Episode5

Souta didn’t go home.

Not immediately.

He walked until his feet hurt, until the tightness in his chest dulled into something heavy and numb. The night air was cold, but it didn’t clear his thoughts. If anything, it made them sharper—Aoshi’s trembling voice, the way his lips had pressed against Souta’s without hesitation, without fear.

He stopped under a streetlight and pulled out his phone.

He needed to hear a voice that wasn’t shaking.

“Meet me,” Souta said as soon as the call connected. “Now.”

They met at a small roadside café, nearly empty at that hour. Souta sat stiffly across from his colleague and friend, Kenta, fingers wrapped tightly around a glass of water he hadn’t touched.

Kenta studied him for a moment. “Alright,” he said slowly. “What happened?”

Souta stared at the table. “Aoshi confessed to me.”

Kenta blinked. “Confessed?”

“He said he loves me.”

Silence followed.

“And?” Kenta asked carefully.

Souta swallowed. “He kissed me.”

Kenta leaned back, letting out a breath. “Damn.”

“I didn’t know what to do,” Souta continued. “I froze. I left him there.”

Kenta frowned. “You shouldn’t have run.”

“I know,” Souta said quietly. “But I panicked.”

Kenta tapped his fingers against the table. “Look, Souta. From what you’re saying… it sounds like Aoshi only sees you.”

Souta looked up.

“He grew up with you. You were his guardian, his anchor,” Kenta said. “It’s natural he’d mistake those feelings for love.”

“Mistake?” Souta repeated.

“Yes,” Kenta replied firmly. “And the best way to fix that is simple.”

Souta waited.

“Date someone,” Kenta said. “Once you start dating, everything will return to normal. He’ll realize he’s not the center of your world anymore.”

Souta’s jaw tightened. “…You really think that’ll work?”

“It’s better than pretending nothing happened,” Kenta said. “At least this gives him reality.”

Souta stared into his water for a long time.

“Okay,” he finally said. “I’ll think about it.”

Kenta grinned slightly, trying to lighten the mood. “Besides,” he added teasingly, “you’re not biologically related. You could date if you wanted to—”

Souta shot him a sharp glare.

Kenta immediately raised his hands. “Okay, okay! I was joking. Relax.”

But Souta didn’t laugh.

Because the thought had already lodged itself somewhere it shouldn’t.

When Souta finally returned home, the lights were off.

The house was quiet.

Too quiet.

He paused outside Aoshi’s room. The door was slightly open. Aoshi lay on his side, blanket pulled up, breathing slow and steady.

Asleep.

Or pretending to be.

Souta hesitated—then quietly closed the door.

Tomorrow, he told himself.

I’ll act normal. That’s better for him.

The next morning, Souta woke early.

He cooked breakfast like he always did. Packed Aoshi’s lunch. Set a mug of coffee on the table.

When Aoshi entered the kitchen, hair slightly messy, eyes cautious, Souta smiled.

“Morning,” he said naturally. “You’ll be late today, right?”

Aoshi froze.

“…Yeah,” he answered after a pause.

“Don’t forget your umbrella,” Souta added. “It might rain.”

Normal.

Too normal.

They ate in silence. Souta talked about work, about a meeting later in the afternoon, about a file Aoshi had left in the living room.

He never mentioned last night.

Aoshi barely touched his food.

When Souta grabbed his keys, Aoshi finally spoke.

“Uncle.”

“Yes?” Souta replied calmly.

“Why are you acting like nothing happened?”

Souta stopped.

Slowly, he turned around. “Because that’s easier,” he said evenly. “For both of us.”

Aoshi laughed—but there was no humor in it.

“Easier?” he repeated. “You think this is easier?”

Souta sighed. “Aoshi, I don’t want to make things complicated.”

“But you already did,” Aoshi said quietly.

Souta stayed silent.

Aoshi stepped closer, his hands clenched tightly at his sides.

“Do you have any idea what it feels like,” Aoshi asked, voice shaking, “to confess your heart to someone… and the next day they ask you about the weather?”

Souta’s chest tightened. “I’m trying to protect you.”

“No,” Aoshi said sharply. “You’re trying to erase it.”

That made Souta flinch.

“I can pretend,” Aoshi continued, eyes burning. “I can smile. I can call you Uncle again. But don’t act normal.”

“Why?” Souta asked quietly.

“Because it’s making my feelings blow up,” Aoshi whispered.

His voice broke.

“Every time you smile at me like nothing changed, it hurts more. It makes me feel stupid. Like my love was just… noise.”

Souta took a step toward him. “Aoshi—”

“Stop,” Aoshi said, tears spilling over. “If you’re going to reject me, then do it properly. Don’t trap me in this kindness.”

Silence fell heavily between them.

Souta realized then—acting normal wasn’t kindness.