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The moon illuminated S’s abandoned track with a pale light, reflecting off Carla, Cherry’s shiny skateboard, as he prepared for his descent, far from the crowd. Joe watched him from a safe distance, arms crossed and his heart pounding harder than he cared to admit.
Kaoru hadn’t been talking much lately—not like usual. And when he did, his voice carried that strange quality, a mix of melancholy and determination. Joe knew exactly what was happening: Adam.
Every time that name was mentioned, Cherry tensed up—not with anger, but something more complicated. And for Joe, it was unbearable. That night, Adam had returned to the track, leaving behind his usual trail of chaos and arrogance, and Cherry, despite everything, still seemed to be hoping.
Joe gritted his teeth and walked up to Cherry. “Kaoru, are you sure it’s a good idea to keep chasing him?”
Cherry didn’t turn around, continuing to stare down the track with an unreadable expression. “It’s not about chasing him. It’s about confronting him. Someone has to.”
“Confronting him?” Joe scoffed, stepping closer. “You’re not blind, Kaoru. You know what he’s become. Adam isn’t—”
“He’s not what he used to be,” Cherry interrupted, his tone sharp. “I know.”
The silence that followed was heavy. Joe ran a hand through his hair, trying to find the right words, but he’d never been good at speeches. For him, communication had always been physical—a friendly punch on the shoulder, a hug, a laugh. But with Kaoru… with Kaoru, it was different.
“Then why do it?” he finally asked, more softly.
Cherry finally turned to look at him. His eyes gleamed under the moonlight, full of something Joe couldn’t decipher. “Because part of me still thinks there’s something good in him. And if there’s even a chance, just one chance, that he can come back…”
Joe felt a knot tighten in his stomach. “Come back to what? To hurt you again?”
Cherry stared at him, surprised by the harshness in his usually calm tone. Joe didn’t look away, not this time. “Kaoru, he’s not the person you think you know anymore. Every time you confront him, you’re risking more than you’re willing to admit.”
“You don’t understand,” Cherry whispered, his voice breaking.
“No, you don’t understand!” Joe exploded, stepping closer. “Adam is dangerous. Not just in how he skates, but in how he makes you feel. He keeps you tied to something that doesn’t exist anymore, and I… I don’t want to see you get hurt, dammit.”
Cherry stiffened but didn’t respond immediately. There was something in Joe’s tone that struck him—a sincerity that went beyond the usual jokes or sharp remarks.
“Kojiro…” he began, but stopped, uncertain.
“Let him go” Joe continued, more quietly now, his voice almost trembling. “He doesn’t deserve your attention, Cherry. He doesn’t deserve you.”
Cherry looked down, confused. He wasn’t used to feeling vulnerable, least of all in front of Kojiro. And yet, that night, something inside him cracked.
“Then what should I do?” he finally asked, his voice barely a whisper. “If I don’t confront Adam, if I don’t try to understand… what’s left for me?”
Kojiro looked at him intently, his heart pounding wildly. He didn’t want to mess this up—not now. He stepped closer, narrowing the space between them.
“There are other things to think about,” he said, softer, closer. “Other people. Other things that… that matter more than the past.”
Cherry looked up, meeting Joe’s gaze. For a moment, the world seemed to stop. The track, the moon, the wind whistling through the trees—they all faded away, leaving only the two of them.
Joe took a deep breath, his hands trembling slightly as he clenched them into fists to keep them steady. “I don’t want you to get hurt, Kaoru. Not because of Adam. Not because of anyone.”
Cherry stood still, his gaze softening slightly. He didn’t say anything, but the silence that followed was more eloquent than any words.
Joe knew it wasn’t enough. Not yet. But that night, with Kaoru beside him, he felt that maybe—just maybe—he could be the reason his friend finally stopped looking back.
And for now, that was enough.
—🍵🌸—
The lights of S’s track were blinding, casting distorted shadows across Cherry’s serious face.
Joe watched him from the edge of the crowd, his heart gripped by a tightness he couldn’t ignore. Everything was ready for the race: Adam versus Cherry.
Cherry moved calmly, his skateboard held firmly in his hand, his expression serene but determined. Too determined, Joe thought. As if he were trying to prove something to everyone—or maybe just to himself.
Joe pushed through the crowd, shoving aside a couple of overly loud spectators. When he reached Cherry, he grabbed him by the arm, forcing him to turn around.
“Kaoru, this is a terrible idea,” he said in a low voice, trying to stay calm.
Cherry raised an eyebrow, staring at him. “You don’t have to stay here, Kojiro. If you don’t like it, you can leave.”
Joe tightened his grip on his arm, ignoring the sarcasm. “Cut it out. I’m not joking. Adam isn’t like us—you know that. He’s dangerous.”
Kaoru shook him off with a firm motion, his eyes flashing behind his lenses. “I don’t need you to tell me who Adam is. I know him better than you do.”
“Then why are you doing this?” Joe exploded, unable to hold back. “Don’t you understand that he’s using you? He just wants to hurt you, Kaoru! All he cares about is competing with Snow. There’s nothing left in him to save.”
Cherry stayed silent for a moment, his face twisted in an expression Joe couldn’t decipher. Then he shook his head, stepping back.
“It’s not just about him,” he finally said, his voice softer. “It’s about me. To prove that I can face him, that he doesn’t keep me tied to the past anymore.”
Joe stared at him, his breathing heavy. That wasn’t what he wanted to hear. “You don’t need to prove anything to him,” he said, but Cherry gave him a sad, almost compassionate smile. “Kojiro, don’t worry. I know what I’m doing.”
And with those words, Cherry walked away, leaving Joe with a crushing sense of helplessness. He wanted to punch him, shake him, do anything to snap him out of the trance he was in.
The race was a nightmare.
Joe watched, powerless, as Adam unleashed his usual theatrical and ruthless style, attacking Cherry with an aggressiveness that had nothing to do with skateboarding. Every move seemed calculated to humiliate him, to break him.
“Kaoru…” Joe whispered under his breath, his heart pounding as he clenched his fists so tightly he felt his nails digging into his palms.
The crowd cheered, shouted, and applauded, oblivious to the line between sport and cruelty. But Joe saw the difference. He saw Kaoru fall, get back up, and fall again. He saw blood staining the track’s surface when Adam approached to deliver the final blow.
“Stop!” Joe shouted, his voice drowned out by the roar of the crowd. But he was too far away, and no one paid him any attention.
When the race ended, Cherry was lying on the ground, motionless. Adam walked away with a satisfied smile, waving to the crowd like an actor at the end of a performance. Joe didn’t think twice. He vaulted over the barrier and ran to him, his heart pounding in his chest. Miya, Langa, and Shadow followed in the car, but he didn’t even notice them.
“Kaoru!” he knelt beside him, his hands trembling as he tried to assess the damage. Cherry’s face was marked with scratches and bruises, a gash above his eyebrow bleeding profusely.
“Kojiro…” Cherry lifted his head slightly, his voice weak.
“Don’t talk,” Joe interrupted, trying to mask the anger and panic in his voice. “I’m getting you out of here.” He picked him up effortlessly, carrying him toward Shadow’s car, ignoring the stares from the crowd and Adam’s smug smile. As he passed him, he stopped for a moment, his eyes blazing with fury.
“You son of a bitch. If you hurt him again, I swear you’ll regret ever stepping on a skateboard,” he growled, his voice low and full of menace.
Adam laughed, as though Joe’s words were nothing more than entertainment. “Always so protective, Kojiro. Perhaps that’s your real problem.”
Joe was about to respond when Shadow intervened. “Come on! This isn’t the time to argue—we need to get Cherry to the hospital now!”
—🍵🌸—
At the hospital, the silence was unbearable. Cherry lay on a bed, his face pale but relaxed, while Joe leaned against the wall beside him, arms crossed and his mind racing.
“Stubborn idiot,” he muttered under his breath, not expecting an answer. But Kaoru opened his eyes, his gaze slightly unfocused. “You’re still here?”
“Where else would I be?” Joe replied, trying to mask his relief with a gruff tone.
Cherry stared at him for a moment, then sighed. “You were right.”
Joe stiffened. “It doesn’t matter who was right. What matters is that you’re alive. And that you won’t do something like this again.”
Kaoru gave a faint but genuine smile. “I can’t promise that.”
Joe stepped closer, taking his hand with a gentleness that wasn’t typical of him. “Kaoru, you have to stop. Not for Adam, but for yourself. Because it’s not worth risking your life for someone who doesn’t deserve you. And you’re not boring… you have a unique way of skating.”
Cherry looked at him, his eyes softening just a little. He didn’t reply, but Joe felt that something between them had shifted.
And for now, that small step was enough.
—🍵🌸—
Joe’s restaurant was unusually quiet. The lights were dim, the tables perfectly set but empty, and the scent of spices and grilled meat mingled with the faint clinking of dishes as Joe placed two steaming plates on the counter.
Kaoru, who had been out of the hospital for a few days, sat in a wheelchair, eyeing the plate in front of him with an almost amused expression. “You’re really trying hard tonight,” he remarked, raising an eyebrow.
Joe shot him a glance, drying his hands with a towel. “Not my fault you’ve been eating like a bird lately. Someone’s got to make sure your delicate princess skin doesn’t disappear.”
Cherry grimaced, but the hint of a smile betrayed him. “You’re a brainless gorilla, but I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Joe grinned and sat down beside him, bringing a glass of wine and wearing an expression that was tired but relaxed. Ever since Kaoru had been discharged from the hospital, Joe had done everything he could to keep him away from the skatepark and the thought of facing Adam again. It hadn’t been easy, but for that night, the truce seemed to hold.
“Eat,” Joe said, gesturing to the plate.
Kaoru picked up the chopsticks, took a bite, and sighed. “I’ll admit, it’s good.”
“I know,” Joe smirked.
For a while, the silence between them was broken only by the sound of cutlery and the creak of the wooden floor under the weight of the wind outside. It was a comfortable silence, but also one heavy with unspoken words.
“You didn’t have to worry so much,” Kaoru said suddenly, without looking at him.
Joe stared at him for a moment, setting his glass down. “And you didn’t have to face Adam. But here we are.”
Cherry sighed, putting his chopsticks down. “I knew what I was risking.”
“But you didn’t care,” Joe shot back, his voice harsher than he intended. Cherry looked at him, surprised by his tone. “Joe…”
“Why do you always do this, Kaoru?” Joe interrupted, tilting his head. “Why do you keep putting yourself in danger for someone who doesn’t deserve it? First Adam, now that stupid track…”
Cherry stayed silent, his hands fidgeting with the chopsticks. “It’s not about him. It’s about me,” he finally said. “Maybe I just wanted to prove that… that I could handle it. That he doesn’t control me anymore.”
“But he does,” Joe replied softly. “He controls you every time you think about who he used to be. About who you thought he used to be. And every time, it hurts you.”
Cherry lowered his gaze. “It’s not that simple to forget someone you loved,” he murmured.
Joe felt a pang in his chest. He knew that Adam and Cherry had shared a deep connection in the past, but hearing it put into words hit him harder than he wanted to admit.
“And do you think he ever loved you?” Joe asked, his voice rough as he spoke so openly about this for the first time.
Kaoru looked up, his eyes meeting Joe’s. He didn’t answer right away, but the silence was telling enough.
Joe leaned forward, resting an elbow on the counter. “Cherry, Adam doesn’t deserve the space he’s taking up in your mind. He doesn’t even deserve to be a memory—not after what he’s done to you.”
Cherry stayed quiet for a moment, then gave a faint smile. “You talk like you’ve got all the answers.”
Joe shook his head, a tight smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I don’t have all the answers. But I know one thing.”
Cherry looked at him, curious. “What’s that?”
Joe leaned forward again, his eyes softer now but also more intense. “That you deserve better. You deserve someone who cares about you. Someone who watches out for you, not to control you, but because they genuinely care. Someone who would never let you fall. Someone who thinks you’re amazing, not boring.”
Kaoru froze, his eyes searching Joe’s face for something. “And you think you know who that someone might be?”
Joe smiled, but there was a vulnerability in his eyes that hadn’t been there before. “I think I do.”
The silence between them was almost deafening, charged with emotions neither of them had ever dared to face. Then, with a calm that belied the intensity of the moment, Joe added, “Kaoru, I… I can’t stand to see you hurt again. Not just because of Adam, but because of anything. Because I care too much.”
Cherry’s breath hitched slightly as he stared at him, his breathing a bit faster. “Kojiro…”
Joe stood up, taking a step back, almost as if afraid he’d been too direct. “I don’t want to scare you,” he continued, his voice lower. “I just want you to know that I’m here. Always. And I’m not going anywhere.”
Kaoru didn’t respond immediately, but the way he looked at Joe was different now. Softer, more open. It was a subtle shift, almost imperceptible, but for Joe, it meant everything.
“You never could keep quiet, huh?” Cherry remarked, but there was a smile in his tone.
Joe laughed, scratching the back of his head. “What can I say? It’s my style.”
Kaoru shook his head, turning back to his plate, but there was a faint blush on his cheeks that Joe didn’t miss.
—🍵🌸—
“Really, I can’t believe we survived all that madness,” said Cherry, laughing softly as he set his wine glass on the counter. The dinner had carried on pleasantly, filled with memories of the good old days. His face was calm, but there was something in his eyes that betrayed the depth of the moment. “And yet, here we are.”
Joe smiled, his face relaxing into an ironic smirk. “It’s been quite the ride, huh? Back when we were running from everyone, trying to act cool with our boards like we were invincible.”
“Not just that,” Kaoru replied with a nostalgic smile. “There were those late-night races at S… the thrill of racing with no time to breathe. And Adam, always hounding us.”
“Yeah,” Joe said, his tone turning graver as the smile faded. “Adam… he was always complicated. Made it all feel like a game to him. But I remember that day he really pushed us. The day he pushed you beyond every limit, Kaoru.”
Cherry lowered his gaze for a moment, as if those words stirred memories he preferred to keep buried. “I remember. That race at S, when we thought we could beat him, but he was always one step ahead. And that damned smile of his every time he made us fall.”
Joe leaned against the counter, his face etched with nostalgia. “I remember when you launched yourself off that ramp, without even thinking twice, and I was yelling at you to stop. But… you did it. You did it for yourself.”
Cherry didn’t reply immediately, as if he were processing the weight of those words. “I always thought I had to prove something. To myself, to others, to him. But it was never about Adam, was it?”
“No,” Joe said, shaking his head. “It never was. It’s always been about us. About our bond. About the fact that we were more than just rivals, more than just friends. We survived that place… together. Adam isolated himself—he doesn’t have that strength.”
Cherry looked at him, a bitter smile touching his lips. “And yet, every time I look back, all I see is Adam. His face. His words.”
Joe stood up from his seat, walking slowly toward Cherry. “It’s not him you should remember, Kaoru. It’s not him. It’s what we went through together. And even if Adam was part of it all, you don’t need him. You need to look forward.”
Kaoru didn’t respond, but his gaze locked with Joe’s. For a moment, it felt like there was nothing else but that instant, that suspended breath between them. Joe took another step closer. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, a sensation he hadn’t felt all this time. It wasn’t the adrenaline of racing or the anger toward Adam. It was something deeper, something he’d tried to ignore.
“Kojiro…” Kaoru murmured his name, but there was something in his tone that stopped him.
Joe looked into his eyes, a flicker of uncertainty flashing before he suppressed it. “I can’t stay silent anymore, Kaoru. I can’t ignore it. Not after everything we’ve been through together.”
Kaoru’s breathing grew heavier, but he didn’t pull away. “Kojiro, we’re not the boys who raced at S anymore. We’ve changed too many things, too quickly.”
Joe knelt in front of him, taking his hand gently. “I know. But I can’t hide what I feel. I can’t pretend there’s nothing here, Kaoru. Between us.”
Cherry stared at him for a long time, as if trying to read every unspoken word, every subtle movement. “Kojiro…”
Slowly, Joe moved closer. Their breaths mingled, and Cherry’s hands trembled slightly beneath his. There was no room left for doubts, for fears. This was the moment. Joe leaned in slowly, his eyes never leaving Cherry’s. Then, without a word, he kissed him.
It was a sweet, slow kiss, yet it carried the weight of everything they had lived through together. Every memory, every heartbeat, every laugh, and every late-night race was folded into that moment, as if time itself had stopped. There was no space for the painful past with Adam, no fear of what lay ahead. There was only the two of them, finally free to be what they wanted to be.
When they pulled apart, their faces remained close, Cherry’s breath warm against Joe’s skin. Cherry closed his eyes for a moment, then smiled but said nothing.
Joe, his voice low, simply said, “Finally.”
Kaoru looked at him, his face calm but with a new light in his eyes. The tension that had kept them apart for so long seemed to dissolve, giving way to something new, something stronger. And for the first time, Joe felt that everything would be all right, because now they had each other.
Cherry's hands clung to the collar of Joe's jacket, pulling him closer as if he never wanted to let go. Joe responded with equal fervor, feeling Cherry's warm skin beneath his fingers, his presence anchoring him to a place where everything else seemed to fade away.
Kojiro's lips moved softly against Kaoru's, but it was a tenderness charged with a desire that grew with each passing second, an intensity that deepened with every shared breath. Each moment they shared seemed to gather the unspoken words, frustrations, and fears they had carried over the years. And in that moment, all they felt was each other.
At first hesitant, Cherry gradually surrendered. His hands rose to touch Joe's face, his fingers gliding gently over his skin, as though he were trying to memorize every detail, every trace of a connection that had always felt missing in his life.
For the first time, he felt whole, as if his entire life had led him to this exact moment, this precise instant.
Joe, feeling the warmth of Cherry's hands on his face, moved even closer, as though he wanted to merge with him completely. His heart was racing, but he felt no fear-only a powerful, overwhelming emotion that drove him to hold onto Kaoru like he was the most precious thing in the world.
The kiss grew more intense. Their tongues brushed timidly, as if they were seeking a fresh start, a new way of being close. And the longer they kissed, the more they were enveloped in a sense of mutual understanding, of profound connection. There was no more fear of expressing their feelings, no more need to hide anything.
Cherry pulled back for a moment, his eyes still closed, his breath heavy. He looked at Joe with a mixture of surprise and something more intimate, as if this were the first time he truly saw his friend for who he was-not just a racing partner, not just a friend, but someone he had always desired, someone he now knew he could never lose. "Kojiro..." he whispered, his voice breaking with emotion he couldn't contain. His hand slid slowly to Joe's neck, resting there as if he needed the contact to remain grounded.
Joe, his eyes shining with a light Kaoru had never seen before, responded with the same honesty, the same vulnerability. "I love you, Kaoru. And I don't want to hide it anymore. »
After all, Joe had confessed it to Langa once: once you step into the skating world, you end up doing everything there-friendships, fights, love.
Cherry didn't respond immediately.
Instead, he leaned forward again, silently, and kissed him once more. This time, with a passion that left no room for doubt. Their bodies drew closer, seeking each other as if this moment were the culmination of everything they had overcome. Joe, using just one arm, lifted Cherry effortlessly-those muscles Cherry always loved to mock finally proving useful.
When they parted, both were breathless, their eyes saying more than any words could. Cherry rested his forehead against Joe's, his warm breath brushing his skin. .." he began, but stopped, as though no words were needed. There was no need to say anything. The bond they had forged in that moment spoke for itself.
Joe smiled softly, his hand resting on Kaoru's hip. "You don't have to say it. I know. I know.''
And in the silence that followed, they both understood that nothing could ever separate them now, that nothing could erase this moment. The shadows of the past, the ghosts of Adam and the battles they had fought, now seemed distant.
There was only the present, only the two of them.
Kaoru leaned in again, his body seeking Joe's warmth. There was no need to hide behind unspoken words anymore, no fear of what might happen. Only a silent promise remained-a promise to be together, to face everything as one.
"I want to be with you’’, Cherry said, his voice steady but filled with emotion Joe had never seen in him before.
Joe looked into his eyes, a smile breaking across his face, a smile finally full of hope.
"And I want to be with you.’’
—🍵🌸—
The air was calm, almost suspended. Joe had turned off the lights and taken off his chef’s jacket, letting himself be carried away by the silence that filled the empty restaurant.
Cherry had leaned against the counter, waiting for him, his eyes still glistening with emotion and his breath calm, but the tension that had accompanied him for so long seemed to have finally vanished. There was no more fear, no more weight of the past. There was only Joe, and for the first time in a long time, Cherry felt safe.
Joe looked at him, smiling gently as he approached. There was no need for words anymore, but he felt it was important to take the next step, without fear. What they had begun with a kiss now needed a sweet, tender conclusion, like a dream finally coming true.
“Would you like to come with me?” Joe asked in a low voice, full of a calmness he never expected to feel. There was nothing forced in the offer, only the sincerity of a desire that had finally been fulfilled. “Would you stay with me, Kaoru?”
Kaoru looked at him, his eyes searching for his, trying to understand if this was truly what he wanted. But deep down, he already knew. The answer was clear, there were no more doubts, only a certainty with deep roots. Slowly, he stood up, not in a hurry, and with a light smile, motioned for Joe to follow him.
“I want to, Joe, yes,” he said, his voice trembling slightly, but not from fear. From the beauty of the moment. “Where are we going?”
Joe took his hand, and together they headed toward the back door of the restaurant, the one leading to the apartment above. There was nothing anymore separating them, no more worries, only the serenity of being able to be themselves. In silence, they climbed the stairs, side by side, not saying another word, but knowing that nothing would ever be the same.
When they entered Joe’s apartment, the place seemed different, cozier, warmer. Joe turned on a soft lamp, his face illuminated by the gentle light that danced on the walls. “I’m glad you’re here,” he said, stepping toward the couch. “I hope you feel at home.”
He helped Cherry sit next to him, feeling a calm he had never known before. For the first time in a long while, there was no sense of rushing, no feeling of needing to face something. There was only Kojiro, and Cherry would never tire of looking at him.
Time seemed to slow down as the two settled on the couch, one close to the other. Cherry slowly rested against Joe, letting his head fall on his shoulder, a simple gesture, but one that meant so much. His hand found Joe’s, and though their bodies were still a little apart, they seemed to be in perfect harmony.
Joe held his hand gently, their fingers intertwining as if to make sure nothing would ever separate them again. “I don’t want you to suffer anymore, Kaoru,” he whispered, his words low, intimate. “You’re here with me now. And I’ll protect you.” He gently caressed the back of Cherry’s hand.
Cherry closed his eyes, his head sinking deeper into Joe’s shoulder. “I never asked to be protected. But feeling this way… safe… with you…” He paused, his voice trembling slightly, but it was a tremor of happiness, of relief. “I like it.” He had never felt this way before.
A smile spread across Joe’s face. “I like it too.” He placed a kiss between Cherry’s hair, letting the other stretch out on top of him, resting his head on his muscular chest, wrapping his arms around his waist to hold him closer.
And so, in that moment, they fell asleep together, in each other’s arms, no need for words, no more fear. The night enveloped them with its silence, but their hearts were no longer lonely. They were united, in that little corner of the world, a place where there had never been room for solitude.
The warmth of their bodies together created a sense of peace they had never imagined. Their adventure, the one they had begun so long ago, had evolved, but in that moment, it had reached a sweet, serene conclusion. They didn’t need any more words. They were simply there, together.
—🍵🌸—
The soft morning light slowly filtered through the window, dancing through the linen curtains swaying in the rhythm of a light breeze. Joe woke up slowly, feeling a warm presence beside him. The first thing he noticed was Cherry's calm, deep breath, brushing against his skin. Joe's heart was beating more slowly, but with a serenity he had never known before.
When he opened his eyes, the sight that greeted him was that of Cherry asleep beside him, his face relaxed, lips barely curling into a silent smile, his slightly tousled hair making him look truly adorable. The sun illuminated his pink hair and made them even more ethereal.
The room was immersed in a silence that almost felt sacred, and Joe felt as though he had finally found the place where he belonged. The past, with all its uncertainties and struggles, seemed distant, like a shadow dissolving in the light of the new day. Cherry stretched slightly, a small movement that made Joe smile. Then, with a spontaneous gesture, Cherry moved closer to him, his head resting on Joe's chest.
Joe could feel the warmth of his body, Kaoru's heartbeat syncing with his own. There was no need for words to describe that feeling: it was a connection that went beyond everything, something Joe never thought was possible. There was no longer the loneliness he had felt for years, only the reassuring presence of the other. "Good morning, princess. Do you feel better?" Joe asked, his voice gentle and concerned as his hands brushed through Kaoru's hair, making fun of him without malice.
Kaoru slowly lifted his head, his eyes shining with a light Joe had never seen before. "Good morning, idiot gorilla," he replied teasingly. "Yeah, much better," he added, his voice warm and serene. His tone became more serious "I think this is the first time l've really felt at home..’’
Joe smiled, his heart tightening slightly, but in a way that didn't bother him. "I'm glad to hear that. I promise you won't have to worry about being alone anymore.’’
"But how did I end up here? In bed? I remember we were on your couch," Cherry asked, confused.
Joe's cheeks turned slightly pink as he admitted, "I brought you here. You needed to rest properly. Sleeping on the couch would have just made your injuries worse.’’
Cherry blushed at the thought, moving closer, his hands reaching for Joe's, intertwining delicately. The contact was light, but full of meaning. Their eyes met, and in that silent exchange, they understood everything they needed to say.
The distance between them had long since vanished. They were finally free to be themselves, with no more secrets, no more fears.
Cherry leaned forward, his lips brushing against Joe's with a tenderness that spoke of respect and desire. There was no rush, only the desire to explore this new bond, to discover what it meant to be together in a way that went beyond friendship. Each kiss they shared seemed like an act of care, of understanding, as if each gesture was a promise of mutual protection.
Joe, feeling the warmth of Cherry's lips, let himself go, the tension he had built up over the years beginning to dissolve. He wrapped both arms around Kaoru's waist, holding him close. The feeling of having Kaoru beside him, of feeling him so near, brought a peace he had never known before. Their connection was not just physical, but emotional as well. Joe never thought he would find himself in such a perfect situation, so simple, yet so intense.
Cherry, with a smile lighting up his face, moved closer again, his fingers caressing Joe's face. "I don't want this moment to end" he whispered, as if afraid that speaking would break the magic surrounding them.
Joe looked at him with a tenderness he had never shown before. "Neither do I," he replied, his voice barely perceptible.
And then, without saying anything more, he kissed him again, this time with a passion that spoke of everything they had been through together, and of everything they had finally found in each other, united by the understanding that, in that moment, nothing could ever separate them. Every gesture, every touch, seemed to say "stay" without the need for words.
Kaoru fell asleep again, his face resting on Joe's bare chest, his breath steady. Joe, his head resting on the pillow, ran his fingers gently over Cherry's shoulder, caressing him, while he looked at the ceiling with a soft smile on his lips. He felt complete, as though he had finally found the place where he belonged, in the arms of someone who understood him, who accepted him as he was.
No ghosts from the past, no regrets. Only today, only the two of them.
Just like the sun lights up a cherry blossom.