I Am Big Brother (I Am Big Brother 1) ✅

Chapter Ten

"He KISSED YOU?!" Koji exclaimed, his eyes and mouth wide. "Ru-kun kissed you, Sa-kun?!"

Masato nodded, tracing his bottom lip for the thousandth time that day. It was the evening and they were sitting in the main area of Masato's apartment. As Eiji was at Hikaru's house, the place seemed quiet and Masato found himself too...idle. The television was on showing the evening news for background noise. "He—kissed me," he confirmed quietly. "But then he—"

"YATTA!" Koji cried out, throwing his arms around Masato. "I'm so happy for you, Sa-kun! The guy you like also likes you back! Isn't it wonderful?!"

Koji of course had been aware of Masato's growing feelings for Satoru. As Koji was also gay, Masato took solace in that he could confide something like this with his best friend. Especially since Umeko had not been there for him to confide in. "But I blew it, Koji," Masato said miserably, gently nudging him away. "I blew it and now he's angry with me."

"'Blew it'?" Koji looked at him in confusion. "What do you mean, Sa-kun?"

"Satoru said...something to me," Masato said, his brow knitting in confusion. "A proverb, I think. I-I guess I was supposed to react a specific way to it, and I didn't react the way he wanted. I think I was a test, or something. And I failed."

"Test? Proverb?" Koji's confusion grew on his face. "What did Ru-kun say to you, Sa-kun?"

Masato fumbled over his words before he spoke. "'Always remember to love yourself. That way, you know that there will always be someone who loves you'."

"That does sound like a proverb," Koji said, scratching at his own hair. "But why would he test you with a proverb?"

"Why would he even kiss me?" Masato asked him, wringing his hands a little. "I-I mean...I didn't know Satoru liked boys. There haven't been any rumors about his personal life. A-And guys don't kiss each other like that as a joke, you know?"

"I think they're all gay, too," Koji said. "During cleaning, Ki-kun was talking about Sato-senpai like he was fawning over him. I think Ki-kun likes Senpai."

"Ki-kun...Akira?" Masato asked. Koji nodded in confirmation. "B-But Akira was so rude to Senpai today!"

Koji shrugged. "It sounds like Senpai got rough with Ki-kun after we left the laundromat, but Ki-kun thought his strength was "attractive"."

Masato didn't quite know that to think of that. "And the others were okay with it?"

"Very okay," Koji said. "That makes me think they're all gay. Or at least like boys, too."

Masato smiled. "It sounds like wishful thinking on your part, Koji."

Koji winced a little and Masato immediately felt terrible. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that, Koji."

"Well you're not wrong, Sa-kun," Koji said, smiling a little. "If they were gay—rather, if he was gay—that would mean I had a little bit of a chance, wouldn't it?"

Masato swallowed hard and quickly changed the subject. "Are you excited for next week, Koji?"

"Oh, of course!" Koji perked up and his face brightened once more. "No more blazers starting next Friday!" He cheered and pumped his fist.

"I mean next Wednesday!" Masato laughed. "That's your birthday, Koji!"

"Oh, right! Yeah, I'm excited for that too! Are you excited for your birthday, Sa-kun?"

"Koji, my birthday isn't for another month!"

"So?"

Masato couldn't stop laughing. The conversation made him feel better...though the feeling of unease rippled around the edges of his heart.