Title: Appreciating Things of Beauty [Chapter Eighteen
Author: Endless-Kaoru
Pairing: None yet.
Rating: Overall: R. This Chapter:

Warnings:
Disclaimer: I don't own Wallflower characters. None. Not even a single one.
Summary:

Appreciating Things of Beauty

Chapter Eighteen: The Single

Yuki's fangirls began to violently decline. This was odd, because Yuki and Aya refrained from most outward displays of affection around the school… or, anywhere, for that matter. But the blonde boy was alerted to the situation when only the most determined of his fangirls greeted him at the start of school.

Ranmaru watched in amusement as Aya, walking at Yuki's side, almost imperceptibly shifted closer and stared flatly at the girls. She didn't look jealous, or angry, or even like she was warning them away. It was more like 'Pity You.'

He chuckled, and was ignored by all but his own fangirls.

"Uwah! How can you stand this?!" Aya whined, draping her arm over Yuki's shoulders. He only chuckled, greeting his fangirls with a smile. Aya sighed, glancing to the side when she heard some girls giggling amongst themselves.

"Yuki-kun is so feminine looking… It only makes sense that he's like that."

"Right, right! Aya-kun, too!"

"Yo!" Aya appeared before them with a salute and a big smile, "I apologize for listening in, but I heard my name! I hope it's something good!"

The two girls faltered in the face of the unabashed friendliness. The smile hadn't reached her eyes, and she looked almost evil.

"W-We were just saying how great you look today, Aya-kun!"

"Oh! Well thank you!" Aya's smile became brighter, looking pleased, "It's nice of you to say so!" The girl turned tail and trotted to catch up to the others.

Kyohei watched Yuki and Aya laughing, watched how Yuki and Aya sat so much nearer to each other than they used to, watched how they seemed so amazingly open to each other, but closed off from everyone else. For the moment, no one interfered with their little world.

He glanced to Noi and Takenaga; they were almost the same as the other couple, though a little more shy, hesitant.

Ranmaru was eating with one of his fangirls. The pair touched and swapped heated looks often, but there didn't seem to be any connection. Just a lot of heat.

Kyohei had never thought of himself as an observant person, but now, while he ate alone – not physically alone; he was with his friends, and Noi-chan, and Ranmaru's fangirl – he became more perceptive of them; he almost felt left out.

Aya had once confided in Takenaga that it 'hurt' to see Yuki scared or upset; she'd fought, probably at the risk of her own life, just to save Yuki from some boys. She confided her worst moment to him, even. Yuki somehow seemed to understand her every move, and would comfort her, even when no one else noticed that she was upset.

Takenaga was first to comfort Noi-chan when she was upset, and Noi-chan would do anything for Takenaga.

…Was that what 'love' was all about? All that pain, and comforting each other, and feeding off each other's emotions?

"…I don't understand."

"Kyohei?" Aya broke free from her and Yuki's little world, turning to stare at him, "What don't you understand?"

He looked away, embarrassed that he'd spoken aloud, "It's nothing."

She glanced at Yuki, then moved over to sit beside Takano, "Hey, is something wrong? You look unhappy." She reached out and nudged his bento box closer to him, laughing a little, "You didn't even scarf down your lunch!"

Takenaga and Noi emerged, and the girl looked amazed, "Wow, something must really be wrong!"

"It's nothing, I say!" he replied defensively, and turned to eat his food in an attempt to appease them. Some small part of his mind was relieved that he was no longer the 'outsider.'

He remained a part of the group for the rest of lunch.

"Hey, Kyohei!" Aya knocked on Kyohei's bedroom door, "I wanna ask you something. Open up, would you?"

Kyohei rolled off his bed and opened the door, glancing at the girl's bright grin. "Huh?"

"You don't have a job right now, do you?"

He winced, shaking his head.

"Great!" her grin grew, "I have a job for you!"

He looked unconvinced, "Oh? And what might that be?" he turned his back on her, pacing back to his bed.

"Modeling." She responded.

He went to slam the door in her face.

She stopped it, "Now, now, before you say 'no', I have a deal for you." She stepped into the room, "You come just one day, and if you honestly dislike it, then I'll buy you lunch, to be claimed at your leisure."

He frowned, considering his options.

She threw in another consideration, "To top it off, I'll be there, and maybe Yuki, if I can recruit him. And it's modeling. Everyone's beautiful and/or handsome. You'll fit right in!"

He still paused to think about it.

"They offer free food between shoots. Catered. And pays ¥12,000 (about $98) per photo."

"I'll try it." He suddenly agreed.

She grinned, "Great. Now, let me fetch Yuki, and we'll be on our way. Put on something nice."

"Yuki-kun! Yuki-kun wants to go get a really fun job with Aya-chan and Kyohei-kun, right?" Aya leaned over the back of the chair that Yuki sat in, smiling down at him.

He laughed, looking up at her, "Do I now? What kind of job might it be?"

Takenaga, reading a book on the couch, glanced up, amused. Ranmaru chuckled at them, but didn't end his phone conversation.

"It's modeling."

Yuki had a sudden memory of what was supposed to be Sunako's photo shoot, "Uh… I think I'll pass."

"They won't put you in a dress. I wouldn't let them if they tried." She giggled, "The boss is real cool. Since almost everyone there is an amateur, he says that if you aren't comfortable with something, you don't have to do it."

"How did you get Kyohei to agree?" Takenaga asked, amused.

"I made a deal with him. If he doesn't like it, I'll buy him lunch." She laughed, then turned to Yuki, "Would you like a deal as well?"

He grinned, "I don't know. What do you have to offer?"

"One full-body massage. Free of charge."

"That so?" he looked surprised, "I didn't know you knew that type of thing."

"Here, sit sideways. I'll do your neck as a demo."

He obliged, and she brushed her hands against his neck before rubbing the muscles there with her thumbs, slowly working her way along the back of his neck and shoulders. Yuki all but purred.

Across the room, Ranmaru had apparently ended his call, and he watched Yuki's expression, smiling a bit. Once she'd completed her task, the redhead chuckled, "By the looks of it, Yuki, you've got a girl to be proud of. A fighter, a model, and a masseuse." He grinned, "Hey, could I get a massage, too?"

Aya studiously ignored him, "What do you say, Yuki?"

"…I could go for a deal like that."

She laughed, and pulled him upright, "Yay! Go change into something good looking, and we'll go right now!"