CREDITS TO : UTA NO PRINCE SAMA 

CHAPTER 8

SAOTOME ACADEMY TOP PRINCES LISTS

The Sexiest Prince

Jinguji Ren & Ichinose Tokiya (S Class)

The Most Stunning Prince

Hijirikawa Masato (A Class)

The Cutest Prince

Kurusu Syo (S Class)

The Angel-like Prince

Ittoki Otoya & Shinomiya Natsuki (A Class)

"What the heck!? I am the cutest prince?" Syo complained, receiving an 'of course you are' glare from Masato and giggles from Natsuki and Otoya.

"Don't give me that look, Hijirikawa! You must be over the moon to be called the most stunning one, huh?"

"No, I'm not," Masato's face said otherwise when it blushed madly.

"But look at here, you guys! Ren and Tokiya tied for The Sexiest Prince title," Otoya quickly pointed out the list. All of them actually had no ideas that their names were finalized in such random ranks until Tomochika pointed it out to them.

"When I believe I am the sexiest one," Ren cracked a joke but receiving death glares from Masato and Syo.

"As expected from someone with a narcissism issue," Masato remarked sarcastically while Syo rolled his eyes.

"You should learn how to be humble from Tokiya, Ren. He is called sexy without him even realizing it," Syo commented, gaining himself a strong nod from Masato.

"It's impossible for me to be uptight like Icchi. But, I guess I have a plan to make him chilled- out."

"What do you mean Ren-kun?" Natsuki's round eyes blinked a lot as confusion was all over his face.

Ren just smirked smugly.

"No.. you gotta be kidding me..." Masato's poker face slowly turned pale as he could guess just what the heck Ren's plan was. "You cannot possibly.."

"You are in, Hijirikawa. No excuses. And also you guys..." Ren pointed his slender finger towards each of his friends before leaving them abruptly with a group of girls swooned over him.

"What is he on about?" like Natsuki, Otoya also had a blank expression on his face.

"Oi, Hijirikawa! I don't get the picture yet but whatever that jerk plans, it must be something ridiculous, right? Right? Oi, Hijirikawa!" Syo shook Masato who is much bigger and taller than him but...

No answers from Masato. Instead, his head was busy cursing Ren while brainstorming 15,679 ways to kill the irritating ex-playboy.

That rotten creature.... he should have shorter lifespan than Ichinose if he is this irritating!

Haruka was about to go to her PE class when on the spur of the moment, her golden eyes served her with the image of Tokiya, sitting alone under a tree, reading his favourite book.

Or in other words, Tokiya was reading the letter that she sneaked into the book. His expression was...

Wait! Is he angry?

She was about to approach him when out of nowhere, Syo approached him first.

"Tokiya, there you are!" the small boy caught his breath before continuing. "Your turn for playing tennis is coming. Come on, don't just read a book like a nerd and join us for the God sake!"

Tokiya glared at Syo before closing his book, obviously was not pleased with Syo's remark. "Since you are so athletic and not a nerd like me, I think you just can do me a favour by playing for me instead."

"It's not the same, idiot. Everyone must present for this competition. Come on," without sparing some time to listen to Tokiya's complaints, Syo grabbed the much bigger boy's hand before dragging him to the tennis court.

Without wanting to make Tokiya felt suspicious, Syo carefully took a glance at Haruka before mouthing,

"Come to the tennis court and you will find something interesting."

With a slight doubt, Haruka jogged to the said place.

"Just what is Syo-kun planning?"

When the girl arrived at the tennis court, Haruka was served with the sight of both students from A Class and S Class made a circle.

Just.. what happened...

"Haruka!" Tomochika who just noticed her signaled her ecstaticly to join her.

"What happened, Tomo-chan?" the small girl asked her best friend as she saw Ren and Tokiya were standing opposite to each other, right on the centre of the court. At a single glance, Haruka could see how dreamy the eyes of female students as they anticipated the competition between the good-looking students.

"Jinguji-san just challenged your husband," Tomochika carefully whispered the word 'your husband' to her best friend's ear.

"For what?"

"Beats me.. Maybe just for a fun?"

Well, as expected from Jinguji-san who loves to have fun.

"Ne, Icchi. You know what? Those students in this school just voted us as the sexiest prince. It's a tie for crying out loud."

"So?" Tokiya raised his eyebrow while folding his arms. Unlike Ren who was flamboyant and emitted "I am fabulous" aura all the time, he never proud with whatever awards or votes they gave to him.

"What about we settle this score once and for all? I challenge you to prove to me, to prove to all of us that you are the most desirable prince in this academy."

"What are you on about?"

"Cross-dressing and seducing men who are not from A Class and S Class. Whoever could flirt with the highest number of male students will be declared as the winner."

"Whattttt!!!??" the others gave a super dramatic reaction. It was like they all thought that cross-dressing would be a very bad idea for a pair of buff guys like Ren and Tokiya to do.

"Haruka, what the hell is going on with Jinguji-san? Does he even own a mirror? He absolutely will look terrible if he turns into a girl," Tomochika who is always the optimistic one could not even be one anymore. The thought of Ren and Tokiya would be transvestites alone was enough to make her almost vomitting out of disgust. "Kurusu-san and Ittoki-kun will be much better you know."

"Who knows.." Haruka was completely speechless because she knew where this provocation session would end.

She knows just how skillful Ren is in terms of provoking people and she knows just how perfectionist her husband could be..

"What a nonsense," Tokiya was too tired and annoyed to let himself joining Ren. To prove our sexiness? Excuse me.. For what, though?

If there is another thing that triggers or annoys him, the answer is the current situation that he was forced to involve with.

When Tokiya turned his back, the other students scattered a bit, giving him a way to leave the scene yet Ren was so quick-minded to give up. He knows just how critical Tokiya's perfectionism could be to the point of he could easily play around with Tokiya's weakness.

A perfectionist like him wants everything to be perfect and he will never stop being hardworking until everything turns perfect. So, all Ren had to do was goading the perfectionist side of Tokiya so that he would be motivated to join their match and get it done perfectly.

"You think this is nonsensical? Are you sure, Icchi?" Ren's comment made the blue-haired friend of him stopped. "You know? This is a draw or in other words, the rank is not finalized yet. Don't you feel chagrined because come to think of it, all you have to do is proving that you and I are on different level? Do you want this to be a hang-up? That did not sound perfect at all, Icchi. I know you. You love perfection."

Tokiya continued to disregard the saxophonist.

"Or perhaps.. you feel intimidated because you know, I am going to win without even trying, right?"

The moment Tokiya turned to meet Ren's eyes, the scion knew his plan would be successful.

"I am afraid you have to take back your words, Jinguji Ren," the blue orbs now was full of determination. "Your only weapon is your unbutton shirt so that you can show off your lean chest.."

"And yours will be your dark and cold aura which is so typical in shoujo manga nowadays," Ren smirked. "I think.. it would be fun if we include the other winners for the Saotome Academy Top Princes List. A Class would be... Shinomi, Ikki, Hijirikawa..."

"Ehhhhhh??" Natsuki and Otoya could not hide their shock even frankly speaking, they did not think a cross-dressing was embarassing to do since they do not care about their images but for Masato...

"You better kill me now," Masato rolled his eyes while almost getting himself fainted. Just thinking about the horror of cross-dressing itself was so sickening to handle. What would his strict and conservative father would react if he knew about this match? His father was trying so hard to make him a masculine, decent and pure Japanese man but he, in this school..

Not only studying music when his father did not allow him to but he would be a temporary transvestite for the sake of Ren's stupid idea!

"S Class would be Icchi, me and Ochibi-chan.."

"Ochibi-chan?" Tokiya brought his brows together, expressing the others' wonder about who the hell was Ochibi Chan.

"Don't call me Ochibi, Ren!" with the single sentence came from the Grumpy Syo, the others muttered 'Aaaaa... It's Kurusu/Kurusu-san/Syo.'

"Yes, It's Kurusu Syo, our cutest prince," Ren turned to the guys, seeking for supports while at the same time, you could still hear Syo's yelling out of rage as the 'background music'. "What do you think, you guys? It would be much livelier if the six of us, the Top Princes just compete to prove who is the best Uta no Prince, right?"

"Right!"

"And to be the best Uta no prince, you should not only charm the girls but also the guys, right?"

"Right!" they continued answering without thinking and ever realizing what kind of stupidity that they agreed with.

"I will really appreciate if both A Class and S Class members do not spill the beans. Just let six of us make a surprise to other classes, okay? Meanwhile, those selected princes are not allowed to withdraw or else... they will be considered as the servants for the whole month. However, for those who lose the competition will not receive any punishment as long as they try their best. After all, Ringo sensei used to say that cross-dressing is normal in idol world. Our fans will like it for sure so why don't we start practicing from now on? So, are you guys with me?"

"Yes!!"

"'Yes, my foot!" Masato who finally reached his last straw threw his sport shoe to Ren but it landed to Syo instead who immediately collapsed to the ground. Masato was about to choke Ren to death but held down by a pair of pacifists, Otoya and Natsuki.

"Toki... I mean Ichinose-san!" Haruka called out as she came across a tall figure who wandered along the corridor.

"It's just you," Tokiya sighed in boredom but his coldness did not affect her as she observed him from head to toe.

Well, unlike Ren who shamelessly put on a short skirt, Tokiya wore a demure school uniform which consisted of a top, a knee-length skirt and a pair of black stockings. He wore a midnight blue pony-tailed wig which matched his original hair colour.

It was all because of Ren's cross-dressing match.

Just like back then, she still remembered how Tokiya asked her about how to be an attractive girl just for the sake of the punishment for losing the match with A Class. His perfectionism made him so desperate to be girlish when in fact...

As much as Haruka loves him for who he is yet she could not deny the fact that Tokiya would look terrible as a girl. His body is well-built and obviously contrary to a high school girl's figure. While his face can be beautiful and handsome at the same time yet Tokiya's dark and cold aura was too strong, enough to make any guys running away from him out of fear and feeling intimadated before he knew it.

Would he ask her again this time? She did not know what to hope anymore. It was nice to be closer with him but she was afraid that just like back then, she could not do anything to help him showing off his girlish side.

"Where are you looking at? If you think I look ridiculous, pointing out what should I do to look more girlish is much nicer, you know.."

There you go, Haruka! He is asking you.

"Ano.. Ichinose-san.."

"Yes?"

"I will give you an honest opinion but I hope you don't get mad."

"What is it?"

"Honestly, for me, you have a very beautiful face but.." she pointed at his lips nervously. "If you smile more, you will look very appealing as a girl, you know."

Haruka ducked, too nervous to look at his reaction. She waited for his reply but he remained silent.

Is he angry? I don't think so though.

"Thank you for your opinion. I will go first and beat the rest."

"Eh??"

What's with the sudden tenacity, though?

Yes, she should be grateful that at least, he was not going to seduce girls but...

Seducing guys? Hopefully, nobody would...

"Have you ever seen a tall girl with a long blue hair? I wonder if I ever saw her in this school before but she is so pretty! She agreed to go out with me this weekend. She even gave me a peck on my cheek," certainly Kami-sama did not answer her prayer when ten minutes later, a boy suddenly grabbed his friend not far from where Haruka stood.

"Wow, the girl sure is bold."

"But I still wonder.. how come a girl like her has such a muscular body? Does she play boxing or something?"

"Probably."

A tall girl with a long blue hair? A peck on cheek!!? Did he mean Tokiya-kun?

As their conversation piqued her curiosity, her golden eyes searched for her husband until she was greeted with the sight of Tokiya who was playing with a random guy's curly hair while curving a sultry smile.

You gotta be kidding with me, Ichinose Tokiya!

"Then, see you tonight, my goddess," the guy from B Class most probably thought that he did a good job with his romantic skinship by kissing Tokiya's pale hand yet in fact...

Haruka could see that it took all for Tokiya to not vomit out of disgust. His face struggled to keep a pleased face and thanks for his acting skill, he managed to hide it from the random guy.

"Okay, byeeee," he gave the guy a flying kiss with a stiff hand. The moment the guy from B Class went into his classroom, Tokiya immediately turned into a creepy guy who just wanted to go berseck and massacre anybody who bumped into him even they were innocent. He was not even shocked when he realized that Haruka witnessed how the hell did he flirt with the boys.

"Wanna a handkerchief to wipe your hand?" she offered as she knew, Tokiya was about to clean the spot on his hand where the B Class lad kissed on.

"Thanks," he answered after a long pause. He wiped it rather roughly as if his hand was just infected by a contagious disease , making her entertained.

"Well, how.. how many guys did you.."

"It's 15.." while she gasped out of amazement and shock, his dark aura was emitted again yet for some reasons, Haruka felt the urge to laugh as his funny side appeared. " I successfully flirted with 15 guys and it's dreadful."

And so, she laughed, not able to control herself anymore. She really missed this side of Tokiya. Sometimes, he did not even aware how cute and silly he could be.

"Why did you laugh?" Tokiya was obviously mad yet she still could not control her laughter because she knew..

There was no way Tokiya would kill her no matter how infuriating she could be with him.

"Why did you say it was dreadful to flirt with those guys?"

"Because those guys surely are impatient for a high school boy. I mean, if they keep being perverted like that, I wonder about the future of the girls in this school."

"What do you mean by that?" Haruka titled her head in bewilderment.

"It's better if you don't know. Just be careful around them," the way his face expression turned darker with the aura 'don't let me recall what those scumbags did to me", Haruka knew she should not ask him for more details.

At least, her eyes could relish the presence of him in this close distant even he was in such an absurd state. Her golden eyes suddenly narrowed to his collar. It was slightly open, revealing a deep scar that she knew, he tried so hard to keep it as a secret but she was positive that Tokiya was not aware of it. Maybe the 'impatient' term that Tokiya referred to the boys meant he was harrassed including his chest part.

As she was on edge when there were more students around, she approached Tokiya before fixing his uniform, making sure that it would cover his scar.

"What... are you doing?" Tokiya was startled with the sudden contact.

"Your collar is wide open. You really want to be secretive about this scar, right?."

Confusion was written all over his pale-skinned face. Scar? How did she know...

"Wait.. What do you mean? How did you know..."

"Tokiya!" Out of nowhere, Otoya ran towards him while dragging Masato along. Joining the red head was Natsuki, who was bringing Cecil the Cat in his arms. Right behind them were Syo with an irritated face expression and Ren who just walked casually.

All of them looked... well, they were various. Syo looked so cute like a Barbie doll with the pink dress and a ribbon in his thick blond wig. Ren and Natsuki were definitely a pair of eyesores since they had those broad shoulders and muscular legs. Otoya looked so-so with his red and short wig while Masato is just like Tokiya. He would look much more exquisite if he smiled brightly instead of frowning.

"Ne, Tokiya. How was it? Did you flirt with anyone?" Otoya asked rapturously.

"Yes. 15 of them," Tokiya's flat answer sent them in shock.

"Then, the gorgeous princess with a blue hair... that must be you!" Syo shouted out of disgust and shiver. "How did you do it, man? You, Tokiya... out of all people.."

"What princess with the blue hair?"

"Just now, everybody keeps talking about how a mysterious and beautiful girl seduced boys in this school. They are curious to know who the heck she is. Since we all know that only Masa and you have blue hairs, we can narrow down the answers already. But Masa is so stiff. He could not even flirt with any of them because he looked awkward and he punched anyone who touched him.. I don't know Masa could be that violent.." Otoya gave an in disbelief look to the said blue head who was still frowning.

"Said someone who could not even make his voice girlish.." Masato clicked his tongue out of dissatisfaction. "At least I can do one."

"Then, we concluded that the princess is you. Omedettou, Tokiya! Omedettou!" Otoya shook his roommate's hand vigorously.

"Are you being sarcastic or what?"

"No, moron! You are the winner since Ren actually could not flirt with anyone. Totally saw that coming," Syo took a glance at Ren who emitted an extremely unpleasant aura kind of cross-dresser.

"Well, I know I can't win from the start. There is no way a tall, dark and handsome man like me could flirt with any straight guys," for God-knows-how-many-times, Ren was totally full of himself.

"And that's why you said those who lose will not receive any punishment because you know there is no way you can win! You, bastard!" Again, Masato was about to choke Ren to death but Natsuki and Otoya swiftly held him down.

"You are the winner, Tokiya-kun! Now, let's take a picture together! We will announce to the whole school!" Natsuki grabbed Tokiya's shoulder while posing for camera which Haruka held while his other hand held Cecil the Cat. When did he ask Haruka to be their camerawoman, nobody ever noticed that.

"What? Wait! For what?" Tokiya was shocked and struggled to run away from those dorks but they already sandwiched him with Otoya next to him , Syo right in front of him due to his tragic height while Ren and Masato occupied the space behind him.

"Take Ce.. I mean Kuppuru, Tokiya-kun. You are the center so the picture will look much better if you hold a cat while I hold Syo-chan.."

"Not even in your dream!" Syo shouted furiously.

"What's the use of this picture anyway?" Tokiya was obviously uncomfortable with the way they just invaded his personal space and cluttered themselves closer with him. "And also, since when this cat has a name?"

"Haru-chan gave the name to it!" Natsuki replied brightly.

"And also, it's for our high school memory, Icchi. Even if you don't care about this, the rest of us will appreaciate it until we die," as Ren answered, Tokiya never noticed the sudden gloom emitted from the others.

He totally did not have any idea how his death affected them.

"Em.. guys, please get ready for the picture. Smile, everyone.." Haruka awkwardly tried to lighten the atmospehere. "Okay... 1...2..3.."

And the picture was taken.

"This is so nice," Haruka smiled warmly when her eyes focused on the picture.

STARISH members with their typical face expressions; Masato and Syo were frowning and glaring at Ren, Tokiya who suddenly smiled as Kuppuru snuggled to him, Natsuki and Otoya grinned while making a 'peace' sign and Ren who still tried to look charming even he put on a short skirt.

She knew what this picture ever meant. They just wanted to relish bitter-sweet memories as much as they could. Tokiya's death made them realized that in this world, nothing and nobody would be eternal so they wanted Tokiya to enjoy his life more.

"Okay, Masa. How many metres?"

"It's not even a metre, Ittoki. It's about... ten centimetres.."

"Do we have to do this, you guys? I don't think this is right," being logical as always, Syo, who was assigned to be on his guard while standing at Otoya's room door crossed his arms while observing the unbelieavably focused Otoya and Masato who planned to sneak a look at Hayato's schedule in Tokiya's diary so that they could help Haruka planning for the next steps in order to get closer with the blue head.

Yet, the ironically toughest thing was not the sneaking a look part (because Tokiya always went back to the dorm late due to Hayato's tight schedule) but the part which they had to place the diary into its original position.

"Of course this is the right way, Syo! You have no idea how fussy Tokiya can be," Otoya answered, trying to convince the not-so-convinced Syo. "He remembers every single inch of the position of his items, not to mention the space of his books from the wall and stuffs. That's why we need to measure the space of his diary from his pencil case so that after we take it and put it back, we can do exactly the same like him and he will never be suspicious."

"That guy.... how can you stand being his roommate for these years? You, Otoya, out of many people..." Syo sounded in disbelief and disgusted at the same time.

"Between criticizing me or Tokiya, just choose one already, Syo," Otoya remarked with a straight face since he knows how polar opposite he is of Tokiya and how messy his room side can be compared to the perfectionist.

"It's Shinomiya," Masato answered a sudden call from his classmate. "Moshi – moshi?"

"Have you guys done already? Tokiya-kun just walked past us. You gotta get ready and finish your task right now," Natsuki was in charge of informing the whereabouts of Tokiya to them, together with Ren.

"Okay, Shinomiya. Arigatou," Masato's collected voice suddenly turned anxious as the truth finally hit his head. "Crap! Ichinose already walked past the corridor which means he will come here soon!"

"What? Come on, Masa! We need to get hurry. Syo, be on your guard now."

"Wakatta."

Ten seconds later...

"Oi, guys! He is here!" Syo half-yelled as Tokiya was about to reach the room.

"Okay, done! Er.."

"Eh? Em... Ittoki, thanks for the note," Masato quickly went out from the room while dragging Syo along with him. Obviously, whatever happened after this, they would entrust Otoya to deal with it including if Tokiya suddenly went berseck after he noticed that his belongings were touched without permission.

"O..okay, you're welcome."

"Ichinose, welcome back."

"Thanks," Tokiya's flat voice could be heard as he finally reached the door. Otoya quickly took a sit on his bed, pretending to read a manga.

It was a silence as Otoya observed the spent Tokiya who was swaying as he walked to his study table.

Obviously, he is tired from working too much. Come to think of it, how come I didn't recognize that he and Hayato is the same person 'back then'? Wait, I am not the weird one here. Everyone also bought the 'twin brother' fake story since Tokiya and Hayato's personality can't be more different.

"Otoya," the usual cool voice suddenly turned stern.

"Em.. yes?"

"Why are my diary and other books in such a mess?"

"In a mess? How does it look like a mess? I think I put it in the right place.. oh, crap! I already gave the game away," being a simpleton as always, Otoya easily let the cat out of the bag.

"Otoya..." only from one single heck of death glare and word, Otoya knew that Tokiya still gave him a chance to explain but at the same time, he indirectly gave a warning that he would kill his roommate for being insolent.

For some reasons, dealing with Tokiya who is not violent and soft-spoken all the time no matter how angry can he get seems three times creepier than dealing with Syo, the grumpiest member in STARISH.The blue head certainly knows how to make himself intimidating without using too much energy to punch or kick anybody.

"Masa wants to borrow your text book. I helped him searching for it but I could not find it," at the eleventh hour, Otoya knew the word 'Masato' would save him from being killed by his own roommate.

"Is that so? It's fine, then," Tokiya's face expression softened a bit before he rearranged his books and went to his closet, ready to take a bath.

He looks much calmer the moment I dragged Masa into this mess. As expected from these two.

"Ne, Tokiya. To be honest, do you think I am a nuisance?"

"Huh? Where did that come from?"

"Just answer me," with his high-pitched and bubbly voice, there was no way for Tokiya to avoid the question. The thick-skinned and persistent red head would not shut up anyway.

"Yes, a bit because you always invade my privacy for so many times especially when it comes to Hayato.."

"Then do you want me to be collected like Masa? Do you want me to spend time doing calligraphy, decorating my room like a samurai-resembled room and scolding Ren everyday?"

"No need to go that far. At least try to be one quarter of him if you really want to but.." Tokiya paused, finding suitable words for his roommate. "I think.. you being you... it's the best. You don't need to be like someone else and you should know that."

This guy, Tokiya sighed. Does Otoya even realize how likeable he is? He has so many good things and charms to the point of he doesn't need to change anything about himself. Unlike him...

Inspite the tone from his roommate sounded quite icy, Otoya could not help but smiling out of happiness.

"Thank you, Tokiya!"

"Don't mention... wait! What's the point of this anyway? Why did you suddenly talk about you and Hijirikawa-san?"

"Eh? Well, I.. I just don't want to be a nuisance for you so I was thinking about behaving like Masa since you seem like.. I don't know. You both have a great chemistry and I am a little jealouse for that."

"You don't need to be jealouse and you don't need to change yourself just because of me, Otoya. Besides, I am not even your friend. We just happened to share a room for a year and that's it."

If other people are shot by those harsh and ignorant words, they might just be super upset, running away from the room or doing other dramatic responses and that counts commiting a suicide (if they are stupid enough to do so).

But this is Otoya that we are talking about. The one who makes 'privacy is not in my head' principle as his good point. The one who is always persistent to make the people he cares smiling.

"You don't treat me as your friend because you were never allowed to make friends in the first place, am I right?" Otoya's childish voice and comment was like a big slap across the bluenet's face, considering how correct it was. "You don't see me as your friend because you were not allowed to be attached with anyone or anything other than your studies, right?"

Tokiya just froze in front of his closet. He did not have the guts like always to make an eye contact with the red head, let alone glaring at him. His face was a bit pale and he did not want Otoya to see his panicky side.

"How.. how do you know?"

"Beats me.. I just had a hunch from the way you lead your life," Otoya replied, hiding the fact that he knows Tokiya's past because he came from their future anyway.

"I am sending you to the school so that you can get the top rank! Not for the sake of making friends and doing stupid things with them, you ungrateful child!"

A slap flew across his face. He collapsed on the floor while crying. He wondered about what was so wrong with him making friends with his own classmates. Why, unlike others, he was forbidden to have fun like a normal child and instead, he was forced to study like crazy until it somehow affected his mental health?

"Starting from tomorrow, you are going to break your so-called sweet friendship with them! Play with them again and I will beat you till death. Understand!?"

All of sudden, the memory of Tokiya's atrocious childhood crossed his mind. At that time, he was abused for gaining the second rank in his batch. His mother even demanded the teachers to ensure that Tokiya would not be close with anyone because for her, friends only give bad influences to her 'precious' son.

It gave him a shiver which is one of the factors why he hated skinship. It made him recalling how brutal his mother had hit him before.

And those scars are still there, all over his body.

"Tokiya?" A soft touch on his shoulder made him flinching. He looked at Otoya in horror but much to his surprise, his roommate gave him a very comforting look.

"Are you okay? You shivered."

"I... I am fine. Just.. just go away," Tokiya already gave a 'don't disturb me' kind of body posture but it only made Otoya smiled even warmer.

"Otoya?"

"Unlike other people, I always think that no matter how weird one's personality can be, I don't have any rights to be judgemental to him. There is always a reason for everything in this world including you, who chose to be alone all the time. But, if you cannot bear the pain that you has suppressed in you any longer, just remember that I am here, Tokiya. No, wait. You actually have more friends than you think. We are here, Tokiya."

Those sincere-sounded lines managed to make Tokiya feeling touched and speechless. Without waiting for Tokiya's response, Otoya walked away from the room, giving Tokiya space and time to get composed from the sudden awkward and dramatic moment.

"Waa, I can't believe this! Me, out all of people can generate some words of wisdom like that. That's very cool of you, Otoya! Good job to yourself," he mentally gave himself a pat on his back. "'I just had a hunch' my foot! At least, he believed the excuse," Otoya was totally happy as he quickly ran to Natsuki's room to brag about just how cool he was.

End of chapter 8! I totally made up the Tokiya's past part since his family background is not well-explained. And speaking about the cross-dressing part, I got the idea when I watched Magical Ichiko. I must say, even it's disturbing to imagine Tokiya, with his high-pitched voice, being girlish and all that but it is still entertaining though! Despite of his seriousness, they still tried to make him funny and silly. I hope you enjoy this story and feel free to leave a comment!