Fight - Volume 2

”Do you have to be that negative?” Jiro sighed as he glanced at his boyfriend in the driver's seat. Natsuo's expression was a clear reflection of his displeasure with his downturned lips and face-covering hood.

"Yes," he replied shortly as he started the steel-silver sports car's engine. The sound of the motor and radio hosts' chatter filled the tense air.

"Fine. I am done fighting with you," Jiro said as he leaned to take the first beer from his canvas bag.

The car drove off into the evening as the two settled into silence, both lost in their own thoughts.

They had argued about yesterday's lipstick stain all morning and the unresolved tension between the pair was still present.

Natsuo felt that Jiro was purposely keeping him in the dark about the change in his plans. His insecurities were sparked by the slimy dark red stain on his jaw, or the fact that a day earlier he had been looking at pictures of women in swimsuits on sunny beaches.

Was he missing a woman's touch after so long? He was also sexually interested in women and had more experience with them than with men. Besides Natsuo, he had only experienced a one-night stand with a same-sex partner.

Uncertainty had eaten him alive and caused him to explode. He wanted to know if Jiro and Rei had been intimate with each other.

Jiro believed that Natsuo was overreacting and he was not giving him the benefit of the doubt. He was jumping to hurtful conclusions and felt it was unfair for Natsuo to assume the worst of him. It had been an innocent meeting of two school friends for drinks, and the kiss on the cheek was just a friendly gesture.

They were now heading to a summer party thrown by their classmates to celebrate the holidays. Natsuo had originally promised to be just a driver now that he had a license, but he changed his mind.

"I am staying as well," he announced as they stopped at the red lights, focusing solely on the road ahead.

"To spy on me?" Jiro asked firmly.

"You wanted me to go out, so I am doing that," Natsuo snorted, quickly reaching for the radio to shut off the loud and cheerful music.

"Yeah, now you want to hang out with our classmates. How convenient," Jiro replied as he took a sip of his drink.

“Can you fucking blame me?! I was shot three fucking times by the last person who got her lips on you!”

"Rei is nothing like her," Jiro replied in a soft tone, and his stiff expression melted away as he continued:

"If you spent time with her, you would know that. She is like Ayumi.”

Natsuo's blue eyes widened behind his hair strands. He hadn't expected her to come up in the conversation.

"It's green," Jiro pointed out as Natsuo was lost in his memories. The car continued onto the highway among other traffic.

"Ayumi was my first true friend. I thought of her as a sister, but you grew closer to her than I did. Although I was jealous, I didn't say anything because I was happy that you two found each other," Jiro said in an empty voice.

Natsuo unconsciously gripped the steering wheel tighter as he was listening to him.

“Rei has her spirit. She is starting to feel like a sister to me, just as she did,” Jiro said, emphasizing his point with a heavy sigh.

"So, can you be happy for me in return?" He pleaded, his gray-brown eyes fixed on his boyfriend's profile as he awaited a response.

Natsuo hesitated before offering a quiet and somewhat reluctant reply.

"I will try..."

Jiro opened the window, letting the breeze ruffle his silver bangs and enjoying the feeling of the wind on his face.

(A while later)

They arrived at an old farmhouse that had been renovated and decorated with string lights and outdoor furniture, turning it into an idyllic venue for a party. A tranquil lake and lush greenery surround the villa, providing a peaceful atmosphere away from the city's hustle.

The class had rented the place for the night, bringing their own drinks and food. Jiro took four bags of liquor and wines from the trunk, while Natsuo picked up a few boxes of sushi from the restaurant.

The setting sun painted the landscape in soft, warm tones and the light breeze blowing felt refreshing after a tropically hot day. The upbeat music playing in the background and the cheerful conversations created a happy ambiance as they approached the terrace.

"Nice ride you got there," Hide said to Jiro as they reached the patio, where a few classmates were already drinking and feasting.

"Thanks. You don't always turn twenty, am I right?" Jiro answered with a humble grin and set four bags of alcohol on the table.

"You bought that much?" Rei gasped in amazement, grabbing the vaporizer from her crimson lips. Her pierced ears were adorned with hula hoop earrings and her dark hair was cut in a pixie style. A vintage mini skirt, knee socks and an oversized t-shirt completed her hipster chic look.

"You're staying too?" a grungy-looking Hide asked Natsuo, who glanced at how Jiro and Rei exchanged words before placing the food they brought among other snacks.

"Yeah, but I'm not drinking."

Natsuo hadn't even tasted a gulp of liquor for over a year. His medication could have drowsy side effects when combined with alcohol and using intoxicants could even result in a relapse of his mental illness.

"Too bad," Hide said as he admired the sleek lines of the silver car and the way the sun glinted off its polished exterior.

"I guess you got pretty high grades? In arts as well?" Hide grinned, turning his face towards him.

Natsuo let out a strained laugh. That and physical education were the only subjects in which he had received the second-worst grades.

"An earthworm has better drawing skills than me," he said with a wry smile.

"C'mon, you're not that bad."

Natsuo still observed as Jiro sat down next to Rei and poured red wine into plastic glasses. His face glowed with a smile as he told some story from the gym and Rei listened with twinkling eyes as she vaped.

(Later that evening)

Natsuo sat cross-legged on the dark shore. His gaze wandered to the stars dotting the night sky, reflecting off the still water of the lake and creating a serene scene in front of him.

He was flooded with nostalgia as he remembered Ayumi, and the mellow atmosphere of the garden made his memories linger. The vibrant colors of the flowers and the tranquility of the shore offered a pleasant contrast to the chaos of the nearby party, providing a sense of solace and comfort for Natsuo.

"Perfect spot for a hideout," Hide said behind him and sat down next to him, straightening one leg and keeping the other knee bent.

"Do you want one?" He asked, reaching into his trouser pocket for a cigarette pack.

"No, thanks," Natsuo replied, but his eyes rested on them for a moment longer than necessary.

"You mind if I smoke?" Hide questioned as he put one cigarette between his lips.

Natsuo shook his head.

"Shitty habit, I know. But it helps me relax," he added, exhaling a puff of smoke as he lit the tobacco.

"There are nastier habits than that," Natsuo snorted with a hollow sneer.

"Maybe," he agreed, taking a draw on his cigarette as he watched the smoke rise.

"But it's still not one I should be proud of."

A burst of laughter erupted in the front yard. The woody and smoky smell of the cigarette hovered in the air around them.

"So, how long have you been together?" Hide inquired with a twinkle in his black eyes.

Natsuo took a deep breath.

"It's been about two years..." He sighed as he thought back to their time together, reflecting on the experiences they had endured along the way - but he didn't want to talk about that, because he wanted to ask him something. He cleared his throat, mustering up the courage to finally utter the words:

"You're good friends with Rei, right?"

Hide was taken aback, but he nodded in agreement with a slight nod.

"Is she someone... you can trust?" Natsuo asked, his voice wavering slightly as he struggled to find the words to express his thoughts.

"Yeah, she is. Has she given you any reason to think otherwise?" Hide mused with a subtle smidgen of curiosity.

"No, it's just..."

"She is becoming closer to Takuya, isn't she?"

"Yeah..." Natsuo murmured, thinking about how he lit up with happiness when he met her earlier.

"Did you argue with him about that?" Hide asked as he examined Natsuo's troubled face.

His lack of reaction gave Hide the answer he needed, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment overwhelm him.

"It's stupid, but his last girlfriend turned out to be batshit crazy," Natsuo revealed.

"How so?" Hide inquired.

Several classmates ran across the field to the lake and a couple of them took a dip in the water while wearing clothes. Loud shouts and the gathered crowd in the garden ended their conversation, but Jiro was nowhere to be seen.

"I need to find him. And thanks, by the way..." Natsuo said, wanting to give his loved one the apology that he deserved.

Hide sneered with dimples showing as smoke poured out of his nostrils, gesturing for him to leave.

Natsuo wandered back to the villa and circled the yard, searching for Jiro in Rei's company.

"Sometimes I miss it," Jiro admitted drunkenly behind a corner.

Natsuo crouched against the wall like a hidden animal, trying to sharpen his ears to catch every word. His focus was so intense that he could feel his heart thumping in anticipation of what he might hear.

"Lately maybe more than usual. I don't know, maybe I am just stressed," Jiro continued with a hint of frustration in his voice.

"He doesn't let you do it?" Rei questioned emphatically.

"It's just complicated," Jiro answered at once.

Natsuo clenched his teeth, wondering if they were talking about him or their relationship.

"Maybe I can offer a little relief? Would he be mad at us?" Rei asked in a low tone. Her suggestion was made hesitantly and quietly as if she was asking for permission.

There was a moment of silence from Jiro. Natsuo held his breath as he waited for his response.

"Well, what the hell. You only live once. I'll explain something if I get caught," Jiro said with a chuckle.

Taking a deep breath, Natsuo made the conscious decision to find a whiskey bottle and numb his trembling knees with alcohol. Perhaps if he drank enough, he would find a way to disappear into the depths of the lake...