Chapter 7

The following Monday, Kichijouji braced himself for the confrontation between Masaki and Kosuke. He knew it was coming. Not only had Kosuke said he'd take it up with Masaki on the next school day, but also Kosuke was the kind of guy who would absolutely follow through on his promises. Or threats, in this case.

Masaki seemed not to be worried. He spent the morning smiling and socializing between classes, just like usual.

Given that Kosuke was in Class B and they were in Class A, it took until lunchtime before Kosuke showed up. Kichijouji, Masaki, Emi, and Akio were already settled on the roof with their bento boxes. Hideo was home sick, having caught a stomach virus from his date to the dance. Kichijouji figured that was just as well. Akio he could trust to handle the situation well. Hideo he trusted not at all, at least not on this count.

Kosuke glided through the door to the roof, not carrying a lunch, and strode over to them with the wind blowing through his black hair, looking every inch The Cool Guy. He stopped several feet shy and pointed at Masaki. "Ichijou. I challenge you to explain yourself or accept a duel, if you insist on remaining silent."

"Explain myself?" Masaki protested. "About what?" He didn't really want to do this, but it looked like he had no choice.

Kosuke fastened his gaze on Kichijouji. "Kichijouji, answer me this much: Did Ichijou force you to show up to the dance with that girl?"

Akio looked at Kosuke and Masaki with wide-eyed surprise and confusion.

Emi stared down at her bento.

"Nope," Kichijouji said, sounding nearly sing-song in his response.

Kosuke's Cool Guy demeanor collapsed. "W-What?"

A smile quivered on Kichijouji's lips. "Oh, I did that of my own free will. Would you like to know why?"

Kosuke's shoulders drew back, and he paled. "Why?"

It was all Kichijouji could do not to laugh. "Because I was the 'girl' who Masaki took to the dance. Don't you think I looked good in that qi pao?"

Kosuke straightened to his full height and gasped. "Why would you do that? Why would you pretend to be a girl – just for him?" He stabbed a finger at Masaki again.

Masaki was shocked to see tears welling up in Kosuke's eyes. Kosuke was always too cool to cry.

"Don't you know he's just using you?" Kosuke's hand trembled. "He'll make you lie again and again and again while he tells everyone else he has a girlfriend! You'll always be 'just a friend'! He'll make you slink around behind everyone's backs and never take center spotlight on his arm, meet in weird places, try to have make out in the dark at public parks because he'll never take you home. He's going to degrade you!" Tears ran down Kosuke's cheeks. "He'll tell you that you can never come out to anyone or tell anyone his name, because your love will only shame him. And when you get tired of pretending and insist on coming out, telling your parents, telling everything that's happened, he's going to dump you."

Masaki stared. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Emi and Akio staring as well.

"Whoa…" Emi said softly. "Did this happen to you?"

Kosuke scrubbed his eyes with his forearm. "Why do you hate me this much, Kichijouji? I'm just trying to save you from him. All the Master Clans are alike. No matter how much you like him, you can't trust him!"

For a moment, Kichijouji had been furious. Then, as he listened to Kosuke's rant and saw the tears, he realized the details were too specific. Too genuine. The instant Emi had asked her question, Kichijouji had known the answer: Kosuke had been abused and then tossed away.

Kichijouji glanced at Masaki and then stood and walked over to Kosuke. "It doesn't have to be that way," he murmured. "Some men are honorable." Then he forcibly set aside the fact he was in a very public place and broke decorum. He ran his arms around Kosuke and hugged him. "Thank you for worrying about me, but it sounds like I should be worrying about you. You have a broken heart."

Kosuke sobbed on Kichijouji's shoulder and clung to Kichijouji tightly. "Why? Why do you care after – I said all those horrible things about your boyfriend? Why don't you hate me, too?"

Masaki scrambled to his feet. "What do you mean, 'too'? I don't hate you. We can be friends if you want to be. I just don't want you trying to tell Jouji I'm a bad person."

"Because I know all about pain," Kichijouji said. For a moment, his mind was filled with the memory of his parents' faces—too pale, stiff, cold. Harsh white light shone down on their faces, glaring off the white sheets covering the rest of their bodies. His stomach squeezed itself into a knot, and he hugged Kosuke harder. "Masaki taught me . . . you don't have to hurt alone. And even when you've lost everything, someone can still come along and love you."

Kosuke's sobs quieted.

Masaki dared to edge over and put his hand on Kosuke's back. "Be our friend."

Kosuke nodded against Kichijouji's shoulder, but he didn't speak.

Kichijouji smiled to himself. "Good. We'll both protect you." He felt relieved that Kosuke hadn't lied when he claimed they would still be friends even if Kichijouji didn't date him. Also, Kosuke needed someone who could really understand him, considering.

"Both?" Kosuke asked in a watery voice. He raised his head and slowly looked at Masaki.

Masaki nodded. "Both." He rested a hand on Kichijouji's shoulder. "We will. Together."

Kichijouji felt a fierce pulse of protection for his new friend. He pulled back and smiled at Kosuke, and then he smiled at Masaki as well. I really did pick the kindest, most honorable guy I could have. "Great. That's all settled. Now, let's eat lunch."

Emi jumped up, grabbed Kosuke's wrist, and pulled him down beside her. "Now that that's settled, you've got to teach me how to make hot dog squids!"

Kosuke blinked at her, then let out a small laugh. "It's really simple."

"Good. Tell me all about it." Emi looked as if she wanted to pet Kosuke's head.

Masaki plopped back down beside Kichijouji. They exchanged a smile.

Kichijouji picked up his lunch and resumed eating, feeling certain that everything was smoothed over and soon they would all be solid friends. He couldn't lie to himself and blithely believe his life as a whole would have a happy ending, but he was contented for now, and he would accept the joy of the present moment.