Room 304, Diety Hall

Author: Yukimi2 yukimi2@yahoo.com

Comment: OOH-hohohohoho. This is fun. ^_______^ .Hint: Everytime I dedicate an episode to L7, it’s a big clue there’s a lot Shinya and Die action in it ^_~.

Episode 9: I. HATE. YOU.

Die rang the doorbell. He stood outside Ryutaro and Tadashi’s apartment. Ryutaro answered the door.

"Ryutaro! Are you alright?" Die asked, entering.

"I’m fine." Ryutaro smiled and lead Die across the apaato. Practically every student from Diety hall came and visited Akira, who was a former Diety Hall resident.

"Is Akira---?"

"Akira’s doing great! He only has cuts, bruises, and a broken leg, but nothing fatal."

Inside Akira’s room, there were so many people it seemed more like a party than a sick-bed visitation. People were watching a game on the television, and others were playing a computer game on Akira’s crappy Macintosh. Lord knows why he has a "Mac-in-trash".

"Die! You came!" Akira was sitting up on his bed.

Jun and Takeo were wrapping a cast on his leg. "Hi Die!" They simultaneously greeted.

Die nodded. "Hey guys!" He held up a paper bag then gave it to Akira. "Got you some Champaign for your pains."

"Die, you didn’t have to!" Akira protested.

"C’mon, man! I insist." Die placed the bottle on the table next to the bed. "So, what the hell happened?"

"It was Johnny’s…" Akira replied.

Die pressed his lips into a frustrated line. "Those bastards."

Kaoru raised his hand. "Ano…why can’t we inform the police about this?"

Die sighed. "The biggest problem is that this is the Johnny’s fraternity we’re dealing with. They are the preppiest, most popular, and richest students in this whole school. They have means and money to twist the facts fo that they are not to blame. If we tell the authorities, they’d surely make it sound like Akira was the one who harassed them."

Kaoru clenched his hand into a fist. "This is ridiculous! There has to be some way of getting back at them!"

"Money talks, Kaoru! You can’t beat them with something we don’t have." Die said.

"But this isn’t right! Why don’t we all go to campus police? They’d surely listen to all of us." Kaoru insisted.

"Kaoru!"

Kaoru turned to face Akira.

"Domo arigatou." Akira said with a soft smile.

"What for?"

Akira continued. "You have a good idea suggesting to go to campus police. I appreciate your enthusiasm to do what’s right."

"No problem."

"But please stop contemplating on those losers!"

Kaoru blinked. It was ridiculous. In his high school, there were poor, middle-class, as well as rich students, but nobody had advantage over anyone. Everyone was treated fairly. "But they deserve---"

"They deserve nothing!"

Kaoru silenced.

Akira took a deep breath. "I understand this is your first quarter at college. Kaoru, no offense, but you still have a lot to learn. Revenge won’t do us any good. It would cause more grief than satisfaction. Deep down, I want to punch the living shit out of those jerks, but up here…" He pointed to his head. "…I knew I had more important things to worry about. I know you’re a pre-med student, so focus your energies on that as I focus my energies on getting my engineering degree and taking care of Taro-chan."

Ryutaro blushed.

Kaoru said. "What if they strike again?"

Akira gave a low chuckle. "That group is like a matchstick. They don’t burn unless someone strikes it with friction. I was pissed and cocky, so look what happened to me. I could’ve gotten away without consequences if I used my head. Don’t fret, Kaoru. Those guys are sleezy, and they like to pick on people, but they won’t kill anyone."

"It’s still not fair."

"Life is never fair." Akira shrugged. "But think about it. Once these boys graduate and go off to the real world, who do you think would have a better and happier life: some hard-working student like you, or spoiled-shitless brats like them? Besides, when they graduate, you will never encounter these people again."

Kaoru nodded his head in amazement. "Wow! You make good points there!"

Akira laughed. "I’ve been hanging out with Takeo too much."

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Takeo frowned.

Jun giggled.

"Die-kun," Akira called out. "Can you put the wine in the fridge?"

Die gave a salute. "Aye, aye, sir!"

Outside Akira’s room, Ryutaro went out to let more visitors into the apartment.

"Sumimasen. I brought more icepacks at the store." Shinya entered the apartment.

"Ah, Shinya-san." Ryutaro beamed. "Arigatou gozai masu. Could you put it in the fridge over there. Onegaishimasu."

Shinya nodded. Amazingly enough, the Johnny’s incident has caused him to meet several people from Diety hall. His introvert personality has not necessarily achieved him close friends, but his list of acquaintances has grown incredibly. He was surprised at how close everyone in one dormitory building is. Shinya squeezed his way through the crowd. When he finally reached the fridge, he opened the freezer door hastily and put the icebag in.

"ITTAI~!"

Shinya had accidentally hit someone when he opened the freezer door. "Sumimasen!!’ Shinya exclaimed and quickly rushed over to help the person, but stopped when he saw a familiar ball of red hair .

The red head was rubbing the back of his head, cursing to himself.

"Oh FUCK! Would you watch it with the door?!"

Shinya narrowed his eyes into slits. "And you’d better watch your mouth!"

Die snapped his head up, startled. "It’s you!" he gasped.

Shinya rolled his eyes. "I’m leaving."

"No wait! WAIT!" With lightning speed, he ran up and blocked the younger man’s way. "Why don’t you stay a little longer? We’re having wine later."

"No thank you. I have to go back to the dorm."

Die frowned. "But everyone in Diety Hall is here. The dormitory is empty."

"Good. Then I’ll have some peace."

"It’s not safe to go by yourself."

"I’m leaving." Shinya hurriedly shoved people out of the way.

Die tried to keep up with Shinya. Shinya finally got out of the apartment door and sighed in relief. He was about to walk down the stairs when someone called out. "Shinya-san!" Shinya would have turned his heel and ran, but he knew the voice belonged to Levin.

"Yes, Levin. I have things to do."

Levin blinked his big sad eyes (;_;). "You’re leaving me??"

Shinya let out a long breath. He couldn’t leave his ‘baby’ alone. He slowly trudged back to the apartment.

Die finally got through the crowd, but grinned when he saw Shinya come back in. "Glad you decided to stay. " He said.

‘It’s not because of you." The younger man snapped. ~GOD! How do I get rid of this guy?!~

"Everyone’s passing drinks right now. Want one?"

"I’ll get it myself. " Shinya replied. "Let’s go, Levin."

Die followed them as they made their way to the dinner table. "Are you always this testy?"

~MOU~! >< Leave me alone!!~ "Only when I see you." Shinya said coldly. He took a cup and chugged it down, trying to relieve his annoyance.

Die smiled. "That’s good. You look cute when you’re agitated."

Shinya choked on his drink, then felt his face grow hot with anger and shyness. "I’m not cute!"

"Yes you are." Die put his hands under his chin and stared at Shinya. "It makes you so enjoyable to look at."

Shinya flushed. "Don’t look at me like that!"

Levin, who was eating pizza beside the red head, tugged on Die’s sleeve. "Ne. Ne. I’m thirsty."

Without taking his eyes off Shinya, Die handed Levin the closest drink he could find.

Shinya’s eyes windened in realization. "Hey! Levin! You can’t drink that!"

Die raised an eyebrow. "Levin’s old enough, he can drink it."

Levin looked at the large mug of golden-yellow liquid. "Ano, Die-san, what is this?"

Shinya piped up. "Levin, don’t drink that! It’s---"

"---Apple Juice!" Die replied with a grin.

"COOL!" Without further ado, the short man chugged the whole mugfull.

Shinya was in panick. "You red-headed imbicile! He’s not supposed to have that!"

"Levin’s not underaged or anything."

"Yes! But---he’s---he’s---LEVIN!"

"Here, Levin-chan!" Die grabbed another mug of beer.

"NO!" Shinya jumped up and attempted to take the mug from Die, but Die quickly moved it away.

"C’mon, I think Levin wants some more, ne, Levin-chan??"

" *hic* Die-san! *hic* That apple juice was goo….berry…goo…" Levin slurred then giggled cutely.

"See?" Die grinned.

Shinya clenched his fist. Die was testing his patience, and those mocking/teasing eyes are really pissing him off.

Die grinned even wider. "Am I pissing you off?"

Shinya spoke through gritted teeth. "As a matter of fact, you are."

He reached over again and tried to get the mug away. Unfortunately, Die was too fast. The red head swiftly swung the mug to his left as Shinya stumbled toward empty space. The action was so fast that the next thing Shinya knew, strong muscular arms steadied him and soft lips brushed his cheek. Shinya widened his eyes and pushed the grinning red head away. He put a hand on his cheek as his face turned crimson. The kiss was quick, but left a burning imprint on the younger man’s cheek.

The younger man saw Die’s teasing eyes and recovered from shock to annoyance.

"I. HATE. YOU. " He sneered then stalked out of the apartment.

Die watched him walk away and swung an arm around a *berry* drunk Levin. The red head sighed. "Y’know what, Levin? I think he likes me."

CONTD ~ @ Part 10: The Good Samaritan

to be continued~