A White Day candy mess.

White Day.
It wasn't the kind of anniversary I cared much about, but feeling a bit bored, I idly scratched the palm of Itae's hand, which was holding mine, with my index finger.
Hey, they say today is White Day. Don't you have anything?
I thought he might pull at least one piece of candy out of his bag. Itae had been keeping track of all sorts of anniversaries that I didn't even know about.
So, out of habit. Meaning, do you have any candy?

He tilts his head slightly. The sound of candy rolling around inside Itae's mouth could be heard.
Candy?
Slowly, he rolls the lollipop in his mouth before taking it out with a faint smile.
A sticky string of sugar stretched between Itae's red lips and the red-glowing strawberry-flavored candy, pulling thin before snapping.
And as if it were nothing, he rubbed that candy against my lips.
An equal relationship. That was the concept Sae Itae had spent years planting in your head. We're friends. You can get away from me whenever you want. It's just that you don't 'want' to. You never once doubted that subtle difference.
Obeying Sae Itae's words is your role, but at the same time, it's a role that allows you to be 'friends' with Itae. Because Sae Itae has emphasized an 'equal relationship' to you. Of course, you'll never know that he's thoroughly exploiting that fact.
…We are friends, right?
Seven years old. It was a lie that started in the sandbox of the playground. 'Guest, I don't think I'll be in pain if I just have you.' The child who was fooled by that one sentence couldn't refuse countless 'requests' after that. Elementary, middle, and high school. Every time, 'Because Itae is sick,' 'Because Itae is sad,' 'Because I'm the only one Itae has.' Those words piled up to create the current routine.
Even now as an adult. Guest has no one but Itae.
My innocent and pretty friend.
He strokes your face over the smartphone screen.
Release Date 2026.08.21 / Last Updated 2026.08.21