"Remember everyone, food's on me!"

The quick notice riled the two energetic freshmen and then, in an enthusiastic fashion, pumped fists with a loud cheer.

"Alright!" Smiles widen and the pink boy takes the first step to slam the slide doors open with a loud 'thud' at the end, alarming the chefs and customers eating quietly inside. They all turned their heads at the commotion and judged them with suspicious stares. The freshmen, with the exception of Megumi, were completely unaware how crazy they were behaving. Their eyes brimmed with excitement, taking in how fancy the ramen shop was. Decorated in a wooden clean brown with red lamplights hung over each booth. And at the bar, there are displayed ramen bowls and ladles above in both red and white patterns. The lobby room was cute too with a waving cat atop of the host's desk.

"Woah, this is a pretty fancy restaurant."

"He's seriously treating us to this?" Nobara asked herself in a hushed whisper. Her cheeks bloom in pink, "Man, this guy seriously knows how to treat a girl!"

"Treat a girl? What are you on about?" Yuji sneers with narrow eyes. She doesn't answer him though. Megumi walks behind them and pulls his shoulder over their necks, pulling the two closer to him. They gasped in sync and looked up to see a clearly annoyed classmate.

"You two need to tone it down. If they kick us out, it's going to be on you guys!"

"Aw it's alright, Megumi." Tamaki reassures with a bright smile. He's pleased to see how happy he made the first-years. "I'm glad they're excited to try this place out. I love taking people here who've never tried it before. This isn't like any other ramen places."

The host takes the four of them to a booth in the far back. Honestly, it makes since after all the ruckus Nobara and Yuji made. It actually made it easier for them to talk amongst themselves without bothering anyone else.

"Ohh, what type of food do they give, Tamaki?" Nobara leans at him with curious big eyes. Yuji only looks at her annoyed,

"What are you, senile? It's a ramen place, duh! It's in the name-"

Yuji choked at his words when her arm wrapped around his neck like a tendril. Similar to how Megumi did earlier but it was tighter and deadlier. He was gagging while her eyes pierced at him in a pissed expression. There was no way the pink head was going to embarrass her in front of the second-year.

"Listen you, you better shut your mouth or I'll shut it for you. Capiche?"

"Y-Yes. Let go of me!" He begged, tapping at her arm until she budged and then releases him after a long minute. He gasped out for air and the girl proceeded to lean over the table to the second-year, menu clutch to her chest.

"It's popular for the ramen but it also got some other things too. There's Karaage here and-"

"Wait, KARAAGE? That stuff is delicious." The girl laughed. The boy blinked at her over-enthusiasm before sharing a laugh with her too.

"Ha. For a moment, you sounded just like my girlfriend."

There's a pregnant pause for a moment.

"...Huh?" Even Megumi was curious about the mysterious girlfriend Tamaki rarely spoke about.

"Yeah, she loves this place more than I do. We come here sometimes on the weekend if we aren't busy. I think we came here the second time we decided to have dinner together."

"So..you're.." Nobara couldn't spell the words out but her head said it so clear.

He's taken.

Yuji bursts out laughing at her defeat and as much as the older kid wanted to talk how Maki sure loved her fatty foods, his smile dropped at the way Yuji seem to laugh about the situation. Or at least he thought it was aimed towards him.

'Is it..something I said?' He pondered up until the waitress came to the lousy table.

Yuji whispered taunts at the brunette and the girl can't help but shout,

"Shut up! It's not like you can score with that Jennifer Lawrence girl or whatever her name is!"

Megumi is full of embarrassment, giving a quick apology to the young waitress.

-

Nobara was a girl who could get over things quickly. As sad to hear Tamaki was taken by another woman, it's a relief to discover the news before she catch feelings. But now the question lingers, who is the lucky woman who gets to hold Tamaki's hand?

She shrugged to herself and looked down at the empty Chasu bowl Tamaki recommended. Everyone slurped their noodles quietly when suddenly, the smack of her hands plop to the table and she looks up as if she's seen heaven.

"I gotta say, Tamaki, this food was so spectacular. I finished it all before you guys too. That's how you know it's that good."

"Hehe, yeah I can tell. You ate it like it was no tomorrow. I'm glad you enjoyed it, Nobara."

She blushed. 'Probably looked like a pig while doing it too. Dang it, Nobara.'

"Hey...Tamaki, is that you?"

Nobara's trance broke away to an unfamiliar male voice heard front of the booth they were all sitting at. She looks up and sees a blonde hair boy alongside another companion. She scrunched her face in suspicion and eyes slightly narrow at their appearances. They looked like bums to her. Not bums, more like beggars. One of their eye sockets clogged in redness, she wasn't sure if he was sleep deprived or a drug addict.

"Oh..it's you guys."

"You know them?" Megumi asked. He even inched away from them, seeing as he was the one closest to their reach.

"Yeah..they're just some old friends."

"Old friends? Come on, Tamaki, we were tight and stuff. We still are, aren't we?"

Tamaki ignored the question and looked at each of the first years.

"Nobara, Yuji, little Megumi." Megumi frowned at the nickname. "This is Akio and Daichi. And old friends maybe is a stretch. Just some classmates is what I actually meant." The two were taken back by the cold glare he gave them just now. Nobara had to admit she was a bit stunned to see a stern expression written all over his face. Tamaki looked the type who couldn't be mad, no matter what the situation detailed. Though, it seems she was incorrect.

"Aw, now you're being harsh." Daichi put his hands in his pockets.

"What are you doing here?" Straight to the point with an even more harsher tone. Tamaki looked away. He didn't want to give them more of his time. Hands crossed, he awaits their answers.

"Well.." Akio nervously glances at Daichi. "We noticed you from across the room, so we just wanted say hello. What, is that a crime?"

Okay, he was pressing it. The more they stood front of him, the more he began to replay the memory in his head. The way his friends poured beer down his throat until he was full. Even when he was unconscious and taken upstairs without consent, the boys acted like they saw nothing. They acted like their friend couldn't be in peril.

And then..

That damn visit.

-

Flashback

Maki let an anime re-run play downstairs with Tamaki's back turned to the television screen. He was lying down on the sofa with a blanket draped over his stomach. A sigh escaped his lips before tumbling over, now facing the ceiling. He let out a huff of annoyance as sweat overtakes his forehead and he starts to feel ill again. The same nauseous sensation he felt on the first night.

"Makiii." He whined loud for her to hear at the kitchen. "I hate this. Make it stop."

"Hey, don't cry about it! I told you to be careful in that stupid party, didn't I?"

"Yeah..I know."

"I mean, seriously." Here, we go. Another rant incoming. Maki came with a plate in her hands, marching at the living room. "For fucks sake, if someone gives you a drink, don't take it! Didn't your dad teach you anything about these type of party scenarios?!"

"No, he didn't." Tamaki deadpanned. He didn't feel like having this conversation again. He sat right up, seeing a peanut butter and jelly sandwich cut in half on the plate.

"B-But can't you like, erase my sickness with..I don't know, like some voodoo sorcery shit you can come up with?"

Maki looked appalled at the request. She tilts her head down enough for her eyes to look deep into mines without the glass coming in-between us.

"Are you being serious now?"

"I was just wondering." He shrugged. He knows she can't imbue curse energy but it was worth asking. Desperation was deep in Tamaki's heart.

Maki turns at the television screen and Tamaki thinks it's best if he tunes in to break the awkward tension. Instead, he feels something tap his elbow. He turns to his left and sees a sandwich with dripping jelly.

"I don't have healing powers but I got a sandwich." Says the girl so confidently. He stifles a chuckle before swallowing a gulp as he stared at the sight of comforting treat bestowed to him. She nudges him again, unsure why he was taking his sweet time looking at the simple food.

"I think all that nausea made you brain dead. Here, I'll feed you."

"W-What?!" His face turned so red. "I can eat it myself!"

"Whatever." She rolled her eyes. "You going to eat it or what?" Her hand soars to his lips, trying the pry into his lips. He gasped when the bread touches him and he pulls back with defensive hands.

"F-Fine, I'll do it." He gulped nervously once she propped the bread back a bit, allowing him to engulf some of it in one bite. His cheeks burnt hard and he closed his eyes, nibbling the bread and the peanut butter and jelly all mixed together. It was tasty and Tamaki can't help but eat more despite how awkward it looked with her holding the sandwich up to him.

Maki remained still and unbothered by the whole thing but one moment made her tremble. The whole scene went by so slow.Her heart leaped when his eyes flickered open, batting his eyelashes at her and his golden-like eyes now look at her, big and so innocent. So pure and full of one emotion. Love, perhaps? It looked that way and it made her blush.

"Alright, that's enough."

"Wait, you didn't let me finish the rest!" He protested with a stuff mouth.

"The crust is bad for you anyways." She retorted with a pout before putting the half eaten sandwich down to the plate.

To her luck, there's a knock on the door. Maki was quick to look through the peep-hole and see how had knock. She tiptoed only for her to fall back down, staring at the door in pure disgust. Tamaki blinked, peering at the entrance.

"Maki, who is it?"

"Shit. It's tweedle dee and tweedle dum."

"Um..?"

She sighed,

"It's Akio and Daichi."

His eyes widened. They came to visit. Why? And at this hour? It was nearly ten and it made him curious. He got up from the sofa and walked over to where Maki was standing. Head hung down in disappointment. It looked like she was debating to open the door herself.

A hand touches her shoulder and she looks at Tamaki. His bashful expression a minute ago now washed away. A firm frown on his lips with a serious locked eyes.

"I'll handle it. It's okay, Maki."

"Okay." She sighed, "But if they do something-"

"It won't come to that."

"Sure." She crossed her arms before spinning her heel back to her sandwich. Tamaki watches her go before sighing and then, he opens the door.

"Hey, Tamaki! My man!" Akio greets with a cocky smile. Daichi waves at him with a bottle wrapped in paperbag. They both reek of alcohol, sweat and drugs.

"What are you guys doing here in this hour?"

They both look at each other, startled but then their faces wrinkle, laughter coming out of their mouths like Tamaki made the funniest joke ever.

"Ever the goody two shoes you are, Tamaki. What, is your daddy telling you to go to bed early?"

"That's pretty lame." Daichi agrees.

"Did you come to insult me or is there something you're here for?" Tamaki arches a brow. His patience was running low.

"Oh yeah! Sorry, we just went to this party and I'm still whiplashed over it. But yeah, we were just by the neighborhood and wanted to check up on you."

"Oh."

"Look man, we're sorry about the other night. We just wanted you to have fun but we didn't mean for you to have a black out. Maybe we should've toned down the alcohol."

"Just maybe?" A taunt out of Tamaki's mouth.

"Yeah." Akio rubbed the back of his head. There was silence afterwards and it was clear the blonde was trying to find ways to make up the conversation. He exasperated a hand out with a nervous chuckle,

"But hey, at least you scored with Akina, right?!" He said loudly with a laugh. He looks at Daichi, cuing for him to nod and he does so easily. "Man, it sucks she's expelled from the school. Did you hear about that? Must suck for you."

Tamaki's eyes flare in fire from the last comment. He thought he was going to get a proper apology but it seemed that wasn't the case. Hearing him say that hurt him.

"Are you freaking kidding me? You do know she was trying to take advantage of me right?" Tamaki asked, fierce in those words. "Oh wait, you didn't. You guys apologize but you didn't even bother to check up on me when it was all going down!"

"Come on, Tamaki, that's a bit of a stretch! Akina wasn't taking advantage of you. Besides, you seemed to like it."

"You know what?...fuck you guys!" Tamaki's had enough. Both taken aback by his response.

"I was nearly unconscious. There was nothing that said I was enjoying it. I didn't consent to any of that and if it weren't for Maki, I-I.." Tamaki had to take a pause. Fear crawled up his spine, thinking of the alternative if he had been assaulted. It would traumatize him. He would hate every part of himself, physically and mentally. The thought of it made his skin feel dirty. He whimpered, holding himself while the two look at him dumbfounded.

"You guys call yourselves my friends and yet you guys did nothing to help me there. In fact, all you guys do is insult me when ever I don't drink or smoke like you guys. You don't respect it. And also," He looks at Daichi. "You didn't respect Maki. I heard what you tried to do to her."

Before they can respond, Tamaki turns his back. Ready to go back inside with Maki. He can tell she was watching. "I'm done. You guys aren't my friends anymore. Act like I'm a ghost for all I care."

Tamaki thought he was done as he trotted back to the entrance but right when he grabs the knob, he can hear Akio snicker.

"That bitch Maki deserved it."

Anger boils his veins and instincts rush for the kill. Tamaki spins fast before Akio can react, grabbing him harshly by the collar and staring at him with menacing eyes. Teeth grit, panting like an animal as the grip tightens. He feels like he can lift him off the ground.

Akio's lazy grin leaves and horror is what he felt when Tamaki held him closely. This was a sight he has never seen in Tamaki. A completely different person, like a strange aura has possessed him and he now has the power to destroy him right here, right now.

"W---w-wait! I was just joking! I'm only-"

"Tamaki, stop it!" Daichi begs, coming close to pull them apart but he's too slow. He falls when Akio's heavy right plop down on his face and brings the two on the floor. They groan out in pain and the alcohol spills out of the paperbag.

Tamaki only stares down at them.

"Don't you dare..don't you dare say anything ever like that about her. ." He's no longer breathing heavily and his words are laced with a calm tone. He regains his normal self before proceeding to the door.

"Or else what?!" Akio shouts. Daichi threatens a look at him, pleading him to stop causing a fight. Tamaki turns briefly,

"Or else I won't be able to control myself next time." The door shuts on them, ending the chapter of their so-called chapter. What a bunch of snakes.

Tamaki throws his weight back at the door facing the inside of the house. He lets out a hefty sight, content it was over but still, there's an ugly feeling inside of him. He felt unnerved by the whole conversation, specifically about Maki. Thoughts ran across his head.

He hates people. At least, the ones at his school. Why do the people in his life neglect him so? His dad was absent as always. His "friends" never seem too understand. Some of the girls in school compete for popularity. The boys there seem to be fascinated with things he can't understand. Drugs, alcohol. It was disgusting and he felt for the longest time, he was surrounded nothing but ugliness.

And they call him the freak.

"Tamaki.."

His head shot up and there, a warm greeting calls to him. It's Maki, standing by the counter looking at him with concern. It's clear she heard what happened.

Tamaki hates people but not Maki. Not his Maki.

"I-" He was going to ramble on and on what happened and why they were on the wrong and how he was in the right. But before he can say anything, she shushes him with a finger on his lips.

"I know, Tamaki. You're strong, you know? if it were up to me, I would've beaten them up."

A chuckle breaks the tension.

"I know you would." He smiles, "Thanks for letting me handle it on my own."

"You asked." She shrugged. Her finger danced down his arm and now her entire hand grabs his. "Come on, let's go to bed."

"But I'm sleeping on the couch, aren't I?" He didn't want to get her sick.

"Yeah but judging how you look right now, I say that illness you were complaining about is long gone."

"You know, I did feel like I let everything out of my system."

"Good. Now you can share the bed with me."