InsaneJournal

       “Shindou!”

       Akira’s voice thundered into the room, seconds before the figure appeared in the doorway, and the blonde winced. “Can’t you say my name without yelling, Touya?” he complained, rubbing at his ears. “You act like a drama queen sometimes.”

       The other boy stiffened immediately, emerald eyes narrowing into his infamous glare. “Are you insulting my masculinity?” he demanded.

       Blinking, Hikaru looked up at the threatening figure hovered over him and promptly convulsed into belly-clutching giggles. “Yep!” he managed to gulp out in between tears of hilarity.

       Akira’s expression grew even darker, if that were possible. His mouth opened in a snarl, but no words came out, and he froze helplessly in his thunderous stance, at a complete loss as to how to make Hikaru retract his words. Violence was not in the poor boy’s nature.

       A few torturous seconds later, Hikaru finally took pity on his rival and occasional friend. Valiantly suppressing his giggles, he straightened off the floor and leveled a solemn glance at Akira. “Sorry, Touya-kun,” he hiccupped. “You’re as masculine as Go players get.”

       Sensing an insult though unsure where, Akira refused to let his guard down. “You’re a Go player too,” he defended, a note of desperation slipping into his voice despite his glower.

       “Yes, I am,” agreed the blonde, easily, through suspiciously twitching lips.

       “So—so,” Akira stammered, sweat beading at his temples, “it doesn’t mean anything. Playing Go doesn’t mean anything. Nothing.” He tugged uncomfortably at his tiger-striped necktie and pink shirt. “I mean, it does, but it doesn’t. It has nothing to do with being a boy.” He followed the other boy’s gaze to his collar and shifted slightly. Muttering, he added, “I have blue shirts too.”

       “Something to prove, Touya-kun?” Hikaru asked sweetly.