Chapter # 4: Noticed
Ryuichi smiled,
"I see na no da…" He opened the door to the room he'd come from,
"Shu-chan? Come out and talk with me and Tohma na no da!" He said in his usual cheery, childish voice. Shuichi stepped into the hallway and handed Ryuichi Kumagoro back.
"Shuichi, I need to talk to you about…" Ryuichi handed the letter back to me,
"Thank you Sakuma-san…Shuichi I need to talk to you about this…" I said holding the letter up. He bit into his bottom lip slightly.
"Shuichi, did you…Write this…?"
He set his eyes downcast and didn't make any attempts to reply. He swallowed hard and looked up, making eye contact with me. He looked like he was scanning my eyes for something. Trying to see into me.
"You're calling Ryu-chan "Sakuma-san," and instead of calling me "Shindo-san," you're calling me "Shuichi."" He paused a moment.
"Why?"
I was a little surprised, and didn't know what to say. His eyes were piercing me, and I felt helpless for the first time in my life. I didn't know what to do.
Shuichi turned his head away and started walking off. Ryuichi followed after him. I leaned against the wall.
'How had Shuichi noticed that and how had I let him get away without hearing his answer to my question?'
I turned and looked to him and Ryuichi walking away.
'Did he…Really love…me?'