Special Property (BxB)

Chapter 62. Flirting

The English word "Love" is a multipurpose and ambiguous word. The Greeks differentiated love into six types though only four will be mentioned here.

Philia: specifically referred to as "brotherly love" between friends or can also be a very general term for any kind of love such as a love of some activity or food.

Eros: the love that exists between lovers, also sexual passion.

Agape: love that unselfishly looks out for the interests of the one that is loved, sometimes referred to as Godly Love or principled love.

Storge: love among the family

As a non-native English speaker, I am amazed at how English can be so unnecessarily wordy and yet people still can't seem to say exactly what they mean when they say, "I love you."

—Intermediate Studies in the English Language, Ren Kato

Day 17

Kato was not used to having the room all by himself. When he first arrived here, he wished he was alone. Now, it was too lonely.

Takahashi wasn't there for breakfast. Where could he be?

Murata was prattling away about his food and his swap with Nakamura. Kato was politely listening though he didn't hear a word Murata said. He kept thinking of Takahashi.

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Kato was seated waiting for class to start and his heart leapt into his throat again as he saw Takahashi hurriedly enter the room and go to his desk. He patted Kato on the shoulder as he went by.

Music class was fun as they all did a sing along. Kato could tell that Takahashi's heart wasn't in the music though.

At break, Takahashi got up and tapped Kato on the shoulder. "Come with me," he said. Kato obediently got up and followed Takahashi to the restroom.

"I'm sorry about yesterday. I was told that my mother passed away."

"What?" Kato exclaimed.

"Yeah, was quite a shock. Apparently, she got a very aggressive form of cancer and she was gone, just like that."

"I'm so sorry to hear that, Takahashi-san."

"Yeah, my dad picked me up and we went to see her grave."

"What? She was already dead and buried before you knew about it?"

"Hey, don't be so fucking insensitive," Takahashi snapped.

Kato looked down and shut his mouth.

Takahashi let out a long sigh. "I already said she pretty much disowned me. And my dad doesn't really give a damn about me. But, for some reason, he decided that I should be informed and get a chance to see the grave."

Kato looked up at Takahashi. He was wearing that complex, unreadable expression again.

"At any rate, he said mom left me a few things and a bunch of money that I can have when I graduate here. But he warned me that if I don't graduate, I won't get a 'fucking red cent' as he put it. I really hate that asshole."

Kato moved close to Takahashi and put his head on Takahashi's chest, leaning on him.

"Why are you leaning on me again?" Takahashi asked.

"I dunno. I was so worried. When sad things hurt you, I want to be close to you," Kato spoke softly.

"Well, I'll be fine." He put his arms around Kato and hugged him, causing Kato to return the hug. "I only regret that I will never have the chance to one day make it right with mom."