Can I Love You? – CH4

A few weeks passed since Syo was asked to deliver that note and his recording the day after went perfectly! He and Ren almost got full marks! Yet Syo had been feeling the same as when he first began school. He may have friends now but the sniggers and laughs as he walked down the corridor were getting all too much for him again... He didn't have a clue as to why people started again after they had all stopped but it had slowly been getting worse. He was being pushed into things and the word 'gay' was mentioned more than Syo would've liked to have thought. He panicked for a while thinking people had found out about him and Ai but surely Ai would've said something to him about it. He really thought and thought to why everything started again but he could think of no answer at all... He was stood outside of Ai's classroom ready to go home, away from everyone else, including his friends. He could feel tears threatening to escape from his eyes yet he refused to let them fall, after all, why would he want to give everyone something else to laugh at? He hung his head low, avoiding any form of contact or communication with anyone until Ai came out. "Syo? What's wrong?" Ai asked with hardly any emotion.
"N-nothing." Syo forced a smile and walked alongside Ai, still hiding his face. They continued walking and when they had lost most students from their school, Syo spoke again. "I've been thinking... Maybe I should go back to my old school, give up on idol life..."
"Why would you do that? You've always wanted this, its your dream, Syo."
"I'm not good enough... I don't have some angelic voice like you do... I'm not crazy popular like Ren and I can't always be cheerful like Reiji..."
"Syo. Listen to me." Ai stopped dead in the street, staring Syo directly in the eyes. "You are good enough. You're unique and individual. You don't have to be like anyone else. You're strong and a fighter, proved clearly by your heart. You may be a shortie but you're much more manly than anybody I know." Ai paused leaning down to whisper into Syo's ear. "You're perfect Syo..." Syo smiled slightly at his boyfriend's compliments and lowered his head again.
"I-I love you Ai..." Syo mumbled.
"I love you too Syo." Ai smiled and pushed Syo into a nearby alleyway crashing their lips together. The kiss heated quickly, Syo had his hands tangled in Ai's hair and Ai's arms were wrapped around Syo's slim waist. Ai pulled back and smiled before walking out of the alley with Syo following. What they both weren't aware of was the smirking silver haired boy down the street.
"Jinguji. Guess what I just saw~" Kin smirked to his Orange haired friend.
"What Kin-Chan?" Ren replied
"Your 'O'chibi' was just making out with some guy in an alleyway." Ren and the two behind Kin smirked, knowing they could do something with it.
"You know who the guy was?" Hiro asked.
"Not a clue. Didn't see him very well."
"I have an idea~ I know O'chibi lives with a senior. He's a friend of Ran-Chan's. But lets not involve him." The others agreed and each parted their separate ways to plan how to make Syo's life a misery.

~Syo!~
"Hey, Koaru, think mum'll let me come home..? I-I just don't wanna be here anymore..." Syo spoke quietly to Koaru on his phone when Ai was in the shower, just to make sure he didn't hear.
"Why?! Have you and Ai-Chan argued?!" Koaru replied, shocked and worried for his older brother.
"No, nothing like that. Everything's good with us, best it's ever been..! But at school... I just can't do it..." Syo instantly saddened.
"Why? Nii-Chan, is something going on?"
"I-Its nothing..."
"Nii-Chan!"
"Fine! Its everywhere I go... I'm pushed or laughed at... I don't fit in and the only friends I have don't help all that much... They know about me being... Yanno..." His voice trailed off before continuing "I'm just scared Ai'll get dragged in..."
"Nii-Chan..."
"I haven't told Ai any of this so stay quiet, okay?"
"Alright but you have to get help... You've always wanted to become an idol so why should they stop you?"
"I know but..."
"Nii-Chan! You have to tell Ai-Chan and he'll help you!" Syo heard the shower stop and he panicked
"Koaru, I gotta go! See ya!" He shouted before putting the phone down. He sighed and threw himself backwards onto his bed. His thoughts were interrupted by a knock at his door.
"Syo? Are you alright?"
"I-I'm fine..." Syo stuttered. He lifted his hand and wiped his face, he didn't even realize he had began crying.
"I'm coming in, Syo" Syo panicked and rubbed the tears from his eyes. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine, really." Syo fake smiled and Ai sat down on the bed next to him.
"I thought I heard you crying."
"N-No..."
"Alright then." Ai smiled. "I'm glad you're okay. I've been worried about you recently."
"Why..?"
"I'm unsure. You want to leave school and you've been a little distant with me."
"Have I? Sorry..." Syo moved forward and connected their lips. The kiss was chaste and didn't last long before Ai pulled back and wrapped his arms around Syo's neck.
"What's happening with you? You were like this when you just started school, I thought you got better..." Ai pulled back and stared into Syo's eyes.
"I'm fine, Ai." Syo smiled. "You worry too much."
"I love you, Syo..." Ai smiled slightly.
"I love you too." Syo grinned. "So stop worrying! 'kay?!"
"Okay. Chibi."
"I'm not short!" Syo shouted jokingly before wrapping his arms around Ai's neck and pulling him down onto his bed. "You're staying here tonight. I'm comfy."
"Okay then. Chibi~"

The next day in school, Ai was talking to Reiji. "Ahh! Ai-Ai finally comes to me for relationship advice! I'm... So happy!" Reiji hugged Ai before Ai pushed him off.
"I'm not sure what's happening with him though... Since he's been friends with that Jinguji, he's been strange..." Ai sighed. "He was alright at first but after his first real recording, he's been distant. He doesn't want to be here anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"He just doesn't want to come to school anymore. He says he wants to go back to his old school... This has always been his dream, he's always loved singing..." Ai trailed off and smiled weakly.
"Ai-Ai, maybe he got a low score and feels a little off, like he isn't good enough. We've all done it. Being with Ren-Chan can't help any, he's so popular."
"I suppose."
"You should just stop being a big worry-wart Ai-Ai! He'll be okay in a few days!"
"I hope so..."