Everyone in the college knows the relationship between those two. They know that it's not exactly the best kind of relationships, with one of them found usually yelling at the other. Even so, everyone saw that it was still a close relationship.

Watanuki and Domeki had known each other for five years. Watanuki, always the short-tempered one; and Domeki, the calm and discerning one. Their first meeting wasn't a kind one; it involved Watanuki lying on the school grounds, bruised and beaten. Domeki was the one to bring Watanuki home - the hospital didn't exist for Watanuki.

Watanuki being Watanuki didn't like the idea of the most athletic boy in school helping a weak and scrawny kid as Watanuki was back then. The megane yelled at Domeki, saying how it wasn't necessary for Domeki to bring him home.

"Domeki, you should have more important things to do than help the school freak, you know?" He had said to him. Domeki glanced up from what he was doing and tightened the bandage on Watanuki's arm, making the other hiss in pain.

"Not really," Domeki simply responded.

That was where it all started. A couple of years passed with the two casually sitting next to each other during lunch. High school came around and Himawari accompanied them on their daily lunch. That was when things started to get more serious.

Watanuki started to distance himself from Domeki more and more as the weeks progressed. Domeki started to get annoyed and followed Watanuki home one day. That was where he met Yuuko-san. The powerful magician who can grant any wish, but with a price. Domeki started to get involved with the spiritual matters surrounding Watanuki.

Watanuki had no choice but to unwillingly being Domeki back into his bubble. Then, things started to get heated. Blame it on the hormones, but things between Domeki and Watanuki took a sudden turn.

Scared after helping Yuuko-san with a wish, Domeki hugged Watanuki in a tight embrace.

"What are you doing you idiot?!" Watanuki exclaimed, trying to push him back. Domeki just hugged tighter. "Hey-! That's starting to hurt!"

"Don't scare me like that..." Domeki muttered into Watanuki's ear. Watanuki tensed for a moment and sighed, wrapping his arms around his friend.

"Hey, it's not like I'm going to die anytime soon. Not when you're there to protect me," Watanuki said, blushing slightly after he realized what he said.

This was after the few hours Domeki stood in the rain, waiting for Watanuki to resurface after being consumed by hydrangeas. He had desperately tried to dig to who knows where, but it didn't work. Advice from Yuuko-san helped the two. Especially Domeki who actually showed expression while trying to rescue Watanuki.

"Yeah, I'll always be there..." Domeki muttered, clutching Watanuki's arms. "No matter what, no matter how long, no matter what situation. I'll always be there to protect you."

Watanuki's eyes widened. He chuckled nervously. "You're saying quite a lot today; are you okay?" Watanuki gently pushed Domeki away, unable to see his eyes. "Domeki? - Mmph!"

Interrupted by a certain pair of lips, Domeki forcefully kissed Watanuki, parting the other's lip with his tongue. He brushed an area in Watanuki's mouth that made the megane shiver and relax, giving in to the kiss. That was when Domeki felt something prod his own tongue, Watanuki. After a few more seconds, Watanuki realized what he was doing and pushed Domeki away.

Both were breathing heavily after the lost contact. Watanuki sat there, staring at Domeki. A heavy silence surrounded the two before the taller one spoke.

"I-I'm sorry," Domeki stuttered, out of character. Watanuki blinked at the way Domeki was acting. "I'll just...leave." Then, a few seconds passed before Watanuki realized he was alone in his apartment.

"Hey-! Domeki!" He tried calling. But there was no reponse. "WHAT THE HELL?!" He suddenly cried after, feeling a huge wave of anger. "DID THAT BASTARD JUST KISS ME?!" Lost in his anger, he forgot how he reacted to the kiss. How he gave in, wrapped his arms around Domeki and grunted a bit. But all that was lost to yelling inside an empty apartment.

The next day, Watanuki found himself eating lunch alone with Himawari. He was ecstatic, but also angry. But deep inside his heart, Watanuki was also worried.

"I wonder where Domeki-kun is; I hope he isn't sick." Himawari said.

Watanuki chewed his bento silently. "He better not be, if he was, I'd punch the living daylights out of him."

Himawair laughed. "You're such good friends with Domeki-kun, Watanuki-kun." Watanuki grunted, displeased with the comment. "You've known him for five years now?"

Watanuki swallowed. "Just about,"

"How did you two meet?"

"If I remember correctly, I saved him from bullies!" Watanuki said, trying to show off. No, that's what he wanted to say; but what came out of his mouth was the actual truth.

"He saved me from bleeding to death." He started, staring at his food. "I got beat up from boys in my class who said I was a freak, since I can see spirits and all that. They left me bruised and bleeding on the pavement."

"That sounds horrible!" Himawari said."Was one of them Domeki-kun?"

Watanuki shook his head. "Quite the opposite; he was the one who found me. He helped me bandage my injuries. Now that I think about it, his attitude was still the same back then." Watanuki smiled affectionately. "I know I wouldn't say this in front of him, but I'm really glad I met him." Watanuki stopped, before he can give out any more that could turn into something embarrassing.

The lunch bell rang and the two got up, gathering their stuff.

"I'm really happy that I got to hear your story, Watanuki-kun,"

"You shouldn't say anything, Himawari-chan," Watanuki said, staring ahead. "It felt good to go through the past." Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a familiar figure walking through the front gate. "Domeki? Hey, Domeki!"

Domeki flinched, recognizing the voice. He turned around to see the two walking over to him. Rather, Watanuki running and Himawari waving and walking back to class. Watanuki tried aiming a flying kick to Domeki's face, but out of habit, Domeki dodged.

"You bastard where were you the whole day?!" Watanuki yelled at him. "I had to carry around an extra bento because of you!"

Domeki blinked. He thought that Watanuki was going to say something about yesterday, but the megane didn't have that on his mind right now.

"So you're more mad about my lunch than about class that's going to start in a minute?" Domeki said in his usual monotone voice. Watanuki's eyes widened at the comment.

"Shit- class!" He turned around to see Himawari not there. Angrily, Watanuki grabbed Domeki's wrist and dragged him to class. "It's your damn fault that we're late!"

"Oi," Domeki said.

"My name isn't 'oi'," Watanuki muttered. "How many times do I have to tell you?"

"...Wa...Kimihiro," Domeki tried. Suddenly, a hand flew up to his mouth. Watanuki stood in front of him, head down. But Domeki saw that the tips of his ears were red.

"A-Actually, let's go back to 'oi'; I think I like 'oi' better." Watanuki stuttered.

"Kimihiro," Domeki tried again. Watanuki flinched, his face getting warm. He shook his head and turned back around.

"Do what you want," Watanuki said, trying to calm the blush that was spreading across his face.

Domeki watched as Watanuki's back got smaller and smaller before turning the corner.

"Kimihiro..."

1st year College...

A year passed and the trio found themselves attending the same college. Nothing else happened after that kiss, the only thing that changed was that Domeki now called Watanuki 'Kimihiro'. No honorifics. Nothing changed for Watanuki, except that he practically lived at the shop now. Yuuko-san became more of a slave driver to Watanuki. Well, more or less. There was no difference in Watanuki's life after the past year.

Him and Domeki hung out more and more. Especially since they had the same classes together. Domeki started to go to Watanuki's apartment almost every day.

"Are you coming over again?" Watanuki asked as they were walking home.

"Why not?" He asked. Watanuki sighed.

"You know, it's really troubling to make more food than usual." He huffed.

"I did say that I'll always be there to protect you." Domeki muttered.

Watanuki blushed, waving a hand. "Idiot! Baka! You're not going to get your share of dinner today!"

"You'll still give it to me anyways." He said.

"Ugh!" He unlocked the door and stormed in, knowing that Domeki was right. He had gotten into the habit of buying extra groceries and cooking more than usual. "Ah..."

A small spirit was in the middle of the room, looking around. Domeki looked in the direction Watanuki was staring and didn't see anything.

"What does it look like?"

"It's just a little girl," Watanuki said, putting his bag down on the floor. "Excuse me?" The spirit turned around, looking at Watanuki.

"You can see me...?" The girl asked. Watanuki nodded. "I'm scared, I can't find my mommy."

"Where was the last place you saw her?" Watanuki asked, kneeling down. Domeki sat down and focused on Watanuki, seeing if anything was going to happen.

"Um... I think it was at a shop..." Watanuki blinked; then sighed. Domeki looked at him.

"I think I can take you to that shop." Watanuki said, standing up. "Do you want to come?" He asks Domeki.

"It's getting dark, so yeah."

"I wonder what the price will be... Well, let's just worry about that when we get there. Here," He held out his hand to the little girl, who gladly took it. He felt another source of pressure in his left hand and saw Domeki lacing their fingers together. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Holding your hand," He answered. "Isn't it obvious?"

"Y-yeah, but..." Watanuki stuttered as Domeki started to move his thumb along Watanuki's fingers. "It's embarrassing."

"In what way?"

"I-It somehow feels like the k...kiss from last year." Watanuki said, not looking at Domeki. "Let's just go."

"Hgn," Domeki grunted, keeping his hold on Watanuki's hand.

The two walked out of Watanuki's apartment, heading to Yuuko-san's house. Watanuki greeted his neighbors as they passed by. The whole time, Domeki kept his hand pressed to Watanuki's, feeling surprisingly happy. The conversation was light, the girl asked a couple of questions which Watanuki answered carefully; trying not to scare the girl.

"Here we are," Watanuki said, stopping in front of the shop.

"Ah! This is where mommy was before I died!" The girl chanted.

"Wait, you know you're dead?" Watanuki asked her. To Domeki, Watanuki was talking to air. But he knew that there was a spirit. He felt it's presence and was surprised when he heard the comment.

"Yeah. I realized when we were walking. I feel more smarter than before I died. I guess that's why I don't feel any heat from your hand." The girl said, walking to the gate. "Eh?" She put her hand up and pushed.

The area around her hand rippled. "I can't get through."

Watanuki looked at the girl suspiciously. Yuuko-san wouldn't put up a barrier for nothing. There was a barrier, but only for corrupted spirits.

"Stay here for a while, okay?" Watanuki said to the little girl. "I'll go ask the shop owner what's wrong." He looked at Domeki.

"I'll stay here with the girl." He said. He brought up a hand to his right eye. "I can see her right now."

Watanuki nodded, before realizing. "You're still holding my hand." Domeki hesitated before giving Watanuki one last squeeze.

Watanuki walked through the gate and through the front door. "Yuuko-san!"

"Watanuki's back!" Mokona cried, jumping onto Watanuki's face.

"Shut up and tell me where Yuuko-san is; I need to talk to her." He scowled at the creature, pulling Mokona off his face.

"She's in the storage room." Mokona said, hopping towards the room.

"Yuuko-san!" Watanuki said, sliding open the door. He found her standing in the middle of the room, looking inside a crystal globe. "What are you doing?"

"Watanuki!~" She cried, running to him. "Did you come over to make me supper?"

"No, I didn't," He sighed, rubbing his forehead. "You have a customer."

"Yep," She said, holding up the globe. "It's a spirit this time, huh. Domeki-kun is with her?"

Watanuki nodded. "He said that he can see her, but who knows how long that will last."

The two walked out of the shop and saw Domeki talking to the spirit. "Yeah, he's a good cook. He cooks for me everyday, even though he complains-"

"Whoa, whoa, WAIT!" Watanuki yelled running towards the archer. "I don't cook for you everyday!"

"Well you have for the past week." Domeki muttered, glancing past Watanuki. He saw Yuuko and nodded in acknowledgement.

"Domeki-kun," Yuuko smiled. "Well now, I remember you," She added, kneeling down to the child's height. "What is your wish?"

"I wanna see my mommy again." The spirit said quietly. "Do you know where my mommy is?"

"Your mommy is in heaven, little one; why haven't you crossed over with her?" Watanuki and Domeki watched the conversation between the two carefully.

"I don't know. There are things chasing me; I can feel it. I remember mommy driving and next thing I remember is waking up surrounded by scary ghosts." The child started tearing up.

"Don't worry; I think I can get your mommy for you." Yuuko stood up and looked at Watanuki.

"Time for another job, huh?" Watanuki sighed, looking at Domeki. "You gonna go home?"

"I'm staying," Domeki said, brushing his hand over Watanuki's. Watanuki blushed.

"Idiot," He muttered.