When Ryosuke woke up, he was in Sakusa's bedroom. Sakusa was already gone.
After a single nap, he felt inexplicably exhausted. He had no idea why.
Still groggy, he pushed back the covers and fumbled for his phone.
"Ah… it's already past three."
There was a message from Sakusa.
Clean Freak: I went to training at school. Done at five. The keys are on the dining table. There are snacks in the fridge. Your dirty clothes are in the washing machine—hang them up yourself.
Next time you come over drenched in sweat without changing, don't bother coming.
Ryosuke grinned at the message. He rolled back into the blankets, wriggling around before burying his face deep in them and taking a big breath of Sakusa's scent.
His words might not have been gentle, but he'd still honestly washed all of Ryosuke's clothes.
Ryosuke suddenly felt like some kind of creep and flushed bright red.
Barefoot and still drowsy, he got out of bed to wash up.
He bounced over to the mirror in Sakusa's room and admired himself, turning left and right.
This outfit had been picked by Sakusa, but the style was completely Ryosuke's—colorful and lively. The pale blue fabric was embroidered with large hydrangeas, all done by hand, exquisitely detailed. The neckline dipped low enough to reveal his collarbone, and the sleeves were scattered with tiny gradient blossoms. It suited him perfectly.
It was fine when he didn't think too much about it, but the moment he did, the bedroom suddenly felt eerie. As if something were staring at him. A chill crept up his back.
Uneasy, he quickly finished dressing, grabbed the keys, and hurried out.
He made his way to the Itachiyama gymnasium. The noisy sounds of practice drifting from inside finally steadied his nerves.
"Volleyball gods, please protect me!"
From a distance, he spotted Sakusa training. Not wanting to disturb him, Ryosuke found a seat off to the side and watched quietly.
Sakusa had noticed him the moment he came in. He'd been casually bouncing the ball, and an almost imperceptible smile tugged at his lips. Then he resumed his bafflingly intense routine from the morning, increasing the speed of his sets little by little. When that drill ended, he moved straight into spikes.
He forcefully compressed two hours of practice into an hour and a half, utterly disregarding the well-being of his teammates.
Komori let out a long, ghostly sigh, openly condemning his cousin's inhumane behavior.
Sakusa paid no attention. Once practice ended, he went straight to shower, leaving behind a group of teammates who had been smashed to pieces by his spikes.
Kishimoto miserably rubbed his arm, sniffling loudly. He'd applied ointment in the morning, and by afternoon it had been battered off by volleyballs again.
Nishio patted his shoulder in consolation. "It's fine. He'll be back to normal tomorrow."
Kishimoto: "Waaaah—"
When Ryosuke saw Sakusa approaching, he excitedly ran up, grabbed his shirt, and launched into a torrent of complaints.
"Sakusa, your house is so weird! I just took a nap and somehow my lip's split, there are red marks on my waist, and I'm exhausted for no reason. Is there something… unclean at your place? It's so scary!"
He was too busy talking to notice the flicker of unnatural tension in Sakusa's eyes.
As he spoke, he started lifting his shirt to show the "evidence."
Sakusa's brow twitched. Quick as lightning, he pressed the shirt back down before it could rise too high.
"It's nothing… probably my bed's too hard. And your lip? You probably grind your teeth in your sleep."
Just like that, he firmly pinned the blame on Ryosuke's teeth-grinding.
In truth, Sakusa had been feeling guilty all afternoon.
When he'd seen Ryosuke sleeping so deeply, he couldn't even tell whether the emotion flooding him was regret or something else entirely.
He'd practically fled to take another cold shower.
Thinking about it now, yes—he'd definitely been feeling guilty.
Composing himself, Sakusa reached out and ruffled Ryosuke's hair, his voice gentle.
"It's fine. You've lived at my place for years without any issues, right? Don't overthink it. Aren't you going back to the main house to see your brother? Want me to take you?"
The innocent Ryosuke was instantly distracted. Sakusa quietly let out a breath.
"Oh right, I have to go back. No need to send me—you've got stuff tonight, don't you?"
Sakusa nodded as he walked him out. "There's a meeting tonight. IH's coming up. Coach is setting our next target."
Ryosuke happily swung their joined hands. "You'll definitely be fine at Regionals. We'll see you at IH—don't get knocked out before that!"
Sakusa looked at him with a faint smile in his eyes. His voice was so gentle it barely sounded like him.
"Okay."
Like a breeze brushing past, soft and light against Ryosuke's thoughts.
Outside the school gates, Matsukawa's car was already waiting. Reluctantly, Ryosuke let go.
"It's a promise. IH. Whoever doesn't make it is a puppy."
"Okay." Just a simple word, but from Sakusa, it carried no hint of perfunctory dismissal.
He rubbed his fingers lightly, still lingering with the warmth of Ryosuke's palm.
Ryosuke waved with a grin. "I'm heading off. I'll text you later!"
The car slowly drove away. Sakusa stood there for a long time, staring in the direction Ryosuke had left. On his usually cool, detached face, there was a faint trace of reluctance.
The gentle breeze felt lonely again…
He walked home slowly. The house that once felt just right now seemed especially empty. Every corner of it had once been filled with Ryosuke's presence and laughter.
Now, it felt unfamiliar.
Entering the bedroom, he looked at the messy pile of blankets. For once, his cleanliness obsession didn't flare up. Instead, he smiled faintly. Of course that lazy guy hadn't folded them.
The next second, he threw himself onto the bed, burying his face in the covers, breathing deeply as if Ryosuke's scent still lingered there—only making it more intoxicating.
...
In the car, Matsukawa glanced at sir in the back seat, hesitating, unsure how to begin.
As a butler, he shouldn't pry into his master's affairs. But if he didn't clarify this… If the eldest sir found out a man had been holding the younger sir's hand, he might go mad.
Ryosuke, playing with a Rubik's Cube, glanced at him and pouted. "If you've got something to say, just say it. Stop looking at me like that."
Matsukawa coughed awkwardly. "That person just now…?"
Ryosuke suddenly understood. "Oh, that's Sakusa. When I was little, Dad sent me to live at his house."
Realization dawned on Matsukawa. No wonder he looked familiar—he was Sakusa's son.
That eased his mind. Sakusa was practically someone Matsukawa had watched grow up. The boy had always been mature beyond his years, carrying the most natural air of leadership among their circle. When they were young, he'd treated the smaller kids like younger brothers.
Matsukawa relaxed further. And besides, that kid had a cleanliness obsession.
Thinking of that, he stopped worrying entirely.
[Komori: Clean freak? What clean freak? Schrödinger's clean freak? (muttering angrily)]
The car pulled into the estate as dusk fell. Matsukawa led the way while Ryosuke walked with his head down, texting Washijō.
Entering the dining hall, Ryosuke found Keigo Atobe already waiting. He flashed a bright smile.
"Brother, I'm back!"
Keigo nodded in satisfaction. Finally remembered to come see me.
"Welcome home. Sit down and eat first."
"Whoa!! There's sashimi today!"
Keigo chuckled. He'd known Ryosuke would love it. The kid trained so hard every day—of course he should eat something good.
Ryosuke happily pulled out a chair and sat down.
The two brothers chatted as they ate, Matsukawa standing nearby, attending to them.
The sashimi melted in Ryosuke's mouth, rich and smooth. His eyes nearly closed in bliss. Then he noticed a plate of sushi at the side of the table and brightened.
He stretched out his arm to grab it.
Today, I'll just relax. Starting tomorrow, these good days are over.
Keigo had been watching him with a smile, finding him adorable.
Until Ryosuke's movement tugged at his collar, exposing the mark on his neck.
In an instant, Keigo's face darkened.
Ryosuke didn't understand—but as the older brother, Keigo understood perfectly.
His teeth clenched. Fury surged to his head. His whole body trembled as he nearly snapped the chopsticks in his hand. He was just about to explode when he forced himself to stop, afraid of scaring Ryosuke.
Matsukawa glanced at the suddenly grim-faced eldest sir.
Matsukawa: Is sir going through menopause again?
Keigo swiftly smoothed his expression and asked gently,
"What did you do today? Tell me about it."
Ryosuke, ever honest, answered straightforwardly.
"Today I went to Itachiyama to see Sakusa. He used to come to our house for tutoring when we were little—his surname's Sakusa, he's Mr. Sakusa's son. I watched their training, then we went shopping! I bought so many clothes, all different colors! Sakusa even carried my bags."
Keigo continued evenly, "And then? What did you eat for lunch?"
Growing more animated, Ryosuke bounced slightly in his seat. "He took me to a new sushi place at noon. It was so good! I ate too much and got stuffed. Sakusa even rubbed my stomach for me. He's really nice."
"Is that so?" Keigo's expression shifted subtly.
This fool doesn't even realize he's being taken advantage of. Idiot. How did I end up with such a clueless little brother? Did our mother give all the brains to me?
"And the afternoon? I stay home every day. I like hearing about your friends."
Encouraged, Ryosuke chattered on for over ten minutes.
In those ten minutes, Keigo learned that his brother had taken a nap at that dog's house at noon—and that the man had even…!
Veins bulged at his temples. In just a few days, someone was already trying to snatch his brother away!
Forcing himself calm, he turned back to Ryosuke, who was nearly finished eating.
"Go take a shower after you're done. You've been running around all day. You're sweaty."
Ryosuke grinned. "Hehe, okay! I'll go now!"
He left carefree.
He scratched his head. Brother looked a little off just now… He sneaked another glance back.
Everything looked normal.
Must've imagined it.
The moment the door closed behind him, Keigo's face turned completely black. He slowly loosened his grip—the chopsticks in his hand had already snapped cleanly in two.
(Keigo Atobe: Now that's what you call a perfect expression switch.)
Matsukawa stood stiffly to the side, barely daring to breathe. The silence grew oppressive, broken only by the distant chirping of cicadas and croaking of frogs.
After a long while, the sharp crash of shattering glass filled the hall, breaking the suffocating stillness.
Keigo smashed the glass in his hand to the floor, teeth bared.
"Investigate! Who exactly is that Sakusa brat? He's got some nerve, laying hands on my brother! And check Ryosuke's schedule today. Get me the mall surveillance photos!"
Even Matsukawa pieced it together now—the careful probing at dinner, the marks he'd glimpsed.
"Yes."
Matsukawa: I know too many secrets in this household. Am I going to be silenced? (Terrified)
Keigo sank back into his chair, closing his eyes, heart aching and furious all at once.
It felt like someone had stolen something precious right out from under his nose.
Their parents had died early. He'd raised that fair, soft little kid with his own hands. And now, out of nowhere, some shameless bastard had set his sights on him.
For the first time, Keigo truly understood why his business partners would grit their teeth when talking about their daughters dating.
If Ryosuke were a girl, that man would already be finished.
After a while, Matsukawa returned with a stack of photos, hands trembling.
"Get over here!"
He handed them over, then wisely retreated.
The photos showed Ryosuke and Sakusa holding hands while shopping… Sakusa with an arm around his shoulder… a few hugs.
Honestly, they looked like normal friendly gestures.
Keigo tore the photos to pieces and slammed his palm on the table.
"Contact Mr. Sakusa. Tell him—… Forget it. After Ryosuke leaves, I'll go see that man myself!"
He left the dining hall, fury radiating from him.
A perfect misunderstanding.
The noble, refined head of the household now carried a distinctly fiery edge.
Matsukawa had the table cleared, secretly gloating. So this is what the end of the world looks like for a brother-obsessed man. Poor eldest sir.
Meanwhile, freshly showered and lying in bed playing on his phone, Ryosuke knew nothing of the storm brewing.
He happily texted Sakusa.
Cat Hero: I had super delicious sashimi tonight! What about you?
Clean Freak: Just about to eat.
Clean Freak: [Image]
Sakusa started eating his noodles, but suddenly his right eyelid twitched.
An ominous feeling crept in.
He replayed the day in his mind. Nothing should've happened—except Ryosuke going home tonight.
Clean Freak: You wore the outfit I picked, right?
On the other side, Ryosuke happily typed away. Among all the clothes he bought today, aside from the hoodie, the blue one was definitely the prettiest.
Cat Hero: Yeah! It looks amazing!
Sakusa paused.
He remembered the mark he'd accidentally left on the back of Ryosuke's neck last night…
It should be fine. Just a mosquito bite.
Unless someone looked closely.
His phone suddenly felt hot in his hand.
He really hadn't meant to. If he hadn't been annoyed by that "mosquito," he wouldn't have touched him. Now there was a mark left behind.
He couldn't clearly remember what Ryosuke's brother looked like now—but back when they were kids, he'd been the textbook definition of a brother-obsessive.
When Komori secretly held Ryosuke's hand, he'd been caught and beaten until both eyes were bruised.
…Maybe I should move first.
Sakusa seriously considered it.
After thinking for a moment, he stood up and called his father.
Far away on a business trip overseas, Mr. Sakusa felt a headache coming on the moment he saw his son's name on the screen.
This child only calls when something's wrong.
Night deepened.
Looking at the moon outside the window, Sakusa found he'd lost his appetite entirely.
He didn't regret it at all.
He just didn't know whether Keigo Atobe had said anything to Ryosuke.
Given his personality, probably not.
Hopefully his dad would come through…
It was a sleepless night for Sakusa.
Meanwhile, Ryosuke slept especially well.
Even his legs didn't ache that night.
He woke up bright and refreshed.
...
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