Some nine hours later, Soma was making his way back, with a serious headache to boot. Arriving late, leaving earlier than ever —bravo...

Of course, everything had conspired to make this day the worst possible and his life even more miserable...

This time he stopped briefly at the bakery to buy a sandwich. But that was his only detour before returning to his room, throwing down his briefcase, putting down the sandwich, and collapsing onto the bed—thankfully changed and remade by the staff.

Apparently, his body had sensed the opportunity to make him pay for his recent treatment.

If only everything could stop... No longer feel, no longer think... Just sleep... Never waking up in these conditions again...

The ringing of the phone made him jump abruptly.

He took a breath to calm himself.

Few people had that number, in case of emergency... Who...

He rushed to answer before it was too late.

And all color drained from his face at the sound of the caller's Japanese voice.

He clenched his fist. An icy voice came out of his dry throat.

"How did you find me? Who gave you this number?"

"I had to track down your employer. Luckily, your boss was cooperative."

Soma didn't reply, trying with little success to suppress the rage he felt rising within him as if by reflex.

"I was finally beginning to hope you had come to your senses. But when your mother told me you had left Japan... and for France! They mentioned the attack, even here, there was no need to look far to make the connection."

He should have expected it. He had felt obliged to leave a note for his mother since, after all, she had, on her own, made the effort to reconnect months before. But obviously, whatever her own motivation, she was ultimately an excellent spy.

"How dare you rush in like that, leave everything behind, and stoop to returning to his feet at the first whistle! Leaving your post! I demand an explanation! And I forbid you to go near them, do you hear me!!"

Soma took a deep breath, closing his eyes.

"You have gone to unnecessary trouble because I have nothing to say to you. As you surely remember, I am no longer your son. I have no obligation to answer to you, and I would appreciate it if you would maintain your past indifference. Have no fear, I will in no way claim any affiliation with you. I am solely responsible for my actions."

"What… Soma!" his interlocutor exploded. "I will not tolerate…"

"No need to call back. Goodbye."

Soma hung up without listening further. He stood frozen for a moment, eyes shut, his hands gripping the edge of the table, breathing heavily.

How dare he? How dare he?

With a cry of rage, the side of his hand went to unleash on the door all the violent emotions that had accumulated for so long without being able to repress them.

Then he straightened up, his arms at his sides, exhaling deeply.

"Sh…" he blurted out, opening his eyes to a slight crack in the wooden door.

Great, he had won… He just had to hope it wouldn't be noticed.

But this call… After all this time, looking for him and calling him for this…

It would never change…

When another ring sounded, he abruptly unplugged the phone.

Enough, it really was too much...

He picked up his briefcase and rummaged for a few moments before pulling out a tablet of half-used pills.

How much of this stuff had his colleague said she took?

~*~

"But you're sure, right? That's not a problem?"

"I can’t believe it... For the seventy-fourth time, yes, I’m sure; no, it doesn't bother me; and I even think it's normal to welcome them."

"OK, because they can afford it you know, they can easily afford the hotel... If it bothers you, I'll tell them that..."

"I know that. Somaaa... What’s the matter with you? It’s as if you don't want to see your parents. I thought it would be more pleasant for you this way... You haven’t seen them in so long. Is something wrong?"

Soma sat down on the bed, which they were just finishing making.

 "No, I... it’s just..."

He hesitated, his gaze falling to the floor.

Seishi sighed as he finished tucking in the last corner of the bed and went to sit next to Soma, who instinctively leaned back against him.

"Sorry…"

"Is it because of us?"

"No… Yes… I don't know…"

Seishi hugged him tightly.

"It's just that… It's easier to leave out certain things knowing they’re far away, I guess… But… having to lie and hide in their presence… My parents will be here for two weeks, and if… and if ever, they…"

"We've already discussed it so many times, I don't know what else to say, unfortunately… In this case, I can't give you any advice. Whatever happens, I'll be by your side, but the decision is yours alone…"

"I know, I know… I'm happy to see them again. But at the same time… I don't even dare to imagine if my father found out the truth."

 "Soma..."

"I know it's impossible to tell them what's important to me... Sometimes I'd so love to tell them, to tell everyone, to share what we have... But... but I wonder how they would react, or rather, I know only too well. No dreaming, they’d never accept it.

Seishi didn't reply, limiting himself to absently stroking Soma's arm. This was not a new problem... It came up regularly between them... and this time, Soma's parents' visit undoubtedly increased the pressure. Soma had always struggled with the gulf between his true self and the life his parents wanted for him. Last year, they had managed to get through it when his own parents came back to Japan for a visit... but his nerves still remembered it... And even with the little he knew about Soma's parents, he knew it wouldn't be a walk in the park again... and that Soma had reason to be nervous. Alas, if there was a simple solution...

"Besides," the latter continued, "I know I've never said it, but I'm really happy to have someone like Sana by our side."

Seishi looked at him, surprised.

"She makes up for all the others. Even though, I don't know if I'll ever be able to stop being jealous and worried whenever she's around you... Sometimes... After all, she was -is- so perfect, and she loved you so much, your parents wouldn't have known how to thank the heavens if you had chosen her... and I still wonder why you chose me... and persisted even after everything I put you through before I stopped lying to myself..."

"Soma... that's the past, we've come a long way since then. It's with you that I'm happy."

"I know... and I'm the one who thanks the gods now... because I doubt I could sacrifice myself like she did, even for your own happiness... I'm too selfish for that..."

"But I don't want sacrifice, I want you to fight for me, for us... and we will fight together, Soma."

Soma sighed heavily, nestling in Seishi's arms.

"Like Ikedaya*, eh?"

Seishi laughed softly.

"Yes... invincible, don't forget... Don't worry, everything will be fine."

He paused before whispering in Soma's ear:

"And after all, you're the one who'll be sleeping on the couch, so there's no problem for me!"

Soma's eyes widened for a moment before narrowing dangerously as he turned his head towards his companion.

"Bastard..."

He discreetly grabbed the nearest pillow with one hand.

"You're just a..."

" Profiteer!" he roared, striking Seishi with the pillow.

"Oh nooo!!!

But the pillow fell again, and again... until they toppled onto the bed, Soma straddling Seishi and suffocating him with his improvised weapon.

"Mmmmmmmfff!!! "

Finally, Seishi managed to unbalance his assailant.

"You just wait..."

Then he reversed the situation, pinning Soma to the bed by his wrists.

"And now?"

Soma's face broke into a smile that a famous silver fox wouldn't have denied.

"You'll see..."

"No, not that!" exclaimed Seishi, feeling Soma's hands slip from his grasp and slide towards his sides.

"Oh yes…"

"Aaaah ah aaaannno… nooo… stop… you…" he choked as Soma tickled him mercilessly.

"Tsk tsk tsk… So strong and so ticklish…"

"Ha… aaah… coward!!"

Seishi struggled to free himself, and soon, a mini-fight erupted.

A few minutes later, out of breath, they collapsed back onto the bed, with no sound other than their ragged breaths.

"Oooow... I was just done making the bed for your parents..." Seishi moaned when he had recovered a little.

"Well, you'll make it again..."

"Later..." Soma added, rolling over to lie on top of his companion.

"Mmm... so kind..."

Soma kissed him languidly, effectively silencing him for a while.

"So... Soma..." he breathed once free.

"Mmm?"

"Your parents will be here soon, I don't think..."

"They won't be here for a while..."

"Mmff."

Seishi closed his eyes, distracted by Soma's hand sliding under his shirt and the kisses scattered along his neck.

"And they said they'd call; they're not the ones I need right now!"

As if to punish Soma, a ringing made them freeze.

"Huh?"

"What the..."

"Your parents?" Seishi asked, his voice tight with confusion.

Another ring forced them to react and they jumped out of bed.

Seishi was already trying to straighten the sheets when he saw Soma hesitate at the threshold of the bedroom door.

"Oh, Sei, I don't..."

Seishi changed his mind and moved closer to hug him tenderly but firmly.

"Shhh... Everything will be fine... I love you..."