Disclaimer: I do not own Super GALS! and I'm just writing this out of pure boredom and futile self-entertainment. And me being in a very bad mood for not being able to watch the series for two weeks is putting me in a very testy situation.

Classes suck because I had already enough schedule changes to last me a whole year (and those changes came from unworthy, disgruntled "barely passing" students mind you). My schedule sucks because I have this day where I have two subjects and my first class is on 8 in the morning and my other subject lasts from 6pm to 7:30pm. Oh, how cruel nature can be…

Thank mercies I have a few human bots (other terms are called 'pilots') that take care of my Ragnarok life, my Tantra account I gave to my special friend, and I am on my last term for editorship in my school. I hope I could gain my life back and take a breather from the busy activites of last year.

Anyway, I'm really turning OOC guys, do mind the changes and tell me if it's somewhat disturbing you or embarrassing. I'd gladly impose a do-over. (winks)

-

Chapter 17

"Yuuya?"

The blonde stared at Ojirou awkwardly, his eyes sparkling with curiosity at the unique frown the other was giving him.

"You look sad, is there something wrong?" Ojirou asked.

Yuuya gaped, embarrassed at himself for being easily readable towards other people.

Again.

"It's nothing, Ojirou…I just had a rough morning that's all." Yuuya answered with little conviction. The azure blonde sensed it as well, but kept mum to himself of his opinions.

"Would it hurt…if at least I try and settle in your life?"

Yuuya looked in shock at Ojirou, whose face was set in a concerned frown. His eyes gazed intently at Yuuya, waiting for an answer.

"What would you know about me? We just met back yesterday and…I don't think you'd know me much better than a complete stranger." Yuuya spoke carefully, picking his words to say.

"True…" Ojirou set his eyes forward, reflecting a bit of disappointment and sadness.

"Are you sure you want to?" Yuuya hesitated more to ask, yet did so. A playful smile danced across his features.

Apparently, he earned a smile from the other boy.

-

Rei arrived at school on time, save for the few delays some throngs of girls did on his way.

He immediately scanned the room for any presence of a certain obnoxious, redheaded teenager, and whether to his frustration or relief, had found no sign.

He sped to his seat, took out a good book from his desk (Boy Next Door), and decided to become oblivious of his surroundings for a while.

-

"Ok…"

Rei's eyes quivered a bit as he heard that certain voice by the doorway of the room.

"…I'll see you later…"

His eyes managed to steal a glance at the blonde seeing his friend off towards the other classroom.

Oh, he was laughing spiritedly.

He pretended to go back to his reading when Yuuya came nearer towards him, only to turn and situate himself at the seat nearby. Rei felt a strong look emanating from Yuuya, yet resisted to answer it.

Yuuya sighed softly, as he realized Rei had no intention of at least acknowledging his presence. Not a quick glance back, not even a hello, or even a small grunt when he was at his moody days.

Turning his back from the brunette, Yuuya laid his head on the desk, and rested himself for a while. Whatever it was that was happening was unnerving him almost too much.

Memories flooded back in his dreams.

-

(Flashback)

"Rei, why are you like that?" Yuuya asked him in curiosity, as he fiddled with his hair. It was the summer of their first year in high school, and both were lounging lazily on the couch.

"Like what?" Rei asked back, his head buried in a whodunit suspense novel.

"That's what. You're moody sometimes, you answer in half-sentences, you don't even smile unless there's a reason and you seem to be always…erm…not concerned of anything at all." Yuuya snapped his fingers, searching for the right word.

"The word's dispassionate." Rei finished for him, as Yuuya gapped, pointing at Rei in confirmation of the right word." Does it concern you if I'm not in the mood sometimes? I don't want to smile, unless there's a reason to do so. And why be passionate over things that are trivial?" Rei shrugged.

"Not everything's trivial…" Yuuya sat up, the conversation picking up life all of a sudden. Even Rei was forced to take the book away from his face, as he dared Yuuya to go on with his statements.

"Of course everything is. Be it a house, a home, your family, anybody, love. By and by, they'd disappear one day. Then what? You'd cry over the things you spent with it, but were brought to waste…all because you were foolish enough to spend time with it." Rei finished.

"You know…you need help…" Yuuya frowned at what Rei said, finding things to be against his belief.

"So what if one day we all would disappear. That's general. Wouldn't what matters at the present moment be more important? I mean…c'mon, if you'd spend all the time looking for something as permanent to finally ogle yourself with, then I'd sooner hang myself."

Rei shook his head at Yuuya.

"You're being stupid. You'd hang yourself over a silly conversation such as this?" He rolled his eyes in effect.

"It's not stupid!" Yuuya pouted. "This conversation happens to be a few of those chances where I at least learn something about you!" He suddenly clapped his mouth shut, as if saying something mortally terrible.

Yuuya suddenly turned sheepish, excusing himself to go to the kitchen for a glass of water, missing the curious look Rei threw at him.

-

Yuuya was still half-asleep on his desk, the morning bell ringing suddenly. His eyes were fixed in nothingness, his mind on his thoughts.

"Trivial…does Rei think I'm trivial?" Yuuya mumbled incoherently, his thoughts darkening the color of his mood. By and by, he felt himself sniffing uncontrollably and his throat starting to block.

He sat up on his chair, covering his face with his hands, muffling his sniffing sounds and trying to control himself. It was one thing to hate oneself…

…but it was more when someone you love hates you.

"HEY!" Yuuya's eyes almost popped out as a hand slammed itself soundly on his back, bringing his face flat on his desk.

"Good morning to the student of eternal sunshine and happiness!" Akai squinted, grinning stupidly as Yuuya told him off about the rough intrusion, baring his fangs and growling at the redhead rather soundly. Akai just raised his hands in defense, smiling all the more.

Akai turned his back towards Rei, missing the scowl the brunette launched at him. Yuuya had recovered a bit from his sniveling, his emotions replaced with playful irritation.

"So, how's Ojirou?" Akai asked bluntly, grinning a bit too-knowingly. Yuuya gasped in surprised as he settled for a dirty stare against Akai, feeling the grin to be a bit…lecherous.

"He's just a friend, Akai." Yuuya huffed, looking a bit too crossly at the redhead. His voice dripped with venom as he emphasized the word "friend".

"Oh, please not that crap again. You may think so, but what do you think Ojirou feels for you?" Akai leered closer; Yuuya bought in a state of surprise.

"It's not as if you're subtle flirty actions aren't doing anything to excite him…" Akai giggled in mischief, making Yuuya jump.

"What the…what do you mean subtle flirty? I'm not flirting with anyone, much less him!" Yuuya stood in full height, directing an accusing finger at Akai. Some of his classmate's heads turned direction at that sentence, curiosities piqued. Rei's knuckles were turning white, hearing the full conversation all too well.

"Oh, you don't need to flirt if you wanted to. Every action you do screams of it." Akai countered, leaning his head on his arms. Yuuya gapped, finding no sensible answer to retort to that.

Akai added even more. "Face it, Yuuya. You're handsome, you're sexy, and you're spirited. I guess every sensible girl or guy in the city would fall and crawl to your knees, begging you pathetically and all that just to be their boyfriend."

Yuuya curled his knuckles, gritting his teeth. Was Akai really this way? He had the first impression that he was a quiet, soft-spoken boy from Edo. But now…his true color, for lack of better expression, was showing.

"Are you insinuating something?" Yuuya asked between gritted teeth, Akai sensing his aggravating irritation.

"Huh? You're mad? Does that mean that you've got already a special someone? Or…maybe someone has you by the leash already?" Akai asked deviously.

Yuuya stopped, his mind stuttering at that question.

His gaze momentarily shifted towards the brunette. He was hoping that Rei would at least back him up. That he'd suddenly face him and tell him that he was his. Or hope to be.

Rei…help me here…

Rei, however, continued looking away, apathetic to Yuuya's plight.

Yuuya's eyes were stricken with disbelief, his mind running conflicting thoughts all of a sudden.

-

"Don't…touch…me…" Rei took on the look of an enraged bully, pushing Yuuya onto the ground.

…

"You awake?" Rei asked momentarily, as he stopped to check on the boy riding on his back.

"Those bullies won't be nearing you anymore, I made sure of that." Rei looked at him in quiet concern.

…

"You'll be owing me for this, Asou." Rei said with a hint of amusement, as Yuuya stared at him in surprise. The boy had bought him his new set of clothes.

…

"Rei…this feels nice…" Yuuya whispered, as he settled against Rei's chest, falling into sleep with him in the hot tub.

…

"Dakishimetai…" Rei spoke softly, his eyes gazing gently on Yuuya's features. His lips were tugged in a half-hearted smile.

…

Yuuya looked back to see that the brunette was no longer beside him in his bed. Coldness swept through him all of a sudden.

…

"You can use it now…" Rei said icily as he left the bathroom, leaving Yuuya to wonder what went wrong.

…

Rei left Yuuya alone. He did not cook for him that morning, and Yuuya walked the entire distance to school in somber silence.

…

Yuuya stared forlornly at Rei's doorway, hoping in the least tiny bit that he'd open it and talk to him. Yet…it remained close.

-

"So…Yuuya? What would your answer be?" Akai sensed the hesitation and storms running through the blonde's eyes.

Yuuya stared at his desk, then at Rei. Drawing his strength at the sight of the brunette, he steeled himself.

"No…"

Akai seemed to almost smile in himself.

"No…I…don't have anyone." Yuuya hung his head in defeat, his knees bucking on it's own accord.

-

The teacher suddenly came inside the room, all the students gathering around fled to their seats. Akai smugly smiled to himself.

Yuuya still hadn't believed what he just said. What he just admitted to himself.

His lips quivered in disbelief, his eyes fixed on the tears that fell on his desk.

He felt that he just drew daggers in his hand and stuck it deeply in his already bleeding heart.

And unknowingly…

He had stuck daggers deeper into Rei's as well, who was now fighting hard to pull back his emotions. He was breathing more rapidly, his eyes getting more watery.

He knew it all along.

Yuuya wouldn't stand under too much pressure.

And now…Yuuya had thrown him out of his life.

-

I would have done four chapter already, if I hadn't chosen to change Chapters 17-18. The pilot chapters had Rei finally admitting his feelings for Yuuya.

See the difference? (Groans at the more sleepless nights ahead)

Err…was the plot a bit too confusing? Uh…blame it on a hungry muse. Suggestion for a better plot turn would be appreciated, though not guaranteed to be entertained.