A few days later things had gone back to normal, as long as Ryuu was aware. He now knew for sure he was in too deep and had his suspicions that Io liked him too, but as usual, they hadn't talked about it.

As of now, they were doing what they did best: hanging out in Io's room in comfortable silence, both browsing their electronics, Io sitting on the edge of his bed with a laptop and Ryuu on the floor with his phone having an idle text chat with a girl he'd briefly met at the mall.

As the conversation seemed to naturally slip to its end, Ryuu placed his phone on the floor and turned to look at Io. His working face really was attractive; stern in a way Ryuu found extremely charismatic, with the occasional twitch or furrow of eyebrows or pursing of lips. Lips Ryuu now knew fit against his surprisingly well.

Then Io did that thing he often did when intrigued or exasperated: raised his hand up a little, his index finger gracing his chin, and Ryuu didn't even know why he liked that particular gesture so much (maybe it was just because it was something Io did and Ryuu had grown accustomed to linking things Io did with good things) but he liked it a lot, and couldn't stay still. Ryuu rose to his knees and crossed his arms on top of the laptop lid, careful not to cover the screen, and just… looked at Io. In all his grace. Io glanced at Ryuu, but noting he didn't have anything to say, turned back to his work. This time with the tiniest of smiles, which made Ryuu feel nicely appreciated.

Ryuu watched Io in silence for a while. He wasn't even thinking of anything, just taking in every inch of Io's face, before opening his mouth on impulse. "How come you're so pretty?"

Io frowned a little and lifted his gaze from his laptop to properly look at Ryuu, his expression shifting into something more puzzled, a little taken aback. Oh god, what if Io didn't like being called pretty? Would "handsome" have been better? Ryuu could easily call Io handsome, too…

"I should be the one asking you that," said Io, and Ryuu silently thanked the heavens that he looked and sounded more amused than anything, "Mr. Officially-The-Third-Prettiest-Boy-In-School." Io turned back to the screen but didn't start typing again just yet.

Ryuu scoffed. Yeah, he was pretty, but for once it was irrelevant to what he had to say. "Tied third with Gero. And that's not the point here."

"If you ask me, you're the unrivaled first. What is the point here then?" Io turned to face Ryuu once more, again with that heavenly smile.

Ryuu somehow managed to let the compliment slide, no matter how giddy it made him feel to hear that from Io. With the fond look Io was giving him, to top it all off.

"That you're one hell of a good-looking guy and don't even seem like you care! You should be higher in the polls; you're hot, smart, dedicated and probably have a secretly gathering fanclub! Seriously, how come you don't place in the top three every month?"

That made Io speechless. Not for long though; it took more to make Naruko Io lose his wits. Incredible, that guy, thought Ryuu. Not for the first time.

"…I don't have a clear answer to that. Teenagers are unpredictable and easily swayed," replied Io, a small blush on his smooth cheeks. "As to me not caring… A good reputation and certain likeability are of use when making business connections, but I don't think a superficial high school popularity contest would amount to much on a résumé. I don't put my effort in anything that isn't profitable when there are more important matters to focus on."

"That's our Io," mumbled Ryuu, then spoke more clearly: "But at least you know how attractive you are, right?"

"I suppose I could call myself 'attractive' on current mainstream standards," was Io's level-headed reply. Like this didn't faze him at all. That casual confidence of his…

"You so can," continued Ryuu. "Your skin is all smooth, you've got pretty eyes, you iwork out,/i and your hairstyle…" Ryuu untucked his arm from under the other one on top of the laptop lid and reached forward, slipped his fingers under Io's bangs and brushed a part of them to the side, getting a clear view of Io's forehead. "You're the only one who could ever pull it off, and it looks so good on you."

Io's face was bright red now. Absolutely adorable.

For a moment they just stayed there, Ryuu playing with locks of Io's pretty pastel green hair and Io seemingly enjoying the touch. Then Ryuu felt bold enough to start slowly moving his hand down Io's face, closer to his cheeks. Io tugged on his laptop and Ryuu quickly drew his hand back to lift his arms off. Io chuckled.

"No need to look so startled, I'm just moving my laptop away from between us."

Had Ryuu looked startled? Possibly; he had gotten a bit scared that he had went too far and that Io wanted to continue working, and showing his emotions openly came to him so naturally he mostly knew what face he was making by watching Io's reactions.

In any case, Ryuu took this as a permission to move closer (that's what it had to mean, right?) and rose up to his feet. He placed one of his knees on the bed in between Io's legs and his hand next to them so he could lean forward without losing his balance.

"But really, you're gorgeous," Ryuu almost whispered. He carefully set his other hand on the side of Io's face and started to caress it with his thumb. Honestly, Ryuu might have been a very cute guy himself, but somehow Io managed to combine youthful prettiness with a mature charm Ryuu thought he mostly lacked. How unfair, to have the best of both worlds like that.

Io raised one of his hands to lay on top of Ryuu's. "I wouldn't go as far as describing my looks as 'gorgeous'. Especially not after having to see you every day."

"That almost sounds like you're tired of me!"

"That couldn't possibly be further away from the truth."

They stared at each other for a few tension-filled seconds, until Io took a hold of Ryuu's chin with the tips of his fingers. Ryuu's eyes widened and he had no time to react before Io pulled his face forward ever so gently, and gave his lips a quick, tiny kiss.

"How could I ever get tired of the most valuable thing in my life?" asked Io, very serious.

Ryuu's mind short-circuited and he couldn't help himself; he let out a bright laugh. Right now, he couldn't produce any thoughts that could be put to words, but a nice compensating amount of feelings. Io just kissed him unprompted. And Ryuu was very aware that whatever it was that was going on, he definitely liked it.

"Ahahah… Ok. Great," was all he could manage to get out. Ryuu suspected he must also have been grinning like an idiot. Where did all his suave charm always go when Io was present?

Ryuu took a breath and gathered his thoughts. And oh god, why did Io look so concerned?

"That… Was that what you wanted?" asked Io, and Ryuu figured that it meant that "that" was most likely what Io wanted. He didn't even bother answering verbally; his words would have failed him anyway, so...

He kissed Io lightly, like Io himself had done. Ryuu pulled away briefly, flashed a smile, and went back for more, still trying to keep it sweet. Ryuu wasn't known to be the most considerate, but he could try…

Holding back had been in vain though; Io soon nibbled on Ryuu's upper lip more demandingly. Ryuu replied by giving Io's lip a small, experimental lick. Io let out a quick, almost non-audible gasp and Ryuu felt something landing on his shoulder. What was it… Oh. A hand. Slender fingers, hesitant, caring.

The hand then started making its way down, putting in more pressure, until it and a forearm were pressed on Ryuu's back with such force it made Ryuu lean on Io even more. Yep, Io was pulling him closer, and they both put more force into kissing; now sucking and biting gently. It was a little strange, Ryuu had never thought Io to be the touchy type… But he had absolutely no complaints.

He raised his arm, placed it on Io's shoulder and took a hold of the back of his friend's head. Two can play this game, he thought, and if being as close as physically possible was what Io wanted, Ryuu sure as hell wanted it too.

Io then surprised Ryuu again by licking his lips seductively slowly. Ryuu parted his lips to let Io's tongue into his mouth, marveling how much more aggressive Io was than he had thought. And oh, fuck, how could he be so good at tongue kissing too? Who had Io been practicing with behind Ryuu's back?!

As the kiss got more and more heated, Io pulled Ryuu closer, until they both fell backwards onto the bed. The kissing soon turned into a sloppy make-out session, and Ryuu could have kept going on forever… But of course, Io's phone had to ring. Ryuu groaned but, knowing it might be really important, rolled over (albeit reluctantly) so Io could get up and see who was calling. He had to admit he was glad to see Io looked just as irritated.

Io sighed as he saw the caller ID. "It's my mom," he explained, and Ryuu understood. Io didn't live with his parents and his relationship to them was rather distant, but they kept in touch in the form of about-monthly phone calls. And those calls tended to get quite long.

Io shot Ryuu an apologetic smile pressing the answer button. "Do you want to stay the night?" he asked before lifting the phone to his ear and greeting his mother.

"Yeah," nodded Ryuu. Io replied with the widest smile. And Ryuu knew he was blessed to have that smile directed at him for something as simple as staying.