1/
Gakuto waited on the street for Yuushi.
He waited on the corner where they had met up every morning for two years at eight fifteen.
It was eight fifty-five. With some trepidation Gakuto left. Yuushi wasn't going to come.
He walked slowly, toes scuffing, bag swinging idly by his side. It was possible that Yuushi was only moments behind him. Rushing towards their meeting place, chest heaving, face flushed, huffing an offhand apology.
He checked his phone one last time for a message or a missed call. Maybe Yuushi had forgotten his phone, or the battery was flat. There were no messages.
He ran the last three blocks to Hyoutei, but was still fifteen minutes late.
Yuushi was seated in his regular chair, casually leaning onto the desk across from him, chatting with Atobe.
'Yuushi, where were you this morning?' he asked.
Yuushi turned to look at him, a small frown pulling at his lips. 'Sorry, Gakuto, I forgot.'
2/
Something was always interrupting them.
Yuushi seemed to have an endless list of commitments, and their time together seemed to be slowly whittling away to the few hours a week Gakuto could hold onto.
'Cram School?' he asked.
'Yes, didn't I mention it? Tuesday and Friday evenings. We could get together on Wednesday instead,' Yuushi replied.
'But I work Wednesdays,' Gakuto complained flopping onto his stomach and pressing his head into Yuushi's pillow.
The mattress swayed and Yuushi rested his hand on the small of his back. 'Sorry, I forgot. We'll work it out.'
Yuushi pressed a kiss to his upturned check, he turned to catch his lover's mouth, but the other boy turned away.
'Showering first, I'm sweaty,' said Yuushi throwing his shirt onto the bed.
'I like you sweaty,' he replied, but Yuushi pulled away.
'Wait here,' he promised.
Gakuto pulled the Yuushi's shirt towards him, the fabric slightly damp with sweat. He crumpled it loosely in his hands and inhaled the strong scent of his partner.
The smell was not right.
3/
His palms connected with solid flesh and Gakuto gave a hard shove. 'What do you think you're doing?' he demanded.
Hiyoshi seemed confused, his face flushed deeply. 'I-I'm sorry, Mukahi-kun. I thought… I thought that considering Yuushi…'
'Considering Yuushi, what? He asked, stomach slowly twisting.
'You two didn't? …Break-up?'
Gakuto stumbled away, hand trailing along the wall to keep him steady.
He knew. He'd seen the signs.
That he belonged to Yuushi was always certain; that Yuushi belonged to no one, equally so.
To know something and to see the lips of your lover descend upon the body of another were very different things.