"How long has it been now, Kabaji?"

When no reply came, the rich teen looked at his friend and clarified. "Since Tezuka."

The pair was walking in one of Atobe's large gardens, strolling like an emperor among his people. He liked roses best, but he appreciated all beautiful things. Right now they were among the gardenias. He adored the large blossoms, with their fragrant scents and coordinating colors. He bent down to smell one as his friend answered.

"Two years...about."

"Two years, ah~n?"

"Usu."

Atobe continued walking, every now and then reaching out to touch the soft petal of a flower, and Kabaji followed behind. They were silent for a while, just taking in the warm weather and lovely gardenias, until Atobe finally said "I still love him, you know."

And Kabaji nodded. Of course he knew. He knew Atobe better than anyone else did. That's the way best friends were.

"You don't think I'm obsessed, do you?"

"U-er... Iie."

The older teen smiled at his friend, then continued walking. "Then why does this plague me still?"

".... True love is a very powerful thing," Kabaji answered. Contrary to many people's beliefs, he did have a full vocabulary, and actually had to answer the question "why" quite a bit. "And your emotions run very deep," he added after a moment.

"Ah..." They walked in silence for a while, each lost in his own thoughts, until Atobe suddenly stopped, and crouched down to pick up a fallen petal from the ground, petting it as though it were a beloved pet. Then he turned, and reached up to press the petal to Kabaji's lips. "Feel how soft that is?"

Kabaji nodded, and gave a somewhat muffled "usu."

Slowly, Atobe pulled the petal away. "Tezuka's kisses were even softer." He looked at the petal for a moment, then gently curled his elegant fingers around it, and slipped it into his pocket. "Two years...huh..?"

That was the last they spoke of it, as they continued their walk among the gardenias.