Katsuyuki pulled the door closed behind him. He couldn't bring himself to look back at Yuanfei as he left, even to throw an insouciant goodbye over his shoulder; the prickly warmth of shame that flushed his face was already at the peak that he could stomach.

Out of sight, he slumped against the wall and released a ragged sigh. It was starting again. And somehow, it was already getting out of hand.

A date. With a man. Yuanfei had denied it, but he'd never been a particularly good liar. And god, why did Katsuyuki have to kiss him on the way out? He winced in embarrassment. If the invitation hadn't had an inappropriate vibe to it before, it certainly did now.

He tilted his head back. It was wrong - so wrong - and strange, and humiliating, and yet his chest fluttered with an excitement he hadn't felt before. He couldn't say it, couldn't bring himself to even consider it, but in the back of his mind, he knew why.

No, he could admit it. He was man enough to admit it.

He was looking forward to it. The reason why, he still refused to consider, mind, but his heart thrummed regardless of what his head failed to accept. He'd never have imagined something like this could happen to him – that Yuanfei would dare to ask for a night out together in that sort of way – and now that he finally faced that rare opportunity, he wasn't about to squander it. This was his one chance to see what it would be like: to experience Yuanfei in that new context. Something personal. Intimate. Even if it wasn't truly a date, as judged by Yuanfei's desperate clarifications, it felt like one in some sort of hypothetical sense – like an opportunity to play that role, get a feel for it, just for one night; to get a taste for how it would be, if things were different. If Yuanfei wanted it in earnest too. If the world was more accepting. If he were braver to pursue it himself.

Reaching into his pocket, he whipped out his phone and dialled. It rang for only a moment; Bailey was always quick to answer.

“Good afternoon, Mr Ito.”

Katsuyuki steadied his voice. “Bailey,” He started with a controlled indifference in his tone. “I know it's short notice, but I need a dinner reservation booking for tomorrow. For two people.” His voice faltered a touch. He clenched his teeth with a strained sigh.

“Certainly, sir. Any preferences? Location, cuisine?”

“No,” He replied. “I don't think so.” He hesitated. He frowned, eyes nervously flicking back and forth across the ground. “... I don't know,” He mumbled. 

He needed help, he knew that - but asking Bailey felt so awkward. It was inappropriate to put her on the spot with a personal question, he knew that. He didn't want to be one of those guys; the ones who treat their assistant like a therapist, or - god forbid - a mother. But she was smart. Discerning. Tactful. And he had no one else to ask. “I don't know what's best. It's with... someone new.”

Bailey gave a brief hum in acknowledgement. “Perhaps we should start with budget to find something that suits.” She was careful to spin it around, artfully twisting words of wisdom into sanitised, impersonal recommendation. And thank god she was so good at it - it took the edge off the crippling shame.

“Any budget.”

“Something higher-end?” She'd read between the lines. Something impressive.

“I guess,” Katsuyuki replied with the same performatively offhand tone.

“Perhaps La Rose Blanche? Fine dining, award-winning drinks menu - that could suit you well if she likes cocktails.”

“Who?” As the question slipped out, the answer clicked. He caught himself, but it was already too late. “Oh - you mean--” Katsuyuki stiffened. His free hand clenched into a fist in his jacket pocket. So much for subtlety. “... No, you've misunderstood. I'm going with a friend - with a man.” He rolled his eyes, exasperated with himself. “... It's for discussing work.”

Bailey was quiet for just a moment, a sliver of a fleeting second - but Katsuyuki caught it: a pause just a little longer than comfortable. “I see,” She said, continuing with her usual methodical fluidity. “My apologies, Mr Ito.”

“So I don't want it to be romantic, if that's what you were thinking,” He added hastily. “Definitely not.”

“Of course, sir. If you'd like something more professional, then perhaps Restaurant Blackwell. It's in the West of the financial district, overlooking the river.” Katsuyuki had been there once before. It was on the opposite side of the city from the office, and too bohemian for many of the old-money tastes of those that worked there; less chance of running into one of his father's associates. “It's become popular with young professionals - the bar's a well-known hotspot for networking, if that's of interest. But for dining,” She continued with a slight emphasis in her voice. “The tables are more more secluded. If you're looking to discuss something confidential, perhaps that would suit you well. You'd have plenty of privacy.”

God, she knew. Katsuyuki opened his mouth to correct her, to chastise her, to indulge the knee-jerk reflex of aggression in the face of shame, but he caught himself before he spoke a word. She didn't know. She couldn't.

Even if she did...

Katsuyuki shuddered at the thought.

She didn't know.

“... Sure. Blackwell sounds fine.”

“I'll get it booked right away, sir.”

Katsuyuki disconnected the call without another word, slipping his phone back into his pocket. He released a sigh, and with it too the pent-up pressure in his shoulders that he hadn't realized he'd been holding. His feet idly led him down the hospital's hall while his mind wandered elsewhere.

It was really happening. There was nothing standing in-between them; no more excuses of why they couldn't, shouldn't, mustn't get too close. The thought was oddly daunting. That repudiation of why not had been a sturdy pillar to fall back on, something to keep him from collapsing when this unfamiliar territory overwhelmed him. Without any reasons left to hold it back... Where was this friendship going?

He was snapped out of his thoughts by familiar voices. The other three had made it, it seemed. Hunter was the first of them to notice him, bellowing loudly in greeting from down the hall. Katsuyuki bristled a little in second-hand embarrassment.

“Yo, Kat! … You still haven't left?” Katsuyuki shrugged. “Man, you've been here for hours,” Hunter continued before he had a chance to reply. “YF's gotta be sick of you by now. I know I would be.” Katsuyuki narrowed his eyes. Sammy laughed nervously.

“He's joking! Right Hunter?” He elbowed Hunter in a way that wasn't as subtle as Katsuyuki suspected it was meant to be. Apparently, even after all this time, Sammy was still scared of him to some degree. Some things never changed, it seemed.

“C'mon Sammy, he knows I'm just messin' with him.” He slapped Katsuyuki on the shoulder. “At least he's been taking care of YF while we're gone. Did you guys catch the ceremony, by the way? It was sick! Man, even you woulda been impressed. I can't believe you didn't wanna go. You totally missed out.”

Katsuyuki rolled his eyes. “Even if I hadn't embarrassed myself in the finals,” He sighed as the burning embarrassment crept back. “I wasn't going to leave Yuanfei in the hospital by himself.”

“Yeah, good point...” Hunter's look suddenly turned somber and he leaned in close. “By the way, man – speaking of YF - is he... y'know...?” He trailed off with a wry grimace, gesturing pointedly. “You know.”

April tilted her head. “You're asking if he's got permanent brain damage?” Hunter rolled his eyes.

“Well, yeah, obviously. But I was trying to be tactful.”

Katsuyuki gave them a withering glare in return. Tactful as ever.

“He's fine.”

“Whew!” Hunter laughed in relief. “Man, I was getting worried that hit to the head messed him up or something.” Sammy was quick to usher Hunter to the entrance of Yuanfei's room with a timid smile, clearly having caught the scowl that Hunter had missed.

“We should probably get in there then, yeah?” He stammered. “See you later Katsuyuki!” Not even waiting for a response, he pushed Hunter through the door despite his friend's objections, April following close behind. Katsuyuki rolled his eyes. Those three were a special kind of irritating - but slowly, gradually, he was at least getting used to them. 

He redirected his mind back to his evening with Yuanfei. Butterflies in his stomach twisted into a churning terror.

Oh god.

Yuanfei wouldn't say anything about tomorrow night, would he?

He wouldn't tell the others... right?

Right?

No, of course not. Yuanfei was smarter than that. But still, the thought of being discovered sent chills snaking down his spine. If someone saw them together, overheard them together, got the wrong idea... Or the right idea.

No. As long as they were subtle, it would be fine. Quiet, sensible, aloof. Katsuyuki could do that.

And Yuanfei could do that.

Right?

Right.