When Jesse enters the agency breakroom, Hokuto notices him immediately as Jesse greets him in that usual happy way of his. But in return, Hokuto gives Jesse only a brief nod before quickly lowering his eyes back to the phone screen.
In his screen's reflection, he watches Jesse walk over to the fridge, grab a bottle of water, and chug half of it in one go. Hokuto slumps lower in his chair, resting his chin on his hand.
He can feel Jesse's curious eyes on him.
He lets out a faint sigh, his thumb dragging over the same page he's been staring at for twenty minutes.
"Owww, Hokuto!" Jesse exclaims suddenly. "What's up? Why do you look like you're about to attend your own funeral?"
Hokuto doesn't even lift his head. His thumb pauses on the phone screen.
"Jesse," he starts.
"Yeah?"
"What do you usually talk about with people you don't know?"
Jesse blinks, holding his water bottle halfway to his mouth.
"What?" he asks, confused.
"When you meet a stranger," Hokuto clarifies, finally locking his phone and placing it face-down. He rubs the bridge of his nose and closes his eyes as he goes on. "Someone you have zero shared history with. When you two have no mutual friends or work connections. What topics do you bring up to have a nice, normal conversation? It feels like for you, talking to strangers is as easy as breathing. And you carry that happy, bright energy all the time."
Jesse chuckles. The way he lets it out is exactly what Hokuto is referring to.
"Hmmm, I don't know! Everything! What they ate for lunch, what clothing brands they like, whether they prefer dogs over cats, and so on. I just talk! But why are you asking that?"
Hokuto glances around the room. The space is all empty, but years of habit make him lean in anyway, lowering his voice like there would be dozens of microphones or spying ears present.
"I'm considering attending this speed date event for celebrities," he confesses.
Jesse stops there in surprise. He seems to struggle to process the phrase Hokuto and speed date in the same sentence. In the end, he can't help but have his face contort and let out that unbelievable brand laugh of him.
"AHAHAHA! What?!" Jesse wheezes. "Speed dating?! You? Are you serious?"
"Be quiet!" Hokuto hisses, feeling his face turning slightly warm as Jesse continues laughing. He throws another quick look automatically toward the hallway door, praying no staff, managers or agency members are passing by. He regrets opening his mouth because he does acknowledge it all must sound as ridiculous as it feels.
"No, but seriously, what's the deal?" Jesse asks, managing to calm his laughter and sounding more serious.
Hokuto slumps back against his chair, staring at his own hands. He struggles to find the words.
"Well, look at me."
"You look fine to me, as always?" Jesse says.
"I am a loner," Hokuto says, tapping his finger against the table for emphasis. "I spend ninety percent of my time with you guys. The other ten percent is spent with old film directors or actors who treat me like their grandson. Or my only friend from Shizuoka who has his own life. I have no romantic prospects. I have no acquaintance network. I've been following other guys in our company who are dating and talking about their broad friendships, while I'm just like... this. If I don't take some action, I will age and die alone in my apartment. But I have no idea how to approach strangers or how to even start in any other way but in this artificial situation that is meant for widening that network."
He hates how pathetic it sounds out loud. And how ironic. The whole situation. He's thirty-one years old and capable of standing on stage in front of fifty thousand screaming fans as a dazzling idol Hokuto, yet terrified of approaching new people as a normal person Hokuto.
Jesse's expression softens a little bit. It's that certain gentle look that reaches his eyes and all whenever Hokuto starts spiraling inside his own head.
"But speed dating?" Jesse asks softly, though there's still a small twitch at the corner of his mouth. "You don't like small talk with other celebrities, even the slightest."
"I know, but I have no other choice as I can't even consider attending something for the so-called non-famous people," Hokuto whines with a suffering tone. "I also have to submit a project profile and background questionnaire for that event. The deadline is in one week. How am I supposed to do that and learn to have that small talk with strangers within that time?"
He feels smaller and smaller. A voice in his head tells him to just delete the bookmark, forget about the whole event, go home and lock himself back inside his lonely routine.
"I'll help you," Jesse says immediately.
"You what?" Hokuto asks, confused.
Jesse slaps his palm down on the table so hard Hokuto's half-empty water bottle jumps in its place.
"Of course I'll help you! I'm not just going to help you fill out some paper, though; I can also coach you! We'll fix your posture, practice your small talk skills, do everything all that!"
Hokuto blinks. He can't understand that kind of enthusiasm coming from Jesse, but then again, he shouldn't be surprised. It's Jesse after all. He never hesitates when someone close to him is struggling; he simply steps in to help without overthinking. A small knot in Hokuto's chest loosens just a bit at the friendly offer. Yet, he's still trying to find any signs of irony on Jesse's face although, then again, Jesse would never poke fun at someone in serious situations.
"Are you sure? Don't you have a packed schedule this week?" Hokuto asks carefully.
Jesse digs his phone out of his back pocket. His finger passes over the screen before turning it around to thrust the color-coded calendar directly into Hokuto's face.
"Look, Thursday! We both actually have the full day off! No shoots, no interviews, no stage rehearsals, nothing!"
Hokuto squints at the screen. His mouth slightly opens as he realizes Jesse is actually right. That week's Thursday is showing empty white space for both of them.
"Oh. You're right," he says slowly.
Jesse looks like a real project leader as he waves his hands expressively as he goes on with his explanation.
"So here's the plan. We'll meet up on Thursday. We can go shopping for a non-threatening outfit, fill out your little questionnaire, and practice that small talk. Let's start at my place!"
Hokuto looks at Jesse's proud, enthusiastic expression, then down at his own phone, where the event page is still open in one of the tabs. He's not sure if he's confused or relieved by the offer. Yet, then again, Jesse is the person who can give the best advice for any social situations.
"Okay, fine. It's a deal," Hokuto says.
"Deal," Jesse says. "Thursday morning, ten o'clock. Bring that questionnaire, a laptop, and a notebook. Oh and, don't forget an open mind!"
-----
On Thursday morning, the weather is surprisingly crisp and cold. Hokuto can feel the wind biting at every cell in him, and he trembles while pulling the scarf tighter around his neck as he walks towards Jesse's apartment building. It feels weird to be there. Not that he hasn't visited Jesse's place before, and he sees Jesse practically every day already, but knowing the reason for their meeting that day. It's more than unusual.
Once in front of the main doors, he presses the intercom button. Jesse's voice crackles through instantly.
"Yo! Come on up!"
In the hallway of the apartment, Jesse hustles around him, helping Hokuto take off his coat, scarf and shoes.
"Brrr! It's freezing out there! Look at you, your ears are completely red," he exclaims.
In a matter of time, Hokuto finds himself sitting on a comfortable couch with a warm teacup in his hands, wearing a pair of Jesse's oversized guest slippers.
Hokuto sips his tea and looks around. Jesse's place has always been a perfect reflection of its owner. Everything's bright. Warm. Somehow very welcoming? There's a big collection of colorful sneakers lined up on a long shelf along the entryway wall. There are bright throw blankets and pillows tossed over the leather sofa where he's currently sitting. A big flat-screen TV in the corner is playing a foreign music video channel on mute. Everything's just distinctly Jesse. It's nice, Hokuto catches himself thinking.
Jesse jogs back into the living room carrying a plate stacked with some snacks.
"Sorry, I haven't really been cooking, and these are the only leftover snacks I had in the cupboard. Would go better with beer, though!"
"That's fine," Hokuto smiles and takes one wasabi-flavored peanut.
"Alright then, candidate Hokuto," Jesse starts, rubbing his hands together as he's settled down on the couch next to Hokuto. "Let's get down to business with that questionnaire. What's the first question?"
Hokuto flips open his laptop. He pulls his sweater collar higher over his mouth while reading the text on the laptop screen aloud.
"'Please describe your ideal weekend activity.'"
Jesse takes a bite of beef jerky and nods at that.
"That should be easy! What were you planning to answer to that?"
"Well, if I'm honest," Hokuto starts, biting his lower lip between his teeth. "I'd probably say that I enjoy listening to the other one talking, who enjoys talking more than me, and maybe I could offer my two cents here and there, until I'd start rambling and-"
"That's not really an activity," Jesse interrupts him gently.
Hokuto scowls. "It's what I want!"
"Alright, but I'll push it still further. What are you doing in this scenario?"
"Ummm, I don't know? Reading?"
"Reading?" Jesse repeats, shaking his head. "Hokuto, reading isn't a date activity, that's just a hobby for one person! How would you do it, sit on opposite sides of a sofa in silence, listening with half an ear while your partner talks?"
"Well, that would actually be a dream," Hokuto defends. "Comfortable silence. No need to talk."
"But don't we talk all the time?" Jesse laughs.
Hokuto shrugs.
"You're the exception. You don't drain my battery."
The words leave Hokuto's mouth before he can even think about it, but as soon as they're out, he realizes how true they are. Jesse really is the only person Hokuto can spend time with for hours without making him feel like he has to maintain some sort of mask. It'd be great if he could attend the event and everyone else had the same vibes as Jesse.
"Whatever, man," Jesse chuckles, moving to sit down on the floor and resting his shoulders right against Hokuto's shins. The physical contact is so casual and natural, again so uniquely Jesse, that Hokuto doesn't even think to pull away. He simply adjusts his legs slightly to give Jesse more room.
Jesse tilts his head back to look up at Hokuto from below.
"Speaking of draining activities... do you remember that funny viral TikTok dance you made me learn in the dressing room in Osaka? The Chinese one with the hand movements?"
Before either of them realizes it, they end up talking about all the random meaningless stuff.
At some point, Hokuto's laptop screen goes into sleep mode. A full hour passes. The questionnaire stays forgotten as they jump from one ridiculous topic to the next - they debate whether Shintaro's dog Shelly would look better in a leather jacket or a knit vest (Jesse votes for the badass leather jacket while Hokuto insists Shelly is more like a soft knit-vest-kind-of dog), wonder if Kochi will have a kiss scene in his new musical, discuss who would win in a battle between two dogs, three thousand pigeons and one Kyomoto Taiga, and remember that weird variety program Juri had explained to all of them on the company car last week.
They stop talking only when Jesse's stomach lets out a loud growl. He slaps his belly with a laugh.
"Ah! Lunch time!"
He reaches forward and pushes Hokuto's laptop lid shut, although it hasn't been touched for a good time.
"Already calling it lunchtime and we haven't even answered question one properly," Hokuto notes.
"Doesn't matter," Jesse grins, jumping up and extending a hand to pull Hokuto up off the couch. "We're going out to get lunch, period! We can practice that small talk while we wait for food."
Letting out a defeated sigh but not being able to hide his smile, Hokuto reaches out and lets Jesse pull him to his feet.
Their chests nearly collide. For a small moment, Jesse's hands remain resting lightly on Hokuto's waist, warm through his sweater, before he lets go to grab his jacket.
"Let's go," Jesse says, flashing another smile.
-----
The restaurant Jesse selects is a small curry place three minutes from his building.
"Alright," Jesse begins, tapping a spoon against the table as two steaming plates of curry are set down in front of them. "Let's do some training. Pretend I'm a charming stranger at the speed dating event. So, Hokuto-san, do you like curry?"
Hokuto picks up his spoon and shrugs.
"I like curry when my company isn't staring at me like a spying hawk."
"Failed!" Jesse gasps, clutching his chest. "Too cold. You're supposed to say something like 'Ah, yes! I love curry! The spicy curry makes me feel as warm as I feel with you!'"
"Nobody talks like that," Hokuto says as he takes the first spoonful of his curry.
"It's about energy," Jesse insists, laughing as he digs into his own plate.
Within minutes, the whole small talk practice attempt falls apart again. Instead, they end up talking about whether curry tastes better the second day and bashing over Fuma's funny commercial they both saw on TV that morning. Hokuto finds himself laughing so much that his cheeks ache, totally forgetting about the ultimate goal of why they are even spending a day together.
After finishing eating, Jesse wipes his mouth with a paper napkin and announces that they should go shopping next.
"Already, since we're already out, maybe we should go and try some shopping?"
They head into a high-end vintage store a few blocks away.
Instead of looking for anything remotely "approachable" or "normal," Hokuto automatically marches toward the most colorful corner of the store. He dives headfirst into a rack of oversized colorful sweaters and garments.
"Look at this," Hokuto says, pulling out a neon-orange and moss-green knit sweater with holes along the hem and mismatched sleeve lengths. "Isn't this cute?"
While Hokuto builds a stack of clothes he wants to try on, Jesse wanders off toward a rack of retro streetwear. He pulls out a bright 80s yellow-and-green patterned bomber jacket, holding it up against his broad shoulders in a nearby mirror. He turns left, then right, grinning broadly at his reflection.
"This would look amazing on me," Jesse says.
"It actually would," Hokuto admits. He watches with amusement as Jesse slips his arms into the sleeves and zips it up. His eyes follow the way the wide collar frames Jesse's strong neck and broad shoulders. A weird, unexpected flutter hits the base of his stomach all of a sudden.
"Right?" Jesse strikes a dramatic runway pose in the middle of the aisle, one hand resting against his hip. "Okay, wait, I need to find a hat to match this."
After an hour, they carry their clothes to the cash register. Hokuto pays for the sweater, two T-shirts, and the plaid wide-leg pants while Jesse buys his jacket and a brightly colored hat.
Stepping back out onto the street, carrying paper bags, Jesse lets out a satisfied sigh.
"That was an awesome haul," he states.
"Jesse," Hokuto says slowly.
"Yeah?"
"We didn't pick out a single normal outfit for the speed date. In fact, we completely forgot about the event again."
"AHAHAHA! Oh shit!" Jesse snickers. "You're right. We completely forgot."
Hokuto looks at Jesse's laughing face, then down at his own shopping bag, and he can't help but join the laughter.
-----
By the end of the day, they're sitting at a corner table of an izakaya chain.
"Okay, okay, let's focus now for real," Jesse says, clapping his hands together as the server sets down two beers. "Let's get back to the main topic!"
Jesse raises his beer glass, lowering his chin and giving Hokuto an exaggerated smoldering look.
"So, do you come here often, beautiful?"
Hokuto snorts.
"That is terrible. If anyone said that to me, I'd leave all my belongings right there and run out the nearest door."
"Hey! But it works! You are totally smiling, you are!" Jesse laughs, taking a sip from his drink.
"It works for you because you are Jesse," Hokuto mutters softly. His eyes drift involuntarily down to the curve of Jesse's lips. They are glistening slightly from his drink.
Hokuto gulps before moving back up to Jesse's eyes.
Within twenty minutes, the whole speed dating and small talk topics vanish again. They order platter after platter (some crispy garlic tebasaki, edamame, grilled pork belly and various skewers) while talking about everything. One drink turns into two, two turns into three.
Hokuto's cheeks feel pleasantly warm as the alcohol starts hitting his system. There's that nice fuzzy feeling in his head.
He leans back against the wooden booth and watches Jesse talk. He really is something else, Hokuto thinks through the hazy fog in his mind. Jesse is wearing a heart on his sleeve. He's completely open to the world while Hokuto has practically spent his whole life overthinking different scenarios. And not only that, but once again it shows what a great person Jesse is as he also spent his entire day on this voluntarily. He didn't go see his other friends. He didn't sleep in. He spent all this time with Hokuto because he wanted to help him.
Jesse's voice cuts through Hokuto's thoughts.
"Hey Hokuto, come on. Let me take you back before you pass out right here on your beer glass."
"I'm not passing out," Hokuto murmurs, but he doesn't protest when Jesse pays the bill and guides him out by the elbow.
The cool night wind hits as they step back onto the street, but the alcohol in Hokuto's blood cushions the bite. Jesse keeps a hand on Hokuto's upper arm, guiding him through the residential streets back to his apartment building. Hokuto can't help noticing how nice and warm that hand feels, and he doesn't make any move so that Jesse won't remove his hand from that spot.
Inside Hokuto's head, something is suddenly clicking together with such a crazy speed.
He blinks at the passing streetlights, his mind going through the entire day like a film strip running in reverse.
They had spent good 20 minutes debating whether Kyomoto could defeat three thousand pigeons. They had eaten delicious curry while jokingly mocking Fuma's commercial until their eyes watered. They had visited a vintage shop, completely ignored every single "normal" or "approachable" piece of clothing, and bought ridiculous sweater patterns and retro bomber jackets instead what they both like. They had spent hours talking shit, drinking beer, and laughing so hard.
We didn't do a single thing on the agenda, Hokuto thinks. Not one.
They hadn't practiced formal small talk. They hadn't filled out a single line of that questionnaire. They hadn't prepped a single "safe topic" for strangers.
And yet, Hokuto hadn't felt this light, confident, and happy in months.
The realization hits him like it's a physical blow, stopping him almost dead in his tracks before Jesse gently tugs him forward again.
Hokuto has spent a whole week wondering over how to make strangers like him. He's been terrified of being too quiet, too weird or too boring (or everything at the same time). But today he hasn't really thought about any of that once.
He glances sideways at Jesse. Jesse is humming some foreign melody, his breath fogging in the night air. He's still holding onto Hokuto's arm to keep him steady.
It hits Hokuto even clearer. What has he been doing? Why has he been trying to force himself into some artificial speed dating room with people he wouldn't care about, trying to perform a version of himself he doesn't even like, when the exact connection he has been starving for has been right here all the time?
-----
Once back inside, they toe-kick their shoes off at the genkan and drop their shopping bags to the floor.
"Ahhh, man," Jesse sighs happily, tossing his jacket over the back of an armchair. "That was great. Best day in a while, right?"
Hokuto takes a breath. His heart is beating a little fast, the alcohol stirring a strange, restless courage beneath his ribs.
"We didn't do anything related to that speed dating event," Hokuto comments.
"Hey, we tried!" Jesse says, walking over and standing right in front of him. He looks down at Hokuto, his bright gentle eyes searching Hokuto's face. "We bought cool clothes, we ate good food, we talked all day... sounds like a pretty successful date to me."
Hokuto opens his eyes. Jesse is standing so close. The warm light from the corner lamp highlights his jaw line and that gentle, teasing curve of his lips.
A date.
The word hangs in the air. Hokuto looks at Jesse. Does he really think the same thing as Hokuto that it indeed felt like a date they had that day?
"Jesse," Hokuto says quietly.
"Yeah?"
Instead of talking, Hokuto reaches out, his fingers catching Jesse's shirt near his waist. He tugs him closer.
"Hokuto...?" Jesse whispers questioningly, suddenly sounding a bit shy.
His eyes dart down to Hokuto's mouth, then back up.
"I've been an idiot," Hokuto murmurs.
"Huh?"
"And you're an idiot, too."
"What did I do?" Jesse asks. His eyes look serious, still a bit shy, and are completely fixed on Hokuto.
"You let me spend the whole day worrying about talking to strangers. When you were right here," Hokuto states.
He doesn't give Jesse a chance to reply any longer.
He firmly presses his lips to Jesse's.
Jesse freezes for half a second in sheer shock before letting out a quiet, shaky breath against Hokuto's mouth. His hands come up, cupping the sides of Hokuto's jaw as he answers the kiss.
The warmth of Jesse's big hands on his face makes Hokuto's stomach turn over in the best way possible. It's almost strange how natural and right it all feels.
Their lips slide against each other. Hokuto opens his mouth a little bit, letting out a faint sigh, and Jesse deepens the kiss by pressing his lips harder against Hokuto's.
Jesse's hands move from Hokuto's cheek down to the hem of his sweater, gathering the fabric in his fingers. He pauses. He looks up into Hokuto's eyes with a questioning tilt of his head.
"Is this okay? Are you sure?" Jesse asks softly.
Hokuto thinks to himself that he has never been more certain of anything in his life.
"More than okay," he assures with a whisper, taking the bottom of his sweater himself and pulling it up over his head.
He throws the fabric somewhere on the floor. The cool air of the living room hits his bare arms, but any slight shiver is immediately quelled when Jesse steps up and buries his face into the side of Hokuto's neck.
Jesse keeps pressing wet kisses on Hokuto's neck. Then he moves lower, right over Hokuto's collarbone. His mouth feels so hot against Hokuto's skin. Hokuto lets out a shaky gasp, his hands sliding up Jesse's back, feeling the strong muscles beneath his shirt.
"Take this off," Hokuto whispers, tugging at Jesse's shirt.
Jesse pulls back just enough to pull his shirt over his head, dropping it onto the floor to join Hokuto's sweater. Then he reaches out and helps Hokuto take off his short-sleeved T-shirt. He presses their bare chests together, and Hokuto lets out a low hum of satisfaction. His arms wind tightly around Jesse's neck.
Jesse presses his mouth against Hokuto's again in a deeper, more demanding kiss. Hokuto lets him. He cracks his lips a little more open, and Jesse takes a chance directly by pushing his tongue inside Hokuto's mouth. Hokuto's tongue tangles with Jesse's as he lets himself taste him properly. He can taste the beer and the sweet, familiar essence of Jesse himself on the tip of his tongue.
Hokuto tries his best to concentrate on kissing Jesse but can't help letting out low groans as he is getting more and more turned on by every touch.
Jesse's hand moves lower to massage Hokuto's crotch through his pants, which finally causes Hokuto to pause kissing him, and a shameless low groan escapes his mouth. He is already hard.
Too bad Jesse stops the massaging soon. But luckily it gets better as his hand moves, undoing the button of Hokuto's trousers.
Hokuto yanks his pants down, breath catching in his throat as Jesse's palm comes to massage his hard cock again. He turns his face toward Jesse's, seeking his mouth again, and starts moving his hip, urging Jesse to continue whatever he is doing.
"Living room couch could be great, but..." Jesse gasps against Hokuto's mouth. "My bed is bigger. And much softer."
Hokuto's hands slide down Jesse's broad shoulders, marveling at the feeling of those muscles under his fingers.
"Lead the way," he whispers.
Jesse takes Hokuto's hand, lacing their fingers together tightly as he leads them down the hallway into his bedroom.
They tumble onto the bed together. They toss the rest of their clothes somewhere beside it.
Hokuto gets on his back, and Jesse settles between his legs. Jesse hovers over him, resting his weight on his elbows as he gazes down at him.
"You have no idea how long I've wanted to do this," he murmurs. He strokes Hokuto's lower lip with a thumb.
Hokuto's throat feels dry.
"Show me, then," he manages to say. He grabs Jesse's wrist and gives his index finger a kiss. Then he parts his lips and draws the tip of Jesse's finger into his mouth.
He swirls his tongue around the finger. He suckles gently, pulling the finger a bit deeper, his eyelids closing half-shut as he takes his time with the sucking.
When Hokuto finally lets his finger slide free with a wet pop, Jesse's breath hitches. He leans in to kiss Hokuto's lips again.
Then, Jesse starts kissing and sucking Hokuto's neck again. He moves even lower. He presses a trail of slow kisses down the center of Hokuto's chest and ribs. Eventually, he moves even lower to kiss his hipbones.
When his warm breath finally comes to brush against the thin skin of Hokuto's inner thighs, Hokuto's hands find his hair. He opens his legs wider.
Jesse brings his hand to wrap it around the base of Hokuto's hard cock, leaning in to lick a slow stripe from base to tip.
Hokuto's hips jerk upward off the mattress as he feels that wet tongue on him.
"Ah—" he moans.
Jesse hums at that. He takes Hokuto fully into his mouth.
The heat and suction are overwhelming. Jesse takes his good time, swirling his tongue around the head before sliding down, swallowing him as deep as he can.
Hokuto moans. There's no room for thoughts at all. He can only concentrate on Jesse's mouth hot around him and his strong hands holding his thighs open.
"Ah... fuck. Jesse... I'm going to—" he manages to gasp.
Jesse pulls back with a sound. He swirls his tongue once more over the tip before pressing a single kiss to Hokuto's thigh. He looks up.
"Oh no, no, no. Not yet," he whispers.
He reaches over to the nightstand, pulling out a small foil packet and a bottle of lube.
"I want to be inside you first."
He opens the lube bottle and pours a good amount into his palms. Then he shifts back between Hokuto's legs and his hand drifts down to Hokuto's entrance.
"Tell me if it's too much," Jesse instructs, pressing the pad of his middle finger against Hokuto's opening. He pushes it in.
Jesse takes his time, working his finger in and out, opening Hokuto up before adding a second finger. At some point his fingers curve upward, catching that hidden, sensitive spot inside. Hokuto lets out a helpless sound at that, feeling his toes curl up in pleasure.
"Right there?" Jesse asks with a fond smirk.
"Yes," Hokuto pants, wrapping his legs around Jesse's waist, pulling him closer.
When Jesse adds the third finger, Hokuto starts rocking his body urgently and fucking himself against Jesse's fingers.
"I want to fuck you with my cock now," Jesse mutters against Hokuto's lips.
"Please. Fuck me."
Jesse doesn't need to be told twice. He removes his fingers, tears open the foil packet, and slicks the rubber over his thick length before coating it with some more lube. Then he positions the tip against Hokuto's entrance, his left hand coming up to cup Hokuto's cheek.
"Look at me," Jesse whispers. Hokuto obeys. With that, Jesse pushes in.
Hokuto lets out a shuddering exhale as Jesse buries himself all the way inside. He starts with slow thrusts, lifting his hips a little bit while pulling out before sliding back.
Jesse's movements pick up speed. He lifts one of Hokuto's legs, resting his knee high over his shoulder to alter the angle. It allows him to penetrate even deeper. His hips keep slamming against Hokuto's buttocks, creating a wet slapping sound.
Hokuto brings his palms against Jesse's chest, feeling his rapid heartbeat.
Jesse suddenly pauses, pulling back nearly all the way.
"Turn over," he pants, lifting Hokuto's waist with his hands. "On your hands and knees. I want to see you from behind."
Hokuto obeys again. He rolls onto his stomach, pushing himself up onto his hands and knees. Jesse settles behind him, gripping his hips with both hands. He guides himself back in from behind, entering him hard in one thrust.
But Hokuto wants to look at Jesse. He twists his neck around and is greeted by one of the most erotic views he's ever seen. Jesse's eyes are closed, he's biting his lower lip, and his biceps are all tensed up as he squeezes Hokuto's hips so tight while fucking him deep.
"I don't wanna come yet," Hokuto sighs, so Jesse quickly pulls out and then pulls Hokuto to sit in front of him. He taps his thighs with his palms, and Hokuto moves closer, his ass hovering above Jesse's hard dick as he grabs his shoulders and practically puts his whole weight on them.
"Ride me?" Jesse asks, and doesn't have to say anything more as Hokuto lowers himself on his cock forthwith.
Jesse links his other arm under Hokuto's armpit and takes a firm grip of his shoulder which is all sweaty. He grabs Hokuto's ass with the other hand.
Hokuto begins bouncing on top of him, and Jesse tries to thrust upwards to meet him in the middle. The sound of slick slapping and their deep moans are now in every corner of Jesse's bedroom.
They find the pace, and Hokuto can tell Jesse is coming closer and closer. Jesse obviously can't hold himself any longer either, so he starts fastening up with even more speed, fucking Hokuto feverishly and making the thrusts even sharper.
Hokuto is probably making shameless sounds, but he can't focus on listening to himself any longer. It just feels too good.
When the orgasm hits him, Jesse grunts with the last thrusts. He keeps gasping and trying his best to catch some air, but still somehow manages to move Hokuto off his cock and rolls him onto his stomach again. Hokuto doesn't have much time to react before Jesse spreads his asscheeks with his hands and leans in. He pushes his tongue into him.
Fuck. Hokuto moans so loudly it's almost like a cry. His whole body is quivering as Jesse keeps teasingly flicking his tongue around the hole and then starting to tongue-fuck him properly.
Hokuto desperately tries pushing his ass to Jesse's face, but Jesse grips him and prevents him from moving.
When Jesse pushes three fingers inside to accompany his tongue, it's the end for Hokuto.
Hokuto shakes violently, moans loudly, and comes between the mattress and his own stomach.
Jesse immediately slumps next to him. He pulls out, takes the condom off, ties it, and discards it on the floor. Then he gestures for Hokuto to move into his arms, rolling them both over so Hokuto is resting against his chest.
"Well," Jesse whispers after a few minutes, sounding playful and teasing again. "I'm pretty sure that questionnaire didn't cover any of this..."
Hokuto lets out a tired laugh, burying his face into Jesse's neck.
"I'm never filling or handing out that paper, by the way."
"Good."
"In fact, the whole speed dating event got cancelled. For my part, at least."
"Good," Jesse hums, his arms tightening affectionately around him. "I wouldn't have even allowed you to go there."
Hokuto hums at that.
"You know," Jesse continues softly, his fingers gently threading through Hokuto's hair, massaging his scalp, "I was actually really annoyed when you mentioned that speed dating thing and kept bashing yourself."
"You were?"
"Yeah," Jesse admits, chuckling softly to himself. "I could only keep on thinking, why is he asking me how to talk to people when he talks to me fine every single day? Can't he see how perfect he already is just in the way he is?"
"You could have said that earlier," Hokuto mutters, though there's no bite to it.
"And risk scaring you off by sounding creepy?" Jesse laughs, shaking his head.
"You would never be able to scare me off."
Hokuto stays quiet for a while, listening to Jesse's heartbeat beneath his ear before he continues talking. He really wants to confess something to Jesse.
"You know what I realized today?" he murmurs.
"What?"
"I actually like myself the best when I'm with you."
Jesse goes still. Hokuto lifts his head slightly, meeting his eyes.
"With everyone else, I'm always thinking about what I should say, how I'm supposed to act, whether I'm being too quiet or too awkward. I feel like I'm constantly trying to be a version of myself people will like."
His fingers curl lightly into Jesse's shirt.
"But with you, I don't have to do that. I can be quiet. I can complain. I can ramble something stupid about pigeons for twenty minutes and you would listen. And most of all, you wouldn't judge me."
He smiles faintly as he concludes.
"I can just be."
Jesse smiles at that. "That's my favorite version of you too."
"Really?"
"Yeah. The one who forgets to be careful and just lets himself out."
Hokuto smiles, resting his head heavier against Jesse's chest. Jesse's hand comes to soothe the rise of Hokuto's cheekbone.
"I think this all sums up why I like you so much," Hokuto confesses.
Jesse gives a kiss on his hair.
"I like you too. So much."
Hokuto sighs, not from defeat or desperation, but from pure happiness. They will eventually have to discuss how this all works for two idols in the same group, talk about boundaries, figure out schedules, and, all in all, what this whole thing between them means. There are serious conversations waiting down the line, the kind Hokuto is usually afraid of.
But right now, looking at that sincerity and softness on Jesse's handsome face, Hokuto finds he doesn't care about tomorrow's answers. He doesn't need to label it or solve anything tonight.
"So, what do you want to do next?" Hokuto asks.
"I was about to suggest that maybe we move back to the living room; you can read, and I can babble while you listen to me with half an ear. Wasn't that the perfect date activity to you?"
Hokuto can't help laughing.
"Deal. But I want to talk to you back. I was serious when I said that you don't drain my battery."
"Why are you so awesome?" Jesse mutters and kisses Hokuto again.
It takes them a while before they eventually get out of the bedroom.