Asmo's Love

Ominous

"Oy, Keito. You up for a *Goukon?"

Keito was only fourteen when he had dated his first-ever girlfriend.

At the time, he didn't really know how relationships work. He just followed his heart and let the things lead him to understand it.

The first girl, whom Keito dated three years ago, was the same age as he was. It had been natural. She was the cutest girl he had met and he fell in love with her. It was during the summer before he had entered ninth grade. It was love at first sight, too. 

But they had only dated for quite the shortest time—it took them two weeks at most. Then they broke up because they had run out of things to talk about and it got a little boring and school was about to start at that time. So, they agreed to part ways and had never met each other again since then.

Perhaps, it could have only been considered as nothing more than a usual summer fling. It was just a childish relationship anyway... He just found her pretty and she had liked him back. It wasn't anything borderline deep yet. And he had moved on real quick, of course. It was the easiest break-up since he didn't really get that enough affection and attachment for her.

Until another girl came into the picture. And she became the first real serious relationship Keito had.

It hadn't actually started out so smoothly between them the first time. In fact, she just suddenly confessed her feelings for him, without any reservation. Though, it hadn't been the first time Keito received such confession before. 

Dating back, the very first time someone did confess her romantic feelings for him was even way before he had dated his first girlfriend. And it almost looked like a joke now. Honestly, he could no longer even recall anything else besides being slapped after he rejected the poor girl.

But this girl was different. At first, he thought she was just another typical admirer. She had been really nervous and even shaking when she came and met with him behind the school's gymnasium—which was a considerable spot for a confession at the time. Keito had been asked to go there for quite a few times before and it would always be the same scenario. He'll hear a confession, then he'll refuse, and soon he'd forget about it.

But, for some reason, it didn't happen that way with this girl.

That day, Keito didn't really understand why and how, but he was just suddenly interested in her. Probably because the girl had been the top of their class, fairly popular, but had always been so aloof. He didn't even expect that she would do a confession, and least of all, to him. 

She wasn't the kind of person who easily expresses her emotions that very often and they weren't particularly close. But out of the blue, she just spurted her feelings out—like a babbling parrot—at him. It was really funny and even adorable because she had sounded like she's just reciting a speech in front of their class. He got very interested and so, he said yes to her in that instant.

They dated a little longer than the first one. But a month later... They eventually broke up. This time, it was not just because he had gotten bored of it nor she had lost interest. In fact, it was quite the opposite. She had gotten really possessive of Keito and extremely jealous to the point that Keito had to check the messages in his phone and had to avoid interacting with other girls and make sure none of his actions and words would appear suspicious. Even when he didn't really have anything he should be feeling guilty about, he felt like he was.

He might be a flirt but he isn't a cheater. He has too much respect for girls and their feelings to even think of doing that.

Yet that situation got really way out of hand that he had soon initiated the break-up, to which she had obviously taken very badly. But he really had no other choice, Keito could no longer take the burden and tolerate that kind of toxic relationship. 

It had been mentally exhausting and he already knew it wasn't really going to last very long. So he had insisted and forced the split, even though his decision would really hurt her so badly. It was the ugliest break-up that Keito had ever experienced. And what's even worse is the fact that it was also the very first time he had been the one to dump the other party.

It had been so hard on his part.

Then it took quite some time before he tried dating someone new again. And when he did, she was a very sweet and bubbly person. She might also have been the nicest and easiest girl to deal with, out of all the girlfriends Keito has dated up until this day. She was very outgoing and would always invite him to go out.

Their dates were all fun, as well. They would do karaoke, walk around the park, watch a movie, or just try some cafes in town. It was way much fluffier and only filled with sweetness compared to the previous ones he had dated before her. And Keito actually preferred it better like that. It was so manageable, like a rom-com movie. He didn't feel like he was always on edge when he's with her. He had even anticipated their dates because he really enjoyed having her company. 

She was so fun to talk with, and they could talk for hours and never get tired of it. And most of all, she really had a good sense of humor. He had completely grown to like this girl so much. And he had probably even liked her more than he had ever liked the two girls before her.

But sadly, just like how it had always been for him, it didn't last that long again. They eventually had to break up when she had to transfer to another town because there were some issues in her family. So it had been another heartbreaking moment of separation. Keito had been terribly sad and very disappointed with such an ending, but he still moved on. And not long after that, he dated someone new again... Then it ended. Then he dates again and it ends. And dates again.

And again.

With a long string of lovers now, Keito has finally noticed a pattern from all of his past romantic relationships:

1. If they got bored with it, they break up;

2. If he could no longer tolerate her attitude, he breaks it up;

3. If it's some kind of personal issue, she's the one who'd break up with him.

It's been a cycle since then. And Keito would always follow the rules whichever of the patterns would apply to the situation. And every time his relationship ends, he would just keep on looking and falling in love with another again—as if he has never run out of romance and infatuation.

As long as the girl's pretty, nice, and interesting, he'll flirt with them and when they fall for him, he'd go out with them. He's a serial dater. But girls would still like him. He'd even lost count of how many of them he'd already gone out with for the past three years.

Yet thinking about it now, it has already been two weeks since the last time he was actually in a relationship.

He got really too busy with a lot of things now that he's in his senior year.

So when Akai, his classmate and also his friend, mentioned the goukon to him, Keito realizes that it is about time he must go to one. He has been feeling really lonely and bored lately. And he needs some distraction from the pressure he has been getting from thinking about college applications these past few months.

"A Goukon, huh?" Keito thoughtfully remarks, his sudden interest is evidently shown as he speaks, "When?"

His friend, who also notices the spark in Keito's eyes when he asks the question, does not even try to hide a smug smirk on his face as he answers back.

"This coming Friday. The guys had set it up with five other girls in some karaoke place at *Nigatake."

That's one station away. So, they're basically total strangers this time. That would be really fun and exciting. Keito does not even have to worry about ever meeting one of his ex-lovers there.

"From what school are they?"

Akai suddenly laughs and pats Keito on the shoulder as he gives him a vague response.

"Now, now. No reason to rush things this fast, my friend. I'll send you the details later after class in *LINE."

In the background, the ringing sound of the bell echoes from the hallways and into their room, indicating that the next class is about to start.

"Fine." Keito just agrees, but a look of annoyance has appeared on his face as he turns and walks back to his seat. Minato-sensei enters the room with that grumpy signature look of his. Everyone in the class stands up and bows their head at him. The last subject for today is about to begin. Yet Keito still could not get his mind off from thinking about the next girl he'll be dating soon.

He just hopes she'll be nice. He no longer cares if she's not that pretty. As long as she's someone that could take his troubles away from the pressure his parents have been giving him every day and drive the anxiety of thinking about his career plans for the future for a while, then he would warmly accept her with his arms wide open. Whoever she'll be.

Just somebody... Whoever. He just needs somebody to comfort him. And it would be really nice if he'll find one real soon.

Since love is really quite the most pleasant feeling in the whole world.

And he can't really wait for too long.

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