It was after school.
Homeroom had just ended, and Ryuichi was about to leave the classroom with Shizuna when Akira, who had been persistently eyeing him like Sohei had before, confronted him. It wasnt particularly surprising since Ryuichi had had a feeling that Akira would eventually get involved.
Shishido, we need to talk.
Sure, fine by me.
Then, he turned to Shizuna.
He was trying to tell her that itd be great if their conversation wrapped up quickly, but that he expected they would take some time, so she could leave first. Shizuna shook her head in response, seemingly having understood him despite them having exchanged no words between each other.
Im not going to go home, you know? Of course Ill wait here for you.
She said she would never leave his side; she would walk home with him no matter what. Ryuichi relented and gave a wry smile, whereas Akira stared at her in disbelief.
Hey, Rindo. What on earth happened to you? I want to know: do you not feel anything seeing Sohei the way he is right now?
If I had to say between yes or no, then yes, I do have some thoughts about him. But that doesnt mean theres anything I can do for him as I am now. Shirasagi-kun, have you heard what happened between me and Sohei-kun?
No, but I can hazard a guess. Hes your childhood friend, yknow? Why did you choose to be with somebody likehiminstead of Sohei?
No, but I can hazard a guess. Hes your childhood friend, yknow? Why did you choose to be with somebody like
him
instead of Sohei?
Shizuna raised her eyes at his words. He took a step back, perhaps frightened by her gaze, but when Ryuichi saw Shizuna getting angry, he sighed, wondering if it was happening all over again.
Although he had never actually lost his temper like Shizuna did, he found it annoying hearing her say the same thing over and over again.
Shizuna.
He put his hand on Shizunas shoulder, who seemed just about ready to angrily shout at Akira in the middle of the hallway at school. Whenever Shizuna got angry or had an unhappy expression on her face, touching her body like this was the best way to calm her down.
Ryuichi-kun.
Come on now, you shouldntwell, I wont say you shouldnteverget angry, but you dont have to get angry at every single thing. Our relationship isnt for others to decide or complain about. Just put on a bright smile when youre by my side.
Come on now, you shouldntwell, I wont say you shouldnt
ever
get angry, but you dont have to get angry at every single thing. Our relationship isnt for others to decide or complain about. Just put on a bright smile when youre by my side.
With that, he started walking with his hand still on her shoulders.
Hurry up; lets make this quick, Shirasagi.
Surely he wont complain about her being here after that,he thought as he took her with him. Sure enough, Akira indeed kept silent about her presence. They then made their way to the empty rooftop.
Surely he wont complain about her being here after that,
he thought as he took her with him. Sure enough, Akira indeed kept silent about her presence. They then made their way to the empty rooftop.
So? What do you want?
Akira managed to reply even as Ryuichi and Shizuna stared him down.
Ill get straight to the point Do you know my sister?
He had thought the probability was there, albeit low, but it seemed Akira really did want to ask about his sister, Satsuki. Of course, he couldnt have known Ryuichi and Satsuki had slept with each other; he was just mentioning her name to bait him. However, Ryuichi decided to answer anyway.
You mean Satsuki? Well, I didnt know she was your sister, but yeah, I do know her.
Hey.
She had apparently heard his mutterings and spoke up. Her words cut straight through the tense atmosphere, and Ryuichi was taken aback, but he laughed inside, thinking that she was a masochist through and through.
But I think I still prefer making love with you when we see each other eye-to-eye. Thats why I like the present you now, you know? You still have that same blunt side to you, but at the same time, you also have a very gentle side. Thats why I love you.
She smiled widely, which made him smile as well. They had completely ignored Akiras presence, but now Ryuichi turned to look at him again.
Hey, Shirasagi. Satsuki isnt some sort of object or belonging.
What did you say?!
His very decision to deny Ryuichis statement was abnormal. He should have nodded his head when Ryuichi told him that Satsuki wasnt an object. His response was an affirmation that he truly saw Satsuki as a thing.
Of course, there mustve been a reason for those distorted feelings of his, but Ryuichi had already slept with Satsuki before, and more importantly, he wasnt going to just look the other way and feign ignorance now especially since hed been the cause of him revealing his feelings like this.
I wont deny your twisted feelings for Satsuki; after all, love comes in many forms. But, the fact that you see her as an object is what makes it a problem for me.
Well, even so, the world of manga was a convenient one precisely because one could give pleasure and instill a distorted happiness in another. At Ryuichis words, Akiras eyebrows lifted and he glared at him.
He could have punched him in the face, but he was too scared to do so because his opponent was Ryuichi.
Well, Im just saying. Help Satsuki, andno, I guess thats it.
Thats right! Im not like you! ImImdammit!
Akira stormed out of the rooftop. Neither Ryuichi nor Shizuna stopped him as Ryuichi took out his phone and called Satsuki. As a matter of fact, they had actually exchanged numbers when she stayed the night at his place.
Wonder if shell pick
Hello, Ryuichi-kun?
She had picked up the phone instantly. He couldnt help but grin when he heard her beautiful voice over the phone. However, he had a reason hed called her like this.
Hey, Satsuki. I owe you a little apology.
In a sense, their exchange just now had lit a flame inside of Akira. Of course, he knew that he was probably not wrong in thinking that Akira would have definitely taken action sooner or later even if he had decided not to talk to him like this.
He felt bad for Akira, but he retold their entire conversation to Satsuki.
I see. So thats how Akira felt about me.
Sorry. I think I may have fanned the flames. Are your parents usually at home?
One of my parents is always at home, whether its my mom or dad. Fufu, are you worried about me?
Of course.
Incidentally, her voice was subtly leaking through the phone, so Shizuna could hear their entire conversation. Shizuna put her hand over her mouth and smiled with a chuckle.
I love how you can answer so decisively like that right off the bat, butits troubling how unaware you are of these things. Its almost like youre the dense protagonist from my friends favorite manga.
Annoyed at having been called dense, he flicked her on her forehead.
Ahh.
A satisfyingsmacksound rang out, and almost immediately after, a slightly naughty voice could be heard from Shizuna. It went without saying that naturally, Satsuki grumbled about how jealous she was of her.
A satisfying
smack
sound rang out, and almost immediately after, a slightly naughty voice could be heard from Shizuna. It went without saying that naturally, Satsuki grumbled about how jealous she was of her.
HamletJr's notes:
I'm finally, definitively back. Back to one chapter per day. Thanks for reading!