Chapter Text
1.
Hanemiya Kazutora is a delinquent that reigns in their high school, it’s an obvious title by the way- ‘Golden Tiger’. From first-years to third-years they fear and respect the sandy eyed boy because aside from its strong physique he is quite smart for a delinquent and a little too soft for nerds, no one knows why.
He is timid and soft spoken not to be what you expect, he’ll literally crush stereotypes with his unpredictable personality. He doesn’t have any friends nor kohais even it is already his last year in high school.
Oh. He’s quite popular with the girls too.
“Senpai! I like you, please go out with me!” a small red-headed girl bows at him handing out a love letter.
They’re at the rooftop, not too long ago when the girl told him that she needs to tell him something important.
This is not important.
“Why hand a letter when you already told me you like me?” He deadpans leaning at the railings behind him. He sighs at the girl still bowing her head. “I’m sorry, thank you though I can’t go out with you.” He didn’t accept the letter and just pats the girl’s head before leaving.
They don’t know the concept of going out with someone, it’s not simply hanging out and flaunting he’s with them, that they got him- tamed him.
Although he’s aware about his popularity, what bothers him is that he didn’t do anything to be liked and admired by the people in this boring place known as an educational facility.
“I didn’t even learn shit here.” He mumbles as he gets on his bike.
He drives as fast as he can towards the shrine and as always, he arrives first before anyone else.
Mounting his bike at the parking lot, he hears footsteps behind him and a sway of baton hitting the wind. “What are you doing here Haitani?”
“Which Haitani are you pertaining to, Torachi?”
“You’re the only Haitani here and stop calling me that.” He walks away heading up to the shrine.
Catching up to the two-toned hair tiger, he wraps his arms to the other’s shoulder blades. “You’re so cold tiger, heard you rejected another girl in your school.”
“You’re a gossip. Disgusting.”
“Man! Who hurt you?!”
“Do you really want me to answer your question.”
Ran raised both hands in sign of defeat. “Uh. No. Whatever.”
2.
Kazutora, sipping on his cold creamy macchiato- just like what he wanted on a corner of a coffee shop that he always stops by every Saturday morning before burning all of his braincells when meeting the guys in Toman.
Their commander’s antics and captain’s shenanigans are beyond human understanding and he’s not participating with all of that.
“I can hear your stressful thoughts all the way from the other side of the road.” Said the two-toned braided man who already seated in front of him.
Not looking on his way, Kazutora continues to sips his coffee not minding the other’s presence. He’s not gonna ruin his mood first thing in the morning, not Kazutora’s quick temperedness towards the guy and not Ran Haitani’s annoying disturbance to his peaceful morning.
He gazes outside the café and one person catches his attention, there’s a little girl selling matchboxes beside the Sakura tree and he took a mental note to stop by later.
It took him 5 minutes to finish his coffee. “I’m leaving. I’ll pay for your coffee.” He makes his way to the counter paying for his and the Haitani’s drink. He ordered one hot cocoa and a pudding to take out then he left the coffee shop.
“Hey little girl.” He said smiling walking towards to the little girl all wrapped up to keep herself warm. “It’s too cold and early for you to be out here.”
The little girl smiles big at him, both eyes shining. “I know you!” She exclaims that took Kazutora in shock.
“You do??” he grins shyly, red flushing on his cheeks.
“I do! My older brother always, always talks about you! You’re so pretty like what he told me!” The little girl smiles so dearly, puffing red cheeks and the tip of her nose.
“You’re so cute, care to tell me who’s that brother of yours?”
It’s not a secret that even guys took a liking to our tiger, it’s so easy to fall for Kazutora, his straightforward personality may look so harsh but he’s not that person who will intentionally hurt you.
He’s a darling, so sweet and fragile.
He’s a tiger, so tough and intimidating.
He’s everything.
“Hey Luna! I told you not to sell more matchboxes, I’ll do that late-r Kazutora?!”
Both look at the newly arrived boy, he’s panting like he ran his way here.
“You know each other?” asks Kazutora.
It’s also not a secret that Kazutora is a complete idiot who is absolutely an oblivious one when it comes to feelings.
“Oh Tora-san! He’s my- hmm!” before Luna finish her sentence, the purple-haired boy covered her mouth.
Kazutora raised his eyebrow confused. “What is it Mitsuya?”
“Aha-ha, nothing, nothing. I’ll take Luna home.” He nervously laughed.
He stares at his friend whose face is red as tomato but grinning making a face that says ‘I got this’.
He sighs in defeat. “Don’t worry little girl, Mitsuya is one of my best friends! He is a very nice friend- he’ll take you home safely.”
Before Luna and Mitsuya left, he handed the hot cocoa and the pudding to the girl with a wide smile but it seems the little girl is in the verge of crying. Kazutora’s about to comment when Mitsuya carries Luna taking their leave in a hurry.
I swear, that little girl looks a little bit like Mitsuya- is she, his daughter?!
Kazutora is smart but stupid. Makes sense? No? That’s not surprising.
“You seriously don’t have to reject a brother in front of his little sister, yeah?”
Kazutora looks over his shoulders to see the Haitani leaning in a light post, both hands in his pockets.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about Haitani.”
“You’re still so naïve Tora.”
“I don’t know, who’s fault is that?” he rolls his eyes walking away.
“Still running, huh?” Ran Haitani turns his back and walks away in the opposite direction where Kazutora is heading.
3.
It’s their graduation day, finally, Kazutora will be getting out of this rotten high school. The students are nice but the faculty staffs are shit and all and he’s glad to be finally out of their grasp.
After the ceremony, his batchmates take pictures together- some with him and some were not.
He doesn’t care.
“Kazutora-kun, I’ll take a picture of you and your dad.” Said one his classmates pointing at him and then his dad that is standing near the gate.
“You don’t have to.” He says forming his lips in a straight line.
“But he looks so proud seeing you on the stage though.”
He looks at his dad standing so proud. He seems like it. Kazutora bows his head for refusing and to thanks his classmate for the kind gesture.
Walking towards the older man who just looks exactly like him with a diploma in his hands. “You proud old man?” he mumbles bright red flushing on his cheeks.
His home life is not a happy one, his dad and his mom got divorced when he was just a little kid bruising his soul. He resented his father for beating him and his mom due to his high expectations. His father is an asshole, forever he will be.
Kazutora picked his mother’s side but within just a couple of weeks he went back to his father. Why? His mother abused him mentally making him loose his mind, he’s going crazy blaming himself with their situation so he got back to his dad thinking that hurting physically can be much lesser than being tortured mentally.
He will leave her if that’s will make her free from the pain and suffering.
Without a doubt, his dad accepted him open arms but obviously with so much rules and regulations and he gladly complied. His tiger tattoo will always be there, a sign of rebellion, but he did his best to make up for it.
As time goes by, he’s getting better at everything- mentally, physically, and academically- his father never raised his fists again even with him making small mistakes. His father sees him growing and maturing, that made a massive change of heart making him seek for redemption. His sorry ass will always be thankful for his one hell of a strong son for changing him.
Tearing up, he pulls his son in a tight hug. “Of course, I am my stupid son.”
Kazutora sobs, they may not be a happy family but at least they’re not hurting each other anymore.
-
They’re eating dinner in his favorite restaurant with his father when a young woman approaches them.
“Good evening Hanemiya-san, Kazutora-kun.”
Kazutora looks up from his food. “Who?”
“Oh.” Hanemiya coughed to interrupt the staring contest between his son and the young lady. “She’s Shiba Yuzuha, I asked her to come to finally meet you.”
“Shiba?” He thinks he heard that last name somewhere, setting aside the thought he returns his stare to the young lady namely Shiba Yuzuha. “Why?”
“You may sit down, Yuzuha-chan.”
Shiba Yuzuha thanked the older man as he occupied the seat beside Kazutora. She’s quite tall for a girl and those yellow-orange irises piercing towards those sandy ones. She’s pretty though she has a resting bitch face, man she’s sure can break your bones.
The evening went by a flash. Yuzuha is kind and a loving sister to his older and younger brothers. She’s nice and strong.
“Taiju works under your father, that’s how I actually got to know you.” She reminisces sheepishly. “Then met you in a fight when you saved Hakkai right before I came.”
“Oh.” Nodding, now he remembers. She’s the older sister of Mitsuya’s vice captain.
“She’s really a well-mannered lady, you’ll work right with her.” His father says in assurance.
There’s no doubt about that, Yuzuha’s personality says it all. But there’s a problem.
“But Father…”
Yuzuha looks at him in awe. “Is there a problem? I- I know it’s hard to believe but I like you Kazutora-kun.”
His father looks at his befuddled expression absolutely getting what his son’s worries. He sighs nodding, he won’t force his child with anything he’s not comfortable with.
“Yuzuha, you’re great and pretty, you’ll find someone who hits the same page. I… I don’t like girls.” Looking down on his unfinished food he felt his environment spinning around. He wants to vomit because he tried- he doesn’t like girls at all.
Finally getting home after a tiring day he found a basket full of sunflowers sitting on their doorstep. Picking it up at sea who might be it from, he frowns as soon as he read the card that’s tucked in the middle of it a while ago.
Happy Graduation Day Tiger.
Golden flowers for the Golden Tiger. The tale of Clytie and Apollo may not be like ours but I might be Apollo but in honesty I will always be Clytie who will watch you sore high and shine bright just like the sun that once was mine.
It doesn’t have the sender’s name and Kazutora doesn’t need one to know who sent this. He’s so pissed he want to lash out but not in his father’s worried gaze.
4.
Kazutora is 20 now and life in the university obviously sucks. He’s tired, stressed, and down so bad.
In one evening, he got a call to meet up at the shrine where Toman usually meets for their gatherings and hang outs. This time it is because of a gang called Valhalla who purposely butt heads with their commander’s favorite boy aside from Kazutora- Souya.
“What’s up?” nods Keisuke to his best bud.
Kazutora groans not in the mood to tell tales about his adventure being a college student.
“You’re lucky Kei, you’ll soon open your pet shop while I’m stuck learning about shit politics I couldn’t care less.” He murmurs sulking.
The jet black-haired wraps his arms around the two-toned ravenette’s shoulder blades. “Just think about this, you’ll be the one defending me when I accidentally set a car on fire.” He says grinning so wide showing his canines.
Kazutora felt warm in his chest. “You’re the best friend ever.”
“I know right?!”
Kazutora only shrugs making the most of the warmth from his best friend. They just chat the whole evening ignoring the real purpose of the gathering which is the absorption of Toman to Valhalla.
“There’s this guy in my class who’s an absolute jerk! Barging in like he owns the place. I don’t even like his blonde streak in the middle of his hair.” Rants Kazutora that earns a shaking head from Keisuke.
“Yep. He’s a jerk and has a bad hair.” He agrees nodding. That’s Keisuke for you, He will agree to Kazutora 100% without having a second thought.
“So… you think that I’m a jerk little tiger. I don’t think my hair’s that bad tho’.”
Kazutora jumps with the sudden interference coming from behind. Turning around, his eyes widen- mouth left open.
Keisuke closes his best friend’s mouth. “Keep that pretty mouth of yours close before this jerk have an idea.” He whispers.
“Caught a fly there, tiger?” he smirks, both hands in his hips.
“What do you want bastard?!” Keisuke copying the other’s posture while leaning his face to the taller one. “I know who you are idiot! Stay away from Kazutora!”
The taller rolls his eyes ignoring the jet, shifting his gaze towards the tattooed man beside him he grins with his eyes sparkling. Oh gosh those are literally sparkling, is that even possible? Kazutora hates this guy’s guts especially his smug face- that annoys him deep through his bones.
“Well, hello pretty little tiger- “
“Can you please stop implying that I’m small.” Kazutora deadpans.
The taller coughs to correct himself. “I’ll make this meeting unforgettable, pretty tiger. I’m Hanma Shuji, care to have a walk with me?” he then extends his hand to Kazutora.
“If you promise that you’ll never try something funny.”
“I won’t. I won’t. I promise.” Hanma laughs dearly raising both hands to show defeat.
Keisuke scoffs. “You’re too trusting Tora, give him some benefit of the doubt.”
“He said he won’t and if he did, I’ll hit him with a pipe.” He says in a flat tone.
His best friend just sighs asking the gods why did they took his tiger’s emotions. He’ll never forget that bastard who hurt him, no, never and if this Hanma Shuji will do the same, he’ll be surely digging his own grave.
The taller grabs Kazutora’s wrist leading him somewhere. “Let’s go to the park if it’s okay with ya’ ♡”
“You sure look so happy. Why?” Kazutora asks staring at Hanma’s back. Hanma suddenly stops making Kazutora bump into his broad back. “Ouch? What’s the matter?”
He turns around to face Kazutora. “My heart is beating like crazy.” He says airy and a light stain of pink in his cheeks.
“Wait, are you okay? Sit on the bench near the swing I’ll get us some drinks.” Kazutora rapidly goes at the vending machine.
“W-wait...” he sank down with a heavy sigh.
He’s obviously not getting the idea.
Kazutora didn’t take so much time getting their drinks, holding two he makes his way to the bench where Hanma sat down. He stares at the taller when a flash of yellow and black memory invades his mind.
He stops, he is shaking. No. He’s okay now- so much.
“Hey sweetie, it’s cold tonight y’know! You should have brought a scarf.” He said wrapping his own scarf to Kazutora’s exposed neck from the cold winter breeze.
It’s Christmas and they decided to spend the night at the park nearby the shrine.
“Mn.” Kazutora purrs loving the warmth as he enjoys the moment of him sitting on the swing. He stares at the two-toned long-haired guy that’s in front towering him.
“You just want my scarf.” He chuckled.
Kazutora smiled so dearly. “I do.”
The other felt his cheeks reddened seeing the tiger boy smiled with those flashy sandy eyes, pink staining his cheeks and the tip of his nose because of the cold, and God, Kazutora looked so happy with him.
“It’s not fair love, you’re so cute.” He leans forward- now foreheads touching. “Are you happy?” It’s an obvious question but Kazutora didn’t mind telling the other how much he felt.
“Very happy.” Kazutora grabbed the other’s hands that were hiding on his coat’s pockets. “You didn’t wear gloves, I see.”
“You too.” He mentioned as he kissed his lover’s forehead.
“Hmm. I just want yours to give warmth to mine.” He giggled that made the other man stood in front of him frozen.
They stared at each other so dearly, so happy, and so full of love.
“I love you. Fuck, I love you so much Tora.”
Kazutora smiled. “I love- “
“Tiger? Are you okay?”
Kazutora startles snapping from his deep thought, he almost drop the drinks.
“I… I guess. Why?” He asks Hanma.
“Uhm. I saw you zoned out, maybe I made you uncomfortable.” The lanky scratches the back of his head looking away.
“Ah no. no. no. It’s my fault I’m sorry I just remembered something.” He confesses awkwardly.
He feels guilty thinking about something unnecessary- someone when he’s with other’s company. It’s inappropriate for him making others to worry about him when they’re just being kind to have him in their company.
Hanma looks worriedly but he decides to let it go not wanting Kazutora to feel more conscious. “No, It’s okay. Let’s sit?” He smiles pushing lightly the smaller’s back towards the bench.
As they settled comfortably, Kazutora hands the drink he bought for Hanma. “Are you feeling okay now?”
Hanma chuckles remembering the tiger’s interpretation from a while ago. “Yeah. Yeah, don’t worry about that! It’s just me being flirty, sorry. Did I made you worry?”
“Your smile is pretty.” Kazutora mentions in a serious tone as he stares at Hanma chuckling. “You look so happy right now.”
He stops as he focuses his gaze to the little tiger, he looks so small and confuse. “It’s happy to spend time with you.” Hanma contemplates, his not gonna risk this comfortability by making a move with this little tiger who is obviously scarred inside.
Hanma steps back inside his mind. I’m rejected even before I confess.
“Is… Is that true?” Kazutora looks down at his unopened drink.
“Mn!” He nods shuffling those raven-blonde locks. “So, smile for me now tiger.”
Kazutora doesn’t know why but he smiles small. Small but real. “Thank you.”
He stares at the two.
He stares at him smiling.
He stares breaking.
“That should be me making you smile.”
5.
Hanging out with Hanma spiced things up with his boring college life- no illegal stuffs or crazy ones but he felt happy.
“Stop hanging out with him!!!!!!!” Keisuke whines feeling so frustrated.
They’re at Kazutora’s apartment, a gift from his dad when he started college. It’s spacious enough to handle Keisuke’s tantrums. They’re both lying down at his carpet in his living room.
He forgot Keisuke’s possessiveness; he likes to claim that he is the best of the best friends Kazutora has.
“Stop whining already Baji-san!” Chifuyu complains throwing his manga to his captain.
“You sure you’re supposed to be reading manga when your aeronautic shits whatever exam is coming?” Kazutora asks while tapping on his phone.
They completely ignore Keisuke.
“I’m not reading them, I’m throwing them.” Chifuyu deadpans.
“Stop ignoring me for fuck’s sake!” Keisuke shakes Kazutora’s shoulders. “I said. No hanging out with Hanma anymore! He’s stealing you away- hang out with me instead!”
The other two burst out laughing with their best friend’s jealousy.
“Stop laughing! Damn! You don’t fucking love me anymore yeah? Okay I get it but c’mon I’m still single, don’t leave me not until I find someone.”
They continue laughing not containing a serious face even for a second.
“I can’t believe you Kei!” Kazutora huffs wiping tears in his eyes from so much laughing. “We’re still single like you, what are you talking?!”
“You might die single forever Baji-san *cough*” Chifuyu added choking on his own saliva. “Hahaha *cough* water- water! HAHAHA”
The three laugh so hard leading them to wrestle with each other, teasing Keisuke for being such a drama queen, annoying Chifuyu with his shoujo manga collection saying, ‘Shounen over shoujo!’ and the younger is ready to fight for it.
“Oh! Oh! Don’t start with me now Tora-kun! I remember your lame fashion sense- animal prints everywhere!” Chifuyu teases.
“Hey! Shut up!”
Thirty minutes later they found themselves lying on the floor dead beat.
“We’re glad you’re laughing this hard with us again Tora.” Keisuke says while his eyes closed, Kazutora hums in response. “I’m relieved that he’s good for you.”
Kazutora chuckles. Hanma’s a good friend.
A loud ring interrupts the silence. His phone is ringing- both of his best friends knocked out cold already. He searches everywhere for his phone, Chifuyu probably threw it somewhere.
He found it under his book shelves. “This fucking bastard. I might throw Peke J somewhere.” He chuckles shifting his focus to his phone screen.
1 missed call from Haitani Rindou
“Hmm?” This is the first call from him since transferring in his third year in high school. He dials the number and calls back. It didn’t take 2 rings before the younger Haitani answered.
‘Kazutora!’ he exclaims.
“Is there a problem Rin?” Kazutora hears loud noises from the other line, Rin must be at a bar, not that it’s new when you live at Roppongi.
‘I’m at Shibuya.’ He giggles.
“Huh? Wait Rin. Don’t tell me you’re drunk?” he got up grabbing his coat and keys not minding his sleeping best friends. “Tell me where you are, I’m coming to get you.”
‘You’re sweet as always Tora-kun’ he burps and chuckles again. This guy is absolutely drunk. ‘I’m at Seventh Heaven, I *hic* think that’s the name.’
Kazutora drops the call, he knows where that is and he’s fetching a drunk Roppongi man.
When he arrived, he saw Haitani Rindou snoozing already at the bar’s counter. He paid for the younger Haitani’s bill- damn this fucker being so wasted. He carries the man in a piggyback ride.
“This is annoying.” He mumbles to himself.
“Mn. Sorry.” A whisper behind his ear.
“You’re awake. You are still so stubborn as ever; I’ll fucking lose my mind.” He puts down Rindou. “Get on my bike, you’re staying at my place but I tell you Baji and Chifuyu are there though you can use my room. Hold onto me, ‘kay?”
Rindou wrapped his arms around Kazutora’s waist. He buries his head to the taller’s back. “Thank you for coming.”
Kazutora tucks the younger Haitani in his bed after changing him up with much more comfortable clothes.
“You literally don’t have a high tolerance with alcohol.” Kazutora sighs at the sight of the blue-blonde.
Rindou looks at the ravenette, the bed is pulling his consciousness away but before he gives in, he blurts out, “I love you Tora-kun.” Then he blacks out leaving the other in shock.
In the morning, Keisuke and Chifuyu went their way outside looking back at Kazutora in a worried look. They love their best friend but they know he doesn’t need them now, in fact, It’s Rindou and he’s a darling towards Kazutora and Kazutora cares to the younger dearly.
They just smiled at each other before waving their goodbyes.
Kazutora prepares breakfast and brewed some coffee for Rindou, he remembers how the younger Haitani likes it.
He heard steps from behind. “Good morning Kazutora-kun.”
“Good morning, Rin. How’s your head?” he puts down a cup of coffee in front of Rindou.
He stares at the coffee in front of him. “Look Kazutora-kun, what I said last night.”
“Hmm? Tell me about it.”
“It’s true.” Rindou’s still avoiding Kazutora’s eyes.
Kazutora sighs. “Look at me Rin. Since when?”
“Since…” he looks up, his purple irises bring back memories to the other. “… since before you two started dating.” Looking down again, he sips his coffee.
“You know I can’t reciprocate your feelings Rindou, you’re like a brother to me and maybe it’s just you see me as your big brother.”
“We’re the same age Kazutora.” Staring intensely, he finds courage. “I loved you first! Why can’t I be with you? You rejected him 3 times but he pursued you so much, I know, but I can do better than that!” he exclaims in frustration.
“He confessed Rin, you didn’t. He pursued me, you didn’t. But he still cheated. I’m sorry Rin but I don’t think I can love someone back anymore. Not now.”
“It’s just one time, he’s my brother, my rival but I know he still loves you.”
Kazutora wraps his gift for their first anniversary and he can’t wait to give it to his boyfriend. It’s funny how he adores the older Haitani when in fact it was the latter who chased him everywhere- maybe because he felt that his love was genuine and true.
Shaking his head, he stares at the tiny box beautifully wrapped. He bought him a gold necklace with a skull pendant from the money he saved from his allowance. It’s not that much compared how wealthy the Haitanis are but he put love into it.
“Can’t believe you’re this cheesy.” Keisuke who’s sitting across the room complains.
“Yeah, right?” he chuckles earning a groan from his best friend.
“What did you even love with that guy? Your taste is just plainly horrible.”
Rolling his eyes, he points his scissors to Keisuke. “Don’t insult him smartass! He’s nice, okay? You won’t understand it anyway.”
“I’m not his boyfriend but I don’t see him a good one either.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Look Tora, just… just stay tough on your feet. I still don’t like him.”
He surrenders, letting go of the gloomy conversation. Keisuke wouldn’t understand, Ran is a nice guy, he loves him so much though much lately he’s been busy in school.
“Then, you can drive me there.” He assures Keisuke.
After minutes of driving, they arrived at Ran’s apartment. He’s living alone because he’s already in his first year coming into second in college while Kazutora’s still at his second year coming into his third in high school.
“You sure can take it from here?” asks Keisuke.
“Yep!” Keisuke looks at his best friend looks so cheerful.
“As long as he makes you happy like this, I won’t stop you- fuck.” Keisuke freezes on his bike.
“What is it? Where are you staring?”
“Don’t fucking look!”
“Huh?”
Before Keisuke prevents Kazutora from looking back, his best friend already dropped his gift from the sight he is seeing.
A tall lanky guy, his hair down looks so messy laughing with a girl. She’s really beautiful with a body so slender, she giggles as the taller snakes his arms on her waist. She is everything that Kazutora is not.
“Tora…” Keisuke hesitates.
Kazutora ignores Keisuke, he picked up the box as he walks towards Ran and his girl who’s now shamelessly kissing so sloppy. He laughs broken and shattered.
“So…” the two looked at him in shock and fear, so, she knew? “Is it not that exciting anymore that you already tamed a tiger, yeah?” Kazutora stays firm, he won’t break down in front of Ran.
Ran swallows a lump in his throat. “N-no. No love, I can explain.” Reaching his grasp to Kazutora but got shoved in an instant.
“Calling me love in front of your bitch. How nice of you.” He throws his gift to the older Haitani. “You didn’t tell me you already celebrated in pleasure. Happy Anniversary, you bastard. Leave my life the fuck alone.” He turns back.
“I don’t need your explanation Haitani. We’re through.”
Keisuke saw it all, how those tears run down like a river the moment he ended his relationship with Ran. How Ran stood there blankly- maybe realizing he fucked up, Keisuke doesn’t know.
“Rin. That one time broke me, the unending thoughts of questions. Questioning myself what did I do wrong? What’s wrong with me?”
“You know that’s not true!” Rindou raised his voice out of frustration.
“I know, but that one time made me doubt my self-worth. Am I not enough? Is he having a great time with a woman than me? Him kissing another person instead of me. How about me, Rin? How about me?” Kazutora didn’t cry. It’s only a memory now, those feelings are in the past now.
It’s been almost 3 years after the break-up. He moved on from the person but not from the pain and fear of loving, it still linger on his nerves like a curse.
“I… I’m sorry. I’m sorry Tora-kun.” Rindou sobs in regret for invalidating Kazutora’s feelings.
“It’s okay now, hush, don’t cry. Eat your breakfast- you can stay as long as you want though I have classes. Just lock the door if you’re leaving.”
Haitani Ran is the pain he likes to talk about.
-
Roaming around the town with a plastic bag from the konbini full of sour candies, Kazutora walks straight to wherever his feet lead him to. It doesn’t bother him because today is holiday and there’s no meeting coming from Toman nor annoying friends trying to test his patience.
He hums as he settles down under a bridge with small bleachers besides the river stream. There’s no one around, no kids playing with their paper boats nor middle school kids getting beat up black and blue by arrogant high school kids. A perfect time and place for him to make the most of his free time.
He took a bite from one of his sour strips as he remembers a song- actually it’s one of his favorites. It’s the closing theme song of that anime he like called parasyte the maxim.
He’ll probably sing some of it because he’s bored just staring at nothing.
Itsuka kimi ga oshiete kureta ano kotoba ga
(Those special words that you once told me)
A flash of yellow and black stops by his vision.
“Can we talk?”
mune no oku no doa wo fui ni nokku suru
(Suddenly knock on the door to my heart)
He remembers his teasing smiles whenever he’s being flirty saying all those cheesy words like “I wanna be your first and last.”
“Please hear me out, Tora.”
furikaeru hima mo naku nanika ni oware
(I’ve got no time to look back, I’m being chased)
Those sudden grabs on his wrists pulling him into a warm hug to ease the cold breeze of the night.
“Leave me alone, Ran.”
wasurete ita keshiki wo
(I’d forgotten the scenery)
That same rooftop where those feelings bloomed. It’s like a fantasy, a cruel fantasy to taste but soon will ended up puking.
“I don’t want to remember anything anymore!”
ima kimi no koe ga omoidasaseru yo
(But now, I can remember your voice)
The sound of his I love yous and telling him his happy to be with him became a curse record playing over and over again in my mind like a broken vinyl because it sounds so angelic yet it pains Kazutora.
“It was all an act! That girl was just a front, my father was there spying, I knew that so well that if I blew that up, he’ll hurt you! Rin knew that!”
daijoubu saa hajimeyou
(It’s all right, let’s begin)
They were too young to experience that kind of pain and complicated relationship. It hurts so much that he can’t explain why, they were too young but the feelings were too real.
“But it pained me more than enough. It hurts so much Ran to be hurt by you and not by your father. I feel like dying yet I’m still alive. It’s an endless pain and battle inside me.”
IT’S THE RIGHT TIME
Arukidesou
(Let’s walk together)
Parting ways might be the right choice. They heal and they grow.
“Please don’t get me out of your life Tora. Just that, please make me still part of your life.”
IT’S THE RIGHT TIME
osorenai de
(Don’t be scared)
They can be with each other or They can be not. Their future isn’t secured and they meet countless of people who will offer their love and affection. Accepting that kind of feelings are scary enough.
“Let’s be alone for a while.”
hora ano oka wo koeta basho de
boku wo matte iru yo
(Look, the spot just over the hill
It’s waiting for me)
Haitani Ran, the pain he loves to talk about.
Kazutora looks behind him, he sees a man standing proud tall in his tuxedo- absolutely an attire not for under the bridge. His two-tail black and blonde braid hair are now cut short dyed in black with purple streaks just like those shining irises.
“Coffee?” he asks with a smile.
Lifting up in the air his konbini bag, Kazutora huffs. “I’ve got sour candies.”
“That will do.” He chuckles.
Hanemiya Kazutora and at third year in college he’s practically single and behaving. Taking his time to collect himself up from the broken trust and emotions.