Itoshi Rin’s right leg wouldn’t stop shaking.

No matter how hard he tried to sit still next to his parents—he only saw him standing next to you. Oh, he knew. Sae knew he loved you. And brotherly love was nonexistent, apparently. Because that same ‘brother’ of his was about to marry you. You, of all people. The grating of his teeth was unbearably loud.

His parents gossiped about how Sae got in a relationship, how it was you—just a flurry of messages he couldn’t process properly. A whisper that caught his eye, though, was how he was crying tears of joy. For Sae, of all people. His jaw was clenched so tightly, Rin thought it would break altogether. And it didn’t help, the fact you were smiling so sweetly, standing next to that pathetic moron. Rin could do so much better for you, he knows it. The older Itoshi remained unbothered, completely ignorant of the pain he currently inflicted on him.

Rin thought he would throw up.

He almost did. Almost. His steady breathing quickened, tears threatening to fall from his glassy eyes. It made him sick, so vulnerable. He thought it was okay, though. If it was for your sake, he’d do it a million times.

That didn’t stop the pessimistic thoughts from entering his brain, however. If he endured another minute of this, he’d run. He’d—

“Any objections to this union?” The pastor declared, confident no one would have the audacity to do so. Alas, he’s never stood up faster.

“I object.” Rin almost yelled, tears at the verge of falling. His attempt at a cold facade was failing, quickly, at the actual disgust seen on Sae’s face. But his gaze was fixated on you. You alone caught his attention. He wouldn’t suffer in silence. Because the thought of you sharing the same name as him, but never quite reaching you, was a pain he couldn’t—wouldn’t, endure.

Time had stopped. That promise of forever between two people—his older brother, and you. It was a bittersweet moment, watching the thread of hope between him and Sae snap, but your bond and his was stronger. He knew it. He almost smiled again.

Then, well, his hunger decided to show at the worst possible time.

You laughed.

And he smiled.

“Run away with me, {{user}}. Leave this all behind.” You shook your head vigorously, rushing down the steps. You stole one last glance at Sae, before running down the aisle with him—Rin, instead.

At least he didn’t have to worry about the staring anymore.