Toshi had spent the majority of the school day being interrogated by his male friends.

 

 

 

 

They all wanted to know about Madoka and what she was like and if was she the princess charming everyone said she was and where did you go and what did you do and are going to go on another date and isn't her eyes just oh-so-dreamy. This was the sort of reaction that Toshi had to deal with for the majority of Monday. Toshi wasn't the type to talk about this sort of thing, so he was super evasive, which only made everyone more curious.

 

To Toshi, it felt like an interrogation.

 

Toshi always held the belief that a relationship was a personal and special matter, not something to be discussed openly with others. Who would trust you if you blabbed someone's personal life, no matter how trivial, to everyone you knew? But the way all the boys were acting, it was like Toshi had a DUTY to talk about everything. This caused him to reflect on his past experiences with dating.

 

In his old world, he tried to ask out the woman who was his counterpart's ex-wife. Although he managed to secure a date, it was abruptly canceled at the last minute, leaving him puzzled about the sudden change in her demeanor. In hindsight, Toshi realized he might have dodged a bullet, but he now wondered if a "whisper network" among women in his old world played a role in the outcome. In this world, if girls gossiped as guys did back there, Toshi doubted there would have been any rumors about his counterpart. This thought could explain why those two ended up together, while he never got a foot in the door.

 

In the absence of information, the whisper network tends to expand to fill all available bandwidth. Since Toshi wasn't openly sharing details about his date with Madoka, everyone assumed they hit it off wonderfully. Typically, people talk about dates that sucked and keep their mouths shut about the ones they enjoy. Given Toshi's tight-lipped approach, the assumption was that his connection with Madoka must be serious. However, Toshi remained oblivious to this dynamic. If he had understood, he might have made more of an effort to control the rumor mill.

 

This was not a skill in his toolbox.

 

As Toshi hung out with his friends, anticipating his sister's arrival, a large crowd of kids gathered in the courtyard in front of the school at the end of the day. The 'cool' kids claimed the stairs, arranging themselves by social standing. Toshi and his crew occupied the top of the stairs on the freshman side. Amidst the chatter, Toshi attempted to find a way to break free and talk to Naora. He desperately wanted to find some way to talk to her alone and unnoticed.

 

Focusing on typing and re-typing a text to her, he listened as Kenko rambled about Kingo going home sick. Kenko suggested that Kingo was likely being a drama king about Toshi's date when Kenko urgently tapped Toshi on the shoulder. Looking up, Toshi followed Kenko's finger as it pointed into the crowd by the street.

 

A boy of similar age to Toshi was engaged in conversation with someone. That someone was nodding while pointing towards Toshi, evidently explaining something. The new boy had deliberately unkempt hair, roughly matching Toshi's height and maintaining a lean physique. He had well-defined shoulders that hinted at a commitment to regular workouts. While not obnoxious about it, it was clear he was mindful of keeping his body fat percentage as low as possible. He wore the uniform of a different school, and it took a moment for Toshi to recall exactly which school it was.

 

It was the same uniform the boys wore at Ichikawa's school.

 

The new boy looked up and pointed in Toshi's direction, while conversing with the other kid. The other kid shook his head and returned a vague gesture. In gratitude, the new boy bowed and then sprinted towards Toshi, taking the stairs two steps at a time. Kenko stepped forward, eyeing the newcomer with suspicion, "Toshi... do you know this slut?"

Toshi did a double take, "What?"

Kenko spoke over his shoulder toward Toshi, keeping his voice low, "Well, he certainly LOOKS like a slut." Toshi's jaw hung open, but he never got a chance to respond before the new boy arrived, bounding up the stairs.

 

Examining the new boy up close, Toshi was starting to catch on. The newcomer didn't wear any makeup, showcased physical fitness, and made no effort to soften his appearance. On the contrary, he seemed determined to emphasize his masculinity. It became evident to Toshi, with a concrete example right in front of him, that the contrast was striking. All the boys Toshi knew tended to exhibit a bit of reluctance, acting in groups and being very agreeable. They lacked aggression and avoided confrontation. This kid, however, was the exact opposite; confident, straightforward, with sharp lines and hard edges.

 

Exactly the sort of thing you got slut-shamed for.

 

The boy grinned as if he had just won the lottery, "Hey! I'm looking for someone called Toshi? I know him through our mutual friend, Ichikawa?" He scanned the small group of boys, but his gaze lingered on Toshi. Just like this boy stood out to Toshi as 'normal', by his otherworldly standards, he was sure he stood out to this newcomer as well.

The boys resembled a bunch of cats with their backs arched. They weren't hissing outright, but the cold stares made it clear they might as well have been. Toshi wasn't entirely sure how to handle the situation, thinking, ~If this is who I think it is... Ah well.~ He smiled brightly, attempting to appear as clueless as possible. It would make it easier to make excuses later to Kenko, "That'd be me. Who are-"

 

The boy abruptly hugged him.

 

Kenko and his friends gasped in shock. Toshi was equally taken aback. However, Toshi observed that the hug was executed with only one arm and lasted precisely three seconds before the boy gave him a pat on the back and pulled away, "Sorry. It's just..." He wore an expression that gave the impression he was worn down and at the end of his rope. It was as if he had been keeping up appearances for an extended period of time and could finally relax. He could finally let his guard down. Toshi recognized that look. He had seen it in the mirror often enough.

 

But only while he was alone.

 

The new boy ran his hand through his hair in a nervous gesture, saying, "I know we just met but... you have no idea-" He cut himself off with a snort, "Actually, I take that back. You might be the ONLY guy on the planet who has an idea."

Toshi tilted his head to the side, "I... uh... get it. But... Can I ask who you are?"

Kenko stepped closer with his metaphorical hackles raised, "That's what I'd like to know."

The new boy looked at Kenko and stepped back to a proper social distance, "Ah. Sorry." He bowed to the crowd, "Urisugi Haruo. Please take care of me."

Kenko crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes suspiciously at Haruo, "And what brings you by?"

Haruo straightened up, "Oh. Uh..."

He looked like he hadn't been prepared to answer this sort of question. He seemed to get inspired, "Well... I suppose it's up to Toshi?" He looked at Toshi, "You mind?"

Toshi shrugged, "Go ahead."

 

Haruo smiled at Kenko, "We're in the same support group."

Kenko blinked, "Huh?"

Kenko pointed at Toshi, "We're both recovering from the same disease. Well, condition. It seems to be some sort of poisoning or allergic reaction, not something that is contagious, mind you." He tapped the side of his head, "Your neurons get a little screwed up when you recover." He hooked a thumb over his shoulder, "Ichikawa is in the support group as well." He looked at Toshi, "When she told me about you, I just had to come over and meet you because..." He let out a long sigh, "You have no idea how long I've wanted to talk to someone normal."

 

Kenko looked from Toshi to Haruo, "Normal?"

 

Haruo quickly back peddled, "Well, by uh... normal I mean... someone who thinks..." He scratched the back of his head, "Normal in the way that-"

Toshi cut him off, "I get it."

He looked at Kenko, "You know how I keep getting things backward?"

Kenko blinked at Toshi, "Wait. There are other people like you?"

He looked at Haruo, "You lost your memory as well?"

 

Haruo looked puzzled, "Uhhh... no. He turned to Toshi looking concerned, "You lost your memory?" He paused before adding, "When it happened?"

 

Toshi forced a smile and inwardly wished Haruo would keep his mouth shut, "I don't know if Ichikawa explained it, but I had a much worse reaction to the drug than either of you. If it was the drug. Maybe it was contaminated with... whatever. Either way, Spent three days in a coma and woke up with huge gaps in my memory."

Haruo looked rather surprised, "Uh... no. She failed to mention that. Wow." His attitude became much more subdued, "I am so sorry. I just felt like crud for a week and had a fever. That's it."

Kenko nodded, "Yeah. He keeps getting things screwed up. Street names, historical events. It's all jumbled up in there." He hooked a thumb at Toshi's head.

 

Toshi turned to  Kenko, "Look. I want to talk with Haruo here in private for a bit. If my sister comes out, just ask her to wait."

Kenko looked like he wanted to say no, but checked himself and just nodded, "Alright."

 

Toshi started walking off to a clear spot in the courtyard with Haruo to so they could speak in relative privacy. Before Toshi could say anything, Haruo started speaking in a conspiratorial whisper, "Did you really lose your memory?"

 

Toshi leaned in closer, "Less than I let on, but yes, huge chunks of it. Not everything, mind you."

 

Haruo looked concerned, "Damn. Sorry man. Look, let's exchange phone information and set up a time to talk. We need to compare notes." He paused, "Not the mention the fact I want to talk to a normal guy for a change. Wait." He narrowed a look at Toshi, "Yer not... light in the loafers?"

 

Toshi furrowed his eyebrows for a moment, then figured it out, "No." He looked annoyed at the very question.

 

Haruo let out a sigh of relief, "Oh thank god. That would have sucked. To finally have a guy from my universe but to turn out to be gay? That would have been more than I could take." He took out his phone.

 

Toshi looked puzzled, as got out his phone, "Not gay, but I don't have a problem with gay men. Friend of mine might be, so I hope-"

 

Haruo cut him off, "Oh. No no no. I don't have a problem, I just... can't talk to Ichikawa." He refocused on his phone as he fiddled with it, "Don't have anyone to talk to. Nobody I can trust, at least, and she hates me because her counterpart jumped my bones."

 

Toshi blinked. He had many questions, but this didn't seem to be the time or place.

 

After they exchanged contact info, Haruo glanced around, "Hey. Speaking of..." He leaned in close, "So what's your body count?

Toshi blinked, "Huh?"

 

Haruo glanced around, "Uh. DUH. We're in paradise? The land of horny women? I was just wondering how many you've had."

 

Toshi glared at Haruo, but then glanced away, "Uh... one. It's a serious thing."

 

Haruo blinked, "Oh? Huh. Wow. Good for you." He lightly hit Toshi on the shoulder, "I'm up to four. Two regulars and two that..." He paused, "Way too impulsive. I just saw them there and thought to myself, 'I bet I could bang them'." He shook his head, "Not a smart move." He nodded, "It's easy to get out of control."

 

Toshi looked at Haruo with more than a bit of contempt, but the feeling almost immediately disappeared, ~This kid is ACTUALLY sixteen. I'm over thirty and PRETENDING to be sixteen. Of course, he's going to make mistakes like that. Damn.~ He looked away, then back at Haruo, "This isn't the place to talk about it, but, yeah. It's easy to get out of control."

 

"What is easy to get out of control?"

 

Toshi and Haruo looked up to see Toshi's Sister. Hinako had snuck up on both of them and was looking from one to the other in that over-protective, suspicious manner that Hinako always had when it came to her brother and strangers. Haruo smiled mischievously, "Our hearts. It is so easy to fall in love with a beautiful girl like you."

 

Hinako blinked and backed up a step, "What?"

 

Toshi was taken off guard and as such said nothing. Haruo ignored Toshi and focused on Hinako, "So tell me, did it hurt?"

 

Hinako looked askance at Haruo, "Did what hurt?" He slid up closer to her, "When you fell from heaven, you angel." He waggled his eyebrows and gave her a devilish grin. Hinako blushed and turned a bright shade of red, immediately. She tried to cover for her reaction with a light, yet forced laugh, as she tried to collect her thoughts. Toshi didn't need to collect his thoughts. Toshi pointedly got in between the two and glared at Haruo, "This is my SISTER."

 

Haruo backed up a step and held up his hands in a defensive manner, "Whoa. Sorry. Thought she was just a friend of yours. Your sister was supposed to wait for you." He glanced at Hinako and then back to Toshi, "I feel so sorry for you." He lowered his head to let his hair fall over one eye before looking up at her, "To never be able to take someone as lovely as this out on a date? Life is just too cruel."

 

Toshi's face turned stone cold, "Look-"

 

Haruo cut him off with a laugh, "Oh, C'mon! I get it. Sister is a no-go. Wouldn't dream of it." He looked at Hinako and blatantly looked her up and down while letting out a long, disappointed sigh. Hinako stammered as she found herself not quite sure how to respond. Toshi narrowed his eyes and glared. Haruo noticed this and replied, "Hey. Seriously. I get it." He held up his hands in a gesture of surrender, "She sister. No touchy."

 

Toshi held up a finger, "No Lookie, either."

 

Haruo nodded, "No lookie, no touchy, no problem."

 

Haruo started to walk backward away from the two, "Look. I got to go." He pointed at Toshi, "Looking forward to later." He pointed two finger guns at Hinako, "Alas... What could have been." He sniffed, pretended to wipe a tear from the corner of his eye, then turned and started walking swiftly away.

 

Toshi just stared at Haruo as he left, a bit too boggled to speak. Hinako finally composed herself, "Who the fuck was that?" Toshi cleared his throat, "Well... he's in my support group." She turned to Toshi with a surprised expression, "How long have you been in a support group?" Toshi took a deep breath and let it out slowly before replying with a question of his own.

 

 

 

 

"What time is it?"