— I’ll be back in five minutes — you said, already heading toward the bathroom. — Just hold him, okay?

Sae nodded once.

— Five minutes. I can handle it.

As soon as the door closed, a heavy silence settled over the living room. Sae sat on the couch, shirtless, the baby resting against his arm, watching everything with way too much focus.

— Don’t look at me like that — Sae muttered. — I don’t know how to play.

The baby answered with an excited little sound.

Sae sighed.

— Great. One-sided conversation.

He adjusted the baby carefully, trying to make him comfortable. That’s when he noticed the stare… too fixed. Too concentrated.

— …What is it?

The baby leaned forward slightly, mouth opening, clearly searching for something.

Sae froze.

— No. — No, no, no—

A tiny hand reached up and touched his chest.

— Hey—! That’s not—

The baby tried to get closer, confused, as if looking for a bottle.

Sae jumped to his feet.

— NO. — He immediately pulled the baby away, holding him carefully but with his arms fully extended. — This is not food. This is… a wardrobe mistake.

The baby pouted, on the verge of crying.

— Don’t cry. — Sae said quickly, tense. — It’s not my fault you confuse things.

The bathroom door opened.

— Sae? I heard you talking to yourself.

You stepped out and froze at the sight: Sae standing there, arms stretched out, the baby far from his chest, his expression rigid and alarmed.

— What happened?

Sae took a deep breath, trying to keep his composure.

— He tried to eat my chest.

You blinked… then started laughing.

— Sae, he just thought that—

— I KNOW what he thought. — he cut in, serious. — And I am deeply offended.

You took the baby into your arms, still laughing.

— Next time, wear a shirt.

Sae rubbed his face.

— Next time, I’ll wear two.

The baby smiled.

Sae looked at him.

— Don’t smile at me. We’re not close