Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Keilusa la Orr, the Chairman of La Orr Group, called L.O Grp. in short, was well-known for having rosen to the position of leading the largest and most accomplished company in the whole nation at his young age. No difficulties could hinder his path to success. And yet, however, contrary to people’s expectations, he was currently facing a dilemma coming from none other than his own younger brother, Kishiar la Orr.

Kishiar, the Vice-Chairman of L.O Grp. and the CEO of Peletta Co., a company under his brother’s leadership, was just as successful as the latter. He was famous for his divine beauty, thus always making him rank first in the most desirable bachelors leaderboard—or at least, that was everything written in the magazines.

In reality, he had yet to find a suitable partner despite being a 29-year-old man. In other words, he was still single.

And that unexpectedly was on top of Keilusa’s worries at the moment.

“Kishiar” The older one sighed, rubbing his temples. “Why didn’t you come to the meeting?”

“Hmm?”

The man with bright, silky golden locks, who was sitting with his legs crossed in the Chairman’s office and enjoying his cup of tea, tilted his head slightly at the question. A playful glint flashed between his squinted crimson eyes as he grinned widely.

“What are you talking about, brother? You know I’ve never missed any meetings of the company”

“Don’t avoid the topic—and one more thing, address me properly in the office. You know I meant the meeting with your prospective dating partner. This is the fifth time in the month you’ve turned down every one already!”

“Oh, that. But you know, Chairman Orr, I really couldn’t help it. Something came up at the company that day, so I had to rush back midway onto the destination. I did explain the situation and send them gifts as an apology, they were very understanding and we parted ways on good terms”

“…You said the same thing last time, too. What is it? A business partner suddenly appeared and demanded to change the contract’s contents, or one of the employees accidentally ordered the wrong quantity, or a malfunctioned printer started spitting out papers everywhere, or the coffee machine broke down that drastically affected everyone’s motivation so it needed to be replaced immediately?”

“You remember everything I said, as expected of the Chairman! Oh my, I’m so touched…”

“Kishiar”

“Yes, yes…but something really did happen at the company this time. You know a guest from Nelarn will visit us next week, right? Apparently, something came up and they will arrive a week later, so a lot of things needed to be adjusted. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Nathan. He had assisted me for the whole time”

Kishiar shrugged, acting pitifully as if he was hurt to see his brother dismiss his efforts. Keilusa frowned, might or might not have paid attention to his brother’s obvious emphasis on the word ‘this time’, but all he could do was sighing and holding his throbbing head.

It was no secret that he and his dear wife, Faria, hadn’t been able to see an heir after many efforts. So they had long given up and projected their hope onto the remaining family member, Kishiar, that he could continue the bloodline.

However…

Forget about a nephew or a niece, at this rate they wouldn’t be ever able to see Kishiar inviting a lover home!

He’d already been past the marriage age among his peers, let alone dating. He would also soon be thirty, yet he never showed any interest in romance.

Keisula also wanted to give his brother the freedom to meet someone he truly loved, and make a family. However, time passed without rest and all he saw was a workaholic Kishiar, devoting his everything into their business. Of course, he was very grateful for his brother’s help. One could say half of the L.O Grp.’s success was owing to Kishiar’s achievements alone.

Once the foundation had been stabilized, Keilusa found himself worrying about his brother’s love life more than anything else. He wouldn’t stay single for the rest of his life, wouldn’t he?

Perhaps most people would think it was a difficult thing to do, however, this was Kishiar la Orr, the stubborn brother he was talking about—the boy who had never been in a relationship before, whether it was during his highschool days, when the youths were most curious about romance; or when he had a lot of chances to date in the college, considering the number of admirers worshiping him every day. Despite all of those, Kishiar only maintained an appropriate relationship with everyone, never taking a step further.

That trait of his didn’t change after he grew older, and that was the reason why Keilusa desperately tried to set him up with prospective Omegas from his connections. But this damn clever brother of his always, always managed to turn down every meeting, with plausible excuses!

Keilusa’s brows twitched slightly, seeing the smug smile on Kishiar’s face, which irritated him further. That was it. The last thread of patience had snapped.

“Kishiar la Orr”

“…Brother?”

“I’m going to disinherit you if you keep displaying this kind of childish behavior. Therefore—Don’t ever think of coming back if you don’t have a partner before you turn thirty this year!”

Kishiar was soon kicked out of the office afterwards, without even the chance to negotiate.

…
…
…

“…And that’s the story. What do you think, Nathan?”

“…I have no comments on this matter”

Kishiar laughed seeing his secretary awkwardly avoiding the question. Then, he turned his head to the three directors present in the office.

“How about you? What is your opinion on this matter?”

“I’m sorry, CEO. I’m not interested in dating and I don’t think I’ll ever be, so I don’t think I can help you much”

Ever was the first one to reply with a serious look on her face, showing no falsity in her voice. The other two glanced at her with somewhat concerned looks, though. The next one to speak was the middle-age director with a kind expression.

“I’m a married man…but I’m also not sure what advice to give you here… Though I agree with the Chairman's worries, you’re still young, you should spend more time to enjoy youth with a significant other”

“Hmm…”

Kishiar stroked his chin, nodding his head as he listened intently.

“Um…CEO?” The last one, Kanna, shyly raised her hand. “May I ask when will you turn thirty…?”

“My birthday is in a month”

“Then there isn’t much time left?!”

“Unfortunately, yes”

Kishiar shrugged, though his face still looked as relaxed as ever, as if he’d never gotten threatened to be disinherited by his brother a few days ago.

“Can’t you just hire someone to act like a lover?” Ever asked.

“Haha, that isn’t a bad idea. However, my brother had seen through my intentions and especially warned me not to worm out of this by using such methods. Besides, I can’t just grab someone on the streets and ask them to enter a relationship with me within a month, right?”

“I-In that case…how about trying the dating service, CEO?”

“Dating service?”

“Y-Yes! There’s a website allowing you to rent a lover for a day, and you can put in any request for that day as long as it’s appropriate! Oh, it’s a one-day renting service, but apparently, a lot of people have gotten together after the experience too! And the ratings are very good!” Kanna explained, belatedly noticing her own excitement. “I-It doesn’t mean I’ve tried it yet! It’s just that a few friends of mine were working there…so I thought it’s a nice idea of where to start…!”

Kanna got flustered at the end of her speech as she waved her hand around frantically, thinking that she might just have talked nonsense to her superior. But Kishiar, on the contrary, didn’t reprimand anyone and took a serious look at her words. He glanced at the timid squirrel-like director and smiled softly.

“That sounds interesting. May I know the name of this website?”

…

*Tap tap tap*.

“Let’s see…’Rent a Partner’, there it is”

After finishing the work for the day and returning to his mansion, Kishiar, in his bathrobe from just after coming out of his bath, slouched on the sofa while drying his damp hair with a towel. His other hand played with his phone as he visited the website Kanna had introduced to him.

It had quite a simple name and layout for a dating site, he thought. But as written in the name, the site allowed you to match with a ‘partner’ to spend the day with. The partner would act like a real lover and take the requesters on a satisfying date, or fulfill a specific request, as long as it’s within the rules. A few would apply just to have someone listen to their problems without any romance attached, though it was most likely the former.

Kishiar looked around the website for some time, then clicked on the ’Rent a Partner’ pink tab with hearts right away, since it was his purpose anyway, he thought.

The screen switched to a list of prospective partners. There was a variety of people, consisting both genders, alphas, omegas, and even the unscented. It was expected for a dating site.

Kishiar then noticed a distinguished banner, displayed separately on the top of the list, which was written ‘The Most Desirable Partners Who Will Give You An Unforgettable Day!’. It seemed like a leaderboard, sorted by the ones who got selected the most by clients.

Ranking first was a handsome red-haired man with a kind face, Gakane Bolunwald. Next to his name was a full five-gold-star rating, which seemed suitable for the sweet, sheepish smile, like a puppy, in his profile picture that could possibly melt many of his partners. However, unfortunately, he was an Alpha (and definitely not someone of Kishiar’s type), so let’s skip that.

“Hmm?”

Kishiar’s gaze fell upon the position below the first one as his eyes shone under the dim light. Placed at the second rank was a young man with raven hair and deep dark eyes. The pale skin peeking out of his loose shirt and the small lips that seemed to lack blood made him look somewhat sickly. However, there was a strange charm about him that caught Kishiar’s interest.

Yuder Aile. What a cute name, Kishiar thought.

Unlike other members who took a clear and close picture of their faces, the flashier the better; the young man’s avatar was taken from a distant angle, and it looked like someone else had sneakily taken a photo of him, instead of willingly to. He probably had noticed it anyway since he was looking at the camera, but his face was showing absolutely no interest, as if he didn’t care about how others would view his profile at all.

What was more shocking than his face was the service ratings, which was only 3.9, a relatively low score compared to the others. Even the members who weren’t listed in the rankings got at least a 4.5 star, but his were even below 4. Despite that, he was seconded to be sought out the most, which was unusual if one looked at his ratings.

Perhaps there was something special about him that people kept coming back? Kishiar curiously checked the reviews left by his previous clients. After scrolling through every last one of the comments, Kishiar couldn’t help but let out an amused laugh.

“Oh my god, what is he?”

He laughed so hard for the first time in so long. He squinted his eyes, clicking onto the young man’s profile while maintaining the wide grin on his lips.

My, even the introduction was blunt and cute, just like his face, he chuckled.

Yuder was an omega, perfect, since Kishiar was an alpha. He was 20 years old, that would make them with a nine year-old gap, but that wouldn’t matter to him at all.

The more Kishiar looked at Yuder, the more interested he became. His heart fluttered like a young girl in love. And it didn’t take long for him to register an user and reserve a date with the lovable omega.

…
…
…

Meanwhile, at a certain cafe near the centre of the busy 4th District, a young man with deep black hair was sitting near the store’s window. He was wearing a set of baggy hoodie and pants, looking comfortable as earphones plugged his ears while he was reading a book. The cup of coffee on his table was only filled with half.

“Yuder!”

Just then, the bell on the cafe’s door jingled as someone called out to him. He stopped his gaze on the book, and glanced at the said person. It was a black-haired man with white strokes, who was waving at him while rushing to his seat.

“You’re late, Devran” Yuder said with a stern voice, closing his book.

“It’s only two minutes late! It was you who got here way too early—I almost thought I got the wrong time when you messaged me you had arrived thirty minutes before the designated time!”

Devran plopped down his bag while grumbling, then walked to the register, ordered his drink and came back, sitting across the omega.

“So Yuder,” He took a big sip of his drink. “I heard you got into a fight with your previous client. Again”

“Yes”

“Yes?? Is that all you have to say?”

“You know the way I talk, it’s far from those sweet and affectionate acts they imagine. I treat all of my clients like this, and they still chose me despite must have been reading the ratings on my profile, so technically, it wasn’t my fault”

Yuder casually took a sip of his coffee, acting nonchalantly. The person sitting across from him was his friend(?), but also unexpectedly the owner of the raging dating website at the moment, ’Rent a Partner’. He invited Yuder and Gakane one day, because they definitely would have their names well-known, he said. Who would have thought it would come true, even though they were famous for completely different reasons.

“That’s…that’s true…but still—! Do you know how shocked I was when I looked at your reviews?! It felt like I was reading two entirely separated categories! Take a look at them yourself!”

Devran turned on his phone and showed Yuder a familiar layout. The man filtered out the 1-star and 2-star ratings first.

★☆☆☆☆
ape****
Omg what kind of service like this?! I’ve never met anyone as rude as him! Why did he sign up for a dating site when he couldn’t act like one? Or is he that bad of a lover??

 

★☆☆☆☆
dia****
Wow, I wasted my time. I want a refund.

 

★★☆☆☆
her****
His words are so blunt and rough—wahhhh!! I wanted a loving boyfriend who would spoil me rotten, not a strict teacher! Waaahhhh!! (At least his face was cute, so I’m going to give two stars…but his personality is just… ㅠㅠ)

After reading a few more of the similar complaints, Devran switched to the 5-star ratings.

★★★★★
sun****
I rented a boyfriend for a day, but he started giving me exercising advice, which annoyed me at first. But his words were so on point that I got curious and tried them out…and who would have thought!? It was super effective! Now I’ve gotten a killer body and gotten myself a super cutie-pie omega lover! Thank you, Master Yuder!

 

★★★★★
elp****
Highly recommended if you need to get in shape! His methods might be a bit…no—it was very very hard, but the results are guaranteed! I’ve tried out many exercises but none was as good as his.

 

★★★★★
mel****
I read the above person’s review and decided to try it out… I asked him to come to the gym with me and he started devising my personal training plan. It was hell—oh, it was a very tiring day but I’ve never been more satisfied than that day! I chose him as my partner a few more times for the same purpose and he gave me useful advice every time, he even adjusted the plan to be more suitable for me! Best gym partner ever!

“Hmm…”

Yuder wasn’t one to care about how others think about him, so he never read the reviews himself. But seeing how all of his previous customers who seeked out his advice was all satisfied with his training methods, it evoked a satisfying feeling within him, and it clearly showed on his face.

“Yuder…? Are you reading them properly?”

“Yes, I am. They’re all content with the results though, so I don’t see any problems”

“They were all people who wanted to train…while the ones who wanted to date ended up running away crying! Why did you even agree when I invited you and Gakane…”

“Well…The pay was good, and I was looking for a part-time job at that time anyway” Yuder nodded, thinking that it wasn’t a bad decision at all. “Besides, don’t I still rank second despite the lack of affection in my service?”

“This is a dating website, not a training center!”

Devran almost slammed the table out of frustration if it weren’t for the glances from other people around them.

“For God’s sake, Yuder, how are you going to find a lover if you keep acting this way…?”

“I don’t need any. It’s annoying to go on dates and do couple acts when I could use that time to work”

Devran wanted to pluck his hair out since nothing he said could break through the thick wall of his omega friend. As he was about to cry in exasperation, a notification came in, appearing on both of their phones. And they immediately knew what it was. Devran checked it quickly before Yuder did, and his eyes widened happily.

“What good timing—a dating request just came for you, Yuder! Take a look!

Yuder opened his phone and looked at the newly arrived request.

“…An Alpha named Akit, it looks like he’s a new user. And what is this…’I’d like to go on a date with you, Yuder, as my boyfriend, for your beauty has captivated me so much. I’m eagerly waiting for your response, and hoping to spend a wonderful time with you soon’…?”

Yuder read the client’s notes, and felt goosebumps on his skin. It wasn’t his first time seeing someone putting in a specific request while asking him out, however, this was so embarrassing he didn’t want to read it again. It looked like he must decline this offer, since he could, but Devran’s face was telling the opposite.

“Aww, what a sweet guy, don’t you think so, Yuder? Did he fall in love with you at first sight after seeing your unprofessional avatar?”

“…I don’t know”

“Anyway, don’t you dare think of declining this one. I know you, Yuder. I saw your finger was about to press that reject button over there…”

Yuder slightly flinched under the other’s scrutinizing glare, as he quietly withdrew his hand.

“...Why not? Members are allowed to reject a request they aren’t comfortable with too, aren’t they?”

“That would be under the normal circumstances, yes. However! I will not allow you to worm your way out of this one!” He pointed at Yuder. “It’s about time you learn a little bit about love too! I’m going to fire you if you don’t get at least a 4…no, a 3-star for this date! That’s the best I could tolerate for now so get on with it!”

…That was how Yuder found himself going to the meeting destination a few days later. He accepted the dating quest not much of his choice, but under Devran’s intense surveillance, then proceeded to send a private message to the client to decide on a date and time to meet. Perhaps coincidentally, that person replied right away, less than half a minute after Yuder hit the send button. He was perplexed by how fast the speed a human could type but anyway, it saved him the waiting, so it didn’t matter.

Thus, returning to the current situation, they decided to meet at the plaza in the 2nd District, so he went to a bus stop nearby. Yuder got off the bus as it came to a halt and started walking to the destination, which was only a few blocks away. He took out his phone and sent a message to his ‘partner’ for the day, Akit, whom he had to act like a lover…decent enough to not get kicked out.

In any case, it was a pain in the neck since Yuder obviously lacked all means to be affectionate, let alone a good lover. Honestly, he didn’t really want to accept this renting job at first; however, after much persuasion from Gakane and Devran who wanted him to try dating for the better, plus the payment was quite generous, he reluctantly agreed. He had been quite content with how things turned out, too.

…Well, except for the fact that every of his dating sessions ended up disastrous, and that earned him a notorious rating. However, he unexpectedly got popular due to his training advice. He preferred the latter, though his friends thought otherwise.

Yuder sighed, thinking that it would be a waste of time to recall useless things now. He checked his phone again because a notification popped up.

Yuder paused. Wasn’t his reply a bit too blunt? It would be troublesome if his client got upset by his poor communication skills like the previous cases. After a few seconds, he decided to send a sticker of a black cat, cutely licking its paw, with a text saying ’I’ll be there soon’. It was a sticker pack Devran had forcefully downloaded on his phone because his messages were always so dry.

Ding!

Right after he sent the sticker, Akit also replied with one, a small yellow fox clasping its paws together and waving its tail, while beaming with sparkly eyes, as if saying it would excitingly wait.

The omega chuckled slightly. The other man seemed to be so eager about this. He just hoped this Akit guy wouldn’t be too disappointed with his service later.

He checked his phone again. 8:40, good, he was still twenty minutes earlier than the designated meeting time. He should find an easy place to spot while waiting for his client—

Wait, was that a crowd he was seeing?

Yuder rubbed his eyes to check if it was an illusion, however, it wasn’t. A group of people were gathering before the fountains, admiring something—or rather, someone. In midst of the curious glances was a man stood out due to his overwhelming height. He had silky brown hair sparklingly reflecting the sunlight, a chiseled face, and dreamy hazel eyes. The said orbs seemed not to mind the crowd staring at him at all, and instead, they were moving around as if looking for someone.

Then, his gaze locked with Yuder’s, the omega flinched when those clear eyes flashed towards him, and a smile instantly bloomed on the latter’s face. The man stood up and started walking in his direction, ignoring other people or anyone who tried to start a conversation with him. There was no hesitation in his steps as he strode confidently, until he came to a stop before Yuder.

The brown-haired man was even more handsome upon close observation. He had a huge physique, and an overwhelming aura that could overpower anyone.

The most impressive part about him, that, was his scent. A refreshing wind brushed past him instantly the moment their gazes intertwined, reminding him of a minty-flavored candy, or the gentle but chilly breeze of winter. He then realized that the person standing before him was an Alpha.

“Are you Yuder Aile?”

Yuder didn’t notice he had been intently staring at the stranger’s face until he heard a low chuckle, followed by a low voice.

“Ah, uh…yes…”

His face flushed as he averted his gaze awkwardly. He was so surprised that he couldn’t even respond properly. However, the man didn’t have any slightest look of being offended, as if he wasn’t being rudely stared at a moment ago. He continued to speak with a soft curve of his beautiful velvet lips.

“Thank goodness, I was right! You look as charming as your profile, no, maybe even cuter, so I couldn’t help but recognize you right away”

“…?”

Profile? Now that he was taking a closer look…a man with hazel hair and eyes, and an Alpha…

“…Are you Akit?”

The man smiled and nodded. So he was the client he was waiting for. Yuder had the decency to at least memorize his partner’s information before the meeting and yet, however, it was the first time he couldn’t recognize one right away.

Well, it couldn’t be helped. While looking at Akit’s profile, he had already thought he was a good-looking alpha just by looking at his avatar, perfectly taken like a businessman. But he didn’t expect the man to look even more dashing in reality, causing him to uncharacteristically blank out for a moment earlier.

Nevertheless, Yuder regained his composure in an instant, since he was a professional(?) partner anyway.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Akit—”

“Akit”

“Huh?”

“Just Akit is fine. There’s no need for formalities between lovers, right?”

…They were just lovers for one day though, he swallowed his thoughts. But who was he to refuse a client?

“…Alright, Akit. I’m Yuder, and I’ll accompany you today as your…boyfriend. So please tell me if you have any specific request you want, even though you didn’t write any in the form”

Akit nodded.

“Come to think of it…what were you doing here..? It isn’t the designated time yet”

“Oh, I was too excited to see you, so I arrived early than expected”

“How long have you been waiting…?”

“Hmm…around half an hour before you arrived?”

’…What?’

Yuder got here twenty minutes prior, excluding the time he walked there, it would still have more than fifteen minutes left. And yet that man had been waiting for half an hour before he arrived? In other words, he had been here for almost an hour. Yuder got a chill down his spine, he had never made a client waiting for him before, yet the alpha had effortlessly broken his record.

“Haha, please don’t be troubled. I’m glad I’m able to spend more time with you today because I came early. Don’t you think so?”

Yuder couldn’t say anything when he put it that way.

“I’ll introduce again, although you’ve already known. I’m Akit, who is blessed to have you as my partner for today. I’m really glad you accepted my request, so I’ll be in your care”

“Um…likewise…”

Yuder was at a loss of words, he really didn’t know how to act in front of people like him. Just then, an arm wrapped around his shoulders. It was a gentle act, but Akit didn’t miss how the omega slightly flinched, as he immediately withdrew.

“Oh, I apologize. Did that make you uncomfortable? Is this level of contact prohibited?”

“No…no, it’s not. Sorry, I was just a bit startled. You can do it if you’d like, after all, you’re my partner…”

“No can do, Yuder. I’d rather not do anything you dislike. So, hmm…are you okay with holding hands for now?”

Akit beamed at Yuder’s timid nod. He reached out and gently held the latter’s hand. The omega’s heart fluttered for a moment when their skins touched, feeling somewhat embarrassed by the warmth engulfing his hand.

“Yuder, have you eaten yet?”

“No…”

“That’s good to hear, then. How about we have breakfast first? I happen to know a decent restaurant around here”

The alpha gave him a wink and led him away. Yuder had somewhat thought of a dating route beforehand, but it was okay to go with the man’s plan, he guessed. While walking side by side, Akit talked about random topics, or occasionally ask the omega trivial stuff, like what kind of things he liked, was there any food he couldn’t eat, or what he did in his pastime, and so on.

Yuder hadn’t met anyone who was so curious about himself before; usually, they would demand him to whisper sweet nothings to their preferences, which he, of course, failed miserably. This time, however, Akit was the one doing all the talking, so he didn’t feel burdened having to strike up a conversation. The talks were trivial, but he kept the flow going so well Yuder didn’t feel out of place. The man didn’t even mind when he responded less than necessary either.

Their first meet was a bit lacking, but now that the omega had grown a bit more relaxed, he started to observe the man more. Beside his handsome facial features, Akit was also extremely tall. It wasn’t that surprising since he could be spotted in the midst of a crowd even from afar, but while Yuder was already taller than average men, the other was about a head taller.

Moreover, he had a very strong and balanced figure. Akit looked like someone who had trained vigorously to maintain a body like that. The thought caught Yuder’s interest in an instant, and he would have tried to ask the alpha about his training methods if it weren’t for the light squeeze on his hand, bringing him back to his senses.

Yuder cleared his throat awkwardly. He couldn’t believe he had stared at someone he just met so blatantly, twice at that. The omega turned his head away so he couldn’t see the other’s expression, but he could clearly hear his amused chuckle.

“I think you must have some questions for me but unfortunately, that would have to wait after our meal, since we’ve arrived”

The place Akit guided him to, very much to his surprise, was a five-star restaurant that was famous for its dishes. However, there was one drawback was that one must have made a reservation to dine, and Yuder heard that it was extremely hard to secure a table here even if you had the money.

However, Akit just naturally led Yuder through the doors, showed the security at the entrance some kind of black card, and followed a staff after they had confirmed their entry. The waiter led us to a table near the window, where the sunlight gently beamed through the glass window, enough but not too much to illuminate the area. The fragrance roses placed in a vase on the table, with a gentle ballad playing was comfortable.

However, Yuder wasn’t someone who could frequent places like this, so he couldn’t help but feel nervous. He sat across Akit as he was guided, and another worry rose in his mind.

’…Usually the cost of dating accommodations would be covered by the group’s established funds or partial of the customers’ fees…but would Devran be okay with this bill…?’

“I’ve already paid upfront for everything on the menu, so please feel free to choose whichever you like, Yuder”

As if reading Yuder’s worries, Akit spoke in a leisurely voice as he rested his chin on his hands, smiling gently. At least a burden was lifted off his shoulders.

“Okay…”

Come to think of it, although Akit was wearing clothes with plain designs, the fabrics were definitely of high-quality. He didn’t notice it before, but the man looked like he came from a wealthy family. After all, he was able to reserve a place like this while dressing neatly.

A displeased feeling crawled on the omega’s skin. He wasn’t exactly fond of rich people, after all, especially after encountering a few in the past who he had as clients. They were all arrogant, and demanding, which behaviors Yuder detested the most. That was why he had been rejecting those types of quests. While he was sighing inwardly, Akit just quietly stared at him with a flustered look. He gently tapped Yuder’s hand on the table, smiling awkwardly.

“Sorry…did I make you uncomfortable for bringing you here?”

“That’s…haah, not really. I was just surprised, I’m not used to going to fancy restaurants”

“If you want, we can go to another one”

“…I heard it’s extremely hard to make a reservation, and you’ve already bought everything, but you’re willing to waste it?”

“It isn’t worth if you don’t like it. Why would the cost matter when my lover is uncomfortable?”

Yuder’s heart squeezed again. It was unusual, they were only temporary lovers for a day, but why did Yuder react whenever the man mentioned the word? He treated the omega as if he was real boyfriend, not a stranger with a fake status. Perhaps his kind gestures, and the subtle emotions visible in his scent were what making him weird.

’…Maybe he’s different from others, after all’

“…It’s alright. I’m your partner, shouldn’t your opinions matter too?” He sighed softly. “Besides, it’s a once-a-lifetime experience for me, so it isn’t bad to make use of it… I think we should order before the staff kick us out of here”

Akit blinked for a few seconds before bursting out laughing. He called a waiter over and took the menu.

“Alright. How about Western food for breakfast?”

The meal was more enjoyable than expected. Akit recommended many dishes, and all of them proved the restaurant’s fame. Yuder ate so well he didn’t notice the dishes kept coming and going, after everything cleanly went into his stomach. Akit also didn’t point anything out, as he kept ordering more food. Yuder was confused when he asked the alpha why he didn't eat more, and the latter answered that he felt full just by looking at him. What a weird man.

Only after Yuder finished a whole three-tier parfait with five layers did they leave the restaurant.

“Do you like sweets, Yuder?”

After the meal, they decided to tour the streets to digest everything they ate. Akit striked up the conversation as usual.

“…? I don’t particularly hate them”

“Is that so…”

Yuder tilted his head at the random question, though Akit started pondering about something after his remark. Then he smiled and continued their walk.

Akit would sometimes tug his hand and pull him closer whenever he was about to bump into a passerby, or when a vehicle passed by. Yuder’s body collided with the other as a result. Each time that happened, however, he took a whiff of the alpha’s refreshing scent, and a strange feeling rose up within him.

Warmth spreaded from his face to the tips of his hand, where they connected with another one. Akit’s hand was really big, he thought. Through their connection, Yuder could feel how smooth the alpha’s skin was, proving he had been living a decent life. It was a clean touch, the big hand felt hard not because of hard labor, but thanks to the firm muscles; unlike his own, which felt rough with calluses. He had never felt ashamed of his body before, but the clear contrast caused him to have doubts.

“…Your hand. They feel nice”

Yuder belatedly realized he had blurted out loud, and quickly shut his mouth due to the embarrassment. He hoped the alpha didn’t take it sarcastically.

“Do you really think so? I’m glad to hear that, although I say I’d rather like yours more. They’re warm and fit perfectly inside mine”

Akit didn’t look angry at all, instead, he beamed with joy at the omega’s sudden compliment.

“…But my hands are not as clean as yours”

“Yuder”

Akit stopped walking and turned to face the younger man. He stared into the dark eyes that seemed almost purple at close range, while holding both of the latter’s hands. Yuder flinched slightly when Akit gently caressed the hardened spots.

“You’ve wrong about that, Yuder. Hands full of scars are never an embarrassment, they’re proof of your hard work, are they not? I might have lived a better life than most people, but that doesn’t mean I could discriminate and belittle their sincere efforts. If anything, I find your hands more lovable than ever, and I mean it”

Yuder widened his eyes when the alpha lifted his hand, pressed his soft lips onto the back, then onto the rough flesh on the palm, causing the former to shudder. Then, Akit moved his head away and smiled softly.

“Can you tell me the story about these lovely calluses?”

Yuder sighed, he had never met anyone calling calluses cute and lovely before, except that one eccentric man, he guessed. But that had unknowingly broken a wall within him without notice.

“…I used to work on a farm”

“A farm?”

“Yes, it was my grandfather’s farm before he passed away and I inherited it…”

Yuder exhaled softly, perhaps feeling sentimental recalling his beloved family member. Akit didn’t miss the slight change on his face though.

“…I’m sorry. Did I make you recall sad memories?”

Yuder shook his head. “No, it’s alright. It happened a long time ago, so I don’t really feel much anymore. Anyway, I could have stayed there and continued his legacy if I wanted, but I feel like it’s not enough. That’s why I’m studying agriculture to take better care of it…”

“I see…that’s a great way of thinking. I sincerely wish for your wish to come true”

“Thank you…”

“So are you studying college right now? Do you work here because you need to pay the tuition fee?”

“…Something like that”

“Have you ever thought of taking things a step further?” Akit’s question caught Yuder’s off guard as the latter widened his eyes at him. “I mean, dating someone for real”

“No” He answered instantly. “I have absolutely no intention to date”

“What a pity…someone as cute as you would be a lover everyone wished for…”

The black-haired man ignored the false compliment.

“…Who would do that? You must have seen my poor ratings right? You can see that I absolutely don’t have any qualifications for dating or whatsoever”

“How about me, then?”

The omega threw a weird glance at Akit, who was shamelessly pointing at himself.

“How about becoming my boyfriend? I guarantee to treat you with utmost care and affection, even more than you think. How about it? Is it tempting enough for you?”

“……No thanks. I don’t feel comfortable enough to do this with someone I only meet for a day”

Akit laughed at Yuder’s cautious attitude as if he had heard nonsense, though his squinting eyes showed no discouragement.

“I see, it’s only for one day, huh? I understand, I suppose I must do better to win over the heart of a beauty like you”

Yuder couldn’t think of anything to reply to the man’s words, as the alpha winked at him seductively. Akit intertwined their fingers again and guided him away while Yuder’s mind was still loading.

“I’ll give you the best date you’ve ever experienced today, so much that you’ll have second thoughts about my suggestion. Alright, Yuder?”

Before the omega could have processed what had transpired, a day had already passed.