18
Had Shimeji met Enoki as a minor. Yes. Was there relationship completely real? Maybe not, in the sense that taking advantage of someone with no means of income constitutes as real. Enoki was not too keen on the idea of getting into a marriage but he also thought it was better than staying around at his parents place. I mean Enoki didn't have many options. Shimeji had first noticed him working out near the creek. Was Shimeji fully aware of how old Enoki was. Mostly yes. But it also had to be taken into account that if he had been completely honest with himself, he wouldn't have spent a minute of the day away from Enoki. Sure it was friendly, but Shimeji always had his ulterior motives. I mean going to visit his parents seemed a kind gesture but in actuality it was not.
Enoki wasn't naturally buff by any means. Every muscle group he maxxed out as much as he could. But generally he didn't even really like Shimeji in the slightest. It was just that, well, Enoki didn't know anyone else and it wasn't like he had a means of making his own independence on his own. When they first met it was fun. But after a while it was starting to dawn on Enoki that this guy liked him a lot more than the other way around.
"Hey Shimeji!" Enoki called out from across the field.
"Ah, Bikurishita" (You scared the crap out of me)
"Ya know, I keep thinking you're like this guy who has such an important job. But I get the sense from everyone that people don't really like you?"
"Thanks, Enoki..." Shimeji layed down in the dandelions.
"I think that if you tried, people would actually view what you do as important? You know? Connecting everyone telepathically and stuff..."
"I'm pretty sure think of me same as they always have. Boring and forgettable."
"Pffft, I wouldn't say you're forgettable..."
"So I'm boring?"
"I choose to decline to answer that question."