“Did I have to be your lover? Idiot. I was the one who wanted it.”

“…but someone slow like me… I couldn’t understand how you felt, and then I hurt you. How can you be ok with that?”

“You’re always here though, always gentle. When you’re here, I can relax. You accepted me for who I am, even the bad parts. You like all of me right?” Yuichi made Kanae look at him. “That’s why I want you. So tell me. Tell me now.”

“I love you.”

The tears bubbled up again. All the tears he had never cried came out now.

“I like you. I love you. Please let’s be lovers!”

“Of course. I feel the same.”

“I’m going to be the only one, right?”

“Of course. No worries. I only love you.”

“Only want me.”

“I’m only going to want you.”

“And not cheat?”

“Nope. Never. I’ll only get a hard-on for you.”

“…always? It’s always going to be like that.”

The tears were flowing like a waterfall now. Yuichi wiped them away with his hand.

“…it hurt so much.”

“You can say it as much as you want now.”

Yuichi stroked Kanae’s back as he sobbed.

“You can be selfish, or jealous, I want all of you. I love you, will you say it again?”

“…I love you.”

Yuichi planted a kiss on him.

A soft kiss.

Even just their lips touching sent shivers down his spine.

“I like you. I love you.”

Each time Kanae told him, Yuichi kissed him.

At first it had been gentle, but it grew increasingly intense.

“Shall we make love?” Yuichi whispered. Kanae nodded.

“…I want to. I want you to make love to me.”

“I’m going to be gentle.”

Yuichi blew air kisses at him.

“Let’s show the heavens.”

“This is already heaven.” Kanae opened his eyes and smiled. “As long as I’m in your arms, I am in heaven.”

“You are something else.” Yuichi flicked Kanae’s forehead.

“You’re always so sweet. It always makes me crazy for you. I bet you didn’t know that?” Yuichi winked and lifted Kanae up in his arms. Then jokingly, he said, “Well, then princess, welcome to the bed.”

Kanae clung to Yuichi for all that he was worth. He kissed Yuichi’s neck. Yuichi’s face was a picture of happiness.

“Oh and who was that girl…?”

As Yuichi removed his clothes, Kanae couldn’t help but inquire. Yuichi kissed him.

“My ex-girlfriend from high school.”

There was a sudden ache of pain in his heart. But he didn’t hide it. He looked at Yuichi with the tears welling in his eyes.

“…did you?”

“No, we didn’t, I told you already! Come on, believe me.”

“But you looked so happy with her.”

“It’s been a while. It was just good to catch up.”

“Yuichi, you looked so happy. Did you love her?”

“Her…yeah… probably, at one time. She’s the one I dated the longest and it was nice to hear how she was doing.”

“Why did you meet up? Just bumped into her?”