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If we were to look for someone responsible for all this chaos, we would find 3: Taki, Harua and Maki
It all started 1 month ago when Yuma confessed to his friends, Harua and Taki, that he was in a relationship with Jo, the vice captain of the university basketball team. The first reaction of the younger ones was of course joy, after all, the eldest was the definition of romanticism but was always single by his own choice. It is the latter that gives off the second reaction: confusion. On average, 2 boys approach Yuma daily with the intention of asking him out and he very kindly rejects their offers subtly so as not to break their hearts.
The strange thing is that in that long list of suitors, Asakura's name has never been written. They also don't understand how it is even possible for two people from different solar systems to know each other, much less how they are now dating.
Yuma from the archery team, known as Deer Hunter for his relentless aim at 65 meters away impacts the hearts of everything that is on his radar with his bright smile but sharp cat eyes that can sometimes intimidate. Jo from the basketball team stands out as the MVP in 2 consecutive seasons, he is famous for his height and body build especially his shoulders compared to his small head, he is a beast on the court but a rice ball off it, his shyness had made him unreachable.
Harua is the first to doubt.
- Have you ever seen them together for more than 1 minute at university? - Taki had invited him to play GTA 5 but the game took a backseat when he spoke.
- I have only seen them arrive together and then they separate towards their classrooms.
- And when they arrive together do they hold hands or say goodbye affectionately? - the seed of doubt is now germinating in Taki.
- No, I've never even seen their shoulders touch when they walk, maybe they don't like to do it in public.
- I think there's something else- Harua runs his hand over his chin as if he were a philosopher specifying an answer. – Almost every day they have lunch in the cafeteria at the same time but they never have lunch together, they're always at different tables.
- I think you're exaggerating, we always have lunch with Yuma, maybe he doesn't want to ruin that moment between the 3 of them. Taki tries hard to excuse the aforementioned but deep down he knows that Harua is right. And Harua knows it too because now he's looking at him in disbelief.
- Stop lying to yourself, if only we knew a little more about Jo.
- Isn't your boyfriend his best friend? Hearing that Harua's eyes lit up and he quickly jumped off the couch. – Taki you're a genius, you just gave me the best idea in the world!
Half an hour later Maki was ringing the doorbell of Taki's house, he didn't understand much of what Harua wanted to tell him on the phone, but he didn't care as long as he could see his boyfriend and spend time with him.
- So you guys are suspecting that maybe, just maybe, Jo and Yuma aren't actually dating, that doesn't make sense, what would they gain by lying to everyone? - Maki is recapitulating the assumption that the elders put forward to try to understand.
- Exactly as you said. Harua gave up his side of the couch so that his boyfriend could sit there and carry him on his lap. -We came to the conclusion that maybe it's an excuse for Yuma to scare away anyone who approaches him with ulterior motives.
- It's exhausting that Yuma's suitors interrupt us at our lunch. But above all, they interrupt him in his training.
Maki thinks for a moment, it's a good assumption that they make but another part is missing, after all they are Yuma's friends, they think about his interests, but not Jo's, how could this relationship benefit the tallest? So he shares that doubt with them.
- What would Jo need from Yuma to accept that deal? - Harua and Taki look at him without understanding why he continues - I mean, Jo is popular but he doesn't have toxic suitors after him, neither do they study the same career to say that they will do each other academic favors, so what does Jo gain?
- That's the reason why you're here - Taki continues - you're his friend and roommate, that's your mission.
Maki looks at Harua who is nodding affirmatively at Taki's words until he turns around and looks directly at him. Of the 3, Maki is the voice of reason, but come on, if his boyfriend looks at him like that he knows he's already lost the battle, he buries his sword in the floor, bows his head down and swears loyalty to his king, his whims become his life mission, so he sighs and nods.
Taki's house has become the lair of these 3 spies, every night they meet to deliver reports on the couple.
- What happened in the morning? Harua talks to Taki, they are sitting in the kitchen with pictures of Jo and Yuma scattered on the counter.
- They arrived at the cafeteria together at 9, they lined up to buy but they didn't talk to each other, Jo paid for both of their drinks when it was her turn, but Yuma left right away when they gave him his order. Taki spoke as seriously as if it were an academic project but in reality they were just snooping around their friends' love lives.
- They both have 1 free hour at 2 in the afternoon. What were they doing?- Now Harua turns to Maki.
- Jo went to the library to study and Yuma went to the coliseum to practice, the usual, but I heard something- Maki arranges the pictures that the boys placed disorganized on the counter, an action that momentarily annoyed the cleaning maniac.
- What did you hear?- they say at the same time before the prolonged silence of the minor. - When Jo was in the library he received a call from Yuma so I sneaked closer to listen, apparently Yuma wants him to accompany him to his next competition, which is strange because Jo has never attended a practice before and the strangest thing- he emphasizes the last thing raising his voice- is that they call each other by their last names! - The listeners were surprised- Yes, you heard right, Yuma referred to him as Asakura, although Jo didn't say his last name, nor did he use any affectionate nickname, the conversation felt so formal, I dare say that any other call between friends is more affectionate than that call I heard.
Although Jo's intentions to continue with the dating facade were still not clear, the interactions between the couple reinforced the spy trio's hypothesis. A week ago someone heard one of their conversations so the rumors that Jo and Yuma were not really a couple spread quickly and of course they also found out about those who had started the uncertainty.
So Yuma confronted them.
- Can you tell me why everyone is talking about my relationship with Jo? Since yesterday everyone is looking at me with a strange smile, even the suitors came back discrediting Jo- Yuma was blowing smoke out of his ears with rage.
The younger ones were scared, they did not realize how far they had gone with their actions, none wanted to face the anger of the elder.
- I'm sorry- Harua works up the courage to speak- it's all my fault, I dragged them into this situation. Harua has known Yuma for years, he knows that he doesn't want explanations, he just wants to find a culprit and he prefers to bear that before explaining the reasons shamefully, so he thinks that will be enough, but he's wrong this time.
- That's not what I asked Harua, why do you think my relationship with Jo is fake?- Maki finally intervenes trying to save her boyfriend.
- We thought you made up that relationship so that the boys who were in love with you wouldn't get closer.
- What? NO, why would they think that? I love Jo.
- Because we've been following you all these weeks and you don't look like a couple. Now it's Taki who gives the reasons- You're never together, you don't use affectionate nicknames, you never hold hands, you don't have lunch together, you don't share photos, neither your clothes, you call each other by your last names and we've never seen you kissing.
Yuma stays silent processing everything he just heard, his cat eyes terrifying the minors, they think Yuma is about to yell at them, but the yell never comes, instead his eyes soften and his lips expand to smile and then to laugh loudly, so much so that he has to hold his stomach when it starts to hurt from laughing so much. When he finally calms down he speaks-
- Oh, if Jo were here his ears would turn red hearing all this nonsense. They look at him confused- there are other ways to share love, not all relationships are about hugs and physical contact like Maki and Harua's. Yuma takes a moment to breathe and then continues- I really admire your imagination, you guys went so far with so little information, it would have taken me a long time to put together a theory like that. So I want to be clear with you: I love Jo, and no, it's not just physical or temporary, I've never felt for another guy what I'm feeling for him right now. With him I can feel free, without pressure, without so many expectations of how I should speak or react to every event in the world. And that, that's worth much more than a kiss in public.
- So we misunderstood the situation? Harua asks back to confirm Yuma's words.
- We went too far, damn, I'm so sorry Yuma. Taki and Maki apologize, looking at Harua sternly, he was the one who made them doubt in the first place.
Things were easily resolved and the 4 of them spent a good afternoon laughing, sharing the embarrassing things they did while following Yuma and Jo, like the time Taki wanted to listen to a call from Yuma in the men's bathroom but he was wrong and was thrown out of the women's bathroom by hair pulling. Yuma felt relieved to clarify the situation to his friends, but there was still the rest of the university which would be complicated to go from person to person explaining the situation
When he told Jo the crazy things his friends had done of course he got angry, but that didn't last 2 minutes, his expression turned to worry, it was true that physical contact and affectionate words weren't his thing, but he was so in love with Yuma that he decided to try it even if first in private until he felt comfortable. He felt bad for Yuma, he was the opposite of him, a very affectionate person.
- Yuma... - he takes a brief pause and then continues- I will do my best so that you are always proud to be my boyfriend.
- Silly, I already am- he smiles and watches as Jo takes one of his hands in his and brings them to his lips.
- No, I mean that the others know how proud you are- and he began to kiss chaste kisses on each of his fingers- give me a little time, I promise.
Yuma blushes at the touch, it's the first time he's done something like that- you don't have to force yourself to do things you don't want.
- I don't feel obligated, this is the only thing I want with all my heart. And Yuma almost faints at those words.