As soon as Gakushū got back home, he fell face first on his bed and screamed in his pillow. "Me?! Karma's boyfriend --I mean I wish but-NO! What am I thinking?! I have a girlfriend already!"

The strawberry blonde thinks, rolling around his bed, face still pressed against his pillow.

"This is Asano Gakushū-kun, Karma's boyfriend" does this mean his mother accepts them?

Wait--There isn't even a them yet!

Yet?!

There will never be a them!

"Stop thinking about him" he growled. "Think, something else" but his mind couldn't seem to focus on anything else other than red, Karma, red hair, Karma--Okay fine he can't think of anything or anyone else other than Akabane Karma!

His handsome face, his beautiful sunset golden eyes, his silky red hair, and his mischievous smiles. Just thinking about his smile is making his heart do flips in his chest.

Then his thoughts strayed to the Akabane family reunion.

He knew Karma has an estranged relationship with his family. But this is the first time he witnessed up close just how bad the Akabanes' relationship were. And Karma's father's mistress lives with them?! He felt disgusted.

And the way they just talked about Karma, bad mouthing him without caring that he can hear them.

Why? They are a family aren't they? Family shouldn't bad mouth each other like that.

He rolled to his side and reached for his phone. Pressing the album and swiping at the pictures they've taken the past two months.

Most of the pictures were photobombed by Karma.

He found himself smiling as he looked at each picture.

There was a group photo that contained him and Karma putting two fingers over each other's heads, each of the Noboyuki twins on either side of them, and Etsuko behind Takuma.

Then Gakushū stood up, and went to his drawer. He pulled the second drawer and dug under his clothes, and pulled out a photo of him and Karma from their time at the arcade, when the twins demanded to hang out with them.

Did Karma keep his photos of them?

Gakushū hoped he did.

He heard his phone vibrating from his bed.

Sakoto: Hey, want to go on a date? :)
4:09pm

Oh, right. He forgot he has responsibilities with his girlfriend.

_________________________

5:00pm

Takuma coughed and tossed the cigar to the side. "How can people smoke? Don't they know it's bad for their lungs?" He rubbed his lungs, and coughed again.

Though he wasn't one to talk. Since just five seconds ago he was trying to smoke.

Shoving his hands in his pocket, he walked around the park, headsets blasting music in his ear.

The punch his father gave him still hurt like a bitch, and his right leg had bruises all over. But it was nothing he wasn't used to.

Besides, just four more years and he and Takuya can finally move out and get as far away as they can from that monster.

In the distance, he could see a familiar boy with red hair.

"Karma?" He squinted his eyes. It was in fact, Akabane Karma.

Feeling playful, he decided to take a running start and jump on the red head's back.

Karma might drop him, but he didn't care.

"KARMA!" he shouted, running towards the red haired teen. Lucky for him Karma's quick reflexes kicked in and he managed to turn around and catch the green haired boy in his arms.

"What the fuck?" Karma glared at the greenette in his arms.

Takuma laughed, and jumped out of his arms. "Hey" he greeted.

"Don't do that" Karma said, sitting down on the bench. Takuma sat down beside him.

For a while, the two just sat there in silence.

"How are you and Gakushū?" Takuma broke the silence. "Have you two....gotten closer?"

"Why are you so nosy?"