I just wanted to ask everyone if the lengthy chapters bother any of you. Should I make the chapters shorter or something? I just realized that I tend to write really long chapters, and that it might be difficult for some readers to read it. Each chapter is usually composed of twenty pages or more. Well, it's just a concern, so… if any of you are bothered by it, I guess I'll make the chapters shorter.

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.


THE UNTOUCHED RING

Chapter Nine: Bold Declaration


Asaka stared blankly at the ring dangling on the chain he had intertwined between his fingers. It was a simple design; silver with a thin gold line at the center. It was truly a far simpler design than the gold ring he had, which was tucked away somewhere in his desk drawer—its partner was buried in the sand where he forgot to retrieve it. He could remember a time when all his thoughts were about Yuina… how he struggled with his feelings for her… pursued her… faced rejection a couple of times, but eventually got her… Afterwards, it all came to an abrupt end when his feelings began to suffocate her, and she had cried—begging him to return to being just friends.

That had been one of the most painful decisions he had ever made. Even as they returned to being friends, his feelings for her never changed. He was wondering if ever their love for each other will grow and mature, so that the day will come that they can truly be together without any obstacles. But when she died, all those hopes were crushed, and he was left in the darkness.

For an entire year, he had gone through the worst depression ever. Some of his relatives and a few friends knew about it, and they tried their best to console him. Mitsuki had also been close friends with Yuina but, unlike Asaka, she was able to fight away the pain of losing someone precious. It was through her urging that Asaka got back on his feet and made him move on with his life. But somehow, she knew Asaka was still plagued with Yuina's memory. Even Asaka, himself, was aware of the extent of his feelings. He knew that he would still love her even beyond the grave. That's what he thought…

His first encounter with Wataru had jolted something inside him. He didn't know what it was, but it was an exciting feeling. When he had entered the café, he saw Kazuki sitting there looking as if he's a regular. As his senpai, he was intending to go over and greet him, but the moment he laid eyes on the young man with him, he found himself transfixed that he couldn't proceed. Instead, he went and sat at the counter, which he always does.

There was something about the young boy… Something dazzling… That he couldn't keep his eyes away. The way Wataru had looked at Kazuki was filled with love and devotion; that's how he immediately deduced exactly what type of relationship they had. But for some reason, it didn't bother him. Instead, he kept his eyes fixed on the dark-haired boy—mesmerized at his equally dark eyes. Instantly, the feeling of a rush swept over him. Tight knots began to form in his chest, and he felt something hot pooling at the pit of his stomach.

Then… their eyes met… And something inside him almost immediately exploded.

He couldn't understand what that feeling meant at first, but he couldn't deny the desire of seeing that boy once again. When fate granted him that opportunity, he was more than grateful. Perhaps it was then that he had gradually began falling in love with the boy.

His eyes surveyed the ring again, holding it against the light as it shimmered with impeccable brightness. The way it sparkled seemed as if it was mocking him… for wanting something he couldn't have… But then again… he's never wanted anything this badly before…

Even he couldn't understand it properly. He knew he had resolved to loving Yuina despite her death, and yet Wataru was breaking his resolve. All of his thoughts now were plagued by Wataru. He wondered briefly, if a person could be easily replaced in one's heart…

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Wataru was having a nice dream; tucked in between the warm covers of his soft bed. He felt very comfortable and had not intentions of waking up anytime soon. That was the plan… until…

"WATARU-CHAAAANNN!!"

A loud shriek was heard followed by the heavy pounding of footsteps going up the stairwell then down the hall to his bedroom. The door burst open to reveal Karin, still in her pajamas, with a flustered look on her face. "Wataru-chan! Wake up! This is urgent!!"

Wataru groggily rubbed his eyes, and turned his face to his flustered sister. He lazily got up, squinting at the heaviness his body felt. He glanced at the alarm clock by his bed and immediately scowled. "Karin… It's not even 7 yet…" he grunted. "What's with the ruckus?" "WATARU-CHAN!!" she bellowed, and the next thing he knew, she had jumped on to him and he landed back on the bed with a loud thud. He groaned upon impact, feeling the wind knocked right out of him.

Karin leaned forward, looking at him straight in the eye, and said, "This is a matter of extreme importance… Someone's out to get you!" Wataru blinked. "Ha…?" A white piece of paper was suddenly shoved into his line of sight. He took hold of the paper, and motioned for Karin to get off of him ("You're heavy!!"). He got up into a sitting position and studied the contents of the letter.

"Your days are numbered."

That's what the note read in newspaper cut-out letters pasted together. Wataru sighed in exasperation. "What're you sighing for as if it's nothing?" Karin stated. "That's serious!" "No it's not," came the reply. "It's just a way of distracting me."

"Huh?"

"C'mon, Karin! If this was a death-threat, then how come it's signed?"

"…Eh?"

Karin checked the paper and—true enough—a name was signed at the bottom… also in newspaper cut-out letters. "Uh… this person doesn't know how to make a death-threat, huh?" she said. Wataru shrugged his shoulders. "Dunno," he replied. "Most probably that person doesn't even know how to properly make a letter."

"Hm… Who's Sayuri?"

Wataru chuckled. "At least she got the part right about cutting and pasting letters…"

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Another day of school had passed, and students began flooding out on to the yard and headed for home. The cold chilly ear greeted their face as they snuggled their scarves tighter around their necks. Anticipation was evident in their eyes for the much awaited Christmas break.

"Wataru! Wait up!" called Kawamura, as he hurried at his friend's side. He noticed Wataru glancing around as if checking if the coast is clear. "No traps?" Kawamura inquired. Wataru shook his head, indicating a 'no', to which the other boy breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness…" he huffed. "Do you think she gave up?" "Why are you stressed out about this?" the dark-eyed boy asked. "I'm the target, yet you're the one in a state of panic."

"Well, you're being too relaxed about this! I mean, you got a death-threat in the morning mail, your campus shoes had tacks in them, and some of your notebooks were missing after we got back from chem. Lab!! Why are you acting as if it's normal?!"

"Settle down, Kawamura," he replied. "It's not like we don't know who the culprit is. A note was always left behind at the scene of the crime—all signed. Sayuri-san really doesn't know how to sabotage properly, does she? But she gets points for execution. I have absolutely no idea how she knew where I live, which shoe locker is mine, and which desk is mine."

"You are incredibly calm about this, Wataru… If possible, you look amused."

"…Well, it's offering me quite a distraction…"

"…From the "Kazuki and his mysterious girlfriend" gossip, huh…?"

The topic was a very sensitive subject to touch. As expected, the entire school is practically bursting with queries about Kazuki's girlfriend. It's even rumored to be the headline of the next publication of the school newspaper. To add insult to the injury, nearly all the girls in school kept approaching Wataru for verification, clearly not noticing the disturbing aura that was emanating from him.

Aren't women supposed to be sensitive to these kinds of things?!

At this point, Wataru had absolutely no idea where he stood with Kazuki. He was accused of cheating by the elder man, and yet he was the one who sent both the letter and the ring. He couldn't understand any of it, and he needed time to process his thoughts properly else he'd just get into another argument with Kazuki. It was primarily the reason why he kept ignoring the phone calls and messages left by the man.

"Sayuri, huh…" uttered Kawamura. "She's one determined, or should I say, obsessed chick. She really wants to steal Asaka-san from you."

"Even though he's not mine…"

"Right… Well, I'll see you tomorrow, Wataru. I've got a date with Mitsuki-san."

With a chuckle and a wave, he skipped off with merriment and hearts practically fluttering everywhere. Wataru didn't know whether he should feel happy for the guy… or embarrassed at being his best friend. The ringing of his cell phone brought him out of his inner ramblings. Checking the name flashing on the LCD, it was Kazuki again. He felt tempted to answer the call—badly wanting to hear his beloved's voice. But his fingers trembled and refused to press the button. Surely, they'd just fight again, no matter how silly or ridiculous the topic might be.

Deciding against it, he just cancelled the call and tucked his phone back in his pocket. Somewhere in another part of town, Kazuki's face sank at the sound of the empty dial tone. He brought the phone closer to his lips and kissed the LCD screen, which was still flashing Wataru's name, in a melancholy manner.

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A black Mercedes glimmered against the setting sun, momentarily blinding him. Wataru froze at the spot, not because of the majesty the car portrayed, but because it was blocking his way. The window of the backseat slowly rolled down to reveal the familiar face of a person he hadn't seen in a while.

"Sh—Shiori-san?" he gaped. The elder woman smiled, and the car door was suddenly opened. She motioned her hand as if urging him to come closer. Startled and surprised, Wataru obeyed and approached the elderly woman, leaning against the open door. Shiori beamed at him brightly and spoke, "It's been a while, hasn't it Fujii-kun? You seem to be looking well…" "Uh…" the young man drawled, clearly not understanding why the old woman would be paying him a visit. "I was wondering," she continued, "Well, actually, I was hoping you could join me for dinner."

"Dinner…?"

"Yes. There's an exquisite restaurant nearby, and I thought you might want to accompany me."

There was always something about puppy-dog eyes shimmering with hope that Wataru couldn't resist. So he got into the backseat with her, and the car drove off.

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An awkward atmosphere reigned over the silent table. Wataru glanced uneasily at the elder woman quietly sipping from her cup then to the annoyed young girl by her side. He also felt a bit tensed at the presence of the elder man sitting beside him. He really didn't know why he accepted Shiori's invitation, but felt that it was impolite to refuse. But upon reaching the restaurant, he hadn't expected to be dining with Asaka and Sayuri as well.

"Isn't this wonderful?" Shiori's old and frail voice spoke. "We're all seated here, dining like a family…" Wataru shifted his gaze and reached out to grab his glass. He was obviously feeling nervous due to the tension, and his hand trembled—effectively knocking down the glass instead. "Careful," Asaka quickly reacted and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe away the liquid that had spilt on the boy. The display of affection and courtesy caused a dark aura to grow from Sayuri, and she frowned at their intimacy. "Forgive me for being presumptuous, Shiori-obaasama," she spoke. "But I was under the impression that this would be a dinner-outing for just the three of us. Why, then, is Fujii-kun here?"

"Indeed it was," came the answer. "But I had heard about a few things considering Fujii-kun's well-being." "Well-being?" Asaka questioned, but was silenced by the explanation of his grandmother. "I got a call from your father," she continued. "He called me to express his concern. Apparently, he saw you making a 'threat letter', and it was addressed to someone named Fujii-kun." Asaka gaped, and looked back and forth between Wataru and Sayuri. The downcast eyes of the younger boy confirmed everything.

"I don't believe this!" he snapped. "You would actually do such a thing, Hongo? How'd you even know where he lives or what school he goes to?" Sayuri glared and fisted her hands against the fabric of her skirt. "Again with the formal speech…" she muttered. "It wasn't really that hard! I've been following him around for some time now, so I figured it out. I went to his school before to ask about him. And everyone just answered my questions." Then she added, as if an after-thought, "It was really odd, though. In exchange, they asked me to shake their hands or pose for a picture with them…"

The power of a celebrity… Wataru mentally commented. She's way too naïve…

"Regardless," Asaka continued. "What you did was uncalled for! What if he was put in serious harm or something?"

"I wasn't going to harm him! I just wanted to inconvenience him!"

"I…!!" Wataru spoke up, feeling the tension growing even thicker and deadlier. "I'll just go to the washroom to get cleaned up." He rose from his seat and made his way to the back—the sound of the door's bell chime reached his ears, indicating the entry of another customer. It may have been cowardly to walk away from the argument, but everything was getting awkward, and the last thing he wanted was get into a fight. He's been having a lot of that lately… mostly with Kazuki.

He opened the tap water and dampened a piece of cloth to remove the light stain adorning his school uniform. As the water continued to run, he couldn't help but recall his first encounter with Kazuki. It was in the washroom of their school. It was simply a chance encounter, but that one meeting caused a chain of events that would eventually lead them to one another. He sighed as he looked at his reflection on the mirror, and briefly pondered… if he hadn't gone to the washroom that time… would he and Kazuki still meet…?

The door swished open, pulling him out from his thoughts. He turned off the faucet and shook his hands to dry off his hands. He was about to turn to leave when he his name was suddenly called. "Wataru…?" That voice… The cool and mellow tone… Only one person had that voice…

"Kazuki…?"

He came to a halt and lifted his gaze to meet the equally surprised expression of the elder boy's face. This was probably a trend. Somehow, the things he had been thinking of earlier would be coming true sooner or later. Wasn't he just thinking of the elder man sheer moments ago, pondering on how they first met? And here he is now, standing right in front of him and in the washroom no less!

Without really knowing what to say, he said the first things that came to mind. "What are you doing here…?" Kazuki looked at him incredulously, but then his features softened. "I'm having dinner with my family," he spoke. "And you? Why are you here? Having dinner with Karin or something?"

"…Or something…" he drawled and averted his gaze.

Kazuki noticed and knit his brows together to form frown. He stepped closer to him, and cupped his face, tilting it upward to have their faces meet. "Kazu—!" Wataru could only mutter, before strong lips were pressed firmly against his. He struggled for a bit, but Kazuki pulled him closer—their bodies pressed against each other—and he soon lost his resolve, and gradually melted into the kiss.

He felt Kazuki pushing forward, and he instinctively stepped back—following the elder boy's movements—until his back collided with the tiled wall, the kiss never breaking. Wataru gasped as he felt a tongue probing for entrance, and he obliged by opening his mouth. Feeling Kazuki in him and tasting him jolted emotions inside him that he had earlier pushed away. As always, the kiss was intoxicating, and he felt he could just die in the man's arms.

Finally, Kazuki detached their lips, allowing the younger boy to catch his breath. But as he did so, Kazuki latched on to something else, specifically the boy's neck that was peeking from his collar. He kissed the skin gently then bit hard enough to leave an impression, afterwards he licked it affectionately. Wataru could feel his heart beating erratically. He tilted his head upwards and stared at the ceiling—a dazed expression on his face—as Kazuki continued his ministrations upon the tanned flesh. Wataru was already weak at the knees, and the only thing holding him up was Kazuki's strong arms.

He clutched on to the man's broad shoulders for further support, as Kazuki's fingers trailed along the buttons of his school uniform—undoing each one of them in the process. As Wataru's collarbone became exposed to the cold air, Kazuki nipped further below, leaving a trail of wet kisses along his skin. Wataru shuddered and moaned with undeniable pleasure. Their lips connected again, this time with a more intense ardor.

Wataru turned his head to the side, allowing Kazuki access to the nape of his neck. He blew some air into Wataru's ear, causing the boy to shudder, then followed by licking the earlobe. Wataru felt both of his arms being raised and then drawn closer together just above his head. One of Kazuki's hands pinned his wrists together, as the other began roaming the sides of his body, feeling the rise of his temperature. He gasped when he felt a knee suddenly rub against his nether regions, and the eyes he couldn't remember closing instinctively snapped open.

"K-Kazuki!" he mumbled, trying to get the man's attention. "S-Stop…! This is…" He struggled to free himself from the elder man's grasp, but his body was beginning to react to such pleasure. He heard (more like felt) Kazuki moan his name with bliss, and he couldn't help but feel his heart flutter.

But still…

"Kazuki, this is a public place!!" he shouted. His outburst finally caught the man's attention and he quickly detached himself from him. Although his eyes bore surprise at his actions, the lust was still present. "S-Sorry," he stammered. "I… don't know what came over me…" He set a distance between them, covering the burning red color appearing on his cheeks. Wataru took this as an opportunity to fix his clothes, but his hands trembled at the thought of their near-escapade in a public washroom.

"Let me," Kazuki said, and buttoned up Wataru's shirt for him. Though he looked composed, his face still held traces of embarrassment for his earlier actions. Even he, himself, could not believe he had lost composure that easily. "Sorry…" he repeated. "It's just… We haven't been alone for a while, so I…"

"Kazuki…"

"You've also been ignoring my calls, and you don't even reply to my messages. So when I saw you I just… lost it…"

As the last button was done, Kazuki's eyes strayed to the red mark that was getting brighter and heavier in color with each passing second. He was stunned a bit, and wondered if he should apologize for that as well. It's not like it can't be covered, but a tiny bit was still peeking from above the collar. He must've been staring at it for some time now, since Wataru suddenly spoke up. "You left a mark, didn't you?" Kazuki blanched a bit then chuckled, "It's not that noticeable…"

"And pigs fly…"

"Don't you know? They've already flown south for the winter."

"Never mind," Wataru said, turning to the mirror to fix his hair and clear out the rumples on his blazer. "Karin has some cream or something that's good for cuts, bruises and… hickeys…" He mumbled the last part, but that caused Kazuki to laugh out loud. Wataru pouted, clearly imagining the scenario of when he'd ask his sister for the cream. To which she'll smile deviously and snicker secretively.

"Wataru…" the elder boy murmured as he hugged the young boy from behind. "Come to my place tonight."

"Eh? But aren't you staying with your parents?"

"To my apartment… There are some things we need to discuss…"

"But… didn't you say you have to be with Mizuho…"

"Wataru… Please…"

The younger boy was effectively silenced when he was kissed again. As they parted, Wataru's eyes were dazed. He opened his mouth to give an answer but the door swished open again to reveal a tall man with reddish brown hair and deep tan eyes. "Wataru-kun, are you all—" he didn't finish the sentence as he beheld the sight of the young boy closely pressed and pulled into an embrace by the other boy next to him.

"A—Asaka-san…"

Kazuki gazed dumbfounded. What was Asaka doing here? As he glanced at the elder man then back to Wataru, he came to slow realization. "Wataru…" he released the young boy. "Did you… come here with Asaka?" "No—Not really…" he muttered.

"He came here with my grandmother," Asaka spoke. Wataru winced a bit and was about to glare at the elder man, but he was stunned by the cold and hard expression Asaka had. It was intense and deep; he had never seen the man wearing such an expression before. "She's grown quite fond of him, you see," the man continued. "She's taken a liking to him… regardless of what orientation he has…" Those words were like a stab to Kazuki. The main reason why he hasn't gone public about his relationship with Wataru is because it wouldn't be readily accepted—especially by his family. But hearing that a valued person from Asaka's family gave her approval… it somehow infuriated him.

Sensing the anger that was boiling in his kohai, Asaka purposely ignored him and turned his attention to Wataru instead. "You were taking so long here," he said. "I thought something must've happened to you." He stretched out his hand to inspect the boy, but another hand shot out and caught him by the wrist. He narrowed his eyes as he glanced at the owner of the hand—Kazuki who had an equally irritated face.

Asaka shifted his glance for a moment to Wataru, but felt a sprinkle of shock at the sight of the bright red mark that was peeking from the boy's collar. He focused back on Kazuki with an unreadable emotion flashing in his eyes.

Wataru wasn't insensitive to the situation. He knew exactly how tense everything was. "S—Stop it!" he called their attention. "This is ridiculous! You're acting like a couple of kids fighting for turns on the swing!" "Well, what are you doing having dinner with Asaka and his family?" Kazuki snapped. "Too much for a mere introduction, don't you think?"

"Well, what's up with you anyway…?" Wataru snapped back defensively. "I just… can't understand you anymore, Kazuki!!" Everything was going fine, but the guy had to rear his jealousy and suspicions about Asaka. That totally ruined everything! Distressed and clearly upset, Wataru stomped out of the room, leaving the two men alone.

With a grunt, Kazuki released the elder man's wrist, and turned to leave as well. "Such manners, Kazuki-kun…" Asaka spoke. "Is that any way to treat your elders?" Kazuki stopped for a moment, turned to face him again and uttered quite plainly, "Sorry for my rude display, senpai. Good evening, then." With that, he too left.

Alone in the washroom, Asaka clenched his fist tightly then hit the tiled wall with great force that his knuckles turned red and nearly bled. Damn! He mentally cursed. Why am I getting so worked up about it? When he returned to their table, Sayuri beamed at him happily, but Shiori glanced at him with disapproval. Apparently, Wataru had also returned to the table to bid his farewell to the elder woman then left the restaurant.

As he glanced around, Asaka caught sight of Kazuki seated with his parents and Mizuho. The three of them were happily chatting with each other, while Kazuki held a troubled expression on his face. He could tell by his posture that the man was holding something under the table, probably a cell phone.

Remembering the incident in the washroom and the bright new hickey Wataru was sporting, Asaka couldn't help but feel anger rushing over him. He, too, excused himself from his grandmother, and headed out of the restaurant, ignoring the sighs of disappointment Sayuri made.

Later, back in his apartment, he'd slam the door, upturn some furniture, and pretty much make a mess until his head cools off from the rage he didn't even know where had come from. Then, as he would stare at his reflection in the huge body-mirror, he'd see the silver ring dangling on the chain around his neck. The ring would shimmer and shine brightly despite the darkness the room was in—like it was ridiculing him.

He'll rip the chain off and glare at the ring intensely. Afterwards, he'll make up his mind… and decide it was time to return it to its owner.

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Wataru dragged his feet and kicked an imaginary rock. Despite the glorious morning that had greeted him and the delicious breakfast Karin had prepared, he was still upset over what had happened the night before. Both Asaka and Kazuki had acted like total jerks, which was really unlike them! If the world or even their fan club saw or heard about it, it would truly cause a major uproar. To be caught doing such an un-cool and childish thing…

But on the other hand… Wataru was probably the only person in the entire world who had ever seen two elite guys lose all composure… over him. When he thought about it that way, it was if they value Wataru so much that they'd actually squabble like mere children.

But nevertheless! He mentally snapped. It was still uncalled for… acting like a couple of five-year olds… Ever heard of handling things like mature adults?

The school soon came into view, and along with it, the dozens of other students trudging their way. He even saw Kawamura running up to him with a foolish grin plastered on his face. "Wataru!" he greeted merrily. "Isn't this a wonderful morning? It most certainly is, isn't it?" Wataru tilted his head to the side. "And what's got you all excited, Kawamura," he asked, but already knowing the answer. "Something good happened during your date with Mitsuki-san, didn't it?" His friend chuckled secretively, but his eyes kept flashing with joy. "I'll tell you, if you call me a modern-day Romeo."

"There are conditions?"

"Wataru…"

"All right… You're a modern-day Romeo. Now what happened?"

"Well…" he leaned down to his level and whispered. "I think she's going to be my girlfriend…"

"Oh? And what made you think so?"

"Well, do you remember the paired rings I bought?"

Wataru nodded. Sharing the same rings with a girl was Kawamura's absolute dream. He had purchased a pair of 24-karat gold rings during their junior year in hopes of asking Tachibana Mai out. But unfortunately, he was rejected due to her feelings for Kazuki. He's had simple crushes with other girls after that, but none as serious as he had with Mitsuki.

"What about them?" Wataru inquired. Kawamura grinned and his eyes gleamed. "The thing is, I showed her the rings last night, and you know what she said? She said she totally wouldn't mind having paired rings with a boyfriend. If anything, she thought it would be romantic!"

"And you think it's an indication that she wants you to be her boyfriend?"

"As long as there's a chance, I'll take it!"

They reached the school gate but stopped at the sight of the person standing there as if waiting for someone. The other students who were coming and passing by all looked at him and began to whisper amongst each other. The girls would blush and giggle, adoring his handsome features, while the boys coveted the designer-labeled coat he was wearing—something that was way beyond them.

"A…saka-san…" Wataru drawled out in surprise. He knew he was bound to meet the older man sooner or later, but he hadn't expected it this soon. Asaka spotted him, and walked over to where he and Kawamura stood, all the while earning faint whispers from passers-by. "You're looking well, Wataru-kun," he spoke, his voice containing a certain mellow tone to it. "No matter what dampens your mood, you manage to get back up, huh? I guess that's one of the reasons why I like you."

Wataru fidgeted nervously, clearing feeling uncomfortable about having this type of conversation around other people. But he did find it quite odd. Usually when Asaka wishes to meet him, he'd always call first over the phone, but he never sought the boy out in person. It was kind of a change in pace. "What were you and Kawamura-kun talking about?" the man asked out of pure curiosity. Wataru gave a small chuckle and answered, "He thinks he and Mitsuki-san are about to become a couple." "Oh?" came the elder man's amused grin.

"It's true!" Kawamura stated defensively. "I mean, Mitsuki-san and I have a connection. Know what I mean? And besides, I really like her and I don't want her to become someone else's without a good fight."

"Kawamura…" Wataru berated, not noticing the intent gleam in Asaka's eyes.

"But it's true!" the young boy continued. "I mean, if you've got a shot, why not go for it? It's better to risk it all than to live a lifetime wondering what could've happened if you made a go for it. That's how it should be, right? The moment you want it, you should never let it go. You could only have one chance for this—an opportunity of a lifetime! You shouldn't miss it."

"Wow, Kawamura…" his friend uttered in amazement. "I had no idea you had such spirit… or that you could think of such thing." "Well…" the boy scratched the tip of his nose in embarrassment. "I heard that somewhere in a song before… I think it was an English song by one of those American rappers. So, it's not like they were my original words."

"Original or not," Asaka cut in. "They were truly inspiring." He reached into the collar line of his coat and pulled out a glimmering silver chain. But what got Wataru entranced about it was the object dangling from it. "My ring!" he exclaimed. "Asaka-san, you mean, you've been keeping it with you all this time?" "Well, yes…" came the immediate reply. "I always thought that this was the most I could have of you. I came here to return it to you." He tugged the chain, pulling it over his head then placed it into Wataru's hands. "The ring is yours again."

Wataru clearly did not know what type of reaction to make. He's happy that the ring was returned to him, but at the same time, there was something odd with the way things were turning out. "Asaka-san," he inquired. "You're giving me back the ring? No strings attached?" "No strings attached," came the confirmation. "I've decided that it's ridiculous to try and hold on to you by using an object that's not even mine. I was also supposed to give up on you, but…"

Wataru looked at him curiously, anticipating what he was going to say next. But the toll of the school bell notified the boys that it was time to hurry else they'll be late for first period. "Uh, sorry, Asaka-san," he quickly uttered, and motioned for Kawamura to make a run for it, joining the other students that were beginning to stampede.

As Wataru ran past him, Asaka clenched his hands into a tight fist mentally debating what to do. Finally, he made up his mind and turned to face the direction Wataru and the other students were running off to. Taking in a deep breath of air, he shouted with all his might, "Wataru!!" The loud call of his name made the young boy halt and turn to see the man who had called him. Confusion was evident on his face, and even Kawamura had stopped running to see what was going to happen.

With a certain distance set between them, Asaka stood his ground and shouted, "I love you!!"

In an instant, silence reigned over the court yard and the gate. The students paused as the loud confession caught their ears. Wataru stared wide-eyed at the tall man who had blatantly announced his affections.

"A… Asaka-san…"

"I'm sorry, but I simply can't stop loving you," he stated, a very serious expression adorning his face. By now, all the other students had turned to observe them, curious and quite astonished. Despite the circumstance, the elder man did not relent.

"Wataru-kun… I've loved you since the first day I laid my eyes on you. It didn't bother me at all that you're a guy or that I might be criticized for it. I just can't stop myself from loving you. I know you might not feel the same way towards me as I feel for you, but… If there is even a slightest chance of you falling in love with me then I'll go for it! I'll do what it takes for you to be mine… even if it means stealing you away!!"

All throughout that bold declaration, Wataru found himself rooted on the spot, unable to move or even breathe. All he can tell is that the way Asaka had stared at him seemed as if he was being smoldered with such great intensity. "I returned the ring with the original intention of giving up," he continued. "But now… I intend on pursuing you fairly, with no strings attached. As long as you and I have a connection that cannot be severed, I will do everything I must to have you."

When those final words were spoken, Asaka bowed lightly and walked away. The chime of the school bell kept ringing, but Wataru couldn't hear it. The only thing ringing in his head were the words of Asaka's confession. Kawamura called his attention, urging him to hurry or they'll be late. But even as they made a dash for it, the countless stares and murmurs from the other students bothered him for the entire day.

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Murmurs and whispers followed him wherever he went. Even as he sat on his desk, his classmates wouldn't stop glancing at him and make hushed discussions. As expected of the gossip-grinding mill, word of that morning's bold love confession had spread to practically the entire school! He was greeted with odd stares and a few disgusted looks, but luckily no one has walked up to him for confrontation.

"The guy who confessed to him earlier, isn't he Kazuki-senpai's senior in college?" one of the girls gossiped. "You're right!" her friend replied. "Asaka-san is his name, right? He's very handsome, yet he fell for Fujii-kun? There are cuter girls than him." "You're absolutely right!" she agreed. All the while, a frown was beginning to mar the young boy's features.

Don't they know I can hear them?!

Kawamura tapped lightly on his desk, as if trying to calm down the raging storm within. "Don't let those gossip mongers bother you," he said. "Although… I do hope it isn't because of what I said that Asaka-san suddenly decided to confess like that…" "Maybe…" Wataru sighed. "But as much as troubling this is… I'm actually… flattered."

"Eh?"

"Well… I don't know… It's the first time anyone's confessed to me like that so…"

"Wataru… you're just confused. You said it yourself; it's the first time someone confessed to you like that. It's just from the shock. I assure you, the moment you hear from Kazuki, you'll…"

"I haven't spoken to him. He keeps calling and I keep ignoring. Everything is all messed up, and I don't know anymore. Asaka-san… Mizuho-san… Thinking about it makes my head hurt."

With a frustrated sigh, Wataru got on his feet and grabbed his bag. "Uh, Wataru…? Where are you going?" Kawamura asked, but he already knew. He was going to cut. He couldn't blame him though. The guy was already going though a lot of emotional stress, and now the gossip was practically hitting him where it hurts.

"Fujii-kun left?" Tachibana asked quite curiously. "Yeah," came the reply. "With all the gossip going around, why wouldn't he?" "True," she continued. "But it's understandable. After all, when someone is confessed to like that, one has nowhere else to run and is suddenly cornered."

"……"

"Anyway, Kawamura-kun, as Fujii-kun's best friend, it's your duty and responsibility to make sure he has the necessary notes and lectures for the day. So you better pay extra attention in class."

"EEEHHH??"

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Even though he decided to cut, he honestly had no idea where to go. He didn't feel like going home yet, and there weren't any specific places he wanted to go to. He timidly flipped his cell phone open and browsed through the list of received messages and missed calls. Unsurprisingly, all of them were from Kazuki.

Wataru heaved a heavy sigh. He had never been this distressed over a relationship before—not even with Nano, his first girlfriend. Everything that's happening has been frustrating…He supposed that he was also partially to blame for not admitting to Kazuki everything that's happened between him and Asaka. But he couldn't shake away the thoughts of Mizuho.

Was he jealous…?

He did decide that if he were to feel jealous over the countless of women who admired and wooed Yuichi, he'd definitely collapse under pressure. But this was different. The woman is Yuichi's first love! Of course, she'd be a threat. And it's possible he still had feelings for her—even just a tiny bit. Wouldn't that be the reason why Kazuki has avoided the topic for an entire year now?

That has to be it…

But when he thought about it… He didn't really know why those two broke up. Based on what he knows about Kazuki, he wouldn't recklessly answer a girl's feelings. And considering that she was older, it's most likely that Kazuki was the one who did the courting. If they were truly serious about each other, why break up? Could it be the same case as Asaka and Yuina?

That didn't seem to be the case, so… What was it? What was the reason?

Wataru continued to ponder on those thoughts when a familiar black sedan caught his sight. It was parked in front of some fancy café. He was almost definitely sure that it was Shohei's car. The door of the café swung open and he instinctively ducked behind a lamp post. Out stepped the elder Kazuki, clad in his business attire with a pretty woman hanging from his arm.

The woman looked familiar to him, and he knew he'd seen her before. He took a moment to think about it, and finally recognized her as Kirie, Takako's mother. There was nothing unusual for a husband and wife to be out together, but Wataru was sure he had never seen a very gentle side to Shohei as he did now.

Shohei walked her over to a silver chevrolet, which was probably her car, since she took out some keys and unlocked the door. He held the door open for her as she slipped inside it. He gave her a small peck on the cheeks—a simple display of affection. Wataru felt a bit perturbed at the public display, but then remembered that they're a normal couple, so it's really not a big deal if people saw them kissing or holding hands.

He watched the car drive away, and Shohei waved at it until it disappeared into the distance. He expected the elder man to leave as well and was about to turn and leave himself, when his foot suddenly tapped against a stray can, rolling it off loudly. The noise caught Shohei's attention, and gazed off at the direction of the sound, and was met with the sight of Fujii Wataru.

"Uh… Hi…" the young boy drawled out nervously. Shohei stared at him blankly before a small smirk appeared on his lips. "Fujii-kun," he spoke. "Don't you have classes? Are you cutting? Not very good for an exam student…"

"Well, um…"

"Well then, I best be on my way as well."

As he watched Shohei walk off to his car, Wataru couldn't help but think of this as an opportune moment. After all, if Kazuki won't tell him, best thing is to learn from someone who will. "Shohei-san!" he called the man's attention, and he effectively turned around to look curiously at the younger boy.

"Shohei-san… Will you tell me… why Kazuki and Mizuho-san broke up?"

For a moment, Shohei's eyes widened with surprise, clearly not expecting to be asked of such a thing. He scrutinized the young boy from head to toe, and couldn't deny the look of seriousness on his face. With a nudge of his head, he motioned at his car and spoke, "Come with me."


To be continued…

Cheers to Crimson for guessing right. It is Asaka who makes such a startling confession.

Reading the reviews is really enjoyable, especially with the many comments regarding the love triangle. Yes, Kazuki is acting like jerk. He clearly doesn't see that Wataru is jealous of Mizuho when he's the one who pointlessly gets jealous of Asaka even over the smallest things. While Asaka seems considerate towards Wataru's feelings, it still doesn't excuse the fact that he did invade into Wataru's personal life the moment Kazuki left for the U.S.

But the issue here is Kazuki. I can assure you that much of the conflict and the plot involve him and the decisions he will make. Will he be able to patch things up with Wataru or will he blow it? There's also that issue about the ring. As described in previous chapters, he's not wearing it, and it is proven that the ring Wataru received is his. So the question is… why? Got any theories? I'd certainly like to hear about them. Is it a conspiracy? A grand scheme thought up by some keen mastermind? Or is it just an accident or a mix-up of some kind? It could be any of the above.

Theories and interpretations regarding Kazuki's letter are also welcome. The letter is posted at my website—you can find the link on my profile.

I know that in the course of my fanfic, all of you have been torn between Asaka x Wataru and Kazuki x Wataru, but just to inform you… so am I. I had this story plotted out, so I've already set an ending for it. But with the progression of the story, I've already altered a few parts of the original storyline and the ending is now undergoing reconsideration.

Let's just see where this goes.

Next chapter: Reason. Wataru finally learns the truth about Kazuki and Mizuho's break-up! Meanwhile, a confrontation between Kazuki and Asaka is underway…

Keep the reviews coming!