-Izumi's POV-

Three sets of footsteps dogged behind them as the pair continued to increase their lead. Their pace was steady, though the ladies seem persistent. His friend turned his head swiftly to look behind him and he spat out an expletive, "Shit!"

He pause his steps, forcing Izumi to stop as well while he looked around the vicinity. Espying the desired route, Konno abruptly zipped to his left, dragging Izumi with him. They ran through a small thoroughfare and again, Konno abruptly dodged to his right into a dimly lit alleyway. He drew Izumi towards a stack of wooden crates and placed him behind it. Konno quickly hovered over Izumi's slightly smaller frame, forcing his back against the wall.

Considering himself very much sober than before due to their quick run in the cool night air, Izumi's reasoning faculties had yet to recover however.

"Konno, what are you do—mmph!"

He'd managed to say that much before his friend muffled his mouth with a large palm. Konno then pressed his own body flushed against Izumi's and tucked his head on the nook of Izumi's neck. His moist breath instantly tickled Izumi's sensitive ear and nape.

Immediately, Izumi's own breath hitched and his heartbeat increased. Heat suffused his body and his already flushed cheeks turned darker. Izumi tried to voice his objection but no words escaped as the wind was forced out of him when Konno pressed against him even further.

Footsteps could be heard heading their way and in the next moment, the sound directly ran passed them.

Konno waited until he was certain the coast was clear before he relent his hold on Izumi and stepped back a couple of steps.

Finally freed from his prior discomforting predicament, Izumi took a deep breath and released his inner brat as he blazed a trail of braising words at his friend's audacity. "I couldn't breathe, you idiot! Why the hell did you do that for?! I knew it! You were trying to kill me again! Weren't you?!"

Instead of looking contrite, Konno took one look at Izumi's blushing cheeks and began to chuckle. It soon turned to an all out grating laugh until the man had to brace a hand on the wall besides Izumi's head to hold his self upright.

"Ha haha ha, oh man! That was classic… That's the same look you had on when the girls jumped ya! Ha hahaha. It was hilarious!" His friend had managed to gasp out.

This only made Izumi even more flustered. For the life of him, he couldn't think up the words to berate his friend any further. He wasn't sure whether he wanted to laugh with him or sucker punch the guy.

Oblivious to Izumi's conflicting thoughts and increasing ire, Konno continued to laugh until he finally got it out of his system. He slumped closer to Izumi and rested his head on Izumi's shoulder while the man's own continue to shake from his humor.

Izumi flinched at the contact and the previous shade of discomfort on his cheeks returned. His brows creased instantly and he directed a scowl at his friend. Undeterred by the hostile aura generating from him, Konno raised his head to gaze warmly down at Izumi.

Unsure of what to say of his friend's uncharacteristic demeanor completely without artifice, Izumi continued to scowl at the man, even though confusion shown on his face.

Konno cocked his head slightly in questioning and a thoughtful glimmer shown within his eyes for a brief moment. The man murmured something to himself that Izumi thought sounded very much like, 'what the hell am I thinking'. But before Izumi could make sense of it, his friend then flashed a genuine smile full of mirth towards him, "After all the dumb stuff I've done and my streak of bad luck this pass couple of months, I really needed a good laugh. Thanks, Sakashita."

Izumi understood then, what his friend had meant. Likewise, ever since he'd run into Konno yesterday, his bouts of melancholy hadn't returned at all. Despite his bluster about twice nearly dying by Konno's hands, Izumi had enjoyed his friend's company very much. Just like the good old days, there was really never a dull moment with the man around. But unlike the good old days though, Konno seems to have matured quite a bit and had gain an air of mystery somehow. I guess people do change, Izumi thought.

"Hmph," Izumi made a sound of acknowledgement and dropped his scowl. He began to chuckle upon remembering the night's events. "I had no idea what happened. One moment I was chatting with Kae-san and then the other two joined in. Then next thing I knew, they all tackled me and started pawing at me!"

Dazed by this recollection, Izumi shook his head briefly from side to side to clear his thoughts. His friend smirked in seeing his antics. "You still don't know, do ya?"

"Huh?" Izumi remarked dumbly.

"Man, you're clueless. You really don't know what you did wrong, do ya?"

Not waiting for an answer, Konno pressed onwards. "Hn, I guess I'll enlighten ya since you've only been with one woman for all this time."

"Huh?" Izumi repeated.

Konno tsk at him and began his lecture, "First of all if you aren't serious about the date, then don't tell the truth or else you'll present yourself as husband material."

"Eh?"

Konno rolled his eyes and sighed. He threw an arm around Izumi's shoulder and began guiding him back to the thoroughfare they darted from. As they walked, Konno continued his spiel, "I see this is going to take awhile, let's go to another sake-ya. I'll be happy to catch you up on modern dating rules, my friend."

It was several hours later when Izumi found himself stumbling up the stairs to his apartment. If it weren't for his friend aiding him along the way, he would never have made it pass the first step. His head swam from each movement but the lightheadedness felt good. A chortle bubbled up from his throat and his shoulder began to shake from the effort.

"You really can't hold your liquor, man." He faintly heard his friend say. Sleep was calling him and his head lulled on his shoulder to rest. Izumi's eyes closed and his feet stopped cooperating. He was soon jolted from his quick nap when Konno failed to uphold both of their weight and had to shuffle against the wall of the corridor for support.

Izumi shook his head and raised droopy eyes to look at his friend. Konno's mouth was moving but Izumi couldn't make out a single word. He squinted at the man and shook his head again for clarity. Finally he heard, "Which apartment number?"

Izumi took a whole minute to understand the words before he raised a heavy arm to point at a door located on the very end of the corridor. Easily satisfied with his input, Izumi smiled smugly and his head returned to its' previous position as his eyes closed once more.

When he managed to open his eyes once again, he found his head resting nicely on his bed and running water sounded in the background. Izumi raised his heavy head to follow the sound and saw Konno in the kitchen with a kettle in hand. A smile appeared on his face as his head dropped back on the pillow. A faint knock was the last thing he heard when the world turned dark and blissful slumber awaited him.