As En and Atsushi sat on the couch waiting for the game to start, Io, Ryuu, and Yumoto were off making popcorn. "Wow! Look at all that fun puffy corn!" Yumoto cried. Io and Ryuu chuckled at Yumoto's excitement over the delicious hot treat being made.
"Hey Atsushi," En said, "I've been thinking about something." His boyfriend turned to him. "The team? Traffic? People's hair?" En smiled. "No. Phones." The other three soon joined the first couple, with Io and Ryuu sitting next to each other on the couch while Yumoto sat on the floor in front of all four of them. "What about it?" Atsushi asked as the game started. "Do you think the people who first made and had telephones would ever believe that we would have ones we could take anywhere or could fit in the palm of our hand?"
"Maybe in their dreams," Atsushi noted, "But after how many years, I would think they would have realized that phones and other things would become more efficient and easier to use."
As the men passed around the popcorn, Atsushi noticed that Ryuu wasn't touching his phone at all. "Ryuu, didn't you cancel meeting up with a girl tonight, so you could watch the game with us?" he asked. Ryuu looked confused for a moment and then smiled. "Oh yeah!" he said with a mouth full of popcorn, "Yeah. I said we could do it...uh...some other night." Atsushi tilted his head. "But since you're just watching a game with us, wouldn't you be able to text back and forth with her or something?" he asked. Ryuu swallowed his food and then smiled. "Yeah, but I'm...uh...waiting for her to message me first. After all, it wouldn't be fair to be focused on her instead of the game and you guys."
"Oh," Atsushi shrugged and turned back to the game. He made sure, however, to keep an eye on Ryuu and his phone. En was also noticing something different about Io.
"Io, don't you normally spend your nighttimes looking at the stocks and stuff like that?" En asked. Io looked surprised for a moment, before responding. "Oh...uh yeah. Well, with me not having as many stocks and stuff to look at, I don't have to spend as much time looking at it." En tilted his head. "But don't you like to look at all that insider information and prediction stuff to make the most profit?"
En took a handful of popcorn. "Uh...I don't think the stocks will change that much. Plus, I would get an alert on my phone should one of the insider softwares I signed up for have some new information come out."
"Oh," En replied and turned back to the game.
As they watched, En and Atsushi noticed that neither Io or Ryuu were getting any messages on their phone from their girl or their stocks and bonds. After nearly an hour of nothing from both, En and Atsushi both got up. "We're going to go make some more popcorn," En said. Yumoto frowned as there was still some left in the bowl. "Can I put the rest of this on the floor and eat it?" he asked. Atsushi ruffled his hair.
"That would make a mess. We'll be back in a little bit with some fresh popcorn." Yumoto cheered and En and Atsushi made their way to the kitchen. They both looked back to make sure that the other guys weren't paying attention and that there were no new messages from Io and Ryuu's phones.
"Something's up," En whispered to Atsushi as they started to make more popcorn and melting more butter, "Io and Ryuu said they cut down significantly on their girl and money time, but it's down to zero." Atsushi nodded. "You think they are just slow right now?" Atsushi asked. En shook his head. "Nah. It took those guys forever to admit they liked each other. They probably have something else they are being stubborn about." Atsushi nodded. "Right. How about tomorrow you go with Io and I'll go with Ryuu and we can see if we can figure this out." En smiled as the butter and popcorn were almost ready. "You read my mind," he answered two of them kissed and then Yumoto called out to them.
"Senpeis, are you going to stand there being affectionate or will you bring me some of that fresh popcorn you promised?" The couple quickly mixed the butter and popcorn. "Coming Yumoto," they said in synch and then sat back down on the couch together. They watched Io and Ryuu and neither one touched their phone for the entire game, only making their plan to talk to each the following day even more important.
The next day, Atsushi offered to take Ryuu out for ice cream. "Boy, this sure was nice of you to do," Ryuu noted. "My pleasure," Atsushi noted. Once they ordered and sat down at a table to eat, Ryuu noted something. "It sure is weird you didn't invite En with. You and him are always together." Atsushi smiled. "That's true, but I have noticed something else." He glanced at Ryuu's phone and then back at him.
"You haven't talked to a girl in a long time now."
Ryuu blushed and the ice cream nearly fell out of his cone. "What...ahh...makes you say that?" he asked. Atsushi continued. "You barely touch your phone anymore. I know you said you cut down on the number of females you talk to once you and Io became a couple." Ryuu blushed. "Yeah...so?" he said in a nervous tone. Atsushi gave him a knowing eye.
"I was the one who pointed out you never really went out with any women back when we were still in high school, so I can tell," he said firmly, "Now, what's going on with you? Are these girls even real? Have they ever been real?" Ryuu stopped and took a breath then he replied:
"No."
Atsushi was a bit stunned. Even though he had asked the question, he was still a bit surprised. "Really?" he asked. Ryuu continued and they ate their ice cream as he talked.
"It was a big charade," he noted, "I never really talked to girls. The people on the other line were guys from school I paid to pretend to be females, but most of the time, there really was no one on the other line. I even had an old phone I kept paying for to send texts to and then could reply back to myself later on if anyone asked for proof. I did it to suppress my homosexuality and love of men. I tried to deny it, once my family found out I was gay and into guys, they left me on my own like all the other Battle Lovers even Yumoto and Gora. I tried to pretend I was really into girls to win my family back, but there was no hiding it. I also did it, I guess now I realized, to try and convince myself I didn't find other men attractive, especially Io." Atushi nodded. "What about all the advice you gave other guys?" Ryuu chuckled.
"That was just from reading articles and online and stuff. It wasn't really that hard to do that." Atushi smiled as they finished up their ice cream. "So, do you want to tell Io and the others?" Ryuu looked away. "I don't know. I worry they will all get mad and call me a liar and all that." Atsushi smiled and reached across the table.
"Ryuu," he said and took his hand.
"Coming out as gay was hard for all of us. However, all of us Battle Lovers love and respect each other. No matter what. If we can do that when we admitted we loved our current boyfriends, I'm sure we can get over this. Plus, think about what a relief it will be not to hide this anymore." Ryuu smiled. "That would be nice and I could save some money on my reply back phone." Atsushi smiled. "So, do we have a deal?" He stood up and put out his hand. Ryuu paused, but then stood up and shook it.
"Yes we do."
Across town, En was taking Io to a different ice cream shop. "Thank you," Io said, "But what about bringing Atsushi? You two are almost never separated." En chuckled as they sat down to eat their ice cream.
"Yeah, but I have noticed something else too." He glanced around Io's phone and then back at him. "You don't seem so worried about your stocks and money so much anymore. I haven't seen you picking up your phone and checking your stocks at all anymore." Io shifted in his seat.
"I don't know what you're talking about." En smiled and knew he had got him. "Look Io, what are you hiding? Do you really care about money as much as you say you do? Do you really not have as much stocks and stuff?" Io took a breath.
"No," he admitted.
He sighed and then continued. "Like the other Battle Lovers I have had my family leave, because they found out I love men and people that are the same sex. When they did, they threw money at me. Basically, anytime I would have an issue, they would throw tons of money at me, so they didn't have to deal with me. That's how I got so much money." En nodded. "And what about the stocks and stuff?" En sighed and they both ate the rest of their ice cream as Io continued.
"With them being so into money, I thought if I acted like them, they would accept me. So, that's why I pretended to like all that stuff." En nodded. "What about all the money you made on stocks?" he asked. Io chuckled. "That was all made up. I downloaded a stock learning application and games on my phone. I never had to invest any money in any of them." En was surprised. "So, all the money you showed us from your stocks was basically just a pretend?" Io nodded.
"And the advice I gave about money was just from articles and research. I also had an old phone with just stock games and applications on it, so that one I would have on hand if anyone asked to see my stocks." En smiled. "Did anyone ask?" Io shook his head and chuckled.
"So, does Ryuu know that you aren't into money and stocks?" Io sighed. "I want to tell him, but then he might think it's a big lie and that I'm a phony. Not to mention what the other Battle Lovers would think and say." En paused and then reached across the table and put his hand on Io's.
"Look Io. We are all Battle Lovers. We love each other no matter our differences. So, I don't think you have to worry about not being loved or Ryuu being upset. We will still love you no matter what. Wouldn't it also be good to get this off your shoulders and finally be the real you?" Io smiled. "Well, that would be nice." En stood up and offered his hand. "Come on. Lets go tell Ryuu and the others." Io got up. "Is it alright if I go to the bathroom first?" he asked. En nodded and let him go. As Io left, En texted Atsushi and they planned to have all the Battle Lovers meet at the apartment.
When En and Io got back, Io was surprised that Ryuu, Atsushi, and even little Yumoto were waiting for them. En put a hand on Io's shoulder and gave him a thumbs up. Atsushi put his hand on Ryuu's shoulder and gave him a thumbs up too. Io and Ryuu went up to each other, as the other couple got close together and Yumoto stood next to them.
"Io…."
"Ryuu…"
The two just decided to blurt it out. "I have something to say to you," they said at the same time with their eyes closed. They opened them and the look of wonder was on both of their faces. "You go first," Io said. Ryuu took a deep breath.
"Look, Io...everyone." He looked at all the Battle Lovers. "I've been living a lie. I've...never had a girlfriend. I've never really been talking to girls either." Ryuu then went on and told about how he had a secret phone and pretended to like girls to both unsuccessfully get closer to his family and hide his homosexuality.
"So, I hope all of you…" Again he looked at everyone. "Especially you, my partner, Io….can...forgive me." He then bowed. Io smiled. "I forgive you Ryuu." Ryuu immediately went back to standing tall. "You do?" he asked excitedly as he looked at his boyfriend. "Yes…" Io replied and then looked away. "As long as I hope you can forgive me." Ryuu was confused.
Io sighed. "I've...been living a lie. I don't own any stocks and I don't care about money. I never have." Io then went on about his family leaving him due to being gay and that he tried to be like them in loving money, etc. When his story was over, he looked at everyone too. "I hope you can all forgive me as well. Especially you…" He looked at Ryuu. "Ryuu." It was now his turn to bow down.
"I accept your apology," Ryuu said quickly. Io quickly stood tall. "Really? Are you sure?" he asked. Ryuu nodded. The other three Battle Lovers stepped forward. "And we all forgive you too," En said. "Yes," Atsushi added, "We love you the way you are." Yumoto then noted something.
"Are you both going to get rid of your extra phones and applications and stuff?"
At first, the four other guys wanted to scold him, but Yumoto had a point. Ryuu and Io smiled. "You know what Yumoto?" Io asked. "You're right," Ryu finished. They then went back to their rooms. They came back with their extra phones. "First, let's donate these," Io said. Ryuu nodded. "Come on guys. Follow us to the electronics store."
The five of them headed there, where Io and Ryuu turned in their old phones. Afterwards, they went outside and opened up their current ones. "Now, I will delete my stock apps forever." Io deleted them from his phone and then showed his screen blank of them. Ryuu smiled. "And now I will delete all these fake numbers that I used to call." He then deleted them and showed his screen blank of them. The Battle Lovers all cheered.
"Wow. That's a relief," Io said. "I know. A huge weight off my shoulders," Ryuu said. As the group walked back to the apartment, the two couples found themselves staring at their lover's groin, knowing there was their dick, balls, and junk in there. Both couples held hands and they were soon a block away when the couples looked at each other.
"Do you want to…" En and Atsushi started.
"Go home and celebrate?" Io and Ryuu added.
Yumoto turned around with glee. "Are we going to go to the apartment and do some more love making?" The four guys laughed and nodded. Yumoto then put his hand in the air. The four others joined in.
"Battle Lovers Forever!" they all cried and ran to the apartment. The guys then transformed into their Battle Lover outfits once they got inside. "Feel the power...of love!" they all shouted. Soon, the house was filled with moans, groans, and cries of pleasure as the two couples had sex and Yumoto's eyes turned blurry as he jerked off to the couples giving each other love.
