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Suguru stepped onto the train, breath coming in short, ragged bursts. Sweat trickled down his back, making his shirt cling uncomfortably to his skin. He offered a strained, apologetic smile to the woman he had shoved himself into while wedging himself into the already crowded car. Her judgmental scowl sent shivers down his spine, and he took a step back. He met her glare with a resigned shrug, pulled out his phone, and groaned aloud at the time—10 minutes late. Just perfect.
The morning had been a relentless shitstorm of problems. Nanako had decided today of all days to throw up all over Suguru’s clothes before the sun was even up. After an hour of cleaning up the mess and soothing the sick child, Suguru found his usual train out of service. Stranded, he’d waited for the next train, watching the minutes tick by as his frustration and anxiety spiked. He silently cursed any and every deity that might be listening, pleading for a little fucking mercy.
As if the morning weren’t already a disaster, Suguru had also been forced to listen to the incessant drone of his downstairs neighbor’s home renovation. The hammering and drilling had started at the ungodly hour of five, successfully putting a stop to his attempts to get just a few more minutes of sleep. The noise was relentless, nearly driving him insane and making it so that by the time he got up, he was already on edge.
Finally, after nearly two hours of endless chaos, he found himself on a train bound for Shibuya, wedged between a grumpy middle-aged woman and a trio of snickering teenagers. The murmurs and chuckles from the teens only added to his unease, making him shudder at the thought of Nanako and Mimiko turning into these brats someday.
Time seemed to crawl as he tapped his foot anxiously, his gaze fixed on the screen of his phone where he mindlessly played a game he’d downloaded to keep Nanako entertained a while back. The train jolted with every stop, only helping to amplify his sense of dread. He was so screwed.
-
Suguru trudged into the office, now a whopping 20 minutes late. The sterile fluorescent lights and the hum of office machinery greeted him, sending an unwarranted feeling of dread throughout his body. He moved toward his desk, hoping his workload of the day would provide a distraction.
As he settled into his chair, his boss approached with her usual brisk efficiency. He braced himself for a lecture, praying that he wouldn’t get fired for being late again. Her demeanor was polished, and today, she wore an expression of enthusiasm that Suguru could only interpret as being foreboding.
“Suguru!” She greeted him with a cheery smile that did little to mask the underlying intensity of her gaze. “I’m so glad you’re here. I wanted to talk to you about the upcoming holiday party.” Suguru’s shoulders fell, the anxiety leaving his body and instead being replaced by apprehension.
“Yes?”
“Well,” she began, her voice taking on an elusive tone, “you know how much I value your work here. You’re an indispensable part of the team.” She paused for effect, eyes twinkling as though she were about to reveal a grand secret. “And I’ve been meaning to tell you that my son will be coming to the party this year.”
Suguru’s heart sank. Not this again. “Oh, really?” he replied, trying to keep his tone neutral as he played off his awkward grimace as a smile.
After Suguru’s break up a couple of months ago, his boss had become obsessed with the thought of setting him up with her son, whose identity still remained a total mystery to Suguru. The most he had seen of the man were blurry family photographs, some being from years prior
.
So far, he had successfully managed to dodge each of her set-ups, instead opting for hookups with anyone he could find on Tinder or Hinge or whatever. He had tried explaining to his boss that ‘No, I’m not really looking for a relationship!’ But she never listened.
“Yes!” She beamed, and whether or not she noticed Suguru’s uncomfortable expression, she didn’t say. “I’ve told him all about you. He’s heard how hardworking you are, how dedicated. And I’m sure you two will get along perfectly!.”
Suguru’s mind raced, grappling with the ways this conversation could go sideways. “That sounds... great,” he said, forcing a smile. This was just what he needed to hear today.
“He’s really looking forward to meeting you,” His boss continued, her eyes narrowing with what Suguru thought was either maternal pride, or mischief. “So don’t worry about making an impression. I’ve already filled him in on all the wonderful things about you.”
Suguru sighed internally. “I’ll keep that in mind,” he said, nodding politely. “I’m sure it’ll be… great.”
She patted his shoulder reassuringly, as if her gesture alone could make the upcoming interaction more palatable. “I’m sure you two will hit it off.” She said warmly, mistaking his unwillingness as fear. “And, of course, the party won’t be the same without you.”
As she walked away, Suguru stared at his desk, feeling the weight of the impending holiday party settle on his shoulders. Suguru sighed, closing his eyes and letting his head fall back.
Seven hours and he could go home and try to forget about this.
–
He in fact, did not forget about all of that.
Suguru slouched on his couch, his posture resembling one of a shrimp. The room was dimly lit by the flickering TV screen, which was currently playing some random rerun of Love Island. He wasn’t paying much attention to it, instead staring blankly at the screen as he tried to forget about his conversation with his boss. Nanako and Mimiko were tucked in their beds in the other room, their soft snores providing a comforting soundtrack to his anxious thoughts.
The thought of the holiday party loomed over him, with it being only a month away. The mere thought of having to act interested in some random guy was enough to make his skin crawl. Suguru sighed heavily, rubbing his temples. He could easily skip the party, but he knew that would upset his boss and make him seem like he was dodging his responsibilities, and the last thing he wanted was to be labeled as avoidant.
He glanced at his phone on the coffee table in front of him, a new wave of anxiety creeping in. Maybe he could find some way to make the situation more bearable. He reached for his phone and unlocked it, the screen lighting up his face in the dim room. With a resigned groan, he decided to search for the elusive “S” name he could barely recall. Was it Seto? Shota? He could only remember it started with an ‘S.’
He tapped into the search bar, typing out variations of the name: “Seto Gojo,” “Shota Gojo,” and so on.The results yielded a mix of profiles, but none of them seemed to match the person he had only heard about and seen briefly in photos. He clicked through various links, only to find that each one was either someone entirely unrelated or had a profile that was locked and devoid of useful information.
“Come on,” Suguru muttered, growing more frustrated with each failed search. “Where are you?”
He scrolled through his search results, his patience wearing thin. There were no photos, no social media snippets, nothing that could give him a clearer picture of this guy. Every link he clicked led to a dead end.
“Figures,” Suguru said aloud, announcing his defeat to the empty room and tossing his phone back onto the couch with a huff. “Can’t even find a damn thing about this guy.”
His anxiety shifted from worry about meeting this guy to the sheer annoyance of not being able to get even a glimpse of what he was up against. With a sense of defeat, Suguru sank back into the couch and stared at the TV. The show droned on, a mindless distraction from his growing frustration. He was left with nothing but his own imagination to fill in the gaps about this mystery guy, which only served to amplify his anxiety about the upcoming party.
Suguru stood up and moved towards his bedroom. He hoped that maybe sleep would make him forget about the stupid party and this stupid guy.
Why did his boss decide to choose him out of any employee to play Cupid with?
Suguru’s sleep was restless, his mind replaying the events of the day and the looming holiday party. He tossed and turned, the sheets tangling around his legs. By the time his alarm blared in the morning, he felt like he hadn’t slept at all.
Dragging himself out of bed, Suguru prepared for another day with the same sense of dread that had settled in the pit of his stomach the night before. His usual morning routine with Nanako and Mimiko offered a distraction, with Mimiko eagerly chattering about how “Aimi gave Ema the friendship bracelet I made her! Isn’t that messed up?” and Nanako refusing to actually get on the school bus. But the moment he stepped out of his apartment into the crisp morning air, the anxiety surged back, stronger than ever.
The train ride was just as crowded as the day before, but this time, Suguru was more prepared. He positioned himself near the doors, avoiding eye contact with the other passengers, his headphones in place to block out the world. He played the same mindless game on his phone, trying to keep his thoughts at bay.
A notification popped up, drawing his attention away from his game.
Unknown
yo.
u free tonight?
(sent from iphone)
Suguru furrowed his brow, tapping on the notification.
Suguru
Who is this?
Unknown
wym
it’s satoru
do u not have my # saved
bro
Suguru felt a chill run down his spine at the text, deciding to pocket his phone instead of responding. He hadn’t spoken to Satoru in a month, the last time having been a drunken hook-up while the twins were having a ‘girls night’ with Shoko.
When they first hooked up, it had been right after Suguru’s break up. All he remembered was being too drunk to think clearly. He had downloaded Grindr in hopes of finding a quick fuck, and there he got it. Except, instead of being a one night stand situation, it had turned into a regular occurrence. Satoru texted Suguru at odd hours of the night asking to meet up, or, when he was feeling less informal, simply sent him dick pics.
Satoru was… intriguing, to say the least. He would usually initiate things, and then send Suguru on his way without a second thought. Initially, Suguru found this arrangement appealing—the quick sex with no obligation for small talk or a date seemed like a perfect setup. But as the months went by, Suguru started to crave more.
He shuddered at the thought, checking the time on his watch. Who even decided to sext at seven in the morning? The train began to slow, signifying his stop was close.
Suguru
I’m busy.
(sent at 7:12AM)
Suguru
Yes I’m free tonight.
(sent at 7:34AM)
-
“Holy fucking shit!”
The bedroom was hot, the air damp and reeked of sex. The sound of moans was replaced by that of heavy breathing. Suguru collapsed onto Satoru, pulling out slowly with a quiet groan. He rolled over, now laying beside the other man in the dark room.
“Shit,” Satoru laughed, voice hoarse. “It’s been awhile, huh?”
Suguru nodded in response, watching Satoru’s outline. He was illuminated by only the moonlight creeping in through the large window.
“Hey, I should get going.” Suguru said abruptly after a moment, propping himself up on the bed and crawling over Satoru to grab his boxers and jeans. “My kids have school, I have work.. You know the deal.”
Satoru whined, an exaggerated, theatrical noise. “One more round?” He prodded, but Suguru shook his head.
“I have to leave. My boss will fire me if I’m late again.” Suguru explained, knowing it wasn’t exactly true.
“I keep telling you, you should get a job at my parents’ company. I can give you their info like, right now. I’ll even put in a good word.” Satoru offered, smile hanging from his chapped lips as he watched Suguru dress.
“Business after sex. That’s a new one for you,” Suguru joked, pulling his shirt over his head and scanning the room for any of his other belongings. “Next week? Do you wanna do this again?”
Satoru sat up, leaning over to turn on the lamp on his bedside table. “Yeah, sure.” He agreed, ignoring the sudden subject change.
And that was that. That's how all of their hookups went. A text, fuck, and then they were done. There was no need for anything else.
Suguru nodded, grabbing his keys and waving from the doorway. “Next week,” he said, watching as Satoru gave a tired thumbs up and crawled under his blankets, which were surely covered in sweat and cum. Suguru shuddered, closing the door behind him.
—
The holiday party crept closer. Everytime Suguru passed the kitten calendar in the kitchen, (picked out by Mimiko, of course) he sighed, trying to avoid looking at it. Two weeks until he would have to deal with fake pleasantries with this ‘mystery man.’
He turned the thought over in his head, entertaining the thought of simply not going. It would be the easiest way out, no awkward small talk or forced smiles. But shit, then again, maybe if they somehow did hit it off, it could result in some nepotism fueled pay raise. He quickly dismissed the idea as unlikely, but the thought still hung in the back of his mind, taunting him.
He let out a groan, startling Nanako, who was curled up against his side. He had forgotten she was there, sleeping peacefully, with Mimiko stretched out on the other end of the couch doing the same. He wrapped his arm around her as if to reassure her, and watched as she drifted back to sleep, her small hand gripping the bottom of his shirt.
Glancing down at the twins, a new surge of anxiety spread throughout him. What if Mystery Guy didn’t like kids? Obviously his girls were more important to him than some random guy, but admittedly the thought of Nanako and Mimiko having another parent did seem rather beneficial. Someone else to share the load, to help provide the stability he feared he failed to give. Oftentimes, he felt like he wasn’t doing enough for them, like he was simply scraping by.
He knew they were too young to notice, and if they did, they never complained. But what about when they got older? Would they compare themselves to the other kids who had more? Kids with two functional parents and a home that wasn’t a shitty two bedroom apartment? The thought gnawed at him, his stomach churning.
Suguru sighed deeply, his gaze lingering on the twins. He sacrificed so much for them, often putting their needs over his own, and yet he still feared it wasn’t enough. The thought of them growing up and possibly resenting him for not providing enough weighed on him. He knew he couldn’t do this alone forever.
Gently, Suguru rose, careful to not wake either of the twins. He made his way to the kitchen, pouring himself a glass of water and leaning against the counter with a heavy sigh. A familiar sense of emptiness crept in, gnawing at his thoughts. He was grateful for Nanako and Mimiko, they were his reason for pushing forward, but there was a sense of loneliness to his life; something he felt as though he had forgotten.
His mind drifted back to the way things had been before them, as guilty as it made him feel. His mind shot back to a time before he was just an employee, just a father, just… surviving.
He swirled the water in the glass, watching the ripples form silently. How did it come to this? How did he end up in this cycle of routine and regret, where each day felt like he was struggling to keep himself from drowning? The thought of Satoru suddenly appeared in his mind, and with it, a wave of confusion. Satoru was nothing but a distraction; a quick fuck when he needed to escape the monotony.
The back of his mind screamed at him though, longing for more than just the fleeting hour of physical comfort. He wanted someone to share the responsibilities with, someone to understand the weight he carried. He knew Satoru wasn’t the answer, but he was the closest thing to it.
Suguru sighed, setting the glass down. He glanced towards the couch, watching the girl's small frames rise and fall with each breath. They deserved better than this– deserved better than a father who was constantly second guessing himself, better than a life that felt like it was stuck on pause. He looked away. How could he give them what they needed when he didn’t even know how to give himself what he needed?
He pinched the bridge of his nose, doing little to help the growing tension behind his skull. He tried to shake off the exhaustion that clung to him.
He knew he had to change something, but the fear of making the wrong choice and fucking up the girls’ lives kept him rooted in place. He prayed the fog would clear soon.
—
Shoko could totally help.
The train ride to Tokyo was oddly quiet, something Suguru didn’t exactly appreciate. It left him alone with his thoughts.
Satoru had texted him again last night, after Suguru had fallen asleep. It wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, just a quick “u up?” along with a dick pic attached. He stared at the notification, knowing he should feel something other than the vague unease gnawing at him, but all he could manage was the hollow sense of dread. It wasn’t that he didn’t enjoy the hookups– he totally did. It was just recently, every time they met up he left feeling emptier, like he was feeding a part of himself that couldn’t be satisfied.
He avoided his reflection in the train window, not wanting to see his disheveled appearance. Dark eye bags hung from his face, and his bangs sat tucked behind his ears. He didn’t even feel the need to put his hair up, something he rarely ever did, instead leaving it to pool at his shoulders.
He could end it. Delete Satoru’s number, stop answering his texts, and actually act like an adult for Nanako and Mimiko. But everytime his finger lingered over the block button, something inside him resisted. Deep down he knew it wasn’t just about the sex, though that was definitely part of it. It was the connection, however fleeting, that kept him going back. He sighed, slipping his phone into his pocket, unresolved.
The train came to a halt, and Suguru exited swiftly, heading toward a nearby café near Shoko’s apartment. He scanned the windows and quickly spotted her familiar figure inside. Shoko was already seated, absently sipping an iced coffee while scrolling through her phone. She barely glanced up when Suguru slid into the seat across from her.
“My boss is trying to set me up with her son.” He said suddenly, causing Shoko to finally look up from her phone. She set it down on the table with a hum.
“A holiday matchmaking? Sounds like a hallmark movie.” She replied, raising her eyebrows.
“It’s ridiculous.” Suguru started, voice laced with frustration.
Shoko took a sip from her coffee, pursing her lips for a moment before speaking. “Why don’t you just blow it off?” She suggested. “No one’s forcing you to go.”
“I’ve thought about it,” Suguru admitted, staring down at the table, his eyes following the lines in the wood. “But I'd feel too guilty. My boss is like, super excited about the whole thing.”
Shoko shrugged. “Maybe it’ll be good for you.” She offered. “Or,” a pause. “It could be a total waste of time. Either way, it sounds like you’re making a big deal out of nothing.”
Suguru sighed, his gaze shifting to the street outside. He watched the cars pass for a moment before speaking. “What if it does work out, and then I find out he hates kids or something?” He paused, chewing on his lip. “What if this ends up like a Satoru situation?”
Shoko raised an eyebrow, unamused.
“I can’t keep doing this, Shoko. I keep getting my hopes up.”
Shoko’s expression softened, her familiar smile creeping up onto her face. “You’re overthinking it,” She started, her voice genuine. “Go if you want, don’t if you don’t. Quit trying to change things that haven’t even happened yet.”
Suguru’s shoulders fell, the anxiety in his chest not lifting.
Shoko continued on, “Also, I doubt it’ll end up being a Satoru situation. That guy is complicated, but not everyone you meet is gonna be like that. You can’t compare every possible relationship to him. It’ll drive you crazy.”
Suguru gave a half-hearted smile, “That’s easier said than done and you know it.”
“Of course it is,” She replied, “but hey, if shit goes sideways you can always call me and Utahime up and we can get shitfaced.” She grinned.
“Deal.” Suguru said, putting on a smile despite the lingering anxiety in his chest. “Thanks, Shoko.”
She waved a hand in the air dismissively, acknowledging his words as she took another sip of her coffee. The conversation went quiet, Shoko returning to her phone after a moment.
Suguru rolled the conversation around in his mind. He knew she was right, he was totally over thinking this whole thing. But the sense of uneasiness remained, settled in his gut like a permanent home.
—
The holiday party arrived sooner than Suguru had hoped it would.
The room was a blur of twinkling lights and festive decorations, but all he could focus on was the crowd pressing in around him. The conversations around him faded into static, and he debated finding a way to sneak out unnoticed. He had managed to down three glasses of champagne, hoping the alcohol would take the edge off, but it did little to ease his tension.
He was mid-sip on his third glass when his boss approached him with a bright smile. "Suguru, I’m so glad you could make it!"
“Thanks for the invite,” Suguru said, forcing a smile as he set his glass down.
“I’d like you to meet my son,” she said through a toothy smile. She turned and gestured to a man standing nearby, looking every bit the part of a professional.
Suguru’s heart skipped a beat as he took in the familiar face—Satoru. This was the same Satoru who had been sending him late-night texts and quick hookups. This is the same Satoru he’d been fucking for the past few months. He swallowed the bile in his throat.
Satoru's eyes met Suguru’s, and an awkward silence stretched between them as his eyes widened. “Satoru, this is Suguru,” his boss said, oblivious to the tension. “Suguru, my son.”
Satoru’s expression shifted from casual to something akin to recognition—or was it smugness? “Nice to meet you, Suguru,” he said, his voice low and steady.
“Yeah, ah, you too.” Suguru managed to reply, his throat dry.
Feeling the weight of the situation closing in on him, Suguru excused himself with a hasty, “I need to use the restroom” and slipped out to the balcony. The cool night air hit him with a refreshing bite, but it did little to calm his frayed nerves.
He had barely lit his cigarette when the door opened, and Satoru stepped out. “Suguru,” Satoru said, his voice nearly causing Suguru to drop his cigarette.
“What are you doing here?” Suguru snapped, trying to keep his voice steady but failing. “This wasn’t supposed to be—”
Satoru cut him off, stepping closer. “I could ask you the same thing. You act like you didn’t want to see me.” Suguru took in the other man’s expression; something of anger and disappointment drawn across his face.
Suguru’s frustration boiled over. “You think this is funny?” he snapped, stepping towards Satoru. “I’ve been dreading this party for weeks, and now you show up here? You knew, didn’t you?”
Satoru’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, come on. Was it not obvious?”
Suguru’s frown deepened. “What?” His words faltered as Satoru’s hand gripped his arm. The intensity in Satoru’s eyes mirrored Suguru’s own.
“Jesus Christ, Suguru! Of course I knew.” Satoru tightened his grip on the other’s arm. Suguru pushed back, causing Satoru to stumble back a few feet. “I didn’t think you’d freak the fuck out though!”
“What else did you want me to do?” Suguru snapped, dropping his cigarette and crushing it under his foot. “You just show up and expect me to act like everything’s fine? Like this isn’t a huge fucking problem?”
Satoru took a step forward, his frustration evident. “I didn’t plan this, Suguru. I didn’t know it would be like this. I thought we could handle it, figure it out. But clearly, I misjudged that.” He said coldly.
Suguru threw his hands up in exasperation. “Handle it? You think it’s that easy? You think you can just waltz in like it’s no big deal and magically fix everything?”
Satoru’s face softened slightly, but the frustration didn’t leave his eyes. “I didn’t mean to add to your stress. I just—”
Before he could finish, Suguru’s anger and confusion seemed to boil over, and he closed the distance between them, pressing his lips harshly against Satoru’s. The kiss was fierce, driven by a mix of pent-up frustration and anger. Satoru’s initial surprise quickly gave way as he kissed back, his hands moving to cup Suguru’s face.
The intensity of the kiss seemed to dissolve the heat of their argument, replacing it with a raw, unfiltered emotion. The cool night air felt distant, replaced by the heat of their bodies pressed together. Suguru pulled back slightly, their faces still close, both breathing heavily.
“What are we doing?” Suguru whispered, his voice trembling with confusion.
Satoru stepped away. “Shit– man, I don’t know.” He sighed. The balcony went quiet, the tension thick. Suguru drew in a sharp breath, closing his eyes and shaking his head with a defeated chuckle. It remained like that for a few moments, neither of the men speaking.
Satoru shifted his weight, finally speaking up. “I want you.” He said simply, eyes refusing to meet Suguru’s.
Suguru froze, his eyes searching Satoru’s face for any hint of humor. He found nothing. “What?”
“I want you Suguru. Like, badly. I’m so fucking tired of only seeing you at 2AM for a quick fuck. I need more, I can’t-“ He drew in a shaky breath, looking down at the floor. “I can’t keep doing this.”
Suguru didn’t respond, swallowing hard as he watched the other. He waited for Satoru to retract his words, to laugh it off as a joke, but it never came.
“It’s so pathetic.” Satoru laughed, though there was no humor in his words. “I think I'm in love with you or something. I thought this stupid party would’ve been a better opportunity to talk to you but, clearly not.”
Suguru’s mind raced, trying to process Satoru’s confession. The silence between them felt heavy, filled with unspoken words and unresolved tension.
Suguru finally spoke, his voice soft but tinged with confusion. “Why didn’t you say anything before? Why now?”
Satoru shrugged, still not looking up. “I didn’t know how. I thought I could handle it, keep it all casual.”
Suguru’s frustration and confusion remained. He took a step closer to Satoru, his voice breaking slightly. “I don’t know what to do with this.” He said honestly. “I mean- what if we get together and then it doesn’t work? I can’t hurt my kids like that.”
Satoru sighed, seemingly not knowing how to respond.
The conversation fell silent, tension filling the air. Suguru turned, leaning on the railing with a sigh. “Look, just ignore what I said. We can keep it casual.” Satoru said after a moment, taking a step towards the railing.
Suguru looked at him, now confused. “Saying you’re in love with someone isn’t exactly casual.” He pointed out, glancing down at the passing traffic below.
Satoru nodded and shrugged. “It’s whatever. I don’t mind.”
“I do.”
He looked up at Suguru, who was now frowning.
“Look, I want this too,” He began, voice shaking. “I guess I’m just scared.” He admitted.
Satoru nodded again, this time slowly. A way of saying he understood.
“We can take it slow,” Satoru offered, and Suguru stifled a laugh. “When have you ever done anything slow?” He questioned, a small smile playing on his lips.
Satoru elbowed him gently, the tension slowly dissolving from the scenes. “I’m serious.”
Suguru cleared his throat. “Yeah. We can try,” He said after a moment of silence, glancing over at Satoru with a small smile.
“Cool. Awesome. Going slow.” Satoru said, dragging out the “ow” in slow. He stretched out his arms, glancing around the balcony, suddenly seeming a bit awkward.
“I’m gonna head in. I’ll uh, text you.” He said, and spun on his heel without waiting for a response. Suguru raised an eyebrow as he watched him leave, shrugging to himself after the man had left.
—
Suguru stepped onto the crowded train car, sucking in a deep breath. He wrapped his scarf around his neck tighter, shivering into it. The winter cold had finally picked up, leaving Suguru pissed every time he had to leave for work. Which just so happened to be every morning.
The morning had been an odd one, to say the least. Due to the snowfall the night before, Nanako and Mimiko had gotten the day off, which Suguru hadn’t discovered until the girls came back from their bus stop, noses bright red and teeth chattering from the cold. He’d cursed himself, feeling awful that he hadn’t even thought to check the news before sending them off.
“Geto papa, why are you still going to work?” Mimiko had asked, holding her stuffed doll close to her chest. Suguru stroked the top of her head, ruffling her hair gently. He tried to explain to the girl that it was his responsibility, but she refused to accept it. Instead, her eyes welled up with tears, and she clung to Suguru’s shirt, begging him not to leave.
Suguru picked her up, placing a kiss to the top of her head before setting her back down. “When I get home, we can go get crepes.” He promised, instantly getting a beaming smile back in return.
He now stood on the train, absentmindedly staring out the window at the passing scenery. The soft hum of the train almost lulled him into a sense of detachment, until a familiar voice pulled him back to reality.
“Suguru!”
Before he could turn around, he felt a warm, familiar presence press into his side, completely ignoring any pretense of personal space. The scent of Satoru’s cologne filled the air between them, grounding Suguru in the present.
“Hey, ‘Toru,” Suguru greeted, his voice softer than usual as he met Satoru’s gaze. The sight of those bright, familiar eyes brought a smile to his lips. Without thinking, he reached out and intertwined his gloved hand with Satoru’s.
“I didn’t know you rode this train,” Satoru said, his tone playful, but there was a warmth beneath it; An unspoken reassurance.
“Shut up,” Suguru replied, giving him a light shove, though his smile betrayed the affection behind the words.
As they settled into a rhythm, the noise of the train and the world outside faded into the background. Their conversation flowed easily, each word and laugh pushing away the doubts that had once plagued Suguru’s mind. He found himself leaning closer to Satoru, the weight of his earlier worries lifting with every passing moment.
He was happy, he realized, truly happy. The warmth in his chest confirmed it—he’d made the right choice.
Maybe he should listen to Shoko’s advice more often.