Guys Don't Like Me

Chapter 8

  The next weekend, Momo suggested to Ryuu that they all hang out again. Ryuu agreed, wanting Kazu to make more friends and have fun for once.
"Are you kidding me?" Kazu moaned when Ryuu told him that he was supposed to make plans with them for Saturday. "Get someone else to supervise your date."
"It's not a date," Ryuu reminded him. "We're all just friends, hanging out."
"Yeah, but do you know what this hanging out means?" Kazu asked, pointing at Ryuu's chest. "It's simple. I lose hours of precious sleep!"
Ryuu sighed. "So it's settled. You're coming."
Kazu crossed his arms and glared at Ryuu. "Says who?"
"Says me, your best friend." Ryuu leaned in a little closer. "If you don't agree to come, then I'm going to show up at your house tomorrow and drag you out of bed."
"Fine," Kazu said, turning away, and Ryuu had to wonder if he was pushing Ryuu away from his personal life on purpose. Still, Ryuu made up his mind not to pry. Everyone had secrets, and Kazu had more than most. "Where should I meet up with you, then?"
Ryuu gave him an address.
"Where are we going?"
Ryuu winked. "It's a surprise."
***
After much moaning on Kazu's part about loss of sleep, they finally arrived. As soon as Kazu realized where they were headed, he turned and tried to start walking in the opposite direction, but Ryuu hook his elbow around Kazu's and Momo did the same on the other side so they were able to drag him with them.
Alone in the locker rooms, Kazu sat stubbornly on the bench. "I'm not doing it. You can't make me."
Ryuu sighed. "Why not?"
"Because I hate swimming."
"You never told me that."
"Well, then, I can't swim," Kazu tried.
Ryuu narrowed his eyes. "Really?" he asked slowly, and Kazu crossed his arms, turning away.
"My skin is highly sensitive to chlorine."
"Uh huh."
"We'll be swarmed and murdered by fangirls."
"It sounds like you're just making up a ton of bad excuses, although I half believe that last one. C'mon," Ryuu said, helping Kazu take his shirt off. Kazu struggled against him, but after a few moments, Ryuu stopped. "Is this why?" he asked softly, his finger resting on Kazu's back, which was criss-crossed with scars.
Kazu had gone still, but after taking in a deep breath, he stood up, pulling his t-shirt back down and letting Ryuu's hand fall away as he walked off, leaving the locker room and heading to the chairs beside the pool so he could take a nap.
Ryuu stayed behind for five minutes before coming out, although he left Kazu alone to give him some space. Instead, he waited by the pool for Momo, who walked over a few minutes later in a tankini.
"Hey, Ryuu," Momo said, already blushing.
Ryuu turned to her, smiling and trying to forget Kazu's expression. Damn. I made a mistake. "It looks cute on you," he said, and Momo laughed.
"You too," she said almost automatically, but her eyes caught on Ryuu's bare chest until her blush forced her to look away. "Isn't Kazu coming in?" she asked after a moment, switching the subject.
Ryuu opened his mouth before closing it and shaking his head. "He said he doesn't like swimming."
"Aw," Momo pouted, already searching for Kazu, and once her eyes alighted on him, she laughed. "C'mon, Ryuu. Kazu just told you that so he can go back to sleep!"
"Wait, Momo!" Ryuu said, reaching for her to stop her from bothering Kazu, but she was already out of his reach and nearing Kazu.
"Kazu! Wake up," she said playfully, shaking his shoulder. "Come on and swim with us!"
His eyes flicked open, first the left and then the right, and he glared at Momo. "What do you want? Leave me alone!"
Momo drew back, looking scared. "But, Kazu," she said more softly, sounding unsure of herself. "Don't you want to swim?"
Kazu sat up, looking at her angrily. "No, I don't want to . Why does everyone think that I want to swim?" he asked, more to himself as he stared down at his hands. Then the color drained from his face as he realized that he'd snapped at and scared Momo, his best friend's girlfriend. "I'm...sorry," he muttered, looking away before standing up and walking away, one of his hands in his pocket and the other dangling uselessly by his side.
By this time, Ryuu caught up to Momo. "What happened?" he asked breathlessly, watching Kazu's retreating figure before turning and assessing Momo's tear-stained face. "Are you all right?" he asked immediately, wiping her tears away.
"Yeah," she murmured, blinking a few times before hugging Ryuu. "I don't get it. I just asked him if he wanted to swim, and all of a sudden, he got really angry and stormed off."
Ryuu sighed and then closed his eyes tightly. Something's wrong with me. If it was anyone else but Kazu, I would be angry at them for yelling at Momo. Even with Kazu, I should be demanding an apology in return for Momo's tears. And yet...for some reason, I'm more worried about Kazu than I am about Momo. Ryuu pulled away from Momo and gently set her down on the chair Kazu had previously occupied. "You just stay here and I'm going to find him, okay?"
"Why?" she asked, wiping her tears away. "He said he wanted to be left alone."
Ryuu nodded, trying to think of any way that he could make up an explanation without sounding like he cared more about his friend than his lover. He hesitated, but he could only think of one thing - the truth. "It's just...I'm worried about him. When we were changing, I noticed that his back was covered in scars. I think he was upset because of that. I just want to make sure that he's all right, and then I'll be right back. Okay?"
Momo nodded, attempting a smile. "I get it. Good luck!"
Ryuu smiled at her before stopping to get his shirt before running out the way Kazu had gone.
Meanwhile, Momo sat in the chair. Kazu, what inner darkness are you hiding?