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"Stay away from Reo!" A one of the many fan girls slap Chigiri Hyōma in the face.
But that's what he gets for dating the most popular guy in school.
When Chigiri had first transfered to this private school in the city from his countryside town, he was nothing but praised.
Apparently, his track and field stardom had reached even all the way to Tokyo.
He was bum barded after he introduced himself in his homeroom.
"What school did you go to?"
"Rajitsu Tech. In Kyushu."
"What kind of school"
"A business school."
"Is your hair real? it's so beautiful!"
"Um… Yes, it's my real hair, thanks… Please don't touch it."
"Oh! Sorry it's just so beautiful…!"
And that's an your excuse…?
"You're THE Chigiri Hyōma, right? Ive seen you in the news!"
It started with three girls excitedly surround his desk, but eventually everyone crowded around his desk stared at him and started to all ask questions.
Chigiri transferred because his father found a well paying job in Tokyo.
Chigiri didn't exactly want to move either. The smell was staler than the volcano ash from Kagoshima… The sweet potatoes didn't taste as fresh as the vendors he'd get during the winter season and weirdos always came up to him to try and bother him to model while licking their lips.
Chigiri did his best to answer. However he couldn't answer even half of their questions. It was then when someone stepped into the room.
"Hey, don't bother the new student."
Reo… Mikage.
The students immediately move away like they were water and Reo was Moses. Reo goes up to him, looking him up and down.
"You're that new track and field star are you not?"
"That's me."
"That's so cool! I've always enjoyed seeing your footage… That interview you did recently was inspiration."
Chigiri wondered why he was treated so highly… when not too long ago he remembered he injured himself in a competition.
It was only after he healed did his father move them to Tokyo. Chigiri stayed with his older sister however, while his parents kept a house that was a a bus drive away, but because Koyuki was near his school, he was to live with her.
Perhaps the reruns of his competitions skipped over those or perhaps people just like an underdog story.
Reo from that day on began to invite him for lunch. So, along with Reo's friend, Nagi… they all ate in the garden of the school together.
What Chigiri had learned about Reo was that he was emotional, charming and funny. He would always speak mellow with Chigiri.
Chigiri would blush at Reo's considerate words. Once they were alone in the garden, waiting for Nagi to get his lunch, so Chigiri asked, "Is there reason you like my games… I'm not really playing anymore."
"Huh? Oh, right."
'Oh right?' Is he serious?!
"I really don't get you." Chigiri feel a giggle rise from his throat, shaking his head. "I'm a 'has been' sports star… yet everyone treats me like I'm still some star including you… I just don't get it."
"Well… You're sprints are really magnificently cool… your face… how your legs move… everything you did was inspiring!"
"Yes… But im not inspiring anymore, am I?"
"… Well I introduced everyone at this school… to you."
"What…?"
"All of our sports, all of our athletes were completely lackluster. I made it my mission to revamp this school… I was only able to do that… because I saw a video of you."
Chigiri felt his whole face start to burn, he lowered his head so his hair hid the expression on his face.
"Using all you charm for something like that… Are you stupid…?" Chigiri bluntly spat.
"No, of course. Because that passion you had is something worth using…!"
"…!"
"Chigiri when you feel up to it, I hope you run again soon. You deserve that spark."
"… You really… believe in me."
"Of course, you're the reason this place has had any life recently!"
That was the first time Chigiri Hyōma's heart skipped a beat. Reo had just told him how he was able to transform this place into something lively and bright through motivation for athletes.
Chigiri had never seen himself as… a powerful spark.
It's midway through junior year when Reo gives him a letter, it's in shiny purple and written in cursive english. Chigiri had paid attention had seen how strong and precise that hand was, it was undoubtedly Reo's handwriting.
Chigiri went to the back of the school, which had a giant tree behind it.
It was then when he saw Reo there, letting his hair blow with the wind and let his skin shine under the sun. He leaned against the cherry tree on the hill before looking down and seeing Chigiri.
then he stumbled, stumbled down to be on his level with the brightest smile imaginable.
Chigiri was breathless, so only Reo could speak at that moment.
"I'm in love with you." Reo confessed. His face slowly blushing as he took Chigiri's hands. "I've wanted you to know you for so long… And now I do.
I don't want to admire you from afar anymore…
I want to truly kiss you."
Then like lightening, their lips attached to eachother.
Chigiri kissed first and Reo held him while reciporating. Reo's hands dip to his waist, a squeeze is given just as Chigiri parts.
"I… love you, too."
So… how did that magically day of love and confession turn into days of abuse?
Chigiri is beaten up after they slap him, mocking to ruin his pretty face.
Reo comes with Nagi in toll. He shouts at the girls that run away before they can be truly identified.
Chigiri looks up at Reo, his boyfriend who's tearing up at the sight of him beat up. A tear hits his cheek before he passes out.
When Chigiri comes to, he's in a luxurious hospital room. He looks over and sees Reo's laying on his lap. Chigiri pets his head.
Chigiri snickers, his throat feels dry, he body hurts and itches with bruises but something about Reo being here makes him almost forget.
Ever since Chigiri has started dating Reo, he's been targeted by Reo's fan club, sometimes boys, sometimes girls.
They hasn't even announced their relationship to anyone but there was already milk being poured into his hair.
He was threatened and hit.
A girl named Sako had bought out a delinquent gang to assaulted him, only for her to grab him by ear and shout:
"Stay away from Reo, you ugly harlot."
Anytime Reo asked, Chigiri would shake his head and blankly come up with an excuse, "I fell down."
Chigiri made Reo stay away from him at school. Reo complied to Chigiri, doing his best to treat Chigiri like any other student.
But during the school festival, Chigiri was in a maid uniform. Reo couldn't stay away to see his cute boyfriend crossdressing.
Apparently they got caught kissing that day behind the school.
As the image began to spread like an virus, he was pushed down the stairs, and had to limp to the infirmary.
Nagi had noticed it all, and went to Chigiri once while he was in the infirmary once more.
"Why don't you tell Reo?" Nagi blurted out.
"I don't know what your talking about." Chigiri faced away, difficulty lying to Nagi's face filled with anger for him, even if it was just in his big dark eyes.
Nagi sighed, handing Chigiri a creamy melon bread and curry bread
It was only after Chigiri finished eating, did Nagi speak, in more concerned tone this time.
"You're getting bullied right? It happened to me when I first transferred."
Chigiri eyes widened, looking over at Nagi, who was rubbing his nape.
Target Nagi? But he's so relaxed, why would he be in a conflict like this?
"W— no way." Chigiri gasped out.
"Yes way." Nagi sighed. "When I was starting here I was targeted because me and Reo quickly became friends. They apparently they found out about me and Reo having a fight and started to target me. I'm only grateful that you transferred here princess."
"… I really don't get it. Ever since we started dating it's like everyone's flipped a switch…"
"People are fickle."
"I don't want to… give into those idiots! They want me to go crying to Reo so that they can prove something. I'm not giving them the satisfaction."
"Huh. It's no wonder Reo dated you.
You're super cool."
After that it was rumored that Chigiri and Nagi were dating.
Because of this, Reo began to avoid Chigiri hard. They would no longer walk home, or go to school together. Reo wouldn't invite Chigiri. Chigiri could get declined for dates.
Chigiri never thought Reo would care about rumors, so he didn't even think about it.
Nagi as well, unexpectedly didn't realize it either.
So now, Chigiri was considered awful for being a two timing slut. Chigiri was now beaten even more frequently.
Chigiri now didn't get Reo coming to the infirmary to check on him, he stopped having lunch with him.
It was as if they broke up. Chigiri after eating alone on the roof… cried.
Chigiri had gotten a letter in Reo's beautiful handwriting to meet him behind the school.
Chigiri felt bile rise in his throat. Chigiri's heart was screaming. He had realized that Reo was probably going to break up with him.
But no, when he went into the designation, he was hit and kicked. Chigiri was caught off guard when he was hit with a bat.
"I heard a pretty little thing like you had an ACL tear? Is your leg fragile now? Let's see."
Chigiri was held down as his legs were twisted.
He was back in the present now. Feeling Reo in his lap, seeing he had a wet face.
"Reo…" Chigiri hummed.
Reo lifted his head, and saw that Chigiri had awaken, his sleeping beauty in bandages.
"Oh thank god…" Reo cried. "You're fine— you're … Oh…"
Chigiri chuckled dryly in which Reo immediately looks over and pulls water out of a large reusable bag.
Reo brings the water to Chigiri's lips, helping him drink it. The only sound is the hum of Chigiri's throat at the joy of the liquid from the dried up state of his tongue.
When Reo stops, he places it by the bedside table.
"Nagi… Explained everything to me," Reo starts. "This whole time those people have been assaulted you… Yet— you'd just take it… And not tell me?"
"… Sorry."
"You really are stubborn, and foolish… And… And… So am I." Reo’s eyes began to water once more. "If only I hadn't taken that rumor to heart. If only I'd listen to you and stop this from spreading… You could run again in track and—"
"Reo, It's okay." Chigiri interrupted. Petting Reo's sweet head while looking to his eyes, he couldn't help but smile. "It's not like I'm dead or something."
"…"
"I wanted to be able to take it. I wanted to be strong. Not treated like I'm fragile… I guess I wanted to show them I don't get effected by them… But that didnt really help me."
"Is that because of your injury?"
"… Yes." Chigiri answered, letting his hand trace over his ACL tear. "After I got injured, I was treated like I was fragile. Like I was made of glass if I ran too hard again… The people here… reminded me of how I wasn't. In my other highschool, I was laughed at, called glass knee.
But here I was forced to go through so much pain, that I entirely held to test myself… See if I would really… break."
"Chigiri… You aren't weak. Hell, you're stronger than a lot of people give you credit for. Chigiri… you're leg isn't glass, they just twisted your leg. Deliberately harmed you."
"… Yeah… I think I blacked out for most that." Chigiri shrugged.
"Please don't take this lightly."
"Sorry, Reo… But its alright now, since you saved me."
"I suppose but you'll have to stay in the the hospital."
"Upgraded from infirmary to hospital, what an update…"
Reo brought Chigiri flowers every day, and while others would visit, Chigiri and Reo would play board games, video games with Nagi, watch TV, all in the hospital room.
However Reo not to long ago explains how his family owns the hospital.
"Wait so… This is your hospital?" Chigiri gasped, eating the fancy sushi Reo brought him.
"That's right, I hope it's been to your liking."
"Rich man son's really have everything…"
"Just say you love it."
"I never said I didn't …! I'm just surpised."
"Well, now you know sweetheart."
Chigiri helps Reo get all those kids suspended and expelled depending on the severity of their assaults.
Chigiri would casually recount the most violent things as he ate with a smile.
"Three guys grabbed me while one other one stripped me and hit me with a broom." Chigiri hummed, eating his mentaiko over rice before his glass noodle salad. " Um… I think his name is Tako… Taki… Yakima?"
"Are you talking about Yakima Shouji?"
"Right, him and his friends… Noma Souta… Eita Genji and Yoku Madara."
"I'm surprised you know all their names."
"Well, I'm not sure… But I might need your yearbook."
"You've identified 25 people already with out needed one, you're really amazing?! Are you sure you don't have a photographic memory?"
"I wouldn't have to study if that was the case… Now let me us the year book."
"Yes, princess…"
Chigiri did the method of RICE before restoring flexibility and strength training. Soon, his twisted knee was healed, and Chigiri could go back to doing track.
Chigiri after one day back from school, everyone looked at him with fear, bit perhaps that was because Chigiri was assigned a personal body guard.
Chigiri tried to make small talk with the guy but he just said "I don't talk to anyone except my grandma."
Chigiri thought that familiar line was going make connecting and conversation difficult. However Chigiri spring up questions about this adult man's grandma and he became more talkative.
Chigiri was relief he could win over his granny's boy bodyguard.
Reo then began to take Chigiri on dates three days a week to make up for his petty antics from before.
That's how Reo and Chigiri, the Highschool Sweethearts soon grew into marriage after college.
When Chigiri with a PHD in Archival Studies and Reo with a PHD in Marketing got married, with Nagi as Reo's best man… Kunigami who they met in college was Chigiri's.
They held a large wedding that colored in purple and pink… Reo wore a purple tux and Chigiri in a pink lacy suit with a baby pink veil.
Reo lifted the veil to his love, before finally sealing him with a kiss.
END.