By animeninjaNIPPON

I lay awake on my bed that night, replaying the kiss in my mind. I was still confused, but now I knew the truth. I loved Insector Haga.

He was the only person in existence who understood me. It seemed like we had more in common than genetic clones. Plus, there was no denying that he was cute. I could see in his big, bright eyes that he had feelings for me as well. However, I feared that I'd never see him again. Not necessarily because he didn't want me (though I wasn't sure whether or not he really did), but because of our reputations. Sure, anyone could see that we made the perfect couple, but "boys dating boys" wasn't exactly the norm in any culture. Haga had been through enough already; his life was probably worse than mine. If anybody was clued in on the idea that he was with another guy, they'd probably gang up on him, maybe even…

No, I didn't want anything bad to happen to Haga. Not only that, he probably recognized the consequences the moment our lips met and decided we shouldn't hang out anymore. Besides, it's not like I wanted to get caught in a socially deviant relationship myself.

I got out of bed and went to the window, hopelessly searching the streets below for any sign of Haga. Of course he wasn't there, but I was desperate for attention… well, his attention, anyway. I never felt this way about anyone before, and as cliché as it sounds, I'd never been happier. I sighed serenely before going back to my bed and dropping onto the mattress. I was tired, but the moment I fell into bed the adrenaline kicked back into my system and woke me up again. All I could do was sit on the edge of my bed with one foot on the floor and my mind in outer space.

I replayed the kiss in my mind again, trying to memorize every detail of the encounter. I remember my hands on Haga's shoulders, the feather-light touch of his fingertips against my waist, the warmth of his body as I held him for one brief, exciting moment, and the fact that it ended all too soon. I also remembered the bittersweet aftermath when we stared at each other stunned silence and said goodbye as if nothing came about.

Here I was – Dinosaur Ryuzaki, the Dinosaur-type duelist who didn't take crap from anyone if he could help it – feeling the pangs of lovesickness.

At least I wasn't in a bad mood anymore.

End of part seven