Not So Simple Things

Author: pratz

Disclaimer: Konomi Takeshi, of course

.-.-.-.

Chapter 5: Sound of Silence

Yukimura raised both eyebrows as Sanada froze immediately before him, his grip slackening and chopsticks falling on the surface of the table. Noticing Yukimura's curious stare, Sanada mumbled small words onto his cell-phone before pocketing said gadget back into his breast pocket.

"Who's that?"

"My mother."

Yukimura leaned back again to chair, watching Sanada fidgeting uneasily in his seat. Sanada was never one to show his anxiety so easily in front of anyone, so he took a great deal of pride for being one Sanada put his trust on. Still, he wanted to know why Sanada's mother called her son in out of blue, interrupting their private lunch.

"I have an omiai arranged for me."

.-.-.-.

"Yukimura."

Shaking his head a little to clear his mind from his latest dream, Yukimura forced a benign smile onto his lips. It tasted bitter. "Yes, Sanada?"

"You sure," Sanada paused, his voice faltering for a bit moment in the line, "you're alright?"

Silence.

Sighing, Yukimura closed his eyes and tilted his head upward. He wondered if his face when he had heard about Sanada's omiai a week ago was as white as the ceiling. How could the bastard ask whether he was alright now that he was the one who was abandoned? "I think you should end the call, Sanada. I'm tired." He was. It was 11pm and this last week had loaded a bunch of stress on him.

He had tried to sound vicious, he had meant it to be a snarl, but to his horror it sounded more to a sob.

Silence again.

Sanada wouldn't leave. Sanada wouldn't leave me. He loves me. He loves me. He loves me. He loves me. Helovesme. Helovesme. Helovesme. Helovesmehelovesme.

"A-ah." Sanada stuttered then, guilt clearly evident in his voice. "I'm sorry for troubling yo—"

Yukimura slammed the phone onto his nightstand, hard, and Sanada did not call again. Heh. Why bother to call me when he's got a girl on his sleeve now?

Stupid. Stupid Sanada.

"What is love, actually?" he garbled loudly, his voice echoing in the empty room, but the sickening silence never answered him in return.

.-.-.-.

Another week passed like fallen leaves in the autumn, and today was the day when Sanada was supposed to meet his parents' chosen girl in omiai. Yukimura drove his former vice captain himself to the appointed place, a rather deluxe café near their office, not knowing why. Sanada was surprised when Yukimura offered him the ride, but he did not turn down the offer.

Sanada still had twenty minutes left before the omiai when they arrived at the parking lot, and just now Yukimura did not have the will to simply kick him out off his car.

Out of his life. Forever.

Resting his forehead upon his arms on the steer wheel, Yukimura could hear the ticking sound of his car clock and the soft breathing coming from Sanada. He was desperate for a smile. Sanada had always supported him in tennis, Sanada was his best friend and Sanada was never his; so he wanted to at the very least put a smile in this point where Sanada would go on with his life.

Yukimura knew Sanada would—and was perfectly able to—carry on even without him in his life.

"I—"

"You've never said no."

He jerked his head up so fast that the world seemed to be spinning for a short time before his eyes. "What?"

"You never tell me to stop. You never ask me to stay. Now you drive me here to meet the girl my parents have chosen and pretend that you're fine with it," Sanada said, grief-stricken and lost, his face contorted into a hurt expression. "I'm tired, Yukimura. I'm tired."

Ten minutes to go.

"Say something. Tell me," Sanada held on to his arm, his grip clutching into Yukimura's flesh, leaving marks he knew would be there afterward, just like the marks Sanada always left in his soul, in his entire being. "Tell me to stay. Please."

Never, ever for all the time he had known Sanada he heard such desperate plea from him. Not even when Yukimura dropped him from their team in senior high just to make Sanada come to his house after school. Not even when Yukimura tied him to bedpost. Not even when Yukimura intentionally flirted with another guy, lots of guys, right in front of him.

Not for all the time he knew he had hurt Sanada as he took him for granted.

"I—"

Five minutes to go.

"Seiichi."

Sanada's hold on his arm loosened as Yukimura placed a hand on top of his.

"It's Seiichi now, Sana—Genichirou."

Sanada looked like he was barely able to keep the tears stay on the brink. No one, no one but him was going to see this beautiful side of Sanada when he was utterly and thoroughly happy.

"Your Seiichi."

"And your Genichirou."

Silence never sounded this good before.