Guys Don't Like Me

Chapter 6

  Monday came, and Ryuu was alone on the rooftop. Is that kid really okay? he wondered, staring at the town over the railing. He wouldn't just transfer because of something like that, right?
Ryuu shook his head and laid down for his afternoon nap.
***
On Tuesday, Kazu was similarly absent. It wasn't until Wednesday that he came in, and only after lunch. He was on the rooftop before Ryuu even showed up.
"Hey, Ryuu," he said, nodding and giving Ryuu a half-smile.
"Hey yourself," Ryuu returned, walking and standing next to him. "Where have you been?"
"Sleeping."
"How are you injuries?"
"Pretty much all recovered, just a few bruises left. Thanks again for helping me."
Ryuu shrugged. "No problem. Oh, and about that picture?"
"Yeah?"
Ryuu nodded, turning slightly. "I took care of it. I got Yuki to delete it off her phone, and I made sure that she hadn't sent it to anyone else."
"What about the person who sent it to her?" Kazu asked, brows furrowed. "She couldn't have taken it, after all."
Ryuu nodded again. "Remember how I told you that I was tailing you that day?" He waited for Kazu's nod before continuing. "I saw who took the original photo."
"Yeah? And who was it?"
"The guy she was with. Taro?" Ryuu sighed. "I deleted it off of his phone too. And...hey, Kazu."
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry. I know that you wanted to be friends with Taro..."
Kazu gave Ryuu a sad smile before punching him on the shoulder. "Hey, man. Now I've got you. Who needs Taro?" Kazu turned and leaned against the railing, sighing. "I guess I'd better get back. I've got loads of absent work to catch up on, and if I don't have it finished by the end of the day, my teacher is going to lock me in the room and make me stay overnight to finish it." With a groan, he turned, smiled painfully at Ryuu, and made his way to the door.
When he got there, however, a girl was peeking through the window.
Kazu opened the door. "Sorry. Were you looking for someone?"
"Yeah. Is Ryuu..." It took her a minute before she really noticed Kazu, with his long lashes and layered hair that was just a little too long and his angular cheek and jaw bones. She stopped speaking, blinked, and hurriedly looked back towards the roof, avoiding eye contact with him. "About Ryuu. He's...I'm..."
Kazu shrugged. "He's over there. Hey, Ryuu!" he shouted, turning around and waving. "There's a girl here to see you."
Kazuhiko watched as Ryuu's expression changed to a gentle look that he hadn't seen before. "Hey, Momo."
She blushed, already walking towards him. "I told you not to call me that." She slowed after a few steps and turned to thank Kazu. "Thank-"
He was already gone, disappearing down the stairs as he returned to his class.
Momo went over beside Ryuu. "Who...was that?" she asked, avoiding eye contact with him.
Ryuu smiled at her before leaning against the railing. "Just some kid I met a week ago. I want to introduce you to him when I have the chance, but it looks like he's busy today."
"Oh," she said, hiding her disappointment. "What is he to you?"
Ryuu shrugged. "We're friends. But don't talk about that kind of stuff around Kazu, okay? He gets...kind of weird."
Momo nodded, slightly confused. "It's weird, though. I've never seen him in our class before. Then again, you're gone half the time too." She smiled up at Ryuu, who laughed softly.
"It's no wonder you didn't see him. He's a year younger than us."
Momo blinked her wide eyes in surprise. "Really? But he's so..."
Ryuu laughed. "He looks a lot more mature than he is, or rather..." He shrugged. "He's just too mature for his age in general."
She watched as his gaze grew distant. "You really like this kid, huh?" she asked softly, and was surprised when the question brought a small smile to his face.
"I think so."
Momo smiled at Ryuu. "Well, I've got to get back. I was just sent to check on you. I'll let the teacher know that you went home sick."
"Thanks, Momo," Ryuu said. "For going to all the trouble."
"Sure think, Ryuu. After all, I am your girlfriend," she said, blushing as she went up on her tippy-toes to give him a kiss, clasping her arms behind his neck. Ryuu rested his hands on her waist until she drew back, cheeks pink, and waved before heading downstairs, feeling simultaneously happy and yet guilty, because although Ryuu was the most attractive guy in her grade and was loyal and kind, when she had kissed him, there was a moment in which she was imagining herself kissing someone else, someone with long lashes and hair a little on the long side and with an angular face...