Work Text:
This winter, Oka Satomi went back home to Osaka.
Seeing his parents and older brother again stirred up a strange, indescribable feeling.
But after being pulled into small talk for hours by relatives who had dropped by, Satomi felt all his limited social energy completely drain away.
He picked up his phone and hesitated before typing a message.
What are you up to?
He took off his glasses, about to lie down for a short rest. But the reply came instantly.
Kyouji: *(photo)
Kyouji: They dragged me out for a group dinner.
Kyouji: What’s up, Satomi-kun?
Kyouji: Why the sudden texting? ☺️
Satomi typed and deleted the words several times, but he still couldn’t decide how to phrase it.
Was I always this clingy? We have only been apart for…less than a day.
A wave of drowsiness washed over him. He decided to close his eyes and reply later.
Not even five minutes passed before his phone started buzzing again.
Satomi groaned, annoyed. Who the hell is calling at this hour…?
Still, he answered the phone, eyes half-closed.
“Hello?”
A low chuckle came from the other end.
“Did I wake you up, Satomi-kun?”
“Ah—? Kyouji-san?!”
He shot upright, scrambling for his glasses on the nightstand, though his ear stayed pressed to the phone.
“Satomi didn’t want to answer my call, huh? I’m so hurt.”
“No! You were still at dinner, and I…didn’t know what to say.”
He wasn’t sure if Kyouji was teasing him or that’s him being clingy too — though he secretly hoped it was the latter.
“I stepped outside for a cigarette. I noticed you didn’t reply. Just wanted to hear your voice.”
Through the speakers, Satomi could hear the wind rushing by — that, and the man’s deep husky voice. Or maybe his boyfriend's voice, at this point.
He could almost smell the faint tobacco scent that was always stuck to Narita Kyouji — the same scent that had followed Satomi since his teenage years: light, but aggressive. The kind that he once mistook for dislike, yet somehow spent four whole years trying to untangle.
“…I miss you, Kyouji-san.”
“Hm?”
The words slipped out before Satomi realized it. He awkwardly changed the subject.
The time ticked away, and Kyouji wasn’t sure how long he’d been holding the half-smoked cigarette between his fingers.
Finally, Satomi spoke again.
“Kyouji-san, you’ve been talking to me for a while. Aren’t they waiting for you? You should go back.”
“There you go again, acting all serious…I really want to mess with your hair right now.”
“Yeah?”
“Alright, I’ll go.”
Satomi waited, but the call didn’t end. He opened his mouth to ask, but Kyouji spoke first.
“This time, you’ll say it to me…okay?”
Before Satomi could answer, the call disconnected.
Leaving him sitting in bed, heart spinning.
“…say what, exactly?”
Dinner time came. Satomi cautiously stepped out of his room.
“Mom, did the relatives leave?”
“They did. Sorry — they asked you so many questions. You must be tired.”
Satomi blinked.
“…it’s fine.”
Dun-dun. A new message popped up.
Kyouji: What’s Satomi up to?
He typed quickly,
: Waiting for dinner.
Kyouji: 👌
The four of them weren’t exactly a talkative family, so dinner passed in silence. Afterward, he found himself sitting next to his dad and brother, watching TV.
And all he could think about…was Kyouji.
Then his phone buzzed again.
Kyouji: What’s Satomi up to?
: Watching TV with my dad and brother.
Kyouji: 👌
His brother glanced over.
“Who are you texting? Don’t tell me our Satomi’s got a girlfriend?”
“……as if.”
He didn't give it a second thought and turned back to the TV.
Even after he finished washing up, no new messages came.
Should I just sleep? Or should I call Kyouji first…?
Before he could decide, his phone lit up again.
Kyouji: What’s Satomi up to?
: Kyouji-san, what are you trying to do?
Kyouji: Come downstairs.
: What?
Heart racing, Satomi slipped on his hoodie and stepped outside without checking his phone again.
He didn’t see anyone.
Just as he reached for his phone to check if Kyouji was joking again, a hand tapped on his shoulder.
He turned — and there was the face he missed the most, smiling at him.
“Satomi-kun.”
Satomi bit his lower lip lightly.
The man opened his arms, pulling him close. Satomi’s voice was muffled against Kyouji’s chest.
“…I really wanted to see you. This is what you wanted me to say, right, Kyouji-san?”
“Smart boy. Can you lift your head? I want to see you.”
Satomi looked up, unable to stop himself from asking —
“Kyouji, are you…being clingy right now?”
Kyouji’s cold fingertips traced his cheek and lips before pressing in for a kiss.
“Of course. I only cling to you, Satomi-kun.”
Satomi thought, It’s really cold tonight.
Even Kyouji’s lips were cold.