Paul Kamihira and Benjamin Murase meet again at the airport after not seeing each other for twelve years. Coincidentally, they’re both going to Japan, mainly for the winter festivals. The winter festivals have been on their bucket lists for years. They decide to travel together while in Japan. Their mutual crush boils over during the trip, and it isn’t long before they confess their feelings and start dating.
Their time in Japan is going to be the beautiful beginning of their relationship, and the memories will last for a lifetime. However, dealing with a new relationship while navigating their ways through unfamiliar cities in a foreign country are quite challenging, and it’s worse when Paul and Benjamin encounter someone from the past. The two of them do their best to overcome the trials and tribulations while visiting many incredibly beautiful places in Japan and eating plenty of delicious food.
Will Paul and Benjamin’s relationship endure and blossom?
It had been about twelve years since Benjamin had last interacted with Paul. Throughout those years, he had somehow succeeded in suppressing all of those fluttering feelings of admiration and desire for Paul deep in his gut. He thought he had gotten over Paul after so many years of zero contact with the older man. However, judging by how he was feeling at the moment, along with the physical reactions that Paul elicited from him just by looking into his eyes and smiling at him, he was obviously still madly infatuated with the man. He could control himself just fine when they had met at the airport in Chicago. Or when they had been on the planes. Benjamin had been completely okay when they had dinner together the previous evening. It was different now, though. Benjamin would be sitting next to Paul for the entire duration of their bus trip to Jozankei. One hour of simultaneous blissful and torturous moments.
This seat is killing me. It’s so fucking narrow!
Benjamin snickered softly after reading the message from Paul. He understood why Paul had to resort to texting him. Even though every seat on the free shuttle bus was fully occupied, nobody was talking at all. The silence was a little stifling, but at the same time, Benjamin appreciated it. In Japan, especially when one was riding on any public transportation, it was expected that he or she should remain quiet as much as possible. If and when it was absolutely necessary to have a conversation, the volume of voice had to be really soft so as not to disturb everyone else. Naturally, all smartphones shouldn’t make any noise. No ringtone, no typing tone, no system tone, or anything that would cause a racket of any sort.
The seat isn’t narrow. You’re too big!
Benjamin chuckled a bit when Paul immediately glared in his direction after checking out his message. He simply grinned at Paul in response.
Did you just imply that I’m fat?
If the shoe fits ...
Fuck you, jerk!
Benjamin could feel his heart pounding really fast and hard. Honestly, he was more than willing to have sex with Paul, but he couldn’t say that. In the end, he sent a grinning emoji. He was going to leave it at that, but he quickly changed his mind.
You’re not horizontally challenged. You’re far from it. LMAO. Frankly, you’re reaching the point of being overly muscular. Well, unless that’s your goal. Then it’s all right.
What kind of man do you like?
You. Benjamin wished he could answer the question with that, but he couldn’t. He had been too much of a coward twelve years ago. He didn’t have the courage to confess his feelings for Paul back then. Apparently, he still didn’t have the balls to do it now. It was cold outside. Fourteen degrees Fahrenheit when he last checked the temperature online. The bus driver had switched on the heater so it was quite warm inside the vehicle. However, Benjamin knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that he was sweating like a pig not because of the heater. He was thinking about telling Paul how he felt, and that made him nervous. Anxious. Terrified. Benjamin didn’t want to risk losing Paul again. Not when they had just reunited after so many years of separation.
I don’t have a specific type. It depends on the man’s character and personality, and how we vibe when we’re just hanging out and chatting.
That should be vague enough. Benjamin hoped that Paul wouldn’t push him to clarify anything. If Paul did that, Benjamin was certain that he would end up, either accidentally or otherwise, leaking various hints here and there. He remembered that Paul had been a hardworking and academically intelligent guy back in college. He was pretty sure that Paul only considered him as a friend and nothing more. He didn’t want Paul to catch on that he had feelings for the man. That would be mortifying, and it would hurt him really bad if their friendship was destroyed because of it.
Same.
The one-word response seemed to signal the end of their text conversation. Benjamin was quite relieved. As much as he enjoyed talking to Paul, he needed a bit of time to regain his composure. Sitting so close to Paul was wreaking havoc on Benjamin’s self-control. Their sides were pressed tightly together, and Benjamin was probably imagining it, but he could feel the warmth coming from Paul. That wasn’t the only thing. Paul’s muscular arm and legs were incredibly hard. He smelled slightly musky, and Benjamin really loved the scent.
