Even so, we are living in the present

Chapter 12 – Overprotective Affection

Roughly five hours after Yuu had fallen asleep, his uncle, who had driven from Nagano, arrived at the hospital. Once Yuhu woke up around noon, after finishing the hospital meal with Kyosuke, who had purchased a bento from the hospital store, he went to the hospital room to converse with the doctor.

“──Then, does that mean I can go home today?”

Kyosuke inquired when the doctor assured him that since Yuu’s condition had stabilized, he would likely be fine at home until the next surgery.

“Yes, it’ll be alright.”

Upon hearing the doctor’s answer, Kyosuke and Yuu exchanged a slight look of serenity. At that moment, there was a knock on the door of the hospital room, and it was opened unobtrusively.

“Oh, Uncle.”

With all eyes on him, it was Yuu who released his voice. At the sight of Yuu, his uncle, Reito, approached him anxiously and crouched down beside the bed. With bandages wrapped around Yuu’s face, he was unable to remain calm and gently stroked his cute nephew’s cheeks, then spoke up with a face that suggested that he was ready to cry at any moment.

“Yuu… now that this kind of thing has happened… what can I possibly say to you…”

“Uncle, I’m fine.”

“It’s not okay…”

Perhaps because he had not been in contact with him in a considerable amount of time, he rubbed his own cheek against his right cheek and began to engage in what appeared to be a somewhat excessive skinship.

Even Yuu, who was not accustomed to physical contact, couldn’t swear at his relative and with his fractured right arm and IV in his left arm, he arched his eyebrows in an irresistible manner.

“N-No, stop it, this is embarrassing… I’m not a child anymore…”

The shame, something that would not be dispelled even if the two of them were alone, was felt even more acutely under the doctor’s and Kyosuke’s gazes, sending a flush up his cheeks. Kyosuke could not tear his eyes away from the sight. He was perplexed by the situation.

The expression in his eyes, which he could perceive behind the glasses worn by Reito was more or less alike enough to remind him of his blood relationship with Yuu, and he felt as if he ought not to step in.

“…”

Even though Kyosuke was uncertain how to respond to the seemingly excessive level of touching, he was unable to voice his opinion.

“From my perspective, Yuu is a lovely child… but it’s been 5 years since we last met… when you turned 17. Besides being adorable, you’ve grown to be beautiful.”

Reito casually mentioned words that invoke the other party’s shame. Unable to tolerate it any further, Yuu’s eyelid was downcast and his long eyelashes trembled. When he finally detached from his cheek, he now proceeded to stroke and gently pinch his white right cheek.

The doctor, who had been present up to that point, for some reason gave a small bow to Kyosuke as if to say, ‘Excuse me,’ and left the hospital room, while being cautious not to make a sound with his footsteps.

“… S-Stop it!”

“!”

Kyosuke, who was watching the doctor leave, immediately shifted his gaze back to the two when he caught the sudden rise of Yuu’s feeble cry. There, Yuu was pressing down on the bandage covering his left eye with a trembling left hand, and Reito had a startled expression on his face.

“No, don’t take it off… don’t take it off…”

Apparently, Reito was trying to get Yuu to reveal his eye. Seemingly not wishing to be exposed to the post-operative scars, Yuu stubbornly refused to remove the bandages.

“What are you worried about? It’s okay, let me see.”

“… I… I am sorry…”

When Yuu, who appeared to be growing more and more intimidated with each word from Reito, in a fading voice, he apologized, and the other party was momentarily silent before gently stroking his cheeks.

“I see, I get it. I’m sorry for being unreasonable.”

“Yeah… it’s okay…”

With Reito who was so extremely tender throughout, Yuu exhaled slowly and nodded his head, as if somewhat relieved.

“Um, you must be Kyosuke, right?”

While asking this question, Reito stood up and directed his attention to Kyosuke. As the other person smiled serenely at him, Kyosuke nodded, inwardly wondering what he would be told.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I appreciate you looking after him, thank you. I’ll take Yuu home with me, don’t worry.”

“…”

No malice could be read in his facial expression. However, the gentle tone of the other’s voice was somewhat frightening. Kyosuke gulped down his saliva and waited for the words to follow, bearing a sense of caution. While retaining a soft expression on his face, Reito squatted down and gently caressed Yuu’s hair with the palm of his hand.

“I’m planning to let him stay at my parents’ home for a while. Wouldn’t you feel more comfortable that way, Yuu?”

“T-That’s…”

Without taking Yuu seriously, Reito faced Kyosuke again.

“Since that is the case, Kyosuke, would it be fine if I give you a lift while I’m at it?”

Upon being asked this, Kyosuke turned his gaze to Yuu once, but the other person was looking up at him as if to observe the expression on Reito’s face. While forming fists with both of his lowered hands and suppressing his emotions, he cast down his eyelids once, regulated his breathing, and stared at Reito with a composed look on his face.

“… Yes. I understand.”

Hearing his answer, the corners of Reito’s mouth pursed with joy. If he looked down to the bed, he would see an uneasy expression on Yuu’s face, but Kyosuke only smiled faintly and nodded, offering no further comment. From Reito’s kindness, he sensed something beyond affection. That was obvious to Kyosuke when he glanced at the way Yuu acted.

It was a strained decision that he reached after fearing that he might cause something to happen if he refuted him.