Thanks for all the reviews, appreciate them. And also a big thank you for supporting & reading Futari. I could not promise any periodical updates due to busy work schedule but I'll promise you a roller coaster ride of emotions!
Chapter 2: The Beginning.
"Raikou-san, what are you looking at?"
The pink-haired samurai turned gracefully from his seat. He looked at the younger boy with a smile, "Nothing. It's just that… today's weather is wonderful."
"Yeah, surprisingly... and it rained this morning too."
And there was an overwhelming silent in the living room. Raikou sat on the couch and continued to gaze at the sky as though anticipating an angel to descend on earth anytime now. Gau pouted. He wished Raikou would look at him instead of what's out there.
"Ne Raikou-san, what do you think of Miharu and Yoite?"
"What do you mean?" Raikou turned his attention back to Gau.
"Aren't they together? Yoite looks happier these days and it seemed as though Miharu changed as well."
"I guess."
"… Raikou-san, are you disgusted with two men together?"
The samurai was caught by surprise. His mouth hung half open and his eyes wide in disbelief.
Gau laughed. He laughed so hard that he nearly stumbled down.
"Rai-rai… raikou-san! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" and he burst into another fit of laughter.
"Gau?"
The younger boy finally calmed down. He exclaimed, "You had the funniest expression ever!"
"Did I?"
"Yeah." He replied and wiped the tears off his face.
"You caught me off guard, that's all." Raikou smiled.
"Well?"
"Yeah?"
"I mean, what do you think of two men together? As lovers."
"I don't know… I'm fine with Miharu-kun and Yoite together."
"…is that it?"
"I guess."
"What about you?"
"Me? I can't imagine myself with another man, simple as that."
…………………….
"Gau?"
No answer.
"Gau? Are you okay?"
He had his head hung low. And he bent even lower in fear that Raikou might see his expression now.
"Do I disgust you?" Gau whispered in a low voice.
"No, you don't. Why do you ask? Is something wrong?"
"Then… what am I to you?"
"You are my best partner and companion… irreplaceable."
"I see… and nothing… more than that…"
"What? Gau, do you feel sick?"
"Nay, I'm good." Gau looked up with a smile. "You hungry? Let me heat up the bento."
Raikou nodded with a puzzled expression. What just happened? One minute he was laughing, the next he looked as though he was in pain and then he's totally fine!
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He seemed to be really exhausted these days. And even dozed off while doing his homework… His complexion got a little paler too.
Yoite covered Miharu with a blanket. Initially he planned to carry the smaller boy to the bed, but he was afraid that he'd woke up. This is a hard-to-come-by rest… Miharu had to juggle between school, association work, his grandmother's okonomiyaki shop and coming over to see him.
Although he told Miharu that it's not necessary for him to come every forthnight, the boy persisted. He was really concerned about his health and said he would come as often as he could. And shamefully, Yoite is glad that Miharu insisted. Even though he knew Miharu is already burdened with a lot of work, he selfishly wished that the boy could spare all his time for him.
"Hm…" he stirred a little but did not wake up.
Yoite pecked on his right cheek… and touched his hair. So soft and black… beautiful…
And all of a sudden the memory of a boy in school uniform came near Miharu on a hot school day. The boy was holding a stack of papers and passed some to Miharu, wearing the cheesiest expression on his face. The smaller boy smiled back at him and both bursts into a fit of laughter talking bout something. The boy known as Subaru then inched closer to Miharu, as though whispering something… and the friendliness is too much to bear when he had the cheek to touch the other boy's shoulder.
Yoite clutched on his chest. It pains him. And he knew that he wore the ugliest expression ever… with the other hand on his face, Yoite knelt down to take a closer look at Miharu. What does the boy sees in him?
"ARGH! DAMN THAT SHOP OWNER!!!"
Yukimi banged the door hard. It's definitely not his day today.
Yoite jumped a little but am nevertheless glad that something distracted him. "Miharu is asleep. Don't be loud."
"Oh? Ah… sorry bout that."
Sometimes Yukimi would avoid going home early, as he felt like a third party in the way of a couple. Not that these two officially announce they are a couple but… they just got together so naturally. You can't seem to separate them and those times when Miharu is not around, Yoite looked so tense. He would even refuse to eat if the younger boy promised to come but couldn't make it in the end.
Looking on the good side, his housemate seemed to have gained a better appetite. Back then (to the time he had not met Miharu) he does eat but only when there's food. He would not ask for breakfast or lunch or dinner. If there's no food, he would go on days without them sometimes. But now… this idiot actually heats up the bento that Miharu prepared for him in advance. Surprisingly, there was this one time that he actually went to the convenience store to get yakisoba.
And yes, he looked more radiant than he used to be. Something up, huh?
"…Yukimi-san, you're back?" Miharu rubbed his eyes. He still felt sleepy.
"Yeah, did I wake you up?"
"N-no." Miharu yawned "I shouldn't be sleeping anyway. I still have 2 pages of math to finish."
"It's tough to be a student… (sigh) those were the days~" Yukimi said while chewing a straw.
"Yukimi-san, you have been doing that lately."
"What?"
"The straw."
"Oh. I don't know… just felt like chewing something. I guess it turned into a habit now."
"Don't bother bout him… let's have dinner."
Yukimi sneered. And who told him not to smoke in the house when his 'little one' is around? He can't curb his addiction just like that, which was why he used straw and chewing gum as substitutes. Well they don't help much. Kohoku said she would be glad if he could quit smoking overall… perhaps not now. His stress is building up rapidly with the lump of unfinished work, and it gets worse that he had to go back later than usual to accommodate the pair. He can't tolerate that all the time, so sometimes he'd go to Kohoku's shop and concentrate on his work. Even then, it's not the same as working in the comfort of your own home…
………………..and heck, he'd hate it if he ever walk into the house while those two are in their chummy own little world. Funny enough, that never happened. Both Yoite and Miharu appreciates him, they never act lovey-dovey or ignore him. They treat him as a good friend and to tell the truth, it actually felt good to be around them. Comfortable, natural and fresh…
"Yukimi-san?"
"Oh, sorry. What is it?" He was a little embarrassed at getting lost in his own thought.
"Dinner? Shall I heat it up for you too? There's miso, okonomiyake and gyoza."
"OH! I LOVE GYOZA!"
Yoite's expression turned grim. And he thought there's a chance they could have dinner alone. Uninterrupted. Uninterrupted by an alien being.
"Now now Yoite, don't act like a kid!" Then Yukimi whispered to his ears when Miharu's not visible, "I know what's on your mind."
Yoite blushed.
It was as simple as that. He never expected Yukimi to return early today since he had been late for the past 2 weeks. Miharu never forgets to bring Yukimi's share of dinner even though the latter is usually outside. The younger boy said Yukimi can have it as supper or perhaps next day's breakfast…
And he thought that they would be alone again, as usual.
Miharu came out with two plates of gyoza. He was puzzled at the situation at the dinner table. A laughing Yukimi and… a pouting Yoite?!
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"Ne Kyouichi, what's wrong with sensei these days?" Raimei asked. They are currently on their way home.
"Hm? Is something wrong with him?"
"Didn't you notice? He was pretty uptight."
"Sensei is always uptight!" Kyouchi said with a laugh.
"No… this is more uptight than usual. You know, as his student you don't seem concerned." Raimei replied with a suspicious look.
"Is there a need to worry so much? My guess is that sensei's just feeling lonely… Rokujou always rushes home when the bell rings (that is, if he doesn't have club activities). He just felt sad that his beloved student doesn't have time for him. That is just like an abandoned pu—"
"WHO DID YOU SAID IS LONELY AND ABANDONED?"
"UWAAAAAAAAAAA!!!" Both Kyouichi and Raimei jumped.
"Se-sensei! Pl—please don't scare us like that!"
"…Kyouichi you talked too much. Though you're immortal, it doesn't mean I can't kill you." Kotoba said threateningly.
And with that, Kotoba took a step forward and walked towards the opposite direction, leaving the two idiots frozen in their tracks.
"N-ne, was sensei serious just now?" Raimei asked, shocked.
"I… I guess he was."
They looked at each other for a minute, then decided that sensei was just scaring them.
"You're right, he can't be serious! If it's true then we'll just have to throw him in the train! Hahahahaha!" Kyouichi laughed nervously.
"Right… haha, right…"
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"………………………………………."
There was a sobbing sound from the other end.
"……………………………………….."
The sob grew louder.
"…………………………………………"
"Why don't you say anything?!"
The boy merely turned his face to the opposite direction.
The man was flooded with tears. "Please say something!"
"Sensei, you hauled me out in the middle of my class to listen to your cries?"
"Noooooooooo Rokujou!" He pulled the boy back to his seat in the secluded counseling room.
"What do you want sensei?"
The man sighed. "I don't know. I just…" and he avoided Miharu's sparkling eyes.
"If you don't have anything to say then I'll be—"
"Please, don't.
Kotoba's expression and tone made Miharu return to his seat. But how long is this awkward silence going to last?
"I notice you don't look well these days… I know you have been busy but I hope you'll look after yourself too."
Miharu softened. "…you don't have to worry about me."
"How can I not be? You have been spending more time with—"
"Sensei, are you pouting?"
"I-I am not pouting!"
Miharu smiled cheekily as he usually does when he's teasing Kotoba. "Sensei, the bell just rang. I have to rush to the lab now." And with that Miharu left with a swish, leaving a dumbfounded Kotoba.
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"Rokujou, you're late." Kyouichi whispered. The raven haired boy took his seat beside his friend. "I had to help out with the experiment."
There were some small talk and noise all around while everyone's waiting for the Student Council's President to show up.
"What's your class doing?" A blonde-haired boy leaned over to them. It's Misashi, the guy from next class.
"We have not decided yet, but there were some pretty good suggestions from the class. We thought of checking with the president on our budget before deciding."
This brings back memories on why they are sitting right here rather than in Yukimi's apartment, having a nice dinner.
Flashback to Miharu returning from Counseling Room…
"Oh Rokujou, you're back. Look, you're part of the Representative Committee in the School Festival this summer." A classmate pointed out.
Rokujou turned his head to the direction of the blackboard whereby his name was written white and bold under the title: School Festival Representative Committee. Another name below his was the idiot who got dragged into it - Kyouichi. The silver-haired boy smiled and waved at Miharu, happy that both of them could hang out together after school and work for the committee. Unfortunately Miharu doesn't share his passion.
"I'm not interested." Was all he answered and walked past the class president.
"You can't refuse! Everyone voted for you and we didn't get any objection."
"Of course you don't, I wasn't even present."
"W-well in any case the class had already decided. Please show your support and work hard for the School Festival."
Miharu's displeasing look couldn't scare him any more than he already is. But he needed to sub the job to someone and although Miharu has the chibi* size, he could really get the ball rolling if he wants to.
Without a way out, Miharu reluctantly accepted the job passed to him. Anyway there's Kyouichi to order around as and when needed! Yes, he's scheming at the back of his head. And well, it's all thanks to sensei that he wounded up in this situation. Someday he's going to get his revenge.
Back to the Committee Meeting…
"Misashi, aren't you in the Volleyball Club? I thought I saw the other members practicing in the field." Kyouichi interrupted Miharu's daydream.
"I can't split myself into two and captain puts priority on the school festival, so I'm excused from attending club activities temporarily if there's any clash." Misashi replied with a sigh. He'd rather be running under the hot sun than sit here and do nothing.
And before Miharu could ask whether Misashi volunteered or was conned into the committee, the classroom door slid open, revealing a good looking pink-coloured hair boy into their field of vision. Behind the boy is his assistant and accountant – Kou. The latter has short merun hair and wore a pair of stylish spectacle. He held a book and some notes with him.
Raikou's attention dropped to Miharu. Now that's rare… They have only bumped into each other once in the school, and that was in the student's cafeteria. Raikou smiled at Miharu and Kyouichi, and that gave both of them a surprise. And Miharu thought Raikou told them before that school and outside are two separate environments that shouldn't be seen as one.
Miharu could decipher the meaning though. He knew Raikou is popular among the students. He's gentle yet stern. He puts discipline forth as a principle yet would be lenient at times. And better still, he understood how gentle Raikou really is. The elder boy thought more about their welfare than his. He was afraid his 'fans' would attack Miharu and the others if their personal relationship was found out. Not that Miharu and Kyou minded, but Raikou was concerned and he didn't wish for either of them to be bullied, especially the younger fragile boy.
And did Raikou forgot they are supposed to ignore each other in school?
YES, he did.
Miharu and Kyou's body bathe in sweat. The class was looking at them, wondering what just happened.
Realizing he did something he's not supposed to, Raikou quickly distracted the class's attention by starting the meeting.
"Congratulations to all the chosen committee members. You represent your class's best interest and shall help along with the festival as a whole. Every year the festival is organized as a symbol of entrepreneurship and team effort from every class. For me, the greatest reward is to see the festival succeed. I, representing the Student Council, look forward to cooperating with all of you."
The brief speech finished with a round of applause. Some of the girls were blushing and giggling. Perhaps they actually volunteered to be part of the committee.
And boy, didn't Miharu felt that this is just the beginning of trouble – whatever it may be.
-----owari------
Enjoying it so far? I certainly hope so! See you next time!