Hot, lingering kisses - fierce yet impossibly gentle - leave trails of warmth along his neck and collarbone before continuing lower, branding their desire across his chest, where his heart pounds wildly beneath them.

His mind drifts in a hazy fog.

Sweat dampens his body. Every touch carries the scorching heat of those large, rough hands, making him feel strangely unfamiliar with himself. Something inside him grows greedy. He wants more - more touches, more of that warmth.

Takemichi can't control himself.

This intense, burning, untamed feeling is desire.

That person holds him close, longs for him, is utterly consumed by him. Skin brushes against skin. Deep, passionate kisses taste sweeter than any candy he has ever had. The sensation of soft lips and tongues entwining makes him feel as if he's melting within those warm arms.

At this moment, Takemichi only wants to sink deeper into those feelings.

He doesn't have to think about anything anymore.

No worries linger.

There is only the comfort of being cherished, only the sweetness lingering on his lips, only that tingling, dizzying sensation - as though he's floating high above the clouds.

After all, how many people can truly resist the allure of forbidden fruit?

This is still better than hurting himself.

Curling up in someone else's warmth is still better than carrying those wounds alone.

"Takemitchy... I love you."

That low, gentle voice echoes through his dream, carrying both love and despair.

Takemichi slowly opens his eyes.

He has no idea how long he's been asleep, nor does he clearly remember what happened. His head throbs, heavy and sluggish. It takes him a while to regain his bearings and become aware of his surroundings.

Then he realizes he's drunk.

But how the hell did he even get drunk?

And apparently... he just dreamed about something.

Takemichi slaps his own cheek, trying to wake himself up completely. Yet the dream still feels unbelievably real.

I've lost it.

Oh my God.

What the hell was that?!

Now it's just him alone in Draken's room. After fumbling around for a while, Takemichi finally finds his phone. The moment he checks the time, panic shoots through him.

He comes to Draken's place in the morning, and now it's already three in the afternoon.

While he's still trying to process that, the door opens. Seeing that he's awake, Draken lets out a quiet sigh before speaking.

"So the idiot's finally awake? I thought you'd sleep till evening."

"I... why the hell am I that drunk?"

"Can't really blame you. Those women were messing with you. What you drank was fruit wine. It tastes sweet, but if you've got a low alcohol tolerance, it'll knock you flat in no time. Seriously, though, you finished the whole bottle and never even noticed the alcohol? You're hopeless."

Takemichi squints, groggily trying to absorb the information.

Wait... so they were messing with him for no reason? And why get him drunk in the first place? What exactly do they gain from tricking him into drinking that stuff? Completely baffled, Takemichi fails to notice Draken's gaze lingering on him.

Draken is watching carefully, trying to figure out whether he remembers anything.

After that incident, Draken stays beside him, repeatedly calling out "Takemitchy" while taking care of things himself. In the end, he can only blame his teenage hormones. One time is nowhere near enough.

He washes himself up, wipes Takemichi down, and changes him into a similar shirt, desperately hoping that when the idiot wakes up, he won't remember a thing.

The guilt and fear nearly eat him alive.

After warning his two older sisters, he goes and fixes Takemichi's bike. Then he washes his clothes. After that, he throws himself into one task after another with such a grim expression that everyone in the brothel is visibly intimidated. No one dares ask him a single question.

Only Draken's adoptive father bursts out laughing and remarks that Draken finally stops looking like some prematurely old man and starts acting more like a moody, awkward fifteen- or sixteen-year-old boy.

Hearing that, Draken honestly has no idea how to respond.

The only reason he's able to sit here facing Takemichi and act completely normal is because he's pouring every ounce of his self-control into the performance.

And inwardly, he breathes a sigh of relief when the idiot seems to remember nothing at all.

And more importantly, while he's helping Takemichi clean up, Draken notices something.

Draken walks over to the bed and sits down.

"Takemitchy..."

"Hm?"

Takemichi immediately senses something different about him. Draken seems unusually quiet, careful with his words.

"The scars on your arms..."

The moment he hears that, Takemichi understands. His drowsiness vanishes instantly. Startled, he leans back and wraps his arms around himself.

For the past few days, he's been doing everything he can to hide them. That's why he keeps wearing long sleeves, even at home. Earlier, when he borrows one of Draken's shirts, he specifically chooses a three-quarter-sleeve one that is long enough to cover the marks.

How does Draken notice?

Confused, Takemichi doesn't have the mind to think about that right now.

"Those are..."

He hesitates, unsure how to explain. This is exactly why he never wants anyone to find out. He truly doesn't want to see everyone worrying about him anymore. He's already caused them enough trouble.

"Takemichi, you don't have to get so tense. If you don't want to tell me, I won't force you."

Takemichi merely presses his lips together and stays silent. He looks at Draken for a moment before lowering his gaze again. Even if he laughs it off now, he knows Draken will only look at him with concern.

I never want to become this weak.

Whenever things like this happen, that familiar feeling of self-loathing rises inside him again.

The room falls into silence.

After a while, Draken's deep, steady voice breaks through it.

"When I first hear that you're dealing with depression, I honestly can't believe it. Me, and everyone else too. We all think, How can Takemitchy possibly have depression? It sounds ridiculous. But afterward, I realize how narrow-minded that way of thinking is. And I realize... I don't really understand you at all."

Takemichi lifts his head to look at him.

There is sadness in Draken's eyes.But they are still fixed on him with nothing but warmth and gentleness. There is no blame. No pity. Just the same gaze Draken has always given him.

Something stirs in Takemichi's chest.

"Takemitchy, depression doesn't mean you're weak. To me, you're one of the strongest people I know. But we're all just ordinary people, aren't we? We're all carrying things inside us that we don't know how to deal with. And you... you're always so afraid of making other people worry about you that you keep everything bottled up. No matter what happens, you carry it all by yourself and never tell anyone."

The people who are most vulnerable to falling into that state are often the ones who don't know how to release their emotions.

The ones who rarely confide in others.

The ones who keep absorbing every negative feeling and locking it away inside themselves.

Little by little, those emotions sink deeper into the mind until they eventually drag a person into an abyss of mental anguish.

Draken reaches over and gently ruffles his hair. Then he takes hold of the hand that once shielded him from a knife. The scar remains there. Perhaps it will never truly fade. It is proof of the bond between them.

Draken doesn't fall in love with Takemichi at first sight. He's not like Mikey, who notices right away that Takemichi is special and becomes drawn to him from the very beginning. Instead, Takemichi slowly takes over his life. Little by little, countless moments appear - moments where this boy shakes Draken's entire world. This scar is one of them. The moment Draken sees himself reflected in those eyes is another. Somewhere along the way, he falls for him.

Without even realizing it, Takemichi steals his heart. His feelings grow day after day, so naturally that even Draken himself fails to notice just how deep they've become.

This scar reminds him of something else, too. That he is supposed to protect Takemichi. Yet somehow, it is always the one thing he keeps failing to do.

Takemichi doesn't intend to cry. He truly doesn't. But Draken's words suddenly make his chest tighten with a sharp, aching pain. It's strange. He knows these are sincere words of comfort from someone he treasures deeply. Yet for some reason, they hurt so much. A pain whose source he can't even understand.

He lowers his face into the pillow, hiding himself as tears threaten to spill over. Meanwhile, the warmth of Draken's hands continues to soothe him. To soothe his wounded heart.

If one day all of this disappears...

If one day I can no longer feel this warmth...

Then I definitely won't be able to keep living.

The thought suddenly crosses his mind.

More and more, he craves love.

More and more, he longs for the warmth of others.

He never wants to return to the cold, lonely life he once had.

But he's still like this.

And there are still so many things left unresolved...

In the end, Takemichi realizes that he is still afraid. Afraid of the future. Afraid of fate. He wants to grasp it with both hands and control it himself, but what can an ordinary person like him possibly do?

No.

That's wrong.

He's not even ordinary.

He's a pathetic loser who can't do anything right.

I can't even control myself. How am I supposed to control my own fate... or anyone else's?

"Takemitchy, I'd do anything for you. I'll always be here whenever you need me. And when the day comes that you're ready... tell me what's in your heart, okay? Maybe there's not much I can do. But I'll do everything I can."

Draken reaches out and gently pulls away the arms hiding Takemichi's tear-stained face.

Slowly, Takemichi raises his head.

"Takemitchy."

Once again, Draken calls his name with a fond smile.

Looking at the face turned toward him like that, Takemichi suddenly wants to hold onto his hand.

Draken is always like this. Always acting like the dependable older brother. Always guiding him, looking after him, taking care of him. Draken is mature. Thoughtful. Gentle. Whenever Takemichi stands beside him, he always feels protected. Pampered, even.

He truly loves being cared for by him like this.

"Draken-kun... thank you."

Takemichi smiles through his tears. It's not forced. He is genuinely grateful. Grateful to Draken. Grateful to everyone who has cared about him and stayed by his side all this time. Now, unlike before, he no longer feels alone in this world.

And that's why...

No matter what price I have to pay, I'll protect all of them. No matter what.

The time after that, Draken starts acting more and more like a caretaker. He doesn't nag the way he usually does. Instead, he simply tells Takemichi that if he ever feels uncomfortable again, he should call him, and he'll take him anywhere he wants to go. He'll buy him whatever he likes, too. And if he ever feels like scratching or tearing into something, Draken jokingly - yet somehow seriously - offers his own arm and promises not to complain.

After hearing all that, Takemichi almost wants to punch him.

"Does it hurt a lot?"

"It stings a little, that's all. Honestly... I didn't want to do it either."

Draken says nothing.

His long fingers lightly brush over the scratches that have already turned purple. Some of the smaller wounds look deeper and have started to scab over. Takemichi finds himself staring intently at Draken as the older boy fusses over his arm with obvious concern.

Something quietly slips into his chest.

It isn't just warmth.

Suddenly, Takemichi remembers the dream from earlier. The low, husky voice calling his name with unbearable tenderness. The soft lips. The sweetness of those kisses that seem to linger on his tongue even now. The eyes overflowing with affection, filled with nothing but him.

The person in that dream... kind of looks like Draken.

Takemichi, are you insane? What the hell are you thinking?

His face instantly bursts into flames.

Every place Draken touches starts feeling hot as well, carrying the same burning sensation from his dream.

Draken suddenly feels Takemichi tense beneath his hands.

When he looks up, Takemichi has already turned his face away, though the bright red tips of his ears remain impossible to miss.

Draken begins feeling that something isn't quite right either.

A little flustered, he gently sets Takemichi's arm down and does his best to act normal. As long as he acts natural enough, Takemichi probably won't notice anything.

"You're probably hungry. I'll go get you something to eat. Your bike's fixed too. If you feel like it later, we can take a ride. I washed your clothes as well. They're still drying, but they should be ready by the time you finish eating."

Takemichi immediately nods.

He doesn't notice that Draken is practically making an escape so he can cool his own head off.

The moment Draken leaves, Takemichi starts rolling back and forth across the bed, nearly tying himself into knots.

This is bad.

Even if he's a teenage boy overflowing with hormones, he really shouldn't be having romantic dreams about his best friend. And that friend is a guy. A huge guy over six feet tall. This is seriously not okay.

Takemichi buries his face in the pillow.

The strong, warm scent that belongs to Draken instantly floods his senses.

A few highly inappropriate images pop back into his head, accompanied by the restless heat spreading through his body. He bolts upright and smacks both cheeks hard.

Get it together, man!

Did getting his kiss stolen by another guy somehow mess him up?

But back then, he was definitely scared...

Takemichi glances down at himself.

Draken's T-shirt hangs almost past his thighs and is ridiculously oversized on him. The difference in their builds is honestly absurd. He looks exactly like one of those girls wearing her boyfriend's shirt.

...Wait.

Why the hell did I think of that?

Takemichi decides to blame the sedatives for making his brain malfunction.

Yeah.

And this next thing too.

Somehow, despite his spinning thoughts, he grabs the collar of the shirt and pulls it up to his nose. Draken's scent mixes with the fabric softener. What brand is this? It smells really good. His heart suddenly skips a beat. For one fleeting moment, he imagines Draken's strong arms wrapped around him. Imagines leaning against his broad chest. Imagines that familiar scent surrounding him completely. At this point, his face physically cannot get any redder.

Someone is definitely in serious trouble.

At the same time, the bedroom door quietly opens.

Draken hasn't even gotten the chance to announce that he's brought lunch - or rather, a very late afternoon meal - before the scene in front of him freezes him in place.

Takemichi is sniffing his shirt. And his face is even redder than when Draken left.

Draken had gone out to cool his head off. Apparently, however, the universe keeps finding new ways to test his limits. The sight hits him like a truck. For a split second, every ounce of the "manly self-control" he prides himself on nearly shatters, and all he wants is to pin that person down again. And if he actually did it this time... It definitely wouldn't stop halfway like before.

Thank God the last thread of his reason hasn't snapped yet.

Takemichi has absolutely no idea that the mature, dependable older-brother figure standing in the doorway is one step away from turning into a predator.

The moment Takemichi realizes he's been caught, however, embarrassment nearly kills him on the spot. His face turns scarlet. His eyes widen in panic as he stares at Draken. He hurriedly lets go of the shirt and starts stammering. The flustered, mortified expression only makes him look even cuter in Draken's eyes. Just one more perfect scene in a day already full of them. Whatever punishment fate decides to hand him for his thoughts today, he's willing to pay it.

"I-I mean... it's just... your shirt smells really good. I... I was only trying to figure out what scent it is."

Takemichi silently prays that Draken doesn't think he's some kind of weirdo. The more he speaks, the quieter he becomes. By the end, the words are barely audible. He presses his lips together and looks at Draken with obvious embarrassment and shy hesitation.

Meanwhile, the other person's mind is currently somewhere far above the clouds, occupied by exactly one thought:

Damn it. I really want to pin him down.

Please stay with me, self-control. I'm begging you. Draken is desperately pleading with his own sanity.

"Oh, we usually use that XX fabric softener at home. Those sisters say they like the smell."

Today, Draken feels like both his self-restraint and acting skills have reached entirely new heights.

Hearing such a normal answer, Takemichi feels as if he's struck gold. Most of his embarrassment immediately melts away.

"Haha, really? Maybe I'll ask my mom to buy that one next time."

"Yeah, if you like it. Now eat. You're probably starving. You haven't eaten anything since this morning."

Meanwhile, Draken is seriously wondering whether he should just send several bags of that fabric softener straight to Takemichi's house.

Takemichi already smells amazing, and Draken genuinely likes his natural scent.

But if Takemichi smelled a little more like him too...

Wouldn't that be even better?

Takemichi's day ends with a stroll around town with Draken, enjoying the evening breeze until night falls. That offhand comment he makes earlier keeps nagging at Draken, to the point where he practically drags him into a supermarket and buys him two packs of the fabric softener he uses himself - the biggest refill packs he can find in the entire store. Takemichi can only laugh helplessly and accept them. Cradling the two bulky packs in his arms, he can't help but sigh. At this amount, he could probably use it to bathe.

After that, Draken buys him a ridiculous amount of snacks. Even though he keeps saying Takemichi should eat proper meals instead of junk food, he still ends up filling a huge bag with every kind of potato chips, chocolate, candy, cookies, and countless other treats.

"This must cost a fortune, Draken-kun."

Takemichi is genuinely worried about his wallet and is half tempted to put everything back on the shelves.

But Draken looks strangely pleased. With a grin that is half teasing and half serious, he says,

"Don't worry. I've got enough money to take care of you."

Takemichi can only smile helplessly and accept it.

Draken walks him home, and the two exchange a few more words before parting.

"Thanks for today. You fixed my bike, and not only do I not do anything to thank you, I even end up receiving a mountain of gifts from you. Let me treat you to something next time, okay?"

At that, Draken's expression immediately turns serious.

"You don't have to be so formal with me, Takemitchy."

"But - "

Draken gently pats his head twice before breaking into a bright smile.

"I do it because I want to. It makes me happy too, so stop acting like you owe me something, idiot."

"Thank you, Draken-kun. For always taking care of me."

Takemichi gives him a gentle smile, his blue eyes shimmering with gratitude and appreciation as he looks at the young man standing before him. He wants to thank him properly, to let him know just how much he appreciates everything.

Once again, Draken loses himself in that soft blue gaze filled with warmth, affection, and sincerity. His heart continues to tremble. The longer this goes on, the more he wants. He wants to stay by Takemichi's side longer.

Just imagining him standing beside another girl and giving his love to someone else already makes his chest tighten.

What is he supposed to do with these feelings?

Draken is no longer confident that he can keep his heart under control.

Looking into Takemichi's eyes as they remain fixed on him, Draken decides to stop worrying about it for now and simply cherish this moment.

Forget it.

No matter what happens, there is nothing wrong with loving the person he loves.

Suddenly, Draken grabs Takemichi's hand and pulls him closer. He lowers his head slightly, closing the distance between them. Takemichi can feel his warm breath brushing against his skin. The gentle smile on Draken's lips sends an unexpected flutter through his heart.

"Takemitchy, I can take care of you for the rest of my life."

Before Takemichi can even process those words, Draken ruffles his hair into a complete mess, flashes him a dazzling grin, says goodbye, and rides off on his bike.

Leaving Takemichi frozen where he stands. Slowly, he raises a hand to his face. He does not even need a mirror to know his cheeks are burning red again.

"I've seriously lost it... damn it."

Why is his heart beating this fast?

The other man is not doing much better. Behind the calm expression on his face, a faint blush spreads across Draken's cheeks as well. The moment he recalls Takemichi's stunned expression - so clueless, so adorable - he cannot stop himself from laughing. And inside his chest, his own heart is pounding just as wildly.

- -------

Author's Note:

If Kokonoi hears Draken say he has enough money to keep Takemichi fed for life, he'd probably be like:

"Move aside, bro. I've got money to spare." 💸✨

Anyway, I'm back after disappearing into the void for a while. It's been so long since I last wrote that getting back into the writing mood feels weirdly difficult. Send help. 😭

Still, no matter how much you guys suffer over this, we should all take a moment to thank Draken for being the first one to accidentally pave the way for Takemichi to get absolutely wrecked by the bisexual agenda.

My Note:

Since so many of you wanted more updates in the poll, here's next month's schedule! 🥳

There'll be extra chapter updates on the 10th and 20th, and the 30th update is still happening as usual.

As for the month after that, I'll announce the schedule later hehe. 💕

Hmm... or maybe I should just stick to updating on the 30th, but release a bigger batch of chapters all at once instead?

P.S. I'll be sticking with the 10th, 20th, and 30th schedule for next month, then! 🥰