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It was well known in the classroom that Okuyasu was not one of the most attractive people in the place. This, of course, was something the boy himself knew and always cursed for it. He remembered all those times when his brother Keicho received the compliments of pretty girls, wishing to experience the same. Getting used to being the second wheel was what, perhaps, he was destined to be all his life. And there was no turning back to change it.
He wasn't smart enough to impress any girl, or handsome enough to attract women; he didn't even have any valuables or a car to attract attention!
- "Okuyasu, how do you think you're going to have a fancy car if you don't make enough money to buy one?".
- "But if I had one, all that would change in my life!" the shorter one shrieked, "You'll see, Josuke, sooner or later thousands of pretty, well-built students will be drooling over me!".
- "Whatever you say!", the one with the neat hair continued to walk, sarcastically.
- "Idiot, do you think I won't be able to do it?".
- "But of course you will", he replied, "The old ladies will be gawking at your attractiveness!".
- "Hey!".
They stuck hilariously around the neighborhood. Josuke loved to tease his best friend with that kind of romance and flirting banter. Actually, he didn't care what young Nijimura looked like; whether it was a certain height, skin color, hair or personality, he loved him for who he was. He used to hear the comments from some of his fellow folder mates towards his friend about how dumb he was and how he drove girls away and he couldn't help but feel annoyed and yell at them to shut up. Okuyasu was really dumb, but in serious moments he knew how to think and act. Something that, unfortunately, other people would not have the privilege of seeing.
Arriving at Josuke's house, they both planned to advance some homework that had been left for them in math and social studies class. All the teachers in the school taught very well, except for the numbers teacher who kept talking about anything stupid, causing the duo to end up sleeping or in detention to kill the boredom. However, those behaviors caused them to be given extra homework to reinforce their low grades from the last exam.
Okuyasu and Josuke were tired of such dire and unfunny student life. Their only dream was just to earn money, eat and squander their wallets on fancy things to gain the respect of all people.
Perhaps, after all, Josuke was not so different from Okuyasu in terms of childish attitude, only winning in terms of physical attractiveness. It was to be expected to see several girls lined up offering him chocolates and love letters for the taller one. Deep down, Josuke enjoyed what he was being presented with, but none of them appealed to him enough to have any of them as a mate. All the young girls saw the boy as unattainable, so they were eager to be with Higashikata at all costs.
Josuke supposed he was a little different from the other boys. He preferred to be with his friend a thousand times to chat and look for street adventures out there. He truly felt at ease with him and wasn't afraid to show himself as he was.
- "Hey, man, didn't you have to finish this part of the exercise?".
- "Who cares? This game is better".
As soon as they arrived at the house, they were totally ready to move forward with the tasks, but, that motivation didn't last more than 5 minutes when one of the best games released in that same year loomed in front of the boys' eyes. Seduced by the temptation, school was put on the back burner to start playing.
- "Hey, you cheated", Josuke shouted to his friend, even though they were close enough to hear each other.
- "You fool", he pointed to the TV screen, "At no point in the game does it say you can't go out of lane to get more of an advantage!".
- "Since when did you start making up other rules! It's not fair!" he pouted like a little kid. He turned his back on his friend and remained silent, thus ignoring Nijimura.
- "Hey, don't give me the ice law!".
Josuke hid his face so Okuyasu wouldn't see it. With annoyance, Okuyasu was doing everything he could to make the big one give in.
And what a better idea with a tickle attack.
- "HAHAHAHA, hey, get the hell off of me!".
- "Never, until you accept that you lost", shouted Nijimura.
- "Of course I'm a good loser" he replied with a little huff, "I've lost to you before and I haven't complained" he looked at him, "The only difference is that this game is one of the best and I can't dare to lose!".
- "..., well, I must admit that you are kind of proud of these things", he sighed, "Isn't there a video game where you always win". Okuyasu sat back down on the floor and went through all the CDs his friend had, as if trying to guess if his question would have an answer or not.
Josuke was thoughtful at Okuyasu's question. Would there be another game in which he never lost?
- "That's a good question, Oku", he put his hand on his chin, "Hmm, I don't really remember one right now".
After he said that, a light bulb came on. It was an idea that came so quickly that he was startled at first. First of all, he checked in a general way that little invention in his head that had occurred to him after the simple question. Then, analyzing it well, he thought he was a complete fool. It was true that no girl had ever attracted him enough before, but that didn't mean that he had never done an act that everyone would have already experienced at least once in their lives.
Well, Okuyasu was a point apart. The topic of kissing was recurring in their conversations from his friend, as if he was trying to know what it felt like to kiss someone on the lips by listening to Josuke's accounts with stories of other friends who had kissed before.
Now, Josuke knew very well that talking about kissing was one thing, but it was, equally, something completely different to experience it live and direct.
Especially, with his best friend.
He cursed to himself for coming up with such an idea to do with Okuyasu. Despite not being a fan of girls, he loved the sensation of a kiss, so he became an expert at it by practicing it with several teenage girls in Morioh. Actually, such eagerness to have them behind him was so he could taste other people's lips.
- "I think so, there's something I'm very good at", he said at last.
- "Really?" Okuyasu was surprised at the seriousness with which his friend said such words, "What is it about?".
Josuke was silent, nervously thinking whether to tell him or not. He knew that friends were there to help each other through thick and thin and accept each other as they were. With Okuyasu he wasn't supposed to be afraid to tell him about the "game" he was pretty good at, but he was afraid of the other's reaction.
- "I'm very good at kissing". Finally, after 5 minutes, he said what he was holding back so much. "But I think it's something you'll never be able to do", he laughed in the boy's face.
- "What, you've already kissed before me?" he moaned, indignant, "Josuke, I thought you were my brother and you would accompany me in this suffering for life!".
- "Well, I'm sorry if I've been given the chance!".
After saying that, Okuyasu was left with an annoyed countenance. Josuke hated himself for having caused such a reaction in his best friend. Trying to comfort him, he walked up to him to hug him sideways, telling him not to worry about a simple kiss.
- "..., after all, you will experience it at some point, Oku".
- "What if it never happens", he sobbed, "What if no girl is ever impressed enough by my car to want to put her lips on mine?".
- "Are you really still going on about the car?".
- "I'm just saying, you idiot", he continued with his typical whining when something didn't work out for him, "I don't think I'll ever have that privilege".
And, once again, that fatal idea was in his head.
Josuke was gay. His true orientation was a secret. He was not able to tell his mother, Koichi or even Okuyasu himself. Happily, the society in which they lived saw great progress regarding the acceptance of minority groups, but the young man was not brave enough to say it to the four winds; nor was the air he breathed strong enough to carry his friend's name all over Morioh.
He felt so bad about what he imagined. He felt horrendous for all those times he drew Okuyasu's face in his notebook to hold him closer during his sad days, and others that were not to be mentioned.
Would it be wrong to take a little advantage of him?
- "Oi, Josuke".
- "W-what happened?", he forgot that he had the black-haired man in front of him, waiting for some word from him. Trying to stay calm, he arranged his hair so naturally, as if her voice hadn't taken him by surprise.
- "How about teaching me how to kiss?".
What?
- "Huh?".
- "S-sorry, I think I said something crazy!".
- "No, wait!".
Wait, Josuke.
He tried to process in a few seconds everything that had happened. Although he had already imagined different scenarios where Okuyasu would ask such a thing, he didn't think it was actually happening. Or well, it seemed that way. When his friend told him to help him how to kiss, it could be in different ways: tips, tricks, physical or eye contact, or some other idea his friend asked for. Indeed, for any kissing to happen between them was impossible, but imagining it made Josuke's skin crawl.
- "I mean..., how do you want me to help you?" said the purple-haired man, "There are already some things that I've experienced, so by telling you about them you could put them into practice and...".
- "No", he interrupted, "I want to know how to kiss". Okuyasu scratched the back of his neck and mumbled a few words, as if trying to get courage in what he would say next: "I want us to kiss".
Josuke was in a state of shock, unable to say a word. He quickly watched as her cheeks turned pink and sweat began to break out on her forehead. However, what was most impressive was Okuyasu's reaction.
- "Oku...".
- "Aggh, this is embarrassing", he hid his face completely red with his arms.
- "God", said Josuke.
- "A-And by this I don't mean the romantic way, in case you had any doubts!".
The boy couldn't help but feel sad about what he heard.
For a second, he had the hope that such a proposal would mean something more to the bluish-eyed boy. The heart that was pounding a few minutes ago suddenly stopped.
He was disappointed, but it completely erased such an illusion he had with his friend. He himself knew that it was impossible for anything to happen between them, so whatever happened should not impress him in such a way. He would have to continue to get used to keeping that affection for his best friend for quite a while longer.
- "So... You're not kidding?", the young man waited for the other's confirmation to know if what Oku said was true. He couldn't stop watching every reaction of his friend, trying to read his gestures or what he would do next.
- "No..., I'm not kidding. I've never had my first kiss and I know I'm not the prettiest person ever", he sighed, "I couldn't be so bold as to force some girl to kiss me, you know?".
- "Yes, you're right about that...But why with me?".
It was Okuyasu's turn to answer. Indeed, he had asked his best friend to kiss him. He didn't even have time to think about it and just said it. It was an impulse that felt different from the others; one he never thought would exist. Had he really said that? Was it a very indecent request?
Okuyasu wasn't gay, or at least he thought he wasn't. But, inevitably, imagining him kissing Josuke was so interesting for him. So appealing that he didn't even have the words to explain it.
- "Well...", he thought, "You already said you were good at kissing, so why not?" he answered, "Besides, we can take it as a little help from friends. Do you think so?".
- "I think it wouldn't be bad", Josuke's body moved a little closer to Okuyasu's and stared at him, "I hope you're not regretting it later or wanting to give up".
- "Not at all! If I could beat you in a video game, then I can with something as simple as a kiss!".
Actually, he lied. A kiss wasn't as simple as it seemed.
- "Okay", said the blue-eyed man as he touched his friend's face with his hands, "I need you to relax...and try not to tense your face too much".
The fingers of the big one touched the cheeks of the shorter one and, each movement of his hands formed a small caress on his face. Okuyasu was delighted by his friend's touch.
It felt so sublime that he wished it wouldn't stop.
- "I-I think I'm ready now".
And it was time.
The boys' breaths became unsteady. Josuke's eyes sought Okuyasu's with desire. For the first time they would be closer. Josuke could feel his friend's nervousness, but the other kept looking at him and moving closer.
The atmosphere in the room had become a little warmer, making Higashikata's bulge uncomfortable.
Josuke believed, perhaps at the time, that his friend would not notice that embarrassing detail. He felt so sorry for the reactions his body could have in front of him. Trying to refocus his attention to his friend who, it seemed, did not have so much initiative to get closer, he placed his nose with his, leaving it for a few seconds.
From there, the small knot and hard thump of their hearts was present as their lips met.
Josuke felt the other boy's warm lips embrace his with a tender touch. The silence surrounding the room was the only spectator of the spectacle happening there. They were both, incredulously, feeling each other.
It wasn't a perfect kiss, to tell the truth. Okuyasu didn't manage to open his mouth all the way and Josuke on his side was a bit static at the impact.
Quickly, they pulled apart, looking at each other in amazement. Josuke implored his heart to stop in some instant, but he paid no heed. He was attentive to what Okuyasu would do or say after their first kiss.
- "Oku..., I think it came out too weird. Yeah, this whole thing is getting too weird", the fear inside the boy increased when his best friend looked down without saying anything, "I think it would be best if we forget this and...".
And he kissed him. He kissed him again.
Okuyasu Nijimura silenced his words with a deeper kiss. He kept his arms around the boy's waist and pulled him closer with more force. The two still remained on the ground, but their bodies settled as best they could to avoid any separation.
Josuke was amazed by Okuyasu's attitude, the feel of his hands around him, his friend's ragged breathing and the taste of his lips. It all seemed too unreal for him to believe. In despair, he began to think about the possible futures that could occur between the two of them and the friendship they had long cultivated. He was afraid that their relationship would change and he would lose him completely. He just kept thinking and thinking until he could no longer...
- "O-Okuyasu...", Josuke tried to break away from him, but was not allowed to as his friend threw him on the ground and grabbed him with his strong arms.
- "Hey...", Okuyasu's eyes were caught on a nervous Higashikata, looking at him from below, "...Josuke, next time try to control that friend downstairs".
- "You fool!", he couldn't help blushing all over, covering his face and kicking his friend.
- "HAHAHAHA, gotcha!", he laughed seeing his best friend's reaction, but, inside he was so tender to watch him like that, "Well, I see you're not the only one in trouble".
Eyes wide, Josuke came to his senses and felt a large lump resting on his leg.
And, actually, it was a sensation they both liked a little too much.
- "Yeah, I guess we're both in trouble".
And they sealed the sentence with a last kiss: soft, fuzzy and full of emotions.
Then they would worry about what would happen next. They had an afternoon ahead of them to discover something else inside them.