After knowing Ren’s secret, nothing significantly changes in Kaito’s life.

The guilt is still eating him up, though. But, soon he reminds himself to not care as though he never heard about Ren’s secret in the first place - repeating the evil cycle until it turns him mad.

His plan to feign ignorance was not as easy as he thought. Perhaps, as long as his moral compass is still intact, Kaito can not entirely pretend to be unaware of the situation. He turns out more sensitive than he thought. 

Subconsciously, Kaito now pays more attention to Ren - sneaking a glance from the corner of his eyes. Out of curiosity, he wonders what makes him different from everyone else despite his sexuality.

/Shouldn’t gay people act and dress more femininely? But, Ren looks just like everyone else here. If anything his appearance impresses most of the girls in school/

Well, his facial feature is indeed apt to the pretty side; cupid bow lips with natural pink colour, round big eyes staring without any ripple of bad thought reflected on them, his jaws are rather delicate than having a deep line - makes him appears younger, not to mention his striking hair colour which genetically light brown unlike other normal Japanese usually be. Kaito wonders if he has foreign blood in him. 

Since in the early morning, some kids have surrounded Ren’s desk, they drag their chairs to sit near him, Kaito even notices some faces from the other class

/Is this happening every morning?/ - Kaito just noticed.

“Ren-Kun, can you teach me this part? what should I calculate first?” A girl asks flickering her long - overly curly lashes. Ren doesn’t budge, yet he keeps his usual sweet smile like always. Patiently explains to her the matter, though Kaito is aware the girl is only busy gawking at Ren's face from close.

/What the hell with the first name basis?/ It’s common knowledge to be considered rude when you call someone by their first name. Although, the boys in this class generally have gotten so close with each other that they don’t mind being called by their given name. Yet, still, in a different case with the opposite gender, the first name basis should be through mutual agreement, not even all dating couples immediately call each other by their first name.

But Ren and his unbound kindness - doesn’t even show a glitch of distasteful expression across his face. 

/Dumbass! If you don’t draw a clear line people will keep violating your comfortable space/ Kaito clicks his tongue. The more he watches Ren the higher his blood pressure gets. Perhaps this is why foolishness and kindness are almost similar.

Well, other than that, Ren is no different from the rest of them- not in a bad way. Frankly, he’s better than the other boys who only joke around and do stupid things. Ren seems more mature than his age, he’s such a heartfelt guy who never puts a grudge against others. And for one or two reasons Kaito hates the idea of someone possibly taking advantage of him.

“Ren!” someone shouts from the door; it’s Yami, a guy from the next class who usually flocks around Ren every morning acting like his minions. “Wanna join us at the mixer after school? we will meet girls from Haneda all-girls school”

/Another unfamiliar face called his first name…Are they close?/

Ren straightens up, and everyone looks at him. Yami was no better than announcing to the whole class and everyone naturally anticipates Ren’s answer. They don’t avert their gaze from Ren's troubled face. 

Kaito sighs; now it grasps his mind how less considerate someone could be - assuming he likes girls and puts everyone in the same box without taking into consideration if Ren could be not comfortable with the idea.

But Kaito also can’t blame them entirely; for boys around his age, conversations about girls are the most intriguing among all. If he didn’t know Ren doesn’t like girls, he most likely would do the same thing. He probably would have become the one who made Ren uncomfortable. The thought surprisingly left a bitter taste in his mouth.

/If you don't like the idea, you should just reject it regardless of his reason/

“Alright, I’ll come,” Ren finally answers with an awkward smile that doesn't reach his eyes.

/Dumbass…/ Kaito sighs; he’s indeed the type who can’t say no after all. 

 “Kaito! Miyawaki-chan is looking for you,” Asahi informs him from the door. Kaito, who is preoccupied with staring intently at Ren, almost jumps from his chair when Ren turns his head and meets his gaze. 

Kaito swiftly looks away as naturally as possible. /Screw this shit…I don’t care! Whether he goes to that mixer or not, comfortable or not, that’s not my business. He’s not even a kid anymore./

Stuffing his hands inside his trouser pocket, Kaito saunters away without sparing Ren a second glance. 

“Sato-Kun, are you listening?” Sakura waves her slender hand that every fingernail painted in glossy baby pink in front of Kaito’s blank eyes “What are you spacing out about?” She wonders, leaning in her face closer to Kaito’s just to make Kaito have to make one step backwards.

“Nothing, keep going..” He replies trying to shrug off Ren’s discomfort face earlier.

“Okay, so the choir will…” Kaito knew Sakura last year when Yamamoto sensei - their music teacher asked him to help the choir team practice by playing the piano for them. Kaito was not the most diligent one, or someone would sincerely help everybody like Ren; but if his teacher asked him, he has no choice; it would be rude to turn down her favour without a clear reason and Kaito kinda hoped his teacher will increase his score or put good words to his maths teacher since Kaito hopeless at maths.

Despite helping the entire choir team, only Sakura who is actively contacting him even outside the choir matters. Kaito isn’t dense - he knows Sakura likes him. Even some of her friends told him so. But Kaito doesn’t think too much about it. 

Truthfully,  he doesn’t oppose the idea of dating her, in contrast, he even considered it seriously; he’s not closing his heart for a relationship and it’s been years since he had girlfriends. More than anything, Sakura and him are already pretty close, they hang out together; going to eat or go to Karaoke; She’s fun to be together with. But was that enough?

Kaito keeps asking himself, is being someone he is comfortable with enough reason to start a commitment? If Sakura will turn out busy preparing for her College entrance, and the amount of time together will be decreased, or if they will have a lot of arguments in the future that makes their relationship not fun anymore; will Kaito still maintain their commitment?

Kaito likes her because she’s fun to hang out with, but relationships are not just about having fun.

That thought is what holds Kaito to ask her out, he is aware he’s been hanging her without clarity of their status, and he makes Sakura keep waiting in the dark. But starting a commitment he’s not certain about, will only hurt her even more. So Kaito told himself just to keep going at his pace and figure it out in the process.

If Sakura truly likes him, she should already prepare for the consequences that come with it - or so he thought.

From the corner of his eyes, Kaito finds Ren also outside the class, leaning near the window with a girl in a small frame handing him a bento container. Ren accepts the meal box from her, which is unusual. It’s not a secret anymore for everyone knowing Ren Hasegawa from class 2-1 is extremely popular to the point got a lot of confessions from girls; seniors, and juniors alike. But, it’s also commonly known that those girls ended up being politely rejected. Ren wouldn’t take whatever the girls gave him since he also couldn’t accept their feeling - he didn’t want to take the gifts for granted. He is just that kind of guy.

But, what Kaito witnesses right now is Ren clearly accepting the girl’s giving with a big smile plastered on his lips. Kaito is even more surprised to see that’s not Ren’s usual polite smile he forces on him wherever he’s uncomfortable.

“Miyawaki, sorry, but..who’s that girl?” Kaito asks Sakura, girls usually know each other.

Sakura pouts when Kaito asks something unrelated to the topic they discussed - moreover, he’s asking about a girl which is unexpected of him. “The one with Hasegawa-Kun? You don’t know her? That’s Yui Kano. The junior who is also become the swimming team’s manager”

/Yui. Isn’t that the girl Ren rejected? What happened?/ Based on the atmosphere, it’s clear they are still on friendly terms. It makes sense if Ren even trusted his secret to her since they are this close.

If Kaito doesn't know any better he would think they are ‘a thing’, just like other students who regard them with envious stares. Ren accepting a gift from a girl - people for sure will start gossiping.

Not fond of Kaito’s displeased face after his sudden brimming curiosity about another girl, Sakura adds to provoke him. “I heard they are so close that Hasegawa-Kun calls her by her first name, doesn't that mean they are basically a couple?”

Averting his gaze, Kaito answers nonchalantly. “Don’t know. Don’t care”

Clenching her jaws, Sakura refrains from getting angry. Forcing her smile with trembling lips. “Anyway, Sato-Kun, what would you say about what I said earlier?” Sakura searches for his eyes 

/um…what she just said again?/

“Sorry, I was lost in thought…” He grimaces apologetically and gains a frustrated groan from the girl “Just text me, hmm?” he offers, feeling bad if he has to make her give him another repeat.

“You said you don’t care,” Sakura rolls her eyes, mumbling almost to herself.

“Sorry, what did you say?”

“Nevermind, I asked you if you can go to the music room after school. I need practice for the choir’s new song with the instrument.” She repeats patiently. The first bell rang hurly-burly of kids who still mingle in the hallway back to their class for their first subject  “Ah my assignment!” She seems to abruptly remember something, “Text me if you can help me!” Sakura waves her hand to bid goodbye and leaves.

“Hasegawa-Kun,” Nakamura sensei, their homeroom teacher, calls the class president when he even hasn't claimed his seat. 

Ren stands and approaches him, other students who are already settled in their seats gazing at him pitifully as Nakamura sensei likely will give the class president another task. Usually, none of them can do anything but give him a bit of help since no one forces Ren to be the class president, he just whimsically volunteers himself. People start to assume Ren could be secretly like his role.

“Yes, sensei”

“Is everyone already in this class? What about the troublemaker brat?” 

Nakamura sensei is considered a teacher from the younger generation compared to the other teachers here. As well as a PE teacher with a free spirit personality. Somehow, it isn't surprising to see him speaking as his wish without filter and Ren who had helped him for almost a semester in organising the class perfectly aware of the one who his teacher referring to as a troublemaker right now; The last rank on this class, the one who never button his uniform and proudly exposing his Metallica shirt inside, the winner of the most amount of absent record, the one with always intimidating expression - Kaito Sato.

Ren glances back at Kaito’s seat. It’s empty. Yuuta, his deskmate realises Ren’s gaze at the empty chair beside him and he is quietly mouthing ‘Dojo’ at Ren.

“Sato-Kun is not here, Sir. I’ll look for him in the Dojo”

“Haa…That brat seriously. Yes please fetch him for me, we will discuss something important and everyone needs to be present” Nakamura sensei pinches his nose bridge - another skipping class by his rebellious student.

“I’ll be right back, Sir”