"Mentaiko."

The morning light filtered shyly through the half-open curtains, drawing golden stripes across the wrinkled sheets. The room was filled with a quiet stillness, suspended between dream and waking.

My breath was slow, steady — and his... beside mine.

Toge was gently stroking my back, with light, almost timid fingers. Every now and then, he would brush through my hair, combing it with gestures that felt like silent promises. Curled against his chest, I let that moment wrap around us completely, like a warm blanket.

The night had been tender. Of words scribbled hastily into his notebook, then erased with kisses. Of breaths stolen between our lips. Of hesitant touches that grew bolder with every heartbeat. And of our bodies, seeking each other as if they had waited far too long.

He had touched every part of me as if it were sacred. I had held him as if he might disappear.

In that bed, for hours, we had stopped being afraid.

But when I fell asleep, the dream came.

I was on a suspension bridge between two mountains. The sky above us was dark, heavy with clouds, though it didn't rain. Toge stood a few steps ahead of me, smiling, but unable to speak. His lips moved, but no sound came out. All around us, shadows. Crawling, shapeless silhouettes that took form with every word left unspoken.

A single phrase of his — I couldn't tell what he'd said — turned into a whip of energy that struck me square in the chest.

I fell to my knees.

He looked at me, eyes filled with panic. He wanted to help, to reach me, but every attempt only caused more wounds to bloom across my body.

His words... were killing me.

I woke with a start, breath caught in my throat.

But he was there. Beside me. Silent. Present. Warm.

And in that moment, I decided: I wouldn't tell him.

Not yet.

Maybe never.

***

We walked down to class together, as if nothing had changed.

But everything had.

Toge walked by my side with that light step of his, hands in his pockets, eyes relaxed. Every now and then, his fingers brushed the back of my hand. It was his way of saying, "I'm here."

And I was holding back smiles I didn't need to hold back. Pointlessly.

When we arrived in the classroom, the air already tasted like routine:

Panda was trying to balance three water bottles on Yuta's head, Maki was rolling her eyes… and Gojo-sensei was, obviously, nowhere to be seen.

I greeted my friends with a "good morning" that was probably too cheerful.

But one glance was enough to notice it.

Yuji.

Sitting at his desk, arms crossed and pouting like a character from a '90s cartoon.

His eyes fixed on the table.

Eyebrows furrowed so tightly they looked drawn on.

<<Wow, >> I whispered to Toge with a little smirk, << someone definitely woke up on the wrong side of the bed. >>

Toge, who had already noticed, just gave a small shrug, like: don't care.

<< Good morning, Yuji,>> I said, sitting next to him.

He barely looked up. << Morning,>> he replied flatly.

Then, without looking at me, he added, << Everything okay yesterday? He dragged you off like it was a Korean drama. All that was missing was rain and a slow-motion shot. >>

I smiled. << You forgot the overly dramatic soundtrack.>>

Yuji smirked — halfway — but it didn't last.

He was stewing. Hard.

<< Well, I'm about to go look for Gojo sensei. If I don't find him, I'll just take over class myself. Want to have a lesson with me? >>

<< No.>> Maki replied without lifting her head.

<< Not even a little.>> said Panda.

Yuta clapped. << Yes! But only if you sing the school anthem in falsetto.>>

Yuji finally laughed — not fully, but it was something.

I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye. I knew there was disappointment hiding behind the joke.

I didn't say anything.

Not yet.

I turned toward Toge.

He was watching me from a few rows back.

And he smiled.

A small one.

But just for me.

--- Later..---

I lifted my gaze. The sky was clear, but the air tasted of storm.

We were all outside, on the school's lawn. The sun beat down on the stone surfaces, and the shadows stretched underfoot like omens. I sat next to Yuji on the warm grass, hands braced behind me, hair brushing my back. I talked to him the way you talk to fill an empty space: light phrases, casual jokes, fake smiles.

But my eyes… were somewhere else.

Toge was there, just a little further away.

Sitting on the weathered wooden table, his shoes resting on the chair, shoulders hunched. His elbows were propped on his knees, gaze lowered. But not so low that it didn't meet mine now and then.

He watched me. Silently. Steadily. Almost feverishly.

Yuji turned slightly.

<< Why is that guy staring at us? >>he asked under his breath, but his tone was sharp.

I swallowed.

<< Don't worry. It's fine. >>

Yuji didn't look convinced. He didn't answer.

But he stood up.

Without another word.

His hands clenched, veins taut along his arms, chest puffed — full of something he clearly couldn't hold back anymore.

He walked forward, jaw tight, eyes locked on Toge like he was walking toward an unsettled score.

I shot up.

<< Yuji! >> I called, but it was too late.

I followed him with my eyes, heart racing. I looked toward Maki.

She was already on her feet.

She said nothing, but she moved.

She had understood everything — as always.

Toge didn't stand.

Not yet.

He stayed seated. Still. But his gaze had changed. Sharpened. Lit up. Like a blade catching light.

Yuji stopped right in front of him.

<< You got a problem with me? >> he asked. His voice was low, but sharp as an unspoken threat.

Silence.

<< You've been staring at me since I got here. You haven't said a single word. And yesterday…>> He stepped closer.

<< I was talking to Rebecca. And you grabbed her. You pulled her away. You didn't ask. You didn't speak. You just… took. And I hadn't even finished what I was saying.>>

Toge stood up slowly. Every movement measured, precise.

One breath, one step.

They were now face to face.

A breath apart.

Two bodies pulled tight like wires ready to snap.

Toge tilted his head just slightly.

Then, in a hoarse, quiet voice — and yet so clear it sliced through the air — he murmured:

<< Mentaiko. >>

Yuji blinked.

<< What…? >>

<< Yuji, stop! >>I cut in, stepping between them. Hands raised, palms up like shields. <<That's enough. Please. >>

But Yuji didn't back off.

<< What does 'Mentaiko' even mean? What the fuck is that? >>

Toge didn't move. His eyes stayed locked onto Yuji's.

There was something in that stare… a threat?

No.

Pain. Anger.

The ache of wounded possession.

And I… couldn't hold it in any longer.

The breath rushed out of me all at once.

<< Toge is my boyfriend. >>

Silence.

Complete.

Maki's eyes widened slightly, her breath caught.

Yuta froze, arms mid-motion.

Panda lowered his tray of snacks, mouth open.

The air seemed to pull away from us, like the world itself had stopped breathing.

Yuji went rigid.

<<Ah…>> he said simply.

Like there was nothing left to say.

Like every question he had died in his throat.

Toge remained standing, unmoving.

But something in his eyes softened.

The sharpness faded.

He looked… more human.

Like something inside him had finally stilled.

Or maybe… been reborn.

And there, in that sunlit field, under the eyes of those who knew us better than anyone —

We no longer hid.

We had just spoken.

No phrases.

No letters.

No kisses.

Only the truth.

***

That announcement left a silence hanging between us like a taut rope. No one spoke, no one dared move. Only Yuji's eyes burned—not with anger, but something else. Hurt. Disappointment.

I gently took his arm.

<< Come with me. >>

He didn't say anything. He followed.

We walked for a while, in silence. We crossed the courtyard, passed through the inner paths and the main portico. The grass muffled the sound of our steps. Finally, we stopped just before the dorms—where the school blurred into something more private, more personal.

I turned to him.

Yuji kept his gaze down. Broad shoulders, tense. Hands buried in his jeans' pockets.

<< Yuji…>> I began softly, << Can you tell me what's going on? Today you almost fought with Toge. What's happening? What do you want from me? >>

It wasn't an accusation, just a sincere question. I needed to understand.

Yuji finally looked up. His eyes were shiny, but steady.

Then he spoke. At last.

<< It's me. >>

<< What? >>

<< The secret admirer. The letters. The envelope you found on your nightstand... I wrote them. >>

I froze.

Stunned, lips slightly parted.

<< I've been in love with you for a while now. Back when you were still in Rome, I saw your photos, read about you... The first time I saw you in person, I knew. It was in Kyoto, remember? When you came for the exchange meeting. You were wearing that red jacket, looking like fire. Everyone stared at you like you were a weapon. But me? I saw something else. I saw you. >>

I ran a hand through my hair, still stunned.

I would've never guessed.

Yuji lowered his gaze again, as if afraid of my answer.

<< I didn't have the courage to tell you. I didn't want to embarrass you. So... I wrote. To say what I couldn't say out loud. >>

There was a long silence. The wind gently stirred the leaves above us. The air felt soft, almost respectful.

<<Yuji…>>I said quietly. << You're special. I truly mean that. But my heart is... already taken. Toge and I, we're trying to rebuild something that broke. It's fragile. But it's real. >>

Yuji's eyes trembled a little.

<< I understand. >>

<< I didn't mean to hurt you. >>

<< You didn't. >> He shook his head. << I had to tell you. At least that much. >>

I nodded.

Then, smiling gently, I placed my hand on his arm.

<< Thank you. For being brave enough. >>

We looked at each other. And in that look, there was respect. Maturity. A necessary, but not sad, ending.

We walked back together.

Gojo-sensei was still missing. Panda was lying on the grass, Yuta was tossing stones at a crushed can. Toge was sitting at the table, hands clasped, watching us.

When we arrived, Maki sighed.

<< We're dying of boredom. Let's play a game. >>

<< Like what? >> Yuta asked.

Panda jumped in proudly:

<< Truth, Dare or Curse. >>

<< Excuse me? >> Maki laughed.

<< Like Truth or Dare, but if you skip your turn, you have to face a 'curse' made up by the questioner. Nothing real, obviously. Just silly stuff. Like singing an idol song in public. >>

<< No way! >> Yuta laughed.

We sat in a circle.

I sat next to Maki. Toge beside me. I felt his knee brush mine—maybe by accident, maybe not. But I didn't move away. I smiled, instead.

The game began.

Yuta had to mimic Gojo drinking coffee. Panda rolled in the grass pretending to be an actual panda.

Maki confessed a crush on an anime character.

Then it was my turn.

Panda asked:

<< Truth, dare, or curse? >>

<< Truth. >>

<< Have you ever thought it would've been easier to fall for someone else? >>

A silence fell.

I looked at Toge.

Then answered, steady:

<< Yes. But I don't like easy paths. I like the ones that are worth it. >>

The circle went on.

Everyone laughed. Teased each other.

I looked at Toge.

He didn't speak.

But he wrote:

"Thank you for choosing the path where I exist too."

And for the first time in days...

I knew I had chosen well.