"Mai-chan, I DO love you. But not in the way you think or want," the young man said.
"What do you mean?" Mai asked. "Bou-san said you were mad about me."
"Yes. As a friend," he replied.
"I don't understand..."
Yasuhara sighed. "You know how I'm always teasing Takigawa-san?"
The girl nodded.
"Well, I wasn't really teasing. More... telling the truth in a teasing way," he said.
"You're gay?"
"No," Yasuhara said. "But I have feelings - strong feelings - for him."
"But..." Mai protested.
"I know. He's in love with Matsuzaki-san. And I wish them well. I only want to see him happy."
"Why can't I feel like that about Naru?" she asked.
He smiled gently. "Because you had him and lost him. I never had a chance with Houshou..."