The Sixth Gear

The maple leaves has started to fall. The cold breeze blowing each leaf gently as it dances down to the ground.

"Are you ready for your final race?" A young woman in her mid twenties softly asked

"I'm looking forward to it Sakura" The young man who appears much younger than he is, smiled.

Kimiharu Raigo was preparing for his final race. Staring at the sunset from his hotel window, he sighed with relief.

"It will be over soon" he thought to himself. "I can finally be with you again, Asato".

He took the last few tablets of pain killers left from the bottle as he prepares to go to sleep.

----------

"Look, there he is! Asato Daisuke from 2-D!"

"He's so cool, he looks so dreamy"

"He doesn't talk to anybody though"

"That's what makes him more intriguing!"

'Can't there be any peace and quiet in this place?' Asato thought to himself as a group of girls from the other class gossip as he passes by.

He heads to his class and grumbled at how annoying highschool is.

"Alright class, beginning today, we'll be joined by a new transfer student. Go ahead and introduce yourself"

"G-good morning everyone, my name is Kimiharu Raigo, it's a pleasure to meet you all"

Right in front of the class stands a rather petite young man, pale and pretty. His bow was poised and his silhouette was defined.

For some reason, Asato was intrigued as to how a highschool boy could look as graceful as that.

"You may go ahead and use the sit in front of Daisuke-san"

--------

Prying eyes. There are prying eyes everywhere. People are staring.

Everyone was looking at the new student.

"He's quite cute isn't he?"

"His face is so small, I wish I have a face shaped like that"

Gossips. Gossips everywhere.

Kimiharu closed his eyes, carrying his lunch as he tries to rush out for some air.

Bumping on to someone was inevitable.

"Watch where you're going!"

"I-I'm so sorry, I'm terribly sorry"

A stunning young man his pinned him to the wall

"What's wrong with you?!"

"I'm really sorry..."

"Hey! quit it Satoshi, we'll be late for football practice"

Thankfully, another student was able to pacify the scene before it escalated

"You should be careful next time!" grunted the red-head before taking his leave

"Are you alright? Raigo right?" Finally a helping hand

"Y-yes, but you can call me Kimiharu"

"I'm Sakura Yuzume, please call me Sakura"

--------

Finally able to find a peaceful spot under the peach tree, Kimiharu found his first friend.

"You'll have to forgive Heiki, he's really like that. He's not the most approachable person in school but he's a good person"

"I see, if you say so. Although admittedly, it was my fault"

"Oh what happened back there by the way?"

"I... I'm just not too comfortable in a crowd I guess"

"Well, not everyone in school wants to be talked about " she smiled

She seemed to know what's going on, this makes him feel more relaxed and at ease.

"Hey, Kimiharu, can I tell you something?"

He nodded

"You're really beautiful, has anyone ever told you that?"

He blushed

"It's with our family's genes I guess"

"Pffft you're so lucky! but don't get me wrong, I don't want you to be uncomfortable ok?"

"No, not at all, I haven't really had anybody to talk to about stuff anyway"

"Ever?"

"I am weird I guess"

"That's just so sad! Kimiharu!" She held his hands

"From now on, as long as you want to, you can talk to me about anything ok? If you need help or wanna talk about anything at all, let me know ok?"

He blushed deeper.

--------

The days went by and Sakura has made his stay at the school more bearable.

At the very least, he has a friend he can talk to.

Kimiharu's family is rather well-off, his parents work overseas and he stays alone at one of their mansions near the school.

Although he has maids and butlers around to take care of him, he didn't really have anyone of his age to talk to and have fun with.

--------

It was a hot weekday afternoon. Just a few more days before summer break.

Asato was staring blankly at the engaging nape in front of him.

It was pale and slim but firm. Sweat stream down. It was hot and humid.

He wonders how that soft flesh would feel against his hand. He'd unknowingly stretch out his hand before realizing it.

'Huh? what am I doing?' he asked himself.

He wiped off the sweat from his brows and stared into the scorching afternoon sky from the window of his desk.

Kimiharu saw this and was awed at how regal the student behind him looked.

--------

"Asato Daisuke? hhhmmm no one really know what's he's like. I mean, he rarely talks to anyone, why did you asked?" Sakura was intrigued

"No reason really. I just realized I never got to know him even though he's just right behind me. He seemed kinda nice though"

"Nice?"

"You sounded really surprised Sakura, is he not?"

"I'm not really sure Kimiharu but if you find him nice then, good for you I guess... by the way, my family will be visiting my relatives out of town next week so I won't be in school until summer break actually begins"

"oh..."

"Don't worry, you can still call me or email if you need anything...then maybe we can go to the summer festival with Heiki when I get back"

"Heiki? do you like him Sakura?"

She blushed at the unexpected query

"I'm surprised you noticed just now... I plan to confess to him during the festival, but I need your moral support for me to be able to have the courage to do it, I'm sorry"

"There's no reason for you to be sorry, you've done so much for me actually Sakura. I'll be a little lonely while you're gone but I'll definitely help you"

"Thanks Kimiharu"

--------

The gossips and the noise still bothers him. He was used to the quiet luxury of their home. Looking for the most muted part of the school, he settled under the shade of the stock room on the school's rooftop. Just as he was nibbling on his lunch, a piece of olive seemed to have fallen from the sky. He didn't care at first but when it suddenly started raining olives, he finally decided to stand up, stare up and check where on earth was it coming from. As he climbed up the narrow ladder going to the stock room's roof, another olive jumped in and surprised him causing him to loose his grip. He shut his eyes getting ready for the fall but to his surprise, a strong but gentle grasp caught his other arm preventing his drop.

"You?!" Asato was surprised

"I...uh.."

He held him up and asked if he was ok, to which Kimiharu simply nodded. He noticed he was eating his packed lunch too.

"You are ... Raigo, Kimiharu?"

"Please call me Kimiharu..."

"Asato, just call me Asato"

It was an awkward moment for two people who hardly have any social skills. One being used to being alone and the other finding solitude in being left alone.

Asato noticed a piece of olive on Kimiharu's hair and decided to gently brush it off.

"I'm sorry, I don't like olives" He embarrassingly started.

"Oh...d-do you always eat alone?"

"I just don't like being around too many people in general"

"I-I see, sorry for disturbing your lunch, I'll be off--"

Before he could stand up to leave, Asato stopped him

"I said too many people, but not everyone... you're welcome to join me if you like"

He sat back down

"T-thank you"

Each of them was struggling to start a conversation.

"Looks like miss Kurumi made too much teriyaki again... I uh, usually share it with Sakura, would you like to have some?"

"Sure"

Kimiharu stares at him, examining the young man beside him.

"It's very good. This Kurumi, is she your sister?"

"Oh uh, sh-she's actually my nanny since I was a kid"

He's been ridiculed before and labelled spoiled for having a nanny at his age, but the reality is, it wasn't his choice. On the contrary, it was unavoidable. He anticipated his degrading reaction but the only statement he made was

"She's a good cook"

Somehow, this made him happy.

Asato noticed this and finds it rather cute of him that he gave off a slight blush.

"Would you... like to have lunch together again tomorrow?" he hesitantly asked

"Sure" not knowing how to properly answer

"Great! I'll make sure to ask miss Kurumi to add more tomorrow"

As they were getting ready to go back to class

"Do you wanna go home together later?" Asato muttered almost indistinctly

"That sounds nice" he smiled

That smile. It made him blush.

--------

Right after class, as the two headed out, Heiki took noticed. For some reason this bothered him. It irritated him, but he brushed off the thought.

"Over here"

"Oh...I uh thought we were walking home"

"Well, it's more convenient to ride a bicycle, don't you ride one to school?"

"Uhh... I uh actually have never ride a bicycle before" he replied embarassed

Asato was genuinely surprised. He paused for a moment, and prepared to ride his bike

"Hop on"

Not knowing how to ride a bicycle, Kimiharu hop on the back sit, as Asato began to pedal, he was caught off-guard so he instinctively held on the sturdiest object he could grip on - Asato's chest.

Asato jolted a bit at the unexpected gesture. He felt the blood rush towards his cheeks. He was confused.

He tried to brush off his thoughts

"So you've never tried riding a bike before?"

"My parents work overseas and I don't really have anyone to teach me when I was a kid, pretty weird huh? at my age and I don't even know how to ride a bicycle"

"I think it's a shame, you're missing out a lot"

"It's alright I guess, there's a lot of things I didn't really get to do as a kid so it's fine"

"Hey"

"Yes?"

"Close your eyes and hang tight"

"Uh?" confused, Kimiharu obliged, he closed his eyes as he tightened the arms wrapped around Asato.

He pedaled faster, downhill, passing through the grassy field, feeling the breeze embrace his senses.

Kimiharu never felt so peaceful, the wind blowing through his feminine face. He could smell the grass, the season. The feeling of moving without having a fixed direction to follow, of not knowing when and where the motion's going to end. No boundary, no destination. It was a lust for freedom.

When it finally stopped, he slowly opened his eyes to the most beautiful sunset he's ever witnessed.

"What do you think?"

But Kimiharu was speechless. He was just in awe, smiling.

"Sorry for taking you all the way out here, I don't really know where you live so..."

"Thank You, Asato, thank you for the ride" he was still smiling

"My house isn't actually too far from here"

--------

They arrived at this rather enormous estate.

"Thank you again Asato, it was a great ride home"

As he was about to enter the gate

"Hey..."

He scratched his head for a second, not knowing how to proceed

"I can teach you how to ride the bicycle...if you want to"

"Really?!"

he just nodded his head

"I'll make sure to bring an extra bento for you then"

"Sure"

"Great! well, see you tomorrow then"

He just gently waved goodbye as he started heading off home on his bike.

--------

The school bell rang for lunch

Heiki was about to approach Kimiharu but he's already left in a hurry to the roof.

"As promised! an extra bento, no olives" he smiled

"Thanks"

"Uh, hey, Asato, d-d you have any plans later after school?"

But he was quiet. He just stared at him, his look was questioning. He's the type who really just isn't interested in engaging in conversations.

"Sorry, I just thought maybe you could help pick out a bicycle for me to use"

"If you really enjoyed the ride, I'll help you"

"I did, actually, it was...liberating"

Asato smiled at what he heard

-End of chapter 1