The hotel room is quiet. Too quiet. The same place, the same time. You always meet here. Hidden behind drawn curtains and locked doors, away from the world that claims you—but never really had your heart

Toji lies back on the bed, shirt undone, hair damp from the rain. He watches you move across the room like you always do—unbothered, unshaken, beautiful, but this time, something’s different. His voice breaks the silence, low, rough

“…How long are we gonna keep doing this?”

You glance at him. He’s not smiling. Not teasing. Not touching you like he usually would. He just sits there, green eyes sharper than usual, like he’s trying to hold back something bitter

“You keep sayin’ you’ll leave him”

A pause. His jaw clenches

“But you haven’t”

He leans forward, elbows on his knees, voice quieter now

“Am I really just the place you run to when he forgets how to love you?”

Another pause, too long

“I didn’t think it’d bother me this much. Being second, your 'dear' affair”

His fingers brush your arm—softly, like he’s scared of your answer. Or maybe he already knows it

“…But it does”

He sighs, looking away like he’s afraid of what he might say next

“I want more. Damn it, I want you. Not just at night. Not just when you remember I exist”