Year 3-7: The ski trip part 1

“Thank you so much for inviting us.” Riku bowed. Kotoko, Kiyokos mother, was working at a skiing resort over winter break; she invited the whole book club to come along.
“Oh on need for thanks. After everything you´ve done for Kiyoko it´s the least I can do, besides she would have been lonely without you anyway.” Kotoko had started working more in Japan, something Kiyoko seemed to like a lot.
“Your mom´s so nice.” Takumi said.
Kiyoko smiled. “I know.”
Riku turned to Keith. “Speaking of mothers, did you get a chance to speak with your mom?” It had been a few months since Riku and Mei found out about Keith’s eating disorder and he hadn´t spoken about if in a while, so Riku had to ask.
The first year blushed. “I did. At first she didn´t really listen.” He looked at Mei. “But Mei came over to help. She´s really good with stuff like that.”
Mei smiled. “I should if I want to become a good Therapist.”
Riku nodded. “That´s true. So you helped him?”
Mei nodded. “His mom was shocked; she tried to deny everything at first. But Keith´s dad listen, he´s really nice. He talked with Keith´s mom.”
“I won´t have to model anymore if I don´t want to.” Keith said.
“Why did she even force you in the first place?” Riku asked. He and the two first years made their way to their rooms.
“Apparently she thought I enjoyed it. She said that if she´d known that it would lead to me developing an eating disorder she´d never have forced me.”
“Right.” Riku didn´t quite believe that statement, he had meet his fair share of bad parents after all. Keith´s mom sounded more like she was deflecting than really taking accountability.
“I know she´s not really honest but I don´t care. My dad got me a therapist quickly. He even said if I didn´t work with her he´d send me to a hospital. He was so serious, I´ve never seen him like that.” Keith put his bag on a bed. “And Kayla, she was so upset. Ever since we came to Japan she´s been worrying that we might drift apart. I think I made her worry too much about me.”
“You and your sister are close?” Riku asked. He started unpacking his bag; he and Keith were sharing a room.
Keith nodded smiling. “We´re like best friends.”
“Like me and my siblings.” Yuusuke chimed in. He was holding Shintaros hand.
“I don´t know how I feel about you two sharing a room.” Riku mumbled.
Shintaro stared at the floor. The only reason he had time to come with them was a broken elbow. He had complained to Riku for days, Riku didn´t quite understand why. The season for matches had been over for a while. Though Shintaro hadn’t told anyone how exactly he had gotten his injury. Riku wanted to cheer him up and his idea was to let him come along, wasn’t the first time he had anyway.

Riku found Shintaro standing in the changing area of the onsen attached to the house they were staying at. “You ok? Do you need help with changing clothing?” Riku asked.
“I don´t think I can go in there.” Shintaro said.
“Why?” Riku was confused, he thought Shintaro enjoyed onsen.
Shintaro turned round staring into Rikus face blushing. “I´ll see Yuusuke-kun naked!”
“And?”
“I don´t know how I should handle that.”
Riku thought Shintaro was overreacting a bit and he said as much.
“How would you feel if you got to see Satsuki-san naked?” Shintaro asked.
Riku blushed; he had never even imagined it. But now he couldn´t help but do. He imagined her smooth skin and…
“Are you sure you´re ok with me joining you?” A small voice interrupted Rikus thoughts. Yuki was standing in a corner, wrapped in a towel. Riku had completely forgotten that Yuki hadn´t transitioned yet. He was so used to Yuki joining the guys he didn´t think about how Yuki might feel being naked in the onsen, he always wore a shirt when they went swimming after all.
Riku shook his head. “I don´t mind.” He looked at Shintaro. “He´s taken and overwhelmed with his boyfriends’ nakedness, I don´t think he´s even going to notice.”
“Don´t make fun of me!” Shintaro yelled.
“What´s taking you guys so long?” Yuusuke came out of the bath, wearing absolutely nothing. Shintaro stared so much Riku thought his friend had broken or something. He got a paper towel and handed it Shintaro. “In case of a nose bleed.” He laughed, he couldn´t help but make that joke.
Shintaro turned to him. “Stop making fun of me.”
“Yuki-san are you ready? You can keep the towel on if you feel more comfortable that way.” Yuusuke said.
They entered the bath; it was bigger than any onsen Riku had ever seen. Takumi was sitting in the water relaxing with his eyes closed or maybe he was sleeping? Keith was looking at the scenery around them. “I´m so excited for tomorrow.” He said.
“You know how to ski?” Yuki asked.
Keith nodded. “I´m from Colorado, we used to live close to a ski resort like this one.”
“Could you teach me then?” Yuki asked excited.
“Sure.”
Shintaros face was getting red even though he had barley been in the water. Yuusuke was laying his head on his boyfriends shoulder. Of course, Riku thought. He found a comfortable spot to sit down; he closed his eyes and understood why Takumi looked to be asleep, because he probably was. Riku could barely keep himself from dozing of too…