Summary: In high school, Momoshiro Takashi has spontaneously declared himself Kaidoh Kaoru's best friend and at the same time, his eternal rival. Inui Sadaharu is 'secretly' in love with Kaidoh but it seems that everyone knows except the one he loves. So what about Kaidoh? He's too busy dealing with his own problems – fan girls and classmates included.

Upside Down: 逆さまに
Chapter Six
六

Kaidoh lost his footing and stumbled forward. Alarmed, he scrambled up and quickly ran away.

Trying to calm down his breathing, Kaidoh leaned against the wall outside his classroom for support. He couldn't believe what he just heard. Inui-senpai, gay? He sure didn't seem like those guys Kaidoh sees on American television who are gay. He doesn't act girl, or metro for the matter. Kaidoh always thought gay guys were more feminine than regular, straight guys. But Inui-senpai seems very…manly. Kaidoh blushed just thinking about it.

Willing the blush away, Kaidoh fixed his hair and made sure he was breathing normally before entering the classroom.

"Where the hell were you?" whispered Momoshiro, once Kaidoh sat down.

Opening his textbook, Kaidoh looked at Momoshiro out of the corner of his eye. "How long was I gone?"

Momoshiro looked at his watched. "Half an hour."

Kaidoh's eyes widened. "I was gone that long?!" he hissed, attracting several glances from his classmates. Kaidoh looked up to check if the teacher had noticed. Seeing the teacher still focused on his laptop, Kaidoh let out a tiny sigh of relief. Sitting in the back had its advantages sometimes.

"So what were you doing?" Momoshiro asked, prodding him with his pencil.

"None of your business," Kaidoh replied gruffly. Momoshiro pouted but left Kaidoh alone nonetheless.

Kaidoh sat there trying to absorb the words in the book but it didn't work. The conversation he just heard kept playing over and over in his head.

Kaidoh frowned. What was he going to do? He couldn't act weirdly around his senpai, simply because Inui didn't know he knew that he was gay.

And he couldn't get over the fact that his senpai was gay! The word gay just echoed in his mind.

Closing his eyes, Kaidoh took deep breaths. He was overreacting. This wasn't a big deal; it wasn't like Inui had a crush on him. So it shouldn't matter to Kaidoh whether or not his senpai likes girls or guys, for the matter. It shouldn't matter and Kaidoh didn't care.

But deep down, to some extent, it did matter and he did care. He just wasn't willing to admit it.

Kaidoh cursed his luck. Of all days, he could forget his lunch, he had to forget it today. So he had no choice but to be dragged into the cafeteria with Momoshiro, mouthing off about yet another girl. Kaidoh rolled his eyes. Momoshiro was annoying and idiotic and there was only so much he could take. The guy had like what? Three interests only? Food, girls, and tennis. Oh there was Echizen too, but that's more of an obsession than an interests. Speaking of Echizen, Kaidoh couldn't understand how that brat can possibly stand it when Momoshiro opens his mouth. The dunk smash idiot never stopped! At one point, Kaidoh was even looking for an off switch so that he'd get a moment of peace.

Kaidoh dropped his head in defeat. He must've offended some sort of god up there to be punished with Momoshiro's constant chattering.

"And then, she said she'd love to go out with me again and – hey! Inui-senpai is waving us over," said Momoshiro.

Kaidoh looked up stared ahead. Sure enough, in the middle of the cafeteria sat Inui, along with their fellow Regular members. Kaidoh smiled a bit and started for the table.

"W-what does that m-mean?"

"It means I'm gay."

Kaidoh froze as the revelation replayed in his head. That's right…his senpai was gay. Inui-senpai. Was. Gay. Kaidoh felt his face head up as he suddenly imaged his senpai holding a faceless man. He shook his head furiously to get rid of the images. He did not want to image his senpai like that! What was he going to do? He wouldn't be able to look his senpai in the eye now…and he certainly couldn't act normally around him either.

Groaning, Kaidoh felt a headache coming from all his frantic thinking.

Realizing Kaidoh wasn't beside him anymore, Momoshiro stopped walking and turned around. He cocked an eyebrow as he noticed Kaidoh muttering to himself and shaking his head.

"Oi Mamushi! What are you doing?" asked Momoshiro.

Kaidoh looked up and blinked at him a couple times before scowling. He really didn't want to sit with Inui-senpai. Desperate, he quickly scanned the crowds in the room. His eyes lightened up when he found some open seats at a table with Lee-san. Kaidoh motioned towards their direction with his head.

"Let's sit there."

Momoshiro looked at him funnily for a moment before shrugging it off.

Kaidoh let out a sigh of relief before heading towards their classmates' table.

"Lee, mind if we sit here with you guys?" Momoshiro asked, cheerfully.

Lee looked shocked momentarily before breaking out into a grin. "Sure!"

Kaidoh sat silently throughout the lunch period, listening in on their conversation – which ranged from tennis to school to American idols and lingering on American actress – Jessica Alba. It seems every teenage guy worldwide finds her extremely attractive. Kaidoh included, after Yamazaki showed him a picture of her.

After they were finished with their lunches, Kaidoh along with Momoshiro and their classmates headed back to their classroom, talking about the upcoming games. Kaidoh had not once looked at Inui.

As Kaidoh finished up his training in the water, he wringed the towel dry from the water he collected from practicing his Boomerang Snake move.

Shaking his towel apart, Kaidoh wiped his face of sweat and got out of the water. He walked a bit uphill towards his stuff and flopped down next to his bag. Digging through his bag, Kaidoh took out a towel to dry his leg and foot.

Saturday. Today was the third day since he overheard that conversation concerning his senpai. It was also the third day since he started to avoid Inui. He didn't think his senpai noticed anyways, since he was always too busy. Inui was always studying in the library, tutoring his classmates and friends, or in the science wing doing whatever it is he does. And they were in different buildings too, so basically the only time they would see each other would be at lunch or during their free period, which coincidently, overlapped each other. And since Kaidoh was now aware that they shared the same free period, he migrated to a different place everyday, just so his senpai wouldn't catch him. Seriously though, Kaidoh didn't do this because he wanted to. He did it because he had to. At least what he thought he had to.

It would be too awkward around his senpai. Besides, it would be a blow to his senpai's male ego to simply state what he heard. But really, who goes up to their friends and be like 'Hey! How are you doing? Oh, by the way, I heard that you're gay which means that you're attracted to boys and are constantly checking them out in the locker room. But don't worry, we can still be friends but I'd feel better if you would keep a five feet radius distance away from me from now on, okay?'

Kaidoh snorted at his ridiculous thought. Seriously! If that didn't do some major ego damage then it would just embarrass the hell out of a guy!

After pulling on his socks, Kaidoh slipped his foot into his shoes, tying them up.

And this was why he was out here, training at two o'clock in the afternoon instead of the usual six o'clock evening. Today was a half day so Kaidoh was able to training in the afternoon instead of late at night or way early in the morning. And Kaidoh knew for a fact his senpai wouldn't show up at their usual training grounds because he overheard his senpai was going to tutor yet another classmate after school.

Kaidoh let out a loud hiss and started packing up his stuff. As he stuff his towel back into his bag and zipped it up, a shadow fell over him. Kaidoh looked up and his eyes widened a bit before he forced a smile. "Senpai," he greeted politely before standing up and dusting himself off.

Inui nodded and then he eyed Kaidoh's form and then his bag. "Where are you going?" he asked.

Kaidoh turned around and picked up his bag, slinging it over his shoulder. "I need to go home now," said Kaidoh.

Inui cocked his head to the side. "Aren't you going to train?"

Fixing his bandana, Kaidoh avoided looking at Inui. "I already did," he mumbled.

"Oh." Inui looked a bit crestfallen.

"See you at school, senpai," Kaidoh said, bowing slightly before walking off.

And just as he took a step, a voice called him back. "Wait, Kaidoh!"

Kaidoh stopped and turned around a bit. "Hn."

"Can…can we talk?"

Kaidoh looked at him uneasily. "Um…right now, senpai?"

Inui nodded. "If that's okay."

Kaidoh chewed on his lip a bit. What should he do? Should he say no? But that would be too rude. Kaidoh looked at Inui. Maybe if this was quick…

Kaidoh nodded and walked back towards Inui a bit before sitting down, keeping some sort of distance between them. Inui smiled happily and sat down next to Kaidoh.

"I haven't seen you around in awhile Kaidoh," said Inui.

Kaidoh let out a hiss. "Hn." And they fell into a moment of silence.

Inui regarded Kaidoh with an unreadable glance. "Is something wrong?"

Kaidoh kept his gaze down, focusing on the two lady bugs crawling on a blade of grass. "No, not really."

"I'm sorry if I offended you last week with my actions and comments. I was just joking."

Kaidoh let out a tiny hiss. "I know senpai. It's alright."

"Oh…" Inui paused. "Then why are you avoiding me?"

Kaidoh choked. Coughing a bit, he turned towards Inui a bit. "W-what? I'm not avoiding you," exclaimed Kaidoh.

"Yes you are," stated Inui. "You avoid me at school. I can never find you. You avoid me at club practice and you don't show up for our usual training. You don't even answer your phone when I call."

"Fsssh." Kaidoh didn't think his senpai actually noticed. And when he looked over at Inui, he saw his senpai had his notebook opened and was reading from a list. His senpai had a list?

"Kaidoh, if I did something to…hurt you in any way, I apologize," said Inui.

Kaidoh didn't think he could take this anymore. He was feeling even guiltier by the minute. His senpai had no idea what was going on and Kaidoh thought he was being a bit…unfair. Kaidoh shook his head to get rid of the thoughts.

"It's nothing senpai. Don't worry about it." Kaidoh got up. "If that's all you wanted to talk about, I'll be going now – "

"Wait!" Inui grabbed Kaidoh's wrist. Kaidoh felt a jolt of electricity at the spot where Inui touched him. Kaidoh instinctively slapped Inui's hand away and pulled his hand close to his chest.

Inui held his hand, which was starting to turn a nasty red, and gazed up at Kaidoh bemusedly. Kaidoh swore he saw a hint of hurt in his senpai's eyes too. Immediately, he felt guilty for what he did. "Sorry," mumbled Kaidoh.

Inui looked at Kaidoh like he's never seen him before. "What's wrong with you lately, Kaidoh?"

Kaidoh averted his eyes from Inui. "It's nothing," he grumbled.

Inui got up, observing his hand a bit before letting it drop to his side. "Kaidoh, you're not a very good liar."

Kaidoh stayed silent and inched a bit back, away from Inui.

"Kaidoh, what's wrong?" Inui asked again.

Still refusing to look at his senpai, Kaidoh mumbled something under his breath.

Inui came closer. "I can't hear you Kaidoh."

"…you…"

Inui sighed and pushed up his glasses a bit. "Kaidoh, you have to speak up."

Turning his head to the side, Kaidoh let out a hiss, feeling his cheeks heat up. "I heard your conversation with Miyazaki-san the other day."

Inui looked at Kaidoh confusedly. "What are you talking about? I didn't talk to – ahh…" Inui slightly turned away from Kaidoh and scratched his head as realization dawned upon him. "Um…how much did you hear?" Inui asked uncertainly.

Kaidoh let out another hiss. "Enough."

Inui frowned. "Enough…as in you heard my…" His eyes widened in horror as Kaidoh nodded.

"Oh, um, Kaidoh…you weren't suppose to find out like that," said Inui, fighting to control his blush.

Kaidoh looked up at Inui suspiciously. "How was I supposed to find out then…?"

"Well, um, I was going to tell you…later?" Inui said weakly.

Kaidoh took a step back. "Does everyone know this already?"

Now it was Inui's turn to avoid looking at Kaidoh. And his blush wasn't going away any time either.

"Not everyone…" mumbled Inui.

"Then who?"

Inui shuffled his feet, taking great interests in his shoes. "Just you know, Tezuka and Fuji and them…"

"Oh…" Kaidoh clenched his fist and then unclenched it. "I'm leaving."

"Kaidoh wait!" Kaidoh inwardly groaned. Now what?

"What, senpai?" growled Kaidoh, turning around.

"Is that what's been bothering you?" asked Inui.

Kaidoh fell silent. No, it wasn't really bothering him.

He looked up at Inui. Inui was standing there, looking at Kaidoh curiously. He quickly averted his eyes when they locked gaze.

Okay, so it bothered him a bit.

"No," lied Kaidoh.

Inui ignored that. "Is that why you've been avoiding me?" he asked firmly.

Kaidoh flinched at his tone. Was his senpai angry at him?

Kaidoh took a tiny glance at Inui and immediately looked away. Inui's faced hardened and his eyes were a mixture of frustration and…hurt?

Kaidoh hung his head in shame. Inui had every right to be angry at him for what he did to him this week.

Inui pushed up his glasses and sighed. "Kaidoh, look at me." When Kaidoh refused to look up, Inui took a few steps forward and lifted Kaidoh's chin up.

Surprised at the sudden contact, Kaidoh jerked away and stumbled a few steps back. Inui regarded him with a hurtful look and Kaidoh was filled with guilt.

"Kaidoh…do you…are you homophobic?" Kaidoh froze. Was he homophobic? Is that why he's been avoiding his senpai? Is it because he's scared, no, hate…gay people?

Kaidoh frantically shook his head. He wasn't homophobic. He didn't hate gay people and he was definitely not afraid of them either.

Even as he thought this, he couldn't help but think about what happened a few years back. He shivered a bit as it flashed before him.

Hugging his jacket closer to him, Kaidoh looked up at Inui hesitantly. He shook his head slowly and offered Inui a small smile.

"No senpai. It doesn't bother me and I'm not…homophobic," said Kaidoh gently.

Noticing the time, Kaidoh turned to go. "It's getting late senpai. I better get going. See you on Monday."

Kaidoh quickly got out of there, and this time, he didn't stop as Inui called to him.

FAQs

Why is Kaidoh overreacting? Is he homophobic?
He's overreacting because this has something to do with his past and because of it, he's slightly homophobic, even if he doesn't want to acknowledge it.

Is there going to be MomoRyo or is it only InuKai?
Well...this chapter should've hinted at whether there's going to be MomoRyo or not. But remember, this story follows Kaidoh and everything is mostly in his point of view AND Echizen Ryoma is still back in Junior High. Just keep that in mind.