Dear Roommate Please Stop Being Hot [BL]-Chapter 255: The Flight Back to Us

Morning light filtered through the hotel curtains, soft and hesitant, turning the room a pale gold.

Luca stirred first, blinking slowly against the brightness.

For a moment, he forgot where he was—then remembered. Tokyo. Last day. Going home.

Beside him, Noel was still asleep, face relaxed, breathing even.

His hair was a mess, sticking up in directions that shouldn’t be possible.

Luca smiled, reaching over to smooth it down.

Noel’s eyes opened immediately. "Luca."

"Your hair looks like a bird’s nest."

"Your face looks like—" Noel yawned halfway through the insult, destroying its impact entirely.

"Like what?" Luca grinned.

"Forget it. Too early for comebacks." Noel stretched, arms reaching overhead, shirt riding up slightly.

Luca looked away before he got distracted. "We should start packing."

"Probably." Neither of them moved.

The room was warm, comfortable.

Outside, Tokyo was waking up—distant sounds of traffic, someone’s television through the walls, life continuing.

"Okay," Noel said finally, sitting up. "I’ll start packing. You go shower first."

"You sure?"

"Yeah. If I shower first, you’ll just mess up everything I organize."

"I don’t mess things up."

Noel gave him a look—flat, unimpressed, devastating in its accuracy.

"Fine," Luca conceded, rolling out of bed. "But only because you asked nicely."

"I didn’t ask nicely."

"You never do." Luca grabbed clean clothes from his suitcase and headed toward the bathroom, glancing back. "Don’t fold my stuff weird."

"I fold things properly. You’re the one who just shoves everything in."

"It all fits, doesn’t it?"

"That’s not the point—" But Luca was already closing the bathroom door, grinning.

The shower was hot, steam filling the small space quickly.

Luca stood under the spray, letting the water wake him up properly.

Last day in Japan.

Yesterday felt surreal now—meeting his mother, his siblings, bringing Noel into that complicated space and watching him fit so naturally.

He’d been terrified. But Noel had been there, steady and warm and exactly what Luca needed without even trying.

By the time he finished showering and got dressed, Noel had made impressive progress.

His own suitcase was already zipped, sitting neatly by the door.

Luca’s belongings were organized on the bed—shirts folded, pants stacked, everything sorted with the kind of precision that was so characteristically Noel.

"Show off," Luca said.

"Efficient," Noel corrected, heading toward the bathroom. "Try not to undo all my work."

"No promises."

Noel paused at the bathroom door, glancing back. "Luca."

"Yeah?"

"Don’t."

"I won’t," Luca said, absolutely planning to rearrange at least three things just to see Noel’s reaction later.

The bathroom door closed. Water started running.

Luca began packing—following Noel’s organization mostly, because he wasn’t a complete monster.

Shirts in first, then pants, shoes tucked in the sides.

He was zipping his suitcase when his phone buzzed on the nightstand.

Uncle Jeff’s name lit up the screen.

"Hey," Luca answered.

"Morning." Jeff’s voice was warm, familiar. "Just checking in. You two heading to the airport soon?"

"Yeah, in a bit. Flight’s at ten."

"Your father wanted me to make sure you didn’t miss it."

Luca smiled. "Tell him I’m very responsible now."

"I’ll tell him you said that. He’ll laugh." A pause. "How’s it? Seeing your mother?"

"Good," Luca said honestly. "Better than I expected. She’s... trying. And I met my siblings. They’re great kids."

"I’m glad." Jeff’s voice softened. "That took courage, Luca."

"Noel helped."

"Of course he did." There was a smile in Jeff’s voice. "That boy’s good for you."

"Yeah," Luca said quietly. "He really is."

They talked for a few more minutes—logistics about returning to work, Uncle Jeff complaining about the weather back home.

By the time Luca hung up, the bathroom door was opening.

Noel emerged, hair damp, dressed in comfortable travel clothes—black joggers, a simple gray hoodie.

He looked soft, approachable, nothing like the serious student who spent hours in the library.

"All packed?" Noel asked, eyeing Luca’s suitcase.

"Yep."

"Did you fold everything properly?"

"Yep."

"Are you sure."

"I used your system," Luca said innocently. "Exactly how you organized it."

Noel looked suspicious but didn’t push.

He checked his own suitcase one more time—unnecessary, since it was already perfect—then glanced at his phone.

His expression shifted slightly. "Oh."

"What?"

"Text from Mr. Max." Noel read the screen, brow furrowing. "He says we should head to the airport ahead of them. They’ll catch a later flight."

"Why?"

"He insists." Noel’s frown deepened. "Said something about wrapping up some final details with the client."

Luca watched Noel’s face—the concern creeping in, the guilt starting to form.

Before Noel could spiral, his phone rang. Max’s name.

Noel answered. "Hello, Mr. Max—"

"Before you start feeling guilty," Max’s voice came through, audible even from where Luca stood, "don’t. This isn’t about leaving us with work."

"But—"

"Noel." Max’s tone was gentle, firm. "I insisted on staying. There’s genuinely some follow-up I want to handle personally. You’ve done more than your share this trip. Go home. Rest. I’ll see you back at the office."

"Are you sure?" Noel still sounded uncertain.

"Positive. Now stop overthinking and catch your flight."

"Okay," Noel said slowly. "Thank you, Max."

"Anytime. Safe travels."

The call ended. Noel stood there, phone in hand, still processing.

"See?" Luca said. "It’s fine. You’re not abandoning anyone."

"I know. I just—"

"You just like to feel responsible for everything." Luca stepped closer, pulling Noel into a quick hug. "But you’re allowed to take care of yourself too."

Noel leaned into him briefly. "When did you become the wise one?"

"I’ve always been wise. You just don’t listen."

"Hey, that’s my line."

"I’m borrowing it."

Noel pulled back, shaking his head, but he was smiling now. "Come on. Let’s get breakfast before we head out."

The hotel restaurant was quiet—a few other early travelers, soft music playing, the smell of coffee and fresh pastries.

They found a table by the window, overlooking a small garden.

Morning sunlight streamed through, making everything feel gentle, unhurried.

Noel ordered green tea and a traditional Japanese breakfast—fish, rice, miso soup.

Luca went for coffee and toast, plus a pastry he couldn’t pronounce but that looked good.

They ate slowly, not talking much, just existing together in the peaceful morning space.

"I’m going to miss this," Luca said eventually, looking out at the garden.

"Japan?"

"This. The quiet. The feeling of being away from everything."

"We can have quiet at home too."

"It’s different there."

"Yeah," Noel agreed. "But that doesn’t mean it’s bad. Just different."

Luca’s phone buzzed. His mother’s name appeared.

He glanced at Noel, who nodded slightly—go ahead.

"Hi," Luca answered.

"Good morning." His mother’s voice was warm. "I hope I’m not calling too early. I wanted to catch you before your flight."

"No, perfect timing. We’re just finishing breakfast."

"Good." A pause. "I wanted to say goodbye properly. And thank you again for yesterday. For bringing Noel. For giving us time together."

"I’m glad we came," Luca said honestly.

"The kids keep asking when you’re coming back. Yuki’s already planning the next soccer lesson with Noel."

Luca smiled. "Tell him Noel needs all the practice he can get."

His mother laughed softly. "I will. Safe flight home, sweetheart. And please... stay in touch?"

"I will," Luca promised. "I’ll call soon."

"I’d like that."

They said their goodbyes—warmer than any conversation they’d had in twelve years, easier than Luca thought possible.

When he hung up, Noel was watching him with that soft expression he sometimes got—the one that made Luca’s chest feel tight.

"Okay?" Noel asked.

"Yeah." Luca exhaled slowly. "Yeah, I’m okay."

They finished breakfast, checked out of the hotel, and caught a taxi to the airport.

The drive felt surreal—Tokyo passing by in flashes of color and movement, buildings and signs and people starting their Monday morning, completely unaware of two travelers heading home.

Luca watched it all, memorizing details.

The way the light hit the buildings. The crowded streets. The organized chaos that was Tokyo waking up.

Beside him, Noel’s hand found his, fingers intertwining naturally.

They didn’t need to say anything.

The airport was massive, busy even early on a Monday.

They navigated check-in, security, the long walk to their gate—routine travel motions that felt significant somehow, each step taking them closer to home.

By the time they reached their gate, boarding was already being called.

They found their seats—window and middle, Luca immediately claiming the window, Noel settling beside him with practiced ease.

The plane filled slowly. Overhead compartments slammed. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

A baby cried somewhere behind them.

Flight attendants moved through their pre-flight checks.

Luca pulled out his headphones, the wired ones they’d been sharing all weekend.

"Want to share?" he offered.

"Obviously," Noel said, taking the left earbud.

Luca scrolled through his playlist, finding something mellow—instrumental music, nothing too energetic for the early hour.

The plane began to taxi, engines humming, the familiar announcement playing overhead.

"Here we go," Noel murmured.

Luca watched through the window as Tokyo fell away beneath them—buildings shrinking, streets becoming patterns, the city transforming into something abstract and beautiful from above.

Then clouds, then blue sky, then nothing but height and space and distance.

He leaned back, Noel’s warmth solid beside him, their hands clasped on the armrest between them.

"What are you thinking about?" Noel asked quietly, music playing softly in their shared space.

"Everything," Luca admitted. "This weekend. My mom. Going back to work. Finals coming up soon."

"Nervous?"

"A little." Luca glanced at him. "You?"

"Always," Noel said. "But less when you’re there."

"Smooth."

"I’m serious."

"I know." Luca squeezed his hand. "Me too."

They flew through the morning, the world spreading out beneath them, invisible at this height but present nonetheless—home waiting, life continuing, the future unfolding one quiet moment at a time.

And for now, this was enough.

This was everything.