Chapter 4: Long Distance Relationship

"N-Nii chan...We-" Saburo tried to say something but was cut off by his older brother as he stood up was trying to explain himself. Ichiro sighed. "Look, guys, you know how a man and a woman can love each other romantically? Well you see there's-"

"Yeah yeah, we-We kinda knew that already." Jiro interrupted. "We don't really mind if you're gay or whatever, It's just, um, well, we kinda thought you had standards, I mean...Jyushi?" Saburo said. "He's a total crybaby! Not to mention that cringy persona he's always putting up at his age!"

Ichiro then looked back at what he said to Jyushi back in Nagoya.

"A Man shouldn't cry so easily like that."

He was sure that he was working on it, but at the same time, there was probably a reason for him seeming so sensitive, even for this world. It was probably the romantic feeling he had for the goth talking, but that was what probably made him cute, he couldn't deny that. Ugh, it's so embarrassing.

"You met him before, Saburo?" Ichiro asked after being lost in thought for a moment. "Well, in Osaka, Tsutsujimori-senpai sort of made us do a Manzai comedy routine together at the principal at his school's daughter's wedding." Saburo said. "I think I did too once, but I dunno if I remember." Jiro added.

"Ok, look, I know he's pretty much a crybaby, and I know we have different interests, but like...In a way, it feels like we have something in common, and-" Ichiro tried to explain. "Ugh! I don't know...for some reason he's like...the one, y'know?" He was now a little even more a blushing mess than before, but he couldn't help it at this point. "Alright Nii-chan, we get it." Saburo said, pretty much knowing the obvious.

Ichiro then looked down at his pocket and reached it. He pulled out a piece of paper, unfolded it, and then looked at the contents in a slight grimace. He and Jyushi did exchange phone mumbers after the concert, And he was hoping if he was still interested in talking about their interests and other stuff.

"Nii-Chan…?" Jiro asked. "Let's just...leave him alone for right now…" Saburo suggested, sighing as the two left their brother alone in his thoughts, clearly hesitating. He sighed to himself.

I hope he hasn't forgotten…

Nagoya, Kuugen Temple

Jyushi was highly embarrassed as Kuko and Hitoya looked back at him. "Hm? What is it, Jyushi?" The lawyer asked.

"U-um...I didn't become an otaku...I just thought it looked like a good series…" The young goth explained, looking down in embarassment and shame. "He told me it gets good around Volume 3."

"Looks like you're already on Volume 8…" Hitoya said, looking at the manga. 'Wait, who's 'He'?" He asked Jyushi. Jyushi realized what he just said without thinking. "Uh, um, just someone! Why do you need to know!?" He was panicking. "Relax, Jyushi. Why are you freaking out all of a sudden?" Hitoya asked, a little concerned for him. "Yeah, the fuck are you freakin' out about?" Kuko also asked.

Jyushi sweated a little and blushed as he couldn't answer and think of what to say, nearly on the verge of tears, especially since now that the more that he's thought about it, Ichiro probably was also Kuko's former close friend, and the same person who possibly helped him and Hitoya that they were discussing a few months ago. "I-I-uh…"

"Huh?" Hitoya and Kuko both said. Hitoya somehow immediately figured out that this was why Jyushi asked him for some advice the other day. "Look, Jyushi, if you're gay, you can just say so." He sighed.

"H-huh?" Jyushi was surprised. "You guys aren't mad or anything?" "Nah, I don't give a shit what your sexual preference is." Kuko added. "Anyways, this session's up. This was probably a waste of time, but 'till tomorrow, alright?" Kuko said. Jyushi and Hitoya both left the temple, with Jyushi sighing with relief as he walked with Hitoya. That was a close one…

The Next Day

Ichiro was sitting in his room, sometimes getting up from his bed to pace and walk around, hesitant about whether or not to call Jyushi. It was very crystal clear he loved him, but he wondered if the goth ever felt the same for him aswell. It might be a little early for a confession, so he doesn't want to rush into things too quickly.

Meanwhile, Jyushi was sitting on his bed, clutching Amanda to his chest as he looked at his phone beside his bed. He still had Ichiro's phone number in his pocket, so he reached in to unfold the slightly crumbled up piece of paper which had the number. He sighed sadly. He was afraid that the eldest Yamada probably lost interest in him by now, considering how they both never talked to each other in weeks, or that he actually found him annoying.

Is there really such a thing as 'Love at first sight'? In a way, he was actually happy to see him again in such a while, even though he didn't really know his first name when they met. No, that old fairy tale cliché was so unrealistic. Their relationship would never work if he just...confessed that he loved him right then and there. It sounded desperate and a little creepy to him.

But still, he was very infactuated and couldn't get his mind off Ichiro. But he'll have to wait, even if he couldn't to spend time with him again.

Ichiro was feeling anxious about calling his possible crush. Something about that Chunnibyo was very intriguing to him. He had this Visual Kei persona that seemed cheesy and pathetic to some, but to him it was almost like he was an anime or video game character with a secret identity. A dark, edgy prince like edgelord who was actually a softie crybaby in real life. In way it charmed him. Just the thought of him and the actual cutesy and gothic person he is made him melt, no matter how much he tried to hide it.

They both took a deep breath.

They took their phones and tried to type their numbers.

"…"

They both sighed out of pity. Who were they kidding? It seemed very desperate to even call and try to make time after so many weeks.

Ichiro's phone rang.

The number was the same as Jyushi's.

"Uh Hey…" Ichiro said awkwardly, but also happy that Jyushi called. He wanted to gush so badly on the inside.

"H-Hi Ichiro…" Jyushi said back, sighing out of relief and happiness. He was trying to keep his composure badly. As if there were Butterflies fluttering in his stomach.

Ichiro loved hearing the sound of his voice again. It brought a smile to his face. "Soooo, How was Phantom Servant?" Ichiro asked. "Oh, It was pretty cool! I love the art and aesthetics of it, honestly!" Jyushi laughed. "How did you enjoy Dreams and God are fake?"

"Haha, I can see why you'd love them so much." Ichiro said, laughing. "I think they did an anime opening if I recall, I don't know, did they?"

"Hm, I'm not sure, It doesn't seem like that kind of thing would be up their Forte, no offense." Jyushi replied.

"Oh, well, maybe it was an artist with a similar voice." Ichiro said as he scratched the back of head.

"So I remember you telling me that you had a family business? Um, what kind? What's it called?" Jyushi asked.

"Oh um, it's called Odd Jobs Yamada. Me and my brothers basically do some jobs for other people, Like, all over Japan, that's about it." Ichiro replied.

"Uh huh." Jyushi said. To him, it would probably explain a few things. "Y-you know, you actually look pretty good in a Jumpsuit…No wait! Umm..." Jyushi said, trying to flirt.

"O-oh! Uh, thanks I guess…" Ichiro said, laughing awkwardly as he blushed at that. "The way you just said that was pretty cute there though." Ichiro said as he tried to flirt back.

The goth blushed as Ichiro complimented him, at the same embarrassed at his own voice. "You think so…?"

"Well um, yeah. But I don't really mind your voice either way, though." Ichiro flirted.

Jyushi gasped quietly, then blushed. He inaudibly cleared his throat.

"I am flattered by yourwords of enamoration~" Jyushi flirted, now getting into his Visual Kei character.

Ichiro laughed. "Thank you. I see that ArgoξOrchestra's lead singer is back." Ichiro teased, trying to play along with it.

"Ah, drawn by my language of Romance and Draguer, are we, my Crimson Prince~?" The goth flirted in his Chuunibyou character.

Ichiro smiled, like, genuinely smiled. It was so charming how Jyushi would put on his persona. He didn't cosplay much, surprisingly, but it was almost like he was doing an impression of a character from some anime or manga take took place in Victorian England, or some male love interest with a superhero identity from some cheesy shoujo magical girl anime or manga. He blushed some more and chuckled.

Saburo was walking in the hall when he heard his Ichi-Nii supposedly giggling all of a sudden in his room. He gently opened the door. "Ichi Nii?"

Ichiro was a bit startled as his brother suddenly came into his room. "Ah! Saburo, I'm...a bit busy. Can you give me a moment?" The eldest Yamada brother said, covering his phone to put it on hold. "Sorry, Nii-Chan." Saburo said as he left the room.

Ichiro sighed. "Sooo, where were we, my delicate violet?" Ichiro flirted, trying to emulate Jyushi's visual kei persona. Jyushi understood his attempts to flirt, what matters is that he's at least trying for him. He smiled.

"You were seduced by my language of flirtatious beauty, my sworn damsel~" Jyushi flirted back.

All Ichiro could do was smile.

Meanwhile, Saburo could hear flirting (If Saburo could even call it that) and giggling outside Ichiro's door. It almost sounded like something from a gothic novel, even if his Ichi-Nii was admittedly sort of bad at it. Ugh. Is that what romance is? Gross.

"Has Ichi-Nii confessed his feelings for Jyushi-Nii yet?" Jiro asked standing outside his bedroom door.

"Ugh, I'm not sure, but whatever they're talking about in there is making me sick." The youngest brother said as he shuddered slightly in disgust.

The two decided to spy on what was going on in their eldest's brother's room as they heard some continued giggling and flirting between Ichiro and what they could guess was Jyushi he was speaking too.

Ichiro was now laying on his bed on his phone as he was still blushing and smiling.

"Oh! Amanda says hi, by the way…" Jyushi said nervously, adjusting the pig plush up a bit.

"Haha, nice. Tell her I said hi too, ok?" Ichiro said. "It's nice talking to you again after a few weeks ago. I just wish we could meet face to face, ya know?"

"Yeah…" Jyushi said sadly. "It's a shame that I don't live near you, otherwise I would really love to talk to you like we did at the concert."

"Yeah. You're right. Ichiro replied. "Tell you what, I'll talk to later again tomorrow, if I don't have anything to do, that is. I don't work on Saturdays so it'll be a perfect time for us to talk." Ichiro suggested, looking at his schedule.

"Oh! Same here, actually. E-except I...don't really work, and I have training, so...I'll talk to you if I don't have training with my master tommorow!" Jyushi said.

"Hm, Training huh? What are you training for, exactly? Sounds pretty impressive." Ichiro asked, interested in what sort of training the goth does.

"Oh um...I'm doing some training at one of Nagoya's temples so I wouldn't cry as much!" Jyushi said.

"Ah. If it'll help your emotional issues, I'm sure there's nothing wrong basic training to build your Stamina." Ichiro said. "Welp, I don't have anything for tomorrow, So I'm free to talk."

"Oh, that's great! I'm sure I'll talk to you if Ku-My Master will let me." Jyushi said.

Ichiro wasn't sure what that first part was, but that didn't really matter. "Sure, sounds good. Maybe one of us could make plans to see each other in one of our towns. How does that sound, Jyushi? You down, hun?"

Jyushi was surprised to hear that, but for now, they both should probably just call each other for now, keep a long distance relationship until further notice. "I-I'd love to!"

"Ok." Ichiro laughed. "It's my turn to make dinner. So we'll talk some more tomorrow, alright?"

"I'd love that, sweetie." Jyushi said as he blushed. "Wait, can I hang up or you?" The goth asked.

"Well, I dunno, you're the one who called~" Ichiro teased as he chuckled a bit.

"Stop! You're kind of embarrassing me!" Jyushi laughed, blushing. "You can if you want~"

"Make me, then~!" Ichiro giggled a bit, then sighed. "Why are you so cute, huh?"

"Why are you~?" Jyushi giggled as he teased back..

Ichiro sighed. "Ok, I'm hanging up. We'll do this again tomorrow. Bye Jyush."

"Bye, Ichi…" Jyushi said quietly as Ichiro hung up.

He then fell back on his bed, blushing hard as he held Amanda to his chest, swaying his body slightly back and forth. "I did it, Amanda! I actually called him!" Jyushi said, beaming as he raised his pig plush slightly above his face. I was a little nervous, but I actually did it! It felt so nice hearing him again!" Jyushi gushed like a school girl, but then that got him thinking.

It was clear Ichiro had feelings for him, and vice versa, but, how long will it be until they confess their feelings for one another? They don't want to rush their relationship, so they'd like to take it slow, but he couldn't wait to confess his feelings for Ichiro, if not for Ichiro to confess his feelings first. Either way, It was like he felt fluttery all over when he was with Ichiro, or sometimes even thought of him.

"Ichiro...I can't wait."

Ikebukuro

Ichiro hung up his cellphone, feeling happier than usual now that he actually talked to his Crush after what seemed like such a long time since the concert ended. "Oh god yes! I did it!" He said as he walked out his room, only to catch Jiro and Saburo by his door. "Ah! How long have you two been standing there? You two know it's wrong to eavesdrop." Ichiro said, almost scolding them for it.

"We're sorry Ichi-Nii." Jiro said. "It was kinda funny the way you were flirting though. Do you need lessons on it or something?"

"Easy for you to say, you haven't even scored a girl in your life!" Saburo said, making fun of Jiro.

"Pfft. What does a stupid kid like you know about romance, anyways?" Jiro taunted, sticking his tongue out.

"Aside from that, Did you ask Jyushi out yet, Ichi-Nii?" asked Saburo.

"No." Ichiro said, sighing. "I just decided to call him just to catch up on some stuff. I want to, but starting a relationship just takes some time, y'know?"

"You still love him though, right? Seems like he feels the same about you, doesn't he?" the youngest Yamada asked.

"Of course I do. I'm sure he probably does too, but like...I don't know…" Ichiro walked out of the hall. The two younger brothers looked at each other in confusion, then followed Ichiro.

Ichiro sat down on his desk, too many thoughts going through his head not knowing what to do. Jiro and Saburo walked into the office. "If you love him so much, why dontcha just confess to him?" Jiro asked. "I just told you guys, Jiro. Plus, it's not as simple as you think. I don't wanna rush into our relationship." Ichiro said, sighing, getting up to pace around the room. "Besides, It'd be much easier to confess to him if he lived near here. It's like 2 or 4 hours away where he lives. I wouldn't really have much time then."

"I mean, yeah, but eventually you gotta confess right?" Saburo asked.

"Yeah. But this isn't a movie, Saburo, this is real life." Ichiro replied. "I'm making Dinner tonight. I don't have time for this right now…"

"O-ok, Nii-Chan." Jiro said as the two left their older brother alone with his thoughts.

As Ichiro was making dinner, he was thinking about Jyushi. Of course he'd love to keep their relationship long distance for now, but he really couldn't wait to spend some time with him again. It was almost like he actually found his soulmate. If only he knew how to confess how he feels, and when.

Somewhere in Nagoya, as he was listening to his music in his room, Jyushi was pondering the same, wondering if the Green and Red eyed young man really liked him back or not.

Still, neither of them could muster up the courage to say just how much they loved each other.