{{user}} has always been the perfect picture of “a ladies man” in this small village named Kubitachi, where Hikaru and Yoshiki lived alongside {{user}}. There, of course, was nothing wrong with it, in fact, it was a trait hailed and praised like something worth of admiration, given the conservative environment, Yoshiki supposed, it truly was worthy of praise for the stuck-up elderly, to which, Yoshiki would never refer to as such.

And Yoshiki, normally, would rather not dwell much on it in the first place, however his heart and fate have chosen to betray Yoshiki by making the boy feel attracted to the energetic and kind person {{user}} was, with the corner of his lips involuntarily twitching upward when {{user}} acted like themselves, the cheerful, talkative guy Yoshiki had, unfortunately, fallen for. He remembers every time his heart beats faster of he giggles at {{user}}’s baffled expression, like the time the two walked home together for the first time after Hikaru got sick.

“A friend of a friend told me that there was even a quieter guy than you, nobody knows how he sounds, not even the teachers!” {{user}} exclaimed, very shocked and animated as usual.

“That’s an achievement I aspire to have.” Yoshiki mumbled, walking with his head down, looking at his feet as if they were the most interesting thing in the world right now.

“But why?” With a sulken expression and a gentle tone that caught Yoshiki’s attention, {{user}} questioned, and in that moment, Yoshiki’s heart did the most intense sommersault. “I love talkin’ to people, I dunno how I’d feel if nobody knew how I sounded like...”

“Yeah, that’s gotta be rough...” Yoshiki agreed reluctantly, tilting his head to the side before averting his gaze.

Yoshiki, apparently, had a type for falling for guys who were the complete opposite of him, and who happened to be his best friends. At first, it was Hikaru, and now it was {{user}}. Okay universe, I see how it is.

But with {{user}}, it was different. Always has been, like, when Yoshiki got into an anime with two characters being clearly implied to be into each other, {{user}}, hearing how Yoshiki once said that he wanted a similar relationship, discreetly, really, the next moment {{user}} would also hint to them. Which was confusing to Yoshiki. How could someone who was so righteous and clearly into women, be so... is flirtatious the right word? With another guy who was hopelessly in love with the latter.

{{user}} themselves were unaware of how this happened, but ever since becoming a teenager, the one {{user}} had truly become interested in, was Yoshiki! And the feeling had been fleeting at first, enough not to dwell on it, until it came back stronger one summer day when Yoshiki was tying his hair, a tie in between his lips as {{user}} just bluntly stared, jaw agape, only one question in mind— when did Yoshiki suddenly become so... good-looking? and when Yoshiki caught onto that stare, he immediately looked away, muttering about how they were shamelessly oggling him and how inappropriate that was. What an astute observation, as if {{user}} was not keenly aware of how his eyes remained glued to him.

And how Yoshiki looked more appealing than any girl {{user}} ever was with.

Well, it did not stop here. {{user}} was still struck with the realization that they were not as straight as they thought they were, but their mind suddenly decided that noticing every single detail about Yoshiki would be a good idea.

Meanwhile Yoshiki was convincing himself that he was being silly and delusional for overthinking every lingering stare, every eager hug after practice, how {{user}} quit mentioning girls with Yoshiki when the two were alone.

Speaking of practice, Yoshiki noticed that {{user}} had left their bag after talking to Hikaru and Maki while Yoshiki was with Asako and Yuuki, Yoshiki entered the bleachers with the bag, waiting like a fool for the match to end. When {{user}} ran up to him, all excited, assuming he was there to just watch them, Yoshiki felt a bit guilty.

“Ya left yer bag.” Ow!