Please Let Me Live a Lazy Life!

Chapter 17: I Want to Live a Lazy Life (2)

While grabbing one of his full body pillows to hug, Tanaka tilted his head, his droopy eyes looking up at the ceiling momentarily before shrugging as a response to the older man's statement.

The development of cold fusion technology had gone quite far under Tanaka's care, but by no means were they close to being done. So far, everything--the materials, technology, and installation--was affordable only to someone like Basim and the energy output was not efficient or controlled enough for public use. The safety measures weren't established and there were still too many things that could go wrong. Not to mention, there was still a high possibility that the reactor could explode in one's face...

Either way, Tanaka didn't feel they were at the point of celebrating anything yet, but he still preened under Basim's praise regardless. If they were in the same room, he would have already leaned his head towards the taller man in hopes of a 'good job' pat.

Looking at the other's clean and bright face, Basim unwittingly released a gentle laugh and relaxed further in the lounge chair of his hotel room. The young Japanese could see a peek of the city's nightlife in the background and the lights seemed to create stars upon the Arabian's dark hair and black eyes.

The tycoon seemed to be somewhere in Europe since Tanaka could see the polished, baroque-styled buildings. The white stones and bright colors were a magnificent combination, and maybe if he had cared more for the architecture, he would have noticed the familiar but unique style and distinguished sculptures of beasts and people that also looked familiar...

What country was Basim visiting? Wasn't he in the states?

Before he could scrutinize his friend's location further, there was a knock near his bedroom door. He turned away from the T.V. screen to see his brother's, Daichi's, trim figure.

As a high ranked person in the Japanese Defense Force, his subtle muscle could be seen even through his hoodie and sweatpants, contrasting greatly with his gentle face. He had a short crew cut for easy maintenance, and Tanaka remembered one time asking for the same haircut when he was younger, only to be blocked off by both his mother and his sister. Their father looked ready to burst out laughing at the suggestion while Daichi had a pinched, smiling expression.

In the end, he didn't because his hair grew fast and that would mean constant visits to the hairdresser every few weeks or so.

Tanaka stared at his brother's familiar yet unfamiliar stature and for some reason, his nose soured and his eyes felt hot.

Weirdly, Daichi, who was usually in tuned with his little brother's emotional state, didn't notice the other's building distress. He had a gentle smile that seemed strangely foreboding, but Tanaka didn't really care what it meant as long as his older brother was still smiling.

With tender eyes, Daichi walked into the room, but strangely, he hadn't even acknowledged Basim on the monitor. It was a surprisingly rude action, and they were both usually very polite to each other. "Naka-chan, Arata-kun's here to see you," his elder brother informed him with some amusement and suddenly, Tanaka's blood grew cold. Then he became confused.

Wasn't... the timing wrong?

"Ah, I see that you're busy at the moment," Basim then suddenly commented, making Tanaka even more confused. "I'll let you go for now. Goodbye."

A strange panic stirred within Tanaka's chest. The Arabian had always been nice to his friends— to everyone except Arata, apparently. Tanaka had known Arata since they were in middle school and he then later met Basim while he was still in high school. From their first meeting, his school mate looked at the Saudi with blatant suspicions while the older man had sneered down at the other with dark eyes full of ridicule.