Ghosts of Wonderland

Masaomi

Halo Twelve: Masaomi:

"Stop making me feel guilty!"

Masaomi has been shouting that in his head lately. He can't stand the way that everyone looks at him. However, this latest episode cut him deeper than any stare.

The former shogun put his fingers to his lips. What was he thinking to kiss him like that? It just happened. Mikado kept getting more beautiful each day. Masaomi wasn't gay. He fancied himself as a playboy. But looking at Mikado started to make him a bit... curious. That was the thing. It wasn't just girls who found his best friend irresistible now. Men—gay or straight—started to give him a second look.

Now that Mikado bolted out of the café, Masaomi found himself thinking again. He didn't want to come back here. However, the boy didn't have much of a choice, now did he?

Ever since he made that deal with that Woman in Red, Masaomi's "love life" had been a parade of bad decisions. Misa couldn't help but point it out.

"What do you want?" she asked.

"Huh?" Masaomi asked in his futon. He turned to see Misa staring at him, frowning. He braced himself for more philosophy and talks about true love.

"It's like you're never really here when we're together," Misa complained.

"I'm here right now, aren't I?" the boy asked. The younger girl frowned.

"You know what I mean," she said, hitting him in the ribs.

"Ow," he muttered under his breath. "I don't know what you mean." The boy saw the disappointed look on her face. He's been seeing that more often lately. The boy sighed.

"Look, I don't know what you want from me," he said.

"Fidelity, respect, companionship, love, intimacy," Misa listed off. Her tone sounded so desperate with each word. She wants a fairy tale. Something that he can't give her. Masaomi doesn't know how to tell her that he is not the boy she is looking for.

"What makes you think that I could give you any of that?" Masaomi asked. Once again, Misa looked so disappointed. The sex was good and she was a kind girl. Maybe too kind. But this had been going on for too long. Ending this farce would be a mercy to them both.

So why were they still hanging on like this?

Masaomi buried his head in his hands in the maid café.

"Why do I keep fucking up?" he asked himself.

Misa isn't the only girl in Masaomi's life.

He's been seeing Ruriko more often. He didn't get it. She could have any man she wanted. She even had a boyfriend that she was proud of. Why was Ruriko so interested in him?

"You're cool," she said as he followed her back to her place.

"Cool?" Masaomi asked with a hint of skepticism in his voice.

"Yeah," the older woman said. "You're cool and kind of cute." Ruriko tilted her head to the side.

"How come you don't have a girlfriend?" she asked. Masaomi paused at that question.

"I don't know," he said. He might have had one once but that felt like a distant dream in another life. Ruriko stopped in her tracks.

"What is it?" Masaomi asked as he turned his head.

"Kiss me," she said. The boy looked confused at first.

"Wait... here?" he asked. "Right now?" Ruriko gave him a little smirk. She leaned in and kissed him on the lips. Masaomi just stood there. He should be used to this by now. He's made out with several girls. This should've been no different. It was just a kiss after all.