I DON'T OWN UTA NO PRINCE SAMA. I just own the plot.

CHAPTER 9

Tomochika was gritty to incapacitate Tokiya at any cost.

She had to because when she tried to surpass him ethically, it was never an easy journey.

She always believed that she had passed as the most accomplished future idol in Saotome Academy. She got the look, talent, a mesmerizing voice and 'vivacious' personality.

But, because of Tokiya, because of his endowments in everything, Tomochika was treated poorly, way poorer than him. Not merely the teachers who were assigned to train them could not take their eyes off Tokiya, other students who happened to see their practices also would spread the rumour that Tomochika was an inadequate bimbo and Tokiya was too good to debut with the girl.

It was enough for Tomochika to be out for Tokiya's blood. Just like Haruka, Tokiya was the stumbling block for her to achieve her dream.

Yet, for the time being, it was quite hazardous for her to arrange any plan to sabotage Tokiya.

Why? It was because he had his own 'guardian angel' which was Ichinose Otoya. Nowadays, that guy had spookily attached to his brother. He would wait for Tokiya until the guy was done with his practice and it was a torment for Tomochika to not be fretful with Otoya's intense glare. Heck, even when Tomochika handed a glass of water to Tokiya...

The redhead would try anything to stop Tokiya from drinking it. He even pretended to accidentally spill the water onto Tokiya's trousers and when the blue head excused himself to the toilet, Otoya would threaten her to stop whatever shitty things she wished to do.

Yet, as much as Tomochika felt intimidated by the redhead, she knew that he would not go as far as telling on her because including Cecil, three of them were aware that between Tomochika and Otoya, they had their own secrets that they desperately wanted to keep, which led them to be trapped in win-win situation.

Basically, the other person would be finished as well if one ended up telling on her or him.

But still, her greediness surpassed her fright towards Otoya. Her greediness swayed her to come up with plans to ruin Tokiya.

But, first of all, she had to plan something so that Otoya would never get nearer to Tokiya. After that, when Tokiya was left unprotected, she would not have any problem to bring him down.

But, how? How would she make it worked?

As Tomochika was being spaced out, ignoring her classmates' brouhaha, her eyes were served with the sight of Tokiya, walking with Masato which later went back to class. You could see how friendly they were to each other but the more attention-grabbing part of this drama was...

Otoya. Sitting at his desk, Tomochika could see that Otoya was envious of Masato. It became more palpable when as soon as Masato took a seat, Otoya wasted no time to pester him. Tomochika could not hear their conversation well but she was positive that Otoya was asking about where Masato and Tokiya headed from.

Masato, Masato, Masato, she mentally repeated the name like a mantra. She could feel the sudden exhilaration, just from hearing the name in her head because evidently, the guy could help her in completing her plan.

Something brilliant crossed her mind out of the blue.

'Masato' would be the first step for her to take.

He might not be as useful as her minion aka Cecil, but she knew she could use Masato to her own advantage.

"Tokiya, your sushi is here!" Masato shouted from the door as Tokiya and Tomochika were resting after their practices.

"Hai, hai," Tokiya beamed as he ran towards the poker-faced Masato.

These two never failed to impress me... In an outrageous way, Tomochika mentally commented. Masato even cooked a bento for him. Just what the heck?

Previously, Tomochika used to bump into them chatting away a few times and frankly speaking, it made her stomach heaved. Masato behaved like a typical wife; blabbering on Tokiya who acted childishly at Otoya aka the dude who happened to make the 'love triangle' looked more scandalous. But, on the dark side, Masato was willing enough to be a maid or slave to Tokiya. Whenever the vocalist had a problem, Masato looked like he would lose his life to help him.

While Tokiya... Yes, he was not as impeccable as he looked. His voice sounded annoying when he whined (he should use that voice so that Tomochika would eclipse him and debut as a soloist instead). He acted like a spoiled brat who basically perceived Masato as his male mother. He pestered Masato around, hugged him when he got excited and he would only look for Masato whenever he wanted somebody's company.

But, she never thought that their friendship would be nifty for her next plan.

"Dig in, Shibuya-san! His sushi is very exceptional," Tokiya exclaimed as he pushed the lunch box towards Tomochika, encouraging the girl to grab one.

Yeah, of course, a husband will love his wife's cooking, she took the sushi before taking a small bite.

Yes, this is so delicious!

"You are right. This is so delicious," now, she did not hold back from eating more sushi. "You sure are close to Masato-kun, right?"

"Yes. Basically, I cannot live without him," Tokiya answered cheerfully, sending Tomochika to choke on her food. "Eh, Shibuya-san? Are you okay?" Tokiya quickly gave a glass of water to her.

"I... I am okay," she gulped it down before stroking her chest.

You see? They are gay!

"It's just that... You guys are that close, huh?"

"Yup. We had become close friends since ten years ago and I must say that he is the best friend I never could find anywhere. He may look over caring, fussy and easy to feel annoyed but in fact, he is just a cute little brother in my eyes."

"What? A cute little brother?"

What the... Are they playing brother shits now?

Tokiya grinned. "Yeah. Ten years ago, we were positive that Masato was younger than me so he used to call me 'oni-chan'. I don't know. Maybe because I was much taller than him before while he... He was so adorable and short back then so it was bound to happen that way. Once we knew that we are actually the same age, Masato was dumbfounded and refused to call me 'oni-chan' anymore. He found it mortifying so I started to treat him like my best friend instead."

"So, basically, just like Otoya-kun, Masato-kun is like your little brother?"

"Yeah, even I never say it out loud."

"So, if you don't have Otoya-kun around, Masato-kun will accompany you, right?"

"Yeah. You can say that."

Tomochika averted her gaze towards another direction, concealing her grin.

A winning grin. She was happy that Masato was in here, in this story. The scion would be her advantage to get rid of Tokiya.

I win, Otoya. You will be expelled from this school in no time while me... There is no way I will let myself be the one who will be blamed for.

So, a few days later, after they wrapped up their daily practice and making sure that Tokiya was still walking along the hall, Tomochika called a kid from C class who would be willing enough to be the scapegoat.

Why? Because they are from a poverty-stricken family who desperately needed money for paying their family's debt instantly and at the same time, they were the rarest students who gave up on their dreams because they thought that they were not talented enough. So all she had to do was manipulating them into believing that money and her body are more important in this situation. Tomochika was well-off enough to pay them while those three boys were willing to put their life on the line. She had to do this much because she would never risk herself to sabotage Tokiya when Otoya was practically everywhere to protect his brother. Her covetousness just got the best of her.

And she never thought that the fact that Otoya had been creepy nowadays, talking to himself when he was alone, crying and laughing at the same time would come in handy for her plan.

"Moshi – moshi. Where are you? Good. Our practice is over so please do a good job if you want the pay. I will make it double if you knock him out."

About six hours later, she knew that her fall guys did do a splendiferous job. It was already twelve at midnight but Tokiya was still not in his dorm while his friends, teachers and security guards desperately looked for him around the school.

"Tokiya! Tokiya!" Masato did not even bother to hide his fear as like others, he searched the said blue head around the school since an hours ago. For the first time in everyone's life, his face turned so pallid that he would pass out any second if he did not find Tokiya.

"Tokiya!"

"Hijirikawa, you better stop worrying too much! It doesn't make the situation any better," his roommate, Ren held his shoulder, trying to make him subsided even he could understand the scion for being beside himself. They had been looking around in almost every space in the school but to no avail. The blue head's phone was unanswered so Masato was positive that his best friend got into a hot water.

"But usually, he will call me if he doesn't return to dorm soon! He never disappeared like this, Jinguuji!" Masato's raucous voice attracted other students to eavesdrop on their conversation as they thought that it was droll that compared to Otoya who is Tokiya's brother, Masato was much more alarmed and could not pull himself together.

They are that close, huh? Maybe that was what everyone thought.

"Yeah but still, you have to settle down. Of course, we still don't know where he is but..."

"I have a bad feeling about this, Jinguuji. A very bad feeling. I the past repeats itself again... If there are bullies who are jealous of him and clobber him..." Masato leaned against the nearest door, coaxing himself that he should stop thinking the worst. Tokiya would appear any soon and laugh at him for being that anxious.

Wow, he even had an instinct about Tokiya... Like a married couple, they all thought suspiciously.

"As if! Who will be in their right mind to hit our Icchi just because they cannot outdo him? It's not like he is a skank for being so talented, right?" Ren denied Masato's exaggerated but somehow-might-be-reasonable guess as an attempt to make the scion and himself feeling better.

Yet, he knew Masato just ignored him when the pianist's eyes suddenly sized up before turning behind, pressing his ear edgily against the locked up door.

Come to think of it, this room stores broken furniture, right?

"What's wrong, Hijirikawa?" Ren could not help but join the blue head.

"I thought I heard someone calling my name... It might be Tokiya..."

"Hijirikawa, please... You are not making any sense..."

"Masato, help me..."

"There it was!" Both Ren and Masato shouted simultaneously, attracting Hyuga Ryuya, the S class homeroom teacher to head for them.

"What's wrong?" The crowd slowly formed around them with Hyuga in the middle.

"We just heard somebody's voice in there..." Ren answered.

"Tokiya? Tokiya, is that you?" Masato thumped the door impatiently, believing that his best friend was there before receiving a screeching sound from a chair, probably as an answer.

"Just wait there, Tokiya! We are going to save you, okay?" He turned to the still confused Hyuga and other students who most probably thought that he was just being in delusion after losing his friend for a few hours.

"Sensei, I am positive that Tokiya is here. I heard his voice just now," he informed, battling between a relief and apprehension. "Jinguuji, can you please call the security guard to unlock this room?"

"Okay," Ren excused himself before pulling out his phone, calling a security guard to come to the rescue.

The guard was faster to take action. The mid-forty-year-olds man was perplexed to be informed that there was a student trapped in the deserted room when the key was with him the whole time and the room had not been used since two years ago.

Or it was not?

Hyuga was convinced that somebody stole the key and locked Tokiya up.

It was planned.

As soon as the door was unlocked, they were served with the sight of a mounting pile of damaged desks and chairs and...

Tokiya, sitting on a chair with his unkempt body tied to it. His eyes were covered with a green cloth while his mouth was bloodstained.

It was enough to make everyone gasped in horror including Hyuga. The next thing they realized was Masato quickly untied Tokiya, followed by Natsuki and Syo.

"Masa..." Tokiya collapsed into Masato's arms as soon as his weak body was disentangled from those ropes.

Masato brushed his friend's fringe away, revealing a couple of bruises on his face. "It's okay. You are safe now... Please, stay awake. We will bring you to the health centre right now. Shinomiya, help me."

"Hai," given that his frame was big and well-built, that was bound to happen for Natsuki. He quickly lifted Tokiya up with the blue head's arm around his shoulder. "Don't shut your eyes, Tokiya-kun. They will cure you and you will be fine."

His vision was too blurry while his head spun even they had arrived in the health centre. Tokiya really had no idea why the culprits attacked him. They suddenly pulled him into the room and mercilessly kicked and punched him until he passed out. The next thing he realized after he came to himself was he was tied up to a chair and left alone. His body was enervated and while he tried to shout, that was only he realized that they attacked his neck as well. It felt too painful and when he heard Masato's anxious voice out there which was a marvel for him, considering he was trapped in the most deserted area in the academy, he tried his best to make sounds so that anybody out there would hear him.

Meanwhile...

Otoya, who was looking for Tokiya in the second floor with another group was informed by Syo that his brother was eventually found.

"Really? Thank God," to say that he was relieved was an understatement. In fact, he felt that he just regained his life. "So, how was he? Is he alright?"

"No, not really. It seemed like somebody just hit him until he passed out and could not make it to the dorm. He was even tied to a chair so that he couldn't escape and now, Hijirikawa and Natsuki are sending him for the treatment."

What on earth is going on? The redhead could not help but feel a throbbing anger flew through his veins.

With a shaking hand, Otoya ignored the confused Syo who called his name since he was being quiet all of sudden before ending the call. He dialed another number, desperately hoped that he could talk and tick the person off but to no avail.

He was positive that the vixen was the mastermind of this dirty trick.

Yet, Otoya was not aware that after being informed about Tokiya's condition, Cecil, hiding somewhere in the midst of the search, was yelling at the vixen which was the cause for his attempt to talk to the person failed.

"You are too much, Tomochika! You promised me that all I need to do is protecting Haruka but why did you lay about Tokiya instead!? What kind of bullshit..."

"You better watch your mouth, Aijima Cecil. It's already past twelve and I believe that you are aware enough that you are disrupting my sleep..." Her voice was raspy from weariness but of course, Cecil was too agitated to let her have a beautiful sleep after what she had done to Tokiya.

"I don't give a damn about your sleep, you whore! My friend is injured here and I am not going to let it slide! Not after what you had done to Otoya!" Cecil exploded.

"Said a scaredy-cat who can't even tell on me because he is afraid that his future as an idol will destroy," Tomochika chuckled sardonically and that was enough for Cecil to punch the wall. It was hurt but nothing hurt more than the fact Tomochika was this cold-blooded. "Plus, do you have any evidence that I was the one who assailed Tokiya? It's not nice to blindly accuse somebody like that, Cecil-chan. You should know that your friend is somebody famous here. Anyone can be his enemy."

Cecil bit his lips, struggling to not bring himself to trespass on the girl's dorm so that he could choke her to death. He should believe in his hunch back then. He should have stopped Tomochika to get friendly with his friends including Haruka before what had happened now twisted their fate around.

"I guess you don't, right? You can try to bring me down but you will never make it worked, Cecil. Because why? Even I did do that, you don't have the evidence. If Tokiya is bound to die because someone tries to kill him, I will just express my condolences to Otoya, get over it and the next thing I know is the winner of graduation audition is me and I will debut as a soloist instead."

"You goddamn bitch! You are such a..."

"Yeah, call me whatever you want but the most important thing now is I am..." The girl yawned derisively, "I am so sleepy right now so I am going to hang up. Don't worry. Whatever shits that you spat at me just now would be our secret. I won't kill your beloved Haruka because of that. Okay, Cecil-chan. Byeeee. Good night."

When she said she would not kill Haruka because of those insults from Cecil, the Agnapolis prince knew that she would do the opposite one. She just warned him to behave.

Cecil threw his phone at the wall. Expectedly, it broke but his heart broke more while his body sank down to the floor. He hugged his knees, thinking deeply about his future and his friends.

Haruka, should I just tell on that whore?

"God, I never thought that I would witness this kind of assault. I thought that it only happened in manga," Syo commented as he observed Tokiya's bruised torso up to the vocalist's face.

"They even hit your neck. Evidently, they wanted to ruin your voice," Ren supplied. His eyes still glued to Tokiya's injured neck while expressing sympathy to the blue head.

Tokiya shrugged, did not want to presume anything. Here he was, sitting on his bed with a still confused head and pasty face, which was expected since he basically lived his life like an abducted victim a few hours ago. Not only he got himself a medical certificate, he was advised to not talk much since his throat was still in pain and he needed it for his vocal training.

"There are a lot of bruises. Who in the right mind would do such thing?" Natsuki asked seriously. For a second, he sounded like Satsuki, sending others to glance at him several times nervously.

While Cecil and Masato were awfully quiet even their throats were just doing fine. But, anybody could tell that they were still overwhelmed by what had happened to Tokiya.

"We thought that you are going to die, you know?" Syo insensitively remarked, caused Masato to clench both his fists.

"I was afraid if they ended up cutting your tongue so that you will be permanently speech-impaired or stabbed you to death," Natsuki supplied with his still serious tone.

"Yeah, that also can do," Ren added before finding himself flinched with others as soon as the snapped Masato suddenly stood up from his chair.

"STOP THROWING UNNECESSARY COMMENTS WON'T YOU!? THINKING THAT HE IS GOING TO DIE SOON IS NOT GOING TO HEAL HIM!" Masato yelled like an angry nanny. He almost lost his breath because he thought that something disastrous had happened to Tokiya so when he found that Tokiya was really in disaster, he did not need any side characters reminded them about the possibility of Tokiya being dead. "SO, WHY DON'T YOU GUYS JUST SHUT THE F..."

"Masa, please don't swear. It doesn't suit you," Tokiya suddenly remarked with a very hoarse voice as he held Masato's shoulder, attempting to stop the scion from literally turning into a lion.

"I believe the doctor said that you should never speak, right?" Masato reminded his best friend sternly even deep inside, he felt upset to hear how terrible Tokiya's voice sounded.

"But I can't help it when you were about to swear."

"Tsk, say someone who would swear every time he was angry," Masato rolled his eyes. "But still, Tokiya... Don't you think they are being mean for saying something like that?"

"Okay, fineee. We will never mention anything overdramatic like that again so please don't be overdramatic yourself," Syo rolled his eyes. "Just calm the hell down, won't you?"

"You guys don't understand. If there's something happens to Tokiya, I will..." Masato stopped in the middle, reminding himself that he just made his relationship with Tokiya sounded suspicious when in fact, Tokiya is his dearest friend that he never wanted to lose.

It was a silence as the rest of STARISH members stared at Masato, expected him to complete his words.

"You will...?" Natsuki raised his eyebrow, being unaware of Tokiya who silently and slowly wrote something on a notebook before showing it to them with his complacent face.

'He basically cannot live without me.'

"YOU...!" Masato's eyes widened in horror, sending others to laugh at his comical reaction. "Now you are safe, you can even make that smug face, huh?"

Tokiya smirked like he just won a trophy.

"Then, I think you guys can go back to your room. I am sure Tokiya needs to sleep," Masato suggested, gaining himself a 'what about you? Should you go back to your room as well?' look from them.

"When Otoya comes back, I will go back to my room," he sighed impatiently.

These nosy parkers...

"Well, then. Just tell us if you need anything, Tokiya," Syo offered before leading others to leave the room.

It was a pregnant silence as Masato eyed them to make sure that they closed the door and left right away so that he could tell Tokiya that he could start...

"They already left. You can..."

Tokiya suddenly had his head sank lower before it landed on the edge of Masato's knee. He sobbed shortly after that as his hand held his bandaged shoulder.

He could tell Tokiya that he could start sobbing now.

"I know. It must be hurt, right?" Masato stroked his shoulder, attempting to calm Tokiya down. It must be tough for the vocalist to bear the pain and the urge to cry in front of others at the same time. Because of his flawless image, he was not even allowed to cry when it was so hurt because he would not look manly and perfect.

Yet, he could not resist himself from crying in front of Masato who was familiar enough with his crybaby side.

Tokiya pointed at his neck before grimacing with his watery eyes.

"Yeah, I can see that," Masato stared at the injured spots. "Now, stop crying. Take a rest."

Tokiya suddenly raised his three fingers before forming a C shape, much to the scion's shock.

"Do you mean three people attacked you and they are from C class?" Masato guessed.

Tokiya slowly nodded.

"Tokiya, I already called daddy and..." It was a coincidence when Otoya got into the room but only found that he was ignored. Instead, those blue heads were too engrossed in their own drama when Tokiya suddenly revealed the 'plot twist'.

"But just now, you said to sensei that you could not see their faces! What's with this sudden confession!?" Since he could not contain his surprise, Masato could not help but yell at his confusing friend, sending Tokiya to hush him desperately.

Otoya who quickly could read the situation slowly shut the door. Their conversation suddenly piqued his curiosity.

"What do you mean 'not so loud, Masato'? Are you trying to save the culprits from being punished? I guessed they even hit your head with the broken chair so that's why you acted dim-witted like this!"

Eh? They even can understand each other this way? Otoya mentally commented.

Tokiya flinched before looking down like a child who was scolded by his mother. It amazed Otoya how obedient his brother looked right now even he could relate to him when Masato, again, was in the process of turning himself into a lion. Tokiya looked at Masato again, generating a baffling set of gestures.

But, it seemed like it was not challenging enough for Masato to understand because his fair-skinned face quickly turned red.

"Who cares if they are from poor family and they used to learn acting from you? Are you going to sympathize with those kinds of jerks just because they looked sincere when they wanted to enhance their skills? No, I will not allow that to happen! They must be punished! Now, tell me who they are so I can punch their necks as well. Tell me!" Masato rolled up his sleeves, sending his best friend's eyes sized up in terror while raising his hands higher, attempting to calm the scion down before wincing in pain afterward.

As soon as Tokiya mouthed 'but', he met eyes with the perplexed Otoya, sending Masato to avert his gaze to the redhead.

"Oh, Otoya! You are here," that was enough for Masato to cool down. "So, what did Kazuki ojisan say?"

"Eh? Well, he wanted Tokiya to rest at home," Otoya answered, sending Tokiya to shake his head.

"What? Do you still want to be mulish even in this kind of circumstance? Should I break your leg then only you will rest at home peacefully?" This time, Masato's menacing glower was not enough to scare the vocalist. Instead, he kept giving ambiguous gestures that only Masato could understand.

Otoya could not help but feel somehow left out here.

"Then, should I beat you to coma instead?" Masato scoffed. His threat somehow turned more blood-curdling since his best friend was still being obstinate. "Look who's talking! I am sure Otoya will understand your situation. He's your brother for goodness' sake!"

"Since I am his brother, can you tell me what are you guys talking about?" Otoya interrupted as he could not stand to be the only one who could not catch the conversation.

"This idiot wanted to stay here because he promised you to help you with your singing," Masato explained while crossing his arms, still looking daggers at Tokiya.

"Ehhh, why would you, Tokiya!? I can handle that, you know? Resting at home will be safer," Otoya remarked, gaining himself a charismatic nod from Masato.

But, with a long face, Tokiya tried to write his thought again since he was not convinced that Otoya would understand him.

"No need. Your fingers are still hurting," Masato snatched the notebook away, ignoring Tokiya's upset look. "This idiot said that he will be fine and he will help you in your room instead."

"Oh..." Otoya was too speechless to respond. He did feel touched by Tokiya's kindness but...

At the same time, he totally admired their friendship. They are so attached to each other to the point of they even could tell what the other person thinks. He could not help but feeling the jealousy that he had curbed all this time or to be exact, for ten years, emerging itself.

That was when he noticed that...

"Thank you but why are your eyes red and watery? Did you cry?" He pointed at Tokiya's blue eyes.

"No," the blue heads answered in unison, not being aware that it just made Otoya felt more left out.

You even cried in front of Masato, Tokiya. Only in front of him.

"You... You want something to eat? I will make it for you," Masato asked Tokiya awkwardly as an attempt to avoid the question about Tokiya's red eyes.

His question was enough to make Tokiya's dull eyes brightened up.

"No need to be dramatic, Tokiya. Your daddy will interrogate me if you die because of starvation. Not because I care about you," Masato remarked, forgetting the fact about who was all frantic when searching for the blue head a few hours ago.

Tokiya just moved his fingers while smiling brightly at the thought of the food in his head.

"Okay, then. I will make it real fast. Just don't move and be a nice boy."

Tokiya replied 'okay' with his fingers.

Otoya clenched his fist.

No wonder Tokiya prefers Masa to me. He always understands what Tokiya needs without him telling it out loud. Why can't I be more alert about that?

"Then, I will help Masato," he offered.

"Yeah. It will be a great help, Otoya," Masato acknowledged.

As soon as they arrived in the kitchen, Otoya just stood there, staring miserably at Masato as the scion was busy gathering up all ingredients needed for Tokiya's food.

"Otoya, can you pass me the saucepan on your left?"

"Yeah, sure," he replied as he grabbed a saucepan in the cupboard before bringing it to Masato. "Here."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome," he stared curiously at those ingredients which consisted of kombu, bonito flakes, tofu et cetera. "Ne, Masa..."

"Yes?"

"Just what Tokiya asked you to do?" His innocent question sent the scion to chuckle.

"Oh, that... He gave such an ambiguous request, right? No wonder you look clueless," Masato began to place kombu and water into the saucepan. "He wanted to eat the special Kyoto soup that my butler taught me."

"It may sound ambiguous but you understood him perfectly, Masa," Otoya exclaimed in awe.

"It can't be helped. If you always end up being the one who nurses him when he is sick, you will somehow get used to it."

"How am I supposed to get used to it when he always asks your help instead of mine?" Otoya murmured.

"What did you say?"

"Nah, nothing," he quickly denied as he realized that he had been small-minded. "By the way, did Tokiya cry just now?"

"Why are you curious about that?" Masato chuckled. He still found it amusing for Tokiya, the brave guy who was not terrified of ghost to be wimpy about bruises over his body.

"It's just that you guys suddenly said 'no' when it's obvious he has puffy eyes..."

"Yes, he cried," Masato admitted nonchalantly as he continued stirring the bonito flakes. "But you know how Tokiya is not allowed to cry because he has to put up with the stupidly flawless image, right? So that's why he kept insisting that he did not feel hurt when it hurt him as hell."

"But he cried in front of you."

"Well, I think that's because he is just way too comfortable around me so that's why he acted shamelessly..."

"You call him shameless but you are actually happy that Tokiya tends to rely on you, right?"

"Yeah, of course..." Masato reluctantly agreed as he remembered that he had created his own melodramatic scene just now. "Because yeah... I may not look like it but I see Tokiya as my brother rather than my friend. Of course, it feels good since I don't have a brother to begin with. I enjoy it when he counts on me in everything. I owed him in many things, though."

"So, it seems like both of us really love Tokiya, right?"

"Hmm... I don't think we can use 'love' here with that dude..." Masato still found it weird to acknowledge the feeling.

"But, our life will be basically over if he's gone, right?"

"Yeah, you can say that," this time, Masato could not agree more with Otoya. He could not imagine his life without Tokiya around. It would be harrowing.

"But, between two of us, Tokiya has spent more time with you, right?" This time, Masato was convinced that Otoya sounded frustrated.

"Hmm? Do you mean... Since the accident?" Masato carefully blurted out his words. "Despite that, I believe, Tokiya will rather spend his time with you since you are his brother. You guys have grown up under the same roof and with the same parents. I might be his close friend but since you guys live together, you guys will enjoy each other's time more."

Much to Masato's bewilderment, his words just made Otoya formed a very bitter smile.

"That's how it's supposed to be but unfortunately for ten years, it never happened... Instead, his life revolved around you, Masa."

"Otoya, what are you implying ..." Masato's eyes sized up as soon as he looked at Otoya.

The redhead was crying.

"Otoya, what gives? Why are you suddenly crying like this?" Masato turned off the stove before stroking Otoya's shoulder, indirectly saying to the redhead that he was there for him and he could always rely on him.

"I can't stand with this..." The tears dropped but it quickly welled up in his eyes. "All I want is to get chummy again with my brother. I followed your advice, Masa. I helped him. I never thought that it became so twisted like this. I never thought that it became completely wrong..."

"Otoya, what happened before was completely forgotten. Tokiya already forgave you and he started treating you well again, right? You should be happy with that but..." Masato stared at the redhead out of perplexity. "What do you mean by 'twisted' and 'completely wrong'? Is there something that still bothering your mind? Or to be exact, is there something really happened before we found you at the building?"

"I am sorry but I can't tell you that," Otoya refused as he shook his head in horror. "Since Tokiya started to treat me well, I become more horrified if he knows the truth. If he knows, it will overwhelm him. I don't want him to suffer again. Not after he lost mummy because of me..."

"What are you talking about, Otoya?" Masato was this close to losing his patience. "If you can't let him know, can you at least tell me so that I can help you..."

"No, nobody can help me. It's too late," Masato never saw Otoya becoming this despondent before. "Nothing can be changed.... No matter how hard we try... But Masa, there is another thing that I want to you to help me."

"What? What is it? Just tell me, Otoya... I will..." Masato's eyes lightened up as he still stood a chance to lend his hand to Otoya.

"Starting from tomorrow, I want you to stay away from Tokiya. I want to spend the rest of my time with him. I don't want you between us. Please, Masa..."

The request sounded vindictive at first glance but Masato was quick to notice.

"What do you mean with 'the rest of my time'?"

"Please, Masa..." Otoya urged as he grabbed the other's arms. "And please, after that, you will stay beside Tokiya no matter what because I know, he will need you the most. Don't let him all by himself. Please, Masa..."

Masato was thunderstruck. He realized that he could not make Otoya spilled the bean but he knew, he could trust Otoya.

After all, what they both wanted was the best thing for Tokiya.

"Can you do that, Masa?"

"Yes, I can."

Okay, that's all for chapter nine! I quite love those aggressive characters like Tomo, Masato, and Cecil here and I must say that I am so excited to see the last chapter published here because I already have the first draft of the rest of the chapters on my laptop. I just wish that I am hardworking and motivated enough to check the grammar and update frequently. Feel free to tell me what the heck is wrong with this chapter.. lol XD