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"You seem to be the type to be popular, Shirahama."
The raven haired boy on the table across him musing at the nth time he'd complained about not having a girlfriend.
"You're a man among men, Miyano. I think I've fallen in love with you.", Shirahama replies in jest.
"But Miyano already has a boyfriend. So we really shouldn't joke about that-", a voice next to him chirps.
On reflex, Shirahama drags the pudding-haired lad down the chair as he scans the surroundings for anyone who would happen to hear them.
"Y-you shouldn't just say those things out loud! Miyano must be keeping it on the down-low!", Shirahama whispers over to their small group at the corner of the classroom. As much as he was shocked to hear that MIYANO actually had someone, he was that type that would also be embarrassed if HE wasn't the one to announce it. Privacy was a thing after all...
"Were you keeping it quiet though?" Tashiro faces the now red-faced Miyano on his chair.
"I haven't mentioned it to other than Shirahama though!"
"It's not like I was hiding it... I just didn't want to get teased about having a relationship... you know?"
"Ah. Well if that's how you feel..." Shirahama sighs and quickly returns to his seat.
Shirahama scrounges the top of his forehead with both his fingers. As much as he enjoys his friend's company, his habit of blurting out whatever was on his mind always caused more harm than good.
Still. Miyano? Dating?
That's something he wasn't expecting. But he had to admit. He was kind of jealous. As much as he complains about wanting a girlfriend of his own, he had never really -considered- just HOW to get one. He had ideas from those girlie games he loved so much but... that didn't really reflect reality, really.
There is a pregnant silence between the three of them. Feeling a bit guilty, but also now generally curious about the whole matter, Shirahama leans in closer to them and finally asks.
"So... Miyano. Who... are you dating...?"
Miyano looks away, his hands gripping tightly unto the edge of his knees. He sighs a bit, but the redness of his entire face already betraying the fact that he was definitely much in love.
Wow. This... is the real thing, huh.
"I won't tell anyone else. I'll hit Tashiro later for blurting it out though."
"H-hey! No fair."
"It is fair."
Miyano finally chuckles a bit as the dense air finally lifts. He must be feeling better.
"It's... Sasaki-senpai."
Sasaki... Sasaki-senpai...? The upperclassman that Miyano was basically connected to the hip for the past 2 years of their school life? I... guess that kind of makes sense. They've been hanging around far more than any normal senpai-kouhai relationship. When did this happen...?
"Ah. Congratulations." Shirahama leans in to the wall behind him.
"Right?!" Tashiro simply smiling at the whole situation like the airhead that he is.
"Thanks, Shirahama. We started last year... when we were still 2nd Years..." Miyano looking more demure than ever. This definitely was serious. He had never seen Miyano this expressive ever in his life. Tashiro also knew about it. Now Shirahama was also very sure that Kuresawa knows.
"Ah. So that's what Kuresawa was mentioning when he wanted to 'congratulate' you back then."
"Y-yeah..."
"I see."
In some ways, he was happy that a friend of his was happy. However, at the back of Shirahama's mind, things were more complicated. The more he thought about it, it wasn't uncommon for his peers to be dating at this age... Some even have girlfriends, and... I guess, boyfriends too.
He remembers the time when he was passing by an almost empty wing of the school one time where he overheard his teammate Kagiura and his friend Niibashi talking about relationships. I guess... this kind of thing wasn't as rare as he thought. He had nothing against love between guys... he just... wasn't sure if he swung that way. All this time, he unapologetically states wanting a girlfriend, but...
Shirahama's thoughts lingered, his face instinctively looking over to Tashiro. His friend now eating his sixth candy in a matter of just that lunch break. Shirahama internally pinching himself for even thinking of him as an option--...
Tashiro. The friend he's had since middle school. The ray of sunshine who always seems to state his mind. The complete opposite of what Shirahama was in every way. They got along just fine, but...
Come on, Shirahama. Now you're thinking about it too much.
*DING DONG*
"Lunch break is over, huh... Sucks." Tashiro sighs as he hid the remaining candies in god knows where. Miyano returns back to his desk, as Shirahama tidies himself for the next period.
"Kyouji." Tashiro chimes behind him, his face lit up with a smile. Shirahama feeling a slight jump in his chest as the sunlight hits the curve of the shorter boy's face just right.
"Wanna see something nice later after school?"
"...Sure."
--
"Sasaki-senpai!"
"Myaa-chan!"
Shirahama watches as the two 'lovers' catch up at the school gates. The atmosphere around them changing entirely as the two interact.
This... is definitely love. It was blinding.
"So they really are a couple... It was obvious!" Shirahama's head hanging in defeat at the obvious displays of affection in front of him.
"Seeing this makes me realize things..."
"Things?"
"You know... things."
"Would you be conscious too if my girlfriend would come meet me at the gates?" Kuresawa now piping up as he posts the question to Shirahama.
"I would."
"And you feel the same about seeing that with Sasaki and Miyano?"
"Yeah. The exact same."
It was obvious to Shirahama now. He was... jealous. Not because of 'not wanting to be alone', but that the 'love' he saw from the couples around him are so... genuine. The thought of that making Shirahama lurch internally as he realizes that such a thing wasn't that easy to attain in the first place. Relationships like that don't just fall from the sky, they are built... right?
Shirahama pauses as he silently berates himself at all this introspection. Blame it on the hormones. Maybe...
Also... don't couples also do...
"It makes me wonder what you all do behind closed doors."
"H-hey! Get your head out of that gutter!" He sees Tashiro slightly blush at the connotation, Shirahama internally amused by the boy's quick reactions to everything.
"This is a normal thing for a guy to think about." the white haired boy states plainly, while trying to rearrange his own feelings about 'being in a relationship'. After seeing all that, it was definitely more than just 'physical'.
"Haha." Kuresawa now just staring in amusement at the two, a glint in his eye appearing for just a second.
As they finish the talk, they all stare towards the entrance as the two lovebirds finally walk away.
"I have to go now too. My girlfriend and I have plans." Kuresawa bluntly stating his eternal love for his girlfriend as always.
"Right. Go on now! Come hang out with me more soon though!" Tashiro making a disgusted face towards the spectacled youth who was now sporting a grin.
"No promises."
As Kuresawa walks away, Shirahama notices Tashiro look a bit crestfallen. He's seen that look before. He did notice that Tashiro had been a bit antsy regarding Kuresawa and Miyano lately. His two friends now having relationships, he completely understood.
Not everyone would notice such a thing, but to Shirahama, he could read the boy like an open book.
Honestly, he thought it was cute when Tashiro became quiet, too.
Wait. Cute...?
"Want to go the arcade?"
Shirahama is kicked out from his thoughts as the boy looks at him expectantly. Shirahama feels his heart skip a beat as the pudding head gives the best impression of a dejected puppy he could make.
He sighs, sporting a small smile. "Sure."
For a split second, Shirahama noticed that Tashiro's face softens a bit as he gives- not a toothy grin- but a genuinely sweet smile. "Thanks, Kyouji."
Shirahama pauses, his mind (and heart) racing at the sudden rush of feelings he didn't know he had before.
"Anytime."
Tashiro then immediately tugs on the taller boy's sleeve, his body pulling him towards the school gate. "Let's get on it! Last one there pays for drinks!"
Shirahama let's the boy lead; his face a bit flushed for some reason. Whether or not this will lead to something, maybe he'll think about it, but not right now. His worries can wait. For now, all he wants is to be with Tashiro for a while longer...