Archive of Our Own

Yuuta hadn’t meant for it to happen. Truly, he hadn’t.

He respected Toge’s privacy—what little there was between them, anyway. Or at least, he liked to think there wasn’t much. They had been close ever since freshman year, when they were assigned as roommates, and that bond had only deepened over time.

After his breakup with Rika—his childhood friend, his first love—he had thought he’d never move on. That he’d never be able to love someone the same way. But then, without even realizing it, he stopped remembering the color of her eyes and the number of moles on her face.

Instead, all he could think about were lavender eyes and the way they curved into crescents when Toge laughed, how they glowed in the sunlight. The way his lips curled into a dimpled smile, soft and delicate. Porcelain-like hands with long, slender fingers. The gentle way he said his name.

For the past two years, they had chosen to live together, minus the previous semester Yuuta had spent studying abroad in Africa. But when he returned, things fell right back into place. Moving into an off-campus apartment together had felt like the natural next step, an unspoken agreement that this— they —was something neither of them wanted to let go of.

And Yuuta didn’t want that to change anytime soon.

Maybe, if things worked out, they could keep living together after college. Find a house. One where Toge could have his own garden, filled with all the herbs and flowers he loved. Yuuta would build him a greenhouse for the colder seasons, so he could keep growing things all year round.

The house would need a big kitchen, too—something with a large island, so Toge would have plenty of space to work, but Yuuta could still sit nearby and watch him cook. Maybe they could even adopt a cat. Or a dog. Or both.

And honestly, Yuuta wouldn’t even mind sharing his closet. He already hoarded too many clothes, and Toge was always stealing them anyway, so what was the difference?

Of course, buying a house wasn’t exactly cheap, especially not in this economy. Maybe they’d only be able to afford a one-bedroom. Not that Yuuta minded. A two-bedroom would work too—Toge could use the extra room as an office.

Yeah. He could see their future together. And by then, maybe—just maybe—he’d finally have the courage to confess. 

Yuuta was in love with Toge. He knew it now. Had known it for a while. And yet, for some reason, he was still waiting—hesitating, caught in the space between knowing and acting.  

But for now, they shared everything—space, clothes, food, late night thoughts.

They had been curled up on the couch, watching the latest episode of some trashy reality dating show they made a habit of hate-watching every Tuesday. Toge had left for a quick bathroom break, and Yuuta sat impatiently, waiting for him to return. The couch felt colder without him. He was staring at his reflection on the screen—until something vibrated beside him.

Absentmindedly, he reached for what he thought was his own phone, only to be met with Toge’s lock screen—a photo of the pandas they had seen at the zoo months ago.

But it wasn’t the picture that caught his attention.

It was the notification.

He couldn’t read the message itself, but the contact name made his stomach twist.

"Daddy."

Yuuta’s fingers tightened around the device before he forced himself to loosen his grip.

Toge hadn’t told him he was back in contact with his father. As far as Yuuta knew, they hadn’t spoken in years. They hated each other. And now, suddenly, they were talking again?

Why hadn’t Toge told him?

The sound of approaching footsteps made Yuuta snap out of it. He set the phone down, turning his attention back to the TV just as Toge hopped onto the couch, settling beside him like nothing had happened. Without hesitation, he curled up against Yuuta’s side, arms wrapped around his as he rested his head on his shoulder.

‘You waited for me,’ Toge signed, glancing up at him.

“Yeah. You were pretty quick. Sure you washed your hands?”

Toge pulled back just enough to cup Yuuta’s face, making his cheeks warm—not that it was anything unusual. Physical contact had never been off-limits between them. But the action felt so intimate, he wished Toge would always touch him this way.

“No,” Toge said, before grinning and slipping his fingers into Yuuta’s hair, scratching lightly at his scalp.

Yuuta barely bit back a sigh of satisfaction. Toge knew exactly how much he liked that.

“Gross,” Yuuta said, scrunching his nose in mock disgust, though the smile tugging at his lips betrayed him. Toge snorted. They both knew he wasn’t serious.

“Quit bullying me and put the show back on,” Toge said before settling against him again, eyes trained on the screen.

Yuuta was about to press play when he remembered. “Oh yeah, you got a notification earlier.”

Toge didn’t even glance at his phone. He just waved him off, arms still loosely draped around Yuuta as if he had no intention of moving anytime soon.

Yuuta hesitated. Maybe Toge and his father really were talking again. Or maybe the man was just resurfacing out of nowhere, trying to force his way back into Toge’s life. Maybe Toge would tell him about it later.

Because as far as Yuuta knew, the man had been blocked.

Which meant this wasn’t the first time they’d spoken. I mean it was to the point where he was calling him ‘daddy’ not father or sperm donor.

The thought gnawed at him.

“Yuuta,” Toge suddenly said out loud, startling him from his thoughts. He nudged his head toward the TV.

“Oh—right.” Yuuta quickly pressed play.

Toge laughed, and the sound was enough to chase away the uneasy feeling—at least for now.

—---------

Yuuta started noticing it little by little over the following weeks—small changes that, on their own, didn’t seem like much. Toge began buying the organic versions of everything at the supermarket, reaching for imported fruits without a second thought. He swapped out his usual snacks for pricier alternatives, the kind Yuuta usually avoided because they weren’t worth the extra cost.

Then there was the jewelry.

At first, Yuuta didn’t think much of it. He’d complimented Toge a few times—simple things, like that ring looks nice or that bracelet suits you —but it wasn’t until their usual study session with their friends that something clicked.

Not that Toge ever actually studied —he mostly distracted the rest of them, and Nobara, of course, encouraged it.

“Oh my god, Van Cleef ?!” Nobara gasped, reaching for Toge’s wrist before he could pull away. She twisted it, admiring the gold bracelet, delicate clovers linked together in an intricate design. “And five motifs ?! Toge, that’s like half a year’s rent on your wrist!”

Yuuta’s head snapped up, shamelessly staring now. Toge, meanwhile, was trying to sink into his chair, very clearly avoiding everyone’s gaze.

Nobara squinted at him, then leaned in, lowering her voice—or at least, attempting to. “Who gave it to you?” she whispered, though it was still loud enough for Yuuta to catch.

Toge waved her off, his face turning pink, but that only made her grin widen.

“Oh,” she said, dragging out the word, emphasizing the him with a glint of realization in her eyes. “So it was him.”

Toge shot her a look—part exasperation, part please drop it —but she was already pulling out her phone. “Ask him to get me one too,” she whisper-shouted. “Actually, let’s look online and make a list of things he should get you.”

She reached for his laptop, and Yuuta forced his gaze back to his own screen, his code blurring as he tried—and failed—to tune them out.

Instead, his thoughts spiraled.

Who was him ?

Who was buying Toge expensive jewelry?

Yuuta couldn’t help but feel an ugly twinge of jealousy.

Yuuta lowered his screen brightness, casually typing Van Cleef bracelet into his search bar. The numbers made his stomach drop. Jesus . Toge really did have half a year’s rent wrapped around his wrist—maybe more.

His mind raced back through the past few weeks.

The way Toge always turned his phone screen down when he got a notification. How he shielded it sometimes, just slightly, like he didn’t want anyone to see. But when he let his guard down, Yuuta had caught it.

The same name. Over and over again.

Daddy .

Yuuta’s stomach twisted. The jealousy he’d felt earlier didn’t dissipate—it only changed into something else. Relief, maybe, that it wasn’t one of their classmates trying to date Toge. But underneath that, something sharper. Something that hurt .

Why hadn’t Toge told him?

Yuuta had thought they shared everything—every part of their lives, no matter how small. But now he realized there were things Toge wouldn’t share, things he kept hidden even from Yuuta.

Toge hadn’t mentioned reconnecting with his father. Not once.

Yuuta never pushed when it came to family—Toge would tell him when he was ready. But... what if his father was trying to buy him back? Trying to smooth over years of distance with expensive gifts?

Yuuta exhaled, staring at his screen without really seeing it.

Toge had grown up with wealth. Pretty things weren’t new to him. But that didn’t mean they came without a cost.

So Yuuta tried to let it go.

That was until one particular afternoon when he got home early. 

He had a rare window of free time and a plan—to make dinner for once. Usually, it was Toge who cooked, always making enough for two and sharing out of the kindness of his heart. But Toge had a late-night study session for a group project, so tonight, Yuuta would take care of dinner.

On his way inside, Yuuta stopped by the mailroom, gathering their letters and a small package before heading up to their apartment. As soon as he stepped inside, he set everything down and got to work on dinner—katsu curry, extra spicy, just the way Toge liked it. The scent of sizzling cutlets and rich curry filled the kitchen, a comforting routine that settled something warm in his chest.

Once the curry was mostly done, he wandered back to the table, absently sifting through the stack of mail he had set down earlier. Bills, flyers, some random coupons. His fingers moved on autopilot, barely paying attention—until he reached the package on top.

His chest lightened. Finally. Maybe it was the blackout curtains he’d ordered.

Humming to himself, he tore open the box, expecting dull plastic packaging. Instead, soft tissue paper crinkled under his fingers.

The presentation was… nice. Suspiciously nice.

He peeled back the layers, his fingers brushing against something smooth—delicate fabric, intricate patterns. He pulled it out, holding it up to the light. Black. Lace. And—

He dropped it as if it burned him, his entire face going up in flames.

No. No way. That definitely wasn’t what he ordered.

Against his better judgment, his hands moved on their own, pushing aside more paper, his horror mounting with each discovery. Sheer mesh. Straps. A garter belt. Every piece impossibly delicate, undoubtedly expensive.

Oh god.

They sent him lingerie. And it wasn't even his size.

His first instinct was outrage. He was going to leave a terrible review. The company would hear from him. Or—wait. Maybe it wasn’t his. Maybe it was a mix-up, meant for a neighbor.

He fumbled for the shipping label, eyes scanning for a name. The moment he found it, his stomach dropped.

For: Toge
From: Daddy

What the fuck.

Yuuta’s mind blanked, then immediately filled with the worst possible conclusion. Toge’s dad? His father sent him—

No. No way. That was—it was illegal, right? It had to be.

Panic flared in his chest, his grip tightening around the box. If Toge’s creep of a father was sending him things like this, Yuuta had to know what else was inside.

He dug deeper.

More lingerie, in different colors, each piece just as intricate, just as ridiculously expensive, and would leave absolutely nothing to the imagination. And at the very bottom, tucked beneath layers of delicate tissue—

A small, delicate glass object, intricate and carefully crafted. It looked pretty. But since when had Toge gotten into glass art, especially such contemporary pieces? It had a pretty pink moon at the base and smooth ripples from the base to the tip. The glass object was long too, but what could he possibly use that for? 

He continued staring, turning over the odd phallic shaped object—

His brain short-circuited.

Shock and mortification crashed over him, his fingers fumbling as the thing slipped from his grasp. A sharp shatter split the silence.

“Shit, shit, shit,” he muttered, scrambling for a broom, his heart hammering in his chest. He cleaned up quickly, shoving the broken shards into a trash bag, his hands shaking.

Crisis averted. Except—it wasn’t.

Because now he had a much bigger problem.

Toge was going to notice the box was half empty.

Yuuta groaned, running a hand down his face. This was bad. This was really, really bad.

And then the anger hit, when he remembered who the package was from.

Toge’s father—what kind of man sent his son something like this? Yuuta should call the cops. No, Maki. She was going into law. She’d know what to do, plus Toge was her childhood friend, maybe she could help him. She would know what to do about his creep of a father.

He grabbed his phone and dialed. The moment she picked up, he blurted, “Maki, what does it mean if your father sends you lingerie and… ugh, you know… aglassdildo?” he rushed the last few words out, hsi face flushed red. 

There was a long silence before a flat, disgusted voice replied, “Yuuta, what the actual fuck are you yapping about.”

“I know! I know it sounds weird. But—”

“I’m in the middle of a study session. I can’t deal with this.”

“No, you don’t understand! Toge got a package, and it was labeled ‘From Daddy’ and had—”

A bark of laughter cut him off. “You absolute dumbass. Let me get this straight,” Maki said, pausing just long enough to make him squirm. “Toge Inumaki—our friend who got cut off from his family for being gay—received a package from his ‘daddy’ with lingerie?”

“Yes! Yes, exactly! Isn’t that weird? What kind of father does that? This has to be enough motive to press charges, right? Maki, has he told you anything? Because he’s been a bit secretive about it with me, a-and now I’m worried! I don’t have the best relationship with my father, but this—this has to be illegal, or—”

Maki’s laughter cut through his frantic rambling. “Does that brain of yours actually work, or are all your good grades for nothing?”

Yuuta scowled. “Maki, this is about Toge! I know you like teasing me, but can we focus? Can we sue, or—”

“Yuuta,” she said firmly, her voice flat and with unimpressed. “You absolute imbecile. Do you know what a sugar daddy is?”

Yuuta’s brain stalled.

A sugar—

Oh.

Oh.

Then, anger.

Toge didn’t need money. If he did, Yuuta would give it to him—gladly. Anything this so-called sugar daddy was doing for him, Yuuta could do better.

But why hadn’t Toge mentioned it? They shared everything. At least, Yuuta thought they did. Why was Toge hiding this? And more importantly—why was he doing this?

Was it about money? That didn’t make sense. Was it… sexual?

The thought made Yuuta’s stomach drop. In his mind, Toge didn’t even look at other men—besides their friends—much less do anything with them. But if it was about sex, Yuuta would step up. If Toge needed that, Yuuta could— would —do something about it. Because the alternative—Toge going out and seeking it elsewhere, from some stranger, some older man who could be taking advantage of him—was unacceptable. It wasn’t safe. It wasn’t him.

“You put it together now?” Maki asked dryly, cutting through his spiraling thoughts. “Great. I have homework to do, so next time you have a stupid question, keep it to yourself.”

She hung up before he could respond.

And all too quickly before he could gather himself, The door handle rattled.

Shit.

Yuuta’s heart lurched. He grabbed the box, shoving it under his arm as he rushed to his room, throwing the box onto his bed. He barely managing to shut the door behind him and making his way back to the kitchen just as Toge stepped inside.

Tired.

He looked exhausted. His face was rosy from the cold outside, his shoulders slumping just slightly. Yuuta’s heart softened and he wanted to wrap his arms around him.

Then Toge spotted him, and his entire expression shifted. His eyes curved into familiar crescent moons, bright and fond, melting away every ounce of Yuuta’s earlier turmoil.

“Welcome home,” Yuuta said, his voice steady despite the nervous energy thrumming beneath his skin.

Toge waved in greeting before signing, ‘Thank god I’m home. I hate working in groups.’ He wrinkled his nose in distaste, then paused, tilting his head slightly. “Oh, by the way, did a package come for me?”

Yuuta felt his palms grow clammy. He was a terrible liar, and Toge knew it. He swallowed hard, avoiding eye contact, and simply shook his head.

Toge didn’t seem to notice, just shrugged and peeked over Yuuta’s shoulder at the stove. His lips curled into a pleased smile. “You made dinner?” he asked, his tone teasing but touched.

“Yeah,” Yuuta said, scratching the back of his neck. “Since you’ve been working so hard today, I didn’t want you to get back and have to cook.”

Toge’s expression softened, something warm settling in his eyes. ‘I was going to tease you about how I’m surprised you didn’t burn down the kitchen,’ he said, smirking. Then, his gaze turned even gentler. “But that was really sweet.”

He leaned in and pressed a kiss to Yuuta’s cheek. It was quick, barely there, but the warmth it left behind spread across Yuuta’s skin like wildfire.

“O-of course, Toge. I hope it’s edible,” Yuuta laughed, rubbing at his burning cheek.

Toge grinned.

Yuuta didn’t think about the package again until much later—after dinner, after dessert, after Toge had fallen asleep on the couch while they lazily watched YouTube videos and half-heartedly worked on their assignments. He only thought about it once he’d carried Toge to bed, tucking him in and lingering at his door before retreating to his own room. Normally, he might have just crawled into bed beside him, like so many nights before. But tonight, his thoughts were tangled, his mind stuck on that damned box sitting on his desk, staring at him like some kind of mortal nemesis.

Toge had asked about it. He was expecting it. And he was probably expecting everything to be in it.

Fuck me.

Yuuta exhaled sharply and grabbed his laptop, his face heating up as he hesitated over the keyboard before finally typing the words into the search bar. He needed to find a replacement, and it couldn’t possibly be that expensive.

$90 plus an additional $20 for expedited shipping.

Yuuta’s eye twitched. Not a fortune, but enough to make his stomach sink considering his recent expenses. Rent, bills, groceries, utilities, subscriptions—not to mention the new computer he’d had to buy to run a new programming software for his coursework.

Fuck me.

He pulled out his wallet, fingers hovering over a sleek black card. Gojo had given it to him years ago, telling him it was for emergencies or just for “extra spending money,” though Yuuta had never used it. Not once. He’d wanted to prove that he could do everything on his own, that he didn’t need anyone’s help. That he could be independent.

He exhaled sharply, then entered the card information and confirmed the overnight shipping.

 —----------

Yuuta had just settled into his morning shift at the library IT desk, putting down his bag and coffee,  when his phone rang. He glanced around, it was empty enough so he answered. 

“Good morning!” Once he heard the familiar voice he immediately regretted answering. “How’s my favorite nephew? Good?” Gojo’s voice was entirely too chipper.

Yuuta frowned. “What do you want? I’m working.”

“Wow, no love for your dear uncle. I was just calling to check in! Oh, and maybe to congratulate you.”

Yuuta narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean?” he asked, taking a sip from his coffee. 

“You and Toge got together, right? That’s why you bought a little toy.”

Yuuta nearly choked on his coffee. His grip on the cup faltered, and he barely managed to keep it from spilling all over the desk. His entire face went up in flames.

“Oh, don’t be embarrassed! You’re young, you’re having fun, and it’s good to bring those things into the bedroom,” Gojo continued, his tone insufferably amused. “I’m guessing it was Toge’s idea? It’s always the quiet ones, you know—”

“Please stop talking,” Yuuta groaned, dragging a hand down his face as if that alone could erase this entire conversation from existence. His temples throbbed with secondhand embarrassment, and he could already feel the inevitable stress headache forming.

“Oh, don’t be such a prude,” Gojo chided, his tone practically dripping with amusement. “This is healthy! We should be able to talk about these things. And since this is your first relationship with a man, if you have any questions—”

He wanted the floor beneath him to open up and swallow him whole—or better yet, he wanted his uncle to be magically sealed in a box and for the key to be thrown into the ocean.

“I’m hanging up now. And don’t you dare contact Toge,” Yuuta said cutting him off, voice sharp despite his burning face. “I already blocked your number on his phone, but I know you two follow each other on Instagram.”

“Aww, you’re no fun,” Gojo whined. “You know, when Suguru and I were your age—”

Yuuta hung up before he could finish that thought, shuddering at the implications. He refused to subject himself to whatever nonsense his uncle was about to say. The moment the call ended, his phone vibrated with a series of new messages—Gojo’s desperate attempts to get the last word in—but Yuuta ignored them, shoving his phone into his pocket. Instead, he focused on heading home, stopping by the mailroom along the way to pick up the package.

Well, Toge’s package. But technicalities.

The moment he opened the box from yesterday, his face went up in flames. He swallowed, staring down at the contents—delicate lace, sheer fabric, expensive-looking straps, all meticulously packed. Yuuta’s fingers twitched as he hovered over them. They were so small, leaving little to the imagination. 

Did… did Toge really wear these kinds of things? Did he use them?

His mind created an image that sent a shock down his spine, could feel the warmth pooling in his stomach—Toge, wearing one of these outfits, the way his skin would spill out of the sheer fabric, the way the dark fabric would accentuate his perfect clear skin. Toge wearing one of these outfits, in his room, maybe sprawled out on his bed, underneath him, face and body flushed—

Yuuta slammed the lid shut, shaking his head, trying to rid himself of those thoughts. No. Absolutely not. He was not going there. Not right now. Maybe later. Later tonight.

Instead, he grabbed some tape and did his best to reseal the package, smoothing over any evidence of tampering. If he was lucky, Toge would just assume it had gotten knocked around in transit, arriving late and worse for wear—hence the messy box and the copious amount of tape.

He considered taking it back to the mailroom, pretending he’d never seen it. But the package felt heavier in his hands, like it carried more weight than just its contents. What was Toge planning to do with these? Would he wear them for some stranger? Or was it just for himself? When would he even have the time—between school, work, friends… him ?

The idea of asking Toge directly made his stomach churn. Would that be overstepping? Would he even get a straight answer?

And yet, handing it over felt just as wrong. Like giving his silent approval for Toge to wear that—for another man.

His grip tightened. But then there was the glass toy. Toge had bought it for himself, sure—but in the end, Yuuta had been the one to pay for it. Did that make it any better? Any different? Would Toge think of him while using it? Or would he think of someone else—of the man who was supposed to have bought it?

Yuuta groaned, running a hand through his hair. He had to give it back. He should give it back. But he didn’t want to.

The front door opened and shut.

Shit.

His decision was made for him. In a rush, Yuuta shoved the package into an empty desk drawer just as footsteps approached.

A knock—then the door popped open before he could respond.

“T-Toge—” he stammered, watching silver hair flash past him as Toge made a beeline for his desk and flopped into the chair with a groan. Yuuta’s heart pounded, gaze flicking anxiously to the drawer. Why did he have to sit there?

“Welcome home,” he said, a little too nervously. “You’re back early.”

Toge huffed, brows furrowed in frustration. ‘Would you believe one of the guys had the audacity not to show up? We waited almost two hours, but that idiot never came. And now I just know I’m gonna have to pull his weight.’ His hands moved fast, irritation bleeding into every sharp motion.

Yuuta swallowed. “Ah—sorry. Group projects suck.” He edged closer to the desk, subtly blocking the drawer. Normally, he wouldn’t care if Toge went through his things, but not right now .

Toge leaned back, eyeing him. ‘What were you up to?’ Then, after a beat, ”Are you okay?”

Of course he’d notice. Toge could read him like a book—a children’s book.

“Y-yeah! Just, um, trying to run a new program but—uh—can’t figure out the code,” Yuuta lied.

Toge hummed, unconvinced, but didn’t push. Instead, he stood up, stretching his arms over his head. ‘Did any packages come for me today?’

Yuuta felt his stomach twist. “No,” he said too quickly. But technically, it wasn’t a complete lie—nothing had his name on it.

Toge gave him a long, unreadable look before simply humming in acknowledgment. Then, with a lazy grin, he signed, ‘Let’s go bake some cookies.’

And just like that, the conversation was over.

Toge didn’t even look back to see if Yuuta was following. He just expected him to.

And, of course, Yuuta did.

The box remained in the drawer for the next week. It wasn’t that he forgot about it—if anything, he was hyperaware of its presence. Especially when Toge asked, more than once, if he had received a package. Each time, Yuuta lied. And each time, Toge looked unconvinced. But he never pushed, never questioned it. Instead, he’d lean into Yuuta’s side, curling against him like he belonged there. Like things were exactly the way they should be.

And then the incident happened.

It had completely slipped his mind, he was too busy with work when he got the text.

From Toge: Can I borrow your calculator? I can’t find mine. Please. ( •̯́ ^ •̯̀)

Without thinking, Yuuta replied.

To Toge: Of course. It’s in the same spot.

The response came quick.

From Toge: Thank you (ෆ˙ᵕ˙ෆ)♡

Yuuta smiled at the little heart, staring at it fondly before slipping his phone back into his pocket.

And then—when the morning rush of work was over—it hit him.

The calculator was in his desk drawer. The top one. The same one where he had shoved the box .

His stomach dropped.

Toge liked snooping. Not in an annoying way—he was just curious , and that was something Yuuta loved about him.

But this time—this time—Yuuta could not let him be curious.

He didn’t hesitate. He told his manager he had a family emergency, left work an hour early, and walked as fast as he could to the bus stop. The ten-minute ride home felt like a lifetime, and when the bus finally pulled up to his stop, he bolted.

He took the stairs instead of the elevator, heart hammering in his chest.

When he stepped into their apartment, something felt… off.

Too quiet.

Toge’s bedroom door was open.

So was his.

Yuuta inhaled deeply. Okay. Just act normal.

“Toge?” he called, stepping into his room—only to find Toge sitting on his bed, papers scattered around him, calculator in hand.

No brown box in sight.

Toge barely glanced up at first, focused on his work. Then he beamed, eyes crinkling with warmth.

‘You’re back early,’ he signed.

Yuuta swallowed. “Y-yeah.” He scratched the back of his neck, gaze flicking over the room. Nothing seemed out of place. The worksheets on his bed—maybe Toge had been too preoccupied. Maybe he hadn’t snooped around like he usually did.

Toge stretched lazily, then signed, ‘Go shower. Then we can eat together. I ordered food—it should be here in a bit.’

“O-oh. Okay.”

Everything felt… fine.

Too fine.

It put Yuuta on edge, but he told himself he was just being paranoid.

He grabbed fresh clothes and slipped into the bathroom, letting the shower run hot. Steam curled around him, warm water soothing his tense muscles. He exhaled slowly, forcing himself to let go of the anxiety coiled tight in his chest.

Toge hadn’t found it. He would’ve said something if he had. Right?

When he stepped out, towel-drying his hair, he found Toge already seated at their small dining table, chopsticks in hand.

They ate together, falling into their usual rhythm—venting about assignments, making half-hearted complaints about professors. It was comforting, easy.

Normal.

Yuuta was just beginning to relax when Toge’s chopsticks suddenly paused mid-air.

Then, for the first time in a long time, he spoke.

“Yuuta.”

Yuuta froze.

Something about the way Toge said his name—soft, but deliberate—made his stomach tighten.

He swallowed. “Yeah?”

Toge twirled his chopsticks between his fingers, watching Yuuta with a knowing glint in his eye.

“You know Daichi?” he asked.

Yuuta nearly snapped his own chopsticks in half.

Daichi. The guy from the mailroom. The same guy who had the biggest, most painfully obvious crush on Toge.

Yuuta swallowed, gripping his utensils a little too hard. “Yeah. What about him?”

Toge grinned—a slow, lazy grin that set every nerve in Yuuta’s body on edge.

“Well,” he said, propping his elbow on the table, “I was told I had a package the other day, but I didn’t see anything. And neither had you.” His eyes gleamed with mischief. “So, the next day I asked Daichi.”

Yuuta’s chopsticks slipped from his fingers, clattering loudly against his plate. He scrambled to pick them up, forcing a nervous laugh. “Oh? Yeah? Did he say anything new?” He shoved a mouthful of food into his mouth, chewing aggressively to avoid talking any further.

Toge continued, completely unfazed. “He said he swore he delivered something to me,” he said, pausing to poke at his food. “So, he asked his buddy in the building to check the CCTV footage.”

Yuuta felt the blood drain from his face.

“He said a tall guy with black hair and dark eyebags picked it up.”

Silence.

Toge popped a dumpling into his mouth, chewing slowly as he stared at Yuuta, waiting.

Yuuta’s face burned. Stay cool. Play it off. “That could be a lot of people,” he said, voice cracking ever so slightly.

Toge hummed, lips twitching. “Maybe.” He picked at his food idly, then smiled. “Can I tell you something silly?”

Yuuta swallowed hard. “What?”

Toge smirked. “I found something interesting in your room while looking for the calculator.”

Oh, he was so screwed.

“I didn’t know you were so kinky,” Toge teased. “Or that we were the same size, I—”

Yuuta’s entire body tensed. His face felt like it was on fire. “Toge, I swear, I can explain.”

Toge leaned in, resting his chin in his hand. “Well, it looks to me like you stole my package,” he said. “If you were interested in that stuff, you could’ve told me. I don’t mind sharing.”

“N-no, it wasn’t like that!” Yuuta groaned, running a hand through his hair. “It’s just that…” How the hell do I even explain this?

Toge tilted his head, waiting.

Yuuta sighed, deciding to start from the beginning. “I accidentally opened your package, yes , but I—”

“Wanted it all for yourself?” Toge interrupted, grinning.

“What—no! No, it’s just—” Yuuta’s jaw clenched. His pulse pounded in his ears. Then, before he could stop himself, he blurted out, “Why didn’t you tell me you had a sugar daddy?!”

Toge blinked. Then, to Yuuta’s absolute horror, his smirk widened. “Why didn’t you tell me you had my package?”

Yuuta felt his face go up in flames. If Daichi had told him weeks ago, then Toge had just been waiting for him to slip up.

“I—” His throat tightened, and the words tumbled out in a rushed mess. “Ibrokeyourglassdildo.”

Toge raised an eyebrow, failing to hold back a smirk. “My what?”

Yuuta groaned, burying his face in his hands. “You heard me.”

Toge hummed, clearly enjoying himself. “Oh, I definitely did. I just like watching you squirm.” He leaned back in his seat, smug. “But honestly, I already had my suspicions.”

Yuuta peeked through his fingers, wary. “You did?”

“Well, besides Daichi confirming I had received a package. Your uncle texted me,” Toge shrugged, as if it were obvious. “‘Congrats on the relationship,’ and then immediately started talking about sex toys. I put the rest together just now after I saw the box in your room.”

Yuuta groaned. Of course it had to be Gojo. He should have blocked him on everything .

Toge tilted his head. “So? When did you find out I have a sugar daddy?”

Yuuta hesitated for only a second before admitting, “When I saw the package.” It wasn’t entirely true—if it hadn’t been for Maki, he would’ve still thought it was from Toge’s creep of a father.

Toge hummed, tapping his fingers idly against the table. “You never answered my question,” Yuuta shot back. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Exhaling through his nose, Toge leaned back slightly, as if weighing his response. “It’s not my first time having one, you know.” His head tilted just so, watching Yuuta’s reaction carefully. “After my family cut me off, I had to figure something out. Not all of us have a hot, rich uncle.”

“Don’t call him hot,” Yuuta snapped immediately.

Toge laughed, eyes crinkling in amusement. “Anyway,” he continued, stretching lazily, “after you left for Africa, I didn’t have anyone to split my bills with, so I got creative.” His gaze flickered down to his nails, inspecting them with a nonchalance that made Yuuta’s stomach twist. “Men will do anything for pretty boys and their attention.”

He said it like it was nothing. Like it wasn’t a big deal at all.

But to Yuuta, it was . “I’m sorry,” Yuuta said, his voice quieter than he intended.

Toge’s smile faltered, just slightly. His hands moved slower this time, more deliberate. “This is why I didn’t tell you. Don’t burden yourself for me. And don’t apologize.”

Yuuta pressed his lips together, unsure how to respond.

Toge sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. ‘It’s easy, anyway,’ he signed, his expression slipping back into something more casual. ‘I don’t meet up with them—it’s all virtual. Pictures, videos, calls sometimes. I send letters, but that’s about it.’ He paused, He paused, smirking. “One guy asked me for my bath water once. That’s how I bought our coffee table.”

Yuuta blinked, staring toward the sleek wooden table in their living room. It was nice—but now, all he could think about was what Toge had to do to get it.

Was that the day he took an extra long soak in the tub? The one that left his skin dry and pink from the heat? 

Yuuta quickly shook his head, trying to banish the image from his mind—the thought of Toge stepping out of the bathroom, skin flushed, damp hair clinging to his forehead, steam curling around him.

Yuuta exhaled slowly. “Oh.” Relief settled in his chest, but it didn’t last long. The tension still lingered, a quiet ache that wouldn’t quite fade. A part of him still hated that these strangers had seen Toge like that—had seen him in ways Yuuta hadn’t, knew parts of him that he didn’t.

“Well… I’m glad you never actually had to deal with these freaks in person,” he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.

Toge studied him for a long moment, something unreadable flickering behind his violet eyes. Then, his lips curled into a smirk. “Were you jealous?”

Yuuta’s breath caught in his throat.

The easy, teasing lilt in Toge’s expression should’ve made it easier to brush off—laugh it away like he always did. But this time, something about the way Toge looked at him made it impossible. There was something expectant in his gaze, something that made Yuuta’s chest ache in the worst, most wonderful way.

He swallowed hard, forcing himself to hold Toge’s stare. “Yeah,” he admitted, voice quiet but steady. “I was.”

Toge’s smirk faltered. His eyes widened, just a fraction, before his expression softened into something Yuuta couldn’t quite name.

Yuuta let out a slow breath, fingers tightening against his lap. “I hated thinking about you doing this for some stranger. That some guy out there gets to see you in ways I never have, gets to know parts of you I don’t. It—it made me sick, honestly.” He exhaled sharply, forcing out the words that had been clawing at his chest for weeks. “I don’t want you to need a sugar daddy, Toge. If you need something, I’ll get it for you. If you want someone’s attention, I’ll give it to you.”

He felt himself trembling, but he pushed forward. “Because it’s always been you. It’s only ever been you.”

Toge’s lips parted slightly, his eyes searching Yuuta’s face like he was trying to commit every detail to memory. His hands twitched in his lap, like he wanted to sign something but couldn’t quite find the words.

Then, slowly, he reached across the table, fingers brushing against Yuuta’s wrist. His touch was light, hesitant, like he was giving Yuuta time to pull away. But Yuuta didn’t. He couldn’t.

Toge let out a small breath of laughter, barely more than a whisper. ‘You’re such an idiot’  he signed, but his movements were shaky, and his smile was soft—too soft to be anything but fond.

Yuuta let out a choked laugh, his heart hammering against his ribs. “Yeah. I know.”

Toge tilted his head, considering, then, without warning, tugged Yuuta forward by the wrist. Their faces were suddenly closer— too close—but Yuuta didn’t pull back. He couldn’t.

Toge mouthed something, and even without sound, Yuuta understood.

Me too.

Yuuta barely had time to process it before Toge leaned in, pressing their lips together in a kiss so soft, so devastatingly real , that it made Yuuta’s head spin.

When they finally pulled apart, Yuuta could only stare—wide-eyed, breathless—trying to memorize every detail of Toge’s face. The faint flush on his cheeks, the way his lips curled into a smile, like he had been waiting for this moment all along.

“Finally,” Toge murmured, tugging Yuuta’s hand into his lap, fingers lacing together like they had always belonged there.

Yuuta let out a dazed laugh, his heart slamming against his ribs. “I like you,” Toge said, voice quiet, his breath ghosting over Yuuta’s lips.

Yuuta swallowed hard. “I like you too. Like an insane about.”

Toge let out an angelic laugh, his smile deepening. “Good.” His thumb brushed over Yuuta’s knuckles, gaze glinting with something mischievous. “Now… are you gonna help me pick out something you’d like to see me wear?”

Yuuta choked. “Toge—”

But Toge was already standing, smirking as he strolled toward his room. “Come on, lover boy. Let’s see if you’ve got good taste.”

Yuuta’s entire face went up in flames. He scrambled to stand, nearly tripping over his own feet in his rush to follow—just like he always did.