The summer break was over and it had been six weeks since Shingyouji hadn't seen Misu. Misu had gone home to see his parents while Shingyouji stayed at his grandmother's house for two weeks and then stayed at school for 4 weeks because he preferred to stay at school rather than go home and see his parents fighting.
During these 6 weeks, Shingyouji had decided that he was going to change his look and attitude, someone that would suit Misu better. Shingyouji saw Hayama-san and Gii enter the school gates and went to greet them. Hayama-san was shocked to see that his was the same Shingyouji that he had seen 6 weeks ago but Gii commented that he liked the new look. Shingyouji thanked them and sat outside on a bench looking out for Misu. It had been about 1 hour and Shingyouji was still waiting for Misu, he was about to head back when he saw Misu enter the school gates.
Misu was too busy carrying his suitcase to see that Shingyouji was walking towards him. "Hello, Arata-san" said Shingyouji now walking besides Misu. Misu looked to the side and dropped his suitcase.
"S-shingyouji, is that you?" stuttered Misu too shocked to speak properly. Shingyouji had grown his hair and had colored it a dirty blonde. His hair was up to his shoulders and half of it was tied back. It had feathers and layers and flew everywhere in the wind. Shingyouji was wearing black skinny jeans and a plain grey sweatshirt. His feet were no longer wearing worn out school shoes but black converse high tops. Misu had not changed at all and was shocked to see Shingyouji's transformation. He was wearing headphones around his neck which were playing loud rock music. Shingyouji just smiled and said "would you like help with your luggage?" and he gestured towards the suitcases. Misu didn't say anything and was frozen to the spot but Shingyouji reached over and grabbed a suitcase.
He started walking and Misu quickly picked his luggage up and started walking along side Shingyouji. Misu was going to ask Shingyouji about the change of appearance but before he could, Shingyouji spoke and said "so, how were your holidays Arata-san?" "Y-yeah they were good, we went skiing in the mountains, how were yours?" Shingyouji replied with a very swift answer" I guess they were ok".
Misu was surprised that Shingyouji hadn't told him everything in detail about what he had done in the holidays but didn't say anything, he was still trying to get over the massive transformation. They came inside the school and Shingyouji set the heavy suitcase down wiping his forehead. He then made is way forward to greet the rest of his friends, Akaike-kun, Takabayashi and Yoshizawa. They were all very shocked to see Shingyouji's new transformation but they all liked it.
Shingyouji was only wondering how Misu felt but before he could approach Misu again, Akaike-kun dragged him to a corner and said "Shingyouji, why did you change your look? Was it because of Misu?" Shingyouji just laughed it off and said "of course not, I changed my look because I felt like it" but he felt a drop of sweat coming on his forehead. He thanked god that his hair now covered his forehead so Akaike-kun did not see the bead of sweat. "Well if you say so…." Said Akaike-kun and he left to go talk to the rest of his friends.
Shingyouji sighed and went to the toilet. He walked in and was surprised to see Misu leaning against one of the walls looking at Shingyouji when he entered the toilet. Misu walked up to Shingyouji and pushed him into a wall putting his hands on either side of the wall by Shingyouji's head. "What are you doing?" asked Shingyouji now frightened. "Shingyouji, tell me the truth, why did you change yourself?" asked Misu. Shingyouji gave out a fake laugh and said "oh you know, everybody likes to change their look sometimes". He was very scared inside and was hoping Misu wouldn't find out it was because of him.
Misu grabbed Shingyouji's hair which caused Shingyouji to wince in pain "so this is all because you wanted it? Not because of anyone else?" Shingyouji just nodded and Misu let his hair go. Shingyouji ran out of the toilet hoping Misu wouldn't follow him. Misu didn't follow Shingyouji and stayed in the bathroom not believing a word Shingyouji said. Shingyouji ran into his room and locked it wanting to be left alone. He wasn't sure how Misu would react but now he knew, Misu seemed angry but Shingyouji just couldn't work out why. He was doing this for Misu, so that Misu would be proud to say that he had a mature boyfriend, not just someone who caused trouble for him.
Shingyouji did not feel comfortable lying to Misu but he knew that he had to do this, he had to keep up this act. Misu and the rest of the friends sat in the cafeteria having dinner. Misu's eyes wondered around for Shingyouji but he could not see him. Shingyouji did not come down for dinner and Misu was worried that he had been too harsh to Shingyouji. After dinner, Misu made his way to Shingyouji's room and knocked. Shingyouji was listening to loud music so he didn't hear the knock. Misu knocked a couple more times but didn't hear a reply. He got worried and opened the door to see Shingyouji sitting down listening to loud music with his headphones on. He walked over to Shingyouji and took the headphones off his ears. Shingyouji looked up and was surprised to see that it was Misu.
His heart was thumping like crazy but he calmly said "yes?" Misu sighed and sat down on Shingyouji's bed besides him. Shingyouji slightly moved over because he had this sudden urge to kiss Misu. Misu of course noticed this but ignored it and said "look I'm sorry for what I did this afternoon, I know it wasn't right to approach you like that but I was just a bit surprised to see your new look." Shingyouji felt like crying and jumping in Misu's arms but he didn't and he sat on his hands to prevent this from happening.
"What's there to be sorry about? I mean I get it, I changed my look, and of course you would be surprised" Shingyouji said coolly. Misu was surprised to hear such a response but did not mention it. He really wanted to kiss Shingyouji and leant in and touched his lips against Shingyouji's. Shingyouji could not hold back any longer and wrapped his arms around Misu's neck deepening the kiss and leaning into Misu's body. Misu was surprised at this new enthusiastic response because normally, Shingyouji would have been shy.
Shingyouji pulled away first feeling dizzy. He was not very confident at this sort of stuff and had to force himself. His heart was beating like crazy inside, almost as if it was going to drop out but he kept his cool posture and smiled. Misu was surprised is this still my Shingyouji he thought. Misu realized that it was really quiet and it was getting a bit awkward. He got up first and made his way to the door, "see you tomorrow" said Shingyouji. "Yeah" said Misu and walked out of the room. He never knew that his Shingyouji could be this confident.
Shingyouji's heart was beating like crazy as he lay down on his bed thinking about what had just happened. He couldn't believe that he had just done it without even thinking about it. What was he going to do about it tomorrow? He sighed as he got u to change his clothes for bed.
Misu lay on his bed completely silent thinking about what had happened a few minutes ago. "Misu-kun?" called Hayama now worried because Misu hadn't moved or talked ever since he came back to the room. Misu seemed to be lost in his thoughts and didn't hear Hayama "Misu-kun!" shouted Hayama now right in front of Misu.
Misu looked up and was surprised to see Hayama in front of him, "are you ok?" asked Hayama looking at Misu's unfocused eyes. Misu was trying to look at Hayama but his eyes were getting blurry, he couldn't see properly and felt sick. He lay on his bed and fainted only hearing echoes of Hayama's shouts.
Misu woke up and saw that he was in the nurses office with white sheets wrapped around him. He looked to the side and saw the nurse writing something down. The nurse heard Misu awake and said "Ah, you're finally awake!" Misu was confused and said "why am I here?"
The doctor said to him "well you seemed to be under a great pile of depression and also because you're anemic, you fainted, take care next time and be more careful." The doctor left Misu on his own to get changed so that he could leave the office because it was already light outside and the classes would be starting in an hour.
Misu pulled himself out of the bed and went to his room, he didn't see Hayama in the room but that was probably because he had gone to eat breakfast. Misu quickly changed and made his way to the canteen to see Gii, Hayama, Takabayashi, Yoshizawa, Akaike and Shingyouji sitting at a table. He didn't really feel hungry but remembered what the doctor said and got some cereal and sat down at the table next to Shingyouji and Akaike. Hayama was the first to speak and said "Ah, Misu-kun! Are you feeling better now?" Misu said "yeah" and everybody was confused so Hayama explained to everyone except for Gii because Hayama had already told him.
Shingyouji was taken aback to hear that Misu was in the nurses office all night and was very sorry that he hadn't visited Misu. He felt very hurt that it wasn't him that was there by his side. But no! I have to be strong! I can't just give up now! Thought Shingyouji and he scraped the thought of apologizing to Misu. If he apologized now, then Misu would think that he was weak.
Misu looked over at Shingyouji, "hope your better" he said to Misu and walked out of the canteen disposing of his breakfast. Shingyouji ran to the toilets and locked himself in a cubicle sliding on the floor and putting his head between his knees. His heart was hurting very much but he had to be strong.
Everyone at the table was worried as to why Shingyouji had just abruptly left the table like that, what Shingyouji didn't know was that Misu had ran after him.
Shingyouji heard the toilet door open and then heard it close softly ever so softly touching the wall. He quickly wiped his tears and put his hand on his mouth so no sound would come out. He didn't move an inch as he heard silent footsteps. "Shingyouji?" called Misu with a worried voice.
Shingyouji's eyes opened up wide as he heard Misu's voice and he pressed his hand tighter on his mouth so that Misu wouldn't hear him. He really didn't want to see Misu right now because he knew he would just come running into his arms.
Misu called again "Shingyouji, I know you're in here, come out I won't hurt you".
Shingyouji knew Misu wouldn't hurt him but he didn't want to confess so he wiped his tears and put his fringe in front of his face so that Misu wouldn't be able to see that he was crying. He unlocked the cubicle and faced Misu who was just outside the cubicle waiting for him to come out.
Shingyouji looked down on the ground so that Misu wouldn't see his face and went to the sink to wash his hands. "Shingyouji?" said Misu now worried as to why his lover wouldn't look at him. He grabbed one of Shingyouji's hands which turned him so that he was now facing Misu.
He didn't dare to look up because he knew that Misu would now that he was crying right away. Misu felt very restless and put his hand on Shingyouji's jaw forcing his face up. He looked at Shingyouji but couldn't see his eyes properly because his hair was in the way. "Have you been crying?" asked Misu. Shingyouji didn't say anything and averted his eyes. Misu suddenly pulled Shingyouji into a hug which surprised Shingyouji. Shingyouji automatically put his arms around Misu and leaned into his slender figure which fitting his own body. It was almost as if their bodies were made for each other, like two perfect jigsaw pieces fitting together.
Shingyouji suddenly realized what he was doing and loosened his grip on Misu. One of the things that he had promised to himself was that he wouldn't be clingy or needy anymore. Shingyouji's arms fell to his side so that now, it was only Misu holding onto Shingyouji. Misu noticed this but only hugged Shingyouji tighter. Shingyouji was surprised at this. Misu said "you now that even if you let go of me, I will always be holding you".
Shingyouji wanted to wrap his arms around Misu again but folded his arms behind his back slightly fidgeting and stepped back. Misu looked at Shingyouji and took a step forward wrapping his arms around Shingyouji's waist and kissing him. Shingyouji returned the kiss but this was not a normal kiss, it was a new and edgy kiss, which was filled with desperateness. Shingyouji wanted to cling onto Misu and Misu wanted to do the same.
Shingyouji wanted to be mature, not childish and clingy because then he wouldn't be a good fit for Misu.
He pulled away from the kiss and ran out of the toilet before anything else happened leaving Misu on his own in the toilets. It was nearly lesson time so Misu sighed and walked back to his room to get his bag.
It was raining outside and Shingyouji had ran to the forest because that was the closest thing to run to. He didn't care that he was missing lessons and he ran, ran right into the forest. It had been about an hour since he stopped running and was now walking because the mud was very slippery and he didn't want to fall.
He suddenly stumbled upon a bit of the forest that he hadn't seen before. He walked in and saw sunlight shining into the middle of it. It had stopped raining and there was a rainbow in the sky. Shingyouji felt his breath getting taken away as he walked into that new discovered place. There were flowers everywhere and it looked like a fairytale scene. He sat down on one of the rocks but the one on top came rolling down, trapping his foot.
He cried out in pain and tried to move his foot but couldn't because it was getting squashed by the massively heavy rock now resting on his foot. He kept on trying to pull out his foot but failed. He sat there with tears falling from his eyes feeling stupid. It hurt very much and he couldn't take the pain. The sun was now shining directly on his face making him sweat.
It was now lunchtime and Misu hadn't seen Shingyouji in the corridors so went to the canteen to check if he was there. He didn't see Shingyouji in the canteen either and started to get worried. He ran out of the school and looked at the forest to where he knew Shingyouji would go when he was feeling upset.