CHAPTER 16 2 weeks. That’s how long Kusano was going to be a camp leader. His job was to instruct the kids, take care of them and be nice. To start with he had to sit on a bus for almost two hours. Glancing out the window Kusano’s mind drifted of to a distant place. For the past few days he had tried to forget about Yamashita. Tried to forget how he was hopelessly in love with the guy and try to move on. Trying seemed to be pretty hard this time. Arriving at their destination Kusano was woken up by Shige shaking him like mad. “You fell asleep” he said and got of the bus. Rubbing the tiredness out of his eyes Kusano let out a loud yawn as he stretched feet, arms and whatever not. He got up, grabbed his bag and walked to the exit. As he was about to step out of the bus, a person stepped on the bus. “Ah gomenasai!” Kusano looked up. It was Yamashita. Feeling an arrow of anger pierce his chest Kusano sent the other a death glare before pushing him away, running in Shige’s direction. Biting his lip Yamashita looked at the ground having to swallow the name ‘KUSANO!’ Telling himself he would be able to talk to him later he walked into the bus to find that keychain he had lost. “WHAT THE FUCK IS HE DOING HERE?!” Kusano shouted as he threw his bag on the bed he was going to sleep on for the next two weeks. “Mind your language” Shige said while texting a sms to Koyama. “Whatever!” he kicked the bed’s leg making it scream ‘Ouch’. Not being able to sit still he slammed the door open heading towards the lake. Breathing in the mountain air he let himself relax quickly. It was weird how some fresh air and nature view could change ones mood completely. Seeing the fishes jump up from the surface and down again Kusano told himself not to worry about Yamashita and act like he had not heard a thing. No one knew he had heard. Only his dog though, but he would not tell anyone for sure. If Yamashita was ignoring him, he would ignore him right back! Smiling at his conclusion he saw Shige approaching him. “You feeling better?” Shige asked stuffing his hands down in his back pockets. “Un~” Receiving a smile from Shige meant that Shige was pleased to hear his friend was okay. Picking up some random stone he threw it into the water. Somewhat it started a stone throwing fight between him and Shige. No matter how long Shige threw, Kusano would always throw further. Amazingly Kusano did not feel any anger towards Yamashita the next morning. Clearly the air had done him good. To Kusano he and Yamashita were as good as broken up, but there was a part in Kusano who still wanted to be in Yamashita’s arms again. “You eat like a pig!” Shige commented when Kusano’s face were covered in food yet again. “I can’t help it dude!” he ate some more “The food is delicious!” Just shaking his head at his piggy friend Shige sent his first sms to Koyama that day. He had been forced by his lover to send him at least 5 sms a day. Forced and forced… it was more like a promise. A promise made so he could go to the camp. “Morning” Yamashita said and sat down by the camp leaders table. Everyone greeted him, even Kusano. Sending Kusano a few glances now and then Yamashita did not touch his food. He was not hungry… he was never hungry actually. Was he going back to what he had trouble with for 4 years ago? Anorexia? After getting their instructions for today’s tasks Kusano and Shige headed back to their room. Their room were one of four rooms that were in one building. Together they were sixteen camp leaders. Looking down at his paper he could not help but to laugh. “Shige” his laughter became louder “You’re gonna fish!” “What?!” Shige snapped the paper from Kusano. “No way!” “Yes way! I bet you have to touch the fish and cut it up and take out its inv—“ “OKAY FINE! It’s enough really” a shiver went down Shige’s spine. Gross stuff was just… GROSS! Heading towards the direction of the spot he was supposed to b eon today he saw Yamashita walk of with a bunch of kids into the forest. From what Kusano read, Yamashita would be learning the kids about bad mushroom and good mushroom. He let out a small laugh. That had to be boring. “There you are!” one of the head leaders said when he spotted Kusano. “Yo” “I’m Takeru, but you can call me Take” they shook hands. “So, you any good in soccer?” Take blinked at Kusano in a playful way. “You bet!” Splitting the kids into two teams was going to be tougher then he had thought. They were all going ‘I wanna be with her’ ‘But that’s unfair!’ ‘I don’t wanna be in that team!’ Almost giving up he finally got some help from Take who was stiffer then himself. Mumbling a ‘thanks’ to the other Kusano chose which team he would be in. Take joined the other. Until lunch they kept playing soccer, having five minutes brake now and then. Tackling one of the kids to roughly so she fell over and began bleeding like hell from her knee Kusano made ambulance sirens sounds, picked her up and hurried over to the nurse’s cabin. “We have a player down!” he said as he opened the door making sure the girl in his arms would not fall down. The nurse got up from her seat and walked over to them. “Let’s see” she put up a fake sad face when she saw the scratch on the girls knee. “Naaaaw, that is one big wound isn’t it?” The girl nodded. “Does it hurt?” The girl nodded twice. “Put her over hear” she said to Kusano. He did so. “What’s your name?” the nurse asked while cleaning the wound. The little girl sniffed a little before answering quietly, “Chiharu” “That’s quite a pretty name isn’t it?” Chiharu just nodded. Placing a pink plaster on the girl’s knee the nurse told her she was free to go. Chiharu got on her feet and pointed at the candy box on the nurse’s desk. “Can I have one?” “Of course you can!” Kusano said before the nurse managed to reply. Taking one of the candy bars he gave it to Chiharu. “Gomen ne~” ”It’s okay” Chiharu said still with tear wet cheeks. Smiling down at the little one he pat her head before drying her cheeks. Holding out his hand he said ‘Let’s go?’, Chiharu nodded and accepted to hold his hand. From that moment Kusano was a hero. The days went buy and Yamashita still had not talked to Kusano nor touched any food. Rubbing his hungry stomach he closed his eyes, wanting it to go away. All of it. Opening them again he was a bit disappointed that it all was still there. Putting his shoes on he got up and out of his room. Outside the building he was staying in there were a bench faced towards the lake and the small meadow. Yamashita sat down, watching the kids as they had fun swimming, playing, chatting or whatever kids usually did. They were so cute. Every single one of them… so fragile and unknown of what horrible stuff the world could bring, but here everything was peaceful. He could see Kusano carrying a girl on his shoulders, she had a pink plaster on her knee. Smiling at that Yamashita wished that things would go back to normal. ‘It will, just talk to him’ a voice in his head said. He kept arguing with his inner voice before he was taken back to reality by Shige. “Have you and Kusano broken up?” he was sitting beside him on the dark wood bench. “Hm?” “He wont tell me anything… I don’t wanna ask either since he’s in such a good mood” “I’ve…” Yamashita looked from Kusano to Shige. “We haven’t…” It was true that to all of his friends he had said they had broken up, but the truth was that they had not. “Sou ka” Shige sighed “He was pissed the first night after knowing you were here as well, I dunno why though, he seemed to have gotten over it” Yamashita did not reply to that, his eyes were focused on Kusano, trying to read what was in that boy’s mind. It was impossible though, but it felt good just staring at him, trying to go beyond the surface and read his thoughts. They had not spoken in a few weeks time, maybe it was time? Sneaking out that very night Yamashita looked through Kusano and Shige’s window. His lover’s, or ex-lover’s, bed was empty. Where the? was the words he managed to think before someone poked him on the shoulder. “Whatcha looking at?” Letting out a not to loud scream Yamashita turned around to face other person. “Gah… Hironori, you scared me” “… Right” he cocked a brow. “Looking at Shige are we?” “What? No!” “Then what?” “You!” “I’m right here~” he waved with his hand. “Yes, I was looking for you” God damn it, don’t be so complicated! He wanted to add but kept it inside. “Why?” Kusano chewed on the inside of his cheek. “We need to talk” Yamashita said and took Kusano’s hand. Just as fast as he had taken it Kusano took it back. “About what?” Having a small heart ache because of Kusano’s actions, Yamashita’s voice was a bit shallow. “Us” “I thought there weren’t ‘us’ anymore! I ruined your face remember? Not to talk about car and reputation!” “Hiro…” “No, I am over you okay? I am fine! Sure I was hurt back then when I overheard your conversation in the restrooms, but that all okay now! I can deal with it!” How many lies had he told now? 2… 5? Pressing back the tears Yamashita placed both hands on Kusano’s hot cheeks, holding his face while kissing him on the lips. Breaking away Kusano slapped his friend, or what was he?, across the face. Leaving it red and burning. The silence was horrible. Grasshoppers were playing a song and the frogs called for each other. Mosquitoes were swarming around the lamp that lightened up outside the house. Stuttering Kusano broke the silence, “A—and I’m n—not sorry!” with that he opened the door to leave Yamashita alone outside. But no, Yamashita grabbed his arm by the wrist. “Don’t walk away…” Getting out of the others grip Kusano mumbled ‘Whatever’ and slammed the door. A lonely tear ran down his cheeks, leaving a trail down his cheek. “Coward…”