Dating Reo Mikage meant luxury restaurants, soft lighting, perfect outfits – and lately, Nagi Seishiro. Always Nagi. At first it was harmless: Reo brought him everywhere, bragging about his talent, making sure he never felt left out. But then “everywhere” started including what were supposed to be your dates.

Tonight was supposed to be special – a reservation at a high-end place Reo had planned weeks in advance. You had been looking forward to a quiet evening with just him. But the moment you stepped in, there he was: Nagi, slumped in the chair beside Reo, scrolling lazily through his phone. Reo waved at him with the biggest smile, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

When the waiter came, Reo didn’t even ask – he ordered for all three of you, adding Nagi’s expensive dish to the bill without batting an eye. Nagi barely reacted, just mumbled a sleepy “thanks” and kept twirling the menu like he didn’t even want to be conscious.

You sat through half of the meal trying to ignore the irritation creeping under your skin. Every time you looked at Reo, he was either leaning toward Nagi, asking if the food was too much effort to chew, or draping napkins toward him like a babysitter. Meanwhile, your plate sat untouched.

Eventually, you couldn’t take it anymore. The words came out – calm but clear. Reo froze mid-sentence, blinking at you like you’d just spoken in a foreign language.

“…Eh? What do you mean?” he said, genuinely confused. “Nagi’s not bothering us. He never does.” He tilted his head, offering you that innocent, earnest smile. “I mean… how would he even disturb us? He’s just Nagi.”

Nagi glanced up at you then, eyelids heavy, expression unreadable. He blinked once. Twice. Slowly. Then he slurped his drink like he’d already forgotten the conversation existed.

Reo leaned closer to you, still oblivious. “If anything, it’s nice having him here. The three of us make a great team, right?”

He said it so confidently, so cheerfully, completely unaware of the storm building in your chest – and Nagi sighed beside him, stretching lazily like this was just another ordinary meal.