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“Laios, stop shaking,” Toshiro chided, slapping his arm. “You’re too bouncy.”
“Can’t help it!” Laios said, giddy. “I’m too excited!”
They just landed in Kyoto — with free time on their hands when the summer rolled around the following semester. Toshiro asked if Laios was ready to come to Kyoto with him, and Laios was more than happy to.
In the airport, they were waiting to be picked up by the girls. Laios will also be meeting Maizuru, but she wasn’t staying very long, she had things to do in Naha.
The girls came eventually, meeting them at one of the entrances.
“There he is!” Tade screeched. Toshiro didn’t even have time to put down his bags, because they were running toward them, tackling Toshiro in a group hug.
Izutsumi was the only one who didn’t hug him yet, scoffing at their behavior.
“Good to see you guys,” Toshiro said, a warm smile on his face.
“Hey!” Hien said, smacking his arm. She looked at Laios, and so did everyone else. “Oh, shit. Laios, right?”
“Yup, the one and only!” Laios said. Surprisingly, the girls welcomed him with hugs, except for Izutsumi, hiding behind Hien.
“Why’s there a white man next to you?” She asked Toshiro in Japanese.
Hien slapped her on the head. “That’s his boyfriend, dumbass.”
“How was I supposed to know that?!”
“Isn’t it fucking obvious?!”
"He looks like a foreign kidnapper!"
“It’s okay,” Toshiro snorted. “Yes, he’s my partner.” He added with a meek smile, a blush on his cheeks.
“How cute!” Beni gushed, hands on her cheeks.
“Toshiro’s told me so much about you guys,” Laios explained. “But I haven’t seen you before…” He said, glancing at Izutsumi out of curiosity.
Izutsumi responded by bolting from him.
“What the—?! Izutsumi!” Hien shouted, leading to them running after her.
“Sorry, she’s just shy…” Toshiro said, following the girls. When Laios stood there, dumbfounded, Toshiro ran back and took his hand, dragging him along.
After a full hour was spent chasing Izutsumi around the airport, they finally returned to their new house in a quiet neighborhood.
Maizuru was waiting for them, a meal ready once they were finished washing up after the long day.
Laios had the energy of many visitors in one, so he took over most of the conversation. Maizuru was generous toward him regardless, once she realized the man didn’t pose a threat and was just a giant golden retriever.
He offered to help with a lot of other things around the house, basic chores Maizuru insisted she could take care of, but he wanted to help her anyway.
Hien asked if Toshiro and Izutsumi could head to the store and get snacks. So, he went with her while they cleaned up after their pleasant dinner.
“How’s school?” He asked Izutsumi, putting all their snacks on the counter for the cashier to ring up. “Didn’t get yourself expelled, did you?”
Izutsumi stuck her tongue out.
“Toshiyuki and Toshizane are treating you alright?”
“I hate them.”
Toshiro took back the bag once he paid for everything, reaching inside for the bottle of Ramune, tossing it at Izutsumi.
“You’re about to graduate soon,” he told her. “You don’t have to stay there. Just tell Maizuru. She’ll understand. You’re old enough, now.”
Her head hung low, staring at the bottle. Toshiro smiled, patting her on the head.
“That is, if you’re able to. I doubt it.”
She smacked his hand off. “Fuck off.”
Toshiro chuckled. “C’mon, let’s go.”
Toshiro left the bathroom, hearing the bubbly chatter in the next room over. Maizuru was in the guest room, preparing it for Laios’ visit.
He dropped in to check on her.
“He’s a talkative one,” she said with a laugh. “I can tell he’s really eager for my approval.”
With how he was always spending time with her whenever he could the past few days, everyone knew that already.
“Well?” Toshiro asked, assisting her. The house was just for the girls, with Maizuru’s financial help, they were able to move out of their smaller apartment and into a real home they could share together. They were all grown now, but she still liked to visit to see how they were doing.
Maizuru stopped, a sigh escaping her lips. “I’m actually quite surprised someone like that was able to soften you up.”
Toshiro blushed, scratching his cheek. “To be honest, neither can I.”
“Something about him rubs me off the wrong way, though,” Maizuru huffed, hands on her hips. “Are European men really your type?”
Toshiro felt himself flushing deeper. “W-What is that supposed to mean—?”
“He’s like your complete opposite, he does not have an off button,” Maizuru said, her face twisting into a grimace. “And here I was thinking you’d choose someone like Arata.”
“It just didn’t work out between us,” Toshiro confessed, referring to his last conversation with Arata that went sour.
“Oh,” Maizuru blinked, surprised. “I heard Arata traveled overseas for your father’s business. Have you met with him recently?”
“I did,” Toshiro said. “And he wasn’t exactly supportive of my life choices, so I told him off."
"Did you let him down easy?" Maizuru asked worriedly.
"I said when he dies, bugs will slowly eat away at his corpse...” Toshiro confessed with a small blush. "I had a bit to drink that night."
Maizuru frowned, then snorted, her palm covering her mouth. “You truly haven’t changed since you were young, haven’t you? Dodging all your suitors just to read your books…”
Toshiro smiled a little. “I suppose so.”
“Then again,” Maizuru said, smiling as well. “That Laios boy has a habit of bringing the inner child out of everyone.”
Maizuru decided to leave earlier than expected.
Izutsumi was staying in Kyoto with the girls for a month (she claimed she didn’t want to, but Hien and Tade wouldn’t let her flee this time around)
Toshiro was the last person to bid her farewell, having a one-on-one talk while the others headed back to the house. Laios followed them, because he figured what Toshiro wanted to discuss with his stepmother was personal.
“I thought I’d have to stay longer, but…” She sighed. “I guess I was worried for nothing. He’s harmless. Odd, but harmless.”
Toshiro looked down at his hands, then back at Maizuru.
“You can stay for an extra day or two.”
“Your father and your brothers need me,” Maizuru said. “As much as I’d love to, Toshizane was the next chosen heir, so I have to be there to support them.”
Made sense his father was going to move past Toshiro and make one of his brothers the heir of the clan instead.
Toshiro nodded. Maizuru smiled softly, picking up her bags and heading over to the car. Toshiro watched her walk away, panic bubbling in his chest, reminded of the times he wanted to say more to her when all he could do was tell her it’s fine during the bullying, the arguments with his father, when she asked if he was okay.
“Kaa-san!” He shouted, tears blurring his vision. Maizuru gasped, dropping her bags as she’d never heard Toshiro utter those words to her before. “Thank you!” He said, ducking his head. “For allowing me to be myself…”
Maizuru sighed, coming back to bring Toshiro into her loving arms.
“No need to thank me. Haven’t I done what any mother would do for their child?”
Toshiro watched Laios attempt to use his chopsticks. His chunk of food fell in-between his fingers. He’d go “that’s not right” before attempting again.
Toshiro felt himself getting a headache. He gently plucked the chopsticks out of Laios’ hands and replaced it with a fork.
“This restaurant serves forks and spoons, in case you’re wondering,” he reminded Laios flatly.
“Oh!” Laios’ face lit up. “I didn’t know that!”
“Laios, every table has a spoon and fork. Tourists pass through all the time.”
“I always wanted to learn how to use chopsticks,” Laios said, but he lifted his fork, deciding against his judgment. “Fork it is!”
Toshiro smiled, fighting the urge to roll his eyes to the back of his head.
Dinner was lovely. As much as he enjoyed his family’s company, if he didn’t peel Laios away from them they’d never get any alone time to spend with each other. Besides, Laios was enjoying the food despite poorly scooping and stabbing at it with the chopsticks earlier. He even made Toshiro try some of his food, feeding it to him.
They engaged in casual conversation about Japanese cuisine until a chair screeched, being pushed back. A group at the table next to them got up to leave. Then another followed, the servers eyeing the windows of the restaurant nervously. Toshiro turned back. He noticed all the guests clearing the restaurant, as if they were asked to, everyone but them.
That could only mean one thing.
Toshiro stiffened, glancing at the entrance. Laios on the other hand, was scarfing down his plate of sushi without looking up.
Men in crisp suits walked through the doors. The waitress hurried over to them to assist with their needs.
“Nakamoto Toshiro!”
Toshiro winced at the voice. Yep, he wasn’t off the mark on this one. A yakuza gang came to pay a visit. He knew exactly which one, too.
“Huh?” A piece of salmon fell from Laios’ mouth, following Toshiro’s gaze to the intimidating visitors. “Did you invite a friend?”
“No, I didn’t,” Toshiro said, narrowing his eyes. Funnily enough, he’d admit he had a better taste in what he’d call friends.
Footsteps made their way toward their table. Toshiro glanced up at the person in question. His eyes widened upon recognition; it had been years since then, and he had clearly gotten a lot older, but there was no mistaking it.
“Daisuke-san…?” He whispered.
Laios blinked. “Daisuke?”
Daisuke stared at Toshiro, a long scar running down his right eye, closed, to his cheek, a cigarette in his mouth.
Neither of them said a word for a minute, until he dropped down to his knees, prostrating before Toshiro, who began to get flustered at the bold gesture. This certainly was the last person he expected, one that tormented him during their high school years, to do such a thing.
“What are you doing…?”
“I heard you were in town,” Daisuke explained, hands on his knees. “I figured I had the chance to finally apologize to you, about everything that happened in third year.”
Toshiro sighed, hand on his forehead. “Please, get up.”
Daisuke frowned, lifting his head. “But—“
“—I’m not part of the clan anymore, so you don’t need to apologize if you think I’m a threat.”
“I know!” Daisuke thrust his head back down, startling Toshiro and Laios. “It doesn’t make it any better, what I did to you… but I understand if you choose not to forgive me.”
“Are we really going to do this here?” Toshiro asked, slightly embarrassed.
“Please,” Daisuke begged. “At least allow me to have a meal with you, and after that, you can decide if I’m worthy of your forgiveness.”
“Fine,” Toshiro said, because he was desperate to move past this. “Sit down.”
Daisuke shot up so fast, it reminded Toshiro of an excited puppy. “Okay!” He glanced at Laios, who smiled at him, sticking a hand out in Daisuke’s direction for a handshake.
“Hello, my name is Laios!” He said. His Japanese was a bit rusty, but he got the words across.
Daisuke had only just noticed Toshiro wasn’t having a meal here alone.
“…Who the hell is that?” He asked Toshiro quietly.
Toshiro introduced them both once Daisuke was seated and drinking with them.
“Daisuke-san, this is Laios. Laios, this is Daisuke-san…” He explained meekly. “We were rivals in high school.”
“Rivals?” Laios asked, genuinely curious.
“Tch,” Daisuke scoffed. “He doesn’t know a thing, does he?” He told Toshiro, taking a swig of his sake. “Hey, American Boy,” he switched to accented English. “Him and I, we go way back. Then he left Okinawa to go to university. Never saw him since the last time he kicked my ass so good, it changed me for the better.”
Toshiro folded his arms, keeping his head down while Laios intently listened to Daisuke explain their history with each other.
“We don’t have to talk about this…” Toshiro murmured. He didn’t want to spend this trip talking about past memories.
“Fine,” Daisuke said, getting an idea. “How about we drink instead? Let's drink! Beat me in a drinking contest.” He looked at Laios. “And you join us. I don’t think you’re going to last, but why not?”
Laios was eager to prove himself regardless. “I’ll do it.”
“Laios!” Toshiro hissed.
“If the man says he wants to drink with us, he can drink with us!” Daisuke said, goading him on. “You, me, the American boy! A round of drinks!”
Toshiro figured this was Daisuke’s way of trying to intimate Laios. Laios was happy to oblige, the three of them engaging in a hearty drinking contest.
It had been a while since he had done this, not since outings in the past with the girls, or around Kabru and Namari. Being back home got the better of him.
Daisuke was actually no match for Toshiro’s alcohol intolerance. At this point, Laios had stopped drinking, seeing just how much Toshiro could drink without getting tipsy, watching the two men go head-to-head in awe.
“Amazing…” He whispered. Daisuke let out a tired grunt, tossing his head back.
“God damn it, Nakamoto!” He raged. “I can’t believe you’ve bested me in drinking, too. Sheesh!”
Toshiro was relaxed, putting down his drink, leveling his gaze with his rival. “Had enough?” He asked, arching a thick brow.
“Oi,” Daisuke put his drink down, glaring at Toshiro. “You still fight?”
“Professionally, yes,” Toshiro clarified, resting his hand on his cheek. “But I’m not a yakuza anymore.”
“Once a yakuza always a yakuza!” Daisuke pointed an accusatory finger at Toshiro. “Come outside and fight me one on one, you too, boy!” He said, his finger switching to Laios. “Fight me and my men! Right now!”
“Daisuke—” Toshiro started, but Daisuke wasn’t having it.
“I wanna see if you’re still as strong as when we fought that day,” Daisuke declared. “I’ll prove myself to you.”
“What are we doing?” Laios asked, and Toshiro stood up, stopping him from following.
“Laios, I think it’s best if you stay out of this,” he advised. He would say part of him respected Daisuke for not commenting on Toshiro’s feminine-leaning fashion style upon meeting him, desiring to treat him like an equal. This was his way of doing it, man-to-man. Toshiro could indulge him, just this once.
They went outside, Toshiro surrounded by Daisuke and his goons. His promotion was treating him well, it seemed, even if he lost an eye in the process.
“It’s gonna be one against many,” Daisuke warned Toshiro, tilting on his feet, clearly the most drunk. “Sure you can take us all on?”
“Let’s just get this over with, please,” Toshiro said, nonchalantly. “I have someone important waiting for me in there.”
“Hah, that American?! Don’t tell me he’s your boyfriend or something. I thought you’d end up getting married to one of the leaders in Okinawa. Kujo was his name, wasn’t it?”
“I turned Arata down a while ago,” Toshiro told him.
“What a shame,” Daisuke said. “But I’m not surprised, either. With skills like yours, you wouldn’t wanna be tied down to anyone.”
Toshiro smiled, thinking of a certain blond-haired idiot. “Not anymore.”
Daisuke grinned back. Then, he sicced his men after him. Toshiro exhaled, putting up his fists. He ducked their attacks, weaving around them to take them down one by one. He never stopped training over the years, spending them polishing his combat, and he proved it during the fight.
“Toshiro!”
He gasped at the sound of his name being called, getting distracted, and he got pummeled in the face by one of Daisuke’s men. You idiot…!
Next thing Toshiro knew, Laios was barrelling into the guy attacking Toshiro, clotheslining him to the ground.
“Laios?” Toshiro whispered.
“I’m not just gonna sit around and wait while you kick these guys asses,” Laios told him, joining Toshiro to face the thugs head-on. “Let me help you. I’ve got your back.”
Toshiro smiled, tasting blood on his lip. “Very well.”
Laios grinned back, winking. They lunged for their respective opponents, Daisuke reaching Toshiro, and Laios handling the rest of Daisuke’s men.
While these men were fighters, some of them couldn’t match Laios’ athletic build and tall stature, so he held himself up well. Toshiro wasn’t worried about him too much. Daisuke had improved in hand-to-hand combat, likely from past experience rising up the ranks, and he didn’t hold back, putting all his strength into taking Toshiro down.
Luckily, Toshiro was in the mood for a challenge.
And, he was in the mood to win. He threw the last punch, Daisuke dropped, and this time, he stayed down.
Toshiro could finally relax his shoulders, catching his breath.
“Fuck,” Daisuke wheezed out, lying flat on his back. “You’re invincible. The only person I’ve ever lost to was you.”
Once Toshiro calmed down, he said, “forget it.”
Daisuke sucked in another breath. “Hah?”
“I don’t wish to remember the past anymore,” Toshiro added. “So forget about forgiveness. I don’t care.” He crouched in front of Daisuke, thrusting his hand out. “We can shake on it, then move on.”
Daisuke gawked for a second. Clicking his tongue in defeat, he shook Toshiro’s hand.
“I lost again,” he said, arm falling back to the ground. “But it’s the first real fight I’ve had in forever, so, thank you.”
Toshiro rose up to his feet, Laios walking beside him. He waited, in case Toshiro wanted to say anything else, but their conversation ended there.
As Toshiro walked away, Laios following him, Daisuke sat up slowly.
“American boy!” He shouted in Laios’ direction. Laios stopped, turning his head.
“Yeah?”
“You’re a God damn lucky son of a bitch!” He said, but it was in Japanese, so Laios didn’t fully understand what he was saying. “I hope you know that!”
“Uh, okay!” Laios responded with a wave. “I don’t know what you said, but I hope it was nice!”
Toshiro snorted, shaking his head. Laios jogged up to him, leaving the gang there to collect themselves and take care of their drunk leader, who had probably passed out by now.
On the trek back home, Toshiro stumbled to the wall, his dizziness hitting him at full force.
“Toshiro?” Laios was at his side in a heartbeat, one large hand on his back. “Are you okay?”
“The fuck does it look like?!” Toshiro jabbed, clutching his stomach once a wave of nausea hit. “Shit! Fuck!”
“I would’ve thought you weren’t affected at all back there, with the way you handled yourself,” Laios held him upright, even as he tried to wrench himself away from Laios’ strong grip. “You’re amazing, you know that?”
“Shut up,” Toshiro grumbled. “Let go of me. I can walk. I ain’t no fuckin’ toddler, you bitch.”
“I don’t think you can,” Laios answered patiently. It only just pissed Toshiro off. He shoved Laios away from him.
“Oi, do you wanna die or somethin’?”
“I don’t want you to get hurt, is all. Now will you let me carry you?”
“Fuck off!” Toshiro snarled, turning around and immediately falling face-first into the concrete.
Laios sighed, picking Toshiro up and carrying him back home on his back.
Hien and Beni opened the door, shocked at their state of appearance.
“The fuck happened to you guys?” Hien asked, helping Laios bring Toshiro into the house, going to the guest room.
“Some guy named Daisuke showed up to the restaurant we went to,” Laios explained, letting Toshiro down on the futon. “Said they were rivals. I don’t know much else.”
“Daisuke?” Beni gasped.
Hien’s face twisted in disgust. “Motherrfucker. He tracked Toshiro down to start more trouble again?”
“Well…” Laios scratched his head. “It didn’t seem like there was bad blood between them. He challenged us to a drinking contest, then asked us to fight him.”
Toshiro sat up, resting an elbow on Laios’ shoulder, his hair in his face. “And I fuckin’ won, obviously.”
Hien didn’t hesitate to smack him upside the head. Toshiro grunted, flinching.
“How could you do something so fucking stupid?!”
Tade and Izutsumi entered the room shortly after.
“What happened to nii-chan?” Izutsumi asked quietly.
“Did they get into a fight?” Tade questioned, joining them.
“Daisuke’s gang paid them a visit,” Hien explained, their faces stricken with worry. “Dragged the American into it too, apparently.”
“Guys,” Laios piped in, hand around Toshiro’s waist. “From what I can tell, I don’t think they’ll be bothering us anytime soon. I think they settled the score.”
The girls exchanged looks with each other.
“Are you sure?” Beni asked, skeptical.
“I just… have a strong feeling about it, is all,” Laios admitted meekly. They didn’t press any further, filing out of the room.
“They’re gone now,” Laios said, rubbing Toshiro’s shoulder. His head was on Laios’ shoulder. He moaned tiredly, lifting his head. “Feelin’ better?”
Toshiro responded with a groan. Laios chuckled.
“You had a lot to drink back there. I’ve never seen you like that.”
When Toshiro looked away regretfully, silent, Laios scooted closer.
“Toshiro? What’s wrong?”
Toshiro opened his mouth to speak, his eyes pinned to the floorboards. “I ran away from home because I didn’t want to be part of the yakuza.”
With wide eyes, Laios stiffened. “You mean, Daisuke—?”
“That would’ve been me,” Toshiro confirmed, tossing his hair back, threatening his fingers through his messy waves. His eyes fluttered shut. “But I didn’t want any of it. I just wanted to live a normal life. I couldn’t, though. Each day, rival gangs picked on us. Wanted to push me. See if I would break. When I finally did, they all wanted nothing to do with me. Still, I put my family in danger, so, like I did with you, I ran off. Tried to start over.” He looked up at Laios.
I understand if hearing all this about me makes you reconsider our relationship. I’m ashamed of my choices every single day, even if I still think it was the right thing to do. I know, I’m a coward.”
Laios contemplated, hands folded together. “What you tell me doesn’t change how I feel about you, and honestly, it kinda hurts when you assume that it would.”
Toshiro’s eyes widened. “But Laios. You know the truth about me and my family now.”
Laios shrugged. “So? Does that make you a bad person in my eyes? Is that what you’re thinking?”
Speechless, Toshiro said nothing else.
“It doesn’t,” Laios answered for him. “You’re still Toshiro to me. Yakuza, billionaire’s kid, whatever. Your family’s been nothing but nice to me. You were nice enough to let me come with you, to meet them. If anything, it makes you cooler. To me.”
Toshiro sat there, mouth agape. “Laios…”
Laios smiled, nudging Toshiro’s chin up to look him in the eyes.
“If you thought that was enough to scare me away, then you’re underestimating me. I’m kinda offended.”
Toshiro dug his fingers into Laios’ shirt, bringing him closer.
“Then…” He whispered, voice coming out quiet and wanting. “Help me forget about everything that’s happened, tonight, and before I met you. I want to start over with you. Make me forget everything.”
Laios swallowed, nodding. He leaned in, kissing Toshiro softly. His fingers raked through Toshiro’s soft hair, breathing him in. Toshiro clung to him as Laios lowered him down on the futon. Their lips met again, desperate, wanting the taste of the other’s lips to burrow into their mind and stay there for eternity.
Lifting his head, hovering on top of Toshiro, dark eyes wide and vulnerable and willowy hair spread out on the pillow beneath them, he was waiting for Toshiro to give the green light.
With a slight nod, Toshiro stroked Laios’ cheek.
Laios dropped down, their bodies pressed close and their lips touching, allowing their desires to take full control for the remainder of the night.
When Laios woke up, Toshiro wasn’t next to him. He rose from the blankets, emerging from the guest room.
Hien and Benichidori were the only ones sitting at the engawa.
They noticed Laios was awake by his footsteps, pausing their conversation.
“Oh, hey Touden,” Hien said, saluting in his direction.
“Good morning, Laios-san,” Benichidori said with a shy nod. Their eyes didn’t hesitate to wander Laios’ half-naked figure, and they were immediately able to guess that something happened last night that was none of their business.
“Good morning…” Laios yawned. “Where’s the others?”
“Tade and Izutsumi are going to feed the strays behind the corner store,” Hien explained. “And Toshiro went to the park.”
At the mention of Toshiro’s name, Laios remembered a fleeting conversation he had with Maizuru when he was helping her clean up a few nights ago, before she left.
“You are not the first. There were many that came before you he didn’t even bat an eye at. But for some strange reason, you were the one to break that cycle. You’re not like the others. You managed to get him to stay, but for you, the biggest challenge is going to be how long you can keep him,” she had told him.
“I admit, I don’t know what he sees in you, but he trusted you enough to stick around. I can’t say that will be long-term. He has gone through a lot, and he just can’t take the pressure of loving anyone knowing he puts a burden on them for loving him.”
Laios ran up to the girls.
“Where is he?” He asked in a hurry.
Hien and Benichidori blinked at him in confusion.
Once Laios was fully dressed, he thanked the girls and darted off to the park. It was a long walk, but it would be a shorter distance if he ran the whole way.
Maizuru’s words kept echoing in his head, striking fear and uncertainty in his heart. Would Toshiro reconsider if he was better off by himself? Did he think he was a burden to Laios? Was he thinking about it right now, at this very moment?
He reached the park in record time, his lungs on fire with every agonizing breath. He found what he was looking for.
Right there, under the cherry blossom trees, Toshiro stood—his hand raised, a butterfly nestling on top of one of his fingers.
The wind blew, the rose leaves swirling around them. Toshiro set the butterfly free, watching it soar into the sunlit skies, his gaze drifting to Laios approaching him.
“Laios…?” He whispered, turning around. “What are you doing here? I thought you’d be asleep.”
Laios stormed up to him, chest puffed out. “Toshiro Nakamoto.”
Toshiro stared up at him, a little taken aback by his enthusiasm. “Eh?”
Laios dropped down to his knees, bowing his head. Gasping at the bold gesture, Toshiro looked around, luckily, they didn’t have an audience. “L-Laios—?!”
“Please accept me as your suitor!” He begged. Not giving Toshiro a chance to speak, he continued. “I know there’s been others. I know I’m not like them. I’ll never be like them, I don’t know if I’ll be good enough, but I want to try to be,” he pursed his lips together, fingers digging into the fabric of his jeans. “For you.”
Another passing breeze filled the silence between them. Toshiro stepped closer. Laios was fully expecting to be turned away. Maybe he said too much, and he was going to make Toshiro run from him again. But he didn’t want Toshiro to have to hide anymore, let his past come in-between his future he had with Laios and his friends, with his family here in Kyoto, a second chance was much kinder to him.
“Idiot…” Toshiro sighed. “When I came to see you that day…” He began, hesitant. “Wasn’t that my answer?”
Laios raised his head in astonishment, meeting Toshiro’s timid gaze.
“Huh?”
“You…” Toshiro scoffed at his denseness, the blush on his cheeks deepening. “I—I c-chose…” He stammered, and Laios couldn’t understand what he was trying to say.
“Choose…?”
“Ah!” Toshiro ruffled his hair, beyond frustrated. “I choose you, you stupid idiot! I want you to be my suitor! I don’t want anyone else! D-Do I have to spell it out for you any further?!”
Laios’ felt his own cheeks turn pink. “T-Toshiro…”
“There…” Toshiro huffed. “I said it.”
Laios was so happy his body was trembling. He leaned forward, embracing Toshiro from his kneeling position, burying his head in Toshiro’s stomach.
“Please,” he pleaded, holding on tight. “Don’t run from me. I’m going to do the best I can. I’ll be the best boyfriend ever, just you wait.”
An exhale left Toshiro’s lips, his hand coming behind Laios’ head, stroking his hair gently, the other on Laios’ shoulder.
“Okay,” Toshiro promised. Laios relaxed, comforted by Toshiro’s words. “I won’t…”
