Aiba/Jun - The Game We Play, chapter 16 of 22
The Game We Play
Pairings: Aiba Masaki/Matsumoto Jun, Ninomiya Kazunari/Sakurai Sho, Ohno Satoshi/Ikuta Toma, Tegoshi Yuuya/Masuda Takahisa
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romance, Drama, AU
Summary: Four princes of JE academy were bored with their always-the-same lives. So they decided to play a game that will change their life forever.
A/N: It's a complete AU, means all the characters have different personality from their real life version. It's my challenge to see whether I can get it to work. And because I love Aiba/Jun so much I have to write
something about them. In this fic, Aiba is a real jerk (but a softie at heart) and an animal lover, Jun CAN actually sing, Nino is the playboy with bitter past, Sho CAN actually draw, and Ohno is not quiet. Other than that, enjoy the story!
Previous: Prologue | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15
Chapter 16
Tegoshi was curious when he saw Aiba exited the backstage with Jun in tow. Aiba was nervous as Tegoshi could see because Aiba had his eyebrows knitted together. It was Aiba’s habit whenever he got nervous. He always did that without realizing it himself. Tegoshi wondered what could have happened to his friend, so he decided to follow them.
Only so, he was surprised when he heard those three words uttered by no other than his best friend.
“I love you.”
Tegoshi was confused. Why did Aiba confess to Jun? Tegoshi was sure that Aiba haven’t forfeited for the challenge and that-
Realizations suddenly hit him. Was this Aiba’s way of making Jun to say those words to him too, by confessing to him? If that’s really the case Aiba Masaki was just a total mean! Unable to help it anymore, Tegoshi burst inside the empty classroom startling Aiba and Jun. Aiba still had his hand and Jun’s wrist, holding it tightly.
“Oi, Aiba Masaki! I didn’t know that you were so mean!” Tegoshi blurted out. He was really angry. “I know that you wanted to win the challenge, but this is not how you play it! Even my playboy cousin is better than you. At least he didn’t say a lie to his target!”
Tegoshi failed to register the anger in Aiba’s expression or Jun’s shocked gasp that echoed in the classroom. He was still rambling about how Aiba shouldn’t play dirty just to win a challenge.
“For God’s sake, Masaki, it’s just a challenge! You shouldn’t go this far and crushed Matsumoto-san’s heart just for the sake of your stupid pride!”
He ended his speech with a glare directed to his friend but quickly took it back when he saw the hurt in Aiba’s expression. “What the-”
“So this is all just a challenge?” Jun suddenly spoke.
Tegoshi was startled to hear Jun’s voice. He almost forgot that Jun was also in there. And he just realized what he’d just done. He gulped and looked at Aiba but his friend didn’t even look at him right now. His attention focused fully on Jun, while the shorter man looked up at Aiba with a surprisingly calm expression.
“So, you’re being nice to me, cheering me, and confessed to me because you wanted to win a challenge?” Jun asked again and got no response from Aiba. The boy was frozen like a statue. “Is that true, Aiba-san?”
“No.” Finally, Aiba managed to say something. “No, it’s not like that. Jun, please hear me-”
“A challenge, huh?” Jun loosened the hold of Aiba’s hand on his wrist and stepped away from the boy. “So all the nice things you did to me were just an act to lure me to fall in love with you?”
“Jun, please-“
Once again Jun ignored Aiba’s attempt at explaining and instead he went out with his speech. “I guess I have to give you an award then. You are a very good actor, Aiba-san. I believed all your lies and fell for it.”
“No. Please, let me-”
“Say, Tegoshi Yuuya-san.” Jun turned to Tegoshi, effectively ignoring Aiba’s plea. “What’s the rule of this challenge?”
Tegoshi looked at Aiba to seek for an advice but his friend only had his eyes on Jun, though the latter was staring blankly at Tegoshi. Nervous at the look Jun gave him, Tegoshi blurted out everything. “We-well, this challenge would end if our targets say ‘I Love You’ to us. And we also have to record it or it wouldn’t be void.”
“I see.” Jun calmly said as he faced Aiba. “So you want me to say those words to you so bad until you have to lie to me that you like me?”
“No! It’s not like that! Jun, please-”
“I love you.”
Aiba froze the moment he heard those words coming out of Jun’s mouth. No, no, no! This could not be happening! Panicked, he tried to grab Jun’s hand again to make Jun listened to his explanation, but to no avail. Jun’s eyes were hard and cold, his smile distant and didn’t even reach his eyes. Aiba never wanted to kill someone as badly right now for he wanted to kill Tegoshi for saying stupid things at the wrong time.
“Jun-”
“Congratulation for winning the challenge, Aiba Masaki-san. I’m sure that you’re happy right now. Or you need me to record it for you?”
Aiba shook his head hard, trying to make Jun listened to him. “Jun, please. It’s not like how it sounded. Let me explain and you will understand.”
“But what to do? I don’t want to listen to your lies anymore. So save it for your other prey because I’m sick of you already.”
Jun shoved Aiba away from him and Aiba tumbled backwards, his mind still slowly processing what Jun just said to him. Jun didn’t want to listen to him anymore? Jun was sick of him already?
He didn’t even realize that he had fallen onto the ground until Tegoshi sat down beside him on the floor, hugged him while muttering his apologize all the time. But Aiba didn’t really care about Tegoshi or his apology right now. What mattered was Jun.
That’s when Aiba finally understood what Jun had said before he walked out of the classroom leaving him behind with Tegoshi. Jun didn’t want to see him anymore. Jun hated him.
Hot tears rolled down his pale cheeks without him even to realize it. He didn’t know that being hated by someone you love could be this hurting. Aiba could even barely breathe as the tears keep on flowing and Tegoshi still hugging him tightly, like he’s afraid of letting go of him.
As the last image of Jun smiling shyly at him, holding the bouquet of tulips that he’d given the boy before, when Jun was still fond of him and still believed in him, when everything was fluffy and right for him, and when Jun was still looking at him with adoration in his crystal-like eyes, Aiba’s mind blackened out and he fainted right into Tegoshi’s arms, not hearing his friend’s voice calling for his name. All he could hear was Jun’s voice when he sang ‘One Love’ on stage.
Even if it were a hundred years past, I swear my love: You are my everything.
+++
Ryo went to the backstage right after he bid his goodbye to his little brother and soon-to-be lover to find the singer that he’d admired and possibly had fallen in love with. But no matter how hard he searched, the singer was nowhere in sight.
Ryo sighed. How could someone vanish so quickly like that? Where was he anyway?
Feeling a bit tired after searching for more than an hour, Ryo decided that he should rest a bit. He went to the back of the school because it was less noisy. He wanted to relax his sore feet so that he could search for that person again after he regained his energy.
Shockingly, he saw the person he wanted to see, was sitting in the middle of a garden surrounded by green grass, his eyes red probably from crying. That person was shocked too to see him there and he quickly covered his face while he stood up, ready to leave the garden. Ryo quickly grabbed the man’s hand to stop him from leaving.
“Wait!” Tightening his grip on the other’s wrist, Ryo was afraid that this person would go away and vanish again like before, so he held tighter. “Wait. I want to talk to you.”
Jun froze. Why did this person wanted to talk to him? Was he some scary attacker that wanted to do something bad to him? He tried to free his wrist from the man’s tight grip but to no avail. Angry, Jun spun around to face the other to confront him.
“Let me go, please.”
He still sounded angelic even though he’s only talking, Ryo thought to himself. He was really captivated by this man who not only had heavenly voice when singing but also when he talked.
“I’m Nishikido Ryo.” He introduced himself, still not loosening his grip on the other’s wrist. “I fell in love with you the moment I heard you sang, so that’s why I want to talk to you to know you better.”
Jun stared at the man in front of him in shock. Was this man crazy or something? Who suddenly declared his love to someone just like that? And Jun was sure that he never seen this person around JE academy before or he would know. No one could miss this gorgeous person.
“I’m flattered that you like my singing, but I don’t appreciate that you say you love me out of the blue like this.” Jun said. He still remembered Aiba’s confession to him which turned to be a lie just to win a stupid challenge. Hearing someone else saying those words to him made him felt sad all over again, and he thought that he had cried enough for today.
“But that’s true. I fell in love with you after I hear you singing.” Ryo answered honestly. “I don’t like to lie so believe me, what I’ve said to you is the truth.”
“Sorry, but I have a hard time trusting someone today. It’s more than enough to be lied at once a day.” Jun tried to pull his hand away from the man’s grip, and this time the other released me. He turned to walk away when the other’s voice stopped him.
“I never lie. You have to believe me for that.”
Jun heard the sincerity in those words but he didn’t know whether he should try to believe again because he’s afraid to get hurt. Being played by Aiba was bad enough for his heart to handle. He would not let a mere stranger to leave him crushed twice.
“Like I said, I don’t believe anyone anymore. So leave me alone.”
With that final word, Jun walked away again only to be stopped by a hand that suddenly grabbed his, spinning him around and he found himself being kissed.
He’s being kissed by a stranger.
Shocked, Jun shove the man away from him. The man did fall backwards and Jun wondered just how many people he would have to push today. First was Aiba and now this man.
“What are you doing!?”
The man on the ground just grinned at him, not even look a bit hurt to the fact that he was being pushed by someone shorter than him. He stood up from the grass so gracefully, dusting the dirt off of his pants, his eyes still staring intently at Jun.
“I already said it to you that I’m serious but you didn’t believe me.” The man answered with a grin still on his face.
“So you have to kiss me to prove that?” Jun was highly annoyed at this stranger. How could he be so rude toward a person he had just met? First he was confessing his love then now he kissed him!
The man shrugged. “I don’t have any other choice.”
Jun wanted to say that there were lots of choices he could take but decided not to. It’s not worth it having an argument with a crazy stranger who suddenly confessed and kissed him. Jun thought he better leave before this stranger did something even more dreadful to him than kissing him.
Before he could walk away, the person stopped him again with his words, “I really love you, my singing angel. And I’ll prove it to you that I’m serious.”
Suddenly afraid that this stranger was a stalker or even worse a maniac, Jun fled from the back garden so quickly he almost run out of breathe when he reached the safety of his dorm.
While Ryo who was still in the back garden, still grinning cheerfully. He couldn’t believe in his luck for not only able to see and talk to his singing angel, he also had a taste of him by kissing him, even though only for a mere second. Ryo promised to himself though that he would make that beautiful singing angel as his soon.
“I’m not going to let you go. Ever.”
That was his vow.
++++
Ohno had to rush to the west dorm with Toma in tow after he heard that Aiba had fainted and that Tegoshi had brought him back to his room with the help of Masuda. He didn’t know what had happened because Aiba had never fainted before, not even when his work was so hectic he couldn’t sleep for a week. So Ohno was a bit worried to hear that Aiba had actually fainted from a reason that was still unknown.
Ohno immediately opened the door to the west dorm upon arriving and was greeted by an ugly sight of Tegoshi and Masuda shouting at each other. Masuda was facing the door so Ohno could see just how angry Masuda was and Masuda was rarely angry, while Tegoshi stand opposite Masuda so only his back could be seen.
“Why are you so stupid, Tegoshi! Couldn’t you please shut up your mouth for a while!?”
“It’s not my fault! I didn’t know that Masaki did really want to confess to Matsumoto-san!”
“How could you not know? Wasn’t it obvious already that he loved Jun!?”
“But he said he still wanted to continue the challenge! I think that it’s his way to play his game and I only wanted to stop it!
“You and your stupid challenge! I’m sick of it already! Now you’ve gotten Jun into this state, who will be the next target? Sho? Or maybe even Toma, that nice journalist guy!?”
“I’m not- Oh my God, Ohno, Toma!”
Masuda’s head spun so fast Ohno though the boy would break it. But honestly, that’s not Ohno concern for the moment. The little gasp that Toma let out when he heard his name being called was enough to make Ohno forget that there were other people inside the dorm.
He kissed Toma hard to make the boy forget everything because he knew he had that kind of effect to Toma and was glad that he was proven right when Toma melted inside his arms. Ohno broke the kiss and turned to Tegoshi, giving his friend a deathly glare before he dragged Toma upstairs to his room.
Locking the door behind him and throw the key somewhere in the corner of his room just to make sure that Toma couldn’t get away from him, he threw the boy on the bed as he pinned Toma down onto the bed with his weight, not letting the boy go.
“Do not say anything and listen to me.” Ohno said and Toma could only nod. “True, there’s a challenge that we need to play, quite a stupid one, but I admit that I’m interested in playing it. I was bored so I thought, why not? I’ve chosen you as my target, and I only need you to say ‘I Love You’ to me so I could win the challenge.”
“But I have said that to you before-”
“And I’m pretending that I’m not hearing it.” Ohno looked down at Toma, his eyes were sincere and he hoped Toma could see it. “I could win the challenge if I wanted to but I don’t want to. I don’t want to lose you. You mean so much to me.”
“Ohno-”
“I’m serious with what I’ve said, Toma. I’m not playing around.”
Toma sighed. He didn’t know whether he should believe in Ohno or not but he could see in Ohno’s eyes that he was not lying. And if what Ohno had said was true, that he only need Toma to say those three words to him to win the challenge, then maybe, just maybe Ohno really had said the truth. He reached out his hand to touch Ohno’s cheek and smiled when Ohno leaned into his touch, like he’s craving it.
“Why did you tell me about this now?”
Ohno was hesitating for a moment before he uttered his answer. “Like I’ve said, you mean so much to me and I don’t want to lose you. I’m not sure about the feelings I have about you but I know that I want you to be by my side every day.”
Toma was happy to hear those words coming out of Ohno’s mouth. After thinking about his feelings to Ohno for a long time and he even asked for Hikaru’s opinion, Toma had come to the conclusion that he loved Ohno, and he didn’t really know it himself. What Toma knew was that he couldn’t bear being separated by Ohno so he was glad that Ohno confessed to him that he still wanted to be with him even after his duty as Ohno’s assistant for the School Festival was over.
Still, he doubted Ohno’s sincerity, though only for a little bit, because being chosen as someone’s target for a challenge was not that flattering to Toma. Maybe he could test Ohno to see whether he’s really serious with what he’s saying.
Determined, Toma stared at Ohno in the eyes and speak out his mind. “I’m not going to lie and tell you that I didn’t believe in you because I did believe.” When he saw the delight in Ohno’s eyes and that the man reached out his hand to touch him, he stopped it. Ohno couldn’t touch him because he always forgot everything when Ohno touched him. “But you have to proof it to me that you really wanted to be with me. And I have to remind you Ohno-san, I’m not going to be easy.”
Ohno smirked as he stared down at the man beneath him. Seemed like Toma didn’t realize his position yet or he had forgotten all about it, but whatever it was, Ohno’s not going to complain. Pinning Toma down further on the bed, he grinned in satisfaction when Toma’s eyes widened when he realized just how suggestive their position were and tried to push Ohno away as he blushed prettily. Ohno was stronger than him so all Toma’s attempt was futile and he blushed even deeper when Ohno started caressing his arms through his clothes.
“I’ll proof it to you that I’m serious, I swear of that, Han Toma.” Ohno vowed. “But you have to know that I will never let you go even if you asked me to. I’m going to make you mine.”
Toma shivered at the promise he heard in Ohno’s words. He wrapped his arms around Ohno’s neck and whispered, “And I’m not letting you go either. You are mine.”
“If you say so, Toma.”
++++
“They are not going to have a fight like Masaki and Matsumoto-san, right?” Tegoshi asked worriedly as he glanced at Ohno’s room, waiting for a scream or anything to be heard between Ohno and Toma. After several minutes of silence, Tegoshi could finally sighed in relief when he saw that there’s no fight going on between those two. Tegoshi was glad that this time the secret about this challenge didn’t hurt anyone else.
Tegoshi turned to look at his boyfriend but Masuda had stood up from the sofa he had been sitting at the moment ago and prepared to leave the west dorm in search of his best friend.
“Massu, where are you going?”
“I need to look for Jun. I’m worried about him.”
Guilty for making Jun got hurt, Tegoshi let Masuda go. “Say my sorry to him. I don’t mean to hurt him.”
Masuda nodded and stepped out of the west dorm ready to search for his friend, when Tegoshi grabbed his arm. He turned and saw the guilt, the worry and also panic in there. “What happen, Tegoshi?”
“You are coming back, right?” Tegoshi asked, his voice full with worry.
Masuda wanted to pretend that he didn’t understand Tegoshi’s question and said he would come back though he knew better. Tegoshi had hurt his best friend though not intentionally, but still, he couldn’t go and see Tegoshi with smile on his face while he knew that his best friend was hurting.
“I don’t know, Tegoshi.” Masuda answered honestly. “All I know that Jun is hurting right now and I can’t leave his side. I have to be there for him, and it would not help him if I’m with you. He will think of Aiba-san.”
“Massu, I know this is my fault. But please, do not torture me like this.”
The sadness in Tegoshi’s voice almost made Masuda cried. He didn’t want to leave Tegoshi either but until Jun could forget Aiba, which he doubt could be done soon seeing just how infatuated Jun was with the student president, he’d have to be there for Jun, have to comfort his best friend from the hurt he was experiencing right now. Being around Tegoshi would only make Jun even sadder since he’d imagined the days he spent with Aiba.
Masuda shook his sad sadly and take off Tegoshi’s hand of him, feeling like a total jerk for doing that. “I’m really sorry, Tegoshi. But for now, it’s better for us not to meet. Until this matter between Aiba-san and Jun are solved.”
Tegoshi broke down the time Masuda left the west dorm and closed the door behind him. He knew that it’s his own fault, but he couldn’t help the tears that escaped his eyes. He had lost Masuda, he could feel that. This was what his bad feelings had told him before when he felt that something’s going to go wrong.
No, Tegoshi would not let things going this way. He’d fix it even though he had to beg and plea or even kneel down in front of Jun to have him listen to Aiba. After seeing Aiba fainted he knew that Aiba was serious and he’d told Jun about it. He’d told Jun that Aiba really loved him and everything would be better.
And Tegoshi would be with his Massu again. That’s what matter the most to him.
Pairings: Aiba Masaki/Matsumoto Jun, Ninomiya Kazunari/Sakurai Sho, Ohno Satoshi/Ikuta Toma, Tegoshi Yuuya/Masuda Takahisa
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romance, Drama, AU
Summary: Four princes of JE academy were bored with their always-the-same lives. So they decided to play a game that will change their life forever.
A/N: It's a complete AU, means all the characters have different personality from their real life version. It's my challenge to see whether I can get it to work. And because I love Aiba/Jun so much I have to write
something about them. In this fic, Aiba is a real jerk (but a softie at heart) and an animal lover, Jun CAN actually sing, Nino is the playboy with bitter past, Sho CAN actually draw, and Ohno is not quiet. Other than that, enjoy the story!
Previous: Prologue | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15
Chapter 16
Tegoshi was curious when he saw Aiba exited the backstage with Jun in tow. Aiba was nervous as Tegoshi could see because Aiba had his eyebrows knitted together. It was Aiba’s habit whenever he got nervous. He always did that without realizing it himself. Tegoshi wondered what could have happened to his friend, so he decided to follow them.
Only so, he was surprised when he heard those three words uttered by no other than his best friend.
“I love you.”
Tegoshi was confused. Why did Aiba confess to Jun? Tegoshi was sure that Aiba haven’t forfeited for the challenge and that-
Realizations suddenly hit him. Was this Aiba’s way of making Jun to say those words to him too, by confessing to him? If that’s really the case Aiba Masaki was just a total mean! Unable to help it anymore, Tegoshi burst inside the empty classroom startling Aiba and Jun. Aiba still had his hand and Jun’s wrist, holding it tightly.
“Oi, Aiba Masaki! I didn’t know that you were so mean!” Tegoshi blurted out. He was really angry. “I know that you wanted to win the challenge, but this is not how you play it! Even my playboy cousin is better than you. At least he didn’t say a lie to his target!”
Tegoshi failed to register the anger in Aiba’s expression or Jun’s shocked gasp that echoed in the classroom. He was still rambling about how Aiba shouldn’t play dirty just to win a challenge.
“For God’s sake, Masaki, it’s just a challenge! You shouldn’t go this far and crushed Matsumoto-san’s heart just for the sake of your stupid pride!”
He ended his speech with a glare directed to his friend but quickly took it back when he saw the hurt in Aiba’s expression. “What the-”
“So this is all just a challenge?” Jun suddenly spoke.
Tegoshi was startled to hear Jun’s voice. He almost forgot that Jun was also in there. And he just realized what he’d just done. He gulped and looked at Aiba but his friend didn’t even look at him right now. His attention focused fully on Jun, while the shorter man looked up at Aiba with a surprisingly calm expression.
“So, you’re being nice to me, cheering me, and confessed to me because you wanted to win a challenge?” Jun asked again and got no response from Aiba. The boy was frozen like a statue. “Is that true, Aiba-san?”
“No.” Finally, Aiba managed to say something. “No, it’s not like that. Jun, please hear me-”
“A challenge, huh?” Jun loosened the hold of Aiba’s hand on his wrist and stepped away from the boy. “So all the nice things you did to me were just an act to lure me to fall in love with you?”
“Jun, please-“
Once again Jun ignored Aiba’s attempt at explaining and instead he went out with his speech. “I guess I have to give you an award then. You are a very good actor, Aiba-san. I believed all your lies and fell for it.”
“No. Please, let me-”
“Say, Tegoshi Yuuya-san.” Jun turned to Tegoshi, effectively ignoring Aiba’s plea. “What’s the rule of this challenge?”
Tegoshi looked at Aiba to seek for an advice but his friend only had his eyes on Jun, though the latter was staring blankly at Tegoshi. Nervous at the look Jun gave him, Tegoshi blurted out everything. “We-well, this challenge would end if our targets say ‘I Love You’ to us. And we also have to record it or it wouldn’t be void.”
“I see.” Jun calmly said as he faced Aiba. “So you want me to say those words to you so bad until you have to lie to me that you like me?”
“No! It’s not like that! Jun, please-”
“I love you.”
Aiba froze the moment he heard those words coming out of Jun’s mouth. No, no, no! This could not be happening! Panicked, he tried to grab Jun’s hand again to make Jun listened to his explanation, but to no avail. Jun’s eyes were hard and cold, his smile distant and didn’t even reach his eyes. Aiba never wanted to kill someone as badly right now for he wanted to kill Tegoshi for saying stupid things at the wrong time.
“Jun-”
“Congratulation for winning the challenge, Aiba Masaki-san. I’m sure that you’re happy right now. Or you need me to record it for you?”
Aiba shook his head hard, trying to make Jun listened to him. “Jun, please. It’s not like how it sounded. Let me explain and you will understand.”
“But what to do? I don’t want to listen to your lies anymore. So save it for your other prey because I’m sick of you already.”
Jun shoved Aiba away from him and Aiba tumbled backwards, his mind still slowly processing what Jun just said to him. Jun didn’t want to listen to him anymore? Jun was sick of him already?
He didn’t even realize that he had fallen onto the ground until Tegoshi sat down beside him on the floor, hugged him while muttering his apologize all the time. But Aiba didn’t really care about Tegoshi or his apology right now. What mattered was Jun.
That’s when Aiba finally understood what Jun had said before he walked out of the classroom leaving him behind with Tegoshi. Jun didn’t want to see him anymore. Jun hated him.
Hot tears rolled down his pale cheeks without him even to realize it. He didn’t know that being hated by someone you love could be this hurting. Aiba could even barely breathe as the tears keep on flowing and Tegoshi still hugging him tightly, like he’s afraid of letting go of him.
As the last image of Jun smiling shyly at him, holding the bouquet of tulips that he’d given the boy before, when Jun was still fond of him and still believed in him, when everything was fluffy and right for him, and when Jun was still looking at him with adoration in his crystal-like eyes, Aiba’s mind blackened out and he fainted right into Tegoshi’s arms, not hearing his friend’s voice calling for his name. All he could hear was Jun’s voice when he sang ‘One Love’ on stage.
Even if it were a hundred years past, I swear my love: You are my everything.
+++
Ryo went to the backstage right after he bid his goodbye to his little brother and soon-to-be lover to find the singer that he’d admired and possibly had fallen in love with. But no matter how hard he searched, the singer was nowhere in sight.
Ryo sighed. How could someone vanish so quickly like that? Where was he anyway?
Feeling a bit tired after searching for more than an hour, Ryo decided that he should rest a bit. He went to the back of the school because it was less noisy. He wanted to relax his sore feet so that he could search for that person again after he regained his energy.
Shockingly, he saw the person he wanted to see, was sitting in the middle of a garden surrounded by green grass, his eyes red probably from crying. That person was shocked too to see him there and he quickly covered his face while he stood up, ready to leave the garden. Ryo quickly grabbed the man’s hand to stop him from leaving.
“Wait!” Tightening his grip on the other’s wrist, Ryo was afraid that this person would go away and vanish again like before, so he held tighter. “Wait. I want to talk to you.”
Jun froze. Why did this person wanted to talk to him? Was he some scary attacker that wanted to do something bad to him? He tried to free his wrist from the man’s tight grip but to no avail. Angry, Jun spun around to face the other to confront him.
“Let me go, please.”
He still sounded angelic even though he’s only talking, Ryo thought to himself. He was really captivated by this man who not only had heavenly voice when singing but also when he talked.
“I’m Nishikido Ryo.” He introduced himself, still not loosening his grip on the other’s wrist. “I fell in love with you the moment I heard you sang, so that’s why I want to talk to you to know you better.”
Jun stared at the man in front of him in shock. Was this man crazy or something? Who suddenly declared his love to someone just like that? And Jun was sure that he never seen this person around JE academy before or he would know. No one could miss this gorgeous person.
“I’m flattered that you like my singing, but I don’t appreciate that you say you love me out of the blue like this.” Jun said. He still remembered Aiba’s confession to him which turned to be a lie just to win a stupid challenge. Hearing someone else saying those words to him made him felt sad all over again, and he thought that he had cried enough for today.
“But that’s true. I fell in love with you after I hear you singing.” Ryo answered honestly. “I don’t like to lie so believe me, what I’ve said to you is the truth.”
“Sorry, but I have a hard time trusting someone today. It’s more than enough to be lied at once a day.” Jun tried to pull his hand away from the man’s grip, and this time the other released me. He turned to walk away when the other’s voice stopped him.
“I never lie. You have to believe me for that.”
Jun heard the sincerity in those words but he didn’t know whether he should try to believe again because he’s afraid to get hurt. Being played by Aiba was bad enough for his heart to handle. He would not let a mere stranger to leave him crushed twice.
“Like I said, I don’t believe anyone anymore. So leave me alone.”
With that final word, Jun walked away again only to be stopped by a hand that suddenly grabbed his, spinning him around and he found himself being kissed.
He’s being kissed by a stranger.
Shocked, Jun shove the man away from him. The man did fall backwards and Jun wondered just how many people he would have to push today. First was Aiba and now this man.
“What are you doing!?”
The man on the ground just grinned at him, not even look a bit hurt to the fact that he was being pushed by someone shorter than him. He stood up from the grass so gracefully, dusting the dirt off of his pants, his eyes still staring intently at Jun.
“I already said it to you that I’m serious but you didn’t believe me.” The man answered with a grin still on his face.
“So you have to kiss me to prove that?” Jun was highly annoyed at this stranger. How could he be so rude toward a person he had just met? First he was confessing his love then now he kissed him!
The man shrugged. “I don’t have any other choice.”
Jun wanted to say that there were lots of choices he could take but decided not to. It’s not worth it having an argument with a crazy stranger who suddenly confessed and kissed him. Jun thought he better leave before this stranger did something even more dreadful to him than kissing him.
Before he could walk away, the person stopped him again with his words, “I really love you, my singing angel. And I’ll prove it to you that I’m serious.”
Suddenly afraid that this stranger was a stalker or even worse a maniac, Jun fled from the back garden so quickly he almost run out of breathe when he reached the safety of his dorm.
While Ryo who was still in the back garden, still grinning cheerfully. He couldn’t believe in his luck for not only able to see and talk to his singing angel, he also had a taste of him by kissing him, even though only for a mere second. Ryo promised to himself though that he would make that beautiful singing angel as his soon.
“I’m not going to let you go. Ever.”
That was his vow.
++++
Ohno had to rush to the west dorm with Toma in tow after he heard that Aiba had fainted and that Tegoshi had brought him back to his room with the help of Masuda. He didn’t know what had happened because Aiba had never fainted before, not even when his work was so hectic he couldn’t sleep for a week. So Ohno was a bit worried to hear that Aiba had actually fainted from a reason that was still unknown.
Ohno immediately opened the door to the west dorm upon arriving and was greeted by an ugly sight of Tegoshi and Masuda shouting at each other. Masuda was facing the door so Ohno could see just how angry Masuda was and Masuda was rarely angry, while Tegoshi stand opposite Masuda so only his back could be seen.
“Why are you so stupid, Tegoshi! Couldn’t you please shut up your mouth for a while!?”
“It’s not my fault! I didn’t know that Masaki did really want to confess to Matsumoto-san!”
“How could you not know? Wasn’t it obvious already that he loved Jun!?”
“But he said he still wanted to continue the challenge! I think that it’s his way to play his game and I only wanted to stop it!
“You and your stupid challenge! I’m sick of it already! Now you’ve gotten Jun into this state, who will be the next target? Sho? Or maybe even Toma, that nice journalist guy!?”
“I’m not- Oh my God, Ohno, Toma!”
Masuda’s head spun so fast Ohno though the boy would break it. But honestly, that’s not Ohno concern for the moment. The little gasp that Toma let out when he heard his name being called was enough to make Ohno forget that there were other people inside the dorm.
He kissed Toma hard to make the boy forget everything because he knew he had that kind of effect to Toma and was glad that he was proven right when Toma melted inside his arms. Ohno broke the kiss and turned to Tegoshi, giving his friend a deathly glare before he dragged Toma upstairs to his room.
Locking the door behind him and throw the key somewhere in the corner of his room just to make sure that Toma couldn’t get away from him, he threw the boy on the bed as he pinned Toma down onto the bed with his weight, not letting the boy go.
“Do not say anything and listen to me.” Ohno said and Toma could only nod. “True, there’s a challenge that we need to play, quite a stupid one, but I admit that I’m interested in playing it. I was bored so I thought, why not? I’ve chosen you as my target, and I only need you to say ‘I Love You’ to me so I could win the challenge.”
“But I have said that to you before-”
“And I’m pretending that I’m not hearing it.” Ohno looked down at Toma, his eyes were sincere and he hoped Toma could see it. “I could win the challenge if I wanted to but I don’t want to. I don’t want to lose you. You mean so much to me.”
“Ohno-”
“I’m serious with what I’ve said, Toma. I’m not playing around.”
Toma sighed. He didn’t know whether he should believe in Ohno or not but he could see in Ohno’s eyes that he was not lying. And if what Ohno had said was true, that he only need Toma to say those three words to him to win the challenge, then maybe, just maybe Ohno really had said the truth. He reached out his hand to touch Ohno’s cheek and smiled when Ohno leaned into his touch, like he’s craving it.
“Why did you tell me about this now?”
Ohno was hesitating for a moment before he uttered his answer. “Like I’ve said, you mean so much to me and I don’t want to lose you. I’m not sure about the feelings I have about you but I know that I want you to be by my side every day.”
Toma was happy to hear those words coming out of Ohno’s mouth. After thinking about his feelings to Ohno for a long time and he even asked for Hikaru’s opinion, Toma had come to the conclusion that he loved Ohno, and he didn’t really know it himself. What Toma knew was that he couldn’t bear being separated by Ohno so he was glad that Ohno confessed to him that he still wanted to be with him even after his duty as Ohno’s assistant for the School Festival was over.
Still, he doubted Ohno’s sincerity, though only for a little bit, because being chosen as someone’s target for a challenge was not that flattering to Toma. Maybe he could test Ohno to see whether he’s really serious with what he’s saying.
Determined, Toma stared at Ohno in the eyes and speak out his mind. “I’m not going to lie and tell you that I didn’t believe in you because I did believe.” When he saw the delight in Ohno’s eyes and that the man reached out his hand to touch him, he stopped it. Ohno couldn’t touch him because he always forgot everything when Ohno touched him. “But you have to proof it to me that you really wanted to be with me. And I have to remind you Ohno-san, I’m not going to be easy.”
Ohno smirked as he stared down at the man beneath him. Seemed like Toma didn’t realize his position yet or he had forgotten all about it, but whatever it was, Ohno’s not going to complain. Pinning Toma down further on the bed, he grinned in satisfaction when Toma’s eyes widened when he realized just how suggestive their position were and tried to push Ohno away as he blushed prettily. Ohno was stronger than him so all Toma’s attempt was futile and he blushed even deeper when Ohno started caressing his arms through his clothes.
“I’ll proof it to you that I’m serious, I swear of that, Han Toma.” Ohno vowed. “But you have to know that I will never let you go even if you asked me to. I’m going to make you mine.”
Toma shivered at the promise he heard in Ohno’s words. He wrapped his arms around Ohno’s neck and whispered, “And I’m not letting you go either. You are mine.”
“If you say so, Toma.”
++++
“They are not going to have a fight like Masaki and Matsumoto-san, right?” Tegoshi asked worriedly as he glanced at Ohno’s room, waiting for a scream or anything to be heard between Ohno and Toma. After several minutes of silence, Tegoshi could finally sighed in relief when he saw that there’s no fight going on between those two. Tegoshi was glad that this time the secret about this challenge didn’t hurt anyone else.
Tegoshi turned to look at his boyfriend but Masuda had stood up from the sofa he had been sitting at the moment ago and prepared to leave the west dorm in search of his best friend.
“Massu, where are you going?”
“I need to look for Jun. I’m worried about him.”
Guilty for making Jun got hurt, Tegoshi let Masuda go. “Say my sorry to him. I don’t mean to hurt him.”
Masuda nodded and stepped out of the west dorm ready to search for his friend, when Tegoshi grabbed his arm. He turned and saw the guilt, the worry and also panic in there. “What happen, Tegoshi?”
“You are coming back, right?” Tegoshi asked, his voice full with worry.
Masuda wanted to pretend that he didn’t understand Tegoshi’s question and said he would come back though he knew better. Tegoshi had hurt his best friend though not intentionally, but still, he couldn’t go and see Tegoshi with smile on his face while he knew that his best friend was hurting.
“I don’t know, Tegoshi.” Masuda answered honestly. “All I know that Jun is hurting right now and I can’t leave his side. I have to be there for him, and it would not help him if I’m with you. He will think of Aiba-san.”
“Massu, I know this is my fault. But please, do not torture me like this.”
The sadness in Tegoshi’s voice almost made Masuda cried. He didn’t want to leave Tegoshi either but until Jun could forget Aiba, which he doubt could be done soon seeing just how infatuated Jun was with the student president, he’d have to be there for Jun, have to comfort his best friend from the hurt he was experiencing right now. Being around Tegoshi would only make Jun even sadder since he’d imagined the days he spent with Aiba.
Masuda shook his sad sadly and take off Tegoshi’s hand of him, feeling like a total jerk for doing that. “I’m really sorry, Tegoshi. But for now, it’s better for us not to meet. Until this matter between Aiba-san and Jun are solved.”
Tegoshi broke down the time Masuda left the west dorm and closed the door behind him. He knew that it’s his own fault, but he couldn’t help the tears that escaped his eyes. He had lost Masuda, he could feel that. This was what his bad feelings had told him before when he felt that something’s going to go wrong.
No, Tegoshi would not let things going this way. He’d fix it even though he had to beg and plea or even kneel down in front of Jun to have him listen to Aiba. After seeing Aiba fainted he knew that Aiba was serious and he’d told Jun about it. He’d told Jun that Aiba really loved him and everything would be better.
And Tegoshi would be with his Massu again. That’s what matter the most to him.