You whom I saw through the lens

 Chapter One

It's the usual day for Takemichi. Cope up in a room he rented for the whole year with a dslr camera in his hand. His cup noodle abandoned on the table, focusing on the expensive penthouse right in front of the room.

“Seems like Mikey-kun is away again.”-He said.-“Still didn’t got enough evidence about them.”

He sighed as he looks at the cup noodle. It’s all bloated and no longer look appetising.

“Come to think of it, did Bonten have connections with the police?”-he thought.-“How come the police haven’t captured them?”

He zoomed his lens towards Mikey's room, trying to find anything that is interesting. Well, interesting enough to be the headline of a news. But still, he got nothing. He went to the place where they usually held their business transaction. Still, his team leader still said it’s not something hot enough to be the main topic of the week. Maybe Bonten is so powerful, even the prime minister isn’t able to do anything with them. Why did he even bother to spy on them? Maybe it’s time to find other topic to write. With that, he started cleaning the room.

                                         ***

“And, you decided to drop Bonten's topic?”- Atsushi, Takemichi's chief editor asked.

“Yeah, I did.”-Takemichi answered.

“Good, it’s for your own good. Those guys are dangerous.”-Atsushi said, sighing.

“Because of their connections?”-Takemichi asked.

“Of course not because of that. They won’t hesitate to kill. That’s why they’re dangerous.”-Atsushi said, focusing his eyes on the white board beside him.

“I understand.”-Takemichi said and walked back to his desk.

He sighed, looking at the screen of his laptop with a blank face. Thinking of any possible topic that he can study.

“What are you doing, partner?"

Takemichi slowly turned his face towards the voice and saw Chifuyu.

"You okay there partner?”-Chifuyu asked, putting his camera on his desk.

“Yeah, just searching for any new topic to write.”-Takemichi said and sighed.

“What about topic that girls will enjoy?”-Chifuyu asked.

“Topic that girls will like?”-Takemichi asked.

“Hey! That’s my specialty.”-Senju shouted from her desk.

“That’s Senju's specialty.”-Takemichi said, mocking Senju.

“Why did you drop the topic you're investigating before?”-Chifuyu asked –“Wait, what were you doing again?”

“I was spying.”-Takemichi asked.

“On what?”-Baji entered with a wide grin.

“Baji-san, I know you’re trying to show off your sexy fangs.”-Takemichi sighed.

“Heh, I know my fangs are sexy.”-Baji replied with a smug looking face.-“You haven’t answered my question, you crybaby.”

"What was it again?”-Takemichi asked.

“The topic or case you just dropped.”-Chifuyu asked,gulping his soda drink.

“Bonten.”-Takemichi answered, still looking blank.

One word from Takemichi, and everyone inside the room frozed. Baji gaped. Chifuyu's jaw dropped, resulting the drink inside his mouth dropped on his turtle-neck shirt. While Senju is shaking her head, trying to make sure her ears aren’t deceiving her.

“So you’re investigating Bonten?”-Baji asked.

“Yeah, but I dropped it.”-Takemichi replied.

“That’s good. They’re dangerous, partner. Who knows what they got in their sleeves.”-Chifuyu replied.

“Yeah, Atsushi said that too.”-Takemichi chuckled, patting Chifuyu's shoulder.-“Now help me search a new topic or I'll be jobless.”

“Still saving money for your wedding?”-Baji asked.

“I’m not getting married.”-Takemichi replied, trying to be calm.

“Aren’t you with Hina?”-Chifuyu asked.

“No, we break up two weeks ago.”-Takemichi said, his lips curved into a soft smile.-“I was the one who dumped her.”

“What the heck, man?”-Baji asked.

“We never sleep with each other. And the strange thing is, I didn’t get turned on when I saw her half naked in the bathroom.”- Takemichi replied, still with a soft smile on his face.-“That’s when I know that I'm gay.”

“This is the second time you managed to leave us flabbergasted for today. Congratulations partner.”-Chifuyu said, wiping his camera lens.

“What? Why?”-Takemichi being oblivious, asked.

“First, you’re putting yourself in danger for spying Bonten. Second, the fact that you're gay.”-Chifuyu said, a hint of blush plastered on his face.

“Weird, but okay.”-Takemichi said.-“Now I seriously need to find a new topic.”

“Good luck with that?”-Baji sneered.

“Something good like teenage bike gang. Isn’t you and Baji used to be in a gang during your highschool year?”- Takemichi asked.

“Why can’t you choose a topic that didn’t put yourself in danger? You idiot.”- Baji scolded.-“Choose a safe topic this time, you dumbass.”

“Fine fine. I understand.”-Takemichi sighed.-“I’ll find other cases that are safe.”

                                           ***

“Maybe I should be a journalist.”-Takemichi sighed.

It’s been a week since he dropped Bonten case and he have been writing normal reports instead. Missing cat. Fights between high schools students. Even a full report of why hot spring is good for health. It’s...too ordinary is what Takemichi thought. Being deep in his thought, he didn’t even realized that he's already in front of his apartment. A cheap one of course. That’s when he saw a bouquet of flowers. Three flowers to he exact. Red rose, camellia and dahlia. Beside it, there lay a pretty envelope, address to him.

“I wonder who give me this.”-he thought before scooping the bouquet and the letter with his hand before unlocking his apartment door.

He let out a sigh as he settle on his couch.

"This is quite romantic.”-he said as he tear the envelope, revealing a blue paper inside it.

He unfold it and read it’s content.[

Hey Takemitchy. So you stopped trying to pursue the truth about me. No wonder I haven’t seen you at the cheap room you rented just in front of my penthouse. You thought I didn’t know? I made you think that I didn’t realized that. How was it? Am I handsome through your lens? Cause you sure are pretty through mine. Those flowers are my gift for you. Since you like me so much that you keep on taking pictures of me. So am I. It’s mutual feelings. I won’t meet you yet. Or maybe that’s what you wanted. I’m fine either way. Can’t wait for us to be together.]

Takemichi gasped when he finished reading the letter. He felt light-headed.

“He knew.”-Takemichi let out a soft sob.-“He knew all this time.”

He trembled with fear. Cold sweat started to drip on his face.

"He knew my name too.”-Takemichi quivered.-“Fuck, this time I really am in danger."