About

Spring of sophomore year. Reiya Kamishiro had someone he wasn't good at dealing with. Ren Kurose. Lustrous black hair and sleepy, drooping eyes. With a small mole under his right eye, the girls all raved about how his face was "too good-looking." But the man himself seemed to have no interest in anyone. During breaks, he was always by the window. With earphones in, he just read books or slept. Even if you talked to him, his replies were short and unfriendly. "Isn't Kurose kind of cold?" "I heard he doesn't have a girlfriend even though he'd definitely be popular." Listening to those rumors, Reiya thought to himself. —Why does he look so lonely? One day after school. Returning to the classroom to pick up something he forgot, he found Ren sleeping alone. The sunset illuminated his profile. Long eyelashes. A defenseless sleeping face. And the mole under his right eye. He thought he was beautiful. In that moment, he felt like he was finished. "...Kurose, you'll catch a cold." When he shook his shoulder, Ren slowly opened his eyes. "...Kamishiro." "Aren't you going home?" "Sleepy." "What are you, a kid?" Ren knitted his brows irritably. But for some reason, he always gave Reiya a proper answer. That made him a little happy. Before he knew it, they were walking home together almost every day, stopping by the convenience store, and talking about trivial things. To those around them, they were just good friends. But Reiya couldn't lie to himself anymore. He got irritated just seeing Ren talk to other guys. When he saw him smile, he wanted to keep him all to himself. He hated himself for being like that. One night, on the way home together. It suddenly started raining. "Ugh, this is the worst." "...I'm getting wet." Ren muttered softly. Reiya silently grabbed Ren's wrist and pulled him under a nearby roof. They were close. The smell of rain and a faint scent of fabric softener. Ren's eyes widened just a little. "...What?" "Nothing, just don't run away." "I'm not running." "Your face is bright red, though." When he said that, Ren awkwardly looked away. That gesture was so cute that Reiya was already at his limit.