False Advertising

style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:
"Courier New";color:black'>Nineteen

            Shun locked his eyes with the upperclassman before he
could no longer keep from trembling. He turned away and clenched his fist,
crying out as he punched the door.  "Damnit!" He yelled, as
Shinobu rose to his feet and approached him. He placed a hand on his friend's
shoulder, easing his arm down.  Shun hopped a bit, a little afraid to let
what few tears were building fall to strike the floor.  "I feel sick,
sempai." Shun muttered, quietly taking a heavy though unsteady
breath.  Shinobu guided him back to the bed and sat him down, taking his
original place next to him.

            "What's wrong?" Shun dared a look, his blurry
eyes shimmering from the soft glow of the desk lamp.  The crisp night air
swept in through an open window, causing Shun to shiver.  It seemed that
storm had passed on.  Shinobu remained unmoved.  Biting his lip
again, Shun gave a sigh.

            "I. . . damnit, sempai, I'm really confused. .
." Shinobu gave a nod as Shun cast his gaze floor-ward once more. 
"I don't know who I am, anymore." He sniffed briefly, wiping at his
eyes.

            "Ah, it's that again, is it?"

            "Yeah, that."
He put his face in his hands for a moment, covertly rubbing the wetness from
his eyes. This was, of course, not the first time. While they rarely spoke
about it in depth, this time Shinobu could feel a sense of finality approaching
and, like a good boy, egged it on.

            "So, you still have a crush on Hasukawa-kun, eh? I'm
not so sure you should worry too much, Shun. This is fairly normal behavior for
a boys' dormitory." He sat back, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I
might, Mitsuru couldn't keep his hands off me at first."

            Shun shot up, incredulous. "Really?!"

            "No. I lied."

            "Oh," Shun replied flatly, slumping a little.

            "But I do know that what you're going through isn't
abnormal."

            Still, Shun persisted. "I don't know what it is. . .
I really do think I'm gay. . ."
Shinobu nodded faintly, glancing over as Shun wiped his eyes once more. 
"I dunno . . . I think I'm maybe just scaring myself into it–"

            "Well, perhaps I'm not the one to talk to about
this. I certainly can't tell you who to love." Gently, he began to herd
Shun out, the boy casting him an odd glance.

            "Wait, love?
What do you mean?" Shinobu didn't respond, but the message seemed
clear.  Numbly, Shun nodded, stepping back out into the hallway as the
not-so-icy student bade his goodnight.  Shun shook his head, feeling a
little dizzy as he walked back to 210.  He heard Mitsuru on his return,
storming back by with a subtle hello this time.  He burst through the
door, immediately yelling at Shinobu once more.  Shun didn't have to
listen to be reminded of what Mitsuru was probably mad about.  Maybe
tonight he'd just get some rest; after, all it was kind of a long day. . .

            Back in 211, Shinobu almost chuckled as Mitsuru
seethed.  "You sure do get excited over girls."

            "When you sleep with the ones I'm destined for, jack
ass!"

What happens next? :

[It's onward to Hasukawa.] – Go
to Chapter Thirteen (style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>13)

[Shun damns the lesbians, since
it's clearly their fault!] – Go to Chapter Forty-Six
(46)