Dear Roommate Please Stop Being Hot [BL]-Chapter 251: The Choice Is You

The greenhouse rose before them—glass panels catching the afternoon sun, creating a cathedral of light and green.

The air inside was warm, humid, wrapping around them like a gentle embrace as they stepped through the entrance.

"Wow," Luca breathed.

Plants everywhere—tropical palms reaching toward the glass ceiling, flowering vines cascading down trellises, the scent of earth and blooms thick and intoxicating.

It felt like stepping into another world entirely, lush and alive.

"Right?" Noel said, watching Luca’s reaction with obvious pleasure. "I found this place by accident on Tuesday. Got a little lost trying to find the exit and ended up here."

They wandered deeper into the greenhouse, following the winding path.

Other visitors moved quietly around them—a elderly couple photographing orchids, a young woman sketching in a journal, a family with small children pointing at colorful butterflies.

"It’s like a secret garden," Luca said, trailing his fingers along a railing, careful not to touch the delicate plants.

"Mm." Noel walked close beside him, their shoulders brushing. "I sat on that bench over there for almost an hour. Just thinking."

"About what?"

"You, mostly." Noel’s voice was quiet, intimate. "About how much I wanted to share this with you. About how everything I saw here made me miss you more."

Luca stopped walking, turning to face him. "Noel..."

"I know it sounds sappy," Noel continued, a self-deprecating smile touching his lips. "But it’s true. I’d see something beautiful and my first thought was always ’I wish Luca could see this.’ Like experiencing things without you felt incomplete somehow."

Luca’s throat tightened with emotion. "I felt the same way. At home. At work. Everywhere felt wrong without you."

They stood there, the greenhouse alive around them—the drip of water from irrigation systems, the rustle of leaves, distant voices echoing softly.

"Come here," Noel said, taking Luca’s hand and leading him to a quieter corner where a small bench sat surrounded by ferns and flowering plants.

They sat, close together, Noel’s hand still holding Luca’s.

"I want to tell you something," Noel said, voice steady but carrying weight. "About this week. About Max."

Luca’s stomach tightened slightly, but he nodded. "Okay."

"I know you were worried," Noel continued, meeting his eyes directly. "About me being here with him. About the team exploring Tokyo together. And I want you to know—I understand why. I do."

"Noel, you don’t have to—"

"I do," Noel interrupted gently. "Because I need you to understand something. Max is brilliant. He’s an incredible mentor, and I’ve learned more from him this week than I thought possible. But—" He squeezed Luca’s hand. "He’s not you. He could never be you."

"I know that. I do. I just—" Luca struggled for words. "I trust you completely. It was never about not trusting you."

"I know." Noel’s thumb traced circles on the back of Luca’s hand. "It was about fear. About worrying you might lose me. And I get it, Luca. I really do. But you need to know—you could never lose me. Not to Max. Not to anyone."

"How can you be so sure?" Luca asked, vulnerability creeping into his voice.

"Because I chose you," Noel said simply. "Every day, I choose you. When I wake up, when I go to sleep, when I’m working or eating or just existing—you’re the person I want to share everything with. Max is my colleague. My mentor. But you—" His voice softened. "You’re my home."

Luca’s vision blurred slightly. "You’re my home too."

Noel smiled, leaning in to press a soft kiss to Luca’s forehead. "Good. Then we’re on the same page."

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, just being close, the greenhouse’s peaceful atmosphere settling over them.

"Thank you," Luca said eventually. "For understanding. For not making me feel stupid about it."

"You’re not stupid," Noel said firmly. "You’re human. We all have fears and insecurities. The important thing is talking about them. Not letting them fester."

"When did you get so wise?"

"I’ve always been wise," Noel said with mock arrogance, then laughed. "Okay, no. I’ve just been thinking a lot this week. About us. About what we mean to each other. About how to make this work even when we’re apart."

"And what did you conclude?"

"That communication is everything," Noel said. "And that I need to be better about telling you how I feel. Not just assuming you know."

"I could be better about that too," Luca admitted.

"Then we’ll both work on it," Noel said. "Together."

"Together," Luca echoed, the word feeling like a promise.

They left the greenhouse eventually, stepping back into the cooler outdoor air.

The sun had shifted, casting longer shadows across the garden paths.

"Hungry?" Noel asked.

"Always," Luca admitted.

"There’s a place I passed earlier this week. Ramen shop. The line was out the door, which usually means it’s amazing."

"Lead the way."

They exited the garden, the city embracing them again—noise and movement and life.

The contrast from the greenhouse’s tranquility was stark but not unwelcome.

The ramen shop was exactly as Noel described—a line of people waiting patiently outside, the smell of rich broth wafting from inside.

"Worth the wait?" Luca asked.

"Definitely," Noel said confidently.

They joined the line, standing close, Noel explaining the ordering system. "You use a vending machine inside. Buy a ticket for what you want, then hand it to the chef. It’s efficient."

"Very Japanese," Luca observed.

"Very," Noel agreed.

The line moved steadily.

Twenty minutes later, they were inside—a small space with a long counter, customers seated on stools, everyone focused on their bowls.

Noel helped Luca navigate the vending machine, selecting buttons, coins clinking. Two tickets emerged.

They found seats at the counter, handed over their tickets, and waited.

The ramen arrived minutes later—steaming bowls of noodles in rich, milky tonkotsu broth, topped with sliced pork, soft-boiled egg, green onions, nori.

"Oh my god," Luca said after the first bite.

"Right?" Noel looked pleased. "Told you."

They ate in companionable silence, the food too good for conversation, slurping noodles the way the locals did—loudly, appreciatively.

When they finished, both sat back, satisfied and content.

"That might be the best ramen I’ve ever had," Luca said.

"Top three for me," Noel agreed. "There’s a place back home that’s still my favorite, but this is close."

They stepped back outside into the late afternoon light.

"What now?" Luca asked.

Noel checked his phone. "It’s almost four. We could head to Shibuya. See the crossing at sunset. Or—" He looked at Luca. "We could just walk. No destination. Just... be together."

"Walk," Luca said without hesitation. "Let’s just walk."

So they did.

Through neighborhoods that shifted from commercial to residential and back again.

Past small shrines tucked between buildings, tiny parks where children played, convenience stores glowing with fluorescent light.

They talked about everything—Luca’s visit with his mother, the emotions of that reunion, the complicated feelings still swirling.

Noel’s week at work, the contracts, the pressure, the satisfaction of learning something new.

"I think I want to specialize in international law," Noel said as they crossed a pedestrian bridge over a busy street. "After this week, I’m sure. It feels right."

"You’d be amazing at it," Luca said.

"You think so?"

"I know so. You’re methodical. Detailed. You see things others miss. That’s exactly what international contracts need."

Noel smiled, a slight blush coloring his cheeks. "Thanks."

"Just the truth."

The sky began its slow shift toward evening—blue deepening, clouds edged with pink and gold.

"Oh!" Noel stopped suddenly, pointing. "There’s a temple nearby. Small one. Want to see it?"

"Always."

They climbed stone steps, passing under a torii gate, into a small courtyard.

The temple was modest but beautiful—red wood and gold accents, incense burning, a few people praying quietly.

"It’s customary to wash your hands first," Noel whispered, guiding Luca to a stone basin.

They followed the ritual—ladling water, washing left hand, right hand, rinsing mouth, cleansing the ladle handle. Simple, meditative movements.

Then they approached the main building, tossed coins into the offering box, bowed twice, clapped twice, bowed once more.

"What did you wish for?" Luca whispered.

"Can’t tell," Noel whispered back. "Won’t come true."

"Superstitious?"

"When it comes to you? Absolutely."

They left the temple, descending the steps back into the modern world.

The evening was settling in now, streetlights beginning to flicker on, the city transforming into something magical.

"I don’t want this day to end," Luca admitted.

"It doesn’t have to," Noel said. "We have all night. Tomorrow too. The whole weekend is ours, remember?"

"Right." Luca smiled. "The whole weekend."

"So what do you want to do now?" Noel asked. "We could find dinner. Or dessert—there’s an amazing taiyaki place near here. Or we could head back, order room service, just... exist together without the city around us."

Luca considered. "The last one. Let’s go back. I want you to myself for a while."

Noel’s expression softened. "Okay. Let’s go home."

*Home.*

The word settled warmly in Luca’s chest.

Wherever Noel was—that was home.

They navigated back through the city, taking trains and walking, the journey feeling both long and too short.

When they finally reached Luca’s hotel, stepping into the elevator, exhaustion and contentment mingling, Noel leaned against him.

"Thank you," Noel murmured.

"For what?"

"For coming all this way. For being here. For today." Noel looked up at him. "For being you."

Luca kissed him softly. "Nowhere else I’d rather be."

The elevator dinged.

They stepped out, walked to the room, Luca fumbling with the key card.

The door opened.

And they stepped inside—together.

Where they belonged.