa and Nakajima’s idea to have a conversation about date plans be the last conversation they had, though Meguro was fascinated by the foresight those two had.
“Oh… I guess you’re right, huh,” Sakuma said, though his face had lost its energy, Meguro could only assume that was from the rest of the visible text conversation.
“Of course we’re right!” Fukazawa exclaimed to the laughter of Abe and Raul. “This guy,” he added with a scoff.
~~~
The night of the ballet, Meguro was nervous. Far more nervous than he had any right to be. It was the night of the plan, which was a dumb plan if they asked him but Fukazawa insisted he wouldn’t see it coming at all to the assurance of Nakajima. The Nakajima that was following Sato from a safe distance with Iwamoto, Fukazawa, and Abe, with a bouquet in his hands ready for Meguro after the performance. The only reason Meguro didn’t have it was in case Sakuma, by some chance, spotted Meguro and Sato in the crowd during the performance as they were pretty close to the stage, the other four further back.
The rest of the gang had come to the performance prior.
The ballet, as it turned out, was lovely. While Meguro had watched Sakuma’s practice many times in the studio, he wasn’t prepared at all to feel like he’d been hit by love at first sight. Sakuma was stunning on stage, his movements precise and effortless in appearance, a far cry from the man he’d seen miss catching many things thrown to him. It was as if Sakuma was a completely different person. He was breathtaking and Meguro had forgotten to breathe.
When the performance was over, Meguro was still in a daze. The group had planned to meet up with Sakuma after the performance, which was perfect for the plan. The damn plan that Meguro wasn’t even sure he could conduct in his mush-filled state. Sato had promptly dragged Meguro out of the hall when he didn’t seem to be moving, and he knew the others had been talking to him, but honestly. He had no idea what they’d been saying, only snapping to attention when Nakajima shoved the bouquet in his hands and moved away.
He’s glad that had brought his attention, though, as he saw Sakuma coming up to them with a wave of his hand. A freshly showered Sakuma he was unconsciously moving towards and didn’t actually realize it until he was in front of the man himself, possibly staring too intensely, maybe. He wasn’t sure, but Sakuma was staring back at him with wide eyes.
“Meme,” Sakuma whispered, “Hi.”
“Hi,” Meguro said, still feeling breathless and now with his heart in his throat.
“Are those for me?” Sakuma asked, pointing at the bouquet in Meguro’s hands.
“Uh,” Meguro said as he glanced down at them, “yeah, uh, here.” He moved them towards Sakuma, for him to grab.
“Thank you,” Sakuma said, wrapping a hand around the end, “they’re lovely.”
In Meguro’s panic, he didn’t let go of them, which clearly confused Sakuma. It was written all over his face.
“Um, Meme?” Sakuma asked as he gave the bouquet a little tug. Meguro didn’t let go.
“Sakuma, I–” Meguro began.
“Yes?” The look Sakuma gave Meguro brought him back to the here and now. It was confusion, but there was something else and Meguro wasn’t sure what it was but it hit him in his heart, piercing it like an arrow.
“Ah fuck,” Meguro mumbled, letting go of the bouquet immediately, which shocked Sakuma. His hold was not as good as he had thought. It was quickly forgotten by the two of them, though, as Meguro cupped Sakuma’s face and leaned in, kissing him.
This was far, far more forward than Sakuma expected, though he reciprocated with enthusiasm.
When they finally gasped for breath, the still leaning Meguro rested his forehead on Sakuma’s head.
“So…” Sakuma said, “I guess that was fair.”
“What was fair?” Meguro asked.
“That you kissed me this time,” Sakuma said with a slight laugh.
Meguro moved back and looked down at Sakuma. “Guess you’re right,” Meguro said.
“So, does this mean you like me? What about Shori-kun?” Sakuma asked.
“I think that’s obvious and Shori-kun is already in a relationship,” Meguro said with a fond smile.
“Oh!” Sakuma exclaimed before his brain caught up. “Wait, does this mean you were tricking me?”
Meguro shrugged.
“How mean,” Sakuma said, “though I guess you caught me. So, now what?”
Meguro gave him a soft glance.
“Meme? What, is there something on my face?” Sakuma asked.
“No, you just talk too much,” Meguro said as he leaned in for another kiss, a more passionate kiss.
When they parted for air once again, Sakuma smirked and said, “I hope you realize I have to be functional for tomorrow, we can’t go too wild.”
Meguro simply replied before leaning in for another kiss. Kisses he couldn’t get enough of it turns out, perhaps an addiction to love.
“Sakuma.”
“Yes?”
“Shut the fuck up.”
Pairings: Sakuma/Meguro
Genres: Romance, Comedy
Rating: PG (some mild swearing)
Summary: Sakuma takes it upon himself to set Meme up on a variety of dates because he simply has no time to even think about dating Meme himself. Probably not his greatest plan.
Warnings: Nothing
Author's notes: I hope you enjoy it. I know you mentioned preferring smut but unfortunately that is not in my wheelhouse, so apologies in advance, but I did the best I could with a prompt you gave. Also, thank you to my lovely and encouraging beta! I couldn’t have done this without you!
It was the day after the department mixer during his first week of university when Abe Ryohei and Meguro Ren met up for brunch, the former having helped Meguro get through the application process. The mixer that had sent Meguro down a path of weird encounters that were honestly inexplicable to him, even if it all started with a drunken and very loud pink-haired senior student.
“So, how did meeting your department professors and students go?” Abe asked, all too chipper at 11 in the morning for Meguro's liking, given the hangover.
“It was good,” Meguro said, cradling his forehead in his hands.
“Just good?”
“My professors seem like good people and I met a few seniors,” Meguro said with a dead-eyed stare. He really shouldn't have drunk that much.
Abe looked at him quizzically. “Oh?” he said.
“Well, there was this one… Over friendly but seemed like a nice guy.”
Meguro was glad he had waited a bit to apply for university, lest he not be able to join in at the mixer for being underage.
He'd had a good time so far, introducing himself to his professors and meeting various students who gave him great tips on how to handle different projects he'd encounter. Unfortunately, it also meant he kept getting drinks.
He really should have stopped.
The next thing Meguro knew, he had a much shorter, pink-haired senior hanging off of him, clearly as drunk or more drunk than Meguro was himself. Truth be told, he didn't mind too much, the man was cute, exactly Meguro's type even.
The two of them wound up sitting at a table with a few of the senior's classmates. They were all pretty nice people to say the least, not that Meguro's attention was perfect with the pink-haired man almost sitting directly in his lap and occasionally nuzzling Meguro's neck. It was rather confusing, though Meguro clearly didn't mind if the possessive arm he had around the pink-haired man's shoulders was any indication.
Unfortunately (though probably for the best given how drunk Meguro and the pink-haired man were), at the end of the night they parted ways, with the pink-haired man sloppily giving him a kiss on the lips and hastily writing his number on Meguro's hand. A number that was tragically gone by morning. Lost to the handwashing and lack of foresight to put it into his phone.
“I see…” Abe said, though his face confused Meguro as it did not look ponderous at all, “Well, I hope you find that mystery man.”
“Abe-san…” Meguro began.
“What? I really do. The least you could have done is got his name!” Abe pointed this out to Meguro with a grin, Meguro only sighed in response.
“Wait,” Abe said, bringing his finger to his face like he had a genius idea, “my friend would have been at that mixer, too. Maybe he can help you find your mystery man?”
Meguro smiled at Abe. It wasn't like he had much to lose. “I'd appreciate that,” he said.
“Oh good, because we can go meet him now. He should be at the rehearsal room right now. I know he has a ballet show coming up!” Abe exclaimed before he downed his coffee and stood up. Truly the move of an experienced student who had burnt his tongue one too many times. Meguro just stared.
“Seriously, we should go now,” Abe said with a smile as he reached out his hand.
Meguro left his coffee.
Sakuma Daisuke smiled as he finished his routine. It had been a while since he'd auditioned for a ballet show, mostly focusing on his studies and the dance troupe he had with his friends.
“That was great, Sakkun!” his other friend (not (currently) in the dance troupe) Mukai Koji said from the side, camera in hand.
“Yeah?” Sakuma asked. “Did you get the photos you wanted, too?”
“Come take a break,” Mukai said as he packed away his lens.
Sakuma sat by his bag as he downed some water. He was confident in the routine but had a few more things he wanted to fix. While relaxing, he checked his phone. A message from Abe greeted him:
Don't leave, I'm swinging by with that student I was telling you about!
Sakuma smiled and typed in response:
Roger that❗️❗️❗️😀
“Abe-chan is swinging by,” Sakuma said to Koji, who was approaching him, camera still in hand.
Koji settled down behind Sakuma and held the camera out in front of his face. “Oh good,” Koji said, “Maybe I can finally get his profile picture.”
Sakuma laughed. Koji handled their photography and website for them but lately Abe had been busy. Sometimes Koji did join in and learn the choreography but he also enjoyed being off to the side.
“Alright, so, these are the shots from today,” Koji said as he began to flip through them to show Sakuma. They had only gotten through a few of them when the studio door opened.
When Sakuma saw who was with Abe, his eyes widened. It was the guy from last night.
Meguro stepped into the studio behind Abe. Abe had spoken highly of this Sakuma fellow during the walk over, so he was sufficiently shocked when the pink-haired man from the previous night was in his line of sight being… embraced? Was he being embraced? From behind by another man. This was, of course, short-lived as Meguro watched the recognition flash across Sakuma's face before Sakuma shot up like a rocket, knocking the other man over.
“You!” Sakuma yelled before running over to Meguro. “You didn't text me.”
Meguro stared in shock for a moment before laughing a bit. Sakuma stared him down, waiting for an explanation. “The number didn't survive the night, sorry.” Meguro flashed him an apologetic smile before showing him his hand with the faded number, only the last two digits remained and they were barely visible.
“You should be more careful with important information,” Sakuma said, far more seriously than Meguro expected.
“I'll do better next time,” Meguro said with a smile, “but why don't we start over. Meguro Ren, first year in the media information program. Please call me Meguro.” Meguro gave a small bow after his introduction.
“Nice to meet you, Meguro-kun. Sakuma Daisuke, fourth year. Please call me Sakuma,” Sakuma replied.
“Nice to meet you, Sakuma-san,” Meguro said with a smile. “Can I trouble you for your phone number again?” Meguro said, his phone quickly in hand.
“That's rather forward, Meguro-kun,” Sakuma said as he grabbed the phone from him, promptly putting his number in. “Don't lose it this time.”
“I'll do my best not to!” Meguro exclaimed as he texted Sakuma's phone once receiving it back.
“Well, since you guys seem familiar, Meguro-kun, I have one more person for you to meet!” Abe said with a hand on Meguro's shoulder. “This is Mukai Koji, he helps out with the dance troupe.”
“Nice to meet you!” Mukai said with a smile.
Sakuma sidled up to Mukai and swung his arm over his shoulder. “He takes photos for us and updates our website. He's great at taking photos.”
“Thanks, Sakkun. Which, on the subject of that…” Mukai said as he eyed Abe, “Abe-chan, we need to update your profile picture.”
“Me?” Abe said, pointing to himself, “but I'm not ready.”
Mukai sighed and reached out to grab Abe's hand. “No getting out of it today. I'll fix you up if I have to,” Mukai said as he dragged Abe away and fussed over his hair.
“So, he seems nice,” Meguro said with a chuckle.
“Koji's very nice,” Sakuma said as he glanced at Meguro.
They both stood and watched Mukai fuss over Abe for a moment, even going as far as shoving eyeliner (or at least Meguro thought that is what it was) into his hand.
“I'm sorry about last night, by the way,” Sakuma said.
“For what?” Meguro asked.
“For hanging off you,” Sakuma shrugged, “Abe-chan says I'm too friendly when I drink sometimes.”
“Oh, it's fine,” Meguro said, staring down at Sakuma who was watching the events unfold. “I didn't mind.”
Sakuma slowly looked up at Meguro before quickly looking away. “Well, I'm glad we ran into each other again today,” he said awkwardly.
“Yeah, it's good. I was going to have to ask you to hunt down yourself.”
Sakuma let out a laugh at that. “Well, feel free to pop by here whenever you'd like,“ Sakuma said, “though you should probably make sure one of us is here first. Other people use the space, too.”
“I'll make sure I do,” Meguro nodded. He could do that, and if it meant hanging out with his senior, even better. “You know, I remember you being taller last night.”
Sakuma sputtered and looked at Meguro, “In my defence you were sitting when I was around you.”
“Ahh, I suppose I was, wasn't I?”
After the day Abe introduced Meguro to him properly, Sakuma noticed he'd stop by every so often to watch him practice and potentially ask him some things about his course work. It wasn't that Sakuma minded, he enjoyed talking to the guy, though a few times he noticed Meguro seemed a little lonely, something he had been expressing as much to his friend, Fukazawa Tatsuya, over dinner.
“I mean, you could always set him up on a date or something,” Fukazawa suggested before shoving more ramen into his mouth.
“Fukka, I don't even know what his type is,” Sakuma said as he sipped on his drink.
“Well,” Fukazawa said, “do some investigation. You play enough otome games, I'm sure you can figure it out.”
“You mean build a stat sheet for him and go from there?” Sakuma asked.
“Sure, if you think that'll work.”
Sakuma slapped his hand on the table, gaining a few glares from those around him. “I could do that! Fukka, you're a genius.”
Fukazawa smiled as he ate more ramen. “I know,” he said with his mouth full.
“Don't get a big head about it, though. You're no Abe-chan.”
If looks could kill, perhaps Fukazawa's deadpan face, ramen streaming from his mouth back into the bowl would.
The next time Sakuma saw Meguro, which was the next day while Sakuma practiced his routine at the studio, Sakuma began his stats sheet. Mentally.
“Alright, Sakuma!” he thought to himself, “First stat, height… Well, he is very tall. Handsome, too… No, no! You're working on setting him up. He hasn't written anything in a hot minute so, maybe a bit slow? I guess the more important question is…”
It was as that thought began when Meguro looked up at him and locked eyes, and in the midst of his pirouette his mouth turned on and Sakuma asked, “Do you like guys?” Total mental betrayal.
“Huh?” Meguro asked with a startled blink.
Sakuma stopped his routine and stared back at Meguro, mouth repeatedly flying agape. “I mea–” Sakuma tried to begin before Meguro calmly said, “I do.”
This caused the hamster that made Sakuma's brain go to fly off the wheel in shock. After several moments and squeaks of apologies it climbed back on and started running again.
“You do?” Sakuma said, eyes wide.
Meguro stared back, though far more level, almost as if he was tired by the reaction (which he was). He then said, “Is that a problem?”
“Not at all!” Sakuma said enthusiastically as he sat down next to Meguro. He suddenly realized he might know a guy, and this guy would definitely help fill in some missing points in his stats sheet.
Unfortunately, when he looked back at Meguro he saw a very concerned face.
“What, did I say something?” Sakuma asked.
Meguro was taken aback when Sakuma suddenly asked him if he was into guys, and maybe panicking a little, though he hoped his face didn't show that much.
Meguro didn't even hear Sakuma begin to stammer when he replied, “I do.”
Unfortunately, Sakuma's reaction made his heart sink. The man was flailing in front of him, clearly in shock and when he simply asked, “You do?” Meguro prepared for the worst.
“Is that a problem?” He asked.
Sakuma's approach was quick and the next thing he knew the man had, one, told him it was okay, and two, sat beside him. The weird faces Meguro saw next weren't quite so reassuring and as he quickly learnt, that much was evident to Sakuma.
“What, did I say something?” Sakuma asked.
Meguro sighed and looked up at the ceiling. “It's not that; it's just this came out of nowhere,” he said, “though I appreciate the support.”
Meguro hoped he looked calm again on the outside because his heart was going a mile a minute. Part from the proximity to Sakuma and part because he didn't know where this was going.
“Well,” Sakuma began and Meguro felt the heart strings pull, “I was wondering if you'd like to go on a date-”
Yes.
“with my friend.”
No.
Meguro took a deep breath and collected himself. It wasn't a date with Sakuma like he had hoped but he felt that maybe, in some strange way, it would gain him brownie points with the pink-haired fellow.
“Sure, why not?” Meguro said, hoping the pain wasn't evident on his face.
“Awesome!” Sakuma exclaimed as he stood up to ready himself to keep practicing. “I'll text you the date and address later!”
“Sounds good,” Meguro mumbled as he turned his attention back to the text in front of him. Damn the mandatory math elective.
It was the next Saturday when Meguro found himself suddenly on a blind date Sakuma had set up for him. It was a date that was supposed to start at a local café but Meguro was given neither a name nor a photo of his prospective date, instead told to look out for a man in a blue and black scarf. In fairness, Sakuma did send him a photo of the scarf.
When Meguro spotted the scarf, he still couldn't see his prospective date's face. Not until he was directly in front did he realize.
“For fuck's sake,” Meguro mumbled as he plopped into the chair opposite the man.
The man looked up, a bit startled. “Meguro-kun?” he asked, a puzzled expression on his face. “I'm waiting for someone, but it's nice to see you.”
Meguro only leaned on the table, his face in his hands as he mumbled, “Yeah you are, me.”
The man squinted his eyes and let out a small “eh?”
Meguro sighed and looked at the man with eye contact. “Nabe, you're waiting for me.”
“EEEeeeHhhhhh!?” the man, Watanabe Shota, Meguro's longtime friend and the one who introduced him to Abe, exclaimed.
Patrons of the café turned and glanced at Watanabe for a moment while Meguro shushed him.
“Look, Sakuma might not have realized,” Meguro said.
“Realized what? That we're friends?”
“Yeah,” Meguro said.
“He's an idiot,” Watanabe said with a head shake.
“Well, maybe I should tex–” Meguro began as he reached for his phone only to find Watanabe stopping his hand.
“No,” he said with a grin, “I have a better idea.”
Meguro paused, eyebrow raised in question.
“He's expecting us to go on a date, right?” Watanabe began, “Which, I knew he'd fuck this up!
“Anyway, we're going to do the date AND we will send him lovey-dovey,” Watanabe's face curled in disgust at those words, “photos from our date.”
“Won't he think we're dating?” Meguro asked, mildly confused.
“That's why we tell him in person. Tomorrow,” Watanabe clarified.
“Tomorrow?” Meme asked.
“Yeah, we have a group dance practice tomorrow. Hikaru's teaching us new choreography for a competition,” Watanabe said.
“Sakuma-kun sure is busy, huh?” Meguro mumbled only to receive narrowed eyes from Watanabe.
“Anyway,” Watanabe drawled, “I guess we should do date-like things? Want a coffee?”
“Sure?”
Watanabe nodded and went to join the line for coffee. Meguro supposed it had been a while since they had hung out. The fact this was the situation, though, was a little ridiculous. He thought Sakuma knew how he knew Abe, but maybe that hadn't been clear. Now he just had to make sure Watanabe didn't catch on to where his heart truly belonged. His friend would never let it go if he knew he fancied Sakuma, who was clearly emotionally unavailable given his sudden decision to set Meguro up. He supposed he'd have to woo the man slowly.
Meguro was lost in thought thinking of all the ways he should go about this when Watanabe arrived back at the table with his coffee. “Remind me to get Koji to make you coffee one of these days,” he said.
“Koji makes coffee?” Meguro asked. The guy hadn't given a hint of anything outside photography and talking Thai on the phone. A lot.
“Oh yeah, he's got a whole set-up at home. He makes good stuff.”
Meguro took a sip of his coffee, exactly how he likes it. To be frank, they probably hung out too much prior to Meguro's enrollment in university.
“So, what do you want to do now?” Watanabe asked before taking a massive sip of his own coffee.
“I don't know, we could go fishing?” Watanabe scrunched his nose at that suggestion. “See a movie?”
“That new comedy? About the brothers?” Watanabe asked.
“Sure.”
The two of them finished off their coffee before setting off to the nearby theatre to watch the movie.
Prior to entering the theatre, Watanabe stopped Meguro. “We should update Sakuma on how the date is going,” he said.
“What do you suggest?” Meguro asked.
Watanabe quickly presented his phone and looked Meguro dead in the eyes. “Kiss me,” he said.
Meguro was too stunned to speak.
“Fine,” Watanabe said as he lined up his camera and began to lean in.
Before Watanabe could complete it, a lightbulb went off in his head and he mumbled, “oh, for a photo to send to Sakuma-kun.”
Watanabe gave him a stink eye and just sighed before huffing a “shut up.” Thankfully, Meguro was on board and leaned down to complete it and Watanabe snapped the photo.
Watanabe turned away once it was done, focusing on texting Sakuma the photo while Meguro went and bought the movie tickets and snacks.
“Did he get back to you?” Meguro asked as he arrived while juggling two drinks and a bag of popcorn.
“Not yet. I'll check after the movie,” Watanabe said as he grabbed his drink and the tickets from Meguro and started towards the ticket taker, ready to head to screen nine.
Once they were out, Meguro was ready to set off for home before Watanabe stopped him.
“So, it was good to hang out again but I should probably go,” he said.
“I mean, you could just stay over at my place since we're going to the practice room tomorrow,” Watanabe shrugged.
He had a point, Meguro realized. Watanabe's place was closer and going together in the morning might make this mission even more fun.
“Sure, I'll just borrow a shirt from you.”
Watanabe nodded and started to head off.
“Oh! By the way,” Meguro began to ask, “did Sakuma-kun respond?”
Watanabe levelled him with an unamused stare before grumbling, “that guy is an idiot.”
Sakuma was relaxing in the bath when his phone went off. As he reached over to grab it, he kept one eye on the anime he was watching.
When he saw the photo Watanabe had sent him, though, he almost dropped his phone in the water. Never in his life did he expect to receive a photo of Watanabe and Meguro kissing, nor did he expect his initial reaction, a scowl.
I should be happy for him, he thought, why have you betrayed me, face?
He quickly responded with a selfie of himself giving a smile and a thumbs up captioned “Get it.” What he didn't realize is that Watanabe read him like a book from the photo; a book Sakuma hadn't even opened.
Sighing, he set his phone aside and told himself he was far too busy for his heart to be wanting things. Far too busy.
The next morning, Meguro and Watanabe showed up together to everyone's surprise, though the reactions varied to Meguro's amusement. Perhaps listening to Watanabe was a good idea.
The first to see them walk in was Mukai, who was off to the side prepping his camera, though a video camera for the practice.
“Huh? Meme, why are you here and with Shoppi?” Koji asked.
“What? Meguro-kun is here?” Abe asked from across the room.
“Hi,” Meguro said with a small shy wave. He noticed Watanabe glancing at him and so he didn't elaborate.
“I brought him along because he spent the night at my place and he was curious about the troupe,” Watanabe explained, “plus last night we realized we're in love. Thanks, Sakuma for setting us up last night.”
“Huh!?” Iwamoto and Fukazawa exclaimed at the same time while Miyadate narrowed his eyes and smiled. Abe and Mukai merely stared at the shocked expression Sakuma was giving, both of them confused.
Watanabe surveyed the reactions, most of which were confused aside from Miyadate who just gave him a look that said “I know you're lying but I'll see where this goes.” To that, Watanabe could only nod.
“Bu- bu- but you went on your first date last night,” Sakuma stammered.
“Yeah, and?” Watanabe said with a scoff.
“That's so soon!” Sakuma exclaimed. The rest of the room were simply looking between the two men and Sakuma, too stunned by the sudden news.
“We've known each other for a few years,” Meguro said as he put his hand on Watanabe's shoulder. Watanabe reached across and placed his hand on top. “To be honest, we never would have made this leap if you hadn't intervened.”
To be even further honest, Meguro couldn't believe how easily Watanabe had read the situation the night before when they'd made this plan. It was almost scary.
“I jus–” Sakuma began. He looked both surprised and horrified, an interesting reaction Meguro noted but before he could continue, he was interrupted by Watanabe.
“Just kidding!” Watanabe barked with a laugh which caused all eyes to swivel to them.
“Ehh? Ehhhh!?” Sakuma exclaimed.
Miyadate nodded and moved to help Mukai with the set-up while Fukazawa and Iwamoto mumbled amongst themselves, seemingly okay with the turn of events. Abe and Mukai merely exchanged questioning glances before looking back at Sakuma.
“So all of that was a lie?” Sakuma asked, still shocked.
Watanabe smiled at him with pure mirth. “Well, some of it was true,” he said.
“We have known each other for a few years. Nabe's the one that introduced me to Abe-san,” Meguro said.
“Whaaa!?” Sakuma exclaimed as he leaned back in surprise.
“I'm pretty sure we told you…” Watanabe began before realization hit and he snidely remarked, “Oh, wait, you were distracted with your gacha game.”
Sakuma looked away, mildly ashamed. Before he could respond, Meguro noticed Fukazawa hit Iwamoto's arm, causing him to put his hands up.
“Alright,” Iwamoto began, “we're burning time so we should start practice. We have a competition next week.”
While Iwamoto was speaking, Mukai approached Meguro's side to grab his hand. “You can come help me with recording,” he said as he dragged Meguro off to the side.
“Is it normally like this?” Meguro asked Mukai quietly.
Mukai shrugged. “They'll be fine, Sakuma took a few shots but they'll be fine.”
Meguro nodded and watched as Watanabe approached Sakuma and whispered something, causing the pink-haired gentleman to laugh.
“Like I said, they'll be fine and if they aren't, well,” Mukai looked at Fukazawa, “we have ways to fix that.”
Meguro nodded and settled in beside Mukai, ready to watch. They hadn't started yet as Iwamoto was making them go through a stretching routine and so Mukai kept talking.
“So, how did you and Shoppi wind up on a date after all?” Mukai asked.
Meguro shrugged. “Sakuma-kun decided I needed to go on a blind date, which was weird, but hey. If it makes him happy.”
“Sakkun's got you that bad, huh?” Mukai asked with a grin.
“Shut up,” Meguro said as he tried to hold back a blush as he glanced at Sakuma, the man clearly happy to be with his troupe. Was he that obvious? He really hoped he wasn't that obvious to Mukai of all people.
“Don't worry, your secret is safe with me,” Mukai said as he locked his lips and threw away the key.
“Thanks.”
Sakuma and Fukazawa went out for dinner again the next day with Sakuma treating Fukazawa to pizza rather than ramen.
“So, operation set up Meme didn't work out,” Sakuma said as he stared intensely at a slice of pizza.
“But did you learn anything new?” Fukazawa asked before biting into his slice.
“Just to not set him up with friends like Shota,” Sakuma said with a sigh.
“You know, you could just go out with him,” Fukazawa said with his mouth full, which he had covered with his small hands.
“No!” Sakuma exclaimed, “There has to be someone out there…”
“What about asking Koji about his Kansai friends?” Fukazawa said.
“Oh, that's a great idea!” Sakuma tore into his pizza before picking up his phone to (1) secure a date candidate from Mukai's friends and (2) arrange a time for the date.
It didn't take long for Mukai to get back to Sakuma, suggesting his young, tall friend Michieda who had just moved to the area for university. Sakuma then blanched from the stream of warnings Mukai also sent about how if something happened to Michieda then Sakuma would pay.
“Something happen?” Fukazawa asked between bites.
Sakuma glanced up at Fukazawa. “Nope, nothing,” he said, only to receive a skeptical face in response. “Koji found someone free already so all I have to do is set it up.”
“Ahhh,” Fukazawa said, “oh, by the way, Raul's swinging by next week. Abe-chan told me today. We should make sure Meme is there to introduce them.”
“That's a good idea!” Sakuma exclaimed, “Maybe Raul can distract him.”
“Idiot,” Fukazawa mumbled.
“Eh? What was that?” Sakuma asked.
“Nothing, I was just saying it was a great idea,” Fukazawa said, taking another bite of pizza.
Meguro wasn't surprised when he quickly received another invite to a blind date. He really wasn't sure what Sakuma's endgame was but it couldn't hurt? He'd at least make another friend, though with a group like that dance group, he wasn't sure he needed more.
This time the date was at a small takoyaki restaurant not too far from the university. Something he greatly appreciated. When he arrived, he quickly found his date had yet to arrive and that the only people there were a man reading a newspaper and his friend who was texting away on his phone in the back corner, newspaper sitting beside him. He couldn't quite see the man behind the paper's face, though for some reason he thought the hands were familiar. He chose to think nothing of it and sat away from them so he could still watch the entrance.
This time Sakuma had actually been helpful and sent a photo in advance to Meguro. Because of this, when his date, Michieda, arrived a few minutes later in a mild frenzy he immediately recognized him and stood to wave him over and greet him.
He ignored the newspaper he could hear being unfolded behind him upon his date's arrival.
“Hi,” Meguro said with a smile and a small bow, “I'm Meguro Ren, but you can call me Meme if you'd like.”
Michieda smiled back and greeted him as well, “I'm Michieda Shunsuke, but you can call me Micchi if you'd like.”
“Nice to meet you!” Meguro said as he began to sit down, also noting the fact Michieda was only slightly shorter than himself and possibly younger.
“Likewise,” Michieda began, though he shot a glance at the other occupied table as he sat down. He continued, “Sorry about being late, I got caught up at school.”
“It's fine, I had just gotten here myself,” Meguro said with a smile. “University?”
“Ahh yeah, my first year.”
“Same, I hope it's going well for you.”
“It is. I just moved from Osaka at the start of the year and am staying with my friend while I'm here,” Michieda said with a smile.
Before they could continue with the conversation, a staff member came to take their order. Despite not even looking at the menu, Michieda ordered takoyaki with zero effort, which was mildly impressive to Meguro, who was just glad he had taken the time to see what was on the menu prior.
“You seem familiar with this place,” Meguro said as the staff went to fetch them tea.
“My friend and I come here a lot,” Michieda said with a glance to the other table.
Out of curiosity, Meguro gave the other table a glance, both men now obscured by newspapers .
“So, this friend you stay with, do I know them?” Meguro asked.
“Koji-kun? I think you know him,” Michieda said while pointedly staring at the other occupied table in the restaurant. If that wasn't enough to make Meguro realize Koji was at the table, the gutteral sound he heard was.
“Ah, that makes sense. Yeah, I know Koji.” Meguro nodded with a sly smile.
It wasn't long before the man behind the newspaper clearly gave up as he moved the paper down and let out an “Oh-ho.” It was Mukai.
Mukai set aside his paper and walked up to the couple with a smile. “Fancy seeing you two here!” he exclaimed, “I'm here with my buddy Ruuta. Good takoyaki.”
Meguro and Michieda stared at him with disbelief.
“Oi, what's with the faces?” Mukai asked, almost sounding pleased with himself.
“Were you spying on us?” Michieda said as Mukai's friend rolled up to the table.
“No,” Mukai said with a straight face.
“He was definitely spying on us,” Meguro agreed.
The staring continued, none of them letting up until Mukai's friend broke the ice.
“Oh, you must be Meguro-kun. I'm Muro Ryuta, Koji and Micchi's friend,” he said.
Meguro shifted to look at the man. “Nice to meet you,” he said, “but you should probably take Koji away.“
“Probably,” Muro said as he glanced at Mukai.
“Oi!” Mukai said, “I just wanted to make sure you let Micchi down easy.”
Michieda sighed and looked at Muro who only nodded at him before he dragged Mukai outside to much protest.
“Letting you down easy, huh?” Meguro said with an awkward chuckle.
“Yeah,” Michieda said, “I already know you like someone.”
Meguro was about to respond when he glanced at the door to see Mukai peeking around to the window, only to be jerked back and away.
“Koji told you?” Meguro eventually said.
“He did.”
Meguro nodded, a bit annoyed with himself that he had gone along with this.
“If it helps, I want to help you get the guy?” Michieda said with a shrug.
“You know what, I'll take the help,” Meguro said, sticking his hand out to close the deal with a shake.
The next morning saw Meguro joining the dance group for their morning practice, though he was immediately put to work by Mukai. Put to work setting up lights and equipment for video recording, which honestly he didn't mind since he was working closely with Sakuma. Not to mention this being on the advice of Michieda, who had told him the night prior that Mukai would be filming and that Sakuma usually helped with the lights.
“Senpai,” Meguro said, flashing him a warm smile as he adjusted one of the soft box lights, “is this good for the position?”
Sakuma turned towards Meguro, the cable he was working with still in his hands. He sighed and walked up to the light, giving it a slight adjustment while brushing slightly against Meguro. “You were close,” he said, “though I guess I can forgive you on your first day.”
Meguro screamed internally at the contact with Sakuma while trying his best to keep a calm face. He wrestled out a small thank you before following to assist with stringing the power cords.
“So, how was your date last night?” Sakuma asked as he passed Meguro a cord to unwind.
Meguro paused a bit. The date had gone well enough; he and Michieda were friends after all that, even though the romantic chemistry was obviously lacking. “It was fine, though we decided to be friends rather than go on another date,” he said.
Sakuma hummed in response before asking, “any reason why?”
This was a question Meguro was expecting and had been strangely coached on by Michieda the night before. “We just didn't click in that way, plus he was too young and too tall for me,” he replied as he moved to plug in the light he had just set-up. Why Michieda told him to specifically say the last bit he had no idea as he wouldn't explain why, even when asked. Of course, moving to plug the light in caused Meguro to miss a twitch from Sakuma.
“S-so, what do you mean by too tall?” Sakuma stuttered, his focus gone from the power cords and squarely on Meguro.
Meguro looked up and gave him a smile. “I guess I prefer someone older than me and much shorter.”
Fukazawa and Abe both walked in as Meguro said this to Sakuma. They gave each other a glance before Fukazawa spoke up. “I might know someone that fits those parameters,” he said.
Meguro glanced at the man, eyes cautious. He knew Fukazawa was in on Sakuma's plans. Abe had told him as much, but he wasn't sure of the exact capacity. The shit-eating grin he saw reassured him a tiny bit, though somehow he believed Sakuma fell for it.
“Oh? Who are you thinking of?” Sakuma asked.
“Sato Shori-kun,” Fukazawa said with a grin, Abe looking amused beside him.
“Sato-kun,” Iwamoto who had just shown up began, “Isn't that Kenty–”
Before he could finish, Fukazawa cut him off. “Kenty's friend, yes yes. I'm sure he'd be more than delighted to go out with someone like Meme.”
Iwamoto shot Fukazawa a puzzled look, though he could not finish as the rest of the crew piled in at that point, including a tall teenager who was far taller than the last time Meguro saw him.
“We'll talk about this later, Fukka,” Sakuma said before he walked up to the teenager with a big smile and said, “Meme, I'd like you to meet Raul.”
Before Meguro could respond, Watanabe cut in. “He already knows him!” he exclaimed.
“Guh?” Sakuma replied.
Meguro gave Sakuma a small smile and shrugged. “Our siblings are friends.”
Sakuma looked around at the others with a shocked face. “Why didn't you tell me?” he asked.
“We did,” Iwamoto said while Miyadate and Watanabe nodded off to the side.
“But Fukka said we should introduce Meme and Raul!” Sakuma exclaimed.
Fukazawa shrugged, “I guess I forgot?”
“Now now,” Mukai said as he walked up to pat Sakuma on the back, “let's let him off easy, he's been busy preparing for the ballet and other stuff like the competition last week.” They had won third at the competition.
“Yeah, Sakuma's been busy,” Abe agreed while Fukazawa nodded sagely.
“When is the ballet again, anyway?” Meguro asked.
“Next week,“ Sakuma said with a smile, “I expect you all to be there!” Mukai nodded beside him.
“Don't worry, we will be,” Iwamoto said, “Now, we should probably get started.”
A chorus of “okay” rang through the room, and so Meguro and Mukai moved off to the side, prepared to get a good recording of the dance practice. Today, Meguro was in charge of the music.
“Abe-chan and Fukka-san are up to something,” Koji remarked to him quietly as everyone prepared to take their places, Raul to Meguro's surprise was front and centre.
“Do you think?” Meguro asked as he scanned the room. He spotted Abe putting away his phone at the exact moment his own phone chimed.
Meet Fukka and I after practice at the usual place, it read.
“Never mind, they're definitely up to something,” Meguro grumbled as he showed Mukai his phone.
“Definitely.“
Meguro arrived at the family restaurant he and Abe often had brunch faster than he thought he would. Mukai had insisted he leave quickly and that he'd enlist others to help him tear down. He'd arrived sooner than Abe and Fukazawa had, which was fine. He'd just have to grab a table for them.
The two of them arrived five minutes later.
“Oh good, I was worried when you said we'd go where you two often hang out that it would be at a library,” Fukazawa said as he took his seat across from Meguro, Abe sitting beside him, “I'm starving.”
“I mean, we used to go to a café, but then we just started meeting for brunch. They have really good pancakes,” Abe explained.
“Hmmm,” Fukazawa said as he perused the menu, trying to decide what he'd like.
“So, why did you call me here?” Meguro asked.
Fukazawa quickly side-eyed him from the menu in front of his face before he continued perusing. “Food first,” he said.
Abe laughed at him and looked at the menu himself, not that he ever changed his order as far as Meguro was aware. The three of them were quiet after that until the wait staff took their order.
“Okay, now that food is coming we will explain,” Abe said while glancing at Fukazawa.
“We need you to ask Sakuma out,” Fukazawa stated plainly.
“Why?” Meguro asked. He knew he should put a stop to the dates but it was also highly entertaining to him.
Fukazawa shot him a tired, unamused look which caused Abe to explain instead.
“Fukka's been in on it the whole time but he's tired of dealing with Sakuma's mood when he sends you on the dates.”
“He's lying to himself is what he's doing,” Fukazawa added.
“That's why we suggested Shori to be your next date,” Abe continued, “he’s willing to set-up a second fake date but we'll need the first date to work out the details.”
“You gotta ask Sakuma out, man,” Fukazawa said.
“So, you want me to go on a date with this Shori fellow just to trick Sakuma-kun?” Meguro asked.
“Correct, because the second date will be the ballet,” Abe confirmed.
“You want me to ask him out at the ballet? While I am there with this Shori-san?”
“Please,” Fukazawa said.
“I think I can manage?” Meguro said.
“Thank you!” Fukazawa exclaimed, relief evident on his face before he was hit with a realization. “Were you just going to wait him out?”
Meguro merely shrugged.
Abe and Fukazawa’s plan had clearly gone over well with Sakuma, Meguro assumed, when he found himself waiting at the mall for Sato Shori three days later. The worst part was, Meguro felt like he was being watched even though his date hadn’t arrived yet.
He was.
Sakuma was absolutely focused on figuring out why the dates he was setting up for Meguro weren’t working. To the point he had disguised himself and was currently staring at Meguro behind large sunglasses as he tried to look like he was looking through the clothing rack of a nearby store to where Meguro was waiting.
Sato was slightly late, Sakuma noted, though he wasn’t too concerned. Fukazawa and Abe had assured him he would show up and if anyone could be trusted, it was those two. They were helping him after all, especially Fukazawa who had been part of this plot from the beginning.
When Sato walked up to Meguro, apologizing, Sakuma decided to get closer so that he could listen in, though not too close so that he wouldn’t get caught.
“Sorry about being late,” Sato said to Meguro with a small bow, “I was caught up at the studio.”
“It’s okay,” Meguro said with a smile that, to Sakuma, could light up a room, “I haven’t been waiting long.”
Sakuma snorted at this, the man had been waiting for 20 minutes which to Sakuma was far too long. He would have absolutely left by then.
Sato gave a slight chuckle. “I’m guessing Abe-chan told you I’d be late?”
Sakuma froze a little. Abe-chan? This guy was that close to Abe? Sakuma had no idea.
“He did,” Meguro said, “So, shopping?”
“If you wouldn’t mind, we can look around a bit,” Sato said with a smile. He was cute, Sakuma had to admit. Perhaps too cute if the feeling bubbling up in his throat had its way.
“Sure, let me just let them know you got here,” Meguro said. Sakuma watched him quickly text before shoving his phone in his pocket. “So, which store first?”
“I wouldn’t mind the music shop,” Sato replied.
“Music shop it is,” Meguro said as they began to walk away.
Sakuma quickly joined the crowd, far enough away that he couldn’t hear their conversation but close enough not to lose sight of them. As he watched them enter the music store, Sato excitedly pointed things out to Meguro while, at the same time, Sakuma’s phone rang. A phone call. A phone call? From Watanabe it turned out.
“Hello,” Sakuma said as he answered the phone.
“Hi, Sakuma, where are you?” Watanabe asked on the other end.
“I’m at the mall, why?”
Sakuma could hear Watanabe sigh with relief? Was it relief? Sakuma wasn’t quite sure, but he was sufficiently distracted to the point he didn’t see Sato and Meguro slip out of the music store as they glanced at him.
“He’s really trying to set you up, huh?” Sato asked as the two of them made their way to the food court on the other side of the mall.
Meguro sighed. “Yeah, it would be better if he just asked me out but Fukka-san said he probably came up with this idea to distract himself from his feelings.”
Sato only shook his head with a smile. “Sounds like some people I know,” he said, “so, shall we get a drink and then head out?”
“Is Nakajima-san okay with us coming over?” Meguro asked.
“Oh yes, he's actually preparing some food for us,” Sato said, though he was quickly distracted by another mall patron. “Oh, Hara-san!”
Meguro looked around to see if it was the same Hara he knew, surprised to find it was and also surprised to see Sato already waving and walking over to the man.
“Oh, hey,” Hara said when he saw them.
“Hi Hara-san,” Sato said with a smile, “Long time no see.”
“It has been a long time, for us at least. I saw Meguro-kun last week,” Hara said.
“And you’ll see me again this week,” Meguro laughed.
“Of course, of course,” Hara said, “Though I will say I didn’t expect to see you two together. I don’t think I’ve seen you in the same room since high school.”
“High school?” Meguro was confused, as far as he was aware he’d never met Sato before, though was he wrong? He knew he and Hara had gone to the same high school, though Hara was a year before, but Sato?
“Yeah, we went to the same high school. Don’t tell me you forgot,” Hara said with a chuckle.
“No, I don’t remember,” Meguro said.
“We were never in the same class,” Sato added, “plus you were busy in the soccer club while I was doing track and field.”
“Oh that makes sense,” Hara said.
“Track a– You’re that Sato-san?” Meguro asked, surprise written all over his face.
“There it is,” Hara said with a smile.
“That Sato? I can’t believe this is how you remember me,” Sato said with a smirk.
Meguro was embarrassed. That time of his life was a blur, though a new realization hit him rather quickly.
“Wait, Nakajima-san is Nakajima Kento, isn’t he?” he asked.
Sato only grinned at him. “There’s the soccer player in you,” he said.
Hara only shook his head. “Well, you two kids have fun,” he said as he bid them farewell. He was on a mission he stated, though he never elaborated.
As the two of them watched him walk away, Sato glanced at Meguro with a grin. “I can’t believe you forgot me but you remember Kenty,” he teased.
“The soccer captain previous to our year? Of course I remember him, he was a legend in the club,” Meguro said.
“Fine, fine,” Sato said, “shall we get a drink and then leave so you can meet your hero?”
“Well, we should probably go before Sakuma-san catches up,” Meguro said as he began walking towards the food court.
The two of them quickly grabbed a drink before hopping into Meguro’s car. As they headed to Sato’s home they chatted about high school, figuring out what they both remembered, though Meguro was amused to learn that Fukazawa was Sato’s middle school senpai. When they reached the house, which Abe and Fukazawa had already arrived at based on Abe’s car already sitting in the car park, it was time to coordinate what they would do at the ballet, a plan that also involved Nakajima showing up with the needed props.
“So, how was your date with Shori-kun?” Sakuma asked the following day they met up at the studio after practice, most of the group having trickled out except for Fukazawa, Abe, Raul, and the two of them. It was especially strange given the fact Fukazawa was usually the first to take off, though he was discussing something with Abe and Raul; Sakuma wasn’t quite sure what it was.
“It was good, we’re going out again this weekend,” Meguro said with a smile.
“Oh? So not too short?” Sakuma asked.
“Short?” Meguro asked, not quite sure what Sakuma was getting at or even why that was the point he decided to focus on.
“Well, you said Micchi was too tall and Shori-kun is shorter than I am,” Sakuma stated, though perhaps a little too loud.
Meguro stared at him but before he could speak Fukazawa yelled from across the room, “Absolutely not! Shori’s taller than you.”
Sakuma looked shocked. “I’m certain he’s shorter than me,” he said.
“He’s definitely taller than you,” Abe added.
Meguro only sighed and texted Sato asking him as such. The speed he got a reply was rather shocking since he was used to a lot of people taking their time.
I’m 171 cm tall, why Shori texted.
Sakuma-kun thinks he’s taller
“How tall are you, Sakuma?” Meguro asked.
“I’m 168 cm, why?”
“Oh,” Meguro said as he flipped his phone around to face Sakuma.
Sakuma took a moment to read it, also spotting the rest of Meguro’s text conversation. A conversation formulated the night of their date in case Sakuma had looked at their text conversation by pure chance, the actual plans relegated to a conversation with Nakajima. It had been Fukazawa and Nakajima’s idea to have a conversation about date plans be the last conversation they had, though Meguro was fascinated by the foresight those two had.
“Oh… I guess you’re right, huh,” Sakuma said, though his face had lost its energy, Meguro could only assume that was from the rest of the visible text conversation.
“Of course we’re right!” Fukazawa exclaimed to the laughter of Abe and Raul. “This guy,” he added with a scoff.
The night of the ballet, Meguro was nervous. Far more nervous than he had any right to be. It was the night of the plan, which was a dumb plan if they asked him but Fukazawa insisted he wouldn’t see it coming at all to the assurance of Nakajima. The Nakajima that was following Sato from a safe distance with Iwamoto, Fukazawa, and Abe, with a bouquet in his hands ready for Meguro after the performance. The only reason Meguro didn’t have it was in case Sakuma, by some chance, spotted Meguro and Sato in the crowd during the performance as they were pretty close to the stage, the other four further back.
The rest of the gang had come to the performance prior.
The ballet, as it turned out, was lovely. While Meguro had watched Sakuma’s practice many times in the studio, he wasn’t prepared at all to feel like he’d been hit by love at first sight. Sakuma was stunning on stage, his movements precise and effortless in appearance, a far cry from the man he’d seen miss catching many things thrown to him. It was as if Sakuma was a completely different person. He was breathtaking and Meguro had forgotten to breathe.
When the performance was over, Meguro was still in a daze. The group had planned to meet up with Sakuma after the performance, which was perfect for the plan. The damn plan that Meguro wasn’t even sure he could conduct in his mush-filled state. Sato had promptly dragged Meguro out of the hall when he didn’t seem to be moving, and he knew the others had been talking to him, but honestly. He had no idea what they’d been saying, only snapping to attention when Nakajima shoved the bouquet in his hands and moved away.
He’s glad that had brought his attention, though, as he saw Sakuma coming up to them with a wave of his hand. A freshly showered Sakuma he was unconsciously moving towards and didn’t actually realize it until he was in front of the man himself, possibly staring too intensely, maybe. He wasn’t sure, but Sakuma was staring back at him with wide eyes.
“Meme,” Sakuma whispered, “Hi.”
“Hi,” Meguro said, still feeling breathless and now with his heart in his throat.
“Are those for me?” Sakuma asked, pointing at the bouquet in Meguro’s hands.
“Uh,” Meguro said as he glanced down at them, “yeah, uh, here.” He moved them towards Sakuma, for him to grab.
“Thank you,” Sakuma said, wrapping a hand around the end, “they’re lovely.”
In Meguro’s panic, he didn’t let go of them, which clearly confused Sakuma. It was written all over his face.
“Um, Meme?” Sakuma asked as he gave the bouquet a little tug. Meguro didn’t let go.
“Sakuma, I–” Meguro began.
“Yes?” The look Sakuma gave Meguro brought him back to the here and now. It was confusion, but there was something else and Meguro wasn’t sure what it was but it hit him in his heart, piercing it like an arrow.
“Ah fuck,” Meguro mumbled, letting go of the bouquet immediately, which shocked Sakuma. His hold was not as good as he had thought. It was quickly forgotten by the two of them, though, as Meguro cupped Sakuma’s face and leaned in, kissing him.
This was far, far more forward than Sakuma expected, though he reciprocated with enthusiasm.
When they finally gasped for breath, the still leaning Meguro rested his forehead on Sakuma’s head.
“So…” Sakuma said, “I guess that was fair.”
“What was fair?” Meguro asked.
“That you kissed me this time,” Sakuma said with a slight laugh.
Meguro moved back and looked down at Sakuma. “Guess you’re right,” Meguro said.
“So, does this mean you like me? What about Shori-kun?” Sakuma asked.
“I think that’s obvious and Shori-kun is already in a relationship,” Meguro said with a fond smile.
“Oh!” Sakuma exclaimed before his brain caught up. “Wait, does this mean you were tricking me?”
Meguro shrugged.
“How mean,” Sakuma said, “though I guess you caught me. So, now what?”
Meguro gave him a soft glance.
“Meme? What, is there something on my face?” Sakuma asked.
“No, you just talk too much,” Meguro said as he leaned in for another kiss, a more passionate kiss.
When they parted for air once again, Sakuma smirked and said, “I hope you realize I have to be functional for tomorrow, we can’t go too wild.”
Meguro simply replied before leaning in for another kiss. Kisses he couldn’t get enough of it turns out, perhaps an addiction to love.
“Sakuma.”
“Yes?”
“Shut the fuck up.”
no subject
Date: 2022-09-02 02:00 pm (UTC)I AM BACK!!! this was soooo delightful and i'm so happy that this was the prompt you chose. sakuma is always perfect for wacky shenanigans (sasuga the otome game expert!!!) and your meme is so funny also, completely into sakuma and increasingly desperate to get sakuma to understand 🤣 i love them so much. and the cameos of the other snow man members were also great, photo boy koji!!! sardonic fukka!!!
He hasn't written anything in a hot minute so, maybe a bit slow? YOUR INTERNAL SAKUMA MONOLOGUE IS SO GOOD, i screamed 🤣 you're the slow one, sakuma!!! DEAD AT SAKUMA SETTING HIM UP WITH HIS LONG TERM FRIEND, and also meme thinking sakuma is emotionally unavailable 😆 perfect hijinks, chef kiss. crying laughing at everyone's reaction to shoppi's sarcastic "oh yeah we're in love now," he's the best troll.
omggggg i know i said inclusion of mememicchi would be fine in my requests but i was not expecting it to pop up!! extremely delighted about it though, i love that concerned dad koji would never let anything happen on his watch 🤣 scream, love that micchi told meme to tell sakuma micchi was too tall for him 😆 get a clue, sakuma!!! LOL dead at the drive by mention of shori being short, this fic truly has everything 😌 screaming at fukka continuing to troll sakuma about his height, and ahhh the ballet date! love meme being so enraptured by how beautiful sakuma is, me too meme 😌 and ahhh yay, sealed with a kiss~~~
SORRY ABOUT HOW UNHINGED THIS COMMENT IS but i enjoyed this so much! thank you for writing it for meeee 💗🖤
no subject
Date: 2022-09-17 02:55 am (UTC)I appreciate the unhinged comment! ♥
no subject
Date: 2022-09-02 07:57 pm (UTC)First of all Meguro please treat your senpai's number with more respect!!
The rest of suno being in on it was so much fun, too. I love the little nods to canon, like Koji being protective over Micchi (and bless you for adding Muro Ryuta!) and especially the fight over Sato Shori's height xD
Meme should shut up Sakuma with kisses some more. This was a lovely read, thank you for writing!
no subject
Date: 2022-09-17 02:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-09-03 05:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-09-17 02:56 am (UTC)Memesaku sweetness
Date: 2022-09-06 01:16 pm (UTC)I love that sakkun is late to realize his feelings and meme to indulge on the blind dates just to a particular pink haired guy happy..
My heart is also bursting with happiness when they finally kiss..
Thank you for such a sweet fic <3
Re: Memesaku sweetness
Date: 2022-09-17 02:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-09-15 03:12 pm (UTC)Poor Meme too 😂 I love that he had complete clarity from day 0 but he's putting up all the shenanigans just to get Sakuma to OPEN HIS EYES LOL
All the cameos and all the intergroup relationships were also SO good! I enjoyed this a lot!!!
no subject
Date: 2022-09-17 02:57 am (UTC)