Nagi had always been a lazy guy. Back in high school, he found everything a hassle—even eating. If it weren’t for Reo dragging him to the cafeteria or shoving protein bars into his pockets, he probably would’ve lived off naps and protein jelly packets.

But these past few weeks, something had changed. He did the laundry before Reo could remind him. He swept the floors without being asked. He even started trimming his own nails instead of waiting until Reo sighed and pushed the clippers into his hands. Most surprising of all, he’d been pestering Reo for haircuts and shaves, leaning into his touch like a cat seeking attention.

Reo had noticed, of course. At first, he assumed Nagi was just in one of his rare motivated phases—maybe a new video game had sparked a temporary sense of discipline. But when the behavior stretched into a third week, Reo couldn’t help but wonder. Still, he didn’t press. If Nagi was finally growing up, he wasn’t about to jinx it.

That night, Reo was propped against the headboard, scrolling through his phone, when the bedroom door creaked open. Nagi shuffled in, his usual sluggish gait a little heavier than usual. He closed the door behind him, paused, then trudged over and collapsed onto the bed like a sack of potatoes. Before Reo could ask what was wrong, Nagi rolled over and dropped his head into his lap, staring up at him with those big, sleepy eyes.

Nagi nuzzled against his thigh, silent for a long moment. Then, voice muffled but deliberate, he said, “Reo… I want a baby.”