It had already been a year since Itsuki and Minato entered Aoyama Seishin University.

A whole year.

And yet... some things hadn't changed at all.

Minato was still trying, desperately, to get into Ren's clique.

Itsuki sighed quietly to himself as he walked beside him.

He understood, to a certain extent. Minato had always been a die-hard fan of Ren. Ever since high school, really. Watching his streams, talking about him nonstop, practically treating him like someone untouchable.

But this?

This was getting a little too much.

Itsuki had tried telling him before.

More than once.

That maybe he should tone it down a bit. That maybe he was trying too hard.

But Minato would always brush it off, getting slightly annoyed before saying the same thing every time

"Or maybe I'm not trying hard enough."

Itsuki exhaled softly at the memory.

Seriously...?

At that point, there was no arguing with him.

Still... whatever.

As long as things between them were fine, Itsuki didn't really care.

And they were fine.

They'd been together for years now. Minato wasn't the type to throw that away so easily, and Itsuki trusted that. Completely.

At least...

He thought he did.

-------

The two of them walked side by side through the busy university hallways, students passing by in every direction.

Minato, as expected, was talking.

Again.

"Did you see Ren-senpai's stream last night?" he asked, glancing at Itsuki with clear excitement.

Itsuki already knew where this was going.

He wasn't into games at all, never had been. Watching streams? Even less.

But Minato didn't seem to care.

"The chat was crazy active," Minato continued, clearly in his own world. "He literally never has dead chats. Like, not even for a second."

Itsuki barely reacted, his expression staying neutral as he listened.

Or... pretended to.

"Yeah, yeah\~ I bet," he replied lazily.

Minato didn't notice.

He just kept going.

And Itsuki,

Just kept walking beside him.

Minato's eyes suddenly lit up.

"There," he murmured, slightly nudging Itsuki.

Itsuki followed his gaze,

And of course.

Ren.

Surrounded, as usual.

People circled around him like he was the center of everything, girls laughing a little too loudly, guys trying to get his attention, everyone leaning in just a bit closer than necessary.

It was almost annoying to look at.

Minato stared like he'd just seen something divine.

"...It'd honestly be a dream to get into his clique one day," he said, not even trying to hide it.

Itsuki resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

Minato kept going, completely absorbed. "I heard it's actually hard to get in. Like, really hard. But if you do... you're basically set."

He smiled to himself. "You'd be popular instantly. Everyone would know you."

Itsuki let out a quiet scoff, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"Yeah?" he said, glancing at him sideways. "Don't forget me when you finally make it in."

His tone was light, teasing.

Because honestly?

There was no way.

Minato's been trying for a year. If it was going to happen, it already would've.

But Minato just laughed.

"Why would I?" he said easily.

Then he looked at Itsuki, softer this time.

"You're my Itsuki."

The words came out so naturally, like there was no doubt in his mind.

"There's no way I'd forget you."

Itsuki blinked.

Caught off guard for just a second.

"...Yeah, yeah," he muttered, looking away slightly, a faint blush creeping onto his face.

-------

Across the hallway,

Ren noticed them.

His eyes landed on Minato first.

Then shifted to Itsuki.

His expression immediately darkened.

"...Tch."

He clicked his tongue quietly, looking away like he was already annoyed just by their existence.

*That annoying bastard again?*

His gaze flickered back for half a second.

*Ever since he got into this university, all he's done is fucking bother me.*

Whether it was trying to talk to him, show up where he was, or force his way into conversation.

It was constant.

And exhausting.

Ren looked away again, clearly uninterested.

But before he could drift too far into his thoughts

"Ren, look at this!" one of his friends chimed, shoving a phone in front of his face.

A girl, smiling brightly, clearly trying to get his attention.

Ren blinked, snapping out of it.

"...What is it?" he muttered, leaning slightly to look at the screen.

And just like that

His attention shifted.

Minato grabbed Itsuki's sleeve suddenly, eyes wide.

"He looked this way\~! Did you see that??" he said, practically glowing.

Itsuki glanced over lazily, already knowing what he'd see.

"...Yeah, I saw," he replied.

But unlike Minato,

Itsuki saw it clearly.

That wasn't interest.

That wasn't curiosity.

That was annoyance.

And Minato was too blinded to notice.

Itsuki looked back at him for a second, watching the way he smiled like it meant something more,

Then looked away.

...Whatever.

-------

The hallway had quieted down.

Most people had already left for their next classes, leaving behind only a few scattered students.

Ren walked through it alone this time, hands in his pockets, expression as unreadable as ever.

No crowd.

No noise.

Just him.

And--

"Hey."

Ren stopped.

He looked up slightly, surprised.

Itsuki.

Standing right in front of him.

That alone was enough to catch him off guard.

Itsuki had never approached him before.

Not once.

Not like this.

Ren's eyes narrowed slightly. "...What?"

Itsuki didn't hesitate.

Didn't even try to be polite.

"Stop hurting my Minato's feelings by being a dick."

Silence.

Ren blinked.

Once.

Then again.

Did he hear that right?

No one--

No one talked to him like that.

Let alone called him a dick to his face.

Itsuki stepped a little closer, unfazed.

"If you're not interested, fine," he continued, his voice steady. "But you don't have to act like an ass about it."

That did it.

Ren let out a short scoff, tilting his head slightly as he looked down at him.

"...You've got some nerve," he muttered.

There was a pause.

A shift in the air.

Because this...

This wasn't like the others.

This wasn't someone trying to impress him.

Or get close to him.

Itsuki just stood there.

Unbothered.

Unimpressed.

Ren's gaze lingered on him for a second longer,

Cold.

Sharp.

Like he was trying to read something he didn't like.

"...You piss me off," he said finally, his voice low and edged with irritation. "Just like that boyfriend of yours."

Itsuki's brows furrowed slightly.

What?

Ren's eyes didn't leave his.

"I hate that look in your eyes," he added.

That--

That threw Itsuki off completely.

"...What look?" he almost asked, but the words didn't come out.

Because even he didn't know.

Was it annoyance? Confidence? Indifference?

Or something else entirely?

Before he could figure it out,

Ren stepped forward.

Close.

Too close.

Their shoulders collided as Ren brushed past him, not even slowing down.

The impact wasn't hard,

But it was deliberate.

A silent message.

And just like that,

Ren kept walking, hands back in his pockets like nothing happened.

Leaving Itsuki standing there, slightly stunned, his thoughts scrambling to catch up.

To be continued.

Itsuki walked beside Minato, arms loosely crossed, a small pout sitting stubbornly on his face.

He didn't say anything at first

But it was obvious.

Something was bothering him.

Minato glanced over, slightly confused by the sudden shift in mood. "...What's got you all pouty?" he asked.

Itsuki let out a quiet huff.

"Oh, nothing\~" he said, clearly meaning the opposite.

There was a short pause before he spoke again, unable to hold it in.

"...What do you even like about Ren so much, anyway?" he asked, his tone just a little sharper than before. "He's a total ass."

Minato blinked, caught off guard.

"Huh? Oh—well..." he started, thinking for a second.

Itsuki braced himself.

Please don't start a whole speech...

"You just have to see his gaming skills," Minato said casually. "Then you'd get it."

Silence.

Itsuki stopped walking for half a second.

"...Hah??"

That was it?

"That's your reason!?" he shot back, disbelief written all over his face. "So what if he's good at games? He's still-"

His rant was cut off.

Minato's phone started ringing.

He glanced down.

Caller ID: Soma

Itsuki noticed the name but didn't think much of it.

Minato answered almost immediately, a soft smile appearing on his face.

"Oh, hey, Soma," he said, his tone noticeably lighter. "Yeah... uh-huh... really?"

He paused, glancing at Itsuki for a brief second.

"Mind if I bring my boyfriend along?" he asked.

Itsuki blinked.

A small flicker of curiosity sparked.

"Okay\~ yeah, that sounds good."

And just like that, the call ended.

Minato slipped his phone back into his pocket like it was nothing.

Itsuki raised a brow. "...Who was that?"

"Soma," Minato replied easily. "He's in one of my classes. I met him not too long ago."

Itsuki nodded slowly, listening.

"We kinda bonded quickly," Minato added with a small shrug. "He likes guys too, so... yeah."

Itsuki didn't react much to that, just gave a small nod.

"Okay... so what did he want?" he asked.

Minato stretched his arms slightly as they kept walking.

"Nothing big," he said. "He was just asking if I wanted to come to a dinner thing with some classmates."

He paused, then added,

"And he said you can come too."

That--

That immediately changed Itsuki's mood.

His eyes lit up.

"For real!?" he asked, all traces of annoyance gone in an instant. "When!?"

Minato chuckled softly at the sudden shift.

"Around five."

Itsuki grinned.

"Okay, now I'm excited," he said, practically bouncing a little as he walked.

Minato just watched him, amused.

-------

Later that evening, around five,

Itsuki and Minato arrived at the dinner gathering.

The place was already lively, voices overlapping, the low hum of conversation filling the space. A group of guys were seated together, laughing over something Itsuki couldn't quite catch.

And right in the middle of them,

Soma.

He noticed them almost immediately.

His face lit up as he stood, pushing his chair back with a soft scrape against the floor before walking over.

"Hey, you made it\~!" Soma greeted, his voice light and cheerful, his smile almost too perfect.

Then his eyes shifted.

Landing on Itsuki.

Just for a split second,

There was something there.

Cold.

Sharp.

Gone just as quickly as it appeared.

Soma's expression softened instantly, switching back like nothing had happened.

"And you must be Itsuki\~!" he continued smoothly, stepping a little closer. "Nice to meet you, I'm Soma\~"

His smile was bright. Friendly.

Convincing.

Too convincing.

Itsuki blinked, slightly thrown off.

Did I... imagine that?

"...Uh--yeah," he replied, a bit slower than usual. "Nice to meet you too..."

Before he could think more about it, Soma had already turned back to Minato,

And casually grabbed his arm.

"Come sit here," he said, pulling him along without hesitation.

Itsuki paused for half a second,

Then followed.

They settled at the table, Soma sitting on one side of Minato

Itsuki taking the seat on the other.

Close.

But not as close.

Minato leaned slightly toward Itsuki, lowering his voice.

"Oh, by the way," he whispered, "Soma's a year younger."

Itsuki blinked.

A year younger...?

So--

Eighteen.

Something in his chest loosened slightly.

A quiet breath escaped him before he even realized it.

Okay...

Minato didn't date younger guys.

He knew that.

Which meant--

Soma didn't have a chance anyway.

Not that Itsuki didn't trust Minato.

He did.

Completely.

It wasn't Minato he was worried about.

It is Soma he is worried about.

"So\~ how long have you two been together\~?" Soma asked, tilting his head slightly as he took a casual sip of his juice, eyes flicking between them with curiosity.

Minato opened his mouth to answer,

But Itsuki beat him to it.

"Since 10th grade," he said smoothly.

His tone was calm.

But there was a slight edge to it.

Like he was making something very clear.

Soma paused for a second before setting his drink down gently.

"Oh... wow," he hummed, his smile still in place. "That's a long time."

His eyes lingered just a second too long.

"...Interesting."

Itsuki didn't miss that.

Not one bit.

Minato, completely unaware of the tension, leaned forward slightly.

"What about you?" he asked. "Have you dated before?"

Soma perked up instantly, like he'd been waiting for that question.

"Mm\~ yeah!" he said brightly. "I've had, like, three exes\~"

He pouted slightly, resting his cheek against his hand.

"But they were all so mean to me\~"

His tone was soft.

Innocent.

Almost fragile.

Itsuki stared at him.

...Why does his face look so punchable?

"I'm gonna go to the bathroom," Itsuki suddenly said, pushing his chair back.

Minato nodded without question. "Okay."

Itsuki stood, exhaling quietly as he walked away.

He needed a second.

Just--

A second to breathe.

The noise of the table faded as he moved down the hallway, his thoughts finally catching up with him.

Something's off...

He couldn't fully explain it.

But Soma...

There was just something about him.

Itsuki sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, too caught up in his thoughts.

And then--

Thud.

He walked straight into someone.

"Ow--" he muttered, stepping back slightly.

He looked up,

And froze.

Ren.

Standing right in front of him.

With a girl hooked onto his arm.

Of course.

"...Oh," Ren said, his expression shifting into mild annoyance. "It's you."

Itsuki's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Yeah," he replied flatly. "It is."

His gaze flicked briefly to the girl,

Then back to Ren.

"...What are you doing here?" he asked, his tone laced with quiet judgment. "On a date?"

Ren didn't even hesitate.

"No," he said simply. "A mixer."

Then his lips curved slightly,

Not quite a smile.

"But," he added, glancing down at the girl on his arm, "Since I found someone I'm interested in..."

He looked back at Itsuki.

"I was just about to leave."

Itsuki stilled.

He knew what that meant.

Ren knew what that meant.

There was a brief silence.

Then Itsuki stepped aside.

Letting him pass.

Ren walked past him, close enough for their shoulders to nearly brush again.

A faint smirk tugged at his lips,

Gone just as quickly as it appeared.

And just like that--

He kept walking.

Like nothing happened.

Leaving Itsuki standing there, staring ahead,

Annoyed.

To be continued.

By the time they left, it was already 8:30 p.m.

The sky had gone dark, the streets quieter now, only a few passing cars and dim streetlights guiding the way home.

Itsuki walked beside Minato, hands shoved into his pockets, his expression noticeably off.

The dinner had been long.

Exhausting.

Well--

At least for him.

Because while everyone else laughed, talked, and ate like nothing was wrong...

Itsuki had been stuck watching Soma the entire time.

That fake smile.

That soft voice.

That whole innocent act.

Fucking bullshit.

Itsuki clicked his tongue quietly, eyes narrowing slightly as the memory replayed in his head.

No one else seemed to notice.

Not Minato.

Not the others.

But Itsuki?

He could spot a fake bitch from a mile away.

And Soma practically reeked of it.

Minato glanced over at him, finally noticing the shift in mood.

"...What's got you in a bad mood?" he asked, tone light but curious.

Itsuki didn't even look at him.

"Oh, nothing really," he replied casually.

Too casually.

By then, they had already reached their apartment.

Minato stepped forward, unlocking the door with a soft click before pushing it open.

Itsuki followed him in, already slipping off his shoes, his body feeling heavier now that the night was over.

He was done.

Completely done.

All he wanted at that point,

Was to call it a night and forget the entire fucking dinner ever happened.

-------

A week passed after the dinner party.

And somehow,

Things felt... different.

Not in an obvious way.

Nothing big had happened.

But still-

Something had shifted.

Minato was still the same.

Still talking about Ren like usual.

Still going on about streams, skills, whatever new thing he found impressive.

But now...

There was someone else added into the mix.

Soma.

His name came up more often than Itsuki would've liked.

Little mentions here and there.

Stories from class.

Things they did together.

Itsuki tried not to think too much of it.

Minato can have friends, he told himself.

Even if

They were as irritating as Soma.

Itsuki exhaled quietly.

...Whatever.

If Soma really was fake, then eventually, Minato would see it too.

Right?

Still...

There were small things.

Things Itsuki couldn't ignore.

Like how Minato kept checking his phone more often.

Glancing down at it.

Typing.

Waiting.

It wasn't constant,

But it was enough to notice.

Itsuki frowned slightly as he watched him.

Is he waiting for something...?

"...Minato," he finally spoke up.

Minato looked up. "Hm?"

"Did you apply for a job or something?" Itsuki asked. "You should've told me."

For a split second,

Minato froze.

"...Huh?"

Then--

"Oh- ahh\~ yeah, I did," he said quickly, a small laugh slipping out as he scratched the back of his head.

Itsuki tilted his head slightly.

That hesitation...

Was weird.

"I actually have an interview later today," Minato added.

Itsuki blinked,

Then smiled.

"Oh, really? That's awesome," he said, a bit of genuine excitement slipping into his voice.

Minato had been looking for a job for a while now.

So,

This wasn't strange.

Not at all.

If anything, it made sense.

"Minnn—aaa—to\~!"

A voice suddenly cut through the moment.

Itsuki didn't even have to turn around.

He already knew.

Soma.

He came up from behind, practically latching onto Minato's arm like it belonged to him.

Itsuki's eye twitched slightly.

...Ugh. Him.

"Oh- hey, Soma\~," Minato greeted, his tone noticeably softer.

That didn't go unnoticed.

Soma smiled brightly, clinging just a little tighter.

"I was looking for you\~"

Minato chuckled lightly before glancing back at Itsuki.

"I'm gonna head to class now," he said.

Itsuki gave a small nod.

"Yeah, go."

Soma didn't even acknowledge him.

Just pulled Minato along,

Still attached to his arm.

Itsuki stood there for a second after they left.

Watching.

Then he rolled his eyes, turning away with a quiet scoff.

...This is starting to piss me off.

Ren noticed from across the hallway.

From a distance, his gaze lingered, longer than it should have.

Quiet.

Unmoving.

Like he was watching something... or someone.

But Itsuki didn't notice.

He just kept walking, completely unaware, disappearing further down the hall as Ren's eyes stayed on him for a moment longer before finally looking away.

------

Later that evening,

Back at Itsuki and Minato's apartment.

The place was quiet.

Too quiet.

Itsuki lounged on the couch, legs stretched out, dressed in loose shorts and an oversized shirt. His phone rested lazily in his hand as he scrolled, half-focused, half zoning out after the long day.

In the background,

Minato was moving around the apartment.

Opening drawers.

Checking surfaces.

"...Where did I put them...?" he muttered under his breath, clearly searching for something.

Itsuki didn't look up.

"Keys?" he guessed absentmindedly.

"Yeah," Minato replied quickly, already moving to the next spot.

After a few more seconds of shuffling around--

"Ah, got them."

Itsuki hummed softly in response, still scrolling.

Minato slipped on his shoes near the door, grabbing what he needed before calling out,

"Okay, I'm heading out now! bye, Itsuki\~"

Itsuki finally glanced up, resting his arm against the back of the couch.

"Bye, Minato\~"

The door opened

Then shut with a soft click.

Silence settled again.

Five minutes passed.

Itsuki stretched slightly before sighing.

...Guess I should make dinner.

He pushed himself up from the couch, dragging his feet a little as he walked,

And then--

Thud.

"Ow--fuck," he muttered, wincing as his foot slammed into the edge of the coffee table.

Something slid off it,

And hit the floor.

Itsuki frowned, bending down slightly.

"...Huh?"

His eyes widened.

"Minato's wallet?"

He quickly picked it up, turning it over in his hands.

He forgot this?

That wasn't like him.

At all.

Itsuki stared at it for a second, his brows slowly knitting together.

"...Wait."

Minato never said where the interview was.

Not the company.

Not the location.

Nothing.

Itsuki bit the inside of his cheek slightly.

Should I call him?

But then,

He hesitated.

Minato could already be driving.

Or worse--

Waiting for the interview.

Calling him now might just make him more nervous.

"...Tch."

Itsuki exhaled, thinking.

Then,

It clicked.

"Oh."

Their locations.

They had each other's locations shared, it was something they set up a while ago, just in case.

They'd never actually needed to use it before.

But now?

This was the perfect time.

Itsuki quickly grabbed his phone, tapping through until Minato's location popped up.

He stared at the screen.

"...Huh?"

His brows furrowed.

"TK Nightclub...?"

He blinked.

Once.

Then again.

And then--

"...Ah."

A pause.

"...He has an interview at a nightclub?"

Itsuki tilted his head slightly, confused.

That didn't feel right.

At all.

But,

"...Ugh, whatever."

He ran a hand through his hair, already heading toward the door.

"Not like I can just sit here."

Minato had taken the car.

Which meant,

"Guess I'm running it."

Itsuki grabbed his jacket, shoved his feet into his shoes, and stepped out.

The door slamming shut behind him with a sharp click.

And just like that,

He was on his way.

To be continued.