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Io had to be honest with himself, not just about his feelings for his best friend but of the improbability of anything good ever resulting from them.
There had been various times when he has just been so tempted to spill everything, just free himself of this weight in his chest and tell Ryuu the truth, but he couldn't. At first he thought it was simple fear of being rejected, but the more he analyzed it the more he realized how much of a problem these feelings really were.
If he were to tell Ryuu, it would definitely shake the pink haired's world. It could sound like an exaggeration, but at the end of they day they were best friends and their relationship was of the highest importance and value to both of them. Saying those words would unavoidably be putting strain on that relationship, change the way Ryuu thought of it, and that isn't something the other deserves after so many years.
Yes, this topic would put a lot of strain on Ryuu. The pink haired was always bragging about his dates with girls and just overly stating his straightness with his every word, which meant he truly had no interest in the opposite sex or was desperately trying to bottle up that part of himself (which might actually be worse). Admitting his feelings to Ryuu would have to make the boy face these conflicting thoughts, insecurities, or even fears. He would be at the very least terribly uncomfortable, and at worst plagued with uncertainty and confusion about himself and other who he thought he knew. Io didn't want to be the cause of that.
It wasn't easy for Io to come to this conclusion, but he knew he had to accept it.
Yes, he accepted this fate, because he loved Ryuu.
Ryuu has never liked to think of his feelings for his best friend too much, afraid that if he indulged them long enough it might be harder to act with normality around Io and the others. Already, his number of dates were incrementing rapidly as a way of trying to keep his mind off of things. There was specially one thing he had recently realized, which had left him feeling slightly numb and empty.
Even though he had always been too afraid to even seriously consider it, in the back of his mind Ryuu had always known that one day Io would find out somehow. Maybe it would be Ryuu himself telling him, or just whatever fate decided was the best way to go about it, but it seems sometimes fate decides something different than what you wanted.
Ryuu realized Io should never find out about his feelings. The green haired has always had his mind preoccupied with financials and business, staying in a comfort zone and going all out in it. Of all the things he was unexperienced and uneasy with were other people, and the emotions necessary to deal with them. Io never truly knew how to go about a problem, like that time he pretended nothing was wrong as he left the defense club and joined the student council without warning. It is difficult for Io to deal with those things, and Ryuu understands this. The boy is already uncertain about most of his human relationships, Ryuu didn't want their own to be a burden for him too. Io needed something to fall back to, and Ryuu wanted to be that always no matter what.
It also... simply wouldn't be a fair trade for Io. There would be simply too many uncertainties and problematics in Ryuu's head that he wouldn't be able to offer Io a proper relationship. He'd be afraid to show affection in public, afraid of what others would think of him, afraid to admit how strong his feelings were to himself... and Io didn't deserve that. He should be with someone who could offer the sun and stars to him with, absolute certainty.
So Ryuu realized nothing would ever come out of these feelings. It was hard to look at the other boy and smile when he had such a painful thing stuck in his chest and the knowledge it would always remain there, but he knew it was for the best.
He accepted this is how it must be, because he loved Io.