The Only Exception

Chapter Three

A pause, "No. I'm... I'm just happy to hear your voice finally."

"You're going soft on me, Junya-kun." He teases but his ears are heating up.

"..."

"Have you eaten lunch?"

"We had an early lunch... our meals don't usually follow a correct schedule when we're shooting. We just eat when we're free."

"Oh..." Shohei nods, "Now that you mentioned it, how come you never told me you're also acting?"

"Ah, well...It's not something I always do. It's just a project I had to do."

"Wow Junya-kun is super talented."

"Speak for yourself, Kita-san. I've seen your works and my puny self could never compare."

"Who are you and what have you done to Junya?"

A chuckle comes from the other line and Shohei can't help but smile wider. The breathy laugh is both playful, awkward, and beautiful. He wants to hear more of it—wants to see how that expression sits on Junya's perfectly sculptured, cold, stoic face. Yes, even with the selfies he sends Shohei, he was almost bound to think that the guy has the emotional depth of a teaspoon. Knowing he can laugh and smile is actually quite... nice.

"What's nice, Kita-san?"

Huh? Did he say it out loud?

"Nothing... just..."

"Just what?"

"Just knowing you have another range of emotion apart from your usual cold, indifferent glare."

"...I'm not always like that." Now he sounds shy. Cute.

"The selfies you send sure look that way."

"Well, I couldn't compare to the beauty of Kita-san's smile, anyway. But okay, I'll send more selfies of me smiling."

Shohei's face heats up. How this kid can say embarrassing stuff like they're not at all embarrassing is a real mystery. "Hey! I didn't say that. Also, why do you even send me a lot? My phone memory is suffering."

"Maybe Kita-san should just buy a new phone. I look more handsome in HD."

"There he is. Welcome back, Junya-kun." He laughs.

Their banters go on for another few minutes or so and just end when Junya tells him the director is already calling them back.

"We should meet sometime when I get back." Junya says, "Maybe some lunch or dinner?"

"Why?" Shohei will be lying if he says he doesn't want to or that the proposition just makes his heart flutter. Because surely, Junya didn't just ask him on a date, did he?

"I still owe you for saving my life."

"Oh, that..." He has a point and it's not a date. More of a thank you lunch. For a moment, his mood dampens but he shakes the feeling away and smiles softly, "You don't have to do that."

"Why not?" He can hear the pout in Junya's voice and he just wants to see it.

"I'll be back in Tokyo next week. We can go out Wednesday night. It's going to be fun. Besides I'm a great company."

It's only Saturday today. He'll be working on the mural later and as agreed, nobody will work tomorrow—but if he has to leave early on Wednesday, then maybe he'll just need to work some more on it tomorrow. Eiji doesn't have to know.

"Kita-san?"

Shohei quickly opens his calendar and says, "Alright. I'll free my schedule."

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