Yuichi had broken the silence, but Kanae didn’t understand the words. He looked a little confused. Yuichi noticed this immediately and laughed. “Or…do you want to bathe together? Actually, we don’t have to take a bath at all. It’s more dirty that way.”

Kanae finally realized that Yuichi was talking about the shower. Kanae, hoping that he wouldn’t blush or look too distressed, spoke slowly. “Well, I’ll go first.”

“Okay. Use any of the towels in there.”

“All right.” Kanae had stayed over at Yuichi’s house before, so he knew how to use his shower. Kanae retreated to the bathroom and, when he was safely alone, pressed a towel to his face.

Oh god, I’m so embarrassed! So embarrassed!

Embarrassed about everything. That he was going to have sex. That he was showering so that he could have sex. That after he had showered he would head towards the bed. It was making him blush with shame. But he was the one who proposed it. He wanted to do it with Yuichi. When he had stayed the night previously, he spent much of his time watching the sleeping Yuichi, imagining what it would be like to gently kiss him. When they had jokingly play-fought, he had thought what it would be like if he was able to hold him. And it wasn’t just that night—he thought about these things regularly.

So he just couldn’t be embarrassed. Yuichi thought that Kanae had done this all before, so he had to keep up the façade.

He showered at the speed of light and then wrapped the bath towel round his waist as he left the bathroom. This was likely what people did in situations like these, he thought. He passed through the living room towards the bedroom. Yuichi’s family was pretty rich, and so he had a two-bedroom apartment all to himself.

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” he said, entering the bedroom. Yuichi got up from the bed and stared hard at Kanae.

“Wh-what?”

Kanae instinctively looked down at his own body. What was wrong? Had he forgotten to wash some soap off?

“No, I was just thinking about how perfect you are. It’s so sexy. I can understand why everyone wants you.” Yuichi stood up and gently stroked his fingers through Kanae’s wet locks. “Why do you want to do it with me?”

“What?”

Kanae’s heart was racing, the heavy drumming almost echoing in his ears. He prayed that Yuichi couldn’t hear it and continued on casually, as if it were nothing. “I’m just taking your lead. You said that anyone would do, so I thought it might as well be me.”

“So if someone other than me told you they needed a screw, you’d give yourself to them too?”

“Well, I didn’t say that…” If he told Yuichi the truth, then it would be obvious that Kanae had feelings for him. Unsure of what to say, Yuichi just shrugged his shoulders.

“Whatever. Lucky. Kanae, you’re so beautiful. Gorgeous, even. I’m going to take a quick shower so wait for me. I want you on the bed when I get back.”