SAKURAGI

Youhei and Haruko.

Youhei and Haruko.

YOUHEI AND HARUKO!

Damn! This Tensai still could not believe what has just happened. I thought I would still have a chance with Haruko after she rejected me-I never did lose hope, see- but... But I just have to see her walking down the busy, snowy streets with... with MY BESTFRIEND, of all people!

And that's more than enough to crash all my hopes down to the chilling snow. My whole blasted life along with it.

And just when I thought the situation couldn't get any worse, I was so graciously given the honor of bumping into someone who has just had the same unfortunate experience as me.

Oh Kami-sama, why does life have to be so cruel to the both of us at a time like this? Doesn't it know it's Christmas? It should've at least given us some consideration, y'know.

I couldnt even begin to think how long and cold and sad our winter is going to be.

Unless we do something about it fast.

"We can go up Shohoku's rooftop and jump off from there," I suggested as we languidly shuffled through the impassive Christmas crowd.

"That's too messy, Hanamichi," Ryota mumbled, pushing his freezing hands deeper into the pockets of his coat.

"Then we can just stab each other to death?"

"Too brutal."

"Drink poison?"

"Painful."

"Er... how about jumping off the bridge?"

"And attract unnecessary attention to ourselves? No way!"

"Suggest something better then, Ryo-chin."

"Life is precious, Hanamichi, you shouldn't be thinking of such gruesome, horrendous ways of ending it."

Stunned silence subsequently followed while I tried to figure out what has just hit me. Or rather, what has just hit him.

Is this the same guy who dashed in front of a rushing ten-wheeler a while ago? He should be ground beef by now if I hadn't acted fast enough. How come now he's talking... trash? And a rather cheesy one, at that!

I was almost tempted to ask, "Are you okay?" But he looked really serious with what he just said that I was left with no other choice but to walk in absolute silence beside him-his glorious reverence, St. Ryota. I couldn't remember what exact minute of the passing hour was he 'sainted', though.

We strolled on, passing by the beautifully decorated stores and houses in mutual silence until somebody's boisterous clock announced the strike of midnight and people everywhere were all the more filled with the holiday spirit.

It would've been a joyous sight if we weren't merely prodding through our lives... forcing every breath out... wondering how our tormented hearts could keep on beating...

"Hanamichi?"

"Hm?"

"Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas, Ryo-chin."

"Next week's going to be the New Year, right?"

"Hai."

"Happy New Life to the both of us, then."

Oh no! He's going saintly on me again. "H-Hai."

Another moment of silence. I couldn't help noticing we were actually walking in perfect cadence. Left foot stepping before the right... Right stepping ahead of the left...

Left... Right...Left... Right-

"Look, Hanamichi," Ryo-chin somewhat delightedly said, halting in his tracks so suddenly that I nearly ran into him.

I drew myself up in time, followed his line of sight and found my eyes eventually resting on a rather familiar place.

"This is where we made up and became friends, remember?"

I nodded. Of course, I remembered. How could I forget the night we shamelessly burst into tears in front of each other while recounting our noble sacrifices for love?

Soon we were back on those precious swings, silently thinking our own thoughts, yet pretty much feeling the same emotions.

And we got so flushed by these too that none of us noticed the trail of tears shamelessly cascading down each other's face.

We didn't know we were crying ourselves until we began to talk and caught the terrible tremble in our voices.

"I'll do anything to make my Aya-chan happy."

"I understand."

"Suffer anything for her sake."

"Hai."

"I love her this much, see."

"I know."

"She'll always be special to me."

I didn't have to say it, but my stifled sobs were more than enough to prove that I felt the same about Haruko-san. Always have. Always will.

"Y'know, it's like being in a basketball game. No matter how much I'm losing, I'll keep on fighting just to see her smile. I will cry all night to wash the pain away. So that tomorrow, I can be the strongest that I can possibly be for my Aya-chan."

I was so awfully touched by those divine words that I nearly bawled out a storm. He was that devastatingly, yet enlighteningly right.

"I'm sure they wouldn't wanna see us like this."

"Y-Yeah," I muttered under my breath, finally coming to the absolute realization of what it really meant to be the losing side of a triangle.

It's like its your sworn duty to be happy so as not to upset the person you value more than your own life, no matter in how many frustrated pieces she happens to have broken your heart.

It's the toughest ordeal, but hey! Ain't it always the one who loves more madly and devotedly that ends up being unfairly defeated?

So it shouldn't really be too hard for the two of us since we really do love those girls this much.

Ryo-chin's right about tonight, though. We could cry all we like and start getting over ourselves for tomorrow's going to be another day.

Next week, a brand new year will dawn with promises of a new life. New challenges. And best of all, new love...

Well, hopefully anyway.

"Ryo-chin?"

"Hm?"

"Thanks."

"I share the sentiment, Hanamichi."

"And happy... Happy New Life."

-end-

Thanks for reading! :)