*Meow… meow… Meeow!!*
“…Hmm… Huh, Kuro-chan…!!”
The first one to lose patience was Kuro. With Kuro’s meowing, I glanced at the clock and realized it was time for Kuro’s breakfast.
This was a bit unfair to Kuro. But with Ippei being so cute next to me, I couldn’t help but ask him to forgive me for today. However, I would later be scolded severely by Kuro.
And then, you woke up to Kuro’s meowing.
You said “Kuro-chan” and opened your eyes, but as you looked at me, your face gradually turned as red as a tomato from yesterday.
“Ippei, good morning.”
“O-oh, good morning… Huh!?”
“Hm? What’s wrong?”
“S-since when were you using my arm as a pillow!?”
“Hmm? I wonder since when?”
“U-uhm…! I-I’m sorry! I must’ve done something weird…”
Something weird? Ah, you must be talking about your sleep talk. You blushed deeply and tried to move away from me, but I pulled you back toward me again.
“I didn’t say anything.”
“Y-Yuta-san…”
“Thank you for being by my side.”
“N-no, thank you too…”
I wasn’t sure if my body was hot from the summer heat or from being so close to you, but regardless, there was no denying that I wanted to touch you and hold you close, even in this heat.
*Meow!!*
“Oh, it seems Kuro-sama’s reached his limit.”
“K-Kuro-chan, are you mad about something…?”
“He’s probably saying, ‘It’s already breakfast time; hurry up and give it to me! What are you two doing?!’ or something like that.”
“Whoa! I didn’t realize it was already this late!”
“Ah… hmm! Well then, I guess it’s time for us to get up.”
“Yeah! Phew… Right! Let’s get up!”
We were stretching our bodies as we encouraged each other to wake up, and we headed towards the living room where Kuro was waiting.
Our first morning together. When was the last time I greeted a morning so refreshingly? This sweet and heartwarming morning felt like a first in my life.
I wonder when we’ll have another morning like this. Neither I nor you know.
That’s why I want to cherish each and every moment, engraving them into the film of my heart. I want to firmly etch every scene with you as a precious memory.
***
“Kuro-chan, is it delicious?”
*Meow, purr♪*
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Kuro, with an empty stomach, happily received food from his beloved Ippei, responding with cute meows and appearing content throughout.
“Pqqfl, tfgf’r sbeg mbooff.”
“Qbk! Ktjcx sbe rb wemt!”
“Vlcmf la’r tba, P wjvf la lmfv yijmx, gluta?”
“Lftf! Ktjcx sbe obg jikjsr mbcrlvfglcu wf! Tbe qgfofg wlix, vbc’a sbe, Teaj-rjc?”
“P mjc vglcx yijmx mbooff abb, yea P jikjsr fcv eq kjcalcu wlix.”
Snfc jr wbgclcu mjwf, cbatlcu tjv mtjcufv ogbw sfrafgvjs obg er. Qf mbcalcefv ab fcpbs beg rkffa jcv gfogfrtlcu, tjqqs alwf abufatfg.
We fed each other toasted bread, enjoyed playing with Kuro, and cuddled while watching movies at home… Our enjoyable time together flew by quickly, and before we knew it, the sky was preparing for the evening.
“It’s already this late, huh…”
“Yeah, enjoyable times always pass by quickly.”
“Yuta-san, um…”
“Hm? What’s wrong, Ippei?”
As the time for parting drew nearer, along with the sad feeling of this enjoyable time coming to an end, you found yourself stumbling over your words again, blushing in embarrassment.
“Um… Can I come again?”
“Do you think I’d say no?”
“I-I was just confirming…!”
“Hehe, you’re still not straightforward, huh? You can come anytime. This is a space just for you and me.”
“Y-Yuta-san… Th-thank you…”
“Yeah, and Kuro is waiting for you too, right?”
*Meow? Meoow♪*
I’ll say it again: this is a space just for you and me. And if there’s still time permitted in the future, I want to spend that time with you in this space.
“Well, it’s back to work tomorrow, so it’s about time.”
“Yes, it’s sad, but… it’s about time indeed.”
“Yeah… I’ll walk you home near your place.”
“Eh!? I-It’s really not necessary…”
“I’m doing it because I want to, right, Ippei? That’s fine then, isn’t it?”
“…!… Your gesture… makes me really happy… In that case, I’ll gladly accept it… Yuta-san, thank you very much.”
Rather than saying goodbye here, I want to stay by your side until the last moment. But the truth is, I don’t want to part, and I want to stay by your side forever, but that’s not possible. So maybe, deep down, I wished for you to grant me this selfish request.
And then you carefully took off Ryo’s clothes, changed into your own clothes, neatly folded them, and handed them back to me with a “thank you.” Yes… Accepting Ryo’s clothes was also a sign that our time together in this space was coming to an end.
“Ippei, come visit again?”
“Yes… I’d like to come again…”
“Hey hey, don’t look so sad…”
You are leaving this space. It means returning to the real world for both of us—back to our usual lives. As much as the time we spent together was enjoyable, parting is still a sad thing.
And the moment we parted from this space, we knew we had to continue hiding our “forbidden love” as usual. We both understood that bold actions outside of this “usual place” were not possible, but as you hugged me tightly with a sad expression and uttered those words, I gently embraced you back.
[Yuta-san, thank you so much… I was happy… Well then, I’ll be going now…]
***
As the summer sunset began to hide its face in the scenery, I drove towards the station to pick up Ippei. The summer solstice had passed, and in this season where the days gradually shorten, welcoming the night earlier brings a certain sense of loneliness. However, today’s loneliness feels different from that.
Once I arrive at that station, this moment will come to an end. And there’s no assurance for us right now that we will surely meet again next time.
We can only meet when we can, when our schedules align. It’s our secret and forbidden love. Still, there’s no doubt we feel happy with each other now. That’s why, as the time to part with you draws near, this indescribable loneliness begins to torment me.
“Ippei?”
“What is it?”
“Could you sing this song for me, even just humming?”
“What!? Why are you suddenly asking that!?”
“I just want to hear your voice.”
I wanted to break into the atmosphere of loneliness we both felt and turn it into laughter. And you responded to my proposal with your usual expression.
Yes, our space should be like this. Not with sad faces, but with smiles.
“I-It’s embarrassing!”
“Haha! Then let’s sing it together, shall we?”
“I-If that’s the case, then maybe…?”
“Alright! It’s settled then! I really love the chorus and the melody of this song, and of course, the lyrics.”
“I love it too. This song feels like it’s filled with various meanings.”
“So, you were humming it yesterday too?”
“H-Hey, Yuta-san! If you tease me too much, I won’t sing!”
“Haha! Sorry, sorry! Oh, it’s almost the chorus, isn’t it?”
The song we both love. It’s that nostalgic love song you were softly humming yesterday with your adorable voice.
We continued where the lyrics you were humming left off, this time harmonizing our voices together in the car.
[Whatever happens, we can overcome it… Connected by an unchanging love… Because I’ll always be yours… Words I want to convey to you: always, I love you…]
“Thank you so much for yesterday, today, and for picking me up. I really appreciate it.”
“No, thank you for everything. Will you let me know when you can contact me again?”
“Yes, I’ll reply whenever I can.”
“Well then, see you…?”
“Yes… see you…”
***
We arrived at the station, and the blissful moment came to an end.
You, calling out to me from outside as I sat in the driver’s seat.
Although we were just returning to our usual lives, I couldn’t help but feel a longing as you waved and disappeared into the station. And as your figure grew smaller and smaller, my feelings became unattainable.
I’m in a forbidden love.
There’s a place I must return to.
I can’t always be by your side.
But still… Even so, the loneliness I felt the moment you left this space is indescribable to others, and it’s a sensation I’ve never experienced before.
But I have to endure it. I have to.
I believe that we’ll meet again next time, cherishing our mutual feelings of love and waiting for that moment to come.
As I embarked on my journey home alone in the space you left behind, I immersed myself in the lingering scent of your refreshing and sweet fragrance, embracing various emotions as I made my way back home.
***
*Meow!*
“Hey, Kuro, I’m home.”
Upon arriving home, Kuro greeted me as usual, but you weren’t there anymore. The space that just a few hours ago was filled with laughter and joy with you now seemed somewhat hollow.
“Kuro, it’s just the two of us now, huh?”
*Meow… Meow…*
“I guess you feel lonely too, huh?”
*Meow, meow…*
“If you’re feeling the same, it’s kind of a relief… It’s just that being apart feels lonely, and I never get used to it… I really don’t want to lose anything… It’s complicated, huh?”
After showering and changing into comfortable clothes, I shared my feelings with Kuro while holding a beer in my hand.
I was trying to control my emotions, but somewhere they got tangled up, and I can’t seem to calm down. At that moment, I kept reminding myself that being apart just meant returning to our original state.
Ping!
《I arrived home and felt settled, so I’m sending you a message. Thank you so much for yesterday and today! It was lonely being apart, but I feel like I can do my best because we have memories together! Even though we’re apart, our feelings are still together. Let’s meet again!》
The loneliness of not being together is mutual, but we can’t just mope around forever. You showed your support with that email, which was very comforting.
Yes, even though we’re apart, our feelings are still together. Even in this forbidden love, our feelings of ‘love’ are shared. And our relationship has just begun.
Thanks to your email, a smile returned to my face, and Kuro seemed somewhat happy to see that smile.
《Thank you too. I felt like there was a hole when you were gone, but as you said, I feel like I can do my best too! We’ll meet again, and when we do, let’s create more memories just for the two of us, okay?》
As our relationship deepens, maintaining the same kind of connection as before might become difficult. Especially in a forbidden love. But you made me believe that we’d be alright as we are now.
Ippei, thank you always. I’ll support you as much as I can, too.
Our exchange of emails continued until late into the night, and before I knew it, both Kuro and I were lying in bed.
Then, as I was embracing the house clothes imbued with your beloved scent, I couldn’t help but reveal my true nature.
I want to be surrounded by your scent. Even though we’re apart, it feels like you’re by my side when I do this… So I’m not lonely; just being like this makes me happy…
I was wrapped in your beloved scent, holding you close. I was gently lured into sleep, hoping to meet you in my dreams, and I drifted off to sleep.
Even if it’s our secret love, I hope I can always be by your side from now on…
To be continued…
***
Author’s Note:
Thank you very much for reading this far! This concludes the connection between the two characters from their first encounter! I would be delighted if you could continue to support and cheer for me! Thank you very much in advance! (*´ω`*)
