𝓡𝓲𝓷 𝓲𝓽𝓸𝓼𝓱𝓲 𝓫𝓸𝓽𝓽𝓸𝓶 𝔁 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓸𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓱𝓸𝓽 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓻𝔂

49. Rin Itoshi angst chaper 12&13

Chapter 12

Reo knew something was up the moment he saw Rin and Baro walk into school together. They looked… different. There was a quiet, unspoken bond between them that hadn’t been there before. Rin’s usual closed-off demeanor had softened just slightly, and Baro, who was normally wild and intense, seemed calmer, more grounded. It was subtle, but Reo’s sharp eyes picked up on every little detail.

Later that morning, Reo cornered Rin by their lockers, his eyes twinkling with barely contained excitement.

“So,” he started casually, leaning against the locker with a smug grin, “are you going to tell me, or do I have to drag it out of you?”

Rin rolled his eyes, immediately knowing what Reo was hinting at. “There’s nothing to tell,” he muttered, trying to keep his face neutral.

“Oh, please,” Reo scoffed, crossing his arms. “You think I can’t tell? You and Baro have been practically glued to each other since you walked in. And you’re even blushing! You know, that’s a pretty big giveaway.”

Rin’s cheeks did, indeed, feel warm, and he cursed under his breath. “We’re just… we’re just together, okay? There’s nothing else to say.”

Reo’s eyes widened, his grin breaking into a full-on smile. “Wait, together-together? As in, boyfriend material?”

Rin let out a resigned sigh, a small, almost bashful smile slipping through. “Yeah. He asked me, and I… I said yes.”

Reo beamed, clearly thrilled. He patted Rin on the shoulder, and his tone softened. “I’m happy for you, Rin. You deserve someone who sees the real you. And Baro… he might be rough around the edges, but he gets you.”

Rin shrugged, but he couldn’t hide the way his eyes sparkled a little. “He does.”

Reo nudged him playfully. “Just don’t let him steal you away from me, okay? I still need my best friend around.”

“Don’t worry,” Rin replied, rolling his eyes but with a smile. “You’re stuck with me.”

Chapter 13

Rin had never been one for popularity or fanfare, but Baro had unintentionally become a subject of fascination at school. His intimidating presence, golden eyes, and striking confidence made him stand out, and it wasn’t long before Baro had attracted a group of admirers—mostly girls who couldn’t seem to resist his aloof charm.

On a typical day, Baro would brush off their attention with little more than a scowl or a terse word, and they would usually give up, leaving him to his own devices. But now, things were different.

As Rin and Baro walked down the hall together, a small group of girls approached, blocking their path. They were all smiles and giggles, each one vying for Baro’s attention.

“Baro! Can we sit with you at lunch today?” one of them asked, practically clinging to his arm.

Another chimed in, her voice sweet and eager. “Yeah, you never sit with anyone. We could keep you company!”

Rin felt a prickle of irritation as he watched the scene unfold. He knew that Baro didn’t like the attention, but the girls didn’t seem to care, their eyes glued to him as if Rin didn’t even exist.

Baro shifted uncomfortably, glancing at Rin, who was looking away with a frown. He cleared his throat, pulling his arm out of one girl’s grip.

“Actually, I’m already sitting with someone,” Baro said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

One of the girls pouted, taking a step closer. “Oh, come on, Baro! You’re always so quiet. You don’t talk to anyone!”

Baro shot her a sharp look. “That’s because I don’t want to talk to anyone,” he replied bluntly. His gaze flicked to Rin, his eyes softening ever so slightly. “Except for him.”

The girls’ eyes followed Baro’s gaze to Rin, and their expressions shifted, first in confusion and then in irritation.

“What, him?” one of them sneered, clearly unimpressed. “He’s so quiet and gloomy. I don’t get it.”

Baro’s jaw tightened, and his voice grew colder. “Maybe because he’s worth my time, unlike some people.”

The comment hit its mark. The girls recoiled, offended, but they didn’t say anything more. Instead, they exchanged annoyed glances and walked away, muttering under their breaths.

Once they were out of earshot, Baro let out a sigh, looking at Rin with an apologetic smile. “Sorry about that. They’re… persistent.”

Rin shook his head, the corner of his mouth tugging into a reluctant smile. “It’s fine. But you didn’t have to say all that.”

Baro raised an eyebrow, his gaze serious. “Of course I did. I’m not interested in them. They don’t get to talk down to you like that.”

Rin felt a warmth spread through him at Baro’s words, a quiet reassurance that Baro really did care. It was a feeling he wasn’t used to, but he liked it.

“Thanks,” he said, his voice softer than usual.

Baro shrugged, but there was a pleased glint in his eyes. “Anytime.”

Throughout the day, Rin noticed that Baro was even more attentive than usual. Whether it was a casual touch on the shoulder, a shared look, or the way he’d wait by the classroom door to walk with Rin between classes, Baro was constantly showing Rin that he was there, a steady presence by his side.

Other students had started to notice, too. Whispers followed them down the hall, and a few people even shot Rin jealous glares, wondering why someone like Baro would choose to spend his time with someone like him. But Rin found that, for the first time, he didn’t care.

Reo caught up with them during lunch, sitting down across from Rin with a knowing grin. “You two seem close today,” he commented, winking at Rin.

Rin gave him a look, though he couldn’t hide the small smile that tugged at his lips. “Don’t start.”

Baro smirked, unbothered by Reo’s teasing. “I’m just making sure Rin’s not stuck eating alone. You know how people around here can be.”

Reo chuckled, glancing pointedly at a few of the students who were still watching them from across the cafeteria. “Yeah, I’ve noticed.”

Baro rolled his eyes, clearly unfazed by the attention. “Let them stare. They’re just bored.”

Rin looked at Baro, his usual frown softening. “Doesn’t it bother you?”

Baro shook his head, shrugging. “Nah. As long as I’ve got you, I’m good.”

The words were simple, but they hit Rin harder than he’d expected. Baro’s loyalty, his unwavering support, was something Rin had never really experienced before. It made him feel grounded, like he didn’t have to face everything alone.

Reo watched the exchange, his smile growing softer. “You know, Rin, I’m really glad you have someone like Baro around. You’ve changed a lot… in a good way.”

Rin glanced at Reo, surprised by the sincerity in his voice. “Yeah?”

Reo nodded, his expression warm. “Yeah. You’re happier. And that’s all I’ve ever wanted for you.”

Rin’s gaze shifted to Baro, who was casually sipping his drink, oblivious to the impact he was having on Rin’s life. And in that moment, Rin realized just how much Baro meant to him.

“Thanks, Reo,” Rin said quietly, a rare moment of vulnerability slipping through.

Reo just smiled, patting him on the shoulder. “Anytime, Rin. That’s what friends are for.”

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