Otoko ga Otoko wo Aisuru Toki 1

Otoko ga Otoko wo Aisuru Toki 1
When a Man Loves a Man- A Hunt for the Passion
(Chapters 4-5)

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A Hunt for the Passion

(Page)
Clerk: Ahh!?
Takaaki-san!
Takaaki: Hiya.

(Page)
Clerk: Welcome!.
Takaaki: You got anything good in?
Clerk: This one! What about it?
Takaaki: That was awfully fast. New in today?
Clerk: Nope. When this item came in I wanted you to have it so I hid it whenever other customers came.
Takaaki: You don't have to do that. You don't even know if I'll like it.
Clerk: It's OK. When it comes to clothes, I pick who wears them.

(Page)
Clerk: Come to that, Iwaki-san was in here lately. First time in a while.
Takaaki: Iwaki-san!!??
Clerk: Aack!

(Page)
Clerk: (Gosh- why'm I embarrassed like this?)
Yes. Ever since he opened his place in Roppongi I rarely see him. When hew as here he asked if you still buy your clothes here. (Uhh Takaaki-san... those clothes...?)
Actually, the first time you came here it was with him, wasn't it?

(Page)
Takaaki: Seven years ago
My mother ran a bunch of clubs in Kanazawa and was doing well for herself, but her boyfriend swindled her into using the clubs as collateral for a huge loan
She won her court case but went bankrupt in the process
I'd just started training at a technical college in Tokyo. I was kicked out of my apartment and soon had nowhere to live

(Page)
I'd thought about this line of work from the start
It was my mother's line of work, and I had no resistance to doing it
Takaaki: (in flashback) Please!
Manager: But we're not hiring hosts here now
Takaaki: I'll work hard!
Manager: But I told you--
Iwaki: What's all this noise about? We've got customers here.

(Page)
Manager: Iwaki-chan. It's just that this kid suddenly came and said he wants to work here
Takaaki: (thinks) He's stunning...

(Page)
Iwaki: Listen, kid. This kind of work is no different from a business job. You need an interview for both. First you make an appointment, then you get yourself dressed up properly. Alright?
Manager: OK, got that? Now go...
Iwaki: Wait.
F/X Iwaki opens wallet and takes out bills
Manager: Oi, Iwaki-chan
Iwaki: Take this and get yourself fitted out the best you can

(Page)
Iwaki: It's a loan. If you're hired, I'll wait a month. If not, I expect you to pay me back on the spot. Will you take it? Whichever happens, the way you are now you could use 500,000 yen (= about $5000.)
F/X Takaaki takes the money
F/X and runs
Manager: Is this a good idea, Iwaki-chan? You think an unwashed kid like that will ever come back?
Iwaki: It's OK. Look at him, Manager.

(Page)
A few days later
Iwaki: So he called you for an interview?
Manager: He'll be here soon. You're very keen on him, Iwaki-chan. But it won't affect whether I hire him or not.
Iwaki: I wasn't thinking it would. But it'll be interesting.
F/X knock on door
Manager: Here he is
Takaaki: Excuse me
Manager: ..oh

(Page)
Takaaki: Iwaki Kyousuke. I wanted to be like him whatever it took.
F/X Iwaki's little smile
Clerk: Sorry to keep you waiting. Thanks very much

(Page)
Clerk: Thank you. Please come again.
F/X Iwaki struck by the sight of Takaaki
F/X honks his horn
Iwaki: Get in, Takaaki
Takaaki: Iwaki-san!!

(Page)
F/X shop door opens
Clerk: Anh? Shinkawa-san? Didn't you see Takaaki-san? He just left
Shinkawa: What? Now?
F/X Shinkawa pushes out of the door, to see Takaaki getting into Iwaki's car

(Page)
Shinkawa: Takaaki??!!
Iwaki: I haven't seen you in years.
Takaaki: Not since you left the club. You're so cruel
Iwaki: If you'd wanted to see me you could have come to my club

(Page)
Takaaki: Me, a host at another club?
Iwaki: That's true. Back then there probably wasn't anyone in the business who didn't know who you were.
Takaaki: That was thanks to you.
Iwaki: Not at all. I never thought you'd be so successful. Cause of you my no.1 rank was always in danger. You have to be careful which newcomers you invest in
Takaaki: That doesn't sound like the owner of a famous Roppongi club talking. I always thought you'd hire me away some day.

(Page)
Iwaki: That club you're at depends on you. I owe them something. I couldn't take you away.
Takaaki: That's not true. Lately I've lost my no.1 spot to Shinkawa.
Iwaki: I seem to remember that when I said I was setting up for myself, you made a big fuss.
Takaaki: Please don't say that. (I was *young* in those days.)

(Page)
Takaaki: (in flashback) Leaving?? Why? When?? Iwaki-san!!
Iwaki: If there's no problems, at the end of the month
Honestly, you'd think I was breaking up with my girlfriend. Why are you yelling at me--
Takaaki: No!!

(Page)
Takaaki: No! Don't!!
I don't know what to do! You're all I want--
Iwaki: (thinks) Dumb kid---!!

(Page)
Takaaki: Nh... Iwaki-san
Iwaki: Some day I'll hire you away from here. Right now, don't tell anyone
Right now I'm leaving the club to you. You take over from me! OK?!
(thinks) My beautiful Takaaki- I found you, I trained you...

(Page)
Iwaki: (kissing Takaaki) This is the last thing I can teach you.
(thinks) You're my own self.
(in present) Your hair's grown

(Page)
Takaaki: A bit
Iwaki: You're very different, Takaaki. You look grown-up now.
Takaaki: You haven't changed at all
Iwaki: I couldn't change as much as you. I've been hearing gossip about you. So you're bi now?
I hear you've got male clients too

(Page)
Iwaki: Was that my doing?
Takaaki: Maybe. I was young and it was quite a shock. I didn't know you could turn men on too.
Iwaki: Silly. I wanted to screw you because you were you. Other men made me sick.
Even now, when you do that, I can't believe how hot I get

(Page)
Takaaki: (panting sighs)

(Page)
F/X fierce thrusting
Takaaki: Aahhhh...
I-Iwasaki... sa...
F/X fiercer thrusting

(Page)
Iwaki: You're too good...
Takaaki: (thinks) Iwaki-san was exactly what I wanted to be as a host
Iwaki: (flashback) I owe that club something. I couldn't take you away.

(Page)
Takaaki: Exactly. It was exactly because he couldn't take me away
that I was crazy in love with him
Iwaki: Don't you want your own club? Any host as successful as you would naturally think like that
And your mother's club is doing OK, right?

(Page)
Takaaki: I'm 26. About time I started thinking about this host business
But somehow I like where I am.
Iwaki: 'Since I've been there so long', you mean?

(Page)
Iwaki: Takaaki Can you arrange for me to meet Shinkawa sometime?
Takaaki: Hm?
Iwaki: I've found a good spot available in the building next door to Schnapps. I'm thinking it's time I opened my next club.

(Page)
Iwaki: I want to hire Shinkawa to be the no.1 of my new place.
Takaaki: (thinks) *What*???

(Page)
Hunt for the Passion

(Page)
Iwaki (flashback): My beautiful Takaaki. I found you, I trained you.
You're my very self.

(Page)
F/X rain falling.
(Shinkawa at home with a drink, remembering Takaaki getting into Iwaki's car)
F/X glass cracking in tumbler
Shinkawa: ...and he could look like *that*.

(Page)
F/X intercom rings
Shinkawa: Yes?
Takaaki: Shinkawa... It's me...
Shinkawa: Takaaki!

(Page)
Shinkawa: What's up? You don't usually come here.
(thinks) He looks mad
I was just having a drink. Want one?
Takaaki: Shinkawa!
F/x thrusts out business card
Shinkawa: What's this?
Takaaki: He says he wants to hire you away

(Page)
Takaaki: It's someone I used to work with at the club- used to look after me. He's opening a club in the building next to Schnapps
Shinkawa: What the hell...
Takaaki: And he wants to hire you as no.1
OK. I've given you his message.
Shinkawa: Takaaki-san!!

(Page)
Shinkawa: Why don't you say these conditions just don't make sense?
Someone who used to work at Schnapps is going to open next door.
But you must know how much you're betraying the club, by hiring their no.1 away?
F/X crumples up business card
Shinkawa: And furthermore he doesn't want you, his old friend...
Takaaki: Shut up!

(Page)
Takaaki: ...shut up...
Shinkawa: You're usually so calm. This isn't like you.
I suppose it was that guy in the car today
What's with you- one guy after the other... What about that Uroshizaki now?

(Page)
Takaaki: Don't compare him to Iwasaki-san
Shinkawa: You amaze me. You fancied Uroshizaki so much, but now he's nothing next to this Iwasaki
Takaaki: Shut up! Iwasaki-san is different! The fact that I'm so good as a host is all thanks to him!
Doesn't matter how irrational it is- I can never refuse a request from him

(Page)
Shinkawa: So it's OK if I join his club?
You think I won't be able to leave you?
You think I'll turn him down.

(Page)
Takaaki: Shinkawa!
F/X door opened violently
F/x Takaaki thrown onto the bed

(Page)
Shinkawa: Lemme do it to you, Takaaki-san. I'm a bit pissed off today.
F/X shirt tossed away.
Shinkawa: And as thanks, I'll let you decide where it is I go

(Page)
Takaaki: Shinkawa, if you do this to me...
Shinkawa: It'll be really different from the sex you had with that guy this afternoon?

(Page)
Takaaki: Don't make me say it again! Stop talking about Iwaki-san like that. It's vulgar.
Shinkawa: Hmph. Screwing the guy who's in love with you
and then making use of what's between you- that *isn't* vulgar?
Takaaki: It's not.
You don't know. Seven years ago- Iwaki-san was so...

(Page)
Shinkawa: I don't care about something that's ancient history!
People change in seven years! He left you alone all that time and all you can do is say how great he is!

(Page)
(sees tears in Takaaki's eyes)
Shinkawa: You love him that much?
Takaaki: No. Just, it hurts.
Shinkawa: Must be nice, being this Iwaki.
Takaaki-san...

(Page)
Shinkawa: Wouldn't you mind just a little bit if I wasn't there any more?
F/X rain falling

(Page)
Shinkawa (thinks): You think so much of the guy who left you and the guy who's a new face, and the guy's who been beside you all along gets nothing
Takaaki-san, ever since I realized I was in love with you
I've had nothing.

(Page)
Shinkawa: I'd like to feel good, even just a little.
F/X alarm going off
Takaaki: Shinkawa's gone?

(Page)
(Takaaki picks up note with apartment key that's on the pillow)
Shinjuku. Nikki's Café 2 PM
Takaaki: Shinkawa...

(Page)
Iwaki: Thanks for the call. Sorry to bring you all this way...
Shinkawa: It's OK.
Iwaki: Takaaki told you what this is all about?
Shinkawa: Generally, yes.
Iwaki: That makes it faster. So, will you come to my new club? I intend to be there myself until it gets running smoothly
But eventually I'm thinking of turning the place over to you. We'd call you the hired manager officially, but I can guarantee your salary will be double what you get now.

(Page)
Iwaki: I imagine it'll be a little awkward for a bit, being next door to your present place...
Shinkawa: Iwaki-san, I hear you were once a host at Schnapps. I assume you're a friend of Takaaki-san's.
Iwaki: Yes, that's true. I've known him since he started out in this business.
Shinkawa: You aren't trying to hire Takaaki-san away. Is it because he's only the no.2?
Are you setting up business next door to your old place only because it's a good location?
Iwaki: Now why should I answer those questions of yours?

(Page)
Shinkawa: You can do a thing like this and never turn a hair. I don't understand why Takaaki-san is so in love with you.
Takaaki: Stop it, Shinkawa.
Shinkawa: Takaaki-san.
Takaaki: I'm sorry, Iwaki-san. Shinkawa was being rude.

(Page)
Iwaki: What's this all about, Takaaki? I only asked you to get in touch with him.
Takaaki: I'm sorry. Something urgent's come up.
I'm here to represent the owner of the club in the negotiations.
It's not something I should really be doing, since I'm just a host. But Shinkawa is our no.1.
Given how many customers we'd be losing with him, we can't allow you to take him.

(page)
Shinkawa: (thinks) Takaaki-san won't let me go...
Iwaki: Takaaki, don't be silly.
Even if Shinkawa's gone, you'll still be there.
Takaaki: Of course if Shinkawa's mind is made up, there's nothing I can do. But my pride is at stake here, and I won't be beaten.
I took over for you at the club and I won't let you destroy it by doing this.

(Page)
Iwaki: (thinks) You've learned to talk pretty big.... for someone who never did anything but look up to me
I left you alone for too long. My mistake.
Shinkawa: If I can be allowed to say something- I have no intention of leaving the club as long as Takaaki-san is there
Iwaki: But what advantage is it to you?
Shinkawa: I've never been the kind that does nothing until he knows exactly what will happen. I never had any ideals about this work until I met Takaaki-san at the club.

(Page)
Shinkawa: But now what I get from Takaaki-san is far greater than anything I make at work.
Iwaki: He's just like you were seven years ago, Takaaki. Though you were a little more charming than he is.
F/X Shinkawa annoyed
F/X chair scraping back as Iwaki gets up
Iwaki: So it's back to the drawing board for this new club

(Page)
Iwaki: Looks like it'd be tough to win against a club that has you two in it
As owner, I can't cross a bridge as dangerous as that.
Takaaki, I told you the real reason why I can't take you away from there.
'The club depends on you. I can't hire you away from there.'

(Page)
Iwaki: The fact is it was you I wanted
But I didn't want to see the place I used to work being destroyed
I made the right choice.
Takaaki: Iwaki-san... you haven't changed at all

(Page)
Shinkawa: It's been a while since I was in Shinjuku in broad daylight
There's ages until it's time for work. Can't we go spend the time somewhere?
Let's hurry and find a hotel...
Takaaki: Aaass-hole. Good things aren't going to keep on happening just like that

(Page)
Shinkawa: Bye then. See you at the club tonight.
I feel like I just got three years' pay in advance.
Or all of it at once.

(Page)
And I don't know which is better.

Ch. 4-5

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