Aki walked for a while, finding Hito finally somewhere along the path of the river that led toward the school. Hito was still sitting there frozen with his face covered. He jumped as he felt a jacket being wrapped around him.

“What’d my brother say?” Aki asked, leaning down in front of Hito, holding the neck of the jacket closed around Hito’s chin.

Hito shook his head, not uncovering his face.

Aki shifted closer, resting his forehead against Hito’s. “Was it that bad? That bad that you can’t even say it?”

Hito shook his head a bit.

“Then tell me.”

“You care?” Hito asked softly.

Aki nodded a bit, “Yeah. I care.”

A few moments later Hito answered. “He said… I can’t be human.”

Aki waited for a continuation and when it didn’t come he asked, “What’d he do to you?”

“He grabbed me and asked why you were better…”

“Better?”

“You can get me to talk.”

Aki chuckled a bit. “That’s how I’m better…?”

Hito shrugged. “I got scared… and couldn’t even scream. He said… He could probably rape me, and still… I wouldn’t make a noise. Not for him.”

Aki’s smile faded and he was left with a serious look. “He said that?” Hito nodded. “Then what?”

“He said I can’t be human. So pathetic.”

Aki looked away for a moment. “…Do you think he’s right?”

“Huh?” Hito looked up to Aki, uncovering his face.

“Do you think you aren’t human?” Hito shook his head. “Then that’s all that matters.”

“But I have—“

“What?” Aki asked, looking to Hito. “Silver eyes?” Hito just nodded. “Silver eyes and golden hair, and perfect skin. If you asked me, I’d say that makes you a damn fucking sexy human.”

Hito stared at Aki. His cheeks didn’t change color to a blush, because he was in such shock someone would say that about him.

Aki blinked, noticing the stare. “….What?”

“S-say it again.” Hito said, lifting his hands to the collar of Aki’s jacket. “P-please, say it again.”

Aki blinked, not really understanding. “…You’re silver eyes and golden hair make you a damn fucking sexy human…”

Aki watched as Hito’s eyes seemed to grow softer, and tears slowly began to well in the corner of them. “H-hey! You don’t need to cry, Hito!” Hito just clung onto Aki, staring at him as his tears began to fall. Even long after he couldn’t see through the blurred vision of his tearing eyes, Hito didn’t look away from Aki’s face.

Aki sat there for a long time, waiting for Hito to stop. After a bit, Hito rested his forehead against Aki’s collar.

“…Just let me rest like this a bit.” He asked.

Aki nodded, lifting his head up to look at the sky. He let his arms go around Hito to support him. He wasn’t used to someone asking him for support like this.

A bit later, when Hito and Aki returned, Asuka snatched his jacket from Hito and the two brothers began arguing over why Hito had it. Kei interrupted, shouting that Aki’s reason was solid. He took it to keep Hito warm, because Hito’s jacket was pretty thin. And when Asuka still argued, Mastuki came in before it could become a fist fight.