The next morning, Suki woke up to the sound of his own phone vibrating against his cheek.
He groaned, rolled over, and nearly flung it across the bed.
On the screen:
Ryuzi: good morningRyuzi: did you sleep?Ryuzi: eat breakfastRyuzi: I'll see you at schoolRyuzi: (also I love you)
Suki stared at the last line until the pixels blurred.
His chest felt… weird.
Too full. Too fragile. Too warm and sore at the same time.
Yesterday had been… a lot.
Ryuzí holding his hand all day.Ryuzí feeding him bites of lunch.Ryuzí nuzzling into his neck in public.Ryuzí saying "let them look" like the world could burn as long as Suki stayed.
It had made his heart scream and his brain short-circuit.
He hugged his pillow and grumbled into it, "Stupid affectionate wolf-boy…"
But he was smiling.
He hated that he was smiling.He loved that he was smiling.
His door creaked open.
"Suki, you awake?" Hana's voice floated in, followed by the smell of miso soup. "Breakfast is—woah. You're already up? And not late? Who are you and what have you done with my brother?"
Suki dragged himself upright, hair a fluffy mess. "I have a clingy boyfriend now, I can't be late. He'll probably break into my house."
Hana snorted. "Haven't given him the spare key yet? I'm shocked."
"Don't joke about that, he'll do it," Suki muttered, pressing a hand to his burning face.
"Cute," Hana cooed. "Get dressed. Rika's threatening to eat your share of the tamagoyaki."
"Gremlin," Suki grumbled, sliding out of bed.
He got ready on autopilot — wash face, brush teeth, wrestle hair into something less storm-hit, tug on uniform. He looked in the mirror, then stopped.
His eyes were still a little red from everything that had happened over the last few days: the fight, the hospital, the panic, the hurt.
But there was something else there now too.
Some shakily rebuilt hope.
"…Idiot," he whispered at his own reflection. "You forgive too fast."
Downstairs, the Aoyama kitchen was its usual cozy chaos.
Rika sat at the table, already on her second serving of rice, doom-scrolling on her phone. Emi leaned against the counter sipping coffee. Hana stood at the stove, flipping tamagoyaki with the concentration of a surgeon.
Suki slid into his usual seat.
"Morning," he mumbled.
Three voices replied at once.
"Morning."
"Yo."
"Good morning, lovestruck disaster."
Suki pouted. "Can we not start the day with an attack?"
Rika grinned without looking up. "I saw your texts yesterday."
"You WHAT—"
"I walked by your room and your screen lit up," she said innocently. "Just a glimpse. 'Text me twice or I'll come over.' That's some premium boyfriend behavior."
Suki turned scarlet. "You're banned from my floor."
Emi hid a smile behind her mug. "So. Yesterday he clung to you like a koala all day?"
Suki poked his rice. "…Yes…"
Hana brought over the tamagoyaki and set it down. "Did you hate it?"
Suki's ears drooped. "No."
Rika finally looked up at his face — really looked — and her grin softened.
"But you're still a little hurt," she noted quietly.
Suki's chopsticks paused.
"…Maybe," he said.
Emi set her cup down. "You don't have to forgive him all at once, you know. Being sorry and being better takes time."
Suki stabbed a piece of egg like it had personally betrayed him. "He's trying so hard. And I'm weak."
Hana ruffled his hair as she sat. "You're not weak. You're soft. That's different."
Rika pointed her chopsticks at him. "And to be fair, when he looked at you at the hospital, I thought he'd stop existing if you actually changed schools."
Suki flinched, guilt flashing across his face.
"I shouldn't have said that," he muttered. "I was just… so hurt. I wanted him to know what it felt like."
"Did it help?" Emi asked.
Suki's shoulders slumped. "…No."
Hana reached over and took his hand. "Then next time, tell him it hurt instead of trying to hurt him back."
"I know," Suki whispered.
The doorbell rang.
The four of them froze.
Hana blinked. "…Who is at our door at 7:10 a.m.?"
Rika gasped dramatically. "It's destiny."
"Or a package," Emi said calmly, but her eyes were already sparkling with speculation.
Suki's heart lurched. "N-No—there's no way—"
Hana stood, wiping her hands on a towel. "I'll get it."
Suki's brain screamed: abort mission
He half-rose from his seat. "Wait—Hana—if it's some weird sales guy—"
Hana opened the door.
And stopped.
Suki's breath caught in his throat.
Because even from the table, he heard that voice.
"…Good morning. Is Suki awake?"
Hana's "Hah—?!" echoed through the hallway.
Emi choked on her coffee. "No way."
Rika slapped the table. "I KNEW IT."
Suki slapped his hands over his face. "Oh my god."
Hana stepped aside slowly, as if moving for royalty.
"Come in," she managed.
Ryuzí stepped into the Aoyama house like he'd entered a shrine he was deeply afraid of offending.
He was perfectly neat — uniform pressed, hair brushed, school bag over one shoulder.
And on his other arm?
A convenience store bag.
He bowed lightly at the genkan. "Good morning."
Rika whispered, "Why does he look like a son-in-law?"
Emi hummed. "Because he's trying to impress the in-laws."
Suki wanted to crawl into the rice cooker and close the lid.
Hana cleared her throat. "Um… good morning, Takeda-kun."
"Ryuzi is fine," he answered softly.
Suki's heart did a stupid flutter.
Hana gestured toward the kitchen. "We were having breakfast."
"Oh. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude—"
"You're already here," Rika said, popping up from her chair. "No refunds."
Ryuzí looked past them, eyes searching.
They landed on Suki.
For a split second, everything else in the room blurred out.
His expression shifted —
From tense.
To relieved.
To… openly happy.
"Suki," he said, like the word itself was a breath of air.
Suki's chest clenched.
He managed a watery, "H-Hey."
Ryuzí walked closer — not running, not lunging, just steady steps that ended with him right beside Suki's chair.
He held up the convenience store bag.
"I brought you okayu," he said quietly. "For your stomach. In case it still hurts from yesterday."
Emi blinked. "He brought porridge."
Rika whispered, "He's… thoughtful…"
Hana watched Suki's reaction carefully.
Suki's eyes stung.
"You didn't have to," he murmured.
"I wanted to," Ryuzi replied. "I didn't take care of you when you were hurting before. I'm going to do it now."
Suki stared at him.
His sisters went completely silent.
Ryuzí glanced at them, then took a tiny breath, as if bracing himself.
"Aoyama-san," he said, addressing Hana first because she was the oldest, "and Emi-san, Rika-san… I… wanted to apologize."
Three pairs of Aoyama eyes widened at once.
"I hurt Suki," Ryuzi said simply, no excuses in his tone. "I made him cry. I made him sick. I pulled away when I should have stayed. I'm… really sorry."
He bowed. Deeply. Ninety degrees.
The kind of apology meant for something serious.
Suki jolted to his feet. "Ryuzi—!"
Hana, Emi, and Rika stared.
Hana swallowed slowly.
"You really did make him cry," she said, voice serious.
"I know," he answered.
Emi leaned her cheek against her fist. "I heard him. From my room. It wasn't just a few tears."
Ryuzi's jaw tightened. "I know."
Rika tapped her chopsticks on the table. "So what are you going to do about it?"
Ryuzi lifted his head.
His gaze went straight to Suki, soft and unwavering.
"I'm not going to hurt him like that again," he said. "I'm going to stay. I'm going to be honest. I'm going to tell him what's going on in my head so he doesn't have to guess and blame himself."
Suki bit his lip.
His fingers curled in his uniform.
Hana studied him for a long moment.
Then she sighed. "Sit down," she said.
Ryuzi blinked. "What?"
"Sit," she repeated, pointing at the empty chair beside Suki.
He obeyed instantly.
Rika grinned. "Trained already."
Suki hissed, "Don't be mean—"
Emi nudged the rice bowl toward Ryuzi. "Have you eaten?"
"I—uh—no," he admitted.
"Then eat," she said. "You can't romantically declare things on an empty stomach. You'll faint."
Suki sputtered. "Romantically declare—what—who—no one's declaring anything—"
Hana folded her arms, eyes sharp. "Are you in love with our brother?"
Suki nearly died.
"HANAAAA—!!"
Ryuzi looked at Suki.
Then at Hana.
Then back at Suki.
"Yes," he said softly.
The room went very, very quiet.
Rika's mouth dropped open.
Emi's eyebrows slowly shot upward.
Hana inhaled. "Oh."
Ryuzi continued, voice steady but gentle. "I love him. A lot. I hurt him because I'm bad at… this. But I'm learning. And I'm not going to run away anymore."
Suki's eyes filled.
"Ryu," he whispered.
Ryuzi turned toward him fully, expression folding into something so tender it almost hurt to look at.
"I'm sorry," he said again, this time directly to Suki. "For pulling away. For making you feel unwanted. For making you think you needed to disappear to make me more comfortable." His hand shook slightly on the table. "That's not what I want. That was never what I wanted."
Suki swallowed past the lump in his throat. "Then what do you want?"
Ryuzi didn't hesitate.
"You," he said.
Suki's breath hitched. "Only me?"
"Only you," Ryuzi murmured. "Every day. Even when I'm scared. Even when I mess up. I'm going to keep choosing you."
Rika squeaked quietly, clutching her phone. "This is a confession scene. Live. In my kitchen."
Emi elbowed her. "Don't ruin it."
Hana watched Suki.
"Suki," she said gently, "what do you want?"
Everyone looked at him.
Suki stared at his own hands.
"I want…" The words came slowly, but honestly. "I want him to stop hurting alone. I want him to stop shutting me out. I want him to trust that I'll stay, even when it's ugly."
His voice trembled.
"And I want him near me," he admitted. "Even when he's annoying. Even when he breathes on my neck in class and distracts me and feeds me in front of everyone and clings and—"
Ryuzi's lips quirked. "I don't regret that part."
Suki flushed. "Shut up."
Ryuzi leaned closer a little, eyes crinkling at the corners. "Do you want me to stop?"
Suki's heart jolted.
He thought of yesterday — the warmth of Ryuzi's hand, the weight of his head on Suki's shoulder, the ache in his chest finally easing.
"…No," he whispered.
Ryuzi's shoulders loosened.
Emi sighed softly, a small smile tugging at her mouth. "Then we have a direction."
Rika leaned forward, hands flat on the table. "Okay, as one of the Official Suki Protection Squad committee members, I vote: we allow this boyfriend to continue operating under strict supervision."
Hana lifted her hand. "Seconded."
Emi raised hers. "Thirded."
Suki buried his face in his hands. "You're all ridiculous."
"You love us," Hana reminded him.
He mumbled through his fingers, "I do," and then quieter, "and I love him."
There was a beat of silence.
Every Aoyama in the room heard it.
Ryuzi definitely did.
His eyes went softer, if that was even possible.
Something fierce and bright settled in his chest.
He straightened in his seat, as if bracing himself for something bigger.
"I have… one more thing to say," he murmured.
Suki looked up, alarmed. "No, no more things—"
Hana squinted. "Is it bad?"
Emi narrowed her eyes. "Is it criminal?"
Rika whispered, "Is it spicy—?"
"It's serious," Ryuzi said.
The sisters sobered.
Suki's stomach flipped. "Ryu, you really don't have to—"
"I want to," he said quietly. He took a breath. "After we graduate, I intend to marry Suki."
The entire kitchen imploded.
Hana choked on thin air.
Emi slammed her hand on the table.Rika straight-up screamed.
"WH—WHAT?!"
"EXCUSE ME?!"
"HE SAID THE M-WORD—!!"
Suki's brain blue-screened.
He stared at Ryuzí, mouth opening and closing.
"You—WHAT—MARRY—WHO—ME—?!"
Ryuzi tilted his head, utterly calm in the middle of the chaos.
"Yes," he said. "You."
Suki's legs gave out.
He slid right off his chair and onto the floor.
"SU—SUKI?!" Hana cried.
Rika burst into hysterical laughter. "He short-circuited—!!"
Emi grabbed a glass of water. "Is this… is this how you propose to people? Over breakfast?!"
Ryuzi stood so fast his chair scraped. He dropped to a crouch beside Suki, hands hovering. "Are you okay? Did you hit your head? Are you dizzy?"
Suki pointed a trembling finger at him. "You—you can't just say 'I'm gonna marry you' in front of my sisters at seven-thirty in the morning—"
Ryuzi looked genuinely confused. "Why not?"
"Because that's— that's— YOU'RE—"
"Honest?"
"INSANE—!!"
Ryuzi's lips curved faintly. "I told you. I'm not going to hide what I feel anymore."
Suki's face went even redder, if that was possible.
Hana pressed a hand over her racing heart. "Takeda-kun, do you… understand how serious that word is?"
"Yes," he answered immediately. "That's why I used it."
Emi eyed him. "And what exactly are your plans, Mister 'I Intend To Marry Our Brother'?"
Ryuzi didn't flinch.
"Graduate," he said. "Get into university. Keep going to therapy. Learn how to be a person who doesn't run from things. Stay by Suki's side the whole time. Ask him properly when we're both ready."
Suki stared at him like he'd just announced he was becoming prime minister.
Rika let out a low whistle. "He's got a blueprint."
Hana looked between them.
Her gaze softened.
"Do you feel pressured?" she asked Suki quietly.
Suki swallowed.
He checked himself — really checked — for panic, for suffocating weight.
There was fear, sure. But it was… soft around the edges. Distant. Beneath it, something warm pressed against his ribs.
"No," he said slowly. "It feels… scary. But… good scary."
Ryuzi's eyes shone.
"Then that's enough for now," Hana said.
Emi nodded. "No one's signing papers today. Just… keep showing us you make him happy."
Rika grinned. "And if you break his heart, we'll break your kneecaps."
Suki choked. "RIKA—!!"
Ryuzi nodded solemnly. "Fair."
Emi blinked. "You agreed too fast."
"I'm not planning to break it," Ryuzi said simply. "So I won't need them."
Hana sighed, half-exasperated, half-swooning on Suki's behalf. "Okay. Eat. Then take him to school. And if he gets sick again because of crying over you—"
"I'll carry him to the hospital myself," Ryuzi said.
Suki groaned, throwing an arm over his face. "Stop saying cinematic things in my kitchen…"
Ryuzi gently took his wrist and lowered it, eyes soft.
"Finish your breakfast first," he said. "Then I'll walk you."
Suki's heart somersaulted.
"Okay," he whispered.
Walking to School — New Ritual
Fifteen minutes later, they stood at the door, slipping on their shoes.
Hana leaned against the frame, watching.
Emi sipped the last of her coffee.
Rika pretended to scroll but was absolutely eavesdropping.
Suki's bag hung from his shoulder; his hair was slightly messy, his cheeks still pink.
Ryuzi adjusted Suki's scarf for him, fingers lingering like he didn't quite want to let go.
"You don't have to come every morning," Suki muttered.
"I want to," Ryuzi said. "And I told your sisters I would. I can't lie now; they scare me."
Rika yelled from the living room, "We heard that!"
Ryuzi flinched.
Suki laughed softly, the tension in his chest loosening another thread.
"Ryuzi," Hana called.
He straightened. "Yes?"
She looked at him steadily.
"Take care of him," she said simply.
He bowed his head. "I will."
Emi added, "And let him take care of you. That's part of the deal."
Ryuzi hesitated, then nodded. "I'll try."
Rika popped her head around the corner. "And if you do get married after all—"
"RIKA—!!" Suki shouted.
"—I want front-row seats," she finished, grinning.
"You're banned," Suki said.
"From your wedding?" Rika gasped. "Rude."
Emi patted Suki's shoulder. "Go. You'll be late."
Suki sighed, turning to the door. "We're going, we're going…"
Ryuzí reached for his hand.
Suki paused.
Looked down at their joined fingers.
Then up at Ryuzi's face.
The boy who had once kept his hands shoved in his pockets like they'd burn anyone he touched, now looking at Suki like he was the only safe thing in the world.
Suki's chest went soft and aching.
"Ready?" Ryuzi asked quietly.
Suki squeezed his hand.
"Yeah," he said. "Let's go."
The sisters watched them step out together.
The door closed.
Rika sighed, dramatically satisfied. "Our baby is getting stolen."
Hana laughed. "No. He's just… being walked to school."
Emi smiled, small but real. "Looks like he's finally with someone who'll actually walk beside him, not ahead or behind."
Back outside, Suki and Ryuzi walked down the familiar street, fingers laced.
Suki glanced sideways.
"So," he muttered, fighting a smile, "you're going to marry me, huh?"
Ryuzi's cheeks tinted the faintest pink.
"Yes," he said.
"That's… really bold, you know."
"I'm really sure," he replied.
Suki snorted, trying to hide how red his ears were. "You're ridiculous."
Ryuzi hummed. "And you love me."
Suki's heart clenched.
He sighed.
"…Yeah," he said quietly. "I do."
Ryuzí's smile broke open, bright in a way that had nothing to do with the sun.
"Good," he said.
And he swung their joined hands lightly as they walked—
—as if they'd been doing this forever,and as if they would keep doing it for a long, long time.