Kaito stares blankly at his room ceiling; though his body is tired and 30 minutes soaking in a warm tub leaves him dizzy, he can’t bring himself to dive into peaceful oblivion just yet. While compressing his face with an ice pack, Kaito thinks about various things.

This week is full of a rollercoaster ride; from the unexpected study group, a bunch of delinquents looking for him and how they know about him, and the one that keeps lingering in his mind is about his guilt toward Ren that keeps building up. 

Since that day Kaito hasn't fallen asleep easily. The feeling he got after knowing Ren's secret, the feeling of unfairness, strangles him with guilt. Even more when Ren shows him a genuine effort to teach him something that normally needs different tutors to be able to catch up with the whole high school curriculum.

Not just eavesdropping on Ren’s conversation, Kaito also accused him to be pretentious all this time - /I’m truly the trash/

Kaito is now determined to return the favour. He’s been thinking about how to teach Ren music, and where he should start. Ren sure is smart, he can master the basics in no time, but playing a whole song with an instrument is another different thing.

Kaito jumps up from his bed, the sudden motion makes his head spin. He springs his door open just to bang on the next door.

"Onee-Chan! Lend me your laptop!" Kaito shouts in front of his sister’s room. Ignoring the ‘don’t disturb’ sign on the door.

"NO! I THOUGHT YOU DID A PART-TIME JOB TO BUY ONE!" She hollers back from the inside, intentionally blasting the music she played inside.

"MOM! NEE-CHAN DOESN’T WANT TO SHARE THE LAPTOP!"

The door is opened, greeted by his sister's face who is scowling, still with her face-mask on. Completely look like a sulking killer panda. “What’s wrong with your face? Who dares beat up my already-ugly-brother? If mom knows you will scratch out from the family tree for not having the Sato’s face legacy”  

Kaito rolls his eyes, “This is an honorary wound of a warrior”

“Don’t lie. Not anyone can beat the hell up you to this extent except your Kyokushin sensei. Did you get mobbed or something? Not I’m surprised though, since your annoying face always begged to get punched out.” Kaine smirks in a similar smug manner that resembles her brother. Her black long straight hair reaches her waist, snow-like skin that becomes the Sato family signature and beautiful upturned cat eyes. 

“Sis, you literally look like me with long hair. Anyway, this is just a boys' thingy, you won’t understand. Just lend me the laptop.” Kaine stares, waiting. “Please…”

“Having an emo brother is already hard enough, don’t mingle with a bad crowd, you hear me?” He sighs but still shoves the laptop into Kaito’s chest "Here! Don't open porn!" 

"I won’t….Probably"

Approaching his study desk and opening his notebook he barely ever touched, Kaito originally intended to search for music teaching material for Ren. However, he stumbles upon an interesting blog. 

‘Rainbow Path’

A discussion forum for the LGBT+ community. Naturally reminded Kaito of Ren.

His mind wanders around; How do gay people actually love?

The internet is overflowing with stories and discussions. from steamy ones to charming ones, true and false, everything was just jumbled together. 

Apparently, there are people who openly admit and proudly announce their gender identity. However, there are also so many of them who are still in the closet. The idea of being outed is incredibly scary and some of them intentionally distance themselves from others.  

/Ren must be one of them who scared/

But one thing Kaito noticed is; Even those people having a hard time, they all will be content just by having someone who understands; family, lover, or friends.

Now Kaito wonders if Ren has someone to lean to and understands him. If not, how lonely it could be.

/Someone who understands, huh?/

With his bruised face, Kaito feels a strong disinclination to go to school. He had covered his split lips, but no way his purplish left eye which contrasted with his skin tone would go unnoticed. It’s not like he cares about what people in school may think of him, he is just too lazy to come out with an excuse.

He hopes he can just shrink for a whole day inside his blanket and pretend to get a fever. he almost succeeds though, until his big sis abruptly crashes in and with her jarring voice nags at him and fires him with never-ending questions because Kaito forgot to clear the search history on her laptop; now the house is definitely not a safe place either.

“Kaito! my guy!” Masao throws his hand on Kaito’s shoulder as soon as he slides the door open. “I got new figurines! It was on sale on the site, you wanna check them out?” 

Kaito lifts his head just to see Haruki's leg already locked between Asahi’s thighs. The taller man clutched the limb with all his might until his face turns red and Haruki tapped Asahi’s feet asking to be released. Yuuta is beside them. Either he’s wheezing, screeching or imitating a wailing whale - Kaito isn't sure, acting like a referee counting down before KO.

“Goddammit, I’m tired already.” Kaito sighs and plops his ass onto his chair.  “Can I just have a single normal day?”

He looks around and doesn’t catch a single sight of his class president. Impossible if Kaito came sooner than Ren, he also finds Ren’s bag already on his seat. Kaito looks through the window to find Ren who might be outside.

“A-yo! Kai~to~” Yuuta muses and hooks his arm around Kaito’s shoulder casually. He has a phone in his hand, ready to go on another storytelling about the survival show he is obsessed about. Kaito sometimes wonders why Yuuta likes telling him something Kaito isn't even interested in. “Why are you wearing a cap, bro? Embarrassed with your new bang?”

Without warning, Yuuta takes off Kaito’s hat. Revealing his half-battered face and his bluish eye. 

“Oh, my god. What happened to you?” Yuuta squeals in his usual high-pitched voice. Practically gaining attention from the class - this is why Kaito doesn’t want anyone to know.

“Yo Kaito! Did you get into a fight? Who's the unlucky guy you send to the hospital?” Masao adds, instead of being worried like Yuuta, he rather appears thrilled.

“Argh…” Kaito groans while stuffing back his head into his cap. “Who said this is from fighting? Just a little accident when sparring.”

“Huh? Isn’t your dojo doesn’t allow you to strike in the head?” Asahi inquired after releasing himself from Haruki’s grappling. 

/This dumbass! Can’t you put your useless innocence in its place?/

Kaito vaguely can hear the murmurs from his classmates. When he meets their eyes, the gaze they cast at him in disbelief, there’s also antipathy, disgust, and detachment. Kaito can’t blame them. Kaito’s face, which could be their first display of the violence’s fruit - must have appalled them. 

This is a peaceful countryside; friction is always solved in a friendly manner, and everyone lives while respecting each other - violence is almost a myth they only found on TV. The same goes with the students in this school - at least in Kaito’s class, they are all friends standing on an equal footing; some may be smarter than others, while others are stronger than the rest, but severe bullying is almost unseen and unheard of. Fight in school only happens once in a blue moon. Other martial art clubs like Kendo always use safety gear, while Kaito’s club - like Asahi said, never allowed to launch an attack at the head; so seeing Kaito’s black and blue face only confirms the infamous rumour about him.

Kaito could be indifferent, but that doesn't mean he’s ecstatic to be feared and treated like a plague like this.

“Kaito,” Benji approaches Kaito’s desk, he’s one of his classmates who never talked to Kaito unless the teacher made them to. Just like Ren before Nakamura sensei paired them. “It’s may not my business but I hope you show earnest effort while becoming Ren’s study partner”

Kaito can see Benji’s distaste glare behind his thick, foggy glasses. He originally is the shortest guy in class but he uses the opportunity when Kaito sits on his chair to look down at him.

“What?” Kaito still hasn’t grasped what is actually happening with this guy who suddenly talks to him.

Benji fixes his glasses. “You know Ren has been busy with his school and club activities, now he has to spend his time on this study group. I hope you take this opportunity seriously. Don’t waste Ren’s time and don’t get involve him in your trouble”

/Ah so that's what this is about/ Kaito starts to understand; People must think Kaito brings a bad influence on Ren and teaching him only wasting on Ren's time since a lot wants to be in Kaito's position - Benji is one of them.

“Hey Benji, aren't you being too mean?” Haruki who’s been only listening now speaks up.

“That’s fine. Benji is right though.” Kaito shakes his hand off with his usual indifferent attitude. He stands up with his hands stuffed inside his trouser pocket and leaves the class. “Yuu, texts me when the teacher has come”

“Where are you going?” Yuuta asks, concern laced  in his tone.

“To buy bread!” Kaito sets off. Many eyes scruntizing him makes him feel stuffy.