It took Hayato a moment to register that Ryuutaro had subtly implied a question in there. Then he awkwardly started laughing and rubbing the back of his neck, a guilty knot forming in his stomach. Ryuutaro had remained loyal to their relationship without even remembering it. While he had let himself go with a series of one-night-stands and a couple bad relationships that his friends typically had to break off for him. It was odd looking back on all that- unpleasant even. He really was a complete wreck of a person.

"Ah, don't worry, I'm not taken either. I uh... well, I guess back home I don't really attract the best types..."

Now that he thought about it, he always gravitated to what he knew. Violence and being used. Ryuutaro had really been the only person who cared for him... the only person to say he loved him and never hurt him. It wasn't fair.

Why did he have to lose someone so important for so long?