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Mafuyu had always been gay.
In all his life, there had only been two people — Yuki Yoshida, his greatest first love who had once lit up his entire world, and Ritsuka Uenoyama, the sharp-tongued guitarist who had slowly pulled him back from drowning. Those were the only hands that had ever touched him. The only lips he had ever kissed.
Tonight, however, felt different.
He was out with his high school friends — Ueki and Kasai. It was their usual tradition: cheap izakaya food, too much sake, and nostalgic stories that always ended with laughter and blurry memories. Mafuyu had come with good intentions. He wanted to play matchmaker, just like he always did. Just like what he did for Ugetsu and Itaya. He had noticed the tension between Ueki and Kasai for years — the stolen glances, the awkward silences, the way they keep each others company without stepping forward.
But things had gone too far tonight.
They had ended up back at Ueki’s apartment, the three of them sprawled across the living room floor surrounded by empty cans and half-eaten snacks. The alcohol had hit all of them hard, especially Kasai, whose cheeks were flushed deep red.
Mafuyu was leaning against the couch, trying to keep his eyes focused, when Kasai suddenly turned to him with a lazy, drunken grin.
“Hey, Mafuyu…” Kasai slurred, tilting her head. “Have you ever touched a girl before?”
The question landed heavily in the quiet room.
Ueki, who was lying on his back staring at the ceiling, didn’t even react. He was too far gone, eyes half-lidded, just listening in silence.
Mafuyu froze.
The alcohol made his thoughts slow and heavy. He blinked slowly, trying to process the words. His face felt hot. Of course the answer was no. He had never been interested in girls. Not once. His heart had only ever belonged to boys — first to Yuki, and now to Ritsuka.
After a long pause, Mafuyu answered quietly, almost shyly.
“…No. I haven’t.”
Kasai’s eyes widened slightly, as if the answer genuinely surprised her. A slow, mischievous smile spread across his face.
“Seriously? Never? Not even once?”
Mafuyu shook his head, looking down at the can in his hands.
Ueki remained silent, but Mafuyu could feel his gaze shift toward him.
The air in the room suddenly felt thicker.
Kasai suddenly reached out, her fingers gently touching Mafuyu’s cheek. The touch was soft at first, almost tender, before she slowly caressed upward, tucking a loose strand of his red hair behind his ear.
Kasai’s face was flushed deep red from the alcohol, but her smile had turned predatory — playful yet hungry.
“I’ve always found you cute, Mafuyu-chan,” she murmured, her thumb brushing over his cheekbone.
Mafuyu’s heart jumped. He suddenly felt nervous, the haze of alcohol making everything feel too slow and too fast at the same time. He tried to lean back, but the couch behind him left him with nowhere to go. His eyes darted toward Ueki, who was still lying on the floor, staring at the ceiling with heavy-lidded eyes, seemingly not paying attention.
Desperate to change the subject, Mafuyu blurted out, “So… are you two going out already?”
The question hit like a bomb.
Both Kasai and Ueki flushed bright red at the same time.
“W-what?! Why would you suddenly ask that, Mafuyu-chan?!” Kasai exclaimed, her voice pitching higher as she quickly grabbed another can of beer and drank deeply to hide her embarrassment.
Ueki sat up abruptly, trying (and failing) to hide his red face behind his hand. “Idiot… don’t just say stuff like that.”
Mafuyu realized too late that he had opened a can of worms. Feeling awkward, he grabbed his own drink and took several big gulps, hoping the alcohol would make everything less embarrassing.
As they drank more, the atmosphere grew heavier and warmer. Mafuyu, now quite drunk, started pushing Kasai gently toward Ueki.
“You two really look good together,” he said with a drunken smile. “Why didn’t you two date back in high school?”
Ueki and Kasai both laughed, flustered.
“Ueki doesn’t see me that way,” Kasai said quickly, clearly panicking. “He’s a basketball player, always busy with sports and hanging out with Itaya…”
Mafuyu, too far gone to think clearly, suddenly reached out and took Ueki’s hand, placing it firmly in Kasai’s.
“Now kiss,” he teased with a giggle. “Hehehe.”
Ueki stared at Kasai. Kasai giggled nervously. “Mafuyu, don’t… this is getting weird.”
But Ueki’s gaze had changed. Something shifted in his eyes. He slowly reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind Kasai’s ear, then leaned in and kissed her right in front of Mafuyu.
Kasai was taken aback at first, eyes wide, but she slowly melted into the kiss, her hand coming up to grip Ueki’s shirt.
When they pulled apart slightly, Kasai’s eyes flicked toward Mafuyu, who was quietly drinking and watching them with hazy curiosity.
“Mafuyu… join us if you like,” she said softly, reaching for his hand and boldly placing it on her breast.
Mafuyu panicked and pulled his hand back immediately.
Kasai didn’t give up. She pulled away from Ueki, who had started kissing and lightly biting her neck. With those same predatory eyes, she reached for Mafuyu again.
“If you’re worried about Uenoyama-kun… we don’t have to tell him, okay?” she whispered, trying to pull Mafuyu closer.
Mafuyu reluctantly let her kiss him. It felt… different. There was no deep emotional connection like when he kissed Ritsuka. It was just warm, curious, and strange. He had never kissed a girl before.
When Kasai pulled away, she studied his face.
“You’re not enjoying this, are you?”
Mafuyu looked down, feeling guilty. “I’m sorry. You’re very beautiful, but… I can’t.”
Kasai smiled softly, not angry. “Then you and Ueki kiss, and I’ll watch.”
“Hey, Kasai!” Ueki protested, pulling back from her neck.
“I’m just kidding… partly,” Kasai laughed, pulling Ueki back to her and kissing him again, deeper this time.
Mafuyu watched them for a moment, then yawned.
“I’m going home. I’ll just call a taxi.”
He stood up unsteadily, smiling a little as he saw Ueki and Kasai already lost in each other, crossing a line they had avoided for years.
Mafuyu quietly slipped out of Ueki’s apartment, closing the door gently behind him. He could still hear the faint sounds of laughter and shifting bodies from inside, and felt… content.
At least two of his friends had finally taken a step forward. After years of dancing around each other, Ueki and Kasai were finally being honest. Mafuyu smiled softly to himself as he walked down the hallway toward the elevator. He was happy for them.