Later that same day. "Mizusawa-sensei, what's up? You look a bit down."

"All my friends know I'm gay."

"Isn't that good? Being gay is nothing to be ashamed of."

"I know that and trust me I'd be 'out, loud and proud' if I wasn't trying to respect Yama-chan's wishes."

"Your friends won't tell anyone."

At least I hope so... It better not have anything to do with Wataru.

"It's too late, a guy from Washizu knows and now things are gonna get out."

"What are you gonna do?"

"I'll never deny being gay because, like you said it's nothing to be ashamed of... But I think Yama-chan might deny that he loves me, I know he won't mean it but it'll hurt my feelings. If worst comes to worst I'll have to leave the team, so I don't mess this up for him. There are already enough rumours about him as it is."

Poor Kiyama... Wataru better not have let the information slip.

"How did your friends even find out?"

"I've got an idea, but they never told me."

"Go on."

"I hugged Wataru behind the bike sheds." Nippori looks at him quizzically. "In my defence, he looked like he was gonna kill me."

I knew Mizusawa was gonna annoy him.

"You need to be less cheeky."

I'm glad he managed to show restraint.

"Sorry, I'm not used to having to deal with temperamental people."

Yama-chan is always so distant, I can't get a reaction out of him and the most Nippori'd ever do is get offended, perhaps I should be a little bit less cocky.

"He can't actually hurt you, I made him promise."

I wonder if he had a bad reaction to Mizusawa's attitude and leaked the information… He's not spiteful, though, I know he gets a bit ticked off, but he doesn't hold a grudge or seek revenge...

"He looked pretty agitated to me, it must be because of the way I was talking about you." What could he have possibly said?

"I didn't say anything horrible, but I think he was trying to defend you. He said something about you having the mick taken out of you."

Mizusawa was one of the people that laughed at me...

"But it really kicked off when he asked that question and I couldn't hold my laughter in."

I know what question he's on about, Mizusawa's quite insensitive isn't he?

"I get why he was mad."

"Because he was being protective of you?"

"Actually, it's more that he exposed his weakness and you laughed at him. Quitting being a Yankee has really affected him."

He's always thinking about what the lads would think. that's why I can't call him nii-chan in public...

"He's not bad on the inside, but he's not used to having to earn respect. As much as people have always looked down on him, he became accustomed to being a boss and now the whole school's ridiculing him for tumbling. He's happier than he's ever been but he's still quite vulnerable. Don't push your luck. He only gets angry because he can't control his emotions."

"Wow! Well said Nippori I never thought of him as being sensitive. I suppose in takes a sensitive guy to know one."

It's so nice to see how they both look out for each other. Nippori's actually quite protective in his own way.

"I'll apologise to him tomorrow, I didn't think the way I acted hurt his feelings. With you it's more obvious. At least I managed to diffuse the situation, we're friends now."

"I'm glad." They reach the primary school and go their separate ways.