I have more than 100 reviews!! Woohooo!! That definitely made me jump up with joy!

Thank you to everyone who encouraged me to write at my usual pace! I also very much appreciated the constructive reviews. Some are asking how many chapters this would go, in my original plot (the very first one) this story should've ended the moment Kazuki got back from America! But this and that happened, and… well… Even I am no longer sure how's this going to end.

Anyway, most of this chapter is going to be in dialogue style coz Shohei's narrating to Wataru the story. I'm not very much confident in writing a flashback with Kazuki and Mizuho together that will be accepted by many. Even I had a hard time accepting it, hence, I kept rewriting this chapter until I decided to just skip the flashback.

I apologize if that decision of mine will affect the quality of the story, but… I really don't have the passion to write Kazuki in a mutual hetero relationship (even if it did happen in the past) at the moment.

I was listening to Tamaki Nami's song "Reason" for GSD and… yeah, that's how I got the title…

Disclaimer: ONLY THE RING FINGER KNOWS does not belong to me. All elements below belong to Kannagi Satoru and its proper copyrights. The only things I do own are my original characters.

Note: These are not, I repeat, these are NOT the actual events of the fourth novel. This is what I guess you could call an alternate storyline. Please do not rely on this fic for information about the fourth novel or on any of the books, although I will be borrowing some scenes and events that took place there.

"Shohei-san… Will you tell me… why Kazuki and Mizuho-san broke up?"

For a moment, Shohei's eyes widened with surprise, clearly not expecting to be asked of such a thing. He scrutinized the young boy from head to toe, and couldn't deny the look of seriousness on his face. With a nudge of his head, he motioned at his car and spoke, "Come with me."

THE UNTOUCHED RING

Chapter Ten: Reason

The view from Tokyo Tower was probably one of the most majestic cityscapes he'd ever seen. High above the clouds, it gives one the illusion that he can fly—that he's literally on top of the world. Wataru gazed with fascination at how small even the largest buildings had become. But despite the magnificence he felt, it did not rid him of the anxiousness building up inside him. Why he was brought to Tokyo Tower was still unknown.

"Are you enjoying the view?" the elder man standing beside him spoke. "It is quite a sight don't you think? We're lucky we have clear skies today. The forecast said it would snow this year too." "Y—Yes," he answered, still feeling uneasy of being in the lone company of the elder man. "Shohei-san, why did you bring me here?" Shohei pulled out a cigarette stick from his pocket and lit it. With a huff, smoke was blown from his mouth and Wataru felt his eyes water at the pricking sensation.

"You've never been to Tokyo Tower before?"

"Oh, I've been to it," he coughed. "Mostly on school fieldtrips though…"

"I mean… you've never been here with Yuichi before…"

"Eh? Why would…"

"Tokyo Tower is considered to be one of the top-dating spots in all of Tokyo. Can you imagine a more romantic setting? A beautiful skyline… Watching the sun drift into the horizon… you and your sweetheart alone… like you're the only two people on earth…?"

Wataru blushed bashfully and turned his head way in embarrassment. "No…" he muttered. "Aside from Okinawa… The most we've gone on dates are movies, the old café or at a fast food restaurant."

"Oh my…" Shohei commented. "How terribly unromantic of Yuichi… He used to do so much better."

"Eh…?"

"This place… Tokyo Tower… is one of the places Yuichi often took Mizuho to."

The moment that piece of information was shared with him, Wataru couldn't help but widen his eyes with surprise. Something painful suddenly crept up his chest and he felt like hurling. He focused his attention back to the skyline and wondered… what did Yuichi and Mizuho look like when they were standing there and watching the very same scene? They were probably holding hands or caught in each other's embrace. Either one was plausible… After all, it's not strange to see a man and a woman together.

But two men…?

That was crossing the line.

Shohei puffed another cloud of smoke, causing Wataru to cough involuntarily. He motioned for the young boy to follow him and sit on the bench nearby. Once they were seated, a few moments of awkward silence reigned over them. Wataru felt suffocated, and it wasn't because of the cigarette Shohei was smoking.

"I am curious though…" the elder man spoke, breaking the silence. "Why come to me about this? Shouldn't you be asking Yuichi?" A reply should've come, but it didn't. Shohei glanced at him, studying his expression, and came to a conclusion. "Yuichi won't tell you, will he?"

"I…" Wataru hesitated. "I've asked before but… he…" He trailed off, leaving the sentence unfinished.

"Interesting," the elder man mused, and pulled out a portable ashtray from his coat pocket.

Putting out the smoking cigarette, Wataru watched as the smoke dissipated and the ashes crumbled. The tone that Shohei had used held a bit of arrogance, as if he uttered that word purposely to solicit a reaction. But the young brunette had always been one who could never lie about his emotions. His eyes flickered with truth and sincerity. "Shohei-san…" he spoke. "I heard that Mizuho-san is staying over at your parents' house…?"

"That's true," he confirmed. "It's really not that strange. After all, Mizuho's family and our family are quite close. You could say we ended growing up together. Our parents practically see her as a daughter."

That brought about a pang in Wataru's heart. That was another little detail that Yuichi had yet to share with him. Why is it that everything concerning Mizuho was practically unknown to him? What was there to hide from him?

Shohei had probably sensed the discomfort he was going through, but chose to ignore it. Instead, he continued to speak, "I can remember the first day Yuichi met Mizuho. He was only seven years old while she was a blooming young girl of fifteen. The first thing Yuichi said to me the moment he laid eyes on her is that… she looks like an angel… It was probably then that his feelings for her began…"

"……"

"To be honest, I had no idea for how long exactly he harbored that one-sided affection of his. But I could always tell that he was the happiest around her than with anyone else. For a guy who would get a love confession almost every day of the week, he himself did not know how to confess his own feelings. Since the age gap between them was of a certain distance—eight years—he felt confused whether to pursue those feelings or simply resign himself."

To simply resign himself…

That was also Kazuki's situation during the time when they mistakenly switched rings. Kazuki, who was struggling with his feelings for another man, felt that he could do nothing but resign, which is why he initially treated the younger boy coldly. For Wataru, the knowledge of Yuichi's dilemma with Mizuho being quite similar to theirs made him feel slightly annoyed. He didn't want to have anything in common with the woman whatsoever.

Else… he'd feel like he was just a replacement…

"What made Kazuki change his mind?" he asked with genuine curiosity, but the trembling in his voice was quite noticeable.

Shohei crossed his legs, placing his right leg over his left, and crossed his arms together. He relaxed himself against the back rest and let out a tired sigh. "A mere act of jealousy, I'm afraid," he spoke leisurely. The answer piqued his young companion's interest, and he felt more than obliged to expound. "Mizuho would always be chosen as the school idol. She would also get tons of love confessions each week. Once in a while, she'd favor someone and actually consider answering one of them. But then, she'd get cold feet, feeling that she isn't ready for a relationship. Yuichi often saw her with 'potential boyfriends' and then sparks would fly."

"…Huh?"

"That is to say, he didn't like those guys hanging around her, and would get extremely protective. One day, he got fed up and said that those guys don't deserve her, and that he's a much better choice for a boyfriend. She looked at him disbelievingly and asked if he was being serious. Yuichi—with a look of absolute seriousness—said a definite yes."

"You were there…?"

"No, but that's what they told me after I found out…"

"Found out… what do you…?"

"Yuichi and Mizuho… they kept their relationship a secret. No one really knew they were together! But when they were finally exposed, they admitted that they got together right after Yuichi graduated from Junior High."

"Right after Junior High…" Wataru trailed off as he began his thoughts. If he were to believe that, then that means Yuichi and Mizuho were still officially together by the time he had entered High School. When did they break up then?

"Are you piecing the timeline together, Fujii-kun?" Shohei asked with a smile on his face that Wataru couldn't decipher whether it was a smirk or a grin. Whatever it was, the way the elder man's lips were pursed together and tugged on opposite sides of his cheeks made Wataru feel as if he was being cornered, and there was no way out.

He felt suffocated once again.

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Yuichi drummed his fingers on the desk restlessly. He was trying his best to concentrate on the professor's lecture, but everything seemed to go into one ear and out the other. A troubled expression washed over his face as he raised his hand to ease the crease on his brows.

Everything was a mess.

He just went away for two weeks, and already everything had jumbled up and was beginning to spiral down. True that he had to attribute that to the fact that he's been acting like a jerk quite recently. He comes back to Japan, and the first thing he does is rear his jealousy. The fact alone that he had allowed his jealousy to control his actions made him feel pathetic.

What happened to the honor student that could handle any situation calmly?

Couldn't he just speak with Wataru privately and straighten things out? Problem is, that's what he's been trying to do, but the boy refuses to return his calls or even pick up his phone! Whenever they'd meet in person, there was a glint of hesitation in the younger boy's eyes. The moment Yuichi would see this, he would just get the urge to hold him and kiss him until all the worries disappear.

Before, if a problem arose, they would hold each other and everything would be fine. But this time, it seemed that whenever they make contact, things get much worse than it already is. He couldn't understand the sudden change in Wataru, but he was absolutely sure that Asaka had something to do with it.

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Wataru bit his lip nervously, unknowing how to proceed. He had managed to learn this much, but each information learned was making it harder and harder for him to breathe. "They kept it a secret from you…?" he asked uneasily. Shohei glanced at him again and grunted. "They thought it was the best option," he answered. "Yuichi was only in High School, and Mizuho is eight years older. In a situation like that, their relationship would certainly invite scandal."

"So you also didn't know…"

"At first," he corrected. "But I learned about it eventually. I told them to be more careful where they meet and make-out." Wataru winced at the emphasis. "Our parents were already getting suspicious of them. It had already been two years into their relationship, and it's only natural that suspicion arose."

"Suspicion…?"

"Wouldn't you get suspicious if Yuichi were to take a woman out for the movies, dinner at fancy restaurants, and splurge her with numerous gifts despite the fact that they claim to be just friends?"

Suddenly, Wataru regretted asking. It sounded like Yuichi was really very romantic with Mizuho and pampered her indescribably. Hearing about it made his stomach churn and he felt like throwing up. It was a dreadful feeling.

And yet, he was already expecting it.

"…Mizuho-san and Kazuki… really loved each other… didn't they?" he asked ever so faintly, his eyes fixated on the marble floor. "And Shohei-san didn't object to them…?"

"…Yuichi asked me the same thing… if I was against them or not…"

"Were you…?"

Shohei looked very solemn as he gave his answer, "No. I wasn't. Aside from the age gap, there was nothing unacceptable about Mizuho. She came from a good family, she's well-known to us, she's beautiful and popular, also very intelligent and graceful… She's basically the best match there is for Yuichi. And the fact that they were both madly in love with one another was a bonus."

"I… I see…"

"When our parents found out… they were upset. They were fine with Yuichi dating a woman, but not someone older. As fond of Mizuho as they were, they couldn't accept the relationship as it invited too much scandal. Yuichi was still just in high school… can you imagine the controversy it could cause? Not to mention tarnish his reputation…?"

"Y-Yeah… I guess so…"

"That's why it had to be put to an end. Of course, this didn't sit well with Yuichi. He spent nearly his entire life pursuing her, and everything would come to an end all because of a non-existent scandal? No, he wouldn't back down with a fight. That was probably… the first time ever… that Yuichi went against our parents…"

The idea of a perfect and model-student like Kazuki going up against his beloved parents somehow didn't come into picture in Wataru's head. Kazuki going up against his brother—he could still imagine. But his parents...? It seemed like an impossible feat!

"Luckily though," the elder man continued. "I was able to convince them with an alternative."

"Eh?"

"It was a troubling situation because Yuichi was still in high school. But I reasoned that by the time he reaches college, he's as good as an adult, and no one would even mind if he dates an older woman by then. Why not just put the relationship on hold? They seemed to like the idea… but our parents added an extra condition…"

"…What's that…?" he was almost afraid to ask.

"The college Yuichi must go to has to be Tokyo University."

Wataru felt his body become stiff and rigid. His hands trembled, but he quickly clasped the hemline of his pants to camouflage the shaking. His mind quickly processed that new information, and he felt his throat run dry. A few weeks ago, he had read Mizuho's post card to Kazuki. It was inquiring whether or not he'd still go to Tokyo University. The thought of attending T—U being important to Kazuki did cross his mind, but he never really knew the reason behind it.

"Afterwards, Yuichi boldly stated that he'll enter T—U no matter what…" Shohei's voice rang in his ears like an echo.

Now… he finally understood the reason.

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The doorbell chimed, indicating the entry of another customer. From a corner of his eye, Kazuki caught sight of the people who walked in, studying them from head to toe. They were high school girls, quite obvious from their attire, but it caught his interest since they were wearing the uniform of Ryokuyo High. He had been working part-time in that high-class café for two months or so, and the only customers he's had from his former alma mater were Wataru and his friend… What was his name again…? Kawamura…

It didn't really bother him to know some students from his old school will come to the place where he works, but he did feel slightly annoyed at the way they were gazing at him. Even as they took their seats at a vacant table, their eyes kept fixated on him so much so that it was getting on his nerves. But he maintained his composure and acted as a waiter should. Approaching their table with a smile, like the owner told his employees to do, he proceeded to serve them.

"Greetings, may I take your orders?"

The three girls giggled timidly as pink stains began to color their cheeks. One of them—the one in the center—spoke up very shyly, "Th-Three lattes would d-do…" Kazuki scribbled their orders down and inquired if there was anything else they'd like. The girls shook their heads bashfully, and he proceeded to the counter to place in their order.

Once he got there, the person in charge of the cash register skimmed through the notepads and punched in a few numbers. A tray with a cup of steaming hot brewed coffee was placed beside him as if waiting to be served. "Kazuki," he called the man's attention. "Could you do this delivery for me? Nakajima has his hands full at the moment."

"Sure. Which table?"

"The one near the terrace," he pointed. "That guy over there that's attracting a lot of the ladies' attention…"

Kazuki followed his gaze and gasped at the sight of his senpai seated at the table with a book at hand. "Takimura-san," he mumbled. "When did he come in? I don't recall…"

"Oh, he came in while you were serving the rich old ladies over there. Then you went over to the school girls and…"

"Understood," he finished the conversation. "Anyway, if those girls' orders come in, please have Nakajima-san handle it instead."

"All right."

He took hold of the tray and made his way to the elder brunette who seemed to be well-absorbed into the book he was reading. He had not spoken to the man since the incident in the washroom the night before. He was also able to avoid him earlier in school even though they had a few subjects in common. It's not like he was avoiding a direct confrontation with Asaka, it's just he didn't know if he could remain calm given the circumstance.

There were actions in the past that he's tolerated and had forgiven. He even joined the guy's circle, but he didn't know if he could easily let it slide the fact that things have gone topsy-turvy and that this man is probably the source of it all.

"Thank you for waiting," he said dryly, as he placed down the cup in front of him. Asaka glanced at it and kept away the book. "Your change…" Kazuki continued, and placed a few coins on the table. Asaka continued to stare at it blankly. When no response came, Kazuki decided to leave, but he suddenly heard the elder man call him.

"Won't you take a seat with me for a while, Kazuki-kun?" he asked. Kazuki looked at him incredulously and narrowed his eyes. "Sorry," he replied. "I'm currently working so…" "Just for a few minutes," came the interruption. "Please… It's very important that we talk… It's about Wataru…"

Kazuki frowned when he heard Wataru's name mentioned… even more so with the lack of honorific the man usually placed. He turned to Takimura at the counter and gave a few signals indicating he was going to take a short break. Takimura nodded his head and raised his hand—spreading it open like a maple leaf—telling him to return to work in five minutes. With that done, Kazuki took a seat opposite Asaka and waited for the man to speak whatever he had in mind.

Asaka's eyes glanced over to the group of high school girls staring at them with curiosity and what seemed to be concern. A smile couldn't help forming on his lips as he spoke, "Kazuki-kun is truly popular among the ladies. Those girls seem to be fixated on you until now. They're from your high school aren't they?"

"You should talk," Kazuki snorted. "I can never properly count the number of women approaching you during and in-between classes. Senpai is very much popular himself…"

"Indeed," he agreed. "We could have any type of woman we wanted, but instead we both ended up falling in love with the same man…"

"Wataru was already mine even before you entered the picture," though he was using polite speech, his tone was dry and monotonous. "I thought you understood that, but I didn't think you'd try and make a move while I was away."

"…I did tell you that it's too late to stop me… But that's beside the point. I came here because there is something quite important that I must tell you."

"And that would be…?"

"I love Wataru."

The words were uttered plain and simple, yet deep with meaning. Though Yuichi had always been aware of Asaka's feelings towards the young boy, he had yet to hear him utter those three words, personally. A bold statement such as that was like a declaration of war. "And what do you hope to achieve by telling me this?" he asked with every bit of irritation dripping from his voice.

Asaka took a quiet sip from his cup before answering. "It's already pretty much obvious, isn't it Kazuki-kun? Before, I simply resigned myself to being a bystander in your relationship. I thought that perhaps if I could properly see you two together, I would be able to give up on Wataru. But instead, it had the opposite effect."

"Opposite…?"

"Last night at the restaurant… I indeed saw the proof of your relationship…"

He was referring to the bright hickey on Wataru's neck. Though, he had assumed that the two boys often engaged in that act; seeing the actual proof of it was more confounding than he had originally anticipated. Instead of feeling dejected, he felt infuriated, and it only fueled his desire to have the boy… at all costs…

"I've also expressed these thoughts to Wataru," he continued. "I told him that as long as there's a chance, I'm taking it. I'm not backing down without a proper fight."

"What makes you think you've got a chance?" Kazuki scowled. The conversation was too one-sided, and it was getting on his nerves.

"What makes you think I haven't got any?"

"……"

"Despite your conviction that I don't have a chance, it doesn't seem to be the same case with Wataru. He has taken a liking to me. You can't deny that… That is why I've decided to pursue him!"

"What?" Kazuki was dumbfounded. "Senpai… are you challenging me?"

"I will be quite honest with you, Kazuki-kun," the elder man continued. "The reason for this mess may have been entirely my fault. I was the one who provoked Wataru to date me. But at the time, it was because I was asking a favor from him…"

"Favor…? What favor…?"

"My grandmother had arranged for me to marry another girl. And that arrangement can only be called off if I have someone else. So I solicited his services to help me convince both my grandmother and my intended-fiancé that I am indeed taken. That charade was only to go on for about two weeks until you return, since Wataru was too noble to cheat on you purposely."

"So this… is all your doing…?" Things were finally starting to make sense! But this knowledge still put Kazuki on edge. Anger was boiling up inside him and he found it harder and harder to restrain himself from hitting the man. "That foolish act of yours probably caused Wataru a lot of torment!"

"…I know it did…" he hesitated to reply. "But you know what? He accepted it anyway. Because he said he wanted to support me and help me in any way he can. If it was within his power then he'll do so. The moment he said that to me, I felt undeniably happy. It was like the time he had cried in front of me. That gaze… the tears… that determination… it wasn't focused on anyone else, but me…"

"……"

"…Heart-warming, isn't it?"

Kazuki bit his lip in annoyance. It is a fact that it is within Wataru's nature to take that course of action. That's one of the things he loved about the boy. But it irritated him that Asaka had become the recipient of that proclivity.

"When I thought about it," he continued. "It simply made me want to hold him until he forgets all worries and just surrenders his entire being to me. To depend on me, and only me… I'm sure that's how you feel as well, don't you Kazuki-kun?"

"……"

"That's why I've taken the initiative of telling you this. I love Wataru, and if there is even the slightest bit of chance that he could fall in love with me then I'll take it. To put it simply, Kazuki-kun… I'll take him away from you…"

To be told of things like that so boldly and confidently made Kazuki clench his fists in anger. The arrogance in Asaka's tone was so obvious that it was practically dripping from his mouth. Kazuki had no idea where that confidence came from, but if the guy was so convicted about it, surely there must be a basis for it. He must've already said or done something to Wataru to cement his position in this "duel of love".

"You sound so sure of yourself," Kazuki voiced his thoughts. "Will Wataru go to you?"

"…That's entirely his decision," Asaka honestly answered. "A lot of things has happened and can happen. So if you want to keep him, then you should do something to convince him. The way I see it, you're already losing him and you haven't even noticed yet."

"What do you--?!" he abruptly stood up with fury lighting his eyes. But before he could finish his sentence, Asaka cut in—plainly stating, "Five minutes are up. Time to get back to work, Kazuki-kun." The younger man's eyes continued to flash with anger. Whatever retort he had planned to say was left unsaid. With a grit of his teeth, he bowed his head lightly and said, "Thank you for the patronage. I have to go back to work now."

As he turned to take his leave, he couldn't help but glare at the elder man from behind his shoulder.

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Wataru continued staring at the floor, suddenly finding it the most interesting thing on the face of the planet. He was feeling more and more sullen each passing moment. His mind was still trying to digest everything told to him, but no matter what angle he looked at it, he couldn't help but feel that the result seemed to be the same.

Sitting next to him, the elder Kazuki rummaged his inner pocket for another cigarette stick, not noticing or perhaps purposely ignoring the inner torments the young boy was going through. "Shohei-san," Wataru spoke, his eyes downcast. "Am I just… trouble for Kazuki…?" The elder man's hand stiffened as if shocked from what he had heard. If Wataru had turned to look at the man's face, what kind of expression would he have seen?

Shohei took a deep breath of air and sighed heavily. "In all honesty," he answered. "I am rather quite fond of you Fujii-kun. It's true that your relationship with Yuichi is a bit unsettling with me, but I don't dislike you. You're pure, honest, and you would never do anything to hurt anyone."

"……"

"You have all the qualities of a good person. And—to be honest—if I had a younger sister around the same age as you, I really wouldn't mind having you as her boyfriend. However, that's not the case I'm afraid…"

"Shohei-san…"

"Yuichi has become a much more splendid man, and it's probably attributed to your presence. But… the greater he becomes the more things are expected from him. My little brother has always been—and still is—our family's treasure. Our parents favor him above everything else as do I. We all want what is best for him, and…"

"…I'm not what's best for him…" Wataru finished the sentence for him.

"……"

"Shohei-san… I, too, want what's best for Kazuki. I've always supported him with every decision he's made. I don't think I've done anything wrong, nor do I feel guilty about anything…"

"I understand…"

"But please answer me truthfully, Shohei-san. Do you think I will be the cause of Kazuki's downfall? Will I just end up embarrassing him in the long run?"

It was Shohei's turn to downcast his eyes. An eerie silence swept over them, amplifying the sounds of other people's voices and footsteps. For how long did that silence reign? For how long was Wataru kept at suspense? Shohei closed his eyes, as if regretting what he was about to do, and answered with a remorseful tone.

"Yes."

Oddly enough, Wataru had already expected that answer.

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Yuichi stepped out of the café in his normal attire, thankful that it was finally his off. There were a lot of things going on in his head, and he desperately needed to clear it out. His discussion with Asaka certainly struck him to the core. He never dreamed that he would be this annoyed with someone before. But what really ticked him off was what happened after their little confrontation…

Kazuki cleared the table of the used utensils, getting them ready for the next customer that would come in. His eyes strayed off to Asaka, and he noticed the man finish the last of his coffee, get up and proceeded outside of the café. He didn't spare Kazuki a second glance, which was fine with the young man. As Kazuki was about to clear that table as well, a shy and timid voice caught his attention.

"Um… Kazuki-senpai…"

He turned around to find the three high school girls still at their table, though one of them had built up her courage to approach him. Looking at her, he softened his features a bit, then smiled, "Yes, what can I do for you?" She immediately blushed to her ears and lowered her head a bit. It was a common reaction from shy members of his fan club. She fidgeted her fingers, obviously trying to figure out what to say or how to say it.

"W-Well, um…" she stammered. "Th-There's this rumor going around in s-school…"

"Rumor?" Though Yuichi was never really the type to gossip, he couldn't ignore a few rumors going about in his former school. The fact that this girl had approached him about it; chances are he was involved in the rumor.

"Y-Yes, a rumor…" she continued quite nervously. "Um… S-Someone from the third years saw you with an o-older woman, and he s-said the both of y-you were acting quite c-close. It's just a s-speculation but… is she perhaps Kazuki-senpai's g-girlfriend…?"

Kazuki raised his brow. A student from Ryokuyo High had seen him together with Mizuho. When was that? During their trip to the hospital…? "Pardon me," he spoke. "But from whom did this information come from?"

"F-From Yamazaki-san… He said he w-was picking up his aunt at the a-airport with his m-mother when he saw you and that w-woman…"

"…And this is the rumor going around in school?"

"Y-Yes… E-Everyone's been asking Fujii-kun if she is your g-girlfriend, but he wouldn't s-say…"

Kazuki knit his brows together. Wataru had been subject to that rumor, yet he didn't tell him? Why? Kazuki was having trouble keeping his temper in check. The fact that the younger boy was being hounded for confirmation… could that be another reason for this trouble…?

"U-Um… Kazuki-senpai…" the girl spoke up again. "Th-That customer who was s-speaking to you earlier… H-He is your senpai in c-college, right?"

"Hm? Oh, yeah…" Why was she asking about Asaka?

"C-Could he be the reason that Kazuki-senpai is so c-close with Fujii-kun? Maybe y-you were the one who i-introduced them?"

"I beg your pardon?" What did Wataru have to do with any of this? (And the girl's stuttering was beginning to annoy him)

"E-Earlier this morning, F-Fujii-kun got a love c-confession. Th-That person, Kazuki-senpai's senpai, suddenly c-confessed to him in front of the s-school gate…"

"What?"

"I-It's true. Half of the s-school heard it. W-We were all surprised. We d-didn't think that Fujii-kun swung th-that way…"

"…And how's everyone taking it?" Kazuki needed to ask.

"Th-There are m-mixed feelings a-about it…"

Mixed feelings… But the fact that Asaka had done a brazen thing lit a flare in Kazuki's mind. With a frown forming on his face, he picked up the tray of dirty dishes (from the table he was cleaning) and swiftly returned to the back, leaving behind the girl and her friends. When he came back out, the three were already gone, but that sat well with him. He wasn't in the mood to answer to rumors. He was, however, just about ready to blow his top.

As he walked down the sidewalk, his mind was filled with so much tension. Aside from Asaka's challenge, there was also this rumor going about in school. He had no idea what Wataru thought about, nor did he even truly know the boy's side to the story. What he did know is that he needed to speak to Wataru right now.

No more delays!!

He pulled out his cell phone and put Wataru's number on speed dial. After a few rings, the call converted to voicemail. He internally cursed, and cancelled the call. He took a deep breath to calm himself down, and was about to try the boy's home number when his cell phone began ringing.

"Hello? Wataru?" he quickly answered, hoping it was the younger boy, but was met with disappointment at the sound of the person's voice. "Aniki… It's only you…"

"You were expecting it was the dark-eyed boy?" Shohei asked on the other line.

"What do you think? And stop calling him 'dark-eyed boy'. He's got a name you know…"

"I know. And I'm happy to report that I called him by his name when I spoke with him earlier."

"Stop with the antics—wait… you spoke with him earlier?"

"Yes, but he's not with me now. He left a few hours ago…"

"What were you doing with him?"

"Telling him things he needed to know…"

"What do you…"

"Things that you refuse to tell him…"

Kazuki could've sworn his heart stopped at that moment. "What things?" he was afraid to ask. But Shohei's voice contained every bit of arrogance the elder man had. "About you and Mizuho," came the simple reply, and all too soon Kazuki felt everything crumble.

"Aniki! What did you tell him?!"

"The truth… Every bit of it… But don't worry; I left out the part where our parents found you making out with Mizuho in your bedroom. If they hadn't gone in without knocking, then they never would've found you two out. And maybe you could've consummated your love with her then…"

"What?!" Kazuki snapped. "Why would you tell him something like that? Aniki, it's not your place to tell him anything!!"

"For your information, Yuichi," his voice remained cool and composed. "Wataru-kun was the one who approached me asking about those things. He seemed really eager to know, so I told him. But you, Yuichi… If you were truly serious about him right from the beginning, then why didn't you tell him about Mizuho?"

"It's not important!"

"Not important? Yuichi, she's your ex. Everyone wants to know about their lover's ex. The fact that you kept quiet about it suggested that you had something to hide. And if you keep secrets like that, it'd naturally invite doubt and suspicion."

"…Never mind… I have to go see Wataru. I… I need to clear this matter up…"

"Right, well then, do that."

Yuichi was about to hang up when his brother's voice spoke up again, as if mentioning an after-thought. "By the way," he spoke plainly. "The part where I said we caught you about to have sex with Mizuho… I lied. I did tell that to dear Wataru." Then the young boy was greeted with the dial tone.

Kazuki mentally cursed and punched the nearest wall with his fist. The sound of the dial tone still buzzed in his ears. He needed to remind himself to hit Shohei the moment he sees him. But before that, he desperately needed to fix this mess, and learn what else his brother had told Wataru.

He began dialing a few numbers again in hopes that this time, the boy would pick up.

0-n-L-y--t-H-3--R-1-n-G--F-1-n-G-3-r--k-N-0-w-5-z--t-H-3--u-N-T-0-u-c-H-3-d--R-1-n-G

Kazuki leaned against the lamp post panting and gasping as he tried to catch his breath. He flipped his phone open again to see if there were any new messages. Much to his dismay and aggravation, there was none. As always, he had gotten voicemail from calling Wataru, so he tried his home to be sure. When Karin answered, she informed him that her brother wasn't at home. She said that Kawamura had told her he cut classes, so she had been expecting him ages ago. But since he hadn't come home, she assumed that he was with Kazuki.

Right after that call, Kazuki went in a frantic search for him. He looked everywhere he could think of, but there was no sign of the young boy. He was about to let out a frustrated cry when his phone began to ring. He looked at the LCD screen to discover he received a message. He opened it, hoping it would be from Wataru, but instead it was from Mizuho.

"I'm making dinner. Any requests…?"

A soft smile appeared on his lips. At least, somehow, that managed to brighten his mood even just a tiny bit. He sent a reply saying, "Anything you make is fine." He gazed into the sky and saw that the sun was just about set. It'd be dark soon. He knew that Wataru wasn't a child and that he'd definitely go home once it's dark. He'll just have to settle for talking with him tomorrow.

As he was about to make his way back home, he remembered that there were some things from his apartment that he needed. It felt like it had been ages since he was last in that place, so he decided to make a quick stop.

The building complex hadn't changed much, except for the few Christmas decors adorning the doors and walls. Even the elevator had a red and green wreath hanging from its wall. As he walked down the hall to where his unit was, he was stunned at the sight of what was waiting for him at his doorstep.

"Wataru…?"

To be continued…

I had to rewrite this chapter a couple of times because I was dissatisfied with the outcome. Hopefully, this last rendition did some justice. I'm really sorry for not expressing it in a flashback, but I wasn't in a complete mood to write Yuichi and Mizuho as a couple.

This chapter gave us a slight peek at Yuichi's POV. But things are still confusing, aren't they?

Just a question… I was watching Junjou Romantica and I noticed that the college that Misaki goes to is Mitsuhashi University and is abbreviated to M—U. Could this also be the same university that Wataru is trying to get in to? After all, the novel says that Wataru's choice of college is M—U…

Next chapter: A Night Born From Jealousy. Kazuki and Wataru discuss some things and… well, do I really need to say what happens…?

I love reviews. Really I do… So don't be afraid to leave one… Really, it makes me happy…