"What were you thinking Souma !?" Takumi screamed.

Ah, they were in another fight. These were so common to the rival/lover duo that some thought their end was nigh, the Polar Star dorm were already putting up anti-Souma measures,  incase his emotional imbalance caused him to attack them with his horrendous concoctions . Each member of the dorm was supplied with surgical masks , to guard their mouths and nose , from the stash Fumio-San had left over from dealing with Joichirou before. The Yukihira men were real monsters.

"You're so self-absorbed , you know , ever think about what others felt ? No , of course not , because you're you!" Takumi was on a roll. Emotions from each and every frustrating situation he had been pulled in too , was being taken out on Souma  . He just couldn't believe why Souma would  do that. Of everyone , why did he choose to battle the top seat ? And to further enrage him Yukihira was to join Central if he lost and abandon all his friends ? Abandon Takumi ? Irritation was evident on the half-italian's face , he swore he could write an entire book on why people shouldn't fall for their rivals , idiot , carefree rivals to top it off , but he doubted anyone would need it . No. No one would make that mistake . No one was as stupid as Takumi believed himself to be . Why Yukihara of all people ?

"Honestly , how did I even fall for you ?" Takumi exclaimed glaring straight at Souma's head, wanting some acknowledgement or for him to atleast look up. He was already angry and Souma's monotone responses did nothing to help. Only provoked the fuming Italian more.

It was then Takumi saw some reaction. Souma froze up. His eyes shot up to meet Takumi's hard, cyan , metallic orbs. Slumping his head back down  , he replied...

"Maybe you didn't." before getting off the stool and walking away , not once looking up or back at the shocked rival left behind.

What had just happened ?

The door slammed shut , jolting the awe-struck boy . Limply,  he fell into his soft bed , it felt hard and uncomfortable . The stuffed animals decorated there incorporating no warmth or comfort, rather it felt like they were glaring daggers at him , judging him, hating him. Uniformly , Takumi's eyes glanced to the digital clock at the side of the room. Reading it to be 10 o'clock in the evening . His blank mind had instructed his body to move and carry on with the bedtime routine that was engraved in the gentleman's mind after executing it flawlessly for so long.
Brush teeth.
Wear bed clothes (which normally were a set of pyjamas) .
Dust bed incase it somehow accumulated dust or dirt (not that it ever did).
Fall down into the pillow.
Pull cover over head just enough so that he wouldn't be cold , but could breathe.
Close eyes.
Sleep.
Everything went according to plan. Everything except one.
Sleep.
He couldn't . Takumi couldn't sleep and when Takumi can't sleep , he thinks. Everything impacted his heart in a chaotic burst. A physical punch would've been better than the surge of emotions coursing through his heart, emotions that were spread throughout his whole body,  thanks to the blood vessels that seemed to carry them along . Stupid wasn't it ? Takumi was educated . He knew his scientific facts . He knew how illogical this was . He knew the tears that were falling into the pillow. He knew the boy constantly flashing in his mind. He knew that laugh. He knew those memories.

'No,No,No Souma don't go' Takumi whimpered  but he realised no one would hear. Isami had gone out 1 hour ago and had yet to return. He was all alone.

'Come back, Please' Takumi implored internally begging his arms to move , pick up the phone that leisurely lay on the oak bedside table and call that idiot right back , right into his arms so he could bury his face into the taller's chest , so he could hear the other's heartbeat, so he could chuckle and tease him about how much the boy loved Takumi , but they couldn't. The boy couldn't move , his entire being seemed to weigh him down, chaining him to the bed.

'He left you.'

'no'

'You let him.'

'no'

'You love him but....'

'He hates you.'

'STOP!! PLEASE STOP ..... Stop....stop....stop...i'm sorry Souma....forgive me Souma....I love you Souma...' The boy repeated the mantra over and over again , hoping by some miracle the boy would appear in front of him. Hoping some mystical creature was listening . Grasping at straws, hoping that his stuffed animals could somehow absorb his emotions.

But....

Souma didn't appear.

No mystical creature was listening.

The stuffed animals were dead. Nothing more.

Reluctantly the solemn half-italian's eyes began to close and he fell asleep.

The hour was 11 when Isami walked in. Carefully , knowing full well about his obsessive brother's routine and that he'd be asleep by now. Cheekily , Isami crept into his brother's room hoping to see the boy hugging one of his animals , curled into a ball with drool travelling down his mouth onto the bed sheets and intending to add more material into his ever expanding blackmail list. His hope , however , was wretchedly shattered upon viewing the scene infront of him. Takumi was lying in a straight line on the bed, tucked under the covers , he wasn't cuddling anything , rather his hands where by his face clutching onto the pillow that supported his head, the pillow had a damp spot right underneath Takumi's eyes and the faint mark of dried tears outlined themselves on Takumi's normally flawless face.

' Why were you crying brother?' Isami's eyes softened with sympathy . He wasn't drooling , but his open mouth was mumbling repeated words and phrases.

'I'm sorry' the asleep boy mumbled.

'Why are you sorry ?' Isami thought.

'Please forgive me '

'For what, Takumi ?' Isami wondered.

'I love you ,Souma'

Isami froze.

'Come back please'

He understood now. Yukihira Souma.

The next day Takumi seemed to be fine. Seemed. The slightly older Aldini was sure he had covered up any traces of what happened the night before but Takumi was oblivious to the fact that Isami knew. The first lesson of the day was a practical class. The twins shared this class with some of their friends and most of Takumi's fanclub , unfortunately , Yukihira was also among those within the session. Walking in the boys greeted all their friends Megumi, Alice, Hayama , Ryou and smiled at the various fangirls that were staring at them. When it came to Yukihira , Takumi ignored him as if the boy didn't exist and the gesture was reciprocated by the red head. Choosing partners and standing behind their stations the duos began cooking , a freestyle dish that included nutrients fit for athletes before a big race. Megumi and Yukihira who created a rice dish with fish and eggs , high in carbohydrates and protein , received a pass , that was shared by Alice and Ryou who used sea food and the method of faux caviar to create little spheres of food bursting with nutrients and Akira Hayama who worked with his partner to create a meal rich in vitamins and minerals. Following this trend it was obvious that the brothers received a pass as well with their Italian style vegetable pie . The class passed by with everyone finishing before the time limit and as Isami and Takumi were washing dishes , the younger noticed the melancholy glances his brother would shoot toward the oblivious Japanese , he also noticed the sad smile he gave to the girls that praised him , it almost seemed like Takumi was tired of his fangirls and that he was only being kind because of his gentlemanly roots.

Luckily , Isami had the last lesson of the academic day with Yukihira , alone. No one else. It was a simple class with a professor that allowed students to be dismissed as soon as they had finished , if they had finished under the time limit. This lessons theme was an easy dish , only using  given ingredients and nothing more. Cheese , Eggs , Flour , Carrots , Sugar , Berries , Mushrooms , Sweetcorn and Butter. Yukihira had made sweet scones with a raspberry jam whilst Isami made a simple yet delicious quiche mixing Italian herbs and spices into the recipe. The Japanese boy finished first ,getting the teacher to test it then asking to leave . Isami has finished only 5 minutes after him wanting to talk to the boy alone before he was once again surrounded by friends. Following the same procedure Yukihira did , the chubby Italian walked out the door looking left and right to see which way his target had went. Isami was just about to give up when a familiar mop of red caught his eye. This familiar mop was going behind the school kitchen, a place with no security cameras and no one to see. Curious and harboured with intent to confront the ex-boyfriend Isami followed. He was about to turn the corner of the building when he heard a loud thump. It sounded like the impact of skin on a wall , Isami knew the sound quite well from the many times his sensitive brother had gotten mad. The thump was promptly followed by  soft , barely hearable sobs.
"Dammit Souma" the usually happy chef hissed , blind to the spectator who was currently hidden behind a particularly grand tree.
"What's wrong with you ..... You let him go..... No ..... you LEFT him...." The boy ranted before sinking to his knees.
"He hates me now....his eyes don't shine anymore...I did that" The boy exclaimed , his hands falling beside him like useless tubes, not loud enough to draw any attention but loud enough that our little Aldini spy could hear. It hurt to see the normally goofy male in such a state but after last night,  Isami held no sympathy towards the boy who'd caused his twin such excruciating pain. Confidently , Isami strode up to him , the movement caused noise to which the boy immediately darted his eyes up and wiped away tears in an attempt to see who it was , but immediately lowered them after in shame and guilt.

Isami Aldini.

The boy walked up to Souma in his pitiful state and stood infront of him.

"Get up, Yukihira" The Italian boy demanded. His tone felt cold and malicious to Souma but he wasn't sure if it actually was , Souma expected Isami to hate him with a burning passion maybe that's why he thought the command was spoken icily. Pathetically , using the wall to get up , the Japanese boy stood infront of him , eyes still glued onto the floor.

"It's my fault" He admitted rather lamely , but keeping up the facade when the boy infront already knew the truth was futile. So he let it flow. Not the tears. The string of words. The regrets . The denials that their rival/ lover relationship was over. The apologies.

After listening to Souma, Isami couldn't hold the sympathetic smile that graced his features , it was evident to Isami both boys were equally shattered but both boys also tried to hide it , these love-struck idiots were so alike , it was a comedy that appealed to everyone's hidden sadist.

"Run , Yukihira , Don't leave Takumi. My brother has said so many things. Wether he regrets them or not , is not my right to tell , but I'm advising you . Run . Go after Takumi. Don't let such a happy future shatter from a single crack. As his twin , I confidently hand him off to you." Isami encouraged. Yukihira looked up , staring into Isami's eyes looking for a trace of stupid sympathy or a lie but there was no trace. Only confidence. Isami turned to leave and before turning the corner , he looked back

"Good Luck against the First seat, Souma."