Yes, the title DID come from Atobe's special smash. Why? Because this chapter is a countdown towards something that is about to be… destroyed…
Thank you once again for the wonderful reviews! It always warms my heart knowing I haven't disappointed any of you yet. Writing this fic in the flow of the original novels is kind of challenging, since I have to worry about keeping them in-character, at the same time, having them do things that are outside the box. Know what I'm saying?
I was also particularly concerned about the previous chapter. I was hoping that the transition from real-time to flashback then to real-time again wasn't confusing. Well, since I haven't received any complaints about it, I suppose I did a good job at it.
Summary: To shake off a stubborn fiancé-candidate, Asaka asks Wataru for a favor while Kazuki is in America. Wataru reluctantly agrees, but what's going to happen when Kazuki returns?
Disclaimer: ONLY THE RING FINGER KNOWS does not belong to me. All elements below belong to Kannagi Satoru and its proper copyrights. The only things I do own are my original characters.
Note: These are not, I repeat, these are NOT the actual events of the fourth novel. This is what I guess you could call an alternate storyline. Please do not rely on this fic for information about the fourth novel or on any of the books, although I will be borrowing some scenes and events that took place there.
"What? Why would I…" He trailed off, leaving a thick silence behind. Shohei continued to listen, but heard no response. "Yuichi?" he spoke. "Are you still there?"
"…I'll call you when I get to Narita Airport."
"Huh?"
"I'm taking the earliest flight back to Japan!!"
THE UNTOUCHED RING
Chapter Eight: Rondo To Destruction
Wataru gazed absent-mindedly at the ring that was placed in front of him. He twirled it around with his fingers, examining every inch and every detail. The contours and the marks adorning it suggested some years to it. This knowledge brought a deep hurting in his chest. There was no doubt about it.
This was indeed his ring.
The ring that he had exchanged with Kazuki… The very ring that brought them together in the first place…
Burying his face in his hands, his expression contorted into that of pain and confusion.
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"Ah! It's Kohai-chan!!" Wataru smiled uneasily at the elder woman as she scrutinized him from head to toe. "It's been a while! You should come here more often!"
"Stop it, Kana," spoke Mitsuki. "He still has some exams to do. You know how hard the life of an exam student is." Kana shrugged, but she smiled brightly at Wataru who was practically embarrassed at her scrutiny. "Later then, Kohai-chan!" she waved and went off back to work. Finally, Mitsuki turned her attention to Wataru, with a sparking gleam in her eyes. "What brings you here today, Fujii-kun?" she asked. "Could it be Asaka-san?"
The moment the name left her lips, Wataru flinched a bit, and a tiny blush emerged on his cheeks. Taking note of this, Mitsuki smiled ever so faintly, and motioned him to the other room. "He's over there." "Um…" Wataru quickly drawled, causing the woman to turn back to him. "I heard that… Asaka-san and Kobayashi-san…" Mitsuki understood what he was trying to say, and nodded knowingly. "Everything's fine now. No need to worry," she said. "Asaka-san was just under a lot of stress then. He subconsciously took it out on Kobayashi. Anyway, he's already apologized about it, and everything is back to normal as it should be."
"Ah, that's good," Wataru couldn't help but sigh in relief. Bowing lightly to the elder woman, he went into the next room and had a sense of déjà vu washing over him. It was about a week ago that he had been in that very same room, wanting out of the arranged "relationship", and was practically begging to return his ring. Thinking of it now, it might be really awkward to converse with the man, considering the events that had happened. But then again… he had already waited a good three days in order to muster up enough courage to talk with him again. Even if he had ignored Asaka's calls… again…
The moment he entered the room, he became transfixed again at the sight of Asaka buried in some work. Checking a few things, making notes, and making sure they had the appropriate tools. It was very rarely that he'd see Asaka so serious and into things, and he can't help but feel enchanted about it.
"Wataru-kun?" Asaka's voice knocked him out of his reverie. "Goodness, Wataru-kun! How long have you been standing there? Come in…"
"Uh…" Wataru was a bit speechless, but he entered nevertheless. The moment he seated himself on the small wooden bench, he can't help but feel scrutinized by the elder man. "Um…" he spoke out. "Is there anything on my face or something?" "…No," came the reply. "You're looking much better than you did three days ago. I was just thinking that. Gave me and your sister a fright though…" Wataru chuckled, "Yeah. I already got a good scolding from Karin. Um… Listen, Asaka-san…"
"What is it?"
"I… I'm sorry for ignoring your calls. It's just… When I collapsed you…"
He trailed off; his face turning bright red. Asaka looked at him curiously before a small smile formed at his lips. "Oh," he spoke out of realization. "It's about that." His emphasis on the word caused Wataru to avert his gaze in embarrassment. But this didn't stop the elder man from chuckling so. "I'm terribly sorry about that, Wataru-kun," he spoke again. "It's just that you were sweating and needed to be changed out of those clothes. But don't worry. I closed my eyes."
Liar! Wataru wanted to snap back, but refrained from doing so. For the past two weeks, it seemed that only awkward things kept on happening between him and Asaka. It wasn't good.
"About the letter," Asaka called his attention, but there was a hint of hesitation laced in his voice. "Do you… know what it means…?" If he didn't know any better, he'd say there was also a bit of hope in his tone. Wataru shook his head, sadness glazing his eyes. "In all honesty, I don't know what it means," he admitted. "If I look at the letter alone, it's kind of obscure." "The letter alone?" Asaka echoed. "You mean there was something else aside from the letter?" At the realization of what he had just said, Wataru immediately perked up and began to shake his hands in denial. "N-No! It's nothing like that. Really…"
Masanobu studied the young man's features, his eyes never missing a single detail. After the inspection, he let out a heavy sigh and raised his hands to cup Wataru's cheeks. "I wonder…" he spoke softly, his eyes shining with tenderness. "I wonder if the time will come that you will tell me everything that's bothering you." "Asaka-san…?" "Only when it comes to Wataru, I become a Hero of Justice. It is only about Wataru that I lose myself and all logical reasoning. But Wataru still doesn't tell me anything."
"I…" the young man stuttered, completely affected by Asaka's referring to him by his name alone. "I tell you lots of things, Asaka-san."
"No. Whenever you talk to me, it's always about Kazuki-kun. What I want you to tell me are things that only I would know—things that not even Kazuki-kun know of. It will be a secret just between me and you."
"Asaka-san…"
"Wataru…"
Wataru couldn't help but feel the way his name was spoken. It was faint—like a whisper—but at the same time clear and gentle. He felt his face turning hot and bright red. Asaka's hands were still cupping his cheek ever so gently; there's no way the man couldn't have noticed his rising temperature! His heart was beginning to race again, and he swore the elder man could hear it, but was just ignoring it. Wordlessly, Asaka began to lean forward, bringing their faces only millimeters apart. Subconsciously, Wataru closed his eyes—anticipating the next movement.
In a moment, everything went silent—he couldn't even hear his own heart beating—but it was eventually broken by the sound of something ringing. Wataru immediately fluttered his eyes open and detached himself from the elder man—his face still burning a maddening red. "M-My phone…" he stammered, trying to sound polite, but only came out embarrassed. Asaka nodded, disappointment written all over his face, and allowed Wataru to take the call.
"H-Hello?" he said, upon pressing the "answer" button. Upon hearing the voice on the other line, he immediately perked up with astonishment. "Karin? What's wrong? Slow down… I can't understand a word you're saying… Eh? What?! Are you sure? R-Right now? Okay, thanks."
"Is it something important?" Asaka asked, raising his eyebrows with interest. Wataru smiled and answered, "Kazuki's arriving in Japan today. Apparently, Touko-san told Karin so she decided to give me a call. His plane's going to land anytime soon."
"I… I see… Are you going to go see him?"
"I dunno if I'll make it, but… I'll try." He was about to turn and leave, but sensed the rather strange and gloomy aura that suddenly appeared above the elder man's head. "Um, Asaka-san…" he spoke. "The truth is I came by to thank you for taking care of me when I collapsed."
"It's nothing."
"I also wanted to thank you properly for covering up for me at the School Festival. Thank you, really."
Wataru bowed his head deeply, and then it was Asaka's turn to be embarrassed. "Uh…" he scratched the back of his head. "It's nothing. Really, it is. Anything for you, Wataru-kun. I am, after all, a hero of justice as far as you're concerned." Wataru perked a bit upon hearing Asaka's words, noticing that the man had reverted to calling him with an honorific. He bowed again, and took his leave.
"Kazuki-kun, huh…" Asaka contemplated as soon as he was left alone. "Really… At a time when I'm wanting him the most…"
He touched his lips with his fingers, momentarily recalling that he had nearly kissed Wataru. The difference was… this time… the young boy showed no signs of resistance.
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Shohei tapped his foot impatiently, a deep frown marring his features. As much as he was overjoyed by the fact that his precious younger brother was coming back to Japan, he somehow didn't like how everything was developing. True that he called Yuichi up asking about the letter, but he didn't expect the boy to fly back to Japan straight away!
He was also merely curious and interested in what the contents meant. It was very cryptic and, if looked at a certain point of view, it's as if he was breaking up with the dark-eyed boy. When that thought came to mind, he couldn't help but confirm it at once, which is why he called him in the first place. He expected his hypothesis to be correct, but instead he was met with words of disbelief and denial.
What is Yuichi thinking anyway? Glancing at his wristwatch, he realized that it was almost time for the flight from New York City to arrive. Yuichi should be on that flight, he thought. Once he gets here, I'm going to get to the bottom of this.
As soon as the arrivals came in, Shohei noticed the flood of people exiting the terminal. There were some Japanese, of course, but it was mostly dominated by tourists carrying cameras of all sizes and flashing away with excitement. Shohei ignored them, and instead went about searching for a familiar face.
As the crowd began to disperse, he finally saw the very man he'd been waiting for. "Yuichi!" he called out, but was stunned at the sight of the person standing next to him—or to be more exact—clutching his arm tightly yet affectionately at the same time. Shohei blinked in wonder and disbelief.
"Mizuho…?"
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Wataru ran as fast as his legs could carry him. He ignored the way his knees were beginning to limp and his jagged breathing. He had abandoned his taxi long ago due to the traffic situation. If he continued to wait there, it'd just take forever and all he'll get out of it is a slow running meter. But if he made a run for it, perhaps he'll be able to meet up with Kazuki before he leaves the airport.
He continued with his sprint, not even stopping for a moment to catch his breath. There were so many things he wanted to ask Kazuki. Like the ring and the meaning of the letter… Perhaps it was just a misunderstanding or a mistake of some kind. There's really no way Kazuki would call it quits with him—not with everything they've been through. He needed to see Kazuki. In the past two weeks the elder boy had been away, everything had gone topsy-turvy. Asaka, his relationship with the man, Sayuri, Shohei's proposal… It was like a rollercoaster that got stuck in a loop—everything was spinning and it was making him dizzy.
Kazuki!!
His heart could only scream that name. Just a few more steps and he'll finally see him. And when they meet, Kazuki will greet him with a smile, chuckle then comment about his appearance… How he looks a bit messed up as if he ran all the way there. Then he'll tease him saying, "You missed me that much? I'm so touched, Wataru." And then he'll explain everything that's happened. He'll tell him that he sent the ring by mistake, and that the letter was just a poor excuse for a prank.
Yes… That's what will happen…
Both his heart and his hopes were racing. Just around the corner and he'll be there at Narita Airport. Kazuki will probably be surprised that Wataru is there. But he'll smile and say how happy he is that he came to greet him. He made a sharp turn at the next curve, and bent over—hands on his knees—trying to catch his breath. He made it. He straightened up and was about to proceed when he saw something so astonishing that he froze upon sight.
Shohei was there picking up Kazuki, and they were putting some luggage into the trunk of the elder man's black sedan. But what caught his eye and caused his breath to hitch was the sight of Kazuki's arm slung around so casually around the shoulders of a woman!
She wasn't Touko—that much he can tell—but they seemed to be of the same height. She had brown hair that waved down to the back of her spine just above the waist. That was as much as Wataru could make out since she had her back turned at him. His instincts kicking in, Wataru quickly hid behind the corner wall—his head peeking out ever so slightly, just enough to get a good view. The three of them seemed to be talking about something, but with the presence of a great many people, not to mention the distance he had, it was difficult to make the conversation out.
The woman's head turned a bit, falling into Wataru's view. And it was then he became mesmerized with her beauty. He didn't think he'd ever seen any woman look as beautiful as her! In contrast to Sayuri's pale white skin, that woman's was filled with a warm and radiant glow. Her cheeks were rosy pink, and her lips moist with natural color. Her eyebrows were properly plucked into fine lines that reeked of feminine essence. And her eyes… Those were probably the most dazzling black eyes he'd ever seen!
Who was she? She's not any relative I know of!
He took notice of how there were far too many bags for Kazuki alone. Knowing Kazuki, he wasn't the type who packs a lot of unnecessary things. Could the excess baggage belong to the woman? Did they arrive together?
He watched as Kazuki opened the rear door for her, ushering her inside. His heart tore at the display of courtesy, but was further broken at the sight of the woman giving a small peck on the boy's cheeks. He expected Kazuki to be stunned and berate the woman, but instead he smiled a very gentle smile and chuckled softly. He didn't look as if the kiss had bothered him. On the contrary, it seemed like it was the most normal thing in the entire world! Wataru stood there in stunned silence as he watched Kazuki get into the car, sitting beside the woman, while Shohei got into the driver's side. Slowly, the car drove off and vanished from his sight.
A few seconds passed by before everything clicked into his head. He forced his feet to move, no matter how heavy they felt at the moment. Who was that woman? Why did she seem so familiar with Kazuki? Were the contents of the letter exactly as he had feared them to be?
But…
Maybe he's just looking at it the wrong way. A peck on the cheek is also normal, wasn't it? After all, Karin kisses him on the cheek sometimes—and they're siblings. Maybe that's it. Maybe she's a distant relative or something. Probably a third cousin twice removed, or something like that. Didn't he witness Kazuki display a certain level of closeness with a woman before? And he mistook that woman to be his lover when, in fact, she was his cousin. That's right. He shouldn't jump to conclusions.
There's an explanation to everything.
But this was the first time he feared what the explanation was…
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"Wataru-chan! Where have you been?!" Karin exasperated, flailing her hand in the air for dramatic effect. "Do you have any idea what time it is? I was so worried!"
Wataru chuckled uneasily, beholding his sister in her pink frilly apron while holding a butcher's knife in her hand. "Ah… Karin…" he drawled, pointing out the certain dangerous object she was carrying. "Oh, this…" she took notice. "We're having chicken for dinner. Any requests on how it's cooked? Fried? Baked? Roasted?" Wataru shook his head and answered, "Anything you want, sis." Karin looked contemplatively for a moment, still wagging the knife around causing the young boy to follow its movement with his eyes. "Fried is easier…" he heard her think aloud. "Come to think of it… I think there's still some left over breading that I got from the store. Yeah! Fried it is!"
Finally, she stepped aside and made her way back to the kitchen, allowing her brother to breathe a sigh of relief. The moment he had returned home, he was immediately cornered at the door. An angry Karin holding a butcher's knife was never a pleasant sight… at all. "Ah, Wataru-chan!" she said, glancing at him from behind her shoulder. "You have a visitor."
"Visitor?" he echoed curiously.
"Yeah, a visitor. When I told him you still haven't come back, he insisted on waiting for you. He should be upstairs in your room."
"Thanks."
"Uh… Wataru-chan…"
"Hm?"
"Well… uh… just to give you a heads up… that guy's a bit… how should I say it… cross at the moment. So uh… just be prepared…"
Wataru nodded and made his way up the narrow stairwell. He really didn't understand it a bit. Who could be visiting him? If it was Kawamura, Karin would've immediately told him. But there was something about the way she said it… almost as if she was uneasy… As of the moment, he found no reason why anyone would come to see him. As he neared his room, he could see the light flickering from under the door. Someone was definitely inside. But the question is… who?
Slowly, he opened the door and peered inside. And in an instant, he became surprised beyond belief.
"…Kazuki…?"
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The moment the name left his lips, the elder man turned to him and he felt himself being smoldered by those eyes. He opened his mouth to speak again, but no sound came out. For some reason, he felt his throat tighten as if something inside him had suddenly leaped up. Wordlessly, the man walked up to him in slow strides—every single moment the distance between them began to close.
Kazuki stopped shortly in front of him and Wataru quickly averted his gaze—opting to look at the floor instead. After witnessing the earlier scene in the airport, he wasn't completely ready to face the man. The fact alone that Kazuki was in his room puzzled him a bit. A few seconds of silence passed, and neither spoke nor moved. Finally, a sigh escaped the elder man's lips and he lifted his hands. As if in slow motion, Wataru watched as Kazuki's hands softly placed themselves on either side of his cheeks. Then, his head was raised ever so gently, allowing their eyes to finally meet.
Wataru's breath hitched as he could clearly see himself reflected in the man's ice blue eyes. It was… so clear… like the azure sky was after raining… "Kazu…" he tried to mutter, but he felt the elder man lean forward to close the distance between them. Wataru couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu washing over him. Earlier that day, hadn't he been held the same way? The warmth of those strong and soft palms burned against his cheeks making him feel hot and flushed. Isn't that how he felt… when Asaka… held him…?
Asaka…!!
At the moment their lips were about to connect, Wataru flinched and shifted his head away. He closed his eyes and squirmed a bit as if feeling uneasy. It was too awkward! Not to mention wrong… His boyfriend is here in front of him, yet right when he's about to accept a kiss, his thoughts flutter to another man. Worse, he was even comparing them—as if he was blurring Asaka with Kazuki! It was terribly wrong, and when he thought about it, he felt really pitiful and pathetic.
He felt Kazuki's palms leave his cheeks, but he still would not open his eyes. He didn't see the hurt and the sadness that were glistening in the elder man's eyes that appeared the moment he displayed the slightest sign of discomfort. When he did finally open his eyes, the hurt and sadness were gone. Instead, in its place was an overwhelming rush of anger and irritation.
"Kazuki…?" he mumbled softly, not fully trusting the sound of his voice. He watched as the elder man crossed his arms and glared at him with death-defying intensity. "Um… Welcome back…?" Another awkward atmosphere came over them, and he couldn't help but feel that it was a similar atmosphere from the time when he was dragged off into the Student Council Office.
"Is that all the greeting I get?" the voice was layered with ice. Wataru made to turn his head away again, but Kazuki instantly snapped. "Don't look away!" Surprised at the sudden outburst, Wataru did as told and gazed uneasily at the darkening profile of the man. "I wasn't supposed to be back for another week or so. Do you know why?"
Another week?! Wataru mentally berated. You were supposed to be back two weeks ago!! He wanted to voice those thoughts out, but instead he answered, "No. Why?"
"I got a call from aniki."
"Shohei-san? Wha—What did he tell you…?"
"Oh, nothing much," came the reply, though his tone was dripping with sarcasm. "Except for the fact that you seem to be dating Asaka now. That's pretty bold for an exam student, don't you think?"
"Ka… Kazuki… That's…"
"Well…?"
Kazuki raised his chin as he glared at the smaller boy—stating their difference in height. Wataru couldn't help but feel himself grow even smaller at the man's scrutiny. "That's… that's true…" he let out a defeated sigh. At this point, he found it useless and incredibly reckless to lie about it, knowing full well the truth would eventually come out if Kazuki were to ask Asaka and the other members of his social circle. But the moment he said it, Kazuki's eyes flamed with rage and jealousy.
"WHAT?!" he snapped in disbelief. "You and… Asaka?!" He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Without really thinking (which is a first), he grabbed the younger boy by the shoulders and pulled him towards him. Wataru winced in pain as he felt Kazuki's strong fingers tightening its grip, bruising his skin. "Ka—Kazuki!!" he yelped. "That hurts! Let go!!"
"What else have you done with Asaka?!"
"What?"
"I'm asking you what else you've done with Asaka!!"
"Ka… Kazuki… stop it!! It's not…"
"What?! Wataru!"
This time, the tone had changed. It was no longer filled with the same fury as it did earlier. No. This time it sounded… desperate… Kazuki's grip on him loosened, and he felt himself being pulled towards the man in a tight embrace. "What's wrong, Wataru?" the voice pleaded again. "Why won't you tell me? What happened… while I was gone…?" Wataru was rendered speechless for a few moments before finally leaning into the embrace. "Kazuki…" he uttered softly. "Wataru…" the man whispered back, and brought his left hand to trace the contours of his beloved's face. As he did so, Wataru couldn't help but feel that something was off… something was missing… And that's when he realized it…
The ring…!!
He lowered his head and gently pushed the man away from him, setting a distance between them. Kazuki looked at him puzzled and at the same time hurt. But before he could say anything to protest, Wataru spoke first. "Kazuki… The ring…" Now was his chance to confirm it. Why did he send back the ring? And what did the letter really mean? As he lifted his gaze, he discovered Kazuki's face to be layered with worry, guilt and… what's the other one?
"Kazuki?"
The man turned his head away as if avoiding the younger one's gaze. With a complete look of dejection, he simply answered, "Sorry."
But that one word was enough to tear open Wataru's heart.
Wataru opened his mouth to speak, but he was cut off by the sound of something ringing. Kazuki perked a bit and reached into his pocket to pull out his vibrating phone. He glanced at the LCD and something flashed in his eyes. Wataru couldn't make out what emotion it was, but it was definitely there. "Hello?" Kazuki spoke, answering the call. "Ah, yes, everything's fine. Huh? Right now? Uh… okay, I'll be right over." His voice had a light tone like everything was normal—as if the earlier exchange did not happen at all.
And this did not sit well with Wataru.
There were no traces of annoyance in Kazuki's voice, and it was because of the caller. Who was the person on the other line? How was that person able to make Kazuki suddenly revert to his usual self in just a blink of an eye? He waited in silent frustration as Kazuki finished the call, taking full notice of the gentleness exuding from the man's voice.
When the call ended, Kazuki glanced back at him, looking as if he wanted to say something. Wataru frowned a bit then scoffed, "You've got to go, right? It must be really important… Well then, go. Don't let me stop you." Perhaps it was childish and extremely immature to say such things, but right now, he was feeling very childish and immature. All brought about by one phone call! He dragged his feet towards the bed where he slumped down, turning his back to the man.
"I'll… I'll see you then…" Kazuki trailed off, and left the young man alone. After a few moments, Wataru heard Kazuki bid goodbye to Karin, and the front door being shut. He let out a sigh, and fell on his back to look at the clear white ceiling. The truth is… he didn't want Kazuki to leave.
He had wanted the man to stay even a bit longer… and tell him how much he missed him.
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The school began to toll loudly, and it was hurting his hears. It felt like there was something heavy pounding against his head. Feeling sluggish and tired, Wataru slumped forward on his desk, heaving out an exasperated sigh. Thankfully, it was time for homeroom.
"You okay, buddy?" asked Kawamura, peering at his friend's condition. "You look like a mess." Wataru mumbled something in reply, but it was too faint to hear. Kawamura pulled up a chair and sat right next to him. "What's eating ya?" he asked, the worry and concern evident on his face. Wataru noticed this and mumbled another reply, but this time, it was audible.
"Kazuki still hasn't explained the letter… or the ring."
"Did you ask?"
"I mentioned the ring, but he looked like he didn't want to talk about it."
"…And you don't know who that woman he was with in the airport…"
"No clue."
"KYAAAAA!!" A loud screech shocked the two boys from their conversation, and they whipped their heads to the source of the shriek. "No way!" one girl exclaimed. "Is that true? You better not be lying to us Yamazaki-kun!" There were a bunch of girls crowding around their classmate, Yamazaki, who was one of the class' top students. "I'm not lying!" he cried. "I really saw it with my own eyes. There's no doubt about it!"
Wataru and Kawamura tilted their heads in plain curiosity. Gossip in Ryokuyo was an everyday occurrence—especially among the girls—but once a straight and dignified student like Yamazaki gets into the picture, everything gets higher on the scale. "Hey," Kawamura asked one of the girls. "What's going on? What're you guys talking about?" "It's Kazuki-senpai," came the answer. "Yamazaki-kun here swears that he saw Kazuki-senpai with an older woman!"
As the words left her lips, Wataru visibly stiffened. Kawamura noticed, and spoke, "Are you sure it's Kazuki? I mean, couldn't it be someone who looked like him?" "I am positive it was Kazuki Yuichi!" Yamazaki snapped, apparently defending his credibility. "My aunt was coming back from the U.S. so me and my mom went to the airport to pick her up. But while we were there, I saw Kazuki coming out of the terminal with a woman latched on to his arm!" The girls gasped and shrieked with dismay. "And also," the boy continued. "I saw Kazuki's brother there—the legendary Kazuki Shohei himself! He was picking the both of them up. And he didn't seem to be a stranger to the woman as well!"
Loud gasps and murmurs of "Oh no!" and "It can't be!" were heard all over the room. Wataru sighed and turned his attention away from them. Gossip is common in school—most especially if it concerns a celebrity like Kazuki Yuichi! He expected that by around lunch time, the entire school would've heard about Kazuki's mysterious and older "girlfriend".
"But it's plausible," another girl spoke up, and Wataru recognized her as one of Tachibana Mai's friends. "When we had spoken with Kazuki-senpai, he said that the reason he doesn't go public with his lover is because it's someone who will not be readily accepted." "You're right!" added another. "Yamazaki-kun said she was an older woman. Maybe it's because of the age gap that their relationship won't be accepted so easily."
"Eh? You think so? Yamazaki-kun, what did she look like?"
Yamazaki took a moment to think before answering, but when he did, his eyes shone with life. "BEAUTIFUL! If I were to compare her with someone, I'd say she's tons more beautiful than Ookusa Miho!"
At the mention of the younger girl's name, it became the guys' turn to holler with amazement. "What?! She's that hot?!" "If she's that beautiful," one of Tachibana's friends added. "Then I guess it really is the age gap." "Yeah, but you know…" another girl spoke up. "I can't help but admire Kazuki-senpai's love for that woman. He'd keep her existence a secret because he knows she might get hurt. When I look at it like that, I can't help but think of it as romantic…" "Yeah, but a gorgeous older woman," one of the boys said. "I guess that's to be expected from Kazuki Yuichi. Figures he'd also go for someone as good-looking as him…"
When those facts were laid down, Wataru couldn't help but sink back on his chair and cast his gaze down on his wooden desk. Ever since the day he had switched rings with Kazuki, no one ever pondered on the idea that they may be together. If ever that idea arose, it was only dismissed as a joke. But of course it would! There's no way anyone would seriously consider him as Kazuki's lover. "Wataru," he felt Kawamura patting his shoulder lightly. "Don't let this get you down. It's nothing." As his friend tried to comfort him, the swoons and giggles of the girls wouldn't leave his ears.
"Hey, Fujii-kun!" one girl called for his attention. "You're pretty much acquainted with Kazuki-senpai. Do you know anything about it?" "That's right," another spoke. "Surely, you must know something. Like what's her name, how old is she, how long they've been together… Well?"
"Uh…" Wataru drawled, suddenly feeling cornered at the abrupt questions being directed to him.
"That's quite enough, everyone!" snapped a voice, and instantly the entire class' attention shifted somewhere else. Wataru followed their gazes and saw Tachibana walking over towards him, effectively dispersing the crowd that had gathered from nowhere. "It's a bit unfair to ask Fujii-kun these things," she continued. "Just let him be." A few grunts of disappointment were heard, and they eventually returned to their seats. "Vultures," Kawamura commented. "Tell me about it," said Mai, earning surprised and curious gazes from the two boys.
Tachibana Mai had been (and probably still is) a huge fan of Kazuki's. She's one of the many girls that's been smitten by his charm. Out of the entire fan club, she's probably the most dedicated and the most "in-love" of all. Although she had already been rejected by Kazuki in the past, she still had feelings for him. That's why when she learned that Karin, who at the time was posing as Kazuki's girlfriend, would be together with Kazuki at the school fest, she immediately cornered her and went as far as locking her up in the student council office.
Luckily though, both Wataru and Kazuki had arrived in time. For the second time, Kazuki rejected her feelings and told her that his lover isn't Karin at all, but someone else—someone he loves dearly—which is why he could never accept her or any other girl's feelings at all.
After that incident, Mai had stopped bothering Wataru with news about Kazuki. And although that incident was already put behind them, the both of them had still yet to talk—probably brought about by the awkward fact that Mai had done his sister wrong. In any case, Mai was also their class' idol, and she was really the last person he'd think of would come to his defense. The fact that she did, earned curious stares from him and Kawamura.
"They still gossip about Kazuki-senpai," she spoke, following up her last statement. "Kazuki-senpai already said that even he has things he doesn't want to be known. That's why I think it's not right for people to gossip about his private life."
"Wow, Tachibana…" uttered Kawamura. "You really think that?"
Ignoring that comment, Tachibana brought her focus to Wataru, and she immediately studied him from head to toe. Wataru quivered a bit under her gaze and was about to ask her about it when she suddenly cut him off. "About Kazuki-senpai…" she spoke softly, as if unsure how to say it. "Is it true? I mean, what Yamazaki-kun said… Is that really…?"
"Didn't you just say it's not right to gossip about his private life?"
"I'm not gossiping! I just want to confirm it!"
"What for…?"
"Well… I thought that… Or at least I figured…" she drawled, scrutinizing him again. Her eyes shimmered and held a hint of hesitation as if there was something on her mind, but couldn't say. "Well, never mind," she said, backing away from them. "It would've made sense, but… Never mind…" With a flick of her hand, she left the two boys to muse upon her words.
"Hey, Kawamura," Wataru spoke. "What was that about?"
"Dunno."
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Kawamura huffed as another bag was stuffed into his hands. Sweat was already lining his brow but he paid no attention to it, and instead gratefully accepted the heavy load. Wataru heaved a heavy sigh. Upon his friend's urging, they were on their way to the Research Renovation Society's worksite when they ran into Mitsuki along the way. At the sight of the older woman, Kawamura had instinctively followed her, hauling Wataru with him.
Apparently, Mitsuki was out buying a few things they were missing on, and some personal requests. At the sight of the heavy bags she was carrying, Kawamura had immediately offered to carry them. Wataru mentally commented on how gentlemanly his friend was acting, probably attributed to the fact that he was seriously pursuing this college girl. But it's not like it can't happen, he thought. After all, the chemistry between them seemed good. And she did, after all, attend the Ryokuyo fest through Kawamura's invitation. Wataru also assumed that the two must have gone out on several dates since then.
"Here we are!" the elder woman stated. "You were here the other day, right Fujii-kun? Are you here to see Kazuki-kun?" "Eh?" Wataru perked at the notion. Mitsuki smiled, her eyes shining brightly. "Kazuki-kun is working with us again," she answered his query. "He just got back yesterday and already he's bouncing off to work. He's still a bit jet-lagged though…" Wataru contemplated for a moment, thinking over what to say when he sees the elder man. Last night was a bit awkward, but this time he definitely had to make up for it.
"He came with a woman," Mitsuki's words instantly made Wataru halt in his tracks. Kawamura did the same too, noticing the discomfort that was appearing on his friend's face. "She should be inside with the others. She's a real beauty, I'll tell you that. I think her name's Mizuho."
Mizuho…
That's the name of Kazuki's ex… the one who was supposed to be in America… What was she doing back in Japan? And why was she with Kazuki? Could she have been the mystery woman he saw at the airport?
As they entered the room, they were greeted at the sight of all the club members huddled around a beautiful young lady. Wataru instantly recognized her as the woman he saw. She was definitely much prettier up close than she was from far away. Even Kawamura was dazed! It took a jab from Mitsuki's elbow to knock him out of his reverie. Catching the hint, the young boy quickly went to the side to put the bags down. "All right!" Mitsuki called. "Who ordered some chips?" "Uh… sorry, Mitsuki…" Kana spoke. "Turns out, Mizuho-san made some sandwiches for us. They're really good!"
"…In other words," she drawled. "I did all that shopping for nothing?" Her friends looked at her apologetically. With a sigh, she spoke, "Can't be helped then. Kawamura-kun, Fujii-kun… Sorry for making you accompany me all the way." "I—It's okay, Mitsuki-san!" Kawamura snapped unsteadily. "Believe me, it was a pleasure accompanying you." At the sight of his reddening cheeks, Mitsuki couldn't help but stifle a giggle. Even the other college students chuckled and whistled, teasing the "couple."
"What's all the noise about?" Asaka asked curiously, coming out of the other room. "Eh? Kawamura-kun…? And Wataru-kun as well…?" Wataru perked at the mention of his name. He turned to look at Asaka and, suddenly recalling the events that transpired the other day, felt his face turn a bit red. "A—Asaka-san," he greeted almost bashfully. But he quickly collected himself when he saw the person standing behind the man, glaring at him with cold eyes.
"Wataru," came Kazuki's icy tone. "What are you doing here?" "Um…" Wataru drawled feeling scrutinized by those icy blue eyes. "We just helped Mitsuki-san bring in a few groceries, so…" He wondered why no one else noticed how Kazuki was staring at him. In his mind, he honestly wondered what he had done to deserve such intense examination.
Well, there's the thing with Asaka-san that I still haven't fully explained…
"Is he a friend, Yuichi?" Everyone turned to look at the owner of the voice—the woman who was the center of attention. "Won't you introduce us?" she asked with a bright smile. There was something about her smile that was dazzling. Wataru wondered if there was anyone who wouldn't be able to love that smile.
"Right," Kazuki spoke. "Wataru, this is Mizuho. She's… a family-friend."
"Family-friend…?" Kobayashi said. "That's not what you told us earlier. You said she's your ex-girlfriend. Honestly, though, Kazuki… What made you let go of such a beauty like her?"
Wataru subconsciously clenched his hand tightly into a fist until he winced in pain. Kazuki glanced at him for a moment and continued, "She had a heart-surgery in the U.S. quite recently. Although, she's supposed to be still recovering, the doctors there said it was already okay for her to return here to Japan. She'll be going to N General Hospital a couple of times for check-ups to make sure that no complications arise."
"We were on our way there actually," Mizuho spoke. "But I heard it was on the same way as the worksite of the club Kazuki is in. So, I asked him if we could stop along the way first. I even made some sandwiches."
Mitsuki grumbled lowly so that only Kawamura heard her. Apparently, she was a bit upset that all the snacks she bought had gone to waste. She was on her way out when Kazuki and Mizuho appeared. They only had time for a short introduction since she was in a hurry to get to the store. If they brought sandwiches then they should've said so! Could've saved me all the trouble…
"And…?" Mizuho's eyes sparkled again. "Who is this adorable young boy?" Wataru flinched a bit at being called "adorable," but shrugged it off. "He's from the same school I used to go to," Kazuki answered. "Ryokuyo High School… He's just my kohai…"
"Oh…" the elder woman commented. "How unusual of you… to mingle with someone younger… Then again, it's also unusual of you to join circles like this… Yuichi, how'd you two meet?"
"It's a long story, Mizuho."
Sensing the discomfort washing over the young boy, Asaka quickly called Wataru's attention. "Wataru-kun," he spoke. "Come here for a sec. There's something I want to show you." Curious, Wataru obeyed and allowed the elder man to swing an arm around his shoulder, ushering him into the other room—not noticing the rising anger reflecting in Yuichi's eyes.
"What'd you want to show me, Asaka-san?" Wataru asked, the moment they were inside. The elder man shrugged and smiled at him. "I just didn't like the atmosphere back there." Wataru gaped for a moment, realizing that Asaka had called him out because he was worried about him. "Thank you, Asaka-san," he spoke again. "You really are my Hero of Justice." For a moment, Asaka was stunned by the remark, his eyes even widened. Then he regained his composure and answered coolly, "Of course, didn't I tell you? As far as you're concerned, I am a Hero of Justice."
A small chuckle escaped the younger man's lips, but it was abruptly stopped by the sudden presence of another man. "Asaka-senpai," Kazuki greeted. "Kobayashi-senpai wants you to check if the measurements for the frame are correct." "Ah, of course," Asaka said, but his tone held a bit of superiority. "I'll go then. I'll see you later… Wataru…" Upon hearing Asaka refer to him by his name alone again, Wataru couldn't stop his heart from skipping a beat. He turned his face away, afraid that his cheeks might be burning red again.
Once again, he and Kazuki were left alone in a quiet room, and the atmosphere became intense. "What were you and Asaka talking about?" the elder boy asked. Without looking at him, Wataru answered, "Nothing important." Silence reigned for a while, until he felt Kazuki suddenly cupping his chin and tilting it upward so that their eyes could meet. When they did, Wataru's confused expression was met with that of anger.
"Touko-san told me…" the elder of the two spoke. "She told me that she had informed Karin about my arrival yesterday. I'm sure she must've told you about it." Wataru didn't speak and allowed himself to be smoldered by that heated gaze. "And earlier, when I came in here, Asaka confirmed that you knew I was arriving. But the thing is, I didn't even see you at the airport!"
"……" Of course, you wouldn't see me. You were too busy with your arm slung around Mizuho-san…
"I can let it pass that you didn't come to see me, but what bugs me is that you didn't even bother mentioning it when we met last night. Worse, I had to learn it from Asaka!"
"Well what was I supposed to do?" he spoke, pulling himself away from Kazuki's grip. "Things were a bit awkward last night… and besides, you were needed elsewhere and… wait… Was it Mizuho-san who called you…?"
"…Yeah, there were some of her things that she couldn't find, so we had to check with the airport again. The rest of her bags came in this morning. She called me because she has no one else to take care of her here so…"
"…She's staying with you?"
"…No. There are a few extra rooms at my parents' house so she'll be staying there. Of course, I have to keep an eye on her, so I'll be staying there again. Anyway, why did you…"
"…So, in other words, you guys are practically living together?!"
"Wataru… Stop griping about that. The topic here is you and Asaka!"
"Me and Asaka…?! Oh, god… Kazuki…!" Wataru shook his head and distanced himself from the man. "You should stop griping about that! There is nothing between me and Asaka!"
"Nothing…?" The elder man raised his tone. "You call the fact that you've been seeing him for the past two weeks as nothing? He called you by your name only! And what was up with that earlier? Suddenly calling you out…"
"He just thought that the atmosphere felt awkward for me…"
"It is not his place to bail you out!"
"Well, you certainly weren't doing anything about it! Asaka-san is just looking out for me!!"
"That still doesn't explain why you've been dating him! What? Got tired of waiting, and decided to cheat?!"
"Cheat…? You're accusing me of cheating?! I should… I should be the one saying that!"
"Wha…" Kazuki was dumbfounded, but it didn't dissipate the anger that was boiling inside him. "I have no idea what you're talking about, but just explain it to me! If there's a good reason behind all of this, then tell me, Wataru. I'll understand… so just say it… Wataru… please…"
The rage in Kazuki's voice had somehow subsided, but there was a small hint of it present. But nevertheless, the tone of his voice became soft and gentle. Wataru cast his gaze down on the floor—afraid to look at the man—probably because he didn't want to see what kind of face Kazuki was making. "Kazuki, I…" he mumbled softly, but he could still be heard. "The truth is…"
"Yuichi…?" a female voice called from the door. Mizuho peeked in and both boys turned their attention to her. "Shohei is here. He says he'll take us to the hospital so that we can get back home before nightfall."
"…I--I'll be right over, Mizuho," he quickly replied, then turned back to Wataru. "I'll talk to you later, Wataru."
When Kazuki had spoken to Mizuho, he spoke with such softness and gentleness—no one would ever assume that sheer moments ago he was quarreling with the younger boy. When that thought entered his mind, Wataru felt something prick his heart painfully. He couldn't understand any of this.
This gentleness and kindness… why is Mizuho the recipient of all this? Is it because of her frail condition? Or is it because she is his first love? He didn't know… Wataru didn't understand any of it. Even now as they are speaking, Kazuki had addressed Mizuho as if his conversation with the younger boy was of little importance. Hadn't the same thing happened the night before? In the middle of their "argument", Mizuho had called and summoned Kazuki. In an instant, Kazuki went off to see her—prioritizing her instead of Wataru.
This was a big mess.
"You know what?" he spoke, catching Kazuki's attention. "I'm the one who deserves an explanation here!"
With an air of finality, Wataru stomped out of the room and ran past Asaka and the others, ignoring Kazuki's cries of his name. He even ran past Shohei who was standing next to his car. He didn't stop to greet the elder man, which caused Shohei to glance around curiously, looking for answers. But the expression on his younger brother's face answered all his queries.
Ah… he mused. Looks like something is about to be destroyed…
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As Wataru continued in his sprint, he finally understood what was that other emotion Kazuki displayed when he had asked about the ring… The emotion that he couldn't determine at that time…
It was betrayal.
To be continued…
I don't know what Mizuho looks like so I had to make it up…
Just a thought… Volume 2 begins one year into the couple's relationship. In other words, Volume 2, 3, 4 and 5 all take place within the same year. This is my deduction. I mean, take a look… Volume 2 mentions that it's summer since it's Kazuki's birthday, volume 3 says that the students of Ryokuyo are beginning to wear their long-sleeved uniforms, so it's summer transcending into autumn. By the illustrations of volume 4, I can see them wearing coats, jackets and scarf's, so this is probably autumn going to the winter season. Volume 5 will probably be winter and may overlap with Christmas.
There's also the fact that Wataru is still an exam student in Ryokuyo. In volume 2, it was already stated that he's in his graduating year. So, yeah… I think it all does happen within the same year.
What'd you think of this chapter? To tell you the truth, Asaka has the traits of my ideal man. Maybe that's why I'm so fond of him. But as Kawamura had put it (volume 2, I think) Kazuki also has the same traits, but Wataru doesn't realize this because the way Kazuki acts around him and the way he acts around other people are different. Well, here's hoping that everything turns out well in the end.
Next chapter: Bold Declaration. Wataru gets the most astonishing love confession of all! How will he even react to such a statement?
P.S. I have posted an excerpt chapter containing Kazuki's letter at my website. Just go to my profile and keep scrolling down until you find the link, or you could go directly to my website by clicking the homepage button on my profile.
