Renjiro followed Masato out of the school building with reluctant steps, his hands buried in the pockets of his blazer to hide how tense they had become. A cool breeze drifted across the courtyard, carrying the scent of freshly cut grass and the distant chatter of students disappearing through the front gate. Leaving only the warm glow of the evening sky overhead.
Despite the peaceful atmosphere, a heavy feeling settled deep in Renjiro's stomach. He had no idea where Masato was taking him. Nor did he know what the upperclassman intended to say once they reached somewhere private.
His thoughts refused to stop racing. Any possibility had somehow rooted itself inside the imagination, despite how ridiculous it sounded. They had barely known each other for a day and there was no reason whatsoever, for a handsome third-year to suddenly confess to a random first-year.
Still, the thought stubbornly lingered as Renjiro inhaled slowly before squaring his shoulders.
Pull yourself together. Whatever he's planning to say, just hear him out... then leave.
They continued walking until they reached the academy's front gate.
Masato suddenly stopped. He turned gracefully on his heel to face Renjiro.
"So..." he cleared his thought lightly. "Shall we get in?"
Renjiro blinked, raising a brow in confusion. "Go in where?"
Masato looked at him as though the answer should have been obvious. A quiet laugh escaped his lips.
"You really are funny."
He gestured toward the road beside the gate. "The car, of course."
Only then did Renjiro follow the direction of his hand. A sleek black sedan sat parked neatly bybthe curb.
Standing beside it was a chauffeur dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit and white gloves. His posture remained straight and professional, as though he had been patiently waiting there the entire time for the young master.
Renjiro stared at the luxurious looking vehicle. Then at the chauffeur and back at Masato.
"..."
Without saying a word, he slowly leaned backward. It was getting weirder by the second... His instincts screamed at him to flee.
Masato, however, noticed the retreat almost immediately. The moment Renjiro shifted his weight to turn around, he quickly grabbed his wrist.
[!!]
Renjiro's eyes flew wide open.
"AHHHH!" his voice rang across the front gate.
"LET GO OF ME!"
He twisted and struggled with all his strength, desperately trying to pry the older student's hand away.
"What are you doing?! This is kidnapping!"
"HELP ME!!"
His cries echoed through the nearly deserted school grounds, starting a few birds perched in the nearby trees.
Although there was hardly anyone left to hear them. Masato merely sighed with an oddly patient smile as if dealing with a stubborn child throwing tantrum.
"Now, now..." his voice remained as calm as ever while he gently, but firmly guided Renjiro toward the waiting sedan. "Stop struggling. You're only going to hurt yourself."
"I DON'T CARE, YOU BASTARD!"
Renjiro continued kicking and flailing in every direction he could manage. "LET ME GOOO!"
That final scream echoed loudly enough to reach the ears of a pair of security guards patrolling the academy grounds just as the first shadows of night began to settle over the campus. One of the guards instinctively turned toward the sound.
"...Did you hear that?"
His partner paused, listening.
"Sounded like someone yelling."
The two exchanged puzzled glances before beginning to head toward the gate, completely ignoring the noise and got back to patrolling.
Several minutes later, the luxurious black sedan cruised smoothly through the evening streets. Inside, the atmosphere couldn't have been more different.
An oppressive silence filled the cabin.
Renjiro sat rigidly in the front passenger seat with his arms tightly crossed over his chest. His cheeks were puffed into an obvious pout, while brows remained drawn together so tightly that they looked permanently furrowed. If looks could burn, the glare he was directing toward the window would've melted the glass itself.
Beside him, Masato sat with impeccable posture, quietly keeping both hands folded on his lap. Every so often, he would steel a cautious glance toward the visibly fuming first-year before awkwardly looking away again.
The chauffeur wisely kept his eyes fixed on the road. No one dared to disturb the silence.
After several failed attempts to think of something to say, Masato finally let out a small cough.
"Come now, Koizumi-kun..." his voice was gentle, almost coaxing. "I already said I'm sorry."
Renjiro didn't even look at him. "Sorry my ass." his response came immediately.
"You seriously expected me to stay calm after dragging me into this ridiculously expensive car against my will?"
He finally whipped his head around, though glaring daggers at Masato. "That's called kidnapping!" his voice rose another octave.
"I was this close to reporting your ass to the police!" he showed his phone screen.
Masato quietly listened to every complaint without interrupting. Only after Renjiro finished venting did he answer with a helpless smile.
"I didn't really have a choice."
His tone remained surprisingly composed.
"We're about to discuss something important. I couldn't exactly have that conversation in the middle of the school building. It's too personal, you see."
"We could've gone back to the dorms if it was too personal then!"
Renjiro shot back. "That would have solved everything!"
Masato simply shrugged. "Unfortunately, I don't live in the dorms."
"Huh?"
Renjiro's expression quickly shifted into disbelief. His eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"What are you talking about? You're lying."
Then a dramatic grasp escaped him. "I knew it!"
"..."
"You just want to lure me somewhere, torture me and lock me in your creepy rich-person basement forever!"
His imagination had already begun sprinting several kilometers ahead of reality. Masato stared at him for a moment, then quietly sighed.
Don't you think that's going a bit too much.
"I'm serious. I really don't stay in the dorms because I stay with a relative around here."
He spoke so matter-of-factly that it became difficult to tell whether he was telling the truth or not.
"Besides," Masato tilted his head slightly, "Why would I kidnap you? What makes you think I have any bad motives taking you with me?"
Renjiro straightened in his seat, still refusing to lower his guard.
"Obviously because you hate my guts!" said accusingly while pointing dramatically at Masato.
But the boy simply looks at him before he thoughtfully rested a finger against his chin.
"Hmm... true."
Renjiro froze. "See?!"
He shot upright such animated way that he nearly gave the driver a heart attack from surprise.
"I knew you were plotting against me!"
Tiny tears of exaggerated betrayal immediately gathered at the corners of his eyes. "I've only been at this school for a few days! What did I ever do to deserve being kidnapped by a handsome psychopath?!"
The chauffeur's shoulders trembled almost imperceptibly. He had spent years driving the young master around. But never, not even once, had he heard someone accuse Masato of being a psychopath with such absolute conviction.
Renjiro huffed looking away with wounded pride. "I've seen enough crime dramas to know exactly how this ends. Those characters were stupid..."
"But I'm not that stupid..."
Meanwhile, Masato couldn't help but chuckle despite himself. "And yet you're here," he muttered amused of seeing the boy's reaction.
"Shut up!"
Even though they've only interacted a few times, somehow, every conversation with Renjiro managed to derail itself into complete nonsense within minutes. And strangely enough... he didn't dislike it.
The atmosphere inside the sedan gradually became less chaotic after Renjiro had exhausted himself from arguing. With an exaggerated sigh, he shifted deeper into the backseat and leaned against the cushion. He straightened his posture, folded his arms once more, gave a small deliberate cough to compose himself.
"Ahem!" he glanced sideways at Masato with a look that plainly said he was still annoyed.
"Well, anyway..." he began, trying to sound as indifferent as possible. "What was so important that you had to drag me into your car just to talk?"
Masato smiled faintly. "This car isn't actually mine." he casually tapped the leather armrest beside him.
"It's my family's."
Renjiro stared at him.
"..."
That's not the point.
His expression flattened into a deadpan stare as he slowly folded his arms tighter across his chest.
Masato couldn't help but chuckle after seeing the boy's unimpressed face.
He cleared his throat lightly before shifting into a more comfortable position. Crossing one leg over the other, he rested his elbow against the armrest and finally looked straight at Renjiro.
This time, there wasn't a trace of teasing left in his smile. He carried himself with quiet confidence, the kind that belonged to someone who had already rehearsed this conversation countless times in his head.
"As I mentioned earlier," Masato began calmly, "I had a reason for bringing you with me."
Renjiro remained expressionless, waiting for the older student to finally reach the point.
Masato inhaled slowly.
"I haven't told anyone this yet...but there's someone I like."
He paused. A faint tinge of blush gradually spread across his cheeks. Just enough to tint the tips of his ears and the bridge of his nose a soft shade of pink.
Renjiro blinked twice as though trying to process things in his head.
He had honestly never imagined someone like Masato, the Prince, could blush so bashfully over a crush.
For some inexplicable reason, the sight gave him goosebumps.
"...Okay."
Renjiro answered cautiously after a long silence, as curiosity was beginning to outweigh his suspicion.
"And what exactly does that have to do with me?"
Masato smiled knowingly.
"Oh, it has everything to do with you."
Renjiro instinctively leaned away. Why do I suddenly have a bad feeling about this?
Before he could retreat any farther, Masato suddenly reached over and grasped his forearm. His expression turned unexpectedly earnest.
[?!]
"It's exactly why I need your help, Koizumi-kun."
His grip tightened ever so slightly.
"Please...! Help me get together with Kaito-kun."
"Sure...?"
Renjiro nodded automatically. Then his brain finally processed the sentence.
"Wait... what?"
His eyes widened. "Eh?!"
He jerked backward so abruptly that he nearly hit his head against the car window.
"You have feelings for who?!"
Masato didn't laugh this time. Instead, his expression became unusually serious.
His eyes locked firmly onto Renjiro's.
"Kaito Yugen," he answered without the slightest hesitation. "Who else?"
Silence filled the car.
Renjiro simply stared at him, while his mind had completely stopped working.
He...likes Yugen? Him?
The words echoed endlessly inside his head.
You like...Yugen...?
His thoughts spiraled so violently that they began repeating themselves over and over, as though his brain refused to accept what it had just heard.
Meanwhile, Masato watched him patiently, waiting for a response.
"Koizumi-kun?"
"..."
"Did you hear me?"
Renjiro remained frozen in place, staring blankly ahead like a machine that had suddenly crashed.
The self-proclaimed fudanshi had prepared himself for many possibilities during this bizarre meeting. But had he expected the most popular senior in the academy to confess that he was hopelessly in love with the student council president, his childhood friend, then maybe he wouldn't have been so shocked at hearing it.
That was so unexpectedly unexpected. Renjiro could only stare.
If someone had asked him to describe the expression on his face at that exact moment, he wouldn't have been able to. It was an indescribable mixture of disbelief, confusion, and utter shock. His lips parted slightly, yet no words came out.
Countless questions rapidly surfaced inside his head, colliding with one another until his thoughts became nothing but complete chaos.
His mind instinctively drifted back to his childhood.
Kaito Yugen had been his best friend ever since they were little. Back in elementary school, Yugen had always been the model student every teachers adored. He was polite, dependable, and exceptionally mature for his age. Constantly praised by the adults for his good behavior, while classmates admired him without exception.
The boy's would often invite him to play after class, yet more often than not, Yugen politely decline just to stay beside Renjiro instead.
This continued up until middle school. Nothing about his personality had changed over the years, aside from his height and appearance. If anything, now as the student council president, Yugen was practically the face of the academy.
His reputation, intelligence, and calm leadership naturally drew people toward him. Girls openly admired him, junior students respected him well, and even teachers entrusted him with responsibilities.
With someone like that... Perhaps it wasn't so surprising that another boy would quietly fall in love with him.
Still, hearing those words spoken aloud felt strangely surreal. Just the thought alone made Renjiro oddly conflicted.
Trying to picture Yugen through someone else's eyes—especially through the eyes of someone who loved him romantically—felt strange.
Before he realized it, his imagination began running on its own. He pictured Masato waiting outside the student council room with flowers. Yugen accepting the confession with his usual calm smile. The two of them walking home together after school.
Sharing lunch.
Studying side by side.
Holding hands...
[...]
Wait...! I think that's enough fantasizing!
Renjiro abruptly snapped himself out of his own imagination before it wandered into territory his mind definitely didn't need to explore.
Calm down, me.
He lowered his head and covered his entire face with both hands, letting out a long, exhausted groan.
"I get it..."
His muffled voice escaped between his fingers. "I think I understand what you're trying to get here."
Masato's eyes immediately lit up.
"Oh?"
He leaned forward excitedly, looking almost like a child who had just been told he could open his birthday presents.
"So you understand!" a bright smile spread across his face.
"Then what do y—"
"But..."
Renjiro slowly lowered his hands. "...Shouldn't you be telling all of this to Yugen instead of me?"
Masato blinked.
"Huh?"
The question hung quietly inside the car. Renjiro took a slow breath.
"You're the one who has feelings for him, yet you're telling me all this. Something about this just feels wrong."
For a brief moment after hearing Masato's feelings, he had genuinely considered helping him. After all, if the person involved had been anyone else, he probably would've found the situation entertaining. But helping Masato pursue Yugen was an entirely different matter.
Doing so would inevitably expose his greatest secret as a fudanshi.
Absolutely not. BL is sacred. It isn't something you loudly announce to the world.
And being a fudanshi wasn't merely a hobby—it was practically the life of an undercover agent. One observed relationships from the shadows, silently rooted for couples, celebrated every sweet development internally without anyone ever realizing.
Watching two people find happiness together was something he had always wanted in a BL story. Because of that, he had already made up his decision.
"I'm sorry, senpai," he finally raised his head and looked directly into Masato's eyes. "I don't think I can—"
Before Renjiro could even finish the sentence, Masato suddenly leaned.
"Alright! That settles it then!" he clasped his hands together once.
His cheerful voice echoed inside the car as he casually lifted a finger toward the driver.
"Huh?"
Renjiro frowned. "What...?" He stared blankly at the older student.
"I'm really glad you listened to me. Even if it was only for a little while." Masato continued happily, completely ignoring Renjiro's increasingly confused expression.
He checked through the window.
"It's getting late, so I shouldn't keep you any longer."
"Eh? Hold on a second..."
Masato simply kept talking as though he hadn't heard a single word.
Masato simply kept talking as though he hadn't heard a single word. The sedan gently rolled to a stop.
Click.
The door automatically swung open. The sudden movement startled Renjiro enough to make him flinch.
"We'll continue this tomorrow." Masato smiled as innocently as ever.
Then, with a surprising ease, he placed a gentle hand against Renjiro's shoulder and guided or more accurately, nudged him out of the car.
"Off you go."
Before Renjiro could protest, both feet were already standing on the pavement. Masato leaned slightly out of the open doorway.
"See you tomorrow, Koizumi-kun."
The door quietly slid shut, and the sedan pulled away into the evening traffic.
A second later, Renjiro remained staying exactly where he had been left. Only after the taillights disappeared into the distance did he slowly look around.
"..."
The academy dormitory stood directly in front of him.
His shoulders slumped, the realization struck him with a painful clarity that the car only drove around the campus. Bag hanging loosely from one shoulder, above him the last traces of sunset had faded into a deep indigo sky. The first stars beginning to emerge one by one.
Yet none of it registered. No matter how many times he repeated the unbelievable scenario that just happened, it still refused to feel real.