Chapter edited 17th April, 2016.

When the weekend rolled by, Tsuna suggested he and his two friends go see a movie. Gokudera, as expected, had been overjoyed about spending more time with the brunet but, even in front of Yamamoto, had said that they should "ditch the baseball-idiot".

As much as those words hurt him, Yamamoto had kept a smile on his face. He didn't speak; he didn't have time to say anything because Tsuna had already started reprimanding Gokudera for what he had said.

"Gokudera-kun, Yamamoto is our friend," Tsuna started. "I can't invite one and not the other because that isn't fair!"

The silver-haired male hung his head as he apologised; while he didn't regret what he had said about Yamamoto, he knew he had upset his best friend, and to him, that was the worst thing he could do.

Gokudera didn't like Yamamoto. Anyone with a brain could work that out. However, if openly showing his dislike would hurt Tsuna, maybe he should pretend Yamamoto just didn't exist? Would that stop him from upsetting his friend? Only one way to find out.

"Eh, Tsuna, it's okay." Yamamoto forced a smile to his face, no matter how okay it wasn't; he didn't want a fight to break out over him and he would much rather just let it go and move on. "Let's just go see the movie, okay? No need to fight."

Tsuna smiled shyly before he nodded, glad that his dark-haired friend was so easy-going and cheerful; it wasn't easy being Gokudera's friend, and he knew a lot of other people would have given up on the silver-haired student by now instead of giving the other chances and trying to understand. "What do you guys want to see?"

"Something with action!" Gokudera declared as he raised a fist in the air.

Tsuna smiled at his friend's eagerness before he turned to Yamamoto. "What about you?"

"Anything is fine with me, Tsuna." This time the teen's smile was genuine. "Whatever you guys want to watch."

"I guess we'll decide when we get there, then." Tsuna started walking, humming a soft tune as he did so; he was so happy to spend his weekend with his friends.

~~Movie theatre~~

As wished for, Gokudera had gotten his action movie. After it had ended, Gokudera and Yamamoto found themselves standing in the lobby as they waited for Tsuna who was using the bathroom, and the silver-haired teenager had made it a point to stare anywhere but at Yamamoto. Thee dark-haired male didn't let his smile drop, but he swore he was hurting more and more with each passing moment.

"Hey, Gokudera…" Yamamoto forced himself to use a calm tone as he spoke, despite how hard he was trying to keep it from quivering; he knew that when it came to Gokudera, emotions were better left out of things. He hated how weak his voice was sounding but he couldn't stop it – not when it felt as if his heart was tearing. "Did I do something to make you hate me…?"

Gokudera didn't even blink. It was as if in the space of two hours he had learnt how to pretend Yamamoto didn't exist at all.

I guess I did… Yamamoto sighed sadly and directed his gaze to a piece of gum stuck to the carpet. I just… I don't know what I could have done when the first time I even spoke to him, he still hated me…

"Hey, Tenth!"

Yamamoto looked up when he heard Gokudera's happy voice addressing Tsuna, and part of him felt sick at the sudden onslaught of joy at someone else's presence – why couldn't he get the same treatment? Of course. He adores Tsuna. He'd never want to call someone like me his friend.

"Gokudera-kun, I – hey, Yamamoto, are you okay?"

Yamamoto looked at Tsuna. He wasn't oblivious to the concern on the brunet's face; had his hurt showed? He wished it hadn't; he didn't want to worry his friend. He gave a nod he knew the smaller male didn't believe and said, "I'm fine, Tsuna."

"You don't look it," Tsuna pointed out. "Are you feeling okay?"

"Now that you mention it, I feel a tad ill." It wasn't exactly a lie; he was feeling a little nauseas after the way Gokudera had acted just before. "I might just head home and get some rest. I'll see you at school."

"Hey… Yamamoto, wait…!"

The dark-haired teenager had already disappeared from sight before Tsuna could stop him. He turned to frown at Gokudera; he knew the older male had something to do with this. "What did you say to him?"

Gokudera shrugged, and for once he was telling the truth. "I didn't say anything to him, Tenth."

Tsuna sighed as he rubbed the side of his face. What was he going to do with these two?

~~Yamamoto~~

Yamamoto fell unceremoniously onto his bed and draped his arm across his eyes. He felt as if he was going to throw up. He knew he was falling dangerously fast for someone who hated him, but he couldn't help it. He knew he was stupid for being so depressed over unrequited love, but that didn't mean he could stop feeling that way – he had tried, only to fail, just like how he failed at everything but baseball.

Why does it feel like Tsuna is the only one who notices I exist? Yamamoto thought. Everyone else at school only knows I'm alive because I'm good at baseball. I bet if I never played, I'd be invisible to them as well.

Yamamoto rolled onto his stomach and let his eyes droop in sadness. He wondered if he should go outside and practise his swing a bit more but he just couldn't find the motivation to get up; he just wanted to stay in bed and sleep.

I feel so sick… Why does it always hurt…? I wish the pain would just stop…

Yamamoto sat up as he heard his phone beep from an incoming message. He pulled it out from his pants pocket, seeing the sender was Tsuna. He didn't hesitate to open the message and read it as he knew his friend was only worried.

'Did Gokudera-kun do something?' was Tsuna's message.

Yamamoto shook his head as he hit reply and started to type back. 'No. He wouldn't even look at me. I'm okay if that's what you're wondering. Just hanging out in bed for a bit.'

'I'm really sorry.'

'It's not your fault, Tsuna. I'm overreacting.'

'But you think of him as a friend so he should act like one!'

Yamamoto wondered whether or not he should explain the reason behind his hurt to Tsuna and tell him just how lonely and depressed he was lately. The younger boy was understanding and accepting of everyone, but he still hadn't come out to anyone but his dad yet, and he wasn't sure if he were ready; after finally getting a taste of what it was like to have friends, he couldn't bear to go back to that overwhelming loneliness he had come from.

But at the same time, Yamamoto trusted the brunet, and he felt he needed to get this off his chest before it drove him crazy. He bit his lip as he texted just two words, and his heart beat faster as anxiety overwhelmed him at the thought of how Tsuna could take it. 'I'm gay.'

Tsuna's reply took a little bit longer to come through this time but, when it did, the dark-haired teenager sighed as he relaxed; he knew he had been right in trusting his friend with his secret. 'You like Gokudera-kun, then?'

'Please don't tell him.'

'I won't tell anyone. Hey, I have to help my mum with something. I'll talk to you later.'

'Cya, Tsuna.'

For the first time that day, a genuine smile slipped onto Yamamoto's face. He briefly wondered why it hadn't been Tsuna he had fallen for before he heard the front door close, signalling his father's return.

As he pushed himself off the bed to go greet his dad, Yamamoto felt his mood improving bit by bit. He was sure it was thanks to coming out to his friend – he hadn't felt this good since he had come out to his father.

I wonder if Gokudera is even gay… Yamamoto quickly shook those thoughts from his head as he made his way down the stairs; if at least for the rest of today, Yamamoto Takeshi wasn't going to let the silver-haired teenager bring him down even further.