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Satoru sat in the corner of the room, clutching his favorite toy—a small plush star he called Little Star—tightly to his chest. Its soft fabric comforted him, and he felt a special, almost magical sense of support in this object. Today was one of those days when his mind retreated inward, seeking rest, protection, and care. His regression was something subtle, like the reverse side of the coin of his unyielding exterior. And today, once again, he had become a small child, needing simple joys and the warmth of a loved one.
Suguru, who was sitting on the living room floor, was focused on assembling a puzzle. His hands calmly arranged the colorful pieces, but his thoughts were entirely devoted to Satoru. He had noticed how Satoru had withdrawn slightly, holding Little Star in his hands, and knew that this was a sign. A sign that right now, he needed more than just attention—he needed something more substantial, something that would help him find his balance again in this complicated world.
“`Toru play with Little Star?” Satoru asked quietly, glancing at Suguru with large blue eyes full of sadness and hope. His voice was weak, like the rustling of leaves in the wind, as if he feared the answer might not be what he expected.
Suguru lifted his head from the puzzle and looked at Satoru warmly. He knew that this simple question concealed a whole universe of emotions. “Of course, baby,” he replied, smiling softly and reaching out to Satoru. Suguru understood that playing with toys was a form of therapy for Satoru, a way to regain control over his emotions when the world became too overwhelming. But he also knew that Satoru needed more than just play—he needed love, the sense of safety that he found only with Suguru.
Satoru slowly approached and sat down next to Suguru. His light hair fell messily across his face, creating a soft curtain that separated him from the world. Suguru gently pushed a strand of hair away from the boy’s forehead, watching as Satoru clutched Little Star tightly in his hands. The toy had become his constant companion, especially on days like this when reality seemed unbearable, when all he wanted was to hide from everything and just be himself.
“We’ll play together,” Suguru promised, taking Satoru’s hand in his own. His touch was gentle, like a breeze, and at the same time firm, like a promise he would never break. “But first, let’s sit together for a bit. I can tell you’re a little tired.”
Satoru just nodded silently, feeling a wave of emotions wash over him. He barely held back from crying right then and there, but he began trembling slightly as he tried to contain his feelings. Suguru noticed this. He carefully wrapped his arms around Satoru, pulling him close. His embrace was like a shield, protecting him from all the troubles of the outside world. He knew that in moments like these, Satoru needed more than just comfort—he needed physical contact, warmth, and the reassurance that he was loved without any conditions.
“You’re my baby, and I’ll always be here,” Suguru whispered softly, continuing to stroke Satoru’s back. His words were filled with tenderness, flowing like honey that soothes an irritated soul. “Don’t worry, I’m here, and Little Star is here too.”
Satoru clutched Little Star even tighter, feeling his heart clench with everything he’d been trying to keep inside. His body tensed, and finally, he couldn’t hold back the tears that had been building up all day. They began to stream down his cheeks, slowing time, but at the same time, it felt as though they carried the weight of his entire soul. Suguru hugged him tighter, letting him know that here, in these arms, he could be vulnerable, could let out his emotions without fear of judgment.
“You’re my strongest boy,” Suguru said, wiping the tears from Satoru’s face with his fingertips. His voice was so gentle it resembled the soft rustling of leaves in the trees, calming a weary soul. “But even the strongest can be little sometimes. That’s okay.”
Satoru nodded silently, and his crying grew louder, as if Suguru’s words had opened the floodgates he had so long kept shut. Suddenly, all those feelings he had been trying to bury deep inside spilled out. His trembling intensified, and his voice was filled with despair, like a lament.
“`Toru … `Toru not wanna be strongest… `Toru didnt choose this… please not punish me,” his voice cracked as the words poured out from the depths of his soul. Satoru felt old, forgotten fears and memories awakening in his mind. His childhood, filled with expectations, demands, merciless looks, and words, came crashing down on him again, like a heavy cloud bringing a storm.
Suguru heard these words, and his heart clenched with pain. He knew that beneath Satoru’s exterior of strength and confidence lay deep wounds that had remained since those days when he was still young and defenseless. These wounds were as fresh as they had been the day they were inflicted, and Suguru understood that Satoru was now reliving what had once made him become the person he was. Suguru couldn’t allow these shadows to take over Satoru again, couldn’t let the fears and memories claim his heart.
“No, baby, never,” Suguru responded softly, holding Satoru even closer. His breathing was calm and steady, even as his own heart beat with double the force. “I would never punish you for what you feel. I would never punish you for not choosing this path. You’re not at fault for any of this.”
Satoru, feeling the weight of these words envelop him, tried to calm down, but the memories kept pulling him down, dragging him back to the times when he was just a child. “`Toru … `Toru didnt wanna be like this. They always told me `Toru to be strong, that `Toru couldnt make mistakes, that `Toru couldnt be weak. But `Toru just want to be `Toru …`Toru want to be with you and not be afraid…”
Tears continued to flow from his eyes, unstoppable, and Suguru, feeling his own heart breaking from this pain, continued to gently stroke his head. His voice remained calm and warm, as always. “You don’t have to be the strongest if you don’t want to. You don’t have to be who others want you to be. You can just be yourself—my `Toru , just as you are, with all your emotions, worries, and fears. And I’ll always be here to support you, even if the whole world turns its back on you.”
Satoru curled up in Suguru’s arms, feeling those words seep into his heart, melting the ice that had encased his soul. His crying gradually quieted, but the heaviness remained. He trusted Suguru, knowing that in his embrace, he could find what he had always longed for—unconditional love and acceptance. But the fear of losing all this, the fear of being left alone again, wouldn’t let him fully relax.
“You won’t leave me?” he asked, barely audible, his voice like a faint echo in a deep cave, filled with fear and hope.
Suguru kissed him gently on the top of his head and whispered, “Never. I’ll always be here. You’re the most precious person to me, and I can’t leave you. Not ever.”
Satoru finally began to calm down. He felt Suguru’s warmth penetrating his heart and relaxing every fiber of his being. Clutching Little Star in his hands, he knew that in this world, there was someone who loved him just as he was—without conditions or demands, simply loved.
“`Toru luv you,” Satoru whispered, pressing against Suguru’s chest, as if it were his only refuge in this vast world.
“I love you too, baby,” Suguru replied, feeling his own eyes grow moist. He knew how much those words meant to Satoru and did everything he could to make him feel that love every day. “And I’ll always be by your side, no matter what.”
They sat there for a few more minutes, savoring the silence and the peace that had finally enveloped them. Suguru gently rocked Satoru, like a small child, as he gradually fell asleep on his chest, feeling that he had finally found his place, where he was always awaited, where he was always loved.
And as Satoru slept, Suguru took Little Star into his hands, pressing it to his heart along with Satoru. He knew that no nightmares from the past could destroy what they had built together—a world where there was only love and acceptance, where there was no fear of judgment and where one could simply be themselves.