My Maple ♡

Chapter 5

Kazuha walked upstairs, and laid on his bed.

He's so cute when he blushes— No! Kazu, don't think things like that, we aren't a couple.

But I wish we were—

ack— stop!

Kazuha slapped himself with a pillow.

*sigh* "Why am I thinking these things?!?"

Just then, Beidou came in his room.

"Whats going on kiddo? Why are you yelling? Don't tell me you're thinking of doing something concerning without letting me, or Ningguang know-"

"No, it's nothing bad, its about Kunikuzushi."

"Oh really? What about him, if you don't mind me asking?"

"I... I've been having very different feelings around him as of recent.
I've known Kuni for a long time, and we've grown so comfortable around each other.
He's very quiet, and sometimes harsh or blunt around others, but he's so sweet once you get to know him.
He was kinda like that towards me at first, but over the years, we've became so close.
We went from being 2 people who would couldn't be friends... to becoming best friends who are inseparable...
But recently I've been seeing him a lot more, and... feeling lonely without him.
Not only that, but everytime we hug I feel so hot... like I might overheat.

"Haha, son... I think you might be... in love."

"Huh?"

"Ningguang was a lot like Kunikuzushi, so it made it difficult for me to be around her at first.
But, we worked through our differences... and later realized how much we loved each other."

And you mentioned feeling hot around him... that shows that you have some kind of nervous feeling around him that's different than usual.
Don't feel pressured to take my word for it, but I'm just analyzing this situation based off my own experiences.

"Yeah, I don't think you're wrong though. Plus if I truly am gay, then that makes sense, the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree" he said as he looked at Beidou.

"I guess I just don't know what to do now. I mean how on earth would I be able to tell if Kuni is interested in being more than just friends?
Also, what if he rejects me?"

"Hm, thas a difficult one son. Does he ever hang out with anyone else often?
You mentioned that he has a hard time getting along with others, so maybe that would tell you. Especially since he's very nice around you."

"Yeah, your right he doesn't really hang around anyone else other than me in his free time.

Of course, he's friends with Ayaka, Yoimiya, Thoma and Heizou, but he met all of them through me when we started at the Academy 2 years ago."

"I feel like he'd trying to hang around more people otherwise, like most people eventually do. But since he insists on hanging out exclusively with you, maybe thats a sign.
Either way though, his answer is out of your control.
So, if you decide to ask him out don't overthink it. His answer will be what it is, kiddo."

Kazuha looked up at Beidou, knowing she was right.

"But, one other thing I'm worried about is his situation  at home.
I never told you this, but long story short, he got yelled at by his mom in a FaceTime call once when we were playing Minecraft.
His mom basically said she would banish me from this land if she ever saw me with him again, so I'm more afraid that he will risk getting in trouble if we're dating."

"Sheesh, didn't know his mom was so cruel, isn't she the ruler? Damn, I kinda figured something was off about the fact that he's always around here, and not at home but wow."

Ningguang looked in from the doorway "hmph, Figured."

Beidou and Kazuha turned their heads towards her in confusion.

"Remember that time I went to Kazuha's class parent conference?
It was pretty normal, until after the conference, when I heard the her talking to one of his main teachers in private— bribing her to take pictures and videos of him if he ever cross-dressed, or taked about his sexuality in class.
She tried to bribe this teacher with a lot of money, and I didn't think much of it at first, but now—thank goodness to that kind-hearted teacher for rejecting that offer.
I can only imagine the stuff he faces at home, behind closed doors."

Beidou was in shock, " you're telling me you knew this and never told me??"

"To be fair, I knew nothing about Kunikuzushi at this time. This was in Kazuha's freshman year, when I had just moved here after finishing my most prominent business sellings in Liyue."

"Hmm, well at least we're only Dual citizens here in Inazuma. If you were to be banished from Inazuma under those circumstances, we'd just take you with is back to Liyue.
I wouldn't mind taking Kunikuzushi with us either, but unfortunately he isn't 18 yet. So his mom has full child custody over him.

"He would also feel like he's burdening us if he were to live with us." Kazuha added.

"Really? Well here, we don't have any spare rooms, but I wouldn't mind him living here. Especially since his situation at home is so bad."

"Yeah... I guess I'll just have to see."