"He started sleeping with my only straight friend," Ginta answered. "And it's not like I had any claim on him or anything anyway, but you know how sometimes you realize after you can't get a thing how much you actually wanted it? There was a spark there, and I know he felt it. But then they had this mission, and the other guy who used to be my friend--and I don't even know if he is anymore--got really fucked up, and I went to see him and they were in bed together." He paused for a breath and grabbed one of the few remaining cakes, but didn't eat it.

"I guess the two of them had already hooked up. On my birthday, too, which makes it all kind of extra sucky, 'cause I had a date with the guy--the one I liked, I mean, not my friend--that night for my birthday, but we got really drunk so we only ended up making out, and next morning he was gone. Off to screw the guy I thought was my friend."

His eyes finally snapped back to focus, meeting Asuma's amused gaze. "Anyway, he could probably kick your ass right back if you tried anything."