The next day Yukifumi woke up to find himself lying on the floor. The bed beside him was empty and Sakuya was nowhere in sight. He yawned as he stood up, then a thought hit him: it was a school day!

He hurried out of the room and found Sakuya in the kitchen, making a cup of coffee.

"Sakuya!" he gasped breathlessly. The younger boy was already in his school uniform.

"Good morning, prince," he replied with a smirk, looking very much relaxed.

"Why didn't you wake me up? At this rate, I can't go back home to get dressed without being late! Speaking of which, why are you up already? Are you well enough to go to school?" He absently felt Sakuya's forehead and it felt cool under his touch.

"Hey, quit that. I'm already fine, okay?" Sakuya said, pushing Yukifumi's hand away.

"I don't know...maybe you should rest for one more day."

"No way! Besides if anyone here needs to rest, it's you. You look like a zombie."

"Thanks, I really appreciate that comment."

"Go change into one of my shirts, if you want. There're plenty in the closet," Sakuya said. He lifted the cup to his mouth.

"Oh, thanks," said Yukifumi, then grabbed Sakuya's cup, downed it, and ran to the said room.

"Hey!"

"Stop complaining!" he said cheerfully. "I need that coffee more, since I look like a ZOMBIE."

He came out in a black shirt which fitted him surprisingly well, and said to Sakuya, "Now, come on, else we'll be late."

"Yeah, yeah."

As expected, and yet not expected, they were the talk of the school. The moment they stepped in the school grounds, everyone stared at them and started talking among themselves.

"Hey, hey, did you hear? Yukifumi spent the night in Sakuya's house."

"Eh?? I can't believe Yukifumi would..."

"But they have been spending a lot of time together, haven't they?"

"Yeah, makes sense."

Yukifumi maintained an indifferent air while Sakuya...was Sakuya. He didn't even seem bothered by the idea that they were being talked about. Then again, he was probably used to it.

Yukifumi wanted to rush right in the safety of his classroom but Sakuya's slow pace prevented him from doing so. Exasperated, he yanked the other by the arm and dragged him into their music studio. Thankfully, it was empty. Yukifumi sank on one of the chairs with a sigh. "What's with everyone? Why do they have to talk about us?" he burst out.

"You're bothered about that? Let them talk about whatever they want to talk about."

"Even if it's about you?"

"Their business is not my own."

"Well you may be relaxed about the whole thing, but I'm not."

"Leave it be. You can't stop them from talking anyway."

"...I really hate it when you say something smart."

"Oh, I'll keep that in mind."

"Yuki!" The door banged open and Makoto, Akanishi, and Tanaka stood on the doorway.

"Hey, guys. What's wrong? What's with all the serious faces?"

"Is it true you slept in Sakuya's house last night?" Makoto asked, stepping forward.

"Yeah, I did. And please don't say 'Sakuya' as if he's not here."

"Wow, Yuki, didn't know you had it in you." Akanishi clapped him on the back.

"What??"

"No wonder you're the talk of the school," Tanaka said, shaking his head sympathetically.

"Wait! Hold it, guys. Just what exactly are you talking about? I don't understand," Yukifumi started pacing, "why everyone has to make an issue about staying in his house. Can someone please tell me?"

"Well...all right. Come here." Makoto motioned him closer. When they were out of Sakuya's earshot, he spoke, "It's because it's Sakuya. It's not just anybody's house but Sakuya's. Get it?'

"No."

Akanishi sighed in exasperation. "Yuki, don't you know anything about Sakuya? He's the 'bad guy' type and he's supposed to be a playboy, too."

"Sakuya?" Yukifumi laughed. "He's a loner. How can someone like that be a playboy?"

"Well, yeah, but that's part of his appeal. Female and male are attracted to him." Yukifumi blushed. "Even grown-ups are all over him. And also..." he dropped his voice to a whisper, "It was said that he always has his way with anyone who spends the night with him."

"Now, do you get it? Everyone thinks you and Sakuya did—"

"Stop it!" Yukifumi cried. "I can't believe I'm hearing all these from you. Didn't he help us out in the competition? Where did that 'bad boy type' come from? I'm sure you don't think of him in that way!" He turned away. "I don't."

"Yuki, we're just relaying the facts to you. Open your eyes to what's real!"

"Enough," Yukifumi said coldly. "I don't know what's wrong with everyone, but I'll say one thing. Your filthy minds disgust me." With that, he stormed out of the room.

All day Yukifumi had to endure endless stares and gossips around him. He resumed his Prince Yukifumi mode: proper and quiet. But inside, he was greatly agitated with what he had heard. Sakuya was a bad guy...a playboy...

'Maybe they were true,' he thought, 'But in any case, he definitely wasn't a 'bad boy' to me; and he did not 'have his way with me.' So I wish they'd all just shut up.'

When he got home, he found his father waiting for him in the living room. That scene caused him a lot of worry before, but they were nothing compared to what he was feeling now.

He stepped in the room and didn't bother to greet his father. He bowed low and went straight to the point. "I'm sorry, father, for not going home last night and for not informing you of my stay in Sakuya's house." Thus he waited for the blow.

He heard his father sigh. "Yukifumi, I am very disappointed in you. Do you have any idea what you put me through last night? I didn't know where you were and I can't even reach you on your phone!" He started to pace. "And who is that Sakuya? I've been told you've been spending a lot of time with a boy lately. Is his name Sakuya?"

"Yes, father." Dutiful as he sounded, he knew he would break if his father said even one word against Sakuya.

"Sakuya..."

"Do you not approve of him, father?" Even Yukifumi surprised himself for speaking up suddenly.

"I can't say. I've never met him." He paused. "I'm not going to touch on that Sakuya issue. I just want you to realize your mistake and promise me never to do it again."

Yukifumi was surprised. It seemed he was getting off easily. But who was he to complain, right? He bowed his head again and said, "I promise never to do it again. I'm really sorry, father." He straightened up. "And thank you."

He didn't know if it was because of last night's incident or it was something he ate that morning, but the next day, Yukifumi was feeling considerably more composed and steady. He was back to his old self. The talks about him and Sakuya had lessened, but he still didn't fail to catch everyone's attention wherever he went.

But today he was determined to end them all. Forget waiting. It was up to him to settle things.

He looked for Sakuya and found him in the classroom, slouched over his desk.

"Sakuya!" The blue-eyed boy looked up, and so did everyone else.

"Yo," was all he said.

Yukifumi took a deep breath. "Listen here. I'm not saying this just to get everyone quiet, but also because I want you to hear it. You used to call me prince (and you still do), and I admit you were right. I was spoiled, selfish, and maybe, arrogant. I was treated well by everyone. Then I met someone who dared to take out my bad side." He couldn't keep back a smile. "It seemed he wanted to be friends with it. So I let it happen, thinking, 'what the heck, it'll do me good to do something new.' Now, people talk about me; about us, I mean. I was bothered by it. But it did get me thinking about a lot of things. And, well, I guess my point is, I realized that...I really like," he caught Sakuya's eye, "Ookouchi Sakuya." He was done; he had said his piece.

The whole classroom was quiet. Even students in the hallway had gathered closer to listen to him. Now they were waiting for Sakuya's reply. But Sakuya said nothing. He only held Yukifumi's gaze before turning back to his paper, his face expressionless.

But Yukifumi wasn't bothered. If anything, he felt relieved of having rid himself of a heavy load. He bowed slightly and walked out of the room. The rest of the day went smoothly. His band mates had even cheered him on, saying, "Good going, Yuki! That sure took a lot of guts!" Other students seemed to look at him now with newly found respect. And the best thing was, they weren't talking of the overnight incident anymore, but of Yukifumi's confession. They were wagering on what would be Sakuya's reply. Speaking of which, Yukifumi was wondering himself.