Friday afternoon, just after the final bell, Ren leaned against Kaito's locker like he'd been waiting all day to ask the question.
"So…" he said, tapping his foot lightly against the floor. "I was thinking. Maybe you and I should go somewhere tomorrow. Just us."
Kaito blinked. "We go places all the time."
Ren raised an eyebrow. "Yeah. To class. Or to get instant ramen."
Kaito tried not to smile. Failed. "What do you have in mind?"
Ren's grin curled slow and smug. "There's a café in Shimokitazawa. Cozy, weird wallpaper, decent waffles. Then maybe we check out some bookshops?"
Kaito's face went warm. "That sounds like a date."
"It is a date," Ren said simply.
Saturday morning was gentle and bright, the city just waking as they stepped off the train.
The café was exactly as Ren had promised—worn leather booths, indie music humming from wall-mounted speakers, and windows covered in ivy. They split a plate of cinnamon waffles and people-watched, legs bumping lightly under the table.
Kaito kept stealing glances at Ren over his coffee. He couldn't help it. The soft lighting brought out the edges of Ren's smile, the slight curve of his nose, the way he stirred his drink without thinking.
"Stop looking at me like that," Ren teased.
Kaito blinked. "Like what?"
"Like I'm your favorite song and you're trying not to hum it in public."
Kaito flushed. "I'm not—!"
"You totally are."
They wandered the shopping streets after that, flipping through old manga, trying on ridiculous hats, arguing over which snacks were the best to smuggle into study sessions.
It was easy. Natural.
Until—
"Kaito?"
He froze.
Ren turned—just as Kaito's mom walked toward them, holding a grocery bag in one arm and raising an eyebrow.
Her eyes flicked from Kaito to Ren. Then to the way their arms had been slightly too close, the way Kaito had instinctively moved just a step forward like he could shield something.
"Mom," Kaito said quickly. "This is—this is Ren. My… classmate."
Ren bowed politely. "Nice to meet you."
She smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Likewise."
After a few pleasantries, she waved goodbye, promising to see Kaito at home.
Kaito didn't breathe again until she was out of sight.
Ren looked at him. "You okay?"
"I don't know."
That evening, Kaito found her in the kitchen, stirring miso soup and humming softly.
"Mom," he said, hesitant. "About earlier—"
"You're seeing him," she said, not turning around.
He swallowed. "Yeah."
She was quiet for a beat. Then, "I figured. You've been smiling more. And you don't usually let people that close unless they mean something to you."
Kaito blinked. "You're… not mad?"
She turned around, gentle. "Mad? No. Surprised? A little. But not because it's a boy."
Kaito watched her, cautious.
"I just worry," she continued. "Not about who you like, but about how the world might treat you because of it."
He looked down. "I know."
She stepped forward, reached out, and brushed his hair from his forehead—like she had when he was small. "But I saw how he looked at you. And how you smiled at him."
Kaito's voice wavered. "How did I smile?"
"Like you weren't hiding."
He bit his lip.
She kissed his temple. "Just be careful. But don't be afraid to be happy, okay?"
He nodded, eyes stinging.
And in his pocket, his phone buzzed.
Ren: That was a date, right? Because I kind of want a second one.
Kaito smiled—wide and full and unhidden.
Kaito: Definitely a date. And yeah. Me too.