His arms encircled around the body, bringing them closer together gently. “Don’t worry, it’s just a jab!” Ryosuke beamed at the monkey staring at him. The visitors of the zoo just looked on in wonder, at how Ryosuke managed to tame all animals and gave them the required medical attention, quickly and painlessly.

Soon, the monkey was out of Ryosuke’s grip and swinging away to its family. Packing his things, Ryosuke stood up and looked out of the monkey enclosure. There he was, His childhood friend gave him a thumb up, and Ryosuke smiled back.

That person is Nakajima Yuto, an animal trainer at the zoo, and the very reason why Ryosuke knows how to tame animals too.

Both of them work hand in hand with each other’s department, and both were considered the talents in their very own field, yet they were working in this humble zoo.

Yuto was able to train a tiger within an hour. You’ll see him cuddling it and playing with it. With Yuto’s help, Ryosuke was ableo to get closer to those fierce felines without protection suits or an anesthetic gun. The pair just works wonders.

“Good job. Who knew what would happen it Chika-chan doesn’t get that jab.” Yuto smiled as he saw Ryosuke coming out. The shorter boy was pulled into a friendly hug and he felt his cheeks burning.

They knew each other for the longest time, and Ryosuke was in love with his best friend for the longest time too.

It had all started in this particular zoo. It was a family day and both the Nakajimas and Yamadas went to the zoo together. “I love the lions!” The 5 year old Yuto had exclaimed at that time. Ryosuke had childishly retorted, “Yuto-kun doesn’t love Ryosuke anymore then,” 

A pout adorned his lips, and Yuto had his hands in front of him. “Of course not! Yuto loves Yama-chan the most. Let’s get married when we grow up! Like papa and mama!”

A that time, Ryosuke didn’t understand that tingling feeling in his heard. He remembered nodding his head to Yuto’s childish proposal and a huge grin was plastered on his face for the rest of the day.

That was one main reason why Ryosuke chose to comeback to this zoo for work. For the memories it holds. Another reason was Yuto again. The older boy just wants to be together with Yuto, even at work.

Both of them were chatting away about useless stuffs, when a group of girls approached them. “Eto, I’m Saki! Nakajima-san, can I have your number please?” The girl had her head down, and Ryosuke’s eyes just widened. 

Before Yuto could reply, Ryosuke had curtly told the girl off. “It’s working hours for Nakajima here. It would be unprofessional for him if he gave you his number right? Please leave, unless you want a lion chasing you.”

“What are you? His girlfriend?” Another girl behind Saki started to glare at Ryosuke. The shorter boy had a baffled look on his face. 

A girl? 

So maybe he has his hair tied up in small ponytail at the back, and his uniform is unisexual so he was easily passed off as a female. Not to mention the feminine facial features Yuto kept pointing out.

But he’s a guy. Although being in love with his best friend who is a guy doesn’t help much.

Ryosuke tried to calm himself down, before fishing out a syringe from his case. “Now, please kindly not disturb us going to our next work site, if not I’ll make sure to shove this syringe down your throat.” Pushing it a little, the anestatic flowed out. Ryosuke’s smile had sent shivers down the girls’ spine and they went away while clicking their tongues.

“Yama-chan?” It was when Yuto called out his name did Ryosuke remembered that he wasn’t alone. “Ahh! Let’s go to the tiger’s enclosure now. Chika-chan needs a jab too right? Or was it Kiko-chan?” He just swore that his heard was going to fail him when he felt Yuto hugging him from the back.

“Yama-chan, did you remember what I said to you here?” Breathin out the words into the shorter boy’s ear, Yuto smiled a little when he felt Ryosuke shiver.

“When? You tell me too much random stuffs here.”

 

“All those years back when we’re five.”

“That you love lions?”

“No. That I love you the most and I want to marry you when we grow up.”

“I remember that. Why bring that up? It’s just something childish you said that time.”

A giggle escaped Ryosuke’s lips, but Yuto head the hint of sadness in it. The hug got tighter, and the animals surrounding them were unusually quiet, as if reading the atmosphere.

“I wasn’t kidding back then, Ryosuke.” Turning around the shorter boy around, Yuto saw disbelieve in Ryosuke’s eyes.

“So?” That was the only syllabus Ryosuke managed to choke out.

That wide grin, so dazzling and bright, Ryosuke was almost blinded by it. “Would you be my boyfriend?” Ryosuke, don’t be so dense.” Without thinking, Ryosuke just tiptoed and crashed their lips together.

They got together at the same spot where Yuto had proposed to Ryosuke all those years back. They are back to square one, as a couple instead of just friends.