Even so, we are living in the present

Chapter 48 – Kindred Spirits

The atmosphere among the four of them faded after listening to Kouki’s story, but as the meal was served, their expressions loosened up as they nodded to each other and agreed that the food was delectable. When it comes to satisfying one’s appetite, apparently, a sense of happiness can be felt in no small measure.

“Ah, that’s right…”

Amidst all this, Kouki muttered as if he had been reminded of something. Each of the three people cast their gaze in a uniform manner. It appeared that he had purchased something at the souvenir shop, and he opened a paper bag that had been left by his side and reached his hand into it.

“Here you go…”

“…!”

“Oh, that.”

Upon the sight of the item that was retrieved, Kyosuke’s expression distinctly twitched, and Yuu pointed at it.

“Sonohara is wearing white cat ears, so I figured Ichinose might need some matching ones…”

Assuming that Kyosuke would be pleased, Kouki offered a soft smile and presented the item he had purchased at the souvenir shop to him.

It was a black cat ears headband, the one that Yuu had persistently asked for but Kyosuke adamantly refused, ultimately leading him not to buy it. Now that he was about to accept it, it was frightening to check how happy Yuu was looking at him. Despite desperately struggling to smile, it was extremely awkward and only the corners of one side of his mouth lifted.

“A-Ah… thanks…”

After receiving it from Kouki’s hand, the three gazes were now concentrated on Kyosuke. All five eyes were penetrating.

“… This must be a lie, right?”

Even though the trio did not say anything, they all wore the same look as if they wanted to say the same thing. At last, Kyosuke forgot to put on a smile and his complexion grew bitter, even breaking out in a cold sweat down his spine.

Do I have to wear it here and now?

If the other party had been Yuu, he could have refused, but this was given to him by an honest and brave junior.

“…”

Since he couldn’t turn it down, Kyosuke reluctantly attached it to his head. His gaze fell to the table, where his face was slowly rising in shame.

“I’m glad you’re pleased, Kyosuke.”

Kouki’s face smiled even more softly. It seemed that Kyosuke’s expression, which had been so twitchy, appeared otherwise to the other party.

Do I look pleased…? That is serious. I suggest you see an ophthalmologist.

Although the focus of his embarrassment fell on Kouki, he kept it to himself, unable to mention it out loud.

“Yeah, thanks… I-I am happy…”

“That’s a relief… I’m glad to hear that too.”

Speaking out what he doesn’t mean is not Kyosuke’s forte. Even so, when he showed his emotions by posing them in an exceedingly natural way, Kouki took this as a straightforward meaning and joyously nodded his head.

“Kyosuke, it suits you.”

“…”

At Yuu’s remark, delivered in a nonchalant voice, Kyosuke simply kept silent and glanced at him resentfully, but swiftly shifted his gaze to Kouki and spoke up.

“I should reciprocate in some way.”

His position as a senior member would be in jeopardy from having Kouki treat him to a meal and souvenir constantly.

“Oh, no, don’t worry about it. I have plenty of money.”

Kouki hastily shook his head and released a laugh along with his self-mocking words.

“… My parents think that as long as they give me money, the child will be happy.”

Listening to what was spoken in a slightly waning tone of voice, Kyosuke arched his eyebrows and adopted a serious expression.

“But things that can’t be bought with money are supposed to be the utmost valuable… ah, I’m sorry. I just make the atmosphere darker. Um…”

Kouki hurriedly apologized for the atmosphere of the place fading again and tried to shift the subject, but Kyosuke’s expression remained the same.

We’re alike…

Because of the overlap with his own circumstances, Kyosuke’s expression was earnest, as if he was no stranger to the issue.

“I guess Kyosuke is in the same situation.”

“…!”

The three gazes fell on Yuu, who muttered in an emotionless tone of voice.

“Yuu…”

“Since we have heard his story, why don’t you tell it to them?”

When he attempted to restrain him from exposing his circumstances, the words were returned to him as if he had made a preemptive move. His partner’s right eye, fixed on Kyosuke, would not let him go.

“I understand…”

While averting his eyes as if to escape, he nodded his head, believing that Yuu had a point. Turning his gaze to Kouki, the other man asked, “What’s wrong?” with the corner of his mouth turned up and his head tilted. Kyosuke’s response was also very strong-willed, and he was ready to share his feelings honestly.

“I don’t know if I can put them together… but my parents are also the kind of people who just leave money behind and neglect me. Ever since childhood, I was brought up in Yuu’s house.”

When people recount their unpleasant pasts, it seems that a self-mocking laugh inevitably accompanies them. Kyosuke was no exception, and after speaking candidly, he dropped his gaze and let out a small, dry laugh.

“Ichinose…”

Kyosuke lifted his gaze to look at the person in front of him. As their gazes intersected, Kouki’s brow furrowed, his lower lip chewed, and both eyes moistened.

“Sakura…?”

When Kyosuke asked him with a puzzled look in his eyes what was going on, Kouki rubbed his eyes lightly with his own sleeve.

“Even such a thing has happened to you… I’m sorry, I thought I am an isolated person…”

For some reason, he started crying as he assembled an apology. Not expecting the other person to start crying because of what he had disclosed, Kyosuke was struck with a terrible sense of panic.

“You made him cry.”

“Is it okay for a senior to make a junior cry?”

Both Yuu and Tsuzuki shot contemptuous glances at him as they thrust similar lines into his direction. Leaving no room for excuses for Kyosuke, he shook his head frantically, trying to at least appeal to the fact that this was not his own doing.

“No, wait… hey, why are you crying…?”

He rose from his seat and gently hit the other person’s shoulder across the table.

“Thank you for reminding me that I’m not the only one who has been lonesome…”

When he heard the words spoken in a tearful voice, as if to say, “Because I’m happy,” Kyosuke’s expression, which had previously been filled with a tinge of impatience, suddenly relaxed peacefully.

“… It’s okay, go ahead and cry. You don’t have to force yourself to laugh. Just smile genuinely in front of those who understand and cherish you, and that will be good enough.”

Those words were spontaneous for Kyosuke himself, who has never revealed his circumstances to anyone and has lived his entire life suppressing these emotions.