Yu's stomach plunged. He stared at Taichi—his Taichi, trembling with feelings too big to hold in—and panic clawed at his chest.
If he didn't act, he might lose everything.
Yu's mind spun, DK01's warning ringing like alarm bells. Diffuse it. Stabilize him. Or the system resets.
His mouth worked before his courage did.
"T-Taichi, um… maybe… maybe if you just, like, think about happy stuff instead of—uh—ugly burning feelings? Like, like… when we cook together! Or when we, um, brush our teeth side by side—"
He cringed even as the words tumbled out. Taichi's dark eyes only grew heavier, more desperate, as if Yu's flimsy patchwork couldn't reach the storm inside him.
'It's not working.'
Yu's chest squeezed.
And before he could think better of it, instinct shoved aside reason. His body moved first.
Yu grabbed the front of Taichi's shirt, tugged him down, and pressed his lips to his.
For one wild, breathless second, everything stopped. Taichi froze, startled, all that stormy tension in him going rigid. His eyes widened against the kiss, his breath caught—then he went utterly still, stunned into silence.
In Yu's head, DK01's voice flickered back online.
[Stabilization confirmed. Emotional fluctuations decreasing rapidly. Keep doing what you're doing.]
Yu nearly choked on a groan against Taichi's lips, muttering back in his mind.
'That's easier said than done!'
His face burned, his hands trembling against Taichi's shirt.
But Taichi wasn't trembling anymore. He was calm—no, he was soft, as if Yu's kiss had pulled him back to earth.
The silence stretched.
Yu could feel his own pulse hammering in his ears as he pulled back, feel the ghost of the kiss still tingling on his lips. Taichi hadn't moved an inch—he was just staring at him, wide-eyed, unreadable.
Yu's stomach twisted.
'Oh no. Oh no oh no oh no.'
"I-I didn't mean— I mean, I did but not like—! It wasn't—well, it was but—uh, it's just that you looked so— and—"
He waved his hands around uselessly, every word falling apart as his face flamed hotter and hotter.
"Forget it! It was stupid, I didn't mean anything by it, okay?!"
His words tripped and tangled until they were just a pile of embarrassed noise. He wanted the floor to open up and swallow him whole.
But then Taichi exhaled. Slowly. His shoulders lowered. And, to Yu's shock, the corners of his mouth tugged into the softest, smallest smile.
"…You kissed me."
Taichi murmured, his voice lower than usual, almost reverent.
Yu's throat closed up.
"I-I—!"
"You did."
His smile widened, his storm-dark eyes lightening into something gentler. He reached up, brushing Yu's hot cheek with the back of his fingers, and his voice came steady now, warm.
"I don't care why. I don't care if you can't explain it. You kissed me, Yu. Because you wanted to."
Yu's eyes darted away, but his whole trembling, red face gave him away. He couldn't even deny it.
And Taichi's heart swelled. He didn't need excuses, didn't need Yu to untangle the words. The proof was written all over Yu's flustered expression, in the way he couldn't stop fidgeting after taking the lead for once.
It was enough. More than enough.
The storm in Taichi's chest had quieted. For once, he didn't press, didn't push, didn't cage Yu in. He just brushed his thumb gently along Yu's cheek, letting the boy's frantic breaths slow on their own.
"Don't overthink it,"
He said softly, almost coaxing.
"Just breathe. I'm not going anywhere."
Yu blinked at him, lips parted, still trying to swallow down his embarrassment. Slowly, his shoulders eased. He looked away, muttering something under his breath that sounded a lot like, "Idiot…" but his color finally began to fade back to something less explosive.
Taichi smiled. Tender. Content. He gave him the space to calm down.
…for all of ten minutes.
By the time Yu was setting out pajamas and fussing with his hair ties, Taichi had sidled up behind him, voice pitched low and teasing.
"Hey, Yu."
Yu stiffened, wary.
"…What?"
"You kissed me."
Taichi's grin grew mischievous now, his green eyes glittering.
"So… when do I get another one?"
Yu sputtered, tripping over his words again.
"W-what are you— No! That was just—! Ugh, you—!"
He flailed, nearly dropping his hair tie.
Taichi leaned closer, dropping his chin onto Yu's shoulder like a giant, needy puppy.
"Come on, just one more. You can't start something and not follow through, you know."
The night unfolded with this rhythm: Yu scrambling to escape his boyfriend's shameless requests, Taichi sneaking in little whines and "pretty pleases," and DK01 cackling somewhere in Yu's head about how "statistically, he's doomed."
It wasn't until they were both tucked into the bed, lights off, that Yu finally sighed in defeat.
"…Fine."
Taichi perked up instantly, eyes gleaming even in the dark.
"J-just one."
Yu turned over, cheeks burning, and pressed the quickest, softest kiss to his lips.
"…Goodnight."
For Taichi, it was like being handed the moon. He melted, immediately wrapping his arms around Yu and burying his face into his neck.
"Mmm. Not enough. Gimme another—"
"Absolutely not!"
Yu pinched his cheek, not hard, just enough to make Taichi yelp.
"Go to sleep, or you can take the floor."
Taichi blinked, then gave a mock pout.
"…Mean."
But he quieted, tucking himself snugly against Yu with all the eagerness of a puppy given permission to curl up on the bed.
And soon, warmth pressed into warmth, they both drifted into sleep—Yu secretly smiling into the dark, and Taichi happier than he'd ever admit, clutching his treasure close.
---
The morning light seeped through the thin curtains, turning Yu's pale hair into threads of silver across Taichi's chest. For a long, quiet stretch, Taichi just lay there, listening to the tiny breaths tickle his collarbone.
It was Saturday. Their first weekend morning waking up side by side. No rush for school. No looming tests. Just the two of them.
Taichi's arm tightened instinctively around Yu's waist. His first thought was the same ugly one that always clawed up:
Don't let go. Never let go.
But then, like a ghost pressing a finger to his forehead, Fumiko's words from yesterday returned.
"You'll push Yu away if you cage her in."
It was becoming annoying at this point. However, he forced himself to breathe, to ease the grip of his hand. He brushed Yu's hair back instead, fingertips moving slow and careful.
Yu stirred with a soft sound, eyelids fluttering open. His voice was thick with sleep when he muttered.
"…Taichi?"
"Morning."
Taichi kept his voice low, softer than usual.
"Sorry. Didn't mean to wake you."
Yu blinked up at him, confused by the tenderness in his eyes. The memory of last night's flustered kisses came rushing back, and Yu's face went pink instantly. He rolled away, burying half his face into the pillows.
"…S-stop staring."
Taichi chuckled. Not his usual cocky snicker—something gentler.
"Can't help it. You're too cute in the mornings."
Normally, he would have pulled Yu back against his chest by now, demanded another kiss, smothered him in that suffocating closeness. Instead, Taichi sat up, stretching, yawning, giving Yu space.
"Hungry?"
He asked casually.
"We could make breakfast together. Or… I can try not to burn it this time."
That startled Yu. He sat up, blinking at him.
"…You'll cook?"
"I'll…help. I can't promise it'll turn out good like yours but, I…wanna try and be better."
Taichi gave an awkward grin, then rubbed the back of his neck. Yu's chest gave a funny little flutter. He hugged his knees to hide it.
"…Dummy."
But his voice was soft. Almost warm.
It wasn't perfect—Taichi still slipped and reached for Yu's hand as they shuffled toward the kitchen, still hovered like a shadow when Yu opened the fridge—but it was different. A little lighter. A little freer.
And for the first time, Yu thought… maybe this "roommate boyfriend" life wouldn't be as exhausting as he feared.
The tiny kitchen was barely big enough for one person, let alone two. Yet Taichi squeezed himself in beside Yu anyway, looming like a wall as Yu set out the rice cooker and cracked a couple of eggs into a bowl.
"I can whisk those!"
Taichi offered, reaching for the bowl.
Yu hesitated.
"…Without spilling?"
Taichi shot him a look, then exaggeratedly tied back his black hair with one of Yu's red hair ties he'd "borrowed."
"Watch and learn, princess."
The nickname made Yu sputter, cheeks heating.
"D-don't call me that! That's what the school calls me—!"
But Taichi was already whisking furiously, so hard that some egg sloshed over the rim. Yu yelped, grabbing the bowl.
"Hey! Gentle! Not like you're trying to beat it into submission!"
"...Oops."
Taichi scratched his cheek, sheepish.
"Guess I got carried away."
Yu sighed, muttering under his breath as he cleaned the counter.
"Carried away is your whole personality…"
But when he glanced sideways, Taichi was watching him, waiting for the next instruction like a big, eager dog. Against his better judgment, Yu handed him the ladle.
"Fine. You can stir the rice when the timer's done."
"On it!"
Taichi said proudly, as though he'd been entrusted with a sacred task.
They shuffled around each other in that cramped space—Yu cooking the omelets with careful precision while Taichi hovered close enough to "help" by holding utensils, taste-testing whenever Yu wasn't looking, and immediately burning his tongue.
"Hot! Hot!"
Taichi fanned his mouth dramatically.
"Of course it's hot, you idiot, it's fresh off the pan!"
Yu scolded, smacking him lightly on the arm with the spatula.
But even as he huffed, his chest warmed at the sight—this ridiculous, domestic mess that still somehow felt… cozy.
When they finally sat down at the little table with two steaming plates, Yu pressed his palms together.
"Itadakimasu."
Taichi copied him, but his gaze lingered on Yu more than the food.
"Told you I could be helpful."
He said, smirking around his chopsticks.
Yu rolled his eyes, but the corner of his lips twitched up.
"…Barely."
It was clumsy, it was noisy, but it was theirs.
After breakfast, Taichi stretched out on Yu's floor, patting his stomach like he'd just eaten a five-course feast.
"That was good!"
He sighed, sounding proud as if he'd done all the work.
Yu stacked their empty plates with a quiet huff.
"You barely helped. You're not getting points for stirring rice."
"Hey, I stirred it with love!"
Taichi countered, propping himself on an elbow, grin lopsided.
Yu's blush betrayed him before he could shoot back a retort. Muttering, he turned toward the sink.
"Dummy…"
But when Taichi hopped up to wash the dishes without being asked, Yu blinked.
'...He better not break a dish.'
Once the clatter of dishes died down, the two sprawled across Yu's little table with their books. DK01 groaned theatrically in Yu's head when the math notes came out.
[Finally. My precious Host is acting like a diligent student. Sniff. This is a proud day.]
Yu muttered back under his breath.
"Stop making it sound like I'm graduating or something."
Taichi leaned over, brow furrowed at Yu's messy handwriting.
"That's a six? Looks like a snail."
"Shut up! It's legible if you don't look at it too hard!"
Yu snapped, tugging the notebook back, cheeks red. But despite the squabbling, the study session moved faster with Taichi's steady presence.
By mid-afternoon, Yu groaned, slumping over his books.
"Break. I need a break before my brain dies."
"Cooking break?"
Taichi perked instantly, already on his feet.
"…You just want snacks."
Yu accused, but his lips curved. He pulled up one of Fumiko Fujimori's bookmarked "easy weekend recipes."
This time, they attempted pancakes. The results: lopsided, half-burnt, but edible. Taichi flipped one so aggressively it stuck to the ceiling. Yu shrieked, nearly dropping the pan.
When it peeled off and fell straight onto Taichi's head, Yu laughed so hard his sides hurt.
"You—you look like a breakfast monster!"
Taichi just grinned, smearing syrup across Yu's cheek with his finger in retaliation. Yu yelped again, shoving him back.
"Cut it out! You're making a mess!"
But under the syrupy chaos, Yu couldn't deny it—this day, this rhythm, felt… warm. Almost like a real home.
---
The rest of weekend unfolded in that same, surprisingly gentle rhythm.
Study sessions punctuated by cooking disasters. Yu scribbling furiously in Fumiko's shared notes while Taichi leaned against him, occasionally muttering the right answer like it was obvious.
Snack breaks turned into accidental naps, the two of them curled like cats on Yu's couch with textbooks scattered across the floor.
Sunday evening came quietly—no tension, no storm. Just the hum of the rice cooker, the faint chatter from Yu's tiny TV, and Taichi grumbling when Yu shoved him away to brush his teeth first.
When the lights dimmed, they fell asleep back-to-back, the day folded into the memory of an ordinary, almost boring weekend. Ordinary, but warm.
---
One month later.
Spring sunlight poured across the school courtyard, the cherry blossoms already scattered and replaced by the steady rhythm of first-year life.
For Yukio Hokohayashi—Yu—that meant:
His cooking skills had gone from "disaster" to "barely passable."
Study sessions had become routine, with Fumiko and Sakura joining twice a week.
Taichi had, somehow, actually gotten better at this "healthy boyfriend" thing—though he still slipped into puppy clinginess when Yu laughed too much with anyone else.
And the school itself had fully embraced the running fairytale nickname: the Princess and the Beast.
Yu was still mortified about it.
Taichi? He secretly basked.
By now, Yu's days had settled into a rhythm he almost didn't recognize as his own. Morning walks with the girls and Taichi as they meet up with the boys by the school gates. School life with endless gossip. Evenings spent either studying, cooking, or being dragged into Taichi's clingy gravity.
For a month in, it already felt… like a life.
Yu adjusted the strap of his schoolbag higher on his shoulder, the morning breeze carrying a faint warmth now that spring had begun to settle into routine. A month ago, he would have walked stiffly, head low, afraid of every glance and whisper. Now, though… he found himself walking a little taller.
Not too tall—he still flushed easily, especially when the stares stuck too long—but tall enough that he could meet someone's eyes without shrinking. His voice didn't falter as much in class, either. He could even answer a question without feeling like the floor might swallow him whole.
DK01's voice stirred at the edges of his mind.
[You've done well, Host. For someone thrown into an alien world with no safety net, you're adapting faster than expected. Integrating into human society, blending in with their rhythms… You're not just surviving—you're living.]
Yu blinked, his lips tugging into the smallest, private smile.
'Living, huh? That was… new. And maybe a little nice.'
He glanced sideways, where Taichi trudged close enough that their sleeves brushed every so often. Taichi was quieter these days—not less protective, but softer about it. Almost like he was holding back for Yu's sake.
On the other side, Sakura chattered about some new drama she'd binged, Fumiko rolling her eyes but smiling along, as always keeping a subtle watch on Taichi's behavior.
The four of them fell into step, their chatter and comfort like background music as the school gates came into view.
And waiting just ahead—leaning against the fence with that lazy confidence—were Souma Satou and Yamato Yamada.
"Oi! About time,"
Yamato called, waving with a grin.
"We were starting to think the Princess and the Beast had gotten lost in their fairy-tale walk to school."
Yu groaned, instantly red, while Taichi's eyes narrowed, but not in the dangerous way of old—more in a sulky, "don't tease my boyfriend" way.
Souma smirked, pushing off the fence.
"Relax, we're just here to make the fairy tale more entertaining."
"I would be an awesome, badass knight!"
Yamato exclaimed with pumped fists.
"Fat chance! Me and Fumiko are the knights here! You can be the fool everyone laughs at, oh wait! Too late, hahaha."
Sakura retorted in a teasing manner.
And just like that, the day began—with banter, teasing, and Yu caught between pride at how far he'd come… and the ever-present blush he couldn't seem to shake.
---
The day rolled forward in its steady rhythm of lectures, quizzes, and chatter, but Yu noticed how much less invisible he felt now. A month ago, he would've clung to his desk and prayed no one would notice him. Now, when classmates stopped by to ask about notes or invite him into conversation, he could actually respond without choking on his words.
Taichi still hovered—Yu could feel his presence like a warm shield behind him—but he wasn't as smothering. Sometimes, Yu even caught him deliberately biting back the urge to chase someone off, his jaw tightening as though he were forcing the words down.
By lunch, their desks were crowded. Fumiko and Sakura were perched nearby, Yamato lounging with his chair tipped back dangerously, and Souma fiddling with a pen like he had nothing better to do.
"Hey."
Yamato said suddenly, eyeing Yu and Taichi with a sly grin.
"So, your one-month anniversary is coming up, yeah? Got anything planned?"
Yu tilted his head, confused, but before he could speak—
"Yamato!"
Sakura snapped, smacking his arm with her chopsticks.
"That's private information! You don't just go asking that out loud!"
Fumiko nodded, sharp as ever.
"Exactly. Have some tact."
Yu blinked, still lost.
"...What's a one-month anniversary?"
The entire group froze.
Taichi's ears went crimson in an instant, and he opened his mouth to answer—but Souma and Yamato burst in first.
"You don't know?!"
They cried in unison. Souma slapped the desk, laughing.
"Oh, that's priceless!"
"Man, you really are new to this whole dating thing!"
Yamato added, grinning wide.
Before Yu could shrink, Fumiko and Sakura turned on them like a storm.
"Don't you dare make fun of her!"
Fumiko scolded, glaring.
"This is Yu's first relationship!"
Sakura chimed in, hugging Yu's arm protectively.
"She doesn't know any better yet—and that just makes her pure, precious, and adorable!"
Yu flushed scarlet as both girls gushed, pinching his cheeks and cooing while he flailed helplessly.
"W-Wait, I still don't get it—!"
DK01's voice sighed in his head, weary but fond.
[A 'one-month anniversary' is simply the day marking one month since a romantic relationship began. Humans celebrate it as a milestone of affection, a way to show commitment—even though, logically, the significance of thirty days is arbitrary.]
Yu's eyes widened.
'Oh… so it's like a mini celebration? For us?'
[Correct. And judging by Taichi's reaction, he already knows—and cares deeply.]
Yu's heart gave an odd flutter, and when he glanced sideways at Taichi, he caught the boy staring straight ahead, ears still red, refusing to meet his eyes.