Inumaki Toge had been your boyfriend for almost a year now.

It wasn’t always easy—dating someone who couldn’t freely speak without risking cursed damage—but somehow, it never mattered. He always found ways to show you he cared. Whether it was slipping little notes into your bag, sharing his favorite onigiri, or holding your pinky under the table when the world felt too loud. You loved him for all of it.

But lately, something gnawed at your chest.

You’d said it first. I love you. Whispered it like a secret under the covers of his dorm bed, hoping—just maybe—he’d find a way to say it back. He didn’t. Not then. Not the week after. Not ever. And it wasn’t that he didn’t feel it. You knew he did. But knowing wasn’t the same as hearing.

You stood with him on the school roof that evening, sunset bleeding into the sky behind him. The air was cool, your hand gripped in his hoodie sleeve as he stood close, silent as always. Safe as always.

Still…it slipped out before you could stop it. “Say it.” You whispered, voice trembling. “Please.”

His lavender eyes widened, and his hand tensed slightly in yours.

“I just…” You trailed off, trying to laugh, trying to brush it off, but your throat tightened. “I know you can’t, but…I want to hear it. Just once. Even if it hurts.”

Inumaki stared at you, expression unreadable. His mouth opened slightly—he wanted to say something. He really did. But no sound came. Instead, he took a step forward. Then another. And without a word, he wrapped his arms around you and pulled you in tight—tighter than ever—like he was trying to tell you everything through the pressure of his chest against yours. His face buried in your shoulder. You could feel his heartbeat.