Chapter One: The Promise Made by Brothers

Two teens were slowly walking home from their last day on middle school. They will have to separate soon, they made a promise that they would. Not just them, they all did. Those who belonged to the GoM. Each would have to go to a different school to see who really the best of them. To these two, it was going to be a change of pace. These two have always been together.

"Hey Ryōsuke, are you going to be alright without me being around?!" A hyperactive orange haired boy asked the taller indigo colored hair boy he was walking home with.

"I'll be fine Orenjiro." Ryōsuke said with a blank look on his face.

"Really?! I didn't think you would be this calm knowing we won't be going to the same high school. To be honest, I think I'm going to be the one who won't be alright with all of this. I'm going to miss not being able seeing you all the time like we do now." A sad look gushed on Orenjiro's face. Ryōsuke looked down at his companion and with a smile places one of his giant hands on top of Orenjiro's head. Orenjiro looked up at Ryōsuke a bit surprised.

"You'll be alright... Shou." Ryōsuke hesitated at first to call Shou by his first name, because he knew what most likely was going to happen next.

"Ryōsuke, you called me by my first name. You never do that!" Shou's eyes were full of stars and happiness. When the two were younger they would call each other by their first names all the time. But as they got older Ryōsuke started calling Shou by his last name, Orenjiro.

"Say it again Ryōsuke! Call me by my first name again!"

"No, once is enough."

"Awww!! Come on Ryōsuke! You don't call me by my first name very often. Please!!!" Shou begged Ryōsuke over and over again.

"I said no Orenjiro. Let's go to the convenience store on the way home. I feel like getting something." Ryōsuke continued on walking leaving Shou a little disappointed that Ryōsuke wouldn't call him by his first name.

He shook it off and raced after Ryōsuke as they headed towards the convenience store that they would often stop by on their way home. When they entered the convenience store they found the other members of the GoM inside as well. There seemed to be a slight tension in the air with everyone in the same place. Shou and Ryōsuke could sense it too but didn't want to draw any attention to it. The two friends went straight to the ice cream cooler to get their usual.

"I'll pay for it this time Ryōsuke. You got mine the last time." Shou took Ryōsuke ice cream and went to pay for it up at the counter before he could object Shou's offer.

"Akiohojicchi!!" Ryōsuke suddenly heard his name coming from a voice that sounded more cheerful then Shou's. He suddenly found himself with a arm wrapped around his should.

"Kise? Please get off of me."

"Aw come on. Don't tell me you're in a sour mood like everyone else. Can't you feel the tension in this place?" Ryōta Kise looked around to the other GoMs that were in the convenience store, who were all eyeing their now former teammates.

"I said get off Kise." Ryōsuke removed Ryota's arm from around his shoulder just as Shou came back with his and Ryōsuke's paid ice cream.

"Kise, are you bothering Ryōsuke?" Shou asked with an irritated tone. Even though Shou's and Ryota's personalities seemed to be similar, the two never could get along with each other that well.

"Stop Orenjiro. It's fine, let's just head on home. I'm tired." Ryōsuke grabbed a hold of Shou by the collar of his uniform and dragged him out the door of the convenience store before anything could happen between Ryota and Shou. Once the two were outside Ryōsuke released Shou's collar to let him walk on his own.

"Why'd you do that Ryōsuke? Kise is always bothering you. You should do something about it!" Shou fixed his collar as he walked with Ryōsuke.

"What am I going to do Orenjiro? Kise is just a friendly person. He acts a lot like you in some ways."

"Don't insult my Ryōsuke. I can't stand cocky people like him." Shou put on a pouty look as he looked up at Ryōsuke.

"You're going to meet people like that in life Orenjiro. I expect you not to get into any fights while we're at different schools. I'll know about it if you do."

"Yeah, I know. I'll try to stay out of trouble for you Ryōsuke." Shou finally calmed down for the sake of his best friend. Ryōsuke once again placed his hand on top of Shou's head, this time ruffling his orange hair.

"What was that for Ryōsuke? You messed up my hair."

"It's nothing really. Although, even though you're the older one it seems that it's I who acts more mature then you do Shou." This time when Ryōsuke called Shou by his first name there was no hesitation in his voice, and once again stars shined in Shou's eyes.

"Ryōsuke you said..."

"Don't go into that again Orenjiro. If you do I'll never call you by your first name again and I'll start forcing you to stop calling me by mine. Got it."

"Awww! Ryōsuke your so mean!!'

Ryōsuke smiled and the two continued on their way to the spot they would meet up before parting ways and eating their ice cream as they went. The two stopped at a street corner right underneath a lamp post. Their usually meeting spot where they would meet up with each other in the morning and then part ways on their way home.

"I'll see you some time Ryōsuke! Now that schools out my family wants to go on a vacation for a while. Will you alright while I'm gone?" Shou playfully teased Ryōsuke.

"I'll be fine Orenjiro. Stop treating me like I'll fall about if I don't have you with me all the time."

"I know, I know. Ryōsuke is a big boy who can take care of himself. Plus, this will give us some practice for high school. See you when I get back Ryōsuke!" Shou waved good-bye to his longtime friend before rushing off towards home.

Ryōsuke slightly waved good-bye as well and slowly made his way home in the opposite direction as Shou. He walked slower than usual towards his uncle and aunt's home. He had been living with his aunt and uncle since his parents died in a car accident five years ago. With a heavy sigh Ryōsuke continued on his way home, not realizing that not having Shou around him was going to be a lot harder than he thought.

When Ryōsuke finally got home he was greeted right away by his four younger cousins. All who jumped on top of him but one.

"Welcome home Ryōsuke nii-san!!!" Two boys and a girl said at the same time.

"Thank you for welcoming me home. Have you been good today?" Ryōsuke asked the three youngest of his four cousins.

"Of course, Nii-san. We're always good. Where's Shou nii-san?"

"He couldn't come over tonight. He had to go home. You all go on and play, I'm going to go up to my room until dinner is ready."

"Alright nii-san!!!" Ryōsuke's three younger cousins went off running to play, leaving Ryōsuke and the older on of the four standing in the doorway of their home.

"Welcome home Ryōsuke-sama." A boy who was the same age as Ryōsuke welcomed his slightly older cousin home.

"Thank you Natsuo. How was your day?"Ryōsuke took off his shoes and stepped up into the hallway.

"It was alright. I went and got the others from their school before having to head back for graduation. Then you disappeared with Shou-sama." Natsuo talked in a tone that was similar to Ryōsuke's way of talking.

"Sorry about that Natsuo. Everyone from the basketball team wanted to meet up one last time in the gym. Then Shou and I went to the convenience store to get some ice cream. I'll apologize to everyone at dinner as well."Ryōsuke stopped right next to Natsuo and placed his hand on his cousins head. Ryōsuke would often do this to people he's close to.

"Don't look so glum Natsuo. We'll be going to the same high school just like middle school and Shou will be going to a different school then us. Everything will be fine, I promise."Ryōsuke ruffled his cousin's hair before heading up to his room. He placed his bag down next to his desk and then flopped down on his bed, burring his face into his pillow.

Suddenly, out of nowhere tears started to stream down his face. It was finally starting to fit him that he won't be seeing Shou as often anymore. Yes, they could see each other outside of school, but they were going to join their high school basketball team. The time they would've spend together would get even slimmer. Shou was the first friend he made after the death of his parents. All the friends he had before always gave him a look of pity now that he was an orphan.

"Shou... you damn idiot. You act like I'm the one who's going to break if we're not together, and your right. We've been together for five years now and now we have to part ways. I might look like the strong one here, but my strength is nothing more than an illusion I hide behind. You're the strong one Shou and this is going to be tough to not have the one who gives me strength by my side. I promise that I will become strong enough that I won't have to depend on you anymore, Shou."