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Gentaro can’t quite remember how he found himself mere inches away from Izanami Hifumi’s lips, but the unforgivable truth is that he doesn’t mind. How easy it would be, he can’t help but think as Hifumi draws nearer, to bridge the gap between him and Hifumi. Certainly Gentaro would deny it, but pulling them together is the magnetism of opposing poles. Or perhaps it’s Hifumi himself that is forcing Gentaro to gravitate towards him, much like a wayward meteor to the sun. Powerful as the sun’s gravitational force may be, though, reaching it proves more difficult. After all, grabbing a hold of it will do worse than burn.
So he stops it. Fighting against feelings that have overgrown, an attraction that could not—should not—be, he stops it.
Both a barrier and a mask, Gentaro curtails Hifumi’s trajectory with his notebook. Behind the pages he’s scribbled on, he hides his smile. Gentaro’s amusement when Hifumi recoils from the smack, at least, is genuine.
“Haven’t you ever heard of personal space, Izanami-san?” he says.
How rare it is to witness Izanami Hifumi sputter. The sight of Shinjuku’s Number One Host red-faced and flustered is his privilege. “We~ll, my space is your space! That’s the kinda mood we’re in!”
“‘Mood’?” Gentaro feigns ignorance. “What is this ‘mood’ you speak of?”
“Y’know, the mood! Sparks in the air. You and me. Going for the kiss~”
Gentaro scoffs, more at himself for daring to imagine—to desire. “And why should I kiss you?”
“‘Cause we like each other,” Hifumi says, as simple as that. If only things could be as simple as Hifumi makes things seem. While Hifumi lives his truth like the fool he is, Gentaro can’t afford to be honest.
He can’t be honest.
Which is why he’ll deny that it hurts when he spits out, “Who said I share your feelings?”
Yes, it hurts when Hifumi’s light clouds over. It hurts when Hifumi shrinks back, warmth fading. It hurts when he’s so close yet so far—but none of it matters if Gentaro says it doesn’t matter, so say it he will. Lying has always been Yumeno Gentaro’s forte.
“I’m sorry, Izanami-san, but I’m afraid you’ve misconstrued our relationship.” The words tumble out through the motions, his mouth detached from his voice detached from his heart. “If you have nothing else to discuss, then I’ll be taking my leave.”
He doesn’t give Hifumi the chance to protest. As he turns away, he pretends that he hadn’t seen the tears welling in Hifumi’s eyes. He has to, or else he’ll realize that it’s true that he wants to cry too.