22 You Got a Friend in Me

"...?!" Haruki blinked, stunned.

Saito took Haruki by surprise, kissing his lips in a loud and exaggerated way. Releasing the hand that held the singer's neck, the mountaineer put his hand over Haruki's head and ruffled the boy's hair. Saito said,

"Hinata may be the youngest here. But you are the purest. And I will see that you remain immaculate. It's my promise, Haruki. I will protect you," Saito smiled, spoke softly and quietly.

But something in his eyes shivered every hair on Haruki's body. Saito's hard and cold gaze, the mark of a man who achieved everything he wanted.

Haruki, who was still surprised by the kiss, was speechless when he heard the adventurer's vows. He didn't feel it was a compliment to know Saito thought of him as the group's most naïve. Because it was far from being true.

At least in his opinion, of course.

Before Haruki answered, Saito had already got up and went to the bathroom.

Without really wanting to continue this conversation, Haruki left the room and used the locker room. After it, he went downstairs, but on the way to the kitchen, he saw a new door open.

His jaw dropped as soon as he entered. In the dining-room he found Takashi having breakfast. The breakfast table looked like a movie scene, with assorted foods and drinks available, beautifully organized.

In good spirits Haruki ate a hearty meal along with the artist, eating recklessly. Takashi laughed,

"You live on a diet, don't you?"

"Uhum, but here I don't have to worry, do I?" Haruki spoke, chewing on sweet bread,

"Takashi-san, what are your priorities regarding what I should negotiate with Honda-san? Is notifying your family important to you?" the singer planned to ask everyone to know how to act next.

The painter was thoughtful before saying,

"We can talk about what I need, but I prefer it to be in a more reserved environment."

Haruki agreed.

At this point, Jun and Saito arrived at the dining room together. It was funny to watch. They were bumping into each other, without any of them giving way.

Saito was faster and take the seat next to Haruki. Jun sat across from him.

Haruki said good morning to them, but continued his conversation with Takashi,

"...So we can go for a run, Takashi-san," He decided to subtly hint the invitation didn't include newcomers. Haruki finished eating in a hurry, saying he was ready.

The singer and the painter went out together, while Haruki laughed internally at the face the two made when left alone.

On the beach, out of earshot of the others, Takashi closed his eyes for a moment, then asked in a low voice and straight to the point,

"Haruki-san, could you get some medicine for depression and anxiety with your friend, the illustrator? Please?"

Several things went through his head at that moment, but without wanting to guess Takashi's personal backstory, the singer asked,

"I will ask him as soon as I talk to him again. And shouldn't we tell Honda-san about it? Gamekoi must take responsibility." Haruki walked towards the rocks, because he remembered they were ambling around the rocks when Takashi felt confident to open up for the first time.

He was right. When they got there, Takashi pulled air to his lungs and, after staring at the sea for a while, turned to him,

"Not yet. I rather wish to keep it mostly unknown. Unless I have a crisis. About my family... Today, I am away from them. And I prefer to keep it that way. My parents split up when I was a kid. My father was going to visit me at the beginning. Afterward, he moved, and met his current wife. He would still see me sometimes. My mother went back to work and met a Westerner," Takashi watched the sea, his pleasant voice cracked and he stopped.

"You don't have to say anything, Takashi-san," the singer knew some personal stories with great tragic weight. He had lived in the entertainment industry for five years. Takashi looked at him,

"I know. I have trusted no one to get those things off my chest for a long time. You give me that security, Haruki-san," Takashi lay on the rock, enjoying the early morning sun, and continued,

"He was good for us at first. My mother stopped working. He took on the responsibilities. She was happy, and our social situation improved. My grandparents approved it and they got married. Soon after the wedding, he wanted to return to his country. And we went along, of course. Life was comfortable. He was an important man and spoiled my mother, and she had a hectic socialite schedule, which she enjoyed. He was perfect in everyone's eyes," Takashi looked at the sky, always so shiny in the game's sky.

He described painting techniques to achieve this effect. But Haruki was not paying attention. The singer's mind was busy filling in the lines of the story, Haruki asked, encouraging Takashi to continue,

"How did you manage to get rid of this worm?"

"Teenager. A teacher noticed and supported me to make the complaint. My mom doesn't talk to me anymore. She never believed my story. Because of her testimony, he was released. And I left their house and went back to live with my grandmother. My father chose not to get involved. He couldn't disturb his new family by taking me to his home. My grandmother sided with me, even after her daughter threatened to cut off relations with her if she took me in. They didn't speak with each other for years. It was just my grandmother and me. My grandfather was already deceased. And I wanted to die, I was in therapy for years. I found in the arts a reason to live again," Takashi's constant voice revealed to the singer a lot of breathing technique. The painter used breathing techniques to remain apparently calm. But Haruki imagined the pain he must have been feeling when he remembered his stepfather's abuse and his mother's neglect.

Takashi spoke again,

"He abandoned her. He asked for a divorce the day I left the house. He came to me, said he would forgive everything if I came back." Takashi sat down and looked at Haruki, "I thought about returning to him_ I was terrified. I didn't want to be alone in the world, as Jun-san grew up. But I couldn't take it anymore."

Takashi's eyes were red. Haruki hugged him tightly,

"You're not alone, Takashi-san. Here and out there, you have my friendship. Count on me!"

They held each other until Takashi calmed down.

"Your grandmother sounds like an incredible woman…" Haruki spoke, and the painter interrupted him,

"My grandmother died last winter. So, today I am close only to my fiancee and her family."

"Ooh Takashi, I'm sorry," Haruki hugged him again. At least he was used to all the physical contact from years in the sport and as a teen trainee, but he was surprised Takashi wasn't afraid of physical contact. Perhaps he was, really, harmless to his eyes, as implied Saito.

"I've been fine for two years, but I don't know what it's going to be like if we stay here any longer," Takashi explained.

Haruki realized that Takashi spoke not because he wanted to, but as a precaution.

"I won' flirt with Miyu-chan. I don't accept being pressured as we are being here to court her. I'm feeling like a sex object again," there was despair in the artist's voice.

"We are together, Takashi, no one will force you. I will keep your secret. And think of a plan so nobody is subjected to this role. Nobody here will be a toy."

"Haruki-san, I need to confess that when I saw you for the first time, I didn't think much of you. I thought you would be a sporty version of Hinata-kun. Of all, you are the one who surprised me the most for your optimism, for your generosity. Not even in Europe have I met anyone so affectionate," Takashi spoke of the singer.

"Ooh, it's not like that. Come on! Give Hinata-kun another chance. You guys suffered the most because you were the first to arrive. Think about what it was like for him to be here alone. Not knowing what had happened. Not knowing how long you'd be here. Anyway, who knows what he thought and suffered," Haruki spoke in a conciliatory tone. And after reflecting on Takashi's words for a while, he continued,

"Thank you. You know, not many people like my weird habit of touching people. So I try to avoid it. I was like that in high-school with my teammates. And then as a trainee, we were encouraged to get to know each other, to touch each other, as part of acting techniques, stage techniques. To better express ourselves on stage. But, if I freak out and upset you, just give me a heads-up, okay?" Haruki asked, realizing that, because of his heightened empathy, he had embraced Takashi without his permission. And he had also hugged Saito, in bed. Even sleeping Haruki had disturbed the adventurer. Perhaps it was this behavior that prompted the adventurer to kiss him. Even if it was a loud and farcical peck, it still troubled Haruki.

"You didn't upset me, Haruki. I liked your healing hugs. Thank you," Takashi smiled. It was a shy and beautiful smile.

Haruki then thought of something happy for everyone to bring everyone together in an activity.

"Hey Takashi, how about we play baseball?!" Haruki asked hopefully, but seeing Takashi's funny face he knew he needed to be more convincing.

"Uhm hum hum," the singer acted cute, trying to win Takashi over.

"Hahaha, okay, let's play baseball," Takashi shouted happily, inspired by the singer's joy and good humor.

With a little work and persuasion, they got the others to join in the fun. And with improvised instruments, they started the game.

Jun and Haruki were passable baseball players, but the others were such a disaster that the competition soon turned into a party of absurd and hilarious accidents. Trying to hit a ball, Hinata's bat escaped from his hands and flew straight to a window, which broke in a shower of shards.

This would have been a good time for the group to give up the game, but they were having so much fun that they dared to continue. It added to the fun, in fact.

And the first time Daisuke finally threw a good ball for Haruki to hit, Miyu-chan appeared out of nowhere, exactly in the middle of the ball's trajectory!

The ball made a parable in the air. Falling on the head of the clueless Miyu-chan.