Ryo and I spent our entire high school lives together. At first, it was just because our seats were next to each other and I spoke to him. But before I knew it, in the club, in class, after school... Ryo was always there by my side.

I'd realized for a long time that my romantic interests weren't women.

A certain evening. A world for just the two of us—.

We were neither best friends nor lovers.

We cherished each other so much

that a single word couldn't describe it.

—But that happiness didn't last long.

In our senior year, I saw Ryo walking with a girl from our class. By the time I realized it, he was dating her.

I offered my blessings, of course.

Well, obviously.

Ryo is a normal guy.

It would have been weird for anything to happen between him and me.

...But.

After graduating high school and going our separate ways, we eventually lost touch and grew distant. After a while, I heard through the grapevine that Ryo had married that girl. I told myself that this was for the best.

I started going to gay bars at night and wasting away with men I met on matching apps. My life was just fine like this.

Or so it was supposed to be—

The next time I saw Ryo was—

At his wife's funeral.

I loved you, surely, forever.