Fingers were interlaced awkwardly, and both of them turned to the opposite side. No matter how long they’ve been together, everything seems so awkward. “Let’s go now, Yuto.”

“Uhnn.” The younger boy just looked down onto the pavement and allowed Keito to pull him along. Everything they did together was awkward, even though they’ve been together for a year.

Why?

***

Looking out of the window, Riko continued to draw the scenery. Her spot at the last row of the classroom was perfect. She was seated at the corner, where teachers would normally overlook. “So pretty,” whispering to herself, she didn’t see someone approaching her.

Her sketch book was roughly pulled out from her grip and looking up, she saw the class bully looking at her work. “Look what Takasugi here has drawn! Trees and sky.” The tone he used was mocking, and soon, the class started to gather around Riko’s seat.

“It’s nice in a way!”

“No way! This is so crappy!”

Laughter echoed in the classroom, mocking at Riko’s drawing. “Stop it.” Riko’s plead only came out as a small whisper, and tears started to roll down her cheek.

‘Someone, save me.’ Her body frame just continued to shake as more people crowded around her.

***

“Aiko, you’re so pretty!” Looking at her friends, Aiko just mentally sighed. Superficial, was what gone through her mind. Praises were nice; all these flattering were now on a daily basis of her life. 

As she slowly walked down the corridor, her schoolmates were all looking at her. Their attention was always on her. ‘Just because I’m the school director’s daughter, must I be treated so specially?’ All Sugihara Aiko wanted was someone that really knows how she was like.

She wanted a real friend.

Noises from a class caught her attention, and looking in, she saw the class crowding at a corner, shouting and screaming.

In the middle was a girl shivering while her hands were pressed tightly on her ears.

***

“Stop it!” Heads turned, and saw that a guy at the door was the one that shouted. “What do you want Morimoto?” The bully faced Ryutaro, and grabbed the hem of his shirt. The crowd started to spread, revealing a shaking Riko peering out a little to see. 

Her hair was devilish, and her face was tear-stained. A girl smirked a little before she grab a bunch full of Riko’s hair and pull her out of her chair and onto the floor. She made no sound, and the class continued to laugh. “That’s enough. Don’t you think you’ve gone too far for just entertainment?”

Aiko’s voice boomed into the classroom. The people started to scurry away back to their seats. Ryutaro pushed the bully aside, and helped Riko up to her feet.

“Are you alright Takasugi?” His tone was totally different from what he used just now. Ryutaro’s voice was gentle, and from where Aiko was standing, she could see concern in the boy’s eyes. A small nod was received as an answer, and Ryutaro began to help Riko out of the class.

After they were gone, Aiko turned towards the rest of the students. “Let me catch this again, you’ll all get reported and expelled. The whole class will be on community service for the whole week.”

Mummers could be heard. “Any problem?” Her sweet smile was pasted on her lips, and the tone had sent shiver down their spine.

“Good.” That was the only thing she said before walking out of the class. Of course no one would say a thing since Sugihara Aiko was the student council president too.

***

The door was thrown opened, and Ryosuke jumped a little. He broke into fits of laughter when he saw Aiko collapsing onto her president seat, or that’s what Ryosuke likes to call it. “What’s wrong Ai?” 

“I like to call it an illegal gathering happening in class 1-D.” 

 

“That’s my class Ai.”

“Apparently people are gathering around a girl that sits at a corner of the class. And well, a guy called Morimoto kind of saved her. Just so you know that whole class is under community service for this whole week.”

“Takasugi again? That’s bad.” Ryosuke went towards Aiko and ruffled the younger girl’s hair a little. “Why are they bullying her?”

“I-”

His words were cut off by the sound of the council room’s door opening to reveal Okamoto Keito and Nakajima Yuto.

***

Awkward.

They had let go of each other’s hands when the school was in sight. No one should know that the treasurer and Vice president of the student council, Okamoto Keito and Nakajima respectively, were dating each other. Though the President, Sugihara Aiko, and secretary, Yamada Ryosuke, were openly dating, and they were considered the model couple of the school.

It had bothered Yuto a lot that his heart would always sink when he sees his best friend with Aiko.

Why?

"Good morning Yama-chan!" Yuto greeted, and upon seeing Yuto, Ryosuke's face lit up and went up to hug the taller boy. "Yuto-kun! Good morning."

Aiko just giggled at the display of friendship and Keito just smiled. "Yuto-kun, Takasugi-san got bullied again."

That had caught Yuto's attention and he dashed out of the council room.

"Why is Nakajima so worried, Ryo?"

"Ahh, you didn't know about it Ai? Takasugi is Yuto's adopted sister."

***

"Thank you Morimoto-san. But you shouldn't help me." They were now behind the school building, seated down on the grass. Ryutaro's finger slowly combed Riko's hair with his hand, trying to straighten it out. "Dont worry Ri-chan, everything’s fine now."

"You haven't called me that for a long time ... Ryu." Her gaze was cast onto the ground, tears still flowing. The taller boy pulled her into his embrace, slowly rubbing her back. "Ri-chan, you're an idiot. Why didn't you tell anyone about your sickness?"

"I can't. You know about my condition."

"Riko! Oh gosh, are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?" Yuto came running towards Ryutaro and Riko. The girl just shook her head, allowing her brother to embrace her. A bitter smile just surfaced on Yuto's lips. "You're still not going to talk to me, even after five years?"

Riko just looked down. She didn't want to be like this. It wasn't on purpose. As much as Yuto loves her as his sister, Riko loves Yuto as her brother too.

"Come on; let's go to the council room to get your hair fixed. Yama-chan is worried for you too you know? Morimoto can come too."

The younger boy just nodded, and helped Riko back up in her feet before they went towards the Council room.

***

Aiko looked at Ryosuke and smiled. Her boyfriend was the first one that saw her true side. He was the one that accepted her as who she is and not because of her statues. However, every time Aiko just can’t help but notice.

Ryosuke’s gaze towards her was the same as what he gives his friend. To just normal friends. But, there’s this one person that makes his eyes glow, his smile so sparkly bright.

Only Nakajima Yuto managed to bring all these expression out from Ryosuke.

So every time Ryosuke whispered that he loves her, Aiko would just avoid it, and shrug it off. No, she doesn’t blame him. She love Ryosuke as a brother probably, and if he was happy, she’ll be happy too.

***

“Oh gosh. Let’s straighten your hair now.” Aiko started to rant once Riko entered the room. But what she didn’t expect was when she touched the girl, Riko just screamed. “Move away Sugihara-kaichou!” Ryutaro had immediately pushed her aside, and hugged Riko tightly, moving his hand up and down the girl’s back.

Aiko didn’t expect that, and was currently in the state of shock. She couldn’t help but feel a tear rolling down her cheek. “Ai, are you alright? Aiko.” Ryosuke embraced her from behind, and Aiko just nodded. At the side of the room, Keito saw how his boyfriend’s expression cringes a little before going back to his sister.

“Nakajima, don’t touch her too.” Ryutaro warned, sending a death glare towards the older boy. The taller boy was shocked, yet didn’t questioned anything and stepped aside. Without saying anything, Keito just passed a comb to the younger boy, and that surprised Ryutaro a little. 

“You can help her comb her hair, since she’s probably only comfortable with you.” A small smile was on Keito’s lips, and for the first time, Riko looked up. Her eyes were locked with Keito’s, before looking at Ryutaro. Soon, she was whispering into Ryutaro’s ear. Something that made Ryutaro smiled.

“Okamoto-kun, Riko gives you her appreciation.” And a rare thing happened. Riko just smiled at the older boy, before Ryutaro started to comb her hair. “Don’t worry, I’ll explain Riko’s situation to everyone later. Nakajima don’t understand it too right?”

Suddenly the room seems to be so awkward. That was until something happened. “R-ryu. L-let me. Ex-xplain.” 

The voice was soft and shy, and everyone just looked at Riko who had her gaze fixated on the ground. “I can speak as long as I’m not looking at anyone. Don’t worry Ryu.” Ryutaro just nodded and continued to comb the girl’s hair.

***

As Keito looked at Yuto fretting over his adopted sister, he couldn’t help but feel worried for the girl too. Soon, he found his eyes landing on the younger boy. Morimoto Ryutaro. He couldn’t place his feeling, but he felt this boy’s action deeply touching his heart.

How he slowly combed Riko’s hair, or the way he looks at Riko. Just something about Ryutaro had captivated him.

***

“I-” “Riko’s condition is considered anti-social. She can’t get used to unfamiliar people and is unable to cope with crowds.”

Everyone just looked at Ryutaro being all protective towards the girl. Aiko just smiled, “Sorry Takasugi-san if I scared you.” “Don’t worry Sugihara-san. I’ll try to get used to all of your faces. I’m sorry.”

“Yuto-nii, I’m sorry if I came off like I hate you. But I love you as my brother.” That sentence made Yuto smiled at his fullest and hugged Riko. “That alone makes me really happy Riko.”

“Thank you Onii-chan.”

Somewhere within his heart, Ryosuke felt it swirl and melted. Why does he feel that way?

***

Ryutaro and Keito offered to buy something back for the others, while Yuto handles Riko. “Morimoto-san, are you and Takasugi-san dating?” That had stopped the younger boy in his track abruptly. His gaze was cast on the ground, before he takes a deep breath and look up at the corridor’s ceiling.

“I guess so. We were so in love back then. When she wasn’t like this.”

Keito noticed a tear rolling down Ryutaro’s cheek, and he couldn’t help but reach out and wipe it away. His action had surprised Ryutaro, and a blush was evident on the shorter boy’s face. “Something happened to Takasugi right?”

“Yes, something happened to her family. That caused her this illness and being adopted into the Nakajima household.” After that, Ryutaro quickly walked to the vending machine, trying to avoid any other questions.

‘So Takasugi is his girlfriend.’ Somehow, Keito just felt that he wanted to reach out to Riko. Yes, she was his boyfriend’s sister, yet the weirdest thing was, what made him want to reach out to her wasn’t Yuto. 

It was Ryutaro.