"Shirogane-san? Is it true that you are the person in the photo?"
"Is it true that you are gay?"
"Is it true that you slept with one of your classmates?"
"Please give us an explanation!"
"Are you friends with Shirogane-san? Can you give your side for this issue?"
As Izumi went out of his house, the two accompanied him. Expecting him to get angry, the two were stunned by what Izumi did.
"First and foremost, can you show me the said photo?" asked Izumi politely. "Here, Shirogane-san," said one of the reporters as he showed the photo to Izumi. Izumi couldn't help himself but laugh. The reporters were puzzled why Izumi laughed. He saw himself pinned on the wall while being kissed by someone.
"The photo is real, but the caption is almost unbelievable. 'Son of a famous foreign voice actor is gay,' it says here but do they have evidence for that? said Izumi as he laughed hard. "So, you're admitting you are the one in the photo?" asked one of the reporters. "Well, what do I gain for denying it? However, it's amusing. Maybe I should believe the caption?" said Izumi as he held his laughter. Yuuji and Haruki couldn't help but also laugh. The media was astonished when they saw this side of Izumi. "There's an audio accompanying this photo; would you like to listen to it?" said the polite reporter. "Go ahead," said Izumi softly.
Izumi was mortified when he heard Satoshi's voice moaning. "That idiot! He recorded it! But when did he do it?!" he thought. Then, one of the obnoxious reporters asked him. "But you're the son of Shirogane Akihiko, am I right? As the son of the famous voice actor, and even the brother-in-law of Nakahara Natsumi, are you sure you can't change your voice to fool us?" said one of the obnoxious reporters.
"Are you accusing me of using the talents of my family to cover this scandal?" asked Izumi with a fit of slight anger and irritation in his voice while feigning a smile. "Uh—No, Shirogane-san, I am just asking," said the terrified reporter. "Kidding aside, that photo was taken during our high school days. We made a movie and I was the main character and the genre was BL," said Izumi. "Maybe I should upload it? We got a perfect grade thanks to it. I'll let the people judge. But If I were them, I should mind my own business. This is clearly an invasion of privacy. I could sue the person who uploaded it for false accusation," said Izumi as he smiled. "Well, I did some voiceover of a few anime films when I was younger. And indeed, I came from a family of voice actors, so it is easy for you to assume that I used our family's talent for such an obnoxious act. For the record, someone asked if I was gay. Well, here's your answer," said Izumi as he took a deep breath before dropping off a bomb.
"I am not gay. I am not straight, I am not bisexual, homosexual, or heterosexual. It is up to me to choose the right person for me. May it be a guy or a girl, as long as the feelings are genuine, why not?" he said. "What I really hate is those people who accuse or assume something and cannot support their claims," he further added. With his last statement, Izumi was emanating an irritated and furious aura. The media then thanked him for letting them interview him. The three went back inside. Yuuji and Haruki wait for Izumi to cool down before talking to him. Izumi went to the kitchen to prepare lunch while the two were just there, sitting in silence. Haruki then decided to help Izumi cook, and so did Yuuji. As they were eating after cooking, Haruki broke the chain of silence that dominated the atmosphere.
"Are you alright, Izu-chan? Is it ok if I'll tell you something?" precautioned Haruki. "Sure, go ahead," said Izumi. "Did you know that Mitsuru was caressing your hair and giving you forehead kisses?" asked the worried Haruki. His eyes showed sympathy and care for his friend. "Stop looking at me as if I have been fooled. I'm going to throw you out if you do that," said Izumi as he ate his food peacefully. Yuuji is trying hard to contain his laughter. "Stop it, Yuuji-kun!" exclaimed Haruki. "Well, I don't know about that but back then I got infatuated with Mitsuru. That was before I met Satoshi," said Izumi. "EHHHHHH?!" exclaimed the two. "That's why I'm going to make Mitsuru live in despair until he realizes that he's the one for me," said Izumi blatantly. "Woah, sometimes I get scared of how you frankly speak. I feel like all secrets would be exposed with your statements," said Haruki. "You could've dated Mitsuru back then, why didn't you do it?" followed up Haruki. "Are you an idiot? I was afraid that my father would kill me. That relationship with Satoshi is just a gamble," said Izumi. Yuuji couldn't contain his laughter any longer, so he laughed so hard.
"S-SENPAI! SERIOUSLY! I FIND IT AMUSING! I AM SORRY IF I GOT YOU OFFENDED. I DIDN'T MEAN IT!" said Yuuji. "It's fine Yuuji-kun. I am kind of relieved that you did it. It reminds me of Natsumi-nii and father," said Izumi as he genuinely smiled at Yuuji. Yuuji suddenly stopped and became embarrassed. Then, Natsumi called.
"Ikkun! I WATCHED YOUR INTERVIEW! I DIDN'T KNOW THAT YOU LOVE TO INTIMIDATE OTHERS!" said Natsumi as he laughed. "Well, I got irritated, Natsumi-nii. I am sure you would be interviewed in one of your television guesting, are you sure you can handle it?" asked the worried Izumi. "No problem, I'll just imitate you," said Natsumi as he laughed once more. "Geez. Oh, by the way, Natsumi-nii, kindly give my regards to everyone," said Izumi. "Got it, lil'bro!" responded Natsumi as he hung the phone up.
The three are peacefully sitting at the sala in the afternoon when someone calls Izumi's phone. As he answers it, a familiar voice is heard.
"Izumi! Are you alright? I saw the news!" said the worried yet awkward Mitsuru. "I am fine, is that the reason why you called?" asked Izumi in a dead tone while staring at nothingness. "Of course. If you have nothing to say, I'll hang up now," replied Izumi. "Wait—" as Mitsuru was about to say something, Izumi hung the phone up and returned to what he was doing.
"You really love to cut the conversation when you're not in the mood huh?" said Haruki as he hovers behind Izumi. "Wait, you're booking a flight?! WHO SAID YOU CAN GO OVERSEAS ALONE?!" said the shocked and excited Izumi. "There he goes again," thought Izumi. "Yeah, and what of it? You want to tag along?" asked Izumi. "Why, of course! Are you coming, Yuuji-kun?" asked the thrilled Haruki. "Err—" said the unsure Yuuji as he has no money for travel. "Prepare your things, Yuuji-kun. Our flight will be in two months," said Izumi as he closed his laptop. "But—" as Yuuji was about to refuse since he is embarrassed, Izumi again cut him. "No more buts. If you're worried about the fare, it's on me. Didn't I clearly say yesterday that from now on you're my little brother?" said Izumi as he went upstairs to sleep.
Haruki was shocked by what he had heard. "It seems you softened Izu-chan huh, Yuuji-kun? Normally, he only socializes with me and Mikkun. But now, he didn't even hesitate to book your flight," said the shocked Haruki as he smiled towards Yuuji. "Now, I'm really grateful to Shirogane-senpai. Shall I call him Nii-san from now on?" jokingly said Yuuji as he laughed together with Haruki.
Two Months Later…
Izumi took a rest and refrained from going to the club. Luckily, his classroom is not in the same building as the club. He started living with Yuuji while Haruki was still in the dorm, accompanying Mitsuru. He and Yuuji are taking a train to go to school. One day, Mitsuru met up with Izumi and Yuuji. He skipped his class just to see him.
"Oh, you're coming back here?! That's great! We can be together again!" As Izumi was on the phone, he and Yuuji suddenly stopped walking as Mitsuru appeared in front of them.
"I'll call you later, it seems I was expecting unwanted guests." Izumi hangs the phone and stares at Mitsuru. "So, what brings you here?" asked Izumi. "Can we talk?" asked Naoki. His face is down; he cannot look at Izumi eye to eye. "Aren't we already talking?" asked Izumi. "Sorry, it seems that I was just confused. I shouldn't have confessed to you. I still have feelings for Satoshi," said Mitsuru as he held back his tears. Izumi noticed that the red thread became even more tangled. There, he wondered what would happen if he cut it. He then brings out some scissors from his bag and misses them.
"Ichi-nii? What was that? It seems you just cut some air?" asked the puzzled Yuuji. "Yes, it is something that needs to be cut," replied Izumi as he looked at Mitsuru once more. The red thread mysteriously disappeared when Izumi cut it. "Well, I'll support your decision. I was going to turn you down that day anyway. Thanks for caressing my hair and giving me forehead kisses, Mikkun," said Izumi as he repeated the expressions he showed that day to him. "You don't need to apologize," added Izumi as he walked away from Mitsuru.
"Wait, then… What do you mean? Thanking me for my forehead kisses? How did you know? I thought you also like me?" asked Mitsuru as he sprinted and grabbed Izumi's hand, refusing him to let go. "Sometimes, you need to stop assuming something Mikkun. I meant that as a friend," refuted Izumi. "Don't worry, I'll be back at the dorm when I'm ready. Being in love is not only the one that causes heartbreaks, sometimes, friends too," replied Izumi as he forcefully let his hand go from Mitsuru. He and Yuuji ran to the train station to catch their train. With that, a sudden downpour of rain commences. Mitsuru stood there, crying and frustrated, while clenching his fists.
"Damn it! What should I do?! I am only doing this to protect you! Should I also continue this façade? I am scared to lose you!" Mitsuru wailed and sobbed as the snow began to fall, sympathizing with him. "And why do you keep on ignoring your feelings towards me? I am so frustrated! I know it! I feel that you also like me! Why would you easily let me go?!" he added.