Another snow fell from the sky, landing on Chinen’s nose. A small smile appeared on his lips. White clouds formed as he exhaled through his mouth. Eyes were focused at the tree right in front of him. His slim fingers slowly caressed the rough bark. The small bumps were felt under his fingers, and he found a carving that was fading.

It was a sign that it had been all too long since then.

‘I love you, Yuri.’ 

A simple sentence carved. Chinen felt his heart ache, as he leaned against the tree, looking at the snow falling. Weren’t the so in love before? A tear had unconsciously fallen, as Chinen was reminded of the person that had carved that very sentence.

“Why, Ryutaro?”

 He felt like laughing at himself. The younger guy had left him long ago. Two years. Yet Chinen couldn’t forget him.  He still loves him. 

He was shocked when he turned around to see the exact same guy he was thinking about. ‘He never did change.’ He was filled with nostalgia, as Chinen was reminded about the soft kisses Ryutaro would shower him, how gentle the younger guy would treat him.

He saw Ryutaro’s eyes brighten when another person was in sight. Okamoto Keito. Chinen bit onto his tongue, urging himself not to cry, as he saw Ryutaro happily linking his arms with Keito. That look on Ryutaro’s face, it was once reserved for him. 

It was once for Chinen Yuri; however Okamoto Keito has replaced him in Ryutaro’s heart.

“You’re an idiot Chinen,” he whispered to himself as he headed off to the opposite direction. It was his fault that they had become like this. It was all because he broke Ryutaro’s heart when the younger boy had loved him with all his heart.

He just had to forget that Ryutaro’s love for him shouldn’t be taken for granted. Chinen just had to push the younger boy away.

And indirectly, he had hurt himself too.