Episode 19. Maintaining Appearances

“Kenta-senpai.”

Tomo looked up. Without him noticing, a girl had entered the classroom and approached them. He looked at Yuu, who noticed and shook his head when he turned back to Tomo. Ken, to whom she had spoken and who she stood too close to, took no notice of her. He focused on the book he had in hand, waiting for Tomo and Yuu to finish eating.

The fact someone came seeking Ken in their classroom, seemingly casually coming up to them, felt odd.

“Ke-n-ta-se-n-pa-i.”

Ken turned a page, immersed in the book. He stopped, flipped the page back, jotted something on the page with the pencil he had in hand, and then continued reading. Tomo assumed Ken had found something he wanted to ask Kouta, or check with Tanaka.

After all, what he read wasn’t some light reading, but related to what he planned in the future.

“Yamada-senpai!”

“Huh?” Ken turned to the girl, almost looking startled. He blinked a few times before he beamed her a smile, putting the book face down in his lap. “What can I do for you?”

She began fidgeting, which reminded Tomo of someone in an urgent need to use the restroom, but it was clear that wasn’t what she was going for.

Yuu frowned.

“I heard you still date?”

Tomo lost interest. He already figured the conversation would go in a certain direction: rejection. Ken followed his rules just like he expected others to do – he was in a relationship, so he wouldn’t fool around with random girls.

Besides, the question was wrong. It should be ‘would you take me out on a date?’ or something similar.

“No.”

Ken sounded uncharacteristically harsh. Tomo had planned to ignore the rest, but now he couldn’t help the curiosity.

“Eeeh?” Her shrill voice hurt his ears. “You stopped?”

Tomo mentally pointed out to her that she could only have herself to blame for phrasing it like that. For as long as Tomo could remember, Ken had always made sure to make it clear he and whichever girl he hung out with were in a mutual agreement that they were friends, and that the mutual understanding always was that they weren’t a couple.

Oddly enough Ken preferred being infamous for being a player, than in committed relationships. Though, when Tomo thought about Ken’s family situation, it never felt strange. Perhaps it had left a scar that had left Ken afraid of being that close with anyone.

With one exception, apparently.

Ken propped himself against the back of the chair, resting his cheek against his fist, his focus entirely on her. “I never ‘dated’, y’know. I hang out; the cinema, walking around town, shopping, maybe some time just the two of us...” He gave her a mischievous grin.

“Let me date you, senpai!”

“Do you know the rules then?”

“What rules?”

Ken turned away from her with a disappointed shrug. “Sorry, can’t take anyone who doesn’t follow the rules anywhere.” He picked up his book again, the smile gone without a trace as he spun his pencil, ready to make another note.

“Senpai, what are the rules?”

Ken flipped to the next page.

She turned to Yuu. “Why is senpai ignoring me?”

“Maybe because he’s reading and you’re disturbing him?”

The girl leaned over to see the title of the book. “What is even… Food… Safety? What kind of book is that?”

Tomo wasn’t sure how to react, but Ken smiled with a glint in his eye, again turned to her with inviting body language.

“That’s what makes sure you don’t get food poisoning. You’ve taken home economics, and helped out at home, right? When you wash your hands, keep cooked and uncooked food separated, cook it, and store it properly, you’re ensuring and maintaining the food safety. We’ve covered it a bit in home economics.”

“Why do you read that? I thought you’ve been accepted to study drama? You’ll be an actor, right? Like a famous film star!”

“Sure, if you want me to be an actor, I can be one. That’s simple enough.”

Ken had a hint of amusement in his eyes. Whatever went through his mind, Tomo surely didn’t want to be part of.

“Really? Are you any good at it?” She fidgeted once again.

“Of course! I’ve had plenty of leading roles. But that’s just talk.” His smile widened. “Let me show you how good I am and it’s up to you to decide.”

He put the book on the desk, using his pencil as a bookmark. The girl looked expectantly at him. However, he turned away from her, closing the distance between himself and Tomo. Tomo tried to move further away, but Ken put his hand on Tomo’s arm. If it was to keep Tomo from scooting over, or falling off the chair Tomo couldn’t say — both seemed likely when it came to Ken. He held his breath as his heart thumped in his chest. He knew what would come next and he wanted to stay impassive.

“Tomoki-chan, you are the most beautiful person I’ve ever met. Your kindness is like a fresh breeze in this cruel world, your smile the sun, the moon and the stars. I love you from the bottom of my heart, yet even that is not a word enough to explain what I feel for you, my love.”

Tomo’s cheeks turned hot from embarrassment in an instant. So much for remaining expressionless. No matter how many times Ken teased him, he never got used to it. It was worse knowing he did like Tomo and did his best to embarrass him.

“You are such a loveable person, a human too adorable for this earth. I would share with you a kiss, but people are watching and word would spread. I would not want that for the one I cherish in my heart.”

“That’s so cringy,” Tomo managed to squeeze out of his mouth in response to Ken’s public love confession.

The subtle smile was, with no doubt, cocky before he nonchalantly turned to the girl he was showing off to.

“Wow, you’re really good! I really thought that you liked that first-year!”

The corners of Tomo’s mouth twitched at the forced excitement.

“You think so? I didn’t take it too seriously.”

Tomo tried to ignore them. Yuu’s expression looked complicated too as he now and then looked at Ken. Ken propped his cheek against his fist again, as he leaned towards the back of the chair.

“Didn’t you watch the play at the cultural festival last year?”

“Oh! You were in the play? I was busy right then.”

“That’s a shame. You’d have seen me doing it seriously. I can love and hate anyone on stage, y’know.” Ken grinned, but there was a slight tone of annoyance buried beneath his smiles. “It was nice to chat, but I was sorta busy. Since I showed you my skill, can I keep studying?” He picked up his book, looking like he was about to begin reading, yet still beaming a smile at her.

The girl closed the distance between them, putting her hand on his arm and shoulder. Ken’s smile froze.

“Can I go around the school with you during the school festival? As our first date?”

Ken, who seemed like he usually had an answer ready for everything, remained silent for a few more seconds than Tomo found natural, but then Ken gave her a sheepish look as he removed her hands.

“If I were to go with a cute girl like you, my brother would kill me. My brother’s already in his thirties and he doesn’t even have a girlfriend yet. Imagine his baby brother having the cutest girl at school by his side? I’d never see the morning after the festival, for sure. So I’ll just hang out with some friends this time.”

“It won’t hurt if you go with me when they’re not here? Are they coming on the first or second day?”

Ken glanced over the book at Tomo.

“Both, I believe. Probably staying aaaaall day.”

“Ugh! Adachi-senpai was right. You’re no fun after all.”

The smile faded away and Ken turned his book instead. “Just some friendly advice: Stay away from Adachi whatever you do. You’ll get hurt.”

“He’d never hurt me! He told me you still date!”

“Look. I’ve never dated anyone. Ask any of the girls I’ve hung out with. Adachi Kappei said nothing but lies.”

“Ken…” Tomo fell silent, unsure how to calm him down.

Ken’s hand gripped the book hard, the tip of his fingers turning white, then he relaxed. He gave the girl a bitter glare. “Tell Adachi to stay outta my business. He can mess with girls his way, I do things my way.” He turned back to the book again. “And let him know he better stay, or I’ll make him.”

The girl pursed her lips. “I guess the nice guy is just a rumour.”

“If caring about your feelings is being a jerk, Sara-chan, I gladly am one.”

Her mouth fell in surprise. “You know my name?”

“Why wouldn’t I? Jouzuki Sara, right? 2-C. Volleyball club… was it? Ah, track team, right?”

The girl nodded dumbfounded.

“I actually have the decency to learn names. Could you go now? Please?”

“If you know that much, why won’t you date me?”

“I’ve already told you. I haven’t dated any of the girls. I don’t do relationships.”

***

Tomo sat in the classroom, after class. Most of the work for 1-B’s café was finished, but not quite everything. Airi, Tatsumi, and some others had stayed behind, while others had either snuck home or were stuck at their clubs to prepare the last of all preparations for the coming two days.

Tomo, however, had stayed to wait for Ken, and tried to study. He kept being interrupted and didn’t progress. He still remained, since he didn’t want to try finding a better place. He wasn’t convinced people wouldn’t be at the school library, and he doubted it would be quiet even there.

“Who had the first shift tomorrow?”

“Momoi-kun!”

Hearing his name, looked up to see two of the girls pack up to leave. It was a little odd for him to mostly be called by his actual family name at school, yet it made him feel more comfortable and he relaxed more around his classmates.

He doubted most knew it was his family name, but as he was called ‘Momo’ and ‘Momoi’ by his friends, it had stuck with the others.

“Well, yeah, but the rest then?”

“Just look on the wall?” Tomo suggested and nodded toward the schedule.

“What? There’s a schedule? Thanks Momoi!”

“Thank Itou and Eguchi. They made it.”

Much like they had picked up his ‘nickname’, he had got time to get more involved with his class. He had a feeling they all were nice people, and not hearing anyone talk about Wakabayashi’s identity helped him feel safer around them all. He still didn’t trust that no one would decide to bully him, but he could at least talk to them.

“Does anyone have any—”

As he turned to look at Tatsumi, something caught his eye. Katou Ririi’s nails.

“Ririi, you can’t have those nails during your shift. There can be bacteria transferred, and you could hurt someone.”

Ririi looked irritated.

“I know you got them at that popular nail salon in Y City, but it’s not like you can have them forever anyway. You need to have them removed for nail health. You don’t want damaged nails, right?”

“Huh? How do you know where Ririi-chan got her nails? Wait! Those aren’t real?”

Tomo rubbed his thumb against the pencil he was holding.

“You thought those nails were real, Noguchi? Are you stupid?” Furuzawa laughed.

Tomo tilted his head. “I remember you saying something like ‘How can anyone grow one’s nails that long?’ a while back.”

Noguchi laughed at his friend. “You’re stupid.”

“I think it’s pretty obvious they’re fake. They’re too thick to be natural. Acrylics, right?”

“How do you even know this stuff, Momoi?”

Tomo slapped himself internally.

That was the problem with him feeling more at ease — he didn’t keep his mouth shut and habit would result in a questionable comment.

He searched for a way out, when a sudden weight on his back and shoulder made him let out a groan.

He didn’t need to see who it was, and the sleeves over the thin but strong arms betrayed her. Sakura had escaped from the Drama Club’s final preparations.

“It’s because Tomo-chan likes these kinds of things.”

“Saku-chan!”

“It’s true.”

She somehow fished his phone out of his hoodie pocket, unlocked it and then scrolled for a while.

Tomo noted that he needed to change his passcode. Clearly his childhood friend knew him too well if she had figured it out, but when he couldn’t understand.

“See? He follows that salon’s account. He must have seen Ririi’s nails on a photo there.”

“I followed that account because a customer talks a lot about their nail art. It’s much easier to talk if you know what someone is talking about. Not that you would understand, since you just talk about things anyway.”

“Speaking of nails though,” Airi suddenly said. “Are you going to change to a coloured polish for the festival, Momo? You haven’t opened the one you got this summer, have you?”

“Airi!” Tomo cried out.

Of course it would be that girl who mentioned it. She clearly struggled with secrets.

“I see nothing wrong with you wearing nail polish. No one has complained so far.”

She was satisfied with herself and her contribution to the conversation as she sat in Eguchi’s seat next to his. She sewed a costume with Ririi and Shibata in front of them.

“Momoi, you wear nail polish?” Miyake Otokazu asked.

The boy with the buzzcut belonged to the sportier group of classmates, yet not only was he the only one in the baseball club, but he didn’t seem to get along with many in the class. Or rather, most seemed to have a problem with him. Tomo had heard nothing bad about him, but he had noticed only a few would casually talk to him.

At first Tomo had thought that perhaps he might be a jerk, but he had offered to help Tatsumi finish up the menus and signs. Even though he had been about to leave, when he overheard the others supposed to help him had snuck off, he had gone back to his desk just to help.

And that had been common throughout the festival preparations — whenever someone needed help, Miyake often offered it. He seemed like a genuinely nice guy.

“He’s always wearing a shiny clear coat,” Ririi pointed out and grabbed Tomo’s hand and held it closer to Miyake. “See? Yours don’t shine like that. Oh! The coat on your pinky is chipped, Momo.”

“Is it?” Tomo pulled his hand back to him and looked. “You’re right. I guess I have to apply a new coat. I’m glad I don’t work today. That would have been so embarrassing. Fujiki-senpai always says my face and my hands are my most important assets.”

“Momo, that sounds like a completely different line of work,” Tatsumi pointed out.

Tomo flushed. “I mean, because my face is pretty, customers return which brings the café more business and since I serve customers, I’m told it’s important to keep my hands in a good condition.”

“‘Always moisturise, keep your nails short, shiny, well-cut and healthy, and don’t injure your fingers.’ was it?”

Tomo quickly turned around at the familiar voice.

“Ken!”

Ken stood at the back door, leaning toward the door post, looking rather leisurely at them.

“Are you done?” Tomo asked, feeling very hopeful.

To his disappointment, Ken nodded at Sakura as he entered the classroom.

“Not yet. Got more to do because someone ran away. Needed a break. I'll go up again soon. Thought I’d see if the escapee was here while at it.” He used his fist to gently tap her head. “If you don’t return those clothes within ten minutes, the club president will have a fit.”

“I wanted to show Tomo-chan how good I look!”

Ken raised an eyebrow and looked at Tomo.

“You wanted to show Tomo?”

“I guess it looks nice.” He turned to Tatsumi. “Or what do you say?”

“Huh?” Tatsumi looked confused, before he turned to look at Sakura. “You look like a guy. I guess that’s it? That’s the point, right?”

Sakura grinned. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“That was a fact, not a compliment. If you’re trying to be handsome, do something about that round face of yours. If you want to be cute, you would do better in something cuter, not in a military uniform from some crap fantasy play. Or bring a horse, to at least make a lasting impression.”

Tatsumi laughed. “Senpai, that’s harsh. Sakura-chan would be a cute-looking guy, you know? She doesn’t need to do anything about her costume for the play.”

“…I better go back…”

She dashed out of the classroom. Everyone looked after her even after none of them could see her. Her exit was so sudden, everyone was dumbfounded.

After a few moments of silence Ken coughed once and looked back at the first-years. “Well… I s’pose I should head back as well.” He grinned. “But I’ll just loiter around until they find me.”

Tomo gathered his things and stood up. “Ken, I’ll follow you upstairs, so help me with math while you’re on break!”

Ken looked at the remaining group, his gaze lingering in Tastumi’s direction. Tomo almost turned to see why, but chose not to. He had a feeling he would rather not know.

“Fine,” he sighed. “You’re so hopeless, Tomo.”

***

“Now, my love, tell me the truth. Was that your escape plan or did you wish to see me so much you could not bear to be apart from me anymore?” Ken asked.

Tomo could hear how amused he was even without seeing the smile. He hugged Ken’s arm as they sat down by the wall at the landing by the roof. He had wanted to study, but naturally that wasn’t the only reason, he had said he’d come along.

He was hugging Ken’s arm as they sat by the wall beside the stairs to the roof.

“May I say both?” he asked and looked up at Ken.

“May I feel bad I wasn’t your sole reason?” he asked in return.

“No, since you’re making fun of me. I have barely seen you the past two days.”

“Haven’t you got spoiled rotten now? We saw each other only every few days or on weekends before.”

“That was then, this is now.”

Ken coughed to hold back his laugh. “I missed you too, Tomo.” He nuzzled Tomo’s hair. “I’d hug you, but you stole my arm.”

Tomo let go and Ken put his arm around him.

“This is a problem,” he then said very seriously and Tomo looked up, feeling a mixture of confusion and worry.

“What? Did something happen?”

“I don’t want to go back now.”

Tomo chuckled. “I can wait up here if you’d like so you can come for a break without having to go all the way down.”

“What about your class?”

“The ones working were left in the classroom. I wasn’t doing anything.”

Ken put his forehead against Tomo’s. “Having you to myself whenever I want doesn’t sound bad.”

“Yamada, you up there?” they heard and Tomo felt how he turned cold.

“Clearly I am,” Ken called down. “Still my spot, Adachi. If you want it, don’t graduate. This place will be mine until I graduate.”

They heard a girl laugh. “You’re so lame, Adachi.”

“What the…” the guy she was with began saying.

“Kenta, I’ll leave my nick where you’ll find it so make sure you message me later. Sorry to disturb you. Bye-bye, hun.”

“Later,” Ken replied. “Mari-chan,” he added after some hesitation.

“Yay, you still remember me,” they heard her say as she walked away.

“I heard from whats-her-name you didn’t want to date, but yet you’re still here.”

Ken let go of Tomo to stand up, before he turned the corner and walked down.

“We’ve talked about this. This is my spot. You have the rest of the school, so get lost. I’m busy. You’re not, so go help your class or whatever.”

“Fine, I’ll leave. But I’ll figure out which girls you’re seeing.”

“Just reminding you that I only hung out with one girl at the time. Try however much you want though. I’ll give you a kiss if you figure it out.”

“Just give me your girl.”

“Has that ever worked? I’m pretty sure girls refuse to hang out with you after they realise I’m a billion times better.”

“Yeah, right. Don’t want those.”

“Good. Then leave me and my girls alone. All of them. I know you’ve been harassing some of them.”

Ken returned after some time and slumped down with a sigh.

“He seems to pester me more than before.”

“Maybe he’s fallen for you. You’re a handsome man.”

Ken frowned in response to Tomo’s joke. “The thought creeps me out. Never say that again.”

“Sorry.”

Tomo could see he looked exhausted, and he decided he needed to do something, both to ease Ken’s fatigue and better his mood.

However, after raking his ideas of things to do, all he could think of that would have enough effect to make Ken think of something else was related to what they did at the café. Having the element of surprise on his side, he hoped Ken wouldn’t tease him. It was what would happen if Tomo failed, but it would still have the same effect, and be a win for Ken.

Tomo was set up to lose. Not that he could lose anything.

He shyly took Ken’s hand before he moved to sit in his lap, facing him.

Ken blinked with eyes wide as Tomo closed the distance, flushing. Part of him regretted even trying, but he closed his eyes, and felt Ken’s arm wrap around him as their lips met.

When Tomo opened his eyes after they had kissed he could see Ken’s cheeks were a tint of pink. He would likely have covered his mouth if he hadn’t been holding Tomo with one arm, and Tomo holding on to his other hand.

“Sometimes you do the most surprising things out of nowhere.”

“Sometimes I get a little daring, I suppose.”

“I should have expected that much from someone who decided to paint every flower in our garden blue as a prank while we visited my grandparents. How did you even think of that?”

“Hi—… um… someone dared me to it… I guess. If your dad had known it was me, I don’t know if I had been able to ever visit grandma again.”

Ken laughed quietly. “Well, this made my mood better. But now I really don’t want to go back.”

“Then extend your break a little.” He could feel his cheeks heat up further. “You did tell Adachi you were busy.”

He kissed Tomo on the cheek. “Very true. I’m extremely busy right now.”

Tomo chuckled. “I suppose I got really busy too. For some reason.”

He got a grin in return, then a kiss on the nose.

“You’re completely red. That’s so adorable,” Ken whispered.

***

“Ugh. Where did Kenta go? The drama club just had to come ask me! Why me?”

“Because you two are really close. Didn’t you boast about how you’re basically his older sister before? This is on you, Chii-chan.”

Tomo and Ken both froze in the middle of a kiss. It seemed both of them had forgotten time and place. They had just kind of enjoyed being there, talking about anything that they thought of.

“Can you check up there, Sayo-chan?”

“I seriously doubt he’d be up there. Fine.”

They heard Sayoko jog up the stairs and put some distance between their faces.

The thought of his sister finding him sitting in Ken’s lap with his arms around the boy’s neck, and Ken with his hands inside Tomo’s cardigan at school was terrifying. They kept it to hugging, touching shoulders and handholding around Chika, since it felt awkward for them both.

Well, Ken would nuzzle Tomo’s hair. He would do that anywhere if he could and was really something he’d done since childhood, so no one in Tomo’s family thought it odd.

He wanted to run away, but the only place to escape to was the roof and the door was locked. Besides, Ken was holding him. He thought Ken might even be holding him a little tighter, so he had to be a little closer.

His heart was racing when he saw the black-haired Sayoko look around the corner. She had looked annoyed, but then her eyes widened and she mouthed ‘oh’. Ken grinned at the surprised girl, while Tomo flushed. He was pulled closer so Ken could kiss him again before beaming back towards Sayoko.

“There’s no one here, like I said, Chii-chan! Why did you even think he’d be up here?” Sayoko’s expression told them enough before she turned back down. “Maybe Ken-chan went home. Is Tomo-chan still around?”

“Tomoki should have left hours ago. Aren’t both his class and the English club finished with their preparations?”

“Then why am I even here, Chii-chan? I’m in the English club and there’s nothing to do for our class for the weekend. Why can’t I go home?”

“Weren’t you going to stay at our place?”

“But if Tomo-chan’s home, I should be able to go, right?”

“Fine! We’ll see if we can find him. Kenta might be hanging around him. I guess we should check places where he’d bring a girl.”

What Sayoko said next was inaudible, and they couldn’t make out if Chika said something in response.

Ken chuckled. “It seems I got a little too busy. I better get back to the club. Will you wait or go home?”

“It would be a problem if Chika finds me. Imagine if she finds out Sayoko covered for us or that we were kissing up here.”

“You better hurry then. You got your bag, right?”

Tomo nodded. He was about to stand up when he felt Ken hold him back.

“Can we be like this a little more, though?”

Tomo, too, found it a little difficult to leave. “Mm.”

Ken put his forehead against his.

“When do you have your shift?”

“First shift tomorrow.”

“Gotcha. What kinda service will you give me? Will I get anything special?”

Tomo chuckled. “Kenta-sama, I can’t give you anything special. You’ll get something I’ve made, if that’s enough to please you.”

Ken laughed quietly. “Then I’ll order a kiss now, and take the edibles tomorrow.” Tomo looked away feeling his face turned hot. “So that’s too embarrassing? I guess I’ll have to take the kiss then.”

Ken gently turned Tomo to face him and kissed him. They remained together for a few minutes more before they hurried to where they were supposed to be.

***

“Momo-kyun!”

Tomo looked away from his classmate to see Fujiki and Makoto. The younger of them looked a little embarrassed as he saw his little brother in a dress serving a customer, while Fujiki grinned like he was plotting something evil. Tomo walked up to them with a smile and gave them a bow.

“Arata-sama, Makoto-sama, welcome to our café. I hope your experience here will be a pleasant one.”

“Please tell Yuu to pretend I’m not here,” Makoto said quietly.

Tomo caught a warning glance from Fujiki, but he couldn’t help himself. His lips split into a grin when he saw Yuu.

“This kid…” Fujiki sighed before he even said anything.

“Yuu, your brother says to pretend he’s not here.”

Yuu turned upon hearing his name and paled before he flushed when he heard ‘your brother’. He stood there frozen for a moment, then he glared at Makoto, before he glared at Tomo.

Then Yuu regained his composure and bowed toward them. “Welcome Fujiki-sama.”

Tomo heard Ken laugh and turned back to Makoto and Fujiki, finding Ken standing behind them. He bowed.

“Welcome Kenta-sama. I hope your experience here will be a pleasant one. Would you like to sit with Makoto-sama and Arata-sama?”

“Sit with us. I haven’t seen you in ages.”

“It’s been two weeks.”

“I see you like every other day, so two weeks is forever.”

Tomo chuckled. “Then follow me,” he said and seated them at a few desks that had been put together to a table. “Here is the menu. And please, Makoto-sama, no requests for recommendations. Everything on the menu is recommended by us.”

A classmate snickered as he walked past.

They had all been told about the habit Yuu’s brother had.

“It’s too bad Momo-kyun can’t sit with us,” Fujiki pointed at the things he wanted. “Makoto’s paying.”

“Why do I have to pay?”

“Isn’t this your baby brother’s class?”

“You two are bothering everyone. It’s not so expensive you have to fight about it. Aren’t you both adults? Just pay. Tomo, can I have a cup of tea? Chika didn’t want to give me much money.”

“Kenta, you don’t sound much better if you asked some girl for money,” Fujiki said.

“It’s fine. She’s older than I.”

“With that logic, you’re the one paying, Arata.”

“Of all times you could use that against me, it’s now you’re using the ‘I’m younger’ card?” Fujiki laughed. “You definitely won this one, Makochuu.”

***

“Why does that guy call you Momo-kyun?”

“Eh… He calls me that at work. Only when we’re not serving though. It’s probably just how senpai is normally.”

“So he works at the same place? I guess he’d look good as a waiter,” Ririi said.

Tomo had never seen Fujiki dressed as a waiter, though there were rumours he had a second uniform.

“What about the other one? He’s Sakuraba’s brother? He looks really cool. Do you know if he’s taken?”

He wasn’t sure what to say. Was it his place to tell anyone Makoto was into men? No, it wasn’t either of their business in the first place. He didn’t want to out Makoto to random people, even if Fujiki was openly gay and didn’t mind if the entire world knew of it. He much rather didn’t let random people know he was an otaku.

“Well…” Tomo began.

“They won’t be interested in you, Ririi. Neither of them. Ever.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“First of all, you’re not a guy. Second, they’re both gay. Third, they’re dating each other.”

“Oh.”

Tomo looked at Yuu in shock. He didn’t expect that he’d out his own brother like that.

“Do you need help, Momo-chan?”

“Ah… eh…”

The boy moved over to help.

“Was that fine?” Tomo whispered.

“What?”

“Saying that about your brother?”

“Ah, yeah. It’s fine. They’re going to take the first opportunity they get to talk to my parents. He’s told our sister already. He says he wants to be open about it, since he’s really happy with Arata. He rather the entire world knows, than having to hide being with the man any longer.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. We’ve talked about it. Not just niisan and I, but I’ve talked with Fujiki too. Apparently niisan’s had some really bad relationships before and it broke him down.” Yuu was smiling as he looked over at his brother sitting with Fujiki and Ken. “I’m just glad he’s feeling good about life nowadays. It seems he’s also grown more secure in himself too. I hated that he moved out, but moving out and finding someone like his boyfriend might be the best thing to have happened to him.”

“You’re not uncomfortable?”

“I was. Not the guy-guy thing, but knowing Airi means I know a bit about… Some things felt freaky. Now it’s all good. I’ve got used to the thought. I can see how happy he is, so I’m happy. Neesan’s happy, too. Our brother has taken a lot of shit from our parents over the years to make sure we had more freedom than he got. We want him to have his freedom now.”

Tomo was surprised. He had never thought too deeply about how Yuu felt about it. All he thought about was that he might be uncomfortable. Clearly he cared a lot for his brother and had thought about it just as much.

Then again, Tomo had really only got one side of it. Aki’s perspective, Makoto’s perspective, Fujiki’s perspective, his own… All of them were the side of the ‘abnormal’. Yuu was looking from the outside as someone falling into the ‘normal’.

“Why are you impressed?” he laughed. “I sound like I read girls’ comics or something. Seriously. I better go with these before Katou-chan tries to pick up your partner.”

“Huh?”

Tomo looked towards the ‘table’ where Ririi was standing, talking to Ken. He was beaming a smile and leaning closer. He was clearly flirting. Again. Tomo shook his head with a smile.

Yuu frowned. “Senpai’s a player, you know?”

“Yep.” Tomo chuckled. “And I like that side of him too.”