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Mima Takayuki was someone reliable—efficient at work, dependable with friends. Everyone trusted him. And why wouldn’t they? He was kind, dedicated, and, to top it off, handsome. Clearly, life had its favorites.
But anyone who knew him even a little could tell you one more thing: he was incredibly oblivious.
That absentmindedness was charming to many, but for his sister, it was a source of constant frustration.
“So? How did that date go with that cute, adorable guy?”
Mima was at his sister’s house, helping her watch his beloved niece, who had fallen asleep after playing all afternoon.
“Date?” he repeated. He didn’t remember going on a date with Hayate. After all, you don’t go on dates unless you’re a couple, or at the very least have mutual feelings. And he was sure neither of them felt that way.
“Hayate and I don’t have that kind of relationship.”
“You’re kidding, right? What are you waiting for, a formal invitation to confess?”
His sister stood up from beside her daughter, clearly ready to scold him properly.
“Why would I confess? I don’t like him.”
That was the last straw. She knew her brother was dense—but not this dense. There had to be limits to how much of an idiot someone could be, even if she hated to think that way about anyone.
“If you don’t like him, then how did you immediately know I was talking about him?” she said with a long sigh, rubbing her face. “Explaining the obvious to a nearly-thirty-year-old is honestly exhausting.”
And then it hit him.
She never said Hayate’s name. Not once.
But who else could she have been talking about?
The most adorable person he’d ever met. The kindest. The calmest. The one whose presence alone could bring him peace. His ray of sunshine, his—
“Oh.”
His sister let out an even deeper sigh than before.
“Of course it’s ‘oh.’ Now go find that poor boy and tell him how you feel. He’s probably totally confused right now.”
After a few more stern pushes, Mima was already on his way to see Hayate. (He had the manners to send a few messages before showing up unannounced, of course.)
The closer he got, the harder his heart pounded. How had he not noticed before—this feeling like his chest was going to burst? The way every step made his face feel hotter? The fact that anyone with even a shred of sense would have fallen for someone as perfect as Hayate?
All those quiet “not-dates,” all the moments where his face lit up just by seeing him. All the times he went to the café just to feel Hayate’s presence. All the looks Hayate gave him—filled with something that felt too much like admiration.
How could he not fall for him?
“Mima? Are you okay?”
He hadn’t even noticed when he arrived at Hayate’s apartment—or when he rang the doorbell.
A peaceful smile bloomed on his face.
“I’m okay, don’t worry. Sorry for coming so late.”
Hayate turned bright red. That smile always made his heart skip. It made him wonder—just maybe—if Mima felt the same way. But that was impossible. Someone as amazing as Mima couldn’t possibly—
He stepped aside quickly, letting him in. They sat on the couch with a kind of ease that only came from long-standing routines.
“So… what did you want to talk about, Mima?”
A sudden wave of fear hit Hayate. Was this bad news? Did something happen? Or… maybe Mima played another horror game and didn’t want to be alone again?
Right as Hayate started overthinking, Mima spoke.
“What I’m about to say might sound strange, and I don’t want you to see me differently, okay?”
The older man took a deep breath, mustering all the courage he had to make his words sound as natural as possible.
“I like you, Hayate.”
“Eh—?”
“You’re amazing. You’ve always been there for me. Just being near you can turn my worst days into the best. And I’m scared this might ruin our friendship.”
Hayate froze—not because he didn’t know what to say, but because his brain just refused to process it.
Did Mima… just confess?
Mima?
The Mima who always seemed so in control?
The one who smiled so gently whenever he looked at him?
The one who brought him drinks when he was tired from work?
That Mima… liked him?
“Are you okay?” Mima asked softly. “Do you want a blanket or something? I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable, I just…”
“No, no!” Hayate shot upright so fast he banged his knee against the coffee table.
“Ow—!”
“Are you okay?” Mima jumped up in alarm and knelt down beside him, gently placing a hand on his leg.
“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to cause this too…”
Hayate covered his face. His cheeks were burning red.
Mima was too close.
And he had just confessed.
And… Hayate liked him too.
“…Me too,” he mumbled.
“Huh?”
“I like you too, Mima.”
Mima’s eyes widened slightly. He didn’t say anything at first. Time felt like it stopped.
And then—he smiled.
“Really?”
Hayate nodded quickly, unable to meet his eyes.
“I thought… you weren’t interested in things like this,” he whispered. “You always seemed so calm with me, I didn’t think you looked at me that way.”
“I always did,” Mima said with a soft laugh, like he was only now catching up with his own heart. “I just didn’t realize it. You’re really important to me, Hayate. You always have been.”
Hayate finally looked up. His eyes shimmered slightly. He was happy. Nervous, of course—but truly happy.
And Mima felt it warm him from the inside out.
“Can I hug you?” he asked.
Hayate nodded, and before he knew it, he was wrapped up in Mima’s strong arms, held gently, like something precious.
Because he was.
They stayed like that for a while, listening to each other’s hearts.
One fast.
The other just as fast.
“…So, I guess this counts as our first date?” Hayate whispered, burying his face in Mima’s shoulder.
“Only if there’s a kiss,” Mima replied playfully.
Hayate laughed, soft and shy. Then, with every ounce of courage he could gather, he leaned forward… and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
“Then… it counts.”
Epilogue
Mima was at his sister’s house again. No particular reason—he just wanted to spend time with his family, like he often did. Sometimes, he’d sit in the kitchen with her while she washed the dishes and his niece napped. It was a small routine, but comforting. Like the world itself was taking a break.
“…It went well,” he murmured suddenly, almost to himself, eyes drifting toward the cup of tea in his hands.
“Huh? What was that, Mima?”
His sister paused mid-dish, turning toward him with curiosity.
“Something good happen?”
He didn’t answer right away. His smile started off small, like it was trying to sneak out. Then he lifted his gaze. His eyes sparkled, calm and steady but full of something unmistakably warm.
“My date… went well.”
This time, he said it with confidence, as if the words made it more real with every syllable. There was a quiet pride in his voice. A kind of joy that bloomed from something gentle and slow.
For a second, his sister just watched him, letting the silence fill in the rest. Then she smiled—a big, heartfelt smile.
“Oh, Takayuki…” she murmured, walking over to give his back a soft pat.
“I’m really happy for you.”
He just nodded, smiling quietly against the rim of his cup.
Outside, the world kept moving.
But for Mima, everything felt just a little bit brighter.
Because this time…
His heart was finally where it belonged.