[Chapter 18/ ?] Where I Belong

     "This is outrageous," Yabu exclaimed when he read the newspaper. "This shows to what extend people will go through to make money." He passed the newspaper around the discussion table.

 

     "That's just sick," Takaki commented after reading the article. "Who in their right mind would sell young male teenagers?!"

 

     "Pretty teenage males worth a lot in the black market," said Yamada, who had kept silence all the while. His face was white.

 

     "Ryo-chan..." Takaki whispered.

 

     All head turned towards the younger man when stood up so suddenly and left after saying, "I-I have to go." 

 

     "Okay, that was weird," Daiki stated, looking at the door. 

 

     "Yeah," the other student council members agreed. 

 

     Takaki stared at the newspaper in front of him. 'There's something Ryo-chan is hiding,' he thought. 

 

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     Yamada was once again sitting on the bench near the man-made lake that he grew fond off. He sat there looking at the calm water, memories flooding back in his mind.

 

     Thirteen year old Yamada sat on his bed in the apartment complex, his legs hugged to his chest. There was tear stains on his cheeks. He still remembered what happened a year ago. The scene of his mother's death was still clear in his mind. The day his father sold him to the beast Odagiri was still clear in his mind. Fresh tears began rolling down his cruised cheeks once again. The sound of the bodyguard outside his door was a reminder of his imprisonment. He remembered what Odagiri had told him a few days after his arrival.

     "There you are~," a voice said, snapping Yamada out of his thought.

 

     "Yuya," Yamada called out softly. Although he only heard Takaki's voice, but he knew who it was.

 

     The said person sat beside Yamada. "Is there something bothering you?"

 

     Yamada was taken aback. "W-Why did say that?"

 

     Takaki shrugged. "You were acting weird in the student council room."

 

     "I..." I can't tell him. "It's nothing," Yamada replied.

 

     Takaki just stared at Yamada for a moment before saying, "Okay." Although he said that, he still thought Yamada was hiding something. Yamada scooted closer to Takaki and laid his head on Takaki's shoulder.

 

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     "You looked worked up," Yuto commented. Because there wasn't much people in the student's lounge a.k.a cafe that evening, Kano-san had given Yuto a little break. Yuto had taken a seat in front of Daiki.

 

     "It's just...there's this article I read in the newspaper just now," he exclaimed. Daiki then began telling Yuto about the article. Yuto's face changed once Daiki finished telling him about it.

 

     "Does it say who did it?"

 

     Daiki shook his head. "Apparently not." Then, he looked at his lover with a smile. "Anyways, the council is planning to do a charity concert soon."

 

     "That's good," Yuto replied, although his mind wasn't really there. Daiki continued rambling about the concert while Yuto was lost in his own thought.

 

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     "Why am I here?" Ryutaro asked no one in particular.

 

     "You volunteered to watch my dance practice for the audition," Chinen answered cheekily.

     Ryutaro glared at the older teen. "If I remembered correctly, you were the one who dragged me."

     Chinen sat crossed-leg on the floor next to Ryutaro. "Awe, come on. If you just keep on practicing that clarinet of yours day in and day out, you'll be missing out on the social fun."

     Ryutaro looked at Chinen, then around the room, then back at Chinen with a look that says 'What's-so-fun-about-this?' 

     Chinen rested his head against the wall and sighed. "You know, Yuto and Dai-chan being lovers is not the end of the world." Suddenly, the atmosphere in the room changed dramatically. 

 

     "W-What?" Ryutaro stuttered. 'This childish teen can't be that observant, can he?'

     "I can see the way you're looking at Yuto-kun," Chinen exclaimed. "It's the same way Inoo-chan looked at Hika-chan."

     "I-I've given up on Yuto," he mumbled, feeling a lump forming in his throat. 

     "I know you haven't," Chinen stated. He cupped Ryutaro's cheeks and turned the younger teen facing him. "But I will help you with that." He slowly leaned and planted a kiss on Ryutaro's lips. Realizing what he did, Chinen pulled away. "I-I'm sorry." He stood up. "I'm really sorry." He ran out of the rehearsal room.

     Ryutaro just sat there, stunned. He touched his lips softly, the heat from Chinen's lips still lingering about. Chinen's taste was sweet...like candy. His lips was soft, like cotton candy. Then, he realized, he was blushing. Ryutaro shook his head. "Why am I thinking so much about that single kiss?"

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     After a while, Chinen decided on one thing; talk to someone. But who? As he was walking, a list of people was formed in his mind. 'Maybe Yuuyan?' he thought, then decided against it. Yuuyan may treat me very well, but when it comes to relationship advice, he's one of the people who gives useless ones. 'How 'bout Inoo-chan?' Chinen decided against him too. He may be very wise, and could give me relationship advice, but I'm not that mean to remind him of something that he can't have. After a few more names, he finally decided on someone. "Yabu-kun!" he cried out loudly, causing a few heads around him to turn towards him. After apologizing to everyone, he immediately ran to the student council's room. 

     Unfortunately, he found it locked. Chinen sighed loudly. "Of all the days..."

     "Chinen-kun, are you looking for someone?" a voice asked, causing Chinen's sentence to hang in the air, unfinished.

     "Yabu-kun!!!" he cried, turning towards his senior, in this case, seniors.
 

     "Do you need something?" Shoon asked. 

     Chinen clasped his hands happily, his eyes stuck on Yabu and Shoon. "The perfect, happy couple." 

     Yabu and Shoon looked at one another with a raised eyebrow. One thing crossed their mind, 'What mischief is Chinen up to now?' Suddenly, Chinen was on his knees in front of Yabu and Shoon. "Please Yabu-senpai and Shoon-senpai. I need your advice."

     "E-Eh?" Yabu voiced out.

     "I think...I-I'm in love," Chinen exclaimed. Yabu and Shoon looked at one another with pursed lips. In their thought, 'Is this really Chinen?'