~♥~Fifth Complex~♥~
Title: Stepbrother Complex {5/8}
Author: Jen
Pairings: TakaYama & Takanoo & InooDai & Chiitaro & others
Genre: Fluff/Romance & Slight Angst?
Rating: PG
Words: 2245
Summary: Some siblings are close... but sometimes they can be even closer~
Notes: Day 5 of your present thingy!
I guess you could say... this ish the climax? xDDD *shrugs*
For the first part of this chapter, Yama-chan is based on meh. xP
As for Chiitaro, they're the best friends you could ever have. xD In my own opinion... *dreams of having best friends like that* xD
Comments are really appreciated! xD I... don't... FLAIL! Wait... yes I do... *forbidden to say word*
Disclaimer: ASDKLFJASKLDF THANK YOU FUYUMI FOR TAKAYAMA FANART. ;______;
"Tadaima..." Yamada called out softly.
"Okaeri!" Takaki chirped, walking over and giving his hair an affectionate ruffle.
"A-anou... I-I... w-want... to... t-tell... y-you... someth-thing..." Yamada stuttered. He felt his heart beating hard against his chest. He couldn't help but be extremely nervous. His body wanted to leave but his heart made him stay in place. He had to do this.
"Ryo-chan? What is it? Are you alright?" Takaki asked with concerned eyes.
Yamada took a deep breath. He felt like hyperventilating already... it was already too stressful for him... He was definitely having second thoughts about this... his breaths started to come out rapid as he tried to calm down his heart along with the butterflies in his stomach.
"Ne... you don't have to tell me..." Takaki murmured, taking his hands into his own. He stroked it with his thumb, trying to soothe the younger boy.
"N-no... I... h-have to... s-say it..." Yamada managed to gasp out. He felt tears threatening to come out. This was just too hard...
"Ryo-chan... tell me when you're ready. I can wait... I'm just glad... that you're making an effort to tell me what's going on... and I'll always be here..." Takaki embraced him as Yamada shook, trying to to hold in his tears. "You can cry... in front of me... no one else is here... so let it out... don't hold your feelings back... please..."
Yamada hiccuped as his tears dampened Takaki's shirt, clutching onto him. After a while of crying, Yamada pulled away and looked at Takaki's worried face. He already felt so guilty... The older boy leaned in slowly, kissing his upper cheekbone, removing the tear that fell. Yamada closed his eyes as Takaki planted kisses along where the tears rolled down even at the corner of his lips. "You don't know how much it pains me seeing you like this..." Takaki mumbled in between.
"I..." Yamada squeaked out softly. "I... l-li... I... li-"
A door shut close, startling both of them.
Their parents came in with a bunch of luggage. "We're ba- Ryosuke?" They saw Yamada's red, puffy eyes and wet face.
Yamada buried himself in Takaki's clothes, clinging onto him.
"What's wrong?" Takaki's dad questioned.
"Did Yuya bully you? Because I swear I'll punish hi-" Yamada's mom got cut off when their dad gave her a look.
"Mmm... okaeri... mom and dad... And don't worry about Ryo-chan... I'll handle it..." Takaki assured them, picking up the younger boy, and carrying him to his room.
Yamada felt himself being dropped onto the bed gently and his tears continued. He had his chance... and now it was interrupted... why was Kami-sama so evil? Just when he had the courage... his throat felt dry as he covered his eyes with his arm.
Takaki slung an arm around his waist, pulling Yamada closer. Eventually he drifted off to sleep with Takaki's comforting words as the last thing he remembered hearing...
---------------------------
Yamada woke up and stared up at the ceiling. His eyes hurt from crying the day before and he rolled over to his side. He could hear the conversations that were occurring outside his door.
"Ne mom, I'm going out," Takaki said.
"With who, Yuya?" his mom asked.
"You should know who already... I told you before."
His mom made a clicking noise. "Oh that girly boyfriend of yours called... uhh... Inoki? Nikki? Keiko?"
"Mooom... it's Inoo Kei. I don't get why you can't remember his name. It's like you don't like him or something."
She didn't say anything for a moment. "It's not like I don't like him... It's just... I don't know. I guess I thought you would be going out with someone else."
"Eh? Who?"
"No one... I'm getting a bit old nowadays. Hurry up. Won't you be late for your date?"
"I have to check up on Ryo-chan before I go."
Yamada heard footsteps shuffling closer and sat up against the headboard.
"Ryo-chan, you're awake." Takaki smiled as he sat down at the edge of the bed. "Feeling better?"
Yamada nodded and looked down at the ichigo blankets.
"Well, I have to go now. I'll be back soon." Takaki was about to stand up when Yamada took a hold of the hem of his jacket.
"D-don't g-go..." Yamada whispered ever so softly.
"Ryo-chan... I promise that I'll be back. I don't want to keep Kei waiting."
"Please d-don't go..." Yamada begged.
Takaki covered Yamada's hand and gently pried it off. "I promise... okay?"
"I... l-like... y-y... you..." Yamada managed to stammer out, fidgeting. He finally said it... finally confessed... his heart seemed a lot lighter.
Takaki pat Yamada's head. "Ne, I like you, too. That was kinda obvious anyways."
Yamada felt dejected and shook his head furiously. "N-not in that way... I like you as in... more than a friend... more than a brother..." He grabbed onto the sheets.
"What do you mean by 'more than a brother'?" Takaki looked confused.
"I like you... the way you like Inoo Kei!" he exclaimed. "I... I'm in l-love with y-you..." he trailed off, raising his head.
"Ryo-chan... you're not in love with me... you have to differentiate between family love and-"
"I know the difference, Takaki-kun... I like you... and I know that for sure... and I say that... with all my heart..." Yamada said.
He avoided Yamada's eyes. "I... I'm sorry... Ryo-chan... I can't feel the same way... I can't return your feelings... I can only think of you... as my little brother..."
Yamada bit his bottom lip as tears flowed out of his eyes again. "I... s-see..." His voice cracked as he broke down and sobbed. He had this tiny hope that Takaki somehow felt the same way. But now... his heart was wrenching painfully from the rejection... He could tell Takaki tried his best to say it nicely... and that the older boy felt guilty. "Th-that... was... wh-what... I... w-wanted... to... s-say... yesterd-day..." he explained in between hiccups. "I... und-ders-stand... so... don't... w-worry about... me..." Yamada looked at Takaki and gave a forced, bitter smile while tears dripped onto the covers. He saw Takaki's hand reaching out for him and exclaimed, "Don't t-touch me... I... want to be alone... so go... to your d-date.... n-nii-chan... T-Taka-nii-chan..." He never knew that saying Takaki's name... could be so painful...
Takaki left and closed the door shut.
He knew that Takaki couldn't comfort him... not this time...
---------------------------
"Yuya... YUYA!" Inoo waved in front of Takaki's face.
"Oh... Kei... what?"
"This is like the tenth time you've been out of it. I know something is wrong. What happened?" Inoo sat down on the bench next to Takaki.
"Nothing..."
Inoo rolled his eyes. "How can it be nothing when you keep on bumping into people, almost hitting a pole, walking into a wall, and have on a face like it's the end of the world? It's not fun hanging out with a zombie."
"Sorry..." he mumbled, leaning back against the hard wood.
"It's Yamada-kun isn't it?"
Takaki jolted. "N-no... What makes you say that?"
"Yuya, I've been going out with you for who knows how long. I know you well enough by now. So what happened?"
"He... was crying..." Takaki answered.
Inoo's lips twitched slightly before asking, "D-did... Yamada-kun... confess to you?"
Takaki's eyes grew wide open.
"I'll take that as a yes..." Inoo crossed his legs, staring at the pedestrians walking by.
"How did you know?"
"When I met Yamada-kun for the first time... I knew that... he felt threatened by my presence. I wasn't sure if it was because he had brother complex or something... but it was confirmed... when I saw him with your sweater..."
"Eh?" Takaki raised an eyebrow, looking at Inoo for an answer.
"You know... that sweater you were missing..." Inoo clarified.
"That doesn't mean anything. He could've just taken it since he liked it."
Inoo ran his fingers through his hair. "Have you seen the way he looked at you? How he got red at the slightest touch from you? Or even a compliment?"
Takaki fell silent. He was about to protest when Inoo spoke up. "Yuya... let's break up."
"What?" He frowned in disbelief.
"Let's break up," Inoo repeated.
Panic flashed through Takaki's eyes. "Why? Are you breaking up with me because of Ryo-chan? I like you, Kei..."
"I like you, too... but... there's someone else you like more... and I know it's not me."
"Wait... what exactly are you implying?"
Inoo smiled. "I'll miss you... and I hope you figure it out soon."
"Tell me who I supposedly like more."
Inoo shook his head. "Baka... you're so slow aren't you? But then that's part of your charm." He gave a wave and walked away, leaving a baffled Takaki.
Once he was at a good distance away, he took out his phone and dialed a number. "D-Dai-chan... c-can I see you?" Inoo whispered as a tear formed at the corner of his eyes.
---------------------------
"Can I stay here for a few days?" Yamada requested nonchalantly.
"Oh my God! What happened to you, Yama-chan?" Chinen grabbed onto his wrist, leading him to his room.
"I confessed..." Yamada began. "And... got rejected..."
"That bastard... I'm going to kill him for hurting you..."
"Chii... violence isn't the answer." Ryutaro sighed, throwing the manga to the side. "Yama-chan... you can cry..."
"You can cry..."
"In front of us..." Ryutaro looked at him with assurance.
"In front of me..."
"My parents are at work so no one is here except us..." Chinen chirped, rubbing Yamada's back.
"No one else is here..."
"You can let it all out..." Ryutaro added.
"So let it out..."
"No need to hold back your feelings..." Chinen said.
"Don't hold your feelings back... please..."
Yamada's eye watered. "Those were... the same words... Takaki-kun said to me..." he murmured through his blurry vision. "I... have been avoiding him for the past few days... but yet... I miss him... I wish we could go back the way we were... confessing... ruined my relationship with him..."
"No, Yama-chan! Takaki-san just looks at you uhh... differently! That's all..." Chinen told him.
Ryutaro mouthed behind Yamada's back to Chinen, "What in the world are you saying?"
Chinen just shrugged.
"Yama-chan... you can't avoid him forever..." Ryutaro frowned, shaking Yamada. "Don't run away. Have you ever thought about... how he feels?"
"Eh?" Yamada sniffled as he took a tissue from Chinen.
"Yama-chan... you're not the only one that's suffering... It must have been hard for Takaki-san... to reject you... he must feel really bad right now..." Ryutaro explained.
Yamada wiped away his tears with the napkin and thought about the look on Takaki's face... he had caught a glimpse of it... and Takaki seemed... hurt...
"I mean... that's what I think..." finished Ryutaro.
Yamada nodded. The thought had never crossed his mind... he was selfish... never realizing how Takaki felt all this time...
"Ne Ryu-chan... when did you become all... kakkoi???" Chinen proceeded in glomping his cute boyfriend.
"I'm changing my mind... about staying here..." Yamada stated, drying up his tears. "Thanks Ryutaro... and Chinen... you've done so much for me..."
"Isn't that what friends are for?" Chinen asked, smiling.
---------------------------
Yamada took a deep breath... He was about to knock on the door when Takaki opened it. He suddenly froze once he saw Takaki. It seemed like a long time since he had seen him... His heart started to do little flips yet it ached each time it did a full 360.
"Ryo-chan?" Takaki called out softly as if afraid he would scare the younger boy away.
Yamada bit his bottom lip as he shifted, looking down on the ground.
"Oh... you must have gotten the wrong door or something..." Takaki chuckled. Yamada could tell that Takaki was forcing it out. How did he not notice... that Takaki was also sad... his eyes were so full of guilt...
The older boy was about to close the door when Yamada whispered, "Wait... Takaki-kun..."
Takaki hesitated as he reluctantly opened the door.
Yamada walked forward and wrapped his arms around Takaki's waist, murmuring, "I... I'm sorry..." He felt Takaki tense up. "Sorry... for troubling you... for avoiding you... for worrying you..."
"It's alright... it was my fault... I-"
"No!" Yamada interrupted, gazing up with determined eyes. "It's me... don't blame yourself, Takaki-kun... Please..."
Takaki seemed like he wanted to say something but said, "Okay..." He finally returned the hug, shifting his weight onto Yamada. "I'm so relieved... I thought you would hate me..."
"I could never hate you, Takaki-kun... never... and there's only one thing I'm not sorry for..." Yamada said.
"What do you mean?" Takaki glanced down.
Yamada smiled. "Liking you... I'll always like you, Takaki-kun..." When in the world did he get all straightforward? "And I know... that you already have Inoo-cha-"
Suddenly Takaki pushed him away. "Ryo-chan... I'm not ready for this..."
"I just wanted to let you know... how I feel... is that bad?" he whispered softly.
"It's just..." Takaki looked beyond uncomfortable. "That... Kei broke up with me..."
Yamada's eyes widened. "Why?" The words slipped out of his mouth.
Takaki didn't say anything and Yamada knew not to pry any further.
"Takaki-kun! Let's go to the park! We haven't been there in forever!" he exclaimed excitedly, jumping up and down.
"Eh?" Takaki looked surprised at the sudden hyperness.
"Come on!" Yamada started to pull on Takaki's sleeve and the older boy just followed. A small grin formed on Takaki's lips behind Yamada's back.
Author: Jen
Pairings: TakaYama & Takanoo & InooDai & Chiitaro & others
Genre: Fluff/Romance & Slight Angst?
Rating: PG
Words: 2245
Summary: Some siblings are close... but sometimes they can be even closer~
Notes: Day 5 of your present thingy!
I guess you could say... this ish the climax? xDDD *shrugs*
For the first part of this chapter, Yama-chan is based on meh. xP
As for Chiitaro, they're the best friends you could ever have. xD In my own opinion... *dreams of having best friends like that* xD
Comments are really appreciated! xD I... don't... FLAIL! Wait... yes I do... *forbidden to say word*
Disclaimer: ASDKLFJASKLDF THANK YOU FUYUMI FOR TAKAYAMA FANART. ;______;
"Tadaima..." Yamada called out softly.
"Okaeri!" Takaki chirped, walking over and giving his hair an affectionate ruffle.
"A-anou... I-I... w-want... to... t-tell... y-you... someth-thing..." Yamada stuttered. He felt his heart beating hard against his chest. He couldn't help but be extremely nervous. His body wanted to leave but his heart made him stay in place. He had to do this.
"Ryo-chan? What is it? Are you alright?" Takaki asked with concerned eyes.
Yamada took a deep breath. He felt like hyperventilating already... it was already too stressful for him... He was definitely having second thoughts about this... his breaths started to come out rapid as he tried to calm down his heart along with the butterflies in his stomach.
"Ne... you don't have to tell me..." Takaki murmured, taking his hands into his own. He stroked it with his thumb, trying to soothe the younger boy.
"N-no... I... h-have to... s-say it..." Yamada managed to gasp out. He felt tears threatening to come out. This was just too hard...
"Ryo-chan... tell me when you're ready. I can wait... I'm just glad... that you're making an effort to tell me what's going on... and I'll always be here..." Takaki embraced him as Yamada shook, trying to to hold in his tears. "You can cry... in front of me... no one else is here... so let it out... don't hold your feelings back... please..."
Yamada hiccuped as his tears dampened Takaki's shirt, clutching onto him. After a while of crying, Yamada pulled away and looked at Takaki's worried face. He already felt so guilty... The older boy leaned in slowly, kissing his upper cheekbone, removing the tear that fell. Yamada closed his eyes as Takaki planted kisses along where the tears rolled down even at the corner of his lips. "You don't know how much it pains me seeing you like this..." Takaki mumbled in between.
"I..." Yamada squeaked out softly. "I... l-li... I... li-"
A door shut close, startling both of them.
Their parents came in with a bunch of luggage. "We're ba- Ryosuke?" They saw Yamada's red, puffy eyes and wet face.
Yamada buried himself in Takaki's clothes, clinging onto him.
"What's wrong?" Takaki's dad questioned.
"Did Yuya bully you? Because I swear I'll punish hi-" Yamada's mom got cut off when their dad gave her a look.
"Mmm... okaeri... mom and dad... And don't worry about Ryo-chan... I'll handle it..." Takaki assured them, picking up the younger boy, and carrying him to his room.
Yamada felt himself being dropped onto the bed gently and his tears continued. He had his chance... and now it was interrupted... why was Kami-sama so evil? Just when he had the courage... his throat felt dry as he covered his eyes with his arm.
Takaki slung an arm around his waist, pulling Yamada closer. Eventually he drifted off to sleep with Takaki's comforting words as the last thing he remembered hearing...
---------------------------
Yamada woke up and stared up at the ceiling. His eyes hurt from crying the day before and he rolled over to his side. He could hear the conversations that were occurring outside his door.
"Ne mom, I'm going out," Takaki said.
"With who, Yuya?" his mom asked.
"You should know who already... I told you before."
His mom made a clicking noise. "Oh that girly boyfriend of yours called... uhh... Inoki? Nikki? Keiko?"
"Mooom... it's Inoo Kei. I don't get why you can't remember his name. It's like you don't like him or something."
She didn't say anything for a moment. "It's not like I don't like him... It's just... I don't know. I guess I thought you would be going out with someone else."
"Eh? Who?"
"No one... I'm getting a bit old nowadays. Hurry up. Won't you be late for your date?"
"I have to check up on Ryo-chan before I go."
Yamada heard footsteps shuffling closer and sat up against the headboard.
"Ryo-chan, you're awake." Takaki smiled as he sat down at the edge of the bed. "Feeling better?"
Yamada nodded and looked down at the ichigo blankets.
"Well, I have to go now. I'll be back soon." Takaki was about to stand up when Yamada took a hold of the hem of his jacket.
"D-don't g-go..." Yamada whispered ever so softly.
"Ryo-chan... I promise that I'll be back. I don't want to keep Kei waiting."
"Please d-don't go..." Yamada begged.
Takaki covered Yamada's hand and gently pried it off. "I promise... okay?"
"I... l-like... y-y... you..." Yamada managed to stammer out, fidgeting. He finally said it... finally confessed... his heart seemed a lot lighter.
Takaki pat Yamada's head. "Ne, I like you, too. That was kinda obvious anyways."
Yamada felt dejected and shook his head furiously. "N-not in that way... I like you as in... more than a friend... more than a brother..." He grabbed onto the sheets.
"What do you mean by 'more than a brother'?" Takaki looked confused.
"I like you... the way you like Inoo Kei!" he exclaimed. "I... I'm in l-love with y-you..." he trailed off, raising his head.
"Ryo-chan... you're not in love with me... you have to differentiate between family love and-"
"I know the difference, Takaki-kun... I like you... and I know that for sure... and I say that... with all my heart..." Yamada said.
He avoided Yamada's eyes. "I... I'm sorry... Ryo-chan... I can't feel the same way... I can't return your feelings... I can only think of you... as my little brother..."
Yamada bit his bottom lip as tears flowed out of his eyes again. "I... s-see..." His voice cracked as he broke down and sobbed. He had this tiny hope that Takaki somehow felt the same way. But now... his heart was wrenching painfully from the rejection... He could tell Takaki tried his best to say it nicely... and that the older boy felt guilty. "Th-that... was... wh-what... I... w-wanted... to... s-say... yesterd-day..." he explained in between hiccups. "I... und-ders-stand... so... don't... w-worry about... me..." Yamada looked at Takaki and gave a forced, bitter smile while tears dripped onto the covers. He saw Takaki's hand reaching out for him and exclaimed, "Don't t-touch me... I... want to be alone... so go... to your d-date.... n-nii-chan... T-Taka-nii-chan..." He never knew that saying Takaki's name... could be so painful...
Takaki left and closed the door shut.
He knew that Takaki couldn't comfort him... not this time...
---------------------------
"Yuya... YUYA!" Inoo waved in front of Takaki's face.
"Oh... Kei... what?"
"This is like the tenth time you've been out of it. I know something is wrong. What happened?" Inoo sat down on the bench next to Takaki.
"Nothing..."
Inoo rolled his eyes. "How can it be nothing when you keep on bumping into people, almost hitting a pole, walking into a wall, and have on a face like it's the end of the world? It's not fun hanging out with a zombie."
"Sorry..." he mumbled, leaning back against the hard wood.
"It's Yamada-kun isn't it?"
Takaki jolted. "N-no... What makes you say that?"
"Yuya, I've been going out with you for who knows how long. I know you well enough by now. So what happened?"
"He... was crying..." Takaki answered.
Inoo's lips twitched slightly before asking, "D-did... Yamada-kun... confess to you?"
Takaki's eyes grew wide open.
"I'll take that as a yes..." Inoo crossed his legs, staring at the pedestrians walking by.
"How did you know?"
"When I met Yamada-kun for the first time... I knew that... he felt threatened by my presence. I wasn't sure if it was because he had brother complex or something... but it was confirmed... when I saw him with your sweater..."
"Eh?" Takaki raised an eyebrow, looking at Inoo for an answer.
"You know... that sweater you were missing..." Inoo clarified.
"That doesn't mean anything. He could've just taken it since he liked it."
Inoo ran his fingers through his hair. "Have you seen the way he looked at you? How he got red at the slightest touch from you? Or even a compliment?"
Takaki fell silent. He was about to protest when Inoo spoke up. "Yuya... let's break up."
"What?" He frowned in disbelief.
"Let's break up," Inoo repeated.
Panic flashed through Takaki's eyes. "Why? Are you breaking up with me because of Ryo-chan? I like you, Kei..."
"I like you, too... but... there's someone else you like more... and I know it's not me."
"Wait... what exactly are you implying?"
Inoo smiled. "I'll miss you... and I hope you figure it out soon."
"Tell me who I supposedly like more."
Inoo shook his head. "Baka... you're so slow aren't you? But then that's part of your charm." He gave a wave and walked away, leaving a baffled Takaki.
Once he was at a good distance away, he took out his phone and dialed a number. "D-Dai-chan... c-can I see you?" Inoo whispered as a tear formed at the corner of his eyes.
---------------------------
"Can I stay here for a few days?" Yamada requested nonchalantly.
"Oh my God! What happened to you, Yama-chan?" Chinen grabbed onto his wrist, leading him to his room.
"I confessed..." Yamada began. "And... got rejected..."
"That bastard... I'm going to kill him for hurting you..."
"Chii... violence isn't the answer." Ryutaro sighed, throwing the manga to the side. "Yama-chan... you can cry..."
"You can cry..."
"In front of us..." Ryutaro looked at him with assurance.
"In front of me..."
"My parents are at work so no one is here except us..." Chinen chirped, rubbing Yamada's back.
"No one else is here..."
"You can let it all out..." Ryutaro added.
"So let it out..."
"No need to hold back your feelings..." Chinen said.
"Don't hold your feelings back... please..."
Yamada's eye watered. "Those were... the same words... Takaki-kun said to me..." he murmured through his blurry vision. "I... have been avoiding him for the past few days... but yet... I miss him... I wish we could go back the way we were... confessing... ruined my relationship with him..."
"No, Yama-chan! Takaki-san just looks at you uhh... differently! That's all..." Chinen told him.
Ryutaro mouthed behind Yamada's back to Chinen, "What in the world are you saying?"
Chinen just shrugged.
"Yama-chan... you can't avoid him forever..." Ryutaro frowned, shaking Yamada. "Don't run away. Have you ever thought about... how he feels?"
"Eh?" Yamada sniffled as he took a tissue from Chinen.
"Yama-chan... you're not the only one that's suffering... It must have been hard for Takaki-san... to reject you... he must feel really bad right now..." Ryutaro explained.
Yamada wiped away his tears with the napkin and thought about the look on Takaki's face... he had caught a glimpse of it... and Takaki seemed... hurt...
"I mean... that's what I think..." finished Ryutaro.
Yamada nodded. The thought had never crossed his mind... he was selfish... never realizing how Takaki felt all this time...
"Ne Ryu-chan... when did you become all... kakkoi???" Chinen proceeded in glomping his cute boyfriend.
"I'm changing my mind... about staying here..." Yamada stated, drying up his tears. "Thanks Ryutaro... and Chinen... you've done so much for me..."
"Isn't that what friends are for?" Chinen asked, smiling.
---------------------------
Yamada took a deep breath... He was about to knock on the door when Takaki opened it. He suddenly froze once he saw Takaki. It seemed like a long time since he had seen him... His heart started to do little flips yet it ached each time it did a full 360.
"Ryo-chan?" Takaki called out softly as if afraid he would scare the younger boy away.
Yamada bit his bottom lip as he shifted, looking down on the ground.
"Oh... you must have gotten the wrong door or something..." Takaki chuckled. Yamada could tell that Takaki was forcing it out. How did he not notice... that Takaki was also sad... his eyes were so full of guilt...
The older boy was about to close the door when Yamada whispered, "Wait... Takaki-kun..."
Takaki hesitated as he reluctantly opened the door.
Yamada walked forward and wrapped his arms around Takaki's waist, murmuring, "I... I'm sorry..." He felt Takaki tense up. "Sorry... for troubling you... for avoiding you... for worrying you..."
"It's alright... it was my fault... I-"
"No!" Yamada interrupted, gazing up with determined eyes. "It's me... don't blame yourself, Takaki-kun... Please..."
Takaki seemed like he wanted to say something but said, "Okay..." He finally returned the hug, shifting his weight onto Yamada. "I'm so relieved... I thought you would hate me..."
"I could never hate you, Takaki-kun... never... and there's only one thing I'm not sorry for..." Yamada said.
"What do you mean?" Takaki glanced down.
Yamada smiled. "Liking you... I'll always like you, Takaki-kun..." When in the world did he get all straightforward? "And I know... that you already have Inoo-cha-"
Suddenly Takaki pushed him away. "Ryo-chan... I'm not ready for this..."
"I just wanted to let you know... how I feel... is that bad?" he whispered softly.
"It's just..." Takaki looked beyond uncomfortable. "That... Kei broke up with me..."
Yamada's eyes widened. "Why?" The words slipped out of his mouth.
Takaki didn't say anything and Yamada knew not to pry any further.
"Takaki-kun! Let's go to the park! We haven't been there in forever!" he exclaimed excitedly, jumping up and down.
"Eh?" Takaki looked surprised at the sudden hyperness.
"Come on!" Yamada started to pull on Takaki's sleeve and the older boy just followed. A small grin formed on Takaki's lips behind Yamada's back.