Inside this huge room, there are two different people:

"Dad? Who's that?"

A boy in a sleeping dress, laying down on his cozy bed,

"A new member of this house, he'll be your friend."

"I thought I've said it already that I don't like any of 'that'."

And me who is new to this such place.

"But… It's good for you to have a friend, right? Him, by your side… so that you won't be lonely when I'm not around."

"I said no!"

I see. This is what reality looks like.

…so gloom.

"How many times do I have to tell you? I'm sick of this! If I say I don't then I don't!…"

He berserks.

"Saijou stop it. You'll hurt yourself!"

"…I don't want a so, so-called friend!!!"

I wonder why…

"Saijou, listen. Listen!"

"You won't listen to me either!"

Ah~ Is it because…

"Leave me alone!"

"Shh. Saijou, listen to this instance. You know-"

"Stay away from me!"

I am really not comfortable to be with?

"Dad, go away!"

"Listen to me first!"

Is am I… irritating?

"Get out all of you!"

"Saijou…"

"Get out! Get out!"

Gross? Worthless?

"I said, GET OUT NOW!!!"

A total nuisance to be exact?

"Hey, you!!! Get out of my room! You're a nuisance!!!"

"Saijou!"

So it is.

—————————

Spring, huh.

It is the first day of the spring season. The leaves are looking green and fresh after the rain from the other day, healthy plants sprout more and grow with eager, while the newly spring flowers are starting to bloom on their soaked branches. The wind breezes in mildness and trees are swinging softly.

"What a good day to start the semester."

I am standbying by the window, feeling the air and watching the other high school students who recently arrived from this spot — secretly counting each head whoever enters the campus. After reaching a hundred count, I stop. Then do whistling, making beats by my hands and, a headbang. Seizing the moment while I still can since it will be a tragedy for me (again) if the semester becomes serious. As I hum and hum, joining the singing of the birds, rushing footsteps from afar can be heard, and…

"Aki~~~"

"Oh? Natsuya?"

"Do you have a minute?"

This is Nakamura Natsuya, my class partner last semester. He is been a good friend of mine since our first year. In fact, he always hangs out with me; giving me snacks during the break, or if I do not have enough money then he will be the one to pay for the food I picked; and helping me with the difficult subjects. He does everything. Well, I should say, he is a dependable person.

"Is something the matter?"

"Ah~… again… Tachibana-san."

Young Master?

"Did he do something that must be brought to the school principal?"

"That's… aye, let's just hurry."

I followed Natsuya to where the Young Master is. What did the Young Master do again this time? Ah~ give me a break.

"Please, it's an accident. I am very sorry."

"Accident your face."

*flinched*, "I swear! Tachib-"

"Young Master..."

"…Ah~ give me a break."

"That's my line."

Here in the hallway in front of his room, Young Master, together with his classmate, had a fight with... a cod reason. I called it "cod" because…

[ At the principal's office… ]

"He bumped into me and got my snack fell on the floor!"

Young Master, spare my patience. "I humbly apologize to you Mr. Principal. Due to my lack of guard and guidance on Young Master that this situation happened. Please allow me to settle this for the Young Master."

"It's good to hear that Mr. Kirishima doesn't have injuries. In the case of Mr. Tachibana…"

.

.

.

*silence*

It's getting dark.

We are now heading home, riding the service of the Tachibana's. I somehow managed to have a good conversation with the Principal in terms of what happened awhile ago. I got a backache from bowing for a few minutes too. It was not smooth but I did my best.

I think it will rain soon. Hmm, I should grab some hotpot when we arrive. And as for this one who sats beside me…

"Though he made a mistake, it's not really a good thing to mistreat a classmate like that. I'll create a chance for you to apologize."

"You're so noisy you know."

Haha. Well, that is the Young Master. Replying to me so abrupt, he did not even look at me when he said that cruel reply. Sigh, cannot be helped. Also, I'm already used to it since we were little ones.

.

.

.

"Uhm, Saijou? Saijou? Is it true?"

"True what?"

"That… that you saved… my Usagi… chan?"

"Baka."

"Eh?… But, but Saijou wants to be friends with me, right?…"

"Tsk."

"…Because he saved Usagi-chan?"

"Enough! Who dares to be friends with you?!"

.

.

.

He would not have at least a small chat with me, nor play with me, nor sat beside me during meals. It should be five chairs apart.

"Hey, you!!! Get out of my room! You're a nuisance!!!"

I guess he still thinks of me like that.

Placing his head on his palm while crossing his legs. No other movement, Young Master is just staring outside.

"But what if, you incur resentment that could lead to a big issue?"

Young Master snickered, "What did you say?"

"Ah. What if, you-"

"Resentment? Kirishima?"

Now you look me in the eyes.

"Is he that kind of person who would hold resentment? Say, you saw him got scared of me right?"

I raised my right brow. "It's not good to judge people, Young Master."

"Argh! You're full of words."

Probably.

"But if you say so, then this will be your chance!"

"No. Not happening." Young Master said in a sec with a poker face.

Sigh. I quit. Better to be silent than to talk with a person full of no's. I proper my sit and look outside the window. It is really raining. Although blurry, I see a wide greenfield, marble stones that were well-organized at the edge of the road, European statues, a fountain, tall pine trees surrounding a big house,…

House...

Wait- Those are the Bermudas. The road, are we…?

Driver: "We arrive in Méfiance's, Young Master."

"I think it's too early."

I think so, too.

I handed a sort of paper. "Because there's something that your signature is needed, Head Master."

"……say, what did you do again? Saijou."

Standing in front of, the Head Master of Méfiance, Tachibana Ryuuji and the father of the Young Master. He has all the authority inside and even outside the house. To be accurate, all transactions must be passed to and permitted by him before doing so. The Head Master is known for its great economic contribution to the city, being the owner of several institutions that serves the public, and the leading capitalist of Gexin Inc. which is popular for its wines.

*\, tick-tock*

The Head Master is sitting on a fauteuil — on pine and oak veneered with amaranth and bois satiné table, he is reading what is written on the paper. While waiting, I notice how elegant the interior of this room. The detailed architectural design influenced with Rococo style and the furniture that would make you feel as if you're in the Eighteenth Century.

It's beautiful...

"You should discipline yourself, Saijou." he handed the paper to me. "It's not all the time that Mr. Yoshio will settle things for you, you know."

"Thank you, Head Master." humbly bowed.

The Young Master remains silent on his seat, staring outside the window again. Still having those "irritated" looks but I think there is something. He is, as if he wants to go somewhere. Somewhere that could bring peace, a breakthrough from the cage he was into.

Then I noticed, Oh, the rain... it already stopped.

*glanced to Young Master*

Sigh.

"Head Master..."

"Yes." the Head Master replied without taking away his eyes in the newspaper.

"I would like to ask permission for a talk."

As he stopped from reading, putting the newspaper aside and clasping together the tip of his fingers, "Hmm? What is it about Mr. Yoshio?"

"I mean, to the Young Master."

And the Head Master puts on an "Oh?" expression while the Young Master… turned his head to me with an annoyed face.

I was given permission to have a talk with the Young Master, thanks to the Head Master. If I do not ask from Head Master but directly from the Young Master, then he would directly refuse my request. It was said that we can talk after dinner.

[ In the garden… ]

It is cold.

"Hey? What do you want?"

"..."

"Answer me."

*stops walking*

"Young Master, remember this place?" I face him with a smile.

"..."

Eeeh? "U-sa-gi-chan???"

.

.

.

"Eh?… But, but Saijou wants to be friends with me, right?…"

"Tsk."

"…Because he saved Usagi-chan?"

"Enough! Who dares to be friends with you?!"

.

.

.

"..."

No response. "I see."

I continued walking towards the isle of the house garden. Another fountain can be found here, with a statue of a boy wearing an uneasy aura at its center. Placing his both hands on his chest, bending his head down. He was poured with light from the moon above, which is bright and calm.

"It's already dark at this hour, Young Master."

He is still silent. I turn around to see what he is up to but to encounter such a sightly scenario. The him who is looking up above the midnight blue sky, seeing his eyes locked up to the brightness of the moon and twinkling of the stars. The wind softly shuffles his hair and makes it dance with them.

I feel warm and comfort being enthralled to him. I realize Young Master has that side after all. The Young Master having the side of innocence…

My hand moves on its own, wanting to reach something. I cannot hold back. I am still enthralled by Young Master's face that I could hardly notice what is going on.

This is what I wanted to see for a long time.

Why does Young Master only make this face now?

For almost 10 years…

.

.

.

"Why are you here in my room again?"

.

.

.

"Oi! That's my territory!"

.

.

.

"Are you deaf? Pick up my teddy bear…"

.

.

.

"... such a nuisance…"

.

.

.

I only saw him got angry towards me!

Young Master? Young Master? Look, you are so at ease. Can you see your face right now? What to do?

"Please do have this easiness every day."

What to do?

"Let me see this face every day."

Young Master...

"What to d-"

*slap!*

Huh?

"What are you doing?"

*flinched*, "Ah-"

*silence*

What, is…

"Tsk."

Ah! Y- Young Master, left.

What happened? Did I just…

Did I just touch his… his face?

Young Master...

*blushed*

I slapped both of my cheeks. What to do???

.

.

.

"I… I feel hot."

After what I did the other day, Young Master gets more irritated whenever I approach him. In the house hall, the dining, study lounge, and…

*knock, knock*

"Sorry for the intrusion. Young Master? The meal i-"

"Don't come in! You piece of sh-"

*slam!* …even in his room.

Woah! Wait a minute. Wait, a minute. What the heck? Good thing I closed the door immediately before he goes wild. Remembering what is inside, Young Master…

Here we go again...

*blushed*

Argh? "…not good. Not good."

Also in our school. Whenever I call him, "Young Master, I-" he only replies to me with his… "gaze." His gaze is creepy though. Not to mention the last time inside the cafeteria, I offer him lunch together with me and Natsuya…

"Don't get close to me."

…is what he said.

.

.

.

"Why on earth does Young Master so cold to me? Argh. Tell me, is there someth-"

"Hai, hai. I get what you mean already."

"Hmph."

In the end, I ate with Natsuya on the rooftop. The wind is kinda' strong but it is nice, good for picnic and such.

*nom*

"So, about 'last time'. What happened?" Natsuya asked, pointing his chopsticks to me.

"I touched him."

*spuuurt!*

Did I say something wrong? Oh, wait-

"NO WAY! It's not what you think! Natsuya, it's… Natsuya? Are you alright?"

*coughing*, "Haha, yeah. But it was a big surprise you know."

What's happening to me?

I feel embarrassed. Not because I spat nonsense but it shows like I'm a pervert or something. *remembered the thing happened in the morning*

*blushed*, I want to hide.

I told Natsuya about what happened a day ago. I clearly explained to him everything, every detail since from the start. When we got home, on the Head Master's office, when we have gone to the house garden when I was mesmerized by Young Master's slap beauty. When I touched his… face.

*blushed*

"Aki~~~"

Ah.

Natsuya slowly comes closer, spreading his arms as if he will hug me.

"You are now coming of age Aki!" and he really did.

"What are you saying?" I said while trying to escape from his hug. He is quite built than me although I am the one who is required for that because of my job indeed, I cannot let go.

"Eeeh? But it's true Aki." let go

At last, I'm free.

"Also, why would you blush if not?"

*silence*

Huh? Does it matter? People do blush, you know. Cough, well… Young Master is beauty but… I'm not sure.

"You're doubting?" Natsuya said abruptly.

"D- Doubting?"

"Your feelings."

My feelings...

Yes, I am. It is not that it is the first time this happened. There is uncertainty in me. Because of this uncertainty, I… do not have the courage and confidence to face reality.

"I see. This is what reality looks like… so gloom."

Although they say, "To step forward is to face reality." But, we cannot avoid those things that could happen unexpectedly… which hinders us from taking a step forward.

"…I don't want a so, so-called friend!!!"

"Hey, you!!! Get out of my room! You're a nuisance!"

Reality is painstaking.

We are afraid that these will become real. We are afraid that these will when the day will come, step onto us. We are afraid that these unexpected things will take away what we have treasured for long, that those precious things will fade bit by bit or will push us away, abandoning us, forgetting us.

Unexpected things are future happenings. And, we don't hold the future. That is why... Courage and confidence is what I do not have but uncertainty,

Doubt.

I doubt myself.

"And how sure are you that, that I feel towards Young Master that way?" I said.

Natsuya chuckles. "Alright, I'll stop."

*wind breezes*

It is still a question if I do really feel something for Young Master, you know. So I will surely doubt this feeling. And I was just got mesmerized that time, only once. Just that time.

"But…"

I startle.

"What if's are tricky."

"..."

"What if, this…" Natsuya poked my chest. "…is not but real feelings? How will you handle it?"

How will I?

*grin*, "Another thing."

If this is proven real, how will I handle it?

Handle...

"Today's generation is a pain in the ***." The atmosphere turns heavy, the same as Natsuya's tone of speaking. "Judgemental people are around."

I know.

"Be careful, since the situation you 'will' be part of is somewhat crucial…"

"…"

"If you do have feelings for Tachibana. That, if you understand what I mean, Aki."

Feeling. "This feeling…"

"Hmm?"

Reality is painstaking. This is what I'm telling, you know. Facing that kind of situation, knowing that it is crucial, I do not have enough strength for that. Now, how to handle this feeling?

"…is just joke. That, that won't happen. No worries."

"Hahaha. Think so. Maybe because you only saw your Young Master without wearing 'irritated' expression for the first time."

"I do think, too."

While still early, let's put an end to it and throw it like rubbish.