Chapter 7

In the junkyard, Leon and Kazuichi sat side by side, sitting on the roof of a run down car. Leon listened as Kazuichi told him his feelings. He confessed to actually possessing despair within him for years. Apparently, his father, who owned a workshop for bikes and cars, would beat Kazuichi and abuse him. Leon listened with a heavy, pain-filled heart as Kazuichi opened up to him. He let him get all of his emotions out. He wanted him to get all that despair out of him, and as far as he knew, the best way to do that was by talking to someone. so he brought Kazuichi to the junkyard to cheer him up. News of the student council had already reached the police. An investigation was currently underway. Kazuichi was still worried about his missing classmates. He hoped they would turn up. He hoped they were just sick or something, but something told him otherwise. When Kazuichi was ready to let his tears out, Leon pulled his close, wrapping him a hug, letting the mechanic cry on his shoulder. For a while now, he had felt himself grow closer to the mechanic. He wasn't sure when his feelings changed. Perhaps it was when he first noticed the off behavior. Maybe it was when he saw him crying. Or maybe the feelings had been there all along, lieing dormant, hidden beneath his skin. But one thing was certain. He didn't want to admit it, with his reputation and all, but the feelings were definitely waking up, breaking through to the surface. He had no idea how he would explain this to Sayaka, but he'd worry about that when the time came. He was always one to go with the flow. Live in the moment, not the future. He didn't plan anything out. He never did. He tightened his arms around the mechanic, resting his chin head on Kazuichi's own. Kazuichi was 19 now, and Leon was 18. Kazuichi was a junior now. One more year, and class 77-B would graduate. Leon would still be attending Hpe's Peak Academy, living out his Junior year. he sighed, gently rubbing the mechanic's back.

"Kazu...I'm sorry...for everything you've been put through...It's amazing how you held everything together...I never would've been able to tell, honestly...you always seemed so happy, upbeat, carefree...Now I feel like kicking that old man's ass for what he did..." Hearing that made the pink-haired male laugh. He slowly pulled away and wiped his eyes.

"Yeah, I'd love to see that...Thanks, Leon...For being my friend...You were right. It's better to let the pain out than hold it in...why did I listen to Junko again?"

"Because she's blonde, beautiful, popular, famous, and acted nice to you."

"Right...Geez...Maybe i should give up girls with all the bad luck I have, huh? They bring me worse luck than Nagito does! Who knows, maybe I should try dating guys!" Kazuichi let out a laugh a his joke. Hearing him laugh made Leon smile, but he felt his cheeks heat up at the joke.

"Heh, yeah, maybe you should. If girls bring you bad luck, maybe guys will bring you good luck!" Leon teased, nudging him in the side with his elbow. He flashed that signature smile while Kazuichi gasped.

"Wait, do you really think so? Wait, what would I even do on a date with a guy? Where would I take him for dinner? what would we do? What would-" While he had begun rambling, Leon rolled his eyes.

to hell with it, Leon. You won't know for certain unless you try it out. So just man up and fucking do it!

He cut off Kazuichi in the middle of his rambling as he grabbed his face between his hands. Without warning he pulled him forward, crashing his lips against his own. Immediately it felt like a fire blazing in his heart, spreading to every inch of his body. Kazuichi was taken aback, unable to react. Leon's kiss had caught him completely off guard. When the baseball star pulled away, the sparks of electricty he felt vanished, much to his dismay. He looked Leon in the eyes. The red-head had a look of shock, surprise, and longing in his eyes. they both stared at eachother in silence for a few moments, not even blinking. Then, as if in a silent, unspoken agreement, both males leaned in, capturing eachother's lips once more. Kazuichi let his arms tighten around the Leon, while Leon brought his hands up, messing with Kazuichi's hair. He pushed his head forward to deepen the kiss. When they finally pulled apart, they just stared at eachother, exchanging smiles and looks of happiness.

"...So...does this mean we're...?"

"That we're bi? Yup, definitely man."

"So what are you gonna do about Sayaka?"

"Uh...I'll...figure that out..."