Every since Akira knew of Hikaru Shindo, he always felt there were two parts, or maybe a better word would be sections, of his strange fascination with the boy:

1) His go. His unexplainable good, unexplainable aura of his go that changed and soared as if he had two sides to himself. He had racked his brain to figure out how this all worked but ultimately made him feel more insane, not to mention an idiot for even thinking he could have the go skills of two separate, different people.

2) The simply unexplainable part. After about two years or self evaluation, knowing of his own homosexuality but not his feelings for the boy, he had figured it to be love. Something about the way he presented himself, how he spoke, how he laughed, all of it made his stomach churn with intense emotions that kept him up at night.

More than once he had imagined or literally dreamed of situations where he and Hikaru could be together, how he'd confessed and Hikaru would miraculously feel the same. He had this one idea that they would be playing go and suddenly in the middle he would lean over and kiss Hikaru, but regardless of dreams he felt something like this could never happen in reality. He almost felt wrong keeping this from Shindo, like he deserved to know all the terrible, terribly dirty situations he found himself thinking up about the two of them at any given moment. And by any given moment, it really was any given moment. He would think about him all the time, during a match, in the middle of dinner with his family, sometimes when he was in the shower... A lot when he was in the shower, to be honest. But it felt... tainted, when Shindo refused to play.

He wouldn't play his matches. He wouldn't play pick-up games. Even when Akira's fascination lead him to Hikaru's school to talk to him, he even refused to play him. What the hell was wrong? People kept saying how Hikaru was on his tail, following him, through the go world. And now, it was gone. If he won't play, there's no fixation between Hikaru and Akira. As far as he knew, go was the only thing they really had in common, a similar passion. And without that, there was nothing he and Hikaru had to tie them together. And Akira desperately needed that tie. He needed Hikaru Shindo.

If Akira and Hikaru never played go he would still have these feelings for him, he figured. He felt, some way, their paths would have crossed in a different way, a different time. But there was nothing to hold them to the same path. They would fall apart, as strangers, Akira's one sided love even more pathetic by barley knowing Shindo. So Akira needed Shindo to play go. He needed that something he could hold on to.

What was he thinking?! Not playing any of his matches. It was as if he didn't want to chase Akira anymore, or even see him anymore. He felt discouraged, angry, rejected. But he knew Hikaru wouldn't do that just to get away from Akira. Well, at least, he hoped not. It was selfish to think Akira was what Shindo was thinking about when this was all happening, no matter how much Akira wanted Hikaru to think about him. Because he wanted Hikaru to need him too. And he didn't know how possible that would be. Akira was nothing to Hikaru. Before, he followed him steeply through their go, but now, he was nothing. Hikaru couldn't care about Akira for anything but a board game, because there was two sides to Akira's fixation, but Hikaru had only the one.

Maybe he was over thinking it. Maybe Shindo was just going through a slump. He still cared about go and Akira. There was no need to worry. He would be back and at Akira's tail soon as he could.

Then the months past.

It was May when his mind rotted with confusion. He had these thoughts and these doubts and insecurities about what was going on with his rival and unrequited love. He hoped Shindo would bounce back and come at Akira with all his force again as quick as he could muster. It wouldn't be too long before Hikaru was behind him again with that look of determination he so craved.

It was June when his doubts got heavier. In his head he kept thinking Hikaru, Hikaru, Hikaru, opposed to how he would say his name, Shindo. As he got farther away the more force he wanted to feel close to him, and using his last name made his distance feel impossible to overcome. He loved his name, too. Hikaru. It was such a nice name, but, oh, how empty it felt without its owner there to acclaim it. Surely, if Hikaru knew how Akira was feeling, he would come right back, right away. His return was more than overdue at this point. And Shindo would feel like a selfish bastard for taking so long.

It was July, when he had lost hope. His own self depreciation was etching deeper in his mind, thinking it was his fault, his fault. Hikaru must be angry at Akira for some reason. Why else would he be absent for so long? Akira slammed his way through the prelims of the Hon'inbo league. He pushed his way to 3 dan. He sat and stared into space a lot, thinking about Hikaru. He wanted to talk to him, touch him... let him know he was still there, waiting... He wanted Hikaru to know he was waiting, and have that be the reason for his return. Sometimes, when he was alone, and the thoughts were too much... he would lay down and bury his face in his pillow, sobbing, sometimes screaming, depending on which he felt the need for more. Even when he barley saw Hikaru for near two years he still could feel he was there, behind him. Now he missed even that simple feeling. He missed Hikaru.

Then, in the middle of that month, while Akira had just secured his spot in the Hon'inbo league, there he was. Hikaru Shindo. There, waiting for him, chasing him. Perhaps literally, from the exhaustion on his face, as if he ran up four flights of stairs. Akira had never been so surprised. Usually Akira was the one sneaking up on Hikaru and appearing at the most random of times. It felt like a dream as Hikaru saw the results of the match and looked up at Akira with determination. He missed that look. All he could stutter was to inquire why Shindo was there. He was glad. Beyond glad. He tried to keep from trembling of excitement and joy as he went home, and not because he was now in the Hon'inbo league.

"Um," Akira said awkwardly, looking around. I seriously wanna punch Waya right now. Glancing over at Isumi, I could tell he wanted to too. Then Akira simply said, "I can't,"

Waya looked surprised and blinked, then narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Why not?"

Akira again took a minute to answer. He was very composed when he looked Waya in the eye and replied, "My heart belongs to Hikaru."

I blinked in surprise. Goddamn Akira...why does he keep doing this? Though it made my heart flutter. I guess he didn't really have much a choice. I guess he could've made some excuses but he already agreed to come over here to suck my dick, and last week he told them we were lovers, so they probably just think Akira is flirty? Maybe. Gah. I don't know what to say.

Isumi was the one to reply though. "What?!" As if he was more surprised than Waya would be. Akira just shrugged as I sat there with wide eyes.

"Akira, what the hell?" I told him, blinking.

"Oh, well, cat's out of the bag now!" He raised his arms to emphasize his words. My face paled as I waited for him to spill everything. But instead he turned towards me. "Hikaru Shindo, I'm in love with you. Please be my boyfriend." I gaped at him in surprise. His face was insanely straight but his cheeks were red. I thought that was kinda cute.

"U-Um," I didn't know what to say. I know we were already going out and that this was just for Waya and Isumi, but I felt awkward and embarrassed as if I'd never consider us dating before. Waya and Isumi looked at each other and didn't know what to say. Then Waya started clapping.

"Aw, c'mon Shindo!" He laughed. "Come to the gay side!" I couldn't tell if Waya seemed fine or if he was annoyed Akira liked me and not him. But I obviously didn't asked.

I sighed and looked at Akira, with a look that said Are you serious? but I was pretty certain Waya and Isumi wouldn't pick up on it. I was about to open my mouth when Akira decided to make the answer easier for me.

"Fine!" He stood, and at first I thought he was going to angrily storm off super over dramatic, but instead he weaved around Isumi and Waya and picked up my go board. I looked at him confused, and he padded back over to me and set it up between us.

"If you win, you can reject me. But if I win, you'll my boyfriend. Deal?" He was smirking. I tried not to blush.

I began to protest. "Aw, c'mo-"

"Do it! Do it!" Isumi and Waya chanted. I thought they were the ones who didn't want us to play earlier? I sighed.

"Fine!" I whipped out my fan. Akira grinned.

We picked for color. I grabbed one black stone.

Akira dropped a few whites on the board as I dropped my black. Two, four, eight... nine. He's black.

The moment we got our stones ready he took one with lightning speed and placed it on the board. I blinked and placed one myself. With barley a second he tapped another one on it. It took me a moment, but I looked up at him to see him smirking at me with determination in his eyes. I gulped and placed a stone. Half a second later he did the same. He was playing speed go.

"Well then," I slammed a stone on the board. "Two can play at that game."

His smirk widened. "I was hoping for that!" And bam. He attacked.

Waya and Isumi watched our hands reach for stones, one after another, as quick as we put them down. They were whispering things to each other, but I took no time to think it could be about anything besides the game.

It took me a moment to notice my actual position on the board. I swallowed hard. "Damn it, Akira!" I said angrilly, slamming another stone down.

He smiled cutely and placed another stone on the board quickly but calmly. I sighed and fiddled with my fan. I could play out the rest of the game, but... it had to be at least 30/70. I think I could make a comeback, but giving myself some time to think, did I really want to win? Nevertheless, I played another move. Akira hesitated with this one, then...Wow. that was a good move...

"I resign." I sighed.

"Oh, sweet," Akira smiled, then about as quickly as he placed his stones while playing he leaned toward me, over the board, grabbed the back of my neck and smacked our lips together.

I wasn't thinking. Why did I care if they knew? Why couldn't they? So, I kissed him back, and...

Except, that's not what happened. I honestly would've preferred that to have happened. After Akira's good move, I played a careless one, to see how he would respond. I would either win or lose with a full game, not by resignation. But then Akira did something I didn't expect.

He sighed and scratched the back of his head. "Alright, you got me. I resign." What?!

"Huh?!" I said in surprise. This was totally his game. He was going to win.

"I'm sorry, Hikaru," he said, ruffling the stones around and beginning to put them away. "I would never force you into anything like that. Besides," he dropped the stones into the bowels. I still looked confused. Was I dreaming? "It would totally be inappropriate for me to be in love with you while we're moving in together, no?" I blinked. I think I knew what he was doing.

"You're moving in together?" Isumi asked.

I tried to go along with it. "Well, yeah. Do you really think I could pay rent all by myself?"

Akira laughed a bit and held up his hand. I high fived him. "We really got them, huh?" He smiled. I nodded and laughed too, trying to get a feel for what he meant. Not really. This boy always was up to something. So I just kinda went along with it.

"Yeah!" I bluffed. "They thought you loved me and we gotta play go!"

Waya and Isumi glanced at each other in confusion.

"So, uh, you made it up?" Isumi said skeptically, a bit let down looking.

"What the fuck, you planned that?!" Waya said angrily.

"Yup," Akira smiled. "Everything from the couple in the subway to resigning the game." I was seriously impressed how well Akira could improvise. It was as if we actually did plan it. I could tell he wanted them to know, when he bet me on a game, but figured it wasn't such a good idea. I thought, for a moment, we should let them know. But what would they think if we moved in together? We couldn't hide that from them. so Akira must've thought this was the best. Even though he hates hiding, he thought I would like it this way. Even if that's not completely true, it makes sense.

"WE'RE GONNA GET YOU BACK, TOYA, SHINDO!" Waya shrieked, waving his fist angrily in the air. Isumi had to hold him back. We just laughed.

Akira stood. "Well, I'm gonna get going. Ogata sensei's probably waiting for me..."

"Oh, were you with him?" I asked. Waya and Isumi were still upset but I changed the subject.

Akira nodded and laughed. "Yeah, did you not smell the smoke? Funny story. He was actually looking over my shoulder when I read that text."

Waya laughed. "Woah, what'd he do?"

Akira shrugged. "Looked at me funny, then I ran off." He laughed a bit and looked down at me. "Well, I'll see you later," And he walked back to the balcony. I bite my lip, wanting to ask him to stay, but instead said, "Okay, yeah. Later." I squeaked out. He for some reason decided to climb down the goddamn wall again and left, like goddamn spider man, and by that time I already missed him. I sighed a bit and put away my goban, Waya and Isumi exchanging glances.

"Was that really planned?" Isumi shattered my trance. I looked up at him.

"Only some of it," I plopped back down on the floor.

"You seem kinda sad," he noted.

I shrugged and stretched. "Naw, I'm fine." I crawled over back to my controller and unpaused it before Waya could get to his. He shrieked.

"Shindo!" He dived for the controller, but it was too late. Luigi had pushed him into the lava. He groaned in irritation and put his face on the ground. I laughed. "You're evil," he muttered, standing up. "Where's your damn bathroom?"

I paused the game again. "All the way down the hallway and to the right."

He sighed. "Thanks," then walked out. Isumi looked at me intently.

I gulped. "What's with the look?"

"You like him, don't cha?" I could tell he was referring to Akira.

I blinked. "What?!"

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone!" Isumi smiled. "You looked so depressed when he left." He yawned and picked up his phone again, going back to blogging. "Am I right?"

"Isumi, shut up," I laughed a little.

"Ooh, I'm right, huh?"

"No, I don't like him." I spat, then sighed, looking longingly at the balcony door. After a moment I quietly added, "I love him."

Isumi blinked. "Wait, really?"

"Don't tell Waya."

"No way." He promised, nodding.

"Me and Akira have been dating for awhile," I confessed.

"How long's a while?"

"Eh..." I scratched my head. "A bit over half a year."

"Holy shit, really?"

"Yeah. So you don't have to worry about him taking Waya from you, kay?"

Isumi smiled a bit. "Right. Thanks." He looked around. "You guys actually moving in together?"

I nodded. "Yup."

We sat in comfortable silence until Waya came back and tried to win at Mario Kart. And ultimately, utterally failed. And luckily, like he told me, Isumi never breathed a word.