Meanwhile, on another floor of the ryokan, Taichi dropped his duffel bag onto the futon with a thud. His knuckles ached from how tightly he clutched them, his chest heaving as if he'd sprinted the entire way here.
"That bastard!"
He growled, running both hands through his hair.
"He split us up on purpose. I know it."
Yamato, busy unpacking his bag with lazy efficiency, glanced over.
"Of course he did. Everyone could see it a mile away. Sasaki's fingerprints are all over this."
Taichi slammed his fist against the wall, teeth grinding.
"If I just call my old man—one call and it's over. He could have the entire seating chart, the room list, everything, rewritten in minutes."
Yamato raised a brow.
"So? Do it."
But Taichi froze, his fist still pressed to the wall. His father's shadow loomed in his mind—the steel grip of expectations, of being his father's son before he was his own person. Every favor pulled was another chain tightening around his neck. A risk of finding out he had relied on his name and money, Ling could only help but so much before word got his his father.
"No."
He said finally, his voice low and raw.
"If I do that, I'll owe him more than I already do. And then it won't be me protecting Yu—it'll be him. I won't let him get his claws in us."
Yamato studied him quietly, then gave a slow nod.
"Then we find another way. Don't worry—I'll watch your back. But for now… you'll just have to endure it, I guess."
Taichi sank onto the futon, fists tightening in his lap. Endure. The word felt like poison. But as much as he hated it, he knew Yamato was right.
Still, one thing was certain:
No matter what walls Isuke tried to build, Taichi would tear them down with his own hands if he had to.
Taichi sat hunched forward on the futon, elbows braced against his knees, fists clenched so tightly his newly bruised knuckles strained. Yamato had already changed and gone down to the common room, leaving him with nothing but the buzzing silence of his fury.
Every muscle in his body screamed to break down the sliding door one floor up, to rip Yu away from Sasaki's side. But the thought of his father—of owing him another favor, of being leashed tighter by the Arifukua name—burned hotter than the fury itself.
He punched his knee, breathing hard through his teeth.
"Dammit… Just hang on, Yu. I'll find a way to tear this whole setup apart. With my own two hands."
---
The bathroom door slid open with a soft creak, steam still curling faintly from behind Yu. He stepped out barefoot, his pale skin glowing against the deep indigo of the ryokan's yukata. His long white hair, damp at the ends, trailed down like silk over his shoulders, catching the lantern light.
For one fragile second, Yu almost felt comforted by the fabric's warmth. But then he saw Isuke staring.
His eyes widened, hunger flashing behind the perfect mask. He rose from where he'd been lounging and crossed the tatami in slow, deliberate steps.
Yu froze, clutching the front of his yukata with both hands.
"S-stay back."
He raised his arms as if the thin sleeves could shield him.
But Isuke only chuckled softly.
"You tied it wrong."
He said, voice smooth as glass.
"Here—let me fix it for you."
He reached out before Yu could react, his fingers grazing the sash at Yu's waist. Yu flinched, keeping his eyes on Isuke's hand—but in that heartbeat of distraction, Isuke tilted his face downward and captured Yu's lips.
Yu gasped against the sudden pressure, his back hitting the wall with a thud. The kiss was hot, stealing the air from his lungs, and the closeness made his heart race with panic.
"See how tempting you look?"
Isuke whispered against his lips, breath heavy with desire. His hand slipped inside the loose fold of the yukata, rough fingers brushing Yu's bare chest. A thumb dragged slowly across his hardened nipple, coaxing an involuntary shiver that betrayed him.
Yu's body jolted. His breath hitched, tears burning his eyes.
"N-no—!"
But the sound cracked, weak against the electric rush running through him.
Isuke smirked, his mouth brushing Yu's ear.
"You feel it too. Don't lie to me, Yu. You want me just as badly."
Then, with cruel ease, he pulled away. As though nothing had happened, he picked up his folded yukata, draped it over his arm, and slipped into the bathroom. The door clicked shut.
Yu slid down the wall, knees trembling. His hands pressed to his chest where the heat still lingered, where shame and confusion twisted tighter than he could bear. A sob broke loose as tears blurred his ruby eyes.
'Why? Why did I let him do that? Why… why did it feel good?'
In his head, DK01's voice cut in, calm but merciless.
[Additional data unlocked: the original Yukio Hokohayashi harbored a crush on Isuke Sasaki. He never confessed before his death.]
Yu's blood ran cold. His stomach twisted violently.
'Then… are these feelings even mine? Or am I just—just carrying his?'
He hugged himself tightly, sobbing quietly in the lantern's glow, more shaken than ever.
[Be extra cautious Yu, while these feelings may be past remnants of Yukio, it's also possible your Incubus nature is reacting based on instincts to feed, however dormant they may be due to being bound by me, your system.]
'Can I stop this?'
[...Just be careful, Yu.]
---
That evening, the students gathered in the wide tatami banquet hall, the low tables lined with lacquer trays, bowls of steaming miso, grilled river fish, and delicate autumn vegetables.
Taichi entered with Yamato, scanning the room immediately. His gaze found Yu at another table—seated right beside Isuke.
Yu sat rigidly, shoulders tense beneath his yukata, eyes fixed on the untouched miso bowl in front of him. Isuke leaned just a little too close, laughing easily with the students on their side, his hand resting behind Yu's back as though it belonged there.
The separation was public now, cruel in its sharpness.
Taichi's hands curled into fists at his sides. His jaw flexed.
And Yu, feeling the weight of Taichi's stare from across the room, dared to glance up. Their eyes met. Ruby to Emerald. For one heartbeat, the noise of the hall fell away.
Yu's lips trembled, mouthing silently across the distance:
Help me.
The clatter of chopsticks and hum of chatter filled the wide tatami hall. Students laughed and passed dishes along the tables. Teachers supervised with polite smiles, remarking on the ryokan's hospitality.
Yu sat stiffly beside Isuke, his tray of food barely touched. His fingers twisted in his lap beneath the table. Every time Isuke leaned close to whisper something, Yu's shoulders tightened a little more.
"Eat."
Isuke murmured, slipping a slice of simmered fish onto Yu's tray.
"You'll make yourself sick again."
Yu forced a thin smile, pushing the bite into his mouth. It tasted like ashes. Across the room, he could feel Taichi's gaze burning into him, hot and unrelenting.
Taichi sat with Yamato, his own meal untouched. His fists dug into his thighs hard enough to hurt.
"I can switch with Sasaki. Or at the very least Yu."
He growled lowly, waved down one of the supervising teachers.
"Just move Yu into my group. Yu is—Yu's my responsibility."
The teacher shook their head, amused but firm.
"The groups are balanced. This was all decided in advance. You understand."
"Then I'll pay for the imbalance."
Taichi's voice was harsh now, desperate. He pulled out his wallet, his pride crumbling into raw need.
"Money, donations, whatever you want—just don't leave Yu there."
The teacher's smile faltered, but the refusal held.
"Arifukua… please sit down. Don't make a scene. You'll only embarrass yourself further."
Taichi slammed his wallet shut, jaw tight, swallowing the roar in his throat. He sank back down, green eyes flashing toward Yu again—helpless, furious.
Yu kept his head down, focusing on not trembling as he ate small bites. Isuke chatted easily with the others, his polished charm weaving through the table. Every so often, he leaned close, his hand hovering near Yu's back, grazing just enough to remind Yu he was there, always there.
Yu's stomach twisted. He wanted to scream. To run across the room and hide behind Taichi's broad frame. But everyone's eyes would follow. His fear of humiliating Taichi rooted him in place.
Still, when the chatter lulled, Yu dared a glance across the hall. Taichi was watching him, raw fury under his restraint. Their eyes met—just for a moment—and Yu's throat caught. He mouthed silently, lips barely moving:
Don't leave me.
Taichi's fist clenched on his thigh.
'Never.'
The banquet wound down. Students filed back to their assigned rooms, laughter echoing down the corridors. The paper lanterns glowed warm against the darkening night.
Taichi lingered at the edge of the crowd, scanning, plotting. He'd tried reason. He'd tried bribes. None of it had worked. His jaw ached from grinding his teeth.
Ahead, Yu shuffled down the hall beside Isuke, shoulders hunched beneath the yukata, looking smaller than ever. The sight made Taichi's blood run hot.
He turned sharply to Yamato.
"Cover for me if anyone asks. I'm not letting Yu sleep in that room."
---
Late at night in room 203, the tatami mats creaked faintly as Yu rushed to grab his pajamas and padded toward the bathroom, his yukata sleeves trembling around his wrists.
"I'll… I'll change in here."
Yu murmured, sliding the wooden door closed between him and Isuke.
Inside, he pressed his back against the wall, breathing fast. The mirror showed him flushed and frightened, his pale skin glowing under the lantern light. His fingers fumbled with the sash. If he could just take his time, if he could just stay in here until Isuke fell asleep—
Click.
The sound made his blood run cold. Yu spun, clutching the front of his yukata to his chest as the door creaked open.
"Yukio~"
Isuke's smooth voice slid into the room, the lockpick still in his fingers. His smile was soft, almost tender, but his eyes glimmered with hunger.
"You don't need to hide from me. I've already seen how beautiful you look. Why be shy?"
He stepped forward, closing the space between them. Yu flattened himself against the wall, clutching his yukata tighter, shaking his head violently.
"I—I told you, I don't—"
"Shh."
Isuke reached out, his hand brushing Yu's cheek, trailing down toward the knot at his sash.
"If it's Taichi you're worried about, forget him tonight. He can't come here. He can't take you away from me now."
Yu's heart hammered. His lips trembled as he whispered.
"Taichi will come. He always comes."
As if summoned by the words, a sharp crack split the air—the sliding door to the main room splintering under a brutal shove.
"Yu!"
Taichi stormed inside, chest heaving, green eyes blazing with unrestrained fury. He didn't hesitate; he crossed the tatami in long strides and ripped the bathroom door fully open.
Isuke turned, startled for once, his hand dropping from Yu's sash.
Yu gasped, tears spilling over as he stumbled toward the doorway.
"Taichi!"
Taichi caught him instantly, yanking Yu into his arms, cradling him tight against his chest. He looked past him, straight at Isuke. His voice was low, dangerous, trembling with the force of his control.
"Touch him again, Sasaki…"
Taichi growled,
"And I swear I'll bury you right here."
Isuke's mask twitched, that perfect smile warping under the pressure. His hands curled at his sides, body tense as a coiled spring.
"This is against the rules, Arifukua."
He said smoothly, though his voice was edged with venom.
"This room is mine. He's mine. You barging in like this—what do you think will happen when the teachers find out?"
Taichi didn't flinch. He kept Yu behind him, shielding him with his whole frame.
"Let them. I don't care what happens to me."
He leaned forward, his words like blades.
"You'll never have him."
Yu, trembling, clutched at the back of Taichi's yukata, his voice breaking but loud enough to pierce the thick air.
"I don't belong to you, Sasaki. I love Taichi! Only Taichi!"
The Love-o-meter ticked up:
59 - 62
The words cracked like lightning in the room, leaving a silence heavy and unbearable.
The air between them was electric, thick enough to choke on. Taichi stood broad and unyielding, shielding Yu with his whole body, while Isuke's polished smile strained at the edges.
Yu's words still rang in the room—
"I love Taichi! Only Taichi!"
—like a wound ripped wide open.
"You don't mean that, Yu…"
Isuke said quietly, eyes glinting, though his voice carried the tremor of desperation.
"You can't possibly mean that after what we—"
"Shut your mouth!"
Taichi's tone was cold steel. His fists trembled, not with fear, but with the barely restrained urge to lunge.
Isuke's lips curved again into that infuriating smile.
"Do you honestly believe he'll really choose you in the long run? You, with your violence, your record, your family name—"
"You shut your goddamn fucking mouth, you bastard!"
Taichi growled low in his throat, taking a step forward. Yu clutched his arm tight, whispering.
"Taichi, don't—please."
The tension was seconds away from exploding when—
Slide!
The door to the hallway banged open.
"What is the meaning of this noise?"
Another supervising teacher, stern-faced and disheveled from being dragged out of his futon, loomed in the doorway. His gaze flicked between the three boys: Yu trembling, Taichi bristling, Isuke with that too-perfect posture.
"Names. Now."
The silence cracked.
"Taichi, Arifukua."
"Isuke, Sasaki."
"Yukio, Hokohayashi… Yu."
The teacher exhaled, already weary.
"Sasaki, explain."
Isuke bowed deeply, voice honeyed.
"Sensei, I apologize for the disruption. We were simply having a—disagreement. Yu-chan can be… excitable, but I was trying to calm—"
"Enough! Wait a moment!"
The teacher snapped. He pulled out his phone, scrolling through the student files. His eyes froze.
"Hokohayashi, Yu… listed as non-binary?"
Yu blinked in shock.
"Ah—yes, sensei…"
The teacher's expression hardened.
"Then this arrangement should never have happened. You were not supposed to have a roommate at all."
His voice softened slightly as he turned to Yu.
"I apologize for this oversight."
Relief poured through Taichi's shoulders like water. He almost laughed, but instead he let out a long, shaky sigh.
"Thank god…"
He muttered under his breath, his grip on Yu's wrist finally loosening.
"Pack your things."
The teacher instructed.
"You'll be moved to your own room immediately."
"Sensei, wait—!"
Isuke stepped forward, panic cracking his perfect tone.
"There's no need to make such drastic changes. I can look after Yu—"
The teacher's glare cut him off.
"Enough, Sasaki. Your position as council president does not give you authority here. This is a school trip, and I will not tolerate this level of disturbance again. Do I make myself clear?"
Isuke's jaw tightened, his voice caught between obedience and fury.
"…Yes, sensei."
The room fell silent except for the soft rustle of Yu's hands gathering his bag. Taichi kept close, every step protective, until Yu bowed politely to the teacher and slipped out into the corridor.
The door shut behind them.
Isuke stood alone in the tatami room, fists clenched at his sides, his composure cracking in the empty silence.
The door clicked shut, sealing Yu and Taichi on the other side. For a moment, silence swallowed the tatami room whole.
Isuke stood rigid, his mask crumbling by inches. The fury twisted first—jaw clenched, nails digging into his palms. But beneath it, darker currents swirled.
Yu's flushed face flickered across his mind. The involuntary shiver when his thumb brushed that soft, sensitive nipple. The tears trembling in those ruby eyes as his body betrayed him.
"…He felt it too, I know he did."
Isuke whispered to himself, voice ragged.
"He can't deny it. Not forever."
His fingers still remembered the shape, the heat. Slowly, deliberately, he brought them to his lips. His tongue traced the tips, savoring the phantom echo. A groan rumbled low in his chest, hunger coiling hot in his abdomen.
His gaze drifted to the bathroom door.
Yu's sash lay crumpled where it had fallen, deep indigo fabric still carrying the faint trace of him. Isuke's breath hitched as he crouched, lifting it reverently. The scent clung to his nose, his mouth, his thoughts.
"This… is the thread that binds us."
He slunk into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him, clutching the sash like proof of possession. Desire and obsession roared together, drowning out every rational thought. In his mind, Yu was already his—completely, inevitably.
His hands moved quickly, fantasy merging with reality as he rewrote what really happened. Turning rejection into coyness, shivers of fear turning into those of anticipation and delight until it pushed Isuke over the edge. After finishing, he steadied his breath, washed his hands and held the sash close, treating it as if it were Yu, himself, beside him in the futon.
---
The teacher walked ahead briskly down the hall, and Yu followed with Taichi shadowing close, his hand never straying far from Yu's back. The tension began to ease with every step further from that suffocating room.
At last, they arrived at the new door.
"Here, Room 226."
The teacher said, tone clipped but kinder now.
"This is your room, Hokohayashi. Alone, as it should have been. Rest. I'll expect no more disturbances tonight."
Yu bowed low.
"Thank you, sensei."
When the teacher started walking down the hall, Taichi lingered, watching Yu's face in the dim light. His hand brushed gently against Yu's cheek—over where the bruise had been, over the soft skin that had been kissed against his will.
"You're safe now."
He murmured.
"Sleep. I'll… I'll come back first thing in the morning, okay?"
Yu nodded, though the tightness in his chest wouldn't ease. He didn't want to let Taichi go—not after everything. But the teacher's watchful eyes down the hall meant Taichi couldn't stay.
Their fingers threaded together in one last tight squeeze before Taichi slipped reluctantly away.
The door closed.
For the first time since the trip began, Yu stood in a room that was entirely his. Safe. Quiet. He set his bag down, leaned against the wall, and let out a long, shuddering breath.
Safe.
But as he slid into the futon, hugging his knees to his chest, the emptiness pressed in. Safe, yes—but lonely. His heart ached for Taichi's warmth beside him.
And somewhere down the hall, he knew Isuke was still out there.