Secret Love, My Escape

[shinya's riddle]

Akihito got off the train and he headed towards the exit. The only thing that was thinking about was how he was going to help Ryosuke improve his grades.“I have to prepare a few exercises for him to see where he is standing.” he thought.

After many thoughts and many stops, he finally got to his parents’ house.

 

He rang the doorbell, Mizuko answered the door and the kitten run towards him and she started sniffing him.

Akihito greeted his mother, he took his shoes off, he took the kitten in his arms and he headed to the living room where his father and brother were.

“Oh, son!” Gorou said.

“Hello, father” Akihito said.

“Yo”.”I see you quite often here, what up with that?” Subaru asked.

Akihito greeted his brother but instead of answering to his question, he just ignored him.

“How did the meeting go? You got the job?” Gorou asked him.

“I’m sure our Akihito got the job.” Mizuko said with a proud look on her face.

“I got the job but let’s discuss this over dinner, alright?” Akihito suggested.

“Of course.” both his parents said.

 

Dinner was served and they all sat down to eat.

It was a kind of celebration meal to celebrate Akihito’s job so Mizuko cooked sukiyaki.

She placed a hot plate on the table and a big pan on top of it.

She added two tablespoons of soy sauce and one tablespoon of sugar, after this mixture starting forming a dark colored caramel she added the meat. She waited for the meat to be half done and then she added different kinds of vegetables. Once the meat was done she told everyone to start eating.

After that she kept adding small portions of meat and vegetables in the pan and soon after they could all serve themselves.

 

“We’re having dinner, aren’t we? Tell us about the job.” Gorou said looking at Akihito.

“Well, as I have mentioned before I’m gonna be tutoring a high school boy named, Ryosuke.”

While talking he felt something rubbing on his legs. He looked down and he saw the kitten looking at him right in the eye. Akihito smiled and continued talking.

“I met him today and he seemed like a good boy, I think we’re going to get along very well.”he said.

The kitten jumped on Akihito’s lap and she meowed at him. Akihito laughed and started petting her.

He could hear the kitten purr and that was a sound Akihito loved.

“I would love to hear my brother’s story but the guys are waiting for me, I don’t wanna be late.”

Subaru said and excused himself. “Mom, it was delicious as always.” he said and he kissed her cheek.

“Take care.” Gorou shouted at him while Subaru was heading outside.

 

“I made strawberry shortcake for desert. You want some?” Mizuko asked Akihito who was busy playing with the kitten.

“Of course, mom.” Akihito replied.

“It’ll take a while though, your father and I are about to wash the dishes.” Mizuko said and she along with Gorou headed to the kitchen with plates on their hands.

 

Akihito took the kitten in his arms and he headed to the living room.

He let the kitten on the floor, he turned the TV on and he lied on the sofa.

 

The kitten jumped on his stomach and sat on it. Akihito looked at it fascinated.

Suddenly the kitten lied down and she started licking her paws with great care.

Akihito was totally smitten and he kept staring at the kitten’s every move.

The kitten stopped cleaning herself for a bit to stare at Akihito with a mischievous look on her face and then she continued. Akihito petted her and then the kitten stretched her legs, got up and she walked towards his chest where she curled up meowing as if she wanted his touch.

Akihito petted the kitten to his heart’s content till he fell asleep on the couch.

 

Mizuo appeared in the living room and she saw Akihito and the kitten sleeping.

She didn’t want to wake him up so she went upstairs, she opened a drawer and she took a small blanket out of it, she then went downstairs and she covered Akihito’s legs with it, it wasn’t so cold that night but Mizuo wanted her kids to always be comfortable and warm.

 

Morning came and Akihito felt something on his chest, like he was being massaged.

He opened his eyes only to see the kitten “kneading” his chest. He laughed at the sight of it and he was extremely happy about it because he knew that this was how felines show their love, well one of the ways. The kitten looked at him and she meowed loudly while rubbing her head on his palm.

 

Akihito took the kitten in his arms and he sat on the couch. He looked at the table and he saw a plate with two pieces of strawberry cake on it and a hot cup of tea waiting for him.

Next to the cup there was a note for him. He got up and with one hand he was holding the kitten and with his other hand he picked up the note.

 

“Your father and I have gone shopping. It’ll take a while.

P.s. The kitty’s food is in the cabinet next to the sink.”

 

Akihito headed to the kitchen and he let the kitty on the flood.

He grabbed the 2 bowls that were sitting next to the kitty food bag and he filled the one with water and the other one with food. He placed them on the floor and the kitty run towards them meowing loudly and after sniffing it a bit she started eating.

 

Akihito washed his hands and he headed to the bathroom, after he got out, he headed back to the living room and he sat on the couch. He stretched his arm out and he grabbed the fork and had a few bites of the cake, then he took a few sips of his tea and he felt refreshed and warmed-up.

 

After a few minutes, the kitten appeared in the living room and she started playing with her tail.

She seemed very happy and she had a glow in her eyes.

Akihito stared at the kitty playing for a bit and then he saw it running towards him meowing.

He stretched his hand out and she rubbed on it and then she licked it.

Akihito laughed and the image of Ryosuke sticking his tongue out at him popped in his mind.

He took the kitty in his arms and he pressed it gently against his chest.

 

“This is your home now, Ryo.”

[~*~FaLlEn*SnOw~*~]

Being at school was a pain in the ass, in Ryosuke's opinion. Going there every day, early in the morning, then staying there for nearly nine hours, to go home, study, go to bed, then repeat the process. The only plus side to going was seeing his friends, which he always looked forward to in different classes, and best of all, at lunch. Sitting in class at that moment, he stares out the window absently, one hand picking at the button of his school jacket. They weren't completely required to wear uniforms, just it was recommended they wear at least something nice. There WAS a uniform, but rarely anyone wore the entire thing. Ryosuke included. That day he wore the jacket, but underneath he wore a button up dark red short sleeved shirt, and black pants. The uniform jacket was black, with a pin on the collar indicating the year of school he was in. Which, in his case, was a Roman numeral three.

 

The teacher suddenly calls on him, and for a moment he doesn't respond. After repeating his name, he finally snaps out of it, and looks to the front of the classroom, where his English teacher was standing, her hand on her hip, an eyebrow raised, and her eyes staring drills into him. "Takafumi-san, would you please read the paragraph on page thirty two? And next time, try do do you daydreaming in a class that isn't mine." Masaki, who was sitting one chair down to the left of him, snickers quietly, making Ryosuke shoot a glare back at him before standing.

 

"Yes ma'am. Um, it reads as follows:

'Some say that ever ‘gainst that season comes

Wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrated,

This bird of dawning singeth all night long;

And then, they say, no spirit dare stir abroad,

The nights are wholesome, then no planets strike,

No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm,

So hallow'd and so gracious is the time.' Ryosuke then sits down, and without even trying, spaces out again, not hearing everything that Ms. Fuyori says after he'd finished.

 

"Very good Takafumi-san, thank you. Now then, who can tell me what..." Only the bell that rings thirty minutes later snaps him out of his reverie, which indicated lunch time. He waits for Masaki, and they head to the roof top to eat with the others, just like every other day. Masaki and Rei were talking about something, but all Ryosuke could think about was tomorrow, and just what Akihito had in mind for their first lesson.

[shinya's riddle]

Akihito finished his breakfast, he picked up the plate and the mug and he carried them to the kitchen placing them in the sink. The kitten followed him and she kept meowing at him.

 

After a while, he heard his parents coming home and he rushed to the door to open it.

”Good morning,son” both Gorou and Mizuko said.

“Good morning, parents” Akihito said and he took the bags from his mother’s hands and headed to the kitchen. Mizuko smiled and thanked him.

 

“Are you joining us for lunch?” Gorou asked while entering the kitchen.

”I’m afraid I can’t today, I have all kinds of preparations to make.” Akihito replied.

“Too bad, it was nice having you here again,” Gorou frowned.

“Come on dad, don’t be like that.” Akihito smiled hoping to cheer him up a bit.

“It’s Akihito’s big day tomorrow, we should be supportive.” Mizuko said and she placed her hand on Gorou’s arm and held it firmly.

 

It was then when Akihito’s cell phone started ringing. Akihito rushed to the living room, he grabbed his cell, the caller ID was unknown but still he answered it.

“Is this Kageyama Akihito?” a voice said.

“Yes, this is him.””How can I help you?” he said.

“Your order will be ready by tomorrow afternoon so please come over and pick it up.” the voice became nicer.

“Oh, I see. Thank you very much.I’ll pick it up tomorrow.”Akihito thanked the woman on the phone.

“We’ll be expecting you. Have a nice day.” the woman said.

“You too.” Akihito said and hung up.

 

The kitten jumped on the sofa and she started playing with the cushions, she seemed happy.

Akihito couldn’t help but stare at her with a silly smile on his face.

He got closer and he sat on the sofa, she approached him, sniffed him out and rubbed her head on his arm.

She meowed as Akihito lifted her up and he kissed her forehead. The kitten lowered her head a bit as if she wanted more and she kept purring.

 

Akihito held her in his arms and he headed to the kitchen to let his parents know that he was leaving.

“I’m going home now, I’ll come over tomorrow. I’ll call you.” Akihito said in hurry.

“Alright,son. Good to know, take care.”Gorou said smiling.

“Take care, my sweet boy and good luck on your new job.” Mizuko said and she walked him to the door.

“Are you taking the kitten with you?” she asked.

“No, Ryo’s staying here.” he said.

“Ryo?” Mizuko asked surprised.

“Yes, I named the kitten Ryo. I think it suits her.”Akihito grinned broadly.

“Ryo it is then.” Mizuko chuckled at his son’s grin.

 

Akihito let Ryo down, he grabbed his things, he put on his shoes, he hugged his mother and he left.

He headed to the bus station and luckily for him, the bus was just arriving. He got on the bus, he picked up a ticket and he sat on a seat behind the driver. He tried to come up with a few exercises for Ryosuke to solve and then they could work together on the subjects that the boy thinks are difficult like Math, Science and English based on what Mufukine told him.

 

After many ideas, and a few stops later he got off the bus and he headed home.

He unlocked the door, he closed it behind him and he took his shoes off and he locked it again.

 

He immediately sat on his desk, he turned his laptop on, he put his glasses on and he started typing a few exercises for Ryosuke to solve and he also typed a few theory notes based on the exercises he was typing. It was around 2100 p.m, time went by so fast he didn’t even notice.

After he was finally done, he hit the print button and the printer started printing.

Akihito opened one of the two desk drawers and he took two folders out, one red and one black.

“Red for the notes, black for the exercises.” he said and he put them in his messenger bag that was sitting on a chair near his desk after he had placed the papers inside the folders. His notebooks were already in the bag.

Everything was ready and now all he wanted to do was take a bath and rest because it was going to be a big day for him tomorrow, exactly like his mother said.

 

He took off his glasses and he placed them inside their case which then was put in his bag. He zipped his bag closed and then he headed to the bathroom. He took his clothes off and he got in the bathtub. He lathered up, he washed his hair and he stood under the running water for a while to clear his thoughts. After a while, he got out of the bathtub, he grabbed a towel and he wrapped it around his waist and then he brushed his teeth. He headed to his bedroom, he opened his wardrobe and he grabbed a pair of pajamas from the top self. He dried himself up and then he put his pajamas on.He set his alarm for 0900 a.m. He blew his hair dry and since he was too nervous to eat , he lied on his bed and he closed his eyes trying to sleep.

 

Morning came and Akihito woke up moments before his alarm went off.

He opened his eyes, he reached for his cell phone and he deactivate the alarm clock.

“I can’t afford to be late today. I have to be fast.” he thought.

He went to the bathroom, he washed his face and went back to his bedroom.

He opened his wardrobe and he took a black jacket, a white shirt and a pair of black trousers out and he placed them on his bed which he made as soon as he got up.

 

He went to the kitchen, he opened the fridge and he decided to make 2 sandwiches for breakfast as well as a hot cup of tea. After his breakfast was set on the table, he sat down and he started eating.

All he could think about was today and how he could help Ryosuke improve his grades and maybe open up to him a bit.

“That’d be nice.” he said and smiled.

 

The clock was ticking so Akihito got up , he washed the dishes and he rushed to his bathroom to brush his teeth and then he went to his bedroom to put his clothes on. Cologne first, clothes later and he was almost good to go. He grabbed his bag, keys and cell phone and he headed to the door. He put his cell phone in one of his bag’s pockets, he put his shoes on and he headed out. He walked to the bus station and he waited for the bus to arrive, he had to pick up his order before going to Ryosuke’s house.

 

A few stops later, he arrived at the shop. He went inside and he greeted the cashier saying that there was an order for him and he was told to pick it up the following day.

The woman excused herself and she went to a room where they stored their parcels.

After a few minutes, the woman returned and she was holding a small box in her hands.

“Would you like to see it?” the woman asked.

“Of course, yeah.” Akihito said and he watched the woman opening the box.

He was happy to see that they had done an awesome job on Ryo’s collar.

A thin,black collar and a tag with her name on it.

“It’s exactly what I had in mind.Thank you.” Akihito said and he smiled broadly.

He paid for the collar,he put it back inside the box and he left the shop.

 

He unzipped his bag, he put the box in it and he zipped it up again.

He walked towards the train station and once he got there he checked the arrivals board and the train would arrive in 15 minutes.

 

He looked at his watch and he saw that he still got some time left.

He kept pacing up and down till the train finally arrived, he got on and he stood up since there weren’t any seats available.

 

After many stops and much anxiety, he finally got off the train and he headed to the exit.

He checked the time again and he still got 20 minutes left.

He walked to Ryosuke’s house and he finally got there. He stood outside the front door for a while and thenhe rang the bell.

[~*~FaLlEn*SnOw~*~]

 

It seemed as if time had simply flown by, someone from the heaven's above having pressed the fast forward button on the flow of seconds, minutes, and hours, leaving Ryosuke in confusion on how exactly the day had disappeared, and once again it was another day. Since Akihito was coming over that afternoon, Ryosuke once again got an excuse to leave school early, which he definitely wasn't complaining about at all. In fact, as the clock ticked by, his eyes following the hands' every motion, at the right time he gets up quickly, ignoring any looks he got from the class around him, and told the teacher he was leaving.

 

Heading to the front of the school where the shoe lockers were, he changes from the school shoes to his regular ones, and before he left the actual building he changes his clothes as well. From a pair of jeans to a pair of comfortable black pants, and over the button up white shirt he wore went a blue jacket with white stripes. Exiting the doors, he heads down the steps and then across the yard, leaving the place behind him, and leaving the gates.

 

Once he had, he shoulders his bag and begins to jog down the sidewalk, deciding to just skip out on the ride he knew was waiting for him. He needed the exercise, to stay in shape. The person who was supposed to pick him up sees Ryosuke running, and drives after the teenager, knowing exactly what was going on, but followed after just in case, to keep him safe.

 

Just as Akihito was walking up to the house and ringing the doorbell, and right after the door was opened by Mufukine, was when Ryosuke turns the corner to his street. He sees the two standing there, calls out to them, and then breaks out in a fast run, sprinting the rest of the way, coming to an abrupt halt at the bottom of the stairs. For a moment he takes a few deep breaths, his hands on his knees, which bent slightly, before standing up straight and waving at them. "I'm here..." He pants, glancing at Mufukine, then Akihito. "Hello there Ryo-kun. I was just about to call and ask where you were. Why don't you both come inside, I have some tea and jelly buns made."

 

Mufukine smiles, turning around and walking back inside, pointing out that there was a pair of house slippers for Akihito, and once the two had taken off their shoes, guides them to the room from the other day. Akihito places his school bag on the floor, before sitting down on the couch, unbuttoning his jacket before running his fingers through his hair. Unlike last time, when he had a few red streaks in his hair, today he had blue tips instead, matching his eyes.

 

Glancing to Akihito again, he sports a mischievous grin, but didn't say anything yet, as Mufukine had come into the room, setting a tray of tea and jelly buns down on the small coffee table. "Here you are. You can eat them here, and if you'd like you can go maybe...study in your room, how does that sound Ryo-kun?" Ryosuke had a blank look on his face, and shrugs.

 

"I don't care..."

"Alright. Well, are you okay with that Akihito-san?" They both look at the older male, Ryosuke with raised eyebrows, and Mufukine with a smile on her face. Once they'd gotten a response, Mufukine leaves them to talk, and heads to the kitchen to work on dinner. Before she completely leaves the room, she looks at Akihito, her eyes shining kindly. "By the way, you are more than welcome to stay for dinner if you would like." Bowing her head slightly, she smiles at him, and continues on her way.

 

"She's so weird..." Ryosuke mumbles. "So, what have you got planned?" Ryosuke leans forward and picks up a jelly bun, biting into it, before turning his attention to the older man, raising an eyebrow in expectation to the answer.

[shinya's riddle]

Akihito stood at the door waiting for someone to answer it.

The door was answered by Mufukine and just when he was about to get inside he heard someone shouting at them. It was Ryosuke running towards them and he stormed into the house halting at the bottom of the stairs.

 

“Hello, Mufukine-san, Ryosuke-kun.” Akihito greeted them both and stepped inside.

He took his shoes off, he wore the slippers that were pointed out to him by Mufukine and he followed her and the boy. He sat down on a chair and he gazed at the boy who was grinning at him.

“Are you alright? ” he asked Ryosuke winking at him.

 

“Thank you very much, I have a soft spot for jelly buns.” Akihito said and he smiled broadly at Mufukine.

“It’s alright, we can study wherever Ryosuke-kun feels more comfortable. ” Akihito said and glanced at the boy.

He watched the woman leaving the room and he was kind of surprised to see her turning around and asking him to stay for dinner. Akihito responded with a confident grin on his face.

“Since it’s you asking, how could I possibly say no?”

Akihito’s eyes followed the woman finally leaving the room and he was alone with the boy now.

 

Akihito wore a serious look on his face and answered to the boy’s question.

“As a matter of fact, I have a few high school level exercises for you to do, just to see where you’re standing.” he said staring at the boy. He then unzipped his bag, he took 2 envelopes out , a red one and a black one. He opened the black one, he took out a bunch of papers and he placed the empty folder on the table.

“If there is anything you might not understand or you need help with, all you have to do is ask, alright?” “Don’t be shy or anything, I’m here to help you after all.”Akihito said and he handed the papers to Ryosuke.

“Take your time with these. It’s not like you’re going anywhere.” Akihito grinned at him slyly.

 

After he finished talking, his cell phone beeped, it was a text message.

Akihito was curious to see who the sender was, he picked it up and he opened the message.

Much to his surprise it was Hana inviting him to a social mixer yet again.

Akihito facepalmed the moment he read the message and he sighed.

He set his cell phone to vibrate and he placed it on the table.

He kept staring at Ryosuke’s hand moving while writing and then his eyes went further up staring at the look on the boy’s face, this was when he found himself zoning out. A few seconds later, Akihito’s cell phone started vibrating and he at once snapped out of this fleeting daydream.

 

He grabbed his cell phone and he checked the caller ID, it was Hana calling and she wouldn’t stop him till he picked up.Akihito knew that so he excused himself and he stepped outside the room to answer the phone.

“Hi, Hana.””Well, listen I’m with my student right now, I’ll call you later.” Akihito said ready to hang up.

“Stop it right there,mister.””I know you won’t call me back so you listen” Hana said irritated.

“I want you to come to my mixer tonight, there is a girl who wants to meet you.””It might be your only chance to find love.” Hana said in a serious tone.

“Love?””What are you talking about?” Akihito asked puzzled.

“Stop hooking me up with strangers, do you understand me?” Akihito’s tone was angry.

“Don’t be stupid, Aki. Just join us tonight and you won’t regret it.” Hana insisted.

“My student is more important to me.” Akihito shouted in anger and he hung up.

 

He returned to the room and he sat down obviously pissed off. He took the tea cup that was for him in his hand and he took a big sip.

“I’m sorry about that, it won’t happen again.” Akihito said and he turned his cell phone off.

“So do you find these exercises difficult?” he asked Ryosuke but it was obvious that something was up with him.Akihito’s voice was different.

[~*~FaLlEn*SnOw~*~]

Wide eyes simple stared at Akihito for a moment, as Ryosuke was actually a little surprised that the older male had accepted Mufukine's offer for staying over to eat dinner when it was ready. It wasn't as if that was a bad thing, just that normally it was just himself and Mufukine. However, his thoughts were jostled from this fact when Akihito spoke up, pulling out a red folder and a black one as well. Watching every movement that was made, he took the papers that were handed to him, flipping through them with his thumb.

 

"Sure thing, no problem. I understand. But in a bit I'd rather go to my room...it's um, a bit more...comfortable." He trails off at that moment, and picks up a pencil, starting on one of the problems that was on the paper he was reading at that particular moment. His brows press together, and his hand rests against the page, fingers holding onto the writing utensil in a rather uniquely odd way, held by his thumb, forefinger, and middle finger. The very tip of his tongue could be seen sticking out from between his lips, his teeth holding it in place.

 

Ryosuke barely even noticed when Akihito left the room to talk on his phone, simply shrugging. The entire time, from the moment they'd started this whole thing, his mind had already began to wander, and now that Akihito was out of the room, the music to one of the songs he was working on began running through his brain, and without even realizing it he was no longer writing the answers to the problems that he was supposed to be solving, but instead the lyrics of that particular song.

 

Tonight is the one thing left

And I haven't said it yet, I'm falling

And the writings on the wall

 

Today was misery

And I just can't believe this happened

And I finally broke down

She held onto my heart

But now my only star is falling

Its burning to the ground

 

Now I'm crying out

 

Secret love, my escape

Take me far far away

Secret love, are you there

Will you answer my prayer

Please take me anywhere but here

Anywhere but here

 

However, when a shouting voice could be heard, it snapped him out of his reverie, hearing those last words made Ryosuke wonder if he was really that important. Keeping a blank face as Akihito came back into the room, he looks up as the older male sat down, sensing that the man was pissed off. Waving aside the apology that came his way, he shrugs his shoulders, making it obvious he really didn't care. As for the question that followed, he blinks a couple of times, then speaks up, sliding the paper to the side, in an attempt to keep Akihito from seeing what he'd written. Instead, he changes the subject.

 

"Nah, not really...Um, so looks like you're having a rough time or whatever...I can tell. What's this about 'love'? I used to have to deal with one of my friends always trying to hook me up with people...I just told him over and over I don't have time to date, wasn't interested at that moment, you know?" All the while, he glances at the paper, hoping that maybe they'd move on and Akihito wouldn't ask to check the page he'd been working on...Though maybe the guy would just take it...

[shinya's riddle]

Akihito listened to the boy carefully and he noticed that he was kind of anxious but he didn’t pay attention. He thought that it was because of the problems he had to solve.

Ryosuke finished talking and the only thought that popped in Akihito’s head was

“What does a boy of this age know about love?”

“Is he making fun of me?” he wondered.

 

Akihito cleared his throat and even though he had no interest in going on with this conversation he looked at the boy and told him

“It’s indeed annoying, especially when you don’t need someone special in your life anymore because you once thought you had found them.”

Akihito’s tone changed into a mixture of bitterness and anger as he clenched his fist after he finished talking. It was true though, Akihito had found the one and only, at least that’s what he thought.

 

Her name was Morimoto Naoko, they went to the same high school together and then to the same university. Akihito was so in love with her, he’d take a bullet for her without thinking twice. Their relationship lasted for 5 years. After a trip to England for some seminars he was obliged to attend, Akihito came back home longing to see her after he’d been away for so long only to find her stuff gone as well as her. She was nowhere to be found. Akihito was so devastated, even his heart felt like mourning for him because it stopped beating on that day, he wouldn’t leave the house; he wouldn’t pick up the phone. The following weeks passed with Akihito feeding off of memories and broken promises. Now, two years later he’s finally back on his feet although he still struggles with the idea of trusting others.

 

Akihito in an attempt to stop thinking of that name and that face, he changed the subject back to the problems Ryosuke had to solve.

“So, let’s take a look at what you’ve been writing, shall we?” he said and he gazed at Ryosuke for a few seconds. He unzipped his bag and he took his eyeglasses case out. He opened it and he put his glasses on. His black framed glasses made him look very strict yet very sophisticated.

He closed the eyeglasses case again and he put it back in the bag.

 

Before stretching his arm to take the page that was sitting in front of the boy.

“Almost forgot!” he said and he took a card out of his jacket’s inner pocket.

“Here’s my card, my cell phone number and e-mail address are on it so if you need to cancel or you have any questions, let me know. ” Akihito told Ryosuke and he handed the card to him with a smile on his face. Every time he looked at Ryosuke’s eyes, he felt like floating in a calm, blue ocean of innocence.

 

After he handed him the card, he stretched his arm and he grabbed the page the boy has been working on. “Let’s see.” Akihito said and he searched for any mistakes.

The look on his face was mild till he took a look at the last problem.

This mild look got replaced by a quizzical one as he placed his hand on his chin.

“I’m afraid there is something wrong with the solution of the last problem.”

He said and he reached for his bag. He took his notebook out of the bag, he opened it and he torn a page out of it. He wrote the problem again and he handed the page to the boy.

“I’m confiscating this. You’ll get it back after you solve this problem.” He said and he gave Ryosuke a crooked grin. Akihito took the page in his hands and he read what seemed to be a poem.

[~*~FaLlEn*SnOw~*~]

For all that he'd been imagining Akihito would respond to what he'd said with, what actually came as an answer was not what Ryosuke had been expecting. In fact, the teen had thought that the older male would just tell him not to talk about it, to drop the topic, and focus what they were doing at that very moment, but instead, he'd graced Ryosuke with an answer that somewhat explained exactly what was going on. However, the conversation didn't last very long, and once more it was down to the sheet of problems that he'd been assigned to solve.

 

Before Akihito took the paper, after putting on a pair of glasses in which it made him look quite studious, Ryosuke watched as the man took out what looked like a business card, and takes it from him, glancing at what was printed on the front of it. Apparently it was his cell phone number and e-mail address. "Alright...I'll keep that in mind..." Placing the card in his pocket, he was unable to keep Akihito from picking up the paper.

 

Watching the older male's facial expression, which was slightly blank at first, changing to one of quizzical amusement as no doubt he saw what was written at the bottom. A look of exasperated embarrassment formed on Ryosuke's face, and the faintest of red shows on his cheeks. A small smile could be seen, and he rubs the back of his neck lightly at what he was told. "Y-yeah, I know..." He accepted the piece of paper with the last question on it, and sets it down in front of him, watching from the corner of his eye as he could see that Akihito was reading what he'd written.

 

Biting his bottom lip, he keeps from telling Akihito not to read it, not wanting to seem odd or anything of that sort, so instead turns his eyes to the paper he was supposed to be focusing on, staring at the problem that had been written down on it. He remembered hearing about this in class at one point, but he was pretty sure that it had been a day in which he'd had to leave early, unable to hear the full lesson on how to solve this particular equation. Scratching his cheek with the eraser of the pencil in his hand, he sighs softly. He'd been hoping not to have to ask for help at the beginning, but there was no point in muddling his brain with a question he didn't understand.

 

Glancing up for a moment at Akihito, he then looks at the paper again. "Um, I don't quite understand how to do this one...I only know the first few steps, but that's about it..." Chewing the inside of his cheek, he turns his eyes up again at the man, waiting for a reply, some sort of answer.

[shinya's riddle]

Akihito kept reading what the boy had written over and over.

The more he read it, the more he was reminded of that song he heard at Tom’s Burger.

That song was darker lyrics-wise but still what Ryosuke had written was filled with anticipation, agony, hope and pain mixed together.

 

“Why would an 18-year-old boy write such things?” “What on earth might have happened to him?”

Many questions flooded his mind but still he couldn’t ask Ryosuke about anything since they weren’t friends or relatives, although deep inside him, he hoped for the boy to open up to him just a bit. He felt drawn to Ryosuke from the first time they met because he seemed different from the other boys of his age. He could sometimes see a calm and also a storm in his eyes and that intrigued him.

 

After a few minutes, he looked at the boy and he noticed that he seemed to be having trouble solving that particular equation. It was then when his eyes and Ryosuke’s met for mere seconds then the boy looked back at his paper. Akihito kept staring at him when the boy suddenly spoke up.

 

Akihito heard the boy and replied.

“Write the steps you know and we’ll solve the rest of it together.”

“You mentioned earlier that you felt more comfortable in your room.”

 

“Shall we go then?” Akihito asked Ryosuke and he went on while gazing at the boy’s eyes. “Let’s face it; this coffee table isn’t made for studying no matter how you look at it.”

[~*~FaLlEn*SnOw~*~]

Glancing at the paper that his hand was resting on, along with the pencil clenched between his fingers, he nods when instructed to write down the steps he did know. Focusing his eye sight on what he was writing at that moment, he listens to the suggestion that they move to his room, as Ryosuke had mentioned earlier that it was a bit more comfortable there. Lifting his eyes from the paper, pencil stilling in its' movements, he shrugs.

 

"Sure, let's go...I hope you don't mind if it's cluttered..." He wouldn't say it was messy, as Ryosuke knew where each and every thing in that room went, even if it was just a pile on the floor, or a stack of cds, seemingly in no order at all. Hearing the comment that came after made him smile, his blue eyes twinkling lightly in amusement. "Yeah, you're probably right."

 

He then stands, and motions for Akihito to follow, guiding him through the house and up two sets of stair cases, down a few hallways passing door upon door upon door. It was like a labyrinth of a maze, but eventually they come upon a door that was painted black, with a red design on it, which was in the symbol of a biohazardous waste. Unknown to Akihito, this was also the symbol for his band, (along with a skull) but that would come later down the line.

 

Opening the door, he steps inside, and waits for Akihito to join him before closing the door once more. Going to the center of the room, he then turns to face the older male, before plopping down on the huge bed. "You can sit wherever you want. Just try not to touch or move anything..." Leaning over to the small table that sat near the head of the bed, he picks up a clipboard, placing the paper he was working on to it.

 

A small picture frame sat on the table as well, and within it was what seemed to be a picture of a couple. They were beautiful, both the woman and the man, as if they were some sort of supermodel couple, perfect in every aspect of their appearance. Ryosuke glances at it before turning his attention to Akihito.

 

"So, I wrote down what I knew, and sadly it isn't much. I had to leave early the day they were teaching this particular lesson in class..."

 

[shinya's riddle]

“I don’t mind at all.” Akihito told Ryosuke even though the truth was that Akihito liked everything to be sparkling clean, mess was a distraction to him, and he couldn’t focus.

He didn’t want to tell Ryosuke that because it’s expected from most teenagers to have a messy room. Having a teenage brother like Subaru who was the epitome of disarray left little to the imagination of how Ryosuke’s room could look like.

 

His train of thought ended up in a trainwreck as soon as he saw the boy smiling at what he said about the coffee table. There was a beaming look on his face while looking at the boy. He was glad to see that he made Ryosuke smile. It was a big deal for him since he felt like he was taking a step closer to him somehow.

 

Akihito watched the boy gesturing him to follow him upstairs and he immediately got up, he packed up his things and he followed him.

 

Two stair cases and a network of doors. Akihito was coming to realize how really big and complex this house was. It could be a real spider web of doors and hallways connected to each other that would make it impossible for someone who didn’t live in the house to find their way out or navigate correctly.

After minutes of walking that felt like forever, they finally stood outside a door that was different from the others, it was painted black and there was a biohazardous waste symbol on it. Akihito was taken aback by the design and the color of the door but after looking at it a bit closer, he thought of Ryosuke’s idea to be quite creative almost radical.

 

The boy opened the door , Akihito walked inside and he looked around.

Piles of books, CDs and whatnot, a mischievous disarray dominated the room.

Ryosuke sat on his bed carelessly but gently and he gave permission to Akihito to sit wherever he wanted to but he was not supposed to touch nor move anything. Akihito didn’t expect him to say such a thing and he wondered.

“Not to move anything? For real?” “Like he’d notice.”

 

“I’ll do my best not to touch nor move anything.” Akihito said with a deadpan look on his face while his eyes were looking at Ryosuke and then browsing the room. It was definitely a comfortable room he thought to himself as he was on the verge of starting tidying it up.

While thinking of ways to clean this mess up, his eyes were drawn to Ryosuke who was taking a brief look at a picture frame that was sitting on a small table near his bed.

 

Akihito got closer to Ryosuke’s bed just to take a better look at the picture.

He noticed that the people in the picture were the ones in that portrait in the living room.

His attention was on Ryosuke once again when he heard the boy talking to him.

“It’s alright, it’s alright.” “Hand me the paper and please sit on that chair in front of your desk.”

“Beds also aren’t made for studying as I’m sure you are aware of it.” Akihito told him and smiled.

 

Akihito took a look at the picture frame once again and he noticed that Ryosuke looked very much alike to the woman in the picture. Driven by an impulse he took the picture frame in his hands.

“Are these your parents?” he asked Ryosuke while admiring the beauty of these people.

They were the perfect example of harmonious beauty.

 

Akihito realized what he had done too late. He didn’t mean to ask Ryosuke that, it just slipped out of his mouth. Spontaneity always got the best of him. He then realized that he agreed not to touch anything yet he did. He was sure that Ryosuke would get mad at him, having a complete stranger touching his stuff and being nosy.

[~*~FaLlEn*SnOw~*~]

A satisfied look appeared on Ryosuke's face when Akihito promised not to touch or move anything. It might seem an absurd request for a room that seemed so messy and disorganized, but the teenage boy had his reasons as to why he didn't want anything messed with. Though it seemed the picture upon his bed table seemed to catch the eye of the older man, Ryosuke didn't think too much of it at that very moment, instead he just huffs in annoyance when he was told to move from his comfortable spot on his bed to the chair at his desk.

 

Handing the paper to the other male, he does what he was told, swiveling the chair around to face Akihito, right as the man picked up the frame that held the picture of the couple. A flash of undeniable anger flickers like a fiery flame in Ryosuke's eyes as he quickly gets up from the chair he'd been sitting in. In his haste to move, he knocks over the chair, but it was obvious he did not care that it had fallen, as he steps forward, grabbing the picture frame rather forcefully out of Akihito's hands, at the same time having the most furious expression on his face, and words traced with fury in his voice. "Don't EVER touch this! I told you not to touch anything!!"

 

He breathes hard, glaring hard at the older male, clutching the picture close to his chest. A whole bunch of emotions could be seen swirling upon his face, anger, hurt, sadness... His heart was beating a mile a minute in his chest, and he quickly turns away from the other, so that Akihito could not see his face. "Don't...don't touch this..." He repeats, his voice cracking slightly. A wave of shame flows through him like a river, in reaction to his sudden outburst.

 

Taking a deep breath, he tries to calm his nerves. The fingers clutching at the frame were beginning to go numb and shake. But...he could not. Instead he closes his eyes, and does the only things he could think of that actually worked to keep him from going crazy from the way he was feeling, much like when he got on stage and he wasn't ready or in the mood to deal with the screams of his fans.

 

He begins to sing...

 

"I bet you don't curse God..." He begins, eyes closed, shoulders slumped.

"When the doctor calls

With a stern voice and the test results

And he asks you to come in right away

 

I bet you don't curse God

When you're on a plane

In a turbulence, pourin' rain

And you're hoping that you'll make it out okay

 

Everybody cries

We've all faked a smile

When your back's against the wall

And your hands are tied" By now he was a bit more relaxed, but the look on his face was enough to make any feel a mixture of different emotions inside, want to cry and hold him. His face held the expression of a boy who'd gone through too much, too much for a child his age to have gone through to begin with. His eyes open, and they were shimmering with unshed tears.

 

"There's pain, Life hurts

There's a thousand things

You think you don't deserve

All hope is lost

When You spend it all

And you just can't beat the odds

I bet you don't curse God,

I bet you don't curse God"

 

He doesn't sing the whole song, but falls silent. He continued to just stand there, not moving. His mind completely blank. Forgetting what he'd been angry about to begin with, and only feeling the pain inside. And forgetting that Akihito was there in the room with him.

[shinya's riddle]

Akihito was sure that the boy would get angry at him but he didn’t expect anything like the scene that followed. A loud noise was heard and next thing he knew, Ryosuke grabbed the frame from his hands. Akihito saw the look on the boy’s face, an enraged look accompanied with a pair of fiery eyes ready to burn him alive.

 

Akihito felt a sharp pain on his palm after Ryosuke forcibly snatched the frame from his hands.

He took a look at it and a scratch had been formed.

He quickly forgot the pain, he was fine as long as his hand didn’t bleed.

Akihito looked at the boy with eyes wide open, he was obviously dumbfounded by Ryosuke’s words.

He knew that what he did wasn’t accepted but still he didn’t have to yell that way at him nor act the way he did.

 

Ryosuke was glowering at Akihito and it was obvious to Akihito by the boy’s hard breathing that he was still very upset about what happened. Akihito kept staring at the boy’s face trying to show no emotion. He didn’t want to make things worse. Suddenly, Ryosuke turned away as if he didn’t want to look at him and Akihito listened to the boy talking once again but this time his voice was breaking.

 

Unanticipatedly, Akihito saw the boy taking a deep breath and doing something unexpected for him at least. Ryosuke began singing a song unknown to Akihito. That reaction surprised him and so did the boy’s voice. It was a bit shaky but very emotional and honest. Akihito kept listening to Ryosuke singing and he got closer to him. He didn’t have anything planned out but he felt that he had to do something.

 

When the boy stopped singing, Akihito stood before him and he looked at his face.

The expression on his face was enough for Akihito to understand that this boy had gone through a lot despite being that young. A ravaging river was about to demolish the dam Ryosuke had built and trying to maintain with all his might.

 

Akihito knew of only one way to calm Ryosuke down and he really hoped it could work.

There were other ways but he wasn’t a man of many words, he preferred to take action.

Akihito opened his arms, he wrapped them around the boy and embraced him tightly.

“I’m deeply sorry.” Akihito said and he hugged him even tighter.

Ryosuke’s figure felt so frail in his arms but still Akihito could feel an ocean of emotions fighting each other inside him.

[~*~FaLlEn*SnOw~*~]

Despite being a bit surprised by the sudden embrace, Ryosuke did not break away from Akihito. Instead, he allowed himself to be enveloped in the man's arms, for the first time feeling as if something was changing. That breaking he felt inside, was making way for something new, something grand, something beautifully chaotic. It was the start of a new chapter in his life, and something told him, deep inside, that this would be an epic chapter, and nothing would be the same. Change, yes change, was taking place.

 

One hand still holding on to the picture, close to his chest, his other slowly moves to hold onto Akihito, his forehead resting against the older male's shoulder. His hand moves to the others' back, fingers slowly starting to clench on to the fabric of Akihito's shirt, almost as if he was trying to hold on, not let himself break. However, after hearing the quiet words of "I'm deeply sorry" coming from Akihito's mouth, break he did. His eyes squeeze shut, and he starts crying.

 

It was a soft cry, but it was enough to know, to show the pain that the teenage boy was feeling, the sadness that was deep inside, locked away for so long, not showing it to anyone. Keeping it deep down, hiding it, the light unable to shed itself upon the darkness. It felt like the arms that were holding him so securely were trying to keep him from breaking and falling apart. It was a comfort, to know this, having someone there to be with him.

 

After a moment, the tears start to cease, and he breaks away from Akihito. Taking a shaky breath, he walks over to the bed side table, and carefully sets the picture down where it had been. For a second or three, he gazes at the photo, before speaking up. "Yes...they're my parents..." He reaches out, and runs his fingers lightly down the front of the picture. "They aren't...here...anymore..."

 

Turning to look at Akihito, some tears still falling, he a mixture of worry and bittersweet sadness on his face, he tries to smile, but fails. "Um, is...your hand okay? I...yanked it out of your hand pretty roughly...so...yeah...I'm...I'm sorry for that..." Glancing to the side, he bites his bottom lip, his eyebrows pressing together.

[shinya's riddle]

Akihito was gleeful to see that the boy responded to his embrace.

He really thought he wouldn’t. He was a stranger to him after all.

After Akihito apologized to the boy, the latter started crying.

Akihito placed his right arm on the boy’s head and he affectionately began to stroke Ryosuke’s hair.

 

He preferred not to talk, talk was cheap under such circumstances anyway.

Akihito felt every drop of sadness and pain Ryosuke shed.

All he wanted was to take his pain away, embrace it and make it his own.

He couldn’t see him suffering like that. He wanted to see that mischievous look on his face again.

 

After a while, Ryosuke’s crying had almost stopped and he wasn’t in Akihito’s arms anymore.

Akihito was staring at the boy walking towards the table that was near his bed on which he set the frame cautiously. Surprisingly enough, he answered to Akihito’s question that was asked before all this happened.These people were his parents indeed but the words that followed made Akihito very sad.

As Ryosuke told him, his parents were dead.Akihito finally understood why the boy acted the way he did. “I’m so sorry for your loss.” he said and he lowered his head.

 

Akihito walked over to Ryosuke while the latter was still crying.

He got close to him and he swept the boy’s tears with his thumbs.

Akihito’s thumbs run down to the corners of Ryosuke’s lips and he pulled them upwards.

It seemed like the boy was smiling at that point even if it was a forced one.

Akihito smiled at Ryosuke and his smile was warmer than the sun.

“That’s a lot better.” he said and he took his hands of off Ryosuke’s face after a few seconds.

 

Ryosuke tried to smile on his own in vain after a bit and it was then when he asked Akihito if his hand was alright. The boy even apologized to Akihito but the latter knew that it wasn’t Ryosuke’s fault in any case. He caused all of this to begin with.

“My hand is fine, forget about it, I’m at fault anyway.” he said looking at Ryosuke who seemed embarrassed about it.

 

Akihito walked towards the chair that was knocked on the floor and he picked it up, he then got closer to Ryosuke’s bed and he sat on it. “Ryosuke-kun, I can’t even imagine how all this feels like but if you ever need to talk, remember that I’ll always be all ears for you.” Akihito said and he kindly grasped Ryosuke’s hand. Akihito couldn’t be more serious about it, he meant every word he said.

 

“Would you like us to go for a walk? You need some fresh air.” Akihito asked Ryosuke and he continued while taking a look at his watch. “Our session is already over so you’re pretty much free.”

[~*~FaLlEn*SnOw~*~]

He himself did not even know why he accepted the arms that had embraced him so carefully, but it was as if something deep down, in the depths of his aching heart, knew that this was exactly the thing that he needed. And, in that respect, acted accordingly, allowing Akihito to hold him, and making him react in the way he had. Once he'd placed the picture back, and spoke to the older man, confirming what he'd been asked before the whole incident, he was surprised when Akihito came over to him, and wiped away the tears that were still falling slowly down his cheeks.

 

And, even though he doubted that the older male's hand was completely fine, Ryosuke doesn't ask about it again, instead letting Akihito be. All he does at that point is shrug, if it was okay for Akihito, he wouldn't let it get to him too much. A murmured thank you escapes his lips when Akihito picks up the chair and sets it where it belonged, even though it was his fault the chair had fallen in the first place.

 

It was quiet only for a little while longer, before Akihito spoke up again, telling him that if he, Ryosuke, ever needed to talk, that he would be there to listen. The teen nods his head lightly, a slight expression of sadness still shadowing his face, his eyes a little bit duller than usual, not as shiny or happy as they appeared for the most part. He could barely feel the hand that had taken his own, but could just enough. "Thanks. I'll keep your offer in mind..." He murmurs softly.

 

At the offer that followed, he nodded lightly. "That would be nice, thank you." Grabbing the jacket he'd been wearing early, he slips it on, buttoning a few of the buttons. Putting his cell phone in his pocket, and a couple of yen of different amounts inside it as well. He was pretty much ready to go, all he needed to put on were his shoes, which were downstairs by the front door.

 

When Akihito was ready, Ryosuke leads the way out of his room, and through the halls like before. He makes a quick stop at the door of the kitchen, where Mufukine could be found, cooking dinner. "Hey, Mufukine, I'm going out for a bit. Akihito-san is coming with." She glances over at them, the smile she had on her lips diminishing just a slight bit as she saw the stained paths upon the teenager's cheeks that could only mean one thing. He'd been crying. Swallowing hard, she forces a smile back on to her lips. "A-alright. I'll see you when you get back. Dinner should be ready in a little while, don't take too long..."

 

Ryosuke agrees, and turns around, heading to the front door, putting his shoes on before going outside. Once Akihito was out as well, he closes the front door and walks down the steps, going to the sidewalk. And with that, he began walking, his hands shoved into his pockets, the tiniest of frowns tugging at the corners of his lips. He was quiet as well, the only sounds that could be heard were that of nature around them, and the distant sound of a car on the main road.

[shinya's riddle]

Akihito’s eyes lighten up at Ryosuke’s response and his hand held the boy’s hand tighter.

He felt like he didn’t want to let go even though he had to otherwise it would seem very weird to Ryosuke. The boy’s hand was soft and delicate to the touch, almost silky.

 

Akihito let go of the boy’s hand and he got up to get ready to go out since Ryosuke agreed to head out with him for a while. “Don’t mention it.” Akihito said with a big smile on his face while watching Ryosuke getting ready. He as well put his jacket on, he opened one of his bag’s pockets and he grabbed his cell phone, his wallet and his glasses case. He took his glasses off, he put them back to their case and then into the bag which he zipped shut. He thought that he wouldn’t have to carry it with him since they’d be back.

 

He put his wallet in the inner pocket of his jacket and he held his cell phone in his hand.

He was about to turn it on once he got outside hoping that Hana wouldn’t keep calling him.

Akihito followed Ryosuke out of his room, thinking to himself while walking “I’m not going to get used to this house anytime soon. It’s quite confusing.”

 

They finally went down the stairs and they stopped at the kitchen’s door.

Ryosuke informed Mufukine that they were going out while Akihito was staring at Mufukine noticing a feeling of worry as she was talking to the boy. He didn’t know why but perhaps she was worried about him going out at that time so he reassured her with a confident smile on his face.

“Don’t worry, Mufukine-san, I’ll make sure we get back in time.”

 

After a few seconds, they both headed to the door where Akihito as well as Ryosuke put their shoes on and they went outside. Ryosuke closed the door behind them and they started walking.

Akihito was walking behind Ryosuke gazing at the latter’s figure. After a minute or two, he turned his cell phone on, he typed the PIN and he then put it in his trousers’ front pocket.

 

“Is your neighborhood always that quiet?” he asked Ryosuke in an attempt to break the silence between them and then he continued “Where do you want to go?” “You know this place better than me.” Akihito asked while pacing a tiny bit faster so he could walk by Ryosuke’s side.

“We can go wherever you want, all you have to do is tell me.” he said and he looked at the boy.

[~*~FaLlEn*SnOw~*~]

 

"Hm?" Ryosuke glances from the corner of his eyes at Akihito, who had spoken up, asking something about the neighborhood being quite or something along that line. The teen just shrugs at first, not saying anything in response, but after a second or two he does. "Yeah, I guess. That was the reason why my parents came here I think. They wanted a quiet place for me to grow up...Somewhere relatively peaceful, you know? It'd be a pain to always listen to loud neighbors or cars constantly driving by." He didn't go into detail on how his parents hadn't even had the chance to even live in the house, as they'd died before they moved in.

 

Falling silent again, thought the quiet was broken once again by Akihito asking where he wanted to go, saying that he, Ryosuke, knew the area better. He noticed how the older male had quickened his pace so that they were now walking side by side, not that it really mattered, and not that Ryosuke really cared all that much at that moment in time. The other continued to tell him that all he had to do was tell Akihito where he wanted to go, and they'd go there. But Ryosuke really didn't have any place in mind.

 

"I don't really know...I just wanted to go for a walk...we could go to the park nearby. It's nice, and quiet there too." He glances once again at Akihito, not even waiting for an answer to the place he'd suggested, instead taking the initiative and taking the lead, taking the shortest path to the park. All the while, he was quiet, but he liked it that way. It was calming, and right now that was what he needed.

 

It didn't take too long to get to the park, and sure enough, it was absolutely quiet. All that could be heard was the wind rustling the leaves, the sounds of birds in trees, and their own breathing. He heads over to a white gazebo that was in the center of the small park, and sits down on one of the benches underneath the covering of the gazebo's roof. Looking to Akihito, he manages a small smile. Taking a breath, he leans his head back to stare up at the slightly peeling pain of the underside of the roof, before speaking up. "I usually come here when I'm feeling sad, or need to think. Or if I am feeling lonely...it's a...special place for me..."

 

He closes his eyes, and a slightly forlorn look takes place upon his features, as his mind wanders to a distant memory from a while ago. It was a nice memory, one he would never forget, not in his entire life. It was something he held on to, and it was precious, because it was one of his mother and father when they were still alive. After a moment or two he opens his eyes, and looks to Akihito again. His eyebrows raise slightly, pressing together just barely. "You know what confuses me...?" He asks, shifting slightly where he was sitting. "You barely know me...and yet you're being so kind to me...Why?"

 

[shinya's riddle]

“I see.””My parents are quite the opposite, they love all that fuss and loudness!”

”I have gotten used to it as well even now that I live alone, the neighborhood I live in is quite busy.”

Akihito replied back to Ryosuke. “Obviously, your parents made the best decision.” He continued.

He kept walking looking at the few houses nearby and then he took his cell out of his jacket’s inner pocket.

 

He sent a message to his brother informing him that he wouldn’t be able to join them for dinner and that he would call their mother tomorrow. After, he received a delivery notification; he put the cell phone back in his pocket. Mere seconds later, Akihito’s cell phone beeped but he ignored it thinking that it was his brother, Subaru asking questions.

 

After Ryosuke suggested they go to the park, Akihito just followed since the former was already walking to that direction. The scenery was very enchanting. This was nothing like his neighborhood.

Trees all around, greenery, flowers. Everything seemed like a scene from a movie to him.

Everything was so well taken care of and organized. He couldn’t help but being in awe from what he was seeing.

 

Minutes later, they arrived at the park. The whole area was engulfed in silence and tranquility. It felt really peaceful to the point where even Akihito didn’t want to talk. Ryosuke led him to a white gazebo where the boy sat on a bench whereas Akihito just stood there leaning against the gazebo’s rails. Suddenly, the boy started talking and Akihito looked at him kind of surprised.

 

Akihito listened to him and he gave him a gentle smile in return.

“Your special place, huh?” “I can’t blame you, it’s very beautiful here.”

“I don’t have a special place; I hope you don’t mind sharing.”

He teased Ryosuke while looking at him with a sly look on his face.

 

After a while, Akihito stared at the boy only to see that there was this depressed look on his face again. Even though his eyes were closed, it was obvious that the sadness he felt was immense.

The seconds that followed went by in silence till Ryosuke spoke up and got Akihito’s attention. After hearing the boy’s question Akihito stood up and he sat on the bench next to Ryosuke leaving a few centimeters between them.

 

He looked Ryosuke deeply in the eyes and he replied back in a low, husky voice.

“It seems that I like you a little too much considering that I’m not like that to anyone.”

After he finished talking, he fondly ruffled Ryosuke’s hair still maintaining eye contact.

[~*~FaLlEn*SnOw~*~]

His eyes rose to meet Akihito's as the older male sat down on the bench next to him. There wasn't that much space between them, and he could feel the natural body heat floating off of the other, making him want to move away, but does not. Instead, he stays where he was sitting, his eyes growing in size as he listens to the answer that was given to the question that he'd asked. He didn't know what it was, but there was something about the way Akihito's voice, they way it had gotten all low and sultry sounding, that made him feel awkwardly uncomfortable but...giddy...at the same time. "Wh-what the hell is that supposed to mean?" He mumbles, looking away, a faint blush forming on his cheeks, as he gently slaps away Akihito's hand away from his hair.

 

To distract himself from the way he was feeling, he digs around in his back pocket, his fingers curling around a slip of rectangular paper, made of a glossy material. Grasping it, he pulls it out, and for a moment was quiet. After a few seconds, he holds it out to the older male, still not looking directly at him. "A-hem...Um, here. Take this. It's a ticket to the next 'Danger Zone' concert. You should definitely, totally go...If you don't, it's not like I'll care or anything..."

 

Shoving into Akihito's hand, before getting up from the bench. His face felt hot, but he knew that it wasn't from a fever. In fact, it was totally not that. He turns so his back was to Akihito, before shoving his hands into his pockets again. Looking out at the park around them, he was quiet, savoring the moment, surprised at even himself for what he'd just done. No doubt that Akihito was a bit confused, as he too was confused. Why had he done that? He didn't know. It was just an impulse.

 

"Consider...consider it a way to get to know me better. I'll be waiting for you there. Alright?" He glances back, a big grin on his face. It seemed he was feeling much happier at that moment. "Well, we should head back, I'm sure that Mufukine is done with dinner. I'll race you there!" Without even waiting, he sticks out his tongue at the other male before bolting, moving as fast and nimble as an Olympic gold medal athlete, and was at the edge of the park within just a few blinks of the eyes.

 

"LOSER BUYS WINNER ICE CREAM!!!" He yells back, before turning the corner and dashing away. He couldn't help it, and began to laugh as he ran. The wind against his face, pulling at his hair, which flicked against his cheeks and forehead. He might as well have been flying. For some reason he felt...a bit more free than when he'd left the house earlier. He just hoped that the sensation would last...

 

Reaching the front stairs, he places his hands on his knees, panting softly, his bangs falling gently into his hair. After catching his breath, he stands up straight, and looks back the way he'd come, wondering if Akihito was close behind. There was no way that the older male could have won. Ryosuke was on the track team...well, when he had time. And when he was, he often won first place in tournaments.

[shinya's riddle]

Witnessing Ryosuke’s reaction, Akihito felt like he had done something wrong and it was too late to take it back although he would have said the same no matter how many times the boy asked him the same question. He stared at Ryosuke while the latter seemed to be taking something out of his pocket. It seemed like a piece of paper of some short.

 

 

 

Akihito still sitting on the bench he looked astonished as Ryosuke put that piece of paper in his hand a bit forcefully. He took a look at it and it was indeed a concert ticket. He felt quite confused even puzzled by the boy’s actions however he kept listening to him saying that he wanted him to go to that concert and that he’d be waiting for him there even though he sounded like he didn’t care if he showed up or not at first.

 

 

 

Akihito raised his eyebrow looking at Ryosuke who glanced back at him smiling.

“I’ll see what I can do” he replied. He didn’t know himself what he would do at that very moment. A few seconds later, he got up since Ryosuke wanted them to go back.

The boy suggested they race home and without waiting for Akihito to reply, he started running. Akihito just stood there watching him disappear.

 

 

 

“Great!” he thought to himself while letting a big sigh out. It wasn’t like he had much of a choice so he tried to recall the path they took so he could return. It was an area unknown to him but he had taken a good look of what was around so it was kind of easy for him to find his way back. There was no way he would run so he started walking and thinking about what had just happened.

 

 

 

While immersed in his thoughts, he kept walking till he stopped in front of an ice cream vending machine. It was a happy coincidence for him but the only problem was that he didn’t know what flavor Ryosuke liked. He decided to randomly choose hoping the boy would like it. He took his wallet out, he threw the amount of money that was needed in the coin slot and then he pressed the code for the strawberry waffle cone. He put the concert ticket that was given to him inside his wallet and then he put it back in his pocket. He took the cone out of the machine and he noticed that he was close to Ryosuke’s house.

 

 

 

A few minutes later, he finally reached to the boy’s house and he saw him outside waiting. He got closer and he stood by the front door. “Well, that was fun!” he said in a sarcastic tone while glaring at Ryosuke.

He showed him the ice cone and said “Loser buys winner ice cream. What happens when the winner turns out to be a little cheater?” Akihito asked in a playful manner while grinning at Ryosuke.

[~*~FaLlEn*SnOw~*~]

He'd just caught his breath, no longer panting, when he finally sees Akihito come around the corner, holding an ice cream in his hand. A grin breaks out on his face, and he laughs at the older male's obvious sarcasm. Calming down and no longer laughing, though the big smile was still painted on his lips, he shrugs at the question that was asked of him. Blue eyes twinkle with mischief and teasing, and he sticks out his tongue at Akihito. "I'M not a cheater, YOU'RE just slow." He puts his hands out to the side, palms up, and shrugs again, his eyes closed and smug expression on his face. "I mean, come on, you seriously had no chance against me. I am a five time national first place winner in my school's track and field team."

 

Walking up the steps to the front door, and motions for Akihito to follow. Opening it, he steps inside, slipping his shoes off and setting them to the side before going any further. Waiting for Akihito to do the same, and once he had, he leads the way through the house, heading towards the kitchen. Like before, when he'd shown the older male the way to his room, there was a lot to see, pictures on the walls, small shelves full of antiques and rather expensive looking items like fancy tea sets and and vases, figurines made of crystal and glass, a unique looking collection of ivory eggs painted and designed with jewels. And, the pictures, every now and then, would be that of the same couple from both the living room and the small frame by Ryosuke's bed.

 

And the closer they got to the kitchen, the scent of food got stronger, and it smelled delicious. It made even Ryosuke's mouth water, and from what he could tell, Mufukine was going all out for the guest in which they were having over for dinner. Reaching the wide open doorway that led into the domain that was strictly for Mufukine, they could see that she had indeed made a feast. Leaning against the door way, the teen crosses his arms over his chest and smiles at the busy woman, who after a moment, only then notices that they were standing there.

 

She looks over at them, eyes wide, glasses askew, hair slightly disheveled, but even with the smudges on the front of her apron, and the flour dust spots on her cheeks, she still was very pretty. Blinking a couple of times, she smiles widely at them. "Well, this is a surprise! You caught me off guard! Ryosuke-kun, you don't usually come in here when I'm cooking. Did you come to show Kageyama-san the kitchen? Oh, and if you were wondering, dinner is about ready, so wash up and I'll have everything on the dinner table when you're done." She smiles again, a faint blush on her cheeks, as she dusted her hands off on the bottom part of her apron. "Nah, I just wanted to see what you were up to Mufukine. And I wanted to show Akihito around. Well, we'll let you finish."

 

Turning to Akihito, he smirks. "Come on, let's go." He then once again takes the lead, and guides the older male once more through the maze of a house, heading down a hallway and opening the door to a rather large bathroom. "You can wash up in here. I'm going to my room to change. So, if you don't know your way, just stay here and I'll come get you when I'm done." That said, he leaves, and goes to his bedroom quickly, in a matter of moments was gone from sight. Once there, he does indeed change, putting on a pair of pale grey blue jeans, a short sleeved white t-shirt, and over this a black hoodie with sleeves that were striped red and black. He zips it up half way, and after glancing at his appearance in the mirror, washing his hands in the bathroom that was connected to his bedroom, he returns to where he'd left Akihito, wondering if the guy had actually stayed put.

 

Mufukine, like she'd said she'd do, had placed the food on the table, and it looked and smelled amazing. After placing everything down, she steps back to look at her handiwork, and smiles. A bottle of sake was ready, and small cups were placed at each spot. Normally she didn't allow Ryosuke to drink, as he was underage, but on occasions like these she let it slide, but kept an eye on how much he drank. Because guests were rare to this house, and ones that the teen actually got along with, Mufukine liked to think of it as a 'special circumstance'. So it was perfectly okay.

 

 

 

Ryosuke's expression

 

[shinya's riddle]

Akihito was slightly annoyed by Ryosuke's race thing but once he saw the boy laughing , he forgot all about it at once. He was glad to see him smiling, it felt that everything had suddenly become more vibrant, vivider around him. No matter what Ryosuke was telling him at that moment Akihito was okay with it. He just stood there smiling at him , not saying anything. That playful spark in his eyes was back. It was the spark that Akihito wanted to see again.

 

A few moments later, Ryosuke gestured Akihito to follow him inside the house. Once inside, he took his shoes off and he wore the slippers that were there for him. He kept walking behind the boy, looking around at the beautiful furniture and the many decorations that adorned every spot of the house.

 

Seconds later, they were in the kitchen. Mufukine was cooking all kinds of things for them and they all smelled so good. Akihito would bet that they tasted just as good too. The woman was busy preparing all those goodies that took her a few seconds to notice their presence and she was taken aback once she did. Akihito smiled broadly and he apologized for the intrusion. After she and Ryosuke shared a few words, she told both of them to go wash up as dinner was about to be served. After Mufukine was done talking, Akihito approached her and he politely asked her "Could you please put this in the freezer? It's for Ryosuke." as he handed the ice cream cone to her.

 

Soon afterwards, Ryosuke told him to come with him. Akihito turned around after smiling wide to Mufukine and he followed the boy once again. After many doors and a hallway they stood outside a door which Ryosuke opened and it was a rather big bathroom. He was told that he could wash up there and that he would come back for him. Akihito nodded, he entered the room and he closed the door behind him.

 

He approached the faucet, he turned the tap on and he rinsed his hands in water. After applying soap on his hands he scrubbed on both sides and in between his fingers,he rinsed both of his hands thoroughly while pointing them downward in order to avoid splashing water around and made a mess. He then turned off the faucet and he dried his hands with a towel that was hanging next to the faucet.

 

After hanging the towel back to its hanger, he exited the room waiting for Ryosuke to return.

He thought it would be best for him to wait there instead of getting lost and eventually making a fool of himself. He didn't have to wait long for the boy to arrive though, after a few moments, he saw Ryosuke coming towards him.

[~*~FaLlEn*SnOw~*~]

"Hey, you waited, good choice." Ryosuke grins when he walks up to Akihito, who was waiting outside the bathroom door. Apparently the older male didn't want to get lost. The teenager didn't blame him, this house was awfully easy to get lost in, with all the hallways and doors. Sometimes, if he wasn't paying attention to where he was going, even Ryosuke could get turned around every once in a while, and he'd lived in that house for nearly six years now.

 

With a gesture of his hand, he motioned for Akihito to once again follow him, leading him like usual through the house, to the dining room, where food was waiting on the table for them, and Mufukine standing to the side, smiling as they came in to the room. "Go ahead and take a seat. I do hope you will enjoy what I've made." After they were seated, with Ryosuke sitting next to Akihito, Mufukine sits as well, across from the two males. "You really out did yourself Mufukine." He says, smiling at her. She shrugs, and waits for them to begin eating, before offering to pour the guest of honor a drink, if he should so desire.

 

Ryosuke sure did enjoy what had been made, and every so often, between bites of food or sips of his drink, he would glance over at Akihito. Wondering to himself just why had things gone the way they did today. Not that he objected, in fact he was quite glad they had, not that he would ever admit that... Staring down at his bowl of rice, he bites his bottom lip, and could feel that Mufukine was watching him, but when he looked up, she quickly looked away. Shaking his head to himself, he finally looks straight at Akihito.

 

"So, um, what are your plans for this weekend? Are you going to come back, or do you have things to do? Not that I really care one way or another, I just need to know, so I can plan ahead of time." He gets a stubborn expression on his face, though his eyes were twinkling, and Mufukine couldn't help but smile. She could see that the teenager was getting along quite well with his new tutor, and because of that, she was quite happy.

[shinya's riddle]

Akihito grinned back at Ryosuke and nodded after hearing that it was a good choice that he waited for him to return. After the boy gestured him to follow yet again, this time to the dining room.

Akihito followed him without even paying attention to his surroundings since Ryosuke was there with him. He knew he wouldn’t get lost so all he did was looking at the boy who was wearing a rather nice outfit.

 

Once they got to the dining room, Mufukine was standing there smiling at them and soon afterwards they both had a seat exactly as the woman told them to do. Akihito was surprised to see that Ryosuke sat next to him but he couldn’t ask for more at this point.

A few seconds later, he spoke up “Everything looks so delicious Mufukine-san but ” he paused for a millisecond of a second “you shouldn’t have gotten into such trouble for me.” he looked at Mufukine with a broad grin on his face.

 

“Thank you very much.” he said to Mufukine ,who so kindly offered to pour him a drink.

After taking a few sips of his drink , he started eating confirming his expectations.

Mufukine’s cooking skills were exceptional. He kept eating and drinking his drink slowly.

The enjoyment could be seen on his face with every bite he took.

 

Apart from the delightful dinner, flashbacks of today’s events were popping in his head like scenes from a black and white movie which kept him silent for quite a while. He regretted nothing of what he said and did and he desired for things between him and Ryosuke to improve. While pondering with all that, he looked at Ryosuke out of the corner of his eye abstractedly and only when their eyes met briefly, he then gained control of himself burying these thoughts in a dark place in his mind.

 

After a moment or two, the boy asked Akihito what his plans were for the weekend.

Akihito didn’t have anything planned so he was more than willing to tutor Ryosuke instead of sitting home waiting impatiently till he saw Ryosuke again. “I don’t have any plans so I could come over tomorrow morning. You will have the afternoon to yourself in case you would like to go out.” He replied and he took a sip of his drink.