A.N. First, I'd like to thank EVERYONE who reviewed - I always appreciate it! :) I hope you enjoy the new chapter as well :)

Chapter 2 – Suspicions

Hajime POV

Luca dunked the ball for, like, 10th time.

I sighed again, irritated. Come the fuck on – the guy is a very good artist and is also said to be a damn good graphic designer, is pretty sociable, has his good looks and is good at sports! HOW!?

I, on the other hand, am very bad at sports. Akira is the sportsman amongst us, kids (but as we have already established, he is perfect in everything, of course) and of course both our fathers are quite fit and love sport in general.

Well. I'm adopted anyway, so here's my excuse.

I know what you're gonna say: so is Akira. Fuck you and shut up.

Luca's teammates congratulated him, patting him on his back and cheering up. He grinned, said something witty in return and came closer to me.

"Man, I'm starved! Come on, my treat", he offered.

"You stink", was my response.

He scrunched up his nose.

"Ugh. Shower and then some takeout?" , he suggested, already walking towards the changing room.

"What is the point of a good practice if you're gonna stuff your body with junk food afterwards?", I grumbled, following him anyway.

Luca laughed carelessly, already undressing.

Since we grew up together (and since we're both dudes) it has never been a problem, never been weird, undressing in front of the other. Actually I've never even really looked at him closely.

Now I did.

He was all black and blue, like he'd been repeatedly hit, mostly in the ribs, his back, his arms. For the first time ever I stopped and wondered… was he going out with someone abusive? Was it even a she, or a he? We live in Konoha, both possibilities are considered pretty normal. How fucked up was this, that he was my best friend and I couldn't even say for sure if he was straight, bi or gay? I couldn't say if he was dating anyone right now, guy or girl. He had mentioned some of his dates, in general, but… with whom? And most importantly - was his current lover doing this to him?

"Luca…", I started hesitantly.

He turned around, saw where I was looking at and his smile faded. He turned back, rummaging in his locker.

"It's nothing, Hajime."

"But… a-are you going out with some… some guy who…"

He laughed. Bitterly.

But when he turned around his smile was as perfect as ever.

"It's nothing. Really. Just the consequences of… another kind of practice."

"But…"

"You should have seen the other dude. Man, I have a mean right hook!", he shook his head, laughing, pointedly hurrying to close the glass door of the shower cabin. And shut me out.

I wasn't gonna let him get away.

Kotetsu POV

I knew Luca was in love with Hajime from the first time my son mentioned that kid from the kindergarten. Izumo still doesn't believe me and thinks I overreact and imagine things.

But I know and see things he doesn't.

Well, everyone noticed when Luca stopped being the arrogant, aloof kid he used to be and began working on being a boy with whom someone can fall in love. Someone like Hajime…

But I also noticed when Luca's friendly adoration turned into real, grown-up love. And lust. I see the way he looks at Hajime. And, understand me correctly, he doesn't look at him simply like a sexual object. He looks at him with such longing… For something more. Something real.

Luca would never take anything less than love – real love that comes with all the rights and responsibilities, all the shared moments, all the difficulties, every small battle. When I realized that, I finally accepted that that little punk (who was not that little punk anymore, but a fine young man) was in fact someone worthy of my child.

My so very frustratingly oblivious child, who saw nothing of that.

And then I noticed when the bitterness started slowly growing in Luca's soul. I noticed when it became harder for him to maintain the wide smile, taking much more effort.

But he never snapped. Never asked for more. Always making himself content with what he had, even if it was just friendship when he was starved for love. Hajime's love, since he only had eyes for him. No one else.

When he came to me asking me to recommend a place for him to train some kind of martial arts… I knew that look, that hollow voice. And it hurt to see him like that.

I couldn't be his sensei, since I'd never be able to actually attack him, and potentially hurt him; the kid was like one of my own. The only one I trusted was Ares. He wasn't gonna hold back, but still he'd never fatally hurt Luca.

And Luca needed those practices, like I'd needed them all those years ago.

He looked calmer the next time I saw him… quicker in faking his smile.

Damn. I really hoped Hajime will finally open his eyes. And soon.