chapter 1 : Secret to keep

"If this means I can save his life, I would gladly keep it a secret.
But is this what you really want?"

Nowaki looked towards Misaki worriedly as the slightly shorter,
small figure trembled in front of him that seems so fragile.

"The saddest thing that can happen is if he is no longer around in
my life anymore."

Even if he no longer remember me, that's fine. Misaki throbbed in
pain as he tries to convince himself this is the best option. But in
fact, this is really the only way left.

"Besides, there is no other alternative left, isn't it?"

Nowaki looked at the smile Misaki forces himself to put on, a bitter
smile Misaki thought could hide away his pain from others. Fully
aware of that meaning behind the smile, Nowaki only wants to give
Misaki a hug and tell him there's no need to put a strong face here.

"Misaki..." Dont bear this burden alone, Usami-san wont wish for
this as well, is what Nowaki wanted to say. But he swallowed it down
his throat, knowing this is only going to make it harder on Misaki.

There's only this one path left. There's no doubt in his mind that
Usami-san would choose to give up everything for Misaki, even his
life.

Misaki has no choice.

"I'll be here with Usagi-san tomorrow again"

"Please keep your promise!" Misaki reaffirmed his intention to
Nowaki with a darker tone that sounds like a threat than a request,
reinsuring that no words shall be leaked to Usagi.

If he knew, if he knew...Misaki swored in his heart that he would
never allow this to happen. His fist tightened with nails deepening
into his palm as he tries to grab on to that tiny hope even if he
knows that it is a double-edged sword.

But...just...for now, the thing he should do right now is to just
hide behind the mask and enjoyed the remaining short amount of time
left until the love magic disappear along with the midnight strike,
and along with the warmth of Usagi.

"Usagi-san, I'm home"

Except that there is no glass slipper in this love story.

The way back home is always filled with anticipation of joy, the joy
of seeing Hiroko saying "Okaeri". Though Hiroki doesnt smile alot,
but Nowaki knows him too well to be mistaken. He's just shy.

But the air tonight feels tense and a sense of uneasiness falls upon
him. Scenes of life and death separation are common sight for
doctors and they tend to choose to neglect that feeling of their to
avoid getting emotional all the times, and he himself should be used
to it too.

But this time, he cant shut off the flood of emotion swirling in
his mind after seeing how Misaki 'planted' this hope, only to see
him destroy it himself, despite knowing the fate that awaits the
both of them.

"This is too cruel to watch"

[Please keep your promise] Am I really going to be an accomplice in
this plan of his which is only going to hurt himself in the end.
Nowaki will never let Hiroki bear this pain alone, is what he can
only think of as he entered the house where Hiroki and him call
"Home".