The banners at the sports festival were blowing all over and the colors shone brightly above the school yard. There were stalls along the track selling yakisoba, melon bread and soda. Students were full of life, yanking at jerseys, screaming out instructions, waving hand painted signs.
With an extended smile, Suki held out his arms. "This is the best day ever! Free meals, no lectures, and applauding audiences. What could be better?"
Ryuzi made one of his armbands. "...Silence."
Boo, boring, Suki said, and he poked him on the side. "Admit it, you're excited."
Ryuzi gave him a look. "...For running in circles?"
Circles--victorious circles!
Kenji trotted over, dishevelled hair already. "Yo, you two ready? Sunshine Boy, don't trip. Ice Prince, don't kill anyone."
Ryuzi sighed. "I'll consider it."
Aoi smirked. I am pointing the finger at Kenji in case you two fools make a mistake.
"Hey!" Kenji yelped.
Suki laughed at the banter but Ryuzi was looking towards crowds at the entrance. Something in his chest choked.
A cluster of pupils in their various uniforms were present, talking. His pulse skipped. No. Not here.
They swivelled--and he knew them all right.
Old classmates.
They laughed in the same manner, sharp and cutting. The throat seemed to him becoming dry, his fists curled.
"Takeda."
The voice was a slithery thing. One of the boys came nearer, with a scowl upon his mouth. "Didn't expect to see you here."
Ryuzi's jaw clenched. "...You."
Another started chiming, and the students near the students could hear. "What's this? A new school? Guess word travels slow here."
Whispers began immediately.
"What's he talking about?"
"Do they know him?"
Something wrong in his past school?
Suki glared and moved forward towards Ryuzi. "Who are they?"
Ryuzi didn't answer. His eyes remained fixed upon the boys, and his shoulders stiff.
The first one smirked wider. "Careful, Aoyama. You do not know whom you are hanging around.
Suki's brows furrowed. "...And just who is he supposed to be?
A drip of malice, the boy bent in. "A coward. Unable to defend a girl even at the right time. But word was that he was not innocent either.
Students who were standing near gasped.
Suki's stomach flipped. He glanced at Ryuzi--but Ryuzi was not readable, cold and shuttered.
"Is that true?" Something in the crowd said a voice.
"Wait, what does he mean--"
"Was Takeda--"
The questions were becoming more and more vociferous and like a wave they increased. Ryuzi's fists trembled. His chest rose and drew shallow breaths.
Shut up, he muttered, but hardly audible.
Leaning nearer, the boy smiled. "What was it again? Oh yeah--didn't you--"
"HEY!"
The voice of Suki was sharp enough to cut the noise. He stood between Ryuzi and the boys with balled fists and flashing eyes.
You do not know anything about him! Suki snapped. So close your mouths till I make you.
The crowd fell silent. Kenji and Aoi even blink in surprise.
The old classmates sneered. "Protecting him? Cute. You'll regret it."
Suki didn't flinch. I do not regret defending my friends.
The chest of Ryuzi was twisting in pain behind him. Friends.
It was relieved when the coach Tanaka shouted and ordered the students to their relay positions. The former classmates sneaked back into the crowd with smirks on their faces.
Suki jumped about on the track, and looked at Ryuzi. His companion had a frozen countenance.
"You okay?" Suki whispered.
"...Focus on the race."
"Ryuzi--"
"Drop it." His tone was final.
Suki bit his lip, but nodded.
As the whistle was blown, the runners went on. The strides of Ryuzi were strong, incessant. He handed over the baton with impeccable precision and his body was like a storm that seems to be restrained. The team succeeded in winning by a huge margin, and shouts of delight burst out all around them--but Ryuzi was scarcely able to slow his pace, before the din had died away.
Afterward, in the background of the gym, Ryuzi was leaning against the wall with a heaving chest. He pressed a hand to his face. The shouts of his old school were more audible than the shouts. Coward. Guilty.
"Ryuzi."
He tensed. Suki was a few paces away, with a worried look on his face and sweaty forehead.
... go off, By yourself, go, go.... Ryuzi muttered.
No, no, Suki said, stepping up. "I don't care what they said. I do not mind what they are saying about it. I know you."
Ryuzi looked at him sharply. You do not know anything about me.
It was painful to Suki to hear the rawness in his voice. He took another step forward. "Then tell me. Let me."
His fists gripped, his throat hard with Ryuzi. The words were clawed at him, and wanted to start out--but he pushed them back, shaking his head.
"...Not now."
Suki looked, and nodded. "Okay. Not now. But someday. And until then--I'm not going anywhere.
Ryuzi's breath caught. His face was turned away, and his chest was unbearably warm.
"...Idiot."
But the word shook, deep with fatigue.