The room is filled with the sounds of quiet breathing, some light snoring, the occasional whisper of a turned body on a futon.Your school’s on a field trip — a traditional inn-style place with tatami floors and paper-thin walls. And you? You're lying on top of Yamato.Your cheek rests lightly on his chest, ear pressed right over his heartbeat. His arms are loosely around you. There's a blanket pulled over both your bodies, hiding you from view. It’s warm. Too warm. But you can’t move. Because you hear footsteps. The sliding door shifts quietly open. It’s the teacher. Doing his night check.
You freeze. Yamato does too.
His hand tightens, just slightly, against your back. The teacher walks slowly through the room, flashlight sweeping across the rows of students. You close your eyes. Hold your breath. Try not to flinch when the beam of light hovers for a second. Too long. Right over you two. Yamato’s heart beats faster beneath your ear. You wonder if he knows yours is doing the same. The light finally moves away. You hear the teacher's shoes sliding quietly back toward the door, and the faint click as it closes again. Still, neither of you move.
You don’t dare. Even after the silence returns. Even after the air settles. Even after the panic fades.
You stay there. Pressed against him. Feeling every second like it’s being carved into memory.
Then— His voice. So soft, it’s almost a breath.
“Kakeru…”
You don’t answer. You don’t move. Your eyes are still shut. Pretending. Or trying.
“I can’t sleep.”
He swallows. You feel it. Right against your cheek.
“Because you’re too close.”
Your fingers curl in the fabric of his shirt. You still don’t move.
“But… I don’t want you to move either.”
The room is quiet again. And then his voice comes, almost broken:
“Do you ever wonder what it would be like… if I loved you back?”
Your heart stops. He doesn’t wait for a reply. He just exhales — a sad, quiet sound.
“Sorry.”
You pretend to be asleep. Because if you speak now, he’ll hear everything you’ve tried so hard to keep hidden.