Waking up beside her brother's best friend was an exhilarating experience. She felt like she was on some sort of high.

Shinya was knocked out, and he slept rather peacefully. His lips were plush and soft as his eyelashes flickered in his sleep. He was something entirely different. His hair framed his body like water, making a halo form on the pillow.

Ryuko was just staring intensely now, analyzing every part of his sleeping form. She felt like a stalker, staring at him so intensely. He looked like he needed the sleep and she refused to wake him up. At least intentionally. She just wanted to caress his face again and kiss him, but she wouldn't dare to disturb hi-

"Why're you staring at me?" He asked with a hazy, raspy voice.

"Sorry." She said, rolling onto her back to stare at the ceiling. "This- this feels really cliche."

"Oh well... do you want a cigarette?" He asked, pulling a pack out of his night stand. "Dont ballerinas love these things?"

"That's such a bad stereotype." She scoffed, taking it out of his hands, waiting for him to hand over a cigarette lighter. "You're lucky I fit it."

He smirked, handing over a lighter. Ryuko flicked the light a few times, kickstarting the gas. A fire quickly began from it and she lit her cigarette. A bit of ash fell onto his bedsheet and she sat up, hugging her knees to her chest. "You telling Taishiro about this?"

"You gonna tell Hizashi about this?"

"Obviously not." She scoffed again.

"Then you've got your answer." He said, patting her back and sitting up next to her. "Why the hell would I tell your brother that we..." he rolled his eyes.

"You told him I was day drinking."

"That was for your safety, this... you're a big girl. You should know damn well that sisters are off limits." He said, taking in a deep huff. "Always have been. Well, when you turned twenty one at least."

"Did he make you swear to that?" She chuckled at him. To think her brother would make a vow of chastity for her to his friends, was crazy. He wasn't even over protective or anything, just a regular older brother.

"Nah, I was still with Shino at the time, and you were with Hizashi, so he never made me swear, but he probably would've."

"I dont think my brother would care that much about my love life." She said, hugging her knees a little tighter. "Why even is it like... taboo or whatever."

"You're telling me, if I fuck up with you, hurt your feelings like Hizashi did, you're not running to Taishiro crying?" He asked, exhaling a big huff of smoke.

"I- I don't know."

"This was- this was just casual. It's a completely different story from us dating."

"Right." She nodded. This was just a casual, one time thing. So, there was no reason to bother him about it. In fact, it didn't really need to brought up again. They didn't even kiss during it, so it really meant nothing.

Like she had said, just the final push to get over Hizashi. No strings attached after all.

"Anyways, I have things to do, so get dressed." He said, getting out the bed, cigarette hanging from his lips as he put on a pair of pants and a tshirt.

"Not even breakfast? Here I was thinking we were friends." She said, getting up and turning her back to him as if he hadn't seen her entire body a few hours ago.

"You can eat a bagel."

"I was joking. And I don't really eat too much bread." She sighed. "What ever happened to that ramen you ordered?"

"Sitting in my fridge. Grabbed it when it came." He said, brushing out his hair to toss into a bun.

"You didn't wake me up?" She asked, turning her head as she put his shirt on. "I wanted some of that vanilla ramen." She teased, reminding him of the circumstances leading up to this.

"You had a long day. I let it sit out for a little bit before putting it in the fridge, so it's still good. You can take it with you if you'd like."

"Yeah yeah, of course." She nodded, throwing on the basketball shorts. Honestly this was kind of comfortable, basketball shorts felt great.

—————

"Do I get a kiss on the way out?" She snickered, looking over at him as he stopped in front of her house.

"Get out of my car, you're lucky I drove you." He said, playfully pushing her head against the window as she opened up the car door. Stepping out the car, she blew a fake kiss at him and grabbed the Tupperware of ramen off the seat.

"See ya." She said, walking away from his car. She felt like she was undercover with what she was wearing. She unlocked the door to her brother's house, walking in as she watched Shinya drive off when she got the door open. 

"Taishiro I'm home!" She called out, looking in the mirror next to the door. 'Fuck' she had a hickie right on the base of her neck. How the hell did that happen?

She frowned, covering it up with her hand. If Taishiro saw that, he would definitely jump to correct conclusions. She should probably go change into a hoodie or something...

Oh shit. She left her clothes at Shinya's place.

She cursed under her breath, walking into her room, still holding onto her neck. She walked past Taishiro, going to her bedroom and immediately shredding the shirt off of her and zipping up a hoodie halfway. She would have to ask him to bring her clothes whenever Tai wasn't around.

"Did Shinya feed you? I can cook something up for you." Taishiro asked, walking into her room. "Wait, why are you wearing Shinya's clothes?" He raised his eyebrow, looking at the shirt he had seen his friend wear multiple times.

"Uh... well I walked around in the rain for a few blocks. So I was soaked and he let me borrow clothes. Dont worry, nothing happened." She said, pushing her hair behind her ear. Now the lies started.

"Did you get hurt? You shouldn't have been walking around at night, especially in the dark." He asked, scoping her body for any cuts and bruises. He was turning her arms and pinching her cheeks trying to find any wound. "What if something happened, why didn't Hizashi drive you home first of all?"

"I broke up with him, that would've been awkward!" She huffed, pulling away from him, afraid he'd find the hicky on her neck in this inspection.

"Why wouldn't you call me? I would've been there in six minutes!" He looked frantic about it now. His hands were shaking holding onto her shoulders. "You could've been hurt."

"I don't know why I didn't call you!" She said, a shout creeping up her throat. "It just wasn't my first thought ok?"

"Ryuko, you can't keep running from your problems, you could've been severely hurt this time." He said, rubbing her shoulders. "What if Hizashi hurt you while you were in the rain? What if Shinya wasn't so trustworthy and he hurt you last night?"

"Hey-hey... I get it. I know you're worried for me." She cooed to him as he began to hug her tightly. Usually she'd say this was overprotective behavior, but given the circumstances... "I'm fine. Next time I'll call you if I'm ever alone at night."

"You just scared me when you didn't come home with even a text." He sighed, holding her tight. "You had your location on, but still, I was worried sick."

"I know, I know. I'm sorry Tai. Promise I'll text next time." She said, hugging him back tighter. She had to stand on her tiptoes in order to not get completely pulled off the ground by the strength of his hug. "I'm sorry Tai."

It took him a minute to calm down, and she had to push him off of him, patting his shoulder repeatedly.

"I promise I'll call next time I do that." She said as he walked out of her door, still breathing heavily.

——————

"Guess who's getting married!" Yu shouted throughout the house.

Guess two guys got laid last night. Lucky Shinya and Shinji.

Ryuko looked over at the couple as they walked in, sitting next to her one night stand on Taishiro's family style couch. She was sipping on white wine, watching as Yuu brought in a way more expensive bottle and a flashy new ring.

Rumi and Keigo immediately began to shout, excited for their friend. Ryuko was absolutely enamored by the ring, seeing it was not a diamond, rather a pearl. It looked absolutely amazing.

"Congratulations you two. When's the wedding?" Shinya piped up.

"We're thinking of having it come up faster than usual. We're thinking of having it in the upcoming spring."

It was late fall. They had maybe four months before this wedding.

"So soon. Do you have a maid of honor and best man in mind yet? Or well- the bridesmaids and groomsmen at least." He asked again.

"Well, I was thinking, Ryuko and Rumi were part of the bridal party, as well as Moe if she has time. And he was thinking you, Keigo, and Tai!" Yu said, sitting down on the couch and popping open the bottle. Shinji sat next to her, pouring both of their glasses.

Ryuko wasn't the most surprised person, but knowing how Yuu was planning it, she and Shinya were definitely going to be paired together. It would be Rumi and Keigo, since they were dating, Moe and Taishiro since Ryuko was his sister, and that would most likely leave them together. Seemed like Shinya realized that too, from the way he sat up and closed his body in a little bit.

"She wanted the wedding colors to be beige and periwinkle." Shinji said, leaning forward.

"Ahh. That'll look great." Ryuko said, smiling at him. "Im surprised you aren't going with a shade of green." Green just so happened to be both of their favorite colors.

"We wanted to try something different."

"Are y'all hiring a wedding planner?" Taishiro asked, finally sitting down next to Keigo. No one in the group had a wedding, obviously, so there was no one to ask questions.

"Of course! We would be so lost without one." Yu laughed. "We were thinking to have it in a vineyard rather than a church."

"That sounds nice." Keigo snickered into his beer. "Do you have a flower girl in mind? Or a ring bearer?"

"You can't be a ring bearer Keigo. We honestly haven't thought of it that much." Shinji said.

"Then make it me!"

"Absolutely not."