[Ryoda] Bully in Shining Armor
Title: Bully in Shining Armor
Author: pautami
Pairing: Ryoda (main), PIN (side), Shigeda (friendship)
Genre: Humor, Romance, Fluff
Rating: PG-15
Disclaimer: If I could have any of them, I would. But since I can't, I'll just satisfy myself with writing these stories.
Summary: Ryo is the resident bully along with his best friends, Yamapi and Jin. Tatsuya is a transferee and a perfect target but Ryo is protecting Tatsuya from being bullied instead. Yamapi and Jin got their eyes on Tatsuya more because of that. Plus, they want to find out why Ryo feels like being his knight in shining armor.
A/N: This is a long overdue fic for sanox from the friends fic exchange. Sa-chan, gomen ne. Grandma has been super late. I hope this will make up for it.
I wouldn't be able to finish this if it wasn't for my amazing twin carnationangel
Ueda Tatsuya likes sitting at the back of the class. Only because it offers him distraction when the class is as boring as the one he's currently attending. He watched the professor drone on about dates and names in history that is the least of his interest. After a while though, his focus is shifting and found himself thinking of the things that happened in his last year as a high school student.
He stifled a yawn and pretended to be reading the textbook when in fact, he has already gone into a reminiscent trail of what his life has been the previous year. A year, that in many ways, has changed his life.
*Flashback*
The Ueda family have moved to Osaka that year because when the patriarch of the Ueda clan has kicked the bucket and distributed his assets to his children; the branch in that part of the country was given to the youngest Ueda. And instead of moving back and forth to Tokyo during weekends, he opted to bring the whole family and settle in a new place.
That decision didn’t sit well on his only son who was going on his last year in high school. Ueda Tatsuya doesn’t like the idea of adjusting to a new school on his last year but his father won’t allow him to stay behind.
It’s been a week since they’ve moved into their new home and it will be another couple of weeks before the start of the school year. Unlike his sisters who have settled quite well into the new place, Tatsuya has yet to go out and make friends. So, he plans on going out to acquaint himself around the neighborhood.
“Mama, I’m going out,” he said as he took the juice box from the fridge.
“Yay! Me and Nii-chan are going to the mall,” his 13-year-old sister, Emi, said while clinging on his arm that is not holding the glass of orange juice.
“Sorry Emi, I'm just going out for a walk. Ask Mi-chan to go with you instead or wait for Ai-chan to come home."
Emi pouted but didn’t let go. “But I want to go out with Onii-chan!!!” she whined.
Tatsuya chuckled and pinched both of her sister’s cheeks. “Not working. How about we go out tomorrow instead?" he compromised.
“Yay! Tatsu-niichan is the best!” she said before kissing Tatsuya’s cheeks and going up to her room.
“You spoil her too much,” his mother commented. Tatsuya smiled at his mom with a sheepish smile before kissing her cheeks. “Call if you need to be picked up.” She called out as her only son walk out of the house.
Not really sure where to go, he walked around the block and saw a park. He sat on the bench watching the kids run around the nearby playground.
As he lean back to look up the sky, a passing thought of having a good book to read came to mind. Tatsuya isn’t a loner. In fact, he has plenty of friends; in his old school. But he was naturally shy and doesn't usually make the first move in making friends.
With a sigh, he wondered if he'd be able to make new friends in this unfamiliar surroundings, that is his new home.
His mind started to wander off thinking of his old friends and what he would do if he can’t meet new friends or if the new school turns out to be… not as he expected. Sighing, he stood up and stretched feeling a bit strain on his neck.
"How long have I spaced out this time?" he wondered.
Deciding to continue walking around, he went further down the road and away from their house to a more commercial part of the area. From afar, he saw stores lined up and some restaurants. While walking around, he got an idea to bring Emi here the next day instead of the mall and decided to try out one of the restaurants.
"Okonomiyaki sounds good," he thought as his stomach growled.
He was walking towards an okonomiyaki place when he noticed an elderly woman carrying bags of what seems like groceries walking ahead of him. The bag looks heavy so Tatsuya hastened so that he can help her out. He was an arm’s length away when the said woman swayed and fainted. It’s a good thing his reflex was fast enough and he caught her before she hit the pavement.
“Obaasan! Obaasan!” he tried to nudge her awake but to no avail. Taking out his cellphone, he called for an ambulance.
* * * * *
It was the first day of school and the students are happy to be seeing their old friends after a long vacation. The girls clustered together gossiping about their romances, while the boys are rowdy talking about the escapades they had. Best friends Ryo, Yamapi and Jin are among them. They were together the whole break, but that didn’t stop them from being rowdy when together. And as usual, when the three get together, mischief is bound to happen.
The three were chatting when Ryo noticed their quiet and nerdy classmate, Shige. His nose is buried in thick book, as usual. Smirking, he sashayed towards the oblivious teen and snatched his book away. Yamapi and Jin, who were watching Ryo, guffawed when Shige yelped in surprise.
“Nishikido-kun, can I have my book back?” he pleaded. He learned his lesson that trying to snatch it back from the tanned midget, is bound to have consequences. One consequence in particular, is having Yamapi and Jin trying to pull your arms from their socket as they hold you back.
“I'm just borrowing your book. Don't be so selfish,” Ryo said with a feigned hurt on his face and his two friends nodding behind him.
"Like you could understand even one word in there," Shige retorted.
Ryo glared at him and would have unleashed his poison tongue on the bespectacled boy. Luckily, the bell rang and the homeroom teacher came in. “You’re lucky,” he said before putting the book down on Shige’s head with a bit more force.
After their greeting, the teacher announced that they would have a new classmate and called out the transferee.
Tatsuya, who was standing outside the room, nervously pulled on the lapel of his shirt. He can feel his palms sweating and his heart beating fast. Too many scenarios going through his head: from being laughed at, to being thrown things. When he heard the teacher had announced about him, he grabbed the handle of his book bag tighter and swallowed hard. Taking a deep breath to calm his racing heart, he reached for the door handle with a shaking hand.
When he entered the room, there was a moment of silence before murmurs were heard. He noticed the girls were gaping at him, while the boys gave him a scrutinizing look. Tatsuya knows that he wasn't ugly but still the reaction quite surprised him. He smiled shyly and with reddened cheeks, Tatsuya introduced himself. After the introduction, the teacher pointed to the vacant seat at the back of the room for him to sit on. Noticing his seat mate staring at him, Tatsuya bowed politely which made the other boy look away but not before Tatsuya noticed a slight tint on his cheeks. He shrugged it off and turned to the front of the class.
* * * * *
It didn't take long for Tatsuya to get used to his classes and soon enough, he was acing the exams and topping the class. But being naturally shy, he still hasn't made a lot of friends. With the exception of Shige, who was his lab partner, he doesn't talk to a lot of people. When people found out that their family owned the largest shopping mall in Osaka, some of his classmates looked at him differently. Which he doesn't know why, although he can surmise that they have probably thought he was a snob. Which isn't really the case, he's just simply shy. It even took Shige a few tries before they started talking. Sometimes, he catch his seat mate, Nishikido Ryo, looking at him but since he's not saying anything, Tatsuya didn't have the courage to start up a conversation.
The morning on that day passed by quickly. Uneasy with the way some of his classmates are looking, Tatsuya thought he'd try to eat somewhere else. He usually ate lunch with Shige, but his friend didn't come to school today. Gathering his bento, he went to the rooftop. Glad that the place is empty, he gave a sigh of relief and sat on one of the benches.
Tatsuya received a text message as he was settling down thus not aware that he wasn't really alone at the rooftop. He was startled when he noticed two tall guys standing in front of him.
"Well if it isn't Ueda Tatsuya." one of them said. The other guy laughed as if it's one of the funniest thing he's heard.
"Yes... Can I help you?" Tatsuya asked politely.
Instead of answering, he grabbed Tatsuya's bento.
"Hey! That's my bento!" he protested, standing up trying to grab his bento, but one of the guys pushed him back onto the bench.
"Don't be stingy," the other guy answered. "I'm sure you're rich enough to buy food from the cafeteria."
Before Tatsuya can retort, the door of the rooftop opened. It was his seat mate, who frowned when he saw the two guys with Tatsuya.
"Pi! Jin! What are you doing?" he said in a harsh tone while he walked furiously towards them.
"You see, Ryo-chan, Tatsuya is really nice and shared his bento with us. Right Jin?" Yamapi said.
"Is that true, Ueda-kun?" Ryo asked, turning to Tatsuya.
Seeing the glare of the two taller guy, Tatsuya hesitated before answering. He was surprised when Ryo scowled before facing Yamapi and Jin.
"Nice try, baka! Give it back!" he told the two.
"But Ryo-chan, it looks really delicious," Jin whined looking at the bento with longing eyes.
Ryo grabbed the bento and smacked their heads. "I told you to give it back. I don't want to learn the two of you messing with Ueda-kun," He said before grabbing Tatsuya's hand and taking him back inside.
They were walking down the hallway when Tatsuya stopped, looking at their clasped hands. Ryo frowned when his steps were halted but blushed furiously when he noticed where Tatsuya was looking.
"I-I-I'm sorry," he stuttered, letting go of their hands abruptly.
Tatsuya frowned wondering why his hands felt empty when Ryo let go of his hand but shook his head clear and turned to his seatmate.
"Where are you taking me?" he asked.
"Ah... I... Umm," Ryo cleared his throat.
Not knowing what say, Ryo grabbed Tatsuya's wrist and dragged him down the hallway while silently berating himself for not being able to think of any witty words to say. Ryo initially planned to take Tatsuya to the field behind the school but seeing there were few people along the corridor looking at them oddly, he changed his mind. He's pretty sure what they were thinking, knowing to well what reputation his friends had.
Tatsuya let his curiosity get the best of him and let himself be dragged to wherever Ryo was taking him, not the least afraid. In fact, he kind of found his classmate amusing and cute, especially when he's blushing like that. He was surprised when he found himself inside a classroom and wondered what is going to happen. Before he can even voice out his thoughts, Ryo led him towards a balcony over looking the track and the soccer field.
"You can eat here. Yamapi and Jin won't disturb you. If they ever do again, let me know and I'll deal with those two bakas," Ryo rambled without looking directly towards Tatsuya.
"Why are you so nice to me?" Tatsuya can't help but ask.
"What? I'm not nice. Far from it." Ryo dismissed.
"Then why did you stop your friends from taking my lunch and even showed me a place where I can eat? You even told me, I won't have to worry about them," he replied with a raised eyebrow.
Ryo fidgeted. "Nothing," he said.
Tatsuya shrugged. "If you say so. And since you went out your way to help me, then eat lunch with me?" he said. Now, it was Tatsuya's turn to blush when he realized how forward he sounded. "Wait. What? That only matters when you like someone. He's a classmate. Just a classmate." Tatsuya told himself.
Feeling his heart beating like he ran a marathon, Ryo mumbled something unintelligible before walking out of the classroom. Tatsuya watched his retreating back before turning to his bento.
"What the hell is wrong with me?" Ryo thought as he try to understand why it feels like he swallowed thousands of butterflies. "Why did I just walk out? What's wrong about eating lunch with Ueda-kun?" He mumbles to himself while walking back to their classroom, oblivious to the stares of the people around him.
* * * * *
"Saito-san, Konnichiwa!" Tatsuya greeted the woman at the bus stop. "Let me help you with those." He said, picking up the grocery bags.
"Ah! Ueda-kun, konnichiwa! Classes done for today?" she asked while they start walking towards the restaurant she and her husband runs. He nodded and started telling her a few trivial things of how his day went.
It has been a few months since the time Tatsuya helped the older woman get to the hospital when she passed out. He met her husband and had been invited to the restaurant a few times. The couple, especially the wife, had taken a liking to Tatsuya for being polite and kind in spite of his social status.
"That reminds me, your uniform is the same as that of my grandson. I think you two are about the same age." Saito-san said while they unload the bags. Tatsuya was about to ask the name of her grandson when his phone rang.
"Obaasan, I have to go. My mother says that we have guests coming to dinner tonight." He explained when he got off the phone. "I will come and visit with my sister one of these days." He bowed towards the couple and walked out of the restaurant. He has just turned the street corner when he saw a familiar figure walking towards him.
"Nishikido-san." He greeted him politely but with a smile on his face.
Ryo looked and unconsciously, he put his hand in his stomach, feeling the flutter of butterflies in them.
"Soccer practice?" Tatsuya asked noting Ryo's outfit.
"Yeah." He cleared his throat while a blush starts to creep up his cheeks. "You live around here?"
"A few blocks after the park down the road. I guess you live around here too." He glanced down his watch and saw the time. "Oh! I have to go. I'll see you in school." Tatsuya waved before running towards home.
* * * * *
If Ryo thinks that threatening his best friends to leave Tatsuya alone, he was wrong. Because instead of being scared, the two was curious as to why Ryo wanted to protect the transfer student. They even wondered up to what lengths their best friend will go just to do that.
In the next few weeks, Yamapi and Jin "asked" lunch money from Tatsuya which he give just for the two to leave him in peace. Since taking Tatsuya's lunch money doesn't bother him, much to Yamapi and Jin's frustration, they've decided to play pranks on him. Unfortunately, those plans are usually thwarted by Ryo whose timing, when it comes to Tatsuya, is impeccable.
Still, Tatsuya seems to be oblivious to all of these and of Ryo.
* * * * *
"I don't understand why you still like going to the mall." Tatsuya complained to her younger sister, Misaki, while accompanying her shopping.
"Stop complaining, Nii-chan. At least we're helping Papa's business, ne?" she said with a sweet smile as she put another pair of jeans on Tatsuya's loaded arms. He shook his head as he followed her around picking up dresses.
"Mi-chan," he called out while his sister is in the dressing room. "I'm going around for a bit. Call me when you're done, okay?" He left after he heard her muffled "hai."
He decided to go to the comfort room first before checking out the bookstore on the lower level. He was walking around for a few minutes when he spotted the toilet sign, not realizing the area is currently under renovation.
Tatsuya was in front of the urinal when he heard a moan. At first, he tried to dismiss it as his imagination, but when he heard it again, he decided to look around. He heard rustling of clothes and a soft thump. Following the sound led him to the cubicle at the farthest end and found the door ajar. Thinking that someone must have slipped or in need of help, he pushed the door open. What he saw scarred him for life. There, inside the cubicle, were his classmates Yamapi and Jin. And no, they were not bullying anyone. Instead, their lips fused together as if trying to suck the other's tonsils out while one of Jin's hand is inside Pi's boxers, and Pi holding to the other's neck for dear life. Tatsuya doesn't need to make a second guess to know what that hand is doing there.
The two, lost in their kisses and roaming hands, seems to be oblivious of Tatsuya's presence. He decided to leave quietly, worried what the two might do to him. But luck wasn't on his side that day when he backed up to the hand dryer which roared to life startling all of them. Tatsuya looked like a deer caught by the headlights while the two tried to disentangle themselves.
"Ueda-kun, do you want to know how to keep a secret?" Yamapi said as they walk towards him. Tatsuya backed away towards the door, his heart hammering on his chest.
It might have been out of fear or his subconscious told him that Ryo usually saves him from these two that he blurted out something unexpected. "I will tell Ryo what I just saw." The two stopped in their tracks and he took that as a cue to run out of the comfort room and back to his sister.
* * * * *
Ryo's mind is going on overdrive for thinking of Tatsuya. It has been a few months now since he admitted to himself that he is attracted to the beautiful man. But he doesn't know what to do about it. He's also worried about what his best friends would think.
"Yes. Those two bakas. I can talk to them." Ryo thought as he walk towards Yamapi's house. "Jin would probably be there since it's only 8pm," he noted.
When he reached the house, the door was answered by Yamapi's mother. After exchanging greetings, she mentioned that it was nice of him to help his grandparents instead of hanging out in the mall like the two did. She then told him to go up and that Jin was there too since a few hours ago.
Not even bothering to knock, he barged into the room heading straight for the chair. The two looked at him curiously before sharing guilty glances.
"Dude, I think I'm in love." Ryo confessed and started to narrate how that person is kind and thoughtful but not bothering to give a name.
"Then start making your move, man." They throw in ideas on what to do and what to say. But being their usual baka selves, they failed to note one major detail. Ryo was referring to a he not a she. Yamapi and Jin are busy debating whether shrimp will be good to put in the bento or not.
As he listen to his best friends, Ryo scrunched up his nose in disgust recognizing the smell that's permeating the room.
"Pi! What the fuck! It stinks here! Did you jack of here just now?" His two best friends exchanged a knowing look but didn't answer.
* * * * *
The following Monday, Ryo decided to make his first attempt to woo Tatsuya. He was thinking of inviting him to eat lunch together when he heard Tatsuya's name from the murmurs around the class. He listened intently and found out that there's a rumor going around about Tatsuya dating a girl his father chose for him.
He doesn't want to believe the rumors but Ryo cannot stop the dull ache on his chest when he heard about it. He was out of it the rest of the day that he didn't even notice his best friends has gone home ahead of him.
Ryo was on his way home when he passed by a cafe. He passed by that cafe every day but it was only now that he stopped and looked inside. It was because he saw Tatsuya with a girl and by the looks of it, the rumors aren't just that judging by the way that girl clings on Tatsuya's arm.
The dull ache on his chest intensified. His vision started to get blurry because of the tears pooling in his eyes. He ran towards Jin's house where he guessed the two will be hanging out that day since Jin's parents are currently out of town.
What he saw when he entered the house made him stop in his tracks and made a mental note if it's safe to bleach his eyes. Anyone who walk in on his best friend riding his other best friend would definitely think the same way.
"WHAT THE FUCK!?" Ryo shouted as soon as he found his voice, prompting the two to jump behind the couch after scurrying for their clothes. When both were decent and less red in the face, they went to the dining room where Ryo was waiting. The smallest of the three insisted to talk there as he tries to erase from his mind what he just saw.
Ryo poured his heart out, telling them about how he fell for Tatsuya even before he met him. About how he helped his grandmother when she passed out on the street. How Tatsuya would occassionally help his grandmother with the groceries. How despite of being rich and beautiful, Tatsuya remained kind, humble and polite. And how his heart broke for the first time when he saw Tatsuya with his girlfriend. "Just when I was about to confess." Ryo said before breaking down.
Yamapi and Jin exchanged sad glances before posing to embrace Ryo.
"Don't you lay your filthy hands on me! Who knows where it's been and what it touched!" He said before pushing the two away.
"But Ryo-chan, you need comfort," Jin said.
"Why don't we help you forget about your heartbreak?" Yamapi said suggestively.
"Fuck off!" Ryo said before leaving his stupid best friends.
* * * * *
Despite Yamapi and Jin not being serious most of the time, they did help a lot in making Ryo cope with his heartbreak. At least, their antics help him forget about it. It doesn't mean he has forgotten about Tatsuya though.
He thought of a different approach though and befriended Tatsuya. His girlfriend doesn't study in the same school and Ryo is thankful for that. It means he can monopolize Tatsuya's attention during free time. Except when Shige decides to make his presence known.
Sadly, summer vacation came which means he will not see Tatsuya for the next few weeks. He'd be helping out in the restaurant and Tatsuya mentioned about travelling outside Japan.
* * * * *
Tatsuya took his elder sister out on a "date" to Saito-san's restaurant. She'd be back to the boarding school in a few weeks and Tatsuya wants to take her around town.
"Obaasan!" Tatsuya greeted as they enter the restaurant. The elderly woman looked up and greeted him back with a smile.
"Ueda-kun! It's been a while!"
Tatsuya guided his sister to the counter to chat with the owners while eating.
"And who is this young lady here?" she asked.
"This is my oneesan, Ueda Aiko. Saito-san serves the best okonomiyaki I've ever tasted," Tatsuya complimented. They ate and chatted with the elderly couple until Aiko's boyfriend came to pick her up for a movie date. Tatsuya decided to stay behind for a few more minutes. Just then, the back door opened and a boy entered carrying a crate of watermelons.
"Nishikido-kun?" Tatsuya called out to him.
"Ah! So you did know my grandson," Saito-san exclaimed. "Ryo, give Ueda-kun company while I assist the customer, ne?"
Grabbing his opportunity, Ryo sat beside Tatsuya asking about his summer vacation. The two exchanged stories like old friends.
"I think I know now why you were so nice to me. It's your way of thanking me for helping out your grandma." Tatsuya concluded.
Ryo blushed and nodded. The topic then veered to what Ryo has been up to aside from helping out in the restaurant. Ryo noticed that Tatsuya not even once mentioned about his girlfriend.
"There's a festival tomorrow night. You should bring your girlfriend and watch the fireworks."
"I don't have a girlfriend to bring."
"Weren't you just out on a date with her before the vacation?"
"How did you know about that? Well, anyways, we broke up two weeks ago. I didn't really like her. My father just insisted that's why I dated her. It turns out she's just after the title of being my girlfriend so I called it quits." Tatsuya shrugged.
Ryo thought he heard angels sing and he suddenly felt like floating. Gathering his courage, he did one thing he wanted to do few weeks before the summer vacation. "Would you like to go to the festival with me?"
"That sounded exactly like asking me out on a date," Tatsuya commented.
"Why? Is that wrong?"
"I didn't say it was. Well, okay then. I'll see you at the festival tomorrow."
The smile that broke Ryo's face was as bright as the sun at its peak on a hot summer day.
* * * * *
Nervous, excited and everything in between, Ryo went to Pi to ask for advice. Mind occupied by no one but Tatsuya, he opened the door only to see his best friends making out. Luckily for him, the two are still pretty much clothed.
"Can't the two of you stay in one place without eating each other?" Ryo asked as he went to sit on the chair.
"And what do we owe the pleasure of you barging into my room?" Yamapi countered clearly pissed for having their "activity" interrupted.
"I asked Ueda-kun on a date. Help me plan it."
Tatsuya was tossing and turning in his bed. He feels giddy after Ryo asked him out. He's not sure whether it's okay to feel that way towards another boy. But he felt something he never felt when he had a girlfriend.
His sister saw him with a dreamy look on his face when she entered his room. She's been knocking a few times but didn't get a response. She tried the knob and finding that it was not locked, she assumed that Tatsuya isn't sleeping.
"What has gotten into you?" Aiko asked.
Tatsuya stood abruptly to find his sister lounging on his couch with an amused look on her face. For a split second, he doubted whether he could tell her or not. "But if I can't tell her, who can I tell it to?" he thought. "I'm going out on a date." He said with an excited voice perking Aiko's interest because Tatsuya hasn't been this excited to go out on a date before.
"Ok. Spill." She moved to Tatsuya's bed to focus all her attention on her brother.
As Tatsuya shared his thoughts to his sister, Aiko found it cute that her brother freaks out over going out on a date. "And I thought only girls do that." Her mind froze when she heard a word. "Woah! Stop! Back up!" She said gesturing with her hands. "Did I hear right that you're going out on a date with a "he"?"
"Un. My classmate Ryo. He's cute, you know. And he plays soccer." Tatsuya gushed. Aiko almost had her eyes bugged out. That is so out of character for his brother. "Tatsuya is gushing?" she thought.
It was at the same moment that Ueda-papa passed by his son's room. He heard what his two eldest children were talking about. He was about to barge in and have his son a piece of his mind. But when he saw Tatsuya's face, he decided that his children's happiness are far more important than what standard the society have. He pushed him to date a girl but he never saw his face light up the way it is now. He walked away without a word, leaving the decision to his son as to when he wants to come out.
* * * * *
They met the following evening with a little awkwardness in the air. Neither of them knows how to start the conversation so they've decided to check out the booths. The trip to the shooting arcade lightened up the mood when both of their competitive sides came out. Both vying for the prize, they tried to out do each other but end up having a lot of fun.
A visit to the food booths was what they did next. They bought takoyaki, some sweets and drinks before Ryo led Tatsuya to the top of the hill. Yamapi and Jin set up a blanket where Ryo and Tatsuya can sit to watch the fireworks. The two settled comfortably and ate their food. Through the dim light of the lanterns, Ryo noticed some of the takoyaki sauce on Tatsuya's face. Ryo reached out to wipe it away.
Startled from the touch, Tatsuya turned which made it look like he was kissing Ryo's thumb. His face heated up and almost looked away but Ryo spoke.
"Tatsuya, I know it might sound too soon. But I love you. I have loved you for a while now." Ryo spoke with sincerity and intensity that Tatsuya doesn't know that what his saying his true.
He opened his mouth to speak---
*RING RING RING*
The bell signalling the end of the class woke Tatsuya up. He didn't realize that he fell asleep during the class.
"Damn! I hope the professor didn't notice me." he thought as put his books & notes in his bag. He checked his desk to make sure he hasn't forgotten anything before walking out of the classroom.
Outside, a young man was leaning casually by the wall. He broke into a smile when Tatsuya walked out of the classroom. Tatsuya returned the smile just as warmly.
"Hi Ryo! How's your class?"
They chatted while walking out of the building.
*** THE END ***
Author: pautami
Pairing: Ryoda (main), PIN (side), Shigeda (friendship)
Genre: Humor, Romance, Fluff
Rating: PG-15
Disclaimer: If I could have any of them, I would. But since I can't, I'll just satisfy myself with writing these stories.
Summary: Ryo is the resident bully along with his best friends, Yamapi and Jin. Tatsuya is a transferee and a perfect target but Ryo is protecting Tatsuya from being bullied instead. Yamapi and Jin got their eyes on Tatsuya more because of that. Plus, they want to find out why Ryo feels like being his knight in shining armor.
A/N: This is a long overdue fic for sanox from the friends fic exchange. Sa-chan, gomen ne. Grandma has been super late. I hope this will make up for it.
I wouldn't be able to finish this if it wasn't for my amazing twin carnationangel
Ueda Tatsuya likes sitting at the back of the class. Only because it offers him distraction when the class is as boring as the one he's currently attending. He watched the professor drone on about dates and names in history that is the least of his interest. After a while though, his focus is shifting and found himself thinking of the things that happened in his last year as a high school student.
He stifled a yawn and pretended to be reading the textbook when in fact, he has already gone into a reminiscent trail of what his life has been the previous year. A year, that in many ways, has changed his life.
*Flashback*
The Ueda family have moved to Osaka that year because when the patriarch of the Ueda clan has kicked the bucket and distributed his assets to his children; the branch in that part of the country was given to the youngest Ueda. And instead of moving back and forth to Tokyo during weekends, he opted to bring the whole family and settle in a new place.
That decision didn’t sit well on his only son who was going on his last year in high school. Ueda Tatsuya doesn’t like the idea of adjusting to a new school on his last year but his father won’t allow him to stay behind.
It’s been a week since they’ve moved into their new home and it will be another couple of weeks before the start of the school year. Unlike his sisters who have settled quite well into the new place, Tatsuya has yet to go out and make friends. So, he plans on going out to acquaint himself around the neighborhood.
“Mama, I’m going out,” he said as he took the juice box from the fridge.
“Yay! Me and Nii-chan are going to the mall,” his 13-year-old sister, Emi, said while clinging on his arm that is not holding the glass of orange juice.
“Sorry Emi, I'm just going out for a walk. Ask Mi-chan to go with you instead or wait for Ai-chan to come home."
Emi pouted but didn’t let go. “But I want to go out with Onii-chan!!!” she whined.
Tatsuya chuckled and pinched both of her sister’s cheeks. “Not working. How about we go out tomorrow instead?" he compromised.
“Yay! Tatsu-niichan is the best!” she said before kissing Tatsuya’s cheeks and going up to her room.
“You spoil her too much,” his mother commented. Tatsuya smiled at his mom with a sheepish smile before kissing her cheeks. “Call if you need to be picked up.” She called out as her only son walk out of the house.
Not really sure where to go, he walked around the block and saw a park. He sat on the bench watching the kids run around the nearby playground.
As he lean back to look up the sky, a passing thought of having a good book to read came to mind. Tatsuya isn’t a loner. In fact, he has plenty of friends; in his old school. But he was naturally shy and doesn't usually make the first move in making friends.
With a sigh, he wondered if he'd be able to make new friends in this unfamiliar surroundings, that is his new home.
His mind started to wander off thinking of his old friends and what he would do if he can’t meet new friends or if the new school turns out to be… not as he expected. Sighing, he stood up and stretched feeling a bit strain on his neck.
"How long have I spaced out this time?" he wondered.
Deciding to continue walking around, he went further down the road and away from their house to a more commercial part of the area. From afar, he saw stores lined up and some restaurants. While walking around, he got an idea to bring Emi here the next day instead of the mall and decided to try out one of the restaurants.
"Okonomiyaki sounds good," he thought as his stomach growled.
He was walking towards an okonomiyaki place when he noticed an elderly woman carrying bags of what seems like groceries walking ahead of him. The bag looks heavy so Tatsuya hastened so that he can help her out. He was an arm’s length away when the said woman swayed and fainted. It’s a good thing his reflex was fast enough and he caught her before she hit the pavement.
“Obaasan! Obaasan!” he tried to nudge her awake but to no avail. Taking out his cellphone, he called for an ambulance.
* * * * *
It was the first day of school and the students are happy to be seeing their old friends after a long vacation. The girls clustered together gossiping about their romances, while the boys are rowdy talking about the escapades they had. Best friends Ryo, Yamapi and Jin are among them. They were together the whole break, but that didn’t stop them from being rowdy when together. And as usual, when the three get together, mischief is bound to happen.
The three were chatting when Ryo noticed their quiet and nerdy classmate, Shige. His nose is buried in thick book, as usual. Smirking, he sashayed towards the oblivious teen and snatched his book away. Yamapi and Jin, who were watching Ryo, guffawed when Shige yelped in surprise.
“Nishikido-kun, can I have my book back?” he pleaded. He learned his lesson that trying to snatch it back from the tanned midget, is bound to have consequences. One consequence in particular, is having Yamapi and Jin trying to pull your arms from their socket as they hold you back.
“I'm just borrowing your book. Don't be so selfish,” Ryo said with a feigned hurt on his face and his two friends nodding behind him.
"Like you could understand even one word in there," Shige retorted.
Ryo glared at him and would have unleashed his poison tongue on the bespectacled boy. Luckily, the bell rang and the homeroom teacher came in. “You’re lucky,” he said before putting the book down on Shige’s head with a bit more force.
After their greeting, the teacher announced that they would have a new classmate and called out the transferee.
Tatsuya, who was standing outside the room, nervously pulled on the lapel of his shirt. He can feel his palms sweating and his heart beating fast. Too many scenarios going through his head: from being laughed at, to being thrown things. When he heard the teacher had announced about him, he grabbed the handle of his book bag tighter and swallowed hard. Taking a deep breath to calm his racing heart, he reached for the door handle with a shaking hand.
When he entered the room, there was a moment of silence before murmurs were heard. He noticed the girls were gaping at him, while the boys gave him a scrutinizing look. Tatsuya knows that he wasn't ugly but still the reaction quite surprised him. He smiled shyly and with reddened cheeks, Tatsuya introduced himself. After the introduction, the teacher pointed to the vacant seat at the back of the room for him to sit on. Noticing his seat mate staring at him, Tatsuya bowed politely which made the other boy look away but not before Tatsuya noticed a slight tint on his cheeks. He shrugged it off and turned to the front of the class.
* * * * *
It didn't take long for Tatsuya to get used to his classes and soon enough, he was acing the exams and topping the class. But being naturally shy, he still hasn't made a lot of friends. With the exception of Shige, who was his lab partner, he doesn't talk to a lot of people. When people found out that their family owned the largest shopping mall in Osaka, some of his classmates looked at him differently. Which he doesn't know why, although he can surmise that they have probably thought he was a snob. Which isn't really the case, he's just simply shy. It even took Shige a few tries before they started talking. Sometimes, he catch his seat mate, Nishikido Ryo, looking at him but since he's not saying anything, Tatsuya didn't have the courage to start up a conversation.
The morning on that day passed by quickly. Uneasy with the way some of his classmates are looking, Tatsuya thought he'd try to eat somewhere else. He usually ate lunch with Shige, but his friend didn't come to school today. Gathering his bento, he went to the rooftop. Glad that the place is empty, he gave a sigh of relief and sat on one of the benches.
Tatsuya received a text message as he was settling down thus not aware that he wasn't really alone at the rooftop. He was startled when he noticed two tall guys standing in front of him.
"Well if it isn't Ueda Tatsuya." one of them said. The other guy laughed as if it's one of the funniest thing he's heard.
"Yes... Can I help you?" Tatsuya asked politely.
Instead of answering, he grabbed Tatsuya's bento.
"Hey! That's my bento!" he protested, standing up trying to grab his bento, but one of the guys pushed him back onto the bench.
"Don't be stingy," the other guy answered. "I'm sure you're rich enough to buy food from the cafeteria."
Before Tatsuya can retort, the door of the rooftop opened. It was his seat mate, who frowned when he saw the two guys with Tatsuya.
"Pi! Jin! What are you doing?" he said in a harsh tone while he walked furiously towards them.
"You see, Ryo-chan, Tatsuya is really nice and shared his bento with us. Right Jin?" Yamapi said.
"Is that true, Ueda-kun?" Ryo asked, turning to Tatsuya.
Seeing the glare of the two taller guy, Tatsuya hesitated before answering. He was surprised when Ryo scowled before facing Yamapi and Jin.
"Nice try, baka! Give it back!" he told the two.
"But Ryo-chan, it looks really delicious," Jin whined looking at the bento with longing eyes.
Ryo grabbed the bento and smacked their heads. "I told you to give it back. I don't want to learn the two of you messing with Ueda-kun," He said before grabbing Tatsuya's hand and taking him back inside.
They were walking down the hallway when Tatsuya stopped, looking at their clasped hands. Ryo frowned when his steps were halted but blushed furiously when he noticed where Tatsuya was looking.
"I-I-I'm sorry," he stuttered, letting go of their hands abruptly.
Tatsuya frowned wondering why his hands felt empty when Ryo let go of his hand but shook his head clear and turned to his seatmate.
"Where are you taking me?" he asked.
"Ah... I... Umm," Ryo cleared his throat.
Not knowing what say, Ryo grabbed Tatsuya's wrist and dragged him down the hallway while silently berating himself for not being able to think of any witty words to say. Ryo initially planned to take Tatsuya to the field behind the school but seeing there were few people along the corridor looking at them oddly, he changed his mind. He's pretty sure what they were thinking, knowing to well what reputation his friends had.
Tatsuya let his curiosity get the best of him and let himself be dragged to wherever Ryo was taking him, not the least afraid. In fact, he kind of found his classmate amusing and cute, especially when he's blushing like that. He was surprised when he found himself inside a classroom and wondered what is going to happen. Before he can even voice out his thoughts, Ryo led him towards a balcony over looking the track and the soccer field.
"You can eat here. Yamapi and Jin won't disturb you. If they ever do again, let me know and I'll deal with those two bakas," Ryo rambled without looking directly towards Tatsuya.
"Why are you so nice to me?" Tatsuya can't help but ask.
"What? I'm not nice. Far from it." Ryo dismissed.
"Then why did you stop your friends from taking my lunch and even showed me a place where I can eat? You even told me, I won't have to worry about them," he replied with a raised eyebrow.
Ryo fidgeted. "Nothing," he said.
Tatsuya shrugged. "If you say so. And since you went out your way to help me, then eat lunch with me?" he said. Now, it was Tatsuya's turn to blush when he realized how forward he sounded. "Wait. What? That only matters when you like someone. He's a classmate. Just a classmate." Tatsuya told himself.
Feeling his heart beating like he ran a marathon, Ryo mumbled something unintelligible before walking out of the classroom. Tatsuya watched his retreating back before turning to his bento.
"What the hell is wrong with me?" Ryo thought as he try to understand why it feels like he swallowed thousands of butterflies. "Why did I just walk out? What's wrong about eating lunch with Ueda-kun?" He mumbles to himself while walking back to their classroom, oblivious to the stares of the people around him.
* * * * *
"Saito-san, Konnichiwa!" Tatsuya greeted the woman at the bus stop. "Let me help you with those." He said, picking up the grocery bags.
"Ah! Ueda-kun, konnichiwa! Classes done for today?" she asked while they start walking towards the restaurant she and her husband runs. He nodded and started telling her a few trivial things of how his day went.
It has been a few months since the time Tatsuya helped the older woman get to the hospital when she passed out. He met her husband and had been invited to the restaurant a few times. The couple, especially the wife, had taken a liking to Tatsuya for being polite and kind in spite of his social status.
"That reminds me, your uniform is the same as that of my grandson. I think you two are about the same age." Saito-san said while they unload the bags. Tatsuya was about to ask the name of her grandson when his phone rang.
"Obaasan, I have to go. My mother says that we have guests coming to dinner tonight." He explained when he got off the phone. "I will come and visit with my sister one of these days." He bowed towards the couple and walked out of the restaurant. He has just turned the street corner when he saw a familiar figure walking towards him.
"Nishikido-san." He greeted him politely but with a smile on his face.
Ryo looked and unconsciously, he put his hand in his stomach, feeling the flutter of butterflies in them.
"Soccer practice?" Tatsuya asked noting Ryo's outfit.
"Yeah." He cleared his throat while a blush starts to creep up his cheeks. "You live around here?"
"A few blocks after the park down the road. I guess you live around here too." He glanced down his watch and saw the time. "Oh! I have to go. I'll see you in school." Tatsuya waved before running towards home.
* * * * *
If Ryo thinks that threatening his best friends to leave Tatsuya alone, he was wrong. Because instead of being scared, the two was curious as to why Ryo wanted to protect the transfer student. They even wondered up to what lengths their best friend will go just to do that.
In the next few weeks, Yamapi and Jin "asked" lunch money from Tatsuya which he give just for the two to leave him in peace. Since taking Tatsuya's lunch money doesn't bother him, much to Yamapi and Jin's frustration, they've decided to play pranks on him. Unfortunately, those plans are usually thwarted by Ryo whose timing, when it comes to Tatsuya, is impeccable.
Still, Tatsuya seems to be oblivious to all of these and of Ryo.
* * * * *
"I don't understand why you still like going to the mall." Tatsuya complained to her younger sister, Misaki, while accompanying her shopping.
"Stop complaining, Nii-chan. At least we're helping Papa's business, ne?" she said with a sweet smile as she put another pair of jeans on Tatsuya's loaded arms. He shook his head as he followed her around picking up dresses.
"Mi-chan," he called out while his sister is in the dressing room. "I'm going around for a bit. Call me when you're done, okay?" He left after he heard her muffled "hai."
He decided to go to the comfort room first before checking out the bookstore on the lower level. He was walking around for a few minutes when he spotted the toilet sign, not realizing the area is currently under renovation.
Tatsuya was in front of the urinal when he heard a moan. At first, he tried to dismiss it as his imagination, but when he heard it again, he decided to look around. He heard rustling of clothes and a soft thump. Following the sound led him to the cubicle at the farthest end and found the door ajar. Thinking that someone must have slipped or in need of help, he pushed the door open. What he saw scarred him for life. There, inside the cubicle, were his classmates Yamapi and Jin. And no, they were not bullying anyone. Instead, their lips fused together as if trying to suck the other's tonsils out while one of Jin's hand is inside Pi's boxers, and Pi holding to the other's neck for dear life. Tatsuya doesn't need to make a second guess to know what that hand is doing there.
The two, lost in their kisses and roaming hands, seems to be oblivious of Tatsuya's presence. He decided to leave quietly, worried what the two might do to him. But luck wasn't on his side that day when he backed up to the hand dryer which roared to life startling all of them. Tatsuya looked like a deer caught by the headlights while the two tried to disentangle themselves.
"Ueda-kun, do you want to know how to keep a secret?" Yamapi said as they walk towards him. Tatsuya backed away towards the door, his heart hammering on his chest.
It might have been out of fear or his subconscious told him that Ryo usually saves him from these two that he blurted out something unexpected. "I will tell Ryo what I just saw." The two stopped in their tracks and he took that as a cue to run out of the comfort room and back to his sister.
* * * * *
Ryo's mind is going on overdrive for thinking of Tatsuya. It has been a few months now since he admitted to himself that he is attracted to the beautiful man. But he doesn't know what to do about it. He's also worried about what his best friends would think.
"Yes. Those two bakas. I can talk to them." Ryo thought as he walk towards Yamapi's house. "Jin would probably be there since it's only 8pm," he noted.
When he reached the house, the door was answered by Yamapi's mother. After exchanging greetings, she mentioned that it was nice of him to help his grandparents instead of hanging out in the mall like the two did. She then told him to go up and that Jin was there too since a few hours ago.
Not even bothering to knock, he barged into the room heading straight for the chair. The two looked at him curiously before sharing guilty glances.
"Dude, I think I'm in love." Ryo confessed and started to narrate how that person is kind and thoughtful but not bothering to give a name.
"Then start making your move, man." They throw in ideas on what to do and what to say. But being their usual baka selves, they failed to note one major detail. Ryo was referring to a he not a she. Yamapi and Jin are busy debating whether shrimp will be good to put in the bento or not.
As he listen to his best friends, Ryo scrunched up his nose in disgust recognizing the smell that's permeating the room.
"Pi! What the fuck! It stinks here! Did you jack of here just now?" His two best friends exchanged a knowing look but didn't answer.
* * * * *
The following Monday, Ryo decided to make his first attempt to woo Tatsuya. He was thinking of inviting him to eat lunch together when he heard Tatsuya's name from the murmurs around the class. He listened intently and found out that there's a rumor going around about Tatsuya dating a girl his father chose for him.
He doesn't want to believe the rumors but Ryo cannot stop the dull ache on his chest when he heard about it. He was out of it the rest of the day that he didn't even notice his best friends has gone home ahead of him.
Ryo was on his way home when he passed by a cafe. He passed by that cafe every day but it was only now that he stopped and looked inside. It was because he saw Tatsuya with a girl and by the looks of it, the rumors aren't just that judging by the way that girl clings on Tatsuya's arm.
The dull ache on his chest intensified. His vision started to get blurry because of the tears pooling in his eyes. He ran towards Jin's house where he guessed the two will be hanging out that day since Jin's parents are currently out of town.
What he saw when he entered the house made him stop in his tracks and made a mental note if it's safe to bleach his eyes. Anyone who walk in on his best friend riding his other best friend would definitely think the same way.
"WHAT THE FUCK!?" Ryo shouted as soon as he found his voice, prompting the two to jump behind the couch after scurrying for their clothes. When both were decent and less red in the face, they went to the dining room where Ryo was waiting. The smallest of the three insisted to talk there as he tries to erase from his mind what he just saw.
Ryo poured his heart out, telling them about how he fell for Tatsuya even before he met him. About how he helped his grandmother when she passed out on the street. How Tatsuya would occassionally help his grandmother with the groceries. How despite of being rich and beautiful, Tatsuya remained kind, humble and polite. And how his heart broke for the first time when he saw Tatsuya with his girlfriend. "Just when I was about to confess." Ryo said before breaking down.
Yamapi and Jin exchanged sad glances before posing to embrace Ryo.
"Don't you lay your filthy hands on me! Who knows where it's been and what it touched!" He said before pushing the two away.
"But Ryo-chan, you need comfort," Jin said.
"Why don't we help you forget about your heartbreak?" Yamapi said suggestively.
"Fuck off!" Ryo said before leaving his stupid best friends.
* * * * *
Despite Yamapi and Jin not being serious most of the time, they did help a lot in making Ryo cope with his heartbreak. At least, their antics help him forget about it. It doesn't mean he has forgotten about Tatsuya though.
He thought of a different approach though and befriended Tatsuya. His girlfriend doesn't study in the same school and Ryo is thankful for that. It means he can monopolize Tatsuya's attention during free time. Except when Shige decides to make his presence known.
Sadly, summer vacation came which means he will not see Tatsuya for the next few weeks. He'd be helping out in the restaurant and Tatsuya mentioned about travelling outside Japan.
* * * * *
Tatsuya took his elder sister out on a "date" to Saito-san's restaurant. She'd be back to the boarding school in a few weeks and Tatsuya wants to take her around town.
"Obaasan!" Tatsuya greeted as they enter the restaurant. The elderly woman looked up and greeted him back with a smile.
"Ueda-kun! It's been a while!"
Tatsuya guided his sister to the counter to chat with the owners while eating.
"And who is this young lady here?" she asked.
"This is my oneesan, Ueda Aiko. Saito-san serves the best okonomiyaki I've ever tasted," Tatsuya complimented. They ate and chatted with the elderly couple until Aiko's boyfriend came to pick her up for a movie date. Tatsuya decided to stay behind for a few more minutes. Just then, the back door opened and a boy entered carrying a crate of watermelons.
"Nishikido-kun?" Tatsuya called out to him.
"Ah! So you did know my grandson," Saito-san exclaimed. "Ryo, give Ueda-kun company while I assist the customer, ne?"
Grabbing his opportunity, Ryo sat beside Tatsuya asking about his summer vacation. The two exchanged stories like old friends.
"I think I know now why you were so nice to me. It's your way of thanking me for helping out your grandma." Tatsuya concluded.
Ryo blushed and nodded. The topic then veered to what Ryo has been up to aside from helping out in the restaurant. Ryo noticed that Tatsuya not even once mentioned about his girlfriend.
"There's a festival tomorrow night. You should bring your girlfriend and watch the fireworks."
"I don't have a girlfriend to bring."
"Weren't you just out on a date with her before the vacation?"
"How did you know about that? Well, anyways, we broke up two weeks ago. I didn't really like her. My father just insisted that's why I dated her. It turns out she's just after the title of being my girlfriend so I called it quits." Tatsuya shrugged.
Ryo thought he heard angels sing and he suddenly felt like floating. Gathering his courage, he did one thing he wanted to do few weeks before the summer vacation. "Would you like to go to the festival with me?"
"That sounded exactly like asking me out on a date," Tatsuya commented.
"Why? Is that wrong?"
"I didn't say it was. Well, okay then. I'll see you at the festival tomorrow."
The smile that broke Ryo's face was as bright as the sun at its peak on a hot summer day.
* * * * *
Nervous, excited and everything in between, Ryo went to Pi to ask for advice. Mind occupied by no one but Tatsuya, he opened the door only to see his best friends making out. Luckily for him, the two are still pretty much clothed.
"Can't the two of you stay in one place without eating each other?" Ryo asked as he went to sit on the chair.
"And what do we owe the pleasure of you barging into my room?" Yamapi countered clearly pissed for having their "activity" interrupted.
"I asked Ueda-kun on a date. Help me plan it."
Tatsuya was tossing and turning in his bed. He feels giddy after Ryo asked him out. He's not sure whether it's okay to feel that way towards another boy. But he felt something he never felt when he had a girlfriend.
His sister saw him with a dreamy look on his face when she entered his room. She's been knocking a few times but didn't get a response. She tried the knob and finding that it was not locked, she assumed that Tatsuya isn't sleeping.
"What has gotten into you?" Aiko asked.
Tatsuya stood abruptly to find his sister lounging on his couch with an amused look on her face. For a split second, he doubted whether he could tell her or not. "But if I can't tell her, who can I tell it to?" he thought. "I'm going out on a date." He said with an excited voice perking Aiko's interest because Tatsuya hasn't been this excited to go out on a date before.
"Ok. Spill." She moved to Tatsuya's bed to focus all her attention on her brother.
As Tatsuya shared his thoughts to his sister, Aiko found it cute that her brother freaks out over going out on a date. "And I thought only girls do that." Her mind froze when she heard a word. "Woah! Stop! Back up!" She said gesturing with her hands. "Did I hear right that you're going out on a date with a "he"?"
"Un. My classmate Ryo. He's cute, you know. And he plays soccer." Tatsuya gushed. Aiko almost had her eyes bugged out. That is so out of character for his brother. "Tatsuya is gushing?" she thought.
It was at the same moment that Ueda-papa passed by his son's room. He heard what his two eldest children were talking about. He was about to barge in and have his son a piece of his mind. But when he saw Tatsuya's face, he decided that his children's happiness are far more important than what standard the society have. He pushed him to date a girl but he never saw his face light up the way it is now. He walked away without a word, leaving the decision to his son as to when he wants to come out.
* * * * *
They met the following evening with a little awkwardness in the air. Neither of them knows how to start the conversation so they've decided to check out the booths. The trip to the shooting arcade lightened up the mood when both of their competitive sides came out. Both vying for the prize, they tried to out do each other but end up having a lot of fun.
A visit to the food booths was what they did next. They bought takoyaki, some sweets and drinks before Ryo led Tatsuya to the top of the hill. Yamapi and Jin set up a blanket where Ryo and Tatsuya can sit to watch the fireworks. The two settled comfortably and ate their food. Through the dim light of the lanterns, Ryo noticed some of the takoyaki sauce on Tatsuya's face. Ryo reached out to wipe it away.
Startled from the touch, Tatsuya turned which made it look like he was kissing Ryo's thumb. His face heated up and almost looked away but Ryo spoke.
"Tatsuya, I know it might sound too soon. But I love you. I have loved you for a while now." Ryo spoke with sincerity and intensity that Tatsuya doesn't know that what his saying his true.
He opened his mouth to speak---
*RING RING RING*
The bell signalling the end of the class woke Tatsuya up. He didn't realize that he fell asleep during the class.
"Damn! I hope the professor didn't notice me." he thought as put his books & notes in his bag. He checked his desk to make sure he hasn't forgotten anything before walking out of the classroom.
Outside, a young man was leaning casually by the wall. He broke into a smile when Tatsuya walked out of the classroom. Tatsuya returned the smile just as warmly.
"Hi Ryo! How's your class?"
They chatted while walking out of the building.
*** THE END ***