いとしいこと

Previous   TOC The soft sound of rain nearby woke Aketo. When he checked the clock, it was exactly midnight. His back ached, so he’d moved to the bed, but couldn’t be bothered to take a shower. Remembering that the window had been left open, he sat up. In the glow of the streetlight, he could see fine raindrops drifting through the air. After shutting the window, he returned to bed and slipped under the sheets beside his lover, who was sleeping naked and curled up. He pressed close against the slender back, wrapping his arms around him tightly, slipping a thigh between his legs. He liked the feeling of their bodies tangled together. His lover’s face emerged faintly in the dim light leaking through the curtain. His nose wasn’t very high, and freckles were scattered from the bridge to his cheeks, like a child’s. Light, but unmistakable. He reached out and brushed a finger gently along that face. When his thumb traced the freckles, the other gave a soft sigh and shook his head slightl...

Previous   TOC   Next Ijiruwaru ( いじわる (ijiruwaru) typically means "mean," "spiteful," or "malicious," often referring to teasing or deliberately causing someone discomfort or annoyance. It can be playful or hurtful depending on context. As a concept or tone, it carries a sense of playful torment or teasing meant to provoke a reaction , not necessarily cruelty, especially in intimate or familiar relationships. It’s a kind of annoying but affectionate behavior.) The moment he stepped out from the air-conditioned room into the hallway, a sticky, heavy air wrapped around his entire body. The hallway wasn’t air-conditioned; instead, all the windows had been thrown open. The wind that blew in carried humidity and a tepid warmth. It was already past the middle of June—right in the thick of the rainy season. This year, it had rained relentlessly, with barely any clear skies. The daily dilemma of whether or not to bring an umbrella to campus was a constant ir...

Previous   TOC   Next That night, Kakegawa had a shoot and wasn’t expected home before 11 at the earliest. Waraiishi knew that—and still headed to Kakegawa’s apartment. The lights were on. He confirmed that the infamous Hashimoto was home. Waraiishi took a deep breath and pressed the intercom. On the second ring, Hashimoto appeared. When he saw Waraiishi’s face, his expression turned wary. “Huh? Kakegawa’s not here.” Hashimoto snorted. “He went out for a night shoot. Shouldn’t you know that, being his manager? What kind of training does your agency give you?” Say one thing, and he’ll return ten. Waraiishi was overwhelmed right from the start. But he couldn’t afford to falter here. He took a step forward. “That’s odd. I thought there weren’t any shoots scheduled for tonight.” At that, Hashimoto’s shoulder gave a visible twitch. “Maybe it’s a date. Well, even if it’s just you, would you mind hearing me out for a bit?” “I…" “Mind if I come in?” It was part of the plan, sure—but h...

Previous   TOC   Next Selfishness There were rumors that the company president had fallen head over heels. But the actor in question was still a student, and not all that enthusiastic about the idea. He’d had to be persuaded into it, and the agency had ended up offering a highly unusual contract: a two-year term, and nothing more. Wariishi Tomokazu raked a hand roughly through his already-messy hair as he sat at his desk. He hadn’t done anything particularly taxing—just handed off the actors he had been managing to their new reps—yet he was exhausted. He dropped the folder of materials onto the top of the mountain of books piled on his desk. It had been seven years since he joined the agency. In that time, he’d managed a number of actors, but never one as completely unmotivated as this. There were more aspiring actors out there than one could count, and Wariishi had known more than a few with genuine talent who’d had to leave the industry in tears because they’d never been giv...