Ah! I'd written this chapter long ago and forgot to post it.

Thanks to Kathysweet for the review! I was really happy to read it!

Disclaimer: One of the 'If only's' of my life.

Sou stared at the eggs as they cooked on the pan. He stared at them even after they'd become black and inedible. Then, he sighed, threw the charred eggs out and started again.

He'd thought about it the night before. About how Ichirou was his first love and how he'd been heart-broken and, honestly appalled, that Ichirou was a boy. Maybe it wasn't a bad thing, is what he'd concluded. Sou sighed as his eggs burned for the second time. He flailed miserably and put out the fire, then dumped the contents in the dust bin, where it rightfully belonged. Then, he decided he'd not make eggs that day at all and filled the space he'd left for the egg-rolls with some more of the chopped vegetables. Then, he closed his lunch box and went towards the door.

"Sou-kun, I need you to watch the shop today after classes" his mother said. Sou nodded.
"Sure, Kaa-san" he replied. She smiled.
"Have a good day" she told him. He nodded and hoped it was.

Sou sat in class, listening as his friends spoke something random and funny. Sou laughed a little, a short, half-hearted laugh because he didn't want them to feel bad. He was glad when the Professor came in and they settled down to listen. Sou's mind drifted off, wondering why he would react to Ichirou the way he did and what Ichirou thought about him. It troubled him, the way Ichirou was always expressionless, the way he didn't seem to care, the way he seemed passive about everything, it just bothered him. It was as if Ichirou didn't really care at all.

Sou felt his heart sink as he thought of that. May be that's why he'd reacted the way he had the day before, because Ichirou didn't seem to care at all, even when Sou was admitting his true feelings without any veil of lies. Sou felt his breakfast decided to come out the wrong way. He swallowed down hard and told himself he would be fine. May be third time lucky? So what if Uru didn't love him, may be he could find someone else. It wasn't so hard, after all, his brother seemed to be able to do it. And he wasn't the most loyal person to fall in love with.

"Abekawa Otouto"
Sou froze, partly because he hadn't expected to see the man. At least, not yet. Not before he'd sorted himself out.
'When will that be?' his mind asked him. After all, he'd been doing that for weeks now. Since the first time they sat down at their bench and had egg-rolls for lunch, in calm and comfortable silence.
Sou glanced at the origin of the voice and told himself he'd tell the man to leave him alone. That was best, after all. They were both guys and they were obviously incapable of being friends. So, it was best to act like the other didn't exist.
"Come with me" Ichirou said, taking Sou's hand in his' and pulling him away. Sou was too surprised to respond, in words or in actions. He remained quiet and let the man drag him off.
They stood facing each other in an empty classroom. Ichirou's gaze was fixed on Sou since they stood, Sou's was fixed on his sneakers and the shoe-lace and the plastic pointy tip of the shoe-lace. He wondered absently what it was called as he tried not to think of unthinkable things.
"You're not looking at me" Ichirou complained. Sou's head jerked upwards, but he stopped himself before he looked Ichirou in the eye. His mind would go blank and his knees would turn to jell-o if he did. That was no good.
"I think it's best if we don't associate with each other anymore" Sou said. He didn't dare look up. One look into those dark brown pools and Sou's composure would be gone in a flash.
"Why?" Ichirou asked. Sou shook his head.
"We have nothing in common" he said, "And I don't want to be associated with you" he added, a little half-heartedly.
"So, why did you make me egg-rolls then?" he asked. Sou frowned, glaring at the floor.
"Because I thought we could be friends!" he admitted, "And it's obviously not possible, so just let it go, already!" he declared, loudly. He heard footsteps, until he saw Ichirou's shoes in the line of his vision, an arm's length away from him.
"Why is it not possible?" he pried. Sou felt his anger rise. This was harder than confessing to Uru!
"Because I like you, ok?" he admitted, "Try and understand how I feel! You're a guy, I know that! I'm a guy too! But I have all these feelings for you that used to have for Uru! So, just, leave me alone!" he yelled, "And let me cope!"

Ichirou closed the distance between them as he wrapped his arms around Sou.

Sou froze in his arms, too confused to push him away, too shocked to escape and definitely too surprised to blush. When it did happen, however, it happened all at once.
"Ah!" Sou gasped as he freed himself from Ichirou's grasp and for the first time that day, met Ichirou's gaze. His eyes were electric and Sou was certain an electric shock passed through his body on meeting Ichirou's eyes.
"Don't run anymore" Ichirou said, stepping forward and wrapping his arms around Sou again, "I like you too" he said. Sou felt the world disappear on hearing those words. Words he never thought he'd hear Ichirou say, ever. Then, his hands clutched on the cloth of Ichirou's shirt.
"What about Uru?" Sou asked. Ichirou pulled away and looked Sou in the eyes.
"Uru has Shindou-san" he said, "However, if they break up, I get Uru" he said, firmly. Sou stared at him with disbelief.
"Eh! No way!" he said, "What about me?" he asked. Ichirou smiled.
"Let's hope they don't break up" Ichirou said, "At least, not for your sake, Abekawa otouto" he said. Sou scowled.
"How long will you keep calling me 'Abekawa Otouto'?" he asked, annoyed. Ichirou bobbed his head to one side innocently.
"Should I call you Sou?" he asked. Sou coloured red and covered his face with his arms.
"No, before was better after all" Sou admitted.
"I like Sou better" he heard Ichirou say, following by a strong arm tugging away the arms that were covering his still red face.
"And I like being called Ichirou" he said, his face mere inches from Sou's. Sou's cheeks were permanently stained red that day.
"Ichirou" he said softly, which made Ichirou pull him into another hug.
"Don't forget my egg-rolls tomorrow, Sou" Ichirou warned and Sou wondered if he would ever become normal again.

I don't know if I'll continue writing this story. But, it's as good as done right now.

Review please!