Truth of the Heart
Hidekuni stared out the window of his bedroom, watching the sun play on the green leaves of the trees outside. He knew he should try to be more productive with his free time. After all it wasn't like the stack of summer homework on his desk was going to magically do itself but he just couldn't hold his focus on such trivial things like school work at the moment.
Not when he could hear Norio's gentle laughter rising up from the courtyard below.
It had been two weeks since Norio had sought comfort in his arms at Kunimasa's harsh words and then outright rejected him by saying he still loved Kunimasa, even if it wasn't necessarily mutual. In that week, the relationship between his older brother and the one he loved had been tried and made stronger than ever before. Hidekuni was helpless. Unable to bear the idea of losing the object of his affections without so much as a chance and worse still, unable to take action against his own brother because he knew with certainty that Norio would be upset. If nothing else this week had done so, Norio's sadness would surely shatter his heart.
He had found himself tempted when his parents showed up at the house, his mother offering to take him back with them after hearing of his rejection. But Hidekuni had waved it off with a warm smile and a laugh, trying to reassure the man who had given birth to him that he was indeed alright. This was one point where he would not concede. He knew instinctively that he had to be here, to pick himself up and move on. To take his place as the close friend Norio wanted him to be and watch over their blossoming relationship with diligence. If the time ever came again when Kunimasa made him upset, Hidekuni desperately wanted to be the one that Norio turned to for solace.
He recognized all this in his mind and slowly had been able to lock up some of his more dangerous whims and emotions. He knew he seemed like he was behaving normally when his mother had finally decide to go back home without him. He was grateful in some ways because having his parents around had given him an excuse to avoid Norio for a short while.
Every time their eyes met, Hidekuni felt his heart give an unruly twist.
The problem with love, Hidekuni decided, was that regardless of what your mind believes, your heart is the only thing that refused to deny the truth. It was for this reason that he was here, leaning with his elbows on the window frame, listening to Norio's laughter dance across the slight stirring of wind through the green leaves. For now all he could do was to listen to that heartbreaking laughter and cherish the idea of finding his first love even if he had lost him almost immediately.
Tomorrow he would gather his courage and face the one he had loved and lost. Tomorrow he would be able to be proud that Norio counted him among his friends and enjoyed his company. Tomorrow he would join them as they talked and amused themselves in the courtyard after supper.
Tomorrow he would be stronger.
The End
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