Young Wild and Free

[MURAKAMI RYOHEI]

Ryohei and Kento took care of cleaning up as quietly as they could. They wouldn't even talk to each other, in case Daisuke wanted to chime in and bring back the disaster that nearly just happened. Both wondered for a moment if they shouldn't do something but they also knew there was nothing they could do about it. Daisuke would have to forget about it and move on. But, as Kento mentioned earlier, it was a shame she said she loved the one guy who was aching to tell her the same, for real in his case. Ryohei also didn't want to think how much damage control Makiko had to do with Yui. With some luck, the girl would just drop down on her bed and fall asleep, not having sobered up enough to get what happened and how they must all feel about it. This incident was not the best of way to finally confess, just as she would likely apologize for what she did. But, if they had to deal with Daisuke, Ryohei supposed she could handle Yui. They might still have to ask how it went the next morning. Ryohei sighed, as he realised they still had some time left at the resort before having a long ride back home. It promised to be particularly awkward!

The same thought came back to him as he woke up and slowly remembered why he was here and not in his bed and what happened the night before. He had no intention to say anything though, not until he'd see how Daisuke was. Even then, he felt like the best course of action was to brush it off, assure Yui it was fine, that he knew it was the alcohol that had her act bold like this. But he wondered if Daisuke would be able to play it like that, and not just promise to think of it whatever she wanted to think of it. Kento should have been grabbing her last night. Then again, it might have gnawed at Daisuke still had she tried to kiss him like she tried to kiss Daisuke.

Ryohei thanked his youth for not feeling too bad after a night of drinking. But he was getting hungry and he figured he could just leave the roomfor now and perhaps grab something quick to eat before they figure out what they would do today.

[NOGUCHI DAISUKE]

Daisuke nearly barely even slept at all that night, he didn’t know what to do with it. He’d obviously try to sound cool and pretend it wasn’t that much of a big deal. It ached him a lot to finally hear those words while he was certain that she didn’t mean it the same way he would have wanted to hear them. He bet the guys pitied him, and probably Mikako too! He’d have to step on his pride and be strong, it was the only thing! God, he was dead now, but he was still a bit scared to see Yui. Would she remember anything? He prayed not, he would rather live alone with the pain and awkwardness of what happened the night before. This girl certainly was giving him sleepless nights and he didn’t enjoy it. He probably fell asleep at some point though, because the moment he turned his head to see if it was morning, he saw sun going through the windows that were covered in dark curtains. Morning already. He felt a knot in his stomach and sat up, rubbing his head. He had a bit of a headache but it was mostly due to the lack of sleep more than because of the alcohol.

He grabbed his phone to see the text he got from Mikako. “The girls want to go to the spa this morning.” He let out, unaware if they were awake or not, well, he did hear movement in the room, but he wasn’t sure if they were both awake. He’d gladly take a massage if it could help him rest a bit and cool off. He didn’t want to see Yui, but he had to. He fixed his hair a bit and went to the bathroom to freshen up and look presentable. The image was important today, especially if he had to pretend he was chill with the idea that Yui wanted to kiss him last night.

Ryohei was right to a certain extent. Mikako had to make sure that Yui went right in her bed and wasn’t too down from Daisuke’s rejection. She made sure that Yui knew that it was because he was nice, that he did not want to kiss her. Their friends were decent guys who didn’t go around kissing women just for fun and since Yui didn’t have time to enjoy the rest of the facilities of the place, Mikako thought it was a good idea to hit the spa in the morning so they could all relax. They needed it. Yui woke up with a headache on her own but didn’t seem to remember anything that happened. It was a good thing. She also sent texts in a group chat with Ryohei and Kento to see if Daisuke was in a good state or if they had to do some damage control as well, telling them that Yui seemed to have forgotten what happened the past night.

[MURAKAMI RYOHEI]

It was probably due to their age that Ryohei and the others weren't feeling as bad as others might after such a ight. Then again, they could have drunk a lot more than that. But alcohol was not the only thing that could have caused them to look less than their usual selves. And, in the case of Daisuke, there was a bit of that. He heard the guy shifting in his bed and getting up. Sure, most of it could be due to the fact he just woke up, but Ryohei suspected some moping. In a way, Ryohey could understand him. He could be a little bit like that too himself, at least more than Kento. And he also struggled at times at holding in his emotions. But he felt like some demage control would be necessary this morning.

"Morning," he told his friend. He didn't pay enough attention to see Daisuke took out his phone, making him wonder how he knew what the girls wanted to do. Did they said that yesterday? It would be like Daisuke to remember. But he then noticed the device and figured the girls were awake and messaged them. "I'm fine with it." He felt like they all needed to take things slow today. Even if that meant they could end up in baths and having to talk to Daisuke about what happened. Well, it might not be helped.

"Are we that late?" he asked, wondering if they were making the girls wait. They could have eaten without them, but maybe they weren't. He then realised he got a message too, from Mikako. As expected, she too was aware of the boy's feelings for Yui. He quickly wrote that they were handling it while Daisuke was in the bathroom. "You'll be alright?" he asked him after that. He had to make sure. Daisuke was used to bottle his feelings up but he took a pretty big hit last night. He figured honesty might be best here. "Mikako told me Yui barely remembers last night, so unless she mentions it, I suggest we don't. And if she does, make sure you don't use it as an opportunity to confess to her," he wared him. Daisuke had been popular but he didn't date much. Ryohei wanted to make sure he didn't ruin his chances because he was a rookie at love.

[NOGUCHI DAISUKE]

Daisuke was used to get low blows for having the feelings he had for Yui. He couldn’t count the countless times when he found the courage to tell her he liked her and she came out with a new boyfriend, or something happened that made him unable to confess but this was hard for him to take. Was it just drunk talk? Did she even like him? As in more than friendship? He had to stop thinking like that knowing that he was the one who needed to be ‘strong’ and step on his own feelings for the remainder of the trip. He tried to give himself some mental pep talk before he saw the texts. Ryohei was fine with it, good, and Kento would surely be down for it as well whenever he would wake up.

“I don’t think so.” He said back to Ryohei when he finally found enough will to talk more than the basics. He eyed Ryohei when he questioned him and nodded his head slowly. “I think I’ll make it.” He said. He was relieved however when Ryohei told him that Yui didn’t remember much of what happened the past night. Oh, good, he would be the only one to live with this nightmare. He started feeling better. He was used to be that guy, even if it didn’t sound as heroic as it could. “Oh good, I’m glad she doesn’t remember anything.” He admitted to Ryohei. He was on the edge, but he could pull it off. Confess to her? It wasn’t how he’d want it to be if he wanted to do that! “I’m nowhere near to confessing anything to her.” He admitted to his friend. It might sound harsh a bit the way he said it but it was quite a blow that he got last night, especially when they were the words he wanted to hear for real and they weren’t seemingly the case. He was glad however that his friends were there to support him in this tough timing.

[MURAKAMI RYOHEI]

Ryohei wished this whole issue could be fixed. But Daisuke was too sensible of a person, he couldn't bring himself to speak up to Yui if he felt like she might not be in the best of disposition for it. It was kind of weird that Yui was so oblivious to it though. To everyone else, it seemed so clear. Then again, maybe it was to the two other guys because they were aware of it. Maybe others not knowing them wouldn't be able to tell from his way of acting around her alone. Not to add that Daisuke tried really hard to act the same way with any other girl, which was just dumb in his opinion. Daisuke should have made it clearer to Yui by showing she received special treatment from him. But now was not the time to point it out.

Daisuke seemed relieved to hear she had no memory of what happened. That didn't mean she couldn't remember later on, should they bring up the party or she thought about it more, but, with some luck, they would be able to manage it. He would be able to manage. "Yeah, well, if she ever remembers, don't make a fuss about it. Just downplay it, make it clear you didn't think it meant anything. You're pretty good with such statements," he pointed out. Which was a shame, but it was still the case.

Kento woke up and they filled him on what they planned to do and what was going on with Yui. He was the one with choice words for Daisuke when he pointed out not being anywhere near to confess to her. "And that's kind of the problem. I mean, seriously, you two were all alone for a while yesterday. You could have told her how glad you were to spend that time with her specifically. Or have you never flirted with girls before?" Ryohei wodered too. Did he ever ask a girl out or always let them be the one confessing first? Then again, out of the three, Kento was the one who could do so most easily. "Let's forget about it and just go. No need to make the girls wait. Yui might not know but Makiko will worry," he concluded. Was Daisuke aware that even Makiko guessed what was going on? Or maybe he'll jsut think he said that because she too witnessed what happened last night. "Yeah, I need to fix the headache I'm getting," Kento added. Headache most likely due to the alcohol drank last night and the need to hydrate and feed himself now. Ryohei could feel it a bit too, to be honest.

[NOGUCHI DAISUKE]

Daisuke was feeling better knowing that Yui didn’t remember of anything. It would make it less complicated and he could keep acting as if nothing happened. He was good at this and keeping things ‘cool’. Sure, sometimes, his emotions would get the best of him and he needed to retire somewhere he could let them out but most of the time, he was fine and strong enough mentally to endure that. He should have made it clearer that he liked Yui, he was aware that part of this was his fault, but he didn’t have that courage. He was scared of ruining their friendship and let along their friendship’s chemistry too. Would it change the mood should it happen and they dating? Now was no time to think it through though as they needed to get ready and see the girls. He understood that their friends were trying to make him forget and change his mind.

“Well, no.” he said to Kento when he asked if he ever flirted with any girl before. He was too nice, he knew it. It was also how he ended up inviting a girl who was not Yui at the ball last time. It often backlashed on him. Daisuke was getting a headache as well but it was mostly from the whole situation. Now that he was ready he nodded, ready to get back to the girls and face this one step at a time. “Yes, it will be needed for all of us.” He said referring to the spa. He wondered if they were feeling any ill of it.

Speaking of which, they were waiting for their friends in the hallway so they could get breakfast before going to the spa. Yui was feeling a bit out of it mostly due to the alcohol and Makiko was starting to worry that it might need more time to cheer Daisuke up so she tried to entertain her friend while they were waiting.

[MURAKAMI RYOHEI]

To a point, Ryohei could uderstand Daisuke for being careful. He too tended to take his time before confessing. And the fact she was a friend was both an advantage and an issue at the same time. Ryohei was somewhat aware of that one friend who used to be part of their group until he got mad at her and everyone felt like they had to pick which one they would hang out with the most until she chose to just opt out. He didn't quite give the guy a positive expectation should things go wrong. But, to Ryohei's defense, or at least he would argue it, he never forced them to choose between the two. The guys naturally spent more time with him and the girls felt like it would be less awkward if that other girl wasn't around when they chose to all hang out together. Maybe Ryohei needed to 'forgive and forget' better. At least he didn't thik Daisuke would have an issue about it. For better or worse, he wouldn't.

It was both shocking ad not really to hear that Daisuke didn't really flirt with other girls before. It still made Kento groaned, eve though Ryohei was certain he was as unsurprised as he happened to be. "You need to be more proactive, my man. Yui is the type of girl to wait for her prince to charm her, not the other way around." That was just a guess, but Ryohei would think so too. He couldn't see Yui confessing first.

They joined the girls and it was clear Yui was still a bit under the weather due to last night's party. "We should do something more relaxing today, so it won't be too hard on you," Ryohei told her. Anyway, it was a place to relax and heal, not just a water park. And it seemed like she needed that part of the offer right now. Plus, Ryohei wanted to say it like that, focusing more on today, so that no one would bring up last night. They didn't need more awkwardness than what they already had right now.