(A/N: This is meant to be a one shot and the reader kind of makes their own conclusion, but I might make a second part? Idk yet :p)

Saga Masamune shut his bedroom door behind him loudly, but apparently not loud enough to disturb the argument between his parents that was going on downstairs.

Honestly, if they were going to be like this when they were home then he would rather them not be at home at all. At least then the house was quiet and even gave the illusion of being peaceful.

He let out a sigh, sitting on his bed and ignoring the insistent meowing that was coming from somewhere near his feet. He set his book bag aside and felt Sorata start to paw at his leg, clearly wanting attention and not giving up any time soon. The smallest smile jerked at the corner of Masamune's lips as he reached down to pick up the kitten.

"Miss me that much, huh? At least someone did." He mumbled, gently scratching her under her chin. He was rewarded with soft purrs, Sorata leaning into his touch. Saga laid down on his back, Sorata making herself comfortable on his chest as per usual as the teenager fought the urge to sleep. He had spent a few hours at the library reading and doing homework after school, but even after the time spent there it still seemed too early to sleep.

It was extremely tempting though, for reasons other than being blissfully unconscious. Although, that was certainly a plus.

It was probably crazy-scratch that, it was definitely crazy and Masamune considered for a moment that maybe he should talk to somebody about this. However, even if he brought up the subject to his parents he doubted he'd get even a second to explain why this was becoming unhealthy. They'd dismiss it or put it off and ask to talk about it later and then never talk about it or flat out ignore him. Additionally, Masamune wasn't positive he wanted help. Which convinced him he was even crazier.

Since Masamune was fifteen he had been having these dreams.

At first he dismissed it. He had always had weird or vivid dreams in the past, so who cared if he had one random dream involving some younger kid?

Except it wasn't just one dream.

Okay, so who cared if he had a reoccurring dream involving some younger kid?

Except it wasn't exactly a reoccurring dream since things often changed: where they were, the time of day, even the kid's age seemed to change as Masamune also grew older. The only thing that seemed to stay constant was the other boy's presence.

Okay, but still, just a dream, why did it matter?

Because Saga Masamune was in love with a figment of his imagination.

The literal dream boy had a name, Onodera Ritsu, and Masamune was in love with him.

Masamune couldn't exactly pinpoint the moment these feelings started to develop or even when their 'relationship' became romantic, it just sort of...happened. There was no big confession from himself or from the dream-teen and yet their words became sweeter and touches lingered between the two of them and Masamune was so screwed and destined to be stuck in his own head forever if he kept this up.

It was boring and exhausting and overall concerning to analyze himself, but he supposed this was his way to make up for the affection and attention he lacked in real life. Masamune never found making friends or maintaining relationships-romantic or not-easy and therefore was alone a lot of the time. For the most part he didn't mind so much, but he was still a person. There were moments he longed for someone to talk to who would talk back instead of meow and the longer these dreams went on, the more he desperately wanted a real connection. One of the most worrying aspects was that he didn't just want anyone, though. He wanted Ritsu. Someone who wasn't real and never could be and yet somehow he couldn't convince his heart otherwise. He'd never be satisfied.

He let out a frustrated groan as his thoughts chased each other in this never ending circle of I-should-talk-to-someone-and-get-help-but-then-I-might-not-see-Ritsu-ever-again-but-Ritsu's-not-real etc. etc.. He tried to stop thinking about the whole dilemma entirely and instead shut his eyes. It was still early, but he was tired of hearing his parents fight and tired of fighting with himself. He deserved to be happy, even if it was only for a little while and only in a dream.

When Masamune took in his surroundings he noticed he was no longer in his bedroom, which did not alarm him. He was sitting underneath a cherry blossom tree, leaning against it's trunk, currently alone. He waited patiently, wishing he had a book or something to help him pass time, but he usually wasn't alone for very long. Or-if he was-he couldn't really tell because time in dreams was so strange. Sometimes it felt like he only spent minutes dreaming and then would wake up to find he had slept for hours. Eventually, he spotted a figure in the distance walking toward him. He stood, deciding to meet him halfway, having a pretty clear idea as to who it was.

Masamune was greeted with a familiar and lovely smile, accompanied by bright green eyes and a slight blush. He took in the sight of Ritsu for a moment before bringing him into an almost crushing hug. A soft yelp of surprise left Ritsu as he was suddenly pulled into his arms before gave a nervous, but also delighted laugh and hugged him back shyly.

"Hi, Saga Senpai." Ritsu greeted in a lulled voice. Masamune was always tempted to ask him to drop the Senpai or call him by his given name, but another part of him argued that it was better this way. He should at least try to keep his distance where he could, If the older teen heard Ritsu call him Masamune he might lose himself completely to this dream world.

"Hey." Masamune replied, holding on to him for a few moments before letting go and taking his hand instead, leading him over to the tree so they could sit underneath it together. Even after getting there and making themselves comfortable, Masamune didn't let go of his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. How could it feel so real? How could Ritsu's hand give off heat and warm his own up? How could it be so comforting and soft?

"Is everything okay, Senpai?" Ritsu asked.

I must have looked troubled, Masamune thought to himself. He sighed and hesitated before deciding to explain what was eating at him. After all, this was just a dream, it was a safe place to do so and Ritsu always felt like the safest person to talk to.

"It's just not fair." Masamune started and Ritsu looked confused. "You're not real and yet you make me fall in love with you, who gave you the right to do that?" He asked.

"Sh-Shouldn't I be saying that?" Ritsu blushed and stuttered from the sudden love confession since Saga didn't often throw that word around. Now it was Masamune's turn to look confused. "Every day I wake up just to look forward to going back to sleep so I can see you again...that doesn't seem like any normal way to live, but I can't help it." Ritsu admitted, picking at nearby blades of grass anxiously. "I'm in love with you and you aren't real, that's not easy, especially with my parents trying to push me into a real life relationship, but it would just feel like cheating on you, but I know that's insane and I probably need help or something, but I can't see myself being with anyone but you and-" Ritsu was rambling now, his face bright red and palm sweating and body shifting nervously.

"So you're trying to tell me I'm just a dream?" Masamune interrupted him after letting him go on a little longer. He had definitely picked up on that throw away sentence of his parents trying to set him up with someone else, but that was another issue for later.

What are you talking about? It isn't an issue at all because he's not real, dumbass, Masamune scolded himself.

"W-Well yeah...I mean...aren't you?"

"Nope. Totally a real person."

"W-Well so am I!"

"Now you're just being cruel."

"W-What? N-No, I would never-why would I-" Masamune cut him off with a brief, but effective kiss, leaving Ritsu slightly dazed.

"Let's talk about something else." The older boy said quickly before Ritsu could gain his wits back, not wanting to dwell on the painful subject. He wanted to enjoy his time here while he could. The thought of Ritsu being real made his heart give a pang of sadistic and wicked hope, a hope he knew would only end in callous disappointment if he let it grow.

Ritsu gave a frown, which made Masamune tempted to kiss him again so he could send the expression away, but he restrained himself.

"But you still don't believe me." Ritsu said in a huffy tone. Masamune was sure it wasn't meant to be cute and yet it was regardless.

"Do you believe I'm real?" Masamune asked, tilting his head slightly to the side and raising an eyebrow.

"Well-I want to-but I know that's not possible."

"Then the feelings mutual." He said, letting go of Ritsu hand so he could instead wrap his arm around him and pull him closer. "But I can at least pretend you're real while we're here."

"But I am." Ritsu repeated and instead of entertaining the possibility of that being true, Masamune blamed it all on his subconscious (and regular conscious if he were being honest) desperately wanting Ritsu to be more than just a dream and therefore Ritsu was insisting that he was.

Masamune merely gave him a small smile, but it held no happiness, only desperate desire and an overwhelming amount of love that he didn't know what to do with.

"Takano-san." Kisa called out in a dead voice. Masamune brushed him off, a book across his face like a sleeping mask. Whatever the hell it was, Kisa was perfectly capable of handling it on his own. At least, that was the conclusion Masamune came to so that he could continue to peacefully ignore him. Yet, the baby-faced editor continued to pester him, to Masamune's disappointment and irritation.

"Takaaaaanooooo-saaaaan." He repeated, whining much more this time around, making Masamune's sour mood worsen.

"I heard you the first time." He nearly shouted, but managed to maintain the very little composure he had left. He picked the book up, tossing it on to his desk and rubbing his bleary eyes.

"The new guy's here." Kisa said before laying his head on his desk to pass out since he deemed his duty of informing his boss to be done.

"Oi-" Takano started to reprimand Kisa as he put on his glasses before looking at the newbie, who was currently bowing politely.

"My name is Onodera Ritsu and I'll be starting at Emerald today." His voice poorly concealed his nerves, but Masamune could hardly blame him considering their office currently looked like a war zone.

"Onodera...Ritsu?" He echoed, frowning. It had to be a coincidence. As Masamune grew older his dreams for some unknown reason gradually started to stop-despite him wanting to cling on to them. Even though he wasn't ready to let go of his imaginary boyfriend (God, that was so sad), he had hoped that it would be a good thing. He thought he could finally get over the guy who only existed in his head and his heart, but he could never get rid of the thought of the blushing brunette.

Ritsu rose to stand up straight and Masamune forced himself to swallow a gasp as his heart was pierced and shattered by two familiar and bright green eyes.