Kaede found his friend on the rooftop, lying on his back as the redhead gazed at the cloudy sky.

"Hey," said Kaede taking a seat beside Sakuragi who only acknowledge his presence with a murmur.
"You've talked to him," said the fox-eyed boy, not yet looking at the redhead's face but chose to stare at the green mesh of wire surrounding the rooftop.

Sakuragi answered tonelessly, "Rejected."

The fox-eyed boy stretched his long legs and sighed, "Souka."

"He told me that he liked this guy once and the way he said it made me realise how much hurt he's feeling at the moment. I don't think I'll be able to rate with this guy whoever he is. K'so! I don't think your brother ever thinks of me more than his junior!"

"Baka," said Kaede.

"Temme Kitsune! Watch it!" warned Sakuragi grabbing Kaede by the collar.

Kaede cooly slapped the redhead's hand away and said, "You didn't outright ask him that, did you?"

The redhead blinked, "Well, no but I assumed that he would understand..."

"Do'ahou," sighed Kaede, rubbing his face with his hand. /Can anyone be as stupid as this guy?/

"How can you assume that? People's feelings are complicated and especially those who have been in love and have been hurt. Yes, oniisan may need some time but who knows if you don't ask?" said Kaede carefully.

Sakuragi snapped his jaw shut and grinned at his friend before he lunged at the unsuspecting boy. Holding his friend in an arm lock and deliberately mussing Kaede's dark hair with his other hand, Sakuragi teased, "How come you're such an expert with people's feeling, fox? The Love Doctor are ya?"

"Ahou!" growled Kaede before he managed to break off from Sakuragi's grip and the redhead could've sworn that the boy was blushing.



****

Kaede looked around for his brother among the throng of students but when he couldn't find him, the fox-eyed boy sought out for an alternative. When Kaede saw Akagi walk down the stairs from the 2nd floor, he quickened his pace to catch up to the senior.

"Akagi-sempai."



****

Kogure was chewing the end of his pen as he double-checked his homework when Akagi entered the classroom and took his seat behind him.

"Kogure," said Akagi, "Your brother said to go to the school's rooftop when you have your break later on."

Kogure looked at his friend in puzzlement, "What? Why?"

Akagi shrugged, "Hell if I know."



****

Straight after the end of the second period lesson, Kogure went up to the rooftop to meet his brother but instead of finding Kaede, Sakuragi was there waiting for him.

Kogure looked around and seeing noone else, he turned to leave, "Gomen, I was looking for Kaede..."

"I called you up here," said the redhead suddenly.

Kogure turned around in surprise and regarded the redhead uneasily. When Sakuragi moved to stand in front of him, the spectacled-boy could feel the beat of his heart begin a quick tempo.

"I'm sorry that I didn't say it last night so.... I'm going to say it now..."

Kogure held his breath, hoping that it was not what he thought it was but also hoping that it was.

"I... want you to be my boyfriend."

For a breathless moment, the senior stared at the redhead's serious face before looking down on the floor of the rooftop wordlessly.

"Aa," came the simple answer.



****

"I... want you to be my boyfriend."

Early June 1993 was the year when he finally said those words - he in year one and I already in year three. I was relieved but anxious at the same time. It was a new kind of relationship and I don't know what to expect. But still I was willing to try it out.


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