"And to think she was the one worried about us falling asleep."

The young girl's energetic nature was brimming earlier in the evening when she picked out a movie for the three of them to watch. It was a typical kids flick with a predictable plotline and overused character concepts, but oddly enough the two older men enjoyed the animated adventure. So much so that they made it to the ending credits unlike the movies target audience.

In the start of them film, she had exclaimed a few, "Don't you two fall asleep! You'll miss out!" but that eagerness had died down mid-way through, and now she was rested on her father's shoulder, fast asleep.

"We're not that old yet. Please just put me out of my misery when I can't stay up past eleven anymore."

To confirm his assertion, Yokozawa glanced at the led lights on the cable box displaying the time. "Damn, it's really that late already? The movie was longer than I thought."

"You impatient transactor types. Of course it takes a long time to slay the villain, rescue the princess and save the world."

"If they didn't stop to sing after every minor task, they would've gotten done faster." Spoken like a true business man. Though he had to admit, he didn't mind the musical bits all that much. Some of the catchy melodies would surely be stuck in his head for the next few days.

"Hm. I guess that answers why I take so long to get things done in work."

"…I think you need to get some sleep."

"And I think I want to watch another movie."

Tossing his head side to side, he objected. "It's too late. Save it for tomorrow and let her pick another movie again."

"Fine, mom." Carefully, Kirishima lifted Hiyori up from the couch, being gentle enough not to disturb her slumber, then carried her off to her bedroom.

Remaining immobile as the credits rolled, a grin appeared as he recalled some lines from the movie. Hardly believing it himself, he actually could get used to watching shows like that. Never could he see himself ever enjoying that before without becoming peeved, but given that the one who picked it out was Hiyori, he kept an open mind and soon found himself placed in the mindset of a child.

That might explain why Kirishima, who was actually older than him, kept such a youthful spirit. A child had the power to do that sort of thing. Being around an innocent atmosphere really could bring out the best in someone.

"Did you get her into bed alright?"

Kirishima, who had trailed back into the living room sat back down and yawned in his reply, "Yup, she's still out like a light."

The dim flicker of the credits had ended and the display returned back to the menu screen; causing the room to light up a little more than before.

Just as he was about to peel himself off the sofa and call it a night, Kirishima said something to sink him deeper within the cushions, "It was unexpected for Hiyo to say something like that—kind of came out of nowhere."

Yokozawa didn't need to be filled in; he knew exactly what he was referring to. "It was…"

The girl speaking like she did before, in such a kind voice as she referred to Yokozawa as a special someone who made her father happy. It sure could be taken a lot of different ways, but now that even Kirishima, the most carefree person he knows, had brought it up he didn't think his heavy speculation was that implausible.

"It surprised me. She's usually not totally outspoken like that," in other worlds, she doesn't take after her father at all, "I never would've expected her to come out and say something like that to you."

"You don't… think she knows anything, do you?"

Giving a lazy shrug, he flopped his head back, "Dunno. Lets settle our curiosity and go ask her."

"Idiot, and what if she doesn't and we confront her about it? The cat will be out of the bag."

"Isn't that what we're trying to do?"

"That's not the right way to go about it."

"I suppose." With another yawn, Kirishima collapsed his head into Yokozawa's lap, the action managing to startle the man instantly, and even more so when he grabbed hold of his hand and interlaced it between his own. Probably he thought doing such an action would get him all riled and force a bashful reaction out of him, so Yokozawa decided to do just the opposite of his intentions and ride with it. Hiyori was fast asleep in bed anyways. The odds of her coming out and seeing them were low, so he didn't actually mind all that much.

"I don't think she knows anything though, so don't you go over-working that head of yours. She's smart, but she's still a kid so the last thing she would pick up on is who her father is dating—I'm sure others will pick up on it before she does."

"With the rumors you start around work, I wouldn't be surprised."

"Listen, I might be dating a guy, but I'm defiantly not the woman in the relationship." Just who was he implying was the woman then? "So I'll have you know, I don't just sit around in work and start up gossip all day long."

"You're right. You help spread it too." There was no denying that Kirishima put a lot of questions into others heads around Marukawa with the way he flashes around pictures of Yokozawa and brags about how close he is with his daughter.

It was clear the editor was frivolous about their overall situation, but Yokozawa had a reputation to maintain, and if Kirishima kept with the tradition of floating around photos of him in frilly aprons and in his most vulnerable moments, he'd surely lose the title he earned.

The last thing he wanted was for others to lean toward their own assumptions about him and began to view him differently or even degrade him. He didn't play the bad guy at work because he necessarily wanted to, he just learned from experience that more gets done when you don't spoil your subordinates and you give them a strict working environment.

If that were to change because of the picture Kirishima paints to everyone, he'd be in trouble, and it would only worsen if they actually start putting the pieces together between himself and Kirishima.

"It's not really a big deal if others know. In this modern day in age it's not like they're going to fire two good workers just because they're banging each other."

A wave of exasperate coated over him, weighing down his brows. "God, can you please rephrase that…"

From below Kirishima looked up at him with a smirk appearing, but it was interrupted when a buzz came from Yokozawa's pocket.

"…?" It was rare for him to get calls this late. Releasing from Kirishima's constricted grip around his fingers, he drew out his cell and wondered who it could be calling at this late hour.

Being so use to the dimness of the room, the light of the cell momentarily blinded him, but when his eyes adjusted to the words displayed on the caller I.D., his head pulled back in disbelief.

"You gonna answer that or what?"

"Uh… well..." Wondering if it was better to ignore it, he soon decided against it. For one, he knew Kirishima would just childishly hound him about it if he did, "It's... Masamune."

"Sooo... answer it."

The last thing he wanted to do right now is talk to him, but given the late hour he couldn't think of a reason other than an emergency, so he was left with no room to evade.

Hesitantly, he pulled the cell to his ear, "Hello?"

"WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU?"

"… … …" Yokozawa's lids fluttered wildly at the voice stabbing his eardrum, "Wher—huh? Are you… drunk?"

"You're asking me? I was thinking the same thing about you! Why aren't you home this late on a work night?"

"… …" Yokozawa had been confused many times in his life, especially since he met Kirishima, but this defiantly took the cake, and to make matters worse, Kirishima had mysteriously recovered from his fatigue and hauled himself up close to the cell, trying to listen in on the conversation.

Yokozawa almost slipped out an "Idiot!" on impulse, but luckily caught the word from slipping out. If he hadn't, it surely would confuse the already very confused editor on the other line, so he instead shoved him away and returned to the conversation, "I'm—really not following you, Masamune."

"I'm at your apartment! Why did you change your lock? My key doesn't work anymore!"

"…" This… is bad. "W-What are you… doing there…?!"

Takano's voice became mild, but the frustration in his sharp tone was still evident, "Something came up and have to put Sorata back in your care."

And now it went from bad to worse.

"A-Ah, that's um," his plan of acting calm wasn't going over so well. The fear leaking from his voice was certainly detected. "In that case I'll just come to your place and get him."

"…You really are drunk, aren't you? I'm already at your place with him. Besides, I have to leave soon so I don't have time to go all the way back home to wait for you to arrive."

"Oh. Well you see… I—moved."

"HUH? And when exactly were you planning on telling me?! Oh never mind, I don't have the time for this shit right now. Just give me the address."

"Masamune, it's… really not that eas-"

"Yokozawa! Go sober up or something because I really need you to cooperate with me right now!"

"Right…Hold on a second." Even as he removed the cell from his ear, he could hear Takano's impatient cussing. There must of been something really urgent he had to attend to.

Covering the receiver, he spoke low to the other editor-in-chief beside him. "We kind of have a problem. Something apparently came up and he needs me to take Sorata back. I told him I'd come to him, but he's already out of his way so he can't go back to his place for me to pick him up…"

"So what's the problem?"

Scrunching his features in bafflement, Yokozawa considered that maybe he wasn't as sharp as he thought he was because he wasn't catching onto the dilemma here. "You don't see the bind that leaves us in?"

"Nope. Go on and give him the address."

"Y-You sure? I mean, this is—"

"—not a big deal? …Hmm, from the look on your face I guess we aren't up to the 'finishing each other's sentences' point yet…"

Yokozawa rolled his eyes away and looked back at the cell unsurely before returning it to his ear. "Alright, I'll text you the address."

"About time. See you soon."

"…Y-Yeah. Bye." He flipped the phone down hard. "This is just great."

"What's wrong?"

After speedily sending off the text, he stood. "Maybe it's not a big deal to you, but it is for me."

"Ah I get it. You're worried about him finding out we live together now. Well, don't. He'll probably be here less than two seconds so there's no way he'll figure anything out."

He eyed him skeptically, feeling slightly assured. "You—promise to just let me handle this on my own and not get involved? Because it would be awkward to explain right now and—"

"Yes I promise! Seriously, you're just working yourself up over nothing." Noticing the worry still soaking up his face, Kirishima stood and reeled him in by his hips and covered that tensed expression up with a layer of flaming red after planting his lips on his. "There, that's better~ Listen, I'm going to bed anyways so you go settle everything with him and I'll stay clear out of sight, alright?"

"…T-Thanks."

Welcoming him into the genkan, Yokozawa noticed how worn-out Takano appeared and made a comparison how much he drastically changed in the matter of a few hours. He could tell the guy was in a rush, but he just had to know what this sudden urgency was all about.

"If you don't mind my asking, what happened?"

Gently placing down the carrier, Takano returned back to his stance with a huffed sigh. "Horrible misunderstand happened with one of my authors so I have to go see them to assure we make the deadline. But thanks to someone I missed my train so now I'm behind schedule already."

"That's hardly my fault. If that was the issue, you could have just left Sorata at your place and texted me about your situation and I would have picked him up in the morning. He would've been alright one night alone."

"I know that, but you see, your apartment was right next to the station I was heading to, so I figured I would drop him off while I was down that way to save you from another trip to my apartment. If I knew I had to go through all this shit I wouldn't have, but I already had Sorata with me so I had no choice. If I had to turn around and drop him back home I would've been even later than I am now."

"Sorry for the trouble. I guess telling you I moved… slipped my mind."

"Yeah I noticed," he said irritatedly, then slanted his view over Yokozawa's shoulder "...So, this is your new apartment?"

Yokozawa shifted his body over and blocked his sight with an unnatural smile that Takano looked to be thrown-off to see. "You have a train to catch, right? I don't want to keep you any longer. Thanks for coming out of your way to bring Sorata over."

Takano shifted his eyes on him for a moment, squinting them slightly, then turned away. "Yeah you're right. I have to get going. See ya'."

"Be safe."

Relaxing his shoulders down the moment the door clicked shut, he rewarded himself with a deep breath. That actually went well unlike how he originally foreseen it. At first he was just worried about Takano finding out he was living with Kirishima, and even though he did want him to be informed properly some day, it was still too soon and the time wasn't right.

It was a possibility that he was already onto the relationship thanks to Kirishima's drunken slur back at the bar, but if he were to figure out he was actually living with him just now while being in a rush, Yokozawa wouldn't be able to explain everything to him like he one day plans to. It was for the best that everything turned out smoothly like this.

Peering into the carrier beyond the bars, he found Sorata purring in a deep sleep. Even all the late night traveling and location change couldn't stir an elder cat out of a nap.

"...?"

Across the top of the carrier was a long black strap, and when he followed it around to the other side, it was revealed to be messenger bag. Takano must have set it down when he lightened his load.

Stepping out of the apartment, Yokozawa caught sight of Takano. Thankfully he hadn't gotten far yet. "Hold it, you forgot this Masamune."

Turning around, his puzzled expression faded to one of relief when he saw what was hanging from Yokozawa's grip.

"Oh man, good thing you seen this when you did. My trip would've been for nothing without these documents— "

Between Takano's thanks, a sudden voice floated up from behind, and that's when his body fell into shambles.

"Ugh is he gone yet? Can I come out now Yokozawa~?" Kirishima, now just arriving where his voice reached, froze as he seen the two men staring back at him with bulging eyes. "...Whoops, I guess not."

"Uh... H-He... It's really not—" His heart thudded faster than his rambling speech. It was never easy to make up an excuse on the spot right to Takano's face, especially because of all the times he tried in the past and he called him out on it. He had a keen detection for liars.

It surely wasn't helping any that Kirishima continued to stand there looking like a lost child, but he supposed the damage was already done. If he were to return back into hiding that wouldn't erase the fact Takano had already saw him. There was no good excuse to give. No matter how he put it, this looked bad on his end. Even if the first conclusion Takano reached wasn't them actually living together, there was still no explanation to why he would be with Japun's chief editor in the middle of the night.

He took a quick breath and spit out the most pathetic try at lying he could, but he realized after how stupid he sounded, not to mention just by saying it, it came off more as a guilty confession, "We aren't living together… o-or anything…"

"Huh? You don't live here? Strange. That's news to me."

He thrashed his raging temper at Kirishima, whose calmness differentiated profusely from his own current state. "I didn't ask for your fucking commentary!"

"Yokozawa."

He wanted to physically hurt the guy right then and there, but he was drawn back from Takano announcing his name, and it was revealed that he was wearing a soft smile. "It's okay. Really—it's none of my business, but I'm really happy for you." Leaving him behind with the sensation of a firm pat on his shoulder, Takano left.

"…"

After a long while, Kirishima took it upon himself to shatter the silence. "If you ask me, I think that went rather well."

"Like hell it did! Why did you come out?! You did that on purpose!" Fury wasn't even the word for the emotion flowing through him right now. After he promised to keep out of sight, Yokozawa felt like a naïve fool for actually believing him.

"Did not! I dozed off but got woken up by the door slamming so I assumed he was gone and I just wanted to check out how everything went."

Even if that were true… "You didn't have to make it worse like you did!"

"All I did was add a sprinkle of lighter fluid to an already raging fire."

"You're the arson responsible for the fire in the first place!"

Holding his throbbing head, he recalled just how well it was going before. Why couldn't it have stayed that way? If Kirishima just stayed in his room like he swore, all of this could have been avoided. Even now, he couldn't draw himself away from viewing the door. Desperately he prayed for what just happened to be a hallucination caused by his own stress.

"…Soooo you think he has us all figured out now?"

Trying to bite back his tongue, Yokozawa figured if he didn't let out his rage now, he'd be a walking disaster. It was better for him to seize the moment and viciously chew out the guy now. He scowled harshly and let him have it until an even later hour of the night, "Of course he does, idiot!"

Hiyori thought it was best not to question over why her father had slept out on the couch last night, and she most defiantly didn't want to touch the subject on why her oniichan was sending him vile glares throughout the entire morning. It also made her wonder why Sorata was back at home suddenly, when she clearly remembered being told he would be staying with his original owner for a while.

By falling asleep during the film, did she miss out on an important piece to this puzzling situation?