10 The Problem with Mondo

Mondo lays— his shoulders relaxed and mind calm, for once— with this weird-ass American book in his hands, a soft smile upon his face, and his head pillowed by a pair of surprisingly soft and comfortable thighs that he's doing his absolute best to not overthink and psych himself the fuck out over, dear fucking god.

"Shit, man. Somethin' kinda fucked 'bout a bunch a' kids bein' forced ta kill each other, ya know? Suzanne Collins is a sadistic fuck..." he mutters into the still and silent air, wanting to break the nearly oppressive silence. He can feel the body under him stiffen a bit, which is... upsetting, but the kid doesn't kick him off, so Mondo stays resolutely where he is, hoping that it's fine. This position is honestly super fucking comfortable and he, uh... he would kinda hate it if the kid decides he doesn't like it...

To his fortune, Taka doesn't kick him off. He just looks down at him (he thinks, he's still looking at his book and can only see a small sliver of the kid, really) and stares for a moment, before speaking.

"A-ah! Yes, I would imagine so! Are you... enjoying the book, kyoudai?"

Huh. That's a good question. /Is/ he enjoying the book…? Well... he definitely likes it a hell of a lot more than the other stupid ass books Taka has tried introducing him to, both Japanese and translated English books.

Ever since they became friends (and /kyoudai/) a week before, Taka has been trying to 'expand his reading horizons,' or whatever pretentious fucking thing the kid said to him. He'll be honest when he says that, while he is glad that he /can/ read if he wants to, a lot of the books Taka had him try were dull as shit. Nonfiction was right out, as dull as that shit is, though Taka says he will try and order some books about the history of the motorcycle for him through the school's library, since apparently that's a thing you can do at this high-class fucking school. But the fiction books Taka gave him were also dull and boring, most of them about stupid fucking teens or adults doing stupid fucking things. Why the hell would he care about shit like that? He lives that nonsense on a daily basis, for Christ's sake. The 'classics' Taka tried showing him were even worse, though, the language archaic as fuck and painfully confusing.

It was a stroke of luck he even found this book. /The Hunger Games/, by Suzanne Collins. It wouldn't have caught his eye if the chick on the cover wasn't super fucking hot and shit. Taka had seemed so fucking enthusiastic that he had shown an actual interest in a book and Mondo hadn't had the heart to say he was just checking out the eye candy, so he'd checked the book out and figured he might as well try it.

And it's... kinda interesting? Really fucking bleak, but the writing is good and he honest to god is starting to feel bad for the chick. Like... holy fuck. Having to murder twenty-three other kids, possibly even your friends and the dude you kinda like, just for the slim chance of making it out alive? Like... shit, dude. Whoever fucking came up with that idea was a sadist through and through, goddamn. And while he can't say he likes the book fully, he's definitely interested to see where the fuck it goes. Also, while he has a feeling that things won't end well, part of him is hoping that the little girl makes it out okay. Rue, he thinks her name is. Yeah, he's not stupid, but a dude can hope, right?

As he ponders this, he formulates a reply to Taka's question, humming softly.

"Ehh... I dunno yet. Kinda dull at first, but things are startin' ta pick up, ya know? They just started the Hunger Games thing, and now all the kids are tryin' ta kill each other. Like I said, kinda fucked, but eh. Seems interestin'..."

Mondo turns the page in the book, still reading even as he talks to his kyoudai. It's not hard for him to multitask at this, he's come to find. Now that reading isn't a struggle, he finds it's actually super fucking easy to do. Who'd a' thunk it, huh?

He does his best to not get distracted by the small smile Taka has on his face, even as the kid turns back to his own book (a book about fucking /Gandhi/, who apparently was not as nice a dude as people always claim him to be, according to Taka and his derisive and unintentionally hilarious snide comments about the dude). He also tries not to get distracted by the feel of Taka's muscular and powerful thighs moving subtly under his head, something he's been trying (and failing) to ignore for the last fifteen minutes.

If he's being honest, Mondo doesn't really know /why/, exactly, he chose to flop down and lie on Taka's lap. It just... it had seemed logical to do at the time, ya know? Taka had wanted to read his stupid fucking Gandhi text for his morality class (because of course that's his special elective class, because why the fuck not), but Mondo hadn't wanted to be cooped up in the library and hadn't wanted to be in either of their rooms, either. Taka had been skeptical when Mondo had suggested the rec room, a room Taka rarely (if ever) spends any time in, but the kid had eventually given in easily enough.

When they'd gotten in the room— which was thankfully empty— Taka had moved over to the couch, sitting at the edge like he always fucking does. Mondo had followed and had intended on just sitting beside the kid, glasses on his nose, but then he just... he found himself laying down, like he usually does when he's trying to relax. And if his head had just so happened to land solidly on Taka's lap, well… who fucking cares, right? They're kyoudai, so it's not like it's /that/ fucking weird. Still, he'd done his best to remain relaxed about it, not wanting the kid to see how the action made his heart race, oddly terrified the kid would complain and throw him off, but... but he hadn't done that. Taka had just gone bright red, stared at him with wide eyes, before going back to his book without a word. After a moment, Mondo had continued where he'd left off with his own book, and they settled into a comfortable routine, where Mondo would say comments about his book every few minutes, while Taka would tentatively bring up facts about Gandhi, the kid so fucking critical, god. It's so amazing, heh.

The only thing is... he's not entirely sure what he's doing with this all. Like... okay. Mondo has always been a tactile guy, right? He likes working with his hands, feeling his way through the world, and it's no different when he's around others. It's why it always hurt him so fucking much when his ma would push him away. If it weren't for Daiya pulling him close every chance he got, ruffling his hair, and wrapping an arm around his shoulder, he doesn't know if he'd still have kept his tactile nature or if he'd have stuffed it away with all the other shit that just made him hurt.

But Daiya was close to him, always touching him in some way, and so Mondo got used to doing shit like that. With the people he was close to, the people he trusted... yeah. He was close to them. Physically, at least. He was never afraid to wrap an arm around a friend, knowing it wasn't gay or anything, it was just... shit. He doesn't know. Friendly or something. He even does it with Leon, who he guesses is a good friend by now. It's just... a thing he always has done, ya know?

And it's no different with Taka. He touches the kid, wraps his arm around his shoulder, ruffles his hair... ya know. Things like that.

And yet...

Shit.

It's kinda fucking /different/, too.

Like... with his other friends, even when he touches them, he makes sure to maintain his distance. Emotionally, ya know? Yeah, he touches them and laughs and shit, but he... he doesn't let himself get much closer than that internally. Emotionally.

But with Taka...

It's not like that. He... he feels so fucking /much/ for that goddamn kid, all the goddamn time. And he can't help that he kinda... kinda wants to get closer. Than he usually gets with his other friends. And, as such, in addition to wrapping his arm around the kid's shoulder and ruffling his hair and normal bro shit like that, he... he finds himself grabbing the kid by his wrist sometimes to drag him somewhere. Or even snaking his arm around the kid's waist and pulling him close for a hug, something he /never/ does with his other friends. Manly side hugs and quick slaps on the back, yeah, those he gives regularly to the members of the gang he's closest to, like Michi and the other elite guard. But that's not the kind of hug he gives Taka. These hugs are the lingering kind, where he just fucking /holds/ the kid for long seconds— or even /minutes/— at a time.

And it makes sense, right? Because Taka ain't like his other friends or gang members. He... he's fucking /special/ and he deserves to be treated as such. And when Daiya was alive, they used to hug sometimes, so it ain't like it's fucking /weird/ or anything. It's fucking not!

_The weird butterflies he gets in his gut when he does it are, though-_

And it's fine. Okay? It's /fine/. Taka hasn't complained yet and he seems okay with Mondo's closeness. He even seems to really fucking like it, always burrowing closer when Mondo does it, sighing his soft and happy little sighs that drive Mondo nuts. So, the kid doesn't mind, and he doesn't mind, and it's fucking /normal/ for bros to be close and touch, okay?!

Of course... nothing really explains his actions during that movie they watched together the other day... s-shit...

Okay. So, for the record, Mondo ain't the biggest movie fan, okay? Like... he's likes them, don't get him wrong! But he much prefers being outside, riding his hog, wild blue yonder and all that crap. His bro, Daiya, now /he/ was the one who loved movies and shit. Especially old English movies, which he guesses is where his bro learned English. Mondo still has his extensive fucking movie collection that he inherited, which he had had shipped to Hope's Peak shortly after the start of the year, because why the fuck not, right? Gave this room some hint of personality, goddamn...

Anyway. While he ain't the type to typically sit still and watch movies, it had fucking /appalled/ him when Taka had mentioned absently that he /never/ watched movies as a kid, outside of the educational ones they show in school. Like... fucking /never/. He hadn't seen any of the fucking classics, or the so-bad-they're-good train wrecks, or- or anything! Shit, he hadn't fucking seen /Star Wars/, which had boggled Mondo's mind. Mondo ain't a nerd, right? But even /he/ has seen Star Wars. And he knows the kid knows English, so he has no fucking excuse.

As soon as Mondo heard that, he'd pretty much forced the kid to stop what he was doing (some stupid fucking homework assignment that was due in /three fucking weeks/, god, he's such a nerd) and had him settle on the couch to at /least/ watch the classic Star Wars trilogy. It was a crime to humanity that the kid hadn't seen them at least once. At least to /know/, even if he hated them.

Which the kid had. Or... Mondo had initially thought he had, since Taka had been so fucking stiff at the edge of the couch, frowning and looking a bit upset while the first movie played. About halfway through, Mondo had finally caved and asked if the kid wanted to stop, thinking he'd say yes immediately, but to his shock… Taka had immediately shaken his head, smiling shakily at him as he said he was enjoying it. And Mondo hadn't detected a lie, so he had accepted it and tried to ignore how tense the kid had been.

However, by the end of the first film, Mondo had had enough. And when he sat back down after putting in the second DVD (because fuck Netflix, he ain't paying for their service, fuck off, and he's nowhere near tech savvy enough to pirate that shit, even if Taka would let him), he'd sat a lot closer to the kid than before. Like... a /lot/ closer. Like... pressed tight to his side closer. It had felt awkward for a split second, the kid stiff as a fucking statue, until Taka just fucking... /melted/ against him. Legit, straight up /melted/. Like putty in his hands, molded fully to his side. It had made his heart race fast for no fucking reason, and it had only been natural for Mondo to wrap his arm around the kid, pulling him somehow even /closer/. And yeah, his hand had ended up a lot lower than he had anticipated, curling around Taka's hip rather than his shoulder, but... but...

Shit.

Shit.

Whatever. Doesn't fucking matter.

Point is, he and Taka have gotten super fucking close this last week. So, so fucking close. Physically and emotionally. It's only been a fucking /week/ and yet it feels like he's known Taka all his goddamn life. It feels so natural, doing this shit with him. Holding him close to his side, teasing him, laughing with him. The kid can be so fucking /hilarious/, god, even if he doesn't mean to be half the time. And he's /so fucking cute/, okay? So fucking. It has to be a crime to be as adorable as Taka constantly is, he swears to Christ.

It's nice. Right? So nice, being close to him, the kid wanting to be close back. And yeah, he still doesn't quite know why they work as well as they do, but he's never been one to look a gift horse in the mouth. Not a gift horse that is as fucking nice as this.

Lying on the kid's lap, it... it's nice, too. And yeah, it's a little fucking weird, he never did shit like this with his bro or had his bro do this with him, but... but Taka is not Daiya, and it's different with them. It just... it /is/, okay?

(And even if it is kinda weird... he can't help it. Being close to the kid. It... it feels so nice. Holding him. Touching him. It makes his insides feel so fucking calm, the raging storm within him at all times finally ceasing whenever he has his hands on Taka. The kid is like a balm or something, soothing Mondo's entire soul or shit like that. He... he doesn't wanna give that up. So what, it's weird? So what, bros don't typically do shit like this? He just... he doesn't care. Taka likes it, and Mondo sure as shit likes it, and that's all that fucking matters. Okay?!)

Anyway... this whole thing is stupid. Thinking about shit like this. It doesn't fucking matter, Jesus Christ. He resolutely pushes the thoughts out of his mind and goes back to the book, reading as Katniss escapes the Cornucopia or whatever, wondering blithely what's gonna happen next.

However, while he does his best to read his book, ignoring the weird feelings inside him, he can't help the feeling that he's being watched. And given that there's only one fucking person in the room, he knows exactly who it is. And while he sure as shit doesn't mind, it... it's kinda wigging him out, okay? Especially considering the nature of his prior thoughts... shit. Putting down his book, he looks up at the kid, who seems so deep in thought he doesn't even notice that he's staring. Ha. Nerd.

"Yer starin' at me. What, I got somethin' on my face?" Mondo asks gruffly, which causes the kid to blush bright pink, jerking back to the present. He can see Taka glare at him, adorable as fuck, which makes him grin smugly, oddly proud of how indignant he can make the kid. Now that they're not fucking /enemies/, he finds it kind of fun to push the kid's buttons, taking care to never push too far, having a pretty good feel for Taka and his limits. And besides. It's super fucking cute to see the kid glare, looking like a fierce puppy dog. Oh, don't get him wrong, the glare is impressive as fuck. But now that they're friends, it is more endearing than anything else. Shit... that's fucking sappy, ugh...

Pushing the thoughts away again, he just watches with amused eyes as the kid huffs indignantly and turns back to his book with a soft pout on his face, which is just... ugh. /Adorable/. Seriously. It's gotta be a crime. Especially with his pink fucking cheeks, f-fuck...

Mondo goes back to his book too, then, letting it go since he doesn't want to embarrass the kid /too/ much, ya know? Besides, it doesn't matter that much. He just goes back to reading, letting out comments every few minutes, almost against his will. He just likes sharing what he thinks, okay? When he's with someone he trusts, someone who won't mock him for it... yeah. He just likes it. And Taka doesn't seem to mind... he even responds in kind sometimes, so it- it's fine. Fucking... fine.

Things stay like that, in a quiet (mostly quiet) state of calm for a while longer, close to half an hour, Mondo thinks. It's right as Mondo has managed to relax himself completely, the weird feelings inside him settling into a strange warmth that he refuses to touch lest he fucking ruin this shit again, that the door to the rec room opens. Because of /course/ that would happen. God fucking damn.

To his silent relief, it's not any of the older years and is instead four of their classmates. Asahina (or Hina, as she insists everyone call her), Ogami, Naegi, and Maizono. Some of the least offensive of their classmates, he guesses, even if he's still miffed at Naegi for /locking him in a fucking closet/, shit.

He can feel the mild tension that had entered Taka's body loosen when the kid recognizes the others, which makes Mondo feel weird inside again. Goddamnit. Whatever. So what, he's glad the kid is able to see their classmates as safe. Is that a crime? Doesn't fucking matter, shit...

Mondo listens absently as the swimmer talks about her swimming competition, which Mondo recalls the chick going on and on about for weeks now. Her first big competition since coming to Hope's Peak, or some shit, he thinks. While Mondo has never been super close to any of the kids in his class, he's learned a surprising amount about them over the past month and a half, he realizes then. While he knows most of them are still a little scared of him, they seem to have accepted him fairly well into their group, even if he still feels awkward around all of them.

Ever since he became friends with Taka, though, it... it's been easier. Talking to them. Interacting with them. Taka makes him feel... he doesn't know. Like he can let his guard down. Just a little! Just... just a little.

(Plus... the kid is so fucking awkward around people, he- he needs someone more confident and suaver than him to help him get out of his shell, like Daiya always did for him. And it's fucking laughable, Mondo thinking himself fit for such a role, but... if not him, then who? Mondo is not a personable person, is more likely to scare people away than make them want to be friends with him, but... but Taka needs more friends. More people he can be comfortable around. And Mondo... shit. Mondo is more than willing to /try/, and do all he can to /succeed/, if it helps Taka. So much more than willing. Fuck...)

"-oh! Hey Taka and Mondo! How's it going?"

Mondo tunes back into what the chick is saying when he hears his and Taka's names. While he'd not been listening fully to her story, he had heard enough to get the gist. She had faced a competitor, they beat her but were stylish about it, the other chick offered to teach Hina her move... yadda, yadda.

He sees that the chick is smiling at him and Taka, which makes him feel even weirder inside, but at least she ain't fucking /judging them/ still. Fuck, had he hated that. Her sour little frown, calling their bond /weird/ and /gross/, saying it freaked her out. Like... how fucking rude?! But she's a chick, so he couldn't yell at her, but at least she seems to have gotten over it. Good.

Most of their classmates had gotten used to it by now as well. Chihiro had even silently switched seats with him when she noticed that he and Taka had become close, the chick smiling at him slightly when he'd stared at her sitting in his usual seat that first day. It had strangely touched him, especially since they've not had much more interaction outside of that one time during the outing Mondo never fucking thinks on. It had made him wonder if he should fix that and get to know her better. Taka liked the chick too, so it would be a win-win. Hm... maybe. Shit. Outside of her, most had been a little more weirded out by it, and Mondo had to glare daggers at Leon when the fucker tried saying something insulting about Taka, but it wasn't all bad. For the most part.

(Togami was starting to piss him off, though. That fucker was giving them smug looks at times, like he knew something they didn't. Mondo hated it, especially when he reluctantly remembers the cruelly mocking words that fucker had said during the week that he and Taka had had their worst fighting. Telling them to- t-to... to fucking /fuck/, since their 'foreplay' was tiresome. Who the goddamn says shit like that, huh?! God fucking damn...)

Shit.

Anyway. It's nice to not have to explain himself all the time. But... he still doesn't quite like the way the others are staring at the two of them. He'd pretty good at reading people's expressions, one of the only things he was good at on his own without needing to be taught, and something about their eyes just... rubs him wrong, shit.

It's then that he realizes he's still laying with his head pillowed on Taka's lap.

S-shit...

Sitting up smoothly, Mondo looks at the chick, hoping the action seems natural and not fucking /guilty/. Since he's not guilty, as he wasn't doing anything wrong, okay?! Goddamn…

"Heya, Hina. Readin' this weird ass book 'bout kids murderin' each other. Ya had that competition then, yeah? Do well?" he questions as he takes off his glasses smoothly, cheeks only slightly warm. While Taka has been trying to convince him that he looks fine with them on, even managing to get him to wear the fucking things in class one day, he knows better. Especially after Leon had fucking /laughed/ at him when he saw it. The musician had genuinely apologized later, saying he found them neat but had just been shocked to see it, but the damage was done and like hell is Mondo gonna let shit like that happen ever again, fuck... he has a fucking reputation, and like hell is /wearing glasses/ part of that reputation.

(Taka still tries his best to build Mondo up, being so fucking sweet and kind that Mondo should fucking hate it, but... well. It's kinda nice. He guesses...)

He gets pulled from his thoughts when Hina squeals lightly, bouncing lightly on her feet.

"Oooh, that sounds scary! Is it any good? And yup! I just got back! I narrowly got first overall but was beat in a couple of the side contests. But that's okay! I'll just train extra hard and next time I'll get it! If either of you guys wanna join me in the pool some mornings, we can train together if you'd like! I'd always love to have an extra swimming buddy!"

Mondo smirks at the energetic words, knowing he isn't up for it since he fucking /hates/ swimming, but figures it would be good for Taka to join her. Alone time with fucking /Hina/, that hot ass chick? While all wet and wearing barely anything at all? Hell /fucking/ yeah. Not that the kid would ever accept on his own, of course, as anxious and awkward as he can be. Which means it's up to him to get the kid a fucking date, ha. Shit. This is gonna go well...

(And... while he does his best to remain relaxed, mostly for Taka's sake, he can't quite help the way his insides are squirming a bit. Ugh, but he really ain't the kind ta have casual conversations like this. With chicks especially. While this ain't too bad, it... it's weird. And it's making him nervous. And when he gets nervous, he...

But no. Nuh uh. Not today. Not ever, if he can help it, at least not around Taka. Kid deserves to have someone calm and collected help him. Shit.)

Pushing down the nerves, he shrugs casually and stretches his arms out on the couch. Not that he'd ever admit it aloud, but it's totally just an excuse so he can wrap his arm loosely around Taka, since if there's one surefire way to help with the rising nerves, it's to be touching that bright and beautiful boy. And what do ya know...

"Nah, I'm good. Not much ofa swimmer, ya know. Taka may be up fer it, though. He's got more ofa swimmer's build and always does those ridiculous exercises in the mornin'. Congrats on the competition, though! Representin' us right, hell yeah!" he grins, giving the girl his patented high-energy fist pump, since he thinks she'd be the kind to like that sorta crap. And when she giggles softly, her hand hiding her smile, he thinks he was right. Huh. Weird. He rarely, if ever, gets chicks to laugh at him... when he wants them to, at least. Weird...

Before he gets too caught up in that, he remembers she'd asked him about the book, too. And, considering that he actually kinda likes the book (maybe?), he doesn't have a problem talking about a /book/, for once. What a weird life he's currently leading, huh...? Hmm... shrugging, he looks at the book, considering it.

"As fer the book... yeah, it's pretty tight. Ain't exactly scary, more weird than anythin'. Not sure how I feel 'bout it yet. Writer's an American, though, so no accountin' fer quality, heh. Called the /Hunger Games/ or somethin'."

Mondo hears the chick gasp with excitement, bouncing on her feet as she takes a seat in the chair in front of them. The rest of the group heads over to the pool table, though Ogami (or Sakura, the chick has told him he can call her that since they talk about weightlifting and the like at times, which is also weird but whatever) is looking at Hina with soft eyes. Heh. They, uh... they remind him a bit of Taka and himself. They've been practically as thick as thieves since school began, the swimmer and the martial artist an unusual pair, but not super unusual when ya think about it. They both like working out and sports, for one. And their personalities mesh well together, even if one is super excitable and the other is stoic as fuck. But it's fucking weird thinking about other people's friendship like that, so he quickly moves his attention back to the swimmer, shit.

"Oooh, I've heard of that book! I watched some of the movie on the plane to a competition once, it was pretty good! It made me sad though... poor Rue!" the girl cries, frowning dramatically. That makes him frown, looking at the book with critical eyes. Aw, shit. Guess that tells him that his stupid ass hope for the kid surviving was definitely stupid...

"Aw shit... somethin' happens ta the kid? Aw man. Kinda figured, but still was hopin', ya know? Hate when kids get hurt in stuff. Shit sucks."

Hina winces lightly at his words, giving him a regretful look. But whatever, he's cool with it. He rarely minds 'spoilers' or shit like that. Who the fuck cares, right?

"Oooh, sorry! Didn't mean to spoil! It's a good scene though, so while it is sad, I still liked it. Oh! But if you like that book, you should try Harry Potter! A friend of mine convinced me to give it a try a little while ago and I /love/ those books! There's, like, seven of them but they're sooo good that it doesn't seem like it! Let me know if you decide to give them a try, okay? I'd love to have someone to talk to the books about! Anyway, Taka! Wanna swim with me sometime?"

Mondo can feel Taka jolt next to him as the rapid-fire speech gets turned on him, the girl staring at him with wide eyes, making Mondo grin slightly. Shit, but Taka looks like a deer in headlights so fucking much right now, god. Just... fuck. He does file away what Hina said, though, figuring he can consider it later. He's heard of Harry Potter and seen a couple of the movies, which seem dorky but eh, maybe he can find some enjoyment out of them...

"O-oh! A-ah, I'm not sure, Asahina-kun! I tend to spend most mornings exercising in my room, and-"

Okay, fuck that. Rolling his eyes, he shouts over the kid, squeezing his shoulder for good measure. Because while Mondo himself may not be a master at conversing naturally with people, Taka is the absolute /worst/ sometimes. At first, at least. Once he gets comfortable, then it's fine. But the problem is getting him to that place...

"Ya kidding? He'd love ta join ya, right Taka?!" he shouts, drowning out whatever other fucking nonsense the kid was gonna say. He looks down at the kid, giving him a significant look that not even Taka could possibly miss. Because... shit. Mondo doesn't know if the kid likes to swim, but here's this gorgeous as fuck swimmer offering to swim with him every so often, and he's really gonna try and turn her down? Yeah, Mondo turned her down, but that was more because he knows that it would help Taka out more to talk to chicks on a more regular basis. Mondo already knows he's shit at it. Doesn't need any more confirmation on that one, thanks... plus, gorgeous as she may be, Hina ain't his type. Too bouncy. Flighty. While it ain't bad, he prefers his chicks to be stable. Grounded.

Passionate...

"A-ah-! I mean! Of course! I would love to, Asahina-kun! I suppose I can make the time some mornings if that is agreeable with you!" the kid exclaims, only a touch awkward. Aww. The kid /is/ fucking learning. Mondo is so fucking proud...

"Oh, yay! I mean, you don't gotta if you don't wanna, but it'll be a lot of fun, I promise! Sakura is great to have as a training buddy, but she's not a big fan of swimming. But that's okay! We can be swimming buddies now! Awesome!" the swimmer exclaims happily, grinning at Taka from ear to ear. She frowns a second later, though, pouting at the kid overdramatically. "I've told you to call me Hina, though. No need to be so formal, right? We're all friends here!"

Shit. Shit, but the kid looks so fucking cute, his eyes wide as saucers, mouth open slightly as he stares at the girl, looking so fucking shocked it shouldn't be funny, but it kind of is. And endearing as /fuck/, holy shit. He knows the kid doesn't have many friends, and that he's spent most of his life alone, so Mondo can understand the surprise, but... /fuck/ is he adorable... s-shit...

(Should he be thinking about the kid like that as much as he does…? Y-yeah, they're kyoudai and shit, but... b-but he sure as fuck thinks Taka is cute a hell of a lot... that don't seem... /normal/... fuck. Fuck, whatever. Whatever! He ain't gay, so it's fine. Fucking /fine/, whatever. Fuck.)

('Sides. Ain't like it's /wrong/. Taka is cute as fuck. Fucking /fight him/ if he's wrong.)

He gets pulled back into the conversation when Taka quickly babbles something out to the chick. Adorable as fuck, like always... s-shit.

"Ah! I'm so sorry, H-Hina! I- I will keep that in mind!"

Hina beams at the kid, nodding happily.

"It's okay! Anyway, what would be a good time for you to meet me for swim practice? I'm good pretty much whenever to swim, not just morning! Morning, afternoon, night... you name it!"

Mondo watches Taka as he considers the question, the kid looking with distant eyes as he watches their other classmates set up the pool table. F-fuck... why the fuck are his insides squirming like this, they- they shouldn't be... C-Christ...

"Perhaps... ah, Saturday or Sunday mornings? That way we wouldn't have to worry about classes or my patrols!" the kid professes after a minute, a small but awkward smile on his lips. It's not the nicest smile Mondo has seen on the kid's lips, but it still takes his fucking breath away for a hot moment to see it. Jesus goddamn Christ, what the fuck is going on with him today, hot damn...

"Yup! Sounds totally cool! Wanna meet up tomorrow outside the pool, at like... 8:00 or something? We can do some laps to get you warmed up! How familiar are you with the pool?" Hina enthuses, nodding enthusiastically and looking at Taka happily. But Taka...

Taka freezes, then, his body stiff and rigid against his own. Uh... shit, that ain't good... it's even worse when Mondo sees the kid flush and look down at his hands, frowning worriedly. Shit...

"A-ah... I'm so sorry, As- Hina! I just remembered that I don't have a swimsuit! I am so sorry!" Taka cries, looking so fucking heartbroken it makes Mondo's own heart clench. Oh, shit... fuck. Swimsuits were optional for the class this quarter, since they aren't starting their swimming unit until the spring, so he guesses the kid wouldn't have wanted to waste money on a suit if he wasn't going to use it for a while. Fuck. That does throw a wrench in things... though, maybe...

"Oh! That's no problem, Taka, the school store sells all kinds of swimsuits! Maybe I can take you over there now and we can pick one out together?" Hina says before Mondo can organize his thought properly. The words, while spoken innocently enough, clearly make things worse for Taka, since the kid is as stiff as a statue next to him at the moment. Ah, goddamnit. Hina hadn't been there for their whole meltdown, and while rumors had spread, he guesses she either hadn't heard of Taka's money problems, or she forgot. Luckily for them all, Mondo may have a good solution for this shit...

"Nah, y'ain't gotta do that. Ya can borrow my swimsuit, kyoudai, ain't like I'm gonna use it. Plus, it's a bit small fer me, so it'll prolly fit ya well enough," he cuts in casually, looking down at the kid with an easy expression on his face that masks the way his stomach is swirling. For no reason, of course.

(Definitely not because of the kid's bright fucking blush at his offer. Totally not, how dare you even fucking think otherwise, Jesus...)

"Oh, yeah, that could work too! Okay, sweet! I'm so pumped right now! This is gonna be awesome!" Hina bubbles, bouncing in her seat. It makes him chuckle a little to see, curling his arm tighter around the kid, who is still so fucking stiff it makes him ache in sympathy. Damn, but this kid is so fucking tightly wound it ain't funny. Luckily, holding him tighter seems to help Taka relax, the kid melting into his side, which is- totally not a problem! Heh!

Shit...

Deciding it might be best to move on, Mondo turns his attention to the pool table, where a game between Ogami and Naegi just started.

"Hell yeah! Hey, Ogami, Naegi! I'm up next, alright? I'll take the winner," he calls to the pair. He thinks he knows who he's gonna be playing, if he's being honest, ha. Naegi isn't even holding his cue stick properly, idiot. It reminds him of the way Taka had held the stick the other day, when he'd managed to convince the kid to take a /break/, for once in his life, and join him in the rec room for actual recreation and not work, fuck. The kid had still called it fucking /billiards/ and was holding the stick so wrong when Mondo handed it to him that he couldn't just let the kid go on being so pitiful at the game. Yeah, pool ain't his favorite game to play, but he sure as hell knows how to play it. It was one of the ways he and Daiya made money growing up, hustling older dudes outta their money since they didn't think a kid like him would be so fucking good at pool. Ha. Fuckers.

Of course... he might not have needed to get so fucking close to the kid to show him how to play, his arms curling around Taka to carefully and gently adjust his grip. Voice a low hum as he explained the rules and helpful tips of the game in Taka's ear, the kid practically trembling in his arms, his breath ragged as he leaned fully back against Mondo, so warm and pliant and-

Shit.

Shit.

/Shit/.

Point is, Naegi's stance and grip is godawful, and if he wins the game against Ogami, he'll eat his pomp. And even the average as fuck kid seems to realize that, ha.

"Y-yeah, okay Mondo. You'll probably be up against Sakura, though... I'm not that great at pool, heh..." Naegi claims, rubbing his neck awkwardly. The martial artist looks at the boy at that, frowning softly.

"You should give yourself more credit, Makoto-san. You're not doing too bad. You got that corner pocket earlier," the martial artist calmly says, giving the boy a level look. Naegi smiles gratefully at her, before turning back to the table with a look of concentration on his face. Heh. For a chick as big and opposing as Ogami, she is surprisingly kind. Though he supposes it's not that surprising. Mondo has met many burly biker looking types who actually are the biggest fucking softies. Looks aren't always everything. Though it's always important to look the part you wanna play, of course...

As the game gets more intense, Mondo removes his arm from Taka's shoulder to stand and get closer to watch, doing his best to not let the fucking /bereavement/ he feels be seen. God fucking damn...

The game itself is a little dull, with how godawful Naegi is at it, even with Ogami very clearly going easy on him, but it's not that bad, he guesses. He still feels almost relieved when Hina speaks a minute or two later, interrupting a lull in the game while Naegi tries to figure out his best move (which clearly would be to try and hit his seven into the right corner pocket, but like fuck is the kid good enough for that kinda shit, ha.)

"So, guys! Are any of you planning on going to that Halloween themed Fall Festival next week? It sounds like it's gonna be so freaking cool! You've done a great job with it, Taka!" Hina gushes, smiling at Taka with bright eyes. Mondo looks at the kid, seeing his adorable fucking flush, looking vaguely uncomfortable. /Shit/. There he goes. Being all /cute/ again...

But then he registers the question and feels an almost excited jolt rush through his gut. It's super fucking stupid, clearly, since it's just a fucking festival. Most festivals he's gone to are dull as shit anyway, about culture or sports or shit like that. He hates those things and usually wouldn't go unless you paid him.

However, /those/ festivals were being organized by his amazing fucking /kyoudai/. Which made all the difference in the world, really. Taka doesn't talk about the festival too much, keeping it close to his chest, but Mondo can already tell it's gonna be fucking /fantastic/. It's Halloween themed, after all. One of his favorite holidays.

(And even if it weren't, he'd be excited for it just because Taka organized it. 'Nough said 'bout that, really...)

"Oh yeah! There's going to be a haunted house and costume contest and everything, right? Sounds neat!" Maizono giggles, smiling at Taka kindly. "And, of course, my band will be playing a couple of songs! Thanks for thinking to ask us, Taka. Headmaster Kirigiri said it was your idea, after all."

The kid flushes brighter at the praise, which Mondo can kinda get. While it does feel nice sometimes to be appreciated for the hard work you've done, it can also be fucking weird. Like... 'course you do that shit, what else are you supposed to do, huh? But Taka deserves it. All of it. All of it, and /more/, fuck...

"Hell yeah! That's my kyoudai, always got the best ideas!" Mondo can't help but exclaim, grinning at the kid, who turns somehow brighter red, looking five seconds from passing out. Ah. Shit...

"Ah! T-thank you! B-but I'm not the only one planning it! There's a whole committee!" the kid exclaims, looking so fucking uncomfortable now. Hm. That ain't good. While Mondo would love to keep singing the kid's praises, wanting Taka to see how incredible he is, he knows better. Taka needs to be shown that he's so fucking incredible, but Mondo knows he shouldn't go past the kid's comfort level, lest he wants to do more harm than good.

Figuring it would be best to move on, Mondo steers the conversation back to the swimmer's initial question, frowning slightly with concern as he looks down at his kyoudai.

"But ta answer ya, Hina, yeah, prolly," Mondo says after moment. "Not usu'ly my scene, but eh. Free entertainment's free entertainment, an' all that. 'Sides. Leon bet he'd beat me at that crappy ball throwin' game all festivals seem ta have. Ain't gonna let that fucker beat me!"

"Uh, Mondo..." Naegi chimes in, frowning at Mondo hesitantly, looking uncomfortable, "isn't Leon the Ultimate Baseball Star or something? S-so..."

Mondo stares at Naegi for a moment, blank and expressionless as he turns the words over in his mind, before he feels a snarl escape his lips, punching the wall (lightly, but still with enough force to feel good), feeling super fucking pissed. Oh, that goddamn motherfucker-! Shit, Mondo has been thinking of the teen as a /musician/ for so long he legit totally forgot Leon was once the best baseball star. Shit! No wonder he'd looked so fucking smug! Bastard!

"Aw, that goddamn motherfucker! I'm gonna kill him!" Mondo exclaims, which makes the girls giggle while Naegi laughs nervously, darting glances between him and the losing game. The laughter would ordinarily piss Mondo off, but he... he oddly doesn't mind it too much then. Huh.

Mondo is still mulling that weirdness over as Ogami turns back to the game, where she lines up a shot and calls "eight ball, corner pocket." She obviously makes the shot, and just like that, barely ten minutes in, the game ends. Ha. Serves that average fucker right. He's just grimacing at the four fucking balls he has left on the table, even as he congratulates Ogami on her win.

"Great game, Sakura!" the boy expresses, holding out his hand for the muscular girl to shake. Ogami bows slightly as she takes the proffered hand, smiling kindly.

"Likewise, Makoto. You did better than last time. Keep practicing, and I am sure you'll get there," the girl assures, before turning to Mondo. "You're up next, then, Owada-san."

Mondo nods slightly as he pushes off against the wall he'd started leaning against earlier, walking over to the table. He grins as he yanks the cue stick from Naegi's hand with more force than strictly needed, smirking at the yelp of alarm the boy lets out. Ha. Fucker.

"Ya know, maybe ya'd be better at this game if ya worked on yer stance. Looked like a fuckin' chicken out here, all bow-legged and shit. Take a look at how a professional does it, nerd," he taunts, feeling oddly amused. It's strange, being almost /playful/ and /friendly/ with his classmates, but... it ain't too bad, he guesses.

Setting up the game is fairly simple, since Mondo has done this shit so many fucking times. His classmates give him impressed looks as he uses his arms to rack the balls instead of using the rack. It shouldn't make him feel smug, but it does. Everyone always used to underestimate him when he played pool, and while people haven't in fucking /ages/, it still gives him a little thrill when they give him looks like that. Fuckers.

Once the game is set up, Mondo flips a coin and it's determined that he'll start first. Smirking, he lines up his shot and immediately downs a striped ball, giving him the striped balls to go after. Ha. Good. It makes literally no sense, but he's always preferred the stripes to the solids.

Unfortunately, based on where the cue ball is and the rest of his balls, he can't see a way for him to sink another of his balls in on his first turn. So, in order to make it harder on Ogami, he hits the cue ball so it's nowhere near any of the solids and manages to hit one of his balls so it's farther from the edge at least. Ha. Still fucking got it...

It's during his second turn (Ogami having gotten one ball in despite his best efforts but missing the next shot. Lining him up for a perfect shot, ha) that he hears Hina mutter softly to Taka, the kid looking at her with wide eyes and a small frown. It takes Mondo's attention off the game and he manages to miss the absolute most perfect shot in the world. Shit, goddamn...

But that's fine, the game suddenly doesn't matter to him at all, not with the weird roiling in his gut as he watches the kid rise from the casual lounge he'd been in (the loosest and most casual position he's ever seen the kid be in, honestly), looking nervous as he nods to whatever Hina asked.

"A-ah, sure! Is something the matter?" the kid asks the swimmer, clearly trying to be quiet, but still managing to be loud enough for Mondo to hear. Hina shakes her head quickly though, a warm smile replacing the oddly serious look she'd had a moment ago. Shit... the fuck is going on 'tween those two...?

"Nope! Just wanted to talk to you about something! Nothing to worry about, promise," Hina bubbles, before she turns and skips out the room. Taka follows after her slowly, his eyebrows furrowed in the way Mondo has come to notice means he's thinking about something very deeply. Shit...

The kid does look back at him once before he leaves the room, though, the kid saying he'll be right back with a small but genuine smile. His eyebrows are still furrowed, but it manages to look nice regardless. Fuck... he can't help the frown on his lips, but he nods to the kid to reassure him and turns back to the game, since it's his turn again. Ogami had missed her ball so he's got the table now.

It's harder to focus when the kid isn't there, his stomach churning angrily, but he manages to sink his next ball, and the ball after that, which helps settle him a little. While pool is kinda dull as shit, even at the best of times, he has to admit that the mindless monotony of the game is pretty soothing. He's so good that he doesn't even really have to be focused. Which is good, since his mind is firmly on Taka and the excitable, hot as sin swimmer he's talking to outside.

So... Hina ain't Mondo's type, and he knows that, yeah? She's gorgeous and hot and all that shit, but Mondo couldn't really imagine himself being in a long-term relationship with her. And while he'd never tell this to anyone, /ever/, he... he kinda wants that kinda shit. Long-term. More than a one-night stand, or a meaningless, loveless, physical relationship. It's one of the reasons why he's still a fucking virgin, goddamn. He wants his first time to be special, ya know? But that's beside the point, moving the fuck on...

Point is, she ain't his type. But... shit. Maybe she's Taka's. Mondo doesn't actually know, ya know? While he and Taka have gotten so fucking close over this last week, he realizes now that they've never talked about shit like this. Girls and crushes and the like. And while it ain't that strange, since it /has/ only been a week, he... he can't help but wonder what Taka's type would be.

Taka is so passionate, so he'd prolly want someone who is at least half as passionate as he is. No one can match the kid's fucking drive, absolutely /no one/, but he'd need someone who can dedicate themselves to something and commit. Have passion for their craft. Like Mondo, with his gang and riding his hog. Shit like that. Hina can be pretty passionate about her swimming, so she'd fit well there.

But...

Hm.

Mondo knows the kid is very grounded and down to earth. He hates people who are flighty and can't commit to shit. He's so rules oriented that it's almost a fault of his, really. He... Mondo doesn't think he could be with a person who can't make decisions and stick with them, who is constantly changing their mind. It's one of the reasons he and Taka work well, he thinks. Mondo rarely ever changes his mind once he settles on something, even if he knows it will end in disaster. You just gotta see things through to the bitter end, ya know? Taka's the same. He takes for fucking ever making decisions, going over every detail carefully, and once he makes the decision, he usually keeps with it. It's one of the things Mondo likes about him. Even if it takes him fucking ages to make decisions...

Shit, he's digressing again... fuck, whatever. Mondo sinks another ball in as he continues to muse, making some 'idle chit chat' (as Taka fucking calls it, the nerd) with Ogami as the game carries on.

The point of his thoughts is that Taka doesn't seem the type to like a chick like Hina. Again, there's nothing wrong with her, he's sure she's a lovely person and all that nonsense, but... shit. She's just not decisive enough. Taka would never be able to get things done with her and he'd get frustrated easily. Taka needs someone who can help him make his decisions quickly, someone who can help build him up and get him to trust in himself more. Taka is so fucking smart and so fucking driven, but he's fucking /plagued/ by uncertainty and indecision. He doesn't trust himself. He... he needs someone who can take him out of his shell and show him how utterly amazing he is, make him see that he knows so much; cares so much. That he's not only enough, but so much more. He... he needs someone like... like…

Like Mondo...

W-which is why they are kyoudai, of course! Ha! They don't gotta be /dating/ or shit like that for Mondo to help the kid get out of his shell! He... he can do that shit for Taka without them being in a fucking /relationship/, or fucking nonsense like that. Taka... Taka is so fucking incredible. He doesn't need to want to /fuck him/ to see shit like that. He is more than able to help Taka with his problems without wanting more from- from them.

'Sides. Even if he- he /were/, ya know... /gay/ (which he ain't, he's already gone over this, shit), Taka... Taka ain't his type. No, he ain't gonna elaborate on that shit, and it's pointless besides. Because Mondo /ain't fucking gay/, so even if Taka checks all his fucking boxes (which he kinda does, since he's strong, and passionate, and determined, and while he may not be the best at making decisions quickly, he usually sticks to his decisions once they're made, and he's kind, and he cares about shit so fucking deeply, and he's /hot as fuck/-) he could never fucking be his type. Because Mondo's type has tits and a pussy. Not a cock and balls. Got it? Good.

Still... the longer that Taka spends out in the hallway with Hina, the weirder he feels inside. The game is starting to wind down, each of them only has one more of their type to go before they are after the eight ball, but still the two haven't returned. What... what the fuck are they talking about out there? They didn't just fucking bail, did they? Mondo finds that hard to believe, Taka would never leave without telling him, not ever. Kid is too fucking considerate for that. But- but what else could they be doing in the hallway for so long? Well, there is /one/ thing, but… but… shit…

Unbidden, for reasons he cannot fathom, an image of Taka and Hina comes into his mind. And it's strange, but in this image, Taka is- is… he's pressing Hina to the wall. More than that, the kid is pressing his lips determinedly to the swimmer's, as passionate as he always is, letting out soft fucking noises with his enthusiasm. The chick's arms are around his neck, legs around his waist, and Taka is so fucking strong he can easily support her weight, hands cupping her plump ass. Taka is- is pressing into her, cock at the perfect level to press to her pussy, and she's moaning against him as he does it, rocking against his hard as stone cock. It makes Taka moan prettily, his red eyes fucking /blown/, looking so fucking debauched, the usually calm and composed Hall Monitor brought down to his most base desires, so fucking /beautiful/ and /hot/ and /sexy as sin, holy fucking shit/-

Mondo is jolted from his thoughts when Ogami calls to him, telling him it's his turn. While he'd been distracted, she'd sunk her last solid, but had missed the eight ball, making it Mondo's turn again. Pushing the weird fucking thoughts firmly /out of his mind forever/, he shakily lines up a shot and takes it, somehow fucking managing to sink his last stripe despite how fucking /wrong/ he feels inside. He misses the eight ball, but he doesn't even care, fuck.

H-holy shit, where the fuck did that fantasy even /come/ from…? He- he has no idea, it's not at all like the shit he usually thinks about, not at /all/. Yeah, he can't say he's never thought of Hina that way, she /is/ fucking sexy, and there's nothing wrong with fantasizing about a person, but he... he's always had himself as the other party. Not- not anyone else, /certainly/ not another dude. Certainly not... not /Taka/. His kyoudai. His... fuck.

Mondo is hard. So fucking hard. He can feel his cock strain against his boxers and it's so fucking /wrong/. He has a moment to thank Christ that his pants are loose as shit, so the others in the room can't see how affected he is. It would be so fucking mortifying if Ogami, Naegi, and Maizono (the latter two leaning casually against the wall, watching the game happily, shit) saw his boner and thought him so debased as to gain pleasure from fucking /pool/, goddamn. That would be the fucking /worst/. He makes sure to keep his face neutral as he looks at the table, forcing all thoughts out as he does his best to calm his raging boner.

It's when Ogami misses the shot for the eight ball that the door finally opens again, Hina flouncing in with a bright grin, Taka holding open the door for her with his free hand. His /free hand/, because apparently the other one is busy being occupied.

With /holding Hina's fucking hand/.

The stupid as fuck fantasy pops into his head again, but this time it ain't sexy, ain't sexy /at all/. In fact, it makes him feel vaguely ill, because he can't help but wonder if maybe it was actually /true/. F-fuck, Taka doesn't seem the type to do shit like that, especially not in public (Mondo's pretty sure PDA is against the rules or some shit), but- but... fuck, who knows! Taka is also a teenage guy and teenage guys are often led by one thing and one thing only. While Taka seems better than that, above such base things, how the fuck can Mondo know? He's only known the kid a little under two months, that ain't enough time to judge anyone's full character, shit. And the kid is always fucking surprising him, in so many fucking ways. Maybe he /is/ the kind to get freaky in school hallways, getting off on the idea of getting caught and getting in trouble, and-

Not. Helpful. /Fuck/.

Okay, okay, /whatever/. It doesn't matter if his fantasy was real or not, what matters is Taka is /holding Hina's hand/, which really can only mean one fucking thing. They... their conversation must have gone super fucking well outside, and now they... they are... they're...

Fuck. /Fuck/, why is he feeling so fucking /weird/ inside?! Why... why is his chest clenching, his body going tight, his heart being a little fucking /bitch/?! The arousal from earlier is firmly gone and all that is left is cold discomfort and Mondo doesn't fucking know /why/. What- what does it matter if Hina and Taka are holding hands? So what, it indicates that they're prolly fucking /dating/ now, the chick prolly wanting to tell the kid she likes him, Taka managing to ask her out (prolly stammering, as awkward as fuck, but oh, so endearing) and now they're /together/? Fuck, Mondo should be happy for the kid, proud as fuck he managed to score with the swimmer, but... but...

Fuck. Fuck. /Fucking fuck fuck!/

"Ah, Hina! There you are. Did you and Taka have a good talk?" Ogami asks the pair, though Mondo only hears it distantly, like he's under water or something, goddamn.

"Yep! Got everything all sorted! Now, who's winning?"

"We're both tied. Whoever can sink the eight ball will be the winner, and it's Mondo's turn next. Right, Mondo?" Ogami replies, looking over at him with a raised eyebrow. Mondo doesn't know when the chick decided to start calling him by his first name, and usually that shit would piss him the fuck off, people taking liberties with him, but he can barely find it in him to feel anything other than the ice-cold chill that has filled him, so he lets it slide. He has more important shit to worry about.

Shit like Taka looking over at him at the question, which reminds him that he's been fucking /glaring/ at the kid's hand that is /still holding Hina's/. Once he realizes this, he quickly turns his head away, unable to help the dark scowl on his lips, feeling pissed for reasons he can't begin to understand. He turns to the table with dispassionate eyes, glaring at the easy shot he has.

"Yeah, right. Eight ball, side pocket," Mondo mutters, his back so fucking stiff and his eyes tight and angry as he glares at the table. He has the easiest shot for the eight ball, he could do that shit in his sleep, it's so fucking easy. And yet he finds himself fucking it up, hitting the cue ball way too fucking hard, sending the ball flying nowhere fucking /near/ the eight ball. God... dammit. God fucking dammit! He can feel that all eyes are on him, wide and freaked, and he hates it, he hates it, he fucking hates it! So what, he missed the shot?! What the fuck ever, it's just a stupid fucking game that don't mean shit, who fucking cares?!

He can feel red eyes on him and that makes him feel strangely /worse/, god. Oh, fuck. Oh /shit/, is he about to /ruin this shit/? He's been trying so hard to keep his anger contained this last week, and it's honestly been super fucking easy up to this point, but he can feel the anger rising now, and he doesn't know /why/, he never knows /why/, and he can't stop it. Oh, fuck, he doesn't wanna ruin this shit, but he doesn't know how to make it go away! Oh, god fucking...

So fucking uncomfortable, Mondo sneers as he straightens and storms over to the wall, leaning against it as casually as he can, hoping if he just /pretends/ hard enough it'll get better. It doesn't, of course it doesn't, but he doesn't know what else to do. Shit, maybe it would be best to storm away, allow him the time to cool down alone? But, no, shit that wouldn't work, the kid would get concerned and chase after him, and then he'd start /yelling/, and the kid would /cry/, and he wouldn't wanna be fucking /kyoudai/ anymore, not with a fucking /monster like Mondo-/

He's better off with Hina. Better off with a chick who doesn't get blindingly angry for no reason, who can appreciate his fucking incredible nature without being so fucking stupid. If Mondo storms off, the kid will chase him, leaving Hina behind, maybe ruining his new fucking /relationship/, and he /doesn't fucking want that/. He... he doesn't...

(He ignores the part of him that /does/, in fact, want that. The part that purrs inside him at the thought of Taka being away from that chick, hands off her lithe little body, eyes on /Mondo/, and Mondo alone. But that- that shit is /stupid/, so fucking stupid, /why the fuck would he want that, there's no reason for him to want that, it's not like _he wants to be with Tak_-/

So, he pushes it away because it's just /stupid/.)

People are still fucking looking at him, Ogami giving him a calculating in look instead of /taking her fucking shot and ending this fucking game,/ which pisses him off even more, somehow. He barks at her to go, which she does with only a slightly annoyed frown. She lines up the shot and easily sinks the eight ball, finally ending this stupid fucking game. Fucking /good/. He hates pool, god...

"Good game, Mondo. You were a worthy adversary. We should play again sometime," the martial artist claims, looking at him steadily. He just scowls back, shrugging angrily.

"Yeah, whatever," he eventually mutters, before storming over to the couch and sitting heavily, feeling so fucking tense for no fucking reason. Shit... why the fuck is he so fucking pissed right now? Even Naegi and Maizono are staring at him weird, noticing that he's super pissed, and it is making him feel so wrong inside.

Christ... why does seeing Taka holding hands with some chick make him feel so bad inside…? Part of him would call this emotion /jealousy/, but why would he be jealous? He wants Taka to make friends, to have a /girlfriend/… right? Yeah, maybe the kid will spend less time with him now that he has Hina, but... but he always knew that was going to happen. That the kid was gonna wise up one day and leave his unworthy ass. He... he fucking knew this would happen...

He just... didn't think it would happen so soon, fuck...

"Oh!" he hears the swimmer exclaim randomly a moment later, like she figured something out. It's startling enough to make him glance in her direction, watching with confusion as the chick drops Taka's hand like it's hot. What the fuck...?

"Anyway, Taka, I'm so glad we're /friends/ now!" Hina exclaims, though she had put an odd amount of emphasis on the word /friends/, giving Taka a significant look. Why the fuck is she doing that... does she want Taka to confirm that they're not just friends, they're actually dating or something...? Taka looks equally confused, so whatever she's going for is clearly going over the kid's head, shit... she also is looking over at him, darting her eyes back and forth between him and Taka, but shit, fuck him if he knows what she's trying to convey... and why does he even care? He doesn't. Not at all. Shit.

After a few moments of her pointed look, the chick clearly realizing that Taka is not getting it and won't get it, she sighs softly and mutters something Mondo can't hear under her breath, which is even more confusing. Fuck, but why do chicks have to be so complicated? God fucking damn...

"Yep! Sure is nice to be friends and /only friends/, right Taka?" Hina says loudly, pointedly, and Mondo... Mondo doesn't know what is going on, but he feels something in his chest settle a little. Because... shit. She said they are friends and- and /only friends/... right? So, does that mean that they... that she and Taka, they ain't...

Ain't dating...?

S-shit... he really shouldn't be feeling so much fucking /relief/ at the thought, h-holy shit...

Before Mondo has any hope of figuring out what any of this shit means, he hears Taka speak, voice hesitant and cautious, but he... he isn't refuting her words, f-fuck...

"U-uh, I mean... yes? It's nice to have... a new friend?"

Fuck, but the kid is so fucking adorable. Awkward as shit, sounds so uncertain and confused, but Mondo can't help the rush of affection that floods through him at the words. He's just- just so... fuck...

Hina doesn't seem to approve, though, sighing again and shaking her head in fucking /disappointment/, Christ. Fuck, but he hopes that Taka ain't actually dating her... she clearly doesn't deserve Taka if she'd ever react to his quirks with fucking /disappointment/. Mondo would never. Not... not /ever/... but he- he needs to confirm. Make sure, you know? That- that they ain't. Dating or- or whatever. F-fuck...

"You two friends now or somethin'?" Mondo asks after a moment's pause, cutting through the slightly awkward silence. He can feel red eyes land on him at his interjection, but he does his best to not focus on it, eyes firmly on Hina, having no idea what is going on inside him but needing to /know/, for sure, what is going on. And clearly, she is the one who knows what is going on, and if he wants answers, he'll have to get them out of her. One way or another...

"Yep! Friends and /only friends/! Swimming buddies! Taka was just giving me some advice for a date I've got at the festival next week, he was sooo helpful. He's the best friend a girl could ask for!"

Oh. /Oh/, oh they... they ain't. Dating. She- she was asking him /advice/. About a- a /date/ she has. A date with someone who /ain't Taka/, s-shit. And Taka... Taka, being the fucking /amazing as shit/ dude he is, was helping her out. Not... not fucking /making out with her/, ha! That- that would be ridiculous! Hina definitely wouldn't be Taka's type, clearly. He wouldn't want someone so flighty, so air headed. He- he needs someone grounded and reliable. Someone who can take care of him and build him up. He- he needs someone... someone like- l-like...

_Someone like Mondo..._

Despite himself, Mondo feels a large, relieved smile rise on his face. Because... /fuck/, but he'd been scared for a minute there, goddamn him. That- that Taka was gonna leave him so fucking soon after they found one another. He... fuck, he doesn't know if he could handle that. Not so soon. One day, yeah. When he's done what he set out to do and makes Taka see how fucking incredible he is. Then he'll be able to let go. He knows he'll have to when Taka wises up. But... but not now. Not now, not when they only just became kyoudai. Mondo, he... he still has so much to show Taka. To build up in him. How can he know that some random ass chick will be able to treat him right, to show him what he's missing out on? Taka needs Mondo to help him, and Mondo is more than willing to do that. So much more than willing...

"Oh, uh, yeah. I mean, yeah! Hell yeah, he is! Best fuckin' friend!" Mondo finds himself exclaiming, feeling almost giddy despite himself. He can feel people staring at him with wide eyes, knows he's prolly acting like a complete idiot, but he- he doesn't care. He looks over at Taka, just because he can, and he can't help the smile he gives, eyes practically glowing with the relief he feels. F-fuck...

"Uh huh! Totally! Anyway, sorry we missed the game! It sounds like it was an intense one! You guys should play again sometime," Hina mentions, skipping over to Ogami and resting her head gently against the martial artist's shoulder. Mondo sees Ogami look down at Hina with so much tender fondness it would make Mondo uncomfortable if he wasn't still riding the high of his relief. As it stands, he doesn't actually pay them much mind at all, caring more about Taka, suddenly needing to be near him. To- to /touch him/. Just... just to make sure. You know?

(Make sure of what, he has no idea, but that doesn't matter. It just... it doesn't matter.)

Mondo quickly grabs their things, throwing the books carelessly in the bag Taka has been making him carry, figuring that it may be time to leave now that the game is over. With everything packed, he turns to Taka and allows his feet to make their way over to the one person they most want to be near. He reaches Taka's side in only a few short strides, and as soon as he is there, he wraps his arm around the warm and comfortable shoulders, pulling the kid close like he's always wanted to do.

Mondo does find himself looking at the martial artist and the swimmer as they share their quiet moment, though, his heart doing weird things in his chest as he looks at them. Fuck, but they sure are close, ain't they...? Like Taka and him. But see? That just proves it. Proves that it ain't weird. Him and Taka. Their closeness. If Hina and Ogami can be close without being related (and without /dating/), then so can Taka and him. Doesn't matter that they're chicks, dudes can have close friends too, goddamnit. It- it ain't fucking /weird/, and fuck you if you think it is.

With that all settled, he grins at the pair and figures it's time to head out, especially since he knows that Taka wants to do some more homework before the day ends. While Mondo still hates doing schoolwork, it's easier when Taka is there to patiently help, the best fucking tutor. And if Taka likes studying and doing homework in his down time... who the fuck is Mondo to stop him? Just as long as the kid knows how to take a break when he needs one (which Mondo is showing him how to do, slowly but surely), then it's fine with Mondo.

"Hell yeah! Taka an' I should be headin' out now, though. Gotta do some fuckin' homework or some shit. Hit me up fer a rematch, Ogami, I ain't gonna lose that easy next time!"

"You're on, Owada-san. I'll let you know when a good time will be," Ogami replies evenly, bowing slightly with a small smile on her face. Mondo pumps his fist at her, before heading to the door, arm still around Taka, pulling him along gently.

"Fuck yeah! C'mon, Taka. I got yer stuff. Let's head ta the library or shit. Heh. Never fuckin' thought I'd say shit like that..."

Taka follows along after him easily, his face flushed for reasons Mondo doesn't know. He also doesn't know why the flushed look is making his insides squirm, but maybe it would be best to not think of shit like that, honestly...

Taka does look a little upset, though, and Mondo has a feeling he knows why. After all, it always sucks to be friendzoned. It's happened to Mondo a couple of times and while he never blames the chicks for it (not like you can help who you like or not, ya know?) it can still hurt.

"Heh, bad luck 'bout Hina, ey bro? Don't worry, though, plenty a' other fish in the sea," Mondo mutters in Taka's ear a little while later, when they reach the kid's room and have more privacy for a private conversation. He figures the kid would prefer that, right? To talk about his /feelings/ and shit without witnesses.

However, to Mondo's surprise, the kid doesn't seem to understand what Mondo is saying, looking up at him with a frown deep on his beautiful face.

"What... what do you mean, kyoudai?" Taka questions, confusion thick in his voice. Which is... okay, weird. Though, Mondo knows that the kid— while super fucking smart and knowledgeable about school shit— doesn't always understand some simple phrases in the 'common vernacular,' or whatever the fuck the kid always calls it. So maybe... maybe that's the problem here?

"Uh... ya know, chicks," Mondo tries to explain, badly. Taka stares blankly at him, clearly not getting it, which makes Mondo frown. Shit... how the fuck does he explain this shit...? "'Cuz she has a date or somethin'? An' how she kept callin' ya 'only friends?' Kind ofa bitch move, but eh. Ya can do better than her, Taka."

Taka still looks so fucking confused, which is making Mondo feel uncertain and uncomfortable. Uh... shit. Is /he/ the one who is missing something here…? 'Cuz... shit...

"I have no idea what you are talking about, kyoudai! Hina is a wonderful friend!"

Mondo gives Taka a confused look, feeling out of his depths. Because... does he really have to spell this out for the kid? Clearly the kid must understand what the fuck he's talking about...

Right?

"Yeah, but she's hot," Mondo explains, once again to no avail, if Taka's confused fucking face is anything to go by. Okay, ya know what... "Ya know... sexy? Cute? A bombshell? Sucks ta be friendzoned, but ya'll find someone, bro. Heh, maybe I can help ya! Not that, uh... that I'm that great with chicks myself... always get so nervous an' yell at 'em, heh..."

Okay, /that/ seems to have broken through to the kid. He can see Taka look at him with wide ass eyes, looking almost /scandalized/, holy shit. Mondo would prolly feel offended if it wasn't so goddamn /cute/.

"A-ah! I understand, kyoudai! B-but you needn't worry about me! I am too focused on my studies to be bothered with such matters! The only job a student should have is to study hard and do well in school! P-perhaps, after school is over... but! I am not interested in such things! Not at the moment! And besides! I view Hina in a strictly platonic light! I hope that she and I will become great friends!"

Okay... what the absolute fuck...?

Too focused on fucking /school/ to worry about dating and shit? Is this kid for real? Who the fuck doesn't want to fucking date? Or at least hook up or shit like that? And yeah, he knows the kid is so fucking goal oriented and shit, focused on achieving his dreams and shit, but... surely all that shit doesn't have to prevent him from getting a girlfriend and, ya know... having a good time.

... right...?

"Yeah, but ya can still wanna have sex with a chick, right? I mean... don't all guys? 'Specially one as hot as Hina?"

There is a long ass pause after his words, Taka standing wide eyed in the middle of his room, looking like he's barely breathing as he stares at the floor, looking almost... /afraid/. Shit, shit... shit! Goddamn, he- he hadn't meant to offend the kid! Or upset him! Fuck, he has to fix this, god fucking damn him...

However, before he can say anything, Taka is talking, his words clipped and proper as they always are when he's lecturing. Oh, fuck... the kid hasn't full on 'lectured' him since they became friends, goddamn...

(Is it weird that Mondo is kinda into it, though...? Shit, shit, not the /fucking time/-)

"I would never dream of such a thing! Sexual intercourse should be reserved for two individuals who are deeply in love! They should be in a long-term, committed relationship, at the very least! I would never be as improper— as- as /immoral/— as to think of a friend in such a way!"

He would never... dream of having sex with a chick... because it's fucking improper...?

Holy. Fucking. /Shit/.

Ha! Haha! Hahaha!

Of fucking /course/ that would be it! Christ, how could Mondo have fucking forgotten how prim and proper this fucking kid is?! God, if the kid has ever even had a fucking /wet dream/ that would honestly be surprising. Obviously he must, ya know... jerk it every once in a while, since Mondo is positive it's not fucking possible to /not/ do that shit, but the kid is prolly so fucking clinical about it. Prolly thinks of math or literature as he holds his cock in his hand, frowning like he's solving a particularly challenging problem, so fucking clinical as he pumps himself up and down. 'Course, as he gets closer to his climax he'd have a harder time keeping composed, his throat letting out the passionate noises Mondo knows the kid would likely let out, his lips opening in a gasp, his red eyes glazed with lust and desire as he begins to move his hand faster and faster, moans growing louder and louder as he goes, so fucking hard and aching for it, fucking /screaming/ as he cums, bursts of white, sticky cum expelling out of him as he-

Holy. Shit.

/Not fucking appropriate/.

A-anyway... point is, it's so fucking typical of the kid, Ultimate Moral Compass that he is. And it's so fucking endearing, dear god... he can't help how he laughs, his heart doing weird ass things inside his chest, but it doesn't fucking matter. The kid is starting to look upset at his laughter, and he knows the kid has problem with people laughing at him, so he quiets down and smiles brightly at the kid, feeling so fond it ain't fucking funny.

"'Course ya'd say that, kyoudai! Yer such a nerd! Noble an' all that crap. Ferget sometimes yer the Ultimate Moral Compass, heh. Well, that's cool then. Hope ya an' Hina become good friends, then. Ya need more friends, nerd."

Mondo walks over to him then, wrapping his arm around his shoulder, unable to help himself. And when he sees Taka's wide ass eyes stare at him... his lips parted, breath shaky, cheeks the softest shade of pink but rapidly growing darker and darker...

S-shit...

"Now c'mon. Let's get this fuckin' homework bullshit over with. Eugh. Bein' friend with ya sure is hard work, ain't it? Totally worth it, though," Mondo says with a smile, pushing aside the weird feelings inside him as he squeezes Taka's shoulders gently. With great reluctance, he pulls away from the kid and gestures for the kid to pack up his things, knowing if he was left to his own devices, he'd just stand there over analyzing shit for the rest of the fucking day. The kid looks so fucking dazed, but he nods absently and begins to move to get all his shit, placing it so fucking carefully into his bag, even despite his distraction.

This is... this is fine. Perfectly fucking fine. He and Taka are friends, best fucking friends, and that's what matters. So what, he feels his heart fucking lurch whenever he brushes against the kid as they walk, his body instinctively wanting to be close to the kid? So what, he likes wrapping his arm around the fucking hall monitor, the boy melting into his side like he belongs there, even if they're just walking to the fucking library? So what, he keeps getting distracted from doing his schoolwork by the sight of the kid, fucking biting his lip, or the end of his pencil, eyes lighting up like a fucking Christmas tree every time he figures out the answer to his physics homework?

And so fucking /what/ when— later that night, after they finish their work and decide to call it a day— he feels his breath stutter as he watches the kid watch the stupid fucking film that the /kid/ actually chose (Grease, the dumb as shit /musical/ his bro loved but Mondo has always been neutral towards, but the kid had actually chosen it himself that night, the first time he's ever shown any interest in a movie Mondo has in his collection, shit) more than he watches the film itself?

It doesn't matter. Nor does it matter how stupidly /excited/ he gets when he absently mentions that they should dress up like the greasers for Halloween together next week, not meaning it at all, but the kid doesn't seem to realize it was just a joke because he's nodding his head, eyes wide, looking so fucking /earnest/ and /eager/ and- and...

Fuck.

Fuck.

/Fuck/.

The movie ends and he finds himself hating it more than usual, hating how fucking /Sandy/ is the one to change herself for that absolute piece of dog shit who has never deserved a good girl like that, knowing that if Danny actually loved her, he'd have hated seeing her wear that stupid as shit get up. Mondo... Mondo would never want a good girl like that to change for him, after all. Never.

Never.

Taka looks concerned when he looks at him, eyes bleeding his worry as he shifts in Mondo's arms, his warmth so fucking hypnotizing, Christ...

"Are you alright, kyoudai? You look... perturbed..."

Mondo doesn't quite know what that fucking word means, the kid a fucking dictionary for obscure ass words he's never heard before, but he figures it prolly means, like... upset or something, based on context. Shrugging, Mondo smiles down at the kid, oddly captivated by the blush the kid gets on his cheeks again...

"Naw, I'm doin' fine, man. Just, uh... realized that I didn't like that movie even more than I fuckin' thought, shit. Did, uh... did you like it?"

Taka frowns at the question, looking down in thought, eyebrows furrowed like always. Before Mondo has any chance to figure out what is going on inside his heart, the kid is looking back up, a soft ass smile on his face.

"I think I did, kyoudai! I thought it was very cute! If you don't mind my asking... why didn't you like it?"

Mondo hums at the question, shrugging. He tightens his arm around the kid without telling himself to do it, holding him close, like he never wants to stop doing.

"I dunno. Endin' was shit, s'all. But let's not worry 'bout that shit, yeah? Hey, uh... it's gettin' kinda late, ain't it? Do ya... do ya wanna sleepover again tonight?" Mondo mutters softly in the kid's ear, feeling as the kid shivers in his arms. S-shit...

Mondo's heart is beating strangely fast as the kid begins to nod, quick and enthusiastic as always, his smile soft and happy on his face. They... they've not slept over together since that first night, Mondo not quite finding the courage to ask, but he sure as shit has been thinking about it every fucking day. He's been sleeping like shit since that day, knowing that if he just had Taka, it would be better instantly.

It doesn't take them long to get ready for bed, even with them both taking showers, and soon they are lying in bed beside one another, Taka a warm and wonderful weight in his arms and atop his chest. He can't stop himself as he runs his fingers through the kid's damp hair, humming a tuneless lullaby his bro used to hum to him when he couldn't sleep at night. It works wonders and the kid is sleeping soundly before he can really get used to the feeling. Mondo can't help but watch Taka as he breathes evenly in his arms, his face relaxed and at peace. His fingers itch to trace the soft planes of the kid's face, but he resists and forces his eyes to close. He can't help how he pulls the kid closer, though, heart calming when he feels Taka snuggle up, letting out soft and happy noises as he goes.

He falls asleep soon after.

It's the best sleep he's gotten in ages.

Fuck...