Music of Life - Prelude
“I-I like you, Daiki,” the younger boy stammered as his face flushed a full, dark red.
“Wh-what did you say?” Daiki asked, not wanting to believe what his ears had just heard.
“I l-like you, will you please be my b-boyfriend?” Ryosuke’s eyes glimmered, brimming with hopes of Daiki’s acceptance.
“I… I…” Daiki couldn’t find the heart to reject his kindhearted friend, but in truth, he really did not harbor any sort of feelings towards Ryosuke; he had always been just that, a friend.
The shy smile on Ryosuke’s face began to waver as he waited and waited for an answer. Daiki bit his lip. I can’t just reject him, I would never want to hurt Ryosuke… But then… I guess I may grow feelings for him if I give him a chance…
“O-Okay, I’ll be your boyfriend,” Daiki forced a smile onto his lips.
“Really?!” Ryosuke’s face brightened with a grin. “Yes! Thank you, Daiki!” The younger boy’s heart was racing with excitement, as pure happiness overwhelmed his body. Without letting the smile fall from his face, Ryosuke wrapped his arms around his friend and hugged his warmth close to his chest. “Thank you,” he breathed, closing his eyes as he rested his head on Daiki’s shoulder, fully immersing himself in his one-sided bliss.
~~~~~
Walking down the street, Ryosuke took Daiki’s hand in his, and intertwined their fingers. All the while, his cheeks glowing warm as he shyly realized his dream, holding hands with the boy he had been crushing on for what seemed like his entire life. Now, having entered his second year of junior high, at the present age of thirteen years, with Daiki just one grade above him, Ryosuke felt like he was already the happiest boy in the world. Nothing could ever possibly bring down his mood.
“So… Daiki, how was your day today?”
Daiki smiled softly at his friend’s innocent question. He seems to be so much more happy and carefree, ever since we began our relationship… “My day was good,” he answered, giving Ryosuke’s soft hand a little squeeze as he spoke.
Ryosuke giggled at the touch and squeezed back. “My day was even better than yours! Do you know why?”
“Why?”
“Because I got to spend it with you~” Ryosuke smiled, cheeks tinted pink.
“Aww…” Daiki laughed lightly. “Thanks,” he answered.
Ryosuke merely nodded.
“Oh, let’s sit down for a second. I’ll go buy you a snack; I’ll be right back!” Daiki grinned as he walked off to the nearby convenience store, leaving Ryosuke alone sitting at a bench.
Swinging his legs absentmindedly from his seat, Ryosuke began humming a soft, sweet melody, one he had heard Daiki playing on his French Horn the day before in a practice room at school. I wish I could play something that beautiful on my clarinet… he smiled sadly. I want Daiki to be proud of me being his boyfriend, so I have to make sure I can make him happy…
“Ryosuke!” Daiki called as he ran over to the bench with two ice cream cones in his hands. “Here, I got you strawberry, since it’s your favorite,” Daiki smiled, handing him the pink frosty treat.
“Thank you!” Ryosuke grinned happily, licking the icy dessert hungrily.
Daiki laughed. “Be careful you don’t get a brain freeze!”
Ryosuke smiled sheepishly as warmth began creeping onto his cheeks once more. Daiki’s so caring and considerate towards me… I’m so lucky to be able to call him my boyfriend…
After the two finished their ice cream, Daiki looked at his watch, and his eyes widened. “It’s getting late, I better get you home before your parents start worrying about where you’ve gone.” He got up off the bench and offered Ryosuke a hand in doing so as well. Without meaning to, Daiki allowed himself to then be pulled into another handhold with Ryosuke, as the younger boy’s fingers wrapped around his palm, showing no intention of letting go.
Daiki bit his lip as he turned away to watch as the cars zoom by in the busy street beside them. I… I can’t still be closing my heart from him, can I? Ryosuke’s so sweet and adorable, I must have some feelings for him, right? An empty hollowness within him suggested otherwise.
As the pair soon approached Ryosuke’s front steps, the younger boy stopped and turned to Daiki. “I had a good time today… with you… Daiki,” he smiled that same shy little smile he had when he first confessed to his crush.
“M-Me too,” Daiki replied hurriedly, not sure if he was comfortable with where their conversation seemed to be headed.
“I… I just wanted you to know… Daiki, I love you!” With that, Ryosuke planted a light kiss on Daiki’s cheek, before he turned and quickly ran inside his house.
Daiki was left dumbstruck on the sidewalk outside, his right hand shaking as his fingers brushed against the cheek where Ryosuke’s lips had been not mere seconds before. “L-Love?” he whispered in disbelief.
~~~~~
15:04
Hey Ryosuke, how’s your weekend going? ^^
15:05
Daiki! :) It’s going fine… but it just got better because I get to text you now! X3
15:10
Hahaha that’s great… umm so Ryosuke, I kinda wanted to ask you about what you said yesterday… XD
15:12
What did I say yesterday? Haha sorry, Daiki, but I’m not sure what you’re talking about… ^^;;
15:16
Ummm well you know how right before you left, you said something…?
15:19
Ohhh that? XD
15:24
Haha yeahh… So umm, I was wondering if you really… meant it?
15:27
Of course I did… Daiki, you mean the world to me. I mean it. The whole day, I had been thinking about how lucky I was to be with you, and how happy you were able to make me… and that’s when I realized how I felt towards you… that strange, indescribable feeling I got whenever you were by my side… it was… love.
15:37
Aww hahaa that’s so sweet… XD
15:38
It’s true! ><
15:43
It’s alright, I believe you :)
15:45
<3
Daiki groaned. How am I supposed to reply to that?! I can’t just lie to his face…
~~~~~
“Daiki, you should really do something about this. If you keep dragging this on, Ryosuke’s just going to get even more hurt when he finds out you’ve only been pretending to like him all this time…” Kei Inoo frowned at his friend who had come to him, begging for advice.
“Yeah, I don’t think all this falsehood and deceit is really helping anyone. And I don’t think I’ll be willing to watch what happens when Ryosuke does find out the truth…” Kota Yabu agreed, placing an arm around Kei’s shoulders. “I know if Kei did that to me, I would be so heartbroken…”
“Oh stop it,” Kei smiled. “You know I love you,” he gazed softly up at his boyfriend.
“Uhh guys? Not helping!” Daiki frowned. “Seriously, though, I don’t want to hurt him, but either way, it feels like with or without telling him the truth, Ryosuke’s still going to get hurt…”
“Then maybe you shouldn’t have agreed to go out with him in the first place, simply because you pitied him,” Kei muttered, rolling his eyes. “I know you were trying to be nice, Daiki, as you always are, but you have to realize that your continued actions will only lead to heart-wrenching consequences for your poor little boyfriend.”
“Hey! He’s not my-”
“Isn’t he?” Kei raised an eyebrow.
“I-I mean, I guess…” Daiki stammered, uncertain why he had just burst out uncontrollably against Ryosuke being labeled his ‘boyfriend’.
“Daiki, if you’re not even willing to admit that, I’m pretty sure that tells you that you’re never going to be able to develop feelings for Ryosuke. Please, just do yourself a favor and stop worrying about other people’s feelings getting hurt for once, and just break up with him already!” Kota practically pushed Daiki out of his seat, in want of urging their friend to go do the right thing.
“But… I can’t hurt him! I’ll feel so guilty! You guys should’ve seen the way he started smiling and laughing so happily ever since we started going out together! I can’t be that mean to him… No matter what, Ryosuke’s still my friend!”
“Then tell him,” Kei stated flatly. “Tell him that that is what he is to you - A friend.”
~~~~~
After what seemed like the longest school year he had ever had to live through, Ryosuke survived until the very last day, when he summoned up the courage to give his ex-boyfriend a final gift.
Upon receiving the present, Daiki sighed. “I’m still really sorry, Ryosuke… for hurting you…”
The younger boy plastered a very large, very fake grin onto his face as he replied, “It’s okay, Daiki. As long as you’re happy, I’m happy. I just wanted you to have this… before you leave for high school next year. I won’t see you for a whole year, but I hope you’ll still remember me from time to time… and if you ever need reminding, just read this, okay?” Ryosuke practically choked on his hidden tears as he spoke.
Daiki nodded, accepting the card from the younger boy with a sincerely remorseful smile. “I won’t forget you, I promise. But promise me you’ll find some other love to fill your heart soon, alright? I can’t bear to see you suffering from loneliness any longer…” Without another word, Daiki pressed his lips gently onto Ryosuke’s forehead, signifying the very end of their relationship.
~~~~~
Daiki:
Thank you so much for telling me how you feel. I want you to know that I will always be there for you, no matter what. Remember to always follow your heart and remember me.
I will always be your friend.
I really do love you, Daiki.
I can’t change the fact of whether you love me or not, but I want you to keep this card as a token of our friendship. You are truly the nicest person in the world, and I am forever grateful to be your friend.
Love,
Ryosuke