Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Missing You(1)

[PRESENT DAY]

*

Daichi stared long and hard at the cellphone on top of his desk. The feeling of having failed to do something memorable for his boyfriend on his birthday was still eating him up like a parasite.

But it had already been three days since then.

He couldn’t be blamed for not being in Japan at the time, and Kaito had already made it clear that the matter wasn’t all that important, assuring him that it'd felt like any other day.

Yet Daichi still couldn’t shake off that shitty guilty feeling.

He’d barely made it in time to wish Kaito a happy birthday, and from an outsider’s perspective it’d look as if he’d completely forgotten about the date...

He hadn’t, okay?!

Currently, the time was already nearing 12pm in England, which meant it had to be around eight or nine in the morning in Japan. The bakery was obviously already open by that time, and Kaito would be busy.

So Daichi shouldn’t– no, he couldn’t call his boyfriend even if he wanted to.

Speaking of, why was it that felt so eager to converse with Kaito on this particular night? Was it because of the never-ending guilty conscience?

No, even before that guy’s birthday, Daichi had been feeling as if the time they talked had significantly decreased with each passing day. This could obviously be blamed on both their massive workloads and the stinking time-differences.

But still, there seemed to be something else...

Thinking up to this point, Daichi was unaware of how his fingers had subconsciously opened his call log and were currently hovering above Kaito’s number.

Fortunately or unfortunately, he snapped back in time and pulled back before pressing dial.

No, he’s busy. Don’t disturb him, Daichi chanted internally.

The last time they had an unscheduled conversation had been on the night of Kaito’s birthday, and the two had chatted for more than an hour. That day, Daichi even had a meeting that afternoon which he’d had completely forgotten about and had ended up attending late.

If not for that urgent meeting, who knew how long they’d have conversed for?

An unscheduled call would certainly distract Kaito.

Thus, Daichi decided to preoccupy himself by googling whatever online. During the first few minutes his main focus was on things related to business and enterprise, but after a while his searches went more and more off course.

He even ended up looking up love, relationships and plans for the future.

“Proving your love for your partner... romantic activities to try...” Daichi read to himself, but the more he scrolled, the more he realized how all of these things were useless for his and Kaito’s current situation.

They were thousands of miles apart right now. How could they go out for a ‘casual stroll’?

Thus Daichi closed the webpage and looked for something else. His fingers stopped scrolling when he reached a certain topic:

‘Reasons for relationship breakups’.

Without meaning to, Daichi had already opened the webpage.

Of course he didn’t pay attention to reasons like cheating, mistreatment and toxicity since they were so common and probably didn’t apply to him. But when it came to ‘not communicating’ and ‘distance’, his attention was caught.

Weren’t these the points he was worrying about just now? People actually broke up because of these things??

And these points got Daichi wondering if he was thinking about Kaito so much just because he thought their relationship was on the line.

Did that mean he didn't like the idea of breaking up? That would be a first.

**

“Director Smith would like you to go through all these before the meeting at two today,” thirty-year-old Izumi Tachibana handed over a few project documents to her boss the next morning before giving him a small briefing.

Though Daichi looked as if he was earnestly listening, part of his mind was completely elsewhere.

Of course this behavior didn’t go unnoticed by the secretary who’d worked under him for 5+ years. Izumi had realized that something was off with her boss the minute she saw him earlier that morning.

“..... and that is all,” after concluding the briefing, the woman waited for any proceeding instructions.

Yet the man in the chair simply dismissed her while absent-mindedly browsing through some documents.

Is the Director still thinking about yesterday’s business proposal? she pondered after turning to return to her workstation. Partnering up with an ally company didn’t sound so bad...

“No, wait a minute.”

Having been suddenly stopped before reaching the exit, the woman quickly spun around to face the man behind the long desk. “Yes, sir?”

But Daichi didn’t speak immediately. In fact, his expression even seemed a bit troubled... and confused.

And disbelieving...

Until it finally settled on acceptance.

Watching her boss battling several emotions under thirty seconds was a first for the woman, and she couldn’t help feeling anxious about why there was so much hesitation. Was the matter that serious??

In the end, Daichi finally opened something on his cellphone and gestured for the secretary to come closer before handing over the gadget.

Izumi, whose heart was already in her throat preparing for devastating news, felt as if a bucket of cold water had been dunked on her when her eyes browsed through the info she’d been presented with.

What.... am I looking at?

Noticing her confusion, Daichi finally asked, “What are your thoughts on that?”

“Uhm....” she read through an entire webpage displaying ‘reasons for breakups’ and still couldn’t figure out what was going on.

Was this a test? Why would Director Nakano be suddenly interested in these things?

“Which categories do you think I fall under?” Daichi specified.

Oh, that’s what he means, Izumi finally understood and scrolled down the page. There were about thirty points on breakup, but only a handful of them caught her eye.

She then told him truthfully, “If I am to compare with your previous relationships, I’d say numbers nine, twelve and twenty-three best describe you, sir.”

Number 9: Withholding affection and attention.

Number 12: Giving up on the relationship.

Number 23: Not communicating.

Almost everyone Daichi had ever dated always complained about these three points, and nine out of ten times they were always right.

“I see. I thought so too,” Daichi mumbled to himself.

“Is sir facing problems in his current relationship?” the woman asked knowingly while handing him back his cellphone.

Daichi distractedly scrolled through it while responding, “It’s not a problem per se. It’s just... lately it seems he’s been on my mind a lot more than usual. And I can’t help but feel as if I’m probably not trying hard enough... or something.”

The fact that Director Nakano was romantically involved with another man was no secret, especially to his family back home. Of course it’d come as a shock the first time he introduced Kaito Hattori to everyone back home seven months ago... but that’s all it’d been. A shock.

He already had two older brothers more than capable of inheriting the family business and providing heirs, thus the matter of him being bisexual had blown over almost immediately. Of course his parents had been a little skeptic at first but after knowing Kaito well enough, they’d accepted him without much of an issue.

They’d even gotten acquainted with Kaito’s mother and Hansuke Fujimori - the good man she was seeing - and had become good friends with them.

Izumi had also personally met Kaito a few times and didn’t think he was a bad person, so seeing her boss like this made her realize just how smitten by him Daichi was.

Was this still the same person who placed desserts before all else?

“Is it that Mr. Hattori has been complaining recently?” she inquired.

“No,” Daichi run a hand down his face, “If anything, he’s more than understanding.”

“Then it could be that you just miss him, Director.”

At that, Daichi stiffened.

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He.... missed Kaito?

Daichi seriously pondered about that.

Yes, he missed Kaito’s desserts and hanging out with him.

He missed his laughter, his voice...

... his touch and kisses...

...their hot memorable nights together...

Seeing his lack of response behind that rapidly reddening face, Izumi smiled to herself.

The Director used to look down on long distance relationships and wanted nothing to do with them before. But seeing how he was willing to give it a go with Mr. Hattori must mean he really values him.

I never thought I’d see the day.

“Since this is obviously the case, instead of looking up breakups why don’t you browse for something else?” she suggested. You obviously care about the guy so don’t be jinxing your relationship so soon.

“Something else?” Daichi looked interested.

Was she talking about those sickeningly sweet love texts and longing words? Daichi really hadn’t the talent for them. Most of the women he’d dated had often misunderstood him because of this, thinking that he was cold both on the inside and on the outside.

What they never understood though, was that he was the kind of man who preferred showing his affection through actions rather than words.

But Izumi simply requested Daichi’s cellphone again. Once she had it she typed something, scrolled briefly then with a contented smile, handed back the device. “Try something like this, sir. It might help.”

Daichi read through the webpage: 'Making a long-distance relationship work'.

He was surprised to find ‘going out for a stroll’ as part of the list at first, but after reading a little more he gradually understood.

Of course, with technology anything could be done. They could just video chat while they were at it.

Why didn’t I think of that?

Not only that, they could even watch a movie together from opposite sides of the world, thanks to streaming. They’d even cooked a meal together and did chores together a few times. Planning date nights would be difficult though, considering their time differences, but there was no harm in trying.

“What do you think?” Izumi decided to ask, seeing her boss’ pleased expression.

“Not bad,” Daichi scrolled a few more times, revealing a rare smile on his lips.

As someone who rarely showed his smiling face, he looked like a serious no-nonsense type of man, and his formal wear often made him more intimidating. To any outsider, he looked like someone you couldn’t easily mess with.

But right now he just looked like any other human being who was in love and happy. He was clearly looking forward to all these new ideas he’d read about.

***

Kaito Hattori received an unexpected guest at his bakery on a certain warm afternoon.

It happened during his lunch break while he was casually texting Daichi in their staff room, and Misa who had been out front had been the one to inform him.

“There’s a man out front looking for you.”

Kaito, assuming that it was someone he already knew, didn’t think much of it and directly went out to meet the guy.

Little did he know that he’d come face to face with an unfamiliar tall broad man in a suit and coat. He had handsome mature features, and Kaito judged the man to be roughly in his late thirties or early forties. However, this ‘visitor’s’ current expression didn’t look so kind with the unfriendly frown he wore.

Seeing him like this, Kaito couldn’t help but wonder if he knew this wealthy-looking man and somehow owed him money.

The man didn’t say anything after spotting Kaito and directly walked over to an unoccupied table at the far end of the room, sat himself on a chair, and patiently waited for the other person to join him.

Once Kaito had settled in the seat across him, he didn’t bother evading the issue and directly went straight to the point with a smile.

“I heard this gentleman is looking for me. To whom do I owe the visit?”

His manner of speech could not be classified as rude in any way, yet the older man seated across him merely stared daggers at him, as if Kaito had just spoken Greek. His frown even deepened.

What’s with that? Kaito felt a little anxious. Do I really know this person?

But no matter how hard he tried, he simply couldn’t recall ever meeting this man. Though... he did look a little familiar.

“A pastry chef, huh?” the dashing man crossed his arms over his chest with a little snort, “No wonder Daichi easily fell for you.”

He knows Daichi? Is he a friend?

“I hope you realize that the only reason he hasn’t broken up with you is because of his unreasonable obsession over pastries,” the stranger told him. “Otherwise he’d never resort to being with another man.”

Kaito’s smile didn’t change but he was really starting to feel a little wronged. He didn’t know why he was being attacked for no reason.

“Since your skills seem to be the major reason behind Daichi’s rash decisions, how about I judge for myself,” the man picked up the menu on the table and casually browsed through it.

He browsed for a very long time.

It was so long that Kaito began to think he wouldn’t order in the end.

However, the man’s sharp eyes suddenly shifted to look at him intently before he said seriously, “I can’t seem to decide.”

Kaito: “.........”

He didn’t quite know how to handle this situation.

“If you’re okay with it, I can recommend something,” he finally suggested.

That man didn’t mind as long as it was one of Kaito’s creations. And so Kaito returned with a petite blueberry cheesecake decked with thick vanilla frosting and blueberry toppings.

Kaito swore he saw that man almost drool...

“Where’s the wine?” the man asked while eyeing the cup of hot chocolate on the side in dissatisfaction.

But Kaito apologetically told him that they didn’t sell alcohol.

In the end the man could only begrudgingly accept it.

Kaito still didn’t know whether to leave or stay. But after contemplating on how this man had personally come to see him, Kaito ended up staying. He also knew he had to take a seat yet he just stood there foolishly and watched the man eat.

Why was he so nervous? He clearly didn’t have an impression of the guy, but since he knew Daichi it meant the guy had to be someone important in Daichi’s life.

A best friend? An ex? Somehow Kaito didn’t feel like that was the case...

He was relieved to see that the guy had no further complaints after mentioning the absence of wine. He even seem to be enjoying the dessert with his constant humming.

Finally, after what felt like hours (to Kaito), the man finally finished everything in his plate.

Kaito was relieved, since it meant this ‘visitor’ would have to leave soon–

“Another slice.”

The young chef felt as if he’d been kicked.

In the end Kaito patiently waited for his guest to finish three different desserts, though he intelligently retook his seat during the last two.

Now that the man had had his fill, his full attention was on Kaito once more.

“Now I can see how Daichi was fooled. Your skills are not bad,” the man stated, though Kaito wasn’t certain whether it was praise or criticism.

Still, Kaito's response was a polite, “Thank you, I try my best.”

Tossing that aside, the man clasped his hands in front of his face as his narrowed dark gaze threatened to burn a hole through Kaito. 

“Now tell me this, what will it take for you to break up with him?”

~~~~~~

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