Mizuiro didn't know how this had happened. One minute he'd been annoying Keigo – even after a few months the 'Mr. Asano worked wonders – and the next Keigo had shoved him into the boys' bathroom, kissing him.

Mizuiro may or may not have been in shock.

He managed to shove Keigo away from him and the two faced each other, breathing hard.

"What… the… hell?" Mizuiro said at last. Keigo looked guilty, like he hadn't fully meant what he'd done.

"I…" he said, trailing off. Mizuiro, completely unused to this sort of thing – girls he was used to, girls he could deal with – didn't wait for an explanation. He simply pushed past the other boy and stalked out of the bathroom.

It was vain to keep a small mirror in his bag, but sometimes it was necessary. Like the present time. He stared at his reflection, noting the fact that his face was flushed bright red. Okay, he needed to calm down. Calm… down…

Ichigo chose the worst possible time to enter the classroom. "Where's Keigo?"

Mizuiro flushed again, keeping his eyes on the ground. "Dunno," he muttered. Why had Keigo done that? Even if Mizuiro was… even if he did 'swing that way,' he wouldn't go for anyone like Keigo. He'd like… he'd like someone like Ichigo. Because Mizuiro could say with certainty that Ichigo was attractive.

Keigo arrived in the classroom a few minutes late. He looked more emotional than usual – and not in the funny, happy way. His eyes were red, as though he'd been crying. Mizuiro averted his eyes as the boy slipped into the seat next to him.

As usual, Mizuiro blocked out the teacher and daydreamed, staring at his paper and scribbling stuff down at random. He could feel eyes on him. It was Keigo, it had to be, nobody else would be staring at him; cute, innocent Mizuiro Kojima. Unless it was that transfer student, Rukia Kuchiki. She could be staring at him. He didn't know, it was possible.

At the end of the school day Tatsuki Arisawa cornered him.

"What's up between you and Asano?" she asked. Mizuiro swallowed.

"Nothing-"

"If you don't tell me what's going on I'll break your fucking neck. It's creepy when he's not all cheerful and annoying," she growled, leaning way too close to his face. Mizuiro took a step back.

"He kissed me."

"Holy- what?" Tatsuki said. "And you…?"

"Asked him what the hell he was doing and left," Mizuiro said. Tatsuki rolled her eyes. "What?"

"You're an idiot," she muttered. "But, okay. I don't blame you. Just… stay his friend, okay? Like I said, it's creepy."

"Okay," Mizuiro said. Tatsuki nodded to him and left. Mizuiro let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. She was scary. He feared for his life when he was around her.

So, instead of just going straight home, he headed to the apartment Keigo shared with his older sister. He must have stood outside of the place for ten minutes before Mizuho opened the door.

"He's sitting in his room, drowning in teenage angst," she said, rolling her eyes. "You know where it is."

Mizuiro smiled at her and made a beeline for Keigo's room. "Keigo, let me in!"

"No!"

"C'mon, Keigo," Mizuiro said, sighing. The door opened.

"What do you want?"

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"Um… being in shock?" Mizuiro offered. "I mean, no, I don't… like you, but I could've dealt with it better."

Keigo bit his lip. "I'm sorry for kissing you."

"So… are we okay?"

"Sure. Okay."

I'm not quite sure where this came from. But… you know… whatever.