Kaito woke up to sunlight and the uncomfortable weight of awareness.
His throat was still sore, his head pounding with the tail end of the fever—but none of that was what made his heart hammer against his ribs.
It was the warmth of someone beside him.
Ren.
Still here.
Still real.
Kaito blinked against the soft morning light, then slowly turned his head.
Ren was sitting on the floor, back against the side of the bed, legs crossed, one of Kaito's blankets pulled haphazardly around his shoulders. His head was tilted, eyes closed—but not asleep. Just resting. Like he'd been up most of the night.
Memories from the night before came back in hazy pieces.
The knock on the door. The quiet words. The kiss.
That kiss.
Kaito sat up a little too quickly, and Ren's eyes opened instantly.
"You okay?" he asked, voice low and rough from sleep—or nerves.
Kaito nodded. Then shook his head. Then nodded again.
Ren just watched him.
Silence stretched between them, not heavy but definitely not light either.
"…Did I actually say all that stuff last night?" Kaito asked quietly.
Ren gave him a tired smile. "You did."
"And we… kissed?"
Ren's smile grew lopsided. "Also yes."
Kaito groaned and dropped back onto the pillow, pulling the blanket over his face. "I had a fever. That doesn't count."
"It definitely counts."
Kaito peeked out. "You're enjoying this."
"Not really," Ren said, softer now. "I've just never seen you like this."
Kaito sat up again, more slowly this time. "Like what?"
"Unfiltered. Scared. Real."
He looked down. "You said you were falling."
Kaito's chest tightened. "I know."
"Are you still?"
Kaito didn't answer right away. The sunlight caught the edges of Ren's hair, made him look like something softer than usual. Not the aloof new kid. Just… a boy. A boy who'd stayed through the fever and the silence and the kiss.
"Yes," Kaito whispered. "I think I still am."
Ren looked at him—really looked.
Then nodded, like that was all he needed.
But the air between them was still awkward, still full of unanswered things.
"So," Kaito said, forcing a weak laugh, "how do we not make this weird?"
Ren shrugged, pulling the blanket tighter around him. "It's already weird. But I don't mind weird with you."
Kaito bit back a smile, cheeks burning. "You're such a sap."
"You kissed me first."
"You brought me a rice ball."
Ren grinned. "You said that was romantic."
Kaito groaned and pulled the blanket over his head again.
Outside, birds chirped. Downstairs, the sound of a kettle whistled faintly. The world was moving forward, even if their hearts were still catching up.
Under the covers, Kaito whispered, "Thanks for staying."
Ren leaned his head against the side of the bed and closed his eyes again.
"Always."