Asakura felt both anxious and terrified to identify that piece of fabric. What if it was Sato’s? What if that meant he was there, lying on the ground wounded or even worse… dead?
Before his mind could comprehend what was happening, Asakura heard movement between the branches. He whirled around just in time to spot a familiar figure walking from behind a tree.
The two people stopped their movements and stared at each other.
They were both stunned speechless by this sudden encounter. But in Asakura’s case, he felt something more than just surprise. His heart beat fast in his chest. He felt it thrashing against the ribcage like a frantic bird trying to escape.
There, in front of his eyes stood none other than the person he most desperately wanted to see. And he was unharmed and well.
This knowledge caused Asakura to be elated and relieved to the point that his mind stopped functioning altogether. His body moved faster than his brain and in the next instant, he was already embracing Sato tightly. He pulled the other man closer with both arms, pressing him against his body.
The firmness of his gestures betrayed anxiousness and he couldn’t even put into words just how happy he was at that moment.
As if afraid that the man he was holding was just an illusion caused by his frightened mind, Asakura kept touching Sato’s back with his hands. His palms were applying pressure here and there, making sure the body was actually real.
Feeling those chaotic touches, Sato could barely repress a shudder. Asakura’s hands caused a tingling feeling to surge throughout his body, ultimately drawing out a soft gasp from his lips.
That’s when he decided it was probably a good idea to put some distance between them. But when he tried to move away, Asakura pulled him closer, stubbornly plastering his hands against Sato’s back.
“Uhm, Asakura-san… What happened?” Sato ventured to ask.
Indeed, Asakura’s actions were too shocking for him, and this closeness was making him feel rather troubled.
“Just… stay like this for now. Let me hold you for a little while longer. Please…”
Asakura’s deep and magnetic voice travelled to Sato’s ears like an enticing whisper. Those words, that hot breath that accompanied them, together with the tightness of those arms, they all felt really good.
This entire situation caused Sato’s face to turn beet red in an instant. Indeed, something quite strange was happening with Asakura, for he could not comprehend the meaning of the man’s actions right now.
After a fair amount of time passed, Asakura finally moved. He released Sato, slowly pulling away from his body. It was clear he didn’t want to do that, but he fought against himself so as to not make Sato feel too uncomfortable.
Little did he know that it was already too late for that. Sato was already feeling plenty of discomfort. By the time he was released, his entire face glowed with a deep blush and his movements became skittish. He avoided looking Asakura in the eye, while cautiously moving around the man to look down the slope.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“Ktja’r abb yjv.” Lf rlutfv rboais, rtjxlcu tlr tfjv. “Pa kjr remt j yfjealoei mbja jcv cbk la’r gelcfv.”
Crjxegj obiibkfv tlr ilcf bo rluta jcv rbbc rqbaafv atf rjwf qlfmf bo ktlaf mibat atja tjv ulnfc tlw remt j teuf rmjgf.
“Vjab-xec, ktja lr atja atlcu? P jiwbra tjv j tfjga jaajmx atlcxlcu la kjr sbe vbkc atfgf lcpegfv bg fnfc kbgrf…” Crjxegj rabqqfv, cba jyif ab mbcalcef tlr kbgvr.
“That’s my outer robe.” Sato replied with another sigh.
“Your outer robe?” Asakura repeated in astonishment.
Only then did he look more carefully at what Sato was wearing.
The formerly white clothes were now covered in dirt and were thorn in several places.
After this thorough check, he noticed that Sato was indeed dressed with only the inner robe. He hadn’t noticed the difference before, since he was too rattled to think properly and both garbs were white anyway. But now, realizing the situation, caused him to show a rare blush. In modern terms, it was as though Sato was walking around wearing only his pajamas. The thought made Asakura feel both embarrassed and somewhat excited.
Trying to cover his state of mind, Asakura coughed lightly and pointed towards the white coat below the cliff.
“How did it end up down there? It couldn’t be that you got so sick of playing your character that you decided to throw away the clothes, could it?” he tried to infuse a more lighthearted note in his tone.
“How can that be?! Of course not!” Sato denied hastily, looking even more embarrassed now. “I just… I somehow fell down the slope and my outer robe got loose. Before I managed to stop it, the waistband had already come down and the robe flew away, landing down there. I thought of retrieving it but it seemed too dangerous. So, in the end, I gave up.” Sato finished speaking, showing a mortified expression.
Yes, he was feeling both guilty and self-conscious for causing damage to his costume.
Seeing his expression, Asakura couldn’t help but smile. For him it didn’t matter how many clothes Sato damaged, as long as he was safe. Nevertheless, he understood and respected the young man’s feelings of responsibility.
“Alright, I understand now. More importantly, are you hurt anywhere?”
“Uhm…” Sato hesitated, looking down at his left leg. “I think I might have twisted my ankle.”
Without saying another word, Asakura knelt and, much to Sato’s surprise, proceeded to check the ankle in question. His movements were gentle and his expression serious as if he was undergoing a very important operation.
Sato was taken aback and he blushed in embarrassment. Having Asakura kneel in front of him and checking his foot with such careful consideration was simply too much for his poor nerves to handle. He quickly tried to stop the man from continuing what he was doing.
“Asakura-san, it’s quite alright. I can still walk, albeit very slowly. So, there is really nothing to worry about. Please get up.”
“Stay still and raise your foot.” Asakura ignored him and continued with his thorough examination.
Sato gulped and did as he was told. There was something about this person that didn’t allow for a refusal.
“Does this hurt?” Asakura asked, twisting the foot slightly.
“En. It hurts a little.” Sato squinted his eyes from the pain.
He wasn’t really being honest. His ankle was actually hurting more than he was telling. But he didn’t want the other man to worry unnecessarily.
“It’s indeed twisted. You will need to ice it and refrain from moving around for a while.” Asakura concluded, maintaining his position and staring firmly at Sato.
Due to the difference in height now, Asakura had to tilt his head back. When he stared up at Sato’s face from that angle, he felt as though he was looking at a bright spot in the sky.
“Uhm, Asakura-san?”
“Hop onto my back. I’ll carry you.” Asakura snapped from his reverie and replied to the unasked question that could be picked up from Sato’s tone.
“What?! No, no! That’s not necessary!”
Sato’s embarrassed blush deepened and he even tried to retreat a step. But as he moved backward, he didn’t pay attention and ended up using his injured foot.
As it was expected, his body stumbled and he almost fell. Luckily, Asakura had good reflexes and caught him before his body touched the ground.
“Didn’t I just say that you should refrain from moving?” Asakura chided with a frown.
Despite his tone, his movements were quite gentle. Before Sato was able to protest, he bent down and pulled the young man onto his back. His strong arms snaked around Sato’s legs, hauling him higher.
Due to the violent jerk, Sato instinctively wrapped his arms around Asakura’s neck. He held on tightly, his mind suddenly more focused on not falling than on anything else.
Asakura smiled to himself and began walking towards the camp. Because of the slow pace, it took them almost an hour before they returned. By that time, everyone was going crazy with worry.
The moment he saw Asakura appearing from the forest, Producer Fukuoka came rushing towards him like a summoned spirit.
“Why didn’t you give us a call and say you found him? We’ve been worried sick this whole time!” the man reproached crossly.
“Sorry. My hands were full.” Asakura replied without batting an eye. His arms, though, tightened slightly around Sato’s legs.
This seemingly innocent gesture, as well as his words, resulted in another bright blush spreading across Sato’s cheeks.
“Asakura-san, since we’re already here you can put me down. I can walk…”
“Not possible.” Asakura denied promptly, turning his head to glance at Sato’s flustered face. “I’m taking you to a hospital and then back to the resort.”
“B-But what about the shooting?”
“How can you even think about that now when your foot is injured?” Asakura snapped, frowning at the young man.
“Sato-kun.” Producer Fukuoka interjected hastily. “It’s best to listen to Asakura-san. He was very worried about you and even went to search for you personally. Since you are injured, there is nothing to be done but to rest and get well soon.”
“But…”
“Don’t argue with us and do as you are told.” Fukuoka insisted, glancing nervously at Asakura’s darkening expression.
This person’s previous show of anger had left a lasting impression in the Producer’s mind. The impact had been so strong that Fukuoka now feared Asakura’s unpredictable temper. In the Producer’s opinion, anything that goes against Asakura’s wishes might make him explode in fury. Hence, this person must not be provoked. He must be kept calm and pleased at all cost.
Producer Fukuoka coughed and searched for a way to smooth the situation better.
“As soon as you two leave, I will let everybody know. We can resume the shooting when you feel better.” He added with confidence.
A/N: Yaaay, Sato-kun was safe and sound and Asakura didn’t have to explode in anger again. 
How will things go next with that other person I wonder 🤔
I’m so glad he’s okay!
Thanks for the chapter <3
Yep, they got lucky <333
I’m relieved that nothing bad happened to Sato! But is it alright for Asakura to be so close to Sato in front of others ?
Thanks for the chapter 💜
I think Asakura is now ready to make his move. And based on his personality, he won’t act from the shadows again. He learned his lesson 😂🤭 He is now ready to shout and tell the entire world that he likes Sato-kun!
💜💜💜