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It was sixth grade, and 12-year-old Kojiro was clumsily returning to the classroom because he had forgotten his water bottle. He had sports practice in the afternoon, so he couldn't go without it!
... although it was really just an excuse to see if it was true that someone was being scolded in the classroom.
Upon entering the classroom, their teacher leaves and on the table next to the window behind them was a crying child.
With pink hair scattered across the table...
A beautiful long pink hair .
Covering his face, but from the sound and the spasm, it was clear what was happening. Was Kaoru the boy who was scolded?
Normally he would scoff but, Kaoru looked bad.
"Kaoru, why are you crying?"
"I hate my hair..." Kaoru sobbed, his face still hidden.
"What?" Kojiro was surprised. First, because Kaoru was honest with him, he said it like that without insulting him or ignoring him. And second, because why would him hate his hair? If it was something that Kojiro, embarrassed, loved, he would grow his hair out just like that when he grew up!
"U-um...it's just that...some kids told me I'm not a real man-" Kaoru finally raised his head, and although his hair still covered part of his face.
Kojiro noticed how cute he looked crying. It wasn't fair; when he cried, he looked pathetic, while Kaoru looked...beautiful. "Because I have long, pink hair, I'm effeminate!? Ugh..." he sobbed, frowning and wrinkling his nose.
"That's nonsense! Your hair is great!" Kojiro said, crossing his arms, but noticing that Kaoru was still sobbing, he continued, "You're great, I mean, not as great as me, but- I'll beat them up!"
"I already did," Kaoru said, clumsily wiping his tears with his sleeve.
"What?!"
"That's why I'm crying too. My parents are going to kill me! I got a report!" he said, his eyes filling with tears again. Kaoru was a crybaby at his finest.
"But... I can hit them again..." he said, confused, unsure how to react.
"Don't be an idiot! It'll only make things worse..." Kaoru said, getting up.
"I wanted to help you!" he said as Kaoru pushed him away.
...
Kojiro secretly admired Kaoru.
I mean, he was so cool, right? So cool... I mean, they were 17, and Kaoru had style. It was normal to admire him, I mean- he'd admired him since he was a kid. Yeah, that's it...
When he got his piercings, it was all he could think about.
How could he not think about them so much? They were so... striking... Sometimes it embarrassed him. Kaoru was cool-
"Why are you staring at me so much? Did your brain finally melt, you monkey?" Kaoru said, snapping him out of his thoughts.
"Who are you calling a monkey, you twink!" Kojiro said, trying not to blush.
Maybe he stared at him so much because he wanted to be like him.
Maybe he thought about him so much because he wanted to be like him.
Maybe—
yes, that was it.
Was that it?
...
Italy. Kaoru came to visit him while he was studying gastronomy there.
Five years, huh?
Well, judging by it being his first year there, he was doing well.
He was walking beside Kaoru, looking for a good bar.
"He could really have any woman he wanted. It's a waste that he doesn't like them..." Kojiro thought as he watched Kaoru walk by, carefree.
Just seeing how many women looked at him, it was clear that his appearance was truly majestic.
He's the most handsome guy I know.
His laugh could hypnotize anyone.
But, unfortunately, he rarely heard it lately... Especially not since what happened with Adam. Especially not since that bastard... abandoned them just like that. It hurt him, yes, it made him angry, but Kaoru? Kaoru seemed more affected. How could he do that to a guy like that?! He's kind, handsome—
no one could compete with him! He's simply perfect. Why is he always crying? I mean, not so much lately, maybe that's why I was so anxious for Kaoru to come to Italy, to find out if it was true that he was getting better or if it was just a lie so as not to worry him.
But even so, anyone would die to be like him (or to be with him)
...
Back in Okinawa, many things had changed for Kojiro.
He returned to S, opened the restaurant he'd always dreamed of owning, and above all, he could see the reason for that smile Kaoru boasted about so much.
Apparently, he was doing well as a calligrapher, and also with that weird shiny thing with a woman's voice ¿Carla?
So many people had gathered to watch him write that it really surprised Kojiro. And apparently, Kaoru as well. It was the first time he'd seen so many people.
He was becoming famous, huh? You could see that surprise in his eyes from afar. Kaoru was beginning to admit what he truly was: perfection.
"Hey, Mr. Sakurayashiki! Draw me a doodle too " he said when it was finally his turn.
"You gorilla-" He fell silent when he remembered there were people around, he forced a smile as he wrote on the paper and handed it to him.
"For my dear idiot Kojiro: shut up, monkey."
"Who are you calling a monkey, you-?"
Kojiro said, but then he had to leave the line... will because "he had to give the spot to someone else." Ugh.
Oh well. At least the last smile he saw from Kaoru wasn't so fake...
Oh, how I love his smile...
Well, maybe I'll always love Kaoru.
...
Well, Kaoru recovered quickly in the hospital.
The last few months have been crazy with these rookies and all that crap from that psycho Adam. I'd kill Adam.
But that would be later.
I was busy arguing with Kaoru at his now-closed restaurant.
I invited him to try some new desserts I was thinking of adding to the menu.
I needed another perspective, but Kaoru was so—ugh!
He thinks he's so poetic! He's... insolent... spouting his lines.
Thinking he's better than me. And all that nonsense. He's really pathetic. Yes! Pathetic.
"That's what you are, pathetic Kaoru! An expert in things nobody cares about."
"I care, that's all it takes. You're just making excuses because you don't want to admit that the name you gave the dessert is awful!" Kaoru said, still eating the dessert.
"Shut up. You're the one who came to my restaurant," Kojiro said angrily, leaning across the counter.
"And you're the one who keeps talking and interrupting me!" Kaoru leans forward, also angry.
"But—I can talk if I want, you idiot, with that temper..." But Kojiro is interrupted by Kaoru. "What temper?! You damn gigolo, you only attract desperate women, nobody's interested in your conversations because you don't say anything interesting. Are you jealous?" He says, trying to annoy him by tilting his head.
"You swear you say interesting things," Kojiro says, crossing his arms and standing up straight.
"Oh yeah?! Well, I swear—" Kaoru shouts before being interrupted by Kojiro.
"You act like you know everything!"
"You're the one who doesn't know anything," Kaoru says, smiling mockingly, even more so when he sees Kojiro's face turn as he gets embarrassed and frowns.
"You're boring! You're just jealous of me, and you'll end up alone with your stupid AI."
"..." Kaoru stares at him silently, frowning, then looks away, feeling uncomfortable.
"Carla isn't stupid," he says, more serious now.
"Uh, Kaoru, I didn't mean to-" Kojiro was now more worried.
"No, that nonsense doesn't affect me, Kojiro. Don't pretend to pity me now."
Liar.
Kojiro knew Kaoru well.
And that's why he was cursing himself.
Damn it. I mean, he knew Kaoru had problems years ago and all that, but for him to say it?
God, I was an idiot. After closing the restaurant, Kojiro headed to his apartment.
Kojiro had a bad taste in his mouth. Why?
Why did he bring up a sensitive topic about his best friend like it was nothing?
Ugh... yeah, I was an idiot.
But Kaoru got over it. All that crap, all that stuff, I'm over it. Kaoru went to a psychologist... Right?
Kojiro threw himself onto his bed, sighing and covering his face with his hands.
He tried to sleep but couldn't.
What if Kaoru was still feeling bad? What if he was having an attack now?!
Because of him... He looked at his phone expectantly.
Then he threw himself back onto the bed.
"He is an adult now , not a teenager with emotional problems. What the hell am I thinking?!"
"..."
"But what if...?"
The mere thought that Kaoru had a relapse because of him made him shudder.
"Screw it" He got up and grabbed his things.
It was 1 a.m.
What was he doing in front of Kaoru's door?
The journey to Kaoru's apartment was a blur. Kojiro wasn't thinking straight.
He knocked frantically. However, after about 10 minutes that felt like hours...
Kaoru opened it. Him actually opened it. He looked like him just woken up and was staring at him like he wanted to kill him.
He woke him up. Shit.
Kojiro felt even worse now. Kaoru had sleep problems, insomnia and all that, and he made him get up?!
"What the hell are you doing at this hour, Kojiro..." Kaoru's voice was even hoarser. Obviously, it was the middle of the night.
"It's just that—I wanted to—apologize about the restaurant and—" Kojiro couldn't speak properly; he hadn't even thought about what he would say when he was standing in front of her. Apologize? Was that the only reason he'd gone out on his motorcycle to Kaoru's apartment? Yes, indeed. Kaoru huffs. "At 1 a.m.? Ugh, come in and stop doing that stuff outside my apartment."
Kojiro enters and he sat down on the couch, somewhat nervous.
"It's just... I didn't know, what if it affected you and—" Kojiro stops short when he sees Kaoru's face, pure indignation.
"God, what an idiot! You woke me up for this?!" Kaoru says, looking at him as if he's lost his mind. "I was worried about my best friend, does that make me crazy?!" Kojiro feels attacked; he was genuinely worried.
"Tsk, "best friend" " Kaoru huffs.
"Ugh, you're so unbearable!" Kojiro says, already regretting coming.
"You're the one who came to my apartment at 1 a.m., idiot..." Well, Kaoru was right about that. What was he thinking...?
"The one who calls the other an idiot is the bigger idiot," Kojiro says.
"But—you always call me that—" Kaoru stopped mid-sentence. Kaoru sighed and tried to look anywhere but at Kojiro. Kojiro frowned. What was wrong with him?
"Since you're here, do you think... I'll end up alone?" Kaoru said, feeling embarrassed to say it out loud.
"What?" Kojiro was perplexed; Kaoru wasn't the type of guy who talked about such things with just anyone.
"Well, you know, I'm... boring," Kaoru said, his voice almost breaking at the end.
"I don't think so," Kojiro said without thinking.
"But you said it before..." Kaoru looked at him in disgust. Was that it?
"You're crazy if you think you'll end up alone! Everyone loves you!" Kojiro said, waving his hands frantically.
"Oh, surprise, Kojiro, I'm gay. Only women love me!" What? Kaoru was... worried about romance? He hadn't seen that coming.
But even so, he shouldn't worry; it was literally the epitome of perfection.
He didn't know how much someone would kill just to be with him... But without thinking twice, he replied, "And men too!"
"Those who fetishize me for having long hair and looking 'woman' because of it?" Kaoru said, crossing his arms and looking at him with a raised eyebrow.
"No! You only see the bad." Seriously, Kaoru did that? How could he think like that? Fetishize him? Who would dare fetishize someone like him?
"Well, I assure you I haven't met a man who isn't like that," Kaoru said, more determined.
"Well, you haven't looked hard enough! Because you've been whining about that since you were young..." Kojiro didn't really know what to say anymore.
How could Kaoru not understand that he was everything anyone could want?
He was simply everything.
"Because things don't change, Kojiro, you know, I don't really dislike the idea of ending up 'alone' as much anymore," Kaoru said, but it was contradictory because you could see the disgust with which he said that word.
"And rotting with your girlfriend Carla?" Kojiro really didn't believe the words Kaoru was saying. "She's not my girlfriend, you idiot! But I wouldn't say rotten... I'd call it being... realistic. A relationship is between two people, you know?"
Apparently, Kaoru didn't quite know what to say either.
"Yeah, exactly, you're the one who doesn't like anyone," Kojiro said, almost pouting.
"Insolent!" he said, standing up, now indignant. "It's true! Everyone loves you, you don't love anyone," he said, also standing up to be at his level.
"That's a lie-"
"Oh yeah, Kaoru? Tell me, when have you ever truly loved someone?"
Kaoru darkened his gaze as if he were going to hit Kojiro, and Kojiro automatically backtracked.
Adam
"Exc-excluding that idiot! Come on, Kaoru! No one?" Kojiro stumbled over his words.
"It's not worth saying," he said, turning his head, trying not to look at Kojiro.
"Oh, come on."
"Well, Kojiro, I could use logic on you too. You don't like anyone because you're afraid of commitment," Kaoru said, this time looking at him.
"That's not true—" Kojiro was about to refute, but Kaoru continued.
"Tell me about a girlfriend you were with for more than two months," he said, almost smiling triumphantly.
"Touché," Kojiro said, admitting defeat.
They both remained silent for a while, then Kojiro tried to break the ice.
"But that doesn't mean I don't have feelings like you. Everyone loves me, I love everyone, everyone loves you, but—"
Apparently, Kaoru detested that sentence with all his being.
"Stop repeating the same thing like a broken record, idiot! Nobody really loves me, they only base it on superficial things, disgusting. What am I doing arguing with you at 1 a.m.? Just leave already, Kojiro—" Kaoru was defensive.
"They do love you." Kojiro quickly interrupted him to speak.
"That's it! I told you no!" he said, trying to push him away.
"They do love you!"
"No!"
"Yes!"
"Just go-"
"I love you"
"..." Kaoru stopped dead in his tracks.
"Wh-" Kaoru was completely confused.
"I'm leaving." Kojiro turned around.
Shit.
Shit.
What did he do?
He ruined their friendship just because of his stupid feelings.
"What?! Kojiro! You can't just- were you joking? Were you making fun of me? I thought you were so smart, you brainless idiot?" he said, following behind him.
"Forget it, I- I didn't mean to- I ruined it, just forget it," Kojiro said, closing his eyes to think about how he messed everything up.
"No! You can't- God, you're even more of an idiot than I thought," Kaoru said, putting his hands to his face.
"I'm sorry, Kaoru," Kojiro said, trying to keep his voice from breaking.
I mean, he ruined what he valued most with a few stupid words.
Kaoru took his wrist.
So warm.
"Why are you apologizing? God, you're... unbearable..."
Kaoru spoke almost sweetly, which confused Kojiro.
Kaoru closed his eyes, rubbing his forehead with one hand, and then released Kojiro's wrist with the other.
"I like you too."
Kojiro turned around at that.
"Huh? HUH- REALLY-"
Kaoru put his hand over Kojiro's mouth.
"Stop yelling. It's the middle of the night."
Then he removed his hand and wiped it on his clothes.
"You drooled on me, how disgusting-"
But he stopped abruptly when he felt lips pressing against his.
Warm.
It was as if the whole world had stopped at that moment.
Believe it or not, the Okinawan gigolo was jumping for joy inside, like a lovesick teenager.
He was so happy.
It was the best day of his life.
Kojiro wrapped his arms around him while continuing to kiss him, placing one hand on his waist and the other stroking his hair.
Kaoru doesn't hesitate to reciprocate, one hand reaching for Kojiro's neck and the other resting on his chest.
The moment seemed to last forever.
Then they both pull apart simultaneously and look into each other's eyes.
"I've liked you since you went to Italy, you know?" Kaoru says, trying to regain his composure.
"I beat you, I've liked you since I was 12," Kojiro says triumphantly.
"Unbearable- wait, WHAT-"