He was taking a shower after finishing his brief workout session when he heard his phone ring.Nao didn't have to think twice to guess who it could be. 

Rarely did he get calls from people other than his mother and Akihiro. It wasn't because he preferred to text but the other way around - his friends seemed to prefer texting over voice calls. 

Nao however liked being direct with things. He was also someone who found the time it took to relay texts back and forth irritating. 

The phone notified him that he missed a call from Akihiro. Since it was 8.27am by the time he got ready, Nao decided to drop by his room and then leave for breakfast. 

Unlike last night, this time when he rang the bell, Akihiro opened the door without much delay. Nao couldn't help but gasp as he saw his face.

It was all puffed up and even more appalling were those bloodshot eyes.

"You look sick." 

"I feel sick." His friend complained as he walked back to the single bed in the room.

"Did you stay with the others all night?"

"Yep." Akihiro fell back on the bed.

 "I came back around the time I called you."

".. I see." 

Nao nodded as he looked around the room. It was without doubt, a mess. So was his friend.

"Were you going somewhere?" 

"Actually, yes. I'm going to pick up something to eat."  

As he scrutinized Akihiro's appearance, he asked, "Do you want me to get you a hangover drink?" 

Akihiro raised his head, looking earnestly at Nao.

"Yes, please. That would be great." 

"Alright." 

"What would I do without you, Nao!" Akihiro sighed as he picked up the pillow and pressed it into his face.

"Aarghh..! "

Nao would've felt touched if it were the first time he was told something like this. But Akihiro repeated it so often that it didn't surprise him anymore. He smiled at his friend and walked out of the room.

_____

"So, how was your night?"

He asked Akihiro as he took a bite out of the egg sandwich.

"It was worth the hangover." Akihiro swallowed a mouthful of his drink reluctantly.

"You missed out on a lot of fun, you know."

"I don't know. Your room smelled like vomit." Nao quipped. 

Akihiro waved his hand, dismissing his comment and laid down his head on the dining table. Nao continued to eat in silence, ocassionally taking a sip out of the coffee can. There was something he wanted to ask. To know. 

Because it looked like Akihiro was done with his description of last night, he started feeling impatient. 

And in the end, curiosity got the better of him.

Trying not to appear particularly interested, he casually asked, "That guy .. did he cause you any problems last night? "

"Which guy?" Akihiro seemed clueless.

"The bully." Nao hesitated for a second before speaking out his name.

"Nakano senpai." 

To his surprise, Akihiro who was looking all grumpy till then, laughed, shaking his head. 

"No! No, he didn't. He was awesome." 

He paused for a moment as if he was contemplating something. "You know what, in fact he's probably the coolest person in our college." 

As he listened, eager to catch every single word that came out of his mouth, Nao could feel  trouble brewing inside him. 

His brain knew Asahi was someone he should choose to stay away from. 

The kind of person I hate the most.

Nao reminded himself. 

On the other hand, he also sort of wanted to find out more things about him .. ? 

Was it because he found him physically attractive? Or was it because despite every insult that he hurled at Asahi, he knew he didn't deserve at least half of them?

 He did cause him harm ; Nao very well remembered the shame he felt when he was forced to obey him.

 But from what he observed that night, he couldn't help but feel that Asahi, in his own way, cared and also protected them, despite having almost nothing to do with them. He could've easily looked the other way.

No.

"Did you put a spell on you or something?" Nao sneered. "Or did you already forget what he did to us?"

"Bruh, I would take Nakano senpai over Endo senpai any day. That guy, he's seriously scary." 

Finishing the last of his drink, he continued, " Besides, Nakano-senpai told me there wasn't much he could do with Shiiba senpai watching us. He even paid for my drinks and dinner yesterday to apologize for that. Like I said you -"

Akihiro paused mid sentence, covering his mouth. 

"E-Excuse me for a mom-"

He mumbled as he rushed to his room, to vomit out what little liquid was left in his stomach.