- 3 -

School was not something either of the boys enjoyed. For Niou it was so easy it was boring. Marui, well, he struggled sometimes, but Niou tutoring him always was enjoyable.

But since they started officially going out, school seemed bearable for both of them. They didn't try to hide their relationship either. They began to look at each other more, text in class a little more than before, and Niou even wrapped his arm around Marui's waist in the hall way once.

People thought they were kidding when they said that yes, they going out. Girls would laugh, boys would tease. They would just ignore them, though they did kick Akaya in the place where men don't want to be kicked, the shin.

Even Yukimura seemed skeptical about their relationship. So he decided to put this to an end once and for all after a week of he said she said they said they were going out (it was not as fun as it sounds).

"Are you two going out?"

It was blunt, yes, but the fact that it was in the middle of laps was even more surprising. Yukimura never talked during laps, even if he was choking he refused to make a peep until that last step was taken.

Niou raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

Yukimura kept his eyes forward as they turned the corner. "I've heard my fair share of rumors, and Akaya was crying, again."

Marui smiled. That time they had kicked him in the other place men don't want to be kicked, the butt.

"Well, we are," Niou replied.

Yukimura looked over at them without moving his head, saw how close they were, and then refocused his eyes on the next corner.

"Don't lie to me, Niou Masaharu, or you will die a short, violent death. Homosexuality is not a joke, not here. I do not tolerate that sort of business on my courts."

Marui tilted his head and poked it out, looking at Yukimura with a confused frown. "Why would we lie? What do we have to gain? A short, violent death?"

"I don't know, but you have a lot to lose including that. If I remember correctly, neither of your parents are alright with same sex relationships. Niou, yours especially. Besides, I doubt they'll let their virgin-kisser go out with a guy."

Yukimura knew everything Niou said about his flings with girls was total BS. Everything Yukimura was saying was aimed at Niou. Yukimura was like an archer on the Great Wall of China with flaming arrows to shot down anyone who trespassed. Niou just trespassed.

"I have been kissed," Niou informed in.

Marui nodded. "Fifty-two times. Oh, Yukimura, how many kisses does it take to be officially going out? I thought it was ten, and then Niou thought it was twenty. We just decided to make it an even fifty… plus a few extra in case we lost count."

If Yukimura was an archer and Niou was a trespasser, then Marui was an assassin who snuck up behind Yukimura and cut him down before he could hurt Niou.

Yukimura ignored them and sprinted the last ten laps. If Yukimura wasn't okay with their relationship, then to hell with him. Marui and Niou kept running.

A/N: Yukimura is a homophobe… Or at least he is in the story.