Hiding from the world was not easy, especially when a person would rather do anything than hide. Akutagawa Jiroh was in love, and that was that. Nothing else in the world mattered more to him.

He was more than willing to lay down his life for the one he loved, however it felt like he was lying to himself every day he walked into school, or talked to his parents. He wanted the world to know that he loved Hiyoshi Wakashi, but he knew it was not a wise choice to advertise.

High school students are not always the most accepting bunch of people, and Hyotei Gakuen was certainly no exception. If anyone found out about him, Jiroh would fall dramatically on the social ladder. He didn't really care about that, but he didn't want to have to deal with the never ending taunts and angry slurs that would be thrown his way. And if anyone at school found out, it would eventually reach his family, and he didn't want to see the pained expression on his mother's face if she found out that way, and not through him. Not to mention the fact that Hiyoshi's wrath would be fierce, but that was something he could handle fairly easily.

How exactly was one supposed to tell their mother that they were in love with another guy though? It was a very delicate subject, and Jiroh didn't really want to tell yet. Having two lives didn't seem like a very good option either though. He wondered if Hiyoshi was asking himself the very same questions, but somehow doubted that.

~*~

"What do you see when you look at me?" Hiyoshi gave his lover an odd half scowl before looking away.

"I see you." Jiroh smiled and threw his arms around the other, who quickly brushed him off.

"Come on, Hiyoshi-kun! I'm sure you could be more creative than that! Just humor me." Hiyoshi sat down on the bench of the empty tennis team club room, and began tying his shoelaces, completely ignoring the other's presence.

"I'm leaving. I'll see you tomorrow." Jiroh said softly as he moved to exit the room, throwing his tennis bag over his shoulder.

"Hn." Hiyoshi continued tying his shoelaces, fixing his gaze on the floor.

~*~

"I wish we had our own world sometimes. Things would be so much easier that way…" Jiroh stretched his arms and grabbed one of his hastily prepared rice balls from his lunch box. Jiroh wondered sometimes why Hiyoshi started eating lunch with him two years earlier in his first year of high school. They would always sit in a quiet corner of the school grounds; Jiroh would talk about his morning, and Hiyoshi would listen.

When he kissed Hiyoshi for the first time a year ago while they were eating lunch together, he didn't think it would ever amount to anything, but here they were, still eating lunch together. Jiroh would sneak a kiss every so often, and Hiyoshi would yell at him for being so foolish as to risk their being found out.

"I told my mother, Hiyoshi-kun." Hiyoshi's eyes widened slightly, and he stopped in mid bite to speak.

"What did she say?" Jiroh gave a grave look

"She was upset, but she wants to meet you."

"…Okay." Jiroh gave a brilliant grin and squashed an uncomfortable Hiyoshi in a tight embrace.

"Okay, okay. Let go of me already." Jiroh released the other and continued eating his rice ball while recounting all of the events of that morning.

The End

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