It was late evening by the time I got back to Matsumoto.
Saturday night. Nothing to do—except to celebrate my interview blowing up all over the internet.
And then, Kurogane hit me up and told me to pull up to the izakaya.
Guess the boys were the first to hear it.
I pushed the door open.
Sora and Rei were sprawled out on the couch, with Kurogane in the middle, casually sipping whiskey like he owned the place.
"Bro… what the hell was that 'sugar daddy' joke about?" he asked, staring at me like I lost my mind.
Sora and Rei were already losing it, barely holding their laughter in.
"It was my first interview, man. Weren't you nervous during yours?" I shot back.
Rei tried to answer through his laughter.
"Man… you did better than I ever could…" he said, catching his breath. "But that joke? Damn. That shit's already a meme."
Sora wiped a tear from his eye, still grinning.
"People are spamming #KuroganeSugarDaddy all over TikTok, bro," he added. "It's everywhere."
Kurogane let out a long sigh, a low grunt following it.
"Well… this band was my idea. If you all make it, I'll just call myself a proud mentor."
A brief pause.
He glanced at me, a faint smirk forming.
"Congrats on the interview, lil bro."
I shrugged.
"Thanks. Hopefully Rei gets one soon too… or better yet, we all get one as a group," I said.
Rei let out a small chuckle.
"Yeah… I'd rather do one with you guys first," he said. "Easier to get used to it that way."
Sora nudged him with his elbow.
"Come on, bro. If Forsaken can do it, you can too," he said.
Then he turned to me.
"Seriously though, you did great for your first interview. The stuff about your past was heavy… but the Q&A was fun. We actually got to learn more about you."
Rei glanced at me, a hint of suspicion in his eyes.
"You said you're a Scorpio, right? So… your birthday's coming up soon?"
I shrugged.
"Yeah. November 2nd, actually. We could throw a party or something."
Sora nodded, grinning.
"Hell yeah, bro. Three weeks—we're throwing a party. Drinks, girls… the full menu."
Kurogane spoke up, chill as ever.
"Yeah, I can bring a lotta people. My crew'll show up—they're gonna rock with you guys, for real. I'll handle the location too."
Sora burst out laughing.
"Yeah, let Grandpa take care of it."
Kurogane let out a low grunt.
"Bruh… I'm just 20," he sighed.
The three of us laughed at his expense.
"Seriously… you three act like you're thirteen," Kurogane groaned, shaking his head.
I decided to steer the conversation elsewhere, trying to keep my voice flat but it cracked in the middle.
"Anyway… thanks, guys," I said. "Haven't really had a birthday party since I was like, twelve."
The three of them flashed their biggest smiles.
"You're welcome, bro," Sora said.
"Always, fam," Kurogane added, casual as ever.
Rei's voice softened, tinged with emotion.
"We heard about your past… so yeah. I think it's good you've got friends now."
I let myself enjoy the moment for a while, our conversation drifting to debut mixtape plans, future shows, and upcoming solo collaborations.
Then, Sora suddenly turned the spotlight back on me.
"Yo, Forsaken… at the end of the interview, you said you're single, but not quite. So… who's the lady?" he asked.
Damn. My honesty in that first interview just came back to bite me.
"Well… she's an idol, so I can't exactly broadcast it to the world, you know?" I said flatly.
That seemed to hit them like a brick.
"Bro… no way. Is it… Ai-chan?" Rei asked, voice quiet, almost hesitant.
Wrong SIX STAR girl. Try again.
I had beef with Suzuki. Yeah, we'd made up… but I kinda forgot to mention that in the interview.
And I couldn't just go ahead and say we were friends now, either.
Damn. Hope that doesn't come back to bite me later.
"Nope. Not in a million years," I replied, voice flat as ever.
Sora raised an eyebrow, smirking.
"Yeah… that'd be crazy. So, who is it, then?"
"Can't say," I said, monotone.
Kurogane leaned back, calm but firm, like he owned the room.
"If she's an idol, her identity's meant to be a secret. Stop prying, you kids."
Sora groaned, but Rei just nodded, quietly accepting it. I stayed silent, letting the tension hang.
But we switched topics fast, spending the rest of the evening hashing out plans.
I left the izakaya around 9 PM. Then my phone buzzed.
Kurumi:
"Hey… rapper boy. You free now? 🤔"
A pause.
"Drop by my place. We need to talk about that little interview. 😅"
Then, another message.
"Just got back from the studio myself… today was sooo exhausting. 😓"
I typed back.
"Sure thing. Just got back from Tokyo. Can I crash at your place tonight? 🙃"
She replied two minutes later.
"Of course, silly. 🤭 Get your ass over here. 😏"
I ordered a Bolt. The Tesla cut through Matsumoto's streets, and I reached Kurumi's place in 15 minutes.
I stepped through the courtyard and pushed open the door.
She was sitting on the stairs, but the moment she spotted me, she sprang up.
Swift as a cat, she closed the distance, rising onto her toes to press a quick kiss to my cheek, her arms sliding around my neck.
"Hey, Takumi. Congrats on your first interview," she purred. "Let's celebrate… we've got a lot to talk about."
I hugged her back. When I pulled away, she leaned in, and our lips met for a brief, soft kiss.
"Thanks, Rumi. There's nowhere else I'd rather be right now."
A pause.
"If you didn't text, I would've done it first," I added, voice flat but my lips let out a small smirk.
She blinked, eyes glinting with mischief.
"Oh? Is that so?~" she teased.
"Come on in… you're mine tonight, rapper boy."
She led me into the kitchen, motioning for me to sit.
Two cups of hot chocolate were already on the table, steam curling softly into the air.
Next to them, two bowls—rice, vegetables, fried chicken. Fresh, not reheated.
I glanced at her.
"You made this?"
She smirked, arms crossing.
"Who else, idiot?" she shot back. "Figured you'd be hungry."
"Itadakimasu," I said flatly, digging in.
We ate in silence for a while, the soft clink of chopsticks the only sound filling the kitchen.
Then, out of nowhere, Kurumi raised an eyebrow.
"So…" she said, tone light but pointed. "About that interview."
A pause.
"'Maybe?" She tilted her head slightly, eyes narrowing. "What's that supposed to mean?"
I blinked.
"Well… what did you want me to say?" I shrugged slightly. "Hi, I'm seeing Ku-chan from SIX STAR?"
A brief pause.
"Your uncle would kill me. The fans… the press? They'd tear you apart."
Kurumi held my gaze for a second, then let out a soft scoff, a smirk creeping onto her lips.
"Relax… I'm not asking you to go public with it," she said, voice low, almost amused.
She leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hand.
"But 'maybe'?" Her eyes glinted. "That's a dangerous word, Takumi."
A pause.
"Makes it sound like I'm just one of your options."
I let out a quiet sigh.
"If that's what you got from it… then honestly, I'd rather you didn't watch the interview," I said. "Would've made things easier for me."
A brief pause.
Truth is… unlike most guys, I'm not above weaponizing my own vulnerability.
Kurumi went quiet for a second, watching me—really watching me.
Then she let out a soft laugh, shaking her head.
"Wow… you're really something, you know that?" she murmured.
She leaned back in her chair, eyes still locked on mine.
"Most guys try to hide behind their ego." A faint smirk. "You just throw your weaknesses out there and dare people to deal with them."
A pause.
Her tone softened—just a little.
"But don't get it twisted…" she added quietly. "I'm not 'maybe.'"
I let out a low groan, dragging a hand down my face hard enough to feel it.
"You trying to pick a fight?" I said flatly. "'Cause if that's what you're going for, then I'm going home."
Kurumi tilted her head, smirk widening.
"Oh, so now you're threatening to leave?" she teased, voice low and teasing.
She leaned closer, eyes glinting.
"Good. Leave… and I might just let you."
A pause, her grin softening slightly.
"Not that I want you to, of course."
I sighed, pushing myself up from the chair.
"I don't threaten," I said with a shrug. "I just act."
I turned, reaching for the door.
Before I could take a step, her hand shot out, grabbing my arm and stopping me mid-walk.
Kurumi's fingers tightened slightly around my arm, smirking like she owned the place.
"Not so fast, rapper boy," she said, voice low and teasing.
Her eyes glinted, half dare, half amusement.
"You think you're leaving me just like that? Cute… but not happening."
What the fuck?
"I don't get you," I murmured, shaking my head.
She leaned closer, until she her lips brushed against my ear.
"Don't try to get me, rapper boy," she said softly, almost sing-song.
"You never do… and that's why I like it."
Her eyes sparkled with mischief, daring me to react.
I let out an exasperated groan.
"Just… shut up…" I muttered, half-defeated.
Then, without another word, I leaned in—claiming her lips.
Half to shut her up, half to stir her on.
She blinked before kissing me back, equally as passionate.
And just like that, the world outside faded, leaving only the two of us—reckless, unrestrained… and dangerously close.