Shishido shook his head back and forth violently. "Jeez, I did not need that visual."
"Consider it my gift to you. Though I don't suppose it really matters. Our expiration date is coming up."
Shishido knew better than to ask.
They stood in companionable silence.
"You like Keigo, don't you."
"No of course not." Then, "I don't know. Maybe."
Oshitari nodded his understanding, having once been a victim of the Keigo-bug. "Yeah, there's no one else in the world like Keigo. No one with such confidence or skill. With his flair."
Shishido snorted quietly. "Not even that. Or maybe it is. I don't know. I just want to impress him. I want to wipe that smug, distant look off his face."
It occurred to Oshitari how strange this was. "Why are you being so honest with me? It's completely out of character."
"Truth? I don't know. You're his best friend. You know him the best. Know that he's rich and snotty and unbearable…"
Oshitari finished for him. "As much as you can't stand him, you also can't wait to see what he does next. You can't stand not to be there as he plans and schemes his way to the top. What happens when he gets there, I wonder.
"For a while, I really thought he and Yukimura were the real deal. But Yukimura changed after Rikkai lost nationals. And of course, then Tezuka came back. And that changed everything. Yukimura became obsessed with him and it annoyed Atobe."
Oshitari closed his eyes, remembering.
"Why, Yuushi. What's so special about that stickler? He's so boring. Why, why is everyone so obsessed with him?
Atobe's eyes dark, tinged with red at the corners. Beautiful and dangerous.
"You know, Atobe and Yukimura are just going to get back together."
"I know. But how can Yukimura be okay with this?" Shishido didn't understand.
"Atobe needs to lose himself before he can see clearly. He has to get lost before he can find himself. And realize that he belongs with Yukimura. At least, that's how I see it. Yukimura understands this."
"I know. You know. But does the brat- I mean, does Echizen-san?"